Chapters 83 & 84
Chapter 83 Dirty Laundry
After a long silence, Kevin leans forward. "For my entire life, I have been left to make sense of the nonsensical. If you can shed some light on how Melanie came to be the monster she was, I very much want to hear."
"I think it will." Stefan pours two drinks, handing one to Kevin. "It's seltzer water." Once Kevin takes it, Stefan begins. "Melanie's was born in Leningrad. The civil war began before she was born. Her father had planned for all of them to leave before the fighting broke out, but Ekaterina was too far along in her pregnancy with Melanie. Helena was
lucky; she was smuggled out with friends and brought to the Cassadine island. Melanie's father, Ivan, died in the 900 day siege in 1941."
"Millions of people died during the siege, how did Melanie and her mother survive?" Kevin says.
"Yes, countless numbers died through disease, starvation, and the bitter cold weather. From the arguments my mother and father used to have, I learned that Ekaterina survived by prostituting herself, relying on benefactors to care for her and her little daughter. Unfortunately one of the 'benefactors' took a 'special interest' in Melanie."
"He sexually abused her." Kevin surmises, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Yes," Stefan answers quietly. "For years apparently. It bought them some time and protection. Being part of the aristocracy made them vulnerable to persecution by the soviets. Meanwhile Helena searched for them. She located Melanie in 1950, but by that time Ekaterina had died in a Siberian work camp. The 'benefactor' had sent her there and kept Melanie."
Kevin pales. "Melanie was left alone and defenseless with her abuser.... just like Ryan."
"Yes. What that man did to her finished the job of destroying Melanie that was started by the Nazi's and the siege. She had her revenge, though. Helena got word to Melanie that she would be rescued. On the night she was to be smuggled out, Melanie smothered her 'protector' in his bed. She was 11 years old and cunning like an animal."
A pale and forlorn looking Cassidy sidles up to the bar at Luke's. Mike gives her a small smile. "You look like I feel, honey. Still haven't heard from Jerry?"
"Nope, and I'm not going to." Cassidy gives an exaggerated sigh. "Can I have mineral water?"
"Coming right up." Mike pours some bottled water over ice and places it in front of her. "So are you going to tell your old man about it?"
"Jerry's on some top secret assignment. I suppose the good news is he hasn't ratted me out yet." Cassidy takes a sip of water and twirls the cocktail straw around in the water thoughtfully. "But I've made a decision."
"What kind of decision?"
"I'm going to New York in a couple days to see my boss." Cassidy pauses to take a sip of water. "And I'm going to come clean."
"No! You can't do that, honey." Mike says in alarm. "I know you're upset about Jerry and all, but going to jail is not the answer. Give yourself some time to think this over."
"I've made up my mind," Cassidy says in a voice of grim determination. "I've had a lot of time to think since Jerry took off. I've decided I can't live like this any more. No more secrets, no more lies. I want to be free of it all. If I end up in jail, so be it."
Their conversation abruptly ends when Lucky enters the club. He stops dead in his tracks for a moment before joining them at the bar. "Cassidy." Lucky says in a cold voice.
Cassidy meets his wary gaze. "We need to talk."
Lucky crosses his arms. "I didn't think we had anything to discuss. You're a Cassadine spy and you're not welcome in my club."
"Lucky, she's my daughter..." Mike interjects.
Cassidy stops him by putting a hand on his arm. "Daddy, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'll fight my own battles." Mike throws his hands up in defeat and walks away to give them privacy. Cassidy turns back to Lucky. "Just hear me out."
Lucky plops himself down on one of the barstools and pretends patience. "What's there to explain? You've been spying on me for Cousin Steffie."
"Believe it or not, I have not been spying on you for Stefan." Cassidy says. "Nothing I've done for Stefan involves you or will ever involve you. I think of you as a friend."
Lucky rolls his eyes in disbelief. "Oh, really? Well Mike's been a friend of my family for years and has been spying for Stefan. Are you different?"
"Mike loves you like a son, Lucky! He adores you, can't you see that? He might have spied in the beginning, but once Luke extended his hand in friendship, Mike stopped spying. From then on he was there to protect you."
"Oh, I've heard this before." Lucky's voice turns sing song and sarcastic. "Mike was there to protect us from the evil Helena. I don't buy it one bit. Try another line. See, I can believe that he worked for Stefan to keep you safe. Heck, I'd do anything for my family. But I'll never believe that Mike did it for us."
"Then you understand why my dad did it?" Cassidy asks hopefully.
"Sure, I understand all about protecting family," Lucky says. "I'd sell my soul to protect Lulu. But that doesn't mean I want you in my club. You are a Cassadine spy, plain and simple." He turns around to walk away.
Cassidy grabs his arm, twirling him around to face her. "As long as my father owns half of this club, you're stuck with me as a customer. Just try and keep me out!" She grabs her purse from the bar and stalks out.
Later that evening. Cassidy is in the bathroom when she hears a knock at the door. "What now?!" She grumbles as she washes her face. She grabs a white towel off the rack and wipes her face as she walks to the door.
Stefan smiles in greeting. "Hello, Cassandra."
"Hi." Cassidy motions for him to come in and shuts the door behind him. "What can I do for you?"
"Actually, I am here to see what I can do for you." Stefan settles himself on the couch, studying her carefully and noticing her face lacks it's usual healthy color. "You look ill."
Cassidy grimaces weakly. "I think I might have the stomach flu... that or stress."
"You've been eating properly, I hope?" Stefan asks.
"Actually the thought of food makes my stomach turn." She shrugs. "I'll be fine tomorrow."
"I received a visit from Kevin today. He seems to think you are in serious trouble."
"I probably am." Cassidy says matter of factly.
Stefan looks at her intently. "You know I'll protect you, you will not go to jail."
"I doubt you can prevent it." Cassidy plops herself down on the couch next to him, her voice filled with resignation. "I've decided to go to the WSB and tell them everything. I'll make sure no one else implicated."
"That is not my concern Cassidy, you are." Stefan gets up and starts pacing. "You can't be serious. What you are considering amounts to suicide."
"The guilt is killing me, Stefan. This is the only way." Cassidy leans back, resting her head on the cushions with her eyes closed. She felt so tired, she could almost fall asleep.
Stefan stops his pacing to look at her imploringly. "Think about this for a couple days at least. You will see how foolish this is." He leans over to put his hand on her clammy forehead. "Maybe it is the fever."
She bats his hand away. "I don't have a fever and I won't changed my mind."
Stefan looks at her angrily. "So you plan to throw away your chance at getting to know your brother, to spend time with your father, Alexis, and the child she's carrying? For what? So you can have a clean conscience?"
"Don't judge me, Stefan!" Cassidy begins to cry. "Of course I want those things. But you don't understand. The guilt eats at me. I'm not the person I want to be because of it."
"You don't think I understand about guilt? I am a Cassadine." Stefan replies, his voice suddenly tired, his shoulder sagging under the weight of his responsibilities. "I was born with guilt. I live and breathe it every day."
Chapter 84 Let's Do Lunch
Midmorning at Kelly's. Emily and Lucky have just secretly moved most of her belongings from the mansion into her apartment above Kelly's. Lucky and Emily are bursting with excitement. "I can't believe I did it!" Emily gushes. "Is this really real? Am I really moving out?"
Lucky grins. "You sure are."
"It feels like it's happening to someone else." Emily suddenly turns somber. "The next step is to tell my family... they will flip. I don't think I can take having the whole family gang up on me."
Lucky considers her problem for a moment. "Yeah, that could get nasty. Maybe if you talked to some of them individually, it wouldn't be so bad."
Emily bites her lip on concentration. "You're right... Maybe if I talk to Grandfather and Grandmother alone first.... I've got it!" She checks her pockets and comes up empty. "Can I borrow a quarter?"
Lucky fishes one out of his front pocket and hands it to her. "It's on the house."
"I'll be right back." Emily goes outside to use the payphone. She dials and waits for someone on the other line to pick up. "Reginald? Can I speak to Grandfather? Thanks."
"Emily.. are you in some kind of trouble?" Edward asks as soon as he's on the phone.
"No, of course not, Grandfather." Emily rolls her eyes and smiles. "Actually I'm wondering if you want to go to the PC Grille for lunch today.. my treat."
"Nonsense. I'll pick up the tab," Edward says gruffly. "So what's this about? Something's up, isn't there?"
"Do I need a reason to have lunch with my favorite Grandfather?"
"No. But there is something, isn't there?" Edward presses. "You never call me out of the blue like this. Have Monica and Alan been hovering too much again?"
Emily smiles at his perceptiveness. "You'll just have to find out at lunch. I love you and I'll see you at 12:30."
Kevin and Lucy are saying their goodbyes at the front door to the Lighthouse. Lucy grabs Kevin's lapels and kisses him deeply. He drops his briefcase to pull her into his arms. "I'll never leave if you keep kissing me like that.." Kevin says through the kiss. "You sure you don't want to have lunch with me today?"
Lucy pulls back slightly and straightens his tie. "I'd love to, but I have oodles and oodles of work at the office. If I stopped to have lunch with you, I'd just fritter away the whole afternoon..."
Kevin cups the back of her head and kisses her passionately. "Hmmmm... sounds good to me."
Lucy chuckles softly. "Me too, but..."
"I know, I know." He breaks away reluctantly and picks up his briefcase. "How about an early dinner at home then?"
Lucy nods happily. "Perfect. I love you, Doc."
Kevin gives her a quick peck on the cheek before leaving. "Love you too, Luce."
Lucy watches him leave from the doorway as she smooths the fabric of her dress. Once he's gone, she closes the door and heads for the phone. She dials, and the person on the other end picks up on the second ring. "Stefan? It's Lucy Collins."
"Lucy, this is a pleasant surprise. What can I do for you?" Stefan asks.
"It's more what I'd like to do for you and Kevin. Are you free for lunch today?"
"Lunch today?" Stefan can't hide his surprise.
Lucy's voice exudes cheerfulness. "With the news that you and my Doc are related, I thought we should all become better acquainted... on this new level, as family. As I'm sure you know, Kevin very much wants you in his life. And I want whatever makes him happy."
"As a matter of fact I am free for lunch today. Shall we meet at the PC Grille?" Stefan suggests.
"Oh no, that won't do at all. I was really hoping we could have an intimate lunch for all of us here.. at the Lighthouse. Say.. One o'clock?"
"That will be lovely." He agrees. "Until then, Lucy."
"See you then. Ta!" Lucy hangs up the phone and her cheerful demeanor changes to one of determination as she says out loud to an empty room. "I won't let you hurt him again, Stefan. Over my dead body."
Emily and Edward meet for lunch at the Grille. Emily has changed into a simple floral dress which, combined with a modest amount of makeup, gives her the appearance of a mature young woman.
"So when are you going tell me what's going on, Emily?" Edward asks finally.
Emily looks at him and then at her plate as she summons the nerve. She knows he's going to be upset. And there was no way to soften the blow. So with a deep breath she meets his eyes and says. "I'm moving out of the mansion."
"What!" Edward blusters, his face turning red. "That's preposterous, young lady. You aren't even of age yet. Even if you were, I'd forbid it. Just get that crazy notion out of your head right this minute!"
Emily expected him to react this way and has a comeback. "I'm sorry, Grandfather. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I'm leaving with or without your blessing. I already have an apartment and a job at Kelly's..."
Edward shakes his head adamantly. "Irrelevant. You're underage, we'll just tear up the lease. As for the job, I see no harm in it, although I think it's beneath you to work as a waitress....."
Emily's anger flares and her voice rises as she cuts off his speech. "NO! You can't!" She takes a deep breath and lowers her voice when she sees Edward's disapproving look and the patrons gawking at her. "If you try and stop me from moving out I'll run so far away you'll never find me. You can't stop me any more than you could have stopped Jason."
Edward crosses his arms stubbornly. "We'll just see about that. Be reasonable Emily. There are other ways for you to have some independence, if that's what you're looking for. I have no objection to you earning an honest living. If you had just come to me, I'd have given you a job a ELQ. You would have to start at the bottom like anyone else, mind you. And if you're interested and have the talent, we could start your training to take over for Justus..."
Emily puts up her hand to stop him. "Grandfather, stop right there. I don't want to work for ELQ, at least not right now. The reason I asked for this lunch was because I love you and I wanted you to be the first one to know my plans. Because you deserve to know first. I've already moved my things out and I have a bank account that's all my own. Mom and Dad have no idea what I've done. Not yet, anyway. I have to be free... free to make my own choices and even my own mistakes. If I stay in that house any longer I'll drown. I'll start using again or become a zombie. Please Grandfather! I don't want to be cut off from everyone, but if you fight me on this, then I'm afraid that's just what will happen."
"I don't like this one bit, young lady." Edward says gruffly. "You set me up. You set us all up, very skillfully I might add. I'd lay dollars to donuts that Spencer kid is involved."
"Did I have any choice but to set this up ahead of time?" Emily asks. "You know I didn't. You've been telling me for years to find my own way, well I have. I've even signed up to go to the University full time next year. I'm scheduled to take the GED test next week."
"You're too young." Edward counters. "It's not safe for you to be out on your own."
Emily sees that Edward is weakening. "Why don't you come see my apartment and decide for yourself? I've worked out a monthly budget based on what I'll be making at Kelly's. If you want to see the budget and my account balance, you're welcome to. Please, Grandfather, I want you on my side."
"And if I'm not?"
"I can and will leave home without your support..." Emily takes his hand and squeezes it. "But it would mean everything to me to have it."
There is a long silence as Emily silently pleas with tears in her eyes for his blessing. Finally Edward answers. "Well... it can't hurt for me to take a look at what you have set up."
Emily leans back with a heavy sigh; this is the best she could have expected. "Thank you, Grandfather."
"Don't thank me yet, young lady," Edward warns as he motions the waiter for the bill. "I haven't said yes yet."
Lucy lets Stefan into the Lighthouse. "Thank you for agreeing to have lunch on such short notice," Lucy says graciously.
Stefan looks around and notices they are alone. "Isn't Kevin joining us?"
Lucy offers him a glass of Lemonade which he accepts. After he sits, she answers him.
"No, I thought it was important for the two of us to get a few things straight."
Stefan looks at Lucy warily and notices a glint of anger he didn't catch before. "I see."
Lucy stands while Stefan sits. "Let me get right down to the nubs, Stefan. I don't like the way you operate. You lie and connive to get what you want and then you seem to find a way to look like a hero. And this time your lies hurt my husband and that's unacceptable to me."
Stefan shifts uneasily in his seat, unhappy to facing an adversary sitting down and on her territory. "The last thing I wanted to do is hurt Kevin, which is why I delayed in telling him about our connection. Surely you would agree that it would have hurt him far more to find this out when I first made his acquaintance."
Lucy eyes are hard and cold as she responds. "People make the mistake of thinking I'm a fool. Don't make that mistake, or you will live to regret it. You and I both know you kept that secret because it suited your needs. You're just lucky Kevin is a forgiving man desperate for family."
Stefan takes a sip of Lemonade in an attempt to appear calm. In actuality he was livid, mostly at himself for letting his guard down. He should have prepared for Lucy. "I have come to care a great deal for Kevin over the last couple years. I consider him my closest friend. Since we both love Kevin, I had hoped we could come to some sort of peace, for his sake at least."
Lucy studies Stefan for a long time. She had to hand it to him, cool as a cucumber under pressure. Stefan looked like he genuinely cared for Kevin, maybe he even did. And he had a point. "Whether you truly care for my husband has yet to be proved. But for Kevin's sake, I'm willing to call a truce and try for peaceful coexistence."
"That's all that anyone could ask." Stefan feels the pressure ease. He rises from the couch.
"I want to make one thing perfectly clear from the start. I will not tolerate you hurting
Kevin again, EVER." She stands face to face with Stefan. "If you do, you will have me to answer to. Let there be no mistake, I am his TRUE family."
