Just a Dream

I sit here at the kitchen table realizing at what I have gone through the past few weeks and I break down. I don’t mean to especially in front of all of these cops, but I just can’t help myself. I see the detective that has been on my case since the beginning and he doesn’t look to happy to be here. I just want to scream at him that if he did his job efficiently and productively this wouldn’t be happening. He looks at me shaking his head and I just want to scream even louder. I shake my head wiping the tears away. I have to be strong, I have to be. My bedroom looks like a tornado went through it and the rest of my house isn’t as nearly as bad. I know who did this, and I know why he did it. I just want to know why? Then it suddenly hits me like a bolt of lightening. I run into my room not caring who tries to hold me back and yells at me for ruining some crime scene. I push the cop away that stands in front of my dresser, I go to the second drawer and dig through the clothing still left in the dresser and try to find it. I try to find the only piece of evidence of my baby I had kept and then I realize it’s gone. Whoever did this to me, now knows my secret that I’ve tried so hard to keep hidden the past few months.

“Oh god,” Paige cried as she gripped onto the dresser for support.

“What is it, Miss Parker,” Detective Spencer asked standing in the doorway. “What’s missing?”

“Nothing,” Paige replied standing straight and walking back into the dining room. She couldn’t let anyone know about the baby she had lost even the detective.

“Miss Parker, I can’t do my job if you don’t tell me the truth,” the detective demanded following Paige once again.

“I told the truth, I told you everything that you need to know,” she replied wiping the last of her tears away. She couldn’t let the detective know about the baby, she couldn’t risk her family finding out.

“That’s not how this works. What is wrong with you Parker’s,” the detective sighed turning around heading back to the bedroom.

Paige walked into the living room finding the family pictures smashed on the floor. She picked up the one of Ella at three months old running her fingers across the little girl’s face. She thought about her own baby. She realized she would have been showing about now if she hadn’t lost the baby. Paige instantly put her hand down to her belly where her little bundle of joy should have been. Now someone out there knew her most precious yet horrible secret.

“Paige,” Luke yelled running into the house with Ariel trailing behind him.

“Oh Luke,” Paige sighed hugging her brother. As different as the twins were, they were still bonded more than any siblings in the Parker family. “I can’t believe this happened. How could he do this to us?”

“I don’t think it was Mr. Sanchez,” Detective Rick Spencer announced seeing Luke holding his sister.

“Detective, I’m sorry,” Luke apologized as he continued holding his sister.

“This isn’t the place, Mr. Parker,” the detective replied turning away. Rick wanted to hate Luke for sleeping with his wife, but he knew that part of it was his fault and Rory was partly to blame too.

“What are you sorry about,” Ariel asked coming up to Luke as she put her hand on Paige’s shoulder.

“Not now,” Luke said letting go of Paige and trying to catch up to the detective. “Detective, why do you think it wasn’t Tony?”

“Mr. Parker, I’ve seen the evidence. Whoever did this broke in through a window in the den using a large rock. Mr. Sanchez wants everyone to know what he did especially Miss Parker, he wants to get your attention,” the detective explained.

“He has it,” Paige declared picking up another broken picture off the floor.

“See whoever did this was careful, they wore gloves from the looks of it,” the detective suspected.

“Detective, we have something,” someone yelled from the den.

“If Tony didn’t do it, who did,” Luke asked Paige.

“I don’t know,” Paige replied as she began to clean up the broken glass off the floor.

“I’m going to go,” Ariel said before giving her brother and sister a hug. “I have an appointment I forgot about.”

Minutes later Ariel pulled onto the streets heading to the one person that could give her some answers. She had procrastinated enough when it came to her mother and sister. Now it was time to get down to business.

Anyone that had lived in Saunders Bay anytime in the past forty years knew where Junipers was even if they hadn’t been inside. As Gregory sat at the corner booth he looked around disappointed that he hadn’t been inside before. Now he sat here drinking a cup of coffee and eating a piece of apple pie. He still wasn’t sure why he had come in, he knew who she was and there were endless possibilities on how to contact her. Gregory knew how much she disliked his family especially his father, and what Charlotte didn’t know was the feeling was mutual. He had been sitting at the booth for the past thirty minutes and Charlotte still hadn’t made an appearance. Suddenly he saw the woman who blew his mind a few nights ago; she strolled into the restaurant with a young girl in tow. Gregory had seen pictures of his niece Ella and the girl with Charlotte definitely wasn’t Ella. This girl was a few years older yet she had auburn hair like Ella. Gregory stood up from the booth and walked towards Charlotte.

Charlotte stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the man walk towards her. Some of the images from the night popped in her head, the way he danced, the feel of his hands on her body, and then it hit her.

“Noelle, tell dad I went upstairs for a few minutes,” Charlotte told her little sister. Before Gregory could talk to Charlotte she ran past him towards the back of the restaurant as Jack came out of the kitchen. Gregory stood a several feet away from Noelle as the two of them looked at each other and Noelle shrugged her shoulders. Jack went over to his youngest daughter, hugging her as much as she would let him.

“Noelle, I’m sorry about not picking you up,” Jack stated as Noelle still watched the man with the dark wavy hair as he stared from Noelle to the back of the restaurant where Charlotte had disappeared.

“It’s okay, Charlotte told me you were out drinking with Luke,” Noelle replied.

“Not quite the reason I wasn’t able to show up, but it doesn’t matter,” Jack said then he noticed the man standing before them. “Can I help you?”

“He’s a friend of Charlotte’s,” Noelle stated. “She won’t mind if you go upstairs.”

Gregory stood there not quite sure what Noelle was doing, but he did want to talk to Charlotte and in private if possible.

“Thanks,” Gregory thanked Noelle then walked towards where Charlotte had disappeared to.

“Who is that guy,” Jack questioned, “he looks familiar.”

“Like I said he’s a friend,” Noelle confirmed. She had seen her sisters enough times with the guys they were dating at the time, the look across their pretty made-up faces, the way they moved around them, and the times when the guys surprised the girls with a visit – it was the exact look that was on Charlotte’s face the minute she saw that man.

“Any homework,” Jack asked as he walked away from Noelle. He tried to be there for Noelle, but he wasn’t as young as he used to be especially when he was raising his four oldest.

Gregory walked to the back of the restaurant noticing the staircase that led to the second floor of the building. He hadn’t thought this through enough, now as he climbed the stairs, he wasn’t sure what he was going to say or what to do. As he reached the top of the stairs he began his way through a hallway decorated with family portraits of the Parker’s. He stopped to admire the photos of Charlotte at her high school graduation with her family surrounding her. All of the pictures everyone was smiling like they actually enjoyed each other’s company and loved each other deeply, Gregory couldn’t remember a time where his family looked as happy or as loved. Fake smiles were part of the Donnelly way even before his mother was taken away from him during high school. Benjamin Donnelly made a horrible father and an even more ruthless businessman.

“Hi,” Charlotte said as she walked up to him. “How did you find me?”

Gregory looked over at the stunning blond who now had her hair down, a bit of make-up on, and a tight short sleeved sweater on. Now Gregory realized why she had ran away from him, she didn’t want to look more presentable.

“You didn’t have to change for me,” he stated even noticing the scent of vanilla radiating from her body, “but you do look amazing.”

“Thank you,” she exhaled remembering the smell of sex and sweat that morning she woke up in the hotel room.

“I can’t stop thinking about that night,” Gregory admitted. “It’s not like me to meet a beautiful woman and then take her to bed the same night. It’s really not. And I know it’s not like you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I didn’t know who you were until this morning. We just introduced ourselves as Greg and Char that night, remember?”

“I do.”

“I had arrived from the airport an hour earlier than I had planned. When my brother wasn’t there, I took a cab to the hotel. I swear I didn’t know who you were, and to tell you the truth, I don’t really care. I mean I do, but it doesn’t matter to me.”

“What are you saying,” Charlotte wondered not knowing why he was babbling.

“Charlotte, Scott is here,” Noelle interrupted as she walked up to them.

“Scott,” Gregory asked.

“My lawyer,” Charlotte admitted easily to the man standing before her. “My ex is suing for full custody of our daughter.”

“What,” Gregory questioned becoming infuriated with his brother once again. He knew what his family was like and no one deserved to be part of that family especially his niece – Charlotte’s daughter.

“I really have to go, I’m sorry,” Charlotte announced yet desperately wanted to learn more about her mystery man.

“Have dinner with me tonight,” he asked taking her hand in his instantly.

“Okay,” she said without hesitating.

“Seven o’clock at the hotel?”

“Seven it is,” she responded before leaving him standing there in her home.

He watched her walk away leaving Noelle standing before Gregory once again.

“You’re his brother, aren’t you,” Noelle inquired.

“How did you know,” Gregory replied back hoping the little girl didn’t tell her sister.

“I know more than they think and I pay closer attention than they do. They don’t always realize I’m around like I blend into the furniture or something. I don’t blame them or my dad for that matter,” Noelle admitted.

“You’re smart kid, that’s for sure. You remind me of myself at your age. I blended into things also, being really quiet when I needed to and speaking up when it mattered. I learned many things about my family that I really didn’t want to know.”

“Like how Mr. Donnelly isn’t a very nice man,” Noelle pointed out.

“Exactly. Noelle, I’m not like the rest of my family, I hope you see that.”

“You don’t want her to know who you are.”

“Not right now, but I’ll tell her tonight. I don’t want to lie to her, that’s why I came here. I want to show your sister that not every Donnelly has a cold heart.”

“I really didn’t like Tyler anyway,” Noelle stated as Gregory followed her back downstairs.

He paid for his coffee and apple pie before walking out of Junipers with Charlotte following his every move. She didn’t know who Greg really was, but she was looking forward in finding out.

Ariel walked down the long hallway towards the room. She had plenty to discuss with her sister and mother. Ariel was beginning to think finding her mother was a mistake and that April was an even bigger mistake. Ariel had uncovered enough secrets the past couple of days to come to the conclusion that neither her mother nor her sister could be trusted. Maybe it was time to send both of them packing. Ariel knocked on the door hoping that they would answer the door since the concierge had confirmed that they were both in.

“Open up,” Ariel yelled knocking on the door harder than intended. Since she had paid for the room she was also able to get a keycard, but she was hoping she wasn’t going to use it. “I know you’re in there.”

“What’s going on,” Penelope asked opening the door in one of the white hotel robes and her hair wrapped in a towel. “Ariel, what’s wrong?”

“Where’s April,” Ariel demanded pushing her way into the room.

“She left about twenty minutes ago,” Penelope answered closing the door. “What did she do now?’

“April broke into Luke and Paige’s place today. The police know it wasn’t Tony, so it could have only been one other person.”

“Why would April do such a thing,” her mother wondered sitting down on the bed.

“Why did you cheat on dad so much? See, I know Charles Reed wasn’t the only one. How many children do you have anyway? Are there more of us out there?”

“I see you did some investigating. How much do you know,” she asked looking down at her bare feet. Penelope didn’t have the heart to look at her daughter to break her heart once again.

“I know you and your daughter moved around a lot running from scheme to scheme. You would lure men into bed or some even into marriage then run off with their money. I know Ella isn’t your only granddaughter. “

“Am I interrupting,” April said walking into the room seconds later with a couple of department store bags

“Ariel knows about Cassidy,” Penelope admitted looking up at her youngest daughter.

“Well, well, I’m not surprised you went digging into my background since you think I’m like the devil or something,” April stated setting the bags down on the other bed. “But I’m not the only one that has been pregnant recently?”

“What are you talking about,” Ariel asked not knowing where she was going with this.

“Paige,” April admitted pulling the proof out of her designer jeans. “See, mom, I’m not the only that got knocked up so young. Your precious, Paige, has also, so I guess that means we are more alike than I thought.”

“The two of you are nothing alike,” Ariel shouted. “And that just proves that you did break into the house.”

“Yeah, I did. See, since we arrived all I have heard was Paige this or Paige that and nothing about the rest of you. Mom thinks her precious, Paige walks on water or something and I wanted to show her the truth.”

“You could have been hurt, April, or even caught for that matter. What were you thinking,” Penelope asked hoping her daughter wouldn’t get called into the police station.

“I was thinking that maybe if things went back to normal, you would remember the daughter that has been with you all these years. I got you out of a lot of jams, mother. Oh, by the way, Paige is now sleeping with Cassidy’s daddy,” April announced before storming out of the room.

“Oh no,” Penelope sighed as her head fell into her hands.

“Who is Cassidy,” Ariel asked.

“April’s daughter, her adopted parents live in Indianapolis. Cassidy was born with a hole in her heart, so a lot of the money we have gotten the past few months has gone to them. April knew she couldn’t raise Cassidy on her own even though I would help her anyway I could.”

“Yeah, because you did so well with her and look what you did to us.”

“That’s not fair, Ariel. I tried, I really did, but it wasn’t so easy living with your father. He had dreams, you know, of becoming an architect; he wanted to go to college. When your grandfather was diagnosed with cancer your grandmother couldn’t keep the restaurant going on her own. So your father gave up his dreams to help his mother. You know your grandmother was never fond of me and she let me know every chance she got.”

“So grandmother is the reason you cheated on dad all the time,” Ariel said sarcastically. “Grandma always had a reason for what she did.”

“No, it was the fact that I wasn’t good enough for your father in her eyes, but no one ever could be for her perfect son.”

“Enough, grandma was there for us when you couldn’t handle it anymore. She got us to school and took care of us when dad slaved at the restaurant to provide for us. Grandma was more of a mother to us then you ever could be.”

“I know that, but none of you realize how hard it was to raise all of you. Your dad was an only child, so he wanted a big family, he really didn’t let me have a say in the matter. And then he would disappear at the restaurant for days leaving me at home with all of you. When I met Charles, everything became clearer to me. Sure there were men before Charles when I could get away, but once the twins were born it changed. When I found out I was pregnant with April I knew I had to get away. Maybe it wasn’t the right thing to do, but I can’t take it back.”

“No, you can’t. Charlotte was right though when she told me you weren’t worth it. Dad, grandma, and even Morgan did a better job than you ever could,” Ariel stated before running out of the room in tears. All of the dreams she had of her mother becoming part of the family again were gone. None of it mattered now. She had other business to deal with now and it met she would have to confront Paige.

Josh stood on the docks like he had done earlier that morning. He knew Paige wasn’t with her new companion after the break-in at the house. No, Paige would be home cleaning up and talking to the police. Josh knew the police didn’t stand a chance on finding Tony even if he didn’t break into their house. After Josh was done with Brandon, he would concentrate on hunting down Tony. He walked down the pier hoping that Brandon was on the boat. All Josh had learned about the mysterious Brandon was he had arrived in Saunders Bay about a week ago from Chicago. He was originally from Indianapolis and that he came from a very wealthy family. Josh laughed at his investigative skills just by clicking the name of Brandon’s boat in the search engine at the college library.

As he got closer to the boat he heard voices inside the boat and only one he recognized. He climbed onto the boat very carefully trying to not get caught and trying not to aggravate his shoulder injury.

“Who sent you,” one voice asked not frightened by the man standing before him. “Whoever sent you, I’ll pay double.”

“Paige wouldn’t give it up for weeks suddenly one night with you and she blows caution to the wind. I loved her. We were great together and you ruined it,” the other voice yelled waving the knife in front of his face.

“Be careful with that, you wouldn’t want to hurt someone,” the owner of the boat stated. “And about Paige, well she is fine lady and she made her choice.”

Josh stood on top of the stairs not being able to see the two men clearly but he knew exactly who they were. He couldn’t do too much with his arm in the sling so as much as it hurt he took the sling of his wounded shoulder where he had been shot. He wouldn’t be playing football again because of the gunshot, but it didn’t matter anymore. He found his calling, and if he got hurt it was just part of the job.

“No, she didn’t,” Tony screamed as he ran towards Brandon with knife out. “Everyone else keeps forcing her to make the wrong ones.”

The knife dug deep into Brandon’s abdomen as he shrieked in pain. Tony pulled the knife out making the pain even more excruciating.

“I always win,” Tony told Brandon who was now on the floor bleeding perversely.

“Not this time,” Josh announced coming down the stairs with his gun on him. He had a registered handgun that he used for target practice since he was now studying criminal law and had intended to become a police officer. He had used it that day in the park when he was shot by accident. Now as he stood pointing the gun at Tony all of the anger he felt for the man began to boil over. “You won’t get away this time.”

“Want to bet,” Tony snickered running towards Josh with his handy knife that had caused so much damage to so many people pointed at Josh.

Josh knew what he had to do and he didn’t hesitate as he shot Antonio “Tony” Sanchez right in the heart. Tony stared at Josh in horror as he felt his life begin to drain away. He then realized that his reign of terror was over. Tony hit the floor in that instant and died by a gunshot to the heart; the heart that ached for Paige Parker until his death.

“Help me,” Brandon begged as the pain intensified.

Josh jumped over Tony’s lifeless body grabbed a beach towel off the table and began to put presser on Brandon’s wound. He took his cell phone out of his pocket instantly calling nine one one. He may not have come here to kill Tony, or hurt Brandon for that matter, but now that is what he had become. Brandon lost consciousness seconds later, yet Josh continued to apply pressure to the knife wound.

“You’re going to make it. Paige would never forgive me if you didn’t,” Josh said hoping the man could hear him. Josh may be crazy in love with Paige, but Paige was crazy about the guy.

Ali stood in the doorway to the den looking at the boarded window. She was exhausted from the day’s events and all she wanted was to crawl into bed and sleep away the pain away. She felt Luke’s hands on her shoulders the minute he touched her.

“Why is it I still think whoever broke in here today will come back,” Ali said leaning back into Luke’s body.

“I thought you felt safe with me,” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her.

“I do, but after everything that has happened the past few weeks who knows what else is lurking in the shadows,” Ali explained turning around to look Luke in the eyes. “I mean I should feel some relief knowing that Tony is died, but I don’t. After what he did to me, I still don’t think he deserved to die, no one does.”

“I do,” he replied cupping her chin with his fingers then kissing her gently. “He hurt you the way no man should hurt a woman. He beat on Paige during their relationship even if I believe she should have dumped him to the curb long ago because of that. He ruined Josh’s football career and then he attacked some stranger on his boat. The police couldn’t catch him, yet Josh could.”

“What was Josh doing at the pier anyway?”

“I’m sure Josh will explain what happened to us later. I know you wanted us to have separate rooms and such, but for tonight how about we share my room.”

“Yeah, I don’t know if I could sleep by myself anyway,” Ali replied as she took his hand and he led her through the house to his bedroom.

Luke had so much to tell Ali except after the events of the past couple of hours he didn’t have the heart to tell her now. He knew she was struggling with Tony’s death even if he had assaulted her and the break-in didn’t help matters. Now as he watched Ali crawl into his bed, he just wanted to treasure the moments they would have together.

“Come here,” he said after he got into bed.

Seconds later their lips met in hunger as his hands began to roam her body. He needed her as much as he needed air to breathe. As Luke continued to kiss her with such intensity his hand found its way underneath her pajama pants.

“Luke,” Ali sighed into his mouth breaking the kiss for just a moment. “Please.”

He knew Ali was in unguarded territory and it made him even more excited knowing she wanted him just as much. They rolled a bit to get more comfortable as his fingers found the spot he was searching for. She began to thrust towards his hand when one of his fingers went inside her. She threw her head back as he continued to satisfy her in a way she never thought possible. He picked up the pace much faster and then inserted another finger into her as his mouth found hers again. She pulled his hair as she went over the cliff of ecstasy.

He looked over at her as she fell against the pillow satisfied and happy with what had just happened. Suddenly he remembered what had happened earlier in the day and panicked. Luke gave her a quick touch of the lips and without saying a word he crawled out of the bed and left the room.

“What just happened,” she asked herself as she closed her eyes trying to replay every moment in her head.

Luke stood in the bathroom staring in the mirror disgusted by what he had done. As much as he wanted to be with Ali and give her everything, the thought of Rory carrying his baby ruined any chance of that. He splashed some water on his face took a couple of aspirin then went to the living room where he would spend the night. There was no way he would be able to face Ali after what he had done to her. He was sure she enjoyed every moment of it and he enjoyed pleasuring her, but none of that mattered anymore. He wouldn’t be able to give Ali what she needed or deserved until he was sure about the parentage of Rory’s baby so from now on he would need to keep his distance from Ali.

“How do you know the victim, Mr. Green,” Detective Spencer asked Josh who was sitting in the emergency room being examined once again for his shoulder injury.

“He’s a friend of Paige’s,” Josh replied sitting on the gurney as the nurse checked his vitals.

“Were they intimate,” the detective questioned writing the information on a notepad.

“You would have to ask Paige,” Josh said withholding the truth.

“What were you doing at the pier?”

“I would like to know the exact same thing,” Paige demanded pulling open the curtain that was giving Detective Spencer and Josh some privacy.

“I can explain,” Josh told Paige hoping the detective would go away.

“That is what I’ve been waiting for,” Detective Spencer scowled. He was getting impatient with Josh and was glad this case was just about over now that the perpetrator was died.

“How did you find out about Brandon,” Paige asked Josh standing near Josh yet far enough that he couldn’t touch her.

“I saw the two of you at his boat the other morning. When you switched shifts with Ali today, I figured that is where you were. When I got to the boat I heard Tony and Brandon arguing then I saw Tony stab him,” Josh explained as best he could holding out the truth on why he had really went to the boat.

“Thank you for saving his life,” Paige stated before turning away.

“Paige, wait,” Josh begged. He didn’t want her to leave his side. He had killed Tony for her, even though Tony deserved what he got, Josh still killed him.

“What,” she whispered not turning around to look at him. She didn’t want to hurt him even more than she had and looking him in the eyes would do just that.

“I think the sweetest joys in life are those more felt than seen. When someone sees within our soul with nothing in between,” Josh admitted to her without taking a moment to breathe. He was letting it known how he felt about her, he was showing his greatest weakness, and his greatest treasure in his life today.

She turned around looking at him for just a second then turned and walked away with her head between her legs. Paige didn’t feel that way about him, there wasn’t that spark between them like there was with Brandon. Brandon made her body tingle inside every time she thought about him or looked at him. She may have only known him for a couple of days but there was something between them.

“Ouch,” the detective murmured. “And I thought I had women trouble.”

“Was there anything else, Detective,” Josh wondered trying to ignore the pain in his heart and the obnoxious detective standing before him.

“Yeah, just one, if you were going to find Paige why were you carrying your gun?”

“I knew Tony was out there hunting anyone that was close to Paige. So I was going to be prepared if he showed up at the pier. He was a dangerous man that you couldn’t catch.”

“I think I have enough for now, just don’t leave town anytime soon.”

“I don’t plan on ever leaving,” Josh stated before the detective left his side.

She was late; she was real late. She didn’t know his last name or have his number. She threw a twenty at the cab driver jumping out of the cab before it came to a complete stop. She looked up at the clock as she entered the hotel and noticed it was now quarter after eight. Charlotte hoped he was still here, that he was still waiting for her, but as she looked around the bar she felt her heart drop. If only she knew his last name.

“Hi, remember me from the other night,” she asked the stocky dark-haired bartender pouring an older man a drink.

“Oh yeah, how could I forget,” the bartender replied putting a napkin down on the bar, “sex on the beach, right?”

“Right, do you remember the man I was with. I know how this may sound, but I left something in his room that night. I’m hoping you could tell me his name,” Charlotte whispered leaning over the bar sliding a twenty towards him.

“Mr. Donnelly, ma’am, you missed him by ten minutes or so. He went back up to his room, seven twelve, I believe.”

“You said, Donnelly, as in Benjamin Donnelly.”

“He’s nothing like his father, ma’am.”

“That’s exactly what his brother told me,” Charlotte mumbled before storming off towards the elevators.

She couldn’t believe it had happened again – what made the Donnelly brothers so irresistible to her. First Tyler had swept her off her feet, making her feel loved and accepted in the rich and fabulous times of his family until she became a liability. Now his brother had done the unspeakable thing to her, making her forget about Tyler’s betrayal, and proving that she isn’t a good influence on her daughter. Charlotte stood in the elevator tapping her left foot ready to do some damage to Gregory Donnelly. As soon as the elevator door opened she pushed through the family waiting to board onto the elevator. Charlotte stood in front of seven twelve taking in a deep breath then banging on the door as hard as she could.

“Let me in, damn it,” Charlotte shouted.

“Charlotte,” Gregory answered opening the door with his blue button down shirt half unbuttoned revealing his bare chest.

For a second there Charlotte went back to that night she had spent in the room with him, kissing that bare chest and laying her head on his chest afterwards. He wasn’t something she expected, and now it rang even more true.

“You son of a –,” Charlotte yelled shaking her head to erase the incredible night she had spent with him.

“Can we please talk about this inside,” Gregory asked opening the door farther and noticing a few people open their rooms to see what was going on.

“What? To take advantage of me again,” she accused. “You knew who I was the moment I stepped into that bar and you used that to your advantage.”

“Charlotte, please, not out here, can we come inside,” he asked again hoping she would let him explain.

“Fine,” Charlotte replied noticing the onlookers gathering in the hall.

She stood there remembering when she was getting ready for tonight how it was going to be another night to remember – to get to know the man that blew her mind away. Now all she felt was hatred for the man who was so generous and loving to her yet had that animal magnetism about him.

“Was it Tyler’s plan from the beginning or your father’s?”

“Neither, this thing between us – that night had nothing to do with them. I didn’t know who you were until this morning when you went to see Tyler. If you knew anything about me, you would know I would do nothing as disrespectful as lying to a woman to get them into bed. I’m nothing like my brother or father. I came back to the States to make my father pay for his crimes not to team up with him.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“When I met you that night it was by pure accident. I just got out of a long relationship, I wasn’t looking for anything, I’m not even sure why it happened, but it did. Now that I know who you are, we can help each other. That is what tonight was supposed to be about; I came to the restaurant today to tell you who I was. When you had to leave to meet with your lawyer, I figured I could tell you at dinner,” Gregory explained following her into the large room with the California king bed taking up much of the room. A laptop open and turned on the desk across the room from the bed, and the television muted to ESPN.

Gregory moved his suite jacket off one of the chairs at the corner table throwing it on the bed. He pulled the chair out for Charlotte hoping she would sit down.

“Your brother has lied to me so many times, and I’ve never met anyone as cruel as your father before. I don’t want to trust you,” she said hesitating. “But my grandmother always told me to trust my instincts.”

“Your grandmother was very wise,” Gregory commented sitting across from her at the table. “I met her before, you know. It was many years ago before my mother passed away. My mother tried to be everything my father isn’t, she belonged to so many charities and committees trying to be the positive Donnelly in the family. She wanted our family to mean more than power and money in this town. My father hated that about her, and he told her time and again.”

“What happened to her,” Charlotte asked moving closer to him memorized by his devotion to his mother.

“Are you hungry? I’m starving; I waited for over an hour at the bar and the peanuts and pretzels don’t really fill you up.”

“Greg, I’m sorry about that. My babysitter decided to flake out on me at the last minute, so one of the waitresses volunteered. I don’t know what I would do without a couple of those waitresses there; anyone of them would volunteer to watch my Ella in a heartbeat.”

“Well if Ella is okay for the next couple of hours how about we go get something to eat,” he suggested standing up reaching for her hand. “I know a little 24 hour diner outside of town that serves the best pancakes.”

“You should try Juniper’s,” she replied taking his hand. “Melt in your mouth delicious.”

They had a lot to talk about and Gregory was going to make sure she knew where he stood. He wanted to know everything there was about Miss Charlotte Parker even the smallest detail like what side of the bed she slept on. And by the end of the night just maybe she would be more useful than he had intended.

Paige sat on the bench in the long white hallway with doctors and nurses rushing past here every which way. All she wanted was to be with Brandon at this moment. She wanted to call his family, to tell them about his condition and how all of it was her fault. Everything was her fault these days – in the past couple of weeks danger had become her middle name. She didn’t want this for Brandon for anyone in her life. Now that the biggest threat in her life was died she hoped things would calm down. She tightened her grip around herself, holding onto that thought that things would get better before they got worse.

“I thought I might find you here,” Ariel stated sitting next to her sister. “I talked to Josh.”

“How is he,” Paige asked knowing how she had hurt him even more emotionally.

“He won’t be working at the restaurant for a few weeks, but other than that he’s fine.”

“I wasn’t really talking about his shoulder,” Paige mumbled looking up at her older sister.

For years Paige had looked up to Ariel, had wanted to be like her, the independence, and the go-get them attitude. Now all she wanted to do was hide like her other sister. Charlotte and Ariel were so different from one another yet the love of their family held them together.

“Have you found out anything about your boyfriend,” Ariel wondered also noticing the doctors walking right past the young blond who had definitely shed some tears in the last hour.

“He’s not my boyfriend, well not really. We only met a few days ago, but I owe him so much,” Paige admitted looking down at her hands on her lap.

“This isn’t the best time, but I need to tell you something,” Ariel said putting her hand over her sister’s. “I know about your baby and Brandon’s.”

“Brandon’s, what are you talking about? I just met Brandon like I said. I don’t know what you are talking about.”

“I guess he didn’t tell you.”

“We haven’t really mentioned our pasts to one another. We’ve only seen each other a couple of times,” Paige explained remembering the night she had spent on Brandon’s boat.

“But the two of you are sleeping together, correct,” Ariel questioned knowing full well that April had been telling the truth about Paige and Brandon.

“That’s really none of your business, Ariel.”

“See, it is because your new boyfriend shares a child with April. You remember, April, right, your half-sister that has caused nothing but trouble since she rolled into town.”

“How can that be? It makes no sense; Brandon didn’t say anything about having a baby.”

“Well did you tell him that you were pregnant?”

“Why are you doing this to me,” Paige asked louder than she intended while standing up and moving away from her sister. “Do you realize what I have been through the past few weeks? Now you are digging up things that I had no intention of thinking about again. Who made you god, Ariel? Who suddenly put you in charge of my life?”

“It’s not like that, little sister. I just know that April and Brandon has a baby together and that you do to. Who’s the father? Was it that creep, Tony, who beat you?”

“Leave me alone, Ariel, just go. Go back where you came from and don’t bother coming back,” Paige demanded pushing her sister away.

Ariel stood there in shock over her sister’s hysterics. She would do what she could though and make Paige see what a good sister she could be.

“This isn’t like you, Paige. I don’t care that you were pregnant or what happened, I’m just hurt that you didn’t come to me for help,” Ariel said before leaving Paige and finding someone that could tell her how Brandon Ellsworth was doing.

Ali stretched in bed trying to remember what happened last night to cause her so much discomfort. Then it hit her – how Luke’s hands felt on her. She reached across the bed hoping to find the man that gave her so much pleasure but all she found was empty space. She climbed out of bed putting on her sweatpants and grabbing one of Luke’s sweatshirts out of his closet then walked through the house trying to find Luke. He was no where to be found and the blankets sprawled across the couch told her he never bothered to come back to bed last night. There was no note on to where he went – nothing. Suddenly Ali felt something in the pit of her stomach and it wasn’t just caused by her hunger for food.

Before she could make herself some breakfast the phone began to ring.

“Hello,” Ali answered grabbing the cordless off the coffee table next to the sofa.

“Hey, girl, how are you doing this morning,” Paige asked strolling outside of the hospital.

“I should be asking you the same thing. How’s Josh doing?”

“I don’t know; I’m sure he was released last night. I’m still here at the hospital waiting to see how Brandon is doing.”

“Brandon?”

“He’s a friend. Tony stabbed him and I guess Josh was there and saved his life after shooting Tony in the heart.”

“Who knew Josh could be a hero?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. He wasn’t supposed to know about Brandon, no one was. He’s says that he saw me on the pier the other day with Brandon, but I don’t know what to think. Ali, I know how he feels about me, I just can’t return those feelings – not yet.”

“You feel more comfortable with this Brandon, guy,” Ali asked hoping that she wasn’t crossing a line.

“Yes, I do. Don’t get me wrong, Josh is a good guy, anyone would be lucky to be with him. I just don’t see myself with him not in that way,” Paige explained trying to hide her feelings for Brandon.

“Ms. Parker,” a nurse asked coming up to Paige, “Dr. Reed will see you now.”

“Ali, I have to go, Dr. Reed is the one that was with Brandon. I’ll talk to you soon,” Paige announced.

“Bye,” Ali replied hanging up the phone.

Ali knew what Paige really wanted out of life. Ali was content on spending the rest of her life in Saunders Bay with Luke. She didn’t need to see the world as long she had someone to love and someone to love back by her side. Paige didn’t see it that way, she never had. Paige had grown up in Saunders Bay just like Ali, yet Ali didn’t ever want to leave and Paige did.

At the hospital, Paige followed the nurse back into the hospital. She had waited for hours to know how Brandon was doing and suddenly the doctors were going to talk to her.

“Ms. Parker,” Dr. Damien Reed asked the petite blond who was standing next to the nurses’ station.

“Yes,” Paige answered. “Where’s Brandon? Is he okay? Can I see him?”

“The knife wound punctured one of his kidneys. We had to remove the kidney, but he will be fine. You can go see him now, he’s in room two twelve,” the doctor explained.

“Thank you,” Paige said as she began to walk towards the room. “Doctor, I don’t want to sound ungrateful but why am I being allowed to know how he’s doing or see him for that matter?”

“Ask your sister, ma’am, she’s the one who knows people upstairs,” the doctor replied before walking away from Paige.

Suddenly Paige realized that having Ariel around wasn’t as bad as she had thought. Ariel may have left Saunders Bay, but she still kept in contact with her family the past couple of years unlike someone else in their family. Ariel was known world-wide for some of her photographs and she had lived with a reporter, so Ariel could get things done by a couple of phone calls.

As Paige stepped into the room seeing Brandon hooked up to the tubes, she realized that they couldn’t keep this charade going any longer. They needed to talk. They had a lot to talk about especially about his relationship with her half-sister and the child they shared. Suddenly Paige was scared; scared that everything had been a lie.