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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Seventy Six
Brunch
"Now you see why we took my truck." Lucky looks around the filled parking lot. Filled with everything from eighteen wheelers, to RVs, to vehicles with only four wheels. License plates relay the transitory nature of the clientele. New York plates actually seem to be in a minority. "They'd squash your pretty jag like a bug." Lucky says cheerfully.
"Is this a good idea?" Nik protests. How Lucky always drags him into these situations he has no idea. He totally blows off that lately he's the one draggin Lucky into adventures.
"Tell ya what, I'm even buying." Lucky says. Nikolas follows him into the huge restaurant which is actually split into service station, gift shop, entertainment center with video games and then the restaurant. Beyond the restaurant is a bar. "This place rocks on the weekends. Country rock but rock none the less. Once in the restaurant, Lucky scopes the place out in a glance. The place is packed. He sees which section his favorite waitress is working and when someone gets up to leave he walks over and takes over their table.
"But this hasn't been cleaned." Nik recoils. "And shouldn't we wait to be seated?"
"You snooze you lose. So? This way you get to see it being cleaned." The waitress comes over with a bar towel and a tray.
"Lucky, there were other tables opening." She protests maternally.
"Yeah, but they didn't have you." Lucky puts his hand over his heart.
"Flatterer." In short order the table is cleared and wiped down. "You having your usual?" At Lucky's nod the waitress turns to Nikolas. "What about you, honey?"
"I think I need a menu." Nik says hesitantly totally out of his element.
"He'll have the rib eye medium rare and over easy, homefries-- heck, go all out he'll have a the biscuits and gravy too." Lucky orders for Nikolas. "Coffee and keep it coming."
"You got it, sugar." The waitress walks off to put the order up not waiting for Nik to make a decision.
"I hope you know what you're doing."
"Would I steer you wrong? Don't answer that." Lucky grabs an abandoned Sunday paper from a near by table. He hands a section to Nikolas. Nikolas is more interested in the lack of ambiance that Lucky had described. The walls are dark wood paneled but it isn't like his uncles study-- cheap veneer vs. real wood. Every booth and table have phones attached to them. Large men split pretty evenly between cowboy hats and ball caps talk on the phone checking in with home or the job. There are couples, there are families; there are gray hair folks. The waitress swings back through with the coffee dropping off little containers of pseudo cream in the middle of the table and doesn't slow down as she moves to another table. "She's great, isn't she?" Lucky interrupts Nikolas' observations. "She reminds me of Mom."
"What?!"
"When I was little, Mom worked in places like this. If you're good you can always get a job. You don't need references really you just need to know the lingo and how to work the tables. Places like the Grill, they hire waiters guys in suits who make the customers feel like crap, make them wonder if they're good enough to be giving the place the money. The women who work here are pros. Like Donna Summer said, They work hard for the money."
Edward places his hand at Maddy's waist. He isn't actually touching her but the gentlemanly steering is there. They walk into the Grille together. They are met by the Maitre De who sucks up with skilled practice. They are escorted to a table. The waiter hands them menus but only Edward's has the price list on it. "I know you've head stories about the staff at the mansion but it's not true of the Grille. We've got a damn fine staff here."
Maddy leans in toward Edward, elbows on the table and without a care. "You know what you butler called your new cook? A homicidal Martha Stewart." Maddy laughs and Edward laughs with her.
"We've set a precedent there I'm afraid. The only cook who lasted any amount of time was... abrasive. Wimps are eaten alive at the mansion. And the only staff that last are the ones hired by my wife. When our old cook got married, I made the mistake of hiring some French chef. He lasted a week, two tops before I was ready to sic the dogs on him. The local temp services won't even return my phone calls!" Edward has a disgusted look on his face.
"So what did you do? Or should I ask what did your wife do?"
Edward leans in so that they won't be overheard. "The state prison system actually has an excellent culinary program. Did you know that people convicted of murder actually have the lowest recidivism rate of all convicted felons?"
Maddy's jaw drops. "He meant it literally! Literally a homicidal Martha Stewart."
"Shush." Edward looks around to see who might be listening. "That's a Quartermaine secret, young lady. If it gets out all the best families will be recruiting from the prison and then where would we find help?"
Maddy grins. "I love secrets. They're leverage."
Edward puffs up like he'd been coaching her himself. "And I love go getters. Have you thought anymore about my offer?"
"Has Emily?" Maddy counters. "I could go either way. I do, do a lot of business at the high school. Emily may have told you that the kiosks are just my sideline."
"Em is remarkable tightlipped. So if the Kiosks aren't your main gig what is? And please don't tell me rock and roll. There are enough leather britches already in the world."
"No." Maddy says firmly. Maddy shrugs. "I'm a niche woman. I find the niche and fill it. Busy men like you don't have time to shop but know they'd be in the doghouse if they forget an anniversary or birthday. I make sure they don't forget. Kids at school want front row tickets to the hot groups. I get the tickets. The closest comparison is surfing really. But instead of waves I ride trends."
"Do you know how much ELQ pays for that kind of information?" Edward asks. "...to someone with the ability to anticipate trends?"
"To the penny. But I also know I'd never fit into a corporate structure." Maddy shakes her head.
"Why not?!" Edward protests and pouts feeling it slip through his fingers. Ever since AJ had taken over ELQ, it just hadn't been as fun anymore. AJ didn't rise to the bait the way Ned always did. And he couldn't push it as far without Carly threatening to skin him alive.
"This has been my bread and butter for years, long before it was... legal. I've gotten very used to doing things my way." Maddy wants off the subject.
"How long can you really have been doing this?" Edward dismisses.
Maddy doesn't answer only takes a sip of coffee from her fine bone china.
"So how much did it cost you to get Emily to stop modeling?"
"Blasted girl is being totally unreasonable!" Edward sputters. He waves off the waiter with a brush of his hand. There would be time enough for eating later. He hadn't had the undivided attention of a pretty girl other than his wife since before Katherine Bell went psycho. "She listened to my whole offer and then shut me down cold. Said she had a contract and that was that."
"Well that is another reason why I won't go corporate." Maddy explains further. "I'm like Emily if I say I'm going to do something and put my name on it... I do it. I doubt she'll get any gigs with a broken ankle, so you've got five weeks to try and wear her down..." Maddy shakes her head.
"What, what? What are you thinking?" Edward prompts.
"That you're kind of screwed on the whole thing. I don't think that Em will break her contract and if you pressure her as I'm sure only you can that will just dig her heels in further. I suppose you could buy out her contract or buy her agency but if your name is on it then she would just dig her heels in again. It's not like that's the only modeling agency and I think she was planning on switching representation anyway. You need a white knight. Someone with an airtight reason to buy a modeling agency. Otherwise you are just going to have to wait until her contract is up and then make her your offer as an incentive to not re-sign with her agency or any other."
"Hmm." Edward is under no delusions. Maddy is on Emily's side if anyone's. Anything he said would go back to Emily and trash his negotiating position. Time to drop it for now. "You know I have a grandson, fine strapping lad. Smart as a whip. A lawyer. I think I should introduce you two. Justus is spending too much time on his career. Now I can respect that, I really can, but there is no balance to his life which is a sure road to burnout." Edward rolls his eyes at the pop psychology term. "I never get to see him at all anymore; he spends so much time at the office. You take my grandson, AJ, for example-- spineless, drunken wastrel I'm sorry to say, until he married Carly. Now look at him, CEO of a multinational and doing a fine job. Justus, on the other hand, while he's had his walk on the wild side is a fine upstanding man with a bright future in politics ahead of him. What? What? Why are you shaking your head at me like that? It's just an introduction!"
"Nope, not going to happen, Mr. Q." Maddy continues to shake her head. "I know exactly who you are talking about." Maddy starts holding up fingers. "No offense but a) he's too old, b) he's a lawyer and the biggie the three strikes you're out not gonna get up to bat again c) he dated my Aunt Dara."
Edward frowns. Finally he waves the hovering waiter over placing an order for the brunch. As soon as the waiter moves off he starts in again. "I do have another grandson, Emily's brother Jason. I didn't want to bring him up because he is the blacksheep of the family. Emily and Lila keep in contact with him but that's it. Well Monica and Alan do too on a strained, limited basis. He has the same problem as Justus. Floundering, a successful... businessman," Edward about chokes on that one. "...but there is no balance in his life. "Before Carly married AJ I thought maybe... but...." Edward shrugs. "His long term ex girlfriend moved back to Paris. They didn't part on good terms. What? What?! You're shaking you head again!"
Maddy starts holding up fingers again. "A) rebound guy-- never-- been there done that b) he would seriously cramp my style and business with his lifestyle and c) I have an Aunt Dara who works for the DA's office who is currently dating a lieutenant in the PCPD since her ex-boyfriend, your other grandson, is now her boss."
"Ah yes, but you didn't say he was too old!" Edward leans back in his chair giving the waiter room to put down the omelets they'd ordered. The waiter then puts the fruit selection in the middle of the table between the two of them, refills the coffee and discreetly slips away.
Jason pushes open the door to Porter's restaurant holding it open for Emily and Michael. Sonny and Francis come in too.
"Emily!" Rita rushes over giving her friend a hug. She is dressed in a white tuxedo style shirt with a red cumberbund and a black skirt with black flats.
"Rita!" Emily squeezes back and then leans back to take a look. "Your hair looks great! I didn't realize it was so curly!"
Rita runs a hand over her hair self consciously adjusting the black velvet headband. "Cookie says the weight was keeping it straight. Carly took me to the spa after going riding the morning after I got home and had one of the ladies there trim it up for me. It's really easy now; I don't have to mess with it every morning. How are you?" Rita steps away. "I guess you were right; it really was broken."
"Oh yeah. Five more weeks in this sucker." Emily taps the cast against one of the chairs. "And believe me I'm counting. Where is everybody?"
"Daddy is acting like some kind of pasha reading the paper at the family table. The jury finally came back on his case so he can read the paper again. Cookie and Johnny are back in the kitchen. The hostess called in sick, again. Johnny calls it morning after the night before flu and he is totally ticked. She does it every Sunday she is scheduled. So I get to work, which is really great cause I saw some riding boots I like. Let me take you to your table." Rita remembers her business and escorts the group to a secluded table that Johnny had set aside. She makes sure that Michael has a booster stool and that Emily has a seat near the wall so she can lean her crutches up against it. "And no menus for you, Johnny is whipping up something special." She announces to the group. Rita excuses herself to tell Johnny they are there and get the waitress.
"Morning after the night before flu." Emily hmms. "Seems to be a bit of that going around." Emily teases as she watches Sonny gratefully take a sip of the coffee the waitress pours.
Just then Michael drops his fork on the floor. "Shit" He looks around to see the grown ups reaction. Sonny and Jason stare wide eyed at the toddler. Emily rolls her eyes. Cookie who had been coming out to check on Emily heads straight back into the kitchen. She returns a moment later and sets a bottle of Tabasco right in front of Michael's chair. Michael looks at the bottle and then at Cookie frowning.
"One more word like that out of him and you put a drop on his tongue." Cookie instructs Emily.
"You're mean, mean, mean!" Michael protests to Cookie.
"You know what this is, Mr. Man?" Emily holds up the bottle.
"Unca Luke sauce." Michael tells her. Emily smiles. So that is what Luke had done. Ancient Spencer Secret indeed. Carly would be happy to know.
"Em?" Jason lifts a brow demanding an explanation. Michael hadn't been swearing last weekend.
"Lucas has been staying with Carly and AJ while Bobbie and Jerry are on their honeymoon. He thought it would be cute to teach Michael some new words. Evidently Luke called to check on Bobbie and Michael answered the phone, swore at him and hung up. When Luke came over he took Michael and Lucas aside for a correction." Emily holds up the bottle of Tabasco. Jason takes it from her and shakes a drop onto one of his fingers and then licks it.
"Son of a ... biscuit." Jason swears then reaches for some water. "That's hot."
"Lucas is such a brat." Rita declares with the aged advantage of a couple of years. "He would think that was cute. I hope he never gets a parrot. Imagine the damage he could do then." Rita sees another couple come in for brunch and heads over to the door to greet them and take them to a table. While Rita is busy making sure everyone is seated, has waters and menus, the waitress brings out brunch for Emily's party. As soon as there is a break in the action Johnny comes out of the kitchen to check in with Sonny and Jason.
"I didn't know if you guys were going to make it today." Johnny jokes. He is looking kind of pale himself. Luckily Ma had been here to pick up the slack. He'd have to remember to not party the night before he has to open. He pulls up a chair, the only space available is next to Emily. One of his staff brings him a cup of coffee which he sips.
"Looks like they aren't the only ones with a case of the morning after the night before." Emily notices with just a hint of jealousy. She'd been home with the family and Johnny had been out clubbing. So much for the little reminders Maddy had left behind.
"I couldn't sleep last night." because the apartment was so empty without you Johnny shrugs. "Have you talked to Maddy this morning?"
"No why?" why are you asking about Maddy? Aren't you going to say anything to me
"She was out clubbing last night. We saw her at the new dance place downtown."
"That Maddy? She was there with Taggart." Sonny tells Emily. While the statement is an announcement there is a question there too.
"Taggart has been all big brother with her lately 'cause he is dating her Aunt." Emily dismisses it. "It's one of the reasons why Maddy moved out of her Aunt's house."
"Where did she move to?" Johnny asks.
"She didn't say... just that was staying with someone who owed her a favor. Excuse me." Emily stands up and reaches for her crutches. She heads back toward the restrooms.
Johnny excuses himself a moment later and heads back to the kitchen but he is just passing through to the back door of the kitchen he goes out that door and then back in through the backdoor access to the restaurant which goes right by the restrooms. He is waiting when Emily comes out. For a long moment they just stare at each other. And then Johnny steps toward Emily, taking her in his arms. "You are driving me insane." He mutters and then kisses her so hard she can't breathe. "When am I going to see you again... alone?"
"I don't know." Emily bites her lip. Johnny runs a thumb over her bottom lip freeing it from it's torture. Emily bites Johnny's thumb instead teasingly. "You could always come by the house?"
"Not a great idea. Me and your grandfather..." Johnny shakes his head. "He's going to have to be eased up on the idea even slower than I was... am."
"Deception. I'll go back to work." Emily suggests.
"Are you ready for that?" Johnny worries running his hands down Emily's arms.
"If I'm not then I'll just have to take long breaks. Really long. Grandfather wants me to drop out of high school finish up with tutors."
Johnny frowns. He'd dropped out of high school and sure, things turned out alright... sorta, but it was one of those paths not taken that you always wonder if things would have been easier, different. What opportunities had he lost by dropping out? How much harder had he made it on himself? "I don't know, Em." He shakes his head. "I know you wanted to challenge out of this year anyway before all the sh** went down. I know you're going to weigh all the options... everything you'll be missing."
"Yeah, and weighing all the things I'll be missing if I'm spending all my time in a classroom. If I go tutors, Johnny, I'll be able to set my own hours. I'll be able to spend more time at Deception." and more time with you.
Johnny is already shaking his head. "Take me out of the equation, Em. You have to do what is best for you, for your future. If it's meant then we'll make it work whatever you decide." Johnny kisses her again and then goes out the back door, back to the kitchen. Emily goes back into the bathroom to check her makeup. She adds some gloss to her lips to cover that they are swollen. Taking a final look in the mirror, she takes a deep breath and then goes back into the restaurant.
"Nikky!" Lucas goes tearing through the tables until he is standing by Nikolas. "And Lucky. Hey!"
"What are you doing here, guy? I didn't think you were driving yet?" Lucky asks.
"Nah, Carly and AJ brought me." Lucas doesn't wait for an invitation but slides into the booth next to Nikolas.
"Carly in a truckstop? AJ in a truckstop?" Lucky is shaking his head. "Not on a bet."
"You'd lose that bet, bro." Nikolas nods in Carly and AJ's direction. They are making their way over to Lucky and Nikolas' table. Shrugging Carly slides in next to Lucky and AJ pulls a chair from another table and sits at the end of the booth.
"Slumming Caroline?" Lucky taunts.
"Shut up." Carly retorts. Just then the waitress comes up to greet the newcomers. She sets up waters in front of them. Before the waitress can even set down the menus. She is already talking. "I want grits."
"We've got a sausage cheese grits on special." The waitress suggests.
"That. I want that." Carly points at Lucas. "He'll have one high and a side of one over medium, no, make it a short stack. AJ?"
"Bacon crisp and over easy." AJ smiles up at the waitress. It had been awhile since he'd been here. Not since his drinking days.
"Hashbrowns, homefries or grits?"
"Hashbrowns."
"Right. Drinks?" AJ orders coffee, Lucas milk and Carly decides on tea. "Be back with them in a second." The waitress finishes her scribbling in her order pad and takes off.
"Actually I'm kind of glad I ran into you." Nikolas tells Carly.
"Oh?!" Carly's brows go up. It's not like she and Nik work the same circles or are buds or anything.
"When I moved off the island I brought Sheba with me, my palomino. The thing is; I'm busy at the hospital and other things and I'm not home much.... When Sheba was on the island she had all the other horses and a full time groom. And I know you have an extra stall up at your place...."
Carly frowns. Her mother would kill her if she turned the kid down. Bobbie might have only been married to Stefan Cassadine for like ten minutes but she still considered Nik one of hers. She sighs. "Fine. Move her up there. Let me know when and I'll get the stall ready but here's the deal. If she is up there she is going to get ridden, by me, by the vet student who lives up there, by Rita and I'm not paying to feed her. You're going to have to cough up the bucks to the vet student for keeping an eye on her too. Taking care of my horse when I'm not around is worth the free room and board for her and her horse. Taking care of yours, you're going to have to work your own deal."
"What about Thunder?!" Lucas protests. He'd been wanting Thunder up at Carly's place since Rita had been taking lessons from Carly ages ago. He knew that Rita had won at the show because Carly had been coaching her.
Carly glares at Nikolas. He'd opened a can of worms. AJ grins down at the section of newspaper he'd snagged from Lucky. "We should have built a bigger stable, sweetheart."
Carly glares at AJ next. Then she tells Lucas firmly. "No." When it looks like he is going to protest. "You aren't moving Thunder anywhere until you talk to Jerry." That shuts Lucas up momentarily but by the glint in his eye he knows it is just a matter of time.
"Ohh big threat there." AJ ribs Carly also knowing that Jerry gives Lucas almost anything he wants.
"You just shut the hell up." Carly mutters. AJ is saved by the arrival of their breakfasts. Carly automatically shifts the selection of syrups from their table to the next one over and reaching into her bag grabs the special diabetic syrup she'd brought for Lucas' hotcakes.