Chapter 94- A Mother Knows

Mac and Felicia were at Georgie's bedside, holding her hands.

"Did I tell you how happy I am that you re-married after all these years?" Georgie asked.

Felicia smiled at both of them. "You've mentioned it once or twice, yes."

"How many years has it been again?" Georgie asked.

"We married in 2013, so almost 11 years," Mac said.

Georgie's eyes started to close. "So, it's now two thousand… two thousand…."

"Two thousand and twenty-four, sweetheart," Felicia said. "But most people say twenty-twenty-four."

"I wish I was at your wedding," Georgie mumbled as she drifted. "Would be so beautiful…. So nice."

They watched her fall asleep, then each kissed her forehead. Once they reached the hallway, Mac said, "Maybe we could renew our vows. Then Georgie can be there this time. Esme too."

Felicia bit her lip, considering it. "Can we wait until things calm down a bit and talk about this again?"

Mac nodded. "All right."

"I just want to focus on the girls right now. I need to go back to check on Frankie. She'll be having her x-ray soon."

"Can I go with you to see her?" Mac asked.

Felicia nodded. "Yeah. That's a good idea. It'll be good if she sees you here for her."

They hopped on the elevator.

"We found something very disturbing in Nelle's basement," Mac said. "I want you to hear it from me before the press gets a hold of it."

"What did you find?" Felicia asked.

"Well, Carly was tied to a table and she gave birth," Mac explained. "But there were also four preserved bodies. One of them was Bobbie's."

Felicia's hand went over her mouth. "Bobbie? I—I don't understand. Why would Nelle have Bobbie's body?"

"We're still investigating it."

"Who were the other three?" Felicia asked.

"Shiloh, Julian, and Ryan," Mac said.

She gaped at him. "Ryan? What? Oh my gosh…. I hope Frankie didn't go down there."

They got off the elevator when they reached the ER.

GHGHGH

Ace started crying when Esme kept screaming.

"This was a bad idea," Nina said and started wheeling Nelle back out.

"No… no." Nelle tried to get out of the wheelchair but grabbed her chest and winced. "I can comfort her."

"What the hell?" Maxie jumped up. "Get away from my sister! Nina, how could you bring her in here after she stabbed my mom and kept my sister and nephew prisoner?"

Nina cleared her throat and wheeled Nelle back out.

"Stop it," Nelle said. "I thought you said you wanted to help me and that you wanted to be part of my family."

"I do," Nina said. "I truly do. But that really upset Esme."

Maxie followed them out and shut the door behind her. "What do you think you're doing? Why are you wandering around so freely after all you did? Why haven't you been arrested?"

"Maxie, there was a misunderstanding tonight," Nina said. "Nelle explained to me—"

Maxie laughed. "And you believed her? Esme had to jump out of her window because she was so desperate to escape."

"I had to lock her in," Nelle said. "Sam and Lucas were on a rampage. I had to protect Esme and Wiley. Now, move aside, Maxie, so I can comfort my stepdaughter."

Maxie crossed her arms and blocked the door. "No. Nina, get her out of here or I'll do it myself."

"Is that a threat?" Nelle asked.

"Yes," Maxie said firmly.

Nelle glanced up at Nina. "Are you just going to stand there while she threatens me?"

"Let's go back to your room and talk," Nina said. "We can't just force our way in there when Esme is that upset."

"But I can calm her down," Nelle said. "Don't you want me to help her?"

"I think Esme is in good hands," Nina said. "We need to focus on your recovery, not hers."

"What's going on here?" Frisco walked over to them carrying a large teddy bear and a matching small teddy bear. "Is everything okay, Maxie?"

"No, it's not okay," Maxie said. "Nelle belongs in jail."

Nina wheeled Nelle away.

Frisco rubbed Maxie's back. "Are you all right?"

"I'm furious, Dad. How can she just show up at Esme's room after everything she just did? Esme was scared to death of her."

"Maybe I can help cheer her up?" Frisco suggested. "I was the one who found her after she fell out of the window. Maybe a friendly face will help."

Maxie shrugged. "I guess it doesn't hurt to try." She led him inside to find Esme shaking and holding Ace close. "Esme, it's okay, she's gone now. Dad and I scared her off. We won't let her get in here again."

Frisco held up the bears. "I bought these for you and Ace. I gave one to Maxie when she a kid and she called it Frisco Bear. When I couldn't be with her, Frisco Bear would watch over her for me."

Esme's eyes moved to the bears as he set them on the end of the bed.

"Uh Dad, Esme isn't a kid," Maxie said.

"I know what you just went through was scary, Frankie," Frisco said. "But we're all here for you. Me, your mom, Maxie, and Georgie."

Esme cleared her throat. "I'm Esme. Only Mommy calls me Frankie."

Frisco nodded. "Okay, Esme. I'm sorry, but I'm used to Frankie from when your mom and I searched for you. But I'll call you anything you'd like. Your feelings matter, Esme. I'm not like smug old Mac-donald. You can be yourself around me." He lifted the bigger bear in front of himself and sang in a deep voice. "Old MAC-donald ran the nick. Ee-eye-ee-eye-oh…. And in his nick he stole my fam… ee-eye-ee-eye-ohhh."

Esme laughed and Ace reached for the bear, so Frisco handed it to him.

"DAD!" Maxie smacked him. "Things are already tense between Mac and Esme. Don't encourage it. And I'll have you know, Mac has been really good to us—"

"Knock-knock." Felicia poked her head in and Mac followed. She glanced at Frisco, then walked over to Esme. "It's almost time for your x-ray. But Mac would like to visit with you first, if that's okay. I can be here too if you want."

Mac shot Frisco a look, then smiled at Esme.

Esme's eyes went to Mac, then she turned to the wall. "I don't want him here."

Felicia sighed. "Frankie, he's not going to hurt you."

"It's okay," Mac said. "Just let me know if you need anything, Esme." He stepped out.

"No, it's not okay." Maxie set her hands on her hips. "Why are you treating Mac like that? We're lucky to have him." She huffed and followed Mac out.

GHGHGH

Sam slowly opened her eyes to find Dante holding her hand.

"Hey, welcome back." He smiled. "How are you feeling?"

"Just really tired," Sam said.

"I heard about what happened," Dante said. "You and Lucas were very brave."

"Is Lucas okay?" Sam asked. "What about Wiley?"

"Lucas is fine. I haven't heard about Wiley. You lost a lot of blood, but Dr. Randalph said you're going to be fine."

She smiled. "Where are the kids?"

"They're with Ma at the Quartermaines," Dante said. "They keep asking for you."

Her eyes widened. "Scout's bake sale is tomorrow. Can you pick up the cupcakes for it?"

"Of course. I think I got it." He reached into his pocket. "There is one thing I want to ask you…."

Sam's shut her eyes. "It's Eckert's… that's the kind Scout likes for the frosting… for the cupcakes."

"Right, right," Dante said. "I'll keep that in mind. But it wasn't that." He opened a box to reveal a diamond ring. "Will you marry me, Sam?"

"You're asking me that right now?" Sam laughed. "I must be on a lot of pain killers."

"Yeah, I was hoping that would work to my advantage." He chuckled.

"You're very smart."

"But I was planning to ask you this week anyway," Dante continued. "Then this happened. But I love you, Sam. I love the life we've built together. I love our family. Our kids just click together. And I think we do too." His eyes teared up. "I would like to marry you because I would like us to grow old together. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

She started crying. "I love you too, Dante. And I want all of that too. Yes, I'll marry you."

He slipped the ring on her finger and kissed her.

GHGHGH

Nina wheeled Nelle back to her hospital room. Nelle grumbled along the way. When they arrived, they found Jordan and the officer in the doorway.

"Nelle Benson…." Jordan pulled out handcuffs. "You're under arrest for criminal harassment, five counts of forced confinement, two counts of attempted murder, and four counts of body snatching."

Nina's mouth dropped. "Body snatching? What?"

"This is insane," Nelle said as she was cuffed to the wheelchair. "I am the victim in this. Me, Esme, Wiley, and Ace are the only victims. It's Lucas and Sam you should be arresting. They're the ones who terrorized us."

"You will be held here with a guard until you're recovered from your injury," Jordan explained. "Then you will be escorted to the PCPD to await a hearing."

GHGHGH

After Esme's x-ray, Felicia waited with her and Ace for the results.

"Frisco's really nice and funny," Esme said. "Why don't you get back together with him?"

"Because I'm married to Mac," Felicia said. "And Frisco has really let us down through the years."

"But he said Mac stole his family."

Felicia rolled her eyes. "He told you that, did he?"

"And Frisco helped you look for me."

Felicia nodded. "He did. But Mac would have too."

"And Frisco saved me tonight," Esme said.

"Frisco found you tonight, and I'm glad he did instead of Nelle, but he did not save you," Felicia said. "Mac did more than Frisco did. He's the one who caught Nelle. And your Uncle Kevin was there as well."

"Well, I like Frisco more than Mac."

"Okay, well let's not focus on that right now. Although, I was wondering if you have a plan for you and Ace while you recover."

Esme stared at her lap. "You said you were coming to get us, but you never came."

Felicia held her hand. "Sweetie, I was coming to get you, but I received a text from your phone saying you changed your mind."

"I didn't. Nelle stole my phone."

"I should have come anyway, but I wasn't sure if you were still torn."

"Because I kept crying wolf, just like Mac said."

"Well, you have been back and forth about things, so I wasn't quite sure," Felicia said. "But I still regret not listening to my instinct. I could feel something was wrong. But I did want to bring you home and I still do. But that's up to you, Frankie. I will do everything I can to make sure you and Ace are okay though, no matter what you decide."

"I want to go home with you," Esme choked up. "I don't like Mac and I don't trust him. And I don't want him near my bedroom. And I don't want to see Nelle again. But I—I—I trust you and I feel safe with you. So does Ace."

Felicia smiled and hugged her. "I'm so happy to hear that. Mac never goes into your room and he won't ever. That is your personal space. And I certainly won't allow Nelle near either of you again. I heard she was just arrested. Everything's going to be okay and we're going to work through this."

"Okay…" Esme cried. "I missed you."

"I missed you too."

"And I want to make good choices for Ace, I really do," Esme said. "But it's hard."

"I know, but I'm here for you and I'm going to help you with that."

"Aunt Felicia? Esme?" Robin walked in and Felicia let go of Esme. "Esme's results are back."

"How is her leg?" Felicia asked.

"There is a displaced fracture in her left tibia," Robin explained. "We're going to need to operate to repair the bone with screws."

Esme's face paled. "Screws? I can't have surgery. I have a baby."

"It's okay, honey, maybe we can ask Maxie to take Ace home with her while you're in surgery?" Felicia suggested. "I want to be here for it. Then I'll take care of you and Ace while you recover."

"Esme, I assure you this type of surgery is very common," Robin said. "You'll need physiotherapy and it'll take a four to six months to heal—"

Esme's eyes widened. "Four to six months?"

"Esme, you were very lucky," Robin said. "From that great of a fall, it could've been much worse if you landed differently. You could've cracked your skull. Ace could've been hurt…."

Esme kissed the top of Ace's head. "I don't know what I'd do if Ace got hurt. Okay, I guess he can go home with Maxie tonight…. But then I want him with you, Mommy. As long as your shoulder is okay…."

"It's fine," Felicia said. "And I'll have help."

"I'll be back in 45 minutes to prep you for surgery," Robin said.

GHGHGH

Elizabeth walked into Aiden's room to find Jason pulling his t-shirt on.

"Feeling better?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes," Jason said. "Thank you for helping me."

"Of course," Elizabeth said. "I'd always do what I can."

"I've overstayed my welcome though. I should get back to Carly's."

"Going back to Carly's, huh?" Elizabeth bit her lip. "I see. And what about Jake moving forward?"

"I'm always here if Jake needs me," Jason said. "I would do anything for him."

"Except be a father to him? All right, well, I hope things go well for you. We'll always be here."

GHGHGH

Dante hopped on the elevator with Danny, Scout, and Rocco.

"I can't wait to see Mommy," Scout said, holding a box. "I can't wait to show her my cupcakes. Maybe the doctors will let her eat one."

"Your mom will love them," Dante said.

"Are you sure Mommy will be okay?" Scout asked.

"Yeah, the doctors told Dad she's going to be fine," Rocco said.

"It's mom." Danny nodded. "She can survive anything."

The elevator door opened.

GHGHGH

"Are you sure you're okay, Mom?" Sam asked, her face very pale.

"I am feeling much better," Alexis said. "My voice is still a bit hoarse, but all the doctors say I'm going to be fine. And I especially will be knowing that you will be fine too. That is a huge relief because this family is long overdue for some good news."

"I hope you really mean that, because…." Sam held up her hand to show off her ring.

Alexis smiled. "Is that what I think it is?"

"It is if you think it's an engagement ring because Dante proposed," Sam said.

Alexis held Sam's hand with both hands to admire the ring. "Oh my!... It's about time."

Sam laughed. "Can we skip to the celebration part?"

"You know, you and Dante already have something that is just so great, so marriage is just going to make it even better."

"Yeah… it… is…" Sam's voice lowered. "It's…."

"Yes, it's really really great!" Alexis hugged her. "It's really great."

Sam gasped for air.

Alexis pulled away. "Are you okay? Cookie? What's wrong?"

Sam's eyes closed and she fell back.

"Cookie? Cookie?" Alexis got up, the room spinning. She moved out to the hallway as quickly as she could and held onto the doorway. "I need… I need some help in here."

"Mom?" Kristina and Molly jumped up from the bench. "What's wrong?"

Alexis placed a hand over her chest. "Get help…."

Molly ran over to the nurse's desk, while Kristina helped Alexis steady herself. Soon, Terry, Portia, and Patrick rushed past Kristina and Alexis and shut Sam's door. Alexis wrapped her arms around Kristina and Molly as they watched them try to resuscitate Sam through the window.

"Hi Grandma!" Scout said when she, Dante, and the boys arrived. "Hi Aunt Krissy and Aunt Molly. I made some extra cupcakes from the bake sale tomorrow. I'm going to give one to Mommy. Do you want one too?"

Alexis turned, her face very pale. She shook her head at Dante.

Danny and Rocco exchanged worried looks.

Dante's mouth dropped slightly. "Danny, Rocco, why don't you take Scout to Bobbie's? I think Sam would enjoy a cup of chamomile with her cupcake."

"But…." Danny looked between them all, then took Scout's arm. "Okay, that's a good idea. Mom loves her tea."

Rocco forced a smile for Scout. "Yeah, maybe we can get hot chocolate too."

Scout frowned and followed them back to the elevator. "Okay…."

A few minutes later, Terry, Portia, and Patrick came out with shocked expressions.

"How's my—how's my daughter?" Alexis asked.

"Alexis, Dante, we're so sorry," Portia said. "Alexis I—"

"No!" Alexis threw finger up. "Don't say it. Do not say that."

"Alexis, I'm sorry," Portia repeated. "Sam didn't make it."

Molly threw a hand over her mouth.

"What do you mean Sam didn't make it?" Dante asked.

"Sam's dead," Terry said.

"What?" Kristina glared at them. "You're wrong. Sam isn't dead."

"No," Alexis said. "No, no, no. Absolutely not. That cannot be, because I was just with her and she was happy. You said she was going to be fine. She was fine." She looked to Patrick. "Patrick, you know Sam. She has survived worse. Tell them."

"Alexis, I am so sorry," Patrick said.

"You're sorry?" Alexis asked. "You're sorry? You tell me my daughter is gone and you're sorry? You're wrong. Because I am her mother…. I am her mother and I would know if she was gone."

"Mom…" Molly cried and wrapped her arm around her.

"She—she—she's not gone," Alexis said. "She's not."

"This isn't right," Dante choked up. "We were going to be married."

"Sam is dead," Patrick said. "There's nothing we could do."

"No…." Tears streamed down Alexis' face and she dropped to the floor sobbing. "Nooo…."