Chapter Thirteen
“You’re going to see Nick?” Donna asked Brooke as she watched her sister
running around the kitchen like a chicken with it’s
head cut off.
“I have a list a mile long.” Brooke answered with an exasperated sigh. “Nick is
grumpy as hell, it’s been almost two weeks and he wants to go home. Dr. Watts
says he’s good to go but the carpenter isn’t done yet.”
“Bring him here.” Donna told her as she took a bite of her bagel.
“Easier said than done. It’s hard enough for me to
keep avoiding Ridge, but it will be impossible for Nick.”
“He can handle Ridge.” Donna told her.
“Sometimes I wonder if anyone can handle Ridge. I still can’t believe that I’ve
been able to miss him every time he comes. I know I have to face him
eventually.”
“No you don’t Brooke.” Donna disagreed. “You gave him his chance and he blew
it. You gave him all the explanation that he needs or deserves. You should get
protection against him. You should get a restraining order. He needs to leave
you alone! Hell, he needs to leave ME alone.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with him Donna, he’s not your problem. But a
restraining order is a little too severe for me. Once he realizes that I am
very serious and that we are over he’ll move on. I just wish I could do
something for you for all you’ve had to deal with.” Brooke was genuinely
disturbed that Donna was bearing the brunt of Ridge’s obsession. Luckily for
Brooke and Nick the hospital had made sure he wasn’t admitted to Nick’s floor.
“Well, if I EVER start work at Forrester, you can make
it up to me by giving me some fun stuff to do.” Donna grinned. “And by that I
mean ANYTHING that would give me an excuse to hang with Giovanni.”
“I promise you Donna that any assignment that has to do with him is yours.”
Brooke said with a giggle. She looked around the room and then towards the
door, almost expecting the bell to start ringing again. “I can’t bring him
here.”
“Nick doesn’t care about Ridge Brooke, he just wants to be on his feet, that
and near you. I really think it would do him good.”
“Nick doesn’t want to come here, he thinks he’ll be a burden.” Brooke tried to
explain.
“That’s stupid.” Donna frowned. “He knows you love him and he knows that you’re
not about to let him out of your sight anyway.”
“He doesn’t want a bed in the living room or dining room and I can’t blame him.
I have no way to get him upstairs and even if someone did carry him there, he
couldn’t get down, he’d be a virtual prisoner. Same thing if we bring him to
the beach house without a ramp.”
“And you think it will be better on the Marlin?” Donna wondered.
“No.” Brooke shook her head. “But Nick is going to have to see that for
himself. I am not going to tell him that he can’t try. He’s a proud man Donna, he needs to be the one making the decisions about his
life. That’s not to say I can’t offer alternative solutions.” She grinned.
“What do you have in mind?” Donna asked her. “You’re not going to have the
living room converted into the master bedroom are you?”
Brooke was about to answer when the phone rang. “Hold that thought.” She smiled
and picked up the phone. “Hello. Yes, this is she. Oh, hello Sue, I hope you
have good news for me. Yes, yes, excellent. That sounds promising. Uh huh. Yes, I can get there um.” She looked at her watch. “How about an hour? Okay, okay that works. Any others?” She took a gulp from her coffee mug. “Okay,
that sounds good. I’ll see you then. Thanks Sue.” She hung up and sighed, then
turned back to Donna. “Nick wants to see Hope but the hospital keeps telling me
no.”
“He’ll be home soon, he can see her then. Who’s Sue?”
“My alternative solution.” Brooke said with a smile and a wink. “I’ve gotta go. I hate to ask but something came up and if I want
to handle it and I want to see Nick I’m going to have to make Hope miss her playgroup
again.”
“Brooke I’m here remember?” Donna frowned.
“Can you bring Hope to her playgroup for me?” Asked with a
tinge of guilt.
“Sure.” Donna easily agreed. “Say hi to Nick for me. Give him a kiss.” She
teased.
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” Brooke giggled.
“I can’t believe how happy he makes you. I am so damn glad
you met him.”
“Not even close to how glad I am.” Brooke smiled. “Maybe I’ll have some
good news today. If the carpenter calls tell him to call my cell okay?”
“Sure.” Donna answered. “Hey, did you call Eric last night?”
“Yes. We talked for almost an hour.” Brooke informed her. “He’s very supportive
now that we’ve talked. I know I’ve dumped a lot on him though. I owe him big
time.”
“Is Ridge annoying him too?” Donna had to ask.
“Ridge is annoying everyone.” Brooke laughed. “I know I have to deal with him
soon, but right now Nick and Hope are my only
priorities. Everything else just has to wait.”
“I know how rough it is for you but you’re doing a good job of juggling it all
Brooke.”
“Thanks. I’m trying. And thanks for taking Hope for me. I’ll pick her up.”
“I can do that.” Donna volunteered.
“I know, but I need to give her more of a sense of normalcy. She needs to know
she can rely on me and frankly I need to know it too.”
“She does know it Brooke, you haven’t neglected her.” Donna assured her.
“Things will be better soon, once Nick gets home.” Brooke sighed. “Okay, I’m
off. I’ll see you later.”
“That’s good Nick.”
“I’m no closer to walking than I was the day of the accident.” He said with
disgust. “This is a waste of time.”
“You’re just aggravated and tired.” She told him. “We’re making progress,
believe
“None that I can see and certainly nothing that I can feel.” He was disgusted
and discouraged. “I’m done, let’s go back to my room.”
“It’s a slow process.” She reminded him. “You seem to want instant
gratification Nick. Are you like that with everything?” She asked with a laugh.
“I hate waiting.” He muttered.
“If you quit now you’ll be waiting a lot longer. I think we’re ready for the
pool.” She told him.
“I don’t need to swim, I need to walk.”
“Surely you know the importance of water and how well it works in recovery.”
“Why should I?” He practically spit.
“Because I see you pouring through all those books and magazine you make your
mother bring in. You can’t fool me Nick, you are studying up on this. Now let’s
get back to work, or would you like some water first?”
“Looks like you’re going to give me more water than I can handle thank you.
Damn it
“You’re working hard on your exercises and building your muscles. Nick you’re
really making wonderful progress. You have to believe
“She’s right.” Sharon Watts walked into the exercise room. “I didn’t expect you
off the catheter and you are, I didn’t expect you getting in and out of the
chair so easily on your own and you are.”
“Then send me home.” He shot back. “In fact forget it.”
“Forget it?” Sharon and Tracy both looked at him.
“I’m going to sign myself out, the hell with this crap.”
“And where will you go?”
“Home, the Marlin.” He growled.
“Then kiss your recovery good bye.” She started putting her things into her
duffel bag.
“
“Oh he’s just yanking my chain.”
He used his strong arms to pull himself up off the mat.
“What Nick?” She asked.
“Let’s get to the pool.” He sighed and opened the door.
“I’ll be right down. You go on ahead and get ready.” She pulled trunks out of
her bag and threw them to him. “These should fit.”
“Lovely.” He looked at them and curled his lip, but put them on his lap and wheeled
out.
“He’s really doing well.”
“I was afraid you were really leaving.”
“I have to handle each of my patients differently. Nick has a temper and he
gets disgusted quickly, but he isn’t giving up. I just have to make him see how
silly he sounds.”
“Wishful thinking or professional opinion?”
“Both. He’s got some feeling back, not too much and he won’t admit it, but I
can see it.”
“Oh I know he does.” Dr. Watts agreed. “None in his legs yet but he can, well
like I said, he’s off the catheter.”
“You wait. I give him a day or two before he insists that he stands up to pee.”
“Do you think we can send him back to his boat?”
“His girlfriend assured me the ramp is almost done. But to be perfectly honest,
I don’t think the ship is a good idea at all. It’s going to be extremely
difficult and cramped too. But he won’t budge on that one so I’ll have to find
a way to work around it. Once he’s released I’ll be taking him to the center
for his therapy.”
“Good, you have much better equipment there.”
“I’m sure he is.”
Pilar couldn’t take her eyes off the rack of dresses
that Ridge had wheeled in for her. There were fancy gowns and business suits,
party dresses and basic black sheaths. The colors went from pale pinks to
bright reds, the fabrics were the best she had ever touched and the styles, the
styles were the most beautiful she had ever seen. “I cannot wear things like
this.” She barely whispered as she touched the samples.
“Of course you can.” Ridge pulled out a gold gown and held it up. “Try this one
on.”
“Reedge, they are so beautiful. You really made
these?” She asked in wonder.
“I designed them, most of them.” He explained. “We have sewers that made them.”
“You think I would look nice in them?” She asked.
“You’ll look beautiful. Try it on.” He handed her the gown.
“They are too valuable, I could ruin it.” She shied away but Ridge put that
gown in her hand.
“They’re old.” He told her.
“They look brand new to me.” She frowned at him.
“They are new but old. They are from the last collection I did when I still
worked at Forrester. They’re samples, not for sale. Changes were made or they
didn’t make the final cut, but believe me Pilar, I
like them, I’m proud of them and more importantly, I know Brooke would wear
them. You want to impress Popeye don’t you?”
“Yes but.” She hesitated but then held the dress up to her. “Does he go to
places where women have dresses like this now?” She asked.
“If he’s interested in my fiancée he does.” Ridge said with a touch of
contempt.
“It doesn’t seem like Neek.” She sighed. “But it ees so beautiful.”
“I’m being honest Pilar, Nick will love it. Try it on
please.”
“Alright.” She took the dress into the bedroom that Ridge had given to her and
put it on the bed. “Will you love me more if I dress like her Neek?” Pilar asked aloud. She was
grateful to Ridge. He had helped her so much since they had arrived. They both
had wanted to forget the embarrassing incident of their first night. Ridge had
moved her to a different room and the door to the room where it had happened
had remained closed. For Pilar it had been done in
desperation. She wondered why Ridge had wanted her but decided to put it out of
her head. He had been nothing but respectful and friendly since then. He had
been schooling her on news, etiquette, clothes, hairstyles, and most
importantly how to act like a well bred, educated lady. She had eaten her meals
with his family and found his children to be charming and very well behaved.
She couldn’t understand why Brooke would want to give all this up, not for a
man that she barely knew, a man who she hoped still loved her. Pilar wanted to become everything Brooke was, she wanted
Nick to look at her like he used to, to look at her like he looked at Brooke.
“I want him back.” She said softly.
“Nick!” Brooke walked into his room with a cheerful smile but found his bed
empty. “Nick!” She called out but when she got no answer she walked to the
nurses station. “Hi, I’m looking for Captain Payne.”
“Aren’t we all.” The nurse looked up from her chart and grinned at Brooke.
“Your man is in physical therapy.” She told her.
“Hmmmm. Did he just go? Any idea how long he’ll be
there?” Brooke wondered.
“He went down about an hour ago but his sessions have been going for about
three hours. Why don’t you go say hello to him?”
“I have an appointment.” She told her. “I think I’ll head out for that and then
come back. But please, if he comes back early, please tell him I was here.”
“Miss Logan?” Dr. Watts called out to her as she came down the hallway.
“
“He’s at his therapy.” She answered. “Yes, I saw him and he’s doing very well.”
“Is he being more agreeable?” Brooke asked with a slight cringe.
“At times.”
“I’m going to check with the carpenter today.” Brooke explained. “Do you think
I can take him home if the ramp is ready? Will he be able to cope? Are there
any, um, things that I need to know to well, to help him?”
She answered Brooke. “He’s struggling but he can take care of his needs himself
though I imagine when he is tired. Just be prepared to deal with his anger,
that is going to be around for a long time and also be ready to help him with
the small, menial things. Even something as simple as washing will be difficult
for him. Help him Brooke, but give him space so he can do whatever he can on
his own.”
“Of course I’ll help him. That is if he lets me.” Brooke added nervously.
“He trusts you, but I know being dependent on anyone embarrasses him.”
“Good.” Brooke grinned.
“Why is that good?” Dr. Watts asked with concern. She wondered if she misjudged
this woman.
“Because I know that he wants to go home to the Shady Marlin, but I also know
that it’s just not going to work. If he’s there he will become dependent and he
won’t like it so that will make it easier to convince him to make a move.”
Brooke answered her. “I have a plan of my own, but I want Nick to think it’s
his idea.” She said with a giggle.
“Good luck to you.” Dr. Watts told her. “I have to check on another patient but
I’m sure I’ll see you later.”
“Hello?” Stephanie announced herself as she stood at Massimo’s doorway. “Busy?”
“Come in.” He smiled at her and stood.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around much since you returned but it’s been a
madhouse at Forrester. Are things getting back to normal for you yet?” She
asked.
“A bit.” He scratched his head and walked to the coffeepot. “Coffee?” He asked
as he poured himself a cup.
“Yes please, cream and sugar.” She reminded him.
“So what brings you here?” He asked.
“Confession time.” She answered with a smile. “I did come to see my son, but it
seems he’s not in. Have you sent him on an assignment?”
“Ridge is obsessed with Brooke.” He told her with disgust. “He has barely made
an appearance since we’ve been home. Frankly I am getting tired of it. I was
going to come see you about it myself.”
“I warned you about her.” She sighed. “I still can’t believe she left him and
went down there. It has to be some kind of game. I just hope that it backfires
on her. But I can’t say I’m unhappy that she is preoccupied. She hasn’t come
back to Forrester herself. You don’t think that she and Ridge.” Stephanie
stopped. The thought was too horrible to continue.
“Massimo, I’m heading over to see Nicky, would you like me to bring those
papers to him? Oh excuse me.” Jackie blushed as she saw that Stephanie was already
in Massimo’s office.
“Hello Jacqueline.” Massimo’s demeanor seemed to change in an instant. His
frown changed to a smile and he practically fell over himself to get to the
woman. He took her hand in his. “Jacqueline, you know Stephanie Forrester?”
“Yes, we’ve had the pleasure. Hello Stephanie.” Jackie said with a smile.
“Hello Mrs. Payne.” Stephanie answered. “I’m so happy for you that your son is
doing better.”
“Slowly.” She said sadly. “But I have faith. Faith in his doctors, his physical
therapist and of course in Nicky himself.”
“Will he be out of the hospital anytime soon?” Stephanie asked.
“Hopefully.” Jackie told her. “But he has a long road ahead of him.” She turned
to Massimo. “I hesitate to give him the papers but I think he needs to be involved.
Shall I bring them to him or did you want to?”
“I’d still like to review them with my attorney. Then I’ll bring them down to
Dominick.”
“I’m sure he’d like to see you.” Jackie told him. “I know that Brooke has
appointments today so if you have time it might be good that you go today.”
“Brooke is spending time with him?” Stephanie asked with a confused look.
“Brooke is spending almost all of her time with him. They’re in love.” Jackie
informed Stephanie with a smile.
“Oh I doubt that.” Stephanie scoffed.
“You don’t think my son is loveable?” Jackie turned sharply to face her.
“Nothing against Nick, it’s just that Brooke has had her heart set on MY son
for years and I doubt anything is going to change that. Though I do wish it
would.”
“I think it has changed and I couldn’t be happier.” Jackie smiled sweetly. “All
I’ve ever wanted was to see my Nicky happy with a woman he loves and who loves
him.”
“Be careful what you wish for.” Stephanie clucked. “Brooke Logan is a mother’s
worst nightmare. I would keep her as far away from my son as possible.”
“That’s where you and I differ.” Jackie tactfully replied. “Brooke is lovely
and she loves my son. I’m hoping that they eventually marry.”
“You certainly don’t want that trollop as a daughter in law, believe me, I’ve
been there. She doesn’t love your son, she’s using him to make Ridge jealous,
that has always been her way. If you love him like I think you do you’ll get
her away from him.”
“Enough Stephanie!” Massimo shouted, shocking both women.
“Surely you’re not going to defend that harlot!” Stephanie was stunned. “You’ve
seen her in action, she’s nothing but trash from the valley!”
“I’ve spent time with her Stephanie and while I don’t want her with Ridge, I
don’t think they belong together, I’ve seen her as a caring woman and I believe
she cares deeply about Dominick. I’m willing to give her the benefit of the
doubt.”
“You’re mad.” Stephanie shook her head. “You saw what she’s done to get Ridge.
She’s done it again, that whore has wrapped another foolish man around her
finger.”
“I appreciate your concern but I like her and Nick loves her and that is more
than good enough for me.” Jackie turned to Massimo. “I’ve intruded long enough.
I’ll tell Nicky that you want to bring him the papers yourself. I’ll see you
soon.” She turned and walked towards the door.
“Jacqueline wait.” Massimo stopped her. “Dinner? Tonight?”
“That would be lovely.” She smiled.
“I’ll pick you up at eight.” Massimo promised.
“I’ll look forward to it.” She smiled at him and then turned to Stephanie.
“Nice seeing you again. Good luck with your son.” She added and left.
Stephanie waited a few moments and then frowned at Massimo. “She has no idea of
what she’s dealing with. And you? I don’t understand you, unless it’s that
you’re pushing her on him to keep her from Ridge. Are you?” She asked.
Massimo scratched his beard and looked up at her. “At first, yes, yes I was.”
“You really can’t have been taken in by her, you’re far too smart for that.”
Stephanie pressed him.
“There is more to Brooke Logan than you’ve led me to believe. I still wouldn’t
want her for my son but there is a determination about her that impresses
“You like her?” She was stunned.
“No, not really, I don’t know. She cares about this man, she traveled far and
completely devoted herself to him. They seem happy together, even under the
horrible circumstances of his injuries. I’m just not sure if you aren’t being a
little unfair to her.”
“You don’t know her like I do Massimo. If you did you’d feel the same way. I
just hope that there is never a reason that you’ll have to. Jackie Payne and
her son are welcome to her. And that’s another thing.” She gave him a sharp
look. “What is going on with you and that woman?”
“I knew her years ago.” He explained. “She’s a lovely woman. I’m taking her to
dinner. You sound jealous Stephanie. Now why would that be since you are
determined to hang onto your deteriorating marriage to Eric?” He spoke the
other man’s name with disgust.
“Perhaps I am.” She admitted. “I’ve gotten used to being the object of your
affection, it’s not that easy to share.”
Brooke pulled her car over in front of a large, old house. She checked the
piece of paper in her purse and looked back at the house with a squint. The
address was right but it didn’t make sense. “Hmmmm.”
She said to herself, but she opened the door and got out. She walked to the
door and knocked lightly. The door opened and an attractive woman smiled in
greeting.
“Right on time.” She told Brooke.
“Sue, we must have crossed our wires somewhere. This won’t do at all, it’s two
floors and even the steps to the front door.”
“Oh no, I just had to show this to another client. I thought since I was here
we could meet and I’d take you to the places I found for you. I think you’ll
like them.”
“You had me worried.” Brooke laughed softly. “So the places you’ve found?”
“Just as you asked. On the beach, one floor, minimal stairs, modern appliances
and ready immediately or almost.”
“Good.” Brooke told her. “I’m really anxious to find something soon. My err,
friend, is ready to leave the hospital but he’s unwilling to move into all the
suggested places. I hope that we can find something right away.”
“I think you’ll like the first one. It has a large master bedroom with an
adjoining dressing room, a full bath and stall shower with dual sinks. There
are two smaller bedrooms with their own baths as well. There is a lovely living
and dining area looking out at the sea. There is a small pool and Jacuzzi. The
kitchen is large with everything you could ever want.”
“Stairs?” Brooke asked.
“There are no stairs in the front. The back porch leads to the deck with the
pool and Jacuzzi but there are stairs to the beach. There’s room for a ramp
though, I checked.”
“Let’s go. I can’t wait to see it.” Brooke told her.
Nick shook the water out of his hair and let out a deep breath. He hadn’t
realized how hard a workout the pool would be for him. He was tired but he
wasn’t going to quit. “What next?” He asked
“You deserve a nice warm whirlpool.” She answered.
“I’m not going to slack off, let’s work.” He turned the wheel chair to face
her.
“It’s not slacking off, it helps the circulation. Come on.” She pointed to the
corner where the whirlpool was churning.
“I guess it’ll feel good.” Nick gave in and wheeled over.
“I’m going to go check on something, will you be okay alone?”
“Yeah.” He answered. “Unless you’d like to come in?”
“Tempting, but I don’t think so.” She smiled. “You’re doing good Nick.” She
gave him a thumbs up and walked out.
Nick relaxed and closed his eyes and let the water sooth his tired muscles. He
had worked long and hard since the first time
“Do that again.”
“It’s nothing.” He told her in a gruff voice.
“You moved your toes Nick, that is more than nothing.”
“I barely feel them.” He complained.
“But you DO feel them, that’s the important thing.” She pointed out. “I had
every confidence that it would happen, but not this quickly Nick. I don’t think
you appreciate the progress you’re making. Now I am going to push you, I’m
going to push you very, very hard. You’re probably going to hate me. You’ll
want to curse me out, you’ll groan when you hear my name but in the end Nick,
you’ll thank me.”
“I just want to see something concrete.” He said with a sigh. “I don’t even
know if I’m moving my toes or if they’re just moving on their own.”
“Easy solution.” She told him. “Move them. Move the toes on your right foot.”
She looked down at his foot. “Come on Nick, show me again.”
His face contorted as he strained but finally got them to move. A smile crossed
his handsome face when he finally relaxed. “Okay, I did do it, but it’s not
enough.”
“It’s just the beginning Nick, it will get better every day, I promise.”
“At the risk of sounding over anxious, when can I move in?” Brooke asked Sue
with a laugh.
“I thought it would work, but I do have a couple of others to show you.”
“No.” Brooke answered. “This is it, this is exactly what I need. I want to do
it today because I need to go and get it furnished. I want to be able to close
and move in this week, can you make that happen?”
“I can.” Sue promised her. “The owners had been looking to rent originally.
They wanted it quick and they thought they could rent and then sell when they
had more time but your offer is going to work just fine. Are you sure you want
to buy?” She asked. “You could rent and see how it works out.”
“The last thing I want if for Nick to feel comfortable and at home and then
have them sell it out from under us. No, if it doesn’t work out or if he
doesn’t want to stay once he’s recovered I can put it on the market myself.”
“It will have an awesome resale value.” Sue confirmed. She looked down at her
papers. “I’ll make some calls and put it all into motion.”
“Good, then I just have to see about some furniture like I mentioned.” Brooke
scratched her head. “I really doubt Nick will last a week on the Marlin and I
would hate to have to move him somewhere else if I’m not ready here and I know
he won’t go back to the hospital.”
Sue looked at her and smiled. “They were going to do it as a furnished home.
Everything here is for sale. If you want any of it. It’s good stuff, I can
vouch for that.”
“It is.” Brooke agreed. She touched the wood on the coffee table and then the
material on the couch. “I’ll take it all. I can make changes later, this way
all I need is bedding and towels and we can move in. Let’s go make the deal
Sue, this is just the place for Nick.”
“Are you sure he’ll go for it?” Sue asked her. “The way you spoke yesterday he
seemed so stubborn about his boat.”
“He’s going to see it won’t work. He’ll love it here and the boat isn’t going
anywhere. Once he’s better he can move back if he wants to. But I’m not sure
he’ll want to live there after he lives here. I think he’ll like it, it’s the
best of both worlds.”
“Let’s head to my office and I’ll draw out the papers.”
“Does anyone else have an offer?” Brooke asked.
“I’m the only one showing it and you’re the first. You give them their price
and it’s yours.”
“They’re going to be happy because I don’t have time to get into a negotiation
game. The price is fair and I want it. I’ll call my attorney from the car. I’d
like to have everything signed today.”
“I feel like I should ask for an introduction.” Massimo said sarcastically as
he walked into Ridge’s office. “To what do I owe this honor?”
“I’m sorry I haven’t had much time here but things have been crazy.” Ridge
looked up from the papers he was looking at.
“I hope that’s the Hong Kong deal.” Massimo scratched his beard and walked
closer to the desk. His slight smile turned into a frown when he saw that the
papers contained drawings of dresses. “What is this? I thought you’d exorcised
that demon from your soul Ridge. You chose to work as a Marone,
it’s time you started acting as one too.”
“Just some old designs I was fiddling with.” Ridge told him. “It helps when I
lose concentration.”
“You’ve barely been here long enough to gain it.” Massimo said gruffly.
“Again, I’m sorry.” Ridge apologized. “I’ll try to devote more time to the
work.”
“Trying isn’t good enough son.” Massimo chided him. “You are in an important
position here Ridge, don’t make me regret my decisions.”
“I’ve been wondering something.” Ridge looked into his father’s eyes.
“Yes son?” Massimo asked.
“Have you replaced Popeye yet?”
Massimo’s eyes turned darker and colder. “I wish you’d stop referring to him
that way. Dominick Payne is a valuable member of the Marone
team. I want you to treat him with respect.”
“If he ever gave me a reason to maybe.” Ridge muttered. “Massimo, he screwed up.”
Ridge tried to remind him. “He’s a cripple because of his own incompetence. I
refuse to feel sorry for him or to glorify him. Men, good men, are dead because
of him.”
“No!” Massimo said loudly as he pounded his fist on Ridge’s desk. “Dominick is
a hero, if it weren’t for him not only would more men be dead but my ship would
be ruined, maybe more. And as for his being a cripple, wheelchair or not
Dominick Payne will have his place in this company as long as HE wants it!”
“Hello!!!!!!” Brooke practically sang as she walked into Nick’s hospital room.
He was sitting in his wheelchair and a huge grin crossed his face as he saw
her. He opened his arms wide to her.
“Come here pretty lady and give me a hug.” He instructed her.
“Just a hug?” She asked with a giggle.
“I think I can spare a kiss or two.” He winked.
“Or a hundred?” She laughed. She dropped her packages and purse to the floor
and ran to him, wrapping her arms around him and covering his face with kisses.
“Now that’s the kind of greeting I like.” He said as he came up for air.
“Mmmmmm me too.” Brooke agreed. She let out a yelp as
he pulled her onto his lap.
“More.” He said with a funny, evil laugh. His mouth covered hers and their
playful kisses soon turned into a passionate one.
“Oh Nick.” Brooke moaned softly when it finally ended.
“How was your day?” He asked as he lovingly touched her arms and hair, once
more planting playful kisses on her face. “I missed you.”
“I heard you had quite the work out.” She touched his nose and giggled. “Are
you tired?”
“A good tired.” He admitted as he pulled her tighter into his embrace. “But I’m
glad to see you.”
“You should let me up, I’m heavy.” She immediately regretted her statement and
looked down with an embarrassed blush.
“You weigh just about nothing.” He tried to ease her discomfort. “So how was
your day?” He asked again.
“Busy, constructive.” She sighed. “I have some good news for you.”
“How good?” He asked with a tentative look.
“How would you like to fall asleep on the Shady Marlin tonight?” She asked.
“It would be heaven. Please tell me you’re not joking.”
“I’m not. The ramp is done and that.” She pointed to the papers on the floor.
“Is your discharge paperwork.” She struggled out of his grip and went to
retrieve it. “It just needs a few signatures and we’re outta
here.” She said with a laugh.
“Give me a pen and let’s go.” He said excitedly.
“I need to pack.” She went to the closet and pulled out his overnight bag. She
looked at him. “Are you sure you’re ready?” She asked.
“I’ve been ready forever Brooke, just throw the stuff in there and let’s go.”
He smiled like a child going to a circus. “I’d better call my mother, I know
she was going to come over again. She was here earlier but she wanted to come
back. At least that’s what Massimo Marone told me. He
came to have me sign some insurance papers. He also showed me some pictures his
detectives took down in Mexico. I wonder if they’ll ever make any arrests.
Anyway he said Mom was going to come down. Now she won’t have to keep coming
here. At least now she won’t feel so damn obligated.”
“She’s your mother and she comes because she loves you.” Brooke pulled open the
drawers and carefully folded Nick’s clothes.
“Just throw it, I want out!” Nick told her.
“Don’t worry sweetie, no one is going to come in and stop us.” Brooke
understood his fears, even if they were a bit irrational.
“Well it feels like I’m making a grand escape somehow.” Nick chuckled and
reached for the phone. “I’ll tell her to come by tomorrow to the Marlin.”
“Not tonight?” Brooke asked.
“I want to cherish my time with you.” He winked. “I hope there is some decent
food so I can make you some dinner.”
“Don’t rush things Nick, it’s enough that you’re home, don’t expect to be
cooking and entertaining just yet. It’s going to take a while to get used to
things again.”
“I guess.” He reluctantly agreed. “But I’m still going to tell her to come
tomorrow.” He reached for the phone as Brooke continued to pack for him.
“I stocked the fridge for you.” Brooke informed him without turning around.
“You get beer?” He asked.
“You had plenty.” She laughed.
“Cigars?” He asked.
“You eat cigars?” She teased. “Nick, I was concerned about food and other
essentials.”
“Cigars ARE essentials. Come on Mom, pick up!” He frowned and hung up the
phone. “She’s not answering, must be out of range or something.”
“Or she’s here.” Jackie announced as she walked in. “Hello darling.” She then
saw Brooke. “Hello Brooke, how lovely to see you.”
“You’re just in time.” Brooke walked over and gave her a hug. “I’m taking Nick
home.”
“Thank God!” She said with a deep sigh. “You finally got through to him.”
“Not HER home Mother.” Nick informed her. “MY home, the Marlin.”
“Oh dear.” Jackie’s smile faded. She turned to Brooke again. “You couldn’t
convince him? I had so hoped.”
“It’ll be okay Jackie.” Brooke promised. “And now that you’re here you can make
this easier for me.”
“How?” Nick asked with a frown. “You’re not going to come back with me? Not
even for a while?”
“Of course I am silly.” Brooke laughed. “I meant that Jackie could bring you
down while I brought the car to the door.” She zipped up the suitcase. “I think
we’ve got it all.”
“I’ll give the room a quick going over.” Jackie promised her. “Then we’ll meet
you downstairs.”
Brooke grinned and retrieved her purse from the floor. “Good, see you in a few
minutes.” She started to leave when Nick called out to her.
“Brooke?” He looked up at her like a lost puppy. “Come here.” She walked up to
him and they hugged tightly. “I love you.” He whispered softly and kissed her.
“I love you too.” She said with a smile. “Hurry down.” She kissed him once
more, waved at Jackie and walked out.
“It’s because of HER isn’t it?” Ridge asked with distaste.
“Now what do you have against Jacqueline?” Massimo sighed. He was growing tired
of Ridge’s attitude.
“She had HIM didn’t she?” He growled. “Massimo you don’t need him. I don’t know
why you trust him. He put the company at risk and he just can’t be trusted,
believe me, I know.”
“This is because of Brooke.” Massimo said angrily.
“I love her! Massimo I respect you and I want you to respect me too but Brooke
is the most important thing in the world to me. If you can’t accept her then
maybe I need to move on.”
“It is not me that has to move on Ridge.” Massimo said in a soft but wise tone.
“She loves me.” Ridge shook his head. “Things got crazy but it’s going to be
okay. I love her and she loves me and she is going to be my wife. You need to
deal with that and so does Popeye!”
“She makes you happy.” Jackie stated rather than asked as she walked behind
Nick as they left the room.
“She does.” He admitted.
“So you’ve gotten over that silly notion of ending it.” She smiled.
“It would be better for her.” Nick sighed. “What does she have to look forward
to with me? Life with a cripple.” He practically spit the words out.
“You aren’t a cripple Nicky, you will walk again, I know it.”
“I hope you’re right.” He sighed. “It’s just so slow Mom.”
“And it’s hard work too.” She answered. “I spoke to your doctor and she’s
thrilled with the progress though she is hesitant about you returning to the
Shady Marlin too.”
“Enough!” He threw up his hands. “It’s what I want, it’s what I need.”
“I won’t fight you.”
“Good.” He said quickly. “I’ll show you both that it can work out.”
“You’ve already won Brooke over.”
“I don’t know, I think she just got tired of fighting me.” Nick admitted. “But
when she comes over next time she’ll see I was right.”
“Is she just dropping you off?” Jackie asked with a frown.
“She has a kid at home and a job and I’m sure she’s going to want to give you
time there too.” He told her.
“She’ll stay.”
“I told her I wanted to make her dinner but she said no.” Nick stopped in front
of the elevator. “No!” He said sharply as Jackie reached for the button. “I
need to do this myself.”
“Why darling? Why if I’m here?”
“Because you won’t always be here.” He answered.
“And you won’t always be in a wheelchair.” Jackie countered.
“Just let me do it Mother. I need to be self sufficient.”
“Alright Nicky.” She sighed and stepped back. “How are you going to do it? It’s
too high.”
“There’s a handicapped button over there.” A young candy striper pointed as she
came up to them.
Jackie winced knowing that Nicky would hate to be considered handicapped.
“But most elevators don’t have them.” Nick told the girl and his mother.
“So what will you do?” Jackie asked. “Suffer for no reason?”
“I have this.” He pulled out a cane like object. He reached up with it and
pushed the button. “See, nothing to it. But if that hadn’t worked I’d have
pulled myself up and pushed it.”
“Good luck Captain Payne.” The girl said with a smile. She walked away, barely
able to stop turning and looking at him.
“I think she has a crush on you.” Jackie laughed.
“I think she’s just feeling sorry for me.” Nick insisted.
“Hmmmm.” Jackie laughed. “Oh no Nicky, that girl was
showing nothing at all close to pity.”
“Thanks Donna, again you’re a life saver.” Brooke said before ending the call.
Things had been happening so quickly that her plans had changed. Luckily for
her Donna was there and willing to work with any change as it happened. She
said a quick prayer that Hope wouldn’t be frightened and wouldn’t make Nick
feel worse about his condition. Soon they would all know.
Ridge was in a vile mood. Massimo had infuriated him with his refusal to
terminate Payne’s employment. Brooke still wasn’t answering his calls and Donna
had hung up on him twice. “I’ve just about had enough. I’m coming over tonight
Brooke, we’re going to fix this thing now.” He pulled the box out of his pocket
and opened it. The large diamond sparkled up at him. “Tonight you’ll be wearing
my ring Brooke, tonight you’re going to agree to be my wife.”
“Pregnant. Macy, I can’t believe it.” Darla gushed. “After all this time. I’m
so happy for you.” She hugged her friend. “I bet that made things a lot better
with Thorne. Are you going to get married?”
“Married? Yeah, I am.” Macy was only paying half attention to her. Her thoughts
were on Ridge and how he had been avoiding her. He had rushed off the phone the
last two times she had called him and that just wouldn’t do. “What?” She turned
to Darla, she had been brought back to reality by hearing the name, the evil
name that made her blood boil. “What did you say about Brooke?” Macy demanded.
“Thorne was telling me that Ridge bought her a new ring. He thinks that they’re
going to make up. Isn’t it romantic?”
“Why should Brooke Logan get everything she’s always wanted after stepping all
over everyone and then mashing them into the ground? You call THAT romantic?”
Macy angrily countered.
“I just thought that since you and Thorne were happy and all.” Darla’s words
petered off slowly as each one was spoken.
“Thorne?” Macy frowned.
“You’re having his baby Mace, I thought this was what you two always wanted.”
“It’s not his.” Macy simply stated. She walked to the mirror and started fixing
her hair. Darla ran up behind her.
“What? It’s not his? Mace? Who’s baby is it?”
“It’s my baby.” Macy turned to face her. “And I don’t want you to mention it to
anyone. I shouldn’t have said a word.”
“My lips are sealed.” Darla promised with a zip motion. “But who Macy? Who is
the Daddy?”
“Not yet, soon. I have to talk to someone else first.” Macy picked up her
lipstick and applied a fresh coat. “I have to go. Not a word to anyone and that
means Clarke and my mother.” Macy warned her.
“Where’s Brooke?” Nick frowned as he and Jackie got outside the hospital. He
was anxious to get home but her Jaguar was nowhere in sight.
“I don’t know darling, perhaps she had to park far away.” Jackie strained to
look as far as the lot for Brooke’s car but didn’t see it. “I do wish that
person would stop honking their horn.” She looked at the annoying van.
Nick looked behind them but no one else was outside. “Who does he want?” He
wondered.
“Nick!” Brooke’s voice shouted out. “I’m here.”
Jackie and Nick turned towards the voice, which was coming from the van. “What
the hell did you do woman?” Nick chastised her as he wheeled himself forward.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t sell the Jag and this is just leased.” Brooke got out.
“But it’s so cool and it’s going to be so easy for you to get around in.”
“Brooke.” He shook his head.
“Stop complaining and let’s get you in.” Brooke grinned as she got out of the
van.
“I take it she didn’t show again today.” Stephanie sat down in the chair next
to Eric’s desk.
“You’re too preoccupied with Brooke.” He complained. “I told you she wasn’t
coming in. We had a long talk last night. I don’t expect to see her for
awhile.”
“I think we should contact Jonathan, we may well have grounds to get rid of
her.”
“Stephanie!” Eric gasped.
“I’m serious. It might just be our chance. Don’t look at me like that Eric, I
know you want the company back as much as I do.”
“This family has been through far too much pain Stephanie, I won’t promote
more.”
“Even if it meant we could have Forrester back?” She couldn’t believe he was
being this stubborn.
“Brooke is the mother of my children.”
“So am I! I wish you gave me the same consideration that you give to her.”
“I won’t have this family at war again, we’re still recovering from your
betrayal. I haven’t forgotten and I haven’t forgiven either.”
“We need to get past that to rebuild our family.” She insisted.
“I think I’ve given you far more than you deserve. You know I still blame you
and Massimo for that mess that enveloped my daughter’s life. She’s gone and I
miss her, her mother misses her and none of it had to have happened. You had it
in your power to prevent it or even to stop it and you did neither.”
Although he didn’t want to admit it, just the act of getting into and out of
the van had worn him out. Getting onto the Shady Marlin was harder than he had
ever imagined and once he was there he had found he had to rest on the bed. He
was embarrassed and trying to hide his exhaustion. Brooke walked Jackie back up
to the deck giving Nick time to rest and recuperate alone for a while.
“I should stay. He can’t stay alone he isn’t ready. Would you just stay a while
Brooke? Give me time to go home and pack a few things?” Jackie begged her.
“Alone?” Brooke gave her a questioning look. “Why would you ever think I’d
leave him alone? I’m staying here as long as he does.”
“You are?” Jackie smiled and let out a sigh of relief. “I just thought, well
Nicky thought.”
“Nick places far too much importance on independence.” Brooke frowned. “He has
to learn that right now he needs to lean on others. Jackie I won’t leave him.”
“Thank you Brooke. Now you just call me when you need me to stay, I know you
want to get home to your daughter.”
“My sister is bringing her here.” Brooke laughed. “I think Nick may well decide
that the Shady Marlin just isn’t the place to sit and brood that he thought it
would be.”
“You’re a very smart woman Brooke.” Jackie hugged her. “I am so glad that my
son fell in love with you.”
“Jackie.” Brooke tried to stop her.
“And that you fell in love with my son.” Jackie added. “Don’t try to deny it
Brooke.”
“It would be pointless.” Brooke admitted with a smile.
“Call me if you need me. I know my son can be a handful.”
“Oh I will.” Brooke promised. “But I think tonight we’re all going to have a
nice long sleep.”
“Thank you for taking such good care of my Nicky.” Jackie took her hand and
squeezed it. “Of OUR Nicky.” She corrected herself. “And Brooke, he will walk
again, please, please don’t give up on him.”
“Never.” Brooke promised. “Even if he never walks again I promise I will never
give up on him. But he will walk.” She added.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Jackie let go of her hand, smiled again and left the
Shady Marlin. Brooke watched her until she got back to her car and then went
back below to Nick. He was still awake but barely.
“Are you hungry?” She asked.
“I promised you a meal.” He yawned and started to pull himself up.
“Not tonight, tonight it’s my treat.” She walked to the stove.
“I’m too tired to fight you tonight, but tomorrow I need to get back to
normal.” He told her.
“Uh huh.” She opened the refrigerator.
“You don’t believe I can do it do you?” Nick asked.
“Oh no, I believe you can do just about anything.” She told him. “But I’m
wondering if you just don’t trust my cooking. Who have you been talking to?”
“Hmmm?” Nick grinned. “Now who would say that?”
“Stephanie definitely. Maybe Ridge. Maybe Bridget.” Brooke blushed. “But
really, I’m not a bad cook.”
“I’ll savor every bite.” He promised.
“Well I wouldn’t carry it quite that far.” She laughed. “But no one ever died.”
She added with a giggle. “Oh yeah, I forgot.” She opened the refrigerator
again, took out two bottles of beer, opened one and doing her best waddle and
even better imitation she ran to Nick. “Here ya go
Archie!” She handed him the beer doing a good nervous Edith Bunker. Nick howled
with laughter as he took it from him.
“Sit down with me Dingbat.”
“Oh Archie.” She gushed and sat next to him on the bed. He pulled her into his
arms and kissed her.
“Thank you Brooke.”
“It was nothing.” She gestured to the bottle of beer.
“Not the beer, everything. You gave me a reason to fight and you helped me
through my darkest days.”
“Nick, you didn’t need me to have a reason to fight, but I’m glad I was there
for you.” She kissed him tenderly. “I’m here for you Nick, anything you need
I’m here. I promise.”
“I don’t know how I got so lucky.” He relaxed in her arms, closing his eyes
taking in her scent.
“You hold that thought because you are lucky. When you start thinking that
nothing is going to happen you remember how lucky you are. Let me be your
strength Nick, lean on me.”
“I love you.” He said, looking deeply into her eyes.
“And I love you.” She smiled back and kissed him. “Now you get some rest while
I get to work on dinner.” She struggled from his tight grip.
“I don’t need food, I just need you.”
“Don’t get hokey on me.” She giggled. “We both need food, how else do you
expect me to stay awake kissing you all night?”
Nick chuckled softly as she got up and started working in the small kitchen.
“Hello honey, Thorne isn’t here but please come in.” Stephanie ushered her
former daughter in law into her home. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Water is fine.” Macy followed Stephanie into the living room. “And I didn’t
come to see Thorne, I wanted to talk to you.”
Stephanie opened a bottle of Evian and poured them each a glass. She handed one
to Macy and then sat down next to her. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yes, but circumstances.” Macy looked around the room. “It’s always so lovely
here.”
“Thank you.” Stephanie smiled. “It’s very nice to see you again. How are you
and Thorne getting along?”
“That was over when he married Brooke.” Macy said in a sad tone.
“But Macy, honey he knows how wrong he was, he still loves you. I know you were
hurt but I think you could make it work again if you both wanted that.”
“But I don’t.” Macy told her.
“Are you sure? I know how much Thorne hopes you’ll forgive him. I’d love to
have in my family again honey, I’ve always thought of you like a daughter.”
“Well that’s good.” Macy took a gulp of her water and nervously put the glass
down. When she turned back to Stephanie her eyes were filled with tears.
“Oh honey, I knew you still loved him. Let me bring you two together, I know we
can work it all out. Don’t let that bitch beat you, you’re so much better than
she is.”
“He thinks he loves her.” Macy said softly. “But he can’t, he needs to be with
me. Stephanie.” She took the older woman’s hand. “I’m having his baby, I’m
having your grandchild.”
“Wwwhat?” Stephanie gasped. “Oh Macy.” She moved
closer to her and hugged her. “After all this time, after all the trying. Well
this just proves that you both were right. I wasn’t sure, I admit that but this
is a sign, a wonderful sign. Oh no honey, you can’t let that bitch win. You’re
having his baby and you will be his wife.” She smiled and kissed the younger
woman’s cheek. “He knows doesn’t he?” She asked with a slight frown.
“Yes.” Macy sadly replied.
“He wasn’t happy?” Stephanie squinted. She knew that Thorne loved Macy, he had
to be happy about this, it was everything that he wanted.
“He didn’t believe me at first and then he tried denying it. When he finally
realized I was telling the truth he was swearing to help me but that he wanted
nothing to do with us, that he loved Brooke.”
“Brooke? Macy no, he doesn’t love her, he has seen the pain she’s caused
everyone in this family. Let me call him, let me bring the two of you together
to talk, I know he loves you, I know it, he told me so himself.” She started to
reach for the phone but Macy covered the older woman’s hand with her own.
“No. You don’t understand.” Macy looked directly into her eyes.
“I do honey. But don’t worry. Thorne is not going to turn away, he will love
this baby and he loves you.”
“It’s not his.” Macy said softly.
“But, wait, Macy, I don’t, I don’t understand.” Stephanie was perplexed. Macy
had announced that she was having her grandchild hadn’t she? “You’re having
another man’s child and you want Thorne to claim it? Why?”
“I don’t want Thorne to do anything at all.” Macy explained.
“You said it was my grandchild Macy. Nothing makes sense, nothing at all.
Please tell me what is going on.”
“It is your grandchild Stephanie. It’s just not Thorne’s child.”
“Then how? How?” Stephanie looked confused until suddenly she gasped and looked
at Macy. “Ridge?”
“We’re here!” Donna’s voice cheerfully rang out from the deck.
“Down here!” Brooke called out to her. She looked over at Nick to find him
sound asleep on the bed. She smiled and then wiped her hands on a towel and
walked over to greet her sister and her daughter.
“Slow down munchkin.” Donna warned Hope.
“Hi Mommy.” Hope greeted Brooke.
“Hi Baby.” Brooke grinned back at her.
“Oooooooh.” Hope was suddenly speechless. She stood
and stared at the man sleeping on the bed. She stared and stared as if
assessing the situation. She seemed almost frightened and yet awestruck. Her
mouth was wide open with unvoiced words. Brooke and Donna watched her as her
shock wore off and a huge smile crossed her face. “Nick!” She screamed at the
top of her lungs. The man on the bed woke up and opened his eyes just in time
for the tiny cannonball to land in his arms. “Nick!” She happily squealed.
“Well it’s about time.” He laughed and hugged her tightly. “I’ve missed you
Goldilocks.” He gave her a big kiss on her cheek.
“Nick!” She screamed again. She couldn’t seem to believe he was really there.
She snuggled up tightly in his arms, her own little arms around his neck.
“I guess you missed me too.” He laughed and gave her another kiss.
“Where you go?” She demanded.
“Too far and for too long, but I’m back now.” He promised her.
Hope turned to her mother. “Mommy look! Nick!” Then she stood on his legs and
hugged him tightly while jumping up and down on his lap.
“Hope! Be careful!” Brooke warned her. “You’re going to hurt him!”
“It’s okay Brooke, no harm.” Nick reminded the beautiful worried blonde by
pointing at his useless legs.
“Oh Nick.” Brooke was embarrassed by her mistake and her blush showed it.
“Nick look!” Hope struggled from his lap and ran to her Aunt Donna. She pulled
her little Barbie suitcase from her hands and quickly zipped it open. She then
ran back to Nick carrying the old toy boat. “Nick!” She pointed inside the
boat.
“Is that me in there?” He asked her.
“Did she bring any clothes?” Brooke asked Donna with a laugh as she saw all the
toys stuffed into the case.
“I have another bag in the car. I’ll get it before I leave.” Donna assured her.
“You’re staying for dinner aren’t you?” Brooke asked with a squint.
“Nah, I thought I’d give you some family time.”
“You ARE family.” Nick answered before Brooke could say a word. “Besides.” He
added. “If I’m going to get poisoned, I’m not going alone.”
“Not fair! I’m a good cook.” Brooke protested.
“Stay anyway.” Nick told her. “I barely saw you since I got back.”
“I didn’t want to keep your family from getting in to visit you.” Donna
explained. She had visited him several times but all short stops.
“Let’s go get her suitcase and then you can come help me in the kitchen.”
Brooke told Donna.
“Hope?” Donna asked.
“I’ll watch her.” Nick told them. Donna looked unsure but Brooke grabbed her
arm and pulled her up the stairs to the top deck.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Donna asked once they were out of hearing
range. “If she falls or something there is really nothing he can do.”
“Donna please, Hope is not going to fall and you’re really underestimating
Nick, he’s come a long way.” Brooke defended her man.
“I know he’d try.” Donna was still reluctant.
“Let’s just get the stuff from the car.” Brooke told her. “I’m not going to
make him feel useless Donna. He’s not you know.”
“He’s still not used to it Brooke.” Donna shook her head. “Poor guy.”
“None of that either.” Brooke stressed. “I don’t want him in a funk feeling
sorry for himself. I want him fighting and working and getting himself out of
that chair.”
“So do I.” Donna agreed. “Come on, let’s get the stuff, I packed a few more
things for you too.” She added with a wink.
“Um, he can’t.” Brooke explained with a blush.
“He can’t do THAT, but he can at least enjoy you.” Donna grinned. “And in the nightie I packed, he is really going to enjoy you.”
“And it went BOOM!” Hope’s eyes widened as she told Nick the story of the
explosion.
“That it did.” Nick agreed as he ruffled the little girl’s hair. “But I’m back
now.”
“Good.” She hugged him and put a sloppy kiss on his cheek. “We fish?” She
asked.
“Maybe tomorrow.” Nick smiled. “So where did you get that ship?” He picked up
the toy and inspected it.
“Rick.” Hope giggled.
“It’s a very nice ship.” He gave it back to her and leaned back against the
pillows. He was so tired. “Very yar.” He told her.
“Nick?” Hope shimmied up so she was right in his face again. Her arms circled
his neck once more.
“Yeah cutie?” He asked.
“Can you marry us?” She innocently asked him as Brooke and Donna made their
decent again.
“We were both in bad places.” Macy lied. “And we reached out to each other.
More than once.”
“Oh God.” Stephanie moaned. “What have you done Macy? What have you done to my
family?”
This wasn’t the reaction that Macy had expected. She was sure that Stephanie
would see how this would be the solution to her Brooke problem, but that wasn’t
happening. “Stephanie it’s not something bad, I love this baby, I want this
baby.” She touched her still slim belly.
“An abortion.” Stephanie was not listening to the woman’s proclamations. “It’s
not too late. I’ll take you today. We can still keep this family together.
We’ll go now.”
“No!” Macy shouted, shocking Stephanie from her own thoughts.
“I know it will be hard Macy, but there will be other babies, babies with
Thorne.” She took her hand. “We need to heal this family, not pull it further
apart. You can’t have Ridge’s baby, it just can’t happen.”
“It can and it will.” Macy pulled her hand away. “I hoped you’d support me. I
guess I was wrong.”
“Thorne will never forgive Ridge if this happens. We have to stop that.”
Stephanie pressed. “You and Ridge can’t do this. You’ll be alone, Macy you need
to realize this.”
“Frankly I am not concerned about Thorne, though I hate that this causes any
problems in your family.” Macy said calmly. “But Ridge and I HAVE done this and
there is a baby, a baby that will be born. I really counted on you Stephanie. I
thought you’d see how this could help you.”
“Help me? Having my two sons at odds? How could that possibly help me?”
“Because once Ridge and I are married, Brooke Logan will be history.” Macy
smiled like a Cheshire Cat.
Nick looked nervously up at Brooke who was blushing but shrugged at him.
“Thanks.” He muttered and then turned his attention back to Hope. “I think that
you’re a little too young to get married, but talk to me in hmmm, seventeen,
eighteen years and if you’re still interested, I’m yours.” He grinned and
touched the end of her nose.
“Okay.” She seemed content but didn’t really understand his answer. She picked
up the boat again and handed it to Nick. “I’m there.” She pointed to a porthole
on the toy.
“I see you!” His eyes widened in mock surprise. “Where’s Mommy?” He asked.
“In bed wit you.” She giggled.
“Okay Hope, time to help Mommy.” Brooke came over and scooped her daughter into
her arms.
“Noooooooooo! I want Nick.” Hope cried.
“Nick is tired sweetie, let’s let him rest.”
“I nap with him.” She twisted and turned until Brooke let her go. Hope snuggled
back up with Nick.
“Is it okay?” Brooke asked Nick.
“Of course it is.” He smiled. “In fact if you want to skip dinner you can join
us.”
“And on that note.” Donna laughed and turned to start up the stairs.
“Donna wait!” Nick called out.
“Don’t go.” Brooke told her.
“Hey, you can join us too.” Nick teased.
“Hmmmm, I never share men with my sister.” Donna
giggled. “Or my niece.”
“A man can dream.” Nick smiled and winked.
“Anyway, I do have plans.”
“What plans?” Brooke was skeptical.
“I’m meeting Megan and we’re going to a club.”
“You can stay for dinner can’t you?” Brooke asked.
“Tomorrow, I’ll come back tomorrow.” Donna promised.
“Oh good.” Nick laughed. “Then I get the chance to poison you.”
“Oh you do?” Donna turned to him.
“I’m going to make dinner tomorrow.” He answered her.
“You?” Donna asked with a strange look.
“Nick is a wonderful cook.” Brooke told her.
“Hmmm, if I remember correctly the one time I did cook for you you barely looked at it.” Nick reminded her.
“I was all depressed over Ridge and all.” Brooke explained. “I had invited Nick
for dinner but I forgot to cook anything. He bailed me out.” She smiled broadly
at him. “And it was delicious.”
“Eggs.” He frowned. “Just eggs. But just wait, I’ll make something a lot better
tomorrow.”
“Are you sure you can?” Donna asked. She immediately regretted her question
when his smile faded from his face and he leaned back in resignation.
“Of course he can.” Brooke quickly answered. “It will be different but I’ll be
his assistant. You come and we’ll show you just how good he can cook.”
“I’m sorry Nick, I didn’t mean it that way.” Donna apologized.
“Whatever.” Nick muttered and closed his eyes.
“It’s okay.” Brooke whispered as she walked up to her sister. “He’ll be fine,
it’s hard on all of us but we’ll make it work.”
“I’m so sorry.” Donna hugged Brooke. “Please make sure he knows that.”
“He does.” Brooke promised. “And Donna.”
“Yeah.” She said with a sad sigh.
“He’s going to love your present.” Brooke hugged her again and then Donna left.
Brooke watched Nick and Hope as they silently lay together, then she went back
to preparing dinner.
“You’re thinking about him aren’t you?” Massimo asked when he saw the far away
look in Jacqueline’s eyes. He gestured for the wine steward who quickly
appeared and silently refilled their champagne glasses. “Thank you.” Massimo
dismissed him.
“It’s his first night and I’m not there.” She said sadly.
“I’m sure Brooke is taking good care of him.” Massimo surprised himself with
his assessment, especially when he realized he truly meant every word.
“She is, she loves him, but I do too Massimo, I do too.” She picked up her fork
and moved the food around on her plate. “I worry so. He’s so bitter, so angry.
I’m afraid he may just give up and then what?”
“The Dominick Payne that I know is not a quitter.” Massimo reminded her. “He’s
a strong man, a fighter.”
“But this is such a hard battle, one like he’s never known before.” She sighed.
“And I’m afraid with his temper and his temperament he might turn like his
father did.”
“He could never be like Frank Payne.” Massimo said with pure hatred.
“Frank started out a good and loving man, but the drink Massimo.” She shook her
head. “What if Nicky’s disappointment makes him turn to drink too?”
“Dominick might put on one good drunk but he’s not going to turn to drink as a
crutch. I know he’s not like that at all. He’s a lot more like me. He gets
angry and he may lash out but then he thinks and grows stronger and he fights
to regain what is his.”
“Like you.” She said softly. “Yes, he is very much like you.”
“Oh God.” Donna moaned when she pulled into the driveway and the first thing
she saw was Ridge’s SUV. “Not again.” She sighed and turned off the motor,
preparing herself for another round.
“Where is she Donna?” Ridge demanded the second she opened the car door.
“And hello to you too Ridge. Long time no see.”
“Where is she Donna?” He repeated.
“You’re a smart guy Ridge, I’d think you’d have gotten the message by now. She
doesn’t want to see you.”
“Just tell me.” He insisted. “Is she STILL at that damn hospital with Popeye?”
“I really don’t know.” Donna shrugged. “Just give it up Ridge and move on, you
know like you always did in the past with Taylor and Caroline and oh yes,
Bridget.”
“Nothing happened with Bridget.” He growled.
“Not what I heard.” She walked to the door, Ridge right behind her. “Oh, are
you coming in?” She asked as she opened the door.
“I’m not leaving until I see her.”
“Suit yourself.” She closed the door.
“Donna why do you hate me? I swear I’m sorry for everything and I love Brooke
and I will make her happy. Won’t you help me? You know that we are inevitable.
It always comes back to us. This is our time.”
“Funny how it’s only ‘your time’ when it’s convenient to you Ridge. How about
all those times when my sister loved you and was devoted to you and you just
tossed her aside like a rag doll? Am I really supposed to forget all that and
support you?”
“I’ve changed. I was wrong before, but it wasn’t always my fault. Things got
between us. But I’ve always loved her. I always will love her and I want her to
be my wife.”
“And as the Rolling Stones say, you can’t always get what you want.” Donna
picked up a pile of mail and started looking at it.
“I’m serious Donna!” Ridge was angry.
“I am too. She’s moved on Ridge, he makes her happy.”
“He’s an uncouth sailor. He can’t even begin to live in her world.”
“Their worlds are a lot more similar than you could even imagine.” Donna put
down the mail and sat on the couch. “He brings out the best in her Ridge,
that’s something you’ve never been able to do with her.”
“What bull.” Ridge growled again.
“She’s never insecure with him.”
“How could she be?” Ridge muttered. “He’s a cripple, no one else wants him.”
“Oh my God Ridge, you’re disgusting!”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.” He apologized.
“Yes you did and that is the sorriest thing of all.” Donna shook her head at
him. “You know Ridge, once I really thought you could make my sister happy.”
“I can. I do. I will. Donna I do make her happy. I messed up but that’s over.
I’m going to prove it to her. I’m changing. I’m getting help. I am not seeing
any other woman.”
“Well good for you. Guess what Ridge. I don’t care and neither does Brooke. She
has a real man, you’re just no competition.”
“I don’t need to compete, she loves me Donna, all she needs to do is just stop
and come back and talk to me. I will make her happy.”
“Then you just knock yourself out Ridge, but I have to go, I have plans.” She
got up and walked towards the stairs.
“Where is she Donna? When will she be back?”
“I don’t know and I don’t know.” Donna smiled and headed up the stairs. Ridge
sat down to prepare himself for the long wait.
Brooke brought the last bowl to the table and looked over at the bed. Her
daughter and Nick were both sound asleep, Nick’s arm protectively around Hope.
She felt such intense love at the sight that tears filled her eyes. “You are a
wonderful man Nick Payne, I am so lucky to have met you. I love you.” She
whispered softly. She smiled and walked to them, gently touching Nick and then
Hope. “Dinner is ready sleepyheads.”
Nick cleared his throat, sat up and smiled at her. “Sorry, I guess today took
more out of me than I thought it would.”
“No need to apologize. Can I help you into the chair?” Brooke asked him.
“Nah, I can do it, but I want to wash up first.”
“Okay.” She smiled and lifted Hope into her arms. “Wake up sweetie, dinner
time.”
“Okay Mommy.” Hope yawned and hugged her. “Nick?” She turned her head and
watched him pull himself into the wheelchair. “Ride! Ride! Pweeze
Nick! Ride!”
“Later Pumpkin.” He laughed. “I won’t be long.” He told Brooke and then wheeled
himself toward the head.
“Nick?” Brooke frowned. “The um, the.” She pointed to his side.
“Oh, it’s gone.” He winked. “Surprised you didn’t notice before.”
“So am I.” She smiled. “So what exactly does this mean?” She asked with a
squint.
“Minimal feeling, no real control. Good for relief but no fun and games yet.”
He winked again.
“Soon.” She winked back and smiled. “Told ya so.” She
added with a giggle.
“We’ll see darlin’.” He laughed again and wheeled up
to the open door.
“Oh this is good, this is so good.” Brooke laughed and smiled. “He doesn’t even
see the improvement but it’s happening, it really is.”
“What Mommy?” Hope innocently asked.
“Nick is getting better sweetie.” Brooke let Hope down. “Let’s sit down at the
table and get ready. Milk or apple juice?”
“Milk please.” Hope followed Brooke the small distance to the table and
scampered up onto a chair. “Where Nick?”
“Nick’s getting cleaned up, he’ll be right here.” Brooke looked to the
partially closed door to the head. It was small, barely room for Nick let alone
the chair. She wondered if he would resent an offer of help. She stood, then
sat again then stood. She was about to walk to the head when Nick came out.
“Need a hand sailor?” She came behind him, leaned down and kissed his neck.
“Not quite the same as the hospital but I’ll get used to it, it’s good to be
home.” He turned his head to meet hers and their lips met in a soft, gentle
kiss. “Wanna play nurse and wheel me over?” He teased.
“I can think of better things to do playing nurse but I’m game.” She put her
hands on the chair to move it. “You still look so tired.”
“A good nights sleep oughta do it.” He said. “And
some of that dinner. It smells good. What is it?”
“Cajun Shrimp and Rice, a nice green salad and some warm rolls. Sound good?”
She asked.
“Sounds awesome.” He let her push his wheelchair up to the table next to Hope.
“Hi Nick.” She giggled shyly.
“Hi Hope.” He gave her a smile. “You like shrimp?”
“Yup.” She giggled.
“A shrimp eating shrimp huh?” He teased the little girl.
“I’m a BIG girl.” She insisted.
“You’re my little shrimp.” He reached over and tickled her.
“I love you Nick.” She said so softly he almost didn’t hear it, but he did and
he was choked up.
“Yeah.” He replied. “Me too Hope.”
“Oh enough of this gushy stuff.” Brooke got up and went to the refrigerator.
“Beer Nick?” She offered.
“One more.” He said. “You too?”
“Sure, let’s live.” She giggled and took out two long necks. She found the
bottle opened and opened them both. She brought then back to the table placing
one in front of her plate and handing one to Nick. “To Nick.” She lifted hers
up in salute. “May his recovery grow more and more each day.”
“Thank Brooke.” Nick lifted his bottle up. “And to Brooke, who made everything
worth fighting for. I love ya sweetheart.”
“I suppose I should be honored.” Massimo said out of nowhere as they waited for
their dessert.
“Honored? Why?” Jackie asked him, pausing as she brought her teacup to her lips.
“You said that Dominick was like me. I try to inspire my men and if I was able
to inspire your son I’ve done a good job haven’t I?”
“Oh Massimo, I do have a confession to make.” Jackie nervously looked from her
cup to Massimo and then away again.
“A confession? What is it Jacqueline? Tell me please.”
“I don’t know Macy, I just don’t know.” Stephanie had been thinking long and
hard since Macy made her revelation. “I don’t want to see Ridge forced into a
marriage he doesn’t want.”
“But if the child was Thorne’s it would be different.” Macy was angry, nothing
was going as she had planned. She had expected Stephanie to be her ally, she
expected her total support.
“You and Thorne were in love, of course it would be different.”
“I don’t love Thorne.” Macy protested.
“And you expect me to believe that you love Ridge? Macy he just lost the love
of his life, he has a viper coming at him with both guns blazing not to mention
the troubles with learning of his paternity. Why would I think that this is
good for him or for you for that matter?”
“We connected, we connected like I never did with Thorne. Maybe if things had
been different we would have connected long ago. Stephanie you thought I was a
good choice for Thorne, why not Ridge?”
“If I thought you’d both be happy I could support it.”
“Stephanie there is a baby, a real live baby in here. Help me, please help me
get Ridge to do the right thing.”
“What are you doing here?” Rick practically spit as he walked in to find Ridge
in his mother’s living room.
“Waiting for my fiancée.” Ridge answered.
“She’s not your fiancée Ridge, she’s not your anything!” He slammed down the
folders in his hands. “I want you to leave!”
“No can do Ricky boy, I am here until your mother says otherwise.”
“My mother isn’t even here. She doesn’t want to see you. She won’t come home
until you’re gone.”
“She has to come home, she will have to get Hope to bed soon.” Ridge looked at
his watch.
“Maybe Hope isn’t coming home either. You’re so stupid Ridge.”
“I know Hope can’t visit Spongebob in the hospital,
so she isn’t there with Brooke, I also know Donna went out, so she isn’t
watching her. Brooke is going to have to get her and bring her home and I will
be here waiting.” They both looked towards the door at the sound of a car. “I
think that’s her now.” Ridge smiled and got up and walked to the window. “It
is, it’s her Jag.”
“Ridge please, please just leave her alone. If she asks you to leave, leave.
Promise me Ridge, promise me.”
“She won’t Rick, not once I’ve had time to talk to her. Now you be a good boy
and go to your room and leave the grownups alone okay?”
“I don’t like this, I don’t like it one bit.” Rick protested. “I’m not leaving
her alone unless SHE tells me to.”
“Hi honey!” Amber ran over to Rick and gave him a kiss. Little Eric followed
and held up his arms to be picked up.
“Daddy!” He called out to Rick.
“Where did you come from?” Ridge asked Amber with distaste.
“Not the rock you crawled out from under.” She countered with a laugh. Then she
turned back to Rick. “We gotta get one of those. I
just love your Mom’s Jag.”
“Why are YOU driving Brooke’s car?” Ridge demanded.
“Because she told me I could.” Amber said, getting right up to Ridge’s face.
“Suck on that!”
“Come on Amber, don’t provoke him.” Rick warned his wife. “When did Mom give
you the car?”
“This afternoon.” Amber explained. “She picked up the new one and asked me to
bring this one home for her. She told me I could use it any time I wanted, she
even left a car seat in the back for Eric.”
“Brooke has a new car?” Ridge asked with a frown.
“How do you like that Ridge? And she didn’t even tell you.” Rick said with
sarcasm. “Go home, she doesn’t want to see you. Hell, she’s even buying new
cars so you can’t stalk her.”
“I’m not leaving till I see her.” He insisted. Then he walked back to the
living room and angrily plopped down on the couch.
“I’m all ears.” Massimo told the nervous woman.
“You’ll think I’m a little daft I’m sure.” Jackie took a sip of her tea.
“I won’t know until you tell me.” Massimo answered her.
“Growing up, I filled Nicky’s life with stories of you. He grew up seeing you
as some sort of idol Massimo. He admired you long before you ever met him.” She
looked down and then back up again. “I admired you so much, I wanted my son to have
a hero he could look up to. One so very different from Frank Payne.”
“I’m very flattered and I am honored too because Jacqueline, I admire your son
very, very much.”
“He’s a good man isn’t he?” Jackie smiled. “I tried so hard to raise him well,
but it wasn’t easy.”
“When that bastard left you, why didn’t you find me Jacqueline?”
“I let you down so badly. I hurt you. I had no right to turn to you for help
after leaving you the way that I did. I will always regret that Massimo,
always.”
“You did what you felt you had to do. I was hurt and angry, but I would have
understood and I would have helped you. Instead you had to live with that man’s
abuse and then a woman alone with a small child.”
“Nicky was always so good and so helpful. He took jobs so money was never a
problem and he fell in love with the sea, just like his, his hero.”
Massimo smiled with pride. “I wish I could have known him sooner. My company is
so large, it shouldn’t have taken a tragedy to bring us together.”
“No, but the important thing is that you do know each other. You are both good
for each other Massimo.” She smiled at him.
“I’m glad to know him, and even more glad to know his mother…….again.” He took
her hand and held it gently.
The man put down the newspaper and took another gulp of his coffee. He wished
it was whiskey or at the very least a beer but he needed to get himself settled
before he could indulge his desires. “All of them.” He smiled as he watched two
pretty young girls walk into the diner and take a booth near the door. He
picked up the paper again and smiled. “So the little brat has grown up to be a
hero. And working for him of all people. Oh Jackie, so you used the brat to get
your wealth after all.” He gazed carefully at the grainy black and white photo
of the bearded sailor. “Hello Nicky boy, your dear old Dad is back, and he’s
going to cash in on some of that luck of yours. Oh yes he is. But I just have
to bide my time and see just how close your mother has gotten to her old lover.
This could be very interesting indeed.” He put the paper aside and once more
turned to watch the two girls. Maybe he’d indulge one of his desires sooner
rather than later. He got up and headed to the men’s room.
Eric turned off the TV and put down the remote. Nothing interested him and it
was too early to go to bed. His life was so different since he had left
Stephanie. The apartment he had rented was nice, but lonely. Eric was used to
having family around but now he just had himself and it was unsettling. He
reached for the phone but could think of no one to call. “Come on Eric, snap
out of it.” He told himself. “If you want a new life you have to go out and
make it yourself.” And with determination he grabbed his jacket and his keys
and left the apartment.
“Mmmmmm. Brooke, God Brooke.” Nick moaned as they lay
kissing on his bed. He frowned and sat up. “Damn, I hate to see this come to an
end but Shirley Temple here looks beat. I think it may be time for you to get
her home to bed.”
Brooke looked over at Hope who had fallen asleep on the floor amid a pile of
dolls and her toy boat. “Why Captain Payne, it appears you’re right.” She gave
him a quick kiss, adjusted her blouse and got up off the bed. She walked to
Hope and gently woke her. “Hey sweetie. Time for all little girls to be in
bed.”
“Okay Mommy.” She easily agreed as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.
“Come on Sweetie.” Brooke lifted her into her arms and took her into the small
bathroom. Nick watched with a touch of sadness. He hated to see them leave and
he also was a little nervous about being on his own.
“Grow up.” He muttered to himself. “You’ve never relied on anyone in your life,
well not since you grew up that is.” He sighed and reached for the bottle of
beer next to the bed. It was almost empty and when he tasted it it was warm and unappealing. He looked over at the
refrigerator, which seemed to have moved at least 50 feet since the last time
he saw it. The thought of pulling himself back into the chair didn’t have much
appeal either. “I’ll ask Brooke for something before she leaves, that’s not
being too dependent.” He convinced himself. He looked around the ship
nervously. Everything did seem so much larger, so much more unreachable than he
had imagined. “It’s a new world Nick, you gotta get
used to it, you gotta learn to deal with it.” He
sighed and picked up a magazine and tried to skim though it, to cure his unease
but the pictures of all the strong, healthy people doing normal things in the
pictures made him even more nostalgic. He threw it to the floor in disgust. “Stupid,
stupid.” He chastised himself. “Don’t let her see you this way, don’t let her
see you weak Nick.”
“Blankie.” Hope’s voice made him look up. Brooke was
carrying her out of the head but Hope was now in little pink pajamas with
kittens and puppies on them. She was reaching out as if trying to grab
something.
“It’s in the bag.” Brooke told her and put her down. “Go get it while Mommy
fixes up the bed.”
“What bed?” Nick squinted and frowned. What was she up to? He wondered.
“This.” Brooke pulled out the small Aerobed and let
it inflate. “I thought it was a lot easier than trying to get a regular bed in
here for her. She pulled out small pink sheets and a small white down
comforter. “Though I have to warn you, at some time in the night she WILL end
up with us.”
“With us?” He squinted again.
“In bed with us.” She explained. “When she gets confused, and she will if she
wakes up during the night, she’ll come to find me. I know it will be a little
tight but I think we can handle it don’t you?”
“In bed with us?” He asked in confusion.
“You don’t want me to sleep on the floor do you?” She giggled and crossed her
arms across her chest.
“You, you’re staying?” He asked.
“Of course I am. We’re a team aren’t we?” She walked over to him and gave him a
kiss. “We’re in this together sailor. You, me and Hope. Just try and get rid of
us.” She gave him a tight hug. “Now let me get Hope settled so we can get back
to doing what we were doing before.” She giggled and walked back to the
makeshift bed.
“I’m so sorry Jacqueline.” Massimo apologized. “I’ll send my driver right back
for you, but I must leave immediately.”
“Don’t bother Massimo, I can get a taxi.” She told him with a warm smile. “I
know how important this is, to you and to my Nicky.”
“We’ll do this again.” He told her.
“Yes, soon.” She promised. “I had a lovely time, thank you so much for inviting
me Massimo.”
“I’ll call you.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet. He pulled out
several bills and put them down. “Please use this for the cab, it’s the least I
can do.”
“Thank you Massimo.” She put the money in her purse and then put her hand on
his. “Go now, you have important business.”
“Again, I am sorry.” He apologized again. He got up, picked up the check. “I’ll
take care of this with Jacques.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Get home
safely.”
“I will.” She smiled and let go of his hand. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” He touched her cheek and walked away. Jackie smiled and took a
last sip of her tea, she sat at the table for a while and then looked at the
bar. It was still early and she had no desire to go home alone. She didn’t want
to disturb Nicky and Brooke either. She got up, walked to the bar and sat down.
“What can I get you?” The bartender asked almost as soon as she sat.
“Hmmmm. A brandy would be lovely.” She reached for
her purse.
“Make that two and it’s on me.” The distinguished gentleman with the salt and
pepper hair said as he sat down next to her. “Eric Forrester.” He introduced
himself.
“Jackie Payne.” She smiled at him.
“Jackie Payne, you can’t be.” He frowned.
“I can’t?” She asked with an enchanting laugh. “But I am.”
“You’re far too young and too beautiful to be Nick Payne’s mother.”
“Too beautiful? Are you saying my son isn’t attractive?” She teased.
“Now that came out wrong, but you know what I meant. Perhaps we start over.” He
smiled and extended his hand. “Hello, I am Eric Forrester, the man who just
made a meal out of his shoe.”
“Delighted.” She laughed. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
They paused as the bartended brought them their drinks, then Eric spoke with a
mischievous grin.
“Not all bad I hope.”
“Mostly good.” She grinned back. “Your ex-wife thinks the world of you and that
in itself says so much about you.”
“Of course, you do know Brooke don’t you?”
“She’s a lovely woman.”
“Yes she is.” Eric agreed. “How is Nick?” He asked.
“He was released from the hospital today.” She smiled and sighed.
“That’s wonderful.” Eric looked at her sad face and frowned. “Isn’t it?”
“Yes, but he has such a long way to go.”
“Has he regained any feeling?” Eric asked with concern.
“No, not yet, but the doctors are hopeful. He has the most wonderful team of
doctors and a lovely physical therapist and of course Brooke.”
“She’s helping a lot?” Eric asked.
“I don’t think he’d even be home in the states without her. Brooke is heaven
sent.” She smiled. “She is so good for my son. Oh, I’m sorry, I must sound
insensitive.”
“Brooke and I have a very deep friendship. We love and respect each other. I
want to see her happy.” Eric assured her.
“Too bad your son doesn’t feel the same way.” She took a sip of her brandy.
“Ridge doesn’t seem to like me very much, but then I suppose I represent the
man who won over his woman to him.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure of that. Brooke and Ridge have a very strong connection,
a deep history. I’d never count them out.”
“I think this time is going to prove you wrong.” Jackie told him. “But please
understand, I have no desire to argue about our sons. I’m sure Ridge is a good
man, just not the right man for Brooke.”
“Let’s agree to talk of something besides our children.” He picked up his glass
and saluted her. “I understand you work for Lauren Fenmore?”
“I’m a buyer.” She answered. “Fashion is in my blood too. I must say that I’ve
long been an admirer of your work.”
“Why thank you.” He smiled.
“In fact, I spoke to someone at your office today, a Megan I believe. I was
suppose to meet with Brooke but I know she is taking a leave for a while.”
“You’ll be meeting with me.” He laughed. “How wonderful to have something like
that to look forward to.”
“Oh I love this song.” Jackie started to hum along with the music being played.
“It reminds me of when I was a girl.”
“It’s a favorite of mine too.” Eric agreed. “Would you like to dance?”
“I’d adore it.” She stood and gave him her hand. “Lead the way Mr. Forrester.”
“Where are you going?” Nick asked Brooke as she struggled out of his embrace.
“Shhhh. Just going to freshen up.” She kissed him
again. “Can I get you anything before I go?”
“Another one of those.” He pulled her back and kissed her deeply and
passionately.
“Mmmmmmm.” She murmured with contentment. “I could
get used to this.”
“I already am.” He smiled at her. “Thank you Brooke.”
“For what?” She asked.
“For staying, for not giving up on me, for not letting ME give up on me.”
“You wouldn’t have anyway.” She assured him. “I’ll be right back.” She got out
of his arms and off the bed. After tucking Hope in again she reached into the
suitcase, grabbed something and tiptoed into the head.
Nick grabbed the water bottle that Brooke had brought over earlier and took a
gulp. He hated to admit how happy he was that Brooke had decided to stay with
him. He wanted her here, not just to help him but because he really loved her
and he found himself growing happier with every moment they spent together.
“You are becoming my addiction.” He said aloud.
“What?” Brooke called out from behind the closed bathroom door.
“I said I’m getting addicted to you.” He shouted.
“Hmmmm, kinky, but nice.” She opened the door and
stepped out. No longer was she adorned in the sexy tight jeans and red polo
shirt. Instead she wore a short blue nightie with
thin spaghetti straps. The candlelight of the room made it almost translucent
and Nick gulped as he looked at her body from top to bottom.
“You’re beautiful.” He told her.
“Thank my sister, she thought you’d like it.” Brooke blushed and returned to
the bed.
“I will.” He pulled her back to him. “You smell nice.” He breathed in her sweet
scent.
“It’s a new scent developed just for Forrester, you’re my guinea pig.” She
giggled.
“Well oink, oink, I like it.” He nuzzled her neck kissing and nipping at her.
“Guinea pigs don’t oink silly.” She laughed harder until she suddenly gasped at
the feel of Nick’s fingers traveling up her bare thighs. “Oh.” She said with a
sigh.
“Mmmmmm.” His lips captured hers in another deep
intense kiss, enhanced by the magic Nick’s fingers were making.
“Oh God Nick.” She moaned. “Nick.” She sighed again.
“So beautiful.” He pushed down one of the thin straps of her nightie. His breath on her bare breast turned her nipple
hard and tight and when he took it into his mouth she almost screamed.
“Nick.” Was all she could manage as she just closed her eyes and let his
fingers and his mouth do things to her that she hadn’t even imagined happening
to her at this point. Nick pulled her body closer to his and their hearts were
so in tune they were beating as one. “Nick?” Brooke opened her eyes. Her mouth
was open wide in amazement. He looked up at her in confusion.
“Am I hurting you?” He asked.
“You, it, I mean.” She reached down and touched him. “You’re reacting to me, to
us.”
“It has a mind of it’s own Brooke.” He took her hand from him and held it. “I
have no control.”
“But you have feeling.” She said in meek protest.
“It sort of comes and goes. Brooke it’s not happening yet. Just let me love
you, let me make you happy, don’t worry about me right now, just having you
with me is enough, just kissing you and touching you and tasting you is more
than I could even ask for.” He held her face with both of his hands and kissed
her deeply again.
“It will happen Nick, it will.” She whispered.
“You make a believer out of me.” He smiled at her. “But not tonight. It’s not
going to happen tonight. So let’s just enjoy what we have okay?”
“Okay.” She kissed his lips. “Okay.” She said as her arms snaked around his
neck.
“Do you love me?” He asked.
“Yes, oh yes Nick, yes.” She said as tears filled her eyes. “I love you so
much.”
“Then have faith in me. I promise you, the minute things change, you’ll be the
first to know.”
“Okay.” She sighed and relaxed.
“Cause I love you Brooke, like I’ve never loved anyone in my life I love you.”
Stephanie paced back and forth. She wished she could talk to Eric, she needed
his advice, his guidance and his love but she knew she couldn’t go to him right
now. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow at the office. Maybe this can help bring us
back together.” She took a sip of her drink, winced and put it down. She didn’t
need alcohol to right now, she needed a clear mind, she needed to think about
what would be best for her family. “Macy, Macy, Macy, what have you done to
us?” She had sent the girl home with a promise that she would think it all over
and get back to her. She knew that Macy had expected her support and normally
anything that would rid Ridge of Brooke would have gotten it but at the expense
of Thorne? She had to wonder if it was worth it. She liked Macy, but she liked
her for Thorne. It was hard for her to admit but Stephanie knew she would never
feel that Macy was good enough for her favorite son. “Taylor was, Caroline was,
but Macy?” She frowned and looked at the photos on the mantle. One was of
Thorne and Macy. She lifted it up as well as one of just Ridge. She placed that
one in front of the other, blocking Thorne with Ridge. “Could you make him
happy? Could you really be the answer? I wish I knew. I wish I knew what to do.
I could talk to Ridge, I could ask him how he feels.” She looked longingly at
the phone but just sat down, staring at the two photos.
“He’s still down there.” Amber told Rick as she got back into bed. “He gives me
the creeps.”
“I don’t know what it’s going to take to get him to realize she’s not coming
home.” Rick sighed and put his arm around her.
“Maybe he’s asleep. Why don’t you go wake him up and ask him to leave?” Amber
suggested.
“Like that worked the ten other times I tried?” Rick shook his head. “Nah,
he’ll just go out stalking Mom and if he ever gets a brain flash he might even
try Nick’s. I don’t want him to bother them.”
“I know.” Amber agreed. “I just wish he’d go home.”
“So do I.” Rick reached for the light and turned it off. “Goodnight baby.” He
said with a kiss.
“I hadn’t realized how late it was.” Eric looked at his watch. “Can I walk you
to your car?” He asked Jackie.
“Actually I have to call a cab. My date was called away, that’s why I was at
the bar.” She explained.
“Well you can forget about the cab, I’ll take you home.” Eric stood up and
helped Jackie to her feet. He grabbed her purse from the bar and handed it to
her.
“Thank you Eric, I’d very much appreciate the ride.” This was punctuated with a
hiccup and then a giggle. “I’m afraid that I’ve a little too much to drink.”
“Let me help you.” He put his arm around her. “Ready?”
“Ready.” She laughed and let him lead her out of the Café Russe.
They walked slowly and unsteadily to his car. He opened the door and helped her
in and then got into his own side. He started the engine and put the car into
gear.
“I’m afraid I don’t know where you’re staying.”
“Oh dear, it’s a lovely house on the beach.” She told him. “But I don’t
remember the address.”
“Hmmm. Shall we check your driver’s license? That should tell us something.”
Eric suggested.
“No, no I still have one from Seattle, I’ve not renewed it here. But I could
call Lauren and ask her.” She said with a laugh.
“Lauren knows your address and you don’t?” Eric chuckled.
“Lauren is letting me use it. Fenmore’s rents it from
someone I think.” Jackie scratched her head. “I’ve had far too much to drink
tonight.”
“A house on the beach that Fenmore uses?” Eric asked.
“Could it be?”
“What?” Jackie asked him.
“I think I know where it is. I think I know just where it is.” He laughed and
headed out on the highway.
Brooke woke up to the sound of a loud crash and a louder curse. She jumped up
and ran to find Nick on the floor in front of the door to the head. “Are you
alright?” She asked as she kneeled down in front of him. “Does anything hurt?”
“Just my pride.” He muttered. “Just push the chair out of my way a little will
you?”
“Let me help you up.” She argued.
“I need to do this myself Brooke.” He pushed her arms away and looked around
for something strong to pull himself up with. He was too far away from any
solid furniture and the only things around were far too fragile to handle his
weight. “Damn it!” He said loudly. Brooke nervously wrung her hands, wanting to
help him and not wanting to anger him. Her plan was working but she didn’t like
what it was doing to Nick.
“What happened?” She asked.
“The head, it’s too small, I couldn’t get in and, awwh
shit.” He reached his hand out to her. “Can you help me back into the chair?”
“Of course I can.” She told him. She put her hands under his arms and slowly
got him up and into the chair. It took a lot of effort and they were both worn
out once he sat again. “Better?” She asked.
“I was struggling for so long.” He wiped his brow with his arm. “First I
couldn’t get the door open, then I got stuck on the rug. I tried to get up the
ramp but I just couldn’t. I feel so damn useless.”
“You’re not useless Nick, this is all new, it will get easier and it won’t last
forever, you’ll be walking again soon.”
“You can’t count on that Brooke, it may never happen.” He sighed and looked
around the boat. “It’s so small and yet it was so impossible. I don’t know what
I would have done if you hadn’t stayed. I’d have been on the floor for hours. I
couldn’t get to the phone, I just don’t know what to do anymore, I really
don’t.”
“I’m not leaving Nick.” Brooke promised.
“You can’t spend every second with me and I don’t want that anyway. I need to
be independent.” He protested.
“You are, you will be but it takes time. Nick you’ve only been home for a
couple of hours. You’re doing an amazing job.”
“Amazing?” He asked with a sarcastic laugh. “I never even did what I had to do
in there. I don’t even know if I can. Damn it Brooke, what am I supposed to do?
I can’t frigging live my life depending on people to get me around. I can’t
even pee on my own.”
“This is just temporary Nick.” She sat on the edge of a small end table next to
him. “I know you love it Nick but the Shady Marlin is just not wheelchair
friendly. I tried, I really did, I got the ramp and I had them move some things
lower but.” She stopped and looked at him. He was looking around helplessly.
“Don’t worry, we’ll get it to work.” She told him. Suddenly as much as she knew
the house was perfect, she wanted Nick to be where he would be happy, and that
was here, on the Shady Marlin.
“Can you keep him away?” Nick asked gruffly.
“Who? Away from where?”
“Forrester.” He said. “If I stay with you, can you keep him away?”
“Oh Nick.” She put her arms around him. “Are you really willing to do that?”
“I need to do something Brooke.” He admitted. “I’m not sure what, but I need to
do something but right now can you just help me in there?” He pointed to the
head.
“Sure.” She smiled and walked next to him as he wheeled himself to the door.
“Just tell me what to do.”
“Why are you still up?” Ridge asked when he walked into the Forrester mansion
to find Stephanie sitting up reading.
“I have a lot on my mind. I couldn’t sleep. What are you doing here honey?” She
got up and gave him a hug and kiss.
“She didn’t come home. No one will tell me anything.”
Stephanie didn’t have to ask to know that he was talking about Brooke. “Forget
her, she’s no good for you.”
“I love her. I love her and I am going to marry her.” Ridge insisted, but with
less conviction than usual.
“Did you spend your entire evening waiting for her?” Stephanie asked him.
“She needs to listen to me. I need to explain. We can fix it if only she would
just stop and listen.”
“You need to go home to your children Ridge. They already lost their mother,
don’t make them feel like they’ve lost their father too.”
“Catherine is with them.” Ridge mumbled.
“Catherine is not their father. They need you Ridge, more than Brooke Logan
ever will. You say she won’t listen, well you won’t listen to me honey. Go home
to your children and forget about Brooke. There are so many other wonderful
women out there.”
“What? Are you going to throw me another party?” He sarcastically asked her.
“You don’t need me for that.” She answered him. “I know you’ve seen other
women.”
“Who?” His eyes widened in shock.
“It’s not important. I just want you happy, you and my grandchildren and I know
Brooke isn’t going to be the one to do that for you.”
“I love her.”
“She’s familiar, she’s comfortable, but that isn’t love Ridge, if it were then
nothing would ever have kept you apart. You chose both Caroline and Taylor over
her, you would have chosen Bridget. Doesn’t that tell you something? Think
about it Ridge, think carefully.”
“Things always came between us. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t love her. I
always loved her.”
“Like you love a stray dog that follows you home. But in the end it’s the
purebred that you want in your home.”
“And to you Brooke is that stray dog?” Ridge asked with disgust.
“Yes honey, she is, and I think you know it too. I just wonder if, no, not now,
you just go home to your kids and we can talk tomorrow. I love you Ridge, you
know that, I love you and your father does too.”
“Which one?” He asked sadly.
“Both, but I meant your father, the man who raised you, Eric.” She gave him
another hug and a kiss. “I’m sorry that my mistakes hurt you and I’m sorry that
they hurt your father.”
“I don’t blame you mother, but I just don’t get how you think we can all
forgive you but that you won’t forgive Brooke for anything, ever.” He shook his
head and gave her a hug. “But I love you anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow Mother.”
“How did you know?” Jackie asked Eric as he pulled up to the beach house.
“There are literally millions of houses up and down the coast, how did you know
it was this one?”
“Psychic.” Eric teased.
“Ah, so you’re a seer. Tell me oh wondrous one, what does my future hold?” She
laughed heartily.
“Hmmmm, well I can tell you what I’d LIKE it to
hold.” He laughed with her. “Actually I knew it was this house because my son
owns it, it belonged to his late wife Taylor and he’s rented it to Lauren for
visiting guests. I’m very glad that it was available for you.”
“As am I.” Jackie agreed. “It’s a lovely house, I feel so very much at home
here.”
“It suits you.” Eric opened his door and quickly got to her side and helped her
out. He took her arm and walked her to the door. “It was a lovely evening
Jackie, I’d like to see you again.”
“I’d like that too Eric.” She rummaged through her purse and pulled out a card.
“That’s my cell, I answer that a lot easier than I do the regular line.” She
yawned and looked at him. “Would you like some coffee? I hate to send you back
on the road so late and all alone.”
“I’d love some coffee.” He answered and followed her inside.
Nick awoke with a sense of confusion. He was so used to the hospital that he
couldn’t seem to grasp the smell of fresh sea air and even stranger was the
arms of the little girl, firmly wrapped around his neck, her sweet breath
mingling with the sea and strong coffee.
“Brooke?” He called out in a hoarse voice.
“Oh, you’re awake.” She walked over, leaned down and gave him a kiss. “The two
of you were so dead to the world I didn’t have the heart to wake you but I
thought my coffee might. Want some?”
“After I take care of business.” He gently lifted Hope and put her down on the
bed again.
“Need a hand?” She asked.
“Probably, but it might do my fragile ego some good if I at least tried it on
my own.” He pulled himself into a sitting position.
“I’ve been up a while.” Brooke explained. “And I’m not too bad with a toolbox.”
“And?” He frowned.
“I lowered some more things for you. I want it to work here for you if that’s
what you want.”
“You’re an angel.” He pulled her to him and kissed her.
“The Listerine is within reach too.” She teased and turned up her nose.
“That bad?” He asked.
“Actually, I’d kiss you forever.” She sat down on the bed and snuggled into his
arms, her lips on his in a tender and loving kiss. “But.” She pulled away. “I’m
making sausage and eggs so I need to get back to the kitchen.” She got up and
went back to the stove.
“What time do you have to leave for Forrester?” He asked. He was worried about
being alone on the Marlin.
“I don’t.” She told him as she put sausage links into the cast iron frying pan.
“I’ve taken a leave of absence.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Nick said half-heartedly.
“I know.” She smiled. “But I wanted to. Now go do your thing, breakfast will be
ready soon and I have to wake up Hope.” She watched him as he easily got into
the wheelchair. Nick was adapting and that made Brooke happy. She knew it
wasn’t easy and she was so proud of him. He wheeled himself to the head and
turned around and smiled at Brooke.
“Thanks for moving that rug.” He told her.
“I almost tripped on it myself.” She lied and smiled back.
He surveyed the situation and slowly started to ease himself out of the chair
and into the head. Brooke heard his grunts and groans but knew she had to let
him do it on his own, that is until he asked for her help. Finally he was
inside but he left the door slightly ajar. She turned down the heat on the
sausage and walked over to the bed. She bent down and gave her daughter a kiss.
“Good morning sunshine.”
“Hi Mommy.” Hope put her arms around Brooke’s neck and hugged her, letting her
mother pull her up. “I gotta go tinkle.”
“In a minute Sweetie, Nick is in there.” Brooke told the little girl. “Did you
have a good night’s sleep?”
“Oh yes Mommy. I love Nick.” She smiled and started to giggle. “I like libbing on a boat.”
“It’s fun isn’t it?” Brooke had to agree.
“We go fishing?” Hope asked with glee.
“I’m not sure honey. Nick has things that he has to do. I thought I’d take you
to playgroup. Won’t that be fun?”
“I wanna fish with Nick.” Hope’s lower lip started to
tremble slightly.
“Now no waterworks Hope. We can fish when things are a little more normal.
Remember what I told you about the wheelchair and about the explosion.”
“Boom!” Hope answered.
“Yes. And now Nick has to go and work with a very special lady who is going to
help him walk again.”
“That’s silly Mommy.” Hope giggled. “Nick too old to crawl like a baby.”
“You got that right Pumpkin.” Nick said as he opened the door and reached for
the chair.
“Need help?” Brooke asked.
“Let me try it.” Nick reached again, finally getting his hand on the chair.
Slowly and carefully he pulled it to him. Brooke smiled at his minor triumph as
he got into the chair and wheeled over to her. “I did it.” He grinned.
“I knew you could.” Brooke turned to Hope. “Okay honey, your turn.”
“Hi Nick.” Hope said shyly, putting her thumb into her mouth.
“Hi cutie.” He reached over and ticked her belly. “Mmmm
that smells good.” He told Brooke.
“Thanks. Want some coffee now?”
“Oh yeah.” He wheeled over to the table.
“Orange juice?” Brooke asked as she poured him a mug of steaming coffee.
“Wow, you sure did stock up.” He laughed. “Sure, juice sounds good.”
“I’m sure the last time you had juice there was gin or rum or vodka in it.”
Brooke laughed. She brought him the mug of coffee and the cream and sugar. “But
I’m going to take good care of you.”
“Baby, you already do.” Nick pulled her onto his lap and claimed her mouth. She
moaned softly, giving in to the passion. Finally she struggled up.
“I have to finish cooking.” She told him.
“Spoil sport.” He teased but picked up his mug and took another gulp.
“Where da tub?” Hope was perplexed as she came out of
the small head.
“No tub sweetie, just a shower.” Nick explained. “Damn.” He sighed. “That’s not
going to work well now is it?”
“I’ll fill up a basin for you.” Brooke suggested.
“Oh great.” He moaned.
“Do you have another suggestion?” Brooke asked him. “I’m willing to help you
try anything but the chair is not going to fit into that tiny stall.” She had
seen it the other times she had been on the ship. She hadn’t even thought about
it though, until this moment. “Maybe we could go in together and I could hold
you up?” She offered.
“This sucks.” He pounded his fist down.
“Mommy! Nick said a bad word!” Hope ‘tattled’ on the man.
“You’re right, I did and I’m sorry Hope.” Nick sighed.
“We can try it Nick.” Brooke spoke up again.
“Never mind, I’ll get clean at therapy. I just hate this.” He rubbed his chin.
“I guess I better buy an electric razor, I can’t stand up and shave.”
“But you can sit and shave. I will set up a basin for that.” Brooke insisted.
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself Nick, we need to work out the kinks, but we
will do it.”
“Just what I need, Pollyanna.” He groaned.
“Oh hush.” Brooke laughed and flipped the eggs. “Over easy Nick?” She asked.
“Might as well, I sure could do with SOMETHING easy.”
“Oh, but you have me.” Brooke teased with a giggle. “And I am soooooo easy for you.”
“Hey Dad.” Thomas pushed his cereal bowl away and looked at Ridge with a very
serious expression.
“What sport?” Ridge put down the newspaper and gave his son all of his
attention.
“How long is that lady going to live here?”
“Don’t you like her?” Ridge nervously asked. He didn’t want anyone to know
about Pilar and if his son was unhappy, he knew that
word was going to get out soon.
“She’s okay, I just don’t know why she’s here.” He shrugged.
“Pilar lost her home in the explosion, she is a
friend of Grandpa Massimo.” Ridge lied. “So I brought her here to stay with
us.”
“Why doesn’t she work?” Thomas pressed.
“Well, she doesn’t have a job here in America, she has one in Mexico. But I
think she’d like one here. Maybe I can help her find one.”
“Why don’t you just find her an apartment?” Thomas pressed the issue.
“And how would you like to be all alone in a foreign country without any friends
or family?”
“Can’t she stay with Grandpa Massimo then?” Thomas was insistent.
“Because she is staying with us.” Ridge said firmly. “Now go scrape you bowl
and put it in the dishwasher, I’m ready to go and if you want me to take you to
school you gotta hustle son.”
“Dad?” Thomas looked up at him.
“Yes Thomas?” Ridge was growing impatient with the constant questions, but
there was no way he was going to let Thomas know. His children had had too many
hurts and disappointments and Ridge was not going to give them another.
“Is she your girlfriend?” Thomas asked.
Ridge chucked and ruffled his son’s hair. “No Thomas, she is just a friend. You
know that Brooke is my girlfriend, in fact Brooke is going to be your stepmom very soon.”
“Dad, you know she said no.” Thomas chided his father in a tone more mature
than Ridge expected. “She’s not going to marry you. I think you should start
dating again. Pilar is pretty. Why don’t you ask her
out?”
“Because you are wrong, just like all the other doubting Thomas’s, Brooke still
loves me and she is going to marry me and she is going to move in here and be
your stepmother. Now go get ready son, we’re running very late.”
“What about the girls?” Thomas asked.
“Catherine is taking care of them. Now scoot! We leave in five minutes.”
“Oh my God are you trying to kill me?” Nick moaned as Tracy pushed him further
with his exercises.
“You were late Nick, we’re making up for lost time.”
“I was what? Ten minutes late?” He frowned. “I don’t think I deserve torture
over ten minutes.”
“Your entire foot just moved.” She said, ignoring him. “Did you see that?”
“Have I impressed you? Do I get a break now?” He asked her.
“Here.” She reached into her bag, took out a bottle of Gatorade and threw it to
him. “Two minutes and then back to work.”
“Are you sure your last name isn’t Hitler?” He used a towel to wipe his brow.
“You moved your foot Nick, we’re not going to waste any progress.”
“Hmmmm.” He took a long gulp of the drink. “So what
next?” He asked.
“More of the same, then down to the pool.”
“Then the whirlpool?” He asked.
“If you’re good and you work hard.” She told him.
“Is there a Mr. Hitler at home?” He asked her.
“Are you hitting on me?” She frowned. “I don’t want you hitting on me Nick.”
“No, I’m not hitting on you. I have a wonderful woman waiting at home for me. I
was just feeling sorry for whoever waits for you.”
“Don’t.” She grinned. “You see I go home with tons of energy and Matt loves
it.”
“Matt?” Nick c*cked his eyebrow in question.
“My husband Matt.”
“You don’t wear a ring.” Nick looked at her hand.
“Not while I work.” She confirmed. “But believe me, I’m very happily married so
you have nothing to worry about, no ulterior motives here.”
“Tracy my love, that is not good for my ego.” Nick laughed.
“I think your ego is plenty large.” She smiled at him. “Come on Nick, let’s get
back to work okay?”
“You got it.” He put down the bottle. “Do you really think I’m making
progress?” He asked her with concern.
“I really do. I swear. Come on sailor, get that cute butt of yours moving huh?”
“Hmmmm, I thought you weren’t interested.”
“I may not be interested, but I’m not blind either. If I wasn’t married and you
weren’t involved.” She grinned and stopped. “Work okay?”
“Yes massa.” Nick teased.
“Sue it’s perfect.” Brooke followed the woman around the house. “However did
you get it all done so quickly?”
“You made a lot of the calls Brooke, I just supervised.” She took her into the
large bathroom. “See, the stool is connected and yet you can move it out of the
way. He can shower easily and so can anyone who doesn’t have to or want to sit
and with the improvements to the tub.” She stopped as Brooke finished the
thought.
“He can take a bath too.” Brooke smiled broadly. “It will be so easy for him to
get in and the doors are wide enough for the chair to go in and out. And all
the rugs that looked like trouble.”
“Gone.” Sue promised. “The hardwood floors should work nicely and so should the
marble ones. We changed the existing carpet to a flatter one that the wheels
will work on.”
“I can’t believe it. It’s all so perfect, I just hope Nick likes it.”
“What’s not to like?” Sue asked her.
“He loves his boat so much, but Sue, it’s really not working and he knows it.
If there were any way possible I’d do it, but it isn’t good for him and I don’t
think it’s the best place for Hope either. The boat was fine for a single man
who was on his feet and didn’t have anyone else to worry about.” Brooke felt
like she was making excuses but she cared so deeply for Nick, she wanted a
future with him and that meant compromises on both their parts. This house
would be just that. Nick wouldn’t be the only one giving up their home.
“I don’t think you have anything to worry about Brooke, you told me he was
willing to move into your house and this is going to be so much nicer for him.
It’s wheelchair friendly but it isn’t going to make him feel like he’s on
display or that everything was moved out of the way for him. Oh, I also got the
lower bed, I moved the other one to the garage in case you wanted it later.”
“Thanks.” Brooke took a deep breath.
“Are you bringing him here today?” Sue wondered.
“As soon as his therapy is done I’m going to pick him up and bring him back
here. If he wants to try the Marlin again we will, but at least he will see
that we have an alternative.”
“I have a feeling he’s going to like this house Brooke.” Sue took her arm. “Let
me show you what they did in the kitchen. You said Nick likes to cook.”
“He does.” Brooke admitted.
“Come on.” Sue smiled as she led the woman forward.
“Hello, good morning.” Jackie answered the phone as she put down her coffee
cup.
“I called you last night to make sure you had made it home alright but there
was no answer.” Massimo’s authoritative voice rang out.
“Massimo.” She felt a tinge of guilt. “I’m sorry, I had a brandy and then went
home. I turned the phone down low and went to bed.”
“You need an answering machine, in fact you need to move somewhere more
appropriate.”
“I love the house.” Jackie charmingly laughed. “And what would you deem
appropriate?”
“You belong in a grand home, closer to the city.”
“You’re confusing me with some other woman.” She laughed again. “I’m very happy
here Massimo.”
“Well, just think about it.” He cleared his throat. “And the machine too.”
“You’re right about that. I must get one. Perhaps I will while I’m out today.”
“Are you going to see Dominick?” He asked.
“Yes, and I have several meetings planned. It will be a rather busy day I’m
afraid.”
“Too busy for lunch with me?” He wondered.
“I’m afraid so, though it is a very tempting offer.”
“Dinner then?” Massimo lit a cigar as he made the offer.
“Hmmm. As much as I’d love to I am having dinner with my son. He claims he is
going to cook.”
“Cook? Where?” Massimo frowned.
“He went home to the Shady Marlin yesterday, I told you that.”
“I know THAT Jacqueline, but how is the man supposed to function on a boat in a
wheelchair.”
“My Nicky is very resourceful. I have no doubts that he will be serving a
delicious meal.” Jackie indeed did have her doubts but she was not going to
voice them to the man that Nick worked for.
“Hmmm. This I’d like to see. Perhaps I can accompany you?” He suggested.
“Oh Massimo, normally I’d say yes, of course, but I can’t speak for Nicky and I
know it’s not going to be as easy as he thinks it will be. Give him more time
to adjust before he has to try and impress his boss.”
“He doesn’t have to impress me Jacqueline. I’d just like to accompany his
mother.”
“Then perhaps a compromise.” She smiled. “You can pick me up after dinner, say
hello to Nicky and then you and I can go out for drinks.”
“And dancing?” He asked in a hopeful tone.
“Dancing.” She smiled, thinking about her dances with Eric Forrester the night
before. He was such a wonderful dancer, so suave, so charming and the kiss he
had given her when he had left had left her breathless. She touched her lips
and felt a warm tingle as she imagined his lips once more on hers.
“Jacqueline?” He said sharply, bringing her out of her fantasy.
“Maybe.” She said quickly. “But I know I will be tired. I’m having a very long
day today.”
“I’m sure seeing your son back at home will energize you my dear.” Massimo
shooed away his assistant from his office door.
“You’re right Massimo.” Jackie smiled. “Yes, I’d love to dance with you. I’ll
call you from Nicky’s as soon as dinner is done. Until tonight then darling.”
“Until tonight.” Massimo said softly, hanging up. Then he turned back to the
door. “What is it Sandra?”
“What else?” She said with a sigh. “Ridge of course.”
“What has he done now?” Massimo moaned. “Or do I even want to know?”
“He blew off Ellison AND Peterson. Mr. Marone, you
have to do something about him. He’s a square peg, he just doesn’t fit here.”
“He’s my SON!” Massimo almost shouted. He instantly thought better of it. “I’m
sorry Sandra, this is not your fault. I want so much for him to follow in the Marone tradition but he won’t let go of his dressmaker
tendencies, that and his obsession with Brooke Logan.”
“I thought it was she who had the obsession.” Sandra raised her eyebrows.
“So did I Sandra, but it appears that the one more obsessed is my son.” He
looked down at his calendar. “I have time to fit in either Ellison or Peterson
this morning and I can do lunch with the other. Can you contact them for me
please?”
“Of course.” She wrote down a note on her pad.
“Offer my apologies, try and make some excuse for Ridge would you? And get him
into my office pronto.”
“I would if I could.” She sighed again.
“He’s not here?” Massimo demanded.
“No.” Sandra answered. “Just like normal. Massimo everyone else is hustling and
working overtime to cover his load. It’s not fair to expect that out of the
staff and it’s especially not fair of Ridge to take advantage of being your
son. I think you need to talk to him, for his own good.”
“I will, I certainly will.”
“There is a lot of resentment and I hate seeing it. He’s a good man, but I just
don’t know.”
“I will reassess his duties.” Massimo frowned. “Is that all?” He asked.
“Yes, I’ll make the calls and let you know.” Sandra started out of his office.
“Oh and Sandra.” Massimo stopped her. She turned to face him.
“Yes sir?”
“Captain Payne, I’m going to bring him inside now. He’s far too valuable to be
out at sea all the time.”
“How is he?” Sandra asked.
“He’s making slow progress but I believe he will be just fine.” He smiled. “And
I believe he will be a genuine asset to this team.”
“Looking good.” Tracy winked as Nick wheeled out of the locker room, showered,
shaved and dressed.
“Thank God for the showers here.” Nick said with a lopsided grin.
“Not working out on your boat?” Tracy asked.
“I’ll get a handle on it.” Nick told her.
“That bump on your forehead, is that part of getting a handle?” She asked.
“I took a spill.” He admitted. “But it was dark.”
“Yeah.” She answered. “I know how that is, it’s dark and there you are on a
ship you’ve lived on for how long? Yeah, it’s easy to forget where you are and
start losing your way.”
“Enough Tracy.” Nick chided her.
“Maybe you need a night light.” She said playfully.
“Alright! You’ve made your point, I’ll add you to the list.”
“What list?” Tracy asked.
“The long growing list of people who want me caged in somewhere on display for
the world so people can watch my every move and make sure I don’t hurt myself.”
He threw down his bag in disgust. “Shall I just give up? Maybe sign back in at
the hospital?”
“You’re being stupid Nick and you’re not a stupid man.” Tracy picked up the
duffel and put it back on his lap. “What everyone is suggesting is an
environment that makes it EASIER for you to get around. No one wants you on
display and no one wants to make you dependent on them.”
“I know Brooke is trying.” Nick reluctantly admitted.
“I’m sure everyone is. Now you need to return that favor.” Tracy scolded.
“And what is it you think I’m doing?” He asked.
“Sulking, though I do understand you are entitled to a bit of that, but not as
much as you’re doing. I’ve seen you in action Nick, not many of my patients
fight as hard as you do. But most of them try harder to adjust.”
“Maybe I don’t want to adjust! Maybe I don’t want to live in this damn chair!”
He pounded his fist on the armrest.
“You’re working your way out of it Nick, it takes time.” Tracy took his hands
in hers. “I’m not lying to you Nick, you are doing fantastic. Your progress is
miles above what I expected. And I know you’re feeling more and more each day.”
“But I can’t walk, I can’t even stand.”
“Liar.” She laughed. “You were standing at the bars today Nick.”
“Not on my own. I was holding on with both hands, that is NOT standing.”
“It’s so much more than I expected this soon.” She let go of his hands and gave
him a slap on his upper butt. Nick rolled his eyes at her. “You felt that Nick,
you are feeling high and low, the two ends will meet. Your feet are moving and
I know other things are too.” Nick turned scarlet and turned his face away from
her. “Don’t be embarrassed, this is my job.” She reminded him.
“I have no control.” He said softly, turning back to her. “And it hurts. That
can’t be normal can it?”
“Think about when your foot or your leg fell asleep.” She asked him.
“They are more than asleep.” Nick groaned.
“But Nick, think about it. When they are asleep you don’t feel them but when
they start to wake up they tingle, they feel odd and yes, they can hurt too.
That’s what is happening to you but on a much higher level. Give it a day or
two and I think the pain will ease and the feeling will be stronger and more in
control.”
“Yeah?” He asked with a frown that changed into a grin.
“Yeah.” She smiled and tousled his hair. “Now let’s go over the schedule for
tomorrow while we wait for Miss Logan.”
“To what do we owe the honor?” Massimo sarcastically asked Ridge as he
approached his son. Ridge was engrossed in a pile of reports but was visibly
annoyed with the question.
“I’m working hard Massimo, what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that I’ve spent the last three hours cleaning up your messes!
Maybe your mother doesn’t mind doing that but I do! Damn it Ridge I counted on
you! I gave you a position of importance and high exposure and THIS is how you
pay me back?”
“I missed a little time. I’m sorry Massimo, but I was worried about my
fiancée.”
“She is NOT your fiancée anymore Ridge!” He threw his arms open with disgust.
“Have you been stalking the woman? Have you?”
“I don’t even know where she is. She doesn’t come home and she’s not at Big
Bear. I think she may have taken Hope to France to visit her parents but no one
will tell me.”
“That itself should tell you something son.” He walked beside him and put his
hand on his shoulder. “Ridge please, I am counting on you, I am depending on
you. Don’t let me down.”
“I’m sorry, you’re right, I haven’t been giving as much as I should. I’ll try
harder, but Massimo, don’t ask me to forget Brooke, don’t ask me to give up on
us. I have let too many people come between us far too many times. That is just
not going to happen again. I love her, I need her and I will have her.”
“You’d do better to concentrate on this company and your family Ridge.”
“Do you think she went somewhere with Popeye? I tried the hospital again today
and they said he was released. She wouldn’t be that stupid would she?”
“I think it is more than likely my son.” Massimo said is a calm, caring tone.
“Brooke Logan is very much involved with Dominick Payne.”
“No, no, he’s just like an abandoned pet, she feels for him, that’s in her
nature. She isn’t involved with him. Frankly I hope he is better, the sooner
he’s back out at sea the better it will be for everyone.”
“He’s not going back out to sea.” Massimo explained.
“Why not?” Ridge frowned. This was news he hadn’t been expecting.
“He can’t walk son, he certainly can’t captain one of my tankers.”
“Well what then?” Ridge asked him.
“He’s going to be coming in here, to Marone to work.
As soon as he feels well enough and has more time free from therapy he’ll be
here Ridge.”
“Where? Doing what Massimo?” Ridge growled.
“You know I gave him the position putting him in charge of the fleets. He
didn’t really want that but he has rethought his position and he will be here,
in the office next to yours.”
“Spongebob is going to be reporting to me?” Ridge
asked.
“No Ridge, he will be my direct report in a position on the same level as your
own.”
“That’s insane, he’s just a sailor! He knows nothing about business.”
“People told me you were just a dressmaker and I’ve given you a chance. No,
Ridge, Dominick is far more than just a sailor, he knows more about my fleet
than I do. I need him, Marone needs him and you my
son, will make him welcome.”
“Where are we going?” Nick asked Brooke when she veered the car off at a
different exit than the docks where the Marlin was moored.
“Where we going Mommy?” Hope parroted from the child seat in the back seat of
the van.
“You’ll both have to be patient. I have something to show you.”
“Hmmm.” Nick frowned. “I think you’re just trying to keep me away from the
stove but it won’t work, I invited my mother for dinner as well as Donna and
she said she’s coming, she might even bring a friend.”
“I’m looking forward to your dinner Nick.” Brooke took his hand and squeezed
it. “Did I happen to tell you that you look extraordinarily sexy tonight?”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Nick laughed. He brought her hand to his
lips and kissed it. “It was a lot easier showering at the clinic. I hate to
admit it Brooke but I think after tonight we better think about moving to your
place. At least until I get more mobility. I just hope we can keep Forrester
away.”
“Ridge won’t be bothering us.” Brooke assured him.
“And I hope we can find someplace to set me up where I don’t feel like I’m out
on display.”
“You won’t be.” Brooke again assured him.
“You seem pretty sure about everything.” Nick frowned. “Doesn’t she
Goldilocks?” He turned around to face Hope.
“Mommy sure.” Hope told him. “Nick, let’s go fishing!”
“Maybe next week Hope.” Nick laughed. “You need to wait till I get a little
better okay Sweetie?”
“Okay Nick.” She grinned at him. “Den you marry us too right?”
“Hope leave Nick alone.” Brooke turned red and couldn’t turn to look at Nick.
She felt her cheeks burning but then he took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m
sorry Nick, she’s like a broken record.”
“I kinda like the tune.” He smiled and kissed her
hand again. “Just give me time to recover before we start thinking that far
ahead though okay? Besides, I know you need a hell of a lot more time before
you start thinking like that yourself.”
“I never thought I could think that way…..until you.” She said softly. Nick
leaned over and kissed the edge of her mouth.
“I never thought I would either, so we’re even.” He sat up again and looked at
the area they were driving. “Where are we going Brooke?”
“A little further.” She grinned.
“Da beach!” Hope looked out the car window and
clapped.
“She’s right.” Nick said. “Brooke, you don’t live at the beach, where are we
going? I’m sorry but I am really not in the mood for a social call.”
“Hush up.” She laughed. She took Nick’s hand again and they drove in silence
several more miles. Finally Brooke pulled into the driveway of an unfamiliar
house.
“Who lives here?” Nick asked. “Why are you stopping?” He turned to Brooke as
she shut off the motor. “Honey I really am not in the mood to visit anyone.”
“Just be nice Nick, it won’t take long.” Brooke smiled.
“You go in, I’ll wait here.” He argued.
“I’d like you to come with me. Come on Nick, I’ve done a lot for you, you can
do this one little thing for me can’t you?”
“Emotional blackmail.” He muttered, but he lowered himself into the chair.
While Brooke got Hope out of the car Nick wheeled himself to the door. “Want me
to ring the bell?” He called to Brooke.
“No need.” She came up with Hope following. She pulled a key out of her purse
and handed it to Nick. “Open it.”
“Brooke. What did you do?” He looked a little pale, a little nervous. He had a
very good idea what was going on.
“If you don’t like it we don’t have to stay. But please just check it out Nick,
I think it will work.”
He gave her a look but inserted the key into the lock and opened the door. His
eyes opened in wonder as he wheeled himself inside. “What did you do Brooke?”
He asked again.
“It’s a valuable property. If we’re not happy I can make back more than my
investment.”
“You bought it?” He gasped.
“Nick, I just thought.” She stammered. She was worried, she had overstepped her
boundaries, taken far too much for granted.
He wheeled himself all over, checking behind doors, opening and closing
cabinets. Then he saw the deck. The handle to open it was easily within his
reach. He slid it open and wheeled himself out onto the indoor/outdoor
carpeting. “A whirlpool, a built in pool. Brooke?”
She and Hope followed him out. “I know you’re angry but please try and
understand.”
“You did all this for me?” He asked.
“Yes.” She softly answered.
“No one, no one ever did anything like this for me.”
“Do you like it?” She asked.
“It’s wonderful.”
“We can be happy here, I really think we can.” Brooke nervously walked up to
him and kneeled down beside him.
“We?” He asked.
“If you want us here that is.” Brooke blushed. “If not, you can bring a friend
or a helper or.” Her words were cut off when he pulled her onto his lap and
crushed her mouth with his.
“There is nothing in the world I want more Brooke, nothing.” He held out his
arm and gestured for Hope. She ran to them and he held the two of them tightly
in his arms. “My two girls, living with me in this beautiful house.”
“Are we home?” Brooke asked.
“We’re home Brooke, we’re home.” He kissed her, then kissed Hope and then held
them both close to him as tears of joy filled his eyes.