Chapter 79- Mother vs. Stepmother

"Hi Sam." Elizabeth walked in carrying a bouquet of flowers and set them on the bedside table. "Dante's just signing your release papers."

"Okay, thanks," Sam said. "Are those from him?"

"No, actually. A woman dropped them off. She left a card."

Sam accepted the envelope from her.

"Patrick said you're good to go now," Elizabeth said. "Just no strenuous activities for a few days and he'd like you to schedule a follow-up appointment next week."

"Thanks, Elizabeth." After Elizabeth left, Sam opened the card and a photo fell out.

Dearest Samantha,

I was so sorry to hear about the fire. They just seem so common these days. It's a shame how these accidents happen.

I hope history isn't repeating itself.

Deepest sympathies,

Shelly, Stephanie, Danny, and Evelyn

Sam looked at the picture, and it was of Danny Sr.

GHGHGH

"Hi Nora, how's it going at the PCPD?" Felicia asked over the phone as she set up Ace in his highchair. "How's my daughter doing? Did she get through the night okay?"

"Well, I have good news," Nora said. "I just met with Robert Scorpio, and he's agreed that Esme doesn't need to go through a hearing. She just needs to pay a $1000 fine and she can go home."

"Oh, thank God. I'll be there as soon as I can. Mac's just in the shower and we need to help Georgie out of bed. Thank you, Nora." She hung up and smiled at Ace. "Guess what, sweetheart. Mommy's coming home."

"Ma-Ma," Ace said.

"That's right: Mama." Felicia kissed the top of his head.

"Good morning." Mac walked in. "You look cheerier this morning."

"I am," Felicia said. "I just talked to Nora. I can go get Esme. I just need to pay her fine."

"That's great."

Felicia raised an eyebrow. "You don't seem surprised."

"I might have called in a favour with the DA."

Felicia stood and wrapped her arms around him. "You talked to Robert?"

He nodded. "I did. Last night when you were at the drug store."

She kissed him. "Oh Mac, thank you."

GHGHGH

Sam sat her mom's bedside and held her hand. "Hey Mom, it's me, Sam. I'm so sorry this happened to you and I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner. I know you were targeted because of me. I'm going to do everything I can to stop this before it gets worse. Just fight to come back to us. I love you." She kissed her forehead.

GHGHGH

Felicia arrived at the PCPD and found Robert sitting at one of the desks. "Hi Robert. I can't thank you enough for helping Esme."

"Not a problem."

"Where can I pay her fine?" Felicia asked.

"Someone's actually paid it already," Robert said.

"Oh? Who?"

She glanced up when Nelle turned around from one of the other desks and her blood boiled.

"Oh, hello, Felicia." Nelle smiled, walking over to her.

"What exactly do you want with my daughter?" Felicia asked.

"I want my stepdaughter to be happy and free."

"You actually married Ryan? Why? He was old enough to be your father."

"Because we fell in love," Nelle said. "It was such a beautiful ceremony in Pentonville. He needed to get over Ava and I needed to get over Michael. We were just meant to be. The only thing that would've made it more perfect is if Esme and Wiley were there with us."

"I don't buy this loving stepmother wanting the best for Esme act," Felicia said. "Why are you trying to be Esme's hero and why are you trying to come between us?"

Nelle placed a hand on Felicia's shoulder. "It's okay. I get it. You're busy. That's why you couldn't be here to pay Esme's fine. I'm here for her. You don't need to worry."

Felicia shoved her hand away. "Visiting hours aren't until 9am. I am ten minutes early."

"Oh. I was twenty minutes early. See, I can never be too early to rescue my stepdaughter."

"I was with Esme's son and my daughter this morning."

Nelle put her hand over her heart. "And I was here for Esme."

"Why? What is your motive for helping her?"

"I told you. She is my stepdaughter and I love her."

Felicia laughed. "Love? That's a little over the top, don't you think? I don't know what kind of fantasy you're living in but leave my daughter out of it. You're not even old enough to be a "mother" to her." Felicia pulled out her cheque book. "You said you're going by Chamberlain now?"

"What are you doing?" Nelle asked.

Felicia finished writing and handed her the cheque. "There's a reimbursement for a $1000. You may go now and leave my daughter alone."

Nelle took the cheque and read it over, then ripped it up. "I'm not going anywhere."

"You hurt one hair on the top of her head, and you'll answer to me," Felicia said.

Nelle beamed when an officer escorted Esme out, and she held her arms out to her. "Esme!"

Esme's face lit up and she sped up. But she passed Nelle and hugged Felicia. Nelle frowned.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Felicia asked, stroking Esme's hair.

"I am now," Esme said. "I had to share a cell with Josslyn."

"Oh, she's awful," Nelle said.

"I'm so glad I don't have to go to a hearing," Esme said. "And I won custody of Ace! I can't wait to see him."

"And he can't wait to see you," Felicia said. "After I got the call, I told him Mommy is coming home, and he said, 'Ma-Ma'."

"Aww Ace is adorable," Nelle said. "He has the cutest smile too. Almost as cute as my Wiley."

Felicia eyed her suspiciously.

"Thank you for paying my fine, Mommy," Esme said. "I don't regret punching Spencer though."

Nelle smiled. "I paid your fine, Esme."

Esme raised an eyebrow. "You did?"

Felicia cleared her throat. "She got here a few minutes before me. But I offered to reimburse her."

"No reimbursement necessary," Nelle said. "I would do anything for you, Esme."

"Oh, um, well thanks," Esme said. "And thanks for helping yesterday too."

"No problem," Nelle said.

Esme turned back to Felicia. "Can we go home now? I want to see Ace."

Felicia wrapped her arm around her. "Yes, let's go."

"Bye Nelle," Esme said.

"Bye Esme."

"Were you able to sleep okay last night?" Felicia asked when they left the building.

"Not really."

"Maybe you can take a nap when we get home."

"Maybe when Ace goes down for his, but I want to spend time with him first," Esme said.

Felicia smiled. "Good idea. And if you're up for it, I thought we could invite Cody, Maxie, and the kids over later and we can order Chinese food to celebrate. Would you like that?"

"Okay. For Ace."

"And for you." She opened the passenger door for Esme. "And you can invite some of your friends too, like Cam, Emma, and Christina if you'd like."

Esme climbed in the car and paused in thought before Felicia climbed in beside her. "Emma only hangs out with me because you asked her to. And Lucy is pushing Christina to be friends with me because she wants to prove she's your best friend."

Felicia sighed. "Emma likes you, I know she does. And maybe you should give Christina a chance. But it's okay, you don't have to invite them if you don't want to."

"Well, I'll think about it. But I'll invite Cam. No one asked him to hang out with me. At least I don't think anyone has…."

"No. I don't believe anyone has."

GHGHGH

When Dante drove Sam home, She took a picture of the card from Shelly with her phone and sent it to Spinelli to look into.

"Mommy!" Scout ran into her arms when they walked in the penthouse.

Sam held her close. "Hi baby, how are you?"

"I'm okay, I missed you."

"Hey Sam," Rocco said.

"Hey Mom." Danny hugged her. "You okay? How's Grandma?"

"I'm fine, but I'm worried about your Grandma," Sam said. "She's still not awake."

Scout frowned. "I want to see Grandma."

Sam touched her cheek. "Maybe we can go see her together later."

"That's crazy, who would burn down Alexis' house?" Rocco asked.

"I'm starting to get a hunch," Sam said.

They turned when there was a knock on the door. Dante answered it.

Chase was standing there and held out a paper. "There he is. I have a warrant for Danny's arrest."

Sam looped her arm through Danny's. "Excuse me?"

"Danny's fingerprints were found on the candle holder that started the fire at Alexis' house," Chase explained. "And he was reportedly there around the time of the fire. I tried to question him yesterday, but he ran away from me."

"Danny did not burn my mom's house down," Sam said firmly. "He would never do that. But I have a feeling who did."

"A feeling?" Chase asked. "Just who do you think did it?"

"Shelly Mest." Sam showed him the card and the picture of Danny Sr. "Or one of her children."

"This doesn't prove anything…."

"Oh, yes it does," Sam said. "History is repeating itself…. She's referring to her mother… my illegal adoptive mother… being killed in a fire that my brother Danny accidentally started. So now she's trying to do the same thing to my mother."

"You can come down to the station to share a statement of your suspicions," Chase said. "But this isn't enough to go on. I need to take Danny in."

"Sam, you better do as Chase says," Dante said. "It'll be better for Danny in the long run. In the meantime, we'll figure out what's going on."

Sam groaned. "Danny, do not utter a word until I'm there with Diane, got it?"

Danny nodded as Chase cuffed him. Scout started crying.