Thursday, November 12, 2009

Zacchara Estate: Conservatory

There was something about this room that almost made Nadine feel at home. Perhaps it was because every time she was in Crimson Pointe, she and Johnny inevitably ended up in here. She would lounge on the sofa in front of the fireplace, reading medical journals or more recently, pregnancy books and listen to Johnny playing the piano.

In the last two months, she had somehow ended up at the Zacchara estate every Thursday night and stayed until Saturday morning. She’d make the drive back to Port Charles in time for her afternoon shift. The first few times, she’d slept in a guest bedroom but a month ago, after an evening of dinner and talking, Johnny had leaned forward and kissed her and since that night, they’d shared a room.

Of course, there were moments when Nadine wondered if the attraction between them was more in their imagination than in reality – if they were just making themselves end up together because neither of them were really interested in being alone and of course, there was the baby to consider. But those moments only intruded when she was feeling fat and unattractive. Most of the time, she knew that the baby had just been the reason for continued contact.

In fact, it would have been infinitely easier for both of them if he’d just agreed to financially support the baby and arrange for visitation rights once it was born. That hadn’t satisfied Johnny – he wanted to start parenthood right and had insisted on being fully involved, from doctor appointments to his own stack of pregnancy and childcare books she’d spied in his room.

“So, the baby is about five inches long,” Nadine said. She sat up and peered at him over the back of the sofa. “That seems so weird to me.” She propped the book on her chest and held up her hands to about what she thought five inches would be. “Man, that’s small.”

“Babies generally are somewhat tiny.” Johnny’s fingers paused on the keys and she didn’t have to look at him to know he was smirking. “Or at least that’s what I’ve been told.”

“Very funny,” Nadine returned easily. She picked the book back up. “The baby only weighs as much as a turnip. Five ounces. That’s barely half a pound.” She shook her head. “Wow.” She closed the book and went to join him on the piano bench. “So I was browsing the internet at work today and I found this list of things to remember each week you’re pregnant and this week it was funny because they listed both your sex drive going into overdrive and thinking you’re too unattractive so your significant other will stray. No wonder pregnant women go crazy.”

Johnny slid a curious glance at her from the corner of his eye. “I can’t decide if that was a hint, a question or just one of those trick questions you pregnant girls ask a guy to trip him up.”

“Could be all three,” Nadine grinned. “I think that’s the best thing about being pregnant—other than the obvious. Everyone is always so worried about upsetting you. Leyla and Regina are so mad at me and Elizabeth because Epiphany keeps giving them all the manual labor.”

“Elizabeth?” Johnny remarked curiously. “Jason Morgan’s wife?”

“Yep,” Nadine nodded. “She’s due in early June and I’m in late April so we’re going to hit all the major stages together. Plus, she’s been through this twice before so it’s nice to have an ally in all this.” Her eyes grew a little distant. “Wouldn’t it be the coolest thing if we both had little girls and they were, like, best friends?  She’s positive this one is going to be a girl and even though I won’t know until next week at the appointment, I think this is a girl too.”

“It’s an interesting idea, me and Jason’s kids growing up together,” Johnny mused. He glanced at her. “So that trick question slash hint earlier?”

“I was just kidding,” Nadine replied. “It was choice D. None of the above.”

“Right.” Johnny started another piece, the Beethoven he knew she loved. It was the only piece that she could tell from the others. “I was thinking about my answer to it anyway. I think it’s pretty obvious that we’ve got something here.”

“Yes, a baby,” Nadine said slowly with a grin. “Gee, you’re slow.”

“Nadine.” Johnny looked at her, slightly exasperated. “You always joke when we start talking about anything serious.”

“Sorry.” She cleared her throat. “No, I know, you’re right. Sometimes, I think it’s because I’m pregnant but most of the time, I think maybe there’s something real.” She hesitated. “Right?”

“I care about you,” Johnny confirmed. “And not just because you’re the mother of my child, though that’s pretty cool. And just for the record, I’m more than fine if your libido swings into overdrive. Anytime, you just call me. I can be in Port Charles in no time.” He grinned.

“Such a guy,” Nadine rolled her eyes, but she rested her head against his shoulder. “I care about you, too, Johnny,” she said softly. “More than I thought I would.”

“Ditto.” He pulled his fingers from the keys and she frowned, looking at up at him. “Nadine, these last two months have been the most normal of my entire life.”

“Since I know about the rest of your life,” she said, “I know that’s a good thing. I’ve really enjoyed it, too.”

“But I realized that I want more time with you,” Johnny continued, “two nights and one day a week isn’t enough. I know you’ve got a life and a career in Port Charles, so I’m willing to compromise and buy a place there for us but there’s a condition.”

“Oh, really?” Nadine could almost feel where this was going but she wasn’t sure if it was because it was simply logical or because she was so completely crazy about him that it was wishful thinking. “What’s the condition?”

He paused and licked his lips, nervously. “Will you marry me?”

She grinned, from one corner of her face to the other. “Oh, God, yes.” She threw her arms around his neck. “Definitely!”

Friday, July 5, 2024

 

Jake’s Bar

“You know, there are times when I think I should have been a doctor.” Pete Marquez, professor of English literature, threw back a shot of whiskey and set the shot glass down on the table with a thump.

“I bet those are times you have to make that alimony payment,” Ian Devlin remarked with a wicked grin. “Because you’d make more as a doctor.”

“Sometimes,” Pete agreed. “But mostly because I’m tired at looking at those idiot little faces.” He sighed dramatically. “I am burnt out.”

“He’s just annoyed because his face isn’t as pretty anymore,” Patrick taunted. He slapped his old college buddy lightly on the cheek. “The girls don’t swoon and Leila would rather rake him over the coals some more.”

“Leila,” Pete sighed. “She was excellent in bed but the second I put that ring on her finger, she was all about babies and picket fences, and why do I still flirt with the students and maybe I should stop going to the strip clubs.” He shook his head, disgusted. “It’s like she knew who I was when she married me and then she wanted to change it. Women.”

“Now, now, Pete, don’t forget,” Ian mocked, “our good friend Patrick has been happily married for like….forty years.”

“Haha,” Patrick said sardonically. “It’s been sixteen years and you know it. Some of us just know how to make marriage work.”

“Absolutely,” Pete agreed. “And your method is doing what your wife tells you to.”

“I do not do what my wife tells me to,” Patrick replied, insulted. He sipped his beer. “I merely pick my battles.”

“Uh-huh.” Ian leaned forward. “When was the last battle you picked?”

Patrick paused and tried to remember the last argument he’d bothered to have with Robin. When he couldn’t think of one, he frowned. “Maybe we’re mellowing.”

“Ha, someone has mellowed,” Pete crowed. “And it’s not the lovely Dr. Scorpio-Drake. She has got you so whipped.” He made a little whipping sound.

“Gee, you wonder why Leila took the kids and left you. I warned her and I’m pretty sure I warned you but you were in love,” Patrick teased.

“You’re such an ass,” Pete said without malice. “Hey, not everyone finds the right girl and manages to have the nice house in the suburbs with a minivan. I can’t really make fun of you because you had the good sense to find the one woman in the world that was more stubborn than you.”

“Seriously, though,” the eternally single Dr. Devlin began, “you don’t have a moment of doubt about where your life ended up?”

Patrick hesitated and brought his beer to his lips. He shrugged. “Sometimes. When Mal’s screaming at me or Anna’s stomping her foot for her ballet lessons or when Robin volunteers me to take the kids places without bothering to let me know. Yeah. I mean, sure, I didn’t really participate in any of the major decisions after I proposed. Robin set the date, she planned the wedding, she wanted to move, she wanted another kid. But most of the time, I’m okay with how things ended up.”

“You’re okay with it?” Pete echoed. “Well, if that isn’t a ringing endorsement of fatherhood.”

“Don’t put words in my mouth,” Patrick replied, irritated. “I love Robin and I think she’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m a better person because of her, and a better doctor. I love my kids and for the most part I don’t think I’m screwing up them up. But yeah, sometimes I do wonder what life would have been like if Robin hadn’t ended up pregnant.” He shrugged again. “I can’t imagine that thought doesn’t cross most married men’s minds once in a blue moon.”

“Here, here.” Ian raised his shot glass. “There’s something to be said about damn good fathers. There aren’t many of you out there. Most are more like our friend, Pete. He probably knows his kids names.” He paused and grinned. “Birth dates might be a stretch.”

“Ha, you’re very funny,” Pete muttered. “Remind me to run you over in the parking lot later.”

Saturday, July 6, 2024

Port Charles Police Department: Commissioner’s Office

There wasn’t much about Lucky Spencer that had changed over the years. As the only responsible member of the Spencer family left (Bobbie had passed away two years ago and his father had been gone for almost ten years now) he took his job as commissioner very seriously. Not that people paid much attention to the department these days. Since the bloody days of Port Charles mob had ended, the PCPD spent most of their time with petty crimes, domestic violence and traffic violations. It was good, safe work and Lucky liked to think he was making a difference.

His life was very calm, its only real complication was the ongoing custody disagreement he had with his ex-girlfriend Sam McCall, who never seemed to want him to see their daughter. Chloe Spencer-McCall was nearly eight years old now and it was really unfair that he only had her around for a handful of weeks a year. Fortunately, Sam was finally beginning to relax about letting Chloe out of her sight for more than five seconds so Lucky was going to have her for the entire month of August this year.

Life was calm, life was agreeable, but most importantly, life was predictable and Lucky was enjoying it.

Until his ex-wife’s youngest child walked into his office. Juliet Morgan resembled her mother in every way. Lucky couldn’t help but remember Elizabeth Webber at the same age though he doubted Juliet had ever drank or touched a cigarette.

“Ah, what can I do for you?” Lucky asked.

Juliet perched at the edge of the chair in front of his desk. “I was hoping you’d have a few minutes to talk to me about my mother.”

Lucky swallowed. “Does your father know you’re here?”

“No,” Juliet admitted, “but I don’t think he’d be mad. He’s a lot more open about Mom lately. He wouldn’t talk about her for the longest time but he’s finally starting to let up. He let me hang pictures up so now there’s one in every room.”

Lucky had heard rumors of how badly Jason had handled Elizabeth’s disappearance and the one where Jason never spoke of her and had boxed everything up had seemed a little far fetched but apparently it had been the truth. He cleared his throat. “No one really handled your mother’s…disappearance well.”

Juliet nodded. “Aunt Carly said you tried to take Cam away from her. And from me and Jake,” she added pointedly.

Lucky scratched the back of his neck. “Carly mentioned that? To you?”

“Well, no,” Juliet admitted. “She was talking to Uncle Jax about it once and she didn’t know I was eavesdropping.” She grinned. “You wouldn’t believe the things you adults say when you think we’re not listening.”

“Having been your age at one point, I can absolutely believe it. As for the Cameron thing…I wasn’t entirely in my right head. Elizabeth was always very important to me and a lot of people, including myself, blamed your dad for what might have happened to her. We wanted you three safe but of course, you and Jake were Jason’s biological children. Cam wasn’t.”

“He’s Cam’s dad in every way that matters,” Juliet said firmly. “Also legally. Mom let him adopt Cam when they got married, so I’m glad Aunt Carly fought to keep us together. Anyway, that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

“Oh, good,” Lucky said. He coughed, “I mean, I’m not particularly proud of that time period in my life.”

“Everyone says that you, Uncle Nik and Aunt Emily were Mom’s best friends,” Juliet said.

Lucky tilted his head to the side and smiled. “You call her Aunt Emily even though she died before you were born.”

“She was my dad’s sister and Mom loved her like one. Plus I’m named for her. Everyone says she would have loved me a lot,” Juliet said. “But they say that about Mom, too.”

“Your mom loved her kids,” Lucky said firmly. “A lot of people thought she just up and left because of your father. But I always knew that wasn’t true.”

“I know that she didn’t leave on purpose,” Juliet said, “and Dad seems pretty sure that he investigated every lead on his, er, side, so I guess what I really wanted to know is if you know of any enemies my mother made before she met Dad.”

Lucky frowned. “Juliet, are you, by chance, trying to find out what happened to her?”

“I know you’re going to tell me that I’m probably wasting my time,” Juliet replied, “but she’s my mother and I want to know what happened. My brothers and I deserve some answers. If it were your mom, would you ever give up?”

“No.” Lucky paused. “My mother actually had a similar experience. She disappeared without a trace for about two years. This was before I was born.”

“And no one knew where she was the whole time she was gone?” Juliet asked, curiously. “Like, did people think she was dead?”

“Yeah, I don’t know the specific details,” Lucky said, “But it was attributed to a recent rash of disappearances, I think. Eventually, she turned up. She’d been kidnapped by Stavros Cassadine and forced to marry him. That’s, unfortunately, how my brother Nikolas ended up being born.”

“Wow,” Juliet said, “I always thought Uncle Nik’s dad was just someone she married before your dad.” She pursed her lips. “So the Cassadines were able to just make your mom go poof?”

“Yeah,” Lucky agreed. “Helena Cassadine – Stavros’s mother – was not someone you wanted to cross. She was evil – pure through and through. The happiest day in Nikolas’s life was when Helena died in Greece in 2011. The last of a very dark branch of his family.”

“But what about my mother?” Juliet pushed. “Did she make enemies of the Cassadines?”

“I guess, in a general manner,” Lucky shrugged. “But your mom was out of the feud for years before she disappeared.” He hesitated. “And I see what you’re getting at, but once Helena was dead, your mom could have found a way to come back, you know? She wouldn’t have stayed gone another thirteen years.”

Juliet huffed. “I know. But I’m not really in a position to discard theories. It’s the only one I’ve got. Any other enemies?”

“No,” Lucky shook his head. “I mean, I probably would have said Carly was an enemy at one point. They used to hate each other. And Sam McCall. But no one who would have done anything to her. They both loved Jason too much.”

“Well, I guess you’ve given me something to go on.” Juliet stood. Lucky got to his feet.

“Juliet, I hope you find the answers you’re looking for,” he said honestly. “Your mother was one of the best friends I ever had in my entire life and I’ve never given up looking for her. I always keep an eye out…” he hesitated. “You know…you should talk to my brother, Nikolas. He might know something more,” he said, thinking of the strange sighting Nikolas had related to him. “He’s a great source of Cassadine information.”

“I’ll do that.” Juliet stopped at the doorway. “My mom made a lot of photo albums when she was pregnant with me and Dad just gave them to me. You’re in a lot of them, you know. So you know, she still loved you, too. As a friend,” she added quickly. “I just thought you should know.”

“Thanks,” Lucky said quietly. He watched Elizabeth’s daughter exit and sank back into his chair. Helena Cassadine. He hadn’t thought about her in years but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that Helena had had something to do with Elizabeth’s disappearance. Or death. Helena had always been vicious.

And she’d always held a grudge.

Monday, July 8, 2024

Davis Home: Backyard

Kristina leaned across her raft and tugged the headphones from her younger sister’s ears. “So, are you seeing Cam tonight?”

“Maybe.” Molly grinned and slid her sunglasses down to the bridge of her nose to wiggle her eyebrows at her sister. Despite the constant comparing Alexis did between Kristina and her, Molly still loved her older sister because she knew it wasn’t Kristina’s fault Alexis couldn’t accept Molly’s decisions. “He is definitely delicious. I’m glad I made him wait this long.”

Kristina snorted and laid her head back down on her raft, kicking off the side of the pool when she floated too close. “Please. You’ve had a crush on Cameron Morgan since you were twelve. He just never had the time of day for you.”

“Details.” Molly sighed and adjusted the top of her strapless bikini to make sure that her tan would go as low as possible. “Besides, we’ve got stuff in common.”

“Absolutely. He’s girl crazy and you’re boy crazy. It’s a match made in heaven.” Kristina laughed. “And I have to say, you are handling him much better than I dealt with Kevin. He couldn’t get away from me fast enough.”

“Couldn’t get away from Mom fast enough, you mean,” Molly corrected. “Cam knows how ridiculous Mom is so that solves a lot of problems.”

“She is not happy about her little girl dating a Morgan,” Kristina informed her. She sat up on her raft and tugged towards the side of the pool to grab a sip of her iced tea. “So you guys are sleeping together right?”

“Kris…” Molly rolled her eyes. “I am not telling you that!”

“Hey, we made a pact when we were in high school,” Kristina reminded her pointedly. “I told you about Remy and Kevin. And I know you’ve had sex before, so what’s the big deal?”

“The big deal is…” Molly hesitated. “Yeah, we are. And I didn’t exactly make him wait all that long either.”

Kristina eyed her suspiciously. “What exactly is all that long anyway?”

“Third date,” Molly muttered, letting her hand drift into the cool water. She flicked water at her sister. “But we’ve known each other our entire lives. That matters.”

“Yeah,” her sister drew out, “but still, Mol—three dates? You don’t think he’s going to get a certain idea about your relationship? And what it’s based on?”

“Maybe,” Molly admitted. “But I also know that Cameron Morgan can pretty much date whatever girl he wants and he’s only home for the summer anyway. If I want him to date me the rest of the time, I have to give him a reason to.”

Kristina frowned. “Molly—”

“Krissy, just drop it, okay?” Molly said. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

← Chapter Five | Chapter Seven →