Chapter 73- Felicia's Decision

After getting dressed for court, Esme sat on her bed with Ace on her lap. She glanced up when Felicia knocked on the door and stepped in.

"Good morning," Felicia said. "Your breakfast is getting cold."

"I'm not hungry," Esme said.

Felicia sat on the bed with her. "You should have something on your stomach. We don't know how long we'll be at the courthouse. I do want to talk to you first though."

"About what?"

"Spinelli found some footage on Judge Carson," Felicia said. "I couldn't sleep last night because I'm very torn about what to do. So, I want to include you in the decision, because I don't want to do anything behind your back."

"What did he find?" Esme asked.

"Someone has been bribing Judge Carson. That's why she lifted the restraining order against Spencer and allowed him unsupervised visitation with Ace."

Esme's eyes widened. "That's why?"

Felicia nodded. "And this person also bribed her to reverse Willow's adoption of Wiley, and why Michael and Carly got custody."

"So, we'll turn in the footage," Esme said. "Then Spence can't win, right?"

"No, I don't believe Spencer will win. But that's what I'm torn about. Whether we should turn in the footage or not."

"Well, why wouldn't we?" Esme asked. "Spence is probably the one who bribed her."

"It wasn't Spencer. It was Nelle Benson."

Esme frowned. "Nelle? But she's trying to help me…."

"She is in some warped way," Felicia said. "But sweetie, you can't trust her. She said on the footage that she wanted to give you obstacles so she can sweep in and be your hero."

"Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. But there's more. She bribed the judge during your trial so that you wouldn't have to do prison time."

Esme paled.

"That's why I'm torn," Felicia continued. "If we turn in the other videos, they might dig deeper and find—"

"You want me to go to prison."

"What? No. Of course not. That's why I'm torn because I don't want you to lose Ace and I also want to help Nina and Willow."

"You care more about Nina and Willow than me."

"That's not true."

"Maybe Nelle is right about you."

Felicia sighed. "What exactly did Nelle say about me?"

"She said you're trying to sabotage me in getting custody of Ace."

Felicia scoffed. "She said what?"

"She said you're just pretending to help me because you want Ace all to yourself. And the reason you're on your laptop and phone so much is because you're gathering evidence against me."

"And how, may I ask, does she know I'm on my computer and phone a lot?"

"She—she says she knows everything about everyone…."

"Frankie…." Felicia touched her shoulder. "That's a red flag right there. And that disturbs me. It sounds like she's been watching us. And she's trying to come between us."

"Nelle's trying to help me."

"Why?" Felicia asked. "What is her motive to help you? You've met her, what, a handful of times?"

Esme bit her lip. "Twice."

"I will show you what's on my laptop and you can talk to Spinelli," Felicia said. "I would never sabotage you with anything. I don't want you to go to prison and I don't want you to lose Ace. I'm on your side, always. But do you even know what Nelle has done in the past?"

"Um, no. But I did things in my past too."

"Honey, you are nothing like Nelle Benson. She killed her fiancé and slit Brook Lynn's throat. And those are only a couple of things she's done. And we have on camera Nelle saying that she bribed the judge into reversing the restraining order so that you will see her as her hero. I can show it to you."

"But if she's the reason I'm not in prison and now you want me to go to prison…."

"No. I do not want you to go to prison. Please get that out of your head. You don't belong there and any judge should see that. I want this behind us, but we also need to think about Ace and Wiley and Amelia, because this affects them too. I think if we come forward it will help all three of them, but it will also help you too. The court needs to see that you're doing the right thing and if they know your story, they certainly will not send you to prison. Especially because you were innocent of most of it, and the parts you were guilty of, you were being manipulated into doing it. And we also have to think of poor Wiley and Amelia who are separated from their mother. This can help them be together again."

Esme's eyes pooled with tears. "So, they'll be with their mom when I couldn't be."

Felicia wrapped her arms around her. "I'm sorry. I wish I could change that. I really do. But we're together now and I'm not about to let that change. But it's not Wiley and Amelia's fault we couldn't be together. They don't deserve this either. And we can make sure you're not separated from Ace either. Please, trust me on this."

Esme pulled away. "We turn in that footage, it might hurt Spencer's chances. But if I go to prison, I'll lose Ace by default."

"I won't let that happen."

"Like you didn't let my kidnapper take me from you?"

A few tears trickled down Felicia's cheeks.

"And now you're basically just going to let someone take me from you again," Esme said.

"No. No, I won't." Felicia stroked Esme's hair. "I won't show the videos to the courts or to Nora."

Esme smiled and hugged her. "Thank you, Mommy."

GHGHGH

"Michael, I know you're mad at me, but will you please come to the courthouse to support your sister?" Carly asked over the phone.

"No, Mom. I'm waiting at the hospital. I just got called in because they noticed a change in Wiley's brain activity."

"Was it a good change?"

"I don't know," Michael said. "Willow and I are waiting for word."

"I'll come right after the hearing," Carly said.

"No. I will keep giving you updates, but I'm still not allowing you near him."

"Michael—"

"I gotta go." He hung up when Patrick walked over to him and Willow.

"You may go see him," Patrick said. "He still hasn't woken up, buy maybe if he hears your voices, it will encourage him to."

Michael and Willow rushed into Wiley's room and sat at his side.

"Hey, buddy," Michael said. "Mommy and Daddy are here."

Willow kissed his fingers. "And we love you so much, baby. So much."

"You gotta wake up, bud," Michael said. "Amelia needs her big brother."

After a few minutes, Wiley's eyes slowly opened.

"Hey, that's it, buddy," Michael said.

"Oh, sweet boy, it's okay," Willow said.

Wiley's hands flew over his ears and wailed.

GHGHGH

Danny gripped his backpack strap over one shoulder and headed for the door.

"Danny, wait," Sam said. "I want to talk to you before you head out."

"But Mom, I'll be late."

"I will drive you this morning." She led him over to the couch.

"What is it?" Danny asked.

"It's about Stephanie and her family."

"What about them?"

"I found out yesterday that they're related to your Uncle Danny," Sam said.

"What?"

"Remember I told you about my brother?" Sam asked.

"Wait, so I'm related to Stephanie?" Danny asked. "Ew!"

"No, no," Sam assured. "You're not. Not really. There's just a connection. Remember, Danny was my adoptive brother. Stephanie's mom is his biological half-sister."

"So, is she your adoptive sister?"

"No. Well, technically maybe."

"Mom, that's gross!"

"I never grew up with her," Sam said. "And the McCalls adopted me illegally."

"It's still gross! And you said Uncle Danny was your brother in every way that counts."

"He was. But okay, well I thought you should know. Have you kissed her?"

"No," Danny said. "But I really liked her."

"I'm sorry, buddy. I don't know about Stephanie, but I don't trust her mom. Something seems off. So, I want you to tread carefully around Stephanie."

"Well, I'm not going to date her anymore if that's what you mean," Danny said.

"Okay, that's your choice. I understand. But please still be careful."

"I will."

GHGHGH

Nelle arrived at the courthouse when her phone rang. "Now is not a good time."

"Nelle, this is Elizabeth Webber from General Hospital. I legally have to inform you that Wiley is awake."

"He is?" Nelle asked. "Well, I'll have to go there later. I have something important to attend to."

"Something more important than your son's life," Elizabeth commented. "Got it." She hung up.

Nelle shook her head and slipped her phone away. She walked into the courtroom and smirked at Carly and Josslyn standing with Spencer and Laura. She then brushed past Felicia, Mac, Maxie, Cody, Robin, Emma, and Cameron and dramatically hugged Esme.

"Oh, Esme! Don't worry about Spencer and Josslyn. They don't know what's going to hit them."

Felicia gritted her teeth.

"All rise for the honourable Judge Naomi Carson."

After Naomi took her seat, everyone sat down. Felicia glared at Nelle when she sat in the same row with them right behind Esme.

"You've got this, Esme, I'm here with you every step of the way," Nelle whispered loud enough for Felicia to hear.