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The Quintessential Q
Chapter Eighty One
Ch- Ch- Changes
Ned nuzzles Alexis' neck waking her. She runs a hand down the arm that cuddles her close, pressing her to him. "Good Morning, Husband."
"Good Morning, Wife."
"Did you have any plans for this morning?" Alexis turns over within Ned's embrace pressing a kiss to his chest.
"I thought we'd see what came up."
"I do like the way you think." Alexis tucks her hands under the covers to feel exactly what was coming up.
Emily dresses casually in jeans and ratty top. There are going to be benefits to this tutoring gig. Sliding on socks but not bothering with a shoe she goes down to the front room for breakfast. "Good Morning, Grandparents!" Em calls out cheerfully hobbling over to the table. Reggie who had heard the sound of the crutches on the parquet floor of the foyer has already made up a plate for Em.
Monica who doesn't have a surgery until later is still there drinking juice and and reading the paper. "Em, is that what you are wearing to school?" She asks disapprovingly.
"Yep." Emily chirps. "Yesterday was the last day of my dressing to fit my image at PCHS. Today is the first day of the rest of my high school career."
"What is going on?" Monica asks suspiciously.
"The girl finally got smart and decided to go with a tutor. That place was holding her back." Edward mutters.
Monica is torn about putting up a fuss, being consulted would have been nice. She didn't like the high school situation either. Both AJ and Jason had gone to boarding school. "It would have been nice to be consulted."
"Sorry, Mom." Em glares at Edward. "But look on the bright side. This means we have more control over when I can go on vacation-- all we have to worry about is your schedule."
"Vacation?! What vacation?" Edward blusters.
Monica looks over at Em and grins. Em grins back. Well at least there is one thing they are getting over on the old goat. Reggie brings Monica some hot cereal. Considering how her jaw aches it's her only option. Bobbie was going to hear about this when she got back.
Happy Family house.
Carly is up early again getting Lucas ready for school and making a quick breakfast for everyone before they take off in different directions: AJ to the office, Lucas to school, her and Michael up the hill to the stables and the spa. Carly starts when there is a knock on the backdoor. Looking over she sees Alan. "Hey. What are you doing here so early? Have you had breakfast? Coffee?"
"I was hoping to get to talk to you privately."
Carly grimaces. This is it. Alan was going to level her for leveling Monica the night before. "Not a great time. I've got a full house."
"Carly, where is my bookbag?" Lucas hollers from another room.
"Check the study! You and AJ were doing homework there last night." Carly hollers back.
"Homework?" Alan questions.
"Kid might as well get the idea that homework doesn't stop when school does." Carly takes a second from her breakfast preparations to stuff some munchies in Lucas' lunch box and to pour Alan a cup of coffee. "If this is about Monica I'm not going to apologize. I'm not sorry for decking her just sorry for doing it around Lila and I apologized to her last night."
"Monica can take care of herself." Alan shrugs. "And I'm not going to intervene as long as you two keep it face to face. No sneaky tricks. Eventually you two will come to a truce."
"Yeah, Like North and South Korea." Carly says sarcastically.
"That's possible." Alan realizes he and Carly can and will be interrupted at any moment. "I'm here because AJ is worried about you. He says you've been tired lately and turned kind of green last night around the champagne."
"Snitch." Carly mutters turning away to continue with her preparations. AJ was going to hear about this one. "Lucas is kicking my ass. He's fine, and Michael is fine, but get the two of them together and all hell breaks loose. They encourage each other to new heights of idiocy. Michael thinks Lucas is a little god and Lucas thinks it's cute to get Michael in trouble. I'll be happy when Mom and Jerry get back and things get back to normal. I'll probably sleep for a week."
"Yes, I can see where that would be a factor." Alan nods. Carly sits across from Alan and takes a sip of tea. "I just thought it might be something else. Could you be pregnant?"
Carly spews the tea back into the cup and coughs. "Pregnant?!"
"Yes, you know the direct consequence of healthy young people having a normal sex life without using a method of birth control or not using a method of birth control as regularly as they are having sex. After the Norplant's were removed did you ever go get another method?"
Carly sighs. "The pill but I'm seriously cruddy about taking pills." Carly gets up and goes to the calendar hanging on the refrigerator. She starts counting back the days. "Oh hell."
"Then it's something that needs to be ruled out?" Alan ask for verification.
"Yeah, I guess so. Dang. It would have been nice to talk to AJ before having another baby. You know, plan for Michael to have a little brother or sister."
"Maybe next time." Alan says cheerfully. He's going to be a grandpa again! And this time he'd get to be there from the get go. "I'm sure that AJ will be excited when he finds out."
"Oh I'm not telling, and you aren't either. Not until it's a sure thing." Carly points a finger at Alan for emphasis. "And we are definitely not talking about more than two kids at this point. I've learned this last week with Lucas-- two is my limit, maybe beyond my limit. Maybe next time- ha!" Carly sits across from Alan again. "I still remember being pregnant with Michael. From the horror stories I've heard since, he actually went pretty easy on me considering the stress I was having everywhere else in my life. But I don't remember the delivery at all. How could I? I was out cold, bleeding out, having to have a C- section. And then Michael was born sick. I went nuts and split."
"It was a crazy time for all of us." Alan remembers. "But every pregnancy is different." Alan pulls up his bag and opening it pulls out a pregnancy test. "I brought this just in case. They are extremely accurate if done correctly. And I don't want to know the results until after you tell my son."
"Well yeah, that's a given."
"If you are pregnant, then Nancy, Dr. Newman, can outline the risks for you. Whether or not you'd be considered a high risk pregnancy. Whether the defect that Michael had is likely to happen again. She can relieve a lot of the stresses that are worrying you. Things are very different now, Carly. You and AJ are married. You would be doing this as a team not solo." Alan reassures her.
Carly hears the sound of male voices getting closer to the kitchen. Jumping to her feet she shoves the kit into a drawer just before Lucas, AJ and Michael all come in. "Look who is here checking up on me!" Carly says with false cheer as she glares at AJ. She wasn't really ticked anymore but AJ didn't need to know that.
"Um, hi Dad. You here for breakfast?"
"Sounds like a good idea. And what do you say, Mr. Jones? After breakfast I'll drive you to school. That way your sister can get an early jump on her day."
AJ looks back and forth between his father and his wife but doesn't say anything.
Nikolas glances down at his watch and swears. He ended up spending the night over at Wyndemere. He would have been okay to drive but since he'd had more than one glass of champagne and the drinking age in NY is 21 he couldn't afford to be pulled over with even a hint of alcohol on his breath let alone intoxicated.
Stefan had been happy to put him up. They'd done some early morning Tai Chi for old times sake but now there wouldn't be time to swing by the construction site before heading up to exercise Sheba. He had appointments scheduled all day at GH meeting and evaluating volunteers.
The trip on the launch to the docks is a little choppy in the early morning chill but quickly accomplished. Once up on the docks, he glances down at his watch again. Screw it. He'd grab a coffee to drink on the drive up to the stables. At the kiosk he looks around for Maddy before placing his order. "Is Maddy here?"
"Been and Gone already." The lady behind the counter tells him helpfully while pouring him a cup. "Do you need me to get a message to her?"
"No thanks. I have her number." Nikolas grabs a paper too wondering when he will have time to read it as he tucks it under his arm and walks over to the jag. Under his windshield wiper is a little note.
It must not have been that important.
Call me before noon and you die.
Maddy
"Okay, message received, Maddy. Although I'd really like to know what you are up to." Nik throws the newspaper into the passenger seat the coffee to the cup holder and the note in the glovebox. The jag starts with a throaty purr. Sheba first, then the hospital, then the house.
Johnny opens up his van at the back of the restaurant. It was starting to be slim pickin's at the farmers market for the local produce. Things were starting to go international or at least Californian as the growing season of the Upstate New York comes to a close. But the apples and squash look great. He'd figure some kind of lunch special to go with it all. His mother meets him at the back door taking boxes from him as he hits the door. Cookie takes them into the prep area and opens them like presents, thumping on the butternut squash checking it for firmness and no soft spots. "You know most people hate squash. They have a prejudice against it just like spinach. Damn public schools that serve out of a can and cook to mush."
"Yep!" Johnny hauls in the last box. "So I figure we'll serve it as a side on what is going to be the more popular special-- tease them into trying it."
"Tricky. That's my boy." Cookie smiles proudly. "What do you think? A waldorf with the apples?"
"I like it. Sorry I didn't call you last night. It was too late when I got home. Emily reminded me I need to get my vest back from Rita."
"You were with Emily." While the sentence is a statement there is a question there.
"Yeah, I gave her a ride home from Deception last night. There was a counsel going on at the Q's. Hence the vest reminder. Ned Ashton and Alexis Davis got married over the weekend." Even as Johnny is giving his explanation he is putting things away. "Emily is going to finish school with tutors."
Cookie snorts. "Bout time-- both on the marriage and Em going tutors. Those little tarts were making her life a living hell. She hasn't been happy at that school since Laura Spencer faked her death and Lucky went on the run with his family. If she had been happy then she never would have gotten involved with Matt. Rita got a write up in school yesterday for acting out." Cookie changes the subject abruptly.
"Acting out? No way." Johnny denies straightening from where he'd been flattening the boxes for recycling. "What did JD say?"
"She's bored. They aren't challenging her. It's isn't quite see spot run but for a girl reading on her level it might as well be. JD knows it too. Rita is grounded from riding until one of us goes in to talk to her teacher. JD wants to know what talented and gifted programs are available or if we are going to have to get creative with her education. JD says he went through this with Viki too. As soon as she hit puberty and discovered boys school work went out the window. That is not going to happen with Rita. I'll kick her ass first."
"What about Queen of Angels?"
"What about it?" Cookie starts.
"Private Catholic school, smaller classes. Between the nuns and the Jesuits who run the program, they keep a tight ship. Sonny and Jason fund the place pretty well. They just helped put in a new boiler before the school year started. Tuition would probably be steep because that also helps fund the scholarship students."
"JD isn't Catholic and me and the church...." Cookie shudders.
"Come on, Ma. You couldn't be in any worse standing with the Church than Sonny and Jason, and they're still going every week. You don't have to be Catholic to go to the school. Just more interested in learning than doin' drugs or drivebys."
"Let me talk to Rita's teacher first. I made an appointment for after school today. If I don't like the situation or it looks like it's not gonna get better I'll talk to JD. Queen of Angels? You really think?"
"It's an option." Johnny shrugs. "Anything to make sure that Rita doesn't make the same turns as Viki."
"From your mouth to God's Ear." Cookie mutters.
Maddy arrives at the Q mansion after making her rounds of the kiosks. Tucked under her arm is a box of beignets for Mr. Q. Hopefully the old man will share. She knocks on the door. Sally answers. "You must be Maddy?" At Maddy's nod, Sally escorts her toward Edward's study. "The tutor just arrived a few minutes ago. Emily hasn't met him yet. The guy is closeted in with Mr. Quartermaine going over a few things." Sally looks at Maddy significantly.
"Oh scary." Maddy sees Emily waiting in a chair outside of the study. "So did you see the guy? What have we let ourselves in for?"
"Good question." Em grimaces. Before either can talk the other out of this course of action the door opens and they are invited in.
As they take their seats the tutor begins to speak. "I am Dr. Lewis. Lets get the formalities out of the way." He points to each girl. "Maddy and Emily. Now we've all been introduced. Mr. Quartermaine indicates the schedule will be as follows. Instruction from 9 until 1pm. Lunch at one. Individual projects after one. I understand both of you are working hence the need for afternoons off?" Lewis doesn't wait for the nods before continuing. "What I cover in instruction will be an adjunct to the reading not a regurgitation of the reading. It is your responsibility to do the reading and complete the assignments. The assignments are an exercise of your knowledge. There are certain state requirements that must be satisfied. Those are your actual tests. Any questions? No, well then lets begin." Lewis starts handing out sealed booklets and a couple of scantron sheets.
"What is this?" Emily asks.
"This is a test to determine your competency level and your areas of deficiency so the program can be tailored to you both." Lewis tells her and then hands her a pencil, Maddy too.
Edward sees that the schooling is under way and quietly lets himself out of the room. He'd get a few hours in at the office and then be back in time to take Emily or Maddy to lunch. Hopefully both of them to celebrate the new endeavor.
The stables above the spa.
Carly pulls in with her SUV spotting Nikolas' jag already there. Coming around the car she unbuckles Michael from his car seat. He's getting so big all he needs is a booster seat now. As soon as his feet hit the ground he's running for the corral. Nikolas has Sheba out and is putting her through her paces. Carly comes over to the corral and taking Michael's hand leads him into the office despite his protests. "Come on,Mr. Man, we have to go play with Mr. Roberts. He needs a good brushing and I know his room needs cleaning worse than yours does!"
"Apples?"
"Yep, got them in my pocket. But not until he's all purty and fed." Carly goes to the office and checks for any notes from the vet student. With all apparently well she goes into the stables to check on Mr. Roberts. "Hey my big baby, How the heck are ya?" Carly rubs the gelding's neck as he pushes over the door. Mr. Roberts snorts at Michael and starts nibbling on his hair. Michael giggles and steps back. "No, no, no. None of that you oat and hay eating machine." Carly pushes back on Mr. Roberts clearing the way for her to open the stall door and shuts it behind her leaving Michael back in the corridor. Walking across the stall she hollers out to Nikolas-- "Mr. Roberts coming out."
"Right." Nik calls back.
Carly lets Mr. Roberts out into the corral. He heads over to Sheba and her rider to check them out. Carly shuts the door to the corral and opens up the door to the main corridor again. Michael had already tried to haul the wheelbarrow over and was dragging the pitchfork. Carly leans over and gives him a kiss on the top of the head. "You are Mama's big boy. And such a big help. You wanna watch Teletubbies for half an hour and then we'll brush Mr. Roberts and feed him apples?"
"Po?"
"That's the red one right?" Carly shakes her head. She walks Michael back into the office and starts up the TV dropping a Teletubbies video in. On her way back to the stall she shuts the bottom half of the Dutch door connecting the office to the stables. So she can hear Michael if he calls out. Carly makes short work of mucking out the stables sliding on gloves and pitchfork in hand she quickly takes out the soiled bedding and replaces it with new straw. Then she goes over to the vet students horse. "Hey Baby, did your human have to go to class too early this morning?" Checking the condition of the stall Carly decides to do a little cooperating. There were going to be times in the future when she couldn't get out here bright and early too. Carly goes through the stall keeping a hand on the Palomino at all times so he doesn't freak that she is there. "The Colonel is coming out." Carly hollers to Nikolas.
"Right." There is a laugh in Nikolas' voice.
Carly releases Colonel out into the corral and shuts the gate behind him. Following the same procedure as with Mr. Roberts stall she makes short work of the cleaning and laying out of new straw. After completing the task she goes to check on Michael. When she comes back the wheelbarrow has already been moved down to Sheba's stall and Nik is mucking it out. "Oh my-- the prince cleans up."
"Part of the deal." Nik reminds her. "Where do you want all this dumped?"
"There is a composting pile outside. I've got a mushroom farmer who hauls it away. He gets what he wants and I don't have to pay to have it hauled away. I'm going to make a pot of tea. Do you want some?"
"Sure. Let me dump this."
Carly goes back into the office. Stripping off her gloves she shoves them in her pocket and washes her hands. Then sets the kettle on. She glances over at Michael. He's still doing fine. Taking a risk, she opens up her computer and checks her email. Email from her broker, from some of the friends she made while investigating Evans, junk mail, junk mail, junk mail. Ohhh good one! She prints the last one out. A list of estate sales from Hassan. Hassan had added some pithy comments by some of them as well as a lament that he hadn't seen her lately. "Looks like Mama is going shopping this weekend while you're with your Daddy, Mr. Man."
"Shopping?" Nikolas comes into the office. He sees the open door to the bathroom and goes in and washes his hands. When he comes out the kettle has started to whistle. Checking the nearby ceramic teapot is ready he adds the scalding water.
Carly practically croons. "AJ introduced me to this lovely man in the city who knows all the best places to shop. He really helped me get the house situated the way I want it. Not that you'd need anything like that since you probably have scads of houses with full attics of stuff and it's not like the cottage has much space in it anyway."
"That's right you lived there for awhile, didn't you?"
Carly shudders. "Don't remind me. It was hell. I don't know what Jason was thinking believing me and the Queen of Angels could all just get along. And I wasn't driving back then so I had to take the bus. You know how bad the bus service is out there?! Once you get off you still have a half mile hike to the house. Come on, Mr. Man. Lets make Mr. Roberts all pretty so we can get back to town." Carly picks up Michael and takes him back to the stalls. Once Carly has cleared the office Nikolas goes over to the list of estate sales. Seeing the fax machine there, he faxes it to his office at the hospital and then replaces the email back where he found it on Carly's desk.