Chapter 62- Lost Sheep
Wiley left his cars in his room and started to head downstairs but stopped when he heard Grandma Carly come in.
"How are my grandkids?" Carly asked.
"Not good, Mom. Don't get me wrong, I love having them with me. But taking care of them full time on my own isn't easy. And it hasn't even been a full week. I didn't realize how much Willow does for them in a day. I ended up having the cook at the main house send us meals each day and I keep calling Brook Lynn and Olivia to come over and help me."
"You should have called me," Carly said.
"But Mom, you live across town and you have Donna to take care of. Plus, you just found out you're pregnant."
"Well, you can still call me. But I think I'll hire you a nanny, so you always have someone on hand."
"How is your pregnancy going?" Michael asked.
"Well, I had my first ultrasound yesterday and they found three heartbeats."
Michael gaped at her. "You're having triplets?"
"Yes, I was very shocked. And the nurse also took a DNA sample to find out if Sonny or Drew is the father. Neither of them know I'm even pregnant yet. I'd like to get the results back before they're told."
Michael shook his head. "Wow. Anyway, Amelia hasn't been sleeping the greatest. She's napping now, but I'll get her up soon for Willow's visit. And Wiley has been having tantrums every day. He wants Willow. Which is why I've decided to take him to visit his mom too today."
Wiley's face lit up.
Carly shook her head. "You can't do that, Michael. Not only will it go against the terms of custody, but it'll only open a huge can of worms. You need to think about what's best for the kids in the long term. They just need a little time. Besides, I decided I should be the one to take Amelia on the visit and you should stay here with Wiley."
Wiley pouted.
"But I was hoping to see Willow," Michael said. "And how will Wiley feel if he knows Amelia gets to see their mom, but he doesn't? It's only a two-hour visit every week, and it's supervised, so Nina won't be there. I feel like this has gone too far. It was Nina I was worried about around the kids, not Willow. And we both know that Willow wasn't starving them."
"Michael, if you give someone an inch, they will take a mile. Unless Willow proves to us that Nina won't be in the picture, we must do everything we can to protect Wiley and Amelia. So, just stay here and play with Wiley, while I take Amelia for the visit. You're already softening, so I fear you will cave if you supervise the visit. Josslyn is taking Donna for a surprise visit with Sonny, and I'm waiting on the DNA results, so I have plenty of time to supervise Willow with Amelia."
Wiley ran down the stairs. "I want to go see Mommy."
Carly sighed. "Oh, Wiley, you weren't supposed to hear that. But guess what? You get to play with Daddy today."
"I want to visit Mommy with Amelia."
"I know it's hard for you to understand, but Mommy made some really bad choices so that's why the judge doesn't want you to see her," Carly said.
Wiley stomped his feet. "I want to see Mommy! I want to see Mommy! I want to see Mommy!" He pushed some books onto the floor and kicked the coffee table.
"Wiley, pick up those books," Carly said.
"No, I won't!" He stomped his foot again. "I won't!"
Michael knelt down with him. "You want to see Mommy, buddy?"
He nodded.
"Then you can—"
"Michael," Carly cut in. "Don't give him false hope. Wiley, sweetheart, I know this is confusing for you. But we need to listen to the judge. And the judge wants you to stay here with Daddy."
"I hate the judge and I hate you and I hate you!" He ran back upstairs to his room and slammed the door, causing Amelia to wake up screaming.
GHGHGH
Josslyn pulled the car in front of Pozzulo's and leaned over her shoulder to look at Donna. "Ready to surprise your dad?"
Donna nodded.
"Great, because Spencer and I have to go talk to Trina about something." Josslyn looked at Spencer in the passenger seat, then back at Donna. "You okay going in on your own or do you want us to walk you in?"
"I can go by myself," Donna said. She unbuckled her seatbelt and went inside.
Josslyn and Spencer drove off. Donna walked in and noticed the guards talking to someone, she headed to her dad's office and noticed the door was open a crack.
One of Sonny's men shoved a man into a chair and pulled off a sac to reveal Cyrus Renault.
Sonny tapped his fingers against his desk and stared Cyrus down. "You've been sending me the threats, haven't you?"
"Sonny, I think we need to make peace and forgive each other like Christ forgives—"
" HAVEN'T YOU?" Sonny pounded his fist causing Donna to jump.
"No, I haven't—"
"And you stole some of my shipments."
"I have not stolen anything," Cyrus said. "I no longer sell drugs and I no longer steal. I serve the Lord now. In fact, I'm living in a homeless shelter because I can't get a legit job. When your men grabbed me, I was on my way to Mount Hebron Church to both attend and serve at their soup kitchen."
"Stop. Lying."
" Luke 6:37 Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven," Cyrus recited. "I forgive you, Sonny. And I hope you forgive me—"
Sonny pulled his gun out of his desk and pointed it at Cyrus. "Where are my shipments?"
Donna stepped a little closer.
"I truly don't know, Sonny," Cyrus said. "Why don't you go to church with me? They always do a Bible reading while we're there. I know it will do you so much good."
"I'm not going anywhere with you," Sonny said.
They turned when one of the guards pushed the door open and Sonny spotted Donna.
"Mr. Corinthos, your daughter is here," the guard said.
Sonny slipped the gun away and moved over to Donna. "Get Renault out of my sight." He prodded Donna out of the office. "Hi sweetie."
"Hi Daddy."
"I didn't know you were coming. Let's get you a milkshake."
GHGHGH
Felicia went into the living room to find Esme playing with Ace on the floor. She sat on the couch and smiled at them.
"He sure loves those balls, doesn't he?"
Esme nodded.
"Will you be ready to go soon?" Felicia asked.
Esme rolled Ace the ball. "I'll go to the soup kitchen but I'm not going to therapy."
Felicia sighed. "I know it's a lot in one evening, but this was the only night I could get you in with Dr. Winters this week. Next week we can try for a separate night."
"I'm not going any night," Esme said. "I'm not going at all."
"Frankie, it'll be really good for you. I know you're scared, but you will be in control. Dr. Winters will just be there to guide you. And if you don't want to get into anything deep right away, that's okay. Even just start by talking about Ace or your dreams or anything you want to. I think the important thing to start is to feel comfortable just talking to her."
"If I'm in control, then I'm choosing not to go," Esme said. "It's my decision."
"Yes, ultimately it is your decision," Felicia agreed. "But you have many factors to consider. Number one, it will make you feel so much better. It'll help you learn to deal with your intrusive thoughts and panic attacks. And it'll help you sort through everything you've been through in a safe environment. Also, if the courts find out that you don't obey the court order, they might send you to prison instead. And you also have a custody hearing coming up. This could also affect that. Spencer and Josslyn might use it against you if they find out."
"I've taken psychology courses and Daddy told me that all they do is stare at you and judge you and blame you for everything. He said to avoid it like the plague, because it does nothing. And all you do is end up faking your way through to get people to stop pressuring you. And now you're pressuring me about it!" Esme picked up Ace and started towards the stairs.
"Frankie, I'm not trying to pressure you. I'm sorry if it seems that way. But the courts have given you a deadline and I'm very worried about you. Ryan probably did fake his way through, but you don't have to." She walked over to her. "You said you want to me more like me than him. Well, I'm going to therapy tonight too, and I will not be faking it."
Esme turned to her. "You're planning to sit in on my therapy session?"
"No. I will be in my own therapy session with Dr. Webber because I haven't dealt with the pain and losses from my past properly, and I need to do that."
"Really?"
"Really." Felicia cleared her throat. "We need to get going so you're not late for community service. Why don't we keep your appointment tonight so you don't lose the spot, but you can decide how you feel after your volunteering. If you don't feel ready tonight, I'll take you home, then go to my own appointment. Then maybe we can look at booking you in for next week. I don't want you to feel pressured, but we have to remember your deadline."
"Maybe."
GHGHGH
Josslyn opened the door of the garage apartment and found Trina sitting on a chair.
"Hey," Trina said. "I was starting to think you weren't coming back—"
Spencer walked in behind Josslyn. "Hey Trina."
"What's going on?" Trina asked.
"Trina, the reason I haven't been home all week is because I've been staying at the Sherwood Hotel with Spencer," Josslyn explained.
"With Spencer? What do you mean, with Spencer?"
"It means…." Josslyn held Spencer's hand. "That we're married now and I've been spending each night with him."
Trina laughed. "That's a good one."
"It's true," Spencer said. "Josslyn's mom suggested it, so we can get custody of Ace together."
Trina stopped laughing and stared at them. "Because I said no to your farce of a marriage proposal? Josslyn, how could you go along with this? When did you get married?"
"Sunday night," Josslyn said. "We're doing it for Ace."
"Sunday… two days after Spencer broke up with me, tried to get back with Esme, then proposed to me? What kind of a friend are you, Josslyn?"
Josslyn scoffed. "Excuse me? I'm the best friend you've ever had and will ever have. You turned Spencer down. I don't owe you an explanation."
"Do you honestly believe that you're doing what's best for Ace?" Trina asked. "I don't like Esme, but at least she's not making a fool out of herself like you both are. And even with all her issues, she's looking like the better option as Ace's guardian."
"You're wrong, Trina," Spencer said.
"So, that's why you're here?" Trina asked. "Just to rub this in my face?"
"Well, no," Josslyn said. "We're going to live here."
"And you thought that I would be okay with that?"
"This isn't about you, Trina," Spencer said. "This is about my baby brother."
"Oh my gosh." Trina grabbed her purse. "Then I'm moving back in with my mom. I'll get my things another day." She stormed out.
GHGHGH
Felicia dropped Esme off at the Mount Hebron Church and Esme hesitantly went inside. She glanced around the foyer, wondering where she was supposed to go. She made her way down the hallway and saw a poster of the 10 Commandments.
She skimmed through them and her eyes stopped at #5: Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
She kept staring at it for a while.
"Hello."
Esme jumped at the voice.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm Griffin Munro. I'm the new pastor of this church. Are you here to serve at the soup kitchen?"
She nodded.
"What's your name?" Griffin asked.
"Esme."
"Welcome," Griffin said. "I hope by serving others, that you are also blessed. Please let me know if you have any questions."
She stared back at the fifth commandment. "What if you can't honour both parents at the same time?"
"I'm sorry?"
She pointed to it. "If I honour my mother, then I won't be honouring my father. And if I honour my father, I won't honour my mother."
"Well, I think if it's conflicting between your parents, you need to talk to God about it and sometimes it helps to seek counsel from trusted leaders or trusted people in your life. And it's also important to really examine what it is your parents want you to do, because God values wisdom. It is important to honour your parents, yes, but we need to honour God first. If they're asking you to do something sinful or harmful to yourself or others, then you shouldn't submit to their commands blindly. However, if it's something that will be beneficial to yourself or others or to God's kingdom, you should absolutely follow their advice."
"But what if you don't know if it'll be beneficial or not?"
"It can sometimes help to look at the past advice from your parents. Has their advice proven to be beneficial? Or were their intentions good? And also, you can look at their intentions towards you in general. Have they shown they have your best interest at heart?"
Esme bit her lip.
"Do you mind if I ask who your parents are?" Griffin asked. "I used to live in this town and just returned recently. So, I might know them."
"Felicia Scorpio and Ryan Chamberlain."
He shivered at Ryan's name.
"Do you know them?" Esme asked.
"I did, yes. And without even knowing the specifics of what your parents are wanting you to do, I strongly advise you to honour your mother's wishes and not your father's."
Esme paused in thought for a bit. "Where's the soup kitchen?"
He smiled. "I'll show you. I'm headed there myself."
He led her downstairs to the reception area. Cyrus was standing with a group of people and began reading aloud from his Bible.
" Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, 'This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.' So He told them this parable: 'Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
Esme started to cry.
GHGHGH
Willow waited anxiously at a table at Bobbie's. Finally, Carly walked in with Amelia.
Willow got up and smiled. "Hi baby girl."
Amelia reached for her and Willow held her close, then sat down.
Carly sat across from her.
Willow kissed her forehead. "How's Wiley?"
"He's good," Carly said.
"Mommy got something for you." She lifted a pink gift bag and pulled out a tiny stuffed kitty and a baby book.
Amelia held onto the kitty.
Willow handed Carly a blue gift bag. "Can you please give this to Wiley for me? It's a Paw Patrol book and a stuffed dog."
Carly nodded.
Willow stroked Amelia's cheek.
Carly's phone began to ring and she stepped a little away from the table but made sure she could still see Willow and Amelia. "Hello?"
"Hi, Carly? It's Elizabeth. Your DNA results are in."
"And?"
"They'll be sent to you, but would you like me to tell your over the phone?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. I'd like to know right now."
"So, the test shows that Sonny is the father of all three babies."
Carly smiled a little. "Okay, thank you."
Willow hummed to Amelia and rocked her back and forth.
GHGHGH
Esme left the church after the soup kitchen finished up and she found Felicia already waiting in the parking lot. She climbed into the car and hugged her mom.
Felicia smiled. "Hey. How did it go?"
"Good."
Felicia drove out of the parking lot and stopped at the stop sign and waited to find out if they were turning left or right. "So, would you like to go home or go to the hospital with me?"
Esme stared at her lap, contemplating it. "Would it…" she choked up, "would it honour you if I went to therapy?"
"Oh. Well, yes it would."
Esme took a deep breath. "Okay. Okay, I'll go."
Felicia gave her hand a soft squeeze and turned right.