When he drove his BMW through the wrought iron gates that led to the Quartermaine Mansion Jasper Jacks wasn't thinking about the woman he was about to pick up. Rather his mind was on Lois Cerullo. His private investigator had come up with nothing, or at least nothing Jax hadn't already known. Regardless he was still convinced that she was up to something. So, he had done the logical thing and hired a different investigator.
Jax parked at the top of horseshoe shaped driveway and got out of his car. He smiled a bit noting that he was likely blocking in Edward's limousine. As he made his way along the inlaid stone path to the expansive marble porch his cell phone rang. He frowned when he realized it was his brother. "Not exactly a good time, Jerry," he said.
"Is there ever?" Jerry retorted.
Jax shook his head.
"Ok, I'll make this quick. I spoke with Dad and he thinks the Cassadine Proposal has potential. I've been authorized to take the next steps. Just wanted to keep you in the loop, Baby Bro!" Jerry said. Then, before Jax could even begin to protest he terminated the call.
Jax slid his phone back into his breast pocket with frustration and then released some of the frustration into the doorbell. On the other side of the door he heard Edward Quartermaine bellow "Reginald!".
The door was pulled open by a slightly sheepish appearing Emily Quartermaine. "Oh, hi, Mr. Jacks, I'll let Brenda know you're here," she said as she stepped aside and let him enter the formal foyer.
Edward Quartermaine blustered in from the living room dressed in a sports jacket with a bow tie. He glared a bit in Jax's direction. "What is he doing here?" he asked.
"He is picking up Brenda. Oh, and if you're looking for Reginald, I think he and Grandmother are in the limousine waiting for you," Emily said before she made her own exit.
Edward actually had the humility to appear mildly chagrinned as he pulled an overcoat from one of the foyer closets. He made his way towards the door opened it and then turned back. "Ah, Mr. Jacks it appears you're blocking in my limousine you will need to move your vehicle at once."
For some reason Jax could only laugh.
"Of all the idiocy! Monica!" Edward bellowed.
Dr. Monica Quartermaine came into the room from the East Hallway. "Do I even want to know?" she asked.
"You're always reminding me that this is your house, now that is only because my son gave it to you, but alas can you call the police and request a tow as Mr. Jacks is impeding my limousine and refuses to move his vehicle."
"I swear the two of you deserve each other. I am not going to waste valuable police resources with your driveway skirmish. Of course I can't imagine that Brenda would want to go out for an evening with someone less mature than my three year old so perhaps you could resolve this like men," Monica said then she turned on her heal and headed back down the hallway presumably towards the kitchen.
Jax decided that he had had his fun and went out to move his car.
XXXXXXXX
Brenda Barrett finished pulling her hair into an up do and glanced over at Emily who was sitting on her bed. "So Jax and Edward were already bellowing at each other?" she asked.
"I suppose technically most of or maybe all of the bellowing was from Grandfather. Jax just blocked in his limousine and wasn't in a huge hurry to move his car. Grandfather was bellowing for mom when I came upstairs."
Brenda shook her head. "Why?"
"Why does Jax antagonize Grandfather?" Emily asked.
"I was sort of more wondering why I have anything to do with Jax."
Emily laughed. "Well, he is cute. Of course, so was Chris Floyd and he is a complete jerk and so not worth my time so, yeah," she said.
"Maybe the key is to find a gorgeous guy who doesn't realize that he is gorgeous," Brenda said.
"That is definitely a plus. Like Nikolas Cassadine is actually very humble if you get to know him. He just appears aloof," Emily said.
"So, Nikolas?" Brenda asked as she reached for some mascara.
"We're just friends and I'm pretty sure he thinks I'm a child. He and Sarah Webber are dating and I'm happy for her really," Emily said.
"It's ok if you're not. It doesn't make you a horrible person," Brenda suggested as she applied mascara to her upper lashes.
"Oh, I'm not being noble, I mean Nikolas will be eighteen in December. Grandfather would have a conniption because of the age gap and then there is the whole Cassadine thing," Emily said.
Brenda found her explanation intriguing. Most teens, herself included, were just even more interested in dating those their parents labeled forbidden. "You are so much more reasonable and mature than I was at your age, maybe than I am now," she said.
"My first mother was a very practical and realistic person and I guess it rubbed off. I mean if Nikolas is meant to be my one true love, if such a thing exists, then he will find me after I'm eighteen when everyone else's opinion is just that, an opinion."
"That is definitely one way to look at it," Brenda said. It was basically the opposite of how she had approached things with Sonny. Of course, perhaps that was the point.
XXXXXXXX
Edward Quartermaine helped his wife transfer from the limousine into her chair outside The Port Charles Hotel. "Fortunately, the drama with Mr. Jacks didn't detain us too long, my dear. It is still ten minutes before seven. You know it would not do for the hosts to be late for their own party," he said as they made their way inside.
"Edward, this is a Deception Cosmetics Reception. Although Deception became an ELQ Subsidiary last summer I think it is very important that we not lose sight of the woman who's legacy the company represents."
"Of course, my dear," Edward said as he and Lila made their way into Evening Song. He knew he really couldn't say anything else. He had overheard one of his ELQ Directors lamenting about happy wife, happy life and decided that although superficial and trite the phrase was also quite profound.
"Oh, this is lovely! I think it is so much better than that overpriced event planning firm Katherine hired last year," Lila said once they were inside the piano lounge.
"I agree," their grandson, Ned, said as he joined them with his wife in tow.
Edward smiled. Ned and Carly definitely made a good-looking couple. Lois had certainly been striking but Edward didn't think he had ever seen her arrive at a social event looking coordinated with her husband. Carly stood beside her husband wearing a purple dress which coordinated with his bowtie and pocket square. They just looked like they belonged together and Edward was beginning to see that they really did.
"Yes, Amy always does an excellent job," Edward said. He turned to face Carly more directly. "We're glad you could join us this evening, Carly. You look enchanting as always. My grandson is certainly a lucky man."
Ned wrapped an arm around his wife. "That I am, indeed, that I am, grandfather," he said.
"Thank you, and thank you, Mrs. Quartermaine for letting me borrow these earrings. I think you were right with how they are an often-overlooked accessory," Carly said.
"They look wonderful on you, dear, you really should keep them," Lila said.
"Are you sure? I do love them but you were already so generous with the jewelry you gave me as a wedding gift," Carly said.
"I do insist, dear. I know that classic jewelry is not always appreciated but some pieces really are timeless and I want my children and grandchildren to be able to carry that forward."
"Well, if you insist, I assure you that I will cherish and treasure these and they will always remind me of you. Perhaps someday Ned and I will have a daughter I can pass these on to."
"Oh, that would be wonderful, dear!" Lila said.
Edward could smile at the idea of many additional grandchildren.
XXXXXXXX
Katherine Bell entered Evening Song on Nikolas Cassadine's arm. "I'm glad you could step in for your uncle on such short notice. I hate to attend these things alone," she said.
"Of course, I am sure that Uncle Stefan has a lot to catch up on after his trip to Greece," Nikolas said.
Katherine smiled. From Nikolas's response it was clear that he didn't realize that his uncle had ended their relationship. A small part of her clung to the hope that perhaps it was all just a misunderstanding and that Stefan would explain and beg for her forgiveness. A much larger part was way past forgiveness and ready to make him pay.
XXXXXXXX
As he sat on a bench in the Quartermaine foyer, Jasper Jacks was quickly losing patience. In the thirty minutes he had been waiting for Brenda, Dr. Alan Quartermaine had walked past him without acknowledgement as he was seemingly talking to some intern on his cell phone on his way out the door. Then some kid, who was likely Alan and Monica's younger son, Jax couldn't really be bothered to keep all of their children straight, had navigated a robot through the foyer. Then the front door opened and Allison Quartermaine came through it with another teen. This brought Dr. Monica Quartermaine into the foyer.
"Oh, Jax, I didn't realize you were still here, I'm sure Brenda will be down shortly" Dr. Monica Quartermaine said.
Monica then turned to her daughter and friend and pulled them both into a hug. "I am so proud of both of you! I'm sorry we couldn't be there in person but I assure you that next weekend neither your father or I have Saturday call responsibilities, and we're going to make it to your regional tennis tournament."
"Thanks, AJ and Keesha were there so that was nice. I understand that sometimes you and dad have to, well, save lives, and you know that is ok. Actually, it's more than ok," Allison Quartermaine said.
"Your father and I appreciate your understanding. Faith, your mother dropped all of your stuff off on her way to the airport this morning and it is up in Allison's room. She called this evening to give us the numbers for the hotel and said she should be testifying tomorrow morning and she is hoping to get a plane back to Port Charles tomorrow evening."
"Well if Congress reauthorizes funding for the Ryan White Act then I think we can say Faith's mom is saving more than a few lives as well," Allison said.
"I agree. Why don't you take your stuff upstairs and shower and I can reheat some tortellini for you," Monica said.
The saccharine conversation was enough to push Jax over the edge. "Are you sure that Emily actually told Brenda I was here? I've been waiting for over half an hour!" he said.
"I am sure that Emily told Brenda you were waiting. I believe that Brenda was not expecting you until seven o'clock so she probably wasn't ready when you showed up slightly after six thirty. When Allison and Faith take their stuff upstairs, I suppose they can remind Brenda you are still waiting. Although I doubt she has forgotten," Monica said. Then she effectively ended discussion by ushering her daughter and friend down the East Hallway.
Jax resented the gesture. He knew that the main staircase led to the East Wing where Brenda's suite was. It was right there and he had half a mind to ascend it himself. But, no, Dr. Quartermaine would send her daughter up the kitchen stairs which would take longer because his time was not her priority.
XXXXXXXX
Allison Quartermaine led her friend Faith Ward up the kitchen stairs and then down the hall to her room where she set her bags and tennis racket down.
"Mr. Jacks definitely did not look thrilled," Faith said as she laid her backpack and tennis case down against Allison's desk.
"No, he didn't. He usually doesn't but I guess I should go remind Brenda that he is still waiting. That means you score the first shower! There are a stack of clean towels in the closet in the bathroom and if you forgot shampoo or anything feel free to use anything of mine or Em's" Allison said.
Faith laughed. "Alli, I love you but you're a white girl and my hair will be a brittle tangled mess if I use your shampoo," she said.
"Umm ok, well then I guess I hope you didn't forget anything, but if you did, we can figure something out."
"Nah, I'm good. My mom is hypervigilant about hair and skin care so even if I hadn't packed carefully, she would have double checked and added it," Faith said.
As she walked out of her room and started down the hall to Brenda's room, Allison considered what Faith had said. Faith had been one of her best friends since she had friends but there was so much she would probably never understand because she didn't live her life in black skin. She could take a lot for granted and Faith never got to meet her own grandfather because he was murdered when his church was firebombed by a KKK offshoot group.
"So, don't shoot the messenger, but Jax is still downstairs waiting anything but patiently," Allison said when she reached Brenda's open door.
Brenda laughed. "I'm sure he is. Someone should tell him that fashionably late is actually a thing, especially for cocktail parties you never wanted to go to in the first place."
Allison laughed. "Yeah, I don't think I'll be doing that. Anyway, I've done my civic duty by reminding you that he is still downstairs not so silently simmering and hasn't vanished as much as you might have hoped for it. On that note, I'm going to get ready to take a shower as soon as Faith is out of my bathroom because I just played four full sets of tennis in a dustbowl and desperately need one."
"Yeah, congratulations on that, AJ called said you and Faith are Sectional doubles champions. So, does this mean you go to the state tournament?"
"Next weekend is the regional team finals and then that feeds into the state team tournament. After that is over the state single/double tournament is at the beginning of November. By winning the sectional title we get to play in that regardless."
"That's cool," Brenda said.
"Yeah, so, this is really none of my business but if you really don't want to go out with Jax then can't you just say that?" Allison asked.
"I'm probably being melodramatic. I guess I'm just not looking forward to seeing Katherine and everyone from Deception."
"Do you regret switching to Jax Cosmetics?" Allison asked.
"I don't regret getting away from Katherine. I guess maybe I just didn't end up with a CEO that was much better and I'm dating him so that makes it even worse."
"I'm sorry and admittedly I'm fourteen but I happen to know a really amazing contract attorney who I'm sure would help you find some exit clause or golden parachute in your contract," Allison said.
"Yeah, I probably have the most model favorable contract Jax has ever agreed to, thanks to Ned, it's just complicated."
"Do you feel like if you stop working for Jax it would end your relationship? Do you think that would be a bad thing?" Allison asked.
"You may be fourteen but you ask all the right questions and I guess I'm not really sure about either question. So, I guess that means I've kept Jax waiting long enough and it's time to go face everything."
"Well, I hope you have fun, or at least not a horrible time. I'm sure Katherine will be Katherine but you can always hang out with Grandmother or Ned and Carly. I know Lucky hates her because he blames her for breaking up his Aunt Bobbie's marriage but I don't think it is all as simple as he believes."
"You mean because Bobbie cheated on Tony with Damian long before Carly ever came to town?"
"Well that, but also statistically a lot of marriages don't survive the death of a child. Ned and Lois's marriage didn't. So perhaps, even if Carly had never come to Port Charles, the Joneses would have still divorced."
"True, and I actually agree that maybe Carly isn't as bad as I thought. To be fair I probably didn't really know her and just kind of followed Robin's lead there."
"Well Emily and I have decided we're going to try to just start with a clean slate. After all she is Ned's wife now and she will be the mother of Ned's child," Allison said.
"Speaking of that, shouldn't someone be throwing her a baby shower?" Emily asked as she joined her sister in the doorway to Brenda's room.
"Uhh, yeah, someone should probably throw her a shower but definite dibs on not it," Brenda said.
"Yeah, well I'm thirteen, so…yeah….." Emily said.
"Ok, well, uh, if someone else plans a shower I'll come up with a gift so let me know and now I really am going to go downstairs and meet Jax," Brenda said as she finally stood up from the vanity in her room as Emily and Allison stepped back into the hall to let her exit her room.
"Awesome job at your tennis match by the way!" Emily said after Brenda had started down the front stairs.
"Thanks! Faith was amazing."
"I thought she was going to spend the night tonight?"
"She is, she's in the shower. Once she is done, I'm going to finally get to wash off all of this grime."
"Oh, ok, I went downstairs and finished my Geometry problem set in Dad's study. I made the mistake of going back through the foyer on my way back upstairs. Jax is practically spitting nails. I mean I guess now Brenda actually is late because it is almost seven fifteen but he showed up about thirty minutes before he was supposed to pick her up so I think he was furious before she was even late," Emily said.
"I think she sensed that too. I think she really didn't want to go out with him."
"No, I don't think she did. I don't know, I kind of wish that she and Miguel would get back together. He was always so nice to her."
"Yeah, he was. Actually, I think he still is. So maybe there is still hope," Allison said.
"Grandmother Lila would say there is always hope," Emily said.
XXXXXXXX
Scott Baldwin declined the champagne which was being passed. He wasn't in the mood to celebrate even if Deception Cosmetics revenue had achieved an all-time high. How could he celebrate when his daughter had been taken from him?
XXXXXXXX
Carly Ashton followed her husband's eye to the young women who stood talking with his grandparents. From a distance she appeared quite attractive. She was slim with all the right curves and dress which hugged them perfectly. Her light brown hair cascaded down to her shoulders in gentle curls which framed her face. Carly was pretty sure she hadn't grown up in a trailer park.
Perhaps Ned noticed that she noticed because he said, "I keep forgetting Trisha has Deception Stock. I think this is the first shareholder's event she has attended. We should go over and say hello, it is only polite."
"Ok, but first tell me the backstory. Obviously, there is a history between the two of you," Carly said.
"Her grandparents, Isabella and Cabot Alden, were friends with my grandparents. So, I saw Trisha and her older brother Curtis who is closer to John's age sometimes at their parties."
"But you never dated her?"
"I escorted her to a few formal events when we were both seventeen and eighteen. Perhaps her grandparents hoped something might come of it but she was in love with this guy Steve Sowolsky who she married the next summer. Tragically, he was killed in a bank robbery."
"He robbed a bank?"
"No, he was just in the bank at the wrong time. He actually was a bit of a hero he stepped into the line of fire to protect Trisha's cousin's wife and their baby."
"That's sad."
"Yes, it was. I think grandmother is trying to get our attention we should go over there," Ned said.
Reluctantly Carly interlaced her fingers with her husband and followed him across the room.
Ned laid an open palm gently on the shoulder of mystery woman. "Trisha, hello, it is great to see you, again. I would love you to meet my wife, Carly Ashton. Carly, this is Trisha Alden McKenzie. She and her husband own McKenzie Construction."
"Hello Carly, it is nice to meet you. Lila was just telling me that you're originally from Florida. My sister in law and her husband live in Key West," Trisha said.
"I grew up in Miami. That should be about three hours from Key West but traffic is crazy so if you make it under four and a half hours you're doing well."
"Oh, yes, the first time we visited them Trucker thought we could fly into Miami and drive. That was a nightmare so now we fly directly into Key West," Trisha said.
"Lila and I spent our honeymoon in the Everglades National Park. We took a boat trip to Key Largo and Key West. That was a great week," Edward said.
"Oh, yes my dear it was," Lila murmured.
Carly decided it was not the time to mention that she and Ned spent their honeymoon outside of Bingham Canyon, Utah. She supposed even that could be romantic if you were into hiking and canyons. She wasn't particularly and the plan for the trip had hardly been romance. Ned had previously arranged to spend the week in Utah working with his cousins Quentin and Celia and Carly had decided to go with it. She decided she had disrupted Ned's personal life enough with their marriage why go after his professional life as well?
"We had a working honeymoon, and before you chastise me too much, Carly knows I owe her a proper honeymoon when life settles down," Ned said.
Ned's words surprised Carly. She wondered if he really felt that way or if he was just saying it because it was what he should say if their marriage was real. But their marriage wasn't real. Or it wasn't supposed to be real;but lately Carly found herself getting a little confused.
"Just make sure you put some effort into life settling down, Ned. After all, we're all living on borrowed time," Trisha said.
Ned wrapped an arm more securely around his wife. "Point well taken, truly," he said.
"What is he doing here?" Edward asked abruptly.
Instinctively Carly turned to see that Jasper Jacks had walked in with model Brenda Barrett on his arm.
"He still owns some Deception stock, grandfather," Ned said.
"Regardless, he tried and failed to take over Deception so any other man with any integrity or self-respect would just quietly sell his shares and move on with his life elsewhere," Edward said.
"Perhaps, dear, but as I told you at Ned and Carly's reception, you will find a way to peacefully co-exist with Mr. Jacks or we will need to leave," Lila said.
"I'm going to make sure the waiters know not to serve champagne to any of our underage guests. I suppose at least Mr. Jacks restricts himself to college students. Someone should discuss with Ms. Bell how inappropriate it is for corporate executives to show up to events with dates who aren't even old enough to vote," Edward said before he stalked off in the direction of one of the waitstaff.
"Why do I have an uneasy feeling that by someone grandfather means me?" Ned asked.
"Probably because he does. I'm sorry, that is why the closest I got to Alden Enterprises was teaching at a University to which they contributed a significant corporate endowment," Trisha said.
"They also own the physical campus, right?" Ned asked.
"From what our probate lawyers tell us, yes. Of course, the university seems to have lifetime tenancy so the land can't be sold, even to the university it seems. My cousin, Cooper, tried that two years ago when he decided to funnel all Alden Enterprises money and assets into the Alden Hege Fund."
"He has done well with that," Ned remarked.
"He actually has. I'll be honest, I wasn't sure he would but with us being the only two surviving Alden heirs I decided he needed my support more than he needed my financial opinion. Plus, Trucker and I have built a quite simple life away from all of the trappings of the kind of wealth I grew up with and I think we're giving Christopher so much more than I ever had, at least of the important things. Don't take this the wrong way I think you can be incredibly financially successful and have the kind of family connections that nurture and sustain but I didn't. I suppose to be fair my father and Aunt Anne didn't and I think that had a lot of impact on who they married, how much they avoided parenting, and it all fell out from there. Trucker and I want so much more for our son."
Carly wondered if Trisha would be so cavalier about wealth if she grew up without it. Probably not.
"I think you made the right decision there. It can be hard with family corporations but I think you have to remember at the end of the day the family relationship is what is really important," Ned said.
"Your grandfather might not admit that aloud but he would be so proud to hear you say that," Lila said.
"Actually, in his own way, Grandmother, I think he has," Ned said.
Carly wondered about that as well. Perhaps it wasn't odd that Ned was the first grandchild to return to ELQ. He was the oldest after all and the only one except for Jason who was old enough to be done with college. Of course, none of Edward's children had wanted to work for ELQ so in a way Ned returning home was unique. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. She had heard all of the rumors. Ned's first wife married him because he was the ELQ heir apparent; and his second wife divorced him for almost the same reason.
Carly knew she could come to enjoy Ned's money. But there was still a part of her that was pretty sure she would give it all up to go ride off on Jason's motorcycle. Or at least she would have before she was pregnant. The irony of the last part was not lost on her since it was Jason's baby she was carrying. Ned had stepped up to the plate to raise his cousin's baby and he was being incredibly kind to her in the process. It was hard to argue that wasn't love. Was it love for Jason? Was it love for an innocent defenseless child? Or could it possibly be love for Carly herself?
*To all of my readers who have commented that you're really liking Ned and Carly (and kind of regretting the part of this where that will end), I get it. I hope I can pull off how Ned and Carly's relationship gets them both to a place where they are ready to really be with their soulmates in ways neither of them could have before. So, it's so much more of a be glad this happened than sorry that it's over. Someone shared a favorite line where Ned tells Chloe "...please-please, I care about you. You're one of my favorite ex-wives." I can see him being in a place where he could totally say this if Carly lapsed into destructive mode after going back to Jason. I can also see Carly telling Ned to remarry Lois so she (Carly) can be his favorite ex-wife. I haven't written that far but it may pop up in the future.*