| Previously...
James
didn't believe Brooke's claim that Nathan tried to rape
her. Nathan took Sierra out for dinner, where
Renee spotted them together and let it slip to Nathan
that Sierra
was her "adopted" daughter. She later insisted that Sierra
keep away from Nathan. Alex witnessed the spectacle
and grew more convinced that Renee was hiding something
about Sierra. Alex offered Brooke sympathy
after her ordeal with Nathan. Nathan told James
he would move out in order to give him and Brooke time
alone. Despite her mother's warnings, Sierra continued
to spend time with Nathan.
Episode
63
"I
Am Curious, Blackthornes"
Alex Reynolds was on
a mission. She was convinced that by
learning what secret Renee was hiding about Sierra, she would finally
be able to stick it to her nemesis, and quite possibly
create such havoc
in her life that it would drive a wedge between her and Jordan.
Armed with enough
cash and sex appeal to overthrow a small government, she paid Eddie Distefano a
visit at his new private investigative headquarters in Beverly Hills.
Sitting in the posh, opulent office, she crossed her legs and made small
talk with the young man.
“Stormy tells me how
wonderful you’re doing in your new business,” she said with a wink. “I always knew you had a good head on your
shoulders, Eddie. Just like your father. He and I were very close once upon a time,
you know.”
Eddie smiled and
swiveled back and forth in his Henry Miller chair. “Dude,
he has some stories about you, let me tell
you.” He laughed and drummed his fingers
on the desk. “I remember this one time
he told me that while on a movie set, you and he…”
“Actually I came here
for a reason, Eddie,” she cut him off in hopes that she could avoid any
embarrassing trips down memory lane with the young man. “I’d like you to look into something for me.”
Eddie sighed with
mock frustration and leaned back in his chair.
“I’d love to take you on as a client, Miss Reynolds, seeing as how
you’re Stormy’s mom and all, but the thing is I’m hunkered down with cases right
now.”
Alex frowned and
looked around the office. “You were
playing basketball with a wastebasket and wadded up pieces of paper when I got
here,” she said. “Besides, I have
cash. A lot of cash.”
He raised an eyebrow
as she slid a thick envelope of hundred dollar bills across the table at
him. Suddenly, he decided that he could
make time for a preferred client such as her.
“Have I got your
attention?” she asked.
“Damn straight.”
“Good,” Alex began
again. “Renee DeWitt has a daughter,
Sierra Merteuil. She’s been at school in
Europe. Apparently her biological parents were
killed in an automobile accident nineteen years ago and Renee adopted her. I’d like you to find out everything you can
about her.”
“Anything in
particular that you’re looking for?” Eddie asked, counting the cash in the
envelope with wide eyes.
Alex stood up and
started to the door. “Everything,” she
said, then added in a mocking tone, "Dude."

Heather
was in her room at Hotel Terranova,
pouring ice and lemonade into a glass when there was a knock at the door. She walked across the carpeted floor and pulled it open, surprised to
see Miranda standing in the hall.
“Hi,”
she said uncomfortably. She wondered if
her step-sister was still angry with her for telling Brett about the baby. They hadn’t spoken since then, so it was a
safe bet that she was.
“Do
you have a minute?” Miranda asked.
Heather
shrugged and hovered in the doorway.
“That depends. Are you still
pissed at me?”
“Yes,
but not just for that stunt you pulled the other day,” Miranda said and forced her way into the
living room. She turned and planted her
hands firmly on her hips. “I still
don't understand
why you betrayed me and told Brett that I was pregnant, but what I really
don’t understand is how you
could have gotten involved with him.
Stormy told me that you and Brett are sleeping together.”
Heather
blew a strand of hair from her face and closed the door grudgingly. “Slept,” she corrected her. “We slept together once. We’re not exactly shacking up every night.”
“Once
is enough!” Miranda exclaimed. “My God,
Heather, do you need me to remind you what he did to me, and to you, and to
Stormy? Why do you think I divorced him
in the first place? It wasn’t so you
could sign up for your turn on that rollercoaster ride.”
“Look,
it was only once, and I haven’t forgotten
about anything. It’s just that you don’t
know what I’ve been through these past few weeks, Miranda. After the shooting I spent day after day with
Dr. Anderson. Then finally it all hit
me. I was carjacked and I walked back to
the hotel. I must have been really out
if it because I wound up at Brett’s room and he took care of me.”
“I’ll
bet,” Miranda said, her arms folded angrily.
“No,
it wasn’t like that,” Heather insisted.
She ran her hands through her hair and paced around the living
room. “Miranda, he was kind and caring. I’d never seen that side of him before.”
“He’s
a con man, Heather. “Remember when I
first brought him here and we found out his name wasn’t even Brett
Armstrong? It’s Rick Shively. You can’t believe anything he says, or any
emotion he claims to have. It's all a lie.”
“You
told me that the two of you had talked about having a baby, right?” Heather
asked. “You said he wanted to have one
more than anything. Well, when I told
him that you were thinking of having an abortion, I saw the look in his eyes. He was devastated, Miranda. I truly believe that he wants that baby more
than anything. Does that sound like a
selfish manipulator to you?”
Miranda
dropped her hands to her sides and turned to her. “I don’t know, Heather. Brett is just so good at lying.”
“I
know it was a stupid thing to do, but I don’t want this to cause tension
between us.”
“I'm
not jealous,” Miranda claimed. “Any feelings I had for Brett are gone. Even
though you stabbed me in the back, I still don't want
you getting hurt. You’ve been
through so much this past year already.”
Heather
smiled and shook her head. “I’m not
going to get hurt. I told you that what
happened with Brett was a one-time thing.”

Seth
Walker had a private office at the marina.
The posh suite of offices overlooked the sailboat docks which made for a
very quick jaunt to work every day for Brett considering his new condo was just
a few steps away.
He
sat in his office talking on the phone, his feet up on the desk while he gazed
out the window at the marina.
“That’s
right,” he said. “Three dozen red
roses. The card should read: Heather, may there be many more magical
nights to come. Love, Brett.”
After
he’d placed the order, he hung up and smiled with self assurance. Heather had been avoiding him since that
night, and he figured it was because she was having second thoughts or uncertainties
about getting involved. But he knew that
once she thought about it she’d realize how good they were together. Hopefully Stormy would stay clear and mind
his own business. He didn’t need him
filling Heather’s head with doubts.
Seth
walked into the office, dressed in a crisp navy blazer with a striped shirt
underneath, his collar spread open casually.
Behind him, Marilee followed dotingly and winked at Brett when their
eyes met.
“Marilee
and I are on our way to lunch down at the yacht club. Care to join us?” Seth asked.
“Actually
I was planning on hitting the gym,” Brett replied, sitting forward and handing
Seth a folder. “But I thought you should
take a look at this. Kenny DeWitt and
the Land Commission are rejecting the variance on that land you inquired
about.”
“What
land, Seth?” Marilee asked, peering over his shoulder while wrapping her hands
around his strapping arms.
“Just
some land development for a children's park I’m helping put through as a favor to someone,” Seth said
as if trying to dismiss her question. He
raised an eyebrow as he scanned through the documents. “Brett, set up a meeting with Kenny DeWitt. Maybe I can get the Land Commission to change
their minds.”
“Good
luck,” Marilee chimed in with a laugh. “I used to be
on the Land Commission, remember? Their
decisions usually stick like fly paper.”
Seth
frowned and shook his head. “Just set up
that meeting, Brett.” He set the
paperwork back on the desk and turned around.
“Come on, Marilee, let’s get down to the club.”
She
hung back after Seth had left the office.
Grinning mischievously, she sauntered over to Brett and pulled him up
from his chair. “Don’t use up all your
strength at the gym,” she purred, letting her fingers run along the waistband
of his trousers. “I have my own workout
in mind for us when Seth’s in session later today.”
Brett
shook his head and managed a smile.
“Sorry, Marilee, it’s not going to happen.”
“I
beg your pardon?”
He
couldn’t in good conscience get it on with Marilee again knowing the way he felt
about Heather. He cared for her a great
deal and he didn’t want to mess it up already.
On the other hand, he couldn’t take the prize away from Marilee and
expect to keep his position as public relations for Seth. She’s probably trump up some reason for her
husband to fire him. Maybe he’d just put her off until he could
think of a better excuse.
“I
just think we should wait a while,” he finally said. “You know, so Seth doesn’t get suspicious.”
She
eyed him carefully and then smiled. “Not
only great in bed but smart as hell too,” she said before turning and leaving
the office.

When
James got home that evening, Miranda met him in the foyer and kissed him
lightly on the cheek. She took his
briefcase from him and led him down the hall to the parlor room.
“Darling,
what’s this all about?” he asked with a grin.
“You haven’t met me at the door like this since you were eight years
old.”
Miranda
sat him down on the cognac leather sofa and handed him the scotch on the rocks
that she’d just poured in preparation for his arrival. “Is there anything wrong with a daughter
pampering her hard working father?”
James
looked into her eyes and knew immediately that she was up to something. “Okay, that does it,” he mused. “What’s going on in that head of yours? You either have a favor to ask me or bad news
to give me. Which is it?”
Losing
her nerve, Miranda vamped as best she could.
“Umm…well, I ordered new china for the banquet rooms at the hotel. It takes a month to get it in from the
manufacturer. It’s imported from Morocco.
There’s a beautiful gold etching around the rim, and-“
“Miranda,” James
began sternly. “Your new china is
fascinating, but I know that is not what’s on your mind.”
She nervously bit
down on her fingernails. “Okay,” she
said. “First of all, please don’t go all
vein-popping crazy and scream. Just
drink your cocktail and listen to me before you judge.”
Slowly,
he brought the glass to his lips and took a sip.
“Okay,”
Miranda said again, then blurted out her news without so much as taking a pause
or breath. “Daddy, I’m pregnant with
Brett’s baby and I’m going to have it and raise him by himself.”
James
blinked, setting his glass down and looking at her for a few seconds while he
registered the sudden information. He
couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
His daughter was pregnant?
“Daddy?”
Miranda asked, studying his reaction carefully.
“I know it’s a shock. I’ve been
wanting to talk to you about it since you got back from Rio but…well, things have been kind
of crazy. Are you mad?”
His
face lit up with excitement and he threw his arms around her, pulling her close
and hugging her tightly. “Mad?” he
asked, his eyes stinging with tears.
“Miranda, I’m ecstatic. I’m going
to be a grandfather. This is the best
news I’ve heard in a long time.”
“Really?”
Miranda asked, completely taken aback by his reaction. “You mean you’re not going to scream and wave
your arms around and tell me to go to my room?”
He
laughed and shook his head. “No, you’re
a grown woman. You’re successful,
intelligent, and independent. I think
you’re going to be a wonderful mother.”
“And
you’re okay with me raising this baby alone?”
“You
won’t be alone,” he said. “You have a
family who loves you and supports you.”
Miranda
sighed and nodded grudgingly. She wasn’t
sure how things were going to work with Brett being in the picture. For the time being, she wasn’t prepared to
make any commitments or promises.
“Is
everything okay with you and Brooke?” she asked, deciding to change the
subject. “I heard the two of you talking
yesterday. I can’t believe that she’s
trying to accuse Nathan of attacking her.”
“You
know about that?” James asked and stood up with his drink.
“It’s
hard not to hear things like that when you live in the same house,” Miranda said
and followed him across the room.
“After all this time she’s finally
going back to her old troublemaking ways.”
“Miranda,
that’s not fair,” James said sternly and shot her a look.
“Just
keep in mind that Brooke hasn’t exactly been a saint since she got here,
Daddy,” Miranda said. “She lied about
her affair with Ethan. For months the
two of you were on pins and needles waiting to find out which one of you was
Michael’s father. You had to fly all the
way to Phoenix to get her to come back just so
you could be a father to your own son.
Brooke is bad news, plain and simple.”
“That’s
enough.”
She
threw her hands up, deciding it was probably a sore subject. “Well, I’ll let you get settled,” she said
and started to the door. “Are you sure
you’re okay about this baby?”
He
smiled. “I’m more than okay,” he
said. “But your mother, on the other
hand, is a different story. It’s
probably a safe bet that she’s not going to be thrilled about being a
grandmother.

The next morning, Ethan
found Brooke pushing Michael in his stroller by the pond outside the
Blackthorne mansion. Shielding her eyes
from the sun, she looked up at him and smiled.
“Hi,”
she said. “It’s a beautiful day. You’re just in time for our daily trip to see
the fishies.”
Ethan
smiled and looked down at his son. “He’s
getting so big."
“He’s
growing like a weed,” Brooke said and knelt down to adjust his tiny baseball
cap.
“I
just came by to see if you were okay,” Ethan continued. “The other day you seemed so distraught. I’m worried about you, Brooke. Are things still going badly with you and James?”
Brooke
stood back up and met his gaze. “They’re
worse than ever,” she said solemnly.
“Nathan did something. Something
terrible. I told James about it and he
doesn’t believe me.”
Frowning, Ethan dug
his hands into his pockets. “What did
Nathan do?”
She looked into his
eyes, unable to admit what happened for fear that he would go back to
protective-mode and risk his relationship with his uncle. She’d learned the last time that it wasn’t
worth it.
“Brooke, did Nathan
rape you?” Ethan asked, sensing the
torment in her eyes and the fear that enveloped her. It wasn’t difficult for him to believe that
his great uncle would have done something so vile. He hadn’t known him long, but he knew his
reputation.
She burst into tears
and quickly stifled them away. “No, he
didn’t rape me,” she sobbed. “But he….he
tried to. He attacked me when James was
in Rio
de Janeiro.”
The veins in Ethan’s
forehead throbbed and he turned red in the face. Clenching his fists, he backed up and started
to the house.
“Ethan, wait!” Brooke
called after him in despair. This was
exactly why she didn’t want to say anything.
She knew it would only instill more pain in an already volatile situation.

Alex
stopped by the marina and made her way down to Jordan’s yacht slip. It was Saturday and Jordan always sailed to Catalina after
sunup, then he’d go back to the yacht club and drink beer until sundown. It had been his ritual since she could
remember.
As
she approached the yacht, she heard him beneath the deck and decided to board
in an effort to establish a sneak attack.
She was intent on getting him to confess whatever he knew about Renee’s
secret.
Quietly,
she made her way around to the steps to the lower cabin. She peered down and saw him tinkering with
tools and pipes beneath the floor.
Frowning, she walked the rest of the way down and cleared her throat to
announce her presence.
Jordan jumped with a start, hitting his
head on the trap door that covered the inner-workings of the hot tub
controls. He winced from the pain,
rubbing his head and dropping his wrench with irritation. Alex gasped and rushed over instinctively.
“I’m
sorry,” she said and knelt down to examine the bump on the back of his
head. “Are you okay?”
He
shot her a look as if to say what do you
think, and stood up with a groan. He
was shirtless, his stocky, muscular body drenched in sweat and smeared here and
there with black bearing grease.
“What
are you doing here, Alex?” he asked. “As
you can see I’m busy.”
His
cranky attitude caused her to forget all about feeling sorry for him for making
him bump his head. She set her purse on
a table and stared at him intently. “I
came to talk about Renee,” she said.
“What was that the other night at Hotel
Terranova? She almost blew a gasket
when she saw her daughter with Nathan.”
“I
told you before to mind your own business,” Jordan complained, wiping his greasy
hands on a rag and throwing it down onto the floor. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to work. The hot tub went out.”
Alex
smiled in amusement. “Why don’t you just
have someone fix it for you?” she asked.
“That’s what having money is good for.”
“Because
it takes my mind off of things,” he replied and went back to the hot tub motor.
“Like
what?” she asked, growing aroused by the way his muscles bulged each time he
turned the wrench. “What is it you’re
upset about?”
“Nice
try, Alex,” he said.
She
sighed, throwing her hands in the air and turned to leave. She was in no mood for his bad attitude
today. She started up the stairs, then
paused, having forgotten her purse and turned quickly to retrieve it. Suddenly, she slipped on the discarded greasy
rag and she tumbled to the floor with a loud thud.
Jordan heard the commotion and quickly
raced over to her. |