CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
MAY 1997
Lisa sighed softly as Stefan got in bed behind her and wrapped his
arms lovingly around her. She smiled as he rubbed her expanding stomach.
“Is something wrong, Leezia?” he finally asked her.
She rolled over to face him, wrapped her arms around his neck and
kissed him. His hands moved gently along her sides. Then she pulled back
and propped herself up on one elbow, looking into his eyes. “What is it?”
he asked softly.
Bluntly, she asked him, “Do all my scars disgust you?”
“Where did that come from?” he replied, taken aback.
She shrugged, “It’s just a question.”
He reached over and caressed her face gently, “It bothers me that
you endured so much at the hands of my family, and that it went on so long
before Billy was disposed of. But that in no way changes the way I feel
about you. The fact that you can even bear to look at me after all the
hardships you faced at the hands of the Cassadines, let alone becoming my
wife, still amazes me and melts my heart tot this day.” To emphasize his
point, he shifted his weight and pulled her on top of him.
He kissed her deeply, passionately, his hands freely roaming her
body. She slid her hands along his tightly muscled chest, each of them
enjoying the pleasure of pleasing each other.
Stefan pulled back and looked into her eyes, “Would you like to get
married?” he asked, slightly out of breath.
Lisa titled her head slightly to one side, not understanding, “Huh?
We are married.”
“I meant a proper ceremony, with your family present.”
Lisa laughed, “You actually think that my father, Luke Spencer,”
she added the name for effect before continuing, “would show up at a
Cassadine wedding? We got married six years ago, almost seven now. I
love you and we’re still together. We have Anreya and soon our new baby.
I don’t need anything else.”
He smiled and kissed her, “You deserve a man that makes you
happy. You are the mother of my children. I love you, Leezia. I hope that
I can always be the man that you need.”
They kissed again, their passion slowly rising until their lovemaking
reached a feverish pitch.
*****
Luke sat on the sofa at home alone, drinking another cup of coffee.
Lucky was upstairs with Lu, and Laura and her mother were in the kitchen,
just talking. They talked a lot these days. But something was missing,
something was off. He had really had a hard time dealing with the facts
lately. He remembered his reaction to finding out that the man who
repeated beat his oldest daughter to a bloody pulp was actually his half
brother. It made him so glad that he hadn’t been raised around Alexander.
And Stavros Cassadine, another half brother. Funny, they didn’t look or
act anything alike. Except maybe where Laura was concerned. But he
didn’t want to think about that either.
Or maybe it was because of Lisa that he was bothered. He hadn’t
seen her in over a month. Since the night in the hospital after her failed
suicide attempt. His daughter, living in a house of Cassadine horrors. And
like insects are attracted to light, she refused to leave. Especially now that
she found out that her Cassadine offspring was still alive, and worse yet,
she was pregnant again. He’d never been more worried about her. And
the kids. They were his grandkids. Grandkids. He really didn’t feel old
enough for grandkids.
The doorbell rang, bringing him out of his thoughts.
Absentmindedly, he walked over and opened it. Lisa was standing there,
holding her daughter Anreya. Her Cassadine pendant glittered brightly
around her neck “Daddy?” she asked quietly.
He stood aside for her to come in. “Come on in, Sunshine. I’m
glad you’re here. I was just thinking about you.”
Lisa came in, but didn’t sit down. Anreya was starting to get fussy,
so Lisa kept walking her around, hoping to calm her down. Lesley came
out of the kitchen, having heard Lisa come in.
“Hey honey,” she said to Lisa. Figuring that Lisa wanted to talk to
her father, she continued, “Here, let me take Anreya for you, so you and
your father can talk.”
Lisa handed Anreya to Lesley. “Thanks, Grandma. She’s a bit
fussy, it’s almost her nap time.”
“No problem. Grandma’s are good for getting kids to sleep,” she
said as she smiled, kissed Lisa on the cheek and took Anreya back into the
kitchen.
Lisa watched until Lesley was gone, then she turned to Luke.
“Daddy, do you hate me?”
“What?” he exclaimed more than asked. “Why on earth would you
think that?”
Lisa looked at the floor. “Because of what I’ve done.”
Tears started coming down Luke’s face. He wrapped his daughter
in his arms. “No Sunshine, I don’t hate you. You’re a part of me.” He
pulled her to arms length and looked in her eyes. They were bright, but
sad. “I’m trying to understand all of this, but I’m having trouble.”
They both sat on the sofa. “I’ve only ever done what I had to do to
protect myself.” She found it hard to look into her father’s eyes. “I never
thought that my feelings for anyone Cassadine would ever be anything but
hatred, but Stefan changed all that. I really love him, Daddy. And now,
my daughter is alive, and happy. And with this other baby, one I thought
I’d never have the chance to have, I am happy. More so than in a long
time. I have you, Mom and Grandma, not to mention Lucky, Lu and
Nikolas. My family is all together, at least for me.”
Luke looked earnestly at his daughter. He could see that she really
believed what she was saying. “What do you want me to do, Darlin?”
“Be my father. Be a part of my life and my kids’. You don’t have
to be around Stefan, but acknowledge us for who we are.” She looked up
at him with tears in her eyes.
Luke looked down now. “I can’t promise anything. What you’re
asking, for me to accept that you’re hitched up with Steffin, that would be
a miracle. But I want to try to be there for you and the kids.”
Lisa hugged her father, “Thank you, Daddy, that’s all I ask.” She
looked up into her father’s blue eyes. Eyes that mirrored both her own and
her daughter’s. She looked at the floor again, “I have news about
Alexander.”
Luke frowned, “Do I want to hear this?”
“He died,” she said plainly and without emotion.
Luke nodded, also not showing any emotion at the passing of his
father, “I’ll make sure Barbara knows.”
“I called Caroline this morning. She may have told Bobbie, but I
doubt that they’re really on speaking terms yet. I don’t think Bobbie
handled finding out about Caroline quite like you did about me.”
Luke patted Lisa’s cheek affectionately, “You also didn’t do to me
what Caroline did to Barbara.”
Laura came out of the kitchen slowly, making sure she wasn’t
interrupting anything. She was holding Anreya now. Anreya was
completely quiet. Lesley followed them out. Luke looked up at his wife
and his granddaughter.
He stood up and took Anreya from Laura. “So this is my
grandbaby?” he asked. He couldn’t help but smile, “She’s adorable,
Sunshine.” He looked into the bright blue eyes of his granddaughter and
recognized the eyes that all of his other children had.
Laura wiped away a tear, but said nothing. She didn’t want to spoil
the moment. Lesley put her arm around Laura’s shoulder protectively and
smiled. Lisa walked over to Laura, “Can I talk to you about something?”
“Sure,” Laura said, and the two of them walked into the kitchen.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Lisa’s expression was serious. “I need to go away for a little while,
to take care of some business. Now I have no doubts about Stefan’s ability
to take care of our daughter, I just thought Daddy might enjoy getting to
know her.”
“Do you want Anreya to stay with us?”
Lisa shook her head, “Not all the time, but if you could watch her
some while Stefan is at the hospital. Hopefully, my business won’t take
more than a few hours. Most of the time will be taken up by flying.”
Laura asked, “Where are you going?”
“Greece,” Lisa replied flatly. “I have some unfinished business.”
*****
The next morning, Stefan came downstairs at Wyndemere reading a
note. As the doorbell chimed, he stuffed the note in his pocket. Opening
the door, he was visibly surprised when he saw Laura standing there.
“Lasha, what are you doing here?”
Laura frowned, she wished he would stop calling her that. She
wondered if Lisa had not told him of her plans. “Lisa asked me to come by
and pick up Anreya.”
“Ah, that’s what she meant by the note. She wouldn’t tell me
where she was going,” he said, prying for information.
Laura watched him carefully, “Then I guess Lisa didn’t want you to
worry.”
Stefan looked at Laura, “I fear that she has gone to Greece to
confront Helena.” He shook his head, “I will collect Anreya and her things.
Lasha, could you possibly keep her until I return as well. I need to stop
Leezia before she gets hurt.”
Luke stepped out from behind the door where he had been listening
to the whole conversation. He looked at Stefan, “Is that an invitation,
Steffin?”
Stefan turned from the door, “Spencer, this is none of your
concern.”
Luke rushed in and grabbed Stefan by the shoulders and spun him
around to face him. “Where the hell do you get off? Of course this is MY
concern! It’s MY daughter we’re talking about!”
Laura could tell that Luke was reaching his boiling point. She
quickly crossed over to the two men and put her hand and Luke’s shoulder.
“Luke, please. We’re all worried about Lisa, but we need to work together
to make sure she’s safe.”
Luke held up his hands silently, admitting that his wife was right.
“Fine babe.” He turned to Stefan, “But if you’re going to Greece after
Lisa, then I’m going with you.”
Stefan started to argue, but one sidelong glance from Laura
stopped him instantly. “Very well. I’ve already called for the jet. Can you
be ready in thirty minutes?”
Luke said simply, “I’m ready now, man. Let’s go.”
Stefan looked from Luke to Laura. They belonged together. He
was finally able to admit that to himself. He was glad; he had his own
family to worry about now. Leezia, Anreya and the unborn baby. “Let me
go collect Anreya and her things, then we will leave.” Stefan went upstairs
to get his daughter.
Luke frowned at the thought of that vampire raising his two
grandkids and keeping his oldest daughter locked up in this Cassadine
house of horrors. Laura noticed the look on his face and just put her hand
on his arm supportingly and smiled, somewhat apologetically.
*****
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Lisa crossed the grounds of the Cassadine compound in Greece.
She entered the always open servant’s entrance. She made sure that her
pendant was hanging free where it could be seen easily.
Several of the kitchen staff glanced up at her, but no one said
anything. She strode purposefully through the kitchen, looking for
someone. She spotted a young man about her age stirring something on
one of the huge gas stoves. She called out to him, “Young man, may I
have a word with you regarding tonight’s dinner selection.
The young man glanced up quickly and nodded, “Yes ma’am.”
Obediently, he followed her out into the hallway.
When they were both sure that no one was around, the young man
broke into a smile, “Lisa, what are you doing here?” Then he nodded,
adding, “Alexander’s funeral was today, wasn’t it? I’m sorry, Lisa.”
Lisa shook her head, “Don’t be, Josef. Out of respect for who he
was, I went, but that’s not what I’m here for. Where’s Helena?”
“Upstairs in her quarters. She’s not been well lately, “ he said,
almost sadly.
Lisa nodded, “She’s going to be a lot less well when I finish with
her.” She reached into her backpack and grabbed a set of keys. “Do these
still work?”
Josef nodded, “The last thing Helena has been inclined to do lately
is change the interior locks.”
“Can you get everyone to keep quiet about my being here?” Lisa
asked.
He nodded assuredly, “Oh sure. You can move around here like a
ghost, no one will utter a word. You know, Lisa, I think deep down, we
all envious of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re the servant that became part of the family. You’re part of
the elite.”
Lisa shook her head, knowing the difficulties associated with her
being part of the Cassadine family. “You know, Josef, you’ve been
sweating over that stove too long.” She gave him a quick hug, “I owe ya,
thanks Josef.”
“You’ll never know,” the young man mumbled as Lisa walked out
of earshot.
*****
Lisa walked upstairs and used one of the keys to let herself into a
small room. She quickly locked it behind her so no one else could enter.
Lisa looked around what used to be her room as a child and finally
saw it. A small chest at the end of the bed, still closed, which meant that
no one had opened it. She had the only key, so she wondered how
Alexander had gotten the bear for Anreya. It must have been kept
somewhere else.
She opened the chest and examined the contents. A couple of old
clothes outfits. She held each one of them up to the small light. Lisa
figured she hadn’t been much older than five or six when she wore them.
She saw another small outfit that Laura had given her. Lisa laughed as she
noticed the difference between it and all the others. It was pink, not black,
brown or gray. She put it in her backpack to show Laura later.
Lisa reached in the chest again and pulled out a small shirt sized
box. She smiled as she took out a small tattered pastel colored baby
blanket. She couldn’t help but smile again as she held it up to her face. It
was still incredibly soft, all things considered...
Lisa was four years old, sitting on an old sofa alone, watching TV,
holding that blanket. She looked up as her father walked in the room. He
held out his arms to her, “Hey Baby Sunshine,” Luke said.
Lisa ran quickly over to him and he picked her up. “Daddy!” she
said elatedly.
“I see you’ve still got the blanket I gave you when you were little.”
“Peenk banky Daddy!”
Luke smiled amused at his daughter. “Pink, Sunshine? It’s got
lots of colors.”
Lisa frowned at her father. She had to prove it to him. Using both
of her small hands, she searched the blanket until she found the color
stripe she was looking for. She held it up to him, “Peenk, Daddy, peenk!”
Luke hugged his daughter, “Yes Sunshine, that’s pink.”
Lisa continued to hold the blanket to her face, “Pink Daddy, pink,”
she said softly to herself. Lisa continued to think back...
Lisa was seven years old, a servant to the Cassadines. She had
done something wrong, but she didn’t know what it was. Helena had
locked her in her room again. She crawled up on the bed and wrapped
that blanket around her face and head.
She tried not to move and look as there was a soft knock on the
door and a blonde woman entered.
The woman spoke softly, “Are you Lisa?”
Lisa nodded, then realized that the woman probably couldn’t see
her through the blanket. “Yep,” she added.
The woman sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m Laura. Stefan asked
me to check on you.”
Lisa pulled the blanket off of her face, but left it on her head, “Are
you gonna hit me?” she asked.
Laura shook her head, “No, of course not!” she declared. “Why
would I do that?”
Lisa looked down, “If I’ve been bad, Master Stavros or Mistress
Helena will hit me. Or not give me any supper. Tonight I just didn’t get
any supper, I guess.”
Laura looked intently at the blue-eyed little girl. “Does Stefan hit
you too?”
Lisa quickly shook her head, “Nope. Sometimes, he’ll even bring
me dinner when no one else is around. He makes me miss my daddy.”
Laura stood up, not noticing a picture had fallen out of her pocket.
“I’d better go now before someone notices, but I’ll bring you something to
eat later.”
Lisa hopped up too. “Thanks.” Lisa glanced down at the floor
and noticed the picture. She picked it up. “Here, Miss Laura, you
dropped this.” Then she took a good look at the man in the picture. Sure,
he looked a little different, but the smile was the same. “Why do you have
a picture of my daddy?”
Laura took the picture from Lisa, “This is your daddy? Are you
sure?”
Lisa nodded fiercely, “Yeah.”
Laura picked up the girl and looked carefully at her. She then
looked at the picture in her other hand. She saw the resemblance through
the eyes. Laura hugged Lisa.
Lisa didn’t understand really, but she hugged Laura back anyway.
It was the first time she’d been hugged in months. Lisa started to cry.
Laura pulled the blanket off of Lisa’s head and stroked her hair,
letting her cry. Consolingly, she said, “It’s okay baby. You and I are
going to be good friends. I’ll take care of you as long as I’m here.”
“Best friends, Mom,” the adult Lisa said. “I don’t know what I
would have done without you.” Lisa knew that after Laura left and
Stavros died, things were different, but back then, she didn’t understand
why. She wasn’t sure she did now. She just remembered Stefan being
different after he began to head the family. He was more outgoing in his
support of Lisa. She remembered not ever having to wait hand and foot on
Helena anymore, and Stefan giving her that huge room with the soft
canopy bed...
Stefan opened the large door to sixteen year old Lisa’s room. She
only heard him enter, she didn’t see him. She refused to look at him.
Instead, she was lying on her stomach, with her face cushioned in that
same blanket.
Stefan innocently asked, “Did you enjoy your trip off the island?”
He watched as she shook her head, but said nothing. He continued, “Why
not? Sit up and tell me about it.”
Lisa sighed and sat up slowly, but continued to hold the blanket
against her face with both hands. “It was fine,” she mumbled.
Stefan sat next to her on the bed, “Why do you insist on holding
your blanket against your face? I cannot understand a word you say.”
Stefan reached over to pull Lisa’s hands away from her face.
When Stefan touched her hands, Lisa jumped. She breathed deeply
and slowly brought the blanket and her hands down and let Stefan see
what she’d been trying to hide.
Stefan gasped as he saw for the first time the result of Lisa and
Billy’s trips. One of Lisa’s eyes was black and puffy, her cheeks were
bruised and with her hands now at her side, Stefan could see patches of
dried blood on her shirt where she’d been cut or scratched on her
shoulders.
Controlling the anger boiling up inside, Stefan said, “He did this
to you, didn’t he.” It wasn’t a question. “And from your reaction, I’d say
it wasn’t the first time.”
Lisa agreed, but still continued to look down. In answer to his next
unasked but obvious question, she said, “I didn’t say anything because I
figured I’d just better get used to it. After all, Helena promised me to him
when I turn eighteen.”
Stefan frowned, “Not as long as I head this family. I make you my
promise.”
Lisa glanced up at him and softly started to cry. He couldn’t bear
to see her hurt like this. Stefan pulled her into a gentle embrace. “You
cry, sweet Leezia. You cry until you don’t need to anymore,” he said
softly as she sobbed with her head against his chest.
The adult Lisa shed another tear remembering Stefan’s kindness.
She frowned, then again, maybe it was hormones. She’d been so emotional
with this baby, Stefan’s baby.
Lisa dreaded the confrontation she knew was coming.
Strengthening her resolve, she stuffed the blanket in her backpack, closed
the chest and walked out the door.
*****
