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When Cassadines Fall ~ The Detour
5am is still too early in the morning. Even his uncle, now that he'd become
involved with KC-- Laura's neurosurgeon, had overcome the insomnia that plagued
the Cassadines. But him? It's not insomnia; he just can't sleep. Not after Maddy
left. It isn't the alarm clock, or Cinnamon's nails on the floor as the big dog
shadowed Maddy around on the morning wake up routine. It's just Maddy's absence.
Maybe if it were summer he'd head up to the stables to see Sheba. But even the
horse is still asleep. Nik sighs and throws off the covers. Might as work with
it. After a quick shower, shampoo and shine, Nik is in the kitchen of Wyndemere
lite. He pours himself a cup of coffee and goes into his study turning on the
computer. The European assets of the Cassadines had never been so supervised.
Oh well. At least since Maddy had finished school at the end of the year, she'd
be back to the house after she completed the round of the coffee kiosks that
generated her legitimate income: two at the docks, courthouse, pcu, downtown
business district and with the new year she'd added a new one. That one is in
the mall and Maddy can't get it set up until 1/2 hour before the mall opens-- a
much more reasonable hour.
If he could get the corner store, even if Jason Morgan ended up footing the bill
for the Chows, it is a project he and Maddy can do together. How Early is too
early to call the real estate agent?
"Unless you are calling Europe-- forget it." Lesley tells him wryly reading the glare Nikolas is giving the phone.
Nik gets to his feet in a rush. "Grandmother-" He looks at the clock and winces. His study is right next to the room that had been modified for his grandmother's use. 'I hope I didn't wake you?"
"No, I was up. Now that the holidays are over, Maddy isn't burning the candles at both ends. So you aren't either. You'd think you two would be able to sleep later although you go to bed early enough."
Nik tries to get away from his grandmother questioning what time he went to bed. "You couldn't sleep either?"
Lesley sighs. "Don't need as much sleep as I used to and this cast is better than the other but it's still a pain. " She gets comfortable in the chair across from Nik's desk. "You can't sleep when she's not around. You lasted three days before going down to New Orleans when Maddy and Emily Quartermaine took that vacation."
Nik flushes. "Johnny Cook didn't wait either."
"Nikolas, when are you going to ask that girl to marry you?"
"Not until I think she'll say yes." Nik answers automatically and then blinks when he realizes what he just said.
Lesley smiles at him; then rising to her feet she announces. "If I don't get a pepsi, I won't be worth a darn at the clinic." Lesley refers to the Elm St Clinic where she'd been volunteering since returning to Port Charles after Thanksgiving. Alan Quartermaine and Val are the main doctors for the clinic and she volunteered as a Receptionist. It isn't exactly practicing medicine but then she doesn't exactly have a license either.
As Lesley walks into the kitchen, she spies Lucky pouring himself some coffee. Lucky looks up. 'Hey Grandma, you're up early."
"Hey grandson, you're up late." Lesley goes over to the fridge and grabs a pepsi. "Why are you up?"
"No reason really." Lucky shrugs. "I was working on something and it got to the point where I might as well just stay up until Elizabeth has to leave."
Lesley studies her younger grandson. His sudden reversal of fortune hadn't changed him. Maybe because the wealth hadn't brought him what he wanted-- a restoration of Laura's health and memory. It's difficult to believe that Lucky is a millionaire, a Millionaire as he stands by the coffee pot in worn jeans, a turtleneck topped with a flannel shirt and as is the custom in the house-- sock clad feet. In Lucky's case holey socked feet. "Lucky!" Lesley sighs. "Those socks need to go."
Lucky looks down at his feet and wiggles the toes that are exposed. "Yeah, I guess so." Then he changes the subject. "Elizabeth driving you to the clinic?"
Lesley nods. "It works best with everyone else's schedule."
"Just four more weeks, Grandma. Then the cast is history."
"I'll drink to that." Lesley lifts her pepsi in a toast.
"So when did you turn into such a cheap s.o.b?" Carly demands after she shows up at Jason's penthouse. She unzips her coat but leaves it on.
"Excuse me?"
"A monthly bus pass? A book of schedules. Gees Jason! Why don't you just give her cab fare? Or have one of the guys drive her?!" Carly throws the things Jason told her to bring onto his desk.
"And how would she tell the cab driver where she wanted to go?" Jason asks. "And if she handed him a note with the address on it... how would she know that he wasn't taking her there via Syracuse? If she can't read the signs?"
"Then one of the guys." Carly counters
"She's not my girlfriend or my sister, Carly. Li's not going to be living here forever. She has to be able to get around town... know her way and not be having to rely on rides."
Carly's eyes narrow. "And you want me to teach her? Thanks, Jase. Always good to know what you really think of me."
Jason opens the book of bus routes that Carly had brought with her to the oversized map. "And how am I supposed to explain this? When I can't see it?!"
"Sorry. Right." Carly frowns. "And how am I supposed to explain it when I don't speak Chinese or French?"
Jason sighs. "Look, if Li takes a cab-- great. If she gets a ride from the guys-- great. But I don't want her to feel trapped."
"You mean like AJ told you I was before he took custody of Michael." Carly counters. "When his big thing was to make sure that I didn't need you."
Jason ignores Carly's comment and starts making a list. "Li needs to be able to get to Queen of Angels. Her language school. The supermarket. Your place is kind of off the busline... so Bobbie's instead. Maddy Reynolds is working on getting a place that can be converted into a mom/pop store for the Chows-- for when they get here."
"If they get here." Carly had started scribbling all the information down on the back of an envelope.
"Her mother will be here for sure-- she's already out of China. Sonny's following up on a few things to try to get Harry Chow out. We aren't going to stop until the guy is either out or dead."
"Where is this mom and pop place?"
"The corner property down where Maddy Reynolds lives."
"Jase! I thought you wanted them to stay!" Carly protests. "I've seen that place! It's a dump."
"So was that place where you put the stables." Jason reminds her of the methlab scare on the property above where the Deception Spa is located on the outskirts of town. Carly had gotten the property for a song because of the scare and been able to tear down the shack on it and replace it with a stables that now housed her horse, Lucas', Nik's and a Vet student that took R&B for herself and her horse in exchange for keeping an eye on everyone else's horse. "Besides aren't you the one that is always singing location, location, location?"
"Yes, but I didn't think you were actually listening."
How soon can you be in my office?
"They went for it?"
They evidently decided to take the tax loss.
"I'm in the car now. I'll be there momentarily. " Nik reverses in the next intersection and is soon at the Real Estate Agent's office. He'd already decided in the car how he would handle this. He'd buy the corner property, and work on the conversion with Maddy. And then when it's done they'd turn the whole thing to Morgan and the Chows' plus Maddy's commission of course. But today he needed to get the keys.
Li, Jason and Carly gather around Jason's desk. As Carly calls out each location that Li needs to know and finds it on the map, Jason translates and Li writes next to Carly's finger what the location is in chinese.
"You know what you're really going to need is a cell phone." Carly suggests. "Something pre programmed with all the numbers she needs."
Jason starts rubbing his forehead.
"It's too much." Li says in french watching Jason with concern. "I am causing too much trouble."
Jason sighs. "Not near as much trouble as when I was looking for you. Carly thinks too much-- but she's right. You need a lot of things straightened away before Michael arrives on Friday, let alone starting class on Monday. Maps give me a headache so I just want to be done with this part."
"Time to stop talking and start doing." Carly interrupts even though Jason seemed more willing to explain things to Li than to anyone else. "Time to drive around and find everything, and Li needs to be making notes of the landmarks."
Jason translates that and Li goes back into the kitchen to grab her notebook from the desk. While she's gone, Jason hands money over to Carly. "Groceries, cell phone, clothes-- hell whatever you think. Her ID should be ready in a couple of days."
"We'll be back before dark or when we get on each other's last nerve." Carly says cheerfully. She grabs the map and folds it so that The Harbor View Towers is at the center. Once Li is back the trip down to the parking garage is made in awkward silence and a few forced smiles. Carly unlocks her large SUV with custom plate BRN2SHP by remote on her keyring. Li comes around to the passenger side and with some difficulty manages to get up in the vehicle. "Sorry. My bodyguard insists on a big car." Carly explains hoping that something in her tone is coming thru. "It's because I just learned to drive in this last year. It's safer for me and Michael. And really I'm a very careful driver." Carly sets the map on the console between the two women. She points to the Harbor View Tower location on the map and then the next point-- the mall. They'd do the grocery store on the way back. It might be January but that didn't mean she wanted food in the back of her rig for hours on end.
Nik drops the paperwork on the front passenger seat. Deed to the property-- As Is. Receipt for the back taxes marked paid in full. He pulls out his phone before he even pulls out of the parking space to complete the next step-- an honest property assessment. For that there is only one guy. "Larry? Nikolas Cassadine. I need an inspection of the property on the corner from my house."
Larry sighs. "Yes, I owe you for Partner getting the seat on the Historical board finally and winning the residential rehab project of 2000. But owe only goes so far."
"Just an inspection." Nik promises. "An outline of what needs to be done. Maddy will act as Contractor."
"She seems like such a smart girl. How did you sucker her into that?" Larry quips.
"How soon can you meet me?"
"I have to fax a couple of bids and I'll be over."
That would give Nik enough time to stop at an office supply place and get the largest three ring binder available. He'd found it helpful when rehabbing his house to have a project book to documented every facet of the reconstruction. Properly gift wrapped and beribboned it would would be a suitable present for Maddy and a way to let her know that the project is a go.
Li had tried to show restraint but Carly can't be denied when it came to
shopping. This way Li has a good idea of the layout of the Mall and where to
find the very few things that would actually fit her and not make her look like
a little girl playing dress up. And being seen with Carly Quartermaine meant
she'd get good service the next time she came thru on her own. Nobody messed
with Carly when it came to shopping.
There are bags at their feet and coffee drinks in front of them as they take a
break. Li is keeping an eye on everything around her. Sure, there are malls in
Shanghai but they are for rich people and tourists not for the daughter of a
local fishmonger. Carly works on programming the brand new cell phone. She'd
always had a touch with things electronic and it's a good thing since AJ is
hopeless. Carly shows Li what she is doing with the phone. "Jason," and she
points to number one on the keypad but she doesn't depress it. "Jerry," and she
points to number two. "Me and AJ," points to number three. Then getting Li's
notebook away from her Carly writes down a number. "Li." and holds up the phone.
Li nods that she understands.
"Hey, what's going on?" Maddy comes up after checking the status of her kiosk and spotting a familiar face.
"Li, this is Maddy. Maddy, this is Li. She speaks Chinese of course and french."
"And which of those do you speak, Carly?"
"Neither. But I do speak shopping-- fluently."
"Ah, the true universal language." Maddy turns to Li. "Bonjour. And that's about the limit of my french unless you want to start getting into swear words."
"Bonjour." Li replies. She can't help but stare at Maddy. For one thing the girl is tall almost a foot taller than she is, and dressed dramatically with her hair micro braided down the middle of her back. In Shanghai there are differences of course but everyone is Chinese. Here the differences are huge from person to person, their hair, their height, the way they dress. Everyone fit in because nobody did.
Maddy looks at Li but talks to Carly. "Talked to Mei and Grandmother. They've been in contact with Auntie Yuen in..." Maddy looks around not that anyone should care. "...Hawaii on a pretty regular basis. Somebody still hasn't checked in with her mother or with her family here."
"Jason's working on that. But no pressure okay? Until she's ready-- just keep the lines of communication open."
"No pressure. I didn't think you knew the meaning of that." Maddy smiles at Carly and bares her teeth. Carly had been on her ass from day one to accept Jerry Jacks as Maddy's father. Even though they'd both found out about each other about eighteen years and a lifetime of experience later.
"That is totally different!" Carly protests.
"Right." Maddy shrugs.
"So what do you think?"
"It's not going to fall down anytime soon." Larry looks around. "Solid. Enough pitch to the roof so no worries there. You going in the service station business? There are all kinds of rules, I don't know jack about-- stuff about the tanks and other environmental things."
"No, it's going to be a corner store." Nikolas pulls out a packet of photos that had been taken back at the beginning of the month when he'd followed Maddy down to New Orleans and taken over her vacation. "This is Monroe's. It's a store in Maddy's old neighborhood down in New Orleans."
Larry holds up the pictures to the light coming thru the filthy windows. He whistles. "So you aren't talking your local seven eleven. This is going to be a full service small market."
Nik nods. "The people that will be running it have run a seafood store before, so that is their speciality. But yes, fresh fruits and vegetables, a... deli counter. A place for food preparation. And then the convenience items for when a trip to the regular grocery is inconvenient."
"There is a reason why places like this are a thing of the past." Larry hands the picture back. "People have cars. Grocery stores aren't that inconvenient."
"What would have to be done?"
"Well you lucked out in them having an extra bay rather than just two." Larry is shaking his head. "Totally different electrical layout, plumbing. You might as well take it down to the walls and start over with the shell."
"Sledge hammer and crowbar." Nik shakes his head wryly. "Well at least I know I'm proficient."
"Yeah, first things first. And don't forget some propane space heaters cause it's cold in here and you aren't going to have electric-- unless you're going to drag your generator over here. Get a dump box over here and clear the place out. Get a plan drawn up based on the size of the shell. I'd be able to give you more of an idea from there. Write up a plan for Maddy."
"It needs to be done in eleven weeks."
"Why did I know there was going to be a catch?!" Larry sighs. "It's a good thing you're pulling this crap in January instead of April. Come April I would have told you no way. Partner works year round with his interior stuff but this is my slow time."
"You said you were putting a couple of bids in."
"Remodels. Ah hell. I'll work up a bid on this one too. It'll give Maddy an idea of the ball park."
"Sooner the better."
"Yeah, yeah. " Larry puts his gloves back on and zips his jacket. "Get that dump box in here and the crap cleared out. And then we'll talk sooner the better. You're nuts, Kid. But I've known that about you for awhile."
Because it's so important that Li get this one right, Carly goes back to the Harborview Towers and not believing she is doing this-- grabs the map and Li's hand. Together they run across from street from the Harborview and wait for the bus to show up. As they are waiting, freezing their asses off of which Carly is sure to tell Jason later, Carly turns to the page in the bus book that has the route and the time schedule for the bus. She finds the right column for where they are and runs her finger down it, showing Li exactly what she is doing. Then Carly glances at her watch and shows it to Li too. Li takes her pen and circles the header for the column that Carly is referencing. Carly dog ears the page; it's the busline Li would be using the most. For once the bus is on time and they aren't waiting long. Carly hands Li the bus pass and grabs some change for herself. When she gets on, she deposits the change and asks for a transfer slowly and clearly. Then pantimimes showing the driver the bus pass. Li does and soon they are in seats and on their way.
Li has her notebook out and is ready to take notes of anything that might be used as a landmark. Carly has the page turned in the bus book to the route for this bus and is tracing the path as the driver goes so that Li can correspond the map to the landmarks. It has been years since Carly had ridden the bus here in Port Charles. Not since she'd lived with Tony and even then Jason had been willing to give her a ride if she needed one. But there are just some horrors you never forget. They are coming up on the transfer point. Carly reaches across Li and hits the buzzer to let the driver know to let them off at the next stop. While they are waiting for the connecting bus, Carly goes thru the same process as she had with the first, using the bus schedules and verifying times. This time she points out where they are going to be getting off the bus-- at Li's school.
Li circles the header of the transfer point, dog ears the page as she'd seen Carly do. And then looking around her starts making notes of the landmarks in her notebook. Public transportation is the same world over. Miss your stop and you'd be late at minimum or worse, lost.
Lucky comes into the diner and spies Elizabeth sitting at the counter. It's slow and all the customers are taken care of. He figures she is working on some school work so comes up behind her and gives her a quick kiss. "What are you studying?"
"This restaurant supply catalog." Elizabeth holds it up. "It has coolers and such too, hot dog and popcorn cookers. You know the kind of things that you'd have in a convenience store. They aren't cheap that's for sure. But at least it's an idea. You figure you're going to have to have a freezer section..."
"For ice cream."
"Okay two freezer sections cause I was thinking real food." Liz counters. "Then fridges for milk, juice, sodas. I don't know how they are going to fit everything in and still have a deli counter... which is another refridgerator unit."
"And an ATM. The closest ATM is over by Lila's theater." Lucky reminds.
"And if Maddy is involved in it, you know there is going to be an espresso machine and fresh coffee." Liz adds.
"Didn't Nik say he was going to try to pick up some auction information on business liquidations?"
"I think so. The next time he is up at the stables and can get access to Carly's fax machine cause you know they send her copies of everything going on in the NE." Lucky shrugs. "Maybe should just go with Bobbie the next time she goes to the wholesaler and see what's there and price it all."
"You know what this means right?"
"What's that?"
"We just got the garage cleared of everything that Nik was using to remodel the house. You know it's going to be the staging area for everything for the store."
Lucky laughs. "Oh yeah." He wraps an arm around Liz just about shoulder high. "And as soon as the store is done, Nik is going to want to landscape Wyndemere Lite-- that kind of got postponed due to weather. Don't worry, babe. Maybe by next year we'll all be able to park our cars in the garage."
On the way back from the school, Carly and Li stop at the grocery store closest to the Harborview Towers. This more than the mall stops Li in her tracks. Sure, back in shanghai there are streets of stalls with fish, or meat or noodles or vegetables. But there are oranges, apples and pears. Vegetables that are never seen except for a few months during the summer or fall. Li can't believe the variety and is stopped in her tracks. Carly gives her arm a tug and then puts Li in charge of the cart while she goes around and grabs a little of this and a little of that. Jason had often been compared to a hoover. He isn't a picky eater and neither is Michael as long as he saw AJ, Jason or Grandpa Jerry have a bite of it first.
Working the walls of the grocery store, Carly hits the bakery, the dairy, the meat department pausing periodically to grab Li's arm and bring her along as she gets shocked and shocked again at the variety, quanity and quality of the products. There is nothing like this back in China. Not even the premier would eat this well. Carly starts skipping over the fish department but that is where Li grabs her arm and pulls her back.
Carly puts a hand to her stomach. "Li, please. no." She puffs up her cheeks like she is going to hurl.
Li rolls her eyes. She taps on the glass over the tiger shrimp.
"How much you want?"
Li holds up one finger.
"A pound?"
"Yeah, give her a pound so I can get away from this case." Carly interjects. The shrimp is carefully weighed, wrapped and priced and handed to Li who puts it in the cart. "Great now lets get going." Carly wheels the cart down the cereal aisle and grabs a few things as she goes. Only once they are at the check out does Carly really realize how much she has purchased. "The bus? I don't think so. Li, call Jason." Carly makes a motion as if putting a phone to her ear.
Li reaches into her purse and then opening up the phone presses one and then enter. "Jason?"
Carly takes the phone. "Jase, we kinda overdid it at the grocery store. Will you send one of the guys to come pick us up? Because my car is in your parking garage. Li and I took the bus. Great. Here's Li." Carly hands the phone back to Li.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am fine."
"Don't let Carly... push you over. One of my guys is on the way. Carly will recognize him."
Li hangs up the phone and watches Carly suspiciously. Sure, the other woman had been pushy-- tugging her this way and that but she hadn't actually *pushed* her. Maybe Jason had used the wrong word? Li watches as item after item is scanned and bagged. It is good that Jason is sending someone to pick them up. There is no way they would have been able to carry all of this on the bus.
According to the calendar posted on the fridge, it's Liz's night to cook at Wyndemere Lite. She'd already consulted the menu prepared by Mrs Lansbury. Somehow that woman always just seemed to know when there was a major grocery purchase and showed up to make menus while things were being put away. The table is already set so it's just a matter of waiting until everyone shows up to do the final touches.
"Is Maddy back yet?" Nikolas demands as he comes in the back door. He hangs up his coat and kicks off his shoes.
"Do you see a pitbull sniffing at your feet?" Liz doesn't look up from the catalog she is looking thru.
"Okay, dumb question. Where is Lucky?"
At that Liz looks up. "He and Lesley went to the hospital to see Laura. Didn't you see them there?" Considering that Nik is in charge of the volunteers at the hospital and has an office there he is very hard to miss.
"I left early."
Now Liz is really curious. Nikolas Cassadine has that whole duty thing down and isn't one to cut out early. "What's in the box?"
"It's a present for Maddy."
"Yeah, I figured. But what is in it?"
"After dinner."
"No way." Liz slowly smiles. "You got the property didn't you? You did!"
"After dinner, Elizabeth. Please."
"Okay." Elizabeth says cheerfully. "But you might want to hide this then." Liz hands him the catalog of store and restaurant fixtures that she'd brought from the diner.
Nik has just enough time to tuck it in a drawer when everyone starts arriving. There is a flurry of hanging coats and kicking off shoes. And since everyone knows exactly what is on for dinner pulling things out of the fridge and pouring drinks. As soon as they are all around the table then the day's rehash can begin.
"KC says Mom is going to be able to go home by the end of the week. They've done all they can really do in the GH rehab facility bringing Mom up to date. And there is really nothing wrong with her physically... I mean nothing that would stop her from taking care of herself."
That is met with silence. It's good news but it's also weighted. Everyone looks at Lesley for a clue as to how this one would work. Laura knows she has three children but she knows it because she was told. And the surgery to repair the damage done in the car accident had wiped her memory of the last twenty plus years. She remembered Nikolas as a baby, Lucky and Lulu not at all-- not really. There had been some meetings in the hospital but they have been carefully done. Lulu isn't a baby anymore and she'd figured out that her mother thought of her as a stranger, an adorable stranger but a stranger.
"Luke is going to move back into the house." Lesley explains. "Get it ready for Laura's release."
"What about Lulu?" Liz blurts out.
"She's moving back too." Lesley adds. "The only way you could get Luke to go to counseling would be by putting a gun to his head." All the kids nod, believing that one as fact. "But Lulu is going to start seeing a counselor on a weekly basis. Just to ease her over any adjustment bumps. If it's alright with you, Nikolas, I think I'll stay here."
"Of course, Grandmother."
"Why are you even asking?" Maddy demands. "Of course you're staying with Niknik!"
"We all know that, Maddy." Lucky says wryly "But you know, Nik has two grandmothers and it's best for them to not assume that they can just move in." Liz spews soda and tolerates the back beating as she coughs and tries to catch her breath. "You okay, Elizabeth?"
"Fine." Liz croaks. "Bruised, but fine."
"Maddy, honey, I mean beyond my getting the cast off. If for some reason things don't work out with Laura, and I'm not assuming that they will... Lulu is used to living with me. I don't think she'd feel... abandoned... if she came to stay with me, with us." And then Lesley quickly adds. "That's a worse case. I think everything will be fine. And of course the best place for Lulu would be with her parents."
But if came down to a choice between Mom or us kids, Dad will choose Mom-- everytime. Lucky reaches over and takes Elizabeth's hand. "Guess I'm back on ice fishing duty."
"I'll make arrangements with Carly to have Lulu start horseback riding lessons." Nik suggests.
"I wonder if Lulu is still going to do sleepovers on Saturday nights like she has been?" Liz wonders. "With Laura home, how much time is he going to be spending at the club?"
Maddy just holds her tongue and keeps an eye on Granny Lesley. There is more going on here than the older woman is saying. The conversation turns general until the table is clear and the dishes in the washer.
"I have something for you." Nik tells Maddy.
"Candy, you are going to have to knock this stuff off! My birthday and Christmas were bad enough."
"Open it up, Maddy." Liz demands.
Lucky and Lesley hang back just to find out what is up.
Maddy opens up the box and inside is a huge three ring binder. On the front of the Binder is a picture of the corner property as it is now-- boarded up and covered with grafetti. On the inside there are eleven dividers, each of them labelled weeks one thru eleven. Turning the page to week one is a copy of the deed, the receipt for the taxes, the receipt for the dump box that will be delivered tomorrow and a zippered pocket with the keys to the building. "You got it!"
"I got it." Nik agrees. "The fun starts now."