Author's Note: Hope you all have a great weekend! In the chapters following this one, we'll get back to Charles and Monica. In the meantime, happy reading!
"I'm sure you're tired of hearing this question," Lorenzo said, once Bobby left, "But how are you now that it's been a few days since Charles came back?"
"You're right, I am over that question," Kellie answered.
Lorenzo looked at Kellie, waiting for her to answer.
"Happy, but less tense now that it looks like the WSB will be leaving Charles alone," Kellie said.
"Diane Miller certainly made sure everyone knew he was back," Lorenzo said, "I'll keep the guards on him for now as precaution. And when he eventually tells me they need to go, have them keep an eye on him from a distance."
"Thank you," Kellie said, "I don't trust the WSB or any of Victor's possible contingency plans."
"Me neither," Lorenzo said.
"If I didn't say it before," Kellie said, "Thank you for making sure he made it here and arranging everything."
"I was happy to do it," Lorenzo said as Sam entered the diner, "Once I was sure it was actually Charles."
"Dad," Sam said, "Not that I'm not happy to see you and Kellie, but I thought you and Mom were having lunch at the MetroCourt. Actually, I think Kristina said she was having lunch you, Kellie."
"Change of plans," Kellie said as Sam looked at Lorenzo.
"Alexis and Kristina are at the MetroCourt having lunch," Lorenzo said, "Kellie and I came here after Sonny showed up."
"Are you okay?" Sam asked Kellie.
Kellie shrugged, "I know how my dad is. I'm just not always able to let it go sometimes."
"Do I even want to know?" Sam asked.
"Probably not," Kellie replied.
"Fair enough," Sam said, "I figure you have more pleasant things to focus on. Danny mentioned it almost felt like Charles hadn't been gone when he was at your place last weekend."
"It does feel a lot like that," Kellie said, "The kids have hardly missed a beat with him."
Bobby came out with Kellie and Lorenzo's order.
"Sam, I'll have your to-go order out next," Bobbie said, setting the plates down.
"Actually, I was thinking if my dad and Kellie didn't mind and it's not any trouble," Sam said, "I might join them instead."
"She's staying," Kellie said as Lorenzo grabbed another chair for Sam to sit at the table with them.
"I will take advantage of any opportunity to have lunch with my daughter," Lorenzo said as Sam sat down.
"I'll plate the order then," Bobby said, leaving.
"Is everything squared away with Charles and the WSB?" Sam asked, "I'm surprised at how fast Charles returned to Port Charles. Other than Drew and Liesl, everyone else there didn't make it back for a few days. I heard that the WSB had some sort of mix up something."
"They put Charles on a different plane than I guess they intended apparently," Kellie said, "But yes, Diane made sure the WSB was taken care of."
"And yet somehow you were already at the hospital with Charles, Dad," Sam inquired.
"Yes, well," Lorenzo said, "We had to make sure that everything was in order for Charles's return."
Sam looked skeptically at Kellie and Lorenzo.
"The right people in Greenland had concerns about the WSB having primary responsibility for overseeing Charles coming home," Kellie said.
"And that's all we can really say about that," Lorenzo said.
"Uh uh," Sam responded.
"How's Drew?" Kellie asked, "He survived all of what happened in Greenland alright?"
"He's good," Sam said, "Glad to be home and that he could get Liesl back for the transplant. Did you hear about Carly, Michael, and the SEC?"
"The SEC was looking for Carly and Michael at the hospital right before I saw Charles," Kellie said.
"I'm so relieved that Drew ultimately decided against merging with ELQ," Sam said, "Ned and Michael originally approached Drew with the idea to merge with Aurora. But Drew wanted to keep his independence."
"Sounds like you both dodged a bullet with that," Lorenzo said.
"Drew is being questioned as it is," Sam said, "since he's a Quartermaine and has voting shares. Has Jason been questioned about it?"
"I wouldn't know," Kellie said, "I assume he votes his shares. But it's not like he takes an active interest in the company."
"Right," Sam said, seeing Bobby coming back out with her food, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Have you heard from Lila Rae, lately, Dad? Is she still loving her first year of college?"
"She is," Lorenzo said, "I think she enjoys being on the opposite coast away from her parents in California. It sounds like she's made friends with Emma Drake and Cameron Webber out there."
"Does she see Mateo much?" Kellie asked.
"Mateo says she actively avoids him," Lorenzo said, "Tries to pretend they're not related. But Sage said he tries to keep an eye out for her."
"I'm sure Lila Rae loves that," Sam quipped, "Have you heard from Spencer since he came back, Kellie?"
"He showed up at the house a couple days ago," Kellie said.
"I'm glad he took you up on the offer to show up," Sam said, "How was he?"
"The usual Spencer trying to pretend he's all nonchalant about things," Kellie said, "But he can't really hide he's anything but."
"Does he still want you to mentor him?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, but I told him I'm not helping him get better at pulling off whatever schemes he cooks up," Kellie said.
"That's the last thing anyone needs," Lorenzo said, "What he does he do with his time? I don't think he has a job and did he go to college after high school?"
"Pretty sure he's been living the trust fund life aside from Pentonville and working here at one point," Sam replied.
"I was kind of wondering about that," Kellie asked, "Did Nicholas teach Spencer anything about running the Cassadine estate, the companies? It just seems like that would make sense if he's expected to take them over one day."
"I don't think so," Sam said, "It's not like Nicholas can teach him being on the run now."
"And Nicholas was thought to be dead when Valentin was in control," Lorenzo said, "Spencer probably didn't think there was any point even if he was out for revenge on Valentin."
"Then he and Nicholas were fighting from the time Nicholas came back," Kellie said.
"Alexis is starting to get concerned," Lorenzo said, "He really doesn't seem to have any direction with his life other than Ace and Trina."
"Maybe Kellie could help with that," Sam said, "He does look up to you."
"I can try," Kellie said, "But the reality is Spencer will do whatever it is he wants to do."
"For better or for worse," Sam said.
"Speaking of directions," Kellie said, "How are things with Danny and what he wants do after graduation?"
"Aren't you taking him on a bunch of college tours this summer?" Lorenzo asked.
"Well, apparently that's not what Danny wants," Sam said, "He told Jason he wants to go to trade school to learn to work on cars. Jason helped him tell us when he brought Danny home last weekend."
"That is a great option," Lorenzo said.
"I guess I'm still getting used to the idea," Sam said, "I had this idea that he was going to college and have the whole experience."
"It's not for everyone," Kellie said, "He could always take other classes later if he decides he wants to."
"I just worry about him," Sam said, "Granted he's not running away from home anymore. But he still like stays out to late sometimes. I worry about some of his friends."
"Sounds like typical kid stuff," Lorenzo said, "For the most part and fairly tame compared to what I know his mother and her cousins were up to at his age."
"When you put it that way," Sam said, "I might feel slightly better."