Darin put the car into park. He looked across the street at the place where Caroline was staying. He had gotten up this morning with intent to see her...talk to her...hold her. Well, he supposed that was a little too much to hope for the first meeting, considering the way he had left her so many years ago. Gathering up his courage, he took off his seatbelt and got out of the car, not forgetting to take the small bear he had bought for the child with him.
Looking both ways first, he lightly jogged across the street and onto the walkway that led up to the building. Halfway there, the front door opened and out shot a little boy. Jumping out of the way, he barely missed getting knocked down by the kid.
“Lucas, don’t forget to be back by two, you hear me,” came a somewhat familiar voice from behind Darin.
“Yea mom, I won’t. Bye!!!” He quickly turned the corner and disappeared. Darin stood in shock. He had never seen such a small thing go so fast.
“I’m sorry sir. Lucas tends to get excited about playing with his friends at times”
Darin turned at looked at the woman who was speaking to him. “Shouldn’t he be at school,” he asked, looking at his watch and noting the time as a little past one o’clock.”
“He would be except that his school has been closed, due to the flu. Very little teachers and even less students. He’s lucky he hasn’t caught it, but I guess that’s what he gets for having a mother who is also a nurse - free flu shots. Can I help you?”
Darin walked towards her. Her bright red hair seemed oddly familiar to him. “Have I met you before? I can’t shake the feeling that I have somewhere.”
Bobbie stepped out from the doorway to take a closer look at the young man. He was handsome, with dair hair, dark eyes and a nice smile. “I don’t think I could forget you.” Bobbie smiled.
Darin smiled too. “Thanks...Hey I remember. I knocked into you yesterday, at that restaruant...Kenny’s....Kerry’s....”
Recognition dawned on Bobbie’s face. “Kelly’s. Yes, I do remember now. I’m sorry about that, but I was just in such a hurry. I apologize again.”
“Please. I said I knocked into you, right. No apology needed.”
“So, how can I help you Mr...”
Darin put out his right hand. “Roberts. Darin Roberts.”
Bobbie shook his hand, “Bobbie Spencer,” she said in return and then recognized the name. Roberts. Her mouth formed the shape of an O upon putting the name with her daughter. “You must know Carly.”
Darin stepped back at the mention of his sister’s name. “How do you know about my sister,” he asked darkly.
“Your sister,” Bobbie returned. Carly is his sister, she asked herself. She’d never told her about any brother, but then again, she’d told her very little about her life before Port Charles.
“Yeah. My sister, Carly Roberts.” Darin was trying to put the puzzle together when the pieces finally clicked into place. “Caroline must’ve told you about her, right?”
“Caroline?” Bobbie was getting confused, but then she remember. Carly used the name of a friend she’d had in Florida. Her given name was actually Caroline Benson. “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Roberts. We’re crossing wires it seems. Carly, my daughter, is the same woman you call Caroline.”
Darin was now more confused than ever. Caroline was using the name Carly? But why?
“I can see that you’re confused. Would you like to come in and then we could discuss it.” Bobbie stepped back into the doorway and held the door open while the man, Darin Roberts, stepped cautiously inside. Closing the door behind him, Bobbie motioned for him to follow her into the living room. “Please, have a seat.”
They both sat on the comfortable sofa; Darin right on the edge. He didn’t have a good feeling about what he was just about to hear. “You said Carly...Caroline, is your daughter,” he asked.
“Yes. I’m her biological mother. She came here to find me. When she first appeared in town, she was using the name Carly Roberts. Later, when I found out she was my daugher, I also found out her given name at adoption was Caroline Benson. She still goes by Carly though. She would be your sister, correct.”
“Yeah,” Darin whispered. He couldn’t believe that Caroline called herself Carly. She’d barely been able to uter the name after his sister’s death. She had been so full of guilt, it had been impossible for her discuss any thing that had to do with Carly. But now...now things were different.
Bobbie placed a comforting hand on the man’s arm. “I know this must be somewhat hard for you. I understand that your sister died. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay, really,” Darin said, trying to lift his mood. “But I hope you can understand that I can’t call Caroline Carly. That would be a little too...weird for me.”
“I understand completely. So, how can I help you Mr. Roberts.”
“Darin, please.”
“Okay, Darin.”’
“I was here to see Caroline. I know she doesn’t live here, but in some apartement or the other upstairs...”
“Yes, she’s staying in an small apartment above here until she figures things out for herself and Michael.”
Darin nodded, then whipped his head up. Michael? Who was he, her boyfriend? “So, this Michael... How long have they been living together?”
Bobbie gave Darin a look, not really sure of what he meant. “Well, I guess you could say on and off for two years now.”
This wasn’t good. Darin hadn’t really expected having to win Caroline’s affections from another man, but now it seemed he would have to do just that. “So, she and Michael are both living upstairs?”
Bobbie smiled. She understood what Darin thought now. “Yes, they are. Carly and Michael are real close. Though they get separated at times, she always goes back to him and he always accepts her with open arms. They have really close relationship, one that I’m sure...no positive could never be broken.”
Darin sure didn’t like the sound of that. “Well, Caroline and I have history. I was her,” Darin stopped short of telling Bobbie that. After all, this woman was Caroline’s biological mother. He was sure she wouldn’t want to here such things about her daughter. “Friend. I was her friend and.... Well, we have history,” he ended weakly. Darin started to think of a way he could get rid of this Michael, because he sure as hell wasn’t going to give up without a fight.
“You know Darin, you and Carly may have history, but she has this bond...this unbreakable bond with Michael. Nothing and no one could ever sever their closeness, the love they share for each other.”
Darin stood abruptly. “Is she home? Can I go up and see her,” he asked, feeling like a teenager asking a girl’s parents for permission to take her out.
Bobbie stood also, enjoying the unease she was causing the young man. He looked ready to barge into Carly’s apartment and rip Michael to shreds. She almost laughed out loud, but contained her humor to a small smile.
Looking at the redhead, Darin found her obvious enjoyment of his situation all the more angering. “What’s so funny,” he asked.
Bobbie broke out in laughter at his question. Seeing this, Darin just turned and was about to leave.
“Please... Don’t go. I’m sorry.” Bobbie controlled her laughter, not wanting to send the young man away upset. “Micahel is Carly’s son, not her boyfriend Darin.”
Darin’s eyes popped out and his anger instantly melted into relief. “The little boy with....with red hair, like you.” Darin shook his head, finally getting that she had been playing a joke on him.
“Hey, how’d you know my grandson has red hair? Have you been stalking Carly,” Bobbie asked in amazement, all traces of humor now gone. If this man was out to hurt her daughter, then he had another thing coming.
“No, I haven’t been stalking her.” Darin stopped and thought for a while. Well, he had been secretly watching her for two days, since he got into town. He guessed that could be described as stalking in some cirlces, but those were not his intentions. “Ma’am, I was watching her, but not with the intent to harm. Caroline knows me...we have...”
“History, yes, I remember. “ Bobbie looked at him. He seemed sincere enough, though she still wasn’t positive he was telling her the absolute truth about whatever role he had played in Carly’s life. “Well, she’s not home. She’s gone to work and she won’t be back until after her meeting this afternoon at Parkin....”
“Parking? She has a meeting at parking? Parking where?”
“Look Mr. Roberts. I’m sure that you do know Carly and that you two do have history, but until she tells me so, that’s about as much information as you are getting. Come back later tonight and you can see her.”
Darin looked at the woman, but she only returned it with a hard stare of her own. “Fine,” he said in an exasperated voice. “You act like I’m some kind of ax murderer trying to cut her head off.” Darin retraced his early steps as he made his way to the front door.
“I’ll tell her you stopped by, would that be okay,” Bobbie asked from the doorway as he stepped out onto the walkway.
“No. Don’t tell her that.”
Bobbie’s eyes widened in apparent surprise.
“I want to be the one to tell her I’m here. I’m sure you can understand that Ms. Spencer.”
“Bobbie. And yes, I can. So, I guess I will be seeing you agian this evening Darin Roberts.”
“Sure,” Darin said as he turned and left. Talk about mother’s with protective issues. Parking, she had said. And meeting too. Well, no one had meetings in parking lots, so it had to be the name of a restaraunt. He now just needed to know where.”
“I still don’t see why he’s here. It’s embarrasing. I’ve had to lie to all my customers and say he’s a guard. They think that we have security issues.”
“I already apologized Dani. I don’t know what else to do. I can’t send him away... He won’t go!”
“Well, can we put a cloth over his head?”
Carly gave her employer, attorney, and friend a look. “He’s not bothering anyone. He’s just standing there. And if Sonny says he’s needed, then I’m sure he’s right. He doesn’t just throw around man-power like that.”
Dani looked over to the man standing stone still by the elevators, looking right back at her...or Carly. “Still, can’t he just go to the bathroom while Ms. Nicolleti comes in. She’s the last client before our meeting this afternoon.”
“Look, I could leave the office until your appointment is finsished, but then who would make the coffee? Huh? Who would answer the phone?”
“Fine. Fine,” Dani hissed. It wasn’t that she was mad at Carly. She was more angry at Sonny Corinthos and his guard, Francis Carly had told her, that he would put her in this type of situation. But since he was gone and the guard was a statue, Carly was the only one left to blame. “I’m sorry Carly. I didn’t mean to be...”
“Mean,” Carly finished. “It’s okay. It is my fault.”
“No it’s not. It’s Sonny’s fault and he will here about this from me. Damn. I have, to use the restroom.”
“Then go use the restroom Dani. I’ll greet Ms. Nicolleti. I’ll even lie to her if it makes you feel better.”
Dani gave her another look. “Don’t make the lie too big. I’ll be right back.” She turned and walked back into the offices to use the bathroom. Seconds later, the elevator sounded again. Carly turned and watched as an elegantly dressed young woman stepped off of the elevator and into the reception area. She walked up to where Carly was seated behind the desk. “Hello. I have an appointment with Daniella Carzuti.”
“Ms. Nicolleti, I presume,” Carly asked as she stood and walked around to greet the woman.
“Yes. Rosalee. And you would be,” Francesca asked. Yet she didn’t need an introduction. She knew exactly who she was speaking with.
“Carly Spencer, the receptionist. Can I get you anything to drink. We have coffee, tea, soft drinks, and bottled water.”
“That won’t be necessary Carly. Is Ms. Carzuti ready to see me?”
“She should be out in just a few moments. If you’d like to have...”
“Wonderful suit. Arden,” she asked, raising a brow.
“Yes,” Carly ran her palms down the newest addition to her wardrobe, among other things. “Yours is beautiful too.”
Francesca gave a short glance to herself. “Yes it is. You have a great eye for fashion Carly.”
“Well, some would say I spend most of my time shopping, so...”’
“It’s so hard to find people with great perceptions of fashion. In fact, that’s why I’m here today. Ms. Carzuti is helping me obtain a building in the fashion district, close to the Isles Mall. I’m openning a new store. All the latest designs - Armani, Arden, Versace. It’s high time Port Charles experienced some of the outside worldly fashions, don’t you think?”
Carly nodded, impressed by this woman’s knowledge of a subject she held dear to herself. Sure, she didn’g have the money to buy such expensive clothes, but that never stopped her from looking...or from appreciating. “How soon do you plan on opening,” she asked.
“Well, I’m starting out slow. First the building, them a few employees. Once I’ve got that, all that I’d need were the newest designs.” Francesca looked around the office, noting the man standing beside the elvators for the first time. “Problem,” she asked, turning back towards Carly.
“No,” Carly said. “Actually, he’s just here to make sure that the fire sprinklers don’t go off. You know, fire safety and all.”
Francesca nodded her head, not believing a word the other woman had spoken. The man was obviously a guard. Her guess was that Sonny had been tipped to the halt in Sorrel’s operations, so he was putting more protection on his child. Looking at Carly, she wondered what her relationship to the man was. She would find out - somehow.
“Ms. Nicolleti?” Dani walked into the room, causing both women to turn and stare at her.
“Yes,” Francesca answered. She had thought it would be hard to go by the second name, but it wasn’t that difficult. She guessed it was because of the time she had spent away from her father. During those years, she had taken her mother’s maiden name. “Rosalee. And you must be Daniella.”
“Dani,” she returned, offering her hand for a shake.
“Rosalee was just telling me of her plans to open a new fashion boutique,” Carly added in.
“Yes, and I was just about to offer your receptionist here a great opportunity. I noticed her great sense of fashion and I just know she would a great addition to my business.”
Carly’s heartbeat doubled. Had she just heard the woman correctly? Was she actually offering her a job?
“Well, that would actually be great. Carly’s just passing through here and she’s always looking for better opportunities, aren’t you,” Dani sent her a look that said, ‘Take it!”
“Here, let me leave you a number where I can be reached,” Francesca said as she pulled out a small, blank card and a pen from her purse. Writing down a cell number, she handed the paper to Carly. “Call me anytime and we can discuss you coming to work for me.”
Carly didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded and took the paper. “I will... Thank you.”
“Well, if you’ll come right this way Rosalee, we can get started on those papers.”
“Okay. It was a pleasure meeting you Carly. I hope we’ll see each other again soon.”
Leaving the room behind her client, Dani turned and gave Carly a thumb’s up sign.
Carly smiled to herself. She had thought this day had started out bad, but it just seemed to get better and better. She just hoped her luck would hold until the meeting this afternoon.