Alice Horton, sainted lady of Salem that she was, had been kind enough to put Gus in her granddaughter Jennifer's old room. It seems that Jenn, her ex-husband Jack, and their daughter Abigail were in Africa for the summer, visiting with Eve Donovan and Francois Von Leuschner, as Jenn, Jack, Eve and Frankie had been good friends for the better part of a decade now.
"The house seems so empty without them," Alice had commented absently when she'd shown Gus to her room.
It was nicely decorated in what Gus vaguely remembered Mike calling "typical Horton woman taste," that is to say in shades of pink and cream. Mike had always been secretly amused by his sister's decorating style, not to mention that of his cousin Hope, his mother, his Aunt Maggie, or even that of his grandmother. Gus, taking in the ruffles, the lace, the incredible pinkness of it all, decided not to comment. She was thankful for a place to sleep, but she was more of a neutral colors woman herself.
"Thanks so much, Mrs. H.," she said, putting her suitcase on the floor. "It must be awful to miss them so much."
Alice went over to the window and turned on the air conditioner. "Yes, it gets so lonely around here. I can't tell you how happy I was to have Mike come back to Salem when he did. He's been a great comfort to me all of these years."
Gus sat on the bed and kicked off her shoes. "So, where are Melissa and Sarah?"
"They're currently living in Nashville. I believe that Melissa is working in the music industry. My, but she has a lovely voice."
"Mike said she was pregnant the last time he saw her."
"Yes, she had the most beautiful baby girl. Melissa and her husband named her Maria, after my youngest daughter." Alice said, pointing to a picture on the wall, "She came back to Salem two years ago when Bo and Hope were to be married again."
"Someday those two will get their act together, Mrs. H.," Gus said as she gave her a hug. "From what I've heard about Bo and Hope, it hasn't been a smooth ride, but I have a feeling that eventually they'll be together."
"Well, that's not possible at the moment, Augusta, dear," replied Alice, "Because Hope's in Europe and Bo's disappeared from Salem without a trace."
Gus folded her arms and sighed. "One would think that gallivanting to far-off places should be second in consideration to raising their son."
"I agree," Alice said, "Shawn Douglas has been missing them both very much."
"Is he staying with the Bradys?"
"I believe so."
"How are Caroline and Shawn these days?"
"I think they're doing well. The Brady Pub hasn't had a slow night in months."
"Must be that famous chowder of Shawn's," Gus commented absently, "I hear that it's the panacea for all your worries, second only to your famous doughnuts, of course."
Alice smiled and her nose crinkled adorably. "You're too kind, Augusta. So, tell me, what have you been doing all these years? Mike's been talking about you for ages and I was so pleased when he told me that you were finally coming to see him."
Gus took her suitcase and put it on the bed. She unzipped it and began taking clothing out. "Well, Mrs. H.," she said as she hung up a few things in the closet, "I must say that my life has not been the most peaceful. I miss the 'good old times' with Mike. He's was always such a comedian. Lately he seems to have developed this self-sacrificing streak that isn't doing him a whit of good."
Alice chuckled heartily. "You don't have to tell me. He reminds me more and more of his grandfather every day, and Tom could drive me to distraction some times with his inability to be selfish once in awhile. I think Israel scarred my grandson more than he cares to admit."
Thankful that Alice couldn't see her biting her lip, Gus moved to a safer topic. "So, when are Jack and Jenn returning to Salem?"
"They don't know. Both Eve and Frankie want them to stay a bit longer, but Jennifer has written that she's very homesick, as is Abby."
"How does it feel having Lucas living under your roof?"
"He's a lot like his father," Alice replied, betraying her weariness. "Bill was always so full of life and energy. Patience was one thing we could never teach him. He is my youngest son, though, and I love him and all of his babies."
"It must have been quite the shock for Mike and Jenn to find out Lucas was their brother."
Alice nodded. "I myself had an inkling after seeing Lucas for the first time. He and Mike have many features in common. They both have Bill's stubborn chin, and Lucas has Bill's eyes."
"And his temper, I've heard," Gus said softly.
"You're right," Alice replied, "and his addiction to alcohol just magnifies it. I would hate to be one to make a judgement about any of my grandchildren, but Mike reminds me more and more of all the things that were good in Bill, and Lucas seems to have inherited his father's mean streak."
"He's still just a kid, Mrs. H.," Gus said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "He's got a lot of problems right now, his heritage being the least of them. From what I hear, his son's mother is making a lot of trouble for him."
"Sami Brady needs a good spanking," Alice said firmly, "and I since don't sanction corporal punishment at all, you can imagine how she makes me feel."
"I can't say you're alone on that on, Mrs. H."
Alice began to laugh in earnest, "And you're just the young lady to deliver it, Augusta!"
"Well, I would think her mother would be the better person."
"Marlena Evans needs to straighten her priorities. She certainly hasn't disciplined Sami nearly enough, and her running around Salem with that nice John Black without the benefit of marriage is just wrong!"
"Why, Mrs. H.," Gus exclaimed, " I never knew you had such strong convictions!"
"Oh, you should have seen me the day that Reed girl started trying to blame my granddaughter Hope for the death of her baby. She really has no class at all, and I can't imagine what Bo Brady sees in her."
"I'm thinking it has something to do with her bra size, Mrs. H."
"Augusta!" Alice replied, just a wee bit shocked, "Oh, my dear, Mike said you always were such the scamp! It's so good to finally get to know you!"
"I think we're going to get along famously," Gus responded, putting an arm around Alice.
"I think so, too."
Gus' face became serious once more. She sat down on the bed opposite Alice and leaned her elbows on her knees. She folded her hands and chewed on the inside of her lip as she tried to organize her thoughts.
"Mrs. H., I've never been very good at tact, as Mike can probably tell you, but I need to discuss something with you that may or may not become an issue for Mike in the next few weeks."
Alice placed her hand on Gus's clenched fingers. "I know, dear."
"You do?!"
"Yes. It's about Mike and Carrie, isn't it?"
Gus was blown away. Mike always said his grandmother knew everything, but she was still impressed at the woman's perspicacity. Alice noticed Gus' reactions and smiled ruefully.
"It's never easy to hide a love like theirs, Augusta," she said, "the most one can hope for is that they can overcome the obstacles that fate has set in their paths and find each other eventually."
"Like Bo and Hope," Gus whispered.
"Yes." Alice's eyes were wise and knowing as she smiled at Gus. "You're here for more than one reason, Augusta, and I have a feeling that your presence will have a lasting impact on Salem. You're unlike many of the people I've met in my life. You're completely honest about your feelings and you have so much to give to others. If I'm not mistaken, something vital, something beyond a friendly visit, has drawn you to this place, hasn't it?"
Gus felt her heart beating too fast for her body. How could Alice Horton know so much and be so right?
"It's true, Mrs. H.," she said, "there are many reasons why I'm here. Your great-grandson Jeremy is one of them. Carrie is another. . ."
"And there are other purposes to your visit that have yet to be disclosed, am I correct?"
Gus closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her words were rushed and frantic. "I need to tell someone, Mrs. H., or I'm sure I'll go mad!"
"Tell me, Augusta, and I promise that it will not go beyond this room."
Gus took a deep breath. She expelled it slowly and found herself staring into Alice Horton's intensely blue eyes. So much like Mike's she thought to herself.
"Mrs. H., I'm here to prevent a murder."
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