 |
||
The Quintessential Q
Chapter Fourty Eight
Arena
Emily throttles down to a dull roar on the rutted track leading to the Arena. Turning off the ignition, she parks the Harley and pulls off her helmet strapping it to the back of her seat. Running her fingers through her hair she fluffs it out a bit. The lay of the land was clear and she strides easily to the office where a harried worker is taking care of the last minute problems that always come up when there is a show. Emily watches silently from the doorway. When there is a break in the action she interjects. "I'm here to verify the stalls set aside for Carly Quartermaine."
"Who?"
Emily enunciates clearly and sharply. "Quartermaine. Caroline Quartermaine. There should be a reservation for the stall next to Lucas Jones' horse, Thunder."
"Oh right." The woman verifies the information and then hands Emily a map of the stalls with the specific stall highlighted and the list of the Arena rules and amenities. "Have your rider check in before eight."
"No Problem." Emily nods and leaves the woman to deal with the ringing phone. Following the map, it soon becomes unnecessary as the sounds of Lucas' childish tones lead her to the proper place. "Hey Bobbie, Jerry. Lucas, how is it going man?"
Bobbie mutters. "He darn near slept over here."
"Come on, Love." Jerry teases Bobbie grinning at her. She smiles back unable to resist those dimples. She brushes back the lock of hair that always seems to fall across his forehead. He takes her hand and kisses the palm maintaining eye contact.
Emily smiles at the openly affectionate couple. Lucas groans and rolls his eye. Bobbie breaks eye contact at Lucas' groan and studies her son closely. "Honey, I think you should test your sugar."
"Mom..." Lucas whines.
"Lucas." Bobbie reiterates sternly. Lucas does the necessary stick with the skill of long practice. As Bobbie had feared the sugar was a little low. All the excitement of the day and not sleeping had thrown the regime out of wack. Bobbie starts digging through her purse for a candy bar or something but Emily is already there tossing Lucas the orange from her pocket. "Thanks Emily." Bobbie says gratefully.
"Yeah, Thanks Em."
"No problem. Lucas, would you check out this stall and let me know if there is anything missing that Carly's horse would need? I need to give her a call ASAP if there is a problem so she can bring whatever down from her place."
Lucas puffs up a bit that Emily is defering to his expertise taking his mind off the bother of testing and the other rigermarole of his disease. "Sure, no problem. When is Rita going to be here?"
Emily shrugs. "Can't say for sure but she has to be here by eight for check in. And I'd bet she slept about as much as you did."
"So where is this horse I paid for?" A demanding voice can be heard coming down the corridor. Emily winces and Lucas wonders...
"Who is that?"
"That's my grandfather. He bought Mr Roberts for Carly."
"Bribed her you mean." Jerry says softly.
"Grandfather, I thought you weren't coming over until later." Emily says softly hoping to bring her grandfather's boom down to a growl in a corresponding tone.
"Well your Grandmother was ready to get out of the madhouse. So AJ drove Lila and me over. Damn cook quit right after you left." Sure enough Edward had quieted down as soon as neared Emily and the rest of the folks there.
"What did you do?" Emily asks suspiciously.
"What do you mean... what did I do?" Edward says both defensively and self rightiously. He turns the subject rapidly. "Where is this horse?" Edward looks around.
"Carly isn't here yet..."
"Do you want to see my horse, Mr Quartermaine?" Lucas asks eagerly.
Edward looks down at the earnest young lad. "And why would I be at a horseshow if I didn't? Lead the way, young man." Lucas grabs his hand and pulls him to the next stall where Thunder is oblivious to the bustle around the stalls. Edward gives Lucas his full attention as Lucas rambles on about his trust fund pony.
"I'm going to go find AJ. See what's up." Jerry whispers in Bobbie's ear. She nods and they split up. Bobbie stands near Emily as she rings up the property and listens as Emily gives Carly the all clear.
Once Em hangs up the cell she turns to Bobbie. "I just caught her. Mr Roberts is already loaded in the trailer. She's on her way. Is there any coffee around this place?"
"There is an urn set up in the office." Bobbie had checked that out first thing. "The concession stand hasn't opened yet."
"Good 'cause I'm dying here. This o'dark thirty stuff is for the birds."
Around the arena itself are bleachers set up for the spectators and even what passes for "luxury boxes". It is in one of these boxes that Lila has taken possession. She is bundled up in her fur coat and has a cashmere lap robe to keep her warm in the drafty building. "We're way too early, Grandmother." AJ says worried that Lila will tire herself before the show even starts. He opens the basket Reggie had sent along then pours some hot chocolate from the thermos into one of the bone china tea cups.
"I know, Darling, but I did so want to get the best seats. And having Edward threaten to sic the dogs on yet another cook was an excellent reason to leave the house early." Lila takes the cup from AJ and sips before continuing. "So where is your wife?"
"Carly probably isn't here yet and when she arrives she'll be preoccupied with getting Rita and Mr Roberts ready for the show. Hopefully we'll get to see her some time today."
"Edward has been all aflutter about this. Carly this, Carly that." There is a twinkle in Lila's eyes as she continues. "That damn horse this, That damn horse that. Was he going to have to sponsor a blasted show to finally get to see it." AJ laughs at his grandmother's dead on mimicry of Edward.
"I seem to have just missed the joke again." Jerry leans along the railing at the front of the box having walked over from the stalls. "Mrs. Quartermaine, you are vision on this chilly morning. Your husband is a fool to leave a pearl beyond price unguarded."
"I see that both of the Jacks boys have kissed the blarney stone." Lila holds a hand out to Jerry. Jerry takes it gentley in his own and kisses the back.
"Why how did you know? Heck of an adventure it was too. I was holding Jax's feet while he was leaning over. Darn tempting to drop him on his noggin too at the time. But that was quite a few years ago."
"Did I hear my name taken in vain?" Jax interjects. "Mum, Dad I think you remember Mrs Quartermaine."
Jerry turns around. "Lady Jane, Dad. I didn't know you were coming down from Alaska."
"Jerry, for goodness sake where else would be with out new grandson riding in his first horse show?" Lady Jane reproves Jerry. "Jax picked us up at the airport." John seats Jane next to Lila. "This is quite exciting. Jerry was never the one much into riding."
"Now that's not quite true, mum."
"Jerry, elephants and camels don't count. Jax was always the rider but then that was polo." Jane shudders. "Don't know how many times I found out via the tabloids Jax had taken a tumble while playing. Both of the boys seem to fixate on sports where they can get their necks broken."
"Boys will be boys." Lila nods.
"And I always hated that phrase, don't you? It gives them an excuse for all types of foolhardiness." John, Jane and Lila catch up on the events since they were last in Port Charles while Jerry pulls Jax aside.
"What the hell you think you're doing?" Jerry snarls.
"It's about time you mended fences with Mum and Dad." Jax insists. "Look, I was the one dumb enough to bring Robin to Carly's house you can't keep blaming them, holding yourself off from them, because of what I did. Damn it, Jerry! I was the one who stepped in it."
"Don't push, little brother." Jerry's eyes narrow. "This isn't about Mum and Dad. Today is for Lucas."
"You heard Lady Jane. Lucas is their new grandson. The only grandson they've got. You're not being fair."
"I am not going to get into this with you." Jerry is about to tell them all to get lost and AJ who had been observing knows it.
"Yo Jerry. I bet Carly's arrived by now. She's probably going to need help with Mr Roberts. Getting him unloaded and situated." AJ interjects quickly glancing down at his watch for emphasis.
"Right." Jerry snarls and stalks off again toward the stalls area. AJ catches his grandmothers' eye and makes a motion with his head that he's going to follow Jerry. Lila nods and waves him off. Lady Jane had watched the unfolding disaster out of the corner of her eye and sighs heavily. She'd been as guilty as all the rest of treating Jax like the golden child but Jerry had always been her rock.
"I know, dear." Lila pats Jane's hand sympathetically. "Boys will be boys. Have you met Carly yet? Bobbie's daughter, she's married to AJ. They have a lovely child, Michael." Lila leans in to murmur confidentially. "Carly has quite the pull with your eldest. Carly is quite headstrong-- even more so than her mother. Bobbie might have the red hair but Carly is the firecracker."
"And Jerry did always love playing with firecrackers." Jane muses. John sits behind his wife taking in all the information Lila's feeding them.
"Carly has the memory of the elephants you mentioned earlier when it comes to a grudge. Something else she and Jerry have in common. Edward and Carly go round and round. Edward adores her of course. But Edward has not been the best grandfather to AJ, and Carly is still punishing him for that. Edward has been trying to bribe his way out of the dog house for quite some time. Carly is very possessive. Anyone who slights one of hers is going to pay one way or another."
"And Jerry is one of hers." John supposes leaning in between the two women.
"Yes. Caroline was raised without a father. Jerry has filled that role for her even before Jerry and Bobbie married. The fact Jerry rescued AJ from a disaster in Jakarta cemented that. AJ has been very supportive of Carly's relationship with Jerry. Emily, my granddaughter, tells me Jerry is mentoring Carly in business and such. He has also been working with Emily some, but Edward doesn't know about that. Jerry adores Lucas of course and if very indulgent with him but Carly...." Lila allows her voice to trail off significantly and takes another sip of hot chocolate.
John rises from his seat and walks over to where Jax is standing watching the set up of the arena. "Tell me about Carly Quartermaine and your brother."
"Ah hell. I should have thought of that." Jax grimaces.
"What? Thought of what?" John demands.
"Carly is going to kill you."
"Daddy, follow that trailer!" Rita insists excitedly from the back seat.
"What trailer?" JD asks.
"That one!" Rita insists pointing. "That's Carly and Mr Roberts."
"You got it, honey." Judge JD Porter pulls in behind the trailer as it enters the road to the arena. They pull into a parking spot within sight where the trailer was backing up to the stalls. The car is barely stopped before Rita is out of the car and racing toward the arena.
Emily stands at the entrance to the stalls in clear view of the driver's side view mirror and makes a motion with her hand directing the driver in his reverse. Finally she holds her hand up in a halt motion. "That's good." The driver turns off the ignition and Carly pops out from the passenger side coming around to the back. Jerry and AJ move to the back of the trailer and unlatch the gate lowering it to the ground to form a ramp for the horse.
"Em, take care of the driver." Carly orders as she comes around and immediately enters the trailer. She gives Mr Roberts a reassuring pat to let him know that she is there. Carly secures the lead rope to Mr Roberts halter and backs him easily from the trailer. Jerry and AJ stand back to give her room. As soon as Carly and the horse are clear of the trailer. They remove the tack from the trailer and follow Carly into the horse barn. Emily pays the driver and gives him instructions of when to come back the next day. Bobbie holds the stall door open and Carly walks Mr Roberts in. As soon as it is secured behind them she starts taking off the horses protective travel gear. Rita races up passing Jerry and AJ.
"Is everything okay?" Rita demands.
"Right on schedule." Carly nods. "You need to check in."
"She's right." Emily agrees. "You have to be checked in by eight."
"Where?" Emily gives Rita the directions to the office. JD and Cook arrive in time to hear the directions and leave again with Rita so that she can get registered. Carly starts grooming Mr Roberts making sure to get all the itchy spots but is hampered by the size of the enclosure. Getting done what she can, she leaves shutting the stall door behind her.
"Should I be knocking on wood somewhere?" Carly grins. "So far so good."
"Where is it!" The deep loud tones come from behind Carly. She groans and closes her eyes. She'd spoken too soon.
"Edward."
"Well, young lady, I'm waiting." Edward demands.
Carly takes Edward's arm. "Edward-- Mr Roberts, Mr Roberts, this is the old man."
The big black Morgan looks at Edward and snorts. Edward looks back and does the same.