Sonny sat in the front of the Lincoln Navigator, driven by Francis, and watched as Carly’s cab took another turn.
“I’d bet my best suit she’s on her way to the mall,” Sonny said to his guard.
Francis didn’t say anything in return, but kind of smiled. He too would be Sonny’s favorite suit that the mall was Carly’s final destination.
“I wonder why she doesn’t just learn to drive. I mean, for the pas two weeks she’s had to be driven everywhere she goes by the cab company, her mother, or that lawyer of hers. She should just learn to drive herself.”
“Even if she knew how to drive, she doesn’t have a car, “ Francis threw into the conversation.
I’d get her one, thought Sonny. Now where did that come from? He would get Carly a car? He shook his head and grumbled. The woman was already having him think crazy thoughts. The two men returned to a comfortable silence as the cab, a few cars ahead of them, turned into the Isles Mall. “Bingo,” Sonny chimed, as if he would win a prize for being correct. “Just circle until she gets out, then drop me off in the front. I’ll wait for you, but hurry.”
Francis nodded, doing exactly as instructed. When he walked up to Sonny, the man looked anxious, as if there were other places he should be rather than following Carly around all the time. It had become a habit, Francis thought as the walked into the shopping center, gaining sight of Carly and her son not far ahead. If Sonny wasn’t watching her himself, either him or Johnny was, with strict orders to remain unseen. They would keep tabs on and report her daily activities to him every night, as if they would change from day to day. Well, he guessed they had today. She was shopping at the mall with her son.
Sonny walked slowly, not trying to gain too much on Carly and Michael He didn’t know whether he wanted to remain unseen, or he should just confront her. He had done a lot of thinking over that past few weeks, more so than he ever needed to do. Days ago he had come to the conclusion that he should just help her, for the sake of him having contact with his child. When he had met with Alexis Davis last week to discuss obtaining custody of a child he fathered, she had been less than ready to help him. The best news she had offered was for him to give into the mother’s demands, whatever they might be, for that would be the only way he would ever have contact with his child.
After that meeting, it had taken him the weekend to agree with her, though not without a sense of dread. It hadn’t taken him long to come up with dirt on AJ Quartermaine though; that had come pretty easily. Now, all he had to do was present her with it and get her to admit that he was the child of her baby. And then, get her to let him play a part in the child’s life.
Sonny stopped as Carly went into a female dress shop. Should he go in? Were men even allowed in shops like that? He paused, not far from the entrance, to gain his bearings. “Wait outside the store.” After throwing the order, he walked in.
The store wasn’t that busy, only a few customers – all women. He shook his head as he looked for Carly. Catching sight of her in the back, talking with one of the sales representatives it seemed, he sauntered up to her, placing a guarded expression on his face. The saleswoman saw him first, Carly’s back turned towards him. When the woman gave an amazed stare, Carly turned around to see what she was looking at, thinking it was an amazing dress she could buy. But it was Sonny. Carly rolled her eyes and turned back to the saleswoman, who know looked about ready to drop her son.
“Hello? Martina? Hey!” The woman moved her stare from Sonny back to Carly.
“Yes, Mrs. Quarter…Ms. Spencer.”
“Could I try on the size 6 of the Arden suit, please?”
“Of course. Here,” the woman handed her Michael, “I’ll be right back.” Taking one last look at Sonny, the woman disappeared into a door at the back of the store.
Carly settled Michael into her good arm and continued to stroll through the store, acting as if Sonny wasn’t even there.
Persistence must have been a virtue to him, because he silently followed her around the store, twice, until she finally broke.
“What do you want Sonny,” Carly asked, turning on him. If there was anyone that could get on her nerves more, she’d never leave her bed.
“Shopping. Or isn’t that obvious?” Sonny gave one his brightest, most charming smiles.
“No, I’m shopping. You’re just being annoying. So stop it…and…leave!” Carly turned again, and went back to the dressing room area, waiting for Martina to return. Sonny had followed her. “Can’t you take a hint?”
The smile dropped off his face, his demeanor turning serious. “Sorry. No can do. I have the info you wanted Carly.”
“Well, you’re a day late and a dollar short.”
Sonny drew his eyebrows together, not comprehending what she was saying. “You said that if I brought you…”
“I know what I said Sonny! But it’s too late. Offer’s gone. The ship had sailed. The bird has flown the coup. The worm…”
“Stop it Carly,” Sonny said. “Why does the offer still not stand? Cause I took so long? I can’t just get that kind of information in a day you know,” he lied.
“AJ and I are going to work out an agreement. There won’t be a hearing,” hopefully Carly thought to herself.
“You’re going to let him take Michael? Huh? I thought you wanted full custody of him? I can help you get that. I have everything you need.”
Carly gaped at the man, who seemed ready to just walk out of the store in any minute from his anger. Or shoot it up. “No. Michael deserves to know his father. I mean, I’ve know that all along and I guess I’ve finally come to terms with it. So, Dani and I are going to try and get him to agree to a joint custody. That way, Michael will know both his father and me.”
Sonny took a step back, raising an eyebrow. Did he hear he correctly? Was she actually being generous with her son? Actually allowing him to live in the Quartermaine nut house for half the year? He took a seat beside her, bending over and putting his head in his hands.
Carly just looked at him, unsure of what to do. “Hey man, you all right?”
No answer.
Carly shifted in her seat, Michael picking up his head and looking at Sonny and then back at his mom.
“Sonny… Are you okay? Hey,” Carly nudged him with her thigh, but still nothing. Looking up, Carly saw that she was receiving stares from the few patrons present.
“Hey Sonny,” Carly whispered, “you’re embarrassing me. Stop it.”
Sonny picked up his head and looked at her, straight in the eye. What she saw was not fury or even anger. She couldn’t really explain, but it looked pretty damn pitiful to her.
“So this… I mean…” Sonny shook his head, the words not really coming to him.
“Look Sonny. I don’t have it all figured out, all right. I mean…AJ thinks this is Jason’s child and I’m going to let him think that for as long as possible. At least until after I have something signed and on paper. I can’t deal with this,” Carly waved her hand between the two of them, “right now. I just can’t. Michael is my number one priority right now and I have to make sure I’m secure on that front.”
Sonny just stared at her, silent after she completed her speech. “Do you think I can just put this on hold? Huh? That… That I can just put this child on the back burner until you’re ready to deal with it? Carly, I already lost one child. I’m not losing this one. No matter what it is I have to do.” Sonny stood up, ready to leave, but a kick to his leg stopped him. He turned and looked at Carly, surprised she would kick him of all things.
“Sorry, but I’m limited on the arms, if you haven’t noticed.”
Sonny nodded, still sorry for having caused the accident…at least partially.
“Give me some time Sonny. I mean, I know it’s a lot to ask, but” Carly shook her head, feeling the tears converge. “I just have to get things with Michael settled first. Please.”
He just stared at her, not sure whether he should cut her a break or scream at her for making something so simple be difficult. “I don’t know what to say to you Carly. I really don’t.” Sonny turned and walked out of the store, an astonished Carly watching his retreat.
“God,” she mumbled to herself. It seemed no matter what she did, she couldn’t catch a break. Chewing on her lip, she tried to come up to some way to deal with Sonny…but after things with Michael had been settled.
AJ stood at the entrance to the food court of the Isles Mall. He looked at his watch again and saw that it was still 12:48. He’d been standing there for what seemed like hours, but had probably only been fifteen to twenty minutes. Carly hadn’t really specified a certain time when she had called earlier that morning, just saying mid-day. Well, it was mid-day, and she nor Michael were nowhere in sight.
He shouldn’t be complaining though. I mean, Carly had suggested the meeting in the first place. And tomorrow, the two would meet with their attorneys to try and discuss custody plans that would not involve the courts. AJ had actually been surprised upon receiving the call from his lawyer. Robert Kincaid had assured AJ that the meeting was legit…he had even rallied for going. According to Kincaid, if he and Carly could come to an agreement on their own, it would save them a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of bad press from a public custody hearing. AJ was up for it of course, even though he had spent a considerable amount of time gathering as much ammunition as possible to use against Carly. But maybe, just maybe he wouldn’t need to use it.
“Daaaaa! Daaaaa,” came a very familiar voice from behind AJ. He turned to see Carly walking towards him, with Michael and a number of packages in hand…the one hand that she had use of.
“Sorry…we’re late…but it…took forever…to get here.” Carly was pooped. She had been carrying Michael all day, plus his bag of diapers, food and toys, plus, all the things she had bought…all with her one hand
“Here…let me help.” AJ took the three bags Carly was holding. “Carly, how’d you get all this stuff?”
“I bought it AJ.” Carly gave him a look, as if he was crazy, as she moved towards the sitting area and took a seat at the first table she came upon. Shifting Michael from her arm, which was dead asleep and hurting now, she watched as AJ slowly made his way over to the table. “What, AJ?”
“Are you still using the credit cards I gave you? I knew I should have had those cancelled.”
“You know what AJ? I’m not using your stupid credit cards. God!”
“Yeah? Then how’d you get all this stuff,” he asked, raising the bags up.
“I have a job where I get paid with money! So, therefore, I used my money to buy that stuff. In fact, I cut up your credit cards a long time ago.” Carly rolled her eyes at him, just for effect. Men!
“Sorry… Sorry. They must not be giving you enough pain killers for that arm.”
“Whatever AJ. I thought you wanted to see Michael, huh? Well, he’s here, so see him.” She stood, walked over to where AJ sat, and deposited their son into his arms. Retuning to her seat, she sat back and relaxed. Shopping was tiring a tiring task, especially when she did it. And the fact that she had only use of one arm also added to her decreased energy. Or it could be because you’re pregnant.
“So… What kind of plans do you and that Cartooti woman have for tomorrow? Is it just a game? A trick? A ploy? Get me over there, and somehow use the whole meeting against me when we go to court? Huh?”
Coming out of her thoughts, Carly looked at AJ and latched on to the words he had just spoken. How could she have ever married this man, she wondered. “First off, her name is Carzuti. Get it right AJ and stop teaching Michael to call her Tooti. Second off, I can’t really discuss that with you AJ. That’s what the meeting tomorrow is for. And lastly, it’s not a trick.”
AJ, who had been making goofy faces at his son, turned and looked to Carly. “I have enough to bury you in court Carly.”
“And I have enough to do the same to you. But that’s what I’m trying to bypass here, AJ. I thought we could do this like adults and not hurt each other. Not hurt Michael. But obviously I was wrong and I should just tell Dani to cancel the meeting.”
“No.” AJ looked to his son once again, and the boy smiled at him. He smiled back. “I want to do what’s best for Michael. Don’t cancel the meeting Carly.”
Carly nodded her understanding.
“So… How is your… You know…” AJ let the sentence hang. Her pregnancy was still a subject that bugged him, since she should be pregnant with his child. Instead, she was having Jason’s baby. He looked at her. Carly, the woman with whom he could have had a future. The woman he once loved and still carried strong feelings for. He shook his head, trying to banish that last thought. Carly was obviously never in love with him. And probably never would be. All he could really thank her for was his son – Michael.
Carly shifted in her seat. “AJ, I don’t think you want us to talk about that…”
“Oh come on Carly. I was just being polite.”
She looked at him, trying to read him, to make sure he actually wanted to steer the discussion that route. “It’s fine AJ. Just fine.”
“Well then, I’m glad.”
“Are you really? I mean…you know…I was unfaithful to you…and now…”
“Maybe you’re right and we shouldn’t talk about this.” AJ turned his attention to Michael. “What do you want to eat Michael? Anything you want, it’s yours.”
The little boy looked to his mother, as if to ask permission first, then back to his father. “Ish ream…Ish ream!”
Sonny closed the door to his penthouse and walked over to the couch. After seeing Carly, he had left Francis at the mall to watch over her and called Johnny to pick him up. Then, he’d just driven around town for a while, thinking.Sitting down, he released a frustrated breath. A day late and a dollar short, as Carly had put it. Opening his coat, he took out the papers he had picked up from an informant the day before. Papers that would have assured Carly full custody of her son. But now…now she didn’t’ want them.
“I should just burn these,” he mumbled.
Opening the packet, he looked at the written statement from a high official at Ferncliffe, the hospital Carly had been committed to. It was a statement that logged several meetings between Edward Quartermaine and Dr. John Evans. In his hands, Sonny had proof that Edward had paid Evans a significant sum of money to keep her locked in that institute, for much longer than she ever should have been in there.
He still couldn’t figure out the reason, but he guessed it had everything to do with getting Michael into his clutches. The information he had could cost both Edward and the doctor to go to jail for a very long time and it would have been a great bargaining chip for Carly…but now she didn’t need it.
Frustrated, Sonny threw the papers across the room, watching as they hit the fireplace mantel and slid down into a mess of white. After sitting for a few moments and stewing in his misery, Sonny got up and walked over to the fireplace. Bending over, he picked up the papers and shuffled them into order. Maybe the papers weren’t worth anything to Carly anymore, but they could come in use for his own needs…later. Walking over to his desk, he opened a drawer and stuffed the papers inside.
Turning around, he looked at his empty penthouse. Empty, just like his life. But it won’t be empty once you have your child. Now if only he could somehow make that thought a reality.