Roaring Love-Chapter 24

by Christina on February 16, 19100 at 20:27:59:

Roaring Love-Chapter 24

Brenda’s hands shakes as she opens up the letter with her name on the front. Never seeing her own name written had made her so nervous. She sighs and the white note unfolds in her hands.

Dear Brenda,
I have never been good with words but seeing you after all this time, I have so much to say, yet I know there will be so much I forget to say. Brenda, I love you so much…from the day you were born and I saw your midnight hair, golden skin, and chocolate-colored eyes, I knew you would be the most precious thing in my life. It has taken me so long to reclaim my life and make sense of all that has happened. I know finding you and Julia is the key to putting my life back together. I know you are mad and I do not expect you to welcome me back into your life with open arms but I do hope you will give me the chance to know my beautiful daughter and she will try to get to know her mother. Whether or not this works out, I love you and want you back in my life.
Love,
Veronica

Brenda wipes a tear from her cheek and collapses on the couch. Part of her was so mad that Veronica just showed up and expected her daughter back. The other half of her wanted a mother…she had no idea what to do. She turns on the couch and takes a picture of herself from when she was six years old. Jax and she had been going through all her old stuff when she moved out of Sonny’s and he had found this picture of her in Paris. She was standing in front of the Eiffel Tower with a vanilla ice cream cone while Harlan and Julia looked on.

After the photographer that Harlan had hired finished taking the pictures, he had walked over to another little girl and her mother and started to take pictures of them. Brenda smiles as her little voice echoes, “Daddy, why can’t I take a picture with my Mommy? “Brenda, Mommy is gone,” Harlan returned scooping her up and kissing her. Julia had turned away and Brenda could see the tears in her eyes. She never had known why Julia was crying that day until she had realized their mother was never returning. Brenda closes her eyes and sighs, tomorrow would be another day.

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“Jerry, what exactly did you find out?” Jax asks with his blue eyes growing darker by the second. “Jasper, calm down…give me a second to explain,” Jerry says with a grin. “Jerry, do you realize how important this is to Brenda and me?” Jax asks shaking his head. “Yes, I do…I am sorry if you thought I was not taking you seriously,” Jerry says. “It’s okay…what did you get?” Jax asks glancing at the pile of papers in Jerry’s hands.

“I did your regular background check on Veronica and she is Brenda’s mother, no doubt…and then I dug a little deeper,” Jerry says. “And?” Jax asks with anticipation. “Veronica stayed with a man named Pierre Marcil while she had amnesia and was known as Nicole Marcil and they fell in love and had a baby together,” Jerry replies holding his breath. “Brenda has another sibling?” Jax asks. “Jax, Veronica and Pierre married about seven months after she disappeared and she was already a month pregnant and she had a girl named Janelle,” Jerry says. “Where is Janelle now? Brenda will want to know her sister,” Jax says.

“Jax, Janelle died of scarlet fever when she was six months old and Pierre and Veronica never had any more children,” Jerry responds. “And where is Pierre now?” Jax says sitting down. Jerry says, “Pierre died three years ago and “Nicole” was still working at the small restaurant she and Pierre had opened right after Janelle died and she worked there up until about nine months ago when she sold it to a German family.” “And that was when Veronica got her memory back,” Jax says completing Jerry’s sentence.

“Yes, and she sold the house she and Pierre lived in and was living in London for about five months before she started looking for Brenda and Julia,” Jerry responds. “But how did she end up with Pierre?” Jax asks in confusion. “Pierre found her washed up by his tiny villa, not too far from Paris and she did not remember anything so Pierre lied and told her that she was his wife and then convinced her to renew their vows when in fact they were never married,” Jerry says handing a folder to Jax. “Jerry, where did you get all this info?” Jax asks in suspicion. “Jax, I have found out other countries top secret information in my passings…this was a piece of cake,” Jerry says.

“Thanks Jerry,” Jax says in appreciation. “You are welcome and does Julia know yet?” Jerry asks. “Brenda tried calling her several times last night but she could not be reached,” Jax says standing up. “Well, I am going to Dublin on a small business trip and I believe Julia will be there…do you want me to tell her?” Jerry asks. Jax smiles and says, “I think Brenda should…please just ask Julia to call my place right away.” “Okay…bye little brother and tell Brenda I am thinking of her,” Jerry says giving Jax a hug. “Thanks big brother,” Jax says hugging back his brother.

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Veronica looks out the window with tears in her eyes. “Please let Brenda want me back in her life,” Veronica whispers up at the full moon. Veronica hugs her body…seeing Brenda had sent chills up her spine. She had been looking at pictures of her daughter for months but seeing her in person had shocked her. She felt as if she was still gazing at her little girl and the same innocence was still in Brenda’s eyes. Her eyes…they had always told someone how Brenda felt. They glowed when she was happy and turned black when she was angry or sad. And when she looked at her daughter, all she saw was confusion mixed with anger.

She hears a knock and takes a deep breath…maybe it was Brenda. Veronica runs over to the door and opens it to find herself face to face with Jax. “We need to talk,” Jax says walking past her. “Yes, we do,” she responds quietly.

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Brenda jumps at the ring of the phone and runs over to it. “Hello?” she says anxiously. “Bren, it’s Julia…the hotel gave me my messages from you,” her sister says through the static. “Are you in London?” Brenda asks. “No, Dublin on business but I called my hotel…Jerry is going to be here tomorrow morning,” Julia responds. “Julia, you need to come to Port Charles right away,” Brenda says. “Bren, what is the matter?” Julia asks. “Julia, I cannot tell you on the phone…you have to be here,” Brenda says softly. “Brenda, are you okay?” Julia asks nervously. “Yes, I am okay physically but emotionally I am drained and I need you here with me,” Brenda says sitting at Jax’s desk.

“Brenda, are you and Jax still getting married?” Julia asks. “Yes, Julia this is something to do with you and me and I need you here, now if you are going to give me a hard time,” Brenda says before Julia cuts her off. “No, no…Brenda, I will take the next plane out to the city and be there by tomorrow afternoon,” Julia says. “I am glad,” Brenda says. “Bye Bren,” Julia says hanging up. “Bye Jules,” Brenda says staring into the receiver.

Her stomach begins to grumble and she begins to feel sick. She covers her mouth and runs into the bathroom and throws up. When she finishes, she sits against the wall with her face gleaming in sweat. The whole thing with her mother must have been stressing her out more than she thought. “Oh Jax, please come home,” Brenda says closing her eyes and shaking her head before she heads back to the toilet.

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“Veronica, I know all about your life as Nicole,” Jax says. “What?” Veronica asks in shock. “I needed to make sure you were telling the truth,” Jax says. “Jax, that is my private life and what went on during those years should only be known to me, Brenda, and Julia,” Veronica says sipping her brandy. “What do you want from Brenda?” Jax asks. “Jax, I want my daughter…I have lost so much time already and I am not about to do that anymore…I want to know Brenda,” Veronica says with tears in her eyes.

“Veronica, I watched Brenda practically lose herself over a man who treated her like dirt and I am not going to allow you to ruin her life just when she got it back,” Jax says. “Jax, I do not want to hurt Brenda…I just want to know her,” Veronica says. “All right but you must tell Brenda everything about your pass or I will,” Jax says walking to the door. “Thank you Jax for giving me a chance,” Veronica says with a smile. “Veronica, make it worth it,” Jax says walking out.

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Several Minutes later…

Jax opens the door and sees Brenda asleep on the couch. He smiles and walks toward her and grazes her lips with his index finger. His father had once told him that when you could look at someone all night while they were sleeping that you were in love. He did not know if he could love Brenda anymore than he already did…it was all consuming. He did not want this Veronica thing to put distance between them. Brenda yawns in her sleep and Jax smiles…she was so precious.

All my life,
I've been waiting for you,
My wonderful one,
I've begun,
Living,
All my life.

All my love,
Has been waiting for you,
My life is sublime,
Now that I'm,
Giving,
All my love.

You seem so lovely,
So far above me,
I'm almost afraid to go ga-ga,
But I adore you,
I place before you,
A heart that's an open book.

All my life,
Hold me close to your heart,
But all else above,
Hold my love,
Darling,
All my life.

...Lovely,
...above me,
I'm almost afraid to look,
But I adore you,
I place before you,
A heart that's an open book.

All my life,
Hold me close to your heart,
But all else above,
Hold my love,
Darling,
All my life.

Jax sits the whole night and watches Brenda sleep peacefully.

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“Yum, these pancakes are delicious…the PC hotel sure knows how to cook,” Jax says smiling at Brenda across the table. “Hmmm,” Brenda says trying not to gag at the smell of orange juice and hot maple syrup. “Want a bite of my croissant, sweetie?” Jax asks holding out the flaky pastry with raspberry jam dripping off the end. Brenda covers her mouth and runs into the bathroom and Jax jumps up as he hears Brenda throw up.

“Brenda, are you okay?” Jax says rubbing her back. Brenda throws up again and Jax says, “It must be the flu.” Brenda shakes her head and says, “I felt kind of sick yesterday morning and I threw up last night and I was so preoccupied that I did not even realize that I was late,” Brenda says looking at Jax.

“Brenda, are you…?” Jax asks as his voice trails off. Brenda nods and whispers, “Sweetie, I think I am pregnant…”

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Music from this Chapter…
1.) “All My Life” by Fats Waller