People Will Say We’re in Love-Chapter 10
"This place seems so…cozy," Esmerelda said smiling as she sat down and looked around Kelly’s. "I was staring to think that Port Charles didn’t have any places like this."
"No," Carly snickered. "I wouldn’t think that Sonny would bring you here. Bad memories," she said referring to Hannah. "So, how do you like it staying at Casa Corinthos? Sonny’s not being controlling."
"It’s not bad," she shrugged. "The food here, or least breakfast, is great. I think this is the place Jax brought me breakfast from the other day, any way. What do you recommend?" she asked looking at the menu.
"Chummy with Jax, huh," she said smiling. "Impressive. What does Sonny think of that?"
"You know, he doesn’t think much of it, actually. I think that I have an angel running interference on that front. But, as far as becoming chummy with Jax, he’s just my boss."
"Okay, if you say so. This is pretty sad," she said sitting back in her chair. "Two good-looking women like us here alone in a diner on a Friday night. There should be some kind of law or something against this."
"You know what, I think that there is." She smiled. "This isn’t so bad. I’m starving, and you said that you’re always starving, so food will be out dates tonight."
"Okay, I can go for that. Doesn’t make me feel too desperate that way. Everyone raves about the chilli," she said answering her earlier question.
"Forgive me for prying, I know that I don’t know you that well, but I really want to ask you something."
"Go ahead, I’m an open book," she said smiling again.
"Are you really happy? I mean, even that first day when I saw you at Sonny’s penthouse, I could tell that there was something wrong. You pushed me away without even knowing me. You’re about to have a baby," she said smiling, "but you don’t seem happy."
She took a deep breath. "Let’s just say I have a lot more things to be sad about than happy. I’m happy about this baby. I love my children, but there’s just so many other things," she said her eyes beginning to tear. She wiped them away and shook her head. "I’m not expected to have feelings, you didn’t know that."
"That’s silly, everyone is entitled to their feelings, Carly." She reached across the table and took one of Carly’s hands. "Listen to me, Carly, I don’t know you that well, but I can tell that you’re not such a bad person. Maybe you’ve made some bad choices, and maybe my cousin was one of them, but everyone is entitled to them, too."
She chuckled. "Well tell everyone else in this town that."
"Okay, maybe the problem is that I never cared too much for what others thought or felt about me. I think that I’m a better person today because of that."
"I don’t care what everyone else thinks either," she informed her.
"I think that you do, but that’s really here nor there. So, I think that I will be your new confidant," she declared.
"Oh," she said laughing. "Are you really?"
"Yes, I am. I told you earlier that we’re going to be family thanks to that little baby you’re carrying. You said the chili was good," she said removing her hand and looking back at the menu.
Carly looked at the young woman sitting across from her and smiled. She shook her head. Maybe she finally made a real friend in Port Charles by just being herself.
*****
Stefan looked around the club as they entered. Dara really seemed excited about the performance they were about to see, so he could not help but look forward to it as well. Her excitement was very contagious.
"Wow," she said as they made their way to a table. "The place is already packed. I’m glad that we decided to come early."
"I am as well," he said pushing her chair in. "I would not think that it would be very comfortable or enjoyable standing throughout the entire performance," he said sitting down across from her.
She folded her arms and the table and smiled. "Admit it," she told him.
"Admit what?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"Admit that it’s not as bad as you thought it was going to be. Really, have you ever really listened to jazz before?" she asked.
"I have heard it on many ocassions," he answered her.
"That wasn’t my question," she told him. "Of course you can hear anything, but listening is very different. Just like art, you can look at it, but you won’t really appreciate it until you see it. So, I think that you will be in for a very new treat tonight. You can tell me how right I am after the show," she said as the lights were dimmed.
"You sound very sure of yourself that I will enjoy this music," he said lightly.
"Oh, I’m always very sure of myself," she said offering a smile.
*****
"Good afternoon, Esmerelda," Alexis said entering the penthouse.
"Hi. Be careful," she warned her. "I just waxed over there," she informed her.
"Wow, this is an interesting way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Why are you being so domestic? Sonny making you work for you keep," she joked.
"No, hardly not," she answered her laughing. "Actually, I feel the need to be productive. I’ve baked some bread, you’re more than welcome to have some. I’m baking brownies now, then, it’s on to cakes."
"I wish I had that skill," Alexis told her. "I’m afraid that I can’t bake. I’m surprised though; I would have thought you would be busy getting a head start on Monday."
"You know, I would be, but I made a promise that I wouldn’t," she pulled off her gloves, and looked up towards the door when it opened. "Well, well, hello, Mr. Jacks," she said when he come in.
"Hello," he said giving her a smile. "I’m lucky that Sonny’s guards like you so much, Alexis," he said joining her. "If it weren’t for the fact that I was with you, they weren’t going to let me in."
Alexis smiled. "I know, I told you if you just stuck with me, I would get you into places."
"I’m keeping my promise, Mr. Jacks," Esmerelda informed him. "I have not opened my briefcase or opened any files that are work related. Have you done the same?"
"I’m glad to hear that," he said laughing. "Do you feel anymore relaxed?"
"No," she admitted with a laugh. "In the quest not be bored to death, I’m exhausted. I’ve been working nonstop since this morning."
"That sounds like someone else we both know," Alexis said looking at Jax. "Doesn’t it?"
"Yeah, you know, it does, it sounds an awful lot like you," he teased her.
Esmerelda smiled. Their relationship seemed so good. She wondered why they had even gotten a divorce in the first place. Everything surrounding that was kept hush hush.
"I have to admit, though," he said to her breaking her from her thoughts. "I tried to stay away from business, but I was sucked back in, that is until Alexis insisted we go on a picnic of sorts."
"It is such a beautiful day, don’t you think, so I just wanted to go outside an enjoy it. What about you, Esmerelda, do you have any plans for today? Maybe you can join us?"
Esmerelda was about to answer when Sonny came home. She smiled at the look on his face when he saw Jax there. "Hi, Sonny," she said walking carefully over to him. "I was wondering when you would get home. Alexis and Jax just invited us to go on a picnic with them. Isn’t that right, Alexis?" Maybe if Jax and Sonny spent more time together, they would realize that the other wasn’t so bad after all.
"Yes," she said despite Sonny and Jax’s looks. "Yes, why don’t you both join us?"
"I think that is a wonderful idea. I need to do something, Sonny, or I think that I’ll go mad," she said laughing. "I’m going to do up and get a quick shower. I’ll be right back."
There was silence among the three people remaining in the room. "I think that Esmerelda did a really good job on that floor," Alexis noticed. "And, this bread is to die for," she said eating another piece. "You both should try some." She said cutting two pieces off for them. "Hey, I’m not going to stand here and talk to myself," she let them know.
"Sorry," Jax said smiling and taking the offered piece of food from her.
"We’re going on a picnic?" Sonny asked smiling. "Who prepared the food? You, Alexis?" he asked laughing as she came over. She smacked him on the arm.
"Not our Alexis," Jax joked. "She does know how to order, though." He and Sonny laughed at the joke, but realizing what they were doing, stopped.
"That’s what I’m talking about," Esmerelda said coming down with her shoes in her hands. "Laughter does everyone really well."
"That was really fast," Jax noted. "It sure took you a lot longer to get ready to go places when we were in California," he teased her.
She rolled her eyes and smiled while she sat on the steps and fastened her shoes. "Well, I had to put a lot more on. I guess I should turn off the oven so that I won’t burn the entire place down. Unless, of course, Johnny will keep an eye on my baked goods for me," she teased Sonny.
"No one goes into my kitchen," he told her. "Well, except maybe for you," he added sweetly.
"Are we all ready to go?" she asked when she returned with a tupperware container.
"What’s that?" Jax asked trying to peak inside when she slapped away his hand playfully; he laughed.
"These are the brownies. I figured that I can add something to this picnic. What are we having?"
"Whatever we pick up," he answered.
Alexis looked over at the two of them and then over at Sonny. He was obviously not happy that Jax and his cousin were getting along so well. She sighed and took his arm. "Are we ready to go?" she asked out loud. She led Sonny out of the penthouse, leaving Jax to escort Esmerelda.
*****
Dara had to admit, while she looked in her refrigerator for something for lunch, that she had a really good time at the concert with Stefan. Actually, she had to admit that she had a wonderful time. She smiled as she closed the door to the refrigerator having found nothing to peak her interest. She walked over to the phone and was about to dial the number of her favorite Chinese restaurant when she heard a knock on her door.
She was surprised at who stood on the other side. "Stefan," she said moving out of the way so that he could enter. "I must say that this is a surprise."
"Good afternoon, Dara. I trust the remainder of your night went well," he said turning to face her once he entered her apartment.
She smiled as she closed the door. "Yes, I had a good night. What can I do for you? Did you come by to rave about the concert and borrow a couple of my CDs," she teased him.
He saw the humor and offered her a smile. "As I told you last night, I did thouroughly enjoy the concert. But, I came by to return the favor of last night."
"Return the favor? How?"
"Alexis has planned a picnic in the park today, and she has asked that I be in attendance. She has also invited several other people. If you are not busy for lunch, then I thought that you would perhaps want to join us," he asked her.
"Well, I was going to order some Chinese food, but I think that I could put that on hold to go to this picnic with you," she teased . "Should I bring something?" she asked going back to her bedroom to get her shoes.
"No, I believe that Alexis has taken care of everything," he answered her when she returned to the living room.
"Hmmm," she said. "Alexis is taking care of everything," she repeated. "I think I’ll still go anyway," she laughed.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked looking at his watch. "I think that we will be on time."
"Yeah, I’m ready," she told him. Picnics with the Cassadines, she thought with a smile. What could happen next?