People Will Say We’re in Love-Chapter 4
Bobbie arrived at the brownstone and found Carly downstairs on the couch watching TV. She sighed and shut the door behind her. She put the grocery bags down in the kitchen. Carly had yet to notice her mother’s presence in house. "Carly," Bobbie said trying to capture her attention. "Could you give me some help in here please?"
She sighed and turned off the television. "Can’t a person have a moment’s peace here. What do you want?" she asked going into the kitchen.
"I’m not going to argue with you, Carly, but that tone will not be tolerated. I just want your help making dinner, is that too much to ask? How did your appointment go?"
"It went all right. Everything is fine and the way it should be. This morning I met Sonny’s, or so he says, cousin. She is just as bitchy as I would expect anybody to be."
"Carly," Bobbie admonished her. "You really need to give people a chance. I don’t know if you realize this, but you don’t have any friends. Did you every think that your attitude could be the reason for that. So, did you do anything productive today?"
She was getting tired of this same speech she got everyday. Bobbie was always harping on her that she needed to get out and make friends and find things to do. She was perfectly content to be home and with Michael, and then with the new baby coming, she had all she wanted. "Listen, Mother, I don’t need to hear this again today, all right. I told you that my life is complete; I don’t need anything else."
"Carly, you have to face it. Jason is not coming back, okay. You need to move on with your life." This was the first time that Bobbie had ever gone to the root of Carly’s problem. She saw the hurt look on her daughter’s face, and softened her tone. "I’m sorry, but he’s not. I want what’s best for you, Carly, but you have to want it too. You can’t stop living just because things didn’t work out with him. You have to realize your fault in what happened, and move on. You can’t continue living in the past. I think that the first thing you do need to do to make that happen is settle the custody with Michael."
"I will not let that man have my baby, Mama," she said determined. "He will not take Michael from me."
"I’m not saying that he will. I’m just saying that you should at least consider letting him see Michael, with you there, of course. What harm can that do? He has a right to see his child. Are you going to do the same thing with this child?"
Her hand went instinctively to her stomach. "No, I’m going to do the right thing for this child. I messed- up with Michael; I realize that. I won’t make those same mistakes again. There won’t be any lying or cheating on my part. Things will work this time."
"Then, correct those things you did wrong with Michael, too. It’s not fair to either Michael or AJ to be kept from each other. Just think about what I’ve said, okay. Now, I think we need to get dinner started, or Lucas will be in here in a minute wondering what our problem is," Bobbie said laughing, and eventually, Carly joined in.
*****
Dara laid the book the book to the side and reached to answer the phone. "Hello," she said into the receiver and wondered who would be calling so late.
"Hello," came the woman’s voice. "I hope I didn’t wake you."
"Alexis," she said surprised. "No, I wasn’t asleep. Is there something I can do for you?"
She paused before answering. "Yes, actually there is. I was just thinking that you and I have been at odds for a long time, and I thought that maybe we could put an end to that feud. I know that I have done some things that may have seemed …no, that were wrong. I hope you realize my reasons for them."
She thought about a response to what Alexis was saying. "I assume you’re referring to the Tony Jones case. I’ve forgotten about that and put that all behind me. That was the biggest problem between us, and I think that an end to the feud would be very appropriate. Forgive me, but I can’t help but ask, why the sudden change?"
Alexis smiled, she knew that Dara would want an explanation, so would she if the situation were reversed. "Okay, I was expecting that question. The other night at dinner, I guess I realized that you weren’t such a bad person. I think that the two of us could have been friends if it weren’t for the things I did when I first came to town. I want you to realize that wasn’t me. I hate doing this over the phone, but I couldn’t sleep unless I called you."
"Okay, I understand that you were under Helena’s influence back then, but that still doesn’t answer my question. Why has this been weighing on your mind?"
"You said that you were not seeking another year as the ADA. Am I to assume that you are leaving the district office for good?"
"Yes," she nodded. So that was it. "Are you looking to become a part of the district attorney’s office? I wouldn’t have figured you for the type, considering your clients and all."
Alexis had to laugh at that. "No, I don’t think that I’m cut out for that either. I wanted to know what your plans would be after you leave the DA’s office, that’s all."
"Right now, I don’t have any." She was intrigued now. "Do you have any suggestions?"
"Well, I’m been looking into taking on a partner. Would you be interested? I can understand if you say no, but I would really like for you to say yes."
Dara smiled. Just a few days ago, she had no idea of what she would do after she left the DA’s office, and know this opportunity came up. "I always aim to please. I think that I’m going to take you up on your offer."
"Wow," she said laughing. "That was easier than I thought it would be. Okay, I’ll draw-up the terms of the partnership, and I’m sure you’ll draw-up your own, and then we’ll come to a compromise."
"You know me very well. I’ll see you tomorrow, then. Is lunch fine with you?" she said pulling out her own dayplanner.
Alexis reached for her organizer. "Yes, I’m free after 12:30 for about an hour. See you then. Good-night."
"Fine. Good-night, Alexis," she said hanging up the phone. She tossed back the covers and rose from the bed. She knew that she would not read any more of her book tonight, and she would get little sleep. She had a partnership agreement to draft. Who would have thought, she and Alexis Davis partners?
*****
"Mr. Jacks," Stefan said rising and extending a hand to the gentleman that just walked in the door. "I assume you have reached a decision about our potential project."
After shaking his hand, Jax sat down in the chair across from Stefan’s desk. "Yes, I have reached a decision. Yes, I will help you with your problem, if you will help me with one of my own."
He nodded; he had not expected less from him. "I understand. I assume we are not talking about the Quartermaine problem."
Jax smiled. "Not directly, at any rate. I have confidence that we can achieve success with ELQ, but it would be a lot easier if we had a little more help."
"Help from whom?" he asked placing his folded arms on his desk.
"I want my brother to be able come home. Jerry could make all of this a lot easier for the both of us, especially your problem," he added seriously.
Stefan offered a small smile. He was very right, with Jerry Jacks background, their problems would alleviated much easier and more efficiently. "That is very true," he mused nodding. "Your brother has numerous connections that would help us. What exactly do you wish me to do?"
"I want the charges against him dropped. Listen, I know that Jerry might be guilty, but there were legitimate reasons that he did what he did. I want all of that to disappear, and I want things back the way they were."
"I understand," he said nodding again. "Do you wish for your past fortune to be restored as well? I am sure that we can arrange for that to happen. That would certainly give us an abundant amount of resources to work with."
Jax smiled and sat back in his chair. "Yes, astute as always. You make this happen for me, and I will make things happen for you."
He stood as Jax did. "I am sure that this will not be a problem."
"Good," he said extending his hand first this time. "It’s always a pleasure doing business with you. I’ll see myself out."
*****
Carly fidgeted outside the door of the Quartermaine mansion. She decided to take up Bobbie’s challenge and bring Michael to see his father. She really had to no hope that this would work, but at least she could say that she tried, and maybe Bobbie would give her a break. "All right, Little Man," she said to Michael as she reached to ring the door bell. "It’s either now or never."
"Hello, Ms. Benson," Reginald said opening the door. "And hello, Michael," he said smiling and bending down to shake his hand.
"Hello, Reggie," she said entering the house. "Is AJ here?" she asked glancing nervously around the foyer. It had been a while since she had been there.
"Yes, he and the family are having breakfast in the living room. You can go on in," he said gesturing to the door.
She smiled as she played with the buttons on her blue silk blouse and held onto Michael’s hand tightly. "Thanks," she mumbled as he headed back in the direction of the kitchen. She sighed and placed her hand on the door knob, and turned it after a minute and resolved to go inside. "Good morning everyone," she said brightly as soon as she got inside. "Look who I brought for a visit."
The occupants all the turned and noticed their arrival. "Carly," Lila said. "How nice it is to see you and Michael again."
Carly smiled and walked over to where she sat. "Yes, Michael wanted to see everyone, so I decided to bring him."
"I’m glad you did," Alan said as he and Monica came over to give their grandson a hug.
"Yes," Edward said smiling as he joined them. He patted Carly on the back. "Have you come to your senses and decided to move you and Michael back in here? If you have, we hold no grudges against you, and welcome you both back with open arms."
Carly merely smiled at him and looked at her son and his grandparents interacting. "Please, Grandfather," AJ said coming over to talk to Carly. "I’m glad to see that you brought Michael to visit us. I can’t tell you how much I’ve missed my son," he said squatting down to his son’s level.
"Yes, Carly," Monica said straightening as AJ led Michael to the couch. "I’m really happy to see my grandson. Thank you for bringing him over."
"Would you like some breakfast?" Lila offered her.
She looked at the spread of breakfast foods behind her. "I’ve already eaten breakfast, but since I’m pregnant, I’ll use that as an excuse to eat more. Thank you, Lila, for offering," she said smiling as she took the older woman’s hand.
She went over to the buffet and turned her back to the people in the room. Everyone in the room was either immersed in their own breakfast or their attentions were captured by the happy little boy, so that no one saw the downcast look on AJ’s face when Carly mentioned her pregnancy.
*****
"Hi, Jax," Hannah said breathlessly as she reached the door to Kelly’s.
"Good morning," he said smiling as he held the door open for her to enter. "We meet again. I see that you were running."
"Yeah," she said removing the headphones from her ears. "I run every morning. If I don’t my day just won’t go right."
"I know exactly what you mean. I run every morning, too, and I do the whole power shake thing. Like clock work, I get up at 6 to run."
"Wow," she breathed. "6 is a little early for me. This is the perfect time." She glanced at her watch. "Well, I have to go, if I’m going to get a shower and be on time for work. I’ll talk to you later."
"Okay, good-bye," he said smiling. He went over to the counter. "Good morning. I came to pick up my breakfast order."
Elizabeth smiled. "Okay, I’ll go get it, Mr. Jacks," she said disappearing into the kitchen.
"Hello, Bobbie," he said. "It’s been a while since I’ve seen you."
"Hi, Jax," she said giving him a smile as she busied herself behind the counter. "Yes, it has been a while." She hadn’t really seen him since Jerry left, and definitely not since she began seeing Roy again.
She was saved from having to further when Liz returned with his order. "Here’s your order, Mr. Jacks," she said handing him the bag and went to ring him up.
"Thank you," he said reaching for his wallet.
"That’s nonsense," Bobbie said. "This is on the house for you, Jax."
He smiled and nodded. "Okay, in that case," he said still taking out the money. "Here is your tip," he said handing the money to Liz. "Maybe we could meet for lunch or dinner, Bobbie. There’s something I want to discuss with you."
She nodded. "All right. Just call me with the time. I’m sure your schedule is probably much busier than mine."
"Fine. I’ll talk to you later," he said walking away.
Bobbie glanced over at Liz and found her watching her. She gave the younger girl a smile and went back into the kitchen. She wondered what Jax had to meet with her about.