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When Cassidines Fall
Nuts
Bobbie wakes to an empty room. The space beside her is still warm.
There is a note next to the phone that Jerry has made a beignet
run and will be back shortly. She sits up with a stretch and
reaches over to grab her robe. Shrugging into it, she kicks free
of the covers and walks over to the french doors of the room. The
second floor room opens up onto a balcony. She unlatches the
doors and walks out. Leaning against the guard, she takes a deep
breath and closing her eyes exhales. "A gal could get used
to this." Barelegged and barefooted in November almost
December!
Raising her face to the early morning sun, she allows the heat to
seep into her bones. By New Orleans standards it's probably cool
maybe even a little damp. But by home standards it's already
about 30 degrees above what the high temperature would be!
Looking down to the courtyard below, Bobbie sees a spoiled
squirrel running from tree to tree. "Bet you don't even have
to gather too many nuts for the winter do you, buddy? Not like
the squirrels at home." Bobbie grins at his chatter and then
returns to the room. Time to shower and get ready. If Jerry still
isn't back by then she'd have time to call Lucas over at Carly's
before he had to leave for school.
"Good Morning, Granny Sophia." Nik puts the call on
speaker phone. Lesley and Lu are already seated at the table with
Lu working on her breakfast of cold cereal. Lesley looks up with
some consternation at Nik's announcement of another grandmother.
"You missed Maddy, she's already out to work. Has been for a
couple of hours."
"Thought as much." Granny Sophia's voice comes through
loud and clear. "I got a phone call from that handsome Jerry
Jacks last night. He called to say he's bringing his wife down
here for a quick holiday. I thought nothing of it for a long
space and then it just seemed off. Is everything okay up there?"
"Grandmother, I need to take this privately in my study."
Nik waves Lesley over to take the phone. Lesley rises to come
over to the breakfast bar. Nik leaves the room on a quick walk.
"Grandmother?" Sophia says suspiciously.
"Yes, this is Lesley Webber. Nikolas' other
grandmother." Lesley says with rueful understanding.
"Oh well that's a relief. Heard nothing but bad news about
Niknik's Granny Helena. That woman has surely packed a lot of
living in her life."
"Yes, normally at other's expense."
Nik's voice comes over the line. "I've got it now,
Grandmother."
"It was nice to talk to you." Lesley gets ready to take
the phone off of speaker so Nik and Sophia will have some privacy.
"Your boy has me on speeddial. You ever get the yen to chat
just give me a ring." Sophia says cheerfully.
Lesley hangs up the phone and goes back to the table. "Granny
Sophia?"
"Maddy's." Lulu says around a mouthful of Apple Jacks.
She swallows. "She's from New Orleans. That's in Louisiana.
Where Maddy is from. Maddy told me about her last night when she
was doing my hair."
"Speaking of your hair. If you're done with your cereal why
don't you get the brush out of my purse, and we'll see what Maddy
has done to you this morning." Lulu puts her bowl in the
sink and searching through Lesley's bag comes up with a brush.
She carries it over to her grandmother and kneeling down on the
floor hands it to Lesley. Lesley struggles briefly with the knot
on the kerchief finally getting it free. "Well isn't that
pretty!" Maddy had taken the front portion of Lulu's hair
and pulled it back in twisted strands of hair. Each row is
fastened with a colorful elastic give a rainbow effect to the
crown of her head. Lulu turns around so Lesley can run the brush
through the back smoothing her granddaughter's hair. "There
all done. Why don't you go get all your stuff together so you'll
be ready to leave when Nik is off the phone."
Nik comes back while Lulu is upstairs. His face is grim. "Where
is Lu?"
"Getting her books. I take it Jerry Jacks going down to New
Orleans is not a good thing."
"Maddy won't think so." Nik shakes his head. "I've
narrowed the nursing home search to two. Do you want to check
them out after we drop Lu at school? Then I'll have to go into
the hospital for the day."
Lesley makes a face. "I guess so. Any word from Stefan about
the new doctor?"
"He emailed Lucky last night. Said he'd be back by the
weekend. The specialist is already requesting more information.
It seems to be a good sign."
"Good. After we check the facilities you can drop me off at
the Elm St Clinic. My license might be nonexistent thanks to my death
but I can still hand out lollipops to the kids and do a little
volunteer work."
"Grandmother, I really don't think you should be overdoing...
"
Lesley interrupts. "Don't push, Nikolas. Keeping busy is my
way of dealing and I know my limits."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Hey Elizabeth." A ruddy faced twelve year old in
winter garb announces himself as Liz is about to climb in her car.
"Is Lucky awake?"
"Yep, not too much longer. What do you need?"
"We got a new license number this morning when we were doing
sidewalks. Guy who moved into the apartment building up the
street."
"Go ahead on up." Liz directs. She climbs behind the
wheel of the car. It is already toasty warm since she'd left the
car running while she scraped windows. As she buckles up she
previews her day. Classes until noon. Kelly's until 6. Nik is
cooking tonight so maybe she'll eat at work. Glancing around the
car she pulls out into the alleyway behind the property and heads
toward PCU.
The kid goes running into the carriage house and up the stairs.
He knocks on the door to the apartment.
"What did you forget, Elizabeth? Your key?" Lucky goes
over to open the door.
"Nope, it's me." The kid pulls out a notebook from his
pocket. Maddy told him he needed to track which walks he did and
when. It made billing easier. He rips a page out of the notebook
and hands it to Lucky. "This is a new plate in the
neighborhood. I didn't get the ones who were there last night
only the one that was here this morning. I figure the others were
just helping the guy move."
"Did you get a look at the guy?" Lucky asks before he
even looks at the paper.
The kid shakes his head. "Nah, the only one I recognized was
Rita Porter. She went to my school last year. And that was last
night."
Lucky pulls out his wallet and hands the kid a five. "Good
work."
"Thanks Lucky!"
"Better get going or you're going to miss your bus. Where is
your business partner?"
"He's putting up the snowblower."
"Split that with him." Lucky reminds. "And keep up
the good work." The kid goes racing out of the apartment
slamming the door after him. Lucky looks down at the plate number.
"Oh man. Nik is going to shit." Having gone with Ricky
to pick out his car he recognized the plate number without even
checking in the database. Not that the database would have been
any help since Ricky had left the car in the former owner's name
to cloud any connection to him.
"Mmm Something smells great in here." AJ nuzzles on
Carly's neck while he is reaching around her to grab a cookie.
"Hey knock that off! They are suppose to cool!" Carly
goes to swat his hand away but can't get him before he snatches a
couple of cookies.
"How long have you been up?" AJ exhales to blow out the
heat of the fresh from the oven cookie that is presently burning
the roof of his mouth.
"This kid is weird." Carly pats her stomach. "No
morning sickness anymore really, naps at weird times and wakes me
up at the crack of dawn. Figured if I was up I might as well make
these. It makes the house smell nice. And I could enjoy the house
before Lucas and Michael get going."
"Who are you rolling the welcome wagon out for?" AJ
recognizes the white chocolate with macadamia nuts cookie as
Virginia's secret recipe and Carly's secret weapon.
"Ricky Robideau." Carly transfers the rest of the
cookies on the sheet to a cooling rack and puts another sheet in
the oven. "That's whose place I'm decorating. Cookie called
me and put me on the job."
"Robideau." AJ frowns. "I think Grandfather has
mentioned him. Robideau was at Thanksgiving over at the Porter's.
He had that glint in his eye like he's up to something."
"Uh oh." Carly bites her lip. "You want me to find
out what's up?"
"Just keep your ears open. And we might want to invite the
kid over so I can check him out myself."
"Well I'm dropping these off today so I'll put out the
welcome mat then. What are you doing today?"
"You don't want to know." AJ goes over to the coffee
pot and pours himself a cup. Carly wasn't drinking it right now...
having switched to herb tea but she needed the smell of coffee to
wake in the morning even if she couldn't drink it.
"Don't tell me Jakarta."
"Okay I won't." AJ grins. Carly growls. "Don't
worry. Irene feels the same way about Jakarta as you do. And
she's the one I'm meeting with today. There are some personnel
issues I need to sign off on."
Jerry knocks on the front door and then distracts Bobbie pointing
out to her some of the details of the manicured lawn. Bobbie
hears the door open behind her and turns around. All she sees is
chest. She looks up and then takes a step back. "Oh my."
Pete is used to the reaction. He'd gotten his size early. He
grins and looks over at Jerry. "The coffee is on."
"I've got the beignets. Still hot." Jerry holds up the
white pastry bag.
"It's the only way." Pete stands back to let Bobbie and
Jerry in the house. "It's good of you to use the front door
rather than sneaking in the back."
"Well after Larkin used my backdoor I figured you nailed it
shut." Jerry starts heading automatically toward the kitchen.
"True."
"You have a beautiful home." Bobbie fills in with the
pleasantries.
"Not as beautiful as my friend's wife." Bobbie blushes,
surprised that she still can, at Pete's comment.
"Whoa back up, buddy." Jerry glances over his shoulder.
"It's a friendly trip but not that kind of friendly."
He drops the confections on the counter of the kitchen. Pete
reaches for the coffee mugs setting them on the counter along
with the cream and sugar. "Careful, Luv. He makes coffee you
could fill the cracks in the front drive with."
"Oh hospital coffee. I'll be just fine." Bobbie quips.
She hops up on one of the barstools at the breakfast bar. Jerry
stands next to her. Pete is across the bar filling the coffee
cups. "I'm Bobbie by the way."
"Pete. Since your husband is too rude to introduce us."
"There are good reasons for that." Jerry quips. He
holds up his coffee cup. "First toast I guess. To Larkin
behind bars."
They all take a sip of coffee. Bobbie winces. She'd mentioned
hospital coffee but this stuff you definitely couldn't leave a
spoon sitting in unless you wanted it eaten away to nothing while
you stepped away. She sets the cup down. "Jerry told me your
son was in town keeping an eye on Larkin until Larkin was busted.
But you're packing his things?"
Pete grins and nods. "I received a phone call, before even
Ricky calls to tell me that Larkin flipped his nut in open court.
From this Judge Porter..." Bobbie's eyes go wide. "You
know the name?"
"Yes. He and his wife are actually better friends with my
daughter Caroline. But Judge Porter settled Carly's custody case
regarding her son and then settled mine too, about my son Lucas."
"He is a family judge? But he heard the case against Maddy's
Aunt?" Pete questions.
"He's the head superior court judge; Porter assigns the
cases. AJ picked him to hear Michael's case in chambers cause the
guy has a straight arrow rep. He filled in when Bobbie's judge
called in sick. Normally he handles the messy cases-- criminal or
civil." Jerry explains. "So why is he calling you? And
how did he get your number?"
"Ricky. And he got the number from his son, John Cook. It
was a surprise to hear from him. He says Ricky is a good boy...
that he saves the Little One."
"Rita." Bobbie realizes. "The paper said the
Judge's daughter was visiting him in court when Larkin pulled
that stunt."
"Yes. He'd heard from Johnny that I don't want Ricky in the
family business. He thinks it best that Ricky stay in Port
Charles. Go to school. He offers to foster Ricky... to treat him
as one of his family."
"Really?!" Jerry thinks about that one for a moment.
Then he grins. "Really." He starts laughing. "Poor
Ricky."
"You don't think it's a good idea?" Pete worries.
"Oh no. It's a great idea." Jerry laughs a little
harder. "I'll tell you right now Cookie, the judge's wife,
is nothing like your ex. Nothing like anyone has
ever seen before. She signed off on this?"
Pete nods. "Ricky called to protest. Already this Cookie had
found him an apartment and was going to take him around to look
for furnishing."
Bobbie shakes her head. "I bet you she called Carly in. My
daughter is a rather infamous shopper in Port Charles. They know
her in every store from Port Charles to New York City."
"But you didn't know all this before you came down, my
friend. So why are you here?" Jerry nods at Bobbie who goes
into her purse and pulls out a picture offering it to Pete. Pete
studies it. "Why do you have a picture of Lisette?"
"Well she told me her name was Lisa back when we were doing
the New Orleans version of a lost weekend." Jerry informs
him.
Pete flips over the picture and sees the date noted on it. "Merde."
"Yeah, in about twelve different languages. Meet Martin Grah."
Jerry points a finger back in his own direction.
"Have you talked to Madeliene?"
Jerry nods. "It didn't go well."
Pete grimaces. "I am not surprised. Was she prepared for
this conversation?"
"Yes," Bobbie answers with a nod. "Lady Jane
actually brought this to us. Maddy had heard she was asking
questions and confronted her. And we just found out that Lucas
talked to Ricky about it too. Did Ricky say anything to you?"
"Non." Pete says absently. "Ricky and I do not
speak of Madeleine. And especially not of her mother, Lisette."
Pete hands the photo back to Bobbie. "So her defenses were
firmly in place. And she wouldn't hear what you were saying."
"You aren't surprised." Jerry realizes.
"At Madeliene's reaction?" Pete shrugs. "No. We
have talked of Madeliene before. Even when she was a small child
and I gave her the cell phone to call me if there was trouble...
she never did but the once. Always she handles things on her own.
She called me from Port Charles but not to tell me that her Aunt
Dara is in trouble but that Larkin is coming at me again. Maddy
does not trust. Always she works the angles, is guarded."
Bobbie winces. She's been afraid of that. "But what about
your mother, or Granny Sophia..."
"Old women. And even with her friend in the park who teaches
her chess. He waits patiently... for years before teaching her
the game. Leaving little crumbs of knowledge to draw her in. And
being in the park is better than being home."
"She's tight with the Cassadines." Jerry looks to break
the model.
"Like to like." Pete explains. "I've met this
Stefan Cassadine. He doesn't trust either, guards himself and
looks to the angles. His boy Nikolas is in for a wake up call
when he tries to be more than friends."
"But I think they already are." Bobbie declares
momentarily forgetting she is talking to the girl's father and
father figure. She sees Jerry's wince. "Sorry."
"We are all adults here." Pete replies. "We know
it is possible to have... relations with someone and not intend
on anything more. And with Lisette's example to have relations
with someone you don't even particularly like,or know. Chemistry
is very different from trust. You were married to this Stefan
Cassadine, you know it to be true."
Docks kiosk. Maddy switches out the propane tanks in a smooth
practiced motion keeping up a conversation with Ciela while she
does so. Maddy had missed the early rush of ELQ dock workers so
there is a break in the customers until the Prominade shop owners
start coming in to open their shops. "Larry's fine. I saw
him last weekend. His doctor made arrangements so Cinnamon could
see him. Anything going on?"
"Well I was kind of surprised to not see
you yesterday." Ciela teases.
"Oh don't get me started." Maddy tosses her hair back.
Now with the tanks switched and the kiosk refilled. She waits as
Ciela makes her up a coffee drink to take over to the
Quartermaines' with her. Ciela tosses one of the day old danishes
to Cinnamon who gobbles it down without even chewing first. Maddy
falls silent when a tall blonde guy accompanied by a trim woman
with reddish hair come up to the kiosk. Jax puts in an order. His
attention seems to be split between making his order and checking
her out. "I'm outta here. Talk to you later." Maddy
slaps her thigh to get Cinnamon's attention and starts walking
toward her van carrying the empty propane container.
"V, take care of this." Jax moves to follow Maddy. He
reaches out to take her arm after calling her gets no response.
Cinnamon growls a warning. He drops his hand. Maddy turns around
to look at him. Her face is blank. "My name is Jax."
"I'm not surprised." The accent kinda gives it away.
"I work with Emily over at Deception." Jax flashes his
ladykiller grin. His whole demeanor screaming I'm a good guy--
trust me.
"I know. Is there anything else?" Maddy isn't buying
the nonverbal signals.
"I've heard alot about you. I was hoping we could get
together. Talk business perhaps."
"I'm not taking on any new clients."
"Then talking family business."
"Then we have nothing to talk about." Maddy starts
walking toward the van. Cinnamon keeps up easily with her rolling
gait.
Jax swears under his breath and goes back to the kiosk. V hands
him his coffee drink and tucks her hand in his. "What was
that all about?"
"And I thought Carly Quartermaine was a tough nut." Jax
mutters. "That girl who just left is Jerry's daughter."
"Whoa. Since when?"
"Since conception but Jerry only found out about her last
week. Her mum just passed away. She's Dara Jensen's niece. She's
been around since before Emily was kidnapped. Evidently teamed up
with the Cassadines."
"Doesn't look like she's after anything."
"Yeah, that's the problem. She gave Lady Jane a ration for
approaching her. You know how Mum is about family."
"You want me to talk to Alexis? Maybe Dara? See what they
know?" V offers.
"Yeah, if you would. I'll talk to Em at Deception this
afternoon. Damn. Today is Em's afternoon off from Deception."
Jax sighs in frustration. Em worked every afternoon and all day
Saturday at Deception but had Thursdays off.
"That might be a good thing." V's had time to turn it
over in her mind. "You can find out what Jerry wants so you
don't step on his toes."
"I know what Jerry wants. IF I can get that girl talking to
Jerry it will thaw things out between him and me. Come on. I'll
walk you to work."
Carly knocks on the door to the apartment. There is no answer.
She knocks again. Leaning against the door frame, she can barely
hear the groan within as someone glances through the peep hole.
"Wakey Wakey! I know you're in there. I brought cookies."
Carly holds up a box. She straightens at the sound of the
deadlock being unfastened. "Good morning."
"You know the one thing I always heard about you that I
appreciate was that you weren't a morning person." Ricky
opens the door with a yawn.
"Blame the baby... I do." Carly says cheerfully. She
hands Ricky the box.
"Awful heavy cookies."
"Well its a house warming present." Carly strips off
her gloves and walks in the apartment.
Ricky glances back out the hallway. "What did you do with
the kid?"
"He went into the office with his father. ELQ has a daycare.
Normally Michael is only there on Friday's but I thought he might
get bored today. Since we're going to furniture shopping."
Ricky follows Carly into the kitchen. Carly automatically reaches
for the coffee and starts a pot.
"How did you know where that was?"
"Rita helped me put my kitchen together. She learned from
Cookie. I just assumed that Cookie put yours together too."
"Rita. I can't find a darn thing."
"Well once you learn you'll be able to find anything in not
only your kitchen but Cookie's and Johnny's too. Aren't you going
to open that up?" Ricky sets it on the breakfast bar and
unwraps the box. Inside is cookie jar shaped in the form of a
Rooster. "I figured if you were going to be stuck with
chickens you might as well play it up." Carly admits. Ricky
opens up the cookie jar and sniffs automatically. "Try one."
Ricky takes a cookie. The first bite is slow and then the whole
cookie goes. "These are good; I mean these are really good." He reaches for another one.
"Yeah, I know. I traded Cookie the recipe so she'd get me a
copy of the commitment papers Edward had planned for me."
Ricky chokes. "Oh you hadn't heard that one. I'm not really
nuts." Carly admits. "I'm... colorful."