The Footbridge
Kellie followed Sam onto the footbridge where they both sat on the edge with their feet dangling over the bridge.
"Do you want to talk about what happened with you and Sonny?" Sam asked, "Or we can just sit here."
"I don't even know where to start," Kellie answered.
Kellie and Sam sat in a silence for a few moments.
"So I really do have something I want to ask about the situation," Sam finally asked, "I want to know where things stand between you and Jason and what Jason told you he's doing about Carly's SEC charges. I know what I've heard about Jason not being willing to let Carly turn him. I just need to be certain for Danny's sake."
"And I would like to know the same thing," Liz said, walking towards them and carrying a bottle of tequila and three plastic cups, "Johnny mentioned Sam was bringing you out here and I thought it might be my turn to bring the Tequila."
"Wait, when have you two gone out and done Tequila shots," Sam asked, taking the tequila and cups from Liz.
"That's up to Liz to tell you," Kellie replied as Liz sat on the other side of Kellie. Sam handed Kellie and Liz their cups before opening the Tequila bottle.
"Kellie was kind enough to bring me some tequila after my relationship with Johnny became publicly known in a rather embarrassing fashion," Liz said as Sam poured the Tequila, "For which Kellie was present for."
"After the two of you were caught in the hospital supply closet, I take it," Sam said as Liz looked at Sam surprised she knew, "Sage told me about it."
"Of course, she did," Liz replied and then turned her attention to Kellie, "So Jason and Carly's SEC case. Should I be worried about having tell Jake his father might be going to prison. I've heard that's not the case, but…."
"Jason's not willing to go to prison for Carly," Kellie said, "And Carly refuses to make that kind of deal. We're all good there."
"Oh thank god," Liz said.
"I feel better hearing it from you," Sam said, "I'd heard Jason said he wasn't going to, but I was really struggling to believe he wouldn't. Especially once I'd heard you'd just taken off."
"He's not and I believe him," Kellie said, "I didn't stay to hear the entire conversation between Jason and Sonny. Once I heard the request I took off because I was seriously afraid he was going to go along with that plan. I panicked."
"I would have thought the same to be honest," Sam said.
"So would I," Liz said, "I wanted to believe that Jason changed after the Russian clinic when he came home like he said. But I had my doubts when Johnny told me what was going on."
"Oh yeah, sorry about Johnny being called away from your date to track me down," Kellie said.
"I knew it was bound to happen sooner or later," Liz replied.
"Sadly that is true," Kellie said, "I can't really deny that."
"As long as you're okay, that's all that matters," Liz said.
"How are things between you and Jason?" Sam asked.
"We're solid," Kellie said.
"Just solid?" Sam teased.
"That should tell you everything you need to know," Kellie replied.
"No, you are not getting off that easy," Liz said.
"Liz is right," Sam said, "You went off the radar and no one who knew what was going on knew if your marriage was going to survive. Once we knew you were safe, you and Jason basically disappeared since yesterday morning while your kids were at Sage and Milo's and then at the Quartermaines."
"This is a really weird conversation to be having with the two of you," Kellie said, "Considering you both have history with Jason. Like I said, we're solid. I think we should just leave it at that."
"You seem to have managed what neither of us or any of Jason's past romantic interests have," Liz said, "Jason didn't jump to get Carly out of this mess no matter what it meant for him or his own life."
"That is worth celebrating," Sam said.
"Drink and spill," Liz said, lifting up her cup, "We're not letting you go home until we get the details."
"You ended up out at Charles's place when you ran out of fuel," Sam said, "At what point did you finally talk to Jason or did he come see you?"
"You two are insane," Kellie said, drinking her tequila before relenting, "I ignored calls until yesterday morning. About the time I finally listened to the message Jason left and tried to call him back, Charles was letting him into the safe house."
"So Charles told Jason where to find you?" Liz asked.
"He was not going to let me get away with not talking to Jason for very long," Kellie said, "Jason and I just talked after Charles left."
"What persuaded you that Jason was serious about staying with you," Sam asked.
"The voicemail he left was really sweet," Kellie said, "And I could tell that he was determined I understand he was putting me and the kids first. That he was making good on his promise to make different choices. For the first time since we got together romantically I believe it fully."
"I'm so happy for you," Sam said, putting her arms around Kellie and leaning her head on her shoulder.
"What did you put in this tequila, Liz?" Kellie asked.
"Just tequila," Liz said, "Look we may not have worked out with Jason, but I think I speak for both Sam and I when I say, we still wanted Jason to be happy and for our boys to know their father."
"You made both of those things happen," Sam said, "And Jason makes you happy."
"You give me too much credit," Kellie said, "Jason was figuring that out all on his own."
"I still maintain you made a big difference in Jason following through," Sam said.
"And If Jason had messed this up, we would have been here the tequila and ready to throw anything you needed to burn into a fire to move on," Liz said.
"And we're talking about burning things," Johnny interrupted, swiping the tequila bottle, "You've all had enough."
"Spoil sport," Liz said to Johnny as he walked away, "I'll make you pay for that later."
"I'll look forward to that, Lizzie," Johnny smirked.
Kellie and Sam burst into laughter as Liz looked indignant.
"That's not what I meant," Liz said, chasing after Johnny.
Kellie pulled out her phone and sent a text.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"Getting another guard to cover for Johnny," Kellie said, "I do owe him and Liz."
"What is the deal with them anyway?" Sam asked, "They've been together for awhile now."
"All I know is they're dating," Kellie said, "Johnny won't tell me and I don't press Liz on it."
"That's no fun," Sam said.
Kellie shrugged.
"What happened with you and Sonny?" Sam asked.
"Same fight, different day," Kellie answered.
"Hey, don't do that," Sam said, "I've seen you fight with Sonny before and seen you afterwards. This isn't the same. What happened?"
"Originally I was going to wait to talk to him," Kellie said, "But then I found he went after Charles yesterday. I couldn't let it sit."
"Sonny went after Charles?" Sam asked, shocked, "Why?"
"I don't know," Kellie said, "I just know Yuri and Taggert got involved."
"That's rough,' Sam said.
"All Sonny wanted to do was get me to convince Jason to go along his idea to have Carly turn Jason and supposedly him to the feds," Kellie said, "It went downhill from there."
"I'm sorry," Sam said, "Do you think there's any possibility you and Sonny will sort it out someday."
"No," Kellie said, shaking her head, "After Nixon Falls and the issues with the business last year, I kept my distance. This request Sonny had to blow up my life just feels like it closed the door on any chance of ever working this out."
Sam didn't reply and just waited to see if Kellie would say anything more. Meanwhile, Liz had made her way back to the bridge and sat down.
"It's strange," Kellie said, "I spent so long trying to make a relationship work with my dad. I never expected that this is what it would come to. This distance, it's disappointing, but I'm happier."
Welcome to the club," Liz said.
"What club?" Kellie asked.
"The can't always live with your parents club," Liz answered.
Kellie and Sam looked over at Liz.
"With the exception of last year," Sam said, "Your parents have never been around."
"It's better that way," Liz said, "Never heard a word from them for over twenty since they dumped me on Grams. Then come to find out my mother hypnotized me into forgetting I caught my father cheating with another doctor who turned out to be Finn's wife. We fought and she fell down the stairs. It was an accident."
Kellie and Sam's jaws dropped.
"Did this have anything to do with why you went to Shadybrook last year," Kellie asked.
"Yeah, I was blacking out and remembering some of it," Liz said, "But couldn't make it make sense."
"That is brutal," Sam said.
"Sonny and I have issues," Kellie said, "But oof… that is not how you get your kid help. Why did your parents do that?"
"They said it was for my own good," Liz scoffed, "They didn't want me subject to a police investigation. More like they just didn't want to look bad between my father sleeping with a married woman barely out of med school and then it just another mess for them to clean up because I couldn't live up to their expectations. Oh and then they also reached out Jake behind my back before all that happened too."
"That's a lot," Kellie said.
"But you know what I learned from all that who has been there for me," Liz said, "Laura and Scott. They've been the ones their for me through so much and treat all of my boys like their own grandchildren. They've been there for me when my parents weren't. I am grateful for that at least."
"I get that," Kellie said, "It wasn't until Charles was shot and we thought we lost him last year that I realized how important he was to me. There was so much he did that I always knew he didn't have to do and part of me always braced for him not doing those things, especially after Tyler died."
"That's never going to happen," Liz said, "I'm not sure who was happier to see the other at the hospital when you found out Charles was alive, you are Charles. The staff is still talking about how sweet that reunion was. I imagine having Charles around takes some of the sting out of how hard your relationship has been with Sonny."
"It does even though I kind of hate that admitting it to some degree," Kellie answered.
"For now," Liz said, "But I think you might be close to letting that go too."
"Maybe," Kellie said, "I don't know."
"It's still confusing at times," Liz said, "When your parents of all people don't get it."
"Yeah," Kellie said as she heard Francis's voice with Johnny's catching all of their attention.
"What's Francis doing here?" Liz asked.
"Relieving Johnny from guard duty," Kellie said, "Johnny unexpectedly has no plans now. Do with that what you will, Liz."
"It's been fun," Liz said, "I could not ask for better co-parents with Jake. But I think I better make sure Johnny knows he has unexpected plans with me."
Liz got up and took off, leaping into Johnny's arms and kissing him.
"I'm going to have to drive you home aren't I, Lizzie?" Johnny said as Liz grabbed his hand to lead him away.