“Well then, send out some feelers Benny. Whatever this problem may be, we need to find out quickly and have it taken care of.”
“Like I said before Sonny, we have people out there looking. But I think it would be wise if you made a statement to your workers about...”
“I’ve got better things to be doing than making random statements Benny. For all...for all I know, Sorrel could just be lying out on a beach somewhere.”
Benny looked apprehensively at Sonny. “You did take my advice and up security though, right?”
“Yeah, I did,” Sonny nodded.
“Sonny, you only have one man on you. Where’s Francis? He should be right outside that door with Johnny.”
“Francis is taking care of better things right now Benny. And by no means do I need two guards on me when I’m in my own home. That’s ridiculous and you know it!”
“If Sorrel is out to get you then...”
“We don’t even know where Sorrel is Benny,” Sonny exploded. He was getting a headache and it didn’t seem like it would end anytime soon.
“Where’s Francis? I’ll get him here myself.” Benny persisted. He was used to Sonny’s moods. He was not going to let the young man’s anger set him back from doing his job. Few people knew this, but he thought of Sonny as a son and as a father himself, he always did whatever it took to make sure his children were safe.
“I already told you. Francis is busy.”
The telephone in Sonny’s pocket rang just then. Holding a hand up to Benny, he took the phone out and flipped it open. “Corinthos.”
“It’s Francis. Ms. Spencer is being transported to General Hospital right now.”
Sonny’s heart dropped. “What happened Francis,” he asked hurriedly.
Hearing Sonny mention the absent guard's name, Benny looked up from his thoughts to Sonny. The man’s previous mood of anger was now replaced with one of concern, maybe even fright.
“She fainted,” Francis told Sonny. He had been walking over to take AJ’s hand off of Carly when that other man had intercepted and done it himself. He didn’t know who he was, but once Carly had recognized him, she’d gone out cold.
“She fainted,” Sonny returned the man’s previous words. “Is she all right? Is the baby okay,” he asked. He knew Francis would not have answers to the questions, but felt the need to ask them anyway. Please God, not another child.
“I don’t really know. I’m following the ambulance right now.”
“They had to call an ambulance? Tell me exactly what happened Francis.”
The guard relayed the events for his boss. When he finished, Sonny told him to stay on Carly and not let her out of his sight - he was on his way.
“I’ve got to go Benny..”
“Baby,” Benny asked, totally confused. “What about a baby Sonny? And what does Carly have to do with all of this?”
“I’ll explain later Benny. I have to go,” Sonny said as he picked up his jacket and left the penthouse.
Benny just stood there, more confused now than ever. But, if what he had heard was right, then he could only expect one thing: trouble.
“Come on Michael, get the toy,” an excited Lucas chimed as he threw the rubber ball against the wall. Michael slowly got up and toddled over to where the ball had stopped, picking it up. “Bwall, Bwall,” he screamed, excited at his accomplishment.
“Lucas,” Bobbie warned as she came in from the kitchen. “Stop making Michael get the ball. He’s a boy, not a dog.”
“Aw mom. He likes it. See,” Lucas pointed at Michael, who was still cheering.
“That’s because he doesn’t know any better,” Bobbie said as she went over and picked Michael up. She was enjoying her afternoon with her son and grandson. Knowing of Carly’s meeting at 3, she had went over to the Quartermaine mansion to pick Michael up. Then, she had taken the boys to the park, where they had shared hot dogs. Glancing up at the clock, she saw it was nearing four. Carly’s meeting should be wrapping up soon and she would be home. She hoped that everything had gone according to her daughter’s wishes. No matter what Carly did, Bobbie had seen her with Michael and she knew that Carly loved him...and vice versa. She smiled down at the little red-haired boy sitting on her lap. “Michael, don’t put the ball in your mouth.”
Michael turned his face towards his grandma. “Bwall!”
“I know its a ball Michael, but you can’t...” Bobbie was interrupted by the phone ringing. “Lucas, can you get that please.”
“Mom,” Lucas whined as he made his way over to the telephone. “Hello,” Lucas grudgingly said into the mouth piece.
“Put your mother on,” came Sonny’s voice.
Lucas rolled his eyes. He hated people who were rude when they called. “Mom, it’s for you,” Lucas relayed the message as he held out the phone towards his mother.
Getting up, Bobbie set Michael on the floor. “Go watch your nephew, Lucas. And don’t make him fetch the ball,” she said as she picked up the phone. “Hello.”
“Bobbie, it’s Sonny”
“Well, hello Sonny. Carly’s not...”
“I didn’t call to talk to her,” Sonny interrupted. “She’s on her way to GH right now. All I know is she fainted. I’m on my way too. I just thought you should know.”
Bobbie’s heart sped up. “Is she okay Sonny,” she asked, holding her breath for the answer.
“I don’t know Bobbie. You should get down to the hospital right away.” Sonny disconnected, leaving Bobbie standing there, unsure of what to do. She knew she should be getting the boys ready to go, but she was frozen. Carly had just been in the hospital weeks ago...and now she had fainted. Snapping out of her daze, she looked to the two boys playing on the floor.
“Lucas, go get your jacket. And get Michael’s too.”
“Where we going Mom,” Lucas asked in an excited voice.
“No questions young man. Just get your jacket. And don’t forget Michael’s. Now go!”
Lucas fled up the stairs, not wanting his mother to get any more angry. Walking over to where Michael sat playing with the ball, she picked the boy up and held him close. “Everything will be all right Michael,” she whispered to the little boy. “I promise.” She only hoped she wouldn’t have to break it later.
Caroline looked out the window. The sun was shining, as it had shined for the past year. Twelve months. Fifty-two weeks. Three hundred and sixty-five days. Eight thousand, seven hundred and sixty hours. Pushing the sheets off her body, she sat up and looked out the window. There would be a memorial service today. And really, she should go. Darin would probably be there, and she wanted to see him.Getting off the bed, she walked into her bathroom and brushed her teeth. Afterwards, she took a shower and dressed in her purple skirt and top. Carly’s favorite. Her favorite color had been purple. Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, she walked down the stairs into the kitchen.
“Good morning Caroline,” came her mother’s cheerful voice. “I’m glad you’re up. I made some breakfast. Eggs, bacon, and toast. Sit down and I’ll get you a plate.”
“I’m not hungry mom. I...I just wanted to be ready for the...the memorial service.”
Virginia Benson’s smile quickly diminished. “Caroline, that won’t be until late this afternoon.”
“I know momma, but I just wanted to be ready.” She took a seat at the table she had been absent from for so long now. It seemed like forever. She got up again, not able to sit there. Not without...
“I think I’m gonna go see Darin momma.” Caroline turned and was out the door before her mother could raise any objections. Looking both ways first, she made her way across the street to Car...to Darin’s house. Walking up the steps, she knocked on the door soundly. Twice. And waited.
“Who’s there,” came Mrs. Roberts voice from inside.
“It’s Caroline. Caroline Benson.”
The door opened and a smiling Mrs. Roberts greeted her. “Hello Caroline. It’s nice to see you. Come on in.”
“No!” She gave herself a mental slap. “I mean...I’d just rather...Is Darin home,” she finally asked, not sure how to explain that she couldn’t come in - hadn’t been in the house since that night a year ago.
Mrs. Roberts eyes darkened. “Sweetie, I thought you knew.”
Caroline became instantly frightened. “Knew what? Is Darin all right,” she asked in a panicked voice.
“Calm down Caroline,” the older woman said. She stepped out and put a comforting arm around her daughter’s best friend.
Caroline flinched. If only she knew that it had been her own friend’s fault that Carly was dead today, she’d probably push her away. Scream at her. Punch her.
“Are you listening to me Caroline?”
“I’m sorry Mrs. Roberts. I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“That’s all right. Would you like to come in, sweetie? I can explain to you there. We could sit and...”
“I can’t come in Mrs. Roberts,“ she cut in. She looked to the open doorway and so many memories flooded her mind. “I just...I can’t,” she whispered, afraid she would cry.
“It’s okay sweetie. Here, let’s sit on the steps.” Somehow, she moved her over to the steps and sat them both down.
“Darin told me that he’d already said good-bye to you, that’s why I was surprised to even see you here Caroline. I talk to your mother every now and then and she says you’re still having a rough time of it.”
Caroline let the words sink in. “Wait...wait. Why would Darin say good-bye,” she asked the woman with fear growing in her heart.
“He,” Cynthia Roberts stopped, unsure if the young woman would be able to take the news or not. Contrary to what she believed, she knew all about the events of that night not so long ago. And even with the anger that had initially come, she had found peace with it as well as with her daughter’s death. She only wished she could help both her son and Caroline find peace too. “Darin’s gone sweetheart.”
She waited for a reaction. A question, tears, a scream. Anything. But nothing came. “Caroline, are...”
“When...” she began, only to lose the words. She didn’t know if she could do this. She didn’t know if she had the strength. “When...when did...he...leave,” she breathed. She closed her eyes and prayed to God that this was a joke. She couldn’t lose Darin too.
“Sweetheart, don’t...”
Caroline shot up. “Don’t sweetheart me Mrs. Roberts. And...and d-d-don’t try to...to make it better.” The tears started rolling down her cheeks. She swiped at them, wished them away, but they continued. “You want to know the truth? You want to know why Carly died? It was because of me. Me! I betrayed her and she got angry and she left. If I had never...If I’d just,” Caroline broke down into sobs.
Cynthia stood, extending a hand to comfort the girl, but she jerked back. “Don’t touch me Mrs. Roberts. I’m no good. Everyone knows that. Don’t you see? That’s why they leave! My birth mother, she left me. My adopted dad, he left. Carly,” Caroline closed her eyes, shaking her head. “It was my fault she left. She left because of me and she died! She died and she’s never coming back. And now Darin.”
Caroline pushed past Mrs. Roberts and made her way down the stairs.
“Caroline, please don’t go. We can talk about this.”
She stopped, then turned. “There’s nothing to talk about Mrs. Roberts. I’m sorry...I’m so sorry.” With that, she turned and ran down the street, disappearing around the corner. She ran and ran and ran, until it hurt. Stopping, she looked up. People always left her...and they never came back. He was never coming back.
“Look, I should be able to see her. Caroline knows me,” Darin put in. Who were these people, he thought to himself.“No. I’m her employer, attorney, friend. Her sister for god’s sake. And you shouldn’t let this man,” she pointed to Darin, “in to see her. He made her faint in the first place!”
“I’m still her husband. I have the legal right to see her. You should let me in,” AJ added.
“Oh puh-lease AJ. She signed the divorce papers today. She’s as married to you as a dog is to a bird,” Dani said.
A loud whistle sounded from the nurse and all three of them became quiet. “Thank goodness,” the nurse exclaimed. “I thought you’d never shut up!”
“When can we see her,” Dani asked.
The doors to the emergency room opened as Sonny rushed in. He walked over to Francis, who had been standing in the corner, not being allowed to follow Carly into examination. After speaking with him for a few seconds, he walked over to where AJ, Ms. Carzuti, and another man had gathered. Sliding a look to the stranger first, Sonny turned to Dani. “How is she,” he asked.
“What are you doing here Sonny? Why can’t you stay out of my business,” AJ cut in.
“I wasn’t speaking to you AJ, so shut up!” Turning back to Dani, he waited for an answer.
“Maybe we should talk in private,” were Dani’s only words as she walked away from the angry AJ and the now curious stranger. Sonny followed.
“I don’t really know what happened. One minute AJ had his hands on Carly, and she screamed. The next minute, that guy,” she pointed towards the stranger, “was telling AJ to let her go. She saw him and froze. Then she fainted!”
Sonny nodded in understanding, throwing a piercing gaze at the strange man, who was also staring at him. “Was she hurt,” he asked, keeping his eyes locked with the man’s.
“She might have hit her head, but I think she’s fine. The nurse wouldn’t let any of us in. I should go in. I know her the best.”
Sonny turned, giving her a look. “You’ve known her two weeks.”
“So? She fainted when she saw that guy,” pointing towards the man, “and she hates him,” moving her hand in AJ’s direction. Now both were staring at them, probably wondering what they were discussing.
The doors to the emergency room opened once again as Bobbie rushed in with Michael in her arms, Lucas following reluctantly behind. Seeing AJ and Darin together, then Sonny and Dani, she really didn’t know who to go to for information.
Noticing Bobbie’s entrance, AJ walked over to the woman. “Hey Michael,” he greeted his son. “Come to daddy,” he said as he held his arms out.
“Oh no you don’t buster! I don’t know who caused my daughter to end up in here and I’m sure as heck not about to hand my grandson over to you.” She side stepped a surprised AJ and moved towards Dani and Sonny. “Dani, can you hold Michael while I get some information about my daughter?”
“Of course,” she said. Holding her arms out, Michael made the smooth transition between the two women. “Lucas, come and stand with Ms. Carzuti.”
“You mean Tooti mom. She’s tooti,” Lucas said as he made his way over from the neat machine he had almost been playing with. Dani rolled her eyes at the name, then glared at AJ, who could only offer a meek shrug.
“Carly Roberts. Benson. Spencer.” Bobbie was frustrated, not know which name to use.
“It’s all right Bobbie. Come with me, I’ll take you to her.”
Bobbie sighed in relief. Turning, she gave Sonny a silent ‘Thank You’ as she followed the nurse to see her daughter. All the others could do now was wait.