CHAPTER 2

Later on that day Hope walks into the pub and finds Chelsea, Morgan and Nick sitting at a table.  �Hey girls.�

�Hey Hope.�  Nick says as he gets up. �How�s Bo?�

�He�s doing better.� Hope remarks.

�I just talked to dad a little bit ago and he didn�t sound too good.� Chelsea remarked.

�He�s fine.� Hope laughed. �He�s just a little upset that I hired a nurse to help him with Ciara is all.�

�Well if you ladies will excuse me I really do have to get going.� Nick said.

�Alright, call me later.� Chelsea smiled up at him. �Maybe we can do dinner or something.�

�Mrs. Brady would you like to join us?� Morgan asked.

�I really should go home and check on Bo.� Hope said as she sat down. �But what the heck I have a few minutes and really wanted to talk to Chelsea anyway.�

�Is there something the matter Hope?� Chelsea nervously asked.

�I can go to the bar and get you something to drink Mrs. Brady.� Morgan added as she started to get up. �And give you two some privacy.�

�Morgan it isn�t like that.� Hope said as she took Morgan�s hand and she sat back down. �I was just hoping Chelsea would join her sister, father and I for dinner tonight around six.�

�Sounds great.� Chelsea perks. �Is it okay if I bring Nick with me?�

�No problem.� Hope answers.

�Hey daddy.� Morgan says as her eyes light up. �What are you doing here?�

He looks at his watch. �I just got finished with a business meeting.�

�Oh I�m sorry.� Morgan says. �Daddy this is Chelsea�s step mother Hope Brady.�

�Paul Hollingsworth.� He says holding out his hand. �It�s a pleasure to meet you.�

�The pleasures mine.� Hope said smiling up at him. �You have a very lovely daughter.�

�Oh my god Morgan we need to get going ourselves or we�re going to be late for class.� Chelsea remembered as she looked at her watch.

�Hope it wasn�t something I said?� Paul half joked as they stood up and ran out. �Do you mind if I join you Ms. Brady.�

�It�s Hope and I really do need to get going myself.�

�Actually if you have a minute I�d like to talk to you about a friend of yours.�

Hope looked up at him.

�John Black.�

He caught her interest and she invited him to sit down. �How is it that you know John?�

A waitress walked over. �Can I get either of you something to drink?�

Paul looked at Hope. �How does an ice cold glass of ice tea sound?�

�Sounds good.�

�Two glasses of ice tea.� The waitress wrote down. �I�ll be right back.�

�You know I�m really glad Morgan has a friend like Chelsea. She seems like such a nice kid.�

�She�s grown a lot since I�ve know her.� Hope acknowledges. �It�s taken us awhile to get know each other, but yes I agree it�s nice that she has a friend like Morgan as well.�

The waitress walks over and places their ice tea on the table. �Are you ready to order.�

�We�re not having lunch.� Hope corrects her.

�Actually I�d love to buy you lunch so we can talk about our mutual friend.� Paul interrupts.

�You never said how you know John.�

�Stay and have lunch with me and I�ll explain.�

Hope looks up at the waitress. �I�ll have the special.�


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~**~*~*~~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*


Later on that day Hope comes walking into the house. She quietly closes the front door when she see Bo sitting on the couch rocking Ciara in his arms.

�Mommy!� Ciara suddenly screams

Bo turns around. �Hey Fancy Face, you�re home early.�

She walks over and gives both of them a kiss. �I told Abe I need to get home to you and he understood.� She looks around the room. �Please tell me you didn�t send Nancy home.�

�Don�t worry she�s in the kitchen. �Bo reluctantly stated.

�I hope you behaved yourself.�

�She�s still here isn�t she?� Bo joked.

�Hello Mrs. Brady.� Nancy said coming out of the kitchen. �I was just going to start dinner. I wasn�t under the impression you�d be home this early.�

�Normally I wouldn�t be.� Hope replied. �I got off early tonight to make sure Bo here was behaving himself.� She gets off the couch and walks over to her. �I hope he wasn�t too much of a pain?�

�I told you I behaved myself.� Bo pouted. �Why don�t you believe me?�

She turned and smiled at him. �Because I know you better than that.�

�Well since your home Mrs. Brady I guess I�ll be on my way.� Nancy said picking up her purse. �I�ll see you tomorrow morning Bo.�

�That won�t be necessary Nancy, Ciara and I will be spending the day with my mother.� Bo replied.

�I�ll call you tomorrow Nancy.� Hope added as she walked her to the door.

�So how was your day Fancy Face?�

�It would have been much better if I had spent it with you.� She said before she picked up one of Ciara�s crayons that fell to the floor and handed it to her.

�So who�s Paul?� Bo asked as he smiled up at her.

�Paul?� Hope questioned as she joined him on the couch.

�Yeah you know the man you had lunch with today.�

�Bo Brady are you having me followed?� Hope annoyingly asked. �I felt like there was somebody watching me all day.�

�No I didn�t have you followed. It�s your own paranoia that�s making you feel guilty.�

She looks at him. �So how did you know I had lunch with Paul Hollingsworth?�

�Because the mystery man sent you flowers today.� Bo said as he pulled out a card from his front pocket. �Lunch was lovely let�s do it again, Paul.�

�I love it when your jealous.� Hope teased.

�I�m not jealous.� Bo shot back as he tossed the card over his shoulder.

�So you don�t mind if I have lunch with him again.� Hope teased back as she reached for the phone. �Did he by any chance leave his number on that card? I should at least call him and thank him for the flowers. Where are they by the way?�

Bo threw his body on top of hers and took the phone from her. �I put them down the garbage disposal one by one.�

Shocked. �You didn�t.�

�No.� He shoots back. �But I should have.�

Hope bit her bottom lip and laughed. �I do so love when you pretend not to be jealous.�

�I told you I am not jealous and I�m not.� Bo pouted. �I just don�t like the fact that my wife is having lunch with some other man when she should be home making love to me.�

�And I promise you we will spend the whole day in bed when the doctor gives you the okay.�

Bo drops his body deeper on hers and pouts even more so then before. . �I can�t wait that long.�
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1