Post by rsafan on Mar 8, 2007 15:03:51 GMT -5
Cahpter 50:
“Chelsea, Hi!” Victoria called as she spotted her sister sitting at Java Café, they were meeting for lunch. She ignored the dark haired stranger with his back to her as Chelsea ran to give her a hug.
“I cannot believe you’re back in Salem. When dad called the other day to let me know, I thought he was joking.”
“Well, he wasn’t.” Victoria murmured into her sister’s hair, Chelsea still hadn’t let go and Victoria suspected that she didn’t know about Lucien.
“Come on,” Chelsea said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the table she had got up from, “I want you to meet someone.” Victoria shook her head as she allowed herself to be dragged along, she’d never seen Chelsea this animated and could very well guess the identity of her male companion.
“Victoria Brady, I’d like you to meet-”
“Nick? Oh my God, it’s been ages.” Victoria exclaimed when the dark haired man turned around to face them.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Chelsea asked all her happiness dissipated.
“We’re old friends.” Nicholas explained, “I didn’t know you were in Salem.”
“I only just arrived; I didn’t know you were in Salem either. Or that you were dating my sister.” She turned to Chelsea, “he is the guy you were talking about right?”
Chelsea nodded, unable to say anything for the lump that had formed in her throat. Just her luck to meet yet another guy enamoured by her sister, she’d be lucky to get in a word edgewise.
“This is unbelievable. It really is a small world isn’t it?”
“Small world indeed.” Nick said, “Victoria used to follow me around like a tail when she was younger, before her family moved to New York. Always wanted to be one of the boys.” he explained to Chelsea.
“Still do, though I’ve learnt that being a girl has its advantages.”
“I’ll bet.” He commented then frowned, “Wait a minute; did you say that the two of you are sisters?”
“That I did. So you better not break her heart, you’d have me to deal with.”
“I’m shivering in my boots. No need to worry on that front,” he said, reaching for Chelsea’s hand, “I have no intention of doing anything to hurt your sister.”
Chelsea smiled; maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all. Victoria reached up to brush an errant lock from her face and the action brought attention to the giant rock on her left hand. Chelsea gaped at it. Nick, who had been looking at Chelsea, followed her gaze, “Are congratulations in order?” he asked.
Victoria frowned at him, “Congratulations?”
“Yes,” he said reaching for her left hand, “I believe that’s the traditional response to this.”
“Oh,” she smiled, “I totally forgot about that.”
“Are you married?”
Victoria’s smile widened, it was one of those happy grins that you just couldn’t stop; it resembled the one on Chelsea’s face, “Yes. I meant to tell you but it all happened so quickly and…”
“Oh my God, you’re married!” Chelsea exclaimed.
“I know.”
“Sit down,” she ordered her sister, “I want to know everything.”
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Nicholas said, glancing at his watch.
“Oh you don’t-” Victoria protested, but he waved the protest away, “I have another meeting scheduled in twenty minutes, I was simply keeping your sister company till your arrival.”
“Oh well in that case, it was nice seeing you again.”
He got up, gave her a chaste peck on the cheek and promised Chelsea he’s be on time for dinner. Giving her a goodbye kiss, that made Victoria wonder if he was going off to war, he left.
“Okay, spill.” Chelsea said as soon as he was out of sight.
Victoria shrugged, “There’s not much to tell really, we met, we fell in love, we got married and then we moved to Salem.”
“Yeah, but I want to know all the tiny little details.”
“I’m more interested in how you managed to nab Nicholas Alamain. Not just nab him, but make him totally enamoured with you.”
Chelsea blushed, “What can I say, the man has good taste.”
“That he certainly does.”
Rex looked at her tired face and smiled, “Yeah, well I might as well get some practice in right.”
“Why are you and Sara thinking of starting a family?” she asked, curious. When she’d arrived home, after a rather stressful day at work, it was to find Rex on the phone arguing with Sara, she’d tuned out on the conversation but she knew that something was up.
He shrugged, taking the boat Zach handed him, “We’ve discussed it a few times, what it would be like but we’re not ready. Not yet anyway.”
“You’ll never be ‘ready’ until you actually have to do it. You think you are because you’ve helped raise your baby brother, or you babysat when you were a kid but its different when they’re your own. When you can’t simply give him back at the end of the day.”
He turned his full attention to Mimi now, “Do you sometimes wish you could?”
She looked at Zach, who was happily making as big a splash as he could and shook her head, “No, never. And if ever I feel as though I can’t cope anymore, I only have to look at him. Those eyes, it’s like they’re saying, ‘come on mom, you have to get through this. It’s not all about you anymore.’ and it isn’t.”
Deciding that splash time was over, she lifted Zach out if the bath and wrapping him in a towel carried him to his room, “She’s not worried is she, about you staying here I mean, with me?”
Rex stood in the doorway, watching her, “What gave you that idea?”
She shrugged, “I heard you on the phone earlier; it sounded like the two of you were arguing.”
“We were, but not about you and not about my living here.”
“So she trusts you to stay with your ex while you’re in Salem.” she observed.
“Mimi, in our time together, with all our issues, have you ever, ever thought I was with someone else?”
Mimi looked at him, he was right, she’d never once doubted that he’d leave her for someone else, “Not once, you’re loyal and honest and I hope she knows how lucky she is to have you.”
“I think she does, but I’m lucky too.”
Mimi smiled at him sadly, happy that he’d found someone that special and sad that she’d only ever thought she had, “And that’s the way it should be.”
“I thought things were better between you and Shawn.”
She shrugged, “They are I guess. We’re friends again, that’s got to count for something.”
“But he hasn’t been around lately.” Rex commented.
“He’s busy with Victoria right now. You must know that entire family is in a tailspin over Lucien Dimera. They might pretend to support her but they’re all running around like chickens with their heads chopped off, just waiting for the next bomb to drop and hoping they’ve prepared themselves adequately.”
“I know, it’s been over a week since she’s been back and the Dimeras are still all anyone talks about.”
Mimi opened her mouth to say something but thinking it better not to say anything at all, she closed it again and walked with Zach to the kitchen. Their dinner had already been prepared thanks to the Brady Pub. Rex followed her, “What did you want to say?”
“It’s just; you were a member of that family for however brief it was…”
“And?” he prompted her.
“And, I just…Do you think Shawn’s right, about him using her? Do you think that this marriage could be part of some Dimera scheme?”
Rex contemplated this for a moment; the thought had crossed his mind several times since learning about Victoria’s sudden marriage. He didn’t think, given her recent experiences, that she was anywhere near ready for a commitment as serious as marriage and was suspicious about the fact that Luc had proposed barely three months after having met her. But he also know the incredible power love had over a person and when he factored that into the equation, “All I know is that when I last saw her, she seemed to be very happy and for now that’s all I care about. Could he just be using her? Anything is possible, I just hope for her sake that it’s not true, I don’t think she could cope with another heartbreak right now.”
“I hear congratulations are in order.” He said, not bothering to look up.
“Yeah,” she slipped her hands self consciously into the front pocket of her jeans and murmured, “thanks.”
“I wasn’t offering mine, just making an observation.” he bit back rather rudely.
“Max, if you’d let me…”
Max threw the bonnet down and turned to her, an angry expression on his face, “Why’d you come back Victoria? And why’d you come back with him?”
She was so unsure of this, it couldn’t ever have been a good idea but she figured it might be okay since he was now dating Abby. “What are you talking about? My family…”
“Oh, you mean the family you never wanted? You come here and you make everyone love you and then you leave as though they never mattered and now you’re back…you’re back with someone you know they would never approve of…”
“Now wait a minute,” she said, suddenly angry enough to defend herself, “you have no right…”
He advanced on her, she would’ve stepped back but she had nowhere to go and she wasn’t about to back up just because he was in the mood to vent, “I have no right? What right do you have? Walking around Salem with your perfect husband, who I’m sure, is pure as the driven snow. God to think…”
“Is that what this is really about?” she asked him, “Are you jealous?”
“I’m not jealous; I’m angry and disappointed as hell. You played right into their hands and I suppose its rather fitting, the ultimate revenge.”
“I’m finding it real hard to keep up with you.”
“You shouldn’t be, you are after all an ‘academic’.” He spit the word at her as though it were distasteful, “I’m just wondering how someone as smart as you can truly be this gullible. Do you really think he married you because he loves you?”
She was really getting sick of hearing that. “Yes I do and if you’d been there you would too.”
“Yeah, so the two of you really love each other and the fact that you were saying the same thing about me barely nine months ago…”
Now it was her turn to be angry, “So what, was I supposed to never get over you? Was that how all this was supposed to work?”
“No, but I’d think you’d have held out on marriage for just a bit longer…”
She saw the pain in his eyes and suddenly all the fight died out of her, she looked him in the eye and spoke from the heart, “I love him Max, I truly do and I need you to believe that. I really need you to believe that.”
“Why? It’s not as if you need my approval.”
She shook her head, “No, but I do need your understanding. I didn’t go out there and look for the next guy to take your place and I certainly never believed I was ready for another serious relationship so soon but Luc came along and… It’s not better, it’s just different. I think it’s because I’m different, I’m not that girl you fell in love with anymore and it took me a long time to realise that. I’ve had to deal with a lot of pain and a lot of anger, most of it directed at myself, but I managed to limp my way through the last few months and then I met Luc and it wasn’t the breath of fresh air I needed, he wasn’t some exciting holiday fling or the rebound guy. He was just Luc and with him I could just be Tory, I didn’t have to worry about what he thought about me or if I would say something to offend him, he wasn’t a member of my long lost family. He was this amazing guy who saw me for who I was, who loved me despite my flaws, who made me laugh so hard when I really needed it, and who forced me to dance in the rain. You showed me I didn’t have to live my life though books, that there was real adventure out there for me, waiting around every bend, you helped show me who I was but Luc, he celebrates who I am, who we are together. He’s like you in so many ways except…”
He didn’t like being compared to a Dimera, but he could see where she was coming from. How this ight very well be what she needed, it certainly seemed to be what she wanted, “He’s not a Brady.”
She nodded, “There’s that and there’s also the fact that he knows how I feel. He pushes me, the same way you always did, he pushes me right to the edge but he doesn’t make me jump,” Which was what he had done, he’d forced situations on her, had forced her to choose or made the decision for her, “he allows me to choose the time, he waits till I’m ready. The morning we got married, I was so doubtful and all he had to do was smile at me and I knew. I know what it looks like, I know what everyone is saying but Max, you have to believe me, this is the real thing for me.”
His hand reached out to wipe away the tears that had fallen. He kept it there, cupping her cheek, “For a long time I thought we were the real thing.”
Her gaze dropped from his as she whispered sadly, “I know, so did I.” Then she looked up and smiled at him through the tears that were once again threatening, “You’re my first love Max. No, you’re more than that; you’re much more than that, but he has my heart and he always will.”
He dropped his hand, “I’ve been seeing this girl, nothing serious but it could be.”
She didn’t tell him she already knew about Abby, she’d wait till he told her, till he felt comfortable telling her. So all she said was, “I’m glad. So I’ll see you around?”
Max nodded, he wasn’t sure if this was the closure they’d needed, but he knew it was something they’d both needed. A way to let go and move on, and he admired her for having the courage to come to him today. She could so easily have simply ignored him; it cemented the knowledge that they had been more than just a passing fling. It also showed him that she valued their relationship as much as he had.
She was almost gone when he called her back. She turned around, her gaze questioning. “I want you to know that you won’t have any problems from me regarding your husband. I can see that you love him, I sincerely hope he loves you too and if you ever need anything…”
She smiled at him, the smile that had always killed him, and it was with surprise that he realised he hadn’t built up an immunity to it, maybe he never would. He didn’t really mind all that much though, “Thank you Max.” was all she said before walking out of the garage and heading home.
Patrick turned around to greet the new Mrs. Dimera, “Victoria, it’s so nice to see you again.”
“Patrick and I have business to discuss, is there anything I can do for you?” Luc asked her from his position behind the desk.
She frowned, “Business? What possible business could the two of you have with each other?”
“Patrick has been looking after some L.A. investments for me, making sure everything is running smoothly. He was just giving me an update.” Luc explained.
Victoria nodded, accepting the explanation and returned to the reason she’d entered the study in the first place, “I only just got home and waiting for me is an invitation to yet another dinner. Can we get out of it somehow?”
Luc shook his head, “I’m afraid we’ve already RSVPed.”
“Wait, I know. Your mother’s arriving tomorrow isn’t she? We can say we have to get things in order for her arrival that ought to get us out of this dinner thing.”
Patrick smiled, “I think I’d better be going. I’ll leave the files with you and pick them up tomorrow?”
Luc nodded and Patrick left. As soon as the door closed behind him, Victoria started in on her plea, “I’ve had a really long day Luc, the longest day in the longest week. Please don’t make in any worse by forcing me to go to this thing.”
“Victoria, you know the importance of making connections in this town. We came here so you could be with your family.”
“I know, it’s just these things are so boring. I’m always stuck between two old men who think the most exciting thing in the world is what happened on the stock market that day. And by the time we get home, I’m bored out of my mind. I’d rather stay home and read a book than go to one of those stuffy dinners.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you’d be required to wear a dress would it?”
“And that too, who made the rule that you had to wear a dress? I swear Luc, I’m allergic to dresses; they make me itch.”
“They do not.” But her expression had him sighing, she really didn’t enjoy dining with these people, and she was right, most of them could bore you to tears. “Why don’t we compromise? We’ll go to this dinner but we can leave early. Have our own dinner party here at home.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“You’ll find an adequate dress and shoes waiting for you upstairs. It was delivered today.”
He smiled as he bottom lip jutted out, “You’re mean. But I guess I could settle for an early departure.” She walked out and upstairs still sulking. She had to find something constructive to do with her time; she couldn’t just laze about all day. She had to figure out what she could do and how she could use it to get out of dinner engagements.
“Chelsea, Hi!” Victoria called as she spotted her sister sitting at Java Café, they were meeting for lunch. She ignored the dark haired stranger with his back to her as Chelsea ran to give her a hug.
“I cannot believe you’re back in Salem. When dad called the other day to let me know, I thought he was joking.”
“Well, he wasn’t.” Victoria murmured into her sister’s hair, Chelsea still hadn’t let go and Victoria suspected that she didn’t know about Lucien.
“Come on,” Chelsea said, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the table she had got up from, “I want you to meet someone.” Victoria shook her head as she allowed herself to be dragged along, she’d never seen Chelsea this animated and could very well guess the identity of her male companion.
“Victoria Brady, I’d like you to meet-”
“Nick? Oh my God, it’s been ages.” Victoria exclaimed when the dark haired man turned around to face them.
“Wait, you two know each other?” Chelsea asked all her happiness dissipated.
“We’re old friends.” Nicholas explained, “I didn’t know you were in Salem.”
“I only just arrived; I didn’t know you were in Salem either. Or that you were dating my sister.” She turned to Chelsea, “he is the guy you were talking about right?”
Chelsea nodded, unable to say anything for the lump that had formed in her throat. Just her luck to meet yet another guy enamoured by her sister, she’d be lucky to get in a word edgewise.
“This is unbelievable. It really is a small world isn’t it?”
“Small world indeed.” Nick said, “Victoria used to follow me around like a tail when she was younger, before her family moved to New York. Always wanted to be one of the boys.” he explained to Chelsea.
“Still do, though I’ve learnt that being a girl has its advantages.”
“I’ll bet.” He commented then frowned, “Wait a minute; did you say that the two of you are sisters?”
“That I did. So you better not break her heart, you’d have me to deal with.”
“I’m shivering in my boots. No need to worry on that front,” he said, reaching for Chelsea’s hand, “I have no intention of doing anything to hurt your sister.”
Chelsea smiled; maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all. Victoria reached up to brush an errant lock from her face and the action brought attention to the giant rock on her left hand. Chelsea gaped at it. Nick, who had been looking at Chelsea, followed her gaze, “Are congratulations in order?” he asked.
Victoria frowned at him, “Congratulations?”
“Yes,” he said reaching for her left hand, “I believe that’s the traditional response to this.”
“Oh,” she smiled, “I totally forgot about that.”
“Are you married?”
Victoria’s smile widened, it was one of those happy grins that you just couldn’t stop; it resembled the one on Chelsea’s face, “Yes. I meant to tell you but it all happened so quickly and…”
“Oh my God, you’re married!” Chelsea exclaimed.
“I know.”
“Sit down,” she ordered her sister, “I want to know everything.”
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Nicholas said, glancing at his watch.
“Oh you don’t-” Victoria protested, but he waved the protest away, “I have another meeting scheduled in twenty minutes, I was simply keeping your sister company till your arrival.”
“Oh well in that case, it was nice seeing you again.”
He got up, gave her a chaste peck on the cheek and promised Chelsea he’s be on time for dinner. Giving her a goodbye kiss, that made Victoria wonder if he was going off to war, he left.
“Okay, spill.” Chelsea said as soon as he was out of sight.
Victoria shrugged, “There’s not much to tell really, we met, we fell in love, we got married and then we moved to Salem.”
“Yeah, but I want to know all the tiny little details.”
“I’m more interested in how you managed to nab Nicholas Alamain. Not just nab him, but make him totally enamoured with you.”
Chelsea blushed, “What can I say, the man has good taste.”
“That he certainly does.”
*****
Mimi sat down on the bathroom floor, leaning against the tub, she watched him, “You’re a natural.” she said smiling as Zach splashed in the water.Rex looked at her tired face and smiled, “Yeah, well I might as well get some practice in right.”
“Why are you and Sara thinking of starting a family?” she asked, curious. When she’d arrived home, after a rather stressful day at work, it was to find Rex on the phone arguing with Sara, she’d tuned out on the conversation but she knew that something was up.
He shrugged, taking the boat Zach handed him, “We’ve discussed it a few times, what it would be like but we’re not ready. Not yet anyway.”
“You’ll never be ‘ready’ until you actually have to do it. You think you are because you’ve helped raise your baby brother, or you babysat when you were a kid but its different when they’re your own. When you can’t simply give him back at the end of the day.”
He turned his full attention to Mimi now, “Do you sometimes wish you could?”
She looked at Zach, who was happily making as big a splash as he could and shook her head, “No, never. And if ever I feel as though I can’t cope anymore, I only have to look at him. Those eyes, it’s like they’re saying, ‘come on mom, you have to get through this. It’s not all about you anymore.’ and it isn’t.”
Deciding that splash time was over, she lifted Zach out if the bath and wrapping him in a towel carried him to his room, “She’s not worried is she, about you staying here I mean, with me?”
Rex stood in the doorway, watching her, “What gave you that idea?”
She shrugged, “I heard you on the phone earlier; it sounded like the two of you were arguing.”
“We were, but not about you and not about my living here.”
“So she trusts you to stay with your ex while you’re in Salem.” she observed.
“Mimi, in our time together, with all our issues, have you ever, ever thought I was with someone else?”
Mimi looked at him, he was right, she’d never once doubted that he’d leave her for someone else, “Not once, you’re loyal and honest and I hope she knows how lucky she is to have you.”
“I think she does, but I’m lucky too.”
Mimi smiled at him sadly, happy that he’d found someone that special and sad that she’d only ever thought she had, “And that’s the way it should be.”
“I thought things were better between you and Shawn.”
She shrugged, “They are I guess. We’re friends again, that’s got to count for something.”
“But he hasn’t been around lately.” Rex commented.
“He’s busy with Victoria right now. You must know that entire family is in a tailspin over Lucien Dimera. They might pretend to support her but they’re all running around like chickens with their heads chopped off, just waiting for the next bomb to drop and hoping they’ve prepared themselves adequately.”
“I know, it’s been over a week since she’s been back and the Dimeras are still all anyone talks about.”
Mimi opened her mouth to say something but thinking it better not to say anything at all, she closed it again and walked with Zach to the kitchen. Their dinner had already been prepared thanks to the Brady Pub. Rex followed her, “What did you want to say?”
“It’s just; you were a member of that family for however brief it was…”
“And?” he prompted her.
“And, I just…Do you think Shawn’s right, about him using her? Do you think that this marriage could be part of some Dimera scheme?”
Rex contemplated this for a moment; the thought had crossed his mind several times since learning about Victoria’s sudden marriage. He didn’t think, given her recent experiences, that she was anywhere near ready for a commitment as serious as marriage and was suspicious about the fact that Luc had proposed barely three months after having met her. But he also know the incredible power love had over a person and when he factored that into the equation, “All I know is that when I last saw her, she seemed to be very happy and for now that’s all I care about. Could he just be using her? Anything is possible, I just hope for her sake that it’s not true, I don’t think she could cope with another heartbreak right now.”
*****
It was turning out to be a rather busy day for Tory as she stepped into Max’s Garage. First lunch with Chelsea and now something she’d dreaded doing since she’d gotten back. “Hey.” She called to Max, who as usual, had his head under the bonnet of a car. Max acknowledged her presence with a nod of the head, nothing more. She tried again, “It’s nice to see you.”“I hear congratulations are in order.” He said, not bothering to look up.
“Yeah,” she slipped her hands self consciously into the front pocket of her jeans and murmured, “thanks.”
“I wasn’t offering mine, just making an observation.” he bit back rather rudely.
“Max, if you’d let me…”
Max threw the bonnet down and turned to her, an angry expression on his face, “Why’d you come back Victoria? And why’d you come back with him?”
She was so unsure of this, it couldn’t ever have been a good idea but she figured it might be okay since he was now dating Abby. “What are you talking about? My family…”
“Oh, you mean the family you never wanted? You come here and you make everyone love you and then you leave as though they never mattered and now you’re back…you’re back with someone you know they would never approve of…”
“Now wait a minute,” she said, suddenly angry enough to defend herself, “you have no right…”
He advanced on her, she would’ve stepped back but she had nowhere to go and she wasn’t about to back up just because he was in the mood to vent, “I have no right? What right do you have? Walking around Salem with your perfect husband, who I’m sure, is pure as the driven snow. God to think…”
“Is that what this is really about?” she asked him, “Are you jealous?”
“I’m not jealous; I’m angry and disappointed as hell. You played right into their hands and I suppose its rather fitting, the ultimate revenge.”
“I’m finding it real hard to keep up with you.”
“You shouldn’t be, you are after all an ‘academic’.” He spit the word at her as though it were distasteful, “I’m just wondering how someone as smart as you can truly be this gullible. Do you really think he married you because he loves you?”
She was really getting sick of hearing that. “Yes I do and if you’d been there you would too.”
“Yeah, so the two of you really love each other and the fact that you were saying the same thing about me barely nine months ago…”
Now it was her turn to be angry, “So what, was I supposed to never get over you? Was that how all this was supposed to work?”
“No, but I’d think you’d have held out on marriage for just a bit longer…”
She saw the pain in his eyes and suddenly all the fight died out of her, she looked him in the eye and spoke from the heart, “I love him Max, I truly do and I need you to believe that. I really need you to believe that.”
“Why? It’s not as if you need my approval.”
She shook her head, “No, but I do need your understanding. I didn’t go out there and look for the next guy to take your place and I certainly never believed I was ready for another serious relationship so soon but Luc came along and… It’s not better, it’s just different. I think it’s because I’m different, I’m not that girl you fell in love with anymore and it took me a long time to realise that. I’ve had to deal with a lot of pain and a lot of anger, most of it directed at myself, but I managed to limp my way through the last few months and then I met Luc and it wasn’t the breath of fresh air I needed, he wasn’t some exciting holiday fling or the rebound guy. He was just Luc and with him I could just be Tory, I didn’t have to worry about what he thought about me or if I would say something to offend him, he wasn’t a member of my long lost family. He was this amazing guy who saw me for who I was, who loved me despite my flaws, who made me laugh so hard when I really needed it, and who forced me to dance in the rain. You showed me I didn’t have to live my life though books, that there was real adventure out there for me, waiting around every bend, you helped show me who I was but Luc, he celebrates who I am, who we are together. He’s like you in so many ways except…”
He didn’t like being compared to a Dimera, but he could see where she was coming from. How this ight very well be what she needed, it certainly seemed to be what she wanted, “He’s not a Brady.”
She nodded, “There’s that and there’s also the fact that he knows how I feel. He pushes me, the same way you always did, he pushes me right to the edge but he doesn’t make me jump,” Which was what he had done, he’d forced situations on her, had forced her to choose or made the decision for her, “he allows me to choose the time, he waits till I’m ready. The morning we got married, I was so doubtful and all he had to do was smile at me and I knew. I know what it looks like, I know what everyone is saying but Max, you have to believe me, this is the real thing for me.”
His hand reached out to wipe away the tears that had fallen. He kept it there, cupping her cheek, “For a long time I thought we were the real thing.”
Her gaze dropped from his as she whispered sadly, “I know, so did I.” Then she looked up and smiled at him through the tears that were once again threatening, “You’re my first love Max. No, you’re more than that; you’re much more than that, but he has my heart and he always will.”
He dropped his hand, “I’ve been seeing this girl, nothing serious but it could be.”
She didn’t tell him she already knew about Abby, she’d wait till he told her, till he felt comfortable telling her. So all she said was, “I’m glad. So I’ll see you around?”
Max nodded, he wasn’t sure if this was the closure they’d needed, but he knew it was something they’d both needed. A way to let go and move on, and he admired her for having the courage to come to him today. She could so easily have simply ignored him; it cemented the knowledge that they had been more than just a passing fling. It also showed him that she valued their relationship as much as he had.
She was almost gone when he called her back. She turned around, her gaze questioning. “I want you to know that you won’t have any problems from me regarding your husband. I can see that you love him, I sincerely hope he loves you too and if you ever need anything…”
She smiled at him, the smile that had always killed him, and it was with surprise that he realised he hadn’t built up an immunity to it, maybe he never would. He didn’t really mind all that much though, “Thank you Max.” was all she said before walking out of the garage and heading home.
*****
When she finally got home, there was a message waiting for her, a message inviting Mr and Mrs Dimera to dinner. Victoria sighed, was this day just never going to end? Hearing voices coming from the study, she went in that direction, hoping to beg off this engagement, “Luc, do we really have to attend this dinner tonight? …Patrick, I’d heard you were back in town. What are you doing here though?”Patrick turned around to greet the new Mrs. Dimera, “Victoria, it’s so nice to see you again.”
“Patrick and I have business to discuss, is there anything I can do for you?” Luc asked her from his position behind the desk.
She frowned, “Business? What possible business could the two of you have with each other?”
“Patrick has been looking after some L.A. investments for me, making sure everything is running smoothly. He was just giving me an update.” Luc explained.
Victoria nodded, accepting the explanation and returned to the reason she’d entered the study in the first place, “I only just got home and waiting for me is an invitation to yet another dinner. Can we get out of it somehow?”
Luc shook his head, “I’m afraid we’ve already RSVPed.”
“Wait, I know. Your mother’s arriving tomorrow isn’t she? We can say we have to get things in order for her arrival that ought to get us out of this dinner thing.”
Patrick smiled, “I think I’d better be going. I’ll leave the files with you and pick them up tomorrow?”
Luc nodded and Patrick left. As soon as the door closed behind him, Victoria started in on her plea, “I’ve had a really long day Luc, the longest day in the longest week. Please don’t make in any worse by forcing me to go to this thing.”
“Victoria, you know the importance of making connections in this town. We came here so you could be with your family.”
“I know, it’s just these things are so boring. I’m always stuck between two old men who think the most exciting thing in the world is what happened on the stock market that day. And by the time we get home, I’m bored out of my mind. I’d rather stay home and read a book than go to one of those stuffy dinners.”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you’d be required to wear a dress would it?”
“And that too, who made the rule that you had to wear a dress? I swear Luc, I’m allergic to dresses; they make me itch.”
“They do not.” But her expression had him sighing, she really didn’t enjoy dining with these people, and she was right, most of them could bore you to tears. “Why don’t we compromise? We’ll go to this dinner but we can leave early. Have our own dinner party here at home.”
“I don’t have anything to wear.”
“You’ll find an adequate dress and shoes waiting for you upstairs. It was delivered today.”
He smiled as he bottom lip jutted out, “You’re mean. But I guess I could settle for an early departure.” She walked out and upstairs still sulking. She had to find something constructive to do with her time; she couldn’t just laze about all day. She had to figure out what she could do and how she could use it to get out of dinner engagements.
