Chapter 55- Moms Night Out

Esme laid Ace down in his crib after he fell asleep in her arms. She placed his stuffed horse next to him and kissed the top of his head. "I love you, Ace."

When her phone rang, she smiled when she saw Cam's name displayed on the screen. "Hello?"

"Hey, Esme. It's Cam."

"Hey."

"Do you have plans tonight? Jake, Emma, and I were wondering if you want to hang out."

Esme pulled the map out of her pocket and stared at it. "Um… I was thinking about doing something…."

"Oh, well that's okay. Maybe you can join us next time."

"What are you planning to do?" Esme asked.

"We're not sure yet," Cam said. "But we'd be open to ideas."

Esme chewed the inside of her cheek. "Do you guys want to help me with something?"

"With what?"

"My mom's case," Esme said.

"You mean with her P.I. work?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know. What does it entail?"

Esme closed the door to make sure no one could hear her. "Spinelli faxed my mom a map asking if this could be the location."

"Location to what?" Cam asked.

"I don't know."

"Did your mom ask you to help you?"

"Well, no," Esme said. "She doesn't even know about it. I want to surprise her."

"Okay. Well, bring the map and we'll see what Jake and Emma think. We'll pick you up in an hour."

"Thanks, Cam. See you soon." She hung up and checked her reflection before running downstairs to find Mac, Felicia, and Georgie on the couch. "Mommy, can you watch Ace tonight? He's sleeping."

"Sure," Felicia said. "Are you going somewhere?"

Esme nodded. "Cam invited me to hang out with him, Jake, and Emma."

Felicia smiled. "That sounds like fun."

Esme glanced over at the end table and noticed the framed picture of her with Felicia and Ace next to the family photo when Maxie and Georgie were kids.

The front door opened and Lucy poked her head inside. "Oh, Felicia?"

"You're supposed to knock," Anna said behind her.

"I am Felicia's very best friend," Lucy said, pushing the door wider. "I don't need to knock."

"It's rude not to knock." Anna rolled her eyes. "And I'm pretty sure I'm her best friend."

Lucy scoffed. "No. I am! We have been through thick and thin together. Even a double wedding together!"

"For us it's generational," Anna said. "We married brothers. I am Maxie and Georgie's godmother. Felicia helped care for Robin through her teen years. Robin, Maxie, and Georgie are like sisters. Noah and James are mates. Even now Emma and Esme are becoming friends."

Lucy pursed her lips and her nostrils flared. "It's not my fault that Serena and Christina don't live in town! But they used to play with Maxie and Georgie all the time."

Felicia laughed and walked over to them. "You both are my best friends, along with Bobbie." She frowned. "Well, when she was still with us. So, what's up?"

Lucy draped her arm around Felicia. "I thought… it was my idea, you know…." She glared at Anna. "That you've been working very hard with your girls and you deserve a night out."

Anna nodded. "On us. We can go to Charlie's Pub."

Felicia sighed. "I don't know. Thank you for the thought, but I can't leave Georgie and Ace."

Mac cleared his throat. "Actually, I think this is a good idea. You could use a little break. I'm fine with Georgie and Ace. Ace is sleeping anyway. And I'm off tomorrow so I can sleep in."

"Yeah, Mom, go have fun," Georgie said.

Felicia paused in thought. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Mac said. "Esme's going out anyway. You should too."

"Okay," Felicia said and turned to Anna and Lucy. "Let's go."

GHGHGH

Alexis was sitting around a table at the Metro Court with her daughters and their food had just arrived.

"Have you made a decision about Scout?" Alexis asked.

Sam sighed and twirled her fork around in her vegetables. "Yes. Scout agreed to go to North Ward. She starts tomorrow. But she's very depressed about leaving her friends. And she's not very happy with the building."

"I still don't think it's fair that Scout has to move while Avery and Donna get to stay," Molly said.

Kristina frowned. "I wish they could all stay."

Alexis squeezed Kristina's hand. "I know you're in a bad position since Donna and Avery are your sisters."

"Well, they're my cousins," Molly cut in. "And Avery is Sam's. That doesn't mean Scout should have to pay for it when she's the victim in all of this."

"What else am I supposed to do?" Sam asked. "Sonny and Carly won't budge. Neither will Ava, or the school for that matter. Drew and I had to make a decision, so Scout won't be traumatized again."

"You made a good decision, Cookie," Alexis assured. "It might be a hard transition at first, but in the long run this will be good for Scout. It's a fresh start and she will make new friends."

"I hope you're right," Sam said.

"Molly, how is Scarlett?" Alexis asked.

"Okay, I think," Molly said. "TJ's home with her right now. But she has another visit with her grandmother tomorrow. That always makes me nervous."

"I know, sweetie,' Alexis said. "But Scarlett loves you and TJ. You're her family. Any judge has to see that."

"Yeah. Scarlett has warmed up to us a lot. And I can finally calm her and soothe her to sleep."

"You're a great mom, Mol," Kristina said. "Scarlett belongs with you and TJ."

Sam nodded. "I concur."

"Thanks, Krissy. Thanks, Sam."

"And how are you doing, Kristina?" Alexis asked.

"I'm fine. I actually had a surprise customer at Charlie's last night."

"Who was it?" Sam asked.

"Ethan Lovett."

Molly's eyes widened. "Ethan? The same Ethan you were madly in love with as a teenager?"

Kristina laughed. "Yes. That Ethan. He's back in Port Charles. His hair is short now. He asked me for dinner next week."

Sam's eyebrows bounced. "And? What did you say?"

"I said yes, of course." Kristina looked at Alexis. "I know you hated him. But I want to catch up with him."

"I didn't hate him," Alexis said. "I thought he was the one who beat you. And I hated that he was 23 and you were 17. But that isn't the case now, as long as he treats you good. So, I hope your date goes well."

"It's not a date," Kristina said. "Well, not yet anyway. It's just a catch up."

GHGHGH

"Are you sure you don't want to run this by your mom first?" Cameron asked as he drove past the sign for Rochester, New York. "We don't have a lot to go on."

"I'm sure," Esme said. "It probably won't take long. Then we can go for dinner or something after to celebrate."

"I don't mind, Cam," Jake spoke up. "I'm starting to like this kind of thing. Self-investigating."

"But do we even know what we're investigating?" Emma asked. "All you mentioned was a circle on a map and that Spinelli wrote asking if Aunt Felicia thought it could be the location. Location for what?"

"I don't know," Esme said.

Cam sighed. "What if it's something dangerous?"

"Could be a dead body or stolen cash we're locating," Jake said. "Or maybe it's mob-related."

"I want to be the one to solve this for my mom," Esme said. "I don't mind back up or support. But I want this to be a surprise for her."

"Okay," Jake said. "What do you think is at the location, Esme?"

Esme frowned. "I don't know."

"Well, we're here." Cam pulled into the parking lot of the Sherwood Hotel and parked near the chapel attached to it.

GHGHGH

Felicia, Anna, and Lucy arrived at Charlie's Pub and saw Nina sitting alone at the bar. Anna and Lucy grabbed a table, and Felicia went over to Nina.

"Hi Nina. Is everything okay?"

Nina shrugged.

"Would you like to sit with us?" Felicia asked.

Nina dabbed at her wet eyes with a napkin. "I don't want to intrude."

"You're not intruding." Felicia sat next to her. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"The custody hearing is tomorrow and I blew it for Willow."

"How?" Felicia asked.

"Wiley got really hurt while under my care."

"What happened?"

"Amelia was teething, so I left Wiley in the living room and tried to soothe Amelia," Nina explained. "Wiley climbed the counter to get a snack and he slipped. I found him on the floor unconscious."

"Oh my gosh. Is he okay?"

She nodded. "He has a concussion. But the doctor wasn't too concerned."

"Okay. Nina, that wasn't your fault. These things happen."

"That's what Willow said too. But Carly and Michael arrived at the hospital. And Carly told Wiley that she and Michael won't let this happen again. I know they're going to use it in court tomorrow."

"Well, that's not fair if they do," Felicia said. "Carly has raised several children. She should know that kids have all kinds of accidents growing up."

"With her it would be accidents. Anyone else it's purposeful. At least according to Carly."

"She's not right about everything," Felicia said. "Are you sure you don't want to join us?"

"Thanks, but I should probably head home," Nina said. "I've been here a while and I don't want to drink too much since we have to be up early."

"Okay, well I hope things go well tomorrow. Hopefully Michael and Willow can come to an agreement."

Nina gulped down the rest of her drink and headed out.

Felicia sat down with Anna and Lucy.

"…and Doc thought that Mac and Felicia wouldn't want to share their wedding way with us," Lucy explained to Anna, whose eyes were closing. "Oh, hi Felicia. I'm just telling Anna how deep our friendship goes." She turned back to Anna. "But then Mac proved Doc wrong when he said to notify the church so they can make room on the altar to marry him and Felicia with their best friends in the whole world."

Anna's eyes shot open. "Thank goodness you're back, Felicia."

"And then—" Lucy started.

"How are Serena and Christina?" Felicia asked.

"Good. They're coming for a visit next week."

"Are they?" Felicia asked. "That's exciting."

"Yes, they want to see Georgie again and Serena also wants to meet Cody." She smirked at Anna. "See? We're generational too!"

"I need a drink…" Anna mumbled.

"Oh, that would be great," Felicia said. "I know Georgie will be happy to see them. And it will be good for Cody to meet Serena."

Anna sat up straighter when Robin walked in with Elizabeth. She waved them over. "Robin! I didn't know you were coming."

"Yeah, Elizabeth and I thought we could use a girl's night."

"Do you want to join us?" Anna looked at her seriously. "Please. Join us."

"Is that okay with you, Elizabeth?"

"Sure," Elizabeth said.

They sat down and they all ordered shots.

"I think it's great that Esme and Emma are spending time with your boys tonight," Felicia said. "I'm very grateful for what they did for my daughter at the pool."

Elizabeth nodded. "They need a break from all their studying. I'm just worried about them. Especially Jake."

"Why are you worried?" Robin asked.

"Jake's showing a lot of Jason in him lately," Elizabeth said. "He went all the way to Switzerland with Danny and Georgie to rescue Charlotte."

"I am also very grateful for that," Felicia said. "My Georgie was found."

"And good things do come from it, but as a mother, I'm constantly worrying. They could've been hurt. And now Cam and Jake are going with Esme and Emma to check out this hotel."

Felicia raised an eyebrow. "Hotel?"

"What do you mean?" asked Robin.

"Something about a map that Spinelli sent you, Felicia," Elizabeth said. "And that Esme wanted to help you with a case. I suggested they go to Sam's with Aiden instead. But then I figured if you asked Esme to help with it, then it couldn't be anything dangerous."

"I didn't ask Esme to help with a case," Felicia said. "What map was this?"

"Some hotel. I really don't know the details."

"Excuse me." Felicia left the table and called Spinelli.

"Hello, Felicia," Spinelli said.

"Hi Spinelli. I'm sorry to bother you while you're out of town. But did you send anything to me since we last talked?"

"Yes. I faxed you a map of where I believe Dex Heller is located."

Felicia's heart sped up. "I think Esme got it somehow. Where is the location?"

"The Sherwood Hotel in Rochester."

"Do you know a room number or anything?" Felicia asked.

"No," Spinelli said. "Someone to his description was spotted checking in there by an old colleague of mine. I haven't had a chance to look at the cameras."

"Okay, thank you, Spinelli." She hung up and tried calling Esme and then Emma, but neither answered.

She texted Esme: Frankie, I know you're heading to the hotel, but please go home and please call me. It isn't safe for you.

She returned to the table. "I have to go to the Sherwood Hotel. Dex Heller might be there. That's where the kids are heading. I talked to Spinelli. But I can't get a hold of Esme or Emma."

"What?" Robin said. "Well, I'm going too if Emma is with them."

"Me too," Elizabeth said. "I'm sorry, I really thought you knew about this, Felicia."

"I'll drive," Anna said. "Lucy, can you pay the bill and we'll pay you back later. You might have to take a ride share home."

Lucy scoffed. "You think I'm going to sit back while you rescue my best friend's daughter? I'm going too."

"I would help Felicia, yes, but I'm going for my granddaughter."

"Lucy, this isn't really your thing," Felicia said. "And I don't have time to argue you."

"I beg to differ. This is my thing. Don't you remember how I distracted Jackson Montgomery while you looked through his office? I am going with you and I'm going to help you save Esme, because that's what friends are for."

Felicia sighed. "Okay, fine." She threw some cash on the table. "Let's go."

GHGHGH

Spencer and Josslyn pulled into the parking lot at the Sherwood Hotel.

"Hey, isn't that Cam's car?" Spencer asked.

"Probably not," Joss said. "Probably just the same model."

They made their way into the chapel and registered before going up to the officiant.