Ned Ashton placed a third suit in his garment bag. Theoretically, the FDA final review hearing should only take one day but it was always better to be prepared. On that note, Ned realized that he still hadn't spoken with Monica. Perhaps there were a few files he needed to retrieve from Edward's home office before his eight AM flight to DC. "Carly, I need to go back over to Alan and Monica's and grab a file from Grandfather's home office. Is there anything I can get you before I go?" he asked.
Carly looked up from the magazine she was flipping through. "No, I was going to give Simone a call and then take a bath. I'm just motivating myself to get out of this chair."
"I can bring you the cordless phone," Ned said. He liked to be useful.
XXXXXXXX
"Here, Carly," Ned said as he extended the cordless phone to her. "I'm going to go but I shouldn't be too long."
Carly took the phone. "Thanks, it's ok if you are. I'm sure your grandfather will come up with a few more things you need to take care of before you're gone for three days," she said.
Ned laughed. "Good point! Hopefully I won't actually be gone three whole days. Ideally, this hearing only takes one day so I can fly back Tuesday evening. You have my cellular phone number and I'll leave you John and Abby's number in case I don't have service or something."
Carly wasn't about to admit that she kind of hoped Ned wasn't actually gone for three whole days. She had kind of gotten used to having him around. "It's ok, just remember I have that ultrasound on Thursday. Dr. Meadows wanted to get another look at the baby," she said.
"I haven't forgotten and don't worry, I'll be there," Ned said.
After Ned had left Carly stared at the phone for a minute before she started to dial Simone's number.
Simone eventually picked up on the fourth ring. "Hello," she said. She sounded less than thrilled.
"Ok, so maybe you can just designate a thirty-minute period that is Carly can call without annoying me time. Every other time I've called you think I'm waking you up, interrupting your creative process, or committing some other infraction," Carly said.
"I'm sorry, actually now is fine. I guess I just have a lot on my mind," Simone said.
"What do you mean?"
"My boss is kind of a jerk. I want to switch jobs but that is hard in this industry and this economy."
For a moment Carly tried to consider what her friend had said. The economy part she had no clue about but Simone was a reporter for the NY Post. That at least sounded impressive, at least to Carly. "Why is it hard to switch jobs?" she finally asked.
"Because so much of it is dependent on connections and your relationship with your editor, or in my case assistant editor. Also, it is really hard to make a lateral move, even if you're willing to basically go back to the absolute bottom of the pile of staff writers, and that sucks to begin with," Simone said.
"I met the Editor in Chief of the Port Charles Herald at some party I went to with Ned, does that help?" Carly asked.
Simone laughed. "Probably not, unless you've suddenly decided to become a journalist. I think Art Riker might hire Edward Quartermaine's granddaughter blindly but probably not his granddaughter's best friend who doesn't even have a byline yet."
"Writing isn't really my thing. I would have to be an on air reporter, they just have to read stuff and look good doing it right?" Carly asked.
"Uh, not exactly, although news anchors are often less involved in uncovering the story than an investigative journalist so to speak."
"Ok, so I guess that crosses off another career," Carly said.
"Do you actually want to be a television news anchor?" Simone asked.
"Not really, but suddenly Ned is all supportive of me going back to college," Carly said. Like many things, Carly couldn't figure out what Ned really wanted her to do. Did he need her to achieve her bachelor's degree because he was embarrassed to be married to a woman who couldn't even do that? Or did he just want her to know it was an option and he would support that?
"I think Ned's right. I mean maybe not right away with the baby but I think you'll know when the time is right," Simone said.
Would she?Carly wondered about that.
XXXXXXXX
Dr. Alan Quartermaine sensed that his nephew was looking for something besides a file when he appeared at their front doorstep short before eight o'clock. "If you don't need to get right back to Carly, you're welcome to join Monica and I for some tea. There is also some left-over pie," he offered when Ned hesitated a moment in the foyer.
"Maybe I will do that; Carly was about to call her friend Simone when I left," Ned said. He took a step in the direction of the West Hallway.
"Ok, I'm going to go upstairs and say goodnight to the kids and then I'll put the kettle on. Why don't you join us in the kitchen once you find those files?" Alan suggested before he made his way down the East Hallway to the kitchen.
To his surprise, Monica was already in the kitchen and appeared to have just put water on to boil. "Excellent timing, that was Ned at the door. He came to retrieve a file from Father's office but I think he really wants to talk," he said.
Monica conveyed with her eyes that she worried he was veering into dangerous territory.
Alan didn't necessarily disagree but that was kind of the story of his life. "Do you think I'm making the wrong call here?" he asked.
Monica turned away from the cook top. "I'm not sure so, I guess, technically, no," she said.
"But you're also far from sure I'm doing the right thing?" Alan asked.
"I guess those words fit as well. Unfortunately, I think it is just going to be a difficult situation and I'm afraid no one will come out of this better for the experience. Serena and Katelyn are asleep but why don't you go upstairs and say goodnight to Kirk and your daughters. I still have lunches to pack and I was hoping to get to bed by nine," Monica said.
Alan pulled his wife into his arms for a moment. "You know I love you; I really do," he said before he started up the kitchen stairs.
XXXXXXXX
Dr. Monica Quartermaine closed the final lunch bag and realized that her nephew was standing in her kitchen holding a few file folders. "Oh, hello, Ned. I didn't even hear you come in. Kirk would be impressed by your degree of stealth," she said.
"What can I say? I aim to please. Alan said he was making tea," Ned said.
"The tea is steeping and Alan is upstairs saying goodnight to the kids why don't you have a seat in the solarium and I'll join you in a minute," Monica said as she stacked five lunch bags on top of each other and headed to the refrigerator.
When she turned back around after putting everyone's lunch in the refrigerator, Monica realized Ned was still standing in front of the large island in her kitchen.
"I was hoping I could ask you for a favor," Ned said.
"Of course, what?"
"Can you just check in with Carly once or twice while I'm out of town? Ideally, I wouldn't be going out of town at this point in the pregnancy," Ned said.
Monica suspected that the FDA hearing had been scheduled long before Ned had any idea that Carly's pregnancy was relevant to his life. She put that thought out of her mind. It was really none of her business. "Of course. She can even join us for dinner tomorrow night if she wants. I have STEMI call on Tuesday and Alan has in house trauma call on Wednesday night so those nights will be hectic I'm sure."
"I appreciate that. I'm hoping to be home sometime Wednesday at the latest," Ned said.
"Of course, we're family. Everything is alright with Carly's pregnancy though, right?" Monica asked.
"It seems to be. Dr. Meadows was a little concerned about the baby's growth and wanted to get another ultrasound on Thursday but she said things looked good otherwise," Ned said.
"That sounds mostly encouraging," Monica said. She chose her words carefully. She knew that Dr. Meadows was thorough but not overeager to do extra tests.
"I know. Carly seems to have glossed over the growth part or maybe it's her own protective denial. I'm not really sure," Ned said.
Monica picked up the tea tray from the island. "Come on, why don't we go into the solarium, it's a much more comfortable place to sit," she said. She led her nephew through the kitchen into the solarium extension and set the tea tray down on the coffee table. Their solarium had once been a room of peace and tranquility but in recent weeks it seemed to be where she and Alan hosted their awkward conversations. She had still spoken to Lucy Coe and Rex Stanton in the study. She had some boundaries!
XXXXXXXX
The concept of pie was largely lost on Nikolas Cassadine. It was definitely another American thing he just did not understand, or perhaps properly appreciate. Regardless, Monica Quartermaine's apple pie with that crumb topping was much preferable to Audrey Hardy's version which seemed to sandwich overcooked apples in between cardboard. Of course, he had manners so he forced himself to choke down said cardboard with a smile on his face.
"Isn't Gram's apple pie the best?" Sarah Webber asked.
"I must say, I have never had anything quite like this," Nikolas said. He hadn't!
Audrey Hardy smiled. "Thank you, you are too kind. Apple Pie was always Sarah's grandfather's favorite pie."
"It has always been everyone's favorite pie. Well, except for Lizzie, she likes pecan," Sarah said with derisive snort.
Nikolas thought, if given the choice, he would also prefer pecan pie. He had discovered it at the Quartermaine New Year's Eve Party. Emily had apparently helped her mother make the pecan pies so had wanted him to try it. It had actually been really good, on a par with the pastries the chef at Wyndamere made. He remembered how Emily had blushed at that praise.
"Far too much fat and calories for my taste," Audrey Hardy agreed.
Nikolas refrained from comment. He knew it was his safest approach. He sensed it was also a bad idea to mention Sarah's sister. He had never met the young woman but it was quite clear that she was the black sheep of the family. That bothered him for reasons he could not explain.
XXXXXXXX
Ned Ashton supposed his uncle's concerns that Dr. Tony Jones intended to file a paternity petition shouldn't surprise him. He had been well aware that Carly and Tony's relationship had ended anything but amicably. "I appreciate your candor and I'm sorry if I'm putting you in the middle," Ned began.
"You're family, Ned. We just want the best for you, Carly, and the baby," Alan said.
"I appreciate that, but I am sorry if it makes things awkward at the hospital for you. Carly was originally going to transfer to an OB at Mercy. Maybe I shouldn't have discouraged her from doing that," Ned said.
"Mercy's obstetrical department is very low volume and they don't have a NICU. I really wouldn't advise Carly to have the baby there especially since Dr. Meadows is already concerned about the pregnancy," Monica said.
Alan raised an eyebrow. "Is everything alright?" he asked.
"I don't know. At the last appointment, Dr. Meadows was concerned about the baby's growth but she said everything else looked ok on the ultrasound. She was going to repeat the ultrasound on Thursday. Carly seemed to only hear the part about everything else looking ok and not the part about the growth concerns," Ned said.
"I'm sorry. I hate that this whole thing with Tony may just cause her more stress," Alan said.
"You aren't responsible for Tony's actions, at least not outside of the hospital," Ned said.
"No, but I am sorry that the situation is what it is. I hesitate to suggest this but do you think talking to your mother might help?" She probably has the best sense of how this will all play out in family court," Alan suggested.
There were so many reasons why his mother was exactly who he should be talking to but also so many reasons why she was the last person he should be discussing any of it with. Ned knew his Uncle Alan was well aware of both sides. For years, his mother had called her younger brother she when didn't know what else to do with him, like when they had that horrible fight when he was thirteen after his cousin Alexandria's funeral.
August 6, 1981
"Edward Lawrence Ashton this conversation is not over! Now open this door!" Tracy Quartermaine yelled through the bedroom door Ned had slammed in her face moments earlier.
Ned flopped over onto his side and attempted to ignore his mother's rant. She would come up with something more pressing eventually. If he waited her out long enough, she would go away. Yet he wasn't sure that was really what he wanted. He hadn't locked the door. He wondered if she would realize that. He wondered if he wanted her too.
His head hurt. Pain started at the base of his skull and seared forward to his eyes and temples. He shut his eyes. That was a little better but not really. He felt weirdly unsteady and wondered if it was similar to what Austin or Blackie had described as a bad trip. He wouldn't know because, contrary to his mother's suspicions, he had never even experimented with drugs. As the pain intensified, he pulled a pillow over his face to block out the pain, or at least the light.
XXXXXX
"Ned, can you open your eyes?"
His Uncle Alan's voice sounded distant but Ned could feel his fingers pressing lightly into his wrist. He wasn't really sure what had happened. He must have fallen asleep. His head hurt. He felt someone lifting his eyelids and he winced and closed his eyes tighter at the bright light that flashed into them.
"What's wrong with him, Alan?"
His mother sounded tense. That wasn't new. She always sounded tense, but he thought she sounded scared, or sad, or maybe both. He didn't really want her to be either.
"His pulse and breathing are normal. His pupils react, he doesn't have a fever I'm not sure why he isn't responding to us. I think he needs to be evaluated in the ER. Maybe he needs a CT of his head. How much do you know about his father's family health history?"
Ned struggled to open his eyes and realized three things: he was lying on his bedroom floor-he had no idea how he had gotten there; the room didn't spin quite as much if he kept his eyes open; but his head hurt so much more.
Alan laid a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome back, do you remember what happened?"
Ned wondered if that was supposed to be a trick question, although that was more his mother's, or his grandfather's, style. His Uncle Alan was usually more interested in just getting to the truth without extra points for trapping someone in a lie. Quartermaines didn't lie, Ned had heard that only a million times from his grandfather but his children seemed to apply that mantra to life in different ways.
The truth was the last thing he really remembered was slamming his door and hurling himself onto his bed. Not that that was anything new really. "My head hurt, I don't really remember after that."
"Did you fall?" Alan asked as he moved his hand and seemed to push on the back of his neck. "Does that hurt at all?" he asked.
"No, I don't know!"
"No, it doesn't hurt? And you're not sure if you fell?" Alan asked.
"My head hurts not my neck," Ned said. He shut his eyes, the spinning was more tolerable than the pain he thought.
"What did you take, Ned?" his mother asked.
"I didn't," Ned said but his voice sounded strange even to him and then everything got really dark again.
Even years later, Ned had no idea what had happened after that awkward moment on his bedroom floor. His mother had told him that he had become unresponsive again so she had called an ambulance. She had also explained that she had sent his Uncle Alan in the ambulance with him. That had made sense after all, his uncle was a physician. Or it had until his mother had tearfully admitted that hadn't been the reason. She had truly thought that, if he woke up, he would find his uncle more comforting than her. Ned remembered he hadn't disputed that. Later he had regretted not correcting her. Then his head had hurt too much to regret anything.
"I'm sure she would but I'm just not sure that is a good idea," Ned said. He couldn't exactly explain to Alan that he didn't want to overtly lie to his mother and tell her he was the biological father of Carly's baby. Doing that would surely erode any tenuous trust between them which was the last thing he wanted. He was an attorney he could chose words carefully. As long as he was married to Carly at the time of the baby's birth, NY State would consider him to be the baby's legal father regardless of biology.
"She is your mother, but she is also my sister and you have to know that there is no one in this world that she loves more than you," Alan said.
"That isn't why I'm reluctant to talk to her about this," Ned said. It wasn't, he was just limited in explanations.