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.