Chapter 42 – All Spencer's Children
Author's note: Once again, there are graphics in this chapter that, while they display correctly in the original Microsoft Word document, don't display properly on here, and might be difficult to read as everything is jumbled together. If anybody knows a way to fix this, please let me know. That being said, enjoy the chapter.
Trina had just told Portia, Taggert, and Curtis that they were going to be grandparents. She was not surprised to see the three of them gazing at her with the same shocked expression on their faces but had a pretty good idea of what they likely were thinking, as she was good at reading people. Curtis seemed astonished by the news that he was going to be a grandfather, as he had found out that he was Trina's biological father almost exactly one year earlier and was still coming to terms with having missed out on watching his daughter grow up. Portia seemed horrified at the thought of Trina having a child with Spencer Cassadine, as even though Spencer was dead, Esme would likely want the baby she was carrying to get to know their half-sibling, which meant that Esme would be a continued presence in Trina's life, and Trina knew Portia would insist that Trina not let this happen. Taggert was the only one who Trina thought was simply concerned about whether Trina was up for the responsibility of parenthood, regardless of who the father was.
Portia: No.
Trina: Mom, I-
Portia: No, no, NO!
Trina: I know Mom, but-
Portia: This cannot be happening!
Trina: I'm sorry Mom.
Portia: This is unacceptable Trina!
Trina: Mom, I'm an adult! I have a job that I really enjoy, and up until a couple of weeks ago I thought I was about to begin an exciting new chapter in my life!
Portia: You're in no shape to become a parent! Please tell me you're not going to keep this baby!
Trina: Are you saying that you want me to get an abortion?
Portia: I'm saying that you're not ready to become a parent!
Trina: Would you still be saying this if Spencer wasn't the father?
Portia: Is he the father?
Trina: I haven't been with anybody else! But if it's any consolation, Spencer is dead!
Portia: I know he's dead, honey, and you're right, I didn't like him, but I understand that you're grieving, and that's why I don't think you're ready to be a parent.
Trina: I don't think you'd be saying that if I was having a baby with anybody else! I'm sure you'd be happy!
Portia: Okay, I admit it. I don't like the fact that you're having a baby with Spencer! There, I said it!
Trina: Would you still be saying that I'm not ready to be a parent if Spencer were still alive?
Portia: I feel it's best for a child to have two parents!
Trina: You're not answering my question! Would you still be saying that I'm not ready to be a parent if Spencer were still alive?!
Portia: Spencer wasn't ready to become a parent either! He was incredibly immature even for his age!
Trina: Mom, please, just answer my question? Would still you be saying that I'm not ready to become a parent if Spencer were still alive? Yes or no?!
Portia: Okay, fine. You are very mature and responsible for your age, and I think that you would be a good mom.
Trina: So this is all about your disapproval of Spencer!
Portia: Yes! Spencer would not be a good father, and if he were still around I would hope that you would keep your baby away from him, and probably not even tell him he's the father.
*Trina looks at Curtis and Taggert*
Trina: So you're saying I should lie and say that the father is somebody else, just like you did with me?!
Portia: That was different. I didn't know who your father was! I was hoping that Marcus was your father because we were married when you were born, and he was the man who raised you, but I knew there was a chance that Curtis was your father!
Trina: THEN YOU SHOULD'VE BEEN HONEST ABOUT IT! You should've admitted to Dad that you were cheating on him, and you should've gotten a DNA test when I was born! But you didn't do that, and instead you waited until I was an adult, and when the truth finally came out at your WEDDING to Curtis, everyone was angry and hurt!
Portia: The situation was different!
Curtis: Babe-
Portia: I wanted to tell you the truth but I wasn't sure how!
Curtis: Babe, please-
Portia: If I could go back in time I-
Trina: WE CAN'T GO BACK IN TIME, MOM!
*Curtis slowly gets up out of the chair, leaning on his cane for support*
Curtis: Babe, I think we should give Trina some space. Come on.
*Portia, sniffling, accompanies Curtis into the kitchen. Trina can hear her mother continuing to yell about how much she hates the thought of her daughter having a child with Spencer Cassadine, and Curtis comforting her. Trina looks at Taggert*
Trina: You've been awfully quiet Dad.
Taggert: This wasn't exactly what I expected when you asked me if I could come over.
Trina: I needed you to be here. Mom and I have been fighting constantly since coming back from Paris, and I knew she wouldn't react well when I told her I was pregnant.
Taggert: When did you find out you were pregnant?
Trina: A couple of days ago.
Taggert: And you're sure Spencer's the father? I hope you don't mind me asking.
Trina: It's okay Dad, and no, I haven't been with anyone else. But I don't understand why Mom is so worked up that Spencer is the father when he's dead?
*In the kitchen. Curtis is trying desperately to console his wife*
Curtis: Babe, why is it that you're so troubled by the fact that Spencer is Trina's baby's father? Is it because of Nikolas?
Portia: NO, IT'S BECAUSE OF ESME! SHE'S PREGNANT TOO! AND "SPENCE" IS THE FATHER!
*Trina and Taggert hear this*
Taggert: There's your answer. Spencer is gone. Esme isn't. It seems like the two of you are going to have kids who are very close in age. I think your mother is worried about you and Esme having to get along for the sake of the kids, and with Spencer being presumed dead…
*Trina is glad to hear her dad acknowledge that there's still hope that Spencer might be alive*
Taggert: Nikolas is probably going to want to make sure that your child and Esme's child get to know each other, along with Ace.
Trina: You're probably right. *Sigh* The only reason why we know about Esme's pregnancy is because when we were at Spencer's memorial, Joss ran up to Esme and punched her in the face so hard that it broke her nose. Esme threatened to put both of us in the hospital, and that Jan lady she's been staying with reminded her that she was pregnant.
Taggert: Well there you go. Your mother isn't worried about Spencer. She's worried about Esme, or rather, what Esme's capable of doing. Which I can understand given what she did to you and your friends.
Trina: I know Dad, but it was already two years ago. At this point I just want to move on with my life, and I don't like people feeling like they need to fight my battles which is what I feel like Mom and Joss are both trying to do. And this is why I'm currently not speaking to Joss.
Taggert: What happened? You mentioned she punched Esme?
Trina: Yeah. I'm not saying that I wasn't beyond furious that Esme had the nerve to show up at Spencer's memorial when, at the time, we thought she had been the one who drugged us while we were in Paris, even though she actually wasn't, and I'll admit that I yelled at her, but Joss ran up to her and punched her. Now up until that point I had somewhat been hoping that Esme had genuinely changed for the better, but after Joss punched her, Esme grabbed Joss after she tried to hit her again and threated to put us both in the hospital, saying she had taken boxing lessons and beat up two guys when she was just sixteen and challenged us both to a fight, but Jan was there, and she reminded Esme that she was pregnant. And that's when we all found out. She admitted that she had slept with Spencer the night *Sigh* the night I broke up with him, after you and I had our conversation at the Haven Bistro.
Taggert: Well, I still will never forgive Esme for what she did to you and your friends, and that's why I understand why your mother is upset, but I don't entirely blame Esme for trying to defend herself.
Trina: I know. Joss was actually arrested for it.
*Taggert looks stunned, as he used to be a police officer*
Trina: I know. Fortunately, she received a slap on the wrist, but I nonetheless am tired of people trying to fight my battles for me. I know they mean well, but it feels like they don't trust that I can take care of myself.
Taggert: They care about you Trina, and sometimes even when people are coming from a place of caring, they don't always make the best decisions. If Josslyn were to do this again, the judge might not be as lenient.
Trina: Well hopefully she'll never do something like that again.
Taggert: And I think you should try to forgive her. She's your friend. She cares about you. And I know your mother cares about you too. And I think she's more worried about your baby than she is disapproving. It's not so much that Spencer is the father, but that he's not around.
Trina: But he's not around because he's dead. I'm sure that if he were alive, he'd be very happy to learn that he was going to be a dad, and would be there for me.
Taggert: And I think that's what your mother is afraid of.
Trina: What do you mean?
Taggert: The reason why I'm not your biological father is because I wasn't there when your mother needed me the most. I was often off on assignment with the DEA. I was prioritizing work over my family, often risking my life in order to do so. That's why your mother and I eventually divorced. And even though the news that I wasn't your biological father really hurt, I actually had known about her affair with Curtis, and I feel like I'm somewhat to blame for it. I wasn't there when your mother needed me. I wasn't there for you.
Trina: Don't say that Dad! You have been there for me! You're here for me right now!
Taggert: I know. But your mother wants your child to have a father figure who makes good choices. Even though what happened to both of you in Paris wasn't either of your faults, Spencer still made a lot of bad choices, one of which was jumping in bed with Esme right after you broke up with him. If this new baby Esme is having isn't Spencer's, she probably wouldn't care. But since Spencer isn't around, she's likely worried that Nikolas is going to want both your child and Esme's child to be well-connected to their Cassadine sides, and as a result, you and Esme will have to be able to act civil towards each other.
Trina: Well. I trust myself to act civil towards her. I really just want to move on. I'd rather receive a genuine, heartfelt apology from Esme for attempting to frame me for revenge porn than have her be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law but have her deny it. That's not to say I don't think she should not face any consequences for it, but hearing her give a heartfelt apology will help me and my friends heal.
*Portia and Curtis enter the room from the kitchen*
Portia: I hope she can do that, but I don't think she will.
Trina: Well, you're entitled to how you feel, and what you'd like to ultimately see happen to Esme, but that's what I want. And another thing I want is for you to stop treating me like I'm a rebellious teenager and feeling the need to protect me from everything and fight my battles for me! And if you can't do that, then I don't want to stay here anymore, and if you try and stop me from leaving, then you're no worse than Nikolas was when he locked Esme up in the tower!
Portia: Honey, I'm not going to prevent you from leaving! But where will you go? You decided not to attend the Sorbonne even though you still could have.
Trina: Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to go back to France ever again!
Portia: And you can't go back to the dorm at PCU since you're not a student there anymore!
Trina: I know Mom!
Portia: And you could see about getting a place with Joss, but you and her aren't on speaking terms, thanks to Esme!
Trina: Gee, thanks for reminding me Mom! As if I had forgotten. And you know what? I'm very close to not being on speaking terms with you too! Since I've been back from France, every time we talk, we end up arguing, which isn't good for the baby!
Portia: Well I think you should stay here, because I think it's best for both you and the baby, but if you want to leave, then I won't try to stop you. But you'll need to find somewhere to go.
Taggert: You can come with me.
*Trina looks from Portia, to Taggert, to Curtis, who she feels sorry for being dragged into this mess*
Trina: I'll go pack my suitcase.
*Trina heads upstairs, while Portia collapses into a chair*
Portia: I've failed as a mother.
Taggert: Well you certainly aren't being very supportive right now, that's for sure.
Curtis: I hate to say it, but I agree. Trina needs your support now more than ever, and you're doing the exact opposite.
Portia: I just want her to not make the same mistakes I did!
Taggert: Portia, you are completely ignoring the fact that Trina got accepted into the Sorbonne! That doesn't sound like someone who's made so many mistakes that she can't be successful!
Portia: She chose not to attend the Sorbonne because of Spencer!
Taggert: She chose not to attend because of a traumatic experience that wasn't the result of anything Esme Prince did to either of them! Why can't you understand this?!
*Portia looks at Taggert, then at Curtis*
Curtis: You're not a bad mother, Portia. You've made some questionable choices, but your heart has always been in the right place.
Taggert: I agree. And I think the best choice you can make right now is to give Trina some space.
*Portia looks down and sighs*
THE NEXT DAY
Esme had called the hospital wanting to know if they had the results of Ace and Spencer's paternity test on file, since she lost the copy of the results that she was given. The person she spoke to said they did, but that she'd need to come to the hospital to get them. She asked why they couldn't either mail it to her or read it over the phone. The person told her it was to ensure she got them, and the lab technician would be there to help answer any questions. So, she put Ace in his stroller and she and Nelle headed over to General Hospital.
*Esme, Nelle (in her disguise) and Ace enter the hospital and make their way over to the Nurses' station*
Nurse Deanna Sirtis: May I help you?
Esme: Hi, I'm Esme Prince and I called a little while ago regarding the results of my DNA test for my son Ace?
Deanna: Let me go look.
*She momentarily leaves and returns with the results in an envelope*
Esme: Thank you.
Nelle: Would you like me to be here while you read them? If not I can grab a bite to eat.
Esme: No, could you please stay with me? I know that regardless of what it says, I'm not going to like it. I still hope Spence is the father.
Nelle: Well, there's only one way to find out.
*Esme sighs, tears open the envelope with her finger, and pulls out the document inside.*
DNA Paternity Test Report
Case Number: 369123874
Mother: Esme Prince Child: Ace Cassadine Alleged Father: Spencer Cassadine
Genetic Markers Tested:
Locus Mother Child Alleged Father
D3S1358 15, 16 16, 17 16, 18
VWA 16, 19 15, 19 15, 17
FGA 22, 24 21, 24 20, 24
AMEL X, X X, Y X, Y
Combined Paternity Index (CPI): 52.3
Probability of Paternity: 5.23%
Interpretation:
Spencer Cassadine is excluded as the biological father of Ace Cassadine based on the genetic markers tested. However, the genetic data suggests a significant genetic relationship, indicating that Spencer Cassadine and Ace Cassadine share a paternal half-sibling relationship. This suggests that they have the same biological father but different mothers.
*Esme reads the interpretation out loud to Nelle*
Esme: *Sigh* So Ace and Spence are brothers, not father and son.
Nelle: According to this document, it certainly seems that way.
*Esme begins to cry*
Esme: *Sniffle* This isn't how I should be feeling.
Nelle: What do you mean?
Esme: I should be happy that Ace's father is alive. And I would be If it were anyone other than Nikolas! This is all my fault!
Nelle: No it isn't.
Esme: Why? I was the one who seduced Nikolas.
Nelle: Well, you were doing it because your own father manipulated you into doing so.
*Esme is silent for several seconds, though her face slowly turns red. She then stands up, scrunches up the document in her fist, and screams very loudly*
Esme: *Screams* I HATE YOU DADDY!
*Ace begins crying as Esme collapses back down on the bench. Nikolas watches from around a corner as nurses gather around Esme to make sure she was okay, his own mind a mix of emotions. He knew it was likely that Esme would call the hospital to ask that they give her another copy of the test results, so he reached out to his uncle Cyrus Renault, who switched the test results with fake ones showing that Spencer was Ace's half-brother, rather than his father. He didn't like having to cause Esme any more pain, but it was the only way to ensure that Ace (and Esme's new baby, whom he doesn't know about) had a father-figure. He is able to make his way to the elevator without anyone seeing him, as everyone was trying to make sure that Esme wasn't having a breakdown*
Esme: Please don't send me to the mental hospital! I'm fine. I just wish that my own father hadn't manipulated me into sleeping with Nikolas Cassadine. I wanted Spence to be Ace's father. But it doesn't matter because Spence is dead!
*Kevin Collins comes out of the elevator to go on his lunch break. He sees Esme. They look at each other for several seconds, then, just as he's about to turn to leave, Esme runs over to him*
Nelle: Esme, it's okay, that's not Ryan!
Esme: I know! *Sniff* I know!
*She wraps her arms around Kevin, and sobs.*
Esme: Uncle Kevin, I'm so sorry!
*Kevin is momentarily shocked, but returns Esme's hug*
Kevin: You don't have anything to be sorry for.
*Nelle watches the family reunion. Even though she's glad Esme is no longer afraid of Kevin, she hopes that he won't try to convince her to go home with him and Laura*
In memory of Leslie Charleson (February 22, 1945 – January 12, 2025)