Everything I Do-Chapter 11
"Did you get everything straightened out with Jax?" she asked as they sat down for dinner.
She nodded as she joined Carly at the table. "Yeah, I guess so. Am I slipping?" she asked her.
"Slipping where?" Carly asked smiling. "I’m at a loss, I’m afraid."
She sighed. "Am I becoming the person I used to be? I mean, am I becoming the all-wise, all knowing, almost sanctimonious Keesha? Tell me, honestly, am I? I tell Jax that he needs to talk to Brenda. I almost demanded that he do that. He says he’s going to, but what if he’s not ready to do that just yet. Am I pushing him? Help me out here, Carly," she asked.
"Okay, but first, you need to calm down. Now, first, about Brenda. You want him to talk to her. I really don’t see anything too odd in your request; you want him to lay down the ground rules to her. Are you sure you don’t want to be at that little meeting, though?"
She shrugged. "I don’t know. I think that my being there would be a little awkward, to say the least. I trust Jax."
Carly nodded. Keesha was answering her own questions; this was turning out to be a very effective tactic. "Now, onto the truth about why you were so angry with him this morning. He didn’t tell you that his grandmother was coming. I don’t see why you were so angry because of that."
"Well," she smiled. "Neither do I, not really. Okay, I do. I have to admit, I was a little embarrassed to be caught there by his grandmother, of all people. That’s just not something I’m comfortable with, you know."
"You’re not comfortable having a sex life. I assure you that she knows that you do," she reassured her. "I’ll bet she wasn’t too surprised by that. And besides, it’s not like the two of you hide it around me."
"Carly, it’s hardly comparable," she started. "I don’t know, maybe it’s just the way I was raised. I’m just not very comfortable with that sort of thing."
"Oh, come on, Keesha, please don’t tell me that you’re going to let your backgrounds interfere with your happiness," she begged her.
"I don’t know," she said pushing her hair back. "We’ve really never talked about it before. I don’t want to bring it up because it’s not a really big issue with him. I know it isn’t, but I can’t help but think about it," she admitted.
"If it is a concern for you, then you should talk to him about it," she advised her.
"Yeah, but I have been overanalyzing everything lately, so I don’t know if that’s why I’m thinking about this now. I’m really confused," she said laughing.
Carly smiled at her friend. "Yes, you certainly sound like it. Do you think that you’re rushing things with Jax?"
She shook her head as she thought. "No, the only thing that I’m not confused about is the fact that I do love him. I want to become his wife, and I agree with the prevalent theme that it’s about time that we get married." She smiled and continued, "No, I don’t think that we’re rushing things. I just think that I need to make an appointment with a shrink as soon as possible. But, enough about me, I’ll break out of this funk soon enough. What’s up with you?"
Carly knew that Keesha’s troubles were far from being completely discussed, but she humored her and went along with the change in subject. "Things are fine. Nothing new since last night when I noticed that you were not planning to come home."
She smiled guiltily. "Sorry about that. I guess I should’ve called."
"Yeah, well," she said giving her a playful, stern look. "I haven’t seen little Miss Sunshine yet, and I’m debating whether or not I should pay her a little visit."
"I can tell that you’re not really debating. You’re going aren’t you," she said smiling and shaking her head. "You’re not going to just let her get away with visiting Jason, are you?"
She smiled. "You know me too well. Yes, I’m going to visit the little pixie. I think that she deserves to have a visit from me. I’m going to make sure she knows the way things stand so that she doesn’t even try to bother Jason."
*****
"Hi, Jase," Carly said smiling as she went into the apartment.
"Hi," he said as she went over to give him a kiss.
"I’ve missed you. Are you ever going to be free to see me ever again," she said pouting as she sat on the couch. "Is everything going all right."
"Yeah," he answered her question simply. He returned to his work. "What are you up to, Carly?" he asked.
She was always amazed at how much Jason could tell about her. She couldn’t keep anything from him, but it never hurt to try. "Nothing, Jason. Why do you always think that I’m up to something?"
"Because you usually are," he said. "I think this has something to do with Robin. Don’t worry, I haven’t seen her since that night, and she hasn’t tried to contact me. Leave it alone, Carly."
"Who says that I’m going to bother anything? Trust me, I don’t want to talk to Robin," she told him.
He nodded. "I know you don’t want to talk to Robin. Where is Michael?"
She smiled. He always knew how to get her to smile. "With Bobbie. He really loves spending time over there. I guess it doesn’t hurt that Lucas is there. He is a very dutiful uncle. So, are you free for the rest of the day?" she asked hopefully.
He sighed. "Okay, give me about two hours to finish everything up, and I’ll give you my undivided attention. Do you want to go out for dinner or something?"
She stood up happily triumphant. "Yes, I want to go to dinner or something, Jason. Jerry and Lucy have both expressed a desire to keep Michael for me, after I dropped a few hints of course, so that means that we have the whole night to ourselves. You think that we can find something to keep us busy?"
He smiled over at her. "Bye, Carly. I’ll see you later."
She gave him a kiss on the cheek before she left. "Love you," she said closing the door. "And I’ll make sure little Miss goody knows that," she said out loud before getting on the elevator.
*****
"Hi, Laura," Keesha said giving the woman a hug. "I’m glad that you could meet with me here. I’m supposed to be meeting with Lucy after this, and she wants to meet here."
Laura smiled. "I understand. It’s no problem really. So," she said producing a folder. "Here are all the ideas I’ve had thus far for getting the house started back up again. I tell you, we really need this."
Keesha nodded as she looked through the documents. "I totally agree with you. This all looks great. You must have spent a lot of time on this. There’s not much left for me to do," she said laughing.
"Well, it’s not like I have much else to occupy my time. I’m sorry for sounding so bitter, but things with Luke are," she said laughing. "Things with Luke." She sighed. "I don’t know. But you shouldn’t have to hear about all of this; you have a wedding to plan for."
"Hey," she said placing her hand on Laura’s. "Whenever you need to talk, know that you can talk to me. I’m never too busy to listen to you. You certainly have listened to me enough times."
She smiled. "Thank you. So, business aside. Are you and Lucy making the final plans?"
"Yes," she said happily. "Today we pick the cake."
"That should be exciting, all those free samples," she said sharing in her happiness. "I really am happy for the both of you. I think that I’m going to go now before I run into my better half," she said getting her things together to leave.
Keesha smiled at her as she left. She knew it was fanciful, but she wished everyone could be as happy as she was. "Lucy, you are here."
"Yes, and I come bearing cake. Very good cake," she said sitting down. She opened the case and removed the samples. "I have to admit, this is the best part about planning a wedding."
"Yeah, but the only problem is, will I still be able to fit into my dress after all of this," she joked laughing.
"Will Jax be joining us, or is he like Jerry? He doesn’t care what the cake tastes like?"
"I asked him to come, but I guess he had other things to take care of. Well, let’s get started," she said laughing.
*****
"Where’s Keesha?" Jerry asked sitting on the couch.
Jax smiled. "You know she doesn’t live here. Actually, she’s with Lucy. You didn’t know who your wife was with. You are slipping, dear brother."
"I was too busy with your presumed dead ex-wife. It seems that she has been in Sweden this entire time. There are some very good doctors there, because she is excellent health. Or, at least that is what her appointment at GH revealed."
"Really, well, good work, Jer. Any idea of who she was staying with?"
"A woman by the name of Whitney Grimaldi. Here’s the information I have on her. Nothing spectacular," he said.
"Grimaldi?" he repeated. "An odd name for a woman living in Sweden, don’t you think. You’re right, there is nothing spectacular, but I wonder how she afforded to care for Brenda for all that time. She must have gotten the money from someplace."
"In other words," he said standing. "’Jerry, find out where the money came from.’"
"You are such a mind reader, but I think that can wait for a little while, though. I want you to be well rested for the wedding," he teased him. "So, go to Luke’s and join your wife and my financee. Give them your advice; you know what I like."
"Why can’t you do that yourself?"
"I have a meeting with someone right about now. Bye, Jerry."
He had a really good idea of who he was meeting with. "Be careful, Jax. Remember what’s important."
"Don’t worry, I will."
*****
Brenda stood looking at herself in the mirror as she applied her makeup. She had to look perfect; she was going to meet with Jax. This was the day she had been waiting for since she got back to Port Charles; he finally came to his senses. She was aware of Robin standing in the doorway. She looked over at her and looked back into the mirror. "Hello, Robin," she said.
Robin sighed and crossed her arms. Brenda was being so hopeful about this meeting with Jax, but she wasn’t hopeful at all. "Brenda, I still think that you’re getting your hopes up for nothing."
"You’ve been saying that, and I’m really tired of hearing it. He called me and asked to meet with me today. What other reason would there be for him doing that?" She was growing really tired of Robin. She talked to Whitney about what was going on, and she was hopeful about this. "I thought you were my friend, Robin."
She came over and put her hand on Brenda’s shoulder. "I am your friend. I talked to Jax the other day, and I just don’t think that you should get your hopes up, that’s all."
"I’m going to be late. I’ll see you later," she said leaving her room smiling. This was going to be a great day. She was finally going to get the man of her dreams back, and they were going to be happy. "’Nobody leaves’ after all," she said smiling to herself.
*****
He heard the doorbell, and had to admit that he was a little apprehensive about meeting with her. Talking with her was not exactly the easiest thing he had to do, but very necessary. He would not allow Keesha to feel insecure any longer, even if she denied that feeling.
"Jax," she said throwing herself in his arms when he opened the door. "I’m so glad that you called to meet with me. You have no idea how happy I am." When she felt that he did not return the hug, she drew back. She narrowed her eyes. "What’s wrong, Jax? Are you all right?"
"Come in, Brenda," he said moving back so that she could enter. "I think that you may have misunderstood why I called you."
"What do you mean?" she asked turning to face him with a smile. "It’s obvious why you called me. Besides, I don’t see Keesha here, so that must mean that you’ve come to your senses about this whole silly mess. You realize that we should be together," she said placing her hands on his chest.
He took her hands away and moved further into the living room. "Brenda, that is not why I called you over. I need for you to understand that it is over between us. There is no hope for us getting back together, Brenda. We’ve been down that road before, and I don’t feel like doing that again."
"Is this because of Keesha?" she asked folding her arms. "I understand that she can be very convincing, and she must have been a great help to you in the time I was away. I understand that, really I do. I can also understand that your very appreciative towards her, and you’re mistaking that for love. It’s really understandable, and I can forgive you that."
He stared at her for a moment before responding. She really believed what she was saying. Had she been this delusional when they were together? "What are you saying? Do you really hear yourself? You forgive me! What have I done? Nothing. Even if there wasn’t Keesha in my life, I still would not be ready to pick up where we left off. I have moved on from us, Brenda. I realize that our relationship was not healthy or good for either of us."
"Not healthy for either of us," she repeated. "That sounds like some psychology babble that Keesha’s been spouting at you. Is that what she told you? Did she degrade our love to that?"
"I’m not going to argue with you about this, okay," he told her. "The purpose of you being here is so that I can tell you were we stand, and I have done that. So," he said walking over to the door and opening it, "that is all I want to discuss with you."
"So now you’re throwing me out." She walked over to him reached up to caress his face. When he pulled back from her touch, she said softly, "What has she done to you, Jax? I know that we are meant to be together, and I will fight for that, even if you won’t." She gave him a small smile and left.


