Chapter Fifty Five - Rising problems, Party Time.
 

**4:32 PM**

 

Victor wiped his mouth with a napkin, and threw the remains of the Turkey sandwich Connie got him from the small bistro down the street into the garbage.
He was too busy to go out for lunch…plus he wasn’t very hungry.

For the past hours he has been struggling with the feelings that lingered after his conversation with Hope has ended.

When it ended he was left with a hallow feeling inside…for having yet another child that would grow up without him…with another man as a father figure.

When Victoria was a child, she was 6 when him and Nikki split up, and even after the divorce, especially after the divorce, they remained extremely close.
His daughter adored him and didn’t miss out any opportunity to spend as much time as possible with him, and if she got him to the ranch for dinner, all the better.
He smiled as he thought back at all of her childish, and yet carefully manipulated attempts to bring him and Nikki closer…

It was different with Nicholas, who never lived with him under the same roof. Nicholas grew up knowing and loving him as his father, but as much as he tried to deny it, he knew that during his childhood, Nicholas’s read bond was with Jack.
He remembered well just how much it pained and angered him at the time.
But at least he had influence on his education, Nikki at the time welcomed his input and encouraged their relationship, Hope seemed to be pushing him away.
Or was she? Were the note and the pictures a sign she might be having a change of heart?

Victor knew well that Hope’s choice to live in Kansas and get back together with Cliff would prevent him from any kind of real input on how his son would be raised.
He also come to understand Hope preferred it that way, that she considered his way of life shallow, ruthless and unfulfilling mentally, and thought their son should be raised in a simple up bringing at the farm.

A big part of his resented that deeply.
He respected Hope’s views about how to raise her son, but thought he had a say in this too. But he couldn’t and didn’t think he should force her to stay in GC, her friends and life were at the farm, and it was clear to him she was miserable in Genoa City.
And without contract with Victor jr., he would never have any real say about his life, and if the boy is raised on the farm, there would be no point to it at all, since he would be surrounded by people who shared Hope’s views about everything.
Whatever solution he thought of seemed to be pointless, damaging to their son, or simply one Hope would never live with…and it all seemed even more complicated - especially now.

Just few weeks ago, when him and Nikki were trying to see if they could overcome the demons of the past that wedged between them, she confessed to him it was painful for her to be his confidant about anything regarding Hope.
Nikki never really came out and said it, but Victor knew that the subject of his son, a child that he didn’t conceive with her touched an even rawer nerve for her…
He never meant to cause her pain when he married Hope but he knew that he did, and he hated the thought of some of that resurfacing now, when it looked like they were past all the major hurdles.

How could he bring it up now? Right when they are about to announce to their children they were getting back together?
It had been delayed long enough already, and he was anxious for them to begin their lives together… he was afraid Nikki would interrupt what he was feeling the wrong way.
 

He puffed his cheeks and blew out air…he hated being in a situation like that.
He wanted to work out his feelings with himself before talking to Nikki, but he knew she would expect him to talk to her now that they were back together. And he would have talked to her if they weren’t together, but now that they were he was worried about her reaction…
He couldn’t possibly win, whatever he would do – it might be the wrong thing, hurt Nikki or Hope, Victor jr…

Victor was so preoccupied in thoughts he didn’t hear Nicholas coming into the room "Hey Dad, what’s up?" Nicholas called out cheerfully.
Victor snapped out of his thoughts and turned to his son with a grin….
 

**4:15**

 
Nikki was sitting on her bed in a darkened room, her forehead resting on her folded knees, her eyes closed, the tips of her fingers massaging her temples.
Her head felt like it was about to explode from crying too much.
Her head hurt, her throat was burning, and her eyes felt puffy and tired… and crying didn’t make her feel better, all it did was making her feel even sick and lonely…

Crying as only a release if someone you loved was there to wipe the tears away and try and make it all better, and that wasn’t the case now, no one knew she was miserable, no one could possibly have a clue.

She had no one to talk to, the mere thought of Brad or Victor caused her to cry even harder...
Her children were out of the questions, Catharine was getting ready to her big shindig tonight, a party Nikki has grown to dread. And Jack, her main confidant these days…oh…she couldn’t talk to him, all it would do is bring up negative memories for him of the child they lost…he would be far from objective and she couldn’t put him in that position.

She was having a baby, a tiny human being that was growing up inside her, and she could only dread it now…
She had no idea who the father is. It could be Brad, it could be Victor, the odds were even.
And she couldn’t recall her last period no matter how hard she tried.

If it was over two months before, that would make the baby Brad’s and then everything might be lost for her and Victor forever…
But if Victor still has feelings for Hope it wouldn’t make it any better even if the baby was his, she wasn’t sure it wouldn’t make it worse. The Last thing she wanted to do is to keep Victor in their relationship through a child, not if he was still battling feelings for another woman.

She couldn’t find a way to look at it that would seem even close to positive for her.

Nikki sniffed and lifted her head and her eyes searched for the Tissue box…her look rested upon an empty box and about 100 tissues scattered on the bed in disarray.
With expression of self disgust she picked up all of the tissues, threw them back into the box, went to the bathroom and flushed it all in the toilet…

She went to the sink and washed her face, she didn’t look in the mirror after she dried her face with the towel, no real need to affirm the suspicion that after two hours of crying, she looked like crap.

Hearing Victor talking to Hope brought up all the old feelings of deep hurt and betrayal and stinging jealousy, feelings she thought had banished forever… but now they were back in full force.

She hated Victor’s involvement with Hope from the very first day, because Hope was so different from her…she couldn’t fight her at all, it’s like they weren’t even on the same battlefield.
Hope has worried her from the day Victor was back from Kansas with her on his arm.
Hope had that wholesome, serene quality Victor was, from some reason, so drawn to…Plus she knew how Victor loved to feel needed, and Hope’s disability evoked the basic protective nature of him…
But she never thought he would marry her, let alone have a child with her.

They married, Ugh…she completely embarrassed herself at their wedding reception and afterwards all she was left with was a great feeling of terrible emptiness and pain…

She remembered those months of depression and how horrible she was to everyone around her…
She and Victor weren’t speaking…it was one of the most terrible times in her life, Jack filed for divorce, Victor was married, and everyone around her seemed happy and in love, except her.
It took her a long time to get over it, but she did. And has emerged a stronger person as a result.
Even though, She never wanted to feel that kind of pain again, not for anything in the world.

Feeling herself slightly dizzy…Nikki slowly sat back on the bed, and opened the drawer in the nightstand… and took out a picture of Victor out of it…she stared at his handsome face that was smiling at her and traced them with trembling fingers.
She closed her eyes in pain and threw the picture backside the drawer, "Nikki, you’ve got to stop doing this to yourself…" She thought.

Victor told Hope he missed her, which could only mean that he still have feelings for her, feelings he denied, or maybe feelings he wasn’t even aware of.
No, actually, that wasn’t really true, Victor never denied feelings for Hope, he just said that his feelings for her weren’t a rebound situation, which didn’t comfort her at all right now – Victor was quite capable of loving with two women at the same time.

But she picked up the picture again, she couldn’t help remembering this past… wonderful, glorious month. She and Victor, despite all that they have been through, were so happy together…they laughed, they talked, they made love, she felt safe and secure of his love for her…
She didn’t doubt it when he told her he loved her, she saw it in his eyes and heard it in his voice…from the moment she realized it was for real – she didn’t doubt his love for her.

But what if talking to Hope changed things? Brought up feelings he thought had ceased to exist?
It definitely sounded like it to her and she couldn’t help feeling so mad at Victor -  for getting them into this situation to begin with, for knowing Hope at all…

The Phone ringed several times in those past two hours, she didn’t pick up, she knew who was on the other line and she didn’t want to talk to him, what would she tell him? That they were planning a future together and now she might be pregnant with a baby that wasn’t his?
That she overheard him on the phone talking to his ex, and it was obvious to her he still had feelings for her?
That she was hurt and angry and tired at him and herself and didn’t know what to do?

She felt the tears creeping up her throat again and swallowed hard, enough was enough, she couldn’t cry anymore, plus… she ran out of tissues.

Her most immediate problem was tonight, she couldn’t face Victor alone and she couldn’t tell the kids they were back together…
At least not until she would have better grip on what was going on with the baby… and with Hope…she has to find a way to avoid being home when the family arrives, and she would deal with whatever happens in that damned party later.

It was a risk, but it just might work.

Looking at her watch and realizing it was nearing 5:00, Nikki hurried back into the shower…
 

  **4:58**

 
Victor got up to greet his son with a loving fatherly hug "My boy, it’s good to see you…"
Nicholas was standing at the door long enough to notice his father didn’t seem himself, so he asked "Dad, is everything okay?"
Victor sighed deeply and said "Yes, everything is fine, I’m just grateful you’re home, that’s all…" He sat back into his seat and asked his son "So, what brings you by?"
Nicholas, still looking at his father skeptically, sat down and said "I was just in town meeting friends, and thought I might stop by so we could go to mom’s together"
Victor looked at his watch and said,  "Well, I need to shower and change first, tell me something, did you see your mother today?"
Nicholas replied, "Yea, in the morning, why do you ask?"
Victor answered "Because I wanted to talk to her about something and I can’t seem to find her, any idea where she went?"
Nicholas frowned and shook his head "She didn’t say anything to me, did you ask Miguel?"
Victor nodded "Yes, and he isn’t answering me either, I’m getting a little worried"
Nicholas shrugged his concern off "It’s mom we’re talking about, she probably went into town for last minute shopping for the party, or just went for a ride…"
Victor chuckled,  "You’re probably right… now, tell me, how was it to sleep in your own bed last night"
Nicholas smirked and stretched on his chair "Who said I slept at my bed last night"
Victor raised his eye brows to his son, his lips curving up in a smile "Oh…you the spent the night at Sharon’s?"
Nicholas grinned. "Oh yea…
Victor inquired "What did Mrs. Collins say?"
Nicholas scratched his head, slightly ashamed "She thought I was spending the night on the couch"
Victor admonished his son "Now that’s not nice"
Nicholas said defensively "I know, I know, I meant to stay on the couch… we just, you know, couldn’t help ourselves" He grinned.
Victor said "Well, you haven’t been together in a long time, it’s natural…but don’t get on her mother’s bad side"
Nicholas shrugged it of "Come on dad, Sharon’s mom LOVES me, and beside, what am I suppose to do? Take her home?"
Victor laughed "I wouldn’t recommend it, your bedroom is right next to your mother’s"
Nicholas winced "Yea, tell me about it…"
Victor asked him "So what did you say to your mother about not coming to sleep at home?"
Nicholas coughed "Hmmm, nothing, actually"
Victor frowned, "What if she had noticed you weren’t there? She would have been worrying about you all night long"
Nicholas said "Yea, that’s what she told me when she caught me sneaking in the morning"
Victor smiled "Oh boy, So did she have some choice words to say to you?"
Nicholas said, "Actually, she was sort of cool about it…"
He chuckled "As much as mom can be cool about something like that, she was glad to know we’ve had that whole father-son talk about it a few years ago. I think she was relieved she didn’t have to talk to me about it, and so was I"
Victor laughed "Just so you’ll know, that your mother is usually more liberated than I am, she just sees you as her little baby, that all"
Nicholas said "I know, but she’s beginning to realize I’m not so little anymore"
Victor knew what his son’s problem was so he reassured him "Your mother would accept Sharon eventually, she already started, she just needs time to get used to the idea"
Nicholas nodded "Yea, she’s softening, but Sharon still think she hates her"
Victor tried to reassure him "Do me a favor and don’t worry so much, it should be a happy day for you, what did Sharon say about the dress?"
Nicholas’s eyes lit up "She loved it, plus she looked great in it"

Victor smiled, he enjoyed seeing him happy, acting like a normal teenager, worrying about things like his girlfriend and having fun…instead of worrying about prison and his future.

Nicholas asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Victor answered quietly "I’m just thinking how much our relationship has grown to mean to me, I mean it always has, but especially now…I love you very much Nicholas"
Nicholas looked at his father, swallowed hard and said, "I love you too, this is the relationship I always wanted us to have…"
Victor smiled, trying to overcome his emotions "Took us a while to get there"
Nicholas said, "Yea, but that’s okay, if there is one thing I learned in jail is to never look at the past, just to the future"
Victor smiled "That’s a good way of thinking my boy"

Victor looked at his watch, it was getting late "Nicholas, why don’t you go ahead to the ranch to get ready, and I’ll come later? I have one phone call left to do"
Nicholas said, "Okay, well, I’ll see you then…"
They said their goodbye and Nick took off.

After he finished his business call, Victor tried calling Nikki again – nothing, this was strange, she should have been home by now, getting ready.
He wanted to talk to her about how exactly they were going to tell the children…hell, he just wanted to hear her voice…it was so bizarre she wasn’t there….

Convincing himself that she’s fine and would be at the ranch when he gets there, he left the office to his apartment.
 

  **6:58**

"You know Cole, that’s really strange" Said Victoria as she slowly descended down the stairs.
Cole, sitting on the sofa, looking in a magazine about horse grooming looked up "What is, Vicki?"
Victoria put her hands on her hips "Mom isn’t here"
Cole looked at her puzzled "She isn’t? that’s odd"
Vicki exclaimed, "Yes, tell me about it, where could she be? I mean, It’s getting late! Mom isn’t the kind of person who would get ready in 10 minutes!"

"Hey Mom,  Mom, you’re home? Oh, Hi Sis."

Cole and Victoria turned as Nicholas and Sharon walked into the house.

Victoria said, frowning "Oh his Nick, Sharon…Nicholas, mom isn’t here"
Nicholas said, surprised "You’re kidding me, where is she?"
Victoria shrugged "Beats me! I called a few times earlier and she didn’t answer either"
Nicholas looked concerned "Dad said he tried to reach her all afternoon"
Victoria looked disappointed "Oh, Dad doesn’t know where she is either?"
Nicholas rolled his eyes "No…You didn’t really think they were together, did you?"
Victoria said defensively "Nick, give me a break, I just thought he might know, that all"
Nicholas exclaimed, "Well, he didn’t know an hour ago, when I was in his office…"

Sharon asked "Are you sure she isn’t here Victoria?"
Victoria nodded and said quickly "Yes! I checked the entire place! No sign of her, and Miguel is no where around – I think it might be his afternoon off"
Her eyes rested on Sharon’s short, white, silky strapless dress "Wow Sharon, great dress…"
Sharon exchanged a loving look with Nicholas and purred "Nick got it for me, isn’t it fantastic?"
Victoria gestured Sharon to turn around, Sharon spun, laughed and gave Nicholas a kiss.
Victoria winked at Nicholas "Nice…Just like Dad, Ay Nick?"
 

"Should my ears be burning?" Announced Victor with a grin as he walked in.
Victoria went to her father and gave him a big hug, Victor hugged her tightly and then pulled back to look at her "My, My don’t you look beautiful"
Victoria smiled, her eyes sparkling "You don’t look half bad, Daddy…very dashing" She straightened his bow tie and laughed.

Victor kissed his daughter cheek and asked the group "So, what were you talking about before I came in?"
Sharon said, smiling "Victoria was just commenting that Nicholas getting me this beautiful dress was something you’d do, which could only mean that good taste run in the family"
Victor laughed "You know Sharon, flattery can take you very far in this family"
Sharon sighed and muttered "Yes, with some people"
Victor said reassuringly "Don’t you worry about Nicholas’s mother, trust me, you two would end up being friends"
Sharon raised her eyes brows skeptically but said nothing.
Victor clapped his hands together excitedly "So, speaking of which, where’s your mother, still in front of the mirror?"

The group exchanged glances and Nicholas said "Errr…. Dad, Mom isn’t here"
The smile disappeared from Victor’s face "What do you mean she isn’t here? How can that be?"
Victoria shook her head slowly "I don’t know, I looked for her all day long…she’s not answering her cell phone"

Victor’s expression was one of deep concern, where the hell could she be? They were going to tell their children they were getting back together, Nikki would never miss something like that, and something has to be terribly wrong.

Victoria looked at her father and asked, "You’re worried?"
Victor nodded "Well yes I am, she should have been here hours ago…Where’s Miguel? He might know"
Cole replied "He got the afternoon off"

Victor sighed and walked around the living room, trying to gather his thoughts… every possible scenario ran through his mind, and all of them were bad ones.
Suddenly his eyes fell on a letter that was set on the piano… he picked it up "To Victor and the kids" was written on it, in Nikki’s handwriting.
He put his reading glasses on and opened the letter, saying to the kids "It’s from Nikki"

He read it out loud.

"Catherine called me an hour ago, there was some kind of a huge debacle with the catering, don’t ask.
She sent me an urgent SOS to come there so I did, I’m sorry I won’t be at the ranch to make the grand entrance in the famous Newman style, but knowing my family, I’m sure you’d handle yourselves just fine, I’ll see you there"

Nicholas breath out a sigh of relief "Oh, I knew there would be a reasonable explanation, she’s helping Catharine out"
Victoria eyed her father. . He was staring at the note, looking as if the wind was knocked out of him. "Dad, what’s wrong? We know that mom is okay now…"

Victor forced himself to snap out of it "Yes, you’re right, I guess I’m just a little upset she didn’t call, I was starting to get worried"
Victoria stifled a grin, it was so obvious that he was disappointed they weren’t going together, so she replied "I’m sure mom is going to appreciate your concern, Dad"
Victor muttered quietly "I wonder…"

He was simply shocked. They planned to tell their children they were back together for god’s sake, and instead she goes to help Catharine with some nonsense and doesn’t even pick up the phone and tell him about it?!
Didn’t she want to let the kids know as badly as he did? He couldn’t understand her, she sounded so anxious to tell them and to be with him when they talked on the phone in the morning, and they haven’t exchanged a word since – so what the hell got into her?

Noticing his daughter was looking at him funny, Victor blinked and said, "Since there’s no point in waiting anymore, we should get going"

Without saying anything more he walked out the door.

4 pairs of eyes exchanged puzzled looks, Nicholas asked Victoria "What the hell was that?"
Victoria shook her head, a concerned look on her face "I don’t know, but I don’t like it"
Sharon whispered "I got the feeling your father was a little upset"
Nicholas asked "A little upset? He looked ticked off when he heard mom wasn’t here, I don’t get why, though, if she just went to help Catharine"
Victoria said quietly "Maybe there’s more to it than that"

Cole bit on his upper lip, and glanced toward the door Victor just went through, his writer mind analyzing the situation.
He remembered what Victor and Nikki told him, that they would tell their children the moment Nicholas is out of jail.
He had suspicions they were going to do it today…they have certainly been looking happy lately…
The excuse about Catharine sounded extremely weak to him, he didn’t know Kay Chancellor as a woman who lets anything go wrong in her parties.
Victor didn’t seem to buy that either, he saw the flash of hurt on his father in law’s face when he read Nikki’s note, a note that was a tad too cheerful, as if she was trying to hard.

He couldn’t imagine what it was that made Nikki bail out telling her kids she and Victor were getting back together but he knew it had to have been serious, and knowing his in laws, suddenly he wasn’t so sure he wanted to be in that party tonight.
Victoria glanced at her husband "What are you thinking about?"
Cole replied "That we shouldn’t speculate, I’m sure you’re going to find out soon enough"
Victoria shrugged "I guess you’re right, I just hope mom and dad haven’t been fighting"
Nicholas said, "Yea, no kidding, talk about something that would mess up the party"
Victoria glared at him and said angrily "Is that all you care about? The party?"

She grabbed her coat and walked out, not bothering to wait for her husband.
Nicholas raised his eyes to Cole in a frustrated expression, muttering "Peachy, I hope there is plenty of booze at the party…" and walking out as well, along with Sharon.

As walked out and locked the door behind him, right after Nicholas did, his body shivered and his skin covered in Goosebumps… He had a weird feeling that the next time he gets back here, things would change drastically for all of them.