Chapter 50

Alexis had stayed up researching educational law, precedents pertaining to Title IX and sexual harassment. They were a private school, the law was murky, but she would be prepared for their next conversation with the school. They knew Morgan and others involved in the incident this fall were targeting female students. Were targeting her daughter. They had an obligation, but there was clearly a culture where this behavior was tolerated. She hoped Addison still had the notes. The myFace posts would be easy. It was proving it was happening on school grounds. That would be the challenge, but she would protect her daughter. She watched Addison carefully, scrolling her phone, playing with her cereal. "Why don't you put the phone away and eat some breakfast?"

"I can't. I need to be sure nothing else is posted about me. I'm afraid someone will start to say I'm lying about Morgan. No one will believe me now, Mom."

"The school can't tell other kids about the assault, Addie. They have a legal obligation to protect your privacy."

"That's what Mrs. Miller said when I got hauled into guidance." Addison put her phone on the table and took a spoonful of cereal.

"Good. I'm glad she made that clear to you." Alexis watched her daughter concerned as she picked her phone back up when it buzzed, but then immediately put it face down after she read whatever came across her screen. "Addie…who was that?"

Addison made eye contact with her mother, "Dad."

"You should reply, sweetheart."

She stared at her mother and changed the subject. "Can I stay home today?"

"Addison…"

"They're investigating. It's only going to get worse. Hope saw me go into Mrs. Miller's office yesterday. Kids are going to be asked about me. Then they'll start talking and whispering again and I can't handle that. I can't."

"You can't not go to school because–"

"Because of what Dad started. They're investigating because of him, remember? No one is going to believe my side. I waited too long. No one is going to believe the freshman slut."

"The evidence. The witnesses prove you're telling the truth. You told me as much yourself. Hell, Morgan admitted as much in my office when I dropped him as a client. Don't spiral, Addie and I don't want to hear you talk about yourself that way again."

"He did?" Addison asked, surprised.

"He did. So go to school. Prove everyone wrong."

"Mom…I don't want to be there while they are questioning kids. Can't you understand that? What if he tries to get me to change my story? What if he tries to get me alone again?"

"Ok," she said quietly. "Until we have a real safety plan for you, ok."

"Daddy's going to be mad."

"Your father cares about your safety. It will be fine."

"If he cared about anything other than controlling this he would have listened to me in the first place." Addison was adamant.

"Addison, you have no idea what it's like to be controlled. I get you feel that's what's happening. But it's not what he was trying to do."

"Why are you defending him?" Her mom was supposed to be on her side.

"Because I know your father's heart and I know yours. He just wanted to protect you and see you face this. You're so strong, and resilient. We believe in you."

"Maybe you're wrong."

"I'm not wrong. From the day you were born you've been our strong, resilient, girl. The fact that you survived the explosion is a miracle that we are grateful for everyday." She said as she tucked Addison's hair behind her ear. "Your father was the first one to hold you. He chose your name. Did we ever tell you that?"

"No."

"Well, he was. That day I was in surgery. He was terrified for me and for you. We were both afraid we'd lose you and your father went with you to make sure you were ok, and weren't alone. He held you close as he waited to hear about me. He made sure you knew you were loved from the moment you came into this world. And we had so many ideas about what we might name you. And when he was allowed to bring you to me he said he knew what your name should be the second he held you in his arms and saw those big brown eyes of yours."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"Because Addison, he wanted you to have a name that sounded as strong and resilient as you are. He's always known how strong you are, Addison Grace Ashton."

"Mom…if you're telling me this so I–"

"I'm telling you this, so that you understand just how much your father loves you. He doesn't want to see anything happen to you and this last month and a half he's been terrified for you. We both have…"

"I know you have."

"So just consider replying to him this morning." Alexis looked at the clock. "I need to leave; promise me you'll log in and do some school work while you're home?"

"I will."

Alexis stood and kissed the top of Addison's head. "I love you and Daddy loves you, too." She left Addison home and headed to Kelly's. She had messaged Ned last night and asked to meet for coffee. They needed to finish their conversation from the previous night and they needed to get on the same page about what they were going to do. Calling the school had revealed more than she ever anticipated and he needed to know what their daughter was facing.

Alexis walked into Kelly's that morning and found him already sitting at a table with a cup of coffee. "Thanks for meeting me." She said as she pulled out the wooden chair, took off her coat and joined him.

"Of course. I tried to call you yesterday to talk about this. I did." He said wanting to be clear. He didn't try to deliberately keep her in the dark.

"I know. I got your message last night." She said as she reached across the table and touched his hand. As she did, the waitress came, offered and poured her cup of coffee.

"Did she go to school today?" He asked, concerned as she took a sip of her coffee.

"No." She told him reluctantly, putting down the mug.

"Alexis…"

"I tried. I did. But I can't drag her out the door, Ned."

"How is she? Really." He worried. Addison's reaction was worse than he thought it would be.

"She's calmed down. She's opened up a bit more about what's actually going on."

"Oh?"

"They've been calling our daughter a slut. They've been blaming her for shutting down that party the entire time."

"They're calling her…" He could barely finish his thought as he realized what Addison was up against.

"Yes, and they filmed her panic attack. Posted it online. It's so much worse for her than we realized."

"Well I'm glad I let them know. These kids need to be dealt with. It's bullying. Our daughter is being bullied."

"Our daughter is being sexually harassed. And you're right these kids do need to be handled. It isn't just Morgan. But you took away her agency, Ned. She was thinking about coming forward. She was coming to terms with what needed to happen next and you took away any power she felt she had in this situation."

"We both agree that the school needed to know what was going on. We agree we need to press charges. We both want justice for her. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing anymore."

"We do. But you forging ahead anyway, without even discussing it with me. Don't you see the problem with that? She won't come to us. We need her to come to us, not disappear to the boathouse with Cam."

"Teenagers go to their friends, Alexis. She's pushing boundaries because we let her run this for too long."

"They do and I'm glad she has Cam. That she feels like she has someone who will listen to her, but she needs us on the same page. They all do. We haven't even dealt with Kristen, yet, and we need to."

"It was your idea to divorce, Alexis." He started growing frustrated.

"That has nothing to do with this." She was adamant.

"It absolutely does. Neither of us can just stop what we're doing and track the other down and talk through what to do. Isn't that the choice you made with Lansing?"

"That's a separate issue. I was planning to talk to you. I needed details first."

"And I believe that. We need to be able to trust the other's decision making when it comes to them. There are and will be times when we both need to make decisions on our own and then support the other."

"You think I'm not supporting you?" He couldn't have been more wrong and she had no idea why he would think that.

"She won't even talk to me, Lex. Have you even tried to get her to respond to me?"

"Because she's angry and hurt, Ned."

"Because you're telling her she can stay home and avoid this and I'm trying to get her to face it."

"No. You're wrong. I'm trying to back you and do what I know from experience she needs. I'm navigating this the best I can. I know you've never been the one in this situation–"

"I'm not trying to compare this to you and Kristen."

"I realize that. But here is what you need to realize, all three of our kids have always gone to you, and yes, we say I'm the Addison whisperer, but she had you on a pedestal. This illusion, that you could do no wrong. She loves you and she will realize that you were trying to do what you thought was best for her. She needs space and you need–"

"To apologize." He admitted. He needed to apologize to help her understand why this needed to happen.

"Yes. She feels powerless, even more so now."

"That's not what I wanted."

"I know that. I've told her that. But she needs to hear it from you. So come by the house later?"

"I can't. I'm meeting Julia." They had to finalize the hotel deal to start renovations. To prevent disaster.

"Oh. I'm sorry to assume. Well, we'll figure out a time then." She was surprised. Taken off guard.

"It's not what you think."

"You don't need to explain. Anyway, I should go. I have a meeting and then I have the initial paperwork to file with the court."

"Our paperwork?"

"Yes."

"That can wait. We should keep talking. We never got to really talk."

"We just spent the last half hour talking, Ned."

"About us, Alexis. About what we both know is true."

She sighed and said, "I have a client waiting."

"Ok, go, I wouldn't want you to be late. I'll keep trying with Addie and well, I'll think about what you said."

She stood and put on her coat. "Thanks. I'll keep trying, too. See you soon."

"Yeah, soon." He said as she walked out of Kelly's and left him sitting there in disbelief, wondering what came next, still trying to hold onto some sliver of hope that she'd eventually realize they shouldn't do this.

That afternoon Alexis walked into the Grille for her meeting with Dara. She wanted to discuss how to proceed with Addison's case. She knew she needed her there to file an official complaint, but she wanted to make sure her daughter wasn't going to be used as a means to an end in a power play against Morgan just to stick it to Sonny.

She sat at the table and waited. She took out a file and was surprised to see Ric Lansing sitting down across from her. "I thought I was meeting with Dara."

"I'm handling this aspect of the case."

"Does conflict of interest mean nothing to you? Dara is the prosecuting attorney."

"I could say the same for you."

"They're my children. She's my daughter. The judge understood that."

"So, counselor, explain why we're here. Clearly she has something to offer or you wouldn't be here right now."

"She's not offering anything. I'm here because I want justice for my daughter."

"As you should. I subpoenaed the disciplinary records from the school. I read the reports, he was suspended for sexual harassment…your daughter was involved…your son reported it?"

"I tried to block that."

"You aren't his attorney anymore."

"Right. Yes, he did and she was, but she wasn't the only victim in that..."

"So, he clearly was interested in her on some level…and then she shows up at that party and…."

"She wasn't raped, Ric, he tried to sleep with her. He came dangerously close to raping her, but she got away. She got away."

"But there was a sexual assault?"

"Yes." Alexis confirmed.

"Isn't that your husband?" Ric asked as he noticed Ned walk into the Grille with Julia and sat at the bar.

Alexis turned around, taken off guard. "That's him." She said and turned back to face Ric.

"Should we stop here, wait?"

"No it's ok." She said and tried to brush off the fact that he was there. She knew he was meeting her. She never expected to run into them. Why did seeing him with Julia bother her so much? It was just business. He said, had insisted it was just business and she believed him.

"He's not joining us, then?"

"No, he's not joining us." She confirmed and took a sip of the glass of water sitting on the table.

"All of a sudden you seem…different. What is this and why don't you seem more surprised to see your husband clearly openly flirting with another woman?"

"We're getting divorced."

"Because of the blonde?"

"No. Julia is a business associate, that's all." She said unconvincingly as she glanced at Ned one last time and changed the subject back to the case. Tried to focus.

Across the Grille, Julia noticed Alexis sitting with Ric. "Did you know Alexis would be here?"

"What?" Ned asked as Julia subtly motioned toward the dining room. "Oh. No, I didn't."

"How are things going with her?"

He glanced at Alexis, deeply engaged in conversation with Lansing and sighed. "No change."

"You wouldn't be using me to bury your feelings for her, would you?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Now Julia, would I do something like that?" He flirted, intrigued.

"It occurred to me."

"We've been friends for a long time now. We've been in and out of each other's lives…"

"Because of my sister."

"We have a shared history that predates Brenda…a quite enjoyable one if memory serves…" He smiled.

"So you do want to use me to make your wife jealous?" Julia asked again.

"It's a tempting thought, but no. I'm not going to put you in that position."

"I didn't say I'd object…" She said as she touched his knee.

"Somehow I knew that about you," he laughed as Tracy walked into the Grille.

"Ned, what the hell do you think you're doing?" She reprimanded as she approached the bar.

"Mother. I didn't expect to see you here today." Ned stated, not amused.

"Julia Barrett. Didn't you learn your lesson the last time?"

"I'm sorry what?" Julia responded, taken aback.

"Don't you realize? My son is still in love with Alexis, his wife, and you're just here to nurse his wounded pride over the mess he made of his marriage."

"Why am I getting this sudden sense of Deja vu? Are you sure you're not the one who interfered in his marriage?" Julia asked. She learned how to handle Tracy years ago.

"I've done nothing but support his marriage for years now. Alexis is the relationship he needs. Now we may be at odds about some silly business with the recent vote…"

"Have we talked about what I know about Kristen and the vote mother?"

"Not yet."

"But we will, now Julia and I are working on hotel business. You know trying to clean up the mess you tried to cover up. Excuse us"

"Darling, everything I said is true, don't pretend otherwise and your wife is sitting right over there in the dining room with that sleaze of a new DA. So maybe, muster up some of that romantic charm you're so famous for and do something."

"I'm sure she's working on a case. I'm not going to go over there and create more problems."

"Well if you aren't going to try and save your marriage then I'll have to."

"Mother, wait–!"

Tracy stormed over to the table with Alexis and Ric. "Do you know what your husband is doing at this very moment?"

"Hello, Tracy. Why yes, I do. He's right over there having a business meeting with Julia."

"And you're ok with that?"

"What I'm ok with is none of your business. And I've explained this to you. Ned and I are getting a divorce."

"Well while you're busy divorcing, which is a mistake I might add, your daughter has been meeting a boy secretly in the boathouse. Did you know that? So maybe it's time you both woke up and started paying attention."

"I'm well aware of Addison's relationship with Cameron. We both are."

"Webber? She's dating the Webber boy?"

"Mother, now is not the time for this. Let's go." He took his mother by the arms and started to escort her out. "I'm sorry." He said sincerely.

"It's fine." Alexis replied as Ned started to walk away. "Actually, wait– excuse me for a minute." She said to Ric, got up and followed Ned and Tracy.

"What's up?"

Alexis looked at her mother in law "This is one of those things that Ned and I need to talk about, alone." She said pointedly.

"Alright, I'm going. Your fools, both of you." She told them as she walked away.

"So?" Ned questioned a bit confused.

"I know Julia's waiting. I just wanted to let you know the school called. They want us to come in for a meeting Monday…can you be there?"

"I can. So that meeting with Lansing…"

"Is about Addison's case. They want to question her and she thinks she wants to press charges…"

"She does? Why didn't you mention that this morning?"

"I told she was coming to terms with this. I planned to tell you the details. I wanted to take this meeting first. I'm trying to make sure she's not collateral damage in all of this…"

"Got it. So I'll see you Monday?"

"Yes. Go finish your meeting."

Alexis walked back into the dining room.

"So that was–"

"My mother in law? Yes."

"No wonder you're getting divorced."

Alexis couldn't help but laugh. "So, back to Addison…she's really just coming to terms with the assault. She's not some chess piece you can use to win this case."

"I have no intention of harassing a sexual assault victim, Alexis."

"And my son was just trying to look out for her…"

"I realize that."

"So, she'll come in. Make an official statement, file a report…but I don't want her questioned like she's the one in the wrong here because she's not. She has a right to privacy. I don't want her name released and as her mother I'll–"

"You'll do what you need to do. Understood."

"Good."