by Sydney L.
Hey everyone!
Here's the next chapter! Hope you enjoy!!!
Hugs,
Syd
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~chapter 29~
It had all happened so fast. Before she realized it, Brenda was being pulled into the stranger's arms. As soon as his lips connected with hers, Brenda realized what was happening and immediately tried to push him away. But his hold on her was tight. Until they heard his voice.
"Get the hell away from her!" Jax yelled as crossed the kitchen in two strides and grabbed the stranger by the collar. He literally picked him up and pushed him against the side of house outside. His left arm pinned him firmly against the wall. His right was poise for action.
"Who are you? And who sent you here?" Jax demanded as both Brenda and Lois rushed outside.
Realizing that this was a case of mistaken identity....that the stranger thought she was Laurel, Brenda begged Jax to let him go. "Jax. Honey. Let him go. You don't understand what's going on."
"No, Brenda. You don't understand." Jax responded as his eyes never left that of the man's. "He's here to hurt you. And I don't intend to let that happen."
For the first time, Lois got a good view of the stranger. "Oh my god. Joe! Joseph Antony Cerillo what are you doing here?" she demanded in the tone of a mother scolding her child.
Before he got to answer, Jax looked at Lois sideways and asked. "You *know* him?"
"Yes. He's my cousin. He's not here to hurt anyone, believe me. I'm sure there's a good reason he's here. Jax, please put him down and give him a chance to explain."
"Jax. Please." Brenda echoed.
Jax looked back at Joe, a leary look in his eyes. "Fine. But I'm warning you, this had better be good." Then he released Joe and stepped back as Joe slid to the ground, coughing.
Jax turned to Brenda, but she was staring past him, looking at Joe. "Brenda, are you ok?" Jax asked gently.
Brenda nodded absently as she stepped toward Joe and knelt down next to him. He looked up at her and as his eyes connected with hers, she saw such pain and defeat written there. In that instant, without a word, they had found common ground. Her sister.
Her heart went out to him immediately. "You love her, don't you? You're in love with Laurel."
Surprised by her frankness and the way she could read him without knowing him, Joe swallowed hard and nodded. "I'm sorry. I thought...."
"I was her. I know." Brenda interrupted. She took a deep breath. "So, she's alive." she stated simply, her voice amazingly in control, almost void of any emotions.
"I don't know." was the whispered response.
"Would someone mind telling me what's going on? Who's Laurel? And what does she have to do with us?" Jax asked, his frustration level was mounting with each passing second.
He saw the way this man had kissed Brenda and the way he was looking at her now. And he didn't like it one bit. In fact, he had a very strong feeling he wasn't going to like him at all....no matter who's cousin he was or what explanation he gave. And it wasn't helping matters that Brenda seemed so fascinated with him....so connected. Almost as if they were in their own world.
Brenda continued as if Jax hadn't spoken. She knew the question had to be
asked. But she was afraid of the answer. "Joe, are you Jordan's
father?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry was laying on the couch, reading over a few contracts that Jax left
for him when he heard a knock on the door. He glanced at his watch. It was
10:45. What fool could that be at this hour? he wondered.
Jerry grinned when he opened the door. "You know, I was just wondering what kind of fool would be out this late at night. I should have known it was you. What do you want, Miranda?"
Miranda pushed past him. "Is Jax here?"
"No." Jerry answered simply as he closed the door. "But why don't you come in anyway?"
"Good." she said, ignoring his comment. "I'm glad he's not here. It will make what I have to say to you much easier."
"Oh, really? And that would be..."
"We need to clear up a few things. May we sit down?"
"By all means. Can I get you anything? Arsenic? Sianide? Or do you prefer the old bullet through the brain method for your victims?"
Miranda's eyes turned cold and steely. "See. This is precisely what I want to talk to you about. Your constant commentary on my life and aspects of it that you simply don't understand."
Jerry sat down and leaned forward. "Seems to me there's not much to understand about murder. Unless, you're trying to tell me that you didn't kill that poor man in Texas. What was his name? Dr. Bently Stone, wasn't it?"
Miranda swallowed hard at the mention of his name. Jerry *hadn't* been guessing. Which made this conversation all the more important. "You don't have the slightest idea why I had to....to do that."
"Aw, come on, Miranda." Jerry lowered his voice to a whisper as he glanced around dramatically. "You know, it's only you and me here. You can say it. Go ahead. Say it. 'I murdered Dr. Stone'. See, it's not that hard."
"Don't mock me, Jerry. I *had* to do it."
Jerry raised an eyebrow. "Now, *that's* one I've never heard before." he quipped.
Miranda stood up. "I'm in trouble, Jerry. I came here on good faith that you would listen and possibly help me. But by the way you keep taunting me, I can see I was wrong." She quickly headed toward the door as tears began to spill down her cheeks.
Jerry rushed after her and grabbed her arm. He turned her around to face him as she leaned her back against the door. He noticed the tears falling down her cheeks and realized he may have been too hard on her. Or maybe she was trying to play him. Well, he knew of only one way to find out.
As he reached up and wiped a tear away, he apologized, "I'm sorry, Randi."
Miranda looked up at him, her brown eyes were soft and wet with tears. She still had a way of looking at him that made him forget who he was. His hand moved to cradle her neck as she tilted her face up toward his. Her eyes were filling with desire. Her mouth, so close to his, just waiting to be kissed.
Her arms snaked up around his neck as his lips connected with hers. He pulled
her closer, deepening the kiss and ingniting a fire he wasn't sure he could
control.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What?" Jax whispered. He wasn't sure he had heard her right. This man be
Jordan's father? Impossible! But was it? Brenda seemed to thinks so....at
least enough to ask.
Brenda reached out and put her hand on Joe's arm as she repeated the question. "Are you, Joe? Are you Jordan's father?"
Joe looked up at her sharply. How did she know about Jordan? The pain was evident in his eyes. "I don't know."
Brenda unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Jax. A slight smile came to her face. Jordan was still their's....at least for now.
"Ok. I'd *really* like to know now what the heck is going on now." The irritation in Jax's voice brought Brenda to her feet and to his side.
She reached for his hands and looked into his eyes. Without breaking eye contact, she asked, "Lois, I need to have a word alone with Jax. Is there somewhere we can go?"
Lois eyed the situation. And the two men. She saw the daggers they were shooting each other. Maybe it was best to put them as far apart as possible right now. At least until they had both cooled off. And from the looks of it, that would take all night.
"Yeah. Upstairs. You know what, though, it's gettin' pretty late and from what it looks like, nerves are kinda raw all the way around. I mean, I know you must be tired from your trip...and I'm sure Jax is too. Why don't you just use your room to talk and tomorrow, after a good night's sleep, we can all get to the bottom of what's happened here tonight."
Brenda flashed a grateful smile at Lois. "Thanks. I think that's a perfect idea." She turned to Joe. "You'll be here tomorrow." It was more of a statement than a question.
Joe took one look at Jax's face and knew he had no choice. Then he looked back at Brenda and knew that even if he had a choice, he'd stay...just to be near her. He nodded silently to Brenda, unwilling to trust his voice to speak.
Brenda smiled slightly. "Good. Then we'll see you tomorrow." She looked up
at Jax and smiled as she began to lead him through the door of the house
as Joe's eyes followed every move she made.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Lois waited until the door had closed before addressing Joe. "Just what exactly
are you doing here? Did you follow her?"
Joe turned his crystal blue eyes on her. "Look, Lois, I came to see if I could bum a bed tonight. I had no idea that she.... It was a mistake, ok?" He got up from the ground and started to reach for his bag.
"And just where do you think you're goin'?"
"I've caused too much trouble for your friend already. I'll just go somewhere else tonight."
"Oh, no, you don't, mister! Not until you answer some questions. Besides you told her you would be here and this is where you're gonna stay."
"Look, I just got off of a 48-hour steak out. I'm tired. It's been a very long night. Lois, I don't want to argue with you. Just point me to a bed and I'll get outta your hair." his voice began to rise in anger and frustration.
He was hurting and she knew it. His eyes told her that. And if anyone knew
Joe, it was Lois. She'd known him all of her life. They were only a year
apart. Joe being the older. As kids they had always played together and he
had watched out for her. Took care of her when the other kids picked on her.
Then he taught her to take care of herself. He'd always been there for her
when she needed a shoulder to cry on or a friend to listen....or even someone
to just be with. Now he needed her. And, now, it was her turn to help him.
"Ok, Joe. But just answer me one question. Were you telling the truth? Is
Jordan yours?"
Joe shook his head slowly and sadly. "I told the truth, Lois. I really don't
know."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Miranda was a jumble of emotions. This wasn't supposed to happen. Kissing
Jerry. Wanting him. Needing to feel his touch. It wasn't part of her plan.
But it didn't take a genius to figure out that it might be the easiest way
to get what she wanted, that is if you could say she was thinking at that
moment.
He'd always been able to get to her somehow. There was a unspoken, hidden vulnerability in him that she understood....because she had it deep within her too. The desire to be better than you are. The helplessness in knowing that you never would.
It's what had driven her so many years ago to lure him to the mine. She had finally found a man who loved her for her, or what he knew of her. Who demanded more of her than just her body. Jax had wanted her heart and soul. And he was the only one who had ever really believe she had them to give.
But Jerry's presence was a problem. A difficutly she couldn't afford. Because underneath it all, she didn't deserve Jax. And she knew it. Because of Jerry. Because of herself. Because of their unborn child growing within her.
And with that knowledge came the desire to hold onto someone who didn't demand so much. Someone who would hold her in the night without expectations in the morning. And Jerry was the someone she desired....the someone she vowed she'd never hold again.
So, she'd determined to remove him. Take care of him in such a way that she wouldn't be tempted. And she would no longer have to fear the truth destroying her and Jax. For even though there were times she wanted Jerry, Jax held her heart...at least what she had of one.
Now, with her future with Jax on the line once again, she wished that she
had killed Jerry that night so many years ago. Then maybe she wouldn't be
feeling what she was right now. In a way she felt as if she were being split
in two. Her heart wanted Jax and the love he and she had once shared. But
in the midst of Jax's constant rejections and suspicions, she also desired
the instant gratification that Jerry could give her. As one desire outweighed
the other, she pulled him closer.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jerry couldn't believe he'd done it. He'd broken his own rule. Years before
when Jax presented Miranda as his wife, Jerry vowed to never touch her again.
And he hadn't. In fact, there were only 2 times they had been in the room
alone together. The night they had "met" as in-laws and that night in the
mine.
The night she tried to erase all of her fears by killing him. And she would have, if only the timing had been right. Her plan had been to kill him and leave him to the workings of the explosion. No one would have ever known he'd been shot. They would have assumed he died with the blast.
But the explosion had come much sooner than expected. They had barely been in the mouth of the mine when it went off. He had covered her body with his in protection, even though moments before she'd been pointing a gun at him, ready to end his life.
From that moment on, he hadn't trusted her. Not that he ever really had. But there had always been something about her that drew him in. Something that hooked him in such a way that their lives were never really separate. They always connected somehow.
Maybe it was her recklessness. Or that bit of wickedness she hid just beneath the surface. Jax hadn't seen it. He'd been to young, too innocent, too in love to read the signs. But Jerry had. And he hated and admired her for it all in the same breath.
Because he knew it would eventually destroy Jax. Because no matter how much she loved him, she would never change. And one day, she'd leave him because of it. He knew. If nothing else, he understood that part of her. Because she was so much like him in that respect. Neither of them could even begin to hope to be in Jax's league. And that knowledge, at least for Jerry, made him keep his distance. Because he loved Jax too much to let him suffer because of basic instincts he could never change.
But Miranda's wickedness also appealed to Jerry's reckless side. The side that made him live life on the edge. The side that propelled him to take risks and live the life of danger his mother was always complaining about. The part that made him feel alive. That's why he'd kissed her. He'd wanted to feel alive again...the way that she'd made him feel so long ago.
Jerry's senses began to slowly return. Now was not the time for risk. There was way too much at stake for Jax. He'd let Jax down before and it had almost destroyed him. He wasn't about to let him down again. No matter what.
He slowly pulled away from her embrace. His eyes were closed. He was afraid he'd lose his resolve if he looked into hers. "Randi, we shouldn't..."
"I know." she whispered breathlessly. "This is precisely how I got in trouble in the first place."
His eyes flew open. "What do you mean?"
"I mean Jordan."
Jerry took a step back releasing her from his hold. "What about Jordan?" his voice had taken on an edge. He suddenly had this feeling of dread.
"He's our son, Jerry. Yours and mine." She stiffled a victorious grin as
shock registered on Jerry's face. BOOM! Her secret ammunition had hit it's
mark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brenda walked over to the bed as Jax put the luggage down and closed the
door. She could feel his eyes on her as silence filled the room.
There was so much to say. So much to explain. And she hadn't the faintest
idea where to begin.
She felt him come up behind her and she turned to look up at him. "Jax, there's so much...."
Jax put his finger on her lips. "First things first." he whispered as he leaned down and stopped any further talk with a kiss as sweet as honey. As he pulled away, his eyes were still closed as if he were still savoring the taste of her. "I've missed you." he said, looking into her eyes.
She reached up and carressed his face. "Oh, honey, I've missed you too. More than you know." She slipped her arms around his neck and held him tight as he lifted her up and carried her to the window seat and sat down with her on his lap.
They sat that way in silence for several minutes just enjoying being in each other's presence once again. Finally, he slowly began to stroke her hair as he said, "Now, why don't you tell me what's going on?"
Brenda looked up at him, ready to begin her tale. "You were right."
Jax grinned as his eyes began to twinkle. "Hey, I like the sound of this already." he teased. "But you'll need to be more specific. You know, I *am* right about *so* many things."
Brenda giggled in response. "That's so true, my oh, so brilliant fiance'." She leaned up and kissed him quickly on the cheek. Then she turned serious again as she looked down at his hand holding hers. "You were right that there were things in my past I was repressing."
She glanced up quickly as he made a move to speak. "It's not what you think." she interrupted. "Jax, I have a twin sister."
"What?" he asked incredulously.
"I do. The girl in the locket. She's my sister." She moved off of his lap and started to pace in front of him. "I started remembering that night that Jordan knew my mother's song. I remembered playing with a little girl who looked just like me. And hearing bedtime stories with her. Singing our mother's song. I went to see Julia to confirm it."
"And did she?"
Brenda nodded. "Oh, yeah. She confirmed it."
"So, this Laurel you were just talking about downstairs, that's your..."
"Sister. Yes. My twin sister." Brenda finished for him.
"But how did you know that he knew her?" Jax asked, gesturing in the general direction of downstairs.
"Because he said her name before he kissed me."
Jax nodded as he started putting two and two together. "I see."
"But that's not all." Brenda continued. "Julia then she told me something I didn't know. Something I didn't expect in the least."
"What?"
Brenda took a deep breath. "I'm not Harlan's
daughter."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lois watched Joe as he slowly sipped his tea.
"What?" he asked without looking up from his cup.
"So, this Laurel is Brenda's identical twin. I understand why you thought it was her at the door, but what I'd like to know is how do you know her? This Laurel person. I've never heard you talk about her."
Joe looked up at Lois with a grin. "Oh, yes you have. Remember back in high school...the girl I was madly in love with?"
"Yeah, but her name was Cheyenne."
"Yes, it was also Laurel. Victorial Laurel Cheyenne was her full name. I called her Cheyenne because she hated the name. In fact, that's how we met. It was our senior year in high school. The first day of class and she was the new girl. I heard her name called off during roll call and started teasing her." Joe laughed at the memory. "Boy, was she hot about that. She stood up to me like no one had ever done. She told me off and said I was to never call her that again." he paused. "And from that moment on, I was hooked."
"And still are, apparently." Lois threw in, remembering the kiss she'd witnessed earlier. "So, tell me what happened after that."
"What else? I chased after her. She played hard to get for a while, but I eventually caught her and when I did...." he sighed suddenly then glanced at Lois. "Well, let's just say, she was well worth the chase."
Lois grinned. "I remember. We used to talk about how hooked you were."
"Yeah. I was." He took another sip of his tea. "Then I went away to the academy. And she moved on to other guys."
Lois reached over and touched his hand. "I'm so sorry."
Joe pulled his hand away and brushed the lock of hair from his forehead that had fallen down. "Yeah, well. I got over it and moved on. It's all ancient history now, right?"
Lois cocked her head as she watched him. His words said one thing, but his eyes told another story. "So, when did you see her again?"
"About 5 months ago. I was at the station and the commissioner called me into his office on a missing child case. I went in and there she was. A ghost from my past."
"So what did you do?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "What could I do? I started to help her with the case. She told me all about Jordan and how she had left him in his mother's care when he was 2. She had run away. From what? She didn't know. She just said she needed to get away and knew her mother would take good care of him."
"So did you ask her if he was yours?" Lois asked.
Joe shook his head slowly. "I never could bring myself to ask. And she never volunteered. I guess I just thought it was easier that way."
Lois nodded her head. "So, where is she now?"
"I don't know. She disappeared about 3 months ago. About the same time Jordan did. She was in trouble Lois. I don't know what it was...she never would say. But I just have this feeling that she didn't leave by choice this time. I've been searching for her ever since. And tonight when I saw Brenda, I thought I'd finally found her."
"Had you gotten involved again?" Lois asked the question, knowing the answer before seeing the affirmative nod of his head. "Does she love you?"
"She says she does." was his simple answer.
"Do you believe her?" Lois asked gently.
Joe looked up at Lois, the truth in his eyes. "I want to. But I believed
her before. I guess, with Laurel, you never really know."
He took another sip of his drink then put the cup down. "Look, I'm really
tired. I think I'm going to turn in."
Lois nodded. "Ok. Uh, since all of the rooms here are being used, you can crash in the room above the garage." Joe started to pick up his gear. "Joe. I'm glad you're here. We'll get everything straightened out tomorrow."
Joe nodded. "Yeah. Tomorrow. See ya." And he with that, he walked out the
door to find his room above the garage.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're not Harlan's daughter?" Jax repeated. "How can that be?"
"Well, Julia said she overheard Harlan and mother arguing one day. And it was because he had just found out that she'd had an affair with someone and Laurel and I were the results." She started to laugh in a mocking tone as tears sprang to her eyes. "Guess that explains why Harlan never loved me, huh?"
Jax spread his arms wide for her. "Oh, sweetie, come here." Brenda rushed into his arms and held on for dear life. The exhaustion, the emotions, the doubts and questions, the relief of being back in Jax's arms, everything working all together finally hit her and she could no longer stop the tears.
Jax held on to her and let her cry as he whispered soothing words of love and comfort. As her tears subsided, she looked up into his eyes and smiled. "I'm so glad you're here." She laid her head on his should when suddenly a thought occurred to her. "By the way, why are you here?"
Jax looked away and paused before answering. "I got a report from
the
detective I had trailing Miranda. It seems she went to see a doctor in Texas."
Brenda sat up a little straighter and turned to him so she could look him fully in the face. "A doctor? Maybe he had something to do with Jordan's surgery. Do you think we can talk to him and find out?"
Jax shook his head slowly. "No, Brenda. We can't."
"Why not?"
"Because he's dead."
"What?"
"He's dead. Miranda killed him."
"Miranda what?" Brenda was incredulous. "Jax are you sure?"
Jax nodded. "I'm sure. As soon as I found out, I came to find you. I was afraid that she might try to hurt you somehow."
"So, when you saw Joe you assumed he was sent by Miranda, right?"
Jax nodded.
"Wow. Are you ok?" Brenda asked recognizing the look in his eyes. He was hurting again...and trying so hard not to show it.
Jax half-laughed. "As well as I can be for someone who just walked in on their finace' kissing a complete stranger."
Brenda grinned slightly at his attempt to lighten the mood. "*He* was kissing *me* and you know the difference. Jax, I mean it, are you alright?"
Jax sighed deeply. "I don't know, Brend. You tell me. I've come to realize that I wasted all of those years mourning a woman who wasn't dead. A woman who was actually capable of taking someone else's life. I loved a murderer, Brenda. How am I supposed to feel other than like a fool?" The anger was evident in his voice.
"Oh, honey. You are anything but a fool." She studied his face as he looked out the window, searching for the right words to say. "Jax do you believe I was a fool to love Sonny?"
Jax looked at her suddenly. "I hated Corinthos, Brenda. I hated the way he treated you and the hoops he made you jump through just to please him. I knew from the second I saw the two of you together that you didn't belong with him. That he could never love you the way you deserved to be loved." He paused before continuing, as he smiled wryly.
"That's the irony of it all, I guess. I fell for you because of your love for him. Or actually, the love I saw you capable of giving. As misguided as it was at times, when you loved him you gave him your all. Completely. With no reservations. And that love was strong and stubborn. You didn't care what others thought or where it would lead you. You knew who you wanted and you didn't let go. And even though I didn't agree with the road you chose, I admired you for the courage it took to follow where you're heart led you."
"I wanted that kind of love in my life. I wanted *you* in my life, loving me the way you loved him. Because you loved him with everything you had....your heart and soul. Your passion and fire. So, when you ask me if I thought you were foolish, my answer would be no. You followed your heart, Brenda. And to me, that's never a foolish move. It won't always take you down the smartest path, but I think I'd rather have a reckless love lead by the heart than a safe love lead by the mind. I've tried both. Only when I've followed my heart with you, have I been truly happy."
Brenda reached up and touch his cheek. "Don't you see, honey? You did the exact same thing when you loved Miranda. You followed your heart. No matter what she's done in the past or will do in the future, you at least know that *you* were true to yourself. And I know you. I know how you love. You gave your all to Miranda when you loved her. I know you did...because you've given your all to me." She took a deep breath. "Do you know what I was most afraid of when she first came to Port Charles?"
"No." Jax shook his head.
"I was afraid that your love for me would never be as strong as the love you had for her. That you'd never love me with the passion that I saw written in your love letters. That next to her, I'd pale in comparison."
"But that's not true..." Jax began to protest.
Brenda put a finger up to his lips to silence him. "I know that. Now. Just like I hope you know that my love for Sonny was only a drop of water compared to the ocean of love I have for you. See, you got the better end of the deal, Jax. He had the love of the fragile little girl who didn't know where she was going. You have the love of the woman, complete and whole, and sure of the journey she's taking."
She smiled at him suddenly. "You don't have to choose between a love from the heart or a love of the mind. You have them both....full of all the fire and strength and devotion I can give. You think my love for Sonny was strong and passionate. Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet." A seductive smile spread over her lips, as her eyes began to fill with desire.
Jax grinned suddenly, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He felt like once again they were on the same wavelength. He'd never before explained what seeing her love for Sonny did to him. And he had never fully understood her fear of Miranda. Until now. Until he realized they had both feared the same thing. That their love wouldn't measure up to their loves of the past. And that fear had been in vain because no one had ever come even close to the connection they had. The oneness they felt in each other's presence. Or the bond of love that grew between them each day. And no one ever would.
"I haven't, huh? Would you care to a preview of things to come?" Jax whispered as he raised a suggestive eyebrow.
"I think I can do that...." She pulled him into a kiss that proved to be
just the beginning of a night full of passion and new
discoveries.
~~~~~~~~~~
He leaned against the window looking out into the night. The lights of the
city obliterated any stars, but star-gazing had never been his forte. His
gaze of his blue eyes drifted to the two silouetted figures framed by the
window of the upstairs guest room.
He closed his eyes and turned away as he saw them come together. Her arms wrapped around his neck. His arms encircling her waist. He tried to get the image out of his mind, but it only reminded him of other nights. And other silouettes. This was going to be hard. Having her so near....and yet, it wasn't her.
He sighed as he plopped on the bed. He knew tonight would be another sleepless
one....just like every one since the night she disappeared.
His mind went back to the questions that had been haunting him all this time.
"Does she love you?" "Where is she?" "So, she's alive." He shook his head.
If he only knew....
~~~~~~~~~~
She strained her eyes at the bright light that had suddenly clicked on. She
heard the high heels approach and the evil chuckle so close to her face.
She looked up into that familiar, wrinkle face that she had grown to know...and hate. She waited, knowing the silence wouldn't last much longer.
"So glad to see you awake, my dear. And how are you being treated?"
She sat in stubborn silence. She refused to let on the pain she felt.
"Ah, I see you're as uncommunicative as ever. Well, that's fine with me. See, I didn't come to hear you talk. There will be enough time for that later. I actually came to share something with you. About Brenda."
She looked up sharply. "Ah, I knew that would get your attention. I thought you'd like to know that she's back safe and sound with her fiance', Jax. Not that *that* will last for long. See, my niece believes the key to Jasper's heart is the little boy. *I* know better. Without Brenda, he's nothing. Then again, you could say the same for her."
"Actually, I'm having a hard time deciding something and I'm sure you can help me. Should I destroy Brenda by removing Jax from her life? Or destroy Jax by removing Brenda?"
Her jaws tightened and she blinked back the tears that sprung to her eyes. "Do you have any suggestions?" she taunted. "No? Well, then I guess I'll just have to choose myself then. Let's see....I could have Brenda killed. But no, that would be too quick, and it really wouldn't serve my purposes....yet. Now, if Jax happened to meet an untimely death, Brenda would suffer greatly. But then, so would my niece."
"What could I do to both of them that would tear them apart with the maximum amount of suffering possible?" she pondered aloud. Suddenly, she snapped her fingers as if an idea had just come to her. "I know! I'll take the one thing that they both love. The one thing they'd both die for away from them and see how their love stands the test. Yes, now that I think about it, it's actually quite brilliant of me."
"The little boy will do just fine....for starters."
She spoke for the first time. "How could you?" she practically spat out the words. "He's just a little boy!"
An evil smile spread across her face as she moved in close, her face only inches away. "And a very special one from what I've been told. Perfect for my plan." She patted her shoulder. "Don't worry, my dear. I'll make sure that whatever I do, you'll be sure to have a front row seat."
As Helena's evil cackle echoed down the hall, she slumped over and let the tears she'd been holding back fall unbidden to the floor.
to be continued......