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Diversion
Rita goes into the office on Saturday having missed most of
Friday thanks to the drama at the house. Alexis and Dara are both
there dressed in casual attire. Rita had called them to let them
know what was up the day before. "Sorry." Rita says as
she walks into the coffee room where both of them are filling
their cups before hitting the books. "I didn't mean to bring
my drama to the office the very first week."
"Marcus filled me in a little last night in addition to your
call." Dara admits.
"Did Carly really fly out to get her?" Alexis asks.
"Carly hates your sister, no offense."
Rita nods. "Yeah, one call from Cookie and they were on
their way. I didn't hear the call but it was the whole hitting
thing. Carly's got no problem going toe to toe with Vic but they
are kinda in the same weight class."
"You knew this one was coming. Your sister did too. She was
having you keep a file for her." Dara reminds.
"Vic will be coming in on Monday to get things started.
Cookie told Phillip, Vic's husband if he had anything to say to
Vic that he should do it through here. I don't know." Rita
bites her lip. "I really think one of you two should handle
this one. I have zero chance of getting Vic to do anything I
recommend. She still thinks of me as her little sister and her
little sister only. There is no way I could rein her in."
Alexis and Dara look at each other in a silent communication.
Alexis sighs. "I'll take it. I've worked some of the
business fights between Titan and EBQ. I know the players. Never
had any dealings with Phillip but plenty with his father, Victor."
"Vicki is afraid of the guy. He's evidently all business and
has Phillip totally under his thumb. I only met him once-- the
week before the wedding. And even then it was like he was
permenantly on the phone working some deal."
"Titan is his baby. And he runs it like his own personal
kingdom." Alexis nods. "If your sister limits her
divorce settlement to just going after Phillip things will go
fairly quickly. If she goes after any piece of Titan, involves
Titan... then there is going to be a war."
"Well then there is going to be a problem." Rita sags
against the counter. "Vicki has stock in Titan. Phillip gave
her some as a birthday present or something."
Alexis' eyes narrow as she concentrates on the angles. "That
might work for us. Grab your coffee lets go read your sister's
file. Dara, what do you have going today?"
"Going down to Courtland St with V." Dara says
cheerfully. "Have some interviews to do. This is going to be
fun. Judge Carter told this guy the last time I took him to court
if he didn't start flying right that next time he'd be ordered to
live in one of his own apartments until the building in question
was brought up to code. Larry is going to go through the building
with us and document every damn violation. I want to see them too.
It'll be easier to explain to the Judge if I do. Hence the
clothes. I'll be crawling through every part of the building from
roof to basement." Dara indicates her faded out jeans, tank
top and tennis shoes. "It's going to be hotter than hell but
no way was I going to wearing shorts if I'm crawling around in a
basement."
"You are having too much fun with this." Alexis shakes
her head.
"What can I say? I love my job." Dara puts the top on
her travel mug and heads out.
Alexis walks over to the reception area and puts the phones on
voice mail. She starts up the stairs with Rita. Rita asks
curiously. "Are you guys here every Saturday?"
Alexis shrugs. "When there is something going on. When Ned
is out of town, if Taggart is on a stake out... but he hardly has
those anymore since he received the promotion. We can't have
casual Fridays around here since Monday through Friday there is
always the potential for court. So if you really want to get some
work done...."
"Saturdays are it." Rita nods.
"My first job out of law school, down in the city, I was
working 15-18 hour days at the firm and half days on Sunday. It's
what put me on track to make partner. Hell on real life but great
for the career. And Doctors think they have it rough with their
residency."
"All that work and you chucked it to move to Port Charles."
"My brother needed me here." Alexis says with a shrug.
And that explains it all. "None of that work went to waste.
I learned plenty. You work as long and as hard as your ambition
will take you. You hit the ground running, Rita. You've already
brought in more clients in a week than most new lawyers would
have. They'd still be trying to find their feet and figure out
the difference between law school and the real world. Or they'd
be studying for the bar while doing the scut work around here.
There are certain advantages to being a known quantity. In this
town and in the legal community HERE-- you are. The same would
have been true down in New Orleans... if you wanted to do
exclusively criminal work I'm sure you could have had your hands
full. Now if you had decided you wanted to work in LA... or
Chicago or..."
"Got it." Rita flips on the lights to her office and
going over to her file cabinent pulls out the file she'd been
building for Vic. "Here it is."
Alexis takes the seat across the desk and opens up the file. She
goes straight to the pre-nup, checking dates and clauses. "Yep,
this is going to be a fun one."
"It's going to be ugly." Rita states flatly. "I'm
really sorry for dropping this one on you, Alexis."
"They're all ugly. The only thing worse are the child
custody cases. Don't worry about it. I'll return the favor when
one of my business contracts drops a family matter in my lap.
Taggart did get pictures of the bruises right?"
"Bruise and yeah, he did." Rita informs her. "But
Phillip might be able to introduce some pictures of his own."
Alexis leans in ignoring the file. "What do you mean?"
"Cookie kinda gave him a lesson in manners when she got
there. And to make sure she had his full attention... well she
grabbed him by the...."
Alexis' jaw drops. "She did what?!"
Rita makes a clutching motion with her hand. "Evidently for
the whole conversation. Cookie didn't even say hello. And she
didn't let go until Carly got Vicky out to the car."
Alexis swallows a laugh and covers her grin before putting on a
stern face. "That's terrible."
Rita grins. "Ain't it though."
Ricky is pouring his first cup of coffee and contemplating going
out to mow the lawn. He's got a local kid who does it for him but
every once in a while it was kind of a kick to get out there and
work up a sweat. It's only ten am and it's already in the
eighties. Just a couple of months ago it had been below freezing
at night. Welcome back to upstate New York. February still is a
bitch but nothing like New Orleans in August. The phone rings.
Ricky checks the caller ID. Victor Kiriakis. The calls had
started the night before he'd even gotten home from the Porter's.
"Hey Victor."
"Ricky, what is it going to take for all this to go away?"
Victor comes to the point.
"I don't think that is up to us."
"You know these people."
"Yeah, I do that's why I'm staying out of it." Ricky
sighs. "I feel for ya, Victor, I really do. I don't know
what Phillip was thinking. Or maybe I do. He probably took one
look at the package and decided that Vicki was perfect wife
material and didn't look any deeper."
"And if he had looked deeper?"
"Then he would have found out that the family is nuts."
"The girl's mother is dead and her father is a federal judge."
Victor counters.
"JD is a very smart man. Nobody wins an argument with him--
ever. Cause he won't argue unless he can win. And I bet Vicki
didn't even mention her stepmother. She likes to pretend Cookie
doesn't exist."
"That's the woman who..."
"Yep. Tell Philly to count himself lucky. The last man who
laid hands on Cookie she gutted and did time over. And the last
guy she gave lessons in manners to ended up in the hospital with
a concussion. She beaned him with a marble rolling pin. And
Vicki's little sister... works for Davis and Jensen. I think you
know their work. And the half-brother she might claim now since
he married a Quartermaine. Used to run with The Organization.
First down in Brooklyn then up here in Port Charles. You want
this to go away? Well then cut Phillip off. Cut him loose."
"What are you saying?"
"I got the impression Phillip wants to fight this out to the
bitter end. And Vicki is a vindictive bitch on her best day.
Vicki is going to win. You know it, and I know it. Flat out and
no doubt. And as much resource as you put in to Phil's war chest,
he is going to lose. Having met the guy, I'm sure you have
already taken steps to insulate Titan. Phillip might be your heir
but I bet he is on salary just like any other VP. He isn't
getting the keys until you're under." There is silence on
the other end. Victor would never say anything against his son.
"You've already had two strokes, man. Don't let Vicki think
it would be profitable to wait you out."
"I see your point. Good talking to you, Ricky."
"Good talking to you too, Victor." Ricky hangs up. His
coffee had grown cold while he talked to Kiriakis. He dumps it
out and pours another cup then goes out on his balcony to look
out over the backyard. The neighbor kid is already at his
detached garage and pulling out the lawn mower.
"Hey Mr Robideau!" The kid waves.
Ricky waves back. "So much for that idea." He mutters
to himself. Turning around he goes into the house. "Guess I
could talk to Mrs Chow and see what I can set up with Mei."
Ricky heads off to the shower.
"Alexis, I'm going down to Porter's to pick up a box lunch.
Cookie is working this morning. You want one too?"
"Sure." Alexis says absently. "Why in the hell did
Vicki marry this guy?" Alexis is up to her ears in the
investigators report.
"He's rich; he's a hunk with dimples to die for. He's a vice
president of Titan Industries a Fortune 500 company. He's the son
and heir of the CEO and president of Titan. They lived in a house
the size of Rhode Island. They had servants."
"Your father isn't like that. And I can't imagine him
raising your sister or you to be that way."
"My mom's people are that way. Old money. Or as old as it
gets here in the states. They cut my mom off after she married my
dad. Thought she'd married down. After my mom died in the
accident they re-established ties. Dad went along with it so we'd
have a connection to our mother. I wasn't interested but Vicki
really bought what they were selling. Vicki has always had a lady
of the manor thing going." Rita shrugs. "It was always
her plan to marry well. That's why she made a play first for AJ
Quartermaine and then... "
"My nephew." Alexis recalls.
"Right. Vic will probably throw herself into the wealthy
divorcee role for awhile but I don't see her being single for
long. It wouldn't surprise me if she set her sights on Ricky next.
The only thing holding her back is that Ricky's dad is mobbed up.
But she might overlook that if the payoff was big enough."
"Are you going to warn him?"
"Ricky knows Vic from way back. He knows what she is like.
He might take whatever she is offering but he won't get caught."
Rita leans against the door jam and frowns as she considers the
situation. "He's always been able to... control Vicki. It's
like he knows what makes her tick better than she does. I think
she reminds him of his mother." Rita straightens back up.
"I'll be back in about 20."
"Right." Alexis waits until she hears Rita on the
stairs and then picks up the phone and dials the Judge's house.
"Victoria Kiriakis please. Alexis Davis calling. Yes,
Victoria. I've had a chance to review your file. It's time to
talk.... I have an opening today or I can see you..." Alexis
looks through her desk calendar. "...Monday at three. Then
I'll see you this afternoon."
Ricky stops by the corner store. "Mrs Chow?" He calls
out from just inside the door when he doesn't see her immediately
behind the counter.
Mrs Chow comes out from the back. "Ricky?"
"Had me worried there for a minute. How you doing?"
"Good, good. What can I get for you?"
"Mei's phone number." Mrs Chow looks at him with a
questioning look. "It's about a job. She's probably
expecting it. Mei made an outfit for Rita Porter... something she
wore kinda as a calling card for Gary Winslow, a designer down in
New York."
"I know about this... but how does this involve you?"
"Gary Winslow is going to be working for Emily Quartermaine
as soon as the paperwork is complete. Emily wants to meet Mei."
"I call her." Mrs Chow is already reaching for the
phone. Because of her excitement, Mrs Chow completely forgets her
english when she is talking to her niece. Ricky leans up against
the counter and listens with a grin. He doesn't understand a word
of it but it sounds pretty good.
"Tell her to be at EBQ with her portfolio on Monday."
Ricky gives the counter a quick rap and with a wave heads out the
door. "Talk to you later, Mrs Chow."
Dara comes back into the office holding her arms away from her
body and with a grimace on her face. "Yuck."
"What happened to you?"
"If I jumped in the harbor I couldn't feel anymore gross."
Dara shudders. "One of those be careful what you wish for
situations. I'm going to go hit the showers. Rita, do me a favor
and go to my office and grab the bag in the bottom of the closet."
Rita goes running upstairs. Dara goes to the full bath on the
first floor of the building. By the time Rita gets back Dara is
already in the shower. "What happened?" Rita drops the
bag with Dara's change of clothes on the bathroom counter.
"Well we didn't find any rats or mice in the basement."
"That's a good thing right?"
"Cause there was a f'ing eight foot snake. Gawd I hate
snakes." Dara is scrubbing at her skin. "That thing
slithered over my arm. It was in the crawl space."
"Eww." Rita shudders in sympathy. "You know they
are more afraid of you than you are of them. How did a snake get
down there?"
"One of the former tenants turned it loose. Evidently his
new place wouldn't take pets."
"Well that was stupid. Lots of pet stores will buy back
snakes. Especially one as big as that."
"The guy moved out two years ago. I doubt it was that big
then." The shower turns off and Dara pulls the towel from
over the door and starts drying off. She comes out of the shower
stall with the towel wrapped around her. "Larry found some
great stuff. The plumbing is substandard, the wiring is a fire
waiting to happen. The boiler dates back to the forties. He
thinks there is asbestos in the attic. And he gathered paint
samples from all the apartments we could get into."
"What did you do about the snake?"
"Nuthin." Dara starts pulling on her fresh clothes.
" We just warned everyone it was there. V was going to make
a few phone calls from home after she dropped me off. What was
going on here?"
"Vicki is up with Alexis now. I'm pretty well caught up. I
don't have any appearances for a couple of weeks; I'm still in
the building phase."
"Well then head out. You aren't going to have the luxury
later."
"Thanks. I have a date tonight. Someone who I've been
waiting to notice me for about ten years."
"Who?"
"Ricky Robideau." Rita blurts out on her way out.
"Oh hell." Dara says to the mirror. "Could have
been worse, Jensen. Could have been Corinthos or Robideau sr."
About eight o'clock Porter house. Ricky pulls up to the front
door. Climbing out of the car he eases on his suit jacket. He
takes a deep breath. This is definitely going to be interesting.
He'd been coming to this house for a lot of years but never to
pick up one of the Judge's daughters for a date. Going up to the
door he rings the bell. Vicki answers the door. "Oh Thank
Goodness! Someone to get me out of this hellhole. You wouldn't
believe what my day has been like. I'll just get my purse."
"Whoa wait right there." Ricky protests.
"He's not here for you, Vic." Rita comes down the
stairs. She is wearing a halter dress in a deep rose color that
compliments her tan. The three inch heels bring her up to normal
height. "Hey Ricky."
"Hey Baby. You look great." Ricky compliments.
"Vicki, I left you some dinner in the fridge. All you have
to do is nuke it for a couple of minutes. Daddy and Cookie should
be home about eleven."
"Where do you think you are going?!" Vicki protests.
Rita makes eye contact with Ricky and doesn't break it. "Out.
Don't wait up."
"You're going to leave me here all alone?"
"Yeah. We are." Ricky takes Rita's hand and leads her
to the car coming around to open her door and assist her in.
After coming around he climbs in and looks at Rita. "Stop it."
"Stop what?" Rita asks guiltily.
"Worrying about Vicki. She's a big girl."
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts. It's time for us to go out for some one on one
time. So you can fill me in on when all this..." Ricky
indicates her appearance. "...happened. What happened to my
munchkin?"
Rita half turns in the seatbelt so she can observe Ricky as he is
driving. "You always said I was a forty year old in a midget
suit. I'm the same old me."
"But... your hair. The way you're dressing... the whole you."
Ricky shakes his head.
"My hair is about as long as it was before I was kidnapped.
You didn't know me then. And as for this... well Granny Sophia
gave me a little schooling too while I was down in New Orleans."
"Oh?!" Ricky greets that comment with some trepidation.
Granny Sophia had been one of the most notorious and prosperous
working girls of her day. Like the courtesans of ages before
she'd risen to the top of her profession and while everyone might
whisper how she made her living... everyone also wanted to be
seen with her.
"Relax Ricky. She didn't turn me out or anything. Granny
Sophia just gave me some lessons in being comfortable in my own
skin, comfortable with being a girl."
"Well you are definitely a girl."
"I'm glad you noticed." finally "I was
such a tomboy before I moved to New Orleans. All I cared about
was Horses and well..."
"Getting in trouble."
"Yeah, well it kinda found me. So where are you taking me?"
"Not Porters. Like I said I want some one on one time."
Ricky pulls out on the highway and starts heading out of town.
"I think you'll like this place. Just relax and enjoy the
ride." Rita leans back in the seat and rolls down her window
a bit. The warm summer breeze whips through the car. Ricky leans
over and turns on the radio.
And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't wanna go home right now.
Rita smiles keeping her eyes closed. "I got a good feeling
about tonight." The quiet between them is comfortable, just
enjoying each others company, the music on the radio, the smooth
ride of the car, and the summer breeze. Before long Ricky is
pulling off to what looks like an old sprawling farmhouse style
collection of buildings. "What's this?"
"Its a place I found while I was looking for something else."
Ricky tells her. "The food is great but the real thing is
the view. They serve out on the patio with a view overlooking the
river."
Ricky pulls into the parking area and coming around assist Rita
from the car. They walk hand in hand up the three stairs to the
wrap around porch. Ricky rings the doorbell ignoring the closed
sign. "Mr Robideau. Your table is ready." Together they
walk through the farmhouse to the back porch. Like Ricky said, it
extends out toward the river. The patio itself is lit with
strings of decorative lights. There is a single table covered
with white linen decorated with fine china, a floral arrangement
and candles already lit. Soft music wafts out from the house.
"It's beautiful." Rita tells Ricky as he is holding her
chair for her. He takes the seat next to her so they can both see
the view. The sun begins to set over the river throwing up colors
to the sky.
"The great thing about this place is putting yourself
totally in their hands. No menus. Think you can handle that?"
"I'm used to it." Ricky nods to the waiter who is
pouring them water in goblets. The waiter who'd been monitoring
the conversation goes back into the house to get things ready.
The staff serve as if mutes every need anticipated. The wine is
tested and poured and the couple left to savor it as the sun
gives it's last gasp. As the darkness folds around them only the
lights of the house and table break the night sky. They are far
enough away from the lights of Port Charles to be able to see the
stars overhead. The salad course passes with quiet conversation.
When the main course is served Rita looks up at the server.
"This looks fabulous."
Since she opened with her comment. The server replies. "The
trout was caught today and is served with hazelnut, lemon and
parsley butter. Enjoy."
Could you whisper in my ear
The things you want to feel
I'll give you anything
to feel it coming.
The main course dishes are removed and the dessert dishes of the
baked apples with toffee, bourbon and molasses topped with
homemade vanilla ice cream follow after that. Rita groans. "Oh
this place won't be a secret for long. It's too good."
"I got a letter from my dad the other day."
"How is he?"
"Missing you." Ricky says easily. "I didn't
realize how much time you two were spending together."
"Not so much really." Rita shrugs. "I worked all
through college. I know I didn't have to but I had to, you know?
After Hostessing for Johnny it kinda helped with the homesickness
to be go to work in another restaurant. Your Dad helped me get
the job and made sure that I didn't run into any problems. I only
cooked for him on Sundays-- doing the brunch thing."
"Sometime you'll have to do that for me. I still end up
going to Porter's every Sunday morning. I've become a creature of
habit."
Rita looks at him curiously. What did he mean by that? Was it an
invitation to come over and cook him brunch or to stay over and
cook him brunch. "Porter's is still the best in Port Charles.
Nothing I could make would compare."
"My Dad said you'd say that." Ricky takes a sip of the
cognac that had accompanied the dessert. "That you compare
yourself to Johnny and Cookie. It's not exactly fair is it?"
"They're both so good."
"And so are you."
"You don't know that."
"Oh but I do. I still miss your scalloped potatoes with
three cheeses." Ricky refers back to the Thanksgiving so
long ago. Rita shakes her head and laughs. Ricky stands up.
"Dance with me."
"Here?"
"Here." Rita takes his hand and lets him lead her to
the other end of the patio. Ricky takes her in his arms, folding
her into him. The soft music wafts from inside.
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
and sooner or later it's over
I just don't wanna miss you tonight
Swaying back and forth in the semi darkness, Rita rests her head
on Ricky's chest. "I don't want tonight to end."
"It doesn't have to. Come home with me, Rita."
Rita leans back in his arms to look him in the face. Her gaze is
serious. As serious as his. "Ricky..." The hesitation
is clear. One night stands have never been her thing.
He cups her face with one hand. "I'm serious, Rita. I'm not
playing. Come home with me. I feel like I've been waiting for you
all my life."
"That's cause you're slow. I left town 'cause of you, Ricky.
I couldn't stay here and watch you throw yourself at Maddy or
worse... Vicki."
"The timing was all wrong before." Ricky leans in and
presses a kiss to Rita's lips to cut off any further protests and
pulls her back to him. "Now is our time."
And I'll do everything you ever
dreamed to be complete
Little pieces of nothing that fall.
Put your arms around me
What you feel is what you are
And what you are is beautiful...
"Ricky?" Rita's voice is soft and husky.
"Yeah."
"Take me home..." Ricky holds his breathe hoping that
isn't all there is. "...with you."
Snippets from GooGoo Dolls Dizzy Up the Girl. Slide and Iris.
food from Epicurious.com.