Ellen Sharpe pretended to appear nonchalant when she stepped into Cetano's Bakery on Lexington Avenue, it was all part of the plan. She made her way to the Bakery counter and started to order a dozen donuts when she heard a familiar voice call, "Ellen! Hi!"
Ellen feigned surprise and turned to see Carolyn Belden and her daughter in law Cindy seated at a table with coffee and cheese Danish. Because it was all part of the plan, she called back, "Carolyn, hello, it is so great to see you again," she said before she made her way over to their table.
"Join us please," Carolyn said, and she was already pulling over another chair before Ellen reached the table.
Once she was seated, Ellen turned to face Cindy. "Elijah and I have been praying for your family. I cannot imagine your loss," she said.
Cindy Belden deflected her eyes downward at her own untouched Cheese Danish. "Thank you," she mumbled.
"How is Elijah," Carolyn asked. She raised her fork to her mouth and took another bite of her Danish.
"He is good. Our whole family is good. We are just praying for the Lord's guidance on a matter," Ellen said.
"Of course, and I am sure that God will answer your prayer. You and Elijah have such great faith," Carolyn said.
"Thank you, that is so kind of you to say. We are just hoping to be messengers of the spirit, that the Lord may use us in his will. But perhaps he already has. I can't imagine why I didn't see the truth right in front of me. I was meant to come into this Bakery at this moment for a much greater purpose than picking up donuts for tonight's women's circle. I think the Lord was calling me to you Cindy," Ellen said.
Cindy just looked confused.
Ellen wondered if she was pouring it on a little too thick. She paused for effect. "I am not sure if you know this, but my husband has been helping a woman. She is young, unmarried, pregnant and if that wasn't enough, she is addicted to drugs. But she wants to get her life on a better path, and she is looking for a family for her baby," Ellen said.
"Oh my! I hadn't thought of that, but you are right, Ellen. It is meant to be. Cindy and Kurt are meant to adopt that baby! The Lord always has a plan, and he didn't mean for you to have empty arms, my dear. He just intended to fill them differently!" Carolyn gushed.
Cindy still just looked confused.
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Scott Baldwin released a deep sigh and then nodded when Dara Jensen reminded him that he was not required to testify and that his testimony could be used against him. "I understand, and I wish to testify," he said aloud.
"NY state defendants who choose to testify before the grand jury must first provide a summary narrative. My questions will follow," Dara said.
"On October 4th I was alone at my residence at 318 Lexington Avenue when Detectives Jordan and Garcia arrived and informed me that there was a warrant for my arrest on the charge of rape. This was shocking to me, as I have never raped anyone, but I cooperated with law enforcement and learned later at the PCPD that a student intern from our firm had alleged that I had raped her on October 3rd. I did not rape anyone and told the detectives that. I voluntarily submitted a DNA sample and then pled not guilty at arraignment and my attorney notified the prosecutor that I would testify before the grand jury as I am completely innocent of the alleged crime," Scott said.
"Thank you, Mr. Baldwin. I do have some questions. When did you last see the alleged victim, Ms. Peterson?"
"I was in my office at the firm, Friday afternoon and Ms. Peterson was at the firm then as well. She brought me a phone message around 3:30 and I called her back into my office around 3:45 pm because the phone message only had six digits. I left a little after five and her desk was empty then which I presume means she had already left for the evening, but I can't say that with absolute certainty," Scott said.
"After you left, where did you go?" Dara asked
"I went home. Once home, I called to make sure that my older daughter had successfully picked my younger daughter up from her ballet lesson, and I called Eli's to order their spareribs feast for pick up. Then I took a shower and got ready for the evening. I picked up the ribs and then picked up my date and we drove up to Mt. Kisco Overlook for a picnic under the stars."
"You told the Detectives all of that but didn't disclose the name of your date. Why was that?"
"I didn't want her harassed by the media or the police," Scott said. He hadn't wanted to make things more difficult for Eve. He hadn't planned on the Detectives coming across the security footage of him picking her up from the main entrance to PCGH. He really hadn't anticipated that Detectives would show up at the hospital to question her.
"But then PCGH security footage showed her leaving the hospital with you around seven o'clock and Detectives did speak with her," Dara said.
Scott decided not to point out to Dara that she was testifying. Objections weren't really a thing in front of the grand jury and although he wasn't sure exactly what Dara was doing it almost seemed that she was trying to help him.
"So, at this point, are you willing to stipulate that you were with Dr. Evelyn Lambert from approximately seven o'clock to sometime after eleven o'clock PM on the evening of October 3, 1997?" Dara asked.
The cynical part of Scott was still looking for the trap tied to his stipulation. The rest of him was just sick of the whole process. It had been more than three weeks since he had been allowed to tuck his daughter into bed. "That is accurate so I can stipulate it," he said.
"Can you also stipulate that you didn't have sexual relations, consensual or otherwise, at any time on October 3, 1997?" Dara asked.
"That is also true, so sure I can stipulate to that," Scott said. He really had no idea what Dara was doing. Was she pushing for no true bill?
"Then in that case, I don't have any further questions. You may step down," Dara instructed.
Still not quite certain what had just happened, Scott did exactly that.
XXXXXXXX
Ned Ashton's heart sunk when he stepped back into Carly's room. Even from the doorway she looked so uncomfortable and ill. "Thanks for staying with her," he told Beth Quartermaine.
"Of course, we're family, and Carly is really cool," Beth said.
Ned smiled. "Yeah, she definitely is going to be the cool mom. I'll try not to tell too many dad jokes after age two," he said.
"Do they stop being funny then? Don't tell Kensi that! She will be two in May, and she still finds Mark entertaining. Of course, maybe Mark is meant to be the cool parent in our household. After all, he isn't devoid of any possible sense of humor," Beth said.
Ned chuckled. "Dare I ask if that very distorted assessment is courtesy of my first wife?" he asked.
Beth laughed. "Indeed, it is! I am not channeling appropriate emergency rushing for abysmal planning on her part and she is less than thrilled about that," she said.
"Yeah, that sounds like Jenny. So what favor are you not following through with quickly enough for her satisfaction?" Ned asked.
"Apparently they're coming into town for Susannah's National Honor Society Induction at the end of next week. At least from Jenny's perspective we should just reserve them a suite at the PC Hotel and pay for it," Beth said.
Ned chuckled. "On the positive side, if they're staying at the PC Hotel at least they aren't staying with you," he said.
Beth smiled. "Good point. Actually, I reserved them a suite at the Hilton Garden Inn in Merrimack. It is closer to Chapparal Country Day," she said.
"And conveniently further from you," Ned said.
Beth laughed. "That was part of the plan," she said. "I'm sorry that was needlessly unkind," she added.
Ned heard the guilt in her voice. He shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps…or perhaps you just reached your limit. I think people sometimes do with Jenny," he said. He certainly had. He dismissed that thought as he lowered himself down onto the edge of Carly's bed.
Carly's cheeks were flushed and although her eyes were closed, she moved restlessly as if she was too uncomfortable to lie still but too weak to move into a better position.
"I'm right here sweetheart," Ned whispered as he gently kissed her head.
"She looks so uncomfortable," Beth said.
Ned nodded. He readjusted the cool compress someone had laid on her forehead. "Unfortunately, I'm afraid she is very uncomfortable. This has been a very difficult pregnancy for Carly, especially over the past month. Although I truly believe she has done absolutely anything and everything possible for our son, I fear that she has reached the limits of her body. She has reached a point where she is too weak to even sit up in bed, she is requiring oxygen and medications to support her blood pressure. Saying that she isn't doing well, is a pretty significant understatement," he said.
"I agree. Carly mentioned that Dr. Meadows wanted to deliver the baby early," Beth said.
"I think her current plan is to wait another twenty-four hours after she completes the course of Decadron, so probably another 3 days," Ned said.
"Carly didn't seem comfortable with that though," Beth said.
"Carly is going to be an amazing mom. She is already so focused on what is best for Michael. Unfortunately, she is forgetting that what is best for Michael is for growing up with his amazing mom! Attempting to carry this pregnancy to term is going to set up a scenario where Carly is gambling with her own life and I can't go along with that," Ned said.
"I agree. Also, I kind of suggested this to Carly when we were discussing this but if she tries to carry this pregnancy much longer, she may not just be risking her own life but also Michael's life. My brother died alongside Marlena when she seized from Eclampsia around thirty-three weeks. Marlena planned to deliver at Mercy, and I guess pre-term inductions go against their pro-life statement of faith which is a little ironic if you really think about it," Beth said. Tears glistened on her lashes.
Ned reached out and gave Beth's hand a squeeze. He had more known of than really known Beth's stepmother. He knew she had died the summer of 1989. That had been the summer before his senior year at Duke and he had been home in Port Charles interning at ELQ. "I'm sorry," he said.
"Thank you. I am seriously praying that things are very different for Carly and Michael than they were for Marlena and Joseph. Marlena didn't have the opportunity to make an educated choice for herself or her son and I worry that Carly may be too sick to use her own opportunity. You're not doing the wrong thing if you let Dr. Meadows deliver Michael early if she believes that is the best chance, they both have to survive," Beth said.
"I understand," Ned said solemnly. He was very aware that he could lose his wife and his unborn child. He looked down at Carly again. She seemed even more uncomfortable, and her breathing had become rapid, labored, and erratic. Instinctively he reached again for a basin, scooped her into his arms, and supported her upright as she vomited more green liquid. Peripherally he saw Beth slip out of the room.
After several minutes of vomiting Carly collapsed back against his chest dripping with sweat and shaking. "I'm sorry. I don't feel well," she said. Her voice was faint, and it was clear that it was a struggle for her to get the words out.
"I know sweetheart, but I'm right here," Ned said as he gently laid her down, moved the basin out of the way, and started to wipe her face and hands with the washcloth.
"Here, why don't you let me empty that and I brought a fresh gown and some clean sheets," Carrie Sanders offered as she stepped back into the room with Beth. She extended the stack of linens to Beth and then reached for the nearly full basin before leaving the room.
"Thanks for getting the nurse," Ned said as he finished wiping Carly's face.
"Of course, you looked like you had your hands full. Do you want me to take away this top sheet?" Beth asked.
"Yeah, thank you, and then maybe we can get her into a clean gown. This one is drenched with sweat. I'm not sure if she is shivering from being wet or if she is about to spike a higher fever but neither is good," Ned said.
"Poor Carly," Beth said as she added the soaking wet gown to the dirty linen hamper in the room.
Ned nodded as he worked Carly's arm through the fresh gown. He couldn't imagine how she was supposed to suffer for another three days.
XXXXXXXX
"Ewww!" Kim Randolph shrieked in the dirty utility room of the High-Risk Obstetrical Unit. "I can't believe you're measuring vomit!"
Carrie Sanders RN shook her head but refrained from rolling her eyes at the new student nurse that had just arrived on their unit. "When a doctor orders strict I&Os we're supposed to measure everything. That is kind of the point."
"I'm sorry but that is ridiculous, and gross," Kim said. She did roll her eyes.
Carrie dumped the graduated cylinder and then tossed it in the trash. "I never said nursing was glamorous. Now, we need to go, reassess the patient and then update Dr. Meadows. Please try to remember that this poor young woman is critically ill, her husband is very concerned about her and their unborn baby, and it would be wise if you kept your opinions to yourself," Carrie advised.
Kim rolled her eyes again but didn't speak.
Carrie decided it might be a start as she led the way out of the dirty utility room and down the hall into Carly Ashton's room. Mrs. Ashton seemed to be tucked back into clean linens and her husband sat beside her bed his head in his hands. "Is there anything else you need?" she asked when she stepped into the room.
Ned Ashton raised his head. "I'm not sure. I think we got her all cleaned up. I guess I was just hoping she might feel a little better by now," he said.
"Of course," Carrie said empathetically. Unfortunately, by all objective measures it seemed that Mrs. Ashton's condition was continuing to deteriorate. She knew that Dr. Meadow's tentative plan was for induction on November 1st but somehow, she suspected that there would be a STAT cesarean section done long before then. "I know Dr. Meadows was going to come back after the office, anyway but I will update her that Carly is still vomiting and running a high fever," she added.
"Thank you," Mr. Ashton said. "We really do appreciate everything."
"Of course," Carrie said. She found herself smiling as she left the room. Not all patients were entitled!
XXXXXXXX
Kim Randolph carefully debated her next move. She could run tattling to Tony. In the moment Tony would certainly appreciate her willingness to violate patient confidentiality. Of course, he might also run right back to Carly and then where would that leave her? No, she wasn't running to Tony. She was going to spend the rest of her rotation storing up any potentially useful information for later and also maintain plausible deniability that she even knew Carly was a patient. That was exactly what she was going to do!