As the Alden family sat over their breakfast in Café Mattina, the coffee shop inside the Port Charles Hotel, Cooper Alden took note of how little food his wife was consuming. He had been afraid that her return to modeling would have exactly that effect. But seeing that reality made him feel much more terrified than validated.
Steffi Brewster Alden must have felt her husband's eyes because she lifted her eyes from her barely touched plate and glared at him.
Despite the glare, Cooper didn't really believe that Steffi was angry with him. He feared perhaps she was just as terrified as he was. Before he had worried that returning to modeling would provoke another relapse of her eating disorder. But as he laid a hand gently over hers, he wondered for the first time if perhaps he had completely missed the point. What if relapsing into anorexia nervosa had caused her to want to return to modeling?
"Dad! Courtney is looking at me!" four-year-old Tyler screamed.
Cooper wasn't sure exactly why that was a problem. Twenty-month-old Courtney adored her big brother. Unfortunately, Tyler was often frustrated by her mere existence. "Tyler, you need to be kind to your baby sister. She is the only sister you have," he said.
Although once the words were out, Cooper realized that might not be true for long. Apparently, his former wife, Ally Rescott Alden Bowman, was pregnant again. He wasn't sure if Ally knew the sex of her baby. In fact, given recent events, he surmised that Ally wasn't completely certain of the father of her baby. Or, perhaps, like with Tyler, she was certain of the father of her baby but wishing it was someone else. Ally had made it quite clear that she wished that Casey had been Tyler's father.
"I'm done eating, can I go play?" Tyler asked. He jumped up from the table and was already away from the table before anyone could answer.
"I'll go after him, Mr. Alden," Zoey Barnes, their nanny offered.
"Thank you," Cooper said.
"I need to go also, or I'll be late," Steffi said. She stood quickly, brushed her lips across Courtney's cheek and then offered him an equally pert kiss.
Cooper watched her walk away and worried. He turned his attention to his daughter. "Well, I guess it is just you and me, Munchkin! Here, how about another strawberry?" he asked.
Courtney wrapped a chubby hand around the offered strawberry and took a bite. She smiled as she chewed.
Cooper touched a napkin to Courtney's lips and wiped the strawberry juice running down her chin. She was such a happy baby. He prayed that never changed.
XXXXXXXX
Port Charles Police Department Lieutenant Joe Kelly was very aware that some tasks should not be delegated. As much as he would rather do many other things, he knew that explaining to Katherine Bell why he was closing the investigation into her accident was one of those things. After all, it was his decision to close the investigation. When Mac Scorpio had been Commissioner, the case would have likely officially remained open, but it would have been made clear that no additional manhours were to be allotted to the investigation. Detective Scanlon had filled him in on the former Commissioner's approach when they had met the prior afternoon. Of course, that former Commissioner had been dating the aforementioned purported victim for much of his tenure so his objectivity could have been a bit less than objective.
In contrast, Commissioner Sean Donely had taken Katherine Bell to task when she had tried to file a false report and misclassify her own drunken fall as an assault. Eight months later when she fell down the Grand Staircase at the Quartermaine Mansion he had encouraged Detective Garcia to investigate thoroughly. Foul play had initially been suspected when her toxicology screen was positive for Quinidine and Digoxin. However, when large quantities of those same drugs were found in Ms. Bell's lingerie drawer at the PC Hotel, the case became less clear. When Ms. Bell's fingerprints, and only Ms. Bell's fingerprints, were found all over both bottles one could only conclude that she had poisoned herself. She had eventually tearfully admitted as much after interrogation by Commissioner Donely. He had documented same, classified the case as an intentional overdose and forwarded the file to the District Attorney, Michael Schultz, who had declined to file charges.
Now they were facing yet another incident where Katherine Bell wanted to blame everyone, and anyone, for her own intoxicated fall. It was his place to ensure that the case file was appropriately documented, appropriately classified, and closed. He would forward the file to the District Attorney, but he doubted that current District Attorney, Abby Mitchell, would be in a big hurry to charge Katherine Bell with public intoxication. He could live with that.
XXXXXXXX
Danielle Stanton lined up water bottles on a banquet table in the Empire Room of the Port Charles Hotel where the photo shoot for Deception Cosmetics Christmas Campaign was about to begin.
"Thank you for taking care of all of the last-minute details for this. Usually Katherine handles all of the photoshoots but…" Amy Elizabeth Morgan said as she joined them.
Danielle noted that Amy seemed uncomfortable as she struggled to complete the sentence. "It's ok, I actually went to see Katherine yesterday. She was able to kick me out of the room so I think she will be fine," she said.
"Oh, Danielle, I'm sorry," Amy said.
Danielle shrugged her shoulders. "It's ok, I guess I should be used to it by now," she said.
"It isn't ok, you deserve to be treated kindly, but especially by your own sister," Amy said.
"Technically, Katherine and I are only half-sisters. She made that very clear yesterday," Danielle said.
October 15, 1997
Danielle Stanton hesitated at the door to her older sister's hospital room. What if she was making a mistake? Katherine had never been particularly warm to her. Honestly, Katherine had been cold and even a little cruel. But somehow knowing that Katherine had almost died, Danielle couldn't take a chance that she could lose another family member without a chance to have a relationship if there was any hope. So, with a deep breath she pushed open the door.
"Oh, it's you," Katherine said with a derisive scowl. She barely lifted her eyes from her magazine.
"I'm Danielle…"
"I know who you are! You're Amy's latest secretary. I will give you that you've managed to stay for more than two months. Most of her secretaries don't," Katherine said.
Danielle was pretty sure that Amy only had trouble holding on to administrative assistants because Katherine's assistants were frequently quitting, and Katherine found it easier to steal Amy's than to interview her own. "Yes, I am Amy Morgan's assistant, but I am also the daughter of Avery Stanton so, we're also sisters," Danielle said.
"We're actually half-sisters, or we are if Avery actually was your father. From what I've heard, some of the other staff questioned if he was really the one who got your mother knocked up. She wasn't exactly his type," Katherine said without looking up from her magazine.
Danielle knew her paternity had been confirmed by DNA testing. Rex had been very particular about that.
"That aside, even if we are half-sisters, which I doubt, don't go thinking you can come asking for a handout," Katherine said.
"I assure you that wasn't my intention. I just heard about your accident and wanted to come by and make sure you were alright. No matter what, we are still sisters," Danielle said.
"Half-sisters, now get out!" Katherine screamed.
Danielle forced herself to hold back the tears until she was on the other side of the door.
Amy's voice pulled Danielle from the painful memory. "It really is her loss. I assure you," Amy said.
"That was basically what Jake said," Danielle said.
"Well, Jake is right, although I can understand how that may feel empty. Perhaps the point is that family isn't always those you have biological ties to. Anyway, you and Jake are about to become your own family," Amy said.
Danielle hadn't really considered it that way. Perhaps it was time she did.
XXXXXXXX
Sarah Webber flipped through the Stoichometry handout hoping maybe somehow, she was retaining some of it. The Chemistry test she had next hour was worth fifty percent of her quarterly grade and she was so unprepared. Clearly, she should have studied over the weekend but more clearly it was time to invoke Plan B. She forced a smile when she saw Emily Quartermaine walk into the classroom talking to some African American girl who's name Sarah couldn't be bothered to remember.
"Emily, hi," Sarah began brightly.
"Oh, hi, Sarah. I'm glad you were alright on Sunday and your grandmother was just confused about which friend you were sleeping over with," Emily said as she set her notebook and book down on her desk.
"Thank you, it was a little embarrassing and I'm really sorry if that got you in any trouble," Sarah said.
Emily shrugged her shoulders. "It didn't, I'm not sure why you would think it would. Anyway, we're all just glad you are safe," she said.
"Well, thank you, that is kind of you," Sarah said. Then she swayed her stance a bit and then a bit more finally grabbing for Emily's desk.
Instinctively Emily reached out to steady Sarah and then helped her lower herself down into her chair. "Are you alright?" she asked.
Sarah blink her eyes a few times and make them appear vacant. "I'm not sure, I just felt really dizzy for a minute."
"Do you feel like you might pass out?" Emily asked. She patted Sarah's shoulder a few times.
Sarah dropped her head down onto Emily's desk. "Maybe, I really don't feel well," she moaned.
Emily patted her back a few times. "It's going to be ok, Sarah. Let me just ask Senora Martinez if I can help you to the nurses' office. You're probably just coming down with something," she offered.
"Thank you," Sarah said with effort to make her voice sound as weak as possible. She carefully did not raise her head from Emily's desk. It was much easier to fake how awful you felt if people couldn't see your face. Fortunately, Emily was gullible and trusting.
The overpowering scent of Polo Sport permeated her nostrils and suddenly Sarah truly did feel a little nauseous. Of course, that overwhelming scent could only belong to one Lucky Spencer who was also quite gullible, at least where Sarah was concerned. She could definitely use that to her advantage, so she made a point of clutching at her stomach as if she was in pain and rocked a little in the chair.
"Senor Martinez said it was ok for Lucky and I to help you to the nurse's office, Sarah. Do you think you can stand up?" Emily asked.
Sarah just moaned a little.
"It's ok, Em, I can get her," Lucky said, and the next thing Sarah knew scrawny arms were scooping her out of the chair.
For effect, Sarah buried her head in Lucky's shoulder and whimpered softly. Then she moaned and quickened her breathing. "I think I'm going to be sick!" she gasped just as they were about to pass one of the girls' restrooms.
Sarah pseudo staggered her way into the bathroom and into the first stall. She carefully locked the door and then moaned, hyperventilated and retched for a carefully timed 90 seconds. Then she flushed the empty toilet, opened the door, turned staggered a bit more for effect and was about to throw herself towards the floor when Emily intervened and lowered her down to the floor. Sarah hadn't expected that, but she decided to play along and just let her eyes drop closed.
Unfortunately, what happened next Sarah really hadn't prepared for. Apparently when Emily had followed her into the restroom, she had instructed Lucky to go and bring the nurse. So, a mere minute after she had allowed Emily to lower her to the disgusting bathroom floor, she heard the gruff voice of Mrs. Armstrong the school nurse informing everyone that an ambulance was on it's way as she wrapped something, Sarah presumed was a blood pressure cuff around her arm.
Sarah debated her next move. Going to the hospital had never been part of the plan. She had just wanted to avoid the Chemistry exam and have a few extra days to study. Perhaps she could talk her way out of an ambulance ride. Or perhaps she could manage to get out of the test entirely. If she was in the hospital, then surely Mr. Graham wouldn't expect her to take the exam when she came back.
Sarah moaned and then opened her eyes. "What happened?" she asked.
"You threw up and then when you came out of the bathroom you looked really unsteady so I lowered you down to the floor. Don't worry I didn't let you hit your head," Emily said as she crouched down beside her and patted her shoulder.
"I'm really cold. I really don't feel well," Sarah moaned. She chattered her teeth together a little for good measure.
Emily dutifully removed her purple cardigan and draped it over Sarah's thorax. "Is that any better?" she asked.
Sarah forced a smile. "Yeah, thanks, Em, you're a good friend," she said again working to make her words sound weak.
Emily patted her shoulder again. "It's ok, Sarah, you're going to be ok, you'll see," she said.
Sarah clutched again at her stomach and started back into her moan and hyperventilate cycle.
Emily gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Try to relax your breathing, Sarah, just bring your lips together like this and try to relax," she said as she puckered her own lips as if to demonstrate.
Sarah ignored Emily's advice and writhed a little more as if she was just in too much pain for that to even be possible. She started to genuinely feel a little shaky kind of like she had after using ecstasy the prior weekend but even that didn't deter her. It was worth it if it got her out of the exam.
The shakiness intensified and for a moment Sarah actually felt a little panicked and then everything went black.
XXXXXXXX
Emily Quartermaine made her way back to her Spanish class with heavy steps. She really hoped Sarah was going to be ok. Although she rationally knew that she had probably passed out because of hyperventilating from the pain it was still scary to see and it reminded her of how things had been at the end with her mommy. Of course, Sarah didn't have some terminal cancer. Or she hoped she didn't. When she reached the classroom, she offered a silent prayer for Sarah and then she opened the door.
"Señorita Quartermaine ¿ha consigo a la Señorita Webber a salvo a la oficina de enfermeras?" Senora Martinez asked.
Sí, siento haber tardado tanto, pero Sarah empezó a vomitar así que la enfermera llamó a una ambulancia y sentí que debía quedarme con ella hasta que llegara la ambulancia," Emily responded in Spanish as well.
"Eso es comprensible. ¿Qué le pasó al Señor Spencer?"
"Iba a llamar a la abuela de Sarah para que pudiera encontrarla en el hospital," Emily said. Technically what she had said was true because Lucky had assured Mrs. Armstrong he would call Mrs. Hardy. However, Emily was quite certain that Lucky was also likely to head over to the hospital himself.
"Muy bien, Señorita Quartermaine. Te voy a dar el 100% en el cuestionario de hoy basado en nuestra conversación. Señor Spencer que debería verme durante su período libre para hacer el cuestionario," Senora Martinez said.
"¡Gracias! Se lo diré a Lucky," Emily said. If only it could be that simple.
***Spanish Translations if you want them:
"Miss Quartermaine, did you get Miss Webber safely to the Nurse's Office?"
"Yes. I am sorry it took so long but Sarah started vomiting so the nurse called an ambulance and I felt I should stay with her until the ambulance came."
"That is understandable. What happened to Mr. Spencer?"
"He was going to call Sarah's grandmother so she could meet her at the hospital."
"Very well, Miss. Quartermaine. I am going to give you 100% for today's quiz based on our conversation. Tell Mr. Spencer he needs to find me during one of his free periods to make up the quiz."
"Thank you. I will tell Lucky."