Hey, everyone! This chapter is a major turning point of sorts, several things are revealed, so pay attention when you read,
though I think most of it is pretty obvious by the end of the chapter.. I hope you enjoy it, and let me know what you think.
Victoria L.

Chapter 31

Jax paced the living room at Brenda’s house as he waited for her to
come back down. His eyes rose to meet hers as she came back down,
laughing to herself, and shaking her head.
“What’s so funny?” Jax asked, before she could notice the look on his
face.
“Nothing,” she said, still laughing to herself, “Jody was just being, well,
Jody. He’s going to give his teacher’s one heck of a time.” Brenda came to
stand in front of Jax, wrapping her arms around his waist. She stared up at
him, absently “fixing” him, as she always had a tendency to do. His hair never
fell just right across his forehead, and there always seemed to be a stray
crumb on his lips that she was happy to kiss off. He gently took her hands in
his and brought them away from his face. “What’s up?” she asked. “I don’t like
that look.”
“Well, Gwen just called,” Jax said, motioning towards the phone.
Brenda glanced behind her.
“What’d she want? Did she call about Denise?”
“Yeah, they’re posting bail for her, and I’m going to meet her so we can
pay it and get her out of there.”
“They put her on bail when she’s been accused of murder?” Brenda
asked, raising her eyebrows. “That seems too easy, doesn’t it? I mean, I was
prepared to have to go visit her with a wire or something.”
“Well, it’s not so strange, after all, they were positive they had the killer
when they arrested you. Alexis is a good lawyer, and she probably pleaded
Denise’s case really well.” Brenda nodded.
“Okay then, so what’s the plan?”
“Well, once she’s out, we’ll get her to tell us who’s making her confess,
and I guess Gwen will take it from there.”
“Are you sure she can be trusted?” Brenda asked, moving to sit on the
couch next to Jax.
“I am sure that we can trust her,” Jax said, “but something she said
before she hung up struck a chord with me. She said something like she
wasn’t sure Denise would even make it from the police station back to her
house.”
“She thinks someone’s going to try and kill Denise?” Brenda asked,
sitting up and looking at Jax, alarmed.
“You know, she sure made it sound that way,” Jax said.
“What are you thinking?” Brenda asked.
“I’m thinking that maybe we should stay out of this,” Jax began. When
Brenda started to shake her head, he put a finger to her lips. “Just hear me
out. You’re free, you’re clear, you’re done, you’re through. We can make a
clean break of things and just get on with our lives.”
“While our best friend fights for her life and that of her unborn child? I
don’t think so, Jax. Come on, hear yourself. There’s no way they can do this
without us.”
“You’re right,” Jax said, sighing. “I just wanted to hear you say that out
loud.”
“So what are we going to do now?”
“We’re going to drop Jody off at my house and go on to the precinct,
and Gwyneth will take it from there.”

The Port Charles Police Department

Brenda and Jax came in hand in hand, trying to ignore the stares that
they were getting. They found Denise and Alexis immediately. Gwyneth
stood in the back of the room, and walked casually up to Jax and Brenda.
“Hey, what are you two doing here?” she asked, casually.
“We came to help Denise,” Brenda said, catching on quickly that no one
could be aware of Gwen’s real ident*ty. “How about you?”
“Oh, these silly American parking tickets,” Gwyneth said, waving some
papers into the air. “Well, I’m all done, so I’ll be off. Good luck to you all,” she
said, glancing back at Denise as she walked out of the police department.
Brenda turned back around immediately and hugged Denise, who was still in
handcuffs, so she couldn’t return the hug.
“Oh my God,” Brenda said, when she felt how frail Denise was. “Are
you all right?” she asked, stepping back so she could see her friend clearly.
Denise couldn’t even look at Brenda. “Hey,” Brenda urged, “come on, look at
me.” She tried to smile, offering Denise an olive branch that she didn’t seem
to want to take. Denise sighed and coughed slightly, looking over at Jax.
“I want to thank you,” she said, “for paying the bail I mean. I’ll pay you
back every cent--” she laughed to herself, “someday. Anyway, thank you.”
“You know it’s no problem,” Jax said softly, wondering where the
woman who was so strong and had such personality and confidence had
gone. Denise was beyond embarrassed, and both Brenda and Jax could tell
that. Brenda somehow wished she could let Denise know that everything
would be all right. Her eyes beseeched Jax for help, and he just shook her
head, not knowing what to do for Denise.
“Hey, it’s going to be all right,” Brenda said, when they started to
un-cuff Denise. She yelped slightly when the officer finally removed them,
and her arms were allowed to hang freely for the first time in what seemed
like hours. Without warning, the tears began to come forth freely from
Denise’s eyes as Brenda wrapped her arms around her. “We’re going to take
care of you,” Brenda said, moving Denise towards the door. “I promise you,
nothing’s going to happen to you.” Brenda was confident that Jax would take
care of things with Alexis.
“Is there anything else she needs to do?” Jax asked, looking to Alexis as
she searched through her briefcase.
“Not right now, I don’t want to give her anything else to think about at
the moment. Her trial isn’t for a few weeks, and I’m going to do everything I
can to push it back beyond that, so she’s got some time to just clear her head.
I think I’ll leave her alone at least until tomorrow. I’m sure she’s tired of
hearing my voice.”
“Thank you,” Jax said, “I’ll just head over to the bank now, if that’s all
right.”
“Yeah, I’ll walk you,” Alexis said, when Jax held the door open for her.
They crossed the street quickly, while Brenda and Denise chatted casually
with Gwyneth. Jax caught them out of the corner of his eye, but Alexis didn’t
seem to notice.
When they finished at the bank, and Jax and Alexis were about to head
in separate directions at the bottom of the steps, Alexis grabbed his arm. “Jax,
I think you should know, Denise is really emotional right now. She’s been
through a lot, and there was no one for her to talk to. We’re not exactly good
friends, and she needs someone who’s going to be there for her right now. I’d
really hate for her to have to go back to an empty house.”
“We’ll make sure that she doesn’t,” Jax assured Alexis. Alexis nodded.
“I hear congratulations are in order,” Alexis said. “I’m glad that
everything is working out for yourself, and for Brenda. The two of you
deserve all the happiness in the world.”
“Thank you,” Jax said, shaking Alexis’ hand. “For the kind words, and
for all your help. We couldn’t have done it without you.” Alexis smiled and
continued down the street, glancing back once at Jax as he crossed the street,
and smiling to herself.
Jax made it across the street, and noticed that Denise was smiling. “Hey
there,” he said, hugging her. “Is that a little bit of my old friend coming back
through there?”
“They’ve told me everything,” Denise said. “And while it’s hard to
believe, it sounds like a good plan. Maybe we can pull it off.”
“Wait,” Jax said. “I want to say something first, and that’s that I’m so
sorry I ever doubted you, and your innocence--”
“Stop right there,” Denise said, grabbing one of Jax’s hands. “I
understand, from your point of view, what things must have looked like, and
that’s all right. I confessed, after all, and you weren’t with me, you had no idea
what was going on. How could you assume anything but the worst?”
“So you forgive me then?” Jax asked.
“Of course,” Denise answered.
“So shall we go then?” Gwen asked. Everyone nodded.
“I’ll drive,” Jax said, “we’ll have to follow you though, Gwen.”
“Right, and it’s better if I drive alone,” she said. “You never know who
might be watching.”
“Fine,” Brenda said, “let’s just go and get out of the open, shall we?” The
drive back to Gwen’s safe house was thirty minutes, and it was pretty far on
the outskirts of Port Charles. “I didn’t even know they were still building this
far out,” Brenda said in astonishment, when Gwyneth turned suddenly, onto a
road that Jax hadn’t even seen. Denise sat in the back, taking the entire
situation in.
“I can’t believe all that you guys have told me,” Denise said, shaking her
head. “I mean, I knew something was up when that guy forced me to confess,
but ask me if I thought Gwen was a part of it, I would have laughed in your
face.”
“You learn something new everyday,” Brenda said, more to herself than
to Denise. Jax tossed her a glance, but kept his eyes on the road, having to
watch Gwen as she drove through the twists and turns on what had turned
into a dirt road. When they finally came to a stop, the road opened up into a
beautiful clearing, and a huge house loomed up over them.
“Oh my goodness,” Jax said, getting out of the car and going over to put
an arm around Brenda. Gwen’s car disappeared behind the house, as she
waved to them to stay put. “This place is magnificent,” Jax said, shaking his
head as the cool air filled his lungs when he took a deep breath.
“More like palatial,” Denise said, standing on the other side of Jax and
looking the house over. It had a huge set of steps that let to a mammoth
porch, supported by huge white columns. The porch seemed to circle the
house, and it had a quaint, homey feel with the small green shutters on the
windows. Gwyneth appeared in the doorway of the house just then, waving
them all in.
“I didn’t even know this place was here,” Brenda said, “but then, I’ve
never gone this far into Port Charles, before.”
“You’d be surprised to know how many places like this there are
around here, right under your noses,” Gwyneth said once they were all safely
inside. “Listen,” she continued, “none of you have to worry about being out
here. This house is safe, I’ve been coming here since I came to Port Charles all
those months ago. Now, let’s get down to business, shall we? Denise, is there
anything I can get for you? Or any of you?” she asked. Denise shook her head
in thanks.
“A glass of water would be great, thanks,” she said.
“All right then,” Gwen said, disappearing around a corner they all
assumed led to the kitchen.
“Are you all right?” Jax asked, putting an arm around Brenda.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said, “I’m just trying to let all of this sink into my
mind. Maybe it was too soon to bring the children down from Alaska.”
“You think?” Jax asked.
“Yeah, I mean it just seems too easy, it feels as though there should be
more for us to do.”
“Don’t go looking for trouble, Brenda,” Jax said softly. “Just be glad this
thing is going to be over with soon, and we can all get on with our lives.”
Brenda nodded as Gwyneth came back into the living room.
“All right then,” she said, starting a tape recorder, and signaling for Jax
and Brenda to keep silent. “Is your name Denise Walker?” she asked. Denise
nodded, and Gwyneth motioned to the tape recorder, so Denise leaned down
and spoke into it. Gwyneth went through a few other routine questions,
before getting down to the important questions. “When were you first
approached about confessing to the murder of Martin Shayne?” she asked.
“It was about three days ago,” Denise began. “I had just come back from
the hospital, I had a doctor’s appointment myself, and then I went to see my
friend, Brenda, who was also in the hospital. I went home after seeing her,
and someone was sitting in the living room.”
“Who was it?”
“Some man, I don’t know, he didn’t give me his name.”
“Can you describe him?” Gwyneth asked, in her prim British accent, as
she took out a notepad and wrote meticulously as Denise spoke.
“He was burly, about six feet, two, I guess, he had dark brown hair, a bit
of a gut, but he was dressed really nice. Suit, tie, overcoat, the works.”
“Go on.”
“Well, he had a beard and mustache, but it was cut really neatly, he
seemed to have a way about him that exuded power and wealth, you know?
Well, he just started talking, I kept asking him what he was doing in my
house, what he wanted with me, and things like that. I didn’t pay attention to
anything he said until he pulled a gun on me. He pointed it at my abdomen,
and threatened my life, as well as the life of my child, if I didn’t get on the
phone immediately, call up the police department, demand to speak to the
commissioner, and confess to the murder.”
“Did he give you something to read to the commissioner?” Gwyneth
asked, looking up at Denise.
“Yes, he was very specific,” she replied. “He just told me to read it off
of the notepad that he had, and he turned on the speaker phone, so he could
hear what the commissioner asked me, and he would point to different
answers on the pad, I just read them, I was so scared, I just did it. He was
going to kill me right then and there if I didn’t cooperate.”
“Oh, I understand,” Gwen said. “You were under extreme duress,
anyone could understand and sympathize. Now, let’s carry on, shall we? So,
you called and confessed, and then what?”
“The commissioner asked me to stay where I was, he explained that
they would be sending a squad car immediately for me, and he said it would
help my case that I turned myself in, and then he hung up.”
“What did the man do then?”
“He said that it was a good thing that I listened to him, that Martin
owed a lot of people a lot of money, and since I was his girlfriend, it was my
debt to pay, now that he was dead. The only way that I could pay that debt
was to go down for his murder. He said he didn’t even care if I was aquitted,
he just wanted to give the police someone to blame. He told me that there
were men in the bushes that were watching me. I looked out, but I didn’t see
anyone. He told me I wouldn’t be able to see them, no matter how hard I
looked. He said that if I tried to run, I wouldn’t even make it down the
driveway. I was to sit there, wait for the police, and cooperate fully. If I told
anyone about it, or called anyone else, then they said they would kill me, that
they had people on the inside, and that they had my phone tapped. I didn’t
believe their reach was that far,” Denise said, shaking her head.
“The people we’re dealing with are professionals,” Gwyneth said.
“Then what happened?”
“Well, he left, just as he said he would, and I sat down, and burst into
tears. I didn’t understand any of what was going on, I didn’t know if I should
call the police, retract my confession, they said they were listening on the
phone, and if they were right there in my yard, I didn’t see how I could call
the police--they’d come in and kill me and my baby before the police could
ever get here. I just didn’t know what to do, so I sat there, and I waited, like I
always do, giving other people control of my life,” Denise added bitterly to
herself. She paused, sighing, before going on. “They weren’t lying, though.
About five minutes after he left, the phone rang, I answered it, and it was him,
saying that it was a good thing I hadn’t called anyone yet, that it should stay
that way, and that if I called anyone, he would be able to hear everything that
I said, and he would come and kill me.”
“He said he would come in and kill you? Just like that?”
“He wasn’t big on threats, this guy,” Denise said. “He was very specific,
and he said it as calmly as if he’d told me he was going to give me a haircut or
something. There was no emotion on his voice, and there was no mistaking
his meaning. Either I did what he said, or he would come in and kill me, and
that was that. So I did what he said.”
“And the police arrived, took you to the station, where you formally
confessed, were arrested, and then your lawyer, Alexis Davis, managed to get
you on bail, is all of that correct?”
“Yes.”
“And how long were you incarcerated?”
“About a day and a half,” Denise sighed, wearily. “My friends helped me
to get out.” She glanced at Brenda and Jax who smiled at her, and Brenda
leaned across Jax to squeeze her hand.
“The man that you’ve described to me, sounds a lot like Agent Bishop,”
Gwyneth said, getting up and opening a nearby cabinet. She took out an
accordion style file folder, and showed Denise the picture. “Is this the man
that you saw?”
“Yes!” Denise said, sitting closer to the edge of the couch. “That’s him,
how’d you know?”
“He’s been a double agent for years,” Gwyneth said, “and he’s also my
father.” The room was silent as everyone stared at Gwyneth in shock and
disbelief. “I know what you all must think of me, and I beg of you not to,”
Gwyneth said. “I had no idea that my father was doing this for years and years.
When I found out, I joined the ranks in order to help him get out. He had
appealed to me, and I thought that getting out was what he wanted. It turns
out that it was a ploy to get me to join in with him, and become a double
agent.”
“And did you?” Denise asked, her body growing tense.
“Of course not,” Gwyneth said, looking down, ashamed. “But that didn’t
mean that I wasn’t under extreme investigation. I was so hurt and
embarrassed by what my father had tried to do, all I wanted was to be
reassigned back to England. To prove my loyalty, my superiors assigned me
to this case, and if I was able to bring down the organization that launders
money, literally, for every major gambling ring from Mississippi to Las Vegas,
then it would make my career, and it would clear my name. That’s essentially
why I’m here.” Gwyneth sat up and turned the tape recorder off. She looked
at Brenda and Jax, who still eyed her suspiciously. “You can all trust me, I
promise you,” she answered. “I know that all of this seems insurmountable,
but if you’ll just trust me, I’ll take care of everything. I think I have all that I
need now.”
“So what should we do?” Jax asked, standing up and putting an arm
around Brenda’s waist, and casually across Denise’s shoulders. “I mean, do
we just wait, or what?”
“I know it sounds crazy, and I hate the waiting came, too, but there’s
nothing else that any of you can do.”
“Well what are you going to do?” Brenda asked, pointing at her, and
letting her hands fall to her sides.
“I’m going to take this tape above my superior’s head. He’s the one
who told me that they were going to let Denise go down for that, despite her
innocence. I know there’s no use in my going to him.”
“Where exactly is this order coming from?” Jax asked. “I mean, who
really wanted Denise to go down for this?”
“The people that Martin cheated out of all this money only wanted to
frame Brenda long enough to get out of town, and the light off of themselves.
When our people found out that Brenda had been framed, we knew
immediately that she would get off, namely because she’s innocent and upon
investigation, we realized she had nothing to do with any of it. It is not our
policy to let innocent people go down for crimes they didn’t commit. I
assumed that the good people I worked for were going to get someone from
the organization we were after, to take the fall for Martin’s murder. We’ll
never find out who was really physically responsible, I wouldn’t be surprised
if they took out their own hired gun. As to the people who are doing this to
Denise--I’m sorry to say that the only people it could be are double agents
who are working both sides of this thing. And now that I know my father’s
behind it, I’m sure there’s a lot of truth to that scenario. These people have
enough power, and are high up enough to hand down orders, and let Denise
take the wrap for this thing.”
“Why do I feel like I’m in a television show?” Denise asked, pressing her
hand to her forehead.
“How do we stop them?” Brenda asked.
“WE, don’t do anything,” Gwen said, putting her notepad down and
standing up. “I’m going to take the information that I’ve learned, and I’m
going to go up as high as I can. My father wields a lot of power, and has a
great reach, but it doesn’t extend all the way to the top.”
“How can you be so sure of that?” Jax asked.
“Because I know my father, and I know myself,” Gwyneth said. “I do
have some friends on the inside, who as far as I know, haven’t been corrupted
by all of this. With their help, I can get this information to the top. Don’t
worry,” she said, when Jax gave her a stressful look. “I’ll be careful who I trust,
and who I talk to.”
“There’s just one thing though,” Brenda said, “how can we believe you,
when coming through for us involves turning your father in?”
“My father’s a big boy, he made his own decisions, and he made the
choice to cut ties with me,” Gwyneth said, the pain obvious on her voice.
“And you can really do this to him, just like that?” Brenda asked.
“I don’t have much of a choice, this is the only way to make him stop.”
“But won’t he go to prison?” Jax asked.
“We have a very different system of punishment on the inside,”
Gwyneth said. “And the sad thing is that my father has enough friends and
contacts to stay out of prison, anyway. No, bringing him down is more about
my getting out of this country, and back to my old life. If I can help some
friends out on the way, why not?” she said, glancing at Jax. “Look, I know this
is a lot to take in, but you’ve got to trust me, all right? I promise you all, I
won’t let you down. I know that I lied to you before, but I’m not lying now.”
“We don’t have much of a choice, do we?” Denise asked. “So now what?
We just wait?”
“It shouldn’t take me more than a few days. The headquarters are on
the east coast, I’m sorry I can’t be more specific than that. I did some research
on your case, Denise, your trial isn’t for weeks, and Alexis is a good lawyer.”
“Yeah, she told me she would try to push it back some more,” Jax put
in.
“Okay then, well it should only take me a few days, a week at the most,
to get to where I need to be, and then to put this information in the hands of
the right people.”
“When do you leave?” Jax asked.
“In a few hours, there are some things I need to get done here, first.”
“I guess that’s it then,” Brenda said, “we go home, we sit and we wait.”
“And you be careful,” Gwyneth added. “Protect yourself, stay in mostly,
don’t take too many calls, and it’s probably best your parents went back to
Alaska. You can keep your children under foot, but your parents are their
own people. If they get too close to a situation, then--”
“I think I get your meaning, and thank you,” Jax said, “I’ll advise them to
leave, but I don’t know how effective I’ll be. If it’s dangerous though, I’m sure
I can think of something.”
“Take care not to discuss the case with anyone, either,” Gwen said.
“Even that lovely girl that you work with, what’s her name, Caroline? She’s a
lovely soul from what I’ve seen, but really, you shouldn’t involve anyone else,
other than the people in this room as to what is going on.” Brenda nodded
and sighed.
“Well, I guess that’s it then. We won’t talk to anyone, we’ll lay low.
Thank you for the help, Gwyneth,” Brenda said, shaking her hand. Gwyneth
held Brenda’s hand in hers a moment longer, and whispered,
“I’m sorry about the way you had to find out about your husband.”
“How did you know that Jax told me?” Brenda asked.
“I’m very good at reading body language, and you were careful not to
mention Daniel. I know that Jax would have managed to work him into the
conversation, if he hadn’t told you already. He didn’t inform you to hurt you,
and neither did I.”
“I understand,” Brenda said, smiling weakly and then turning to leave.
She and Denise went down the stairs and got into the car. Jax turned back to
her before leaving.
“I still don’t feel right about leaving you to handle this all by yourself,”
he said.
“I don’t see any other way to handle it,” she said frankly. “I’m a big girl,
I’ll be all right, I’m a trained professional, and all that.”
“I can’t thank you enough,” Jax said softly. “For everything that you’ve
done. We’ll miss you around here when you’re gone.”
“Oh, I don’t know how much I’ll be missed,” Gwyneth said, glancing at
Brenda in the car. “But it’s a nice idea. You take care of those beautiful girls
of yours,” she said. “That Victoria is really precious and special. You don’t
know how lucky you are to have her.”
“Blessed is more like it,” Jax said.
“Marian would have been proud of her, I’m sure,” Gwyneth answered.
Jax just nodded.
“I guess we should go,” Jax said. “But if something goes wrong, how
will you get word to me? There should be a go between or something, don’t
you think?”
“If push comes to absolute shove, I will inform Alexis,” Gwyneth said.
“She’s already proven that she can be trusted. But I honestly think things will
work out.”
“Yes, but these are some pretty powerful people, aren’t they--”
“I’m giving it the attention and respect that it deserves, Jax,” Gwyneth
said. “Now do stop worrying. Go home to your family, and be safe.”
“You as well,” Jax said, hugging her and sprinting down the steps, to
eventually drive away.
Gwyneth watched them leave, and then turned around to go back
inside. It took her a few hours to get everything in order in the safe house,
and make sure it still looked as though no one had been there in months,
though she had been staying there for quite a while. She smiled to herself
when the job was done. Now it was off to headquarters, to turn in the
information on her father before it was too late. She was looking down as
she opened the door. She never have saw Alexis standing there, and when
she did look up, Alexis wasted no time pistol whipping her, and knocking her
to the ground. Gwyneth let out a low growl as she fell to the floor, and
looked up in shock to see Alexis standing over her.
“Bloody h#ll!” she said, her breath becoming labored and shaky as she
struggled to maintain consciousness.
“Surprised?” Alexis asked, c*cking the gun and aiming it at Gwyneth.
“Yeah, I’m surprised myself,” she said, “that such a good operative such as
yourself, could be so stupid. You never involve civilians, didn’t you learn
anything your father taught you? Your sister wasn’t a very good listener,
either. I assume that incompetence must run in your family.”
“Leave--leave Marian out of this,” Gwyneth said, breathing becoming
more and more difficult.
“Shut up!” Alexis said, stepping back and aiming at Gwyneth. She fired
without warning, Gwyneth didn’t even have time to scream.
end chapter 31
 

Here's chapter 32, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Victoria L.

Chapter 32

Gwyneth just lay there, as Alexis rifled through the house, trying to
find the files and the recorded tape of Denise’s confession.
“Where is it?!” Alexis asked, turning up couch cushions, looking in the
bookshelves, and pulling dozens of books onto the floor. Gwyneth closed
her eyes and grimaced when Alexis disappeared into the other room. This
was her only chance to get out, she would have to warn Jax and Brenda later
on. It was a good thing she placed the file folder under her shirt in the back,
it was concealed by her jacket. And as for the small recorded tape, she had
put that in the last place Alexis would have ever looked, it was too
obvious--her pocket. Since Alexis was still rifling around the house, she was
pretty sure that Alexis wasn’t aware of her plans to get out of town as soon as
possible. Gwyneth said a prayer, got up from the floor, and ran for her life to
her car. She held onto her shoulder as Alexis came running behind her, firing
at random. Gwyneth did what she could to dodge the bullets, and let out an
expletive when she felt one graze the same arm that her shoulder had been
shot in. She made it around the house and to her car. She started the car with
her left hand, which was extremely difficult. Alexis blocked her path on the
driveway, daring Gwyneth to run her down. Gwyneth clenched her teeth,
and punched down on the gas, just barely missing Alexis as she jumped out of
the way. Gwyneth knew she had to move fast, Alexis was running for her
own car when Gwyneth looked through the rearview mirror, and she knew it
would be only moments before they both made it to the highway.
Gwyneth debated going to warn Jax and Brenda, but she just didn’t
have the time. She had to get to Atlantic City before it was too late. Instead of
taking the main roads, she drove through the maze of Port Charles suburbia,
thankful that she had taken time to study the city plans and maps when she
first came to Port Charles. There was no way Alexis would be able to follow
her, she knew that much, and thankfully, Alexis had no idea she was on her
way to headquarters. It wouldn’t take her long to figure it out though.
Gwyneth knew she had to be on the next flight out. She sighed when she
glanced down at her bleeding arm. She would have to pull over and make
herself presentable before she got on any airplane, that was for sure. But it
would only slow her down. She just shook her head and hoped she could
make it through all of this, and come out the other side alive.

Alexis cussed to herself as she drove in vain, knowing that she had lost
Gwyneth. “I should have killed you when I had the chance,” she said to
herself. “Well, it won’t be too hard to figure out where you went, Gwyneth,”
Alexis continued to speak to herself. “I’ll bet Jax and Brenda and their little
friends all know exactly where you’re headed. I think I’ll just pay them a visit.
I need to get a few things done first.” Alexis picked up her cell phone and
pressed speed dial. “Yeah?” she said when she heard the man answer on the
other line. “You’ve got trouble headed your way,” she said. “That daughter of
yours--she’s on her way somewhere, I think it’s to those friends of hers that
she’s been so stupid to include in this.”
“Well you’ve got to stop her,” Bishop said.
“Hey, I know that. You just get down to headquarters and intercept
anything that might come their way.”
“Do you really think she’s on her way there?” he asked.
“I’ve told you where I think she is, but this is just a precaution,” Alexis
said, angrily. “Look, this is falling down around us, so would you please just
go?! I have some things to do, I’ll get back to you, I’m not going straight there,
I have to secure a few things, first.”
“Get back to me as soon as you know anything,” Bishop said, hanging
up the phone.

Two hours later...

Gwyneth sat down on the plane, weary and still bleeding. She had put
on so much bandage, she knew she was conspicuous, but she had to hope
that the people of New York would over look her. She was on her way to
Atlantic City, and hopefully, she would make it in time to save all the people
she cared about.

Brenda’s House
“Hey, how are you doing?” Brenda asked, coming to the kitchen table
and putting a cup of coffee in front of Jax.
“I’m doing fine,” he said, ignoring the coffee she put in front of him.
“Something’s bothering you,” she said, sitting next to him. “Are you
worried about Gwyneth?”
“How can I not be?” Jax said. “This is so dangerous, and she’s going off
to handle things by herself.”
“Well she had no choice, I mean we’re not professionals, Jax. What use
could we have been to her?”
“I know that you’re right,” Jax nodded, getting up and pacing in the
living room.
“Hey,” Brenda said, still sitting at the table. “Didn’t she say that it was
going to take her a couple of days at least? I mean there’s nothing for us to do
but wait. There’s no reason to be worried just because she hasn’t called us
yet.”
“Brenda, I hear you, but I have a bad feeling about this. Gwyneth is
leaving town, Denise is home alone, we’re here alone, and Gwyneth is the
only connection we have to this thing.”
“I don’t get it,” Brenda said. “What are you getting at?”
“Think about it, obviously now Gwyneth has what she needs to stop
this whole thing.”
“Yeah, and that’s a good thing, right?”
“It’s a great thing for us, but a horrible thing for the other people
involved. And pretty soon, they’re going to get wind of this before the police
can do anything to stop them.”
“Okay, but what are we supposed to do about that?”
“Well there’s nothing we can do I guess, Brenda, but it doesn’t mean
we shouldn’t give it the attention it deserves. We may be safe for tonight, but
when these people realize that their organization is about to come down
around them, they’re going to come after us. And we can’t underestimate
their reach. If they can make Daniel’s death, and my wreck look like
accidents,--”
“Jax, come on,” Brenda said, getting up.
“No, listen, Brenda, we have to be very careful. I think tonight is
probably the only chance we have.”
“Chance to do what?” Brenda asked.
“To get away,” Jax said. Brenda raised her eyebrows.
“Get away? Where is it that we’re supposed to be going, exactly?
Gwyneth is going to be trying to get in touch with us, what if she needs us?”
“That’s what cell phones are for, Brenda. Plus, she’s an operative, if she
needs to get in touch with us, she’ll be able to.”
“What about the kids? It’ll terrify them, and how fast would we be with
a five year old, a four year old, and a 2 and a half year old? No, we can’t just
run like that. Besides, what would we tell Jane and John? Gwyneth already
warned us about getting any other people involved.”
“We’ll drop them off at Carly’s,” Jax said, grabbing his coat. Brenda
grabbed his arm and rooted herself to the floor, not really stopping him, but
slowing him down enough to turn back and listen to her for a moment. “Jax,
think about what you’re saying. Carly and Jason live together. Yeah, they’re
good baby sitters, but three kids?”
“She kept Victoria, Jasmine and Jody for us before,” Jax said.
“But we can’t keep dumping our kids on other people, Jax. Plus, what if
you’re right, what if these people come after our kids? We can’t bring that
kind of trouble down on Jason and Carly.”
“Jason, that’s it!”
“What?” Brenda asked.
“Come on, everyone in this town knows that Jason is involved in the
mob--”
“Those are just rumors, Jax. How did he have time to hang out in my
coffee house if he is the head of the mob in Port Charles?”
“Don’t underestimate the reach of these people,” Jax said, starting for
the door again.
“What about Denise?” Brenda asked. “You, two pregnant women, three
kids, and your parents, are supposed to all pile up and run from the bad guys?
We’d never make it. We don’t know who these people are, or where they are,
we’re going to have to just stay put for now.”
“Well what about the kids?” Jax asked. “I at least think that we should
be with them.”
“Okay,” Brenda nodded, “I agree with you there. But we should go to
them, I don’t want them on the roads tonight.”
“Fine,” Jax said, “get your coat, go and wake up Denise, and we’ll be
off.” Brenda nodded and hurried up the stairs. She didn’t hear the knock on
the door as she disappeared from Jax’s sight. He turned around to face
Alexis’ bright smile as he opened the door.
“Alexis,” Jax said, moving aside so she could come in. “Wow, you look
really tired, has something happened?”
“Quite a lot has happened,” Alexis said, “would you mind if I got a glass
of water?”
“Of course not,” Jax said, going into the kitchen. “Just have a seat, and
I’ll get it for you.”
“Thank you so much,” Alexis said, sitting down, and taking her gun out
of her purse. She aimed at the bottom of the steps when she heard Brenda
and Denise coming down the stairs. She c*cked the gun just as Jax came back
into the room with her water. He stopped dead in his tracks, as did Brenda
and Denise when they reached the bottom.
“Bloody h#ll,” Jax said, dropping the water and looking at Alexis in
disbelief.
“Not quite the reaction I was hoping for,” Alexis said, as she stood up.
“All three of you, get over there,” Alexis said, motioning for the middle of the
living room. “Now, I don’t have time to play around, this is bigger than the
three of you. Tell me right now, where has Gwyneth Stonecypher gone?”
“We have no idea,” Jax said, holding his hands up. “We really and truly
don’t.”
“You may not know exactly, but you know her plans, what did she tell
you she was going to do?”
“She said she was going to London,” Brenda suddenly blurted out.
“Something about her father.”
“Stop lying,” Alexis said calmly. “She wouldn’t be going to see her
father, first of all, and London is the last place that she’s going to, there’s no
way she can get out of this country, or into that one. Now either she lied to
you, or you’re lying to me. Either way, I need the truth from somebody, and
I’ve got all night for you to tell me what you know.”

An hour later...
Gwyneth arrived in Atlantic City, and got into a cab from the airport.
She finally took the time to call Jax and Brenda, hoping that she wasn’t too
late.
The phone rang, startling Jax and Brenda. Alexis smiled to herself.
“Well,” she said, “answer it, please.” Jax sighed and picked it up, hoping it was
Gwyneth, and at the same time, hoping it was anyone but her.
“Hello,” Jax said, turning his back to Alexis. She just clicked her tongue
and moved to stand by him, her eyes on Brenda and Denise the entire time.
She pressed speaker phone, and hung up the phone herself, motioning for
Jax to continue.
“Jax, it’s Gwyneth, is everything all right?”
“Fine,” Jax said without hesitation. “Where are you?”
“Well I’m on my way there now, it’ll take me at until tomorrow
morning to get in touch with the people that I need to talk with, and I’m
betting money on having to go to Washington, after that.” Alexis closed her
eyes, realizing where Gwyneth was headed.
“Headquarters,” Alexis said softly, “d@mn.”
“Are you all right, Jax?” Gwyneth asked.
“Yes, I’m fine, but you just be careful,” Jax said.
“I just wanted to call and let you all know that I’m all right, and I have to
warn you about Alexis.”
“Alexis?” Jax asked, trying to sound surprised. “What about her?”
“Well it was a complete shock to me, but she’s a double agent. She must
be working with my father.”
“You’re kidding,” Jax said, doing a poor routine of being surprised.
Gwyneth was in far too much pain to notice.
“Listen, Jax, I’ve been shot,” she said as calmly as possible. “Alexis did
it.”
“Are you all right?” Jax asked, when Brenda stifled a gasp.
“I’m fine, it was a shoulder wound, and the other was a nick. I got the
bullet out myself.”
“Oh my God,” Jax said. “You need to get to a hospital.”
“There’s no time for that. Listen, just be warned, Alexis is dangerous.
Lock the place up tight, and don’t open the door to anyone but your parents
or Caroline, someone you trust. Is Denise there with you?”
“Yes,” Jax said, glancing at her.
“Good, keep her there. You never know what could happen.”
“Yes,” Alexis said, leaning down into the speaker phone. “You never
know.” She pressed the button before Gwyneth could respond.
“Oh, no!” she said when the line went dead. “Oh my--” Gwyneth sat
helpless in the cab. She knew she couldn’t call back, but she tried, and just as
she suspected, she got a busy signal. “D@mn it!” she said, slamming her good
arm down in defeat. What was she supposed to do now?

“All right,” Alexis said, “here’s how we’re going to play this. I now
know exactly where she’s going, and what she’s planning to do. I thought
that she would have kept the materials somewhere in the house, but it’s quite
obvious she has them with her. I can intercept her and stop her.”
“What are you going to do to her?” Jax asked.
“Kill her, of course,” Alexis said non chalantly. “But I wouldn’t worry
about her, I’d be pretty concerned about number one right about now.
Listen, I don’t want to kill any of you, none of you should really be involved in
this, but now that you are, there’s no backing out. But I will make you a deal,
because killing all of you would only mean more work for me in concealing
the real reason behind your deaths. So, do as I say, and you’ll all be fine. I
can’t speak for Ms. Walker’s legal problems, but then, you can’t win them all.”
Alexis cleared her throat before going on. “I was never here. You don’t
know what happened to Gwyneth after you left the police station, you went
home, had a quiet evening, and all of this is news to you, is that understood?
See how easy it is? Hopefully, I can stop her, nip this situation in the bud, and
it will all be over, well, most of it anyway. Your friend here may still go down
for murder. But if you find a really good lawyer, not too many better than me,
she just may still get off.” Alexis nodded to herself and started for the door,
turning once more. “This is the last chance for all of you. You’d be wise to let
things stop where they are. Don’t try and be heroes, this is not your game. Are
we clear?” They all nodded as Alexis left.
Denise crumpled to the floor as Jax embraced Brenda tightly.
“What are we going to do?!” Brenda asked frantically. Jax took out his
cell phone. “Do you have her number?”
“No,” he said letting his hand fall to his side.
“So now what?” Denise sobbed. “We just give up?”
“I don’t know what else we can do,” Brenda said. “We can’t get in touch
with Gwyneth, and Alexis is up to her ears in this. I don’t know who to trust.
For the sake of our kids, we have to let things lie, we can’t rock the boat.
We’ll get you off for this,” Brenda said, trying to reassure Denise.
“Even if we can’t,” Jax said, “you won’t go to prison for it, that I’m sure
of. You’re out on bail, the trial isn’t for weeks, and we should know way
before then if things worked out.”
“If they don’t,” Brenda said, shaking her head. “Poor Gwyneth.”
“I can’t believe all we can do is wait,” Denise said. “This is horrible.”
“It’ll work out,” Jax said. “It has to.”
 

Atlantic City

Gwyneth had the cab stop near what looked like a low budget casino.
“Here to do a little gambling?” he asked as she paid him.
“Something like that,” she said, getting out of the cab with a grimace.
He shook his head and hoped things would work out for her. Gwyneth slung
her bag over her good shoulder and took a deep breath, praying that
everything would work out for the best.
It didn’t take her long to get in contact with Roger, the owner of the
casino, and also the man who was in direct contact with the man who ran
headquarters, Randall Hall. She sat at Roger’s desk while he listened to the
tape, and looked through the file she had brought along with her, that was
stained slightly with blood. He cleared his throat before speaking.
“And Ms. Davis is right on your heels?” he asked.
“I know she must be,” Gwyneth said, nodding her head. “She was at
Jax’s when I called, and if--if they’re still alive, then she’s definitely on her way
here. It would really slow her down to have to hide three bodies.”
“You know you have to take this to Washington,” he said plainly.
“You mean you can’t help me?” Gwyneth asked. “I really didn’t want to
have to go all the way to DC She’ll be waiting for me there.”
“This needs to go straight to the top, sweetheart, I’m sorry,” Roger said,
standing up. “But you can take my jet, I’ll go with you, you’ll have all the
protection you need.”
“But if this is never brought into the light of day, and if Jax and Brenda
and Denise are already dead, then what would all of this have been for?”
“You can’t think like that, Gwyneth,” Roger said. “You’re one of our
best operatives. Now I know these people are important to you--”
“They’re practically family, Roger.”
“I know that. But you have to trust that you couldn’t have handled this
case any better than you did. We can’t keep track of all the double agents
working this operation, there are just too many. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you,
sweetheart, but you’re going to be fine. We will get the bad guys this time.”
“Not if she’s already beaten me to DC”
“Tell you what I’m going to do. I’m going to get on the phone to
Randall right now and tell him to expect you. There’s no way Alexis can get to
him before we do then.”
“That’d be great, thanks,” Gwyneth said, sitting quietly, as Roger picked
up the phone. During his conversation, she couldn’t help but feel like a
failure. So basically, everything would be all right. Jax and Brenda would be
killed, the least that would happen to Denise would be that she would go to
prison for a murder she didn’t commit. All of their children would be left
without parents. But look at the big picture, she could hear Roger saying
over and over. Alexis would go down, her father would go down, she was on
her way back to her home in London, the money laundering would stop, for a
few years at least. She was sure someone would start up a new operation
somewhere. But she had done her job, the bad guys were going down. She
just hoped that the people she cared about hadn’t lost their lives to ensure
that happened. She snapped to attention when Roger hung up the phone.
“I want you to let me handle things from here,” Roger said.
“I’d still like to come to DC,” Gwyneth said. “If that’s all right with
you.”
“You’re welcome to do so my dear, but after that, I must insist that you
see a doctor. You’re bleeding all over my casino.” Gwyneth chuckled lightly
for the first time in days.

The next morning, Washington DC

Alexis stepped off the elevator, a cool and confident air about her as
she walked through the halls of headquarters, headed straight for Randall
Hall’s office. She had spun a fantastic web of lies, and she was ready to pull
him in. She couldn’t believe her luck. She still had someone to go down for
Martin’s murder, Gwyneth was going down, and she would have more power
than she ever imagined. She opened the door to his office, and saw the back
of his chair, as he was facing the window behind his desk.
“I assume someone’s brought you up to speed,” Alexis said. “If not, I’ll
be happy to update you, sir.”
“Oh, please do,” Gwyneth said, turning around in the chair and smiling
at Alexis, whose face turned ashen white. She looked to her left as Randall
and Roger came from the side room. She opened her mouth to offer an
explanation, but Roger put up a hand.
“Please don’t even start,” Randall said, closing the gap between them.
“You should have known you couldn’t pull this off, Alexis. Double agents
don’t go this high up, and you should have known that.”
“What are you talking about?” Alexis said.
“The Bishop’s been tracking you for years,” Randall said.
“What?” Gwyneth asked. “My father is on the straight and narrow?”
“He always has been,” Roger said. “We couldn’t get a location on him
yet, but as soon as he checks back in, we’ll set up a meeting for the two of
you.” Gwyneth sat back down, speechless, and happier than she imagined
possible. “As for you,” he continued. “Well, you’re under arrest, of course.”
“And just so we can make things clear,” Gwyneth said, “the charges are
going to be dropped against Denise, right?”
“They already have been,” Randall said. “Your friends back in Port
Charles were all very happy to hear the news this morning.” Alexis was very
quiet as everything happened in the room. Her world was spinning, she
couldn’t think of what to do. One thing she wouldn’t do was give that crazy
Brit and these pompous men the satisfaction of watching her squirm. She’d
get out of this eventually. For now, she’d play it cool. She allowed the police
to put her under arrest, and walked calmly out of the room.
Gwyneth was close on her heels.
“Where are you going?” Roger asked. “I thought you were coming back
to Atlantic City with me,” he said, openly flirting with her.
“I have to get back to Port Charles,” she said. “There are a few
good-byes I have to make before I head to London. Will I see you there?” she
asked, smiling as she tossed the comment over her shoulder. Roger just
laughed at her and smiled.

Port Charles, four hours later

“We’re all so glad you’re okay,” Jax said, hugging Gwyneth.
“I can’t believe that you’re all unharmed,” she said, stepping back after a
hug from Brenda. “I’m so very glad that everything worked out.”
“The charges have all been dropped,” Nora confirmed, hanging up the
phone, and smiling weakly. “I still can’t believe all of this that’s happened
with Alexis. I just had no idea.”
“I guess you never know about people,” Denise said. She seemed to
really have her spirit back, and no one was happier to see that than Brenda.
She wanted to extend an invitation to Gwyneth, now that things weren’t so
tension filled between them.
“Listen, after everything you’ve done for us,” Brenda said, “I really think
you should consider staying on in Port Charles.”
“Oh, it’s a lovely idea, thank you,” Gwyneth said, “but I really must be
going, I’m anxious to get back to my old life. I’m afraid I’m not very good at
the spy stuff,” she said, motioning to her arm that was in the sling. “I don’t
know that my shoulder will ever be the same, but the rest of me is just ready
for my home land again. There’ll only be an ocean between us if you ever
want to play spy again,” she joked. “My flight leaves soon,” she said. “I had
better be going. Thank you all for being such good friends,” she added,
before going out. Jax followed her out, closing the front door behind him.
“You’re going to tell me now, right?” he asked, stopping her and
blocking her path.
“Tell you what,” she said, not in a question, but more to see how much
he really knew.
“Marian never said anything about having a sister,” Jax said softly,
knowing she must think him crazy.
“She couldn’t have mentioned me if she wanted to,” Gwyneth said. “As
you know, she was very loyal.” His eyes got even larger when she didn’t deny
it, nor did she seem surprised.
“That’s why I was so drawn to you when I first met you all those
months ago,” he continued. “Why you instantly bonded with my children,
why I feel so close to you, so connected.” She just nodded and smiled. “How
can you leave?” Jax asked after a few moments. “I thought that you cared
about my children, and--and me.”
“Oh, but I do,” she said. “But you don’t have to worry about that. I’ll
always be here if you need me, just as my sister will be. This was her family,
not mine. And now it’s Brenda’s. She’s the one that you love.” Jax sighed.
“I feel like I’m losing her all over again.”
“Then go in there and look at Brenda, who’s carrying your child, and
hug your little daughters, and your son, and let your heart be filled, Jasper,”
she said, saying it in the way that only she could. When she smiled, he could
swear he saw Marian in her eyes. She took something from her pocket just
then, and put it in his hands, face down. “Good bye,” she said, kissing him on
the cheek, and continuing down the driveway to her waiting cab. She turned
back once and smiled at him before getting into the cab and driving away.
Jax watched her until she was out of sight, then he finally looked down to see
what she had put into his hands. He chuckled when he finally did see it. It
was a picture of Marian and Gwyneth, playing as children. Gwyneth had a
bouquet of wild flowers, and a crown of wild flowers on her head, her long
blonde locks reminding Jax so much of Victoria. Marian was sneaking up
behind Gwyneth in the picture, her arms full of flowers ready to dump on her
unsuspecting sister. Jax had to laugh, the picture certainly fit Marian’s
personality.
“Thank you,” Jax said to himself, holding the only childhood picture he
had ever seen of his first wife, the mother of his daughters. “This is the best.”

Author's note: Don't freak out, it's not the end! ;-)
end chapter 32

Posted by Victoria L. on July 09, 2000 at 12:44:46:

Hey all! The moment you've all been waiting for, huh? Well, of course it's far too long and sappy, ;-) so I'm going to post it in
two parts. Here's the first, to tide you over until I get the votes counted on the dress. Enjoy and do let me know what you think!
Victoria L.

Chapter 33

Jax had taken a long walk around the neighborhood after watching
Gwyneth drive away in that cab. He had just learned that Gwyneth was his
sister in law, and the closest person his girls had to their mother. He couldn’t
help but want her to stay, but he knew that she had to make her own way in
the world, and her place was in England, not here with his girls, no matter
how much he wanted it to be so. As he came back up on the steps, he saw
Denise leaving.
“Hey there, leaving so soon?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Denise said, “Brenda’s inside waiting for you.” Jax nodded.
“How are you and the little one holding up?” he asked. Denise smiled
to herself.
“We’re doing just fine. So much better now that this whole nightmare
is over. You know what the best thing about this situation was? That I got a
child out of this, that you and Brenda are going to be married, and you’re
going to have a little baby of your own.”
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Jax said, shaking his head. “Ask me a year
and a half ago, way before either Brenda or myself had ever given any thought
to seeing each other, if this would have happened, and any of us would be
where we are now, I would have laughed in their face.”
“I guess you never know about people,” Denise said. “Well listen, I
really ought to get going.”
“You’re not going back to Java House are you?” Jax asked. “You should
go home and rest.”
“Are you kidding me? I haven’t been to work in weeks. You have no
idea how much I want to feel normal and busy for a change. Ever since that
big article in the paper, Java House is doing so much business, it’s crazy.”
“Well, promise me you’ll take it easy, you’re going to need your
strength for our wedding.”
“Oh yeah, when is that?” Denise asked. “I imagine you’re going to wait a
while.”
“Not really,” Jax said. “How’s three weeks sound to you?” Denise’s jaw
dropped.
“You really think you can pull it off?”
“With your help, and Carly’s, Lois’, and my mother of course.”
“Well anything I can do,” Denise said, pulling Jax into a hug. “I just have
one thing to say--you better give Brenda the wedding of her dreams, she
deserves it.”
“Yes ma’am,” Jax said, kissing her on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
“All right then, bye.”

Jax opened the door and went back into Brenda’s house, to find her
sitting on the couch, waiting for him.
“Hey, stranger,” she said, getting up and hugging him. He kissed her
gently, and sighed. “I cannot believe it’s all over,” she said, shaking her head. “I
mean, hello, we were in such a dangerous situation, Jax. We all could have
been killed--”
“Let’s not think about that right now,” Jax said. “We’ve got a wedding to
plan.” Brenda’s eyes lit up at the notion of her wedding.
“Imagine it,” she said, “you and I getting married again, when neither of
us ever thought that we would.”
“Any thought to where you’d like to have it?” Jax asked.
“I don’t want it big,” Brenda said, much to Jax’s surprise. “I’ve had that
with Daniel, and you had that with Marian. Plus if we get married, it’ll be a
whole media blitz, and I’d rather it just be family and close friends. We can
have it at your place, it’s bigger, the back yard is huge, and closed off by the
trees and fences, it’s perfect.”
“If you’re sure that’s what you want,” Jax said, sitting down with her,
her head against his chest as they reclined.
“That’s the way I want it,” Brenda nodded, smiling to herself. She
laughed softly, sighing. “Can you imagine Victoria all decked out, she’ll be
beautiful, and little Jasmine, she won’t like her dress too much, she’s a bit of a
tomboy, like me.”
“Yeah, she’ll cry the whole time.”
“Oh, I’ll pick out something cute for her to wear,” Brenda said, waving
a hand. “I wish--well, I wish that Gwyneth could be here for the wedding. It’s
only three weeks away, right?” Brenda asked.
“How’d you know that?” Jax asked, surprised. “And you seriously wish
that Gwyneth would come?”
“First of all, I heard you and Denise talking on the porch, and that’s
how I found out.”
“You’re happy with that?”
“I am indeed,” Brenda said. “The sooner the better. As for Gwyneth, I
was wrong about her. She helped us so much in the end, and, I can’t really
explain it, but she had a way with your daughters, it’s like she just knew them,
I don’t know. Anyway, we got off on the wrong foot because of you. We
could have been really good friends, I think. Are you sure you can’t persuade
her to stay a while longer? Or come back for the wedding?”
“I don’t think so,” Jax said, reaching into his pocket and taking out the
picture of Marian and Gwyneth. He held it in front of Brenda’s eyes. She
looked at it for a few seconds, and then took it from Jax’s hand, and sat up,
turning around to face him.
“Are you--is this what I think it is?” she asked. “Marian? And Gwyneth?”
Jax nodded.
“That explains all the connections,” Jax said. “Why I was drawn to her,
why Victoria and Jasmine were as well.”
“My God,” Brenda said, “will surprises ever stop dropping on us? Wow,
that is incredible. Well Jax, all the more reason you should have convinced
her to stay. Think of what she could have done for Victoria and Jasmine, they
could have been even closer to their mother.”
“And that wouldn’t have bothered you?” Jax asked. “I mean, you’re their
mother now.” Brenda looked down.
“But I’ve always been here, you know? And I’m not going anywhere,
they’ll always have me. Their real mother is gone, and if they can have
someone around that knew her, that looks so much like her,” she said waving
the picture, “then I think they should have that.”
“Well, maybe she’ll come back one day,” Jax said, waving a hand. “Either
way, I’m just glad that we know. I had considered it for a while, there’s never
been anyone who could soothe Jasmine the way she did, and she looked so
much like Marian from the first day that I met her.”
“But Marian never mentioned having a sister before, did she?” Brenda
asked, turning back around, and leaning against Jax.
“No, she didn’t, but I didn’t know much about her childhood at all,” Jax
said. “She always told me she was an army brat, that she hated all the moving
around, so her father emancipated her when she was 17.”
“What about her mother?”
“This is going to sound crazy,” Jax said, “but she never mentioned her
mother, in all the years that I knew her.”
“But she’s got to have a mother,” Brenda said.
“She never knew her, I guess. I mean, Lady Jane was like a mother to
Marian, they were very close, you know that. Early on, whenever I asked
Marian about her mother, she would clam up, tell me quite frankly that she
didn’t want to discuss it, and that would be the end of it. I learned right away
not to ask her about it. She never talked about it, so I don’t know if her
mother’s alive somewhere, if she died or what.”
“Well what about her father? I mean, she and Gwyneth are sisters, that
means that the Bishop is their grandfather.”
“Tell me about it,” Jax said, “but he was never apart of her life from the
moment I met her, and I’m not worried about him now. Plus, Gwyneth told
us before she left that he was on the good side after all. Part of me wishes the
girls could know their grandfather on their mother’s side, but if his lifestyle is
as dangerous as it appears to be, I’d just rather he stay away.”
“Okay,” Brenda said, when Jax had grown too quiet, “Let’s talk
wedding.”
“You can have whatever you want,” Jax said.
“Well I thought that Java House would just cater it that way we don’t
have to spend much on that.”
“Right,” Jax said. “You’re going to cook for your own wedding?”
“There’s no one’s cooking that I trust more than my own,” Brenda said,
laughing. “And that wasn’t always the case, believe me. No, Carly and Denise
can help with that, it won’t be a huge crowd, so.”
“Guest list then,” Jax said, “next thing.”
“Okay,” Brenda said, getting up and doing a happy dance around the
living room. “I can’t believe we’re actually planning this! Let me go get my
wedding note pad.”
“You have a wedding note pad?” Jax asked, as she hurried up the stairs.
“There’s pen and paper right here!”
“It has to be special,” Brenda said, as she came grinning back down the
stairs. “Now, there’s your parents, of course. And Lois, that takes care of
family on your side. And then there’s Denise on my side, and Carly and Jason.
The kids, of course, Victoria, Jasmine and Jody. And that’s it, right?”
“Well, there’s Judy Stuart,” Jax said, as Brenda crinkled her nose. “Come
on now, she’s been a great help with the media since all of this went down,
and she’s going to make Java House a chain, I’d feel bad not including her.
Plus she’s done a lot of great work for me.”
“You know I didn’t even think of that,” Brenda said, handing Jax the
notepad. “Isn’t there some people from work you’d like to invite?”
“A few,” Jax said, “I’ll add them later.”
“Why not now?” Brenda asked, when Jax got a seductive grin on his
face.
“Because there are other things I’d much rather be doing now,” he said,
picking her up and carrying her to the bedroom.
“But we have flowers and cake and music to talk about!” Brenda
giggled, as Jax showered her with kisses. “And my dress!” she said, getting out
of his arms, and crawling away from him when he dumped her on the bed.
“We can’t forget about my dress,” she said, forgetting the intimacy of the
moment. Jax laid down on the bed in defeat. She was on a kick now, and he
knew he wouldn’t get her attention back again.
“Women and weddings,” he said, shaking his head. He didn’t care
much about how things went, he just wanted her to be happy, and for the
first time in months, he was sure that they would be.

Three weeks later....

The day had finally arrived. After constant preparations, last minute
changes, and what Jax called irrational fits on Brenda’s part, everything was in
place, just as Brenda wanted it to be, and the weather was scheduled to be
beautiful for an outdoor wedding. There was nothing more Brenda could
want, so of course, she was losing it.
“Oh my God!” Brenda exclaimed, grabbing Denise and moving her out
of the way as she ran for the oven.
“Brenda, wait!” Denise said, tossing her oven mitts. “You’ll burn your
hands.”
“Oh, right,” Brenda sighed. “Thanks.” She looked self consciously at
Denise, and then handed her the oven mitts. “They’re not quite done,
anyway.”
“Mm-hmm, I know,” Denise said, shaking her head. “They aren’t going
to burn, you know. And what are you doing here, anyway, cooking for your
own wedding? I thought you were going to leave things to me and Carly.”
“Or do you just not trust us gals?” Carly said, coming in and hanging up
her coat. “I’m sorry Brenda,” Carly said, holding up her hands, and glancing at
her watch, “for being three and a half minutes late. I’m sorry!” Brenda just
rolled her eyes and plopped down in a chair.
“Don’t mind her,” Denise said, “she’s just having a heart attack, that’s all.
And don’t worry about being late, we got started early, anyway. I’ve just
finished the pear-branch candy tree, and will you have time to do the pouch
of pears?” Carly nodded.
“Well Brenda, why don’t you go home and relax? You’ve got, what
seven hours before your wedding at 2:00?”
“I can’t go home,” Brenda said, shaking her head, and waving a hand.
“No, if I go home, I’ll be killed.”
“What?” Carly asked, laughing, and taking some muffins out of the
oven. “That’s ridiculous. Why do you think that?”
“Because of Victoria, Lady Jane, and Jasmine. They are all going insane
over this wedding. I can’t get Jasmine to sit for the dress at all, so I don’t
know how it’s going to fit--”
“But Lady Jane’s going to be holding her, so no one will see her if it’s
ugly,” Denise said, laughing.
“You’re so mean,” Brenda said, chuckling softly. “I want her to be cute,
too. Oh, and Victoria--I can’t get her to get OUT of her dress, she loves it so.”
“I’ve seen her,” Carly said, “she’s so beautiful in it.”
“She’s going to ruin it, if she gets her way,” Brenda said. “I can only
hope and pray that Lady Jane convinced her to get out of it as I was leaving
this morning.”
“Well what about Jax?” Denise asked. “Why don’t you go and see him?”
“Hello,” Brenda said, looking at Denise as though she had two heads,
“bad luck. I can’t see him before the wedding.”
“Oh please,” Denise said, “you know that I don’t believe in bad luck,
especially not for the two of you. And would you stop running to that oven
every five minutes? You aren’t going to give those things a chance to rise.”
“You’re right,” Brenda said, throwing down the towel and propping
her elbows up on the counter. “Oh!” she said, springing back to action.
“Carly, what about the cake?” Brenda tried to rush into the back room, but
Carly met her at the door, just blocking her view of the cake.
“I’ve just brought it out from the back,” Carly said, “and it looks
beautiful.”
“Have you decorated it yet?” Brenda asked. “Are you sure that you don’t
need any help?”
“I am POSITIVE that I don’t need any help. And since you couldn’t
decide on which cake you wanted, you told me to surprise you, so I’m
surprising you.”
“Oh, but can’t I have just one little peak at it?” Brenda asked, straining
to see over Carly, who was a few inches taller, so she could effectively block
her view.
“No, you cannot have a little peak. This wedding is driving you crazy,
you know that, don’t you?”
“Well,” Brenda sighed, turning back around and standing between
Carly and Denise, “I never intended to do this again, you know, and after Jax I
REALLY intend to never do it again, and I want this to be perfect. I didn’t
think I could have a more perfect day than what I did with Daniel, and this is
turning into a much grander affair than my small back yard wedding, you
know? I don’t want everything to fall apart. You’ve checked the flowers,
haven’t you? And you’ve all been in your dresses, right? I haven’t had a lot of
time to talk to any of you yet, and the wedding’s today, and oh my God, what
if they don’t fit? Do you know how you’re wearing your hair? Of course it
doesn’t matter, the whole thing is going to be casual and simple anyway, but
if I have you here all day cooking for my wedding, when are you going to
have time for yourselves to get ready? And wedding vows! Oh no, I didn’t call
Jax to make sure that he’d written his, you know how men are, what if he
forgot, or is going to do something stupid like try to memorize them? You
know how nervous he gets--”
“BRENDA!!!” Carly and Denise shouted, startling her.
“Would you calm down, please?!” Denise asked, grabbing Brenda by the
shoulders. “Now this wedding is going to be whiter than Martha Stewart, all
right? It’s going to be perfect, and beautiful and gorgeous and elegant, and it
would do the woman proud. You didn’t spend hours in those wedding
magazines for nothing, right? Now, just calm down, we’ve got everything
under control.”
“That’s right,” Lois said, breezing into the room. Brenda turned around
and sighed, opening her arms for a hug. “How are you doing, honey?” Lois
asked.
“I’m losing my mind is all,” Brenda said, glancing over her shoulder
when the oven timer went off.
“I’ll get it,” Carly said, holding up a hand to Brenda.
“Are those the dresses?” Brenda asked, as Lois laid them on a chair.
They were zipped up, so Brenda couldn’t see them and start fussing over
them as well.
“Yes, they are, and I’m just dropping them off for Denise and Carly,
mine is still in the car. Let me just tell you, Brenda, that I went to fittings day
before yesterday, and all of your bridesmaids, and your maid of honor are
going to look lovely.”
“Thank you, Lois,” Brenda said, hugging her again. “You don’t mind
standing up for Jax, do you? I mean being best person, you don’t feel bad, do
you?”
“I’m glad to do it,” Lois said. “It means a lot that he even asked me, he
never calls me, you know.”
“I know,” Brenda nodded. “Okay,” she said, shrugging her shoulders,
“we have the cake and flowers and dresses and the food, there’s nothing for
me to do is there?”
“Relax!” Denise, Carly and Lois said at the same time.
“What are your girlfriends for?” Carly asked. “We aren’t going to let
anything spoil this beautiful day. Now, you have four hours to yourself, go
see a movie or something. We’ll all see you back at your house at noon, okay?
We’ll get you ready, we’ll go over to Jax’s, and do this thing, all right?”
“Okay,” Brenda sighed. “Okay. You’re right, it’s going to be great,
perfect, wonderful. Thank you guys so much for doing this for me. I really
wanted this to be a family affair, and you guys are definitely my family.
You’ve done so much for me, for this day, to make it perfect, and I love you
guys so much.”
“Oh, here we go with the waterworks,” Denise said, shaking her head
and wiping away her own tears.
“I just wanted to say that now,” Brenda said, “in case I don’t get to tell
you later on when I’m losing my mind, how much I appreciate all of you
coming together and helping me to make this the wedding of my dreams.”
“We’re glad to do it,” Lois said. Brenda nodded.
“Okay then, well I’m going to go and take a walk in the park, clear my
head.”
“That’s a good idea,” Carly said.
“And before you ask,” Lois said, “I’m on my way to Jax’s now with his
tux, and Jody’s too, and I’ve got the ring pillow, and the rings.”
“You’ve got the rings?” Brenda asked. “Oh, can I see them?”
“No, you may not,” Lois said, “I’m under strict orders. But I will tell
you,” she gushed, “that you are going to love them, and you’re going to fall on
your butt right there at the altar when you see them.”
“Did I make the right decision letting Jax pick them by himself?”
Brenda asked. “I mean, you know I let him get my engagement ring, too.”
“Which I have right here,” Lois said, taking out the small box. “He asked
that I give it to you, but that you not put it on, because he wants to do it for
you, later, after the ceremony.”
“That man,” Denise said, shaking her head. “There’s only one of him,
unfortunately.”
“It’s incredible,” Brenda said, opening the box, and seeing the glittering
diamond ring. How many--karats would you say--”
“Oh, I don’t even want to guess,” Lois said, “but you hang on to that,
he’ll kill me if he catches you with it on.”
“Oh, I promise,” Brenda said, closing the box and holding it against her
heart. “This is going to be the best day.”
“You know it,” Carly said, as Brenda went out the door.

Noon, the wedding day....

Brenda pulled up to her house, and it looked oddly quiet. She
wondered what was going on, as she opened the front door to find the room
shrouded in darkness. Oh, no! Had she forgotten and was supposed to get
ready at Jax’s house?! Just as she was about to grab her cell phone and run
out the door, the lights were thrown on, and a room full of women shouted,
“Surprise!!!!”
“Oh my God!!” Brenda said, leaning against the door. She had been
scared out of her mind! “What are you all doing here?” she asked, looking
around and seeing Lady Jane, Victoria and Jasmine, Denise, Carly, Lois, Nora,
Judy, and Gwyneth!! “Gwen, what--how?” Brenda asked, moving to hug her.
“They couldn’t resist giving you a bridal shower, short though it may
be,” Gwyneth answered. “We wanted you to have a beautiful day, just for
yourself, and weddings make all brides nervous. You’ve been planning so
much, we wanted to surprise you with this and let you relax--for about five
minutes!”
“Come now, love,” Lady Jane said, “come over here and sit down, we’ve
got some things for you, some gifts. Have you given any thought to her
somethings?”
“My somethings?” Brenda asked, sitting down.
“Yes, love, your somethings old, new, borrowed and blue?”
“Oh, no! I completely forgot!” Brenda said, starting to get up.
“Well it’s good that you did so,” Lady Jane said, holding her down,
“because we ladies have come up with everything that you need.” Just then,
like clock work, the tears started to flow. “Now, now none of that,” Lady Jane
said, “here is your something old.” She reached down onto the table and
handed Brenda a small white box, inside it was an old lace handkerchief.
“Jane, this is beautiful, oh, it’s so delicate, you don’t want me using it--”
“Tuck it somewhere discrete on your dress, just in case you need it,”
Jane said, patting Brenda’s hand and sniffling herself. “Now then, what’s for
new?”
“That’s your dress,” Lois said, “with a little extra handy work around the
trim that Denise and I did. It look gorgeous, Brenda.”
“Thank you guys so much,” Brenda said. “I don’t know if there’s
anything borrowed, though.”
“Ah, I believe that’s where I come in,” Gwyneth said, moving to sit
beside Brenda on the couch. She took a small black box out, and handed it to
Brenda.
“Pearl earrings,” Brenda said, astonished. “Oh no, this is too much, I
can’t possibly--”
“Of course you can,” Gwyneth said, moving back Brenda’s dark hair.
“They’ll look lovely on you, I’m sure. And once you’re done with them, I think
you should give them to Victoria,” she whispered, as Victoria occupied herself
with some chocolate chip cookies. “They belonged to her grandmother,”
Gwyneth said. Brenda looked up at her in surprise. “It’s a story for another
day,” Gwyneth said. “I hope you’ll accept them, and wear them today.”
“I will,” Brenda said, “thank you. Very much.” She hugged Gwyneth,
and began to feel a connection, no matter how small, to Marian, and her
connection therein, to the children Brenda would now be raising. “I’ll cherish
them,” she said.
“Okay, okay, enough with this crying,” Carly said, stepping in. “You
haven’t forgotten your something blue, have you?”
“What’s this?” Brenda asked laughing and crying at the same time.
Gwyneth scooted over so that Carly could sit next to Brenda.
“Now, don’t kill me, but I had to do it,” she said. “I saw that garter that
you were planning to wear, and I thought, typical plain old Brenda and her
grandmother garter--” Brenda playfully slapped Carly on the arm. “So I said to
myself, that just won’t due. I got you a much s*xier one--and it happens to be
blue, too!” Carly took it out and twirled it on her finger.
“Look out, Jax!” Lois said, bouncing Jasmine in her arms.
“You guys are terrible,” Brenda said, “but I thank you all so much for
the lovely gifts. You’ve made my day,” Brenda replied, putting her hands on
her heart.
“Hey now,” Denise said, “no crying at least until you’re in your dress.
Come on, let’s get you ready.”
“Okay,” Brenda said, “thank you all for coming, Judy and Nora too.”
“Well, we’ve got to get going, I want to make sure your wedding
announcement makes the papers,” Judy said, “after the reception, of course,”
she added.
“And I’m going to make a quick stop before the wedding. I’ll be at Jax’s
house if you need me for anything,” Nora said.
“Thanks,” Brenda replied. “Okay then, now who’s staying to help me?”
she asked.
“I’m taking the girls over to Jax’s,” Lady Jane, said, “and I’ll dress them
there.”
“And I’m going to go and check on the food, and yes, the cake is
perfect,” Carly said. “I’ll be at Jax’s too.”
“But that only leaves one of you to help me,” Brenda said, “and I need
you and Denise both.”
“I’ll be glad to stay and help,” Gwyneth answered. “That is, if you’d like
me to.”
“I would love that,” Brenda said, genuinely. “So that’s it then?
Everybody’s ready?”
“We’re ready,” Denise said, “now let’s get you ready!”

One hour later, an hour before the ceremony....

“How you holding up, buddy?” Jason asked, slapping Jax on the back,
and startling him.
“What’s that?” Jax asked, staring out at it his back yard, which had been
turned into a fairy tale land perfect for a wedding.
“I said, how are you holding up, you’re about to be tied down for the
rest of your life, how’s it feel?”
“Like I’m going to be sick,” Jax said. He glanced at Jason, who was
already in his tuxedo.
“What do you mean?” Jason asked. “You’re not getting cold feet, are
you?”
“No,” Jax said quickly. “Never. I mean, I love Brenda, you know, with all
my heart. But we’ve been through so much already, what if--what if I can’t
make her happy?”
“That’ll never happen,” Jason said confidently.
“How can you be so sure?” Jax asked.
“Because you know how women get with weddings--going through all
this trouble? That guarantees you five years at least.”
“Thanks for the confidence,” Jax said.
“Now if you did the justice of the peace thing, or you know, shot gun
wedding or something--” Jax cleared his throat, “then you’d get a year and a
half, tops.”
“Wow, new philosophy,” Jax said. “Thanks for the support, my friend.”
“But you and Brenda, you’re different. I can tell from the way Carly
talks about you guys. And since they’ve been planning this wedding, all she
talks about is how beautiful the two of you are together, and how every
woman wants a wedding like this, and a love like yours. Not that I’m getting
all sappy on you, I’m just saying, man, nothing to worry about.”
“Well thank you,” Jax said.
“Hey, hadn’t you better get in your suit? The wedding’s in 45 minutes.”
“Thanks!” Jax said, forgetting himself, and rushing off. Jason just shook
his head, and helped himself to a melt-away mint.

Brenda’s house

“Are you okay, sweetie?” Denise asked, when she finally helped Brenda
finish getting into her dress. Brenda nodded, but was too nervous to speak.
“Okay, now you can’t sit down until we get in the car, we want as few
wrinkles as possible, right?”
“That’s right,” Gwyneth said, taking out the earrings and handing them
to Brenda. “But you’re going to look lovely no matter what. Denise, I have to
say that the needle work on this is just exquisite. You and Lois did a beautiful
job.”
“Didn’t they?” Brenda said, twirling in the mirror once she put in the
last pearl earring. “I can’t believe you made it even more beautiful than it
already was. And your own dresses you like them, don’t you? Did Carly say
she liked hers?”
“We all love them,” Denise said, “I promise you, this is one dress that
won’t be hiding in my closet for years to come. It’s beautiful, Brenda, even
though I do have more than a little bulge helping me out here. We know you
wouldn’t pick out anything ugly for us to wear.”
“All right then,” Gwyneth said, “let’s run down the checklist, shall we?
I’ve just looked out the window, the car is here, and we don’t want to leave
anything behind. Have you got your vows?”
“Right here,” Brenda said, holding up the paper.
“And here is your bouquet,” Denise said, getting it off the bed.
“The infamous garter is in place?” Gwyneth asked, laughing. Brenda
just nodded and blushed slightly. “And you have the bride’s maids’ bouquets
as well?”
“They’re at Jax’s,” Denise said. “Lois has them, along with the flower girl
basket for Victoria.”
“And Caroline also has the cake,” Gwyneth said, “and that, my dear, is
all. Now then, are you ready?” Brenda nodded.
“More than ready. I can’t believe this day is finally here.”
“No one deserves it more than you,” Denise said. “You enjoy your day,
girl.”
“I will,” Brenda said, her breathing increasing rapidly. “I will.”

The wedding....
Everything was in place as Jax stood at the altar, Lois at his side, waiting
for the music to begin. He looked so handsome standing there in his Stafford
tuxedo with a double shawl lapel.
Schubert’s Serenade wafted through the air as Lady Jane was escorted
down the aisle, and took her seat. Denise was next to come down the aisle.
She took her place, and then was followed by Carly, escorted by Jason.
Denise and Carly were dressed in sleeveless pleated satin ball gowns with
matching wraps and were carrying quartets of sweetpea bouquets, wrapped
in organza. As the music continued, Jody came down the aisle, proud as can
be in his official job as ring bearer. He rooted himself next to Lois, and
couldn’t stop smiling as all eyes were on him. The music then changed to
Pachelbel: Canon in D as Victoria, in the role of flower girl, came down the
aisle. This was her show, and she was going to milk it for all it was worth,
giving everyone time to see her dress, which was a spaghetti strap corset with
t bodice and a tulle skirt. She carried a white basket with white ribbons
cascading off of it as she sprinkled the petals of tulips, roses, ranunculses,
calla lilies and tuberoses.
All eyes were on Brenda as she began her walk down the aisle, on John
Jacks’ arm. Everyone was quiet as Brenda paraded past them. Her eyes were
only on Jax, barely registering the friends, regular Java House customers, and
some people from Group that had helped her through so much pain, and
were now there to help her celebrate the happiest day of her life. Jax
couldn’t control the tears that found their way down his cheeks as he saw
Brenda, a vision in white. He never imagined in all the time he’d known her
that she could be so completely beautiful. She wore a silk cotton twill
princess line, deep square tank dress with clean, sculptured lines
pronounced by the deep square back. The center back seam had couple
buttons to the bias banding that trimmed the hem. She was without a doubt, a
vision in white. She carried a bouquet of yellow ‘celebration’ roses, clustered
with ‘English Garden’ roses, accented with French lavender.
John ‘gave’ the bride to Jax, who was now crying openly, but softly.
Brenda used the handkerchief that Lady Jane had given her to dry his eyes.
He took her hand and kissed it, as everyone took their seats. The minister
began,
“We are here today to celebrate the joyous union of Brenda Olivia
Buchanan to Jasper Jacks. Before we come to the vows, their friends, Ms.
Denise Walker, Ms. Caroline Benson, and Ms. Gwyneth Stonecypher, have
things they would like to say. Brenda and Jax both turned to Denise, who
was first. She was crying herself, and smiling uncontrollably, as she winked at
Jax and Brenda.
Denise began. “Every single moment of our lives, whether born of joy
or pain, has the potential for grace realized. Whether it’s an opportunity to
learn something, or an unexpected connection made, or finding love where
you thought none existed. These are gifts from God.” She stepped back then,
and allowed Carly to speak.
“Okay,” she said, clearing her throat. “I’m not much for words, but I
was looking for something to say today, and when I came across this sonnet,
by Edna St. Vincent Millay, it fit them so perfectly. Bare with me,” she said, as
she began to read.
“Love is not all.
It is not meat, nor drink, nor slumber, nor a roof against the rain.
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink, and rise, and sink, and rise,
and sink again.
Love cannot fill the thickened lung with breath,
nor clean the blood,
Nor set the fractured bone.
Yet many a man is making friends with death,
Even as I speak, for lack of love alone.

It well may be, that in a difficult hour,
pinned down by pain, and moaning for release,
or nagged by want, past resolution’s power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace,
or trade the memory of this night, for food.
It well may be.
I do not think I would.”

“That describes Jax and Brenda, in my opinion,” Carly said, looking
warmly at the both of them. “They have been through so much together, and
they both had every reason in the world to give up on one another, and they
never did. Not once. They never stopped loving, they never stopped trying,
and that’s why they’re here today. And I want to offer them thanks, for
allowing me to be part of their special day, and their very special love, and for
extending that love into my life. Thank you, Jax, and thank you, Brenda. My
congratulations.” Carly stepped back, and then Gwyneth cleared her throat,
standing up beside Lady Jane.
“This sonnet is often read at weddings, but it couldn’t belong to two
more special people,” she began. “It’s sonnet 141 by William Shakespeare.

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments.
Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken.”

“These two young people have come together, and have never once
been shaken, and never will they be shaken, for their love is indeed that that
dreams are made of, but it is solid, and it is real, and it will sustain them in
love, all the rest of their days. My thanks to you, Jasper, and Brenda, for
showing me love, my congratulations.”
“Well now,” the minister said, “if we’re all quite done crying, Jasper and
Brenda have written their own vows, in the form of questions, they would
like me to ask, and then vows, they would like to recite. Do you, Jasper, take
Brenda as your wife, joining her in spirit, offering your friendship and loving
care? Do you promise to honor her growth and freedom as well as your own,
to cherish and respect her, to love and embrace her in times of challenge as
well as times of joy? If so, now say I do.”
“I do,” Jax replied calmly, looking into Brenda’s eyes. Her heart did a
little lurch when she realized that he had memorized his vows. “Brenda,” he
continued, “I choose you to be my partner in love, and in life. I promise to
nurture you--body, mind and spirit. I will laugh and cry with you. Will you be
my wife?”
“Yes,” Brenda said breathlessly, beaming up at him and seeing only
him, in the midst of all their family and friends. Jody thrust the pillow forward
then, as Jax leaned down and whispered his thanks to the little boy. Brenda
gasped when she saw the platinum wedding bands that Jax had picked out
for them. He handed her his wedding band, and picked up hers, and placed it
on her finger delicately. “Denise told me,” he whispered to Brenda, “that gold
is, quote, played out.” Brenda laughed softly, and smiled, glancing at Denise,
who gave her a thumbs up.
“Now,” the minister continued, “Do you, Brenda, take Jasper as your
husband, joining with him today in spirit? Do you promise to care for him
and share with him, to love him, and learn from him, to laugh with him and
listen to him? To grow with him? If so, now say I do.”
“I do,” Brenda said, her heart filled with so much love, she realized she
didn’t need a piece of paper to say what was in her heart. “Jax, I love and
respect you. I will comfort, support, and uplift you. I will honor your spirit
for the rest of my days. Will you be my husband?”
“Always,” Jax replied. Brenda then placed his wedding band on, having
no difficult sliding the ring on.
“By the power vested in me by the state of New York, I now
pronounce you husband and wife. Wear your roles well. You may--”
“Kiss her, daddy!” Victoria shouted, clapping her hands.
“Yes ma’am!” Jax said, pulling Brenda into his arms for an intimate kiss.
Applause erupted around them as they embraced for a few minutes. Finally,
they turned to face the crowd, joined as man and wife, and all the better for it.
The music began again, as Brenda and Jax walked back down the aisle, this
time together, husband and wife.

“We’ve only just begun, to live.
White lace and promises,
A kiss for luck, and we’re on our way.
We’ve only begun.
Before the rising sun, we fly.
So many roads to choose,
We start off walking, and learn to run.
And yes, we’ve just begun.
Sharing horizons that are new to us.
Watching the signs along the way.
Talking it over, just the two of us.
Working together, day to day,
Together.
And when the evening comes,
We sigh.
So much of life ahead.
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow.

Love, look at the two of us,
Strangers in many ways.
We’ve got a lifetime to share,
So much to say,
And as we go from day to day,
I’ll feel you close to me,
But time, alone will tell.
Let’s take a lifetime to see,
I knew you well, for only time
Will tell us so,
And love may grow, for all we know.”
 

Jax had rented a dance floor, that covered a large portion of his back
yard. It was tented, and a small crowd had gathered around it, as Jax and
Brenda made their way over, slowly, with Jody in his arms, and Victoria
skipping behind, looking like a mischievous fairy. Everyone circled Jax and
Brenda, offering well wishes, congratulations, and thanks. Before she knew
it, Jax had disappeared into the crowd. She went on with her greetings and
mingling, until she felt his arms go around her.
“They’re playing our song,” he whispered to her. “May I have this
dance?”
“You certainly may,” Brenda said, as the dance floor was cleared, and
Jax led her onto the floor.
“You look beautiful, by the way,” he said, as he leaned down to kiss her.
“In case I forget to tell you later, when you render me speechless.”
“I love you,” Brenda said.
“And I love you.” Christina Aguilera’s soulful voice melted through as
she sang. This song, both Jax and Brenda had heard at the same time on the
way to coming home in separate cars. As soon as they saw each other that
evening, they knew they had found their song.

“Here we are, safe at last.
We can breathe a sigh.
It seems the storm has passed.
Through it all no one knew,
That all the tears in Heaven,
Would bring me back to you, oh.
No one, I know, imagined we would make it.
But it only matters that we both believe.”

“So, how does it feel to be Mrs. Jacks?” Jax asked, swaying gently with
Brenda in his arms.
“It feels wonderful, incredible, exciting, so many emotions at once, Jax.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me this day. It
means the world. I’ll never forget the people or the smells or the flowers or
this feeling.”
“What feeling is that?” Jax asked.
“Like we can do anything,” Brenda said. “And that we’ll always be
together. Am I crazy?”
“You are in love.”

“You and me, we’re a miracle.
Meant to be, and nothing can change it.
Mountains move, and oceans part
When they are standing in our way.
You and me, we’re a miracle.
Angels stand watching over us,
And Heaven shines upon us, every day.”

“Victoria feels like a princess you know,” Brenda said, as others began
to join them on the dance floor. “We’ll never get her out of that dress now.”
“Oh, I think we can let her enjoy it. It’s safe to say that we’ll never be
getting married again, she may not have another occasion to wear it.”
“What are you thinking about?” Brenda asked, leaning her head against
Jax’s chest and sighing. She smiled to herself when she felt the light rubble in
his chest from laughter.
“Do you really want to know?” he asked.
“Why, would it make me blush?”
“I don’t think so,” Jax said, laughing. “I’m thinking of wedding cake,
actually.” Brenda laughed too. “I haven’t had anything to eat, I’ve been so
nervous.”
“You were really nervous?” Brenda asked. “And here I thought my big
strong man was fearless. That dreaded ball and chain, huh?” Brenda
snickered, as Jax leaned down and kissed her passionately.

“Every time I felt near defeat,
You were there for me, oh,
On my side completely.
You’d give me strength,
You set me free.
It’s just because of you, oh,
I’m all that I can be, oh.
When I’m with you,
The world is ours to reach for.
Together there ain’t nothing we can’t do.”

“What do you want to do now?” Brenda asked, her arms wrapped
tightly around Jax’s waist, oblivious to anyone else in the room.
“Well, we could get really creative with the icing,” Jax said, laughing,
“but somehow, I don’t believe our guests would appreciate our exhibitionist
tendencies.”
“You’re so crazy,” Brenda said, shaking her head. “I wasn’t talking about
that. We still have the dance with your dad, and those dreaded speeches that I
know people aren’t going to make until they get good and liquored up.”
“That reminds me,” Jax said, leading Brenda away from the crowd. “I
brought you this,” Jax said, taking out some sparkling apple cider. “Isn’t it just
awful that you can’t drink champagne at your own wedding? I hope this is
the next best thing for you.”
“That’s the best thing you could have done for me, thank you baby,”
Brenda said, taking a sip and then kissing Jax. She laughed as Jax trailed kisses
down her neck, and then he lightly kissed her abdomen.
“And how are you in there, my child?” he asked, patting her abdomen
lightly. She laughed.
“He’s moving, actually,” Brenda said. “It sort of tickles.”
“I can barely see him when you stand in a profile,” Jax said, standing
back up and embracing her once again.
“You’re really so sure it’s a boy?” Brenda asked.
“I’m positive,” Jax said.
“Well, sometimes I think he’s a boy, and sometimes I feel like it’s a girl.
Denise and Carly are betting money it’s a girl.”
“Well we’ll see, won’t we?” Jax said. “Either way, I hope this child is as
gorgeous as you.”

“You and me, we’re a miracle.
Meant to be, and nothing can change it.
Mountains move, and oceans part
When they are standing in our way.
You and me, we’re a miracle.
Angels stand watching over us,
And Heaven shines upon us every day.
The chance was so unlikely,
That we would ever be.
Two stars among the Heavens,
Destiny brought you to me.”

“Do you have any idea how much I love you?” Brenda asked, as Jax
pulled her back on the dance floor and held her close.
“As much as I love you,” Jax said.
“Oh, at least that much,” Brenda said. “You’re my everything, Jax, I want
you to know that. There’s no one more important to me than you. I’m always
going to love you, and there’s no one else in my heart, I don’t want you to be
worried about that anymore, okay?”
“Are you talking about Daniel?” Jax asked. Brenda nodded.
“Well, I just want you to make sure that now, on this of all days, here at
our wedding reception, that there’s no other man in my heart. And there
never will be another man in my heart, just you. I know I said I would always
love Daniel, but I don’t think that’s true, and not just because of what I found
out about him. I love him because he gave me Jody, but I’m not in love with
him anymore. There will never be anybody for me but you. And you don’t
have to say the same thing because of Marian--I know how much she meant to
you.”

“You and me we’re a miracle.
Meant to be, and nothing can change it.
Mountains move and oceans part
When they are standing in our way.
You and me, we’re a miracle,
Angels stand, watching over us,
And Heaven shines upon us every day.
You and me, we’re a miracle, miracle.
You and me, we’re a miracle, miracle.
Miracle.”

“Brenda, for Heaven’s sakes woman, don’t you know how much I love
you by now. There isn’t anyone else in my heart either. I don’t mean to say
that I’ve forgotten about Marian. I think of her every time I look at Victoria.
But she’s not the lady of my heart anymore. That t*tle belongs solely to you.”
“I love you,” Brenda said, shaking her head and letting the tears flow
freely. “Always,” she whispered.
“And forever, my love,” he said, kissing her forehead and resting his chin on top of hers.

Okay, had to get one more part in there! ;-) Enjoy it!
Victoria L

“Okay, give me this,” Denise said, moving in between Jax and Brenda,
who were completely wrapped up in one another. “We need to get this cake
cut before people start coming after me with knives.”
“Oh, the cake!” Brenda exclaimed, looking around for it. “I haven’t even
seen it yet? Where’s Carly? I want to thank her.”
“Well she’s bringing out, come on over,” Denise said. Everyone was
gathered, champagne glasses in hand, ready for Jax and Brenda to cut the
cake.

“I do swear, that I’ll always be there.
I’d give anything, and everything.
And I will always care.
Through weakness and strength,
Happiness and sorrow,
For better, for worse,
I will love you, with every beat of my heart.”

Brenda gasped and Jax just laughed. This day couldn’t have gotten any
more perfect as Brenda finally saw the cake. It was everything she had
dreamed of, and something she would never have thought of. Three tiered
with a detachable candy heart on top that surrounded the bride and groom
dolls. Carly had done a wonderful and beautiful job.
“I love it!” Brenda said, moving to hug Carly, who smiled and stepped
to the side.
“This is your day,” she said, “go ahead and enjoy it. You can give me
that raise later.” Brenda just laughed and wiped back her tears.
“No seriously, Carly. Thank you for this, it’s beautiful. I couldn’t have
asked for anything more perfect. What is it?” she asked, before she took the
cake knife.
“French vanilla buttercream icing,” Carly said, “with meringue butter
cream filling.”
“Oh my God,” Brenda said, “that must have taken forever.”
“It was worth it,” Carly said, shrugging. “Besides, it’ll go straight to your
thighs, and the day you have bigger thighs than me is a good day in my book.
Now go ahead and cut your cake, woman, before you make yourself a widow.
Jax looks like he’s ready to dive in.”
“I’m slicing!” Brenda yelled, as everyone applauded. She fed Jax,
getting some on the tip of his nose, which she happily kissed off. “Be nice,”
she warned to Jax as he taunted her with the cake. She opened her mouth,
and he gently fed her the cake, not getting a single drop of icing on her.
“Thank you, sweetie,” she said, hugging him and kissing him. This time, with
icing on his own mouth, he took the opportunity to kiss icing onto her face.
“Jax!” she exclaimed, laughing. “You’re getting it on me!”
“And I will be more than happy to get it off,” he said.
“From this moment, life has begun.
From this moment, you are the one.
Right beside you, is where I belong.
From this moment, on.
From this moment, I have been blessed.
I live only, for your happiness.
And for your love, I’d give my last breath.
From this moment, on.
I give my hand to you with all my heart.
I can’t wait to live my life with you,
Can’t wait to start.
You and I will never be apart.
My dreams came true,
Because of you.”

“Now the fun begins, ladies and gentleman!” Carly exclaimed, dragging
Brenda to the center of the room and seating her in a chair. Jax walked over
to Brenda, and kneeled in front of her. She covered her face with her hands
as she was wracked with giggles. Jax stared straight into her eyes as he
reached up her dress to find her garter. She felt his hands circle around it,
and when she felt him start to go higher, she shook her head at him, and
leaned down to kiss him.
“Be good,” she whispered.
“Yes ma’am,” Jax said, “but I’ll get you later. Jax then put his head
under her dress, and pulled the garter down with his teeth! All the men in
the wedding reception loved it, especially Jason, who watched intently, as
Carly slapped him on the arm, making him pay attention to her.

“From this moment, as long as I live.
I will love you, I promise you this.
There is nothing I wouldn’t give,
From this moment, on.
You’re the reason I believe in love.
And you’re the answer to my prayers
From up above.”

Jax stood up as the single men made a small crowd behind him. He
twirled the garter on his hands, and then tossed it behind him. Jason jumped
up and caught it with ease, much to Carly’s dismay. Jason walked over and
kissed her, she couldn’t resist him.
“My turn!” Brenda exclaimed, getting her bouquet from Gwyneth.
“Okay single girls!” she said, “On three ladies. Gwyneth, that includes you, get
over there in that line! On three! One, two, three!” Brenda tossed it over her
head, and right into Carly’s waiting arms. Carly promptly tossed it into
Gwyneth’s hands, and Brenda laughed as the women played hot potato with
her bouquet. “I’ll bet Mr. Right is out there for the both of you,” Brenda said,
laughing at them. Lois stepped up then and caught the bouquet from
Gwyneth and Carly.
“I could always use a good floral arrangement,” Lois laughed, and
slapped Denise a high five.

“All we need is just the two of us.
My dreams came true,
Because of you.
From this moment, as long as I live,
I will love you, I promise you this.
There is nothing, I wouldn’t give.
From this moment,
I will love you, as long as I live,
From this moment, on.”

“I think it’s time for your dance with dad,” Jax said into Brenda’s ear.
“And mum’s been so busy chasing after the children, I don’t think she’s had a
turn on the dance floor yet.” Brenda nodded and went over to John as Jax
pulled Lady Jane to him. Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole’s voices radiated
over the crowd, as the sentimental dance began.

“Unforgettable, in every way.
Unforgettable, though near or far.
Unforgettable, that’s what you are.”

“You looked gorgeous today, love,” John said, swaying Brenda on the
dance floor.
“Thanks dad,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.
“I think you should know, when Marian died, poor Jax was destroyed.
I never thought he’d find love again, especially not love that surpassed
anything I’d ever seen before. You’re good for my boy, I want you to know
that. And I can’t wait to see my grandson in there,” John chuckled.
“Thank you,” Brenda said, “your support means everything.
“And you have it, love. You’re a Jacks, now.”

“Like a song of love, that sings to me,
How the thought of you, does things to me.
No, never before, has someone been more.”

“My son,” Lady Jane said. “You’ve never been more handsome. This
has been a wonderful day.”
“Hasn’t it?” Jax said. “Brenda was a vision, wasn’t she? And Victoria had
the time of her life. Jody was so proud.”
“I’m so proud,” Jane emphasized. “I’m so proud of you and Brenda, that
you’ve been able to make this day come about, and I know that you will make
this marriage work. Have a wonderful life together, son. No, that’s not what I
mean. Be good to each other.”
“We will, mum. We will.”

“That’s why, darling,
It’s incredible, that someone,
So unforgettable,
Thinks that I am,
Unforgettable, too.”

As the evening wore on, dusk approached. Most of the guests had
gone, and Brenda was exhausted, coming down after an incredible high. She
smiled as Victoria danced Jody around the dance floor. She held a sleepy
Jasmine in her arms. She kissed Carly and Jason goodbye, and then Denise,
who was getting a ride home with them. Lady Jane and John stood by, ready
to take the kids for the evening. Brenda saw Lois cleaning up, and went to
give her a hand, despite her arms being filled with a tired little girl.
“Is there anything I can do?” she asked Lois, and then Gwyneth who
came out from the kitchen.
“Are you kidding me?” Lois said. “This is your wedding day. You
shouldn’t be working to do anything. Where’s that gorgeous husband of
yours, anyway?”
“Explaining to Maxie why dogs don’t go on honeymoons,” Gwyneth
joked. “No, seriously, I think he’s preparing something special for you. We
have strict instructions to clean up as much as possible in the next fifteen
minutes, and then we are officially off clean up duty.”
“I think I’m going to go put her down,” Brenda said,
“Oh, do wait a moment,” Gwyneth said. “This will be the last time I see
her in a very long time. Perhaps forever.” She leaned down and kissed
Jasmine’s forehead, and then sighed. “You have all been so wonderful to me,
through everything. I want to sincerely thank you for being my friends.”
“You’re welcome,” Brenda said. “After all, you saved us, too. Promise to
write?” she asked.
“Yes,” Gwyneth said. “I’ll go now, my cab is waiting, and so is my flight.
Have a wonderful life together,” she said. “Bye, now.”
“Bye,” Brenda said softly, watching her leave. “I am glad she got to
come back for the wedding,” she said to Lois. “I sort of wish she could have
stayed.”
“Listen,” Lois said, “she looked way too much like my sister-in-law. You
did not want her here, not really. Now come on, no long faces. I’m basically
done here, I wish I could say there was some wedding cake left over, but
Carly outdid herself.”
“We couldn’t have finished it ourselves,” Brenda said, waving a hand.
“I’m glad they liked it.”
“Well listen, I’m done here, so I’m going to go. You and Jax don’t leave
until Friday, right?”
“Yeah,” Brenda said.
“So I’ll call you tomorrow, then. Bye, hon.” Lois walked away, and
Brenda realized she was alone. John was gathering up Victoria and Jody, and
Lady Jane came to take Jasmine from Brenda’s arms.
“You have a husband waiting for you,” she said, as they said goodnight.
Brenda turned around to find Jax standing there. He clicked a remote control
and music began to play, as he held a hand out to her.

“Every night, every day,
You’re the one I always dream of.
Every line, of your face, is sketched so plain,
Inside my heart.
You’ve grown so deep inside of me.
You’re everything I feel, and see.
And you’re the one,
You’re the one I love.”

He held up the ring box that Lois had given her earlier.
“Where did you get that?” she asked. “I thought I left it at my house.”
“I have my trade secrets,” Jax said, opening the box. “I wanted to save
this moment for the two of us, because I didn’t get a chance to give this to
you earlier. It’s a little late, I know, but--”

“All my life, all my love,
I can feel, when you’re beside me.
All that’s right, all that’s wrong,
Suddenly, becomes so clear.
My heart has overtaken me,
With feelings you awake in me.
And you’re the one.
You’re the one I love.”

“It’s perfect,” Brenda said, kissing him deeply and passionately when he
put the ring on her finger. “This is perfect, you’re perfect, I feel perfect for
the first time in a long time. I just couldn’t be happier, Jax. I have no one to
thank but you for giving me such a wonderful, flawless day that I will never
forget, as long as I live.”
“I hope not,” Jax chuckled. “This tent alone cost a pretty penny.”
Brenda just laughed as Jax swept her off her feet, and twirled her around the
dance floor. “I love you, Mrs. Jacks,” he said. “My God, that sounds
wonderful!”
“I love you, too, Mr. Jacks,” Brenda said. “Always,”
“And forever.”

“Only you could move me enough to
Believe in love one more time.
All I need to know for tomorrow is
That you’re mine,
Mine for a lifetime.
If our friends, all around,
Find it hard to understand us.
You and I understand the other one so very well.
And that’s what I’ve been looking for,
So I keep coming back for more.
Cause you’re the one,
You’re the one I love.
You’re the one,
You’re the one I love.”
end chapter 33