Chapter 85- Nelle's New Home

"Bailey Lou, stop chasing your brother!" Maxie groaned when there was a knock on the door. "Georgie, you better be doing your homework in there and not making another map of the city." She picked up a few of Bailey Lou's blocks, then answered the door. She stared in shocked silence.

Frisco smiled. He was holding a few gift bags. "Hi baby girl."

"D-dad…. What are you doing here?"

"I got your message about Georgie. I just saw her an hour ago."

Maxie swallowed hard. "How did that go?"

"It went really well," Frisco said. "But she's so thin and seemed a little lost."

"She's actually improved a lot since she first came back," Maxie said. "She's gained 8 pounds. But she has a long way to go. Mom and Mac have been her rocks through it all. I do what I can, but I have my hands full with my kids."

"Mac…." He cleared his throat. "And how are the kids?"

"Oh, full of beans," Maxie said. "But they're good."

"I'd love to meet them."

"Yeah…. Yeah okay. Kids! Can you come out here, please?"

James walked out with his arms crossed. "Mommy, Bailey keeps kicking me."

Bailey Lou pouted and kicked James' leg. "Dames won't pway with me."

"Ow! Because she wants to play with yucky dolls," James said. "I want to work on my Millenium Falcon Lego set."

"Bailey, you can't just kick your brother," Maxie said. "But James, why don't you just play with your sister?"

"What is it, Mom?" Georgie walked in.

"All right…." Maxie wrapped her arms around them. "Kids, this is your Grandpa Frisco. Dad, this is little Georgie, James, and Bailey Lou."

"Hey guys, it's nice to finally meet you. I remember when your mom was pregnant with you, Georgie. I got you all a little something." He handed each of them a gift bag. "And this one's for your mom."

Maxie accepted the box and opened it to find a necklace.

"Another Puppy Surprise!" Bailey Lou squealed when she opened hers.

James pulled out a Bat-mobile Lego set. "Grandpa Mac already gave me this."

Georgie frowned at her gift. "I'm too old for Barbies."

"I just remember your mom loved Barbies, and I thought you would too," Frisco said.

I was like seven back then, Maxie thought, feeling her anger boiling. But she pushed aside the thought. "Guys, these were very thoughtful gifts. Please thank Grandpa Frisco."

"Thank you," Georgie and James mumbled.

Bailey Lou grinned. "Thank you, Gampa Fisco."

GHGHGH

"Esme!" Nelle arrived at Bobbie's and hugged Esme. She then pinched Ace's cheek. "Oh, he is so cute."

Ace gaped up at her, then looked over at Esme from his highchair.

Nelle sat across from Esme. "How are you?"

Esme shrugged. "I'm okay."

"You don't sound okay. Talk to me. Is something wrong?"

"I just… I feel so confused. And scared. I—I can't talk about this."

"Yes, you can." Nelle reached for her hands. "Friends confide in each other. I can help you."

"Well, I moved out of my mom's because Mac got mad at me," Esme said. "And I don't know, maybe I deserved it."

Nelle shook her head. "No one should ever get mad at you. Where are you staying?"

"I'm staying at Cameron's tonight. But Elizabeth said I can only stay one night."

"The nerve of her," Nelle said. "So, she's going to leave you and Ace stranded."

"Well, she doesn't have a lot of space. Cameron thinks I should go home to my mom and work things out with Mac. My mom did say he was just concerned about me."

"But Esme, he cannot be treating you that way," Nelle said. "You can't go back to that toxic environment. It isn't safe for you or Ace to be there."

"You think so?"

"I know so," Nelle said. "I've dealt with my fair share of Macs and Felicias. I know how they work."

"Wait. We're talking about Mac here, not my mom. I feel safe with her."

"Look, I could get into it about Felicia," Nelle said. "But do you see her coming to get you or is she back home with your abuser?"

"But is it abuse?" Esme started crying. "I don't even know."

"It is," Nelle said. "They're gaslighting you into thinking any differently. And Felicia is choosing Mac over you. Listen, hon. I just bought a new house and started moving some of my things in. I was going to build from scratch but couldn't find any suitable land. So, I chose a cute little house on Elm Street. There's four bedrooms. You and Ace can come live with me and Wiley. I would never choose a man over you the way Felicia is doing."

Esme stared at her for a moment, tears tracking down her cheeks. "Stop trying to turn me against my mom." She lifted Ace and walked out.

GHGHGH

"Hi Georgie." Felicia sat on the edge of her bed. "How was your nap?"

Georgie sniffled. "It was okay."

"Are you sure?" Felicia asked. "Sweetie, what's wrong?"

"I just had a couple of bad dreams again," Georgie said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Felicia asked.

"It's silly."

"I'm sure it's not silly."

"Well, in the first dream, Mac left us," Georgie said. "And in the second dream, you left me."

"Oh, sweetheart." Felicia pulled her into her arms and Georgie cried into her shoulder.

"I'm not going to leave you. I promise."

"I'm sorry. It's probably just from seeing Frisco."

"Letting him in was a mistake. You don't have to see him ever again."

"But… I want to," Georgie said.

Felicia rubbed her back and let go of the hug. "You do? Are you sure?"

Georgie nodded. "It was just so lonely in that room. Only a few of Victor's men popped in and out. I missed my family. I missed my friends. I just really want to be around people. But all my friends are gone now. Dillon's in California. Spinelli visits me a bit but he's with Maxie and they have a child together. And Diego tried to kill me."

Felicia hugged her again. "I know, sweetie. It's not fair. If you want to see Frisco, then I will ask him to come again."

Georgie nodded. "Okay. Can we ask Esme to watch a movie with us?"

Felicia sighed. "Esme is staying at Elizabeth Webber's tonight. And I don't know for how long."

Georgie frowned. "You mean she left?"

"She was a little upset. But I'm going to see her tomorrow and try to talk to her."

"I like having her here," Georgie said. "I still love Robin and Maxie, but they have families. I like having a sister who's here every day. I know she only spends time with me when you're with us, but I feel I can kind of relate to her because we're both struggling. Did I do something to upset her?"

"No, no. You didn't do anything wrong. Don't ever think otherwise. But I will tell her that you like having her here too."

GHGHGH

"Hi Mom." Sam sat at Alexis' bedside and held her hand. "I'm so glad you woke up."

"S-S-am…" Alexis said through her oxygen mask in a raspy voice.

"It's okay. Don't talk. Just rest your voice until your lungs clear."

Alexis shook her head and removed her mask.

"Mom, you need to wear that." Sam tried to put it back on, but Alexis pushed her hand away.

"S-S-am… the f-fire…."

"You're safe now."

"The f-fire… D-Danny left."

Sam nodded. "I know. Danny did not do this. I know who it was. I'm just trying to prove it was Shelly."

"N-no," Alexis said.

Sam scrunched up her face. "What? Shelly didn't do it? Was it one of her kids?"

"N-no…."

"Then who did it?" Sam asked.

"N-N-Nelle…."

Sam's mouth dropped.

GHGHGH

"Oh my gosh, that's wonderful. I'll be right there." Willow tucked her phone away and headed out to the living room.

"Hey Willow," Sasha said. "Do you feel like some takeout tonight? I don't really feel like cooking."

"Actually, Michael just called," Willow said. "Wiley's being released."

"That's great news."

"He said I can help bring him home and stay for dinner," Willow said.

"Oh yeah, you should definitely go."

"Thanks." Willow grabbed her sweater and her purse and headed out the door. She found Holly standing there.

"Oh, hello," Holly said. "Is Sasha here?"

Sasha clenched her jaw.

"Uh yes, she's right here," Willow said.

"Thank you. My name is Holly."

"I'm Willow. I was just heading out. Bye, Sasha."

Sasha stared at Holly after Willow left.

"Hello, darling," Holly said. "You're still as beautiful as ever."

"What are you doing here, Mother?" Sasha asked.

"Do I need a reason to visit my only daughter?"

"Yes. You always have a reason. What is it this time?"

"You're heading to disaster and I refuse to let that happen," Holly said.

Sasha laughed. "What are you talking about?"

"Can I come in?"

"No," Sasha said. "Not until you tell me what this is about."

"This is about your father."

Sasha glared at her. "I asked you about my father for years and you wouldn't tell me a single thing about him. Now you're offering it?"

"Yes, because this is about your well-being."

"What do you mean?"

"You need to break up with Cody Bell," Holly said.

"First off, how do you know I'm dating Cody?" Sasha asked. "Second, it's none of your business who I date."

"It is if you are cousins."

Sasha scoffed and started shutting the door. "Goodbye, Mother."

"No, wait. Don't you want to know about your father?" Holly asked.

"Not from you. I can't trust a word you say."

"I wouldn't lie to you about this," Holly said.

Sasha sighed. "Then out with it. Who is he?"

"It is Robert Scorpio."

"Robert Scorpio?"

"Yes," Holly said. "Which makes you and Cody cousins."

Sasha's face paled. "You're lying."

"I am not."

"Goodbye, Mother." Sasha shut the door and tears sprang to her eyes.

GHGHGH

Nelle walked up the driveway towards her new house, her high heels clicking along the pavement. She stopped next to the moving truck.

"That can go straight into the living room," she ordered the men carrying a couch. "And that will be Wiley's bed. That'll go in the first bedroom on the right when you go up the stairs. And Esme's dresser will go in the first bedroom on the left. HEY! HEY!" She pointed to the men carrying a coffin. "Be careful with those. They are very delicate. They'll go down to the basement." She watched carefully as they carried three more coffins inside.

Nelle's phone rang and she answered. "Hello?"

"Hi Nelle, this is Nurse Amy. Wiley is being released and the hospital is required to inform you."

Nelle grinned. "Perfect timing." She hung up and called Martin. "Marty? Nelle. Meet me at General Hospital with those papers."

GHGHGH

After Felicia started cooking dinner, she moved to the living room and read one of Esme's letters.

August 14, 2015

Dear Mommy,

I ran away again. I went to the police station to ask them to help me find you. But they called Mr. Prince and he came to get me. He got even madder than he did when I took his credit card. When he yelled at me, I ran again. I tried to sneak on a train but the conductor found me and called the police. Mr. Prince told them I'm a troublemaker and they believed him. Maybe he's right.

But I want you really bad. Please come get me.

Love,

Esme

Felicia wiped away her tears and reached for over to the end table and grabbed the framed photos of Mac, Felicia, and young Maxie and Georgie, and the photo of Felicia, Esme, and Ace at Ace's birthday party. "I won't give up on either of you. And I will come get you Frankie."

GHGHGH

Michael pushed Wiley in a wheelchair out to the waiting room to find Willow waiting for them.

Willow kneeled beside him. "Hi sweet boy. Are you ready to go home?"

Wiley nodded.

"You aren't taking my son anywhere." Nelle stepped off the elevator with Martin.

"What are you doing here, Nelle?" Michael asked.

"I'm here to take my son home," Nelle said. "Marty, give Michael the papers."

Martin pulled some papers from his briefcase. "This is a court order stating that Nelle now has temporary full custody of Wiley until the hearing."

"Are you kidding me?" Michael asked.

"What's woong, Dah-ee?" Wiley asked.

Willow stood and put a hand on Wiley's shoulder.

They all turned when Lucas walked over to them. "Here are Wiley's release papers…." He glared at Nelle.

"Oh, hi Lucas." Nelle smiled. "You and Sam are invited to join Wiley, Esme, Ace, and myself for dinner at our new home tomorrow evening. And of course, Danny and Scout can come too. I'll be bailing Danny out tomorrow after his hearing."

Lucas stared at her. "I would never have dinner with you." He handed Michael a form. "Michael, just be sure to bring Wiley back on Monday for a follow-up, and feel free to call me personally if you have any questions."

Nelle took the form from him. "I'll be signing this, thank you very much. Since Wiley is coming home with me."

"What?" Lucas asked.

Martin handed Michael the papers and Willow read them over too.

"I suggest that you comply," Martin said. "Or else you could be arrested."

Michael scoffed. "You can't be serious."

"Dah-ee… mah-ee… I wanna go oome," Wiley said.

"We will be going home, Wiley," Nelle said. "You're coming home with me. Your real mommy."

Wiley started crying.

Willow wrapped her arms around him. "Shh, it's okay."

"Move aside, sister." Nelle pushed her away from Wiley.

"Wiley, it's okay," Michael said. "Daddy's going to figure this out."

Nelle pushed Wiley's wheelchair very quickly onto the elevator and Martin followed.

Willow gasped. "Michael…. We can't let her take him."

"I'm calling Diane." Michael pulled out his phone.

"Lucas, what do we do?" Willow asked.

"I don't know," Lucas said. "Hopefully Diane can help."

A few minutes later, Michael tucked his phone away. "It's no use. She said there's not much we can do before the hearing."

"But he's not safe with her," Willow said.

Lucas pulled out his phone.

"Who are you calling?" Michael asked.

"Hi Nelle?" Lucas said into the phone. "I'd love to come over for dinner tomorrow. What's your address?... Great. See you then." He hung up. "I'll go and check in on him."