Heart & Soul
Episode 59

Daddy Dearest

By Allan Craig

 

Fix Coffee House

 

As Leo stood waiting for his coffee, the events of what had happened only a few days earlier. He hadn’t spoken to Kendall since she’d brought Shane back into his life, and he had no intention of doing so in the near future, not unless she acknowledged how stupid she’d been.

 

“Thanks very much,” Leo smiled as the girl behind the counter handed him his mug of coffee. He took a seat on one of the sofas and flipped open a newspaper, beginning to scan the contents.

 

“Well, well, isn’t this a surprise?” came a voice from behind Leo. He turned around to see Shane standing over him and instantly got up to leave, “Leo, come on, surely we can put the past where it belongs?”

 

“You know what, Shane, I agree,” Leo folded his arms, “So why don’t you just go back under whatever hole you crawled out of and stay in my past, where you belong.”

 

“That’s not what I mean,” Shane reasoned with his son, “Look, I’m your father.”

“As far as I’m concerned, I don’t have a father,” Leo muttered through gritted teeth, “You don’t exist to me, Shane, so why don’t you just evaporate?”

 

“You’re just like your mother, aren’t you?” Shane chuckled; if anyone could hold a grudge, it was Jackie, and Leo was certainly taking after her in that respect.

 

“I guess I am, in the sense that we both hate your guts,” Leo zipped up his jacket, “So do me a favour, Shane, stay the hell out of my life.”

Leo headed out the door, leaving Shane standing in the coffee house, rolling his eyes as a small smile appeared on his face; he and Leo were certainly alike. Outside, Leo spotted Natalie approaching the coffee house, stalling as she saw Leo outside. Leo walked over to her, “Natalie, wait up.”

 

“What do you want, Leo?” Natalie rolled her eyes as she spun around to face Leo; this was the last thing she wanted to be dealing with today, clutching her heavily pregnant stomach as she looked at Leo.

 

“To talk, of course,” Leo insisted; his recent experiences with Shane had led him to realize he was being a little harsh on Natalie, “Look, I just want to clear the air, Nat. I mean it cant be long ‘til the baby comes, can it? And I want us to be on good terms when it happens.”

 

“I want that too, Leo,” Natalie folded her arms, “But I cant put up with your constant little games, Leo, it’s got to stop if you want anything to do with this baby.”

 

“I know, I just want things to be okay between us, Natalie,” Leo insisted.

 

“I don’t know, Leo, I don’t know if I can go there again with you. The way you’ve treated me these past few months…how can I forgive you? To be honest, I don’t know if I want my baby to grow up knowing you.”

 

“Well you’re going to have to get used to the idea, Natalie, because it’s happening,” Leo was determined to be a better father to his kid than Shane ever was to him, even if it meant Natalie despised him in the same way that Jackie despised Shane, “Even if it means that I have to go for custody of this baby. It’s a threat I don’t want to make, Natalie, but if you’re not going to play ball then it may be the only way to go.”

 

As Leo and Natalie continued their conversation, Shane stood nearby listening to every word. He laughed; despite Leo’s hatred for him, his son was more like him than he thought.

 

The Abbot House
Wesley’s Room

 

Wesley winced in agonizing pain as he tried to climb out of bed; Will’s vicious attack on him had left him in sever pain, but he knew he deserved it. He limped towards the door to his bedroom and walked out onto the hall, watching as Will came out of his room clutching a box.

 

“This is the last of my things,” Will couldn’t bear to see Wesley in such pain, especially when he had caused it, “I’ve left my keys on the sideboard.”

 

“You don’t have to leave,” Wesley insisted, “This is your home.”

 

“Do you really think I’d live with the bastard that raped my mother?” Will scowled, “You’ve gotta be out of your mind. Although I guess to rape her in the first place there had to be something loose up there to begin with.”

 

Wesley bowed his head, he couldn’t bear the thought of what he’d done to Alex, “Please, Will.”

 

“Please what?” Will rested the box on top of a dresser, “Please stop reminding you what a sick bastard you are? You’re getting off lucky with that, Wesley.”

 

“And how do you work that one out?”

 

“Well for one, you’re damn lucky that my mother is too fucked up from what you did to her to go to the cops. And don’t even get me started on Ashley.”

 

“She doesn’t have to…”

 

“What? She doesn’t have to know how you raped her mother? I think this family’s had enough secrets fucking people up. This isn’t some big secret that’s going to go away, Wesley, and sooner or later your precious daughter’s going to know the truth about what you did, and then do you really think she’s going to want anything to do with you?”

 

Wesley gulped; he hadn’t even thought about how Ashley would react. He’d already lost one child; he couldn’t bear to lose another.

 

Diane & Joseph’s Penthouse

 

Joseph filled two crystal glasses with the finest chilled champagne, handing one to Diane as he sat down next to her on their brown leather couch.

 

“I know the party’s not for a few days, but there’s no harm in starting the celebrations a little early, is there?” Joseph winked, “To us.”

 

“I suppose there isn’t,” Diane raised her glass and clinked it with Joseph’s. She couldn’t believe that their engagement party was so soon; a mixture of excitement and nerves over if anyone would show up had left Diane’s thoughts scattered all over the place. The one thing that mattered to her the most, though, was that she had finally found happiness with Joseph, so even if it was just the two of them at the party, she’d still love it. Well, maybe not as much as if other people turned up, the embarrassment of a party with no guests would just be too much for her to take, “To us.”

 

As the pair exchanged a quick kiss, the doorbell rang. Joseph rolled his eyes, “Perfect timing, huh?” he joked as he headed over to the door and opened it to see his daughter, Taylor, standing in the hallway, “Taylor!”

 

“Hey daddy,” Taylor grinned as she ran into her father’s arms, greeting him with a warm hug.

 

“I didn’t think you flew in for another few days,” Joseph was certainly in shock at seeing his daughter.

 

“Well I thought I’d surprise you,” the young woman, who looked far older than her eighteen years, walked into the apartment, placing her suitcase down on the floor.

 

“You should have phoned, I’d have gotten you at the airport.”

 

“Where would be the surprise in that?” Taylor laughed.

 

“Hello, Taylor,” Diane smiled warmly at her niece and soon-to-be-stepdaughter.

 

Taylor’s laughter soon stopped when she saw Diane, “Hey Aunt Di.”

 

“I’ll go make up the guest room,” Diane quickly excused herself, feeling extremely uncomfortable in Taylor’s presence.

 

“Thanks, Diane,” Taylor barely glanced in her aunt’s direction before turning on her smile again and facing her father, “So, daddy, what’s new with you? I think we’ve got a lot to catch up on.”

 

“We sure do, princess,” Joseph agreed, “So sit down and tell me everything I’ve missed.”

 

Oakridge Main Street

 

Shane watched as Natalie made her way down the street, her pregnant stomach making it hard for her to move as fast as she would usually. Observing his son standing alone on the sidewalk, lighting up a cigarette, Shane walked over to him.

 

“Smoking kills, you know,” Shane stood behind Leo, an attempt to make a joke with his estranged son going down like a led balloon.

 

“Oh yeah? Well maybe you should take it up,” Leo kept his back turned to his father, refusing to even make eye contact as he took a draw from his cigarette.

 

“Nobody told me I’m about to be a grandfather,” Shane observed Leo straightening his back up, “I’m a little young but…”

 

“You stay away from Natalie,” Leo spun around on his feet, scowling at his father with a look of disgust, “That’s none of your business.”

“My flesh and blood? I’d think that’s pretty much my business, wouldn’t you?” Shane folded his arms as he glanced at his now fully grown up son.

 

“I told you you’re dead to me,” Leo stared angrily at Shane, “That goes for anything to do with my life.” Leo glanced down the street and noticed Natalie crouched over in pain. He immediately darted down the street, followed by Shane.

 

“Natalie, are you okay?” Leo put his arm around the pretty brunette.

 

“I think I’m…going into…” Natalie struggled for breath as she howled in pain.

 

“Looks like I’m going to be a grandfather sooner than I thought,” Shane remarked, raising an eyebrow.

 

Oakridge General Hospital

Amber’s Room

 

Natasha zipped shut Amber’s tote bag and placed it on top of the bedside table. She glanced over at her daughter, who sat defiantly with her arms folded, still in her robe as she stared blankly into space.

 

“I told you, I’m not going anywhere,” she insisted, gazing straight ahead, “You’re wasting your time if you think otherwise.”

 

“Dr. Hathaway thinks it’s for the best if you continue your treatment in…” Natasha began, only to be interrupted by her headstrong daughter.

 

“Dr. Hathaway can kiss my ass,” Amber snapped, tossing her flaming red hair behind her shoulders, “I’m going nowhere.”

 

“Well I’m afraid you don’t have a choice, young lady,” Natasha folded her arms, having had enough of her daughter’s attitude, “You’re coming come and that’s that.”

 

“Try and make me,” Amber hissed.

 

“Oh don’t worry, I’m perfectly happy to make you,” Natasha motioned for Dr. Hathaway and Dr. Stafford to enter the room, “Please tell my daughter how this is going to play out. You see, April, the doctors are well within their rights to restrain or sedate you. So either play nice or face the other option, it’s your choice.”

 

“You’re unbelievable,” Amber yelled, “I cannot believe you’re doing this to me. Why can’t you just let me have my own life?”

 

“Because you’re not living your own life, April, you’re living the life of this ridiculous Amber and I’m determined to find out what caused this.”

 

“I really think it’s for the best if you return to River’s Edge. Being around family at a time like this can be really helpful,” Rick advised, looking over some forms Melissa had handed him, “Especially when we try to find the root of your D.I.D.”

 

“I don’t have D.I.D.” Amber insisted, “I’ve just changed, that’s all. Deal with it.”

 

“Listen, April,” Melissa leaned in with a caring smile, doing her best to make the girl feel at ease, “You have people who care for you deeply and want to see you get better.”

 

“I’m not ill!” Amber yelled, slamming her hands down on the hospital bed in anger, “And for the last time, it’s Amber.”

 

“I’ve had enough of this,” Natasha interrupted, “Either you come to River’s Edge willingly or we sedate you and next thing you know we’re back in Texas.”

 

The Abbot House

Lounge

 

Wesley stood at the window, watching as Will loaded the last of his things into the back of his car out on the sidewalk. He folded his aching arms and sighed; he couldn’t believe he’d made such a mess of things. The once perfect family unit he had was now totally gone; Ashley was off travelling the world, Will didn’t want to know him, and Alex…well, he wished she’d never came back in the first place. If Alex hadn’t come back then none of this would ever have happened, everything would still be fine, still happy, and still perfect.

 

As he watched Will get inside his car and speed off down the street, he looked at a photo that sat on the sideboard of him with Ashley and Will, just before Alex came back. He hated her for what she’d done to his family, more than anyone else in the world.

 

Oakridge General Hospital

Natalie’s Room

 

As she squirmed around on top of her bed in pain, Natalie watched as Leo re-entered the room carrying a plastic cup filled with water.

 

“The doctor said she’d be along shortly,” Leo smiled, placing the plastic cup on Natalie’s bedside table. He couldn’t believe how excited he felt; he was about to be a father, what he couldn’t believe was how he was so against the idea a few months ago.

 

“Did you call Kyle?” Natalie asked, tapping her fingers anxiously on the top of the bed; she just wanted this baby to be out as soon as possible.

 

“I just got his voicemail,” Leo lied, he hadn’t even attempted to call Kyle, he wasn’t letting him ruin the birth of his kid, “But Josh is on his way.”

 

The door opened to the room and Dr. Melissa Stafford walked in, “How are you doing?”

 

“Yeah, fine, I just cant seem to get comfortable,” Natalie explained, perhaps she reason she was so unable to get into a comfortable position was because of the baby trying to make it’s way out of her.

 

“Well that’s to be expected,” Melissa smiled, “I’ll have a nurse bring you some extra pillows in.”

 

“How much longer will it be?” Leo interrupted, going crazy with the waiting.

 

“These things take time,” Melissa chuckled, first time fathers never really understood how long the birth process took, “Just relax, we could be here a while.”

 

Diane & Joseph’s Penthouse

 

With Joseph out to get takeaway, Diane sat on the edge of the brown leather sofa sipping her coffee as she flipped through the pages of her glossy magazine. Taylor strolled down the stairs and dropped herself down on the sofa next to her aunt, causing Diane to almost spill her coffee. Diane restrained her annoyance and placed the coffee cup down on the table, returning to her magazine as Taylor turned on the TV, quickly tuning into Laguna Beach on MTV.

 

“So how’s the guest room?” Diane smiled, trying to make conversation with her niece-cum-stepdaughter, getting no response from the teen, whose eyes were fixed straight ahead on the plasma television. Diane took a deep breath and continued, “Is there anything you need?” Diane rolled her eyes as Taylor continued to ignore her, staring dead ahead at the television. She got up from her seat and walked over to the TV, switching it off at the plug.

 

“I was watching that,” Taylor hissed, like a child who’d been told they weren’t allowed any candy, “What’s your problem?”

 

“I think it’s you that’s got the problem, young lady,” Diane insisted, folding her arms as she stared down at Taylor.

 

“The only problem I have,” Taylor’s eyes narrowed as she shot Diane an icy, hateful, stare, “Is you. I mean do you really think you can just stroll into my father’s life after divorcing my Uncle and we’re going to accept it? God, who’s your role model, Brooke Forrester?”

 

“Who?” Diane’s knowledge of soap operas was hardly extensive, all she really knew was that some woman had been possessed by the devil in one and it was enough to put her off for life, “Your father and I are very much in love, so I don’t see why you’d have a problem with that, Taylor. Don’t you want your father to be happy?”

 

“Yeah, I want my dad to be happy,” Taylor stood up, almost matching Diane in height as she stared straight into her aunt’s eyes, “But with my mom, not with you. My parents belong together; they love each other, why can’t you just leave them to be happy?”

 

“Your parents were divorced long before I started seeing your father. And quite frankly it’s none of your business.”

 

“It is my business when you’re tearing my family apart,” Taylor hissed, “And if you think you’re going to get your claws into my father then you’ve got another thing coming.”

 

The door opened to the penthouse and Joseph walked in, “How are my two favourite girls doing?”

 

“Fine daddy,” a sugary sweet smile appeared on Taylor’s face as she rushed over to give her father a hug, cautious to avoid the brown paper bag full of Chinese food he was carrying, “Aunt Diane and I were just talking about how the party next week, weren’t we?”

 

“Yeah,” Diane faked a smile, wanting to throttle the little brat, “Taylor was just telling me how much she’s looking forward to it. Not to mention the wedding.”

 

“Well that’s great,” Joseph grinned, “Now who’s hungry?”

 

Oakridge General Hospital

 

As Josh made his way from the elevator to Natalie’s room, he spotted a familiar redhead emerging from another hospital room, along with Natasha, John and a male doctor.

 

“Amber!” Josh walked over to his friend, “Where are you going?”

 

“Back to River’s Edge,” Natasha answered before her daughter could get a word out.

 

“But, I thought…” Josh wanted to scream; he knew he couldn’t stand here and argue with Natasha about this; his sister was in labour for god’s sake, but he couldn’t let them take Amber away from him.

 

“Thanks for everything, Josh,” Amber kissed him on the cheek, “But I’ve got to go back there. For now, at least. I’ll call you, I promise.”

 

“Thanks for taking care of my daughter, Josh,” Natasha looked at Josh, full of gratitude.

 

“Call me when you get to River’s Edge,” John looked at Natasha, she still hadn’t changed from when they had first met, many years ago. He almost didn’t want her to leave, not now that she had just came back into his life.

 

“I will,” Natasha nodded.

 

“Well I really better go,” Josh hated to tear himself away from Amber, not when it was probably the last time he’d ever see or hear from her again, but he knew he had to see Natalie, “My sister’s about to give birth.”

 

Inside Natalie’s room, Leo held her hand as she pressed down with a tight grip, the contractions were getting more and more painful.

 

“It shouldn’t be too much longer,” Dr. Melissa Stafford promised, jotting something down on her clipboard, “Just keep taking deep breaths.”

 

“Did you hear that? Not much longer, Natalie,” Leo grinned, he was like a kid at Christmas.

“Hey sorry I took so long,” Josh entered the room, heartbroken from his sudden goodbye with Amber, instantly enraged at seeing Leo by his sister’s bedside, “What’s he doing here?”

“I was with her when she went into labour,” Leo insisted, determined not to get into an argument with Josh. Before they could even get the chance to argue, Natalie let out a blood curdling scream.

 

“What’s going on, is she okay?” Josh asked, stressed to see his little sister in such pain.

 

“Well it seems the baby’s crowning,” Melissa noted as a midwife and a nurse entered the room, “So you’re about to be an uncle,” she turned to Leo, “And you’re about to become a dad.”

 

TO BE CONTINUED…