Gilded Cage Chapters 77-78

   
Chapter 77
Brenda leaned back and rested her head against the back of the bath tub and let the warm water ease her tired body. It had already been a long day and the night was yet to get started. They had spent the afternoon in San Juan. She had a fitting with the seamstress and then they had gone to pick up Mike, Veronica and the judge. The best part had been before that though. Sonny had spent the morning showing her the island, which turned out to be more beautiful than she had ever thought was possible. It really was a private paradise with more flowers and waters falls that she had ever seen in her entire life. It was a place that she felt she could loose herself in, but she wondered when she would ever stop feeling like a visitor. Sonny was trying to make her feel comfortable and at home, but it wasn’t home just yet. But she and Sonny are together and that is the most important thing. She closes her eyes and  slides down into the tub until she is surrounded by bubbles. Sonny steps into the bathroom and sees her with her eyes closed and her head back. At first he thinks that she is asleep, but then she starts to sing softly, it is very softly, but it is still singing. She has a beautiful voice, yet he has only heard her sing a few times, he can’t help but wonder why that is true. He stands there for several minutes just watching and listens to her. She opens her eyes and is slightly startled to see him standing there. He is wearing the pants and shirt to his Armani tuxedo and looks drop dead gorgeous. 

Brenda: How long have you been there?
Sonny: Long enough to hear your beautiful voice. I’ve heard of singing in the shower, but this is new to me.
Brenda: I didn’t know that you were there.
Sonny: I thought you always knew when I was close.
Brenda: I do, I could feel you in the other room. I guess I did know you were in this room.
Sonny: You mean you would have kept quiet if you had known?
Brenda: I don’t really sing that much in public.
Sonny: You sang at last years Nurses Ball. Julia is not the only Barrett with a good voice.
Brenda: Thank you.
Sonny: No, I should be thanking you for everything that you have done, sweetheart.
Brenda: Have I told you how wonderful today was?
Sonny: Not recently.

Sonny sits down on the edge of the tub with out taking his eyes off of her .

Brenda: Did you just come in to watch me?
Sonny: I love to watch you, but I also thought you might need some help?
Brenda: *Gives him a seductive look* What kind of help are you offering?
Sonny: I thought maybe I could scrub your back?

She sits up attentively in the tub until her back is exposed from the bubbles. She gives him a very intense look then, holds up a back brush.

Brenda: That isn’t necessary, I have this.
Sonny: Give me that!

He tosses it aside.

Brenda: *Laughing* I guess I know how you feel about my back brush.
Sonny: *Teasing* I’m all the back brush you’ll ever need.

He trails kisses down her back, causing her spine to tingle.

Brenda: You’ll get your shirt all wet if you aren’t careful.
Sonny: I’m always careful.

He rolls up the sleeves on his shirt.

Brenda: Why don’t you help me wash my hair?
Sonny: Sure.

He lathers her hair and massages her scalp for several minutes and then helps her rise it.

Brenda: That feels so good, I could get used to this kind of treatment.
Sonny: If you help me shave every time, I’ll always help you wash your hair.
Brenda: Sounds like the foundation for a perfect marriage to me.  

Sonny runs his fingers through her hair 

Sonny: I love your hair, especially when it’s long like this.
Brenda: You told me that when we were on our way to Argentina.
Sonny: Your hair is an extension of your spirit, baby.
Brenda: *Skeptical* It is?
Sonny: Sure, when you and I first met you had this long flowing free hair. Kind of wild and untamed, like you were at the time. 
Brenda: Then I cut it off.
Sonny: Because you were angry at me, but I don’t like to think about that. 
Brenda: We were both in a lot of pain at that time.
Sonny: You kept it short for so long, then when you were with Jax you kept it tied back so tight.
Brenda: Jax always said that he liked my hair in a pony tail.
Sonny: Yeah, so that he could keep you reined in.
Brenda: I never really thought of it like that, but I guess that is partially true.
Sonny: Your hair should be free, just like you. You shouldn’t be held in captivity, ever. 
Brenda: You don’t hold me captive Sonny, you just plain captivate me.
Sonny: Well, that is entirely different.
Brenda: Does that mean that I can’t ever wear my hair back or up when we are together.
Sonny: You can wear your hair any way that you like. 
Brenda: Good, because I was planing on wearing it in a French twist tonight 
Sonny: If it shows off your beautiful neck, I think it is a great idea.
Brenda: It will show off my neck.
Sonny: What more can I ask for?
Brenda: Also, with the dress that I’m wearing, it will show a good deal of my back as well.
Sonny: I can hardly wait.
Brenda: Until the party?

He hands her a towel and she steps out of the tub and she wraps it around her.

Sonny: I was thinking more about what comes after the party.
Brenda: I think that we are thinking the same thing, but what about the problem with the unlockable door.
Sonny: Well, we could always just solve the problem the same way as last night.
Brenda: Honey, don’t get me wrong. I love making love under the stars, just not every night!
Sonny: Then I guess we could always try out the new lock that I had installed on our bedroom door  
Brenda: *Delighted* When did you have a lock installed?
Sonny: This morning, while we were in San Juan.

Brenda embraces him tightly.

Brenda: Can we try it out?
Sonny: Nothing would make me happier, but the judge is waiting to validate the marriage certificate.
Brenda: Right now?  
Sonny: He wants to get it done before the party.
Brenda: So I guess I had better get dressed?
Sonny: That would probably be the best thing, as much as I love to see you in a towel.
Brenda: I have two dresses in mind, will you look at them and choose the one that you like the best?
Sonny: Tempting, but maybe we should choose together.
Brenda: I think I like this mutual decision thing.
Sonny: From now on that is the way that it is going to be, baby. 50/50 all the way from here on out.

He takes her hand and leads her to the bed room, where they stop in front of the wardrobe.
The seamstress in San Juan didn’t have many formal clothes, but luckily Sonny had packed away Brenda’s designer dresses and some of her winter clothes. This saved them from being sent to charity along with her other clothes.

Brenda: Luke found so many beautiful dresses for me, it is always difficult to decide which one to wear.
Sonny: That is why we are making the decision together, which two did you have in mind.

Brenda pulls out two dresses from the closet. They both cut low in back, but one is a short red dress and the other is a long pink satin dress lined in silver satin.

Sonny: If it were just you and me I would go for the red dress in a heart beat.

He gives her a dimpled smile.

Brenda: My feelings exactly.

Brenda takes the pink dress from him and goes to a dressing area at the back of the bed room.

Brenda: There is no point in coming off as over eager. After all, I want to earn the respect of the people at the party.
Sonny: That red dress was a designer original, I don’t think anyone would mistake it for being over eager.
Brenda: It was still a short red dress.
Sonny: Now that you mention it, remember that red dress that you wore on our first date?
Brenda: Yeah, when you picked me up at the Q’s in your new jaguar and we went to the Grill.
Sonny: *Teasing* Every thing about that particular dress was over eager.         
Brenda: *Teasing back* Do I need to come out there and hurt you?
Sonny: *Laughing* Come to think about it, eager pretty much described the whole evening. 
Brenda: Are you claiming to be the innocent member of the party? 
Sonny: Of course I wasn’t innocent, I was down right ambitious. Of course, it was all a game back then.
Brenda: It was at first and we both knew it.
Sonny: Look at us now, though.

As if on cue, Brenda steps from behind the dressing screen, looking absolutely beautiful.
Her hair is pulled up and the dress fits her perfectly. She never stops overwhelming him with her grace and beauty.

Brenda: *Echoing his words* Look at us now.
Sonny: You look beautiful, if you weren’t already married I would be down on one knee.
Brenda: Thank you. One thing is missing though.
Sonny: Not from where I’m standing, everything is perfect.
Brenda: Do you still have the pearls that I bought in Buenos Aires?
Sonny: Of course I do, they are right here in this drawer with the marriage certificate.

He opens a drawer and takes out a velvet box. He takes a single strand of pearls and places them around her neck, securing them tightly. They hear a knock on the door and he hands her the envelope that contains the marriage certificate. 

Sonny: That must be the judge.

Brenda opens the envelope and is shocked to find that it is empty. She is frantic as she looks through the drawer were Sonny has been keeping the envelope, but the marriage certificate is not there. 

Chapter 78
Brenda practically runs into the living room and stops when she sees Sonny, alone.

Brenda: Where is the judge?
Sonny: It wasn’t him, it was Mike and you mother on their way downstairs.
Brenda: I’m glad that it wasn’t the judge, because the marriage certificate is gone.
Sonny: How can it be?

She hands him the envelope and he opens it.

Sonny: Did you check the drawer.
Brenda: I turned them all inside and out. Could you have put it someplace else?

She gives him a desperate look.

Sonny: I wish, sweetheart. I put it in the drawer with your pearls.
Brenda: Are you positive that you didn’t move it for safekeeping?
Sonny: If it isn’t there than it is because someone else moved it.
Brenda: Do you think that Jerry might have gotten it in Argentina?
Sonny: I’m positive that he didn’t.
Brenda: How can you be so sure?
Sonny: Because I looked at it a few days ago.
Brenda: Who would want to steal our marriage certificate?
Sonny: I don’t know, but when I find out, there is going to be hell to pay. Are you okay?
Brenda: No, I’m not. What are we going to do now?
Sonny: I guess we can get a new one and get it resigned.
Brenda: We don’t have time to do that. I knew this was going to happen, we aren’t meant to be married.
Sonny: Yes we are, We’ll talk to the judge and see what he suggests. I don’t want this to ruin the party.
Brenda: What party? Tonight was supposed to be about celebrating our marriage.
Sonny: What has changed?
Brenda: *Tears forming in her eyes* We aren’t married.
Sonny: Yes we are and I’m not going to let a missing piece of paper stop me from showing the world how much I love you.
Brenda: The whole world?
Sonny: Well, maybe not, but I’m going to show everyone down stairs and they can pass along the word to the rest of the world. I’ll fix the problem with the legal status of our marriage later.
Brenda: How?
Sonny: I don’t know how sweetheart. Maybe I’ll just have the judge remarry us tonight.
Brenda: You want a church wedding though, I know how important that is to you.
Sonny: We already did that, the important thing now is the legal part. We’ll redo that part if needed.
Brenda: I can’t believe it, I actually feel better.
Sonny: I aim to please. If you’re ready, I’d like to go stop by the Judge’s room before we go down to the party.
Brenda: Do you think he would have gone down without telling us?
Sonny: I asked him to stop by here before he went down.
Brenda: Lead the way.

She follows Sonny to a room down the hall from their room and he knocks on the door. A large man in his late 50’s answers the door.

Sonny: I hope that the room is comfortable?
Judge: A bit too comfortable, I’m afraid that I feel asleep. It is a good thing that you stopped by.
Sonny: My wife and I were wondering if we could take care of business before all of us join the party downstairs?
Judge: Yes of course.

Her ushers them both inside.

Judge: Mrs. Corinthos, you look exceptionally lovely tonight.
Brenda: Thank you.

Sonny places his arm protectively around the waist of his wife.
 
Sonny: See, sweetheart, even he recognizes that you are my wife.
Judge: Of course, I’m not really here to determine the status of your marriage.
Brenda: I guess not.
Judge: I’m here to decide if Mrs. Corinthos is living or dead.
Sonny: You can see that she is very much alive.
Judge: Yes, did you bring the papers that I requested?
Brenda: Yes, here are my passport and my drivers license.
  
She hands them to the judge, who puts on his reading glasses before comparing the two documents.

Judge: Well, you are obviously Brenda Veronica Barrett and you are very much alive.
Sonny: Then the death certificate is not valid?
Judge: I’ll nullify it right away. 
Brenda: Thank you so much.

She hugs Sonny ecstatically.
 
Judge: Now, didn’t you have a marriage certificate that you wanted me to take back and file?
Sonny: The marriage certificate has disappeared.
Judge: Are you sure that you haven’t just misplaced it?
Brenda: We are pretty sure that someone took it.
Judge: I’ve heard of couples misplacing them or accidentally destroying them, but this is a new one.
Sonny: So this happens a lot?
Judge: It has been known to happen. Did you happen to make a copy of the certificate.
Sonny: Actually, I have a copy in a safety deposit box in San Juan.
Judge: No problem then, I’ll just file the copy.
Brenda: Can you do that?
Judge: Of course I can do that, my dear, after all I’m a judge.
Brenda: I mean, is that legal?
Judge: Perfectly, the records office will file a copy anyway.
Sonny: They send us back the original.
Judge: *skeptical* You sound like an old hand at the marriage game.
Brenda: His first wife died.
Sonny: I guess it makes sense that they would accept a copy to start out
Brenda: Does that mean that we will get the copy back though?
Sonny: Yes.
Brenda: I kind of wanted to have something nice to show our children and grandchildren.
Sonny: Don’t worry, baby, I made a color copy .
Judge: It’s settled then, tomorrow we will pick up the copy and I’ll take it back to Argentina.
Sonny: If we are through with business, I think that we should all get down stairs.
Judge: I think that is a good idea, but let me go down first and then you can follow in a few minutes.
Brenda: Why can’t we go together?
Sonny: Because, as the guest of honor, you should arrive last.
Judge: Exactly, so I’ll see you both downstairs.
Brenda: Thank you for everything. I’m not sure if we will get another chance to talk tonight.
Judge: It was my pleasure, my dear. I deal so much with death in my business. Most of my job is
all about wills and death certificates, it was a refreshing change to declare someone alive.
Sonny: Still we really appreciate you coming all this way.
Judge: I would have had to have been crazy not to accept an all expense paid trip to a tropical island.
Sonny: That is probably true.

Sonny walks the judge to the door, then walks back to the couch and sits down beside Brenda.

Brenda: How long should we wait?
Sonny: A few minutes should be enough. Come here sweetheart.

He welcomes her into his arms and she leans against his shoulder.

Sonny: Do you know how good that feels?
Brenda: Being in your arms?
Sonny: That and being able to call you sweetheart without fearing that you’ll punch me.
Brenda: I didn’t punch you, I simply reminded you not to address me by terms of endearment.
Sonny: I think your words were more like, "I’m not your sweetheart or your baby!"
Brenda: Was I really that insistent?
Sonny: Yeah, but I think it is kind of cute when you do that. Are you nervous about tonight?
Brenda: *lying* No.
Sonny: I know I would be extremely nervous.
Brenda: Okay, so maybe I’m a little bit nervous. It will help to have Mike, my mom and the others there.
Sonny: I kind of thought that they would make a difference. I want you to feel comfortable here.
Brenda: I think that I will, eventually, but right now I feel like I’m on vacation.
Sonny: That isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Brenda: No, but the people here haven’t gone out of there way to make me feel at home.
Sonny: All of that is going to change tonight. You deserve to be respected and I’m going to make sure that it happens. After that, whatever you need, all you have you do is ask.
Brenda: Sonny, how could I ask for anything more, you have been wonderful.  
Sonny: You wan to see wonderful? Come here.

He takes her face in his hands and kisses her gently at first, just until she responds. Then the kiss becomes deep and intense until their pulses are racing. He pulls back and picks up her hand and kisses it softly. His eyes rest on her watch and he notices how late it is getting to be.

Brenda: What are you doing?
Sonny: Kissing my wife?   
Brenda: You were looking at my watch.
Sonny: I might have noticed the time.
Brenda: Honey, when you kiss me, I want your full attention.
Sonny: I promise it will never happen again. He should really get downstairs though.
Brenda: I guess the sooner we go downstairs, the sooner we can go back upstairs.
Sonny: *Gives her a hot look* Then we can try out the new lock I had installed.
Brenda: I like the way you think.   

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