The Prodigal Daughter-Chapter 3

 

Ned walked in the room and wrapped his arms around Alexis’ waist and gave her a kiss on her cheek. "How’s everything going?"

She maneuvered so that she was facing him. "Better, now that you’re here," she said giving him a real kiss. "I wasn’t expecting you for a couple of hours."

"I know, but the meeting was over rather early. There’s just something about having someone in charge that actually knows what he is doing that speeds up business transactions very nicely. Are you excited about tomorrow night?"

She returned to her work. "You bet I am. It’s not everyday that I get to celebrate my third month wedding anniversary."

Ned smiled. He wanted to make this a special day for them. Sure, he could have waited until they had been married for a full year, but this was something special for the both of them. Their marriage proved that they could trust someone else and that they loved someone and were loved in returned. This was special, and this party would be great.

"We need to finalize the guest list," Ned informed her.

She scanned the list on the counter beside her. "I thought we already did that."

"Yes, but I need to add someone else. Jax will not be attending the party alone after all," he said smiling. He wanted his wife to wonder who exactly he was bringing. She would be surprised.

Alexis smiled. She didn’t want him to be at the party alone. He and Chloe had separated, but she wanted them both to be happy. "Who is he bringing? Do I know her?"

Ned nodded. "Yes, I believe that you do. You remember Keesha Ward, right, Justus’ cousin."

"Yes, of course I know who she is. Why?"

"She and Jax are coming together."

She narrowed her eyes at Ned. She suspected that he and Jax were up to something before, but now she knew for sure that they were. "What are you up to, Ned? You can’t just tell me that it’s just a coincidence that the two of them are coming to the party together."

Ned knew that he couldn’t lie to her. "Okay, Jax and I are in the midst of a huge business deal, and Keesha could be just the catalyst to make that happen."

"So this involves AJ and ELQ. I thought so. Listen, Ned, don’t tell me anymore than you already have. Exactly what you’re planning, I don’t want to know about it, okay. Just be careful with this," she pleaded with him.

"Trust me," he reassured her. "We will be very careful with this. Nothing," he said kissing her, "nothing can be allowed to go wrong."

*****

Marcus Taggert spotted her across the restaurant pouring over her files and pouring herself a cup of coffee. He chuckled slightly. They must have gotten tired of refilling her cup, so they just gave her the whole pot. Working with Alexis Davis must really agree with her; he had never seen her look so content before. But, working with her was also taking up a lot of her time. He didn’t know the last time he saw her in town.

"Why, Ms. Jensen, you are not at the office this afternoon," he said smiling when he approached her table.

She looked up and returned his smile. He was a welcome break from her work. "No, I thought a change of scenery would do me some good. Join me, I haven’t ordered lunch yet," she said gesturing to the empty seat across from her.

"Thank you. I’m going to take you up on that offer. Who knows when it might come around again?" he teased her. Actually, he knew when he would like that opportunity to come. "You are going to take at least one night off from work and go to Ned and Alexis’ party tomorrow night, right."

She nodded. "Yeah, that’s why I’m trying to get this done now. I’m helping Alexis out, too, so that she won’t have so much to worry about."

"Really," he said. He was certainly glad to hear that. "So, who are you going with?" He asked the question, but did not really expect a response; he was hoping she was going with him.

She looked back at the file in front of her. She knew that he would not exactly like who she was going to the party with. It wasn’t like he was going to ask her; they were only friends. "Actually, I’m going with Sonny."

His smile quickly disappeared. "I’m sorry, but I know I didn’t just hear you say that you were going with Sonny Corinthos. Come on, Dara, you’re smarter than that."

"Marcus, he asked me, and I accepted. I thought that the two of you were working on putting your differences behind you. After what happened with Hannah, I thought you two were going to just let bygones be bygones."

He was quiet for a moment as he thought about what she said. Hannah had certainly facilitated a truce of sorts between the two of them, but Dara surely had to know what she was getting into. "Dara, that still doesn’t change the fact that it may not be so wise getting involved with Corinthos."

She gave a small laugh. "I’m not getting involved with him. I’m only going to one party with him for our friends. It’s not even a date."

"Sure," he said nodding as the waitress finally approached them. "You know that, but are you sure that he does?"

*****

"Jasper!" Jerry greeted him as he sat down at the table.

"Jericho," he imitated him. "You seem in good spirits today," he noticed.

"Love will do that to you, you know. Well, certainly you know that. You’ve been in love more than I have, little brother."

Jax smiled and nodded. "That I have. I have ‘loved not wisely but too well’ on more than one occasion. But, I will not complain. I think that I’m a better person because of it."

Jerry nodded. "Yes, I agree. You are much wiser in love. That is why you need to find someone to go to the party tomorrow with. Bobbie will not rest until she sees you happy."

He smiled. "And I suppose that I cannot be happy unless am with someone. Strange the way your wife thinks," he joked.

"I agree, but she is right. Come on, it’s been a long time since you and Chloe broke-up, and you don’t seem to have any interest in dating again. What’s going on?"

Jax smiled and looked up. His attention was caught by the woman who had just entered the door. She saw him as well and smiled at him. He gestured her over to the table. Jerry turned around to see whom Jax saw. "You said that I needed a date for the party, and here she is." They both stood when she finally reached the table. "I don’t think that the two of you have met before. This is Keesha Ward. And this is my brother, Jerry"

Jerry smiled and shook her hand. "No, but I know all about you. Everyone speaks very highly of you, especially my wife and her family." Jerry was very impressed. Jax may have taken a while to get back into the field, but he did it in a big way. A fine, upstanding citizen in Port Charles, and she was beautiful as well; Jax couldn’t have done better.

"It’s nice to finally meet you, Jerry. Since your brother is here, we can just postpone lunch until some other time," she suggested.

"No, I was going to get take-out and surprise Bobbie at work. You and Jax don’t have to change your plans on account of me," Jerry said moving aside so that she might take the seat he had vacated. "I’ll see you two tomorrow night. Enjoy your lunch."

Keesha waited for Jax to sit down. "So, he knows that we are going to the party together tomorrow."

He laughed and nodded. "Yes, and if he tells my parents, they will probably have us married before the end of the week. Are you sure that you’re okay with all of this? AJ will probably be there; are you ready to deal with him?"

She shrugged. "I’ll have to eventually. That really doesn’t matter. Dealing with him will not be a problem. It seems that you have a bigger problem."

"What problem would that be?"

She smiled. "A well-intentioned family."

*****

Chloe walked into the Outback and went straight to the bar. She was finding that a midday drink was becoming a very important part of her daily routine. "Hi, Felicia," she said sitting down.

Felicia smiled at her. "Hello. What can I get for you today?" she asked already knowing the answer.

"A vodka tonic, please." Relations between Felicia and her were finally beginning to be normal again. They both understood that the past was the past. They both had messed up, and now they were rebuilding their friendship.

"Here, you are. Are you going to Ned and Alexis’ party tomorrow night?" she asked trying to start conversation with her.

She nodded as she closed her eyes savoring the drink. She might even start having one of these with breakfast. It would be a wonderful way to start the day.

"Are you planning to go with anyone?"

She shook her head. "Nobody’s asked," she said giving her a small smile.

"What’s this I hear?" Marcus said as he heard what she said. "No one has asked a beautiful woman like you to the party. That’s a great shame."

She turned around and smiled. "Well, that’s the shameful truth," she informed him.

"Well," he said sitting down next to her. "I’m not going with anyone either. Let’s say that two lonely people go together."

She smiled and nodded. "That would be nice."

"Great. I’ll pick you up. Where would that be?"

"The Quartermaine’s Gate House. I’m sure you know how to find it."

"Yes, Ms. Morgan, I certainly do."

*****

"I would have never thought that she would have returned here," Helena said to Andreas over their late lunch. She smiled. "That is not really such a big deal. It will be much easier to keep an eye on her here than anywhere else. Too bad that Stefan’s out of town and was not able to meet her. But, I will make sure that he knows, and I will see the look on his face. A perfect plan, right, Andreas?"

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