Previously in Changes. Brooke gave birth early to a little girl. Michael was there at her side. They named her Bethany Michaela Copeland. Michael decided to stay at the hospital while Bridget went home alone. Beth and Steven fought over Storm's sexual preference. Taylor and Ridge made love, and then she announced she was leaving him. Joey left Felicia alone in the apartment.


Changes Part 128


Joey got out of the car but hesitated before going back inside Adrienne’s condo. They had stopped for drinks and to talk, but he had been preoccupied the whole time and finally they both had decided to call it a night.
“She’s in there isn’t she?” Adrienne pointed to his chest.
“In there and in here.” He touched his head. “I can’t leave it like this Ade, she deserves better, we both do.”
“I hear ya sugar.” She sighed. “It’s better this way, things were getting weird with us ya know?”
“I don’t really know anything.” He shrugged. “Look, I’m probably going to stay there tonight.”
“Okay.” Adrienne nodded. She held her arm out. “Hey sweetie, it’s startin’ to rain. Take my car.” She tossed him her keys.
“I can’t Ade, how will you get to work tomorrow?”
“I’m a rich lady, I’ll call for a driver. Just get it back to me sometime tomorrow okay?”
“Thanks.” He walked to her and gave her an awkward hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll get the car back early, promise.” And spinning the keys around his finger he headed back to the driver’s side.


Michael looked at Brooke and smiled. She had finally fallen asleep. She had fought it, fought it hard but after all the stress her body had finally overtaken her mind and she had drifted off into a deep and much needed sleep. He gently let go of her hand but hesitated in getting up for fear of waking her. She needed to sleep but he knew if she woke up she’d want to go back to the baby, not that he blamed her, his own heart was torn. He hated leaving Brooke’s side, but he ached to see Bethany again. He had fallen instantly and deeply in love with her. He never knew he could feel something so strong and so intense for a brand new life but he knew he would gladly give up his life for his little girl. He smiled at Brooke again. She was the love of his life and had given him this, she had given him everything, she had given him a life that he never knew he wanted, never knew he was missing but never wanted to be without again. “I love you sweetheart.” He whispered softly. “Sleep well and I’ll be back.” He gently stood up and stretched. It was time to sit with his daughter again.


Ridge frowned. A look of pure confusion covered his face and then he chuckled softly. “Not funny Doc, you know for a minute I almost believed you.”
“I’m serious Ridge. I just can’t do it anymore. You and I, we do the same thing over and over. I can’t count on you.”
“Of course you can. I’m here Taylor, I love you and our family, of course you can count on me.” He took her hand and held it tightly. “I know I haven’t been a perfect husband but I swear I will be. I’ll try harder, I’ll prove it to you.”
“I’m tired of waiting for you Ridge.” She looked down at their intertwined hands. “Once I thought this was enough, once I thought just being your wife was all I needed, but it’s not.”
“This isn’t about Brooke again is it Doc?” Ridge asked with a deep sigh. He was tired of going over this time after time. He had chosen Taylor, he had made a family with her, a happy life. Why couldn’t she see this? Why did she always question him?
“It’s about you Ridge.” She let go of his hand. “It’s not Brooke, it wasn’t Morgan, it isn’t this Vanessa, it’s you Ridge, just you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” He asked with the sulk of a little boy.
“You’ll never be satisfied.” She sighed and stood up. She grabbed her slippers from under a bedside chair and slipped them on. Then she sat back down on the bed.
“You satisfy me Doc, you satisfy me like nothing in the world.” He smiled and reached for her hand again but she shook her head and pulled her hand away. “Don’t shut me out.” Ridge begged.
“How can I?” She asked him. “You already shut me out ages ago.”
“That’s not true.” He protested. He didn’t know what this was about or where it had come from. They had fought so hard for their marriage and there was no way that he was going to let her walk away.
“It is Ridge, and deep down you know it.” She nervously wrapped a long, dark stand of hair around her finger. “I know you love me Ridge but my love alone doesn’t satisfy you.”
“Doc!” He groaned. “There is no one else! No one!”
“And there lies your problem.” She sadly admitted. “You’re not satisfied without a harem Ridge and I just can’t be head wife in that world anymore. It’s not enough and it’s not healthy. The children are suffering too.”
“What are you talking about?” Ridge was getting very defensive.
“They are living in a very strained environment Ridge and it’s not good for them. We aren’t setting a good example for them. We’re terrible role models of what makes a good marriage or even a good family.”
“That’s insane! I love you! I love them!” He protested loudly. “You’re letting your father get to you Taylor and that’s not fair. You know he hates me.”
“This has nothing to do with him.” Taylor disagreed. “I know he is very biased and I know it’s wrong.”
“If he would go we’d have it all back. Please Doc, you’re really scaring me.”
“You should be scared Ridge, we both should. But I’m doing something about it and in the end we’ll all be better off.”
“I’m not going to let you do this.” Ridge shook his head. “Nope, I am not going to let you throw us away.”
“I’m not Ridge. I’m saving us.” She reached for him and took his hand. “I do love you Ridge, but if we go on like this I’ll end up hating you. We will both be here for the children. We’ll be more than civil. We will be friends, loving, caring friends Ridge and that will help the children deal with this.”
“Friends?” Ridge threw his arms out in despair. He looked at Taylor and laughed, not a laugh of humor but one of disbelief. “We just made love. You think that’s what friends do?”
“Some, but that will never happen again. Not because I don’t like it or don’t want it but because it will only hold me back and I can’t let that happen.”
“You didn’t fight me Doc, you didn’t even try to push me away.” He contended.
“No, no I didn’t Ridge. I did want you, I wanted that last time. I wanted one final loving memory of what we were or what we could have been. But it was wrong, I was wrong and I shouldn’t have let it happen. It won’t happen again.”
“That’s crazy. We love each other, it will happen again. We can fix this Doc, we can get it all back again. Just have faith in me, have faith in our love because I love you Doc, I really, really love you.”


“Gotcha.” Michael said as he spoke into the phone. “Frank Calabrese is going to be checking on her tomorrow but I’ll try and get there for a bit myself. I know, I know, I had no idea how my life was going to change.” He smiled and chuckled. “I have my pager on, but please only if it’s an emergency. You got it. Oh yeah I will do that. Wear off? You gotta be kidding, it won’t wear off till she’s at least twenty five.” He said with a laugh. “You’ll have to take me word for it, it’s me. Yeah I know, I know, come down here and I’ll show you my ID. Uh huh. No, she’s doing okay but she needs to relax, she’s really scared. Me? No, Kyle Owens put that all to rest for me, it’s just going to take a little time but I know she’s just perfect. Okay, look, I gotta go, I need to get back to her. Yup, I’ll check in in the morning. Thanks again.” He smiled and hung up the phone and turned to the duty nurse. “And thanks to you too.”
“I’m going down for some coffee, can I get you anything Dr. Copeland?” She asked him.
“Black, tall, lots.” He grinned and gave her the thumbs up.
“I’ll be back in a moment. If you need anything Cathy is in there and Rosa will be here at the desk.” She gestured to the woman writing notes on a chart.
Michael couldn’t wipe the grin off of his face. Kyle Owens had checked on Bethany once more and had assured Michael that they’d be taking her home sooner than they imagined. He felt immediate relief and then was able to just sit and enjoy his new baby. He felt a little guilty not going straight to Brooke but he knew she needed her sleep. He looked at his watch. “I’ll check on her in an hour, wake her up and set her mind at ease if I have to.” He said aloud. “Damn, life is good.” He smiled and was about to head back into the room when he saw Kelly Harris coming around the bend. He waved at her and called out her name. “Hey Kelly, long time no see.”
“Dr. Copeland.” She quickened her pace and walked over to the desk. “I’m sorry to see you here.”
“That how you greet a friend?” He asked with a grin that just wouldn’t fade.
“When I see you here this late I know something must be very wrong.” She said with a sigh. “But looking at your face, well, color me confused.”
“I’m in love.” He answered with a huge smile. “With the most beautiful girl anyone has ever set eyes on.”
Kelly frowned and looked down at the wedding ring on his finger. “You know doctor, I really thought things had changed for you.” A look of disappointment and disillusion crossed her face. “Not that it’s my place to judge but you seemed so happy, I thought you really had a good marriage. I guess I’m sorry things didn’t work out for you. I like Mrs. Copeland.”
He realized that she had no clue about the baby and found it oddly amusing that she thought he had immediately reverted to his old, playboy ways. “Wow, that really makes me think twice about judging people too quickly.” He was starting to see just how much his reputation did precede him. He made a silent vow to do his best to fix that, for his sake and that of his family. “Kelly, I love Mrs. Copeland.” He laughed. “Love her so much I could bust. But you really have to meet my new girl.”
“I think I’ll pass.” She frowned. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll replace her by the end of the week, old habits die hard I guess.”
“Kelly. Now is that the real opinion you have of me?” He squinted, much like his wife.
“I still like you. Don’t get me wrong, it’s just I had hoped you had found some real happiness, some stability. Anyway, I need to get to my station so I’ll see you around.”
“Come on Kel.” He grabbed her arm. “Come and meet her.” He started pulling her towards the door to the neonatal ICU.
“She’s on staff?” She asked him. “God Dr. Copeland, Ehlers will have your ass in a sling.” She was aghast. She hated to play the Ehlers card, it wasn’t really her place but she really felt he needed to listen to her this time. She liked him and didn’t want to see him risk his career over a piece of ass. Even if he had already thrown away his lovely new wife.
“Not exactly. Come on.” He opened the door and pulled her along until he stopped at a crib. “Meet my girl Kel, meet Bethany Michaela Copeland, my daughter.” He leaned over and touched his daughter’s face with his finger. “Now tell me, have you ever seen a more beautiful baby?”
“She’s yours?” Kelly gasped. “You and Brooke have a baby? I had no idea.”
“She’s mine.” He grinned with fatherly pride. “You really thought I’d leave my wife? Kelly, I swear I am a changed man. And I’ve never been happier in my life.”
“I’m happy for you.” She gave him a hug and then took a closer look at the tiny baby. “Is she okay?” She asked him.
“Yeah, a little early but she’s doing great. Kyle Owens was just in here checking on her for me.” He let Bethany’s tiny fingers grasp one of his own. “I wish I could pick her up but they said probably tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry I doubted you.” Kelly blushed. “But it proves I was right about you.”
“Yeah, you always told me that one day I’d find the right woman and throw out my address book.” He laughed softly.
“I didn’t think you’d have to go through so much to get there but I’m glad you did get there.”
“I’d go through it all again for this.” He said thoughtfully. “Well maybe skip one or two things.” He sighed. “Was I that bad?” He asked.
“You hit on anything under sixty in a skirt.” She laughed. “Probably got most of them too.”
“I never got you.” He reminded her.
“That’s because I’m married, not that it stopped you.”
“Made it more of a challenge.” He laughed. “You were one of my most hard fought losses.”
“You’ll never know how close you came.” She smiled and winked.
“Would you believe me if I said I was glad I did lose?” He asked her.
“I girl could feel insulted by that but I think I know what you mean. I value the friendship we have. We’d have lost that.” She answered him. “Um, so has Denise seen her?” She changed the subject to one she was more comfortable with.
“She’s only been here a couple of hours so no, she hasn’t met her yet.” He leaned over and cooed to her. “Just a few hours old and you’ve stolen my heart completely haven’t you baby? You own your Daddy, do you know that? Do you?”
“Congratulations.” Kelly gently touched his arm. “She’s beautiful and you’re certainly the proud papa.”
“You got that right.” He looked up and smiled. “Come back and see her again Kel and come see Brooke too.”
“I’d like that.” She answered. “I’ll see you Dr. Copeland.”
“Kelly, it’s Mike okay? After all, we almost.”
“Oh stop.” She blushed and smiled. “Bye Mike.”
“Hey Kelly.” He called her and she turned to face him.
“Yeah?”
“Any idea what shift Denise is working today?” He asked.
“She goes on at six.” Kelly answers. “I’ll tell her about your baby when I see her. I know she’ll want to see her and you and Brooke too.”
“Thanks Kelly.” He waved and then his attention back to his baby girl.


Bridget let the swing come to a stop by placing her feet on the damp sand. She had found herself back on the pier. She wasn’t sure if she was there to complete her former mission or to just reassess but she had spent close to an hour staring down at the dark, swirling water before she had walked down to the relative safety of the beach. She got off of the swing and walked down towards the water’s edge, pausing only to wipe a tear from her eye. “I can’t do anything right.” She kicked at a rock. Suicide wasn’t the answer, Bridget knew that but still she felt like a failure, not even having the guts to end her own miserable life. “I need to leave. I need to get away.” She wiped the tears again. “I won’t ruin their lives. I won’t make anyone pay for my mistake.” She walked back to her small suitcase, picked it up and started walking down to the lonely street.


Even in the middle of the night Joey couldn’t find a place to park. He muttered a curse and went around the block again. He would have to park further away and walk. He looked from one side to the other, willing a spot to open up. “Once more.” He said softly as he pulled up to the traffic light. He looked up the street to the apartment. A light was still burning, she was still awake. He knew he was to blame, he had hurt her, confused her and she didn’t deserve it. Sudden movement caught his attention. It wasn’t that it was unusual to see people walking the streets here at any hour but the way this man walked was. He was keeping close to the buildings, letting the dark become his cover. Joey’s blood ran cold, he felt a fear and it was an instinct he had learned to trust. “Come on, come on.” He willed the light to finally change to green. Slowly he moved the car forward, getting closer to the man. It was then when Joey knew his fears were far from unfounded. He recognized this man. He had known him in prison. “Dan Sullivan..” Joey whispered to himself. This couldn’t be good. It couldn’t be good at all. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself. He knew he had to pass him and keep going but he needed to know why he was there. He knew it had something to do with him. “Felicia.” A sense of dread filled him. He drove past but watched the man in the rear view window. “God no.” Joey gasped as he saw him disappear. He pulled the car around the corner and double parked. “A torch, the f*cker is a torch.” He pulled his cell from his pocket. He knew he couldn’t risk being seen but he knew he had to get Felicia out of there. “Did I cross him? When? When? Think Joe.” He told himself. “No, it doesn’t matter now, just get her but don’t scare her.” He punched in the number for his old phone. It rang once, twice, three times. “Answer it Felicia! Answer!” He shouted, pounding his fist on the dashboard.
“Hhhello.” She finally answered in a sleepy voice.
“Felicia, it’s Joe.” He told her.
“Joey? What’s wrong? What time is it?” She asked him. “What do you want?”
“We uh, we gotta talk.” He didn’t want to alarm her. He just had to get her out of there.
“We did all the talking I care to do tonight. Call me tomorrow.” She was ready to hang up.
“Wait! No! Felicia please!” He shouted.
“You made it clear what you didn’t want Joe. You can’t have it both ways. I have to go, I’m tired, I want to go back to sleep.”
“Just meet me, just for a few minutes. Please.” He begged. He knew if Dan saw him it was over. He had to get her out of there on her own power.
“Why?” She said with a sigh. “Nothing could have changed in the past few hours.”
“Just trust me, please.” He begged again.
“Okay, okay, just come over. I’m too tired to get dressed again.”
“Not there, we need to be on neutral ground. Please just get dressed and meet me.” He knew he was losing the battle and it was one he had to win.
“Joey can’t this wait? And what do you mean neutral? It’s not like we’re enemies. You’re acting so weird.”
“Let’s go have coffee okay?” He said a silent prayer. She just had to agree to something. “Come on baby, just get dressed and meet me around the corner.”
“Around the corner? You’re here? Just come up.” She sighed.
“I’m double parked. I can’t find a spot, please Felicia, just for a bit okay?”
“I don’t know what you’re up to.” She argued.
“Nothing, I just want to talk.” This was the truth. It had been his original intention, though he had fully intended doing it in the apartment. “Come on baby, it’s not that late and we really can’t leave things the way we did.”
“Yeah.” She agreed. “Okay, give me a few minutes.”
“Okay but hurry, I’m around the block.” He sighed and they disconnected.



“Oh, Mr. Forrester, I didn’t know you were in here.” Helen was a little shocked and embarrassed to find her employer at the kitchen table when she came in for a late night snack. She was in her robe with curlers in her hair, far from the professional way he normally saw her.
“Hello Helen.” He looked up at her from his glass of milk and plate of cookies. “You caught me.” He smiled.
“I’m sorry, I’ll leave you alone.” She turned to leave.
“No, don’t.” He stopped her. “I was just having trouble sleeping, thought a snack might help. These cookies are delicious.” He held one up in salute.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “I just came down for one myself.”
Eric pushed the plate towards the woman and got up. He walked to the cabinet and brought back another glass. He picked up the container of milk and poured her a glass. He handed it to her with a smile. “Stephanie and I used to do this when the kids were growing up. We had some of our most constructive conversations at those times. I miss them.”
“How is she? Is she sleeping?” Helen asked but then recoiled a bit thinking she had overstepped her boundaries.
“She had a tough day.” Eric admitted. “We all have I suppose.” He looked down at the cookie in his hand and sighed. “Life rarely turns out exactly as you think it will.”
“Mrs. Forrester seems very worried about Ridge.” Helen took a sip of her milk and looked up at her employer.
“Mrs. Forrester is preoccupied with Ridge, but this time she may well be right. You know I really supported Brooke and Ridge for a long time, even when he and Taylor first married I thought he really belonged with Brooke, they had fought so hard for it.”
“And now?” Helen asked.
“I’d like to see them both happy Helen, but they’ve both taken different paths. Ridge and Taylor have a family and they’ve fought hard too. I don’t want to see them torn apart now. Not even for Brooke.”
“Mrs. Forrester is very upset about the new baby coming.”
“We all are.” Eric admitted. “It’s wrong Helen, it’s wrong of Brooke and Ridge to do this now. You know I had my doubts about that marriage and now I’ve been proven right. Mike Copeland was never really husband material if you ask me but then again Brooke is no innocent. He’s just the latest pawn in their game. At least he won’t be hurt like some of the others have been.” He sighed and took a bite of a cookie.
“Mrs. Forrester, Taylor, she will be hurt.” Helen voiced her opinion.
“I’m afraid this will be the straw that broke the camels back for them.” Eric frowned. “And maybe for the entire family too. I love them both but they will be hurting too many people. This poor baby is not going to be having an easy time coming into this world.”
“Not with you Mr. Forrester, I know you’ll love that baby just as you love our sweet Joshua.”
“That I will, but I can’t say the same for my wife. I just hope she can find it in her heart to love that baby and to accept Brooke for it’s sake.”
“And Ridge?” She asked. “Do you think he and Brooke?”
“I don’t know Helen, I’m not sure it’s not too late for them but if it’s what they want I’ll try my hardest to accept it. No matter what that baby will have my love, just as his other children do.”



“Hi.” Brooke opened her eyes to see her husband holding her hand and gazing down lovingly at her. “Have I been asleep long?”
“Not long enough.” He told her. “I didn’t want to wake you but I thought you’d like the good news.”
“Oh yes.” She struggled to sit. “Bethany?” She asked.
“Kyle Owens came in again, he said she’s doing really well and he imagines we’ll be able to take her home really soon.”
“Can I hold her?” Brooke pouted.
“I think tomorrow. Kyle said Tim Rawlings was sure to okay it.” Michael leaned over and kissed her. “I know sweetheart, I’m dying to pick her up and hold her too.”
“I guess I can wait a few more hours but it’s just so hard. I should go down and see her again.” Brooke started to push the blankets off.
“She’s asleep Brooke and you should be too.” Michael said in a concerned tone.
“You’re not sleeping.” She pouted.
“I wish I were.” He said, punctuating it with a timely yawn.
“Go home and go to bed.” Brooke took his hand and squeezed it.
“I think I’ll just crash in my office for a bit. But I want you to go back to sleep.”
“But.” She protested.
“We have nothing to worry about.” He assured her. “You’ll be much better for her tomorrow if you’ve had a good night’s sleep.”
“So will you.” She argued.
“That’s why I’m going to my office to sleep. The couch is comfortable; I’ve spent more than one night on it.”
“Sleeping?” She questioned with a frown.
“Ouch!” He recoiled slightly. “Not you too. I may have to hire a PR person, my reputation seems to be creeping up on me again and I don’t want that now.”
“I was teasing.” Brooke frowned.
“Hmmm?”
“Well, sorta.” She admitted. “I guess I’m jealous of the women before me who spent nights on your couch. I don’t really think I like the idea of the memories stuck in that thing.”
“Fair.” He agreed. “After we get you and Bethany home I’ll see about getting it replaced. How’s that sound?”
“Like the man I love.” She smiled and pulled him down for a kiss.
“I’d do just about anything to please you.” He held her close against him. “Do you even have the slightest idea how much I love you?”
“Close to how much I love you.” She smiled and kissed him again. They held each other gently sneaking soft kisses. “Michael, why don’t you just stay here with me?” Brooke whispered softly.
“Because you’re far too distracting. Neither one of us would sleep and poor Bethany would have two red eyed parents in the morning.”
“Poor Bethany is likely to have that once we’re home anyway Michael. I hate to scare you but living with an infant isn’t conducive to sleep filled nights.” She laughed softly and pushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead. “But it won’t be boring, that I promise you.”
“You can’t imagine how much I look forward to all of that.” He told her.
Brooke laughed again and hugged him. “You’re going to eat those words Michael, but I’m glad you’re excited about all of it.”
“Excited doesn’t even come close.” He laughed. “Now you get some sleep and I’ll be back in a few hours. I love you.” He gave her a deep but tender kiss.


“Come on, come on.” Joey impatiently drummed on the dashboard. Felicia still hadn’t come out and he knew that they were running out of time. “Baby come on.” He strained his eyes looking for Dan and for Felicia. Finally she came into his field of vision “Thank God.” He sighed with relief. “Now just come here, come on here and we’ll get the fluck outta here.” He looked down to start the motor but when he looked up he saw that she wasn’t alone.


Dan heard footsteps and he stopped what he was doing. He couldn’t let him get away. Andy wanted it done now, tonight. He walked to the door and opened it slightly. He would have to get him and drag him back. Andy wanted it to look like an accident but sometimes things had to be improvised. He watched the slightly built young man pass and was about to jump out and grab him when he turned to close the door. It was a woman. Dan smiled and let out a short breath. She was alone, she must have left him upstairs asleep. He wondered if Andy wanted her dead too but he hadn’t mentioned a woman. “Better safe than sorry.” He told himself. He was just about to make a move when she opened the outside door.
“Hi Latrell.” She called out to the huge black man. Dan watched as he approached her.
“Hey there sweet pea, whatcha doing out at this hour all alone?” The man asked the woman.
“Going for coffee if you’d believe that.” She said with a laugh.
“Coffee sound good.” He agreed. “Come on, I’ll walk you.”
“Great.” She smiled and closed the door as she left the building.
“Must be your guardian angel lady.” Dan muttered. “Whatever, I’m supposed to get the dude anyway.” He walked back towards the kitchen.


“I can’t believe you’re just sitting here calmly drinking tea!” Ridge threw down the sugar spoon and looked his wife in the eyes.
“And what am I supposed to do Ridge? I’ve already cried my eyes out more times than you will ever know.”
“You want me to beg, I’ll beg! Taylor please don’t do this, don’t tear our family apart!”
“I didn’t reach this decision lightly Ridge and believe it or not it wasn’t easy, but for some reason I have a real sense of peace. I know this is the right thing.”
“No, it’s wrong Doc! It’s the wrong thing!”
“You may not believe me now but I think in time you will. You’re not happy Ridge, you’ve been so restless for so long. You’ll be free again.”
“I don’t want to be free damn it!” He shouted.
“Shhh. You’ll wake the children.” Taylor warned him.
“Maybe I should, maybe you should be looking at them when you do this to us! Maybe then you’d see reason. I’m not going to let you do this Taylor! I’m not!”
“It’s not all about you Ridge. That’s really the problem you know.” She calmly took a gulp of her tea.
“What is that supposed to mean? I am not in the mood for your psychobabble!”
“We’ve enabled you. Starting with Morgan, onto Caroline and worst of all me and Brooke.” Taylor explained. “We all made you into some unattainable goal, a grand prize that our lives depended upon and you thrived on it, you grew to need it Ridge. You weren’t complete without it. I just can’t do it anymore.”
“I don’t want to be a prize, just a husband and father!”
“You’ve never been happy without it Ridge. You’ve always had to have someone waiting in the wings, someone who would drop everything in her life at the slim chance that you’d choose her. I’ve been that woman and so has Brooke. I’ve hated that woman when I felt her ready to pounce. I just never recognized myself in her. Now I do. You have a new one too and you don’t even see it.”
“What are you talking about?” He threw his arms up in disgust. “None of this crap makes any sense.”
“You know I never expected Brooke to let go, I was almost disappointed when she did. I didn’t believe her, even as my friend I still accused her. I was almost ready to believe that this baby was yours. It fit the pattern Ridge and it’s a life long pattern with you.”
“I am NOT seeing Brooke!” He shouted.
“Do you know how hard this is for me?” She asked him in a pleading tone. “I’ve had to look at some dark and ugly pictures of myself and I don’t like them.”
“You are looking for things that aren’t even there Taylor.” He reached for her hand and held it tightly. “I love you, I need you. Now stop it, stop it now!”
“I believed I was the one.” She gently stroked his hand. “I did you in injustice Ridge, maybe Brooke too. Maybe it should have been her but it’s too late now. I think you know that. She’s so happy Ridge, please promise me you’ll leave her alone now.”
“I don’t want Brooke, I want you!” He moaned.
“You love her.” She said softly.
“I don’t!” He shouted.
“You’re lying to yourself Ridge.”
“Fine! Fine, I love her, I’ll always love her but I am IN LOVE with you! You Taylor!”
“I can’t.” She felt her eyes welling with tears again. “All the arguing in the world isn’t going to change this Ridge. It’s over, this time it really and truly is over.”


“Latrell!” Joey called out as the man and Felicia approached the car. He was relieved as hell to recognize the man and know Felicia was safe.
“Where you bike? Who car this be?” Latrell asked. “An why you let your woman be out alone like this?”
“Never mind that, just get in, both of you.” Joey instructed them.
“See, I told you he was acting strangely.” Felicia told Latrell.
“Come on, get it please.” Joey reached over and opened the passenger door.
“Yeah, you can give me a ride.” Latrell squeezed into the back seat and Felicia got in the front. “Ray took over at the bar, I jes wanna meet my girl and get under the covers, like you two should.” He laughed heartily.
“You going to tell me what this is all about?” Felicia asked Joey.
“Later.” He turned and looked over at the building he had called home. “Did you see anyone when you were leaving?”
“Only Latrell.” She answered. “And are you going to tell me why you have HER car?”
Joey smiled. She was jealous of Ade. “It’s raining; Ade let me use her car. Tell me you’re not complaining that you’re not wet.”
“Why am I here?” She crossed her arms defiantly.
Joey had initially been ready to tear out the minute she was safely in the car but now he was too curious about what was going on. He couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off the building. “Huh?” He asked.
“See.” She turned to face Latrell. “It was sooooo important that I got dressed and came down and now he barely notices that I’m here.”
“I notice you.” Joey said, not taking his eyes from the building. “Where are you Dan?” He whispered under his breath. “And what are you up to?” He rolled down the window and shut off the engine.
“Oh for God’s sake, if we’re just going to sit here and stare at each other I’m going back in to bed.” Felicia grabbed for the door handle but Joey’s hand beat her to it.
“No!” He said in a soft but powerful voice.
“You’re scaring me Joe. What the hell is going on?” She demanded.
“Wait.” He held onto her arm as he saw the figure run out of the door and down a dark alley. “Did you see that?” He asked her.
“See what? Joey you’re acting crazy, I’m going back in.”
“No.” He held her back more forcefully.
“Come on man, stop acting like this.” Latrell spoke up. “Something going on. You gonna tell me?”
“I’m not sure.” Joey watched the building. He wasn’t sure if he should just drive off or sit and wait.
“Can we at least go to the diner for that coffee?” Felicia asked him.
“Yeah, we can do that.” Joey turned the ignition back on and raised the window. “Where can I drop you Latrell?” He asked.
“I go to the diner with you. I’ll call Kareena and have her meet me. You two need to talk man.”
“We will.” Joey assured him.


Bridget stepped off the train and walked into the terminal. She’d done it, she had really left. She didn’t want to but she had to. Her one regret was not leaving a note. She hoped that her mother and Michael would forgive her. She imagined that in time they would but now they would be hurt and disappointed. She hoped that they knew how much she loved them, both of them. She thought about her father and about Ridge and about Rick, they’d all be hurt too but they would go on. “Everyone will go on.” She sighed. “But I need to make sure they know I’m alright and that they can move on. But I can’t call them this soon, they have the baby to think about.” She sighed and walked to a bench and sat down. Her stomach rolled, she was hungry. She gave a longing look at the candy machine but she knew that she needed to be careful with her money. She had cleaned out her own savings, she had close to five thousand dollars but that wouldn’t last long. She hadn’t touched any of the trust funds or any of the accounts Brooke had set up for her, she didn’t want that. She needed to be free of it all, otherwise she’d never be able to forget them. “Like that will ever happen.” She frowned and opened her purse. She could afford a candy bar. But before she found her wallet she saw her cell phone. “I can’t keep this.” She held it in her hands like a talisman, a final tie to the past she had to leave behind. She got up and walked to the metal garbage drum. She was about to throw it in when she recoiled her hand. “I can do this.” She told herself. “She’ll give them the message, I can trust her.” She hit a programmed number and hit send and listened to the sound of the phone ringing so many miles away.



The diner wasn’t far from the apartment, in fact with the table Joey had chose by the window, if he turned the right way he could actually see the neon lights from the Chinese restaurant downstairs. They had said goodbye to Latrell almost as soon as they had entered the diner. He had gotten a coffee to go, made a call and was waiting outside for his girlfriend to pick him up. Felicia tried to start a conversation but Joey was too distracted. He absently stirred his coffee as he kept turning back towards the window. They had been here almost twenty minutes and all was still calm. Joey wondered if he had mistaken the man’s identity.
“What is with you?” Felicia complained. “You pull me out in the middle of the night and then you totally ignore me.”
“Sorry.” He turned back to her. “It’s been a weird night, I just, no never mind.”
“I wish you’d tell me. You had to want something from me.” She put down her napkin. “Either spill or take me home, I’m tired and we’re getting nowhere.”
“I know you’re mad, I know you don’t understand, I just.” The scene outside once more distracted him. “Did you see anything move?” He asked.
“What are you looking for?” She said in a tone more impatient than interested.
“I guess I was wrong, but I still don’t like you being there.” He turned back to her.
“Something is going on. You’re scared. Is that why you called me?”
“Not really.” He admitted. “I called because I knew we walked away with stuff unsaid.”
“You pretty much told me you weren’t interested anymore.” She stirred her coffee. “Like I said, I’m not going to beg you to want me, it’s not my style and I’m worth more than that. So what is it you want?”
“Hell if I know Felicia.” He said honestly. “But I know I don’t want us to just walk away from each other because of misunderstandings or worse because we just didn’t have the energy to try. I haven’t been totally honest with you.”
“Oh?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Things that went down went further than I admitted. I got myself in really deep, I did a lot of things I wish I hadn’t done and now I don’t know how to undo them.”
“Is this about Blake?” She asked.
“It’s about him, but it’s about me too. Wait.” He looked out the window again.
“What are you looking for?” She asked again.
“Blake is crazy, I told you that.”
“Yeah.” She answered. “Are you expecting him to come over?”
“I don’t know.” He told her while he kept watching the apartment. “I’ve been ignoring him, trying to just cut myself out of it all and he doesn’t like it. I know he hired someone else. Maybe I should have stayed, at least that way we would know what he was trying to do to your brother and Taylor but I wanted out. Stupid thing is I just did it.”
“Clean break.” She answered. “Maybe not the best thing for Ridge but probably the best for you. We can tell him, if he knows what he’s facing Blake can’t win.”
“But Blake is nuts. He doesn’t like me leaving like this. I think he’s trying to make me pay and I’m not sure who he is going to hurt to do it. Maybe Mike, maybe you. I am so damn stupid Felicia. And the tapes, I told you I made those tapes.”
“For Blake, yes.”
“I told you I was going to use them.”
“And you told me you changed your mind.” She reminded him. “Didn’t you?”
“Even before you, yes I did.” He leaned closer to the window.
“Then what?” She asked.
“Ade and I came to get the tapes today. I had left them in the apartment.”
“She knows?” Felicia asked.
“I told her. She was pissed but she wanted the tapes gone.”
“Why does she care so much about tapes of Ridge and Taylor or Taylor and Bryan?” She asked him.
“Because there were tapes of Brooke too.” He admitted.
“Brooke and Ridge?” She asked. “Did you catch them? Is that where that tabloid got them?”
“I didn’t know that Blake had those. But he does and he has more.”
“Well that is just great.” She said sarcastically.
“I’m not happy about it.” Joey told her. “I don’t know how Mike reacted either.”
“The picture, was it real or did you doctor it for Blake?” She frowned.
“It was real but nothing happened. They both backed off, both seemed embarrassed by it, but of course those weren’t the poses that Blake wanted the world or more specifically Taylor to see.”
“I don’t know why you let him see it.”
“That was my job, that was why I was there, to find things about Ridge and before him Bryan, to find things that would make Taylor leave. It was all about Taylor. Brooke, Mike, Bryan, Ridge, all just pawns in his game. But so was I.”
“You weren’t a pawn, you were a paid and willing participant.”
“But now that I don’t want to be I’m disposable.” He said with a shudder.
“Aren’t you being a little dramatic? I mean I know the guy is whacked but he has limits.”
“I’m not sure if he does.” Joey confided. “And I wonder just how far he’d. Holy shit!” He grabbed her hand as he saw the building erupt into a fireball that shot high into the sky.
“Joey? Oh my God Joey, you knew! You knew didn’t you? That’s what you were watching for!”


“I know it’s late and I’m sorry to wake you but I need your help.” Bridget spoke softly into the phone. “No, I don’t want to come over. I can’t, I’m not around . No, don’t ask me questions, please just listen to me and do what I ask of you okay? I’ve left, I’ve left and I’m not coming back.” She listened to the questions and panic from the other end of the phone. “I’m okay but I needed to leave, things, well it’s better without me. Yes I’m serious. No, I won’t tell you where. No, she doesn’t know, no one does, that’s why I called you. I thought about everyone and you’re the only one I could turn to right now. I need a favor.” She listened once more to a stream of questions. “My mother had her baby. She’s still in the hospital. She and Mike are together, they’re happy. She has a chance to make a new family, it’s better if I’m not involved. Yes, I have thought it out and this is the way it has to be, but I don’t want them to worry and wonder what happened. No, no I didn’t leave a note. That’s where you come in. I want you to wait till late tomorrow, it will take that long until they really start to worry. Wait, please just listen.” She stopped and listened to the pleas before she continued. “I just want you to go to her and tell her that I’m okay, I’m safe and I’m where I want to be. No, I can’t tell you. No.” She was getting impatient. She wanted to just make sure her mother knew she was safe and then get away. “Please.” She begged. “I can’t tell you. Just please do this. I have to go. No, I won’t answer. No. I’m sorry, I really am but it’s the way it has to be. Goodbye.” She disconnected the call and with tears streaming down her face threw the cell phone into the trash can.



Ridge franticly followed Taylor into the guest room. She turned and frowned at him. “Don’t give me that look Taylor, this isn’t over, not by a long shot.”
“It’s late and I’m tired. I gave you the bedroom, just let me be.” She begged him.
“If I let you sleep alone will you promise you’ll talk to me about this in the morning?” He pressed.
“We can talk until we’re both blue in the face but my mind is made up.”
“You have to listen to me. I love you.” He argued as he tried to pull her into his arms.
“Ridge please.” She pressed her hand against his chest holding him back. “We will talk tomorrow but not rehashing this. We need to make some decisions. I want this to be as easy on the children as possible.”
“The only easy thing is for us to work out any problem you imagine we have.”
“I’m not imagining anything.” She sighed. “Now are you going to go back to the bedroom or am I?”
“We both can.” He smiled, trying his hardest to be alluring and sexy.
“No.” She shook her head. “Go on Ridge, please. I don’t want to wake the children or my father.”
“Oh he’s going to just love this.” Ridge growled.
“He won’t Ridge, he wanted us to be happy.”
“We can be!” Ridge insisted.
“We can, but not together.” She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek. “Goodnight Ridge, we’ll talk tomorrow.” Then she pushed him to the door and out of the room. He stood and stared at her as she closed the door. “It will be hard, but we’ll both make it through this and be better and happier people in the long run.” She said through the closed door.
“You may convince yourself Taylor, but you’ll never convince me.” Ridge answered.



The crowd had gathered first from the diner and then the neighboring buildings. The fire department and police were there, the road was blocked as was the entrance to the building but that didn’t matter to Joey. He and Felicia silently watched from the safety of the doorway of the diner.
“Tell me.” She whispered.
“I don’t know.” He shook his head.
“You knew Joey, you were watching all night. How did you know?”
“I didn’t, I swear, not till I got here but when I was circling the block trying to park I saw him.”
“Who? Blake?”
“No, Dan.” Joey told her.
“Who is Dan?” She asked. “Oh Joey look, the whole building is going to come down.”
“I wouldn’t expect less.” He looked at the men scurrying around trying in vain to stop the fire.
“Tell me Joey, tell me who he is and how you knew this was going down.”
Joey scratched his chin and led her back to the table. They sat down and he began his story. “I met him inside.”
“Prison?” She asked.
“Yeah.”
“A friend?”
“No, I didn’t know him, I mean I know who he was but we didn’t know each other. He’s really bad news.”
Felicia was totally lost. “I just don’t get it. First you said you only came to talk to me, then you say that Blake is out to get you, then you say that this Dan did this. He’s out to get you but you don’t know him? You’re being evasive and I don’t like it.”
“I’m trying to figure it out.” He frowned. “I did just come to work things out with you. I wanted to be honest about Blake and the tapes and how it’s all coming down around me but then I got here and I saw him and I just know it all is connected somehow.”
“How? What did this guy do? Was he looking for you? Is Blake involved?”
“I don’t know, but I think so. I think it’s all connected. Dan is a torch.”
“Torch?” She frowned.
“Arsonist.” Joey explained. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the building on fire is where I lived.”
“So why is this Dan who didn’t even know you burning down your apartment?” She was bewildered by all that Joey was implying.
”Blake knew where I lived. Blake isn’t happy with me. I think Blake may have decided to get rid of me.”
“Oh my God Joey, you think he was trying to kill you?” Felicia gasped.
“I don’t know but yeah, maybe, yeah, I guess so. I mean I knew he was crazy, I knew he was dangerous but still.”
“And he was willing to kill me and anyone else in the building to do it?” She started to shake. “Joey who was in there? Did anyone die?”
“No one lives in the other apartment.” He answered. There were only two apartments above the restaurant and the other had been vacant for months. He thought about his friend Harry and his family but he knew they lived miles away and were long gone for the night. “The restaurant was closed. Harry leaves after midnight, the staff is always gone before that. No, no one else was there.”
“Harry?” She asked absently, her mind slowly absorbing all that it implied.
“Jiang, the owner, remember, we call him Harry.” Joey reminded her. “They’re all gone, it’s okay, no one was there.”
“You got me out because of that! You didn’t even tell me!” Her voice started to get loud and shrill. “What if I hadn’t come? What then?”
“I would have come for you. I wouldn’t have let you stay but believe me, when I came over I had no clue, I just wanted to see you. Things just got a lot more complicated now.” He looked out the window again.
“Complicated? Someone tried to kill us, someone who may still be after my brother and you say it’s complicated?”
“Okay it’s more than complicated but I don’t know for sure if there is a connection. Maybe the guy had something on Harry, maybe he was hired by someone else who wanted the property. Maybe.”
“You can maybe all night Joey but it seems pretty obvious that this is all connected and you’re the glue. But why? Why would he want to kill you?”
“Because he thinks that I’m the only one who knows what he’s been up to.”
“Are you sure?” Felicia asked sharply. “Ridge could be in danger, Mike too. Joey we need to talk to the police.”
“No, not them.” He said quickly.
“Why not? They can help.”
“You just don’t understand who we’re dealing with. If we talk then we’ll never be safe again.” He sighed. “But we have to tell Ridge and Mike, we need to make sure they protect themselves.”
“They’ll both want to go to the police.” She frowned. “I still think we should.”
“And what will they have as proof? Even if they do the worst thing they can do is accuse Blake of harassing them, and remember, Blake saved Taylor’s life. I’m not so sure that they’ll believe me and not him. But the time has come, they have to know, no matter what happens to me.”
“They won’t put your life at risk Joey, even if they’re furious.” Felicia understood his hesitance to a point, but their safety had to be top priority. She also felt that in the long run it was best for Joey too.
“They will be, they have a right to be.” He said with sad resignation. “I screwed up again. I always do. And this time Mike and I had really made some strides. I don’t look forward to having him hate me again but I have to tell the truth.”
“When?” She asked him with another glance at the commotion at the apartment.
“Mike? Tonight, I can’t put it off. I’ll talk to Ridge tomorrow, I don’t know him so I can’t be waking them up in the middle of the night.”
“I think you should wait for morning for Mike too, Brooke is pregnant, she needs her rest. Then after you tell him, well maybe Mike will go with you to see Ridge.” She suggested.
”I think by then the only place Mike will want to see me after this is at my funeral.” He looked down in shame. “I never meant for any of this to happen. Never. But there is one more thing I have to take care of.”
“What?” She asked.
“You. I need to make sure you’re somewhere safe.”
“I, I guess I’ll go home.”
“Home? To that?” Joey pointed to the flames.
“Home to my mother and father’s house. For now. Then, well, I think I’m going to leave Joey?”
“Leave?” He asked her.
“Right now the life I left behind in San Francisco and New York is looking very, very appealing.”



Michael woke up abruptly. He wasn’t used to sleeping in the office or sleeping alone for that matter. For a few seconds he was confused and then he remembered. “Bethany.” He said aloud, his chest swelling with pride and his heart with love. He got up and stretched, grabbed his hospital jacket and left his office. He stopped to look out the window. The sun was starting to come up, it was going to be a beautiful day. “They all will be from now on.” He grinned and turned towards the elevators. He wanted coffee and then he was heading off to see his wife and daughter. The elevator door opened and he stepped in, ready to hit the button when he heard a voice call out.
“Can you hold it?”
Quickly he hit the door open button.
“Thank you. Oh Dr. Copeland.” Denise Jacobs smiled as she got on. “What brings you here so early?”
“My daughter.” He answered with a laugh. “And if you’re on your way to the cafeteria let me buy you some coffee and then take you up to meet her.”
“Oh my goodness, Brooke had the baby already? Isn’t it early?” Denise asked with concern.
“A little, but she’s doing great.”
“And if I am not mistaken didn’t you tell me you were having a little boy?” She laughed. “Shows how sometimes all the fancy shmancy machines just don’t know all.”
“The ultrasounds were inconclusive. I just ‘felt’ it was a boy, I convinced myself and everyone else.”
“Girls are special too. I hope you’re not disappointed.” She gave him a frown.
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t be happier. She’s a perfect little baby girl and I love her so much already it hurts.”
“I’m so glad, I know you’ll make a wonderful dad. I’ve seen how protective you are with Bridget.” She laughed. “I can just imagine how you’ll be with a tiny little baby.”
“I know.” He chuckled. “I know I’d fight anyone who ever tried to hurt her.”
“So how is Brooke?” Denise asked him.
“She’s tired, scared but doing great.”
“Scared?”
“The baby is small and she’s in the neonatal ward so we have limited contact. Brooke is very nervous about that.”
“Oh and you’re not?” She teased.
“I was, but Kyle Owen came in to see another baby and he checked her out for me and he said she’s just fine so my mind is a lot more at ease.”
“Any idea when you can bring her home?” Denise wondered.
“The sooner the better.” Michael smiled.
“We’ll get the coffee to go. I want to meet her.” Denise said as the elevator stopped and the door opened.
“Sounds like a plan.” Michael grinned. “You’ll love her Denise, she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Now don’t you let Brooke hear you saying that. Right now she is probably feeling all fat and unattractive and blue too. Make sure she knows you still think she is beautiful.” She warned him.
“Brooke is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on Denise. She knows it. I love her more and more every single day and just seeing her with our child, well I can’t even control my feelings.”
“I know you love her honey but a woman who just had a baby needs a lot of TLC and a lot of attention too. Sometimes they get jealous of all the attention the baby gets. You need to read up on postpartum depression.”
“Brooke is happy.” He protested.
“Of course she is, but it happens anyway. I’m not saying it will happen with her but you need to be prepared and to understand it. Honey you aren’t even used to a relationship with a wife let alone a new mother. I’m just trying to help you.”
“You’re right, there is a hell of a lot I need to learn. I guess I never saw myself at this place. I never looked at it as something that had anything to do with me. But I swear I will do anything to support her.”
“Oh I know you will.” She smiled and gave him a hug.
“You think I can do it all without screwing up?” He asked.
“Oh you’ll make your mistakes but I think you’ll get more right than wrong.” She assured him.
“You wanna help me?” He asked her.
“Help you how?”
“All this stuff, it’s so foreign to me and I really want to do the right things, I want to impress Brooke. I guess I should have been reading books and all but it just creeped up on me and now, well now I’m sort of lost. Can you help me learn some of the essentials?”
“I’ll try.” She answered him. “Anything in particular?”
“I don’t know how to change a diaper.” He said with a sheepish grin.
“Ooooh that will gain you some points if you can do that.” She laughed.
“And giving her a bath and feeding her, dressing her? Can you give me some pointers? Oh yeah and anything on what I should avoid doing with Brooke would really help me.”
“You’re on.” She grinned. “We can have a quick lesson today if you’d like.”
“I want to be the best dad and the best husband.” Michael told her.
“Just wanting to be is the first step.” She said as they walked into the cafeteria.


“Nice pyrotechnics last night.” Jack greeted Ridge with a laugh as he entered the kitchen.
“Mmmrrhp.” Ridge mumbled under his breath.
“I warned you, I warned you time after time but you wouldn’t listen.”
“Enough Jack.” He said sharply.
“Yes, she’s had more than enough. She’s given you more than enough chances. So now why don’t you go to your mistress and your little bastard and leave us alone.” He picked up his coffee and took a sniff of the rich aroma. “It’s going to be a wonderful day today.”
“You think she’s happy?” Ridge shot back. “She doesn’t want this Jack, you know it and I know it and by the end of the day she will too. I’m not going to lose her so you can celebrate all you want, just know it’s way premature.”
“Like your bastard?” Jack c*cked his eyebrow at him.
“It’s not my baby.” Ridge responded through gritted teeth.
“Typical Ridge Forrester.” Jack put down his mug. “Even someone like Brooke Logan doesn’t deserve you. It’s too bad you didn’t get anything from your mother. Seems you inherited all of Eric’s weaknesses and none of Stephanie’s strengths. I just pray my grandchildren do the opposite with you and Taylor.”
“You’re sick.” Ridge walked to the coffeemaker and picked up the carafe. “You know something Jack, all the troubles started the day you arrived. Once I make Taylor see that you’ll be out the door and I’ll promise you one thing, you won’t ever find a welcome wagon waiting for you again!”


“Right over here.” Michael led Denise to the crib. A look of extreme panic came over his face when he found it empty. “Rosa!” He shouted as the color drained from his face. “Rosa!”
The young nurse ran in and up to him. “It’s okay Dr. Copeland, it’s okay.” She told him.
“Where is she? What happened to her? Where is my daughter?”
Denise looked from Michael to the other nurse. “What happened?” She asked in a calmer voice.
“Nothing happened. She’s doing so good that Dr. Rawlings was in and gave her a clean bill of health, we brought her in to your wife, she’s feeding her now.”
To Rosa’s surprise she found herself lifted off her feet and hugged by the grateful doctor. “Thank you Rosa, thank you so much.” He put her down and grinned. “Come on Denise, let’s go see my girls.” He grabbed her hand and they quickly made their way to Brooke’s room. As they entered Brooke looked up and smiled broadly at them.
“Michael look.” She said as her eyes filled with tears.
“I know, Rosa just told us. Look at her Brooke, look at her.” He was amazed at the sight of his baby feeding from her mother. “Look Denise, have you ever seen anything like that in your life?”
“A time or two.” She laughed. “How are you doing honey?” She walked over to Brooke. “Will you look at her, she’s a beautiful little baby.”
“She looks just like her Daddy.” Brooke answered Denise.
“I do believe she’s got your dimples Dr. Copeland.” Denise gave Michael a hug.
“She’s not eating much. I’m not really producing a lot of milk.” Brooke explained. “I had the same problem with Rick and Bridget but I had hoped.” She sighed and looked down.
“Formula is good too Brooke.” Denise assured her. “You do what you can but don’t you feel guilty.”
“But I really wanted.” Brooke stopped.
“I breastfed my first two and when the third came I just didn’t have it. They all turned out healthy and happy and well adjusted too. You bond no matter what, you know that sweetie.”
“You’re right.” Brooke smiled at the older woman then turned to her husband. “I think she’s done. Would you like to hold her Michael?”
“You have to ask?” His eyes widened as he walked up to Brooke. He sat down on the bed and nervously took his daughter from his wife. Brooke adjusted her nightgown and smiled at Michael and Denise.
“Seems you two have spent a lot of time looking at my boobs.” She joked as she thought about the time she first met both of them.
“That’s my first memory of you. We’ve all come a long way since that day.” Denise laughed. “But believe me, this last view is a lot nicer. A mother and her baby is one of nature’s most beautiful images.”
“It sure is.” Brooke agreed with a laugh.
“Oh my God, she’s looking at me.” Michael couldn’t take his eyes off of the baby. “Bethany, it’s me, it’s your Daddy.”
“Bethany. That’s a pretty name.” Denise told them. “She’s a beautiful baby and I am so glad she’s here. Now I think I’ll let my favorite family have some private time.” She leaned over and gave Brooke a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll stop in to see you later.”
“You don’t have to leave.” Brooke told her.
“Yeah I do.” She smiled. She gently touched the baby and then Michael’s cheek. “You come down see me honey.” She instructed him. “Oh and Brooke, I got some names for you for some help at home.”
“Thank you Denise.” Brooke smiled.
“It was nice meeting you Miss Bethany Copeland.” Denise touched the baby again. “I’ll see you later.”
“You got it.” Michael answered, not taking his eyes off of his precious bundle.
“She’s so nice.” Brooke commented about Denise.
“She is.” Michael agreed. He gently kissed his daughter’s head. “I was so scared when I went to the unit and Bethany wasn’t there. But she’s fine, aren’t you baby.” He said to his tiny daughter. “How long ago did they bring her in?” He looked up at Brooke.
“Not too long ago. I asked if we could take her home.”
“And?” Michael looked into her eyes.
“They said in a day or two.” She smiled. “I’m just glad we can hold her now.”
Michael looked at his watch. “I wonder if it’s too early to make some calls.”
“Annie?” She asked.
“And Joey and of course I want Bridget and Rick down here.”
“And my mother.” Brooke added.
“Storm said he was bringing her today. I guess that means your Dad won’t be coming.”
“I hope he does.” Brooke looked at him with sad eyes. “I mean I know everything didn’t work out the way we wanted it to but he’s still my father.”
“If they don’t bring him I’ll go get him Sweetheart.” Michael promised. “I imagine Taylor will be here too.”
“I’m sure Ridge told her.” Brooke agreed. “I need to call Katie and Donna too.”
“You know what I think?” Michael smiled.
“What?”
“We may need a wing all of our own for all these visitors.” He laughed. “And to think, I was such a solitary guy.”
“Hmmmm.” Brooke gave him a squint. “Not really.”
“Okay, maybe I wasn’t that, but I had no real ties, no connections, now all my friends and family are all so important to me. I’ve even started to reconnect with my brother and I credit you with that.”
“You did that yourself.” She looked at the man she loved who was so lovingly holding their child. It seemed like all was good in the world and finally all her troubles were behind her. Nothing mattered, not as long as she had her family.
“I don’t know.” He disagreed. “Annie tried for years, Ade tried, others did too but nothing happened. You changed me, made me more forgiving, made me see the value of family. Suddenly I found myself not just being able to but wanting to make him a part of my life. I still get a little nervous about him but I think his heart is in the right place and he’s trying too.”
“He does have a kind heart.” Brooke agreed. “It runs in the family.”
“Annie maybe.” Michael laughed.
“Michael.” Brooke touched his hand. “You are the kindest, dearest man and I love you so very much.”
“Right back at ya.” He grinned at her.


“Katie will be here this afternoon; Donna has a meeting so she won’t be able to get here until tomorrow.” Beth told Steven as she flittered around the hotel room.
“I don’t know if we should be going there Bethie, it’s going to be hard enough on Brooke dealing with a preemie like this without us all hovering around.”
“Oh for God’s sake Steven, she’s our daughter! This is our grandchild and she is NOT premature, just a little early. Storm said she’s just perfect.”
“What would he know about babies?” Steven scoffed. “Not like he has a chance in hell of ever having one anyway.”
“If he wants one he can and will have one.” Beth frowned. “And Storm knows plenty about babies, he filled your role for years and years in case you’ve forgotten.”
“Don’t you go blaming me for his being a fairy.” He got up from the bed. “I’ve got to wonder about him anyway Beth. Maybe he’s not mine.”
“Of course he is.” She gave him an exasperated look. “Why would you even question this now after all these years.”
“No son of mine would let another man do those kind of disgusting things to him. I’ve been thinking hard, I think that he reeks of Forrester. You probably got knocked up by that dress maker. I’ve always wondered about a man who spends his life surrounded by girly things like he does. Did you do that Bethie? Did you pawn off his kid on me cause you wanted a real man?”
“I won’t even dignify that with an answer.” She grabbed her purse. “In fact, maybe I’d prefer you don’t come. Brooke will have enough stress without your adding to it.”
“Don’t blame me for that, your son is the one that got her all worked up. If that baby dies it’s blood will be on his head.”
“I can’t believe you even suggested that.” Beth was disgusted.
“It’s his fault. Maybe at least this will open your eyes and Brooke’s too.” He picked up his comb from the dresser and started styling his hair.
“I think mine have just been opened.” She said sadly.


Joey closed the door as quietly as possible and tiptoed into the condo. He wanted to avoid questions. He had no answers. He needed time to think and plan. His life, which had just started to change for the better, had taken a horrible turn for the worse and he had no idea how he was going to fix it. All he knew was that he needed to protect himself and those he loved. He walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. He grabbed a can of beer and then just stood in front of it staring absently at the contents shifting the can from hand to hand.
“Far as I know nothing is gonna jump out at you sugar.” Adrienne’s voice stunned him. He dropped the can and it rolled across the floor. “Whoa.” She laughed. “You’re wound up aren’t you?”
“I didn’t know you were up.” He closed the refrigerator and reached down for the can.
“Things must not have gone so well huh? Where is Felicia?” She asked.
“I took her to her mother’s.” He walked to the small flat screen television and turned it on. He frantically changed the channels up and down the dial.
“Good. I didn’t like the idea of her or even you in that hell hole.” She watched him as his fingers played the remote like a video game. “What are you looking for? It’s early, all you’re going to get is cartoons and infomercials.”
“Wait!” He hushed her as he stopped on a local cable news network. They were doing a traffic report, talking about a row of stores and apartments burning and causing early morning congestion.
“You got somewhere to go?” She asked with a chuckle. “Hey, sugar that’s your place isn’t it? You know anything about this?” He turned and gave her a look that he more than knew about it. “Oh Joe no, this doesn’t have anything to do with those tapes, please tell me it doesn’t have anything to do with those tapes.”
“I wish I could Ade, God how I wish I could.”


“You got some time?” Michael asked as he walked up to Denise. “I thought you could give me a lesson or two.”
“For you, always.” She smiled at turned to the other nurse at the desk. “I’m going to go help Dr. Copeland with something, I shouldn’t be too long.”
“Okay Denise, things are pretty calm today.” She answered.
“We’ll be in Dr. Copeland’s office if you need me.”
“Okay.” She cheerfully agreed.
“Come on Dad.” Denise told Michael. She grabbed a large bag and then they walked down to his office.
“What you got there?” He asked her.
“Tools.” She walked up to his desk which was cluttered with files and discs. “Can you put some of this stuff away?”
“Sure.” He opened a drawer and quickly put the things inside. “So what are we starting with?” He asked.
“Changing her.” She pulled the small doll out of the bag as well as a package of Pampers. He watched with interest as she continued to take things out. “Wipes.” She told him. “Baby powder.” She put that down. “Petroleum jelly.” She showed him the jar. “Plastic bag.” She put that down too. “Changing cloth.” She pulled out the cloth and laid it on his desk.
“Shouldn’t we be using a changing table?” He asked.
“Ideally yes, but they aren’t always available. As long as it’s clean and dry you can use just about any secure surface. I imagine your desk might actually serve the purpose some day.”
“Cool.” He walked up behind her. “Okay, show me.”
“Oh no, no, no.” Denise laughed. “You’re going to do this yourself.”
“But I.” He protested.
“Only way to learn is by doing. It’s just a doll, you can’t hurt her.”
“Okay.” He agreed. “I guess I may as well just dive in.” He walked to the sink and by instinct washed his hands.
“You got that advantage being a doctor.” She explained. “It’s amazing how many men out there are foreign to the concept of clean hands.” She laughed and put the baby down on the changing cloth. “Okay, ready?”
“She already has a diaper on.” Michael frowned.
“As will Bethany.” She laughed. “We’re going for realism here.”
“Good point.” He agreed . “Okay Bethany.” He spoke to the doll. “Let’s get you changed.” He started pulling at the diaper. Denise chucked and frowned.
“Nope. First mistake, this is a baby Michael, not a football, you can’t be so rough. Now I want you to carefully unfasten the diaper tabs and then fasten them back on themselves so that they don’t stick to the baby.”
“Oh, okay.” He frowned as he looked at the tabs. “Oh yeah, I got it.” He did as instructed and then started to pull the old diaper from under the doll.
“Wait.” She stopped him. “Don’t take it away. Wipe any poop on the diaper.”
“Oh jeez.” He complained but did as instructed.
“You’re lucky, she’s a girl.” She told him.
“Why?” He asked.
“If she were a boy you might be getting a little warm shower.” She smiled.
“Gotcha.” He laughed. “Okay, so I did that, now can I take it away?” He asked.
“Lift her bottom off the table.” Denise told him. He started to pick up the doll but she stopped him. “Lift her ankles, it looks odd but it works nicely and it’s safe.”
“Hmmmm.” He was nervous but he did as she told him. “Now what?”
“Fold the old diaper in half under her with the unsoiled side up.”
“I can do that.” He struggled slightly but managed the maneuver. “Next.”
“Get another wipe or a wet clothe and clean her thoroughly.” She instructed. “Wipe from front to back, away from her privates.”
“Okay.” He nervously wiped the doll. “And this is because?”
“It will minimize bacteria and keep her from getting infections.” She explained.
“Makes sense. I should have though of that, I don’t want my baby getting sick.”
“Of course you don’t.” She smiled. “Now lift both her legs and clean her bottom.”
“Damn, I could use two more hands.” He struggled but managed the task.
“You’re not the first one to feel that way and you won’t be the last.” She walked closer and watched. “You’re doing great.”
“Thanks.” He grinned. “You think I’ll be able to move on to Bethany soon?”
“You bet I do.” She answered. “Now you swap that nasty old diaper with a clean one. The clean one’s tabs should go under her rear and the bottom half should come between her legs. Now make sure you spread them as wide as you can without making her uncomfortable.”
“What no cracks about my expertise in spreading legs?” Michael asked with a smile.
“This is serious stuff, I’m trying to stay on target. Now just see if you can do that. Spread her legs at bit.”
“Huh?” He was confused. “Wait, I’m not getting this.”
“No, you’re doing fine.” She encouraged him. “That’s it honey, you’re doing just fine.”
“What if I hurt her?” He asked in a panic filled voice.
“Oh believe me, she’ll let you know. She may be tiny but I’m sure she has a good set of lungs on her. Anyway, you’re a doctor honey, you have gentle hands, you’re doing just fine.”
“Okay.” He sighed. “This is harder than I thought.”
“Wait till it’s a real baby with real poop.” She chuckled. “She will squirm and move on you. It won’t be nearly this easy. And I don’t think you’ll find it as easy dealing with a real dirty diaper.”
“Thanks, I needed that.” He sighed again.
“Now just try not to bunch the diaper up so much between her legs. She’ll chafe and it won’t be comfortable. But you have the baby powder to help with that so sprinkle some on but don’t over do it either. Also you don’t want to cover up the cord. You’ll get some special newborn diapers with a cut out for that but just be careful.”
“I had no idea that this was so complicated.”
“Oh it’ll seem simple soon, you’ll be able to do it in your sleep. Okay, we’re almost done.”
“Okay.” He looked at her.
“Now fasten the tapes on both sides. Make sure it’s snug but not too tight.”
“Done!” He said triumphantly.
“Not quite.” She told him. “Retape the soiled diaper and put it in the plastic bag. Dump it in the trash and then you can dress her and clean up. That’s it honey, you’re done.”
“I guess it wasn’t quite as hard as I thought.”
“It’s not hard but it can be challenging. Why don’t you try it again without me coaching, see if you remember all the steps.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” He said. “Maybe you can put all the stuff except the baby in the bag and I can try it while I hold her. That is how it will be in real life.”
“Good Mike. That’s a great way of thinking.” She started putting the things in the bag when the office door opened and Pam, Michael’s assistant was there.
“I’m sorry to bother you Doctor but there’s a young lady who insists on seeing you right away. I told her to make an appointment but she said it’s very important.”
“I’m not even supposed to be in here, I don’t have hours today I was just working with Denise.” He informed Pam.
“She seems desperate. I hate to bother you with this but I just thought.”
“Go ahead Mike, I’ll come back and we can do more. I should be getting back to my station anyway.” Denise told him.
“Okay, leave this stuff here and I’ll practice.” He answered. “And Denise, thanks so much.”
“We’ll do more later. You’re doing just fine, you’re sure going to impress that wife of yours.”
“I hope so.” He laughed softly. He turned back to Pam. “Okay, bring her in.”


“Oh my God! Look at her! She’s so little!” Amber squealed as she and Rick walked into Brooke’s room. “Rick look!”
“She’s a little cutie Mom.” He walked up to Brooke and put the pink teddy bear down on the bed next to her. “Hi baby.” He leaned over and gently touched Bethany.
“Hi honey.” Brooke smiled up at her son and then at Amber. “Amber, are you feeling better?” She asked with a trace of trepidation.
“Don’t worry, I won’t come too close. I’m not feverish at all and I really do feel better. Right honey?” She turned to Rick for backup.
“She is Mom, I wouldn’t have come if she wasn’t.” Rick assured Brooke.
“I wish I could hold her but I know I better not.” Amber pouted but smiled. “A little girl, so cute.”
“We love her.” Brooke laughed.
“Budge said that she was in the neonatal unit.” Rick reached down and touched her tiny fingers. “I didn’t expect to see her in here with you.”
“I didn’t know that she would be either.” Brooke explained. “But the doctors say she is doing just wonderfully and that we should be able to take her home soon.”
“Have you come up with any ideas for names yet?” Rick asked. “Budge said you hadn’t last night.”
“Oh dear, we were so excited and so tired we forgot to tell her.” Brooke blushed. “We named her last night.”
“Oh yeah?” Rick’s eyes widened. “So what is my little sister’s name?”
“Bethany, Bethany Michaela Copeland.” Brooke grinned broadly.
“Nice.” Rick nodded in approval. “You named her after Grandma.”
“After both her grandmothers.” Brooke explained. “Michael’s mother was Annie like his sister so we took the Beth from Grandma and the Annie from Michael’s mom and there you have it.”
“And Michaela for her Daddy, that’s so sweet.” Amber added.
“It is Mom.” Rick agreed with his wife. “I bet Mike is stoked.”
“Oh he is, he’s so excited about everything. It’s all so new to him but he’s loving every minute.” Brooke had to laugh.
“Where is he?” Amber asked.
“Seeing some patients I think, maybe having breakfast.” Brooke supplied. “He had a long night, he was with Bethany all night long, that is when he wasn’t with me.”
“Poor Bethany.” Amber laughed.
Brooke looked at her and frowned. “Why?”
“He’s probably not going to let her date till she’s thirty.” Amber giggled.
“Oh yeah, he is very protective.” Brooke laughed along. “But don’t worry, Bethany has two very devoted parents and a lot of wonderful friends and relatives too. Speaking of them, where is Bridget?”
“She got in so late, we didn’t want to wake her.” Rick answered. “I’m sure she’ll be here before too long.”
“She had an exam.” Brooke voiced her thought. “I hope she just goes to school. Bethany isn’t going anywhere. There will be plenty of time for bonding, her education has to take priority.”
“Maybe she will.” Amber surmised. “So Brooke, can we get you anything? I know how bad hospital food can be.”
“I haven’t really given it a thought. I did have some juice and toast this morning before they brought Bethany in to me.”
“You need more than that if you’re breastfeeding.” Amber told her. “I’d be happy to go get you something. You really do need to make sure you have all the vitamins and stuff that the baby needs.”
“Thank you Amber, but really, I’m not even hungry.” Brooke lifted Bethany higher and kissed her cheek. “I’m too happy and content to worry about anything at all right now. I don’t think anything can wipe the smile off my face.”
“Not even Stephanie?” Rick suggested with a grin.
“Nope, not even Stephanie.” Brooke assured him.


“Hey.” The man shook Bridget out of her cocoon of sleep. “Miss, this is our last stop, you gotta get off or else buy a return ticket.”
“Huh? What?” She rubbed her sleepy eyes. “Oh sorry, okay, okay I’m getting off.” She got up from her seat and retrieved her suitcase from the overhead bin.
The driver stood watching her until she stepped off the train. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” He apologized.
“It’s okay, I guess I was just dead to the world.”
“Time to wake up then, San Francisco is a wide awake place.” He smiled.
“Yeah, I guess so.” She put down her suitcase and rummaged through her purse.
“First time here?” He asked her.
“No.” She shook her head. “But first in a long time.”
“Vacation?” He wondered. She didn’t look the type to vacation all alone.
“New start.” She said.
“Well good luck to you Miss.” He gave her a wave and walked into the terminal.
“My new life.” She said with a sad smile. “I guess it’s time to find a place to live and a job.” She picked up her suitcase and started walking towards the lights of the city.


Taylor came to the kitchen doorway to find Ridge and Jack silently glaring at each other. She braced herself from the demands she knew she’d get from both of them and entered the room.
“Taylor.” Ridge jumped up and was about to run to her, but her hard stance stopped him. “Uh, how did you sleep?”
“Not as badly as I thought I would.”
“Can I make you breakfast honey?” Jack asked his daughter.
“No thank you Daddy.” She smiled at him. She walked to the counter and poured a mug of coffee. Then turned around to look at the two men who meant so much to her. “I imagine you know some of what is going on.” She addressed Jack.
“I heard you last night.” He confirmed. “So are you moving out or is he?”
“Knock it off Jack!” Ridge growled at him. “It’s a new day and she’s had a night’s sleep. I’m sure Taylor and I can work it all out. As long as everyone just gives us some space!”
“Is that true honey?” Jack asked Taylor. She nervously looked at him. “Tell me he hasn’t gotten to you.” Jack begged. “Nothing changed Taylor, he will never change. You know that, I know you do.”
“Shut the hell up!” Ridge shouted, then turned to Taylor. “Don’t listen to him. I can change, I will change for you. I know I’ve been distracted, I know I’ve done things wrong but you and the kids are everything to me. Please don’t give us up without a fight.”
Taylor looked from Jack to Ridge and then cleared her throat. “I’ve been fighting since the day I met you Ridge. I’m tired. I’m done. I can’t do it anymore.”
“Then let me, I’ll fight for us Doc, I can prove it to you. Just let’s be alone, just you, me and the kids. We’ve spent far too much time with Blake or Brooke or your father or my parents. We need to just be us. Please Taylor, please give me one more try.”
She hesitated and looked down.
“Don’t do it Taylor, he’ll only let you down again.”
“Doc, don’t listen to him, please just listen to me!” Ridge begged.
“Honey he’ll hurt you he will.” Jack implored.
“Stop it! Stop it both of you!” Taylor held her hands over her ears. “I can’t take it! I can’t take either of you!” She looked at them both and ran from the room.
“Now look what you’ve done.” Ridge growled at his father in law.


Michael’s eyes widened in shock and for a moment he was speechless. Finally he found his voice to say just one word. “No. No.” He shook his head. “You’re not going to do this to me again. I just got my life back, I have a new baby. You can’t do this to me now, you have to leave before anyone sees you and starts talking.”
“Mike, Dr. Copeland, please, I really need to talk to you.”
“I can’t do this Sara. I don’t know what you have against me. I don’t know why the hell you want to see me fired or maybe in jail but I’m not going to let you. Is Ehlers out there waiting to catch us? No, I don’t even care what your game is, just go home, go away, leave me alone.” He pushed past her into the outer office. “Pam, make sure she leaves. I’ll check in later.”
“Please wait, it’s so important.” Sara called out to him.
“Go home Sara.” He shook his head and walked down the hallway at a very fast pace.
“You’re Sara?” Pam asked. “You know you shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m not here to hurt him, really, I really need to talk to him.”
“I’m sorry but Dr. Copeland said no and that means no.” She then gently escorted Sara out of Michael’s office.


“You’re cold. You should try and get some sleep.” Adrienne walked back into the living room and draped the blanket around Joey’s shoulders. “So you’re sure that this Dan Sullivan is involved with Blake? Are you even sure it was him?”
“Thanks.” He pulled the wrap tightly around him. He was cold but knew it was more likely from nerves and lack of sleep than from the temperature. “Oh yeah, it was him, I’d know him anywhere.”
“But it was dark.” She argued. “Maybe you’re seeing monsters behind every closet door sugar?”
“I wish that was all it was Ade.” He said with a shiver.
“But why? Why would he want to hurt you?”
“Blake doesn’t trust me, I’m a liability now.” He scratched his head.
“Maybe he was just trying to scare you.” Adrienne suggested.
“He burned down an apartment building, a bar, a restaurant and God knows how much more.” Joey shook his head emphatically. “No Ade, this wasn’t a warning, this was meant to get rid of someone or something and I am almost positive that that someone was me.”
“So what are you going to do about Mike and Taylor?” Adrienne asked him. “They need to know sugar.”
“I know.” He reluctantly agreed. “I tried calling Mike but he didn’t answer, I even called Bridget’s cell to see if she knew where he was but she didn’t answer either.”
“I hope nothing is wrong.” Adrienne frowned.
“They were moving and all, probably just shut the phones off. I’ll get to him, I will.” Joey promised.
“He’s going to be mad Joe, but he will understand and eventually he’ll forgive you.”
“I don’t know why he would.” Joey sulked. “I did this to him, I got them all involved in this crap and they all have to suffer for it.”
“Now you hold on sugar, that isn’t really how it went down and you know it.” Adrienne grabbed both his arms, forcing him to face her. “Yeah, you pulled some of your usual Joey crap but you didn’t set it all in motion. Blake did that. The whole thing was his game and if he didn’t have you he’d have someone else. I’m not excusin’ you for your part but the whole thing was Blake’s game.”
“I should have stopped right away, I should have told Mike a long time ago. Maybe I could have stopped things before they all got out of hand.”
“Maybe, but we can’t go back and undo things, all we can do is move forward and try and fix things. At least we got the tapes.” She reminded him.
“Yeah, but Blake still has some of the Taylor stuff.”
“But none of your doctored shit right?” She asked.
“I uh, I don’t think so. But Ade, I just can’t swear to it. You know I always thought there was time. I thought I could go back in there and clean things off. Now he has these goons working for him. I’ll never get back inside, I’ll never get him to trust me again and I don’t have the proof I need to give to Taylor or Mike to stop him, not legally.”
“If you come clean with the police.” She suggested.
“My word against his.” Joey shrugged.
“Yeah but they can go in and seize his computers Joey.”
“I’m going to go down for this.” He looked down at his feet. “One way or another I’m going down.”
“I doubt that sugar.” She shook her head. “You know you weren’t the one doing this, none of it was for you.”
“So maybe I could beat the rap, but Blake and his goons will kill me, they’ve tried once, they’ll try again.”
“We won’t let them Joey.” She pulled him into a tight hug. “I won’t let them.”


The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee gave Bridget a lift as she walked into the coffeehouse. The place was bustling, waiters and waitresses hustled around with trays and menus while customers ate, drank and chatted. Bridget found a small table in a corner. She put down her suitcase and sat. Tears threatened her eyes once more but she blinked them away and waited for a menu. Finally a young woman with jet black short hair and black framed glasses came up to her.
“Sorry, I didn’t see you.” She handed her the menu.
“It’s okay.” Bridget said softly. She opened the menu and then put it down. “Just a large regular coffee please.”
“We just got in some fresh donuts. The jelly are to die for. Can I tempt you?”
Bridget relaxed back in her chair. She needed to just accept this and start her new life. No time like the present. She thought. “Okay, I’ll have one.” She smiled.
“Good call.” The girl grinned at her. “I’ll be right back with your order.”
She walked away leaving Bridget alone with her thoughts. Faces flew before her eyes, she already missed everyone so badly. She thought about her new baby sister, she’d never know her. “She wouldn’t anyway.” Bridget reminded herself. “It’s better this way. But I still need some way to support myself.” She sat back and watched the scene around her. They were obviously understaffed, at least for this shift. “I can do this.” She told herself. “At least it would keep me from starving.” And with that thought she made her decision to approach the waitress as soon as she returned.


“Rick, Amber.” Michael greeted them with a smile as he walked into Brooke’s room. “So how do you like my baby?”
“Your baby huh?” Brooke teased.
“Our baby.” Michael winked at her and walked to her side. “Can I?” He held his arms out.
“Here you go Daddy.” Brooke gently put Bethany in his arms. He already handled her like a pro without the slightest hesitation or fear.
“You’re pretty good with her Mike.” Rick commented with a laugh.
“I’m a fast learner, especially when it’s all about love.” He gave his baby a gentle kiss. “It’s so great to be able to hold her.”
“It certainly is.” Brooke agreed.
“So has anyone else been here while I was gone?” Michael asked his wife.
“Not yet. Have you made any calls?” She wondered.
“I called Annie. I tried Ade but no answer. I spoke to Colin, he said Storm was coming down with your parents. How about Bridget? Is she coming back soon?”
“We didn’t wake her this morning.” Rick supplied. “And Mom said she has an exam.”
“I’m sure she’ll be by after that.” Michael walked to the doorway.
“Where are you going?” Brooke asked.
“I thought I saw Frank, I want him to meet Bethany.” He smiled. “I know, I’m bad, but I can’t seem to stop showing her off. You can’t blame me can you?”
“Go take her to Frank.” Brooke giggled. “Just don’t keep her away too long, she didn’t eat much and I’m sure she’ll be hungry.”
“Then we’ll stay right here.” Michael started back in but Brooke stopped him.
“Go ahead, she’s fine.”
“Okay, I won’t be long, just a couple of minutes. I’m sure her Grandma is going to be here soon and she’ll have my head if Bethany is gone long.”
“I hope she comes soon and Annie too.” Brooke answered.
“And Bridget.” Michael added. “I want all my girls together.” He looked down at the baby. “Right Bethany? You miss your big sister don’t you?”


“Thanks for meeting me.” Taylor said as Connor joined her at the table at the diner.
“You sounded pretty upset. How can I help Taylor?”
“I need it done now Connor, I don’t want to live another day like this, I need you to make it happen.” She looked so desperate that it frightened the lawyer. He had known Taylor for years and he’d never seen her so out of control.
“Did he do something to you?” He asked. “What happened?”
“I don’t want to change my mind.” A tear fell from one eye and then another fell from the other. “I’m so weak and I need to stay strong.”
“Are you even listening to yourself?” He asked her. “I really don’t think you know what it is you want. Are you really sure you’ve thought this thing out?”
“I do know, I do, but when he starts on me he wears me out and I lose my resolve. I can’t do this anymore. I need to make the break. It has to end.”
“You’ve made it before Taylor and you ended up going right back to it. Are you sure you want to put everyone through this again? Are you sure you won’t turn around and go back again?” He asked her. “I’m asking you as your friend. As your lawyer I’ll draw up all the papers and do what has to be done, but as your friend I want you to be sure this is what you really want. You told me you still loved him, can you really give up on it?”
“I have to, for myself and my children. I do love him but I’ll end up hating him. I’m so unhappy Connor, I’m miserable and I can’t go on this way. Please help me.”
“Okay, okay I will.” He opened his pad and pulled out a pen. “So tell me, how did he react when you told him?”
“Worse than I imagined and yet, I guess it was exactly what I expected.”
“Did he believe you?”
“No, he thought it was an idle threat.” She shook her head. “It isn’t Connor, I mean it.”
“Okay. So did you talk at all, aside from his trying to change your mind?”
“He wouldn’t. I wanted to discuss living arrangements and what to tell the children but he just refuses to believe it’s happening. Not that I blame him.” She softly added.
“Have you thought about it? You know I asked you to.”
“The children have been through so much and as much as I don’t want to continue living there I don’t know how I can take away their father and their home.” She let out a sad sigh. “I know I’m doing the right thing for myself but am I being selfish?”
“No.” He answered quickly. “You’re a professional Taylor, you know that the children would sense the strain in your marriage and that would be unhealthy too. But I want you to think about one thing.”
“Yes?” She looked up at him.
“If you stay in the home where you were a family, you might give them the false sense of hope that it will all come back again and if that really isn’t your intention it might be smarter to make a clean break. You’re both in good financial shape, my professional opinion would be for you both to find new homes.”
“I’ll think about that Connor, I will.” Taylor promised.


Andy turned off the television and walked to the window. He peered out for what felt like hours but was a mere seconds. Then he abruptly turned to face Dan. “You don’t even know for sure he was in there. What kind of idiot are you?”
“He was, I saw him.” Dan shook slightly as he protested.
“You just finished telling me that you didn’t go up there. You just finished telling me that you didn’t see his bike.”
“A shadow, I saw a shadow.”
“Maybe he has a cat.” Andy said with bitter sarcasm. “And did I tell you to burn down the entire neighborhood?” He shouted. “Subtle! Do you even know the meaning of the word?”
“You knew what I do when you hired me.”
“You must have lost your touch in prison.” Andy spit. “It was supposed to look like an accident, a grease fire from the restaurant but no, you had to make it look like 1871 Chicago!”
“I got the job done!” Dan insisted.
Andy fumed as he slowly paced. He turned on the television again and pointed at it. “No bodies. Did you hear that Dan? No bodies! And they are already saying it was suspicious!”
“They haven’t found him yet.” Dan said softly, not really believing his own words.
“Now not only didn’t you eliminate our problem, you escalated it. Now he knows, he knows he was the target. You stupid incompetent fool!”
“They’ll find him.” Dan said.
“It won’t be HIS body that’s found.” Andy glared at him. He was interrupted by the sound of his cell phone. He pulled it from his pocket and answered. “Yeah?”
“What the hell have you done?” Blake’s angry voice shouted at him.
“I’ll take care of it.” Andy glared at Dan again as he tried to reassure Blake. “It’s under control.”
“Under control? What control! I asked you to take care of him, not kill him! I wanted him gone! I wanted him back in prison! I didn’t want anyone killed!”
“You knew who you hired.” Andy didn’t even realize that he was parroting Dan’s own excuse.
“Get over here now!” Blake commanded. “Now!”


“Where is she? Where’s my new granddaughter?” Beth gave Brooke a hug after she and Storm had entered Brooke’s hospital room. “Is she in the nursery? Why is her crib here and empty?”
“Michael is showing her off.” Brooke laughed. “He’ll be right back, I promise.” She looked behind Storm and frowned. “Where’s Dad?”
“He’ll come later.” Storm answered. “I don’t think he was too thrilled about spending time with me. Sorry Brooke.”
“He needs to get over that.” Brooke said with a pout. “So where is Colin?”
“He said he’ll meet her soon, he figured this was family time.” Storm explained.
“He is family.” Brooke’s answer surprised him, but it was a pleasant one. “He should be here.”
“I’ll bring him later.” Storm smiled. “But I have to warn you Brooke, he may not want to let you have her once he holds her.”
“Colin is into babies?” Brooke asked.
“Very much so. He, well we want a family. We just don’t quite agree on how to go about it all.”
“Well any way you do it, I highly recommend it.” Brooke grinned at him.
“She’s doing better today?” Storm asked.
“We hold her and feed her and well, Michael is off walking with her, so yes, she’s doing great.”
“Now you need to come up with a name.” Beth told her. “Have you any ideas?”
“She has a name Mom.” Brooke looked at Rick, who smiled back at her.
“What?” Beth looked from her daughter to her grandson. “What is it you’re not telling me.”
“Hey Beth!” Michael walked back into the room carrying his baby. “Storm!”
“Oh my goodness look at her!” Beth ran over to Michael and touched the baby. “She’s beautiful.”
“I totally agree.” Michael gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Wanna hold her Grandma?”
“Oh yes, if you think it’s alright.”
“I think it’s perfect.” He carefully transferred her into Beth’s waiting arms. “Bethany, this is your Grandma, Grandma, meet Bethany Copeland.”
“Bethany?” Beth looked at Michael and then Brooke as her eyes welled with tears.
“Beth for you and Annie for Michael’s mother and sister, put it together and you have our sweet little Bethany, Bethany Michaela Copeland.”
“Oh Brooke, Michael, thank you so much.” Beth looked down at the infant in her arms. “And I am so proud to meet you Bethany. So very proud.”
Michael walked to the bed, sat down and protectively put his arm around Brooke. He pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you.” He whispered.
“I love you back.” She said, kissing him once more. “I think she’s a hit.” She motioned to Beth holding Bethany.
“You had doubts?” Michael teased.
“Nope.” She smiled. “So did Frank like her?”
“He did, but not enough to settle down and have one of his own.” Michael said with a chuckle. “You think I’m trying to reform all the bachelors of the world?”
“I very much doubt it.” Brooke laughed.
“Frank does. He says I’m just an old married man.”
“You’re not old.” Brooke giggled.
“Hmmm. So what exactly are you saying?” He snuck another kiss. “That I’m hopelessly in love with my wife and my baby?”
“I sure hope so.” Brooke hugged him tighter. “Because we’re hopelessly in love with you.”
“Then we’re even.” He laughed and got up.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“Hey Rick.” Michael called to his stepson. “Let’s go get some coffee okay?”
“Sure.” Rick let go of Amber’s hand.
“Male bonding. Cool.” Amber told him. “But sweetie, can you bring me back a cappuccino?”
“Sure.” He answered. “Storm? Grandma? Mom?”
“No thank you Rick.” Storm answered. “Mom and I had breakfast before we got here.”
“I’d kill for one, but as long as I’m trying to breast feed.” Brooke sighed.
“Decaf?” Rick suggested.
“I’m fine honey, really. You two go on.” She smiled.
“We won’t be long.” Michael promised and the two men headed out.
“It’s so nice to see how well they get along.” Beth commented to Brooke.
“Michael loves Rick and Bridget and they love him too. Oh Mom, I’m so happy, I really am. For the first time in my life there are no dark clouds. Nothing is going to make me lose this feeling. Everything is perfect. I have it all, I really, really have it all.”


“What’s wrong Mike?” Rick knew that this wasn’t about coffee, even if his mother didn’t suspect anything.
“Was I that obvious?” Michael asked him. “I was trying to look casual.”
“I don’t think Mom even noticed, but I did. Something is wrong. What is it Mike? Is it the baby? Is there something you’re not telling us?” Rick was scared.
“Oh no, no, no Rick. She’s fine, she’s beautiful and healthy and just fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just need your help.”
“Mine?” Rick asked. “Hey, anything you need you got it.”
“It’s complicated. I’m not sure what’s going on but I’d really like it if you can try and find out. I really shouldn’t involve you but I can’t do it myself and Bridget still seems a bit off.”
“What is it?” Rick was intrigued.
“Sara.” Michael answered. “Sara Fulton, she’s coming around again. I don’t know what her game is but I thought maybe some of your friends might. She has a habit of talking about her crap. Rick I just can’t have her coming into our life and messing things up again.”
“Wow, what did she do?” Rick wondered.
“She showed up at my office this morning. Pretty much forced her way in with my assistant.”
“What did she want?” Rick asked.
“I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. I have to wonder if this has anything to do with Ehlers and her mother. The girl swore she’d leave us alone and then suddenly she’s here again. Maybe she’s angry that we’ve encouraged Bridget to stay away from her.”
“You didn’t have to do that Mike, Budge wouldn’t want anything to do with her after what she did.”
“Maybe she’s mad that she lost you.” Michael suggested.
“She never HAD me, we just had sex. It’s always been Amber for me. Sara was a mistake.” Rick shook his head. “I think she thinks I was one too.”
“Then it must have something to do with me. She has to know that nothing would ever happen. She has to know I never even looked at her as anything but a friend of Bridget’s.”
“But she was hot for you.” Rick reminded him. “I really don’t know anyone who hangs with her but I’ll ask around. If anyone knows anything I’ll let you know. I wouldn’t worry too much Mike, as long as you stay away from her she can’t hurt anyone.”
“You’re probably right Rick, but everything is going so great for us, I just didn’t want to let anything ruin it.”
“It won’t Mike. You and Mom, you’ve made a real family, not just for Bethany but for Bridget and well, for Amber and me too. Thanks.” He leaned over and gave him an awkward hug.
“Thank to you too Rick.” Michael patted him on the back. “I know I came on strong and you were leery about me at the start, but you gave me a chance and now I have the life that I never even imagined was possible.”


The waitress had confirmed that they were indeed understaffed but since the manager wasn’t in yet she couldn’t even offer Bridget an application. She had suggested that Bridget return later but having nowhere else to be Bridget had decided to sit there and wait and check the newspapers for an apartment to rent. Pouring more change into the phone booth made Bridget regret her decision to throw away her phone, yet she knew it was the right thing to do. She vowed that once she got herself settled she’d get a new one. She crossed off the next ad on her list, it was too expensive and it wouldn’t have suited her anyway. Though she had taken some money from her trust fund, she hadn’t taken much. She didn’t feel she had the right to it, not with what had happened. “Let the baby have a good life.” She said softly. “The one I can’t have.” She looked down at the list and was about to put more money in the phone when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
“Sam is here.” The waitress informed Bridget.
“Oh good, where is he?” She turned and looked around the coffeehouse.
“Not he, she. Sam is the assistant manager. She’s the blonde over by the kitchen door.” She pointed.
“Thanks Mary.” Bridget thanked the girl. “Can she hire people?”
“She thinks she can do just about anything.” Mary said with a smirk. “But if you stay on her good side she’s okay.”
“Thanks, wish me luck.” Bridget said with a scared looking smile.
“You got it.” Mary gave her the thumbs up.


“Joey, wake up.” Adrienne shook him from his sleep. He had fought it but finally relented and taken a short nap on the couch. “Sugar I got news.”
“What? What?” He sat up and stretched. “What’s wrong?”
“I know why Mike didn’t answer the calls.”
“He found out and he’s trying to have me killed too?” Joey said in a weak attempt at humor.
“Nah, he may get mad, but I think he’ll get over it, maybe even faster than we thought. Annie just called.”
“My sister?” He yawned.
“Brooke had that baby, that’s where he is, he’s at the hospital.”
“I gotta get down there.” He sat up and reached for his boots.
“I wanna see her too, it’s a girl.” Adrienne told him.
“Huh? Oh, the baby, yeah, but I need to talk to him. If I don’t do it now Ade I’ll never be able to.”
“But Joey.” She grabbed his arm. “Now?”
“I may sound selfish but this is probably the best time for me. He may be more forgiving. I hate to ruin a time like this for him, but he needs to know, he needs to be safe. Don’t try to talk me out of this.”
“I won’t sugar, I know you’re right. You want me to drive you?”
“I’ll take my bike.” He answered.
“Come back here after okay?” She clutched his hand. “I’m worried about you.”
“I will.” He told her. “You’re all I got now Ade. I hope I don’t lose you too.”
“Nah, if I could stick with you through this, I can stick through anything.” She gave him a hug. “Good luck honey.”



“I don’t like being threatened.” Andy announced as he entered Blake’s condo.
“And I don’t like being taken for a fool. I told you what I wanted, this isn’t what I wanted.” He threw up his hands. “Do you think Taylor will have anything to do with me if she finds out I had anything to do with her friend’s brother’s death? Do you?”
“Don’t play games with me Blake. You know and I know what you meant when you told me to get rid of him.”
“No, no I never said to kill him! Never!”
“You can’t wipe your hands from this and now we have a bigger problem.”
“Nothing is a bigger problem than getting Taylor back!” Blake ranted.
“He isn’t dead. He wasn’t inside and now he knows someone wanted him dead. Whether you wanted him dead or not we need him dead and we need him dead now, before he says a word to anyone! Now you’re going to tell me where he could be and you’re going to tell me now. Who are his friends, where does he go.” He went up to Blake and pushed him hard against the wall. “Now Blake!”



“Here you go.” Rick handed Amber her coffee.
“Thanks sweetie.” She kissed him and took it.
“I see Grandma isn’t giving up Bethany yet.” Michael laughed as he rejoined Brooke on the bed. He put his arm around her and gave her a kiss. “Did you miss me?”
“Immensely.” She told him. “We both did.” She motioned to Bethany.
“She’s a wonderful baby.” Storm spoke up. “And Mom did give her up to me for a few minutes.”
“This is new for all of us.” Brooke told him.
“How so?” Michael asked her.
“When Rick was born things were strained between everyone. I think I was the only happy person, well his father was too but he wasn’t having an easy time of it. And Bridget was born in the middle of a blizzard at Big Bear, Ridge delivered her with Taylor’s help but that was bad because we thought she was Ridge’s or could be his. I loved Ridge and Taylor resented me so to put it mildly it wasn’t exactly the most pleasant experience for anyone. I was so happy to have her but she wasn’t really welcomed into the family right away. But this is so different. We have all our friends and family supporting us, we’re happily married, you were here by my side the whole way. Do you understand Michael?” She asked.
“I think so.” He squeezed her hand. “But I hate that you ever had to go through that kind of pain.”
“It wasn’t that bad. The rewards of my children was worth it, but to have everything so normal now, oh Michael it’s such a treat.”
“I never thought I’d like to be associated with ‘normal’.” Michael said with a laugh. “But it does feel nice.” He was embarrassed voicing his sentiment in front of so many people so he tried to change the subject. “So any word from anyone else?”
“Donna called. She and Katie will be here tonight.” Brooke looked over at Beth. “No word from my father.”
“He’ll be here.” Michael pulled her tight. “Now what can I do for you? Are you comfortable?”
“Yes.” Brooke smiled at him.
“Hungry?” He asked.
“No.” She smiled again.
“Thirsty?” He went on.
“No.” She laughed.
“Tired?” Was his next question.
“Not really.” She answered.
He gave her a wink. “Horny?”
“You.” She giggled and punched him softly.
“Can’t blame a guy for being turned on by the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Hmmmm. And where is she? Can’t be the one with the stringy hair and no make up.” Brooke ran her fingers through her hair.
“You look gorgeous to me.” He assured her.
“You’re a wonderful liar but I’m not buying a word of it.” Brooke laughed. “I wish I had my bag, I feel like such a mess.”
“Seriously Brooke, you look beautiful to me, but I guess I was counting on Bridget bringing the rest of your stuff. If you want I’ll go home for it, I just hate to leave you and the baby.”
“You have to leave eventually Michael, you can’t sleep here again tonight?”
“And why not?” He protested.
“Cause we’re going to need you rested and alert when we get home.” Brooke touched the tip of his nose. “I want you to go home early tonight, have a nice dinner with Bridget and get a good nights sleep. And that’s an order.”
“Then I suppose I’d better make a quick trip home for you now.” He reluctantly started to get up.
“Wait! Let me help.” Amber got up and put down her coffee. “I’ll go down to the shop and get you a brush and some makeup. I’ll even get you a new nightie if they have one. If not Rick and I can get your stuff and bring it back to you later.”
“Oh Amber, I’d love that.” Brooke said with a genuine smile. “Honey.” She turned to Michael. “Can you give her some money.”
“No.” Amber waved him off. “This is my treat.”
“Thanks baby.” Rick said proudly.
“I won’t be long.” Amber smiled at Brooke and left.
“That was very nice of her.” Brooke had to admit.
“Yes it was.” Michael agreed. “I told you she’d grow on you.”
“Oh I wouldn’t go that far but she is trying.” Brooke admitted. She turned to the sound of Michael’s cell phone. “I thought you turned that off.”
“I made a few calls before and I forgot to turn it back off.” He explained. “It won’t hurt anything. Promise.” He opened the phone and put it to his ear. “Michael Copeland.” He answered. “Hey Joe, I guess you heard our news. Are you going to come down and meet your niece?”
Brooke smiled and turned to Beth. “Michael’s brother Joey. They’ve been estranged but things are starting to improve.”
“Joey helped Mike with the trial.” Storm added.
“Yes he did.” Brooke reinforced the statement then turned her attention back to Michael.
“Now?” Michael asked. “Joe I got a lot going on here. Yeah, yeah.” He looked at Brooke and gave her a shrug. “Look Joe, if you say it’s that important I’ll make time for you but I’d really rather you just come and meet Bethany. Okay. Where are you? Oh, that’s not far. You want to come up to the room? Huh? No, okay. No, not my office. Because I just don’t want to okay? How about I meet you in the lobby, we talk and then you come up. Okay Joey you win. Okay but let’s end this mystery when you get here okay? Alright, yes, yes. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” He closed the phone and frowned.
“Is something wrong?” Brooke asked.
“I’m not sure. It didn’t sound like one of his usual Joey pity parties. I don’t think it was about money this time. He sounded, um, well scared.”
“Oh Michael.” Brooke looked concerned. “You don’t think he’s in trouble with the law again do you?”
“I don’t know sweetheart, but I guess I’ll find out soon enough. He’s on the way over, he was at Ade’s.”
“Where are you meeting him? He doesn’t want to come see the baby?” Brooke asked.
“He does, but he said he needs to speak to me alone first.”
“Why not your office?” Brooke wondered.
“Uh, too many curious eyes. I don’t need Ehlers knowing more of my business.”
“Please don’t tell me that man is still bothering you.” Storm jumped into the conversation.
“He’s never really stopped.” Michael admitted. “I don’t want to give him any more ammo.”
“Good idea Mike.” Rick said in support.
“So, I’m going to head down to the lobby to meet him.” He gave Brooke a kiss. “Don’t miss me too much.”
“I already do.” She smiled at him. “Hurry back.”
“I will.” He promised.


“Well we’ll give you a try but you’ll have to get me your papers and your social security number.” Sam told Bridget. “So you get all that and then you can start.”
“It looks like you really need help today.” Bridget looked around.
“Gotta have the papers first. You bring them in tomorrow and we start you.” Sam got up from the table. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yeah.” Bridget sighed and watched her leave. A few minutes later Mary came over.
“So what happened?”
“She said she’d give me the job.” Bridget glumly answered.
“Then why are you so sad?”
“I have to give her ID.” Bridget sighed.
“Are you underage?” Mary said softly. “You run away?”
“I’ll be eighteen soon.” Bridget told her.
“So, you can work here at seventeen. What’s the problem?”
“I um, I don’t have ID. I don’t want people to know where I am.”
“Wait right here.” Mary told her. She walked to the kitchen and came back a few minutes later. “Okay, I’m on my lunch break, let’s go.”
“Go where?” Bridget asked.
“To see my friend Tim. He knows someone who can get you ID, but you gotta have some money. Do you?”
“Yeah.” Bridget answered. “Yes, I do.”
“Good. Let’s go, uh, what did you say your name is?” Mary asked her.
“Br.” Bridget stopped. She couldn’t give her real name. She didn’t know what she was going to say until the name came from her lips. “It’s Logan. Uh, Logan Michaels.” Bridget smiled.
“Let’s go Logan.” Mary took her arm and the two girls left the shop.



Anne put Bethany back into the crib and turned to Brooke. “She’s a beautiful baby Brooke.”
“I think we’ll keep her.” Brooke grinned. She looked over at the clock. “He’s been gone awhile.”
“I hope they’re not going at it. Mike has a low tolerance for Joey’s mistakes.” Anne shook her head. “I’m really hoping that they can make a go of it this time.”
“They really did seem to get along the last time they saw each other and Michael was anxious for Joey to see the baby. Maybe they’re having a good talk.” Brooke said hopefully.
“It’s all I want.” Anne sat down. “I really think he’s trying. I just don’t know if Mike sees that.”
“I know he loves him.” Brooke assured her.
“So do I.” Anne agreed. “But I’m sure you know that patience isn’t one of Mike’s virtues and with Joey you need a lot of patience.”
“He’s getting better. Living with me he has to.” Brooke smiled.
“You make him so happy Brooke. You can’t begin to know how happy I am that you came into his life. He’s a lucky man.”
“I’m the lucky one.” Brooke looked over at her sleeping daughter. “I never really knew what it meant to be loved by a man before him. I thought I did, but it was nothing like this. He’s the love of my life Anne, the man I’ve always been searching for and never even knew it.”
“You’re making me cry.” Anne wiped a tear from her eye.
“My life is so perfect. Nothing can ever change that again. All the Ehlers and Stephanie’s in the world can’t touch my happiness ever again.”
“I can vouch for that.” Rick chimed in.
“Me too.” Beth agreed. “And believe me, I was hesitant to believe this was going to work.”
“Mom!” Brooke gasped.
“Brooke, you know you haven’t had the best luck with men and men not named Ridge Forrester never had much luck with you either.”
“Michael is different.” Brooke protested.
“Yes he is.” Beth agreed. “He’s a good man and he loves you very much and I’m so happy for both of you.”


“Say something.” Joey told Michael. “Hit me, yell at me, anything. Just don’t stand there staring at me.”
Michael got up from his desk and walked to the window and stared out. He was glad now that Joe had convinced him to come to his office. What was said couldn’t have been done in public.
“Mike please, I know you’re pissed. You have a right to be.” Joey tried to get him to talk but Michael had remained silent during the entire explanation. “I’m scared Mike, and not just for me. Talk to me Mike, please say something.”
Michael turned around and faced him. His face wasn’t filled with the anger that Joey had expected. Instead his older brother looked sad.
“You’ve done some stupid things in your life Joe but this goes beyond any of them.” Michael frowned. “You’ve put my family, my friends, everyone in danger, and why? Money? Damn it Joe.”
“It started out for money but.”
“I know, I know, you had no choice, no way out. So you say.” Michael sat down and rubbed his eyes. Joey couldn’t read him. He didn’t know what he was thinking. “And on top of all that.” Michael continued. “You compromised my wife’s reputation for profit! For profit! You used the woman I love for money! You expect me to forgive you for this? Do you Joe? Do you?” He got louder with every word but then he fell back into silence.
“I didn’t know. I didn’t know who she was and I stopped when I did.”
“And that’s supposed to make it better? That’s supposed to excuse your inexcusable behaviour? Because you stopped when you knew she was my wife? What if she wasn’t? Does that mean it’s okay to do what you did to some poor innocent woman? Have you done this to other women Joe? How low can you go? How low?”
“I didn’t do it. I mean I never did anything with the tapes and I wasn’t going to. I never did it before. It was more about the challenge of if I could do it. I knew it was wrong Mike, I know that. I stopped doing that but I couldn’t stop working for him. I thought he’d kill me.”
“And now you know he would.” Michael sighed. “And what about Felicia? You brought her into your world Joe. You invited her into the danger.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t tell me, tell her.” Michael growled. “You can’t know how disappointed I am in you. I really believed you had changed.”
“I have.” Joey said softly, not even sure if he believed it himself.
“I suppose you have.” Michael’s reply shocked Joey. “ The old Joe wouldn’t have come to me, he wouldn’t have cared about anything but saving his own butt. But that doesn’t even begin to excuse what you’ve done. You have dangerous criminals and crazy men after you and you’ve put us all in the line of fire. I have a baby Joe, an innocent baby girl. You’ve put her in danger! Even if I could get past the crap you pulled and how it could have hurt Brooke how do you expect me to get past putting my child in danger?”
“I don’t.” Joey answered.
“No? Then what do you want? I know you want something from me? You want money so you can run? Is that it?”
“I wanted to warn you. I wanted you to know everything. I wanted you to know how those pictures got in the paper, I wanted you to know Brooke never cheated on you, I wanted you to know I’m an asshole who can’t climb out of the dung heap I fell into and I wanted you to know that Blake Hayes could consider you or Brooke or Ridge an obstacle because he’s afraid I’ll tell you. I wanted you to be safe. I didn’t come to ask you to help me, I came to try and help you.”
“Help me from something you created.”
“Yes.” Joey hung his head in shame. “I know, too little too late. I know you don’t believe me Mike but I’m sorry, I’m really sorry.”
“You’re always sorry Joe.” He shook his head. “Sorry you got caught.”
“I deserve that.” Joey admitted.
“And more.” Michael muttered. “Much, much more.”
“I’m sorry.” Joey said once more.
“Go Joe. Just go away and stay away from my family. I wipe my hands of you. I really do. I don’t have a brother anymore. Go.” Michael got up, looked at his brother with a mix of sadness, pity and disgust, and left him alone in his office.


“You think this will work?” Bridget held up the fake driver’s license, social security card and birth certificate.
“Sure.” Mary nodded. “It’ll be fine.”
“Thanks. I didn’t even think about this when I left.”
“If you ever need to talk.” Mary gave her a smile.
“I just want to forget it all. I want to forget that other girl ever was. From now on I’m Logan and that is that.” They walked back into the coffeehouse. Bridget looked around and frowned. “I don’t see Sam. Darn it, I was hoping to start today.”
“It’s okay, Jacob is here.” Mary told her. “Let me introduce you.”
Bridget followed Mary’s eyes to the handsome man writing specials on the blackboard. “He’s cute.” Bridget said as she checked out his hard muscles and tight butt.
“He’s really nice but just be careful.”
“Oh, one of those?” Bridget laughed. “Good looking and knows it and all that?”
“No, Jacob is sweet.”
“You mean he’s um, gay?” Bridget asked.
“Nooooooooo.” Mary laughed. “He’s a really sweetie, really nice.”
“Then what should I be careful of?” Bridget crinkled her nose.
“Sam. He’s sort of seeing Sam and she is major territorial.”
“Oh. No problem. I’m not looking for a man, believe me. I was just appreciating the view.”
“Good, look, but don’t touch and we’ll all be okay. Let me introduce you.”


“Poor Joey.” Brooke’s words surprised not just Michael but her mother, Storm and Anne as well.
“Poor Joey?” He frowned. “Did you hear what I told you? Did you hear what he did?”
“You don’t know Blake Hayes Michael, he’s a crafty man, he’s cruel and unrelenting and he scares people. He is mentally ill and has a temper that would make you look like Mother Teresa. Yes, poor Joey, he had no idea what he got himself mixed up in. I knew Blake was bad news but I had no idea how bad. And Michael, this explains how he was there to save Taylor. It wasn’t a coincidence. He wasn’t walking on the beach, he was watching her. He’s no hero.”
“No, but what does that tell you about Joey? He got himself mixed up with this man, he was working for him, doctoring his tapes, planting cameras, spying on Taylor and on us. He made tapes of you Brooke, he took your photo, he is the reason that tabloid plastered you and Ridge all over the place, he’s the reason Bethany is going to have this cloud over her parents.”
“He took the job for money, he was trying to master a craft Michael. He didn’t get into it with the intention of hurting us. Blake made it impossible to walk away. If you really want to throw blame it belongs on Blake, not Joey.”
“He’s responsible for those photos Brooke! He was going to sell your tapes as porn!”
“I don’t think he really would have. I know he was out for a quick score but I don’t think he’d hurt someone to get it. He has a good heart Michael, he’s had a bad life, he didn’t climb above it like you and your sister did and now that he’s trying to it’s all falling apart on him. I hope you don’t want me to hate him. I am angry with him but I feel sorry for him too. He needs you, he needs all of us. He’s been crying out for help, that’s why he turned to Bridget, because she is so kind and caring.”
“I don’t want him anywhere near you or any of our kids.” Michael protested.
“Is this about Bridget? You know that is over, Bridget will tell you that. He didn’t hurt her. He just wanted a friend, Bridget took it the wrong way but she knows that now. Michael I know what he did was horrible but he’s family and he needs our help.” Brooke took his hand and held it. “Joey came forward to help us. We can’t turn him away now, not when he took the step like he did.”
“We don’t know why he came to me. He probably wanted me to pull his ass out of trouble again.” Michael said in an angry tone.
“You’re forgetting something very important Michael. Joey came forward, at his own risk mind you, to help you with the Sara mess. I’m not excusing what he did. It’s horrible, but it didn’t harm us. We have our love Michael, we have our family and I don’t care what the press or anyone says. And Joey said the tapes are gone so they can’t hurt us anymore.”
“Blake had that photo of you and Ridge.” Michael reminded her. “What if he has Joey’s doctored tapes too? Do you want to see tapes of you and Ridge going at it make the six o’clock news cause I’ll tell you right now I don’t!”
“Of course I don’t, but we have to put a stop to that too. We have to approach Blake. We need to tell Taylor and Ridge and the four of us need to put an end to this. And then we have to work to heal the break in your family because Joey is your brother and admit it or not you love him.”
“I don’t know if I can do that Brooke.” Michael honestly answered her.
“Maybe not today, maybe not in another day or even a week, but Michael, we need to heal. You’ve had a long night and day, you’re tired, physically and emotionally. I’m worried about you and I’m worried about Bridget. I want you to take your mind off this thing with Joey, we can work it out later. But tonight I want you to go home, have a shower, a nice dinner with Bridget and get some sleep. Things will be better in the morning. I promise.” She pulled him to her and kissed him. “It will. Together we can do anything. Nothing is ever going to hurt us again.”
“You make me believe even the unbelievable.” Michael gave her a gentle kiss. “I don’t really see much hope for Joey, but I’ll do as you ask, even if I do hate to leave you.”
“It’ll be good for all of us. Bethany and I need you well rested.” She laughed softly. “So you go on now and I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”
“I love you too sweetheart, more than you can ever imagine.” He kissed her again and reluctantly left.



“Hi, I’m Logan, er Michaels.” Bridget held her slim hand out to Jacob. “Sam hired me today but I needed to get my ID for her. Mary told me that I should talk to you.”
“Sam hired you?” He asked with a frown.
“She did, really.” Bridget felt it all falling apart. He didn’t want her, she’d have to start all over again.
“Okay.” He smiled. “We were going to wait another week or so, but if she felt today was the day, I guess it was. I’m Jacob Trueman.” He shook her hand. “Welcome to The Java Spot. Let’s go into my office and finish the paperwork and see about when you can start.”
“I can start today.” She answered.
“Wow, you’re anxious. Let’s go get this all straight shall we Logan?”
“Okay.” She gave Mary a thumbs up and followed Jacob into the office.


Taylor frowned when she saw Ridge’s car still in the driveway upon her return. This wasn’t going to be easy, Ridge would see to that.
“I must keep my resolve.” She told herself. “Love just isn’t enough. I need my peace of mind and I can’t have that with him. It has to end, it has to end today.”
She opened the door and walked in. Ridge was sitting on the couch. He jumped up as soon as she entered.
“I didn’t expect to see you here.” Taylor told him.
“It’s my home, it’s our home.” Ridge replied.
“Where are the children?” She asked.
“Katherine took them to the movies and for burgers or pizza or something. We need to talk.” Ridge answered.
“Not now Ridge. I’m just not up to it. I saw Connor today, I hope you saw Jonathan.”
“I don’t want a divorce.” He said sternly.
“But I do. Please don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. I’d like to part as friends, I’d like the children to not have to live in a battleground.”
“They won’t.” Ridge told her. “We’ll fix it. I made reservations at Café Russe.”
“Well isn’t that’s just typical Ridge Forrester?” She sighed deeply. “When everything falls apart try a romantic dinner or an exotic vacation. I used to buy into that Ridge, but it never fixed anything, not for longer than the vacation lasted.” She gestured with her hands. “So what are your plans for this dinner? My favorite steak? French champagne? A new Ridge Forrester original gown to wear? Will I find jewels in my dessert?”
“Taylor!”
“Will I?” She insisted. “No, never mind, I know I would. But we’re not going. It’s over.”
“I’ll cook here. I’ll do anything. Please give me a chance Taylor.”
“I did, I left Bryan, I left a good man who loved me. I believed you, I believed things would be different. I broke his heart. I gave up a man who never put another woman ahead of me, a man I DID love Ridge! I left a man who would have given me the world. I stayed with you and nothing changed.” She put down her purse. “Connor suggested we both move. I’m not sure if that is the right idea but I’m willing to give it a try. I think the kids and I will go stay with my father for a while, then I’ll find a place here. I won’t keep them from you, but right now I need distance for myself.”
“Mike called. He said he needs to see us both.” Ridge announced.
“Well he’s going to have to wait. I have to put my own problems first for a change.”
“I told you he wouldn’t buy it about those pictures. I know you don’t. Taylor nothing happened! I swear it!”
“I believe you Ridge. This isn’t about the photo, it’s much more, it goes far deeper. Did he say it was about the photo?” She frowned. She was starting to feel some concern for her friend. Michael was a good man and he deserved his hard fought happiness.
“He didn’t say anything.” Ridge had already lost interest in talking about the Copelands.
“Maybe we should see him. Maybe I can take a moment before we leave. They have a good marriage, they have a chance. I’d like to help him if I can. I certainly don’t want him to be where we are. I’ll call him back. Do you want to go over there tonight? Maybe I should go alone? No, you need to help convince him nothing happened. You owe him that. Wait, is Brooke home? She can’t be.”
“I really don’t know.” Ridge answered. “My concern is my own family. Copeland can take care of his own. He’s the one who has it all isn’t he?” He said sarcastically.
“This is odd. I’d better call him and find out.”
“I shouldn’t have mentioned it. We need to worry about us before we care about him Doc.”
“There is no us Ridge, not anymore.” She reached for the phone.
“Taylor don’t!” He grabbed the phone. “We need to deal with us, we need to fix us. Now please, please just come to dinner with me and I swear I’ll prove to you that I have changed.”



“You have no address?” Jacob looked at the application.
“I just got into town, I’ll be staying at a hotel or something while I look for a place.”
“Are you in trouble Logan?” He asked.
“No, no really, I just wanted a change.”
He looked at the application again. “You’re seventeen.”
“I’ll be eighteen soon.” She said and immediately felt like a child trying to prove herself.
“You have family here?” He asked.
“Look, I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m here for a job, what does my family have to do with anything?”
“I’ve seen a lot of kids come and go. Lots of runaways, lots of kids who get caught up in things they could never imagine. I don’t like to see that.”
“What are you? A social worker?” She frowned. “Sorry.” She regretted her outburst, she wanted this job and insulting the boss wasn’t going to get it for her. To her dismay Jacob got up and walked to the door.
“Please, I’m sorry, it was rude of me.” She tried to stop him.
“Mary, can you come in here please.” He called out. He turned back to Bridget. “Logan, sit down, it’s okay.”
Nervously Bridget sat again and Mary came into the office. “Hey Jacob.” She smiled at him. “I see you’ve met Logan.”
“That place you live, do they have any more rooms?” He asked her.
“Actually yeah, they do. One on my floor.” She looked at Bridget. “You looking for a room?”
“Uh, well.” She hesitated. “A room?”
“It’s not much, just a rooming house, but it’s clean and it’s safe, sorta like a dorm. I’m saving for a deposit on an apartment. Things got bad at home and I had to leave in a rush.”
“Oh I don’t know.” Bridget didn’t know what to do. She was used to living in a large house and now she was expected to live in a single room. “When you say room?” Bridget frowned.
“You get a bed, dresser, couple of other things. We share a bathroom but the people there are cool. Really.”
“It’s safe Logan. I’ve seen it, I’ve been there.” Jacob tried to assure her. “It’s cheaper than living in a hotel while you find a place and it’s close.”
“I uh, I guess so.” Bridget told them. “Yeah, okay.”
“Good. Mary, take her over now, get her settled and then you both come back and finish the shift. Welcome aboard Logan.” He gave them both a smile and walked out.
“I told you he was nice.” Mary told Bridget. “He really looks out for everyone here.”
“Does he have a savior complex?” Bridget asked.
“He’s just really nice Logan.” Mary insisted.
“I guess he is.” Bridget shrugged. “It’s nice that he wanted to make sure I had a place. He doesn’t even know me.”
“That’s what I mean.” Mary answered. “Ready?”
“Sure.”
Bridget and Mary started out but Jacob called Mary over. Bridget watched them as they talked. She knew it was about her but she didn’t care. As long as she could start a new life and not hurt her mother and her new family Bridget was willing to put up with anything.
“What do you know about her?” Jacob asked Mary.
“She’s young and she’s scared and I don’t think she’s ever been on her own before.”
“That’s what I got too.” Jacob agreed. “She’s very pretty and very innocent looking. Look after her Mary, I think she’s in some kind of trouble.”
“It may have to do with a guy.” Mary suggested. “She said something about not being interested in getting involved with anyone.”
“She may be pregnant.” Jacob surmised. “I like her, she just seems like a good person. I’d like to make sure she has a place to live and food to eat. Let me know if you find out more alright?”
“Of course.” Mary promised.


Michael hadn’t realized just how tired he was until he walked into the house. Suddenly all he wanted to do was take a shower and go to bed, but he was hungry and he knew Bridget would be too. He looked at the boxes, which were broken down and piled neatly at the door. They had done a good job, the house was livable. It needed work but it was certainly livable. He smiled as he started up the stairs. Soon he would be bringing his wife and his daughter home. It had really worked out for them. He got to Bridget’s bedroom and found the door closed, the light was on and music was softly playing. He knocked on the door. “Bridget, I’m home. I’m going to take a shower then we’ll go to see your mom and Bethany, then I’ll take you somewhere for dinner. We can pick up Marmalade on the way back and then maybe watch a movie. I’m beat but I’m happy. So get yourself ready, I won’t be long.” He was grinning as he walked back into his bedroom.



Thorne walked through the living room of his parent’s mansion. It still seemed odd to him to see baby toys, toys that didn’t belong to a Forrester child or grandchild, but he liked the little boy. He picked up a small car and smiled.
“You had one like that.” Stephanie walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “It seems like just yesterday. How I wish it were, if only we could go back in time and change things.”
“It wasn’t that bad.” Thorne put down the car. “What would you change?”
“I’d never have thrown that party, that’s for sure. All of our lives changed for the worst the day I let Beth Logan and her daughter into my house. I’d sell my soul to go back in time and change that day.” She sighed and let go of him. “Their marriage will be over, she’s done it Thorne, she’s finally done it. And I don’t know how I can fix it this time.”
“By she I have to assume you mean Brooke, but I have no idea what it is she’s ‘done’ that has you so upset.”
“Surely you’ve seen the papers.” Stephanie looked over at the tabloid on the coffee table.
“Oh that.” He laughed. “I’d think you’d be used to that stuff by now.”
“I don’t know how you can be so calm about it. Your brother’s life is going to be ruined. His family destroyed. And your father is actually talking about accepting that bastard child into this family.” She shook her head.
“Don’t tell me you’ve got him buying into it too.” Thorne frowned. “Come on Mother, you know it’s just an overzealous tabloid writer trying to make a quick buck. That’s not Ridge’s baby, if you could see Brooke and Michael you’d know it.”
“That’s my only solace.” Stephanie admitted. “She played that horrible man for a fool just like she did the rest of us. I’m glad he’ll suffer. He deserves to suffer, more than any of us do.”
“Why do I even bother?” Thorne threw up his arms. “You’ll always see what you want to see and try to control everyone. I almost bought into it, I can’t believe Dad did. Have you even talked to Ridge?”
“I don’t know why you continue to defend that whore, or maybe I do, she’s paying for that support with that job of yours.”
“Thanks a lot Mother.” Thorne was hurt. It seemed that no matter what he did he would always come second to Ridge in his parent’s eyes.
“I didn’t mean it that way.” She rushed to calm him.
“You don’t think I can do the job. That’s obvious. Neither does Dad. But how is Brooke using me? If she really wanted Ridge wouldn’t she have given it to him?”
“It was his punishment for choosing Taylor, but now she has this baby, you watch, she’ll hand him the world, but there will be strings attached.”
“It’s not Ridge’s baby, but you’ll find out soon enough for yourself. I just hope it’s not too late and you haven’t alienated everyone by then.”


Michael was looking for a shirt to wear when the doorbell rang. “Hey Bridget, can you get that?” He called out. But the bell kept ringing and ringing. “Thanks a lot.” He muttered as he pulled on a pair of jeans and ran quickly down the stairs, pulling up the fly. “Coming, coming!” He opened the door and a look of disgust came over his face. “You must have a death wish.” He told his unwelcome visitor.


“Did he come back?” Jack didn’t wait five seconds before approaching his daughter upon his return.
“Yes, but he went out again when I told him I wasn’t changing my mind. He’s hurt and angry.”
“Poor Widdle Widge.” Jack said with a bitter chuckle.
“Stop it!” Taylor warned him. “He’s the father of my children and a man that I will always love. I want you to respect him. He is always going to be a part of our lives, even if we’re not together.”
“Does he understand you mean it?” Jack asked.
“I think it’s starting to get through to him. Anyway I need to make some decisions, some living arrangements. I was going to ask to stay with you but I don’t think that’s a good idea. I can’t live here, the memories are drowning me. I think I’ll see about renting a furnished place tomorrow. That way I can take my time looking for something permanent.”
“Will Ridge stay here?” Jack frowned.
“I don’t know. I don’t think it would be healthy for him or for the children. We all need fresh starts.”
“Taylor, are you sure that you can go through with this?” Jack held his breath. He was frightened of her answer but as her father he needed to make sure she was doing what she really wanted to do.
“Sometimes I think I’ll never be able to and other times it feels like a weight will be lifted off of me. I love him Daddy, I love him like I will never love any other man, but.” She stopped. “It’s a toxic relationship and it’s hurting the children too.”
“You have my support, no matter what you decide.” Jack pulled her into his arms. “I just want you to be happy.”


Brooke had loved seeing all her friends and family but she was also glad to finally be alone. She would have loved to have Michael with her but she was very concerned about him. He had looked so tired, she knew he needed to sleep in a bed. The news from Joey had been a hard blow and she knew something else had happened, something he had spoken to Rick about. But she loved him and trusted him and knew that he would handle everything and tell her as soon as he felt she could deal with it. She gently lowered Bethany into the crib. “I love you baby girl.” She whispered softly. “You’re going to have such a wonderful life.”
“She did it Logan, she left me.”
The sound of Ridge’s voice made Brooke jump. She turned around and looked up at him. “Ridge?”
“She said she believes me but how can she do this if she does? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what the hell to do.”
“Oh Ridge.” She walked over and took him into her arms. “Tell me what happened.”
“I shouldn’t be here.” He let go of her. “You don’t need more trouble and if anyone sees me.”
“The hell with them.” Brooke took his hand. “I really don’t care what the press says, I know the truth and Michael knows the truth. I’ll talk to Taylor Ridge. She’ll believe me.”
Ridge looked down at the baby. “She’s beautiful Logan, just like her mother.”
“She looks just like her father.” Brooke smiled. “Look, she has his dimples and his eyes and even his hair color.”
“Yeah.” Ridge looked closer. “She does look like him doesn’t she. Taylor needs to see her.”
“Is she at home? Maybe I could call her.” Brooke suggested.
“No.” Ridge let go and walked to the bed. He sat down and buried his head in his hands. “She believes us, she knows we didn’t do anything. She just doesn’t want me anymore. She just wants out. Logan what am I going to do? I’ve lost you both, I’ve lost you both forever.”


“What did he do?” Adrienne practically pulled Joey back inside her condo. “You don’t have a black eye, that’s a good sign.”
“He hates me. I don’t blame him Ade, he hates me. He told me he doesn’t have a brother anymore.” He sighed and sat down on the couch. “I told him everything and he was so calm. He was just disgusted with me. He didn’t hit me, he didn’t even yell. He just told me to stay out of his life. I really f*cked up this time Ade. He’s right, I’m nothing but a loser. I put his baby in danger. I didn’t even think about that. Hell, you’re in danger. I gotta leave.” He jumped up but Adrienne pushed him back down.
“No sugar, you’re not goin’ anywhere.” She reached up and gently ran her fingers over his cheek. “He’ll come around. You did the right thing. You were honest and he’s gonna appreciate that. He’s gonna see you have changed baby and he’ll want his brother back. He will.” She leaned over and kissed his forehead and his cheek. “And in the meantime you got old Ade okay? I won’t let you go though this on your own.”
“You really care don’t you?” He looked stunned.
“More than I should sugar.” She turned his face towards her own and shocked them both with a kiss that started out soft and tender but turned hard and passionate.


“Mike please, you have to listen to me.” Sara begged as she tried to push her way inside. “I swear I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t an emergency.”
“Bridget!” Michael called out. “Bridget come down here now.” He turned to Sara. “I will NOT be alone anywhere with you. God knows what you have up your sleeve. Bridget! Come on!” He called again.
“She can’t.” Sara said softly.
“What do you mean she can’t?” Michael looked from Sara to the stairway.
“She’s not there Mike, that’s why I’m here.”
“What the hell are you talking about? Bridget!” He called out and ran up the stairs, taking two at a time.
“Her car isn’t outside Mike.” Sara was behind him.
“Bridget!” He knocked on the door and opened it. The radio was playing but the room was empty. “Okay, she’s out. Fine. Now you have to leave too Sara.”
“Mike she asked me to come.” She grabbed his arm. “She’s gone Mike. She’s gone.”
“Gone?” He looked confused and his anger at Sara seemed to disappear. “Sara?”
“Something happened to her. She said she couldn’t ruin your lives, that you had a new baby and a new life and she wasn’t going to ruin it. I tried to make her change her mind but she wouldn’t listen to me. I never thought she would do this but she called me, she asked me to tell you and Brooke that she was okay but when I heard about the baby I couldn’t tell her mother.”
“Where is she? Sara where is she?” Michael grabbed both of her arms. “What happened to her and where is she?”
“She wouldn’t tell me.” Sara started to cry. “The doctor said she wasn’t pregnant, I don’t know what got her so upset. I thought it was okay. I was trying to help her.”
“Pregnant? Did you say pregnant?” Michael was right up in her face.
“She thought she might be but she wasn’t. I thought she’d be okay.”
“That bastard! I’ll kill him!”
“Do you know who he is?” Sara was confused.
“My brother! I swear I’ll kill him!” He pushed her away and started towards his own bedroom. He pulled shirts and socks from drawers, sending discarded ones flying to the floor.
“No! No it wasn’t Joey!” Sara grabbed him.
“Of course it was! He led her on and he lied to all of us!”
“No!” Sara shouted. “She wanted him and he turned her down, he took her home but she snuck out. She wanted to punish him for turning her down so she went with that guy. Mike it wasn’t Joey!”
“Why guy? Who is this guy?”
“She didn’t know him.” Sara’s eyes filled with tears. “She was so upset. I tried to help her, I did Mike, I swear I did.”
“Did she leave with him? Did she run away with this man?” He demanded.
“She doesn’t even know his name.” Sara said softly. “She’s ashamed, I think that’s why she left. Mike we have to find her. She needs to be home with her family.”
“Bridget. Damn it Bridget!” He pounded his fist against the wall. “How am I going to tell your mother? Oh Bridget why didn’t you just come to us? Why? Where are you? Where are you Bridget?”

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