Laura sat at the dining room table reading the paper and drinking coffee when Luke strolled down the stairs whistling. He looked over at her. “Hey babe, how long have you been up?”
“A while, Lulu had a rough night.”
“That flu bug is really bad this year.”
“I’m just afraid Lucky’s going to catch it.” She looked over and noticed that Luke was smiling. “What are you all smiles about?”
Luke walked over and kissed her. “I have a beautiful wife and three great kids, I can smile.”
Suspicious, Laura asked, “Yes, but you had all of that yesterday and you weren’t this happy. What changed?”
Luke sat down opposite Laura, “My oldest progeny just kissed off the Cassadines. I’m so proud of her.”
“Mmmmm.” Laura went back to reading her paper.
Luke looked quizzically at his wife. “Darlin’ do you know something I don’t?”
Laura looked up at him, frowned and shook her head. “Nope.” She went back to reading her paper.
Luke looked at her for a minute, this was the woman he loved, he adored. The same woman that kept a child a secret from him. She also kept HIS child from him. “Laura, about Lisa’s time on the island of the damned...”
She knew this topic was bound to come up sooner or later. “What do you want to know?”
“How did she get involved with Count Stiff?”
“It was a matter of life or death, basically. Hers. The arrangement with Stefan was to protect her from Billy.” Laura didn’t want to give away all the details that she knew, including that Lisa and Stefan were actually married. She knew that would be something for Lisa to tell her father.
Luke frowned, “He didn’t do a very good job, then, did he?”
Laura sighed, “I got the impression that she’s not been around him much in the last three years. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have met Caroline.”
“True.” Luke looked at his wife again and watched as she finished up her coffee, “Babe, why didn’t you ever tell me about my daughter?” he asked, remarkably gently.
Laura looked back at him. “If I told you about Lisa, you would have found out about Nikolas. Helena made me swear to forget that my son ever existed. And rather than risk your life and the life of the rest of my family, I kept quiet. Even about Lisa.” She took a deep breath, then added, “And you never mentioned her. I didn’t know what the circumstances surrounding her being with the Cassadines in the first place were. I was almost afraid of your reaction if I mentioned it. I didn’t know whether it was something from your past that you just wanted to forget. You do try to never mention your past in Florida.”
Luke stared at her for a second, silently nodded, then stood up and went in the kitchen to get his own cup of coffee.
*****
Alexis walked into the living room at Wyndemere. Nikolas stood up from the sofa when she walked in. She shook her head. “There’s no sign of him anywhere. It’s like he just disappeared.”
Nikolas nodded, “He’s not answering his cell phone, which is unusual. And Bobbie said that he was gone when she and Lucas got back from shopping last night.”
“I looked everywhere I knew to look. Except one place.” Alexis looked around, as if looking for someone else.
Nikolas knew who she was looking for and anticipated her question. “Bobbie went to the hospital to look for him there. You think he’s with Leezia, don’t you?”
Alexis cocked her head to one side, “Then you’ve seen Lisa recently?”
Nikolas nodded, “A couple of days ago. The day she was released from GH. She stopped by here.”
Alexis mumbled, “Nothing that girl does anymore should surprise me.” Then she turned back to Nikolas, “Something went on between your uncle and Lisa yesterday, I’m just not sure exactly what it was.”
Nikolas frowned, “Whatever it was, for my uncle to still be gone, it can’t be good.”
“I have a funny feeling that you’re right.”
“Should we try to find them?” Nikolas asked.
Alexis just shook her head, “I’m sure that when Stefan is ready to tell us what’s going on, he will.”
*****
Stefan was standing by the door of Lisa’s room, ready to leave. He looked at her, still asleep in bed. She looked so peaceful. He didn’t want to wake her. Slowly, he crossed back over to the bed and pulled the covers up around her closely. He pushed her hair away from her face and ever so gently kissed her on the cheek. She stirred slightly, but didn’t wake up.
He knew that this day would be very difficult for her. He wanted to be with her, comfort her, reassure her of his feelings. But he had other obligations today. He wanted someone to watch out for her today, more than any other. Someone he knew he could trust. Someone that Lisa would trust. Someone she would be willing to confide in. There was only one person that he knew could do that. He glanced at Lisa one last time and silently walked out the door.
*****
Laura watched as Luke walked upstairs and the phone rang. She walked over to answer it. “Hello.” She somehow wasn’t surprised by the voice at the other end.
“Lasha, I need to see you.”
“Stefan, what is it now?” Laura asked impatiently.
“It’s urgent. It’s about Leezia, I need to see you.”
Laura frowned. She hated when he did that. “All right. Where?”
“In the park, usual place.”
She hung up the phone. She glanced upstairs again as she walked out the door, reminding herself that it was about Luke’s daughter.
*****
Lisa woke up and immediately realized that Stefan was no longer there. She sighed. “It figures,” she said aloud. She absolutely wished that he didn’t make it so easy for her to make her decision about leaving him. Sitting up slowly, she looked at the date on the calendar and sighed again. “Especially today, Stefan. Of all days.” she said aloud. Slowly, she picked up the telephone and started dialing. She needed someone to talk to.
*****
Alexander walked by the nurses station at GH. He walked up to Amy, who was on duty at the time. “Excuse me, ma’am, I’m looking for Bobbie Spencer.”
Amy looked at him oddly. “Can I let her know who’s asking?”
Alexander looked around, “Is she here?”
Just then Bobbie came off of the elevator and saw him. She rushed up and took his arm. “Hi, let’s go somewhere else to talk.” She whisked him away leaving Amy standing there.
“At least that means that you’re going to talk to me, right?” he said, smiling.
Bobbie glared at her father. “You’ve got some explaining to do.” And with that they got on the elevator.
*****
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Lisa was nervous as she walked up to the door of the Spencer home. She knew she had to tell her father the truth., but she wondered what he reaction would be. She hoped that Laura would be home and could help run interference. She was going to need it, because her father was going to blow a gasket. She slowly reached up and rang the doorbell.
Luke opened the door and smiled. “Hey Sunshine. What did you have on your mind that you said was so important?” He kissed her forehead as she walked through the door.
She walked in tentatively. “Hi Daddy. Remember what we talked about yesterday?”
He motioned her to a chair while he sat on the sofa. “Sure do. You were going to tell Count Stiff where to get off.”
“Daddy, it’s not that simple,” she said quickly.
Luke gave her a blank look. “You didn’t tell him.”
She sensed that he was disgusted already. “No, I did tell him. It’s just not that simple. I can’t just leave him. It’s not like that. There’s more to it. If it were that easy, you could say I left him three years ago.”
Luke gave her a quizzical stare. “So, what’s the problem?”
Lisa took a deep breath. “We’re married.”
Luke jumped up. “What! Say it ain’t so, child!”
Lisa stood up too. “Daddy, please, let me explain. Laura knows all about it, she can tell you what it was like for me back then.”
Luke sat back down, the situation really hitting him. He put his head in his hands. “I’m Steffin Cassadine’s father in law? Damn.”
Lisa smiled slightly at the thought of what a funny wedding picture THAT would have made. “Now there’s a picture for you.”
Luke glared at her. “It’s not funny, babe. It was bad enough for you just to be shackin’ up with him, but to actually have it all legal and everything.” He put his head back in his hands.
“Daddy, I had no choice. It was either that or let Billy kill me. I rather liked the thought of living to see 19.”
“So, get a divorce,” Luke said simply, “You’ve been apart for three years. Certainly he can’t hold you to a marriage that you’re not actively involved in.” Then he thought of something, “What about the marriage to Bobbie?”
Lisa shrugged, “Stefan is going to have to decide what he wants. He can divorce me and marry Bobbie again, this time it would be for real; or, he can leave Bobbie and resume our marriage.”
Luke sighed, “What do YOU want him to do, Sunshine?”
Lisa sat back down. “There’s more, Daddy.”
Luke groaned.
*****
Laura sat on the park bench next to Stefan with a wide eyed look on her face. “What?” was all she could manage to say.
Stefan looked down. He couldn’t face her. This was as difficult for him as it was for Lisa. He thought back to that day three years ago...
Stefan rushed into the hallway upstairs on the island. He met the doctor at the doorway to the bedroom. “Doctor, how is my wife?”
The doctor put his hand on Stefan’s shoulder. “Mr. Cassadine, your wife will be okay in a few days. What she needs most now is rest. And your care.”
Stefan anticipated what the doctor was trying to tell him. “And...”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Cassadine, your daughter didn’t make it. Your wife’s injuries were too traumatic for the baby to survive. I haven’t told your wife, but based on the damage she suffered in the attack, it will be dangerous for her to try to have any more children. I’m just sorry we didn’t find her sooner.”
Stefan nodded, “Thank you Doctor.”
The doctor walked away quickly as Stefan stood by the door, bracing himself to face his young wife. He slowly opened the door and walked in.
Lisa was lying in bed, the covers pulled up around her ears. Stefan sat next to her on the edge of the bed. “Leezia?” he said to her.
She opened her eyes, and tried hard not to cry. “I’m so sorry, Stefan.”
He reached down and touched her face. “It’s not your fault. There’s nothing you could do. I love you.” He reached down and kissed her on the cheek.
“I swear I heard her cry,” Lisa said, finally breaking down into tears.
Stefan crossed to the other side of the bed and laid down next to his wife, cradling her in his arms as they both mourned the loss of their daughter.
Stefan blinked away the tears as he finished telling Laura the story about his child. “I had been called away on business. Leezia usually went with me, but the baby was due in less than two weeks, and she didn’t want to take a chance on anything happening. Billy Evans hadn’t been seen since our wedding. I had no idea that he was behind the business crisis that called me away. To this day, I don’t know the details of what he did to her. When I couldn’t find her upon my return, I knew something was wrong. We had the island searched and found her in one of the coves, near the water. She was unconscious and bleeding profusely. There was no time to fly her to the mainland, but our staff doctor tried to save the baby.”
Laura wiped away tears, “I’m so sorry, Stefan.”
He nodded slightly, wiping away his own tears. “I laid next to a girl 20 years younger than me that had just lost our child. I held her as she cried. We both cried. I never felt more for Leezia as I did that day. She loved Anreya, and losing her nearly destroyed everything. She’s never been the same since. It ripped out her heart, and I’ve never been able to give it back to her. I think I’ve fallen in love with her, Lasha.”
“I had no idea about the child.”
Stefan nodded. “I don’t think Leezia ever told anyone. And I know I haven’t. So you see why I wanted you to know. Leezia feels the need to further distance herself from my family, but she needs someone to talk to, share her pain with. Today of all days. Today would have been Anreya’s third birthday.”
Laura put her hand on Stefan’s arm. “I’m sorry. For both of you.” She then stood up. “You take care of yourself today, I’m going to find Lisa and do as you ask. But only because I care for Lisa myself and I understand how hard this is for her.”
Stefan silently watched Laura walk away, then wiped away a final tear and walked off in the other direction.
*****
Bobbie and Alexander were sitting across from each other, both looking equally apprehensive. Bobbie sighed and sipped on her coffee.
Alexander looked at her and smiled, “Thank you, Barbara Jean.”
“For what?”
“At least agreeing to speak to me. It’s more than your brother would do.”
Bobbie looked up at him, “I have to be honest. My first reaction when I heard you were here was the same as Luke’s. But I also realize that he always rushes to judgment, so I have to go on what I feel.”
“And what is it that you feel?”
Bobbie took a deep breath and hoped that she wasn’t jumping in over her head. “You’re my father. I’m going to listen to what you have to say, and then you’re going to answer some questions for me.”
“Fair enough.”
Across the room, Tony and Carly walked in. Tony looked over at his ex-wife and saw her deep in conversation with an older man. “I wonder who that is with Bobbie?” he asked of no one in particular.
Carly looked at Bobbie and Alexander, “Oh, that’s her father.”
Tony’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Both because Bobbie was even speaking to her father and because Carly knew it was. He looked at his young lover, “How did you know that?”
Oops. Carly had to come up with something quick. “I uh, overheard one of the nurses mention it earlier.”
Tony seemed satisfied by Carly’s response. Carly sighed an inaudible sigh of relief as they walked across the room to an open table.
Bobbie continued to talk with her father. “I’m an old man, Barbara, and I need your help. The doctors tell me it’s a shorter time than they originally thought.”
Bobbie frowned, there was something going on under the surface here, she just had to figure out what it was. “There’s more to it, isn’t there?”
Alexander nodded, “There’s someone else involved with my coming here.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Last year, I became the legal guardian of my grand-niece. My brother Joe and his daughter Angela were killed in a plane crash, leaving me to take care of Angela’s daughter. Andrea’s just a baby, Barbara. Just three years old today.”
Bobbie had to fight back tears. There was a terrible irony here. “What about Angela’s husband? Why come to me?”
Alexander sighed, “Angela wasn’t married. And I would like for Andrea to be raised by family. That’s one reason I’m so glad you agreed to hear me out. Besides, you could use something like this to keep your husband in check.”
Bobbie raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
Alexander sat back in his chair, “I know that you and Stefan are having some marital troubles.”
“It’s not exactly like that,” she said defensively.
“Oh please, Barbara. You told me about Lisa and Stefan. You have to fight for what you want. I can help you.”
Curiously, Bobbie asked, “How?”
“I want you to raise Andrea. Stefan won’t leave you to raise a child on your own.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“Barbara, I’ve known Stefan and his whole family a lot longer than you. Just trust me.”
Bobbie’s mind was racing. Finally, she asked, “Is Andrea here in Port Charles?”
Alexander shook his head, “No, I left her with a nanny. I would like to bring Andi here so she can meet the family.”
Bobbie made a split decision. One she could quite possibly regret later. “Bring her here. You and she can stay and Wyndemere with Stefan, Lucas and I.”
Tears rolled freely downs Alexander’s face. He reached out and took Bobbie’s hands in his and kissed them. “Thank you, Barbara Jean.”
Bobbie sat there, silent. The plan of how to tell Stefan forming in her head. A child was indeed the weapon she needed to keep her husband.
*****
