Wonderful weddings with weird whacko's . . . . .

Brooke and Hope

Brooke looked down at her phone to see who was calling her, when she saw Hopes number, she picked up immediately. This was a part of her dream, that her daughter would reach out to her once she received her wedding invitation, and now it actually appeared to be happening.

She took a deep breath and answered, "Hope?"

After a short pause Hopes voice came with the question, "I got your invite, you're getting married this weekend?"

Brooke smiled to herself in delight, "Yes, Eric and I have reconnected over the last few weeks, he wanted to elope and get married immediately, but I wanted to reach out to both the families, to see if I could bring everyone together again. I know getting married this weekend is short notice for everyone, but after a lot of scrambling I've managed to get a lovely intimate family wedding organised. I thought that maybe, well, maybe, this could be a new beginning for us all, that it could begin to heal the rifts within the family."

"So, Steffy is invited then, well, if she's coming, I'll be sending you a contract for full control over anything filmed by anyone on the day, I'll just copy the same one she had me sign," said Hope, her voice filled with barely controlled rage.

Brookes eyes widened in shock at the sheer venom she heard in her daughter's voice, she was only thankful it was directed at Steffy and not at her. "Hope, I'm sure Steffy wouldn't dare to try to tape you again, not at my wedding!" she said placatingly.

"YOU KNOW WHAT SHE DID TO ME! YOU KNOW HOW SHE PUBLICLY HUMILATED ME! I DON'T, I WON'T, TRUST HER NOT TO TRY IT AGAIN . . . NEVER AGAIN!" Screamed Hope.

"Hope, please," began Brooke before Hope interrupted her.

"Do you want me there or not?" She said sharply, as she seemed to regain control of herself, "because there is no way in hell I'll be going with-out my own rules! No-one is going to take advantage of me ever again! NO-ONE!" she ended on a half shout.

"It's okay Hope, its fine honey, if it makes you feel safer from that evil witch then I'll sign whatever you want. I'll even add a couple of security guards in case she tries to get bullying and vindictive with you. The only reason I invited her is because she's Erics granddaughter. I certainly don't want that snake here, especially after what she did to you. I swear to you, I only invited her to support her grandfather, to make him happy. I won't let her hurt you again honey, and neither will Eric, I promise."

She heard Hope take a deep breath before she answered a little shakily, "Alright, I'll send the document over by courier as soon as I've got it done, I'll tell them to wait and you can sign it and send it straight back to me. I'll see you Saturday."

"That's fine, but Hope, honey, how have you been?" began Brooke, but it was too late, Hope had already hung up.

Brooke looked at her phone for a moment before smiling widely, despite the outburst - which had been directed against Ridges vile witch of a daughter, and was quite understandable given what had happened in the past - her daughter, her sweet, precious, perfect, Hope, had reached out to her at last, she was going to get her back, and this was just the start.

All she needed now was for Ridge to do the same and for him to realise what he was in danger of losing if he didn't come to his senses in time, and then, when he was finally back in her arms, her desperate plan would be complete.

Today was shaping up to be the best day she'd had in months.

Hope

"Hope? Are you okay?" asked Deacon as he came back into the small loungeroom of his flat where Hope had made her call to her mother from.

Hope took a deep breath and opened her eyes, "that was one of the hardest things I've even done, I thought I was ready, but . . ." she trailed off quietly as she tossed her phone onto the loungerooms small table with a shaky hand.

"Honey, you know you don't have to do this, if it's too hard you can still . . ."

Hopes hand shot up to stop Deacons words in their tracks.

"Yes dad, I'm afraid I do have to do this, its time, actually, I think we both know that it's way past time. I love you dad, and I know you're worried about me," she said earnestly as she gazed up into the concerned eyes of her father.

"But we've been through this a hundred times, this is my life, and I'm going to live it my way from now on, with-out everyone telling me they know what's best for me, and me acquiescing to whatever they say. No, I'm finally making my own decisions, and if I ever want to start to get some semblance of a life back, well, then this is what I have to do, I can't keep living off of you forever. Now, onto more important things, did you ring Taylor?"

Deacon sighed and nodded, "I told her what you told me to say, and she says she'll think about it, she's not promising anything, but, well, I'm hopeful."

Hope frowned a little before standing up and taking her father's hands.
"It'll all work out dad, I have a really strong feeling about this, and maybe, while we're at the wedding, you and Taylor might be able to talk to each other, you know, touch base and see if her thinking might have changed once she sees you again."

Deacon's eyebrows rose a little in surprise, "I hadn't thought about that. I think I better go and buy myself a decent suit then. I'll want to look good for the big day if Taylors going to be there, just in case she has a change of heart."

Hope gave Deacons hands a squeeze before turning back to her ever present laptop. "That's a great idea, now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do on a contract," and with that she sat down and dragged up a file she had saved before she started to work.

It took her an hour to change the names, dates and venue that were listed, as well as deleting all the lawyers' names and firms. After finishing triple checking her work, she downloaded the finished document and then printed it out and called a courier immediately, with-in two and a half hours the document was back in her hands, now signed by her mother. She quickly paid the courier and gave her a generous tip, then she carefully placed the signed document in her father's small floor safe, as she closed the lid and relocked it, she took a deep breath and smiled.

Finally, everything was going to be okay again, she was going to reclaim her life, and if what she thought was going to happen was right, then her mother's wedding was going to be a major step in helping her get there.

The wedding . . .

Brooke sat in front of her mirror inspecting herself closely. The hairdresser and make-up artist had left fifteen minutes ago. She was satisfied.

She looked good, spectacular actually, she thought she should wear her hair up more often. She twisted one of the loose curls that framed her face in a finger, a small frown creasing her forehead as she saw the appearance of a deepening wrinkle, she would have to get that seen to, and soon.

Although she'd had some cosmetic work done in the past, she always made sure to go to the very best plastic surgeon in the country. He was exorbitantly expensive, but well worth the money, because when it came to keeping the work subtle, he was a genius. There was no way she was going to get what people called a "windblown" look, or lips like a bee stung Trout! She'd never be able to stand the jeering, the secret (and not so secret) laughter by "friends," not to mention the outright mocking that went on by both the public and magazines at the woman who - foolishly in her mind - had these procedures done! Just the thought of being laughed at and openly mocked was horrifying to Brooke – as were the actual results of the looks in question.

No, subtle was sexy, no-one ever really "knew" for sure if she'd had work done – they suspected of course, gossiped, and generally bitched about her out of jealousy – but no-one ever really knew for sure. She smiled in genuine satisfaction, because along with her looks, she'd been blessed with some generous curves that she kept with her religious workouts, over the years this had allowed her to cultivate a supreme confidence in bed.

She had always been beautiful, but apart from her beauty, she soon learnt exactly what men liked, all thanks to her first serious boyfriend David, a cop with no boundaries. She remembered these early lessons, learnt from them, expanded them, experimented, this way she always made sure she gave men what they desired, and it made her feel powerful, invulnerable. She had soon found that after a man had experienced what it felt like to be with her they were usually easy to bend to her will, easy to manipulate, all of them; all except for Ridge, and to a lesser extent, his half-brother Nick.

Several times he'd broken away from her, she never stopped to wonder if this was why she was so obsessed with him, she simply knew she wanted, no – needed – him, to love her unconditionally! She needed him to be as equally obsessed with her as she was with him, but he wasn't, he never had been, and she didn't know why. He enjoyed her, she made sure of that, but it still didn't seem to be enough for him. The only thing she could think of was Taylor, ever since she had got her claws into him and had given him a son and twin girls, he had always seemed to keep a little distance between them, a gap she could never quite breach, no matter what, or how hard she tried. What did she give him that she couldn't? It was a puzzle that had perplexed and eluded her for over half her life.

She heard what sounded like two cars pulling up outside bringing her out of her introspection abruptly. That would be Hope, Deacon, and Ridge, the only three people who had deigned to give her a RSVP.

She smiled in anticipation– Ridge!

She rose from her seat and quickly went to a hanger where her wedding gown hung, and with a practiced ease she quickly slipped into it.

Eric smiled in welcome as Hope and Deacon walked in the door. "Hope, thank you for coming. Your mother was so excited when you called her, I haven't seen her so happy in months. If you want to see her, she's just upstairs getting ready, I know she'd be thrilled if you went up and said hello."

Hope nodded and headed upstairs without having said a word, as she went up the stairs as both Ridge and Taylor entered and went over to greet Eric, Ridge casting Hope a quick look as they passed.

Hope nodded briefly and hurried up the stairs, she knew Ridge would be up soon, but in the meantime she had work to do, she went to her mother's room, trepidation following each step she took. I can do this, I must, just hold it together Hope, just hold it together! She told herself sternly.

She reached her mother's room, and after taking a deep breath she knocked and entered.

Brooke turned around as Hope entered the room, "Hope, sweetheart, I can't tell you how happy I am that you came, this means everything to me," she said as she finished putting on the wedding dress she had just hopped into on.

Hope turned around and walked over to a nearby stand and placed her bag next to a large vase of flowers. She stood still for a moment, trying to gather herself and keep the sudden anger that had surfaced when she had first seen her mother at bay, at least for now.

"Hope? Honey? Are you okay?" asked Brooke with concern.

Hope nodded as she fidgeted with her bag, "I'm fine, I just thought that Katie and Donna would be here, that's all."

Brooke frowned and her eyes welled with unshed tears, I invited them but they both ignored me, as did Bridget. Thorne, well, I thought it best not to invite him, all things considered, and Pam was also out for the same reason. I did try to get in touch with Rick though, but he said he was in the middle of a major renovation at his new property so couldn't come, but he did wish me and his father well. Neither Felicia, Dom, Kristan, Zende, Steffy or Thomas even bothered to answer my invitations, only you, Deacon and Ridge showed us any curtesy," she said with a sad smile.

She turned back to the mirror and said, "could you button me up please."

Hope looked at the back of the dress, or what there was at the back, just three crystal buttons to cinch the waist, and three crystal buttons that held ornate crystal embedded silver chains that would dangle seductively against her back as she moved. Hope quickly fastened her mother's dress before looking at her through the mirror her mother was facing.

"I thought you loved Ridge, why the hell are you doing this?" She asked.

"Yes Logan, why?" asked a new voice from the doorway.

Hope and Brooke both turned around to see Ridge standing there staring at them.

"I guess I better leave you two alone for a moment then," said Hope, and with that last word she hurried out and stood by the partially ajar doorway as Ridge moved further into the room.

"Logan?" He asked.

Brooke stared at him, all the love she felt for him showing clearly in her eyes.

"Ridge, please, after you left me, I was devastated. I tried everything I could to get you back and you cruelly rejected me every single time, and then, then, well, after that horrible night when I got drunk and did something incredibly stupid, everyone abandoned me."

"Do you blame them?" Asked Ridge in disbelief.

"No, of course not, but nobody would listen to what happened, how I was drunk and didn't know what I was doing, everyone just abandoned me, they hated me, especially Hope and Bridget! I lost my children Ridge; I was devastated and alone. I needed you! I tried to find you, to explain to you what really happened, but you had gone off with Steffy after they'd told you God knows what about me! I searched for you, I called everyone I knew in Europe, every hotel, every contact, both business and personal, but no-one had heard a word. I had no idea where you were, I needed you so badly Ridge, I was desperate, I needed to explain to you the truth of what happened, but you had just disappeared."

Ridge raised an eyebrow but kept quiet as Brooke continued.

"I fell into a deep depression, I felt so alone, everyone hated me, I felt like I had nothing! Eric was the one who made sure I ate, he sat with me, held me when I cried, he helped me move forward. He was a true friend to me, and we became closer over the last few weeks because of his loyalty and support of me."

"So, you're sleeping with him again and are now going to marry him while dressed in a dress that I designed. Is this your way of trying to rub a little salt into the wound? I thought you loved only me Brooke, or was all that just a lie?" Asked Ridge in a flat voice.

Brooke gazed at him imploringly, "I do love you Ridge, you know I do, you're my destiny. I wore this dress so you'd realise just what you mean to me. I'm your Logan Ridge, I have been since the first day we met, I just need you to see that again."

"So why the hell are you going to marry my father?" He said angrily.

"I do love Eric Ridge, he's been a good friend and I know he loves me; he'll be happy, you know he's always wanted to reconnect with me again."

Ridge gripped Brookes shoulders as he looked at her, "Logan, you just said it yourself, you love him as a friend, you're not in love with him, not how life partners should be in love. For God's sake, you just admitted to being in love with me!"

"But," began Brooke.

"No Logan, there's no ifs, buts or maybe's, you just said you are still in love with me, but you're willing to lead my father on and humiliate him as a man by marrying him when you don't love him. That's not right Logan, and you know it!"

"Then do something about it! Marry me Ridge," cried Brooke.

Ridges eyes widened in shock at her anguished plea.

Seeing his shock Brooke quickly continued, "I can explain everything to Eric, we can get married downstairs, he'd understand Ridge, he loves us, and he knows we love each other! You know you love me; you'll never get over me Ridge, never!" She said desperately as she grabbed a hold of his arms and tried to lean in to kiss him.

Ridge grabbed her and pushed her away from him, staring at her with a mixture of horror and disgust. "You can't be serious! Don't do this Logan, we're over, I've told you that time and time again, but just because we're over, that doesn't give you the right to hurt my father like this. Sleep with him if you must, but pities sake, don't lead him into utter heartbreak by marrying him, he doesn't deserve that!" With that he turned around and stormed out of the room.

Brooke sunk onto the small chair in front of the make-up mirror as Hope immediately re-entered the room.

Meanwhile downstairs

As Ridge and Taylor walked over to Eric, Deacon moved aside a little, he shifted a little uncomfortably in his new suit as he stared at Taylor, she looked poised, beautiful, as always.

He smiled at her, "Hello Taylor, you look amazing, as usual."

Taylor smiled, "thank you Deacon, you look quite dashing yourself," she said as she eyed him in surprise.

Deacons' chest swelled with pride, it had cost an arm and a leg, and had left him totally skint, but the new suit had been well worth it, just for that look, and that smile.

"Now if you two will excuse me for a moment, I wanted to have a quiet word with Eric if I could."

She turned back to Eric, "we could talk on the patio if that's alright?"

Eric sighed and slowly followed her out the door. Ridge turned away from Deacon abruptly and headed straight up the stairs, obviously heading towards Brooke's bedroom, leaving Deacon alone with two hulking security guards. He sighed and walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink as he took his phone out, it was going to be a long morning.

Outside on the terrace Eric turned to Taylor. "Look Taylor, I know what you're about to say, so don't! I know what I'm doing, besides, I would have thought that this would make you happy, Ridge is free now, you can get back together and reunite your family again."

"Eric, first and foremost we're not only family, we're friends, and have been for years. Please, you must know that Brooke isn't in love with you, she loves Ridge, she always has, and that will never change. If you marry her you're just going to get hurt all over again, and I don't want that for you, I want you to be happy, and in a healthy relationship."

"Look Taylor, I appreciate your concern, but I love Brooke, and I know she loves me! Since Ridge left her, we've been reconnecting, getting closer, we're at a point where the only logical next step is marriage. I want this Taylor, and so does Brooke, she's finally let go and moved on from Ridge, and so have I"

"Eric, please, just listen to me," she began.

"No Taylor, please respect my wishes, I love Brooke and Brooke loves me, we ARE getting married, and there's nothing you can do or say to stop that. I trust Brooke, and I trust what she feels for me! Now, if you can't be happy for us then perhaps, you'd better leave!" He snapped before turning around and walking back inside where he was just in time to see Ridge coming down the stairs.

"Couldn't stop yourself, could you?" Eric snapped angrily.

"You basically threw her at me, you actually encouraged me to reconnect with her, and here you are, now that we're finally together and happy, trying to snatch my happiness away again, but it didn't work did it, because she's not with you. She turned you down because she wants me! Brooke chose me!" He stormed.

"Dad, I was just saying that so I could get away from her, I needed space, and I knew I'd never get it as long as I worked with both of you! For God's sake dad, she didn't choose you, she just asked me to marry her, she even offered to tell you and have the wedding here, RIGHT NOW! He shouted in frustration.

"Oh God, I want to be sick, that's disgusting," said Taylor as she walked over to stand by Ridge.

"You're not wrong," muttered Deacon as he moved towards the bar again with his now empty glass.

"YOU'RE LYING! Shouted Eric.

"YOU'RE AN UNGRATEFUL LYING BASTARD!"

"Dad, please, listen to me," Ridge began before Eric shut him off.

"NO, STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT THERE! I'M SICK OF THIS! YOU'RE NO SON OF MINE, YOU'RE A DAMN MARONEY THROUGH AND THROUGH! RICK IS MY ONLY SON, MY SON WITH BROOKE, THE WOMAN I LOVE, THE WOMAN WHO LOVES ME! He shouted angrily, slowly getting redder and redder in the face as every bitter spiteful thing he'd ever thought over the years now, finally, came to the surface.

"YOU'RE MOTHER WAS JUST A LYING WHORE WHO TAPPED ME AND PALMED OFF HER ILLEGITIMATE KID ONTO ME! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN UNGRATEFUL, SPITEFUL, UPSTART, AND THE ONLY REASON YOU CAN DESIGN IS BECAUSE I WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO TEACH YOU! BUT GUESS WHAT RIDGE, YOU WERE NEVER AS GOOD AS ME, AND YOU NEVER WILL BE! I MADE FORRESTERS INTO WHAT IT IS TODAY – ME – ERIC FORRESTER! NOT STEPHANIE AND CERTAINLY NOT RIDGE MARONEY! I'M THE PATRIACH OF THIS FAMILY! I'M THE ONE WHO BROOKE LOVES, ME! I WIN RIDGE! YOU LOSE! NOW GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE!" He thundered as he signalled to the two security men. "BOTH OF YOU!"

Ridge stared at his father in shock, "You don't mean that," he said in shock.

Eric looked at Ridge, malice and rage clearly showing on his face, in a quieter venom filled voice he said, "Oh, believe me, I mean every word I just said, I've always felt this way, I've just kept it hidden to keep the peace, well no more, I've had enough of you and your disrespect! My only regret in all of this is I that didn't say it years ago when I wanted, you and your despicable spawn are nothing without me Ridge, NOTHING! Now do as I say and get the hell out of my house!"

The taller security man reached Ridge, "This way please," he said as he grasped Ridges arm.

Ridge tried to shrug his arm out of the man's grip but it was like iron and he felt himself being dragged reluctantly towards the door, in the meantime the other security guard made a grab for Taylor.

"Don't you touch her," said Deacon as he saw what was coming and placed himself between Taylor and the large dark-haired man.

"It's alright, I'm leaving," said Taylor trying to calm the situation.

"Dad, don't do this," said Ridge as he was led forcefully to the door.

Eric stood there passively, just as hell broke loose.

The second security guard, perhaps feeling as if he should be showing a little more "muscle" made another grab for Taylor, Deacon pushed him aside forcefully, "she told you, she's going okay, just give her a chance to get her coat."

The dark-haired man, thinking that Deacon was now a combatant, took a swing.

Taylor screamed as the punch took Deacon in the side of his face and sent him flying into a group of delicate silk embroidered chairs sending them flying. He started to get to his feet as the guard came after him to finish what he'd started.

Deacon saw him coming and quickly lashed out with a savage kick to the guards stomach as he leant over to grab him.

"Get her out of here," yelled Deacon to Ridge who was now by the door staring back in shock with the other guard, while Taylor stood by a small stand at the foot of the stairs, her hands at her mouth.

"Taylor!" Ridge yelled, "For God's sake, get out of here NOW!"

Deacon leapt to his feet to face off with the other guard who was now totally upright and looking like he wanted to commit murder.

Meanwhile – Upstairs

"You never change, do you?"

Brooke looked up to see that Hope had re-entered the room.

"Everything is always about you and what you want isn't it. What's good for Brooke Logan. Oh, others might get a looksee and a handout every now and then, but only when it suits you, because in the end, everything always has a Brooke Logan attachment to it. Everything has to be good for you in some way, it has to serve your purpose, and then, and only then, will you allow it to happen," said Hope conversationally.

"All these years I actually thought you loved me, loved Ridge," she added in a somewhat puzzled tone.

"Hope? Honey, please, I can explain, this was my last chance to plead to Ridge, to make him see sense."

Hope laughed bitterly, just as the sound of shouting drifted up from downstairs.

"Love? You don't know the meaning of the word. Do you know that I used to think there was something wrong with me, but since your latest betrayal of me I've been doing a lot of thinking, it's not me that has something wrong with them, it's you. At first, I thought you were like a broken doll, pretty, but thoroughly messed up, everyone seems to think that all you need is to be shown real love and compassion and you'll be okay, you'll heal from whatever is wrong with you. But they're wrong, you're not broken at all, there's something actually missing from you, you don't feel any empathy for anyone, not like normal people do. You're controlling, you gaslight those you say you love to suit your own personal wants and needs, you uncaringly spread pain and misery everywhere you go and you don't care! You're a damn sociopath, you can't even see that what you're doing to Eric is cruel, and I for one have had enough."

She turned and went over and grabbed her bag, just as the shouting from downstairs reached a crescendo.

"Is this why you and Ridge came? To ruin my day? To attack me when I'm at my most vulnerable?" cried Brooke as tears coursed freely down her face.

Hope walked to the door and opened it; only then did she look back.

"Oh, I had a feeling something would happen, I thought that you were probably up to something, and I wasn't wrong, but, and this is the really funny part. A small piece of me that I wasn't even aware of still hoped, still . . ." she caught herself on a half sob, "still wanted to believe, but once again, it was yet another scheme, just another lie. You disgust me, I only wish that everyone knew what type of woman you really are, maybe then they would be able to defend themselves against you, and others like you. I just hope that Taylor managed to talk some sense in Eric!"

"Taylors here?" asked Brooke in shock.

A loud crash came from downstairs and Hope turned in concern.

"What the hell?"

She turned away from her mother and hurried downstairs, just in time to find her father facing off against a large dark-haired man amongst a pile of upended chairs.

"Dad!" She shouted.

Everyone turned to her, except for Deacon and his adversary, who were still eying each other for openings to attack.

"Eric, we're leaving, call off your thugs and go see to your future wife! If she still wants to marry you after proposing to Ridge that is," Hope said spitefully.

"Enough, everyone, just get out, you too Hope, and none of you come back, ever, I've had enough of the lot of you!" Eric said angrily.

Ridge, Taylor, Deacon, and Hope hurried outside while the getting was good, Deacon grabbing his phone from the drinks sideboard where he'd left it, and Taylor grabbing her coat from the table before they fled out the front door.

"I gather it didn't go well with Eric?" Hope asked as they finally got to their cars.

Ridge closed his eyes, "he's gone, the man I knew as my father is dead. After what he said, I don't think there will ever be a way back for us." he said morosely.

"Ridge, he was just upset and angry. He didn't mean it, when he cools down and starts to think about what happened and what he said in the heat of the moment, I'm sure he'll reach out to you to apologise," said Taylor as she stroked his arm.

"No Doc, you heard him, he was serious, it sounded like he'd been saving all of that up for years, every nasty spiteful thing he said. I don't think there is any way back from that, especially for me," Ridge replied.

Hope looked at Ridge, the pain and tiredness seemed to ooze from him, "she's not going to get away with this Ridge, I promise you, not this time. I heard what she said to you, she begged you to marry her! And now she will probably still go ahead and marry Eric, despite trying to get you to marry her in front of him just a few minutes before! She's evil Ridge, she needs to be stopped once and for all. People need to know about her!" She said angrily.

Ridge shook his head as if exhausted, "Dreams Hope, they're just dreams, no-one will listen to you, especially Eric, she has everyone fooled, and I'm ashamed to say that I'm one of the ones who enabled and helped her."

Taylor looked at Deacon and then glanced at Ridge, "I'll take you back to Steffi's, okay? She'll be waiting to see what happened anyway."

Ridge nodded and she ushered him over to their car while Deacon took Hopes arm and took her over to hers.

"Are you okay honey?" he asked as he helped her in.

Hope was silent until he climbed into the driver's seat beside her.

She smiled, "I will be," she said as she took her still recording phone out of her bag.

"You?"

Deacon nodded and took out his phone from his pocket, "I got it all."

Hopes smile turned into a grin, "I think it might be time to go see Bill Spencer bout a story!"

Deacon nodded, he was still worried about Hopes plan, well, more worried about his daughter really, but everything she'd guessed about today had come true. She'd had him ring Taylor to suggest they go to the wedding, and that Hope wanted to try to film Brooke so she could show the proof to Eric if he didn't believe Ridge and her.

She'd said she'd think about it, but in the end, she'd agreed, they might need to convince Eric if the old fool was too besotted with Brooke and refused to listen to the truth. Unfortunately, as it turned out, things had gone to hell in a handbasket, so an alternative plan that Hope had also secretly come up with had been adopted.

Taylor and Ridge didn't know about this, and Deacon was pretty sure they wouldn't have been happy about it if they had known, but after today, well after today all bets were now off.