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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Fifty
Cleaning Up.
Emily comes up beside Johnny at the back of the van. "How are things going?"
"Fine. Do you want to make up the plates for your grandparents?" Johnny looks around. "I don't see your folks here."
"They both had to work." Emily wrinkles her nose even as she dishes a plate from the makeshift buffet. "Mom on purpose I think. Dad got called into the clinic at the last minute and couldn't get out of it. It's a Carly thing."
"A Carly thing?"
"Yeah, Mom and Carly can't be in the same place without the barbs flying. Dad gets along with Carly and would probably have been here even if it drove Mom nuts. He'll call her or AJ later to find out how things went."
"Did you find out what was bothering Ms Benson?"
"Nope. Whatever it was though was major. I haven't felt that ... vibe off of her since before she and AJ got married. You know, not since about the time Evans got arrested." Johnny frowns gathering his own thought and making up plates for his mother and JD while Emily delivers the prepared plates to her grandparents. He remembers sitting at the Happy Family kitchen table when everything had come out about Evans and Ferncliffe. Emily is soon back by his side. "Mr Jacks has a heart condition." She says out of nowhere.
"Right." Johnny murmurs. He automatically makes adjustments in the next plates he is makes up while Emily takes plates to JD and Cookie.
"I should be helping." Cook protests about to get up from JD's lap.
"Johnny and I have it under control." Em smiles. "Relax-- brag a little. Hey Mrs Barrington." Emily greets the newcomer to the party. Edward rises giving Amanda the seat next to Lila. Lila grimaces slightly but quickly recovers. Edward pulls up another folding chair.
"Emily, my dear. Lila, I swear your granddaughter grows more lovely every time I see her. I was just speaking to Carly. She's been so influencial with my darling granddaughter. You know she and Lucas Jones are in the same riding class? Carly gave her a few pointers that improved her showing today. I understand Rita Porter was riding Carly's horse?" Amanda looks over to JD for confirmation ignoring Cookie but it is Edward that answers.
"Yes. I bought it for her." Edward inserts. "Carly's a damn fine rider herself. Couldn't let talent like that go to waste. Girl's got grit."
Amanda makes a face at Edward's language. "Yes, I'm sure she has... grit. I'm hoping that now that the show is over Carly will get back to the guild. She's been such an asset on our ongoing fund raisers."
Cookie grins down at her plate. Yeah, she could just imagine the arm twisting techniques Carly used to raise money. Was it still blackmail if it was for charity? JD whispers in her ear. "What's the joke?"
"I'll tell you later." Cook murmurs back.
Edward looks around. "Where is Carly anyway? And my grandson."
Amanda adjusts her fur around her and leans back in the chair. "Doing you proud, Edward. She and AJ are off working the room so to speak. Last I saw, she and AJ were in deep conversation with the CEO of Lance pharmecueticals. Carly evidently sat next to the CEO's husband at some horse auction."
Edward grunts. Carly and AJ should be here, but business is business. Emily brings plates to John and Lady Jane. Lady Jane is about to protest because of the special diet John is on but then looks at the plate. There is nothing to protest-- everything on the plate was within her husband's diet. She looks up at Em and smiles gratefully. Emily winks at her and then hands Amanda a cup of coffee. "Here you go, Mrs Barrington."
Amanda takes a sip of the coffee. There is a familiar bite to it. She takes another sip of the doctored brew. "Exactly how I like it, dear." She looks at Emily questioningly.
"Really?" Emily shrugs. "Then you must have eatten at Porter's restaurant. I told Johnny who it was for and he made it for you."
"My word, Lila! Having this little gathering catered by Porters." Amanda lifts her cup in a toast. "However did you manage? I've called there trying to get them to cater a party of mine at the house just last week and was politely rebuffed. It's the best restaurant north of The City. You must tell me your secret." Amanda insists.
"No secret." The judge says. "My son is here to support his sister, Rita. This isn't catering; its a tailgate party."
"A tailgate party. How... charming."
Emily turns away from the elders and rolls her eyes. Poor Grandmother having to put up with Amanda. She walks to the back of the van. Jason and Sonny are there with Johnny. Emily gives Jason a hug and greets Sonny before telling Johnny of her plans. "The elders all seem to be covered. I'm going to go round up the kids."
"I saw them back by the stalls. Michael is with Rita." Jason says quietly. "Francis is keeping an eye on all of them."
"Thanks." Em hugs Jason again and uses the opportunity to push him in the family direction. "You both should rescue Grandmother; Amanda Barrington has her cornered."
Jason grimaces but nods. Sonny picks up his plate and goes around to the side of the van. Jason follows him. Lila beams when she sees the newcomers as does Amanda. Edward frowns. John's eyes narrow. Corinthos had afterall been instrumental in messing up Jax's life. Cookie and JD keep it cool. Johnny was out of the business now. Sonny had made that easy when he really didn't have to. Course Johnny should never have been in the business at all. "Hello everyone." Comes a sweet voice from behind JD.
JD turns around. "Honey." Cook gets up so that her husband can greet his daughter. "When you didn't join us, Vicki, I wondered if you'd been able to get to the show."
"Why I wouldn't miss this for the world." Vicki smiles at the Quartermaines and Amanda. She studies Jason and Sonny with interest. They weren't her sort of course but they were dangerously handsome. Just then Rita and Lucas run up to the group. Vicki hides her grimace as the kids are praised all over again. She glares at Emily who arrives with a toddler in tow. The saccharine quality of her tones are only apparent to those who know and despise her. "Something you didn't tell us, Emily?"
"This is my nephew, Michael, Vicki." Em sets Michael loose knowing that the elders will act as a corral to keep him contained. Michael's first stop is ofcourse to Lila who hugs and kisses on him. Next Michael goes to Edward offering him one of his cookies. Edward makes gobbling motions like he is not only going to eat the cookie but Michael's hand as well.
"Isn't that just like Edward? Taking candy from a baby is about his speed." Sonny jokes to Jason. Edward overhears and harrumphs in disgust. Michael wanders over to John and Jane next. Jane coos about the adorable child. Michael grins at her. John leans over to brush his hand over Michael's hair but Michael is lifted out of his reach before he can make contact.
"Hey Mr Man." Jerry lifts Michael over his head. That had been a close call.
"Granpop!" Michael chortles and puckers up for a big smacking kiss. Which Jerry delivers. "Nana!"
"Hello Michael. Did you like all the horseys?" Bobbie asks her grandson.
"Mine." Michael says greedily definitely his mother's son.
"Nope. Your mama says not until at least your next birthday then she'll see." Jerry lays down the law on that one. Tucking Michael under his arm like a football, he walks over to Jason and laterals Michael to him. Jason makes the catch easily. Michael squeals in delight. Jerry says in a low tone that only Jason and Sonny hear. "Keep Michael away from my father or there is going to be bloodshed. Carly is on the warpath." Jason hands Michael to Sonny and pulls Jerry aside.
"What happened?"
"It's handled. I just don't want it going to a rematch."
Jax had arrived just in time to see Jerry and Bobbie with Michael but it was the look on his mother's face that had him worried. "Looks like I missed the good eats hanging out by the concession stand inside. I've been snacking on cotton candy, salted peanuts and sausages on a stick."
"Really, Jax. Junk food." Lady Jane protests absently but her gaze is still locked on Jerry with the little red haired boy.
"Tell you what. Why don't we take a walk? I saw a few ponies I wouldn't mind getting my hands on." Jax holds his hand out to Lady Jane leading her away from the party. Jax looks over his shoulder, "Dad, are you coming?"
"Right there, my boy." John rises and with a last longing look at his eldest follows Jax.
As soon as they are away from the group, Jane starts in. "Did you hear? That child called Jerry granpop. I have a grandson! No, a great grandson. Jax, why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because I didn't want to get your hopes up, Mum."
"Explain yourself, Jasper." John demands.
"That's Carly and AJ's son, Michael." Jax begins.
"Oh." John says softly. But then with more volume. "That psychotic harridan is the mother of that precious child?!"
Jax shakes his head. This was going to take a while. "Dad, I'm not going to dodge that there's some truth in what you say but you can't say things like that around here, especially around Jerry. Carly is Bobbie's daughter and he'll deck anyone that says ill of her. Believe me -- I know. Even though Jerry hasn't been in contact with you, you both know that Jerry hasn't been tearing all over the world the way he used to..."
"Last time he was out of the country was almost a year ago-- before he married Barbara Spencer," John muses. "Australia then Jakarta. My contacts in the foreign ministry there told me he was negotiating contracts for ELQ. Told me that Jerry and the CEO of ELQ was being damn reasonable but there was a blonde there mucking up the works... oh."
"Yeah, Oh. Jerry was there because AJ took Carly to Jakarta with him on business not realizing the country was falling apart. Jerry gets all the excitement he needs keeping up with Carly. He doesn't need a mountain to fall off anymore. I think he's afraid to take Bobbie on a belated honeymoon for fear of what he'll come back to. And to be fair, Carly doesn't always starts the troubles. They come looking for her."
"What does this have to do with me seeing my great grandson?!" Jane demands.
"This thing between Jerry and Carly is mutual." Jax runs a frustrated hand through his spikey hair. "How do I explain this? I've tried to mend fences with Jerry. He finally cut ties because of me, I know. I've gone to Carly trying to get her to intervene. But just like when I insulted Carly and Jerry decked me-- when I tried to get Carly to help out I started sweating wondering if she was going to carve me up with a letter opener instead. As far as she is concerned, I hurt her family; I hurt Jerry and the Jacks family did too by extention."
"I would never hurt Jerry!" Jane protests.
"But I have." John says flatly. He recalls just when Carly started making her move on him. It hadn't been the extortion or the money laundering. That had only been tossed in so that he would know that she knew his true character. Only when Carly had mentioned John joking about Jerry's adventures in kidnapping and the prison situation had she gotten really out of hand.
"Mum, it doesn't take much with Carly. You'd have been on her list if she had heard your conversation with Lila when you both arrived."
"What? how?" Jane tries to recall exactly what she said.
"When you told Lila that elephants and camels don't count as far as riding is concerned. And then went on to talk about my exploits on the polo field. Carly would have taken that as a slight of Jerry. Of you putting him down."
"But that wasn't my intention." Jane protests.
"I don't care how many papers Jerry says that woman can produce; she is insane."
"Jerry tell you why she needed to those papers?" John shakes his head no. "She shot the man who kidnapped her son in open court. He would have died if there hadn't been a cardiac heart surgeon and a trained ICU nurse there to give aid. Considering the stress she was under, she's got damn fine aim."
"Oh my lord." Jane leans up against a nearby car to catch her breath.
"Kidnapping is one of Carly's hot buttons. The fact the family jokes about Jerry being kidnapped three different times is enough to set her off. After everything she went through while Michael was missing, she's got no sense of humor where kidnapping is concerned. Jerry knows it too. One of the reasons why he is so cautious now is 'cause he knows if anything happens to him, Carly would set the world on fire to get him back." Jax grins. "... And Bobbie would hand her the match." Jax grows serious. "I didn't tell you the whole reason why Jerry cut loose of the family. I have to admit, I knew that Carly and Robin Scorpio didn't get along."
"Robin... she was a friend of Brenda's right?" Jane remembers.
"Her best friend. I brought Robin to Carly's house. I knew it would kick up a fuss but I didn't know how much. 'Cause I didn't know hours before Robin had testified on behalf of Tony Jones to gain custody of Lucas from Bobbie. That was what Jerry couldn't forgive-- especially since it was just like her testimony in a previous trial which got Tony Jones a walk after he kidnapped Carly's son, Michael."
"Oh Jasper." John's voice falls to a whisper and leans against the car next to his wife. "How are you going to get out of this one?"
"I'm already working on it. Jerry and I have worked on some small business deals together, including one with Carly. I'm working with Ned at Deception."
"How is that going to get you back on speaking terms with your brother?"
"Emily Quartermaine."
"Lila and Edward's granddaughter?" Lady Jane asks.
"Right. She's Michael's godmother and Carly's best friend."
Sonny and Jason left after complimenting Rita and Lucas on their riding. Bobbie and Jerry, AJ and Carly finally all get to eat. Rita starts glancing down at her watch. "Carly."
Carly stuffs a last deviled egg into her mouth and talks around it. "Okay," She mumbles. "I'm ready."
AJ wipes some of the egg filling from the corner of the her mouth and then licks his finger. "There. Now you're ready. Don't worry. I'll keep a close eye on the family." Carly pats AJ's arm and then follows Rita back to the Arena to get ready for the afternoon session. "Grandmother, you feel up to another round?"
"I'd love to, Darling." Lila takes Michael in her lap and makes her way back to the Arena. Edward follows carrying the thermos and cashmere lap robe. This could work out well and he'd get another look at that horse. Cookie comes around to the back of the van.
"I'll help you clean up, Johnny." Cookie starts spooning dishes into containers and sealing them.
"Um I don't think so." Emily insists. She takes Cook by the shoulders and turns her toward the Arena. "Shoo, shoo. I can do clean up for goodness sake. Judge Porter, a little assist here!" JD laughs but grabs Cookie's hand and leads her back toward the arena.
"Looks like you volunteered for KP."
Emily looks around and it is only her and Johnny. "Boy they did all disappear fast, didn't they? Wonder where your OTHER sister went."
Johnny rolls his eyes. "As stick thin and predictable as she is-- probably to stick her finger down her throat and put a lot of good food to waste."
"Oh yuck." Emily shudders but gets to work. The site is brought back to rights in short order. The last things are put away. Emily sags into the side door of the van and exhales. "Was that a land speed record?"
"Close. And we deserve a reward." Johnny hands Emily a cup of coffee.
Emily sniffs the coffee cautiously. "This isn't an Amanda Barrington special is it?"
"Oh no. Both of us have to drive later." Johnny laughs. He sits down next to her sipping his own coffee in a companionable silence.
"I really needed this." Emily closes her eyes after taking another sip. "Grandfather would say I was burning the candle at both ends."
"You told me something was going to give eventually."
"I took your advice and moved my free period around at school. Maddy took a big weight off down at the docks. The rest of it..." Emily sighs and shrugs.
Johnny looks down into his coffee. "I'm surprised that Cassadine isn't here." Where in the hell did that come from?
"He's helping Lucky move this weekend. The press finally drove Lucky to it."
"Been trippin' over them at the restaurant." Johnny shrugs. "But I bet Maddy made some money off of them. From what I've seen-- those journalist live off of high octane."
"Trust you to find the silver lining." Emily laughs but shivers.
"You're cold." Johnny looks around and sees Emily's leather jacket. He reaches for it and then wraps it around her. With a careful hand he adjusts her hair so that rests outside the jacket and tucks a stray behind her ear savoring the silky feel of the strand.
"Thanks." Emily allows the jacket to hang on her shoulders not bothering to put her arms in the sleeves. "We should probably get back inside before they call Rita's next class." Emily looks up to Johnny's chisled features and says in a rush. "You know, this has been really nice... we've gotten on so well today and...." Johnny leans over and brushes his mouth over hers, tasting coffee and Emily.
"Emily..." Johnny groans.