Post by rsafan on Nov 1, 2006 5:11:13 GMT -5
Chapter 20
“It’s been seven weeks.”
“I know boss and I’m sorry but it’s really hard when the girl’s lived all over the place.”
“So what did you find out?”
“Nothing; nothing incriminating anyway. She’s legit as are her parents it’s all there in the report.”
“I’ll read it later. Give me the important facts.”
“I managed to talk to some of the staff that resided at this Maison Blanche. They all confirm that a woman matching your daughter in law’s description did indeed give birth, they weren’t supposed to know but the help always knows what’s going on. The adoption of a baby girl was handled through an adoption agency in Salem, though it went through in Louisiana. This was the only adoption handled by the agency, which was open for a total of four months, I had to do some serious digging to gain access to the financials, though it was well hidden; money payments could be traced indirectly to the Dimeras, Stefano Dimera in particular. The girl’s family are prominent figures in society and ensured that the adoption was one hundred percent legal, they’ve had no known dealings with any member of the Dimera family and there is no evidence to indicate that they had subsequent involvement with them either. Their wealth is inherited; the father has managed to quadruple his inheritance, all through legitimate business dealings. Everything about these people is above board. I also managed to speak to the doctor that examined the baby girl, at the family’s request at the time of the adoption. He confirmed that the child was approximately two months old, which would place her birth date to six months after Hope was presumed dead. The DNA tests that were conducted, at three separate and independent labs all yielded the same result as the test ordered by your grandson. This girl is who she claims to be what’s more, she’s who your grandson claims she is.”
“Thank you Niko.” Once Niko left the office, Victor buzzed his secretary. “Get my lawyer on the line.”
“Victor, what can I do for you?”
“Gene, as I’m sure you’ve already heard, I’ve just discovered another family member.”
“A granddaughter.”
“Yes, I want you to draw up the necessary papers to ensure her financial security.”
“And when do you plan on handing this to her?”
“I thought Christmas would be as good a time as any. As one of my heirs, she’s entitled to everything her brother is.”
“I’ll have the papers for you to sign by tomorrow. You may want to review your will as well.”
“I’ve already thought about that, I’ll be making the necessary changes soon. My granddaughter will never want for anything.”
Shawn, not bothering to lift his head form the table, asked his dad, “With what exactly, work or my life?”
“Both.”
Shawn sat up properly when Max returned with their drinks, “The foods going to take a while. I told mom we didn’t mind waiting.”
Shawn nodded, he didn’t really care either way; he turned to Bo who had decided to occupy the space next to him on the seat; “Work’s fantastic, well it would be if I wasn’t dead on my feet.”
“You’re not getting any sleep?”
Shawn shook his head, “Sleep? What’s that? Mimi’s got us scouting Salem for the perfect paediatrician, my working hours have been extended in preparation for the upcoming Grand Prix and Mimi’s still seeing her doctor once a week and expects me to be there. That’d all be fine if it weren’t for the fact that she wakes me up most nights at 2am with cravings. It’s gotten so I keep the car keys on the nightstand and my shoes and a jacket by the front door.”
Max grimaced, “Sounds exhausting.”
Bo smiled, “Sounds normal. Wait till that baby starts kicking at night, you’ll want to be sleeping on the sofa.”
Shawn sighed, “I thought things couldn’t get any worse after the mood swings started. Am I being a bad husband, complaining like this?”
Bo patted his son’s back reassuringly, “You’re being a normal guy and it only gets worse, but I can tell you one thing. The minute you hold that baby in your arms, all the trauma of the past few months will be forgotten.”
Caroline brought their food over and threw in a comment of her own, as she sat down next to Max, “Then you get to take him home and relive it all again with midnight feedings and teething, the earaches and fevers. If you think you’re missing out on sleep now, wait till the baby arrives.”
“Thanks a lot grandma.” Shawn groaned as he laid his head back on the table.
Max tried to comfort him, “Hey at least you won’t have to drive around looking for weird foods for the kid, Mimi should have all he needs.”
Victoria walked into the pub and spotting the guys; walked over and greeted them. As there was no place for her in the already full booth, she deposited herself onto Max’s lap. Laying a kiss on him before picking up one of his fries, “Hey Shawn, does Mimi know you’re loafing?”
Shawn looked up and gave his sister a surprised look, “Loafing? It’s lunch time. By the way what are you doing here?”
She shrugged and pointed out, “It’s lunch time.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you supposed to be having lunch with the girls?”
Victoria blushed, “Yeah, about that. I sort of cancelled.”
He raised a brow, “You cancelled?”
“Yeah, I told them I was having lunch with the guys. I can handle Belle, but Mimi?” she shook her head, “the mood swings maybe but the weird concoctions she eats no way.”
“So you lied?”
“Its lunchtime and you’re here. Where’s the lie in that?”
Shawn shook his head, “You are incorrigible.”
“And you love me for it.”
Bo smiled at the banter going on between his children, if one didn’t know any better you’d have sworn they grew up together.
“I’ll tell you one thing though, Mimi has made me realise I don’t want a baby any time in the next decade or two. The end result may be cute and adorable but what it does to your body.” She shook her head, “No thank you.”
“You don’t want to be tempting fate sweetheart.”
“Tempting fate?”
“Saying things like that’s a sure way to end up with a bun in the oven, one of the ironies of life.”
Victoria was off Max’s lap in a flash, “Well then I guess I’m going to have to stay away from guys; concentrate on my career.”
Shawn lifted his drink in mock toast to her, “I’ll be sure to thank Mimi for putting you off guys.”
She gave him a sarcastic smile as she stole another of Max’s chips. He pulled his plate away, “If you’re staying away form me, you’ll have to stay away from my food too.”
“Okay spit it out.”
“Spit what out?”
“The truth or whatever it is you’re hiding about Claire.”
“What makes you think I’m hiding anything?”
“Mimi I saw your face when you made that little statement at lunch two months ago, and then you made a similar comment last week. Now I’ve been thinking about it and the only thing I can come up with is that you meant every word of what you said.”
“I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.”
“Mimi really just how dumb do you think I am? ‘He’s got all those wonderful genes from Shawn, just like Claire’? Belle may not be very perceptive, but I certainly am. Is Shawn Claire’s father?”
“Don’t be absurd.” then she sighed, “yes she is.”
“How? How could he be the father of that baby, how can it be you know and he doesn’t?”
“Last year around Christmas, Claire got really sick. Shawn donated blood and Phillip couldn’t, it wasn’t a match.”
“So you’re saying that…Why haven’t you told him?”
“I tried so many times but something always interrupted us.”
“Or you didn’t want to tell him in the first place. He has a child Mimi; don’t you think he has a right to know?”
“Of course I do I’m just so scared.”
“Of what?”
“Him leaving me.”
“That’s absurd, why would he leave you?”
“Because not only have I been lying to him for our entire married life, but also because he’d jump at the chance to be with Belle.”
“Mimi he’s married to you, he’s in love with you. You’re the woman he wants to be with.”
“Only because he can’t have Belle, only because she won’t break up her family to be with him but if they find out about Claire you can bet your ass Phillip and I will be out in the cold. She’s just waiting for a reason to move in on Shawn and Claire will give her the perfect opportunity.”
“Be that as it may, you still have to tell him. At some point you’re going to have to trust that it’s you he loves and tell him the truth. Rather he heard it form you than someone else. Now I’d like to hear everything, start at the very beginning.”
Shawn pushed Belle away and turned to his sister, “Victoria I can explain”
“I really don’t think you need to, your actions are pretty self-explanatory.”
“No, you don’t understand.”
“Shawn there’s not much about sex I don’t understand and what the two of you were doing I understand that perfectly. It’s not me you should be worried about though, it’s Mimi. I really don’t think she’ll be very understanding.”
“This isn’t what it seems…”
“Really? You mean I didn’t just walk in on you two playing tonsil hockey? I didn’t just walk in on my brother kissing the life out of his wife’s best friend? Then would you please tell me what this is because I’m really confused.”
“Just don’t tell Mimi please.”
“Why because it’ll devastate her? How long has this been going on and just how far has it gone?”
“It’s my fault.”
“Oh I don’t doubt that. But he wasn’t exactly protesting was he?”
“I can’t believe you. All your talk about commitment, loyalty and fidelity and you’re doing this?” she walked away from her brother, not even bothering to hear his explanation. There really was no way he could justify his actions though could he?
“It’s been seven weeks.”
“I know boss and I’m sorry but it’s really hard when the girl’s lived all over the place.”
“So what did you find out?”
“Nothing; nothing incriminating anyway. She’s legit as are her parents it’s all there in the report.”
“I’ll read it later. Give me the important facts.”
“I managed to talk to some of the staff that resided at this Maison Blanche. They all confirm that a woman matching your daughter in law’s description did indeed give birth, they weren’t supposed to know but the help always knows what’s going on. The adoption of a baby girl was handled through an adoption agency in Salem, though it went through in Louisiana. This was the only adoption handled by the agency, which was open for a total of four months, I had to do some serious digging to gain access to the financials, though it was well hidden; money payments could be traced indirectly to the Dimeras, Stefano Dimera in particular. The girl’s family are prominent figures in society and ensured that the adoption was one hundred percent legal, they’ve had no known dealings with any member of the Dimera family and there is no evidence to indicate that they had subsequent involvement with them either. Their wealth is inherited; the father has managed to quadruple his inheritance, all through legitimate business dealings. Everything about these people is above board. I also managed to speak to the doctor that examined the baby girl, at the family’s request at the time of the adoption. He confirmed that the child was approximately two months old, which would place her birth date to six months after Hope was presumed dead. The DNA tests that were conducted, at three separate and independent labs all yielded the same result as the test ordered by your grandson. This girl is who she claims to be what’s more, she’s who your grandson claims she is.”
“Thank you Niko.” Once Niko left the office, Victor buzzed his secretary. “Get my lawyer on the line.”
“Victor, what can I do for you?”
“Gene, as I’m sure you’ve already heard, I’ve just discovered another family member.”
“A granddaughter.”
“Yes, I want you to draw up the necessary papers to ensure her financial security.”
“And when do you plan on handing this to her?”
“I thought Christmas would be as good a time as any. As one of my heirs, she’s entitled to everything her brother is.”
“I’ll have the papers for you to sign by tomorrow. You may want to review your will as well.”
“I’ve already thought about that, I’ll be making the necessary changes soon. My granddaughter will never want for anything.”
*****
Bo walked into the pub. The first person he saw was a very tired looking Shawn sitting at one of the booths. “Hey son, how are things going?”Shawn, not bothering to lift his head form the table, asked his dad, “With what exactly, work or my life?”
“Both.”
Shawn sat up properly when Max returned with their drinks, “The foods going to take a while. I told mom we didn’t mind waiting.”
Shawn nodded, he didn’t really care either way; he turned to Bo who had decided to occupy the space next to him on the seat; “Work’s fantastic, well it would be if I wasn’t dead on my feet.”
“You’re not getting any sleep?”
Shawn shook his head, “Sleep? What’s that? Mimi’s got us scouting Salem for the perfect paediatrician, my working hours have been extended in preparation for the upcoming Grand Prix and Mimi’s still seeing her doctor once a week and expects me to be there. That’d all be fine if it weren’t for the fact that she wakes me up most nights at 2am with cravings. It’s gotten so I keep the car keys on the nightstand and my shoes and a jacket by the front door.”
Max grimaced, “Sounds exhausting.”
Bo smiled, “Sounds normal. Wait till that baby starts kicking at night, you’ll want to be sleeping on the sofa.”
Shawn sighed, “I thought things couldn’t get any worse after the mood swings started. Am I being a bad husband, complaining like this?”
Bo patted his son’s back reassuringly, “You’re being a normal guy and it only gets worse, but I can tell you one thing. The minute you hold that baby in your arms, all the trauma of the past few months will be forgotten.”
Caroline brought their food over and threw in a comment of her own, as she sat down next to Max, “Then you get to take him home and relive it all again with midnight feedings and teething, the earaches and fevers. If you think you’re missing out on sleep now, wait till the baby arrives.”
“Thanks a lot grandma.” Shawn groaned as he laid his head back on the table.
Max tried to comfort him, “Hey at least you won’t have to drive around looking for weird foods for the kid, Mimi should have all he needs.”
Victoria walked into the pub and spotting the guys; walked over and greeted them. As there was no place for her in the already full booth, she deposited herself onto Max’s lap. Laying a kiss on him before picking up one of his fries, “Hey Shawn, does Mimi know you’re loafing?”
Shawn looked up and gave his sister a surprised look, “Loafing? It’s lunch time. By the way what are you doing here?”
She shrugged and pointed out, “It’s lunch time.”
“Yeah, but aren’t you supposed to be having lunch with the girls?”
Victoria blushed, “Yeah, about that. I sort of cancelled.”
He raised a brow, “You cancelled?”
“Yeah, I told them I was having lunch with the guys. I can handle Belle, but Mimi?” she shook her head, “the mood swings maybe but the weird concoctions she eats no way.”
“So you lied?”
“Its lunchtime and you’re here. Where’s the lie in that?”
Shawn shook his head, “You are incorrigible.”
“And you love me for it.”
Bo smiled at the banter going on between his children, if one didn’t know any better you’d have sworn they grew up together.
“I’ll tell you one thing though, Mimi has made me realise I don’t want a baby any time in the next decade or two. The end result may be cute and adorable but what it does to your body.” She shook her head, “No thank you.”
“You don’t want to be tempting fate sweetheart.”
“Tempting fate?”
“Saying things like that’s a sure way to end up with a bun in the oven, one of the ironies of life.”
Victoria was off Max’s lap in a flash, “Well then I guess I’m going to have to stay away from guys; concentrate on my career.”
Shawn lifted his drink in mock toast to her, “I’ll be sure to thank Mimi for putting you off guys.”
She gave him a sarcastic smile as she stole another of Max’s chips. He pulled his plate away, “If you’re staying away form me, you’ll have to stay away from my food too.”
*****
Later that week in the Brady loft…“Okay spit it out.”
“Spit what out?”
“The truth or whatever it is you’re hiding about Claire.”
“What makes you think I’m hiding anything?”
“Mimi I saw your face when you made that little statement at lunch two months ago, and then you made a similar comment last week. Now I’ve been thinking about it and the only thing I can come up with is that you meant every word of what you said.”
“I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.”
“Mimi really just how dumb do you think I am? ‘He’s got all those wonderful genes from Shawn, just like Claire’? Belle may not be very perceptive, but I certainly am. Is Shawn Claire’s father?”
“Don’t be absurd.” then she sighed, “yes she is.”
“How? How could he be the father of that baby, how can it be you know and he doesn’t?”
“Last year around Christmas, Claire got really sick. Shawn donated blood and Phillip couldn’t, it wasn’t a match.”
“So you’re saying that…Why haven’t you told him?”
“I tried so many times but something always interrupted us.”
“Or you didn’t want to tell him in the first place. He has a child Mimi; don’t you think he has a right to know?”
“Of course I do I’m just so scared.”
“Of what?”
“Him leaving me.”
“That’s absurd, why would he leave you?”
“Because not only have I been lying to him for our entire married life, but also because he’d jump at the chance to be with Belle.”
“Mimi he’s married to you, he’s in love with you. You’re the woman he wants to be with.”
“Only because he can’t have Belle, only because she won’t break up her family to be with him but if they find out about Claire you can bet your ass Phillip and I will be out in the cold. She’s just waiting for a reason to move in on Shawn and Claire will give her the perfect opportunity.”
“Be that as it may, you still have to tell him. At some point you’re going to have to trust that it’s you he loves and tell him the truth. Rather he heard it form you than someone else. Now I’d like to hear everything, start at the very beginning.”
*****
She needed to get some air; the best place to do that was on the rooftop. But someone had the same thoughts she did, recognising Shawn from behind, she apologised. “I’m so sorry I didn’t mean to…” hearing her, the couple broke apart, suddenly everything Mimi had said to her the night before came to mind. “Oh my…” was all she said.Shawn pushed Belle away and turned to his sister, “Victoria I can explain”
“I really don’t think you need to, your actions are pretty self-explanatory.”
“No, you don’t understand.”
“Shawn there’s not much about sex I don’t understand and what the two of you were doing I understand that perfectly. It’s not me you should be worried about though, it’s Mimi. I really don’t think she’ll be very understanding.”
“This isn’t what it seems…”
“Really? You mean I didn’t just walk in on you two playing tonsil hockey? I didn’t just walk in on my brother kissing the life out of his wife’s best friend? Then would you please tell me what this is because I’m really confused.”
“Just don’t tell Mimi please.”
“Why because it’ll devastate her? How long has this been going on and just how far has it gone?”
“It’s my fault.”
“Oh I don’t doubt that. But he wasn’t exactly protesting was he?”
“I can’t believe you. All your talk about commitment, loyalty and fidelity and you’re doing this?” she walked away from her brother, not even bothering to hear his explanation. There really was no way he could justify his actions though could he?
WOW!!! All I have to say is it's about time someone set Shawn in his place. All talk about loyalty but he does the complete opposite. All talk but no action. What a guy! Grrr... your wife is pregnant!!!
