"It is good to see you, Charles," Lorenzo said, putting his hand briefly on Charles's shoulder as if to reassure Charles and himself that this was real, "Although it's going to be awhile before it sinks in."
"It's good to see you too, Lorenzo," Charles said, "So General Hospital than?"
"Yes, they'll do a full examination," Lorenzo said, as they walked towards the car and the guards followed, "I've already made appointments with Dr. Johnson and Dr. Collins. They're aware of general details, but not who you are or that anyone thought you were dead.
"I'd like to be certain Victor didn't leave any surprises with me," Charles said.
"They'll confirm and monitor that," Lorenzo said, "I have a safe house nearby you can use as long as you want until you decide what you want to do next. Several of the guards here today are for you. I suggest you utilize them until we know if the WSB or anyone else might interfere with your return home."
The guards opened the car door and Lorenzo and Charles got in the back seat.
"How are my grandkids?" Charles asked.
"They're alright," Lorenzo said, "Jared and Jamie are enjoying middle school, video games, and sports. Although they've lost video game privileges for the moment after Jamie tried to sneak out to help Kellie and Jason with the Victor Cassadine situation and Jared tried to help him."
"How did the boys try to pull that one off?" Charles asked.
"Jamie hid himself in the back of the SUV while Jared pretended to be Jamie getting ready for bed," Lorenzo said, "Francis realized something was up when Jamie appeared to go right to sleep. Thought he might not be feeling well and found the pillows in the bed. I think Kellie and Jason only made it a few blocks from the house when Francis told them to check the car."
"Never a dull moment with those boys," Charles said, chuckling, "What about Alyssa and Kelsey?"
Alyssa is anxious to wear make-up. Kellie is holding firm and saying no until she starts middle school. Kelsey is in preschool, still likes to play in the dirt and is always curious about how things work in the world around her."
Lorenzo went silent for a moment.
"What is it?" Charles asked.
"After your funeral," Lorenzo said, "Alyssa started referring to Jason as Daddy Jason sometimes. It came as a surprise to her the first time. It freaked her out and she ran off."
"Like her mother in that regard," Charles said, deep in thought.
"Alyssa's been sorting through that," Lorenzo said, "But I've noticed it's been more frequent. I just didn't want you to be caught off guard."
"I appreciate the heads up," Charles said, "The boys and Alyssa were so young when Tyler passed. I'd wondered if maybe someday something like that would happen."
"They do still remember Tyler as their dad," Lorenzo said, "Last Christmas, they decided they wanted to hang angel ornaments for you and Tyler on the tree with the one Kellie hangs on it for the child she miscarried. When Kellie came back from packing up your house in Miami, the kids wanted to hang up the pictures you had of her and Tyler when they were younger and some of you."
Charles groaned, "I'm going to get an earful from Kellie about leaving her the house. She didn't want me to leave her anything. I couldn't not do that. Of course, I didn't expect that my death wouldn't really be my death."
"Maybe not," Lorenzo said, "Once she had time to go through the house and to think about it for a while, I think she came to terms with it. She's currently having it renovated specifically as a safe house."
"I had a feeling that might be what she did with it if she didn't sell it," Charles said, "How is our girl? How is she really? When I was locked up, I worried most about how Kellie was handling what happened on the island. I'd hoped if something like that ever did happen to me because of the mob, she wouldn't be present for it. Granted it turned out to be the Cassadines and not the mob in this instance."
"Same difference," Lorenzo muttered.
"In those last moments, I told her not to blame herself," Charles continued, "I knew she would…."
"But we both know she still does," Lorenzo said, "Kellie was devastated. I imagine whatever progress she's made with blaming herself less is going to be impacted when she realizes you were held captive instead of her."
"Better me than her whether it was death or imprisonment," Charles said, "If the sniper had hit it's intended target, it would have been Kellie that Taggert found and that you would have just picked up from the airport. I shudder to think what Victor would have done to her."
"I would honestly prefer not to think about that," Lorenzo said.
"Agreed," Charles said, "I know from Maximus, Kellie didn't take over Sonny's business. But she was invited to join the five families after buying into a shipping company."
"Kellie's intent in buying that company was to have the resources to encourage people that might come after her, not to," Lorenzo said, "The invite to join the families was an unforeseen consequence of that."
"I'm glad my brother was able to resolve that for Kellie to her satisfaction," Charles said, "Taggert mentioned she has an mystery partner in the shipping business. Anything we need to be concerned about?"
"I can vouch for her business partner," Lorenzo said, "I helped facilitate the deal."
Charles looked at Lorenzo, assessing his response.
"In other words, you are her business partner," Charles said, "Even if you don't admit outright to it. Something I imagine you would have held on to in the event you ever needed that kind of leverage."
"She wanted to acquire the whole business," Lorenzo said, "I thought it wise only for her to have controlling interest and not shoulder the whole company herself. Especially if things didn't work as planned."
"And things between her and Sonny," Charles asked, "It sounds like it got ugly between them."
"That's one way to describe it," Lorenzo said, "He disappointed her one time too many this time. I'm surprised he managed to get past the guards to talk to her about using her resources to help find Spencer."
Charles didn't respond as the vehicle turned into the GH parking garage.
"Look, I know you're hesitant to tell Kellie you're alive," Lorenzo said, "But you really can't put it off any longer. We're using the back entrances to get into the hospital and will try to avoid the main areas. But too many people from Port Charles know you' re alive and once you go into the hospital, she'll hear about this through all the gossip, speculation, and chatter."
"I know you're right," Charles said, "No matter how's she told it'll catch her off guard. But should she should hear it from someone directly before I see her."
"I'll take care of it while you're getting checked out," Lorenzo said as the car parked. Diane and Kevin were waiting in the garage.
Once Charles exited the car, Kevin's jaw dropped.
"Well this is certainly unexpected," Kevin said.
"That would be an understatement," Diane said.
"Don't tell me," Kevin said, the wheels turning in his mind, "Charles, they found you in Greenland."
Charles nodded.
"I'm starting to understand the reason for all the secrecy," Kevin said, "Does Kellie know you're alive?
"Not yet," Charles said.
"I'm going to take care of that while Charles is being checked out," Lorenzo said.
Nearby, Jason had gotten out of his vehicle followed by Max when they noticed Lorenzo, Diane, Kevin, and Charles.
"Uncle Charles?" Max exclaimed.
"Am I seeing things or?" Jason asked, looking at Lorenzo and Diane.
"This is as real as it gets," Lorenzo said.
"It seems we have a lot to catch up on," Charles responded, "And Kellie doesn't know yet. We were just discussing telling her while I'm here getting checked out."
"She's here at the hospital," Jason said, "Stella referred a patient to her for her
investigative services. Then she was going to stop by and see Willow. That's where I was headed."
"Might I suggest we proceed inside the hospital," Kevin said, "Where we won't attract so much attention. Diane, why don't you fill Jason and Max in. The three of you can find Kellie. Feel free to use my office for privacy. We have a private exam room set up for you, Charles. Lorenzo, I want you to stay close to Charles. In the event that Charles and Kellie run into each other before Kellie can be told, I'm assuming Lorenzo probably knows the most and would probably be the best person to confirm Charles is indeed alive."
Author's Note: And we're almost there. Kellie's finds out Charles is alive in the next chapter.