Lucas caught Nicole by the door of the Titan office, and before she could brace herself, he pulled her in and kissed her. She kissed him back, just for a second, just long enough for him to feel it. “I didn’t mean to catch you with your guard down,” he said, grinning. “Actually, I did.
Because the way you kissed me back tells me you have feelings for me, too. Just give me a chance to prove I’m the man for you. ”
Nicole stepped back, breathless. “Lucas, I do have feelings for you.
I have for quite a while. But let me –”
“You see? ” He spread his hands. “I knew it.
”
“Slow down. ” She put up a hand. “What I feel for you is friendship. Admiration.
Enormous gratitude for everything you’ve done for me. You just bought me a Mercedes. I’m the happiest girl in the world right now. ”
“I can make you happy for the rest of your life, Nicole.
”
“It’s not going to work, Lucas. I love Eric. I’m sorry. ”
“I know.
I know. I just thought maybe I could change your mind. Not with the car. With –”
“I understand.
I want to be friends with you, and I hope we can be honest and truthful with each other. We can do that, can’t we? Trust each other? ”
He gave her a long look.
“If you change your mind, I’ll be waiting. And don’t worry. You can trust me. ”
Across the office, Taylor had watched the whole thing from the doorway.
When Lucas walked out, she stepped inside, furious. “I saw you kissing him. That’s what’s wrong. And I can’t wait to tell Eric.
”
“Taylor, I can explain that kiss if you would just listen. ”
“I don’t want to hear any of your lies. I know you’re playing Eric and Lucas against each other, and I’m not going to stand by and watch you betray him. ”
“I am not betraying him.
First of all, Lucas kissed me. ”
“Well, it seems to me like you got right into it. ”
“I’m sorry. I guess I got caught up in the kiss because I was so excited about the car he gave me and so terribly grateful.
But I made it very clear to Lucas that I love Eric and that Lucas and I can only be friends. I’m sure you must have heard that while you were standing there listening. ”
“I had to leave. ”
“Oh, you had to leave.
So you jump to conclusions without knowing all the facts first. That’s typical of you, Taylor. ”
“There you go, lying again. All you know how to do is lie and manipulate people.
Well, I’m not going to let you get away with it this time. I’m going to tell Eric the truth about you. ”
“You are not going anywhere. ” Nicole’s voice dropped.
“Stay out of my life, Taylor. You are young and naive and know nothing about adult relationships. ”
“I know a lot more than you think. You finally have a nice guy in your life, and what do you do?
You torture Eric by playing up to Lucas, and you tease Lucas just enough to let him think he can buy his way in. ”
“I have never encouraged Lucas, and I have never hidden my love for Eric, and Lucas has accepted that. End of story. I’m warning you, Taylor – don’t make trouble for me, or you will regret it.
”
“Is that a threat? ”
“That’s a promise. ”
Eric walked in before Taylor could answer. “What’s going on, you two?
”
Nicole smiled. “Taylor was just about to leave. ”
Taylor looked at Eric. “I won’t be coming to your dinner tonight.
”
“Why not? ”
“Ask Nicole. ”
She turned and walked out, leaving Eric staring after her while Nicole tried to keep her face calm. At the hospital, Eric had been holding up as well as he could.
He’d just come from visiting Sami, and the image of his sister in prison shackles wouldn’t leave him. Austin had brought the news that Roberto, the man whose statement could clear Sami, had gone back into a coma. “His sister convinced him to give a statement that would clear Sami,” Austin explained. “Just as Roman and the stenographer were going inside, he went into cardiac arrest.
”
“Okay, but once he regains consciousness –”
“He may not come out of it this time. ”
Sami had heard it all. “So what you’re saying is that my dad is not going to be able to get Roberto’s statement, and I’m never going to get out of here, and I am going to be executed for a crime I didn’t commit. ”
Eric tried to steady her.
“Look, we got to believe that Roberto’s going to pull through. With his sister Rosa there, that might give him the strength he needs to fight for his life. ”
A guard appeared. “Time’s up.
You’ll have to leave now. ”
Eric squeezed Sami’s hand. “Hang in there, okay? I’ll see you later.
”
“You have a good time tonight,” she said. “I don’t know. I’m thinking about calling the whole thing off. ”
“No way.
Don’t you dare. You have a good time… for me. ”
“Well, all right, when you put it that way. ”
“I’m really happy to hear that your future’s looking up with Nicole.
She was my maid of honor. Maybe I could be hers. ”
“Nothing would make me happier. ”
“I love you, bro.
”
“I love you. ”
After Eric left, Austin stayed. Sami looked at him with hollow eyes. “I’m talking about a future like I have one.
”
“Hey, of course you do. No one’s giving up on you getting out of here. No one ever will. ”
“Yeah, well, what about you, Austin?
What about your future with Carrie? Do you still have one? ”
He hesitated. “I don’t know.
”
“Have you spoken to her? ”
“Yes. She called me at the hospital, but nothing got resolved. ”
“Is she coming home?
”
“No. She’s going to L. A. for the medical convention.
”
“Did you ask her to come home? ”
“No. I figure if she wanted to, she’d be here right now. Look, Carrie and I will deal with our own problems, okay?
In the meantime, I’m going to make sure that Lucas is not going to get custody of Will. ”
“But how can we do that without Carrie’s help? It sounds like we can’t count on her keeping her agreement to raise Will, can we? ”
“Look, Carrie has chosen to be with Mike.
I think she’s having an affair, but Marlena says I’m wrong. She talked to Carrie, and she’s satisfied that Carrie wouldn’t do that to me right now. Not with everything that’s going on. ”
“Is there a chance my mom could be right?
”
“I don’t know. I’m not going to know until I meet with Carrie face-to-face. But as for Will’s custody, on paper I clearly have the upper hand on Lucas. He still has a restraining order against him.
He can’t see Will. He got drunk, got into a car accident, almost killed his son. Everyone in the family except for my mother thinks I should be raising him. There’s no question I would be a better parent than Lucas, and I think any judge will see that.
”
“I am very hopeful that we will be able to prevent Lucas from raising Will,” Sami said. “But as for my circumstances here, you don’t know what it’s like, sitting in here day after day, praying for a miracle that’s never going to happen. It hurts. It hurts so much more than just giving in and accepting my fate.
So please, just accept it, too, Austin. ”
“No. ” He shook his head. “I refuse to believe that God’s going to let you die for a crime that you didn’t commit.
”
“Austin, history is filled with innocent people who have died for crimes that they didn’t commit. ”
“This is going to be different. I’m not going to give up. I still believe in miracles.
I thought Will was going to die when he got in that car accident, but we prayed, and he recovered. And we’re going to pray now. I’m not going to let you lose hope, and I’m not going to let you lose faith, and I’m not going to let you lose trust in God’s fairness and his power. Let’s pray.
”
He bowed his head and began, and Sami, despite everything, lowered her head with him. Billie was working late at Titan Publishing when the phone rang. “Titan Publishing. ”
“Marie, it’s Kate.
”
“This is Billie, Mom. ”
“Billie? What are you doing there? ”
“Going over some Countess Wilhelmina budget figures.
Where are you? ”
“I’m visiting Victor. He’s in physical therapy right now. ”
“Marie went down to the photo lab.
Do you want me to connect you? ”
“No, that’s okay. It’s just that I left in a hurry, and I wanted her to know where I went. So you’ll let her know?
Since I have you on the line – I know Roman said he was bringing Roberto’s sister in from Italy to try to get him to make a statement. Do you have any news about that? ”
“No. He was just about to, but he had a relapse.
He’s in a coma. ”
“Oh, God, that’s terrible. I was really hoping this ordeal for Sami and everyone would be over soon. ”
“Well, if anything, it’s getting more complicated now.
Roman thinks Roberto’s relapse may be the result of foul play. ”
Across town, in Victor’s hospital room, the door opened. Victor looked at Kate’s face. “Kate, are you all right?
”
She covered the phone. “I’m fine, honey. I’m just talking to Billie. ”
But after she hung up, she stood frozen.
Victor studied her. “I’ll ask you again, Kate – are you all right? ”
“Damn it. If Roman figures this out, I’m the one who’s going to be in jail.
”
“Figures what out? Oh, my God, Kate. You didn’t cause Roberto’s coma? ”
She sank into the chair beside his bed.
“I couldn’t let Roberto implicate me. I couldn’t let him tell Roman that I knew about the contract out on Franco’s life before the wedding, and that I was threatening to expose him. So I offered Roberto a deal. A lot of money and my help in making him disappear so the mob would never find him.
But then Roman brings in Roberto’s sister from Italy, and she appeals to his conscience, such as it is, and she talks him into making a statement. I had to stop him, Victor. ”
“So how did you induce his coma? ”
“I overheard two nurses discussing the medication they were using to keep him stable.
When they were out of the room, I slipped in. I got rid of the medication from the syringe, and I substituted saline solution. That’s what they injected into his I. V.
”
“Damn it, Kate. Couldn’t you leave well enough alone? ”
“I cannot let Sami get out of prison before I get custody of Will. I had to stop Roberto from talking.
”
“I understand your fear, Kate, and your need to help Lucas, but you keep taking bigger and bigger risks. ”
“No, I don’t think anyone recognized me. They can’t blame me for Roberto’s coma. ”
“I hope not.
Kate, what’s done is done. If Roberto comes to, and he’s smart, and he wants to help himself, he’ll realize that the deal you’re offering him is better than Roman’s. You have to believe that he won’t implicate you. ”
“Oh, Victor, God, I don’t know what I would do without your love and your support.
I can’t wait for the day that you come home to me and Phillip. And I hope Sami spends years on death row, and every day she wonders which day is going to be her last, because that’s what she deserves for causing your stroke, causing me and Lucas so much pain. ”
Victor regarded her for a long moment. “Have you and Lucas reconciled your differences?
”
“No. He’s still upset with me for opposing his relationship with Nicole. I know you encouraged him, but still, every time I see her operate, I’m even more determined to keep him from marrying her. ”
“So what are you going to do about it?
”
“I called Heather Marshall. Do you remember her? ”
“Yes, that young attorney that Lucas used to date. I liked her.
How is she? ”
“She’s still single, and infinitely more suited to Lucas than Nicole. I just hope he’s not so blinded by Nicole that he can’t see that Heather is better for him. ”
“I’d be willing to bet that Heather can open his eyes.
”
Later that day, Lucas stepped out of the Titan building and almost ran straight into her. “Heather. ”
“Luke. ” She smiled.
“What are you doing here? ”
“I was driving down the street, and I found myself staring at the Titan Publishing building, so I thought, why don’t I take my chances, see if you were in? And I’m glad I did. ”
“Well, so am I.
It’s been a long time. How come you haven’t called me? ”
“Now, Heather, I was under the impression that you weren’t interested. ”
“Yeah, well, you were wrong.
”
Bo had found the photograph in Hope’s things, and he confronted her with it. The picture showed Hope as Gina, young and laughing, standing close to Stefano DiMera. “In your rush to leave, you left a few things behind,” he said. “This was sticking out of a magazine.
”
“So what, you thought it was all right just to help yourself, just take it? ”
“It’s interesting. All your possessions from your time of being Gina were burned in the fire at Maison Blanche. ”
“No, that’s not true.
Celeste saved a few things, remember? ”
“She didn’t save this. ”
“True. I came across the photo in one of Lili’s books.
You can’t imagine the horror I felt when I saw it, Bo. ”
“Is that the truth? ”
“Why would I lie? ”
“You’ve been very friendly with DiMera lately.
I’m wondering if it’s because you’re having memories of being with him – happy memories. ”
“How dare you? Even the thought of that man touching me makes me completely ill. How could you ever doubt that?
”
“Well, why didn’t you show me the picture? ”
“Because I knew that you would react exactly the way you’re reacting right now – accusing me of actually caring for that monster. ”
“Hope, I have told you over and over again, you’re not responsible for whatever you did for him or with him. He brainwashed you into taking over whatever Princess Gina was doing for him, and he brainwashed you into caring for him.
He is such a sick animal, he has to create women to sleep with him. ”
“Is that what you think of me – that I’m just one of Stefano’s whores? ”
“No, that is not what I meant. ”
“I don’t have to listen to this.
” She started to walk away. “Hope, wait. ”
She stopped but didn’t turn around. “What about Lili?
Maybe she knows when this picture was taken. ”
“She doesn’t even know that I found the photo. ”
“You didn’t discuss it with her? ”
“No.
”
“What? ”
“I guess deep down, I was afraid of what she might say. I know that I told her that I only had one great love of my life, and naturally, I assumed that love was you. But, my God, Bo, what if it wasn’t?
”
“Yeah. What if it was DiMera? ”
“Please. I don’t even want to consider that possibility.
It’s too horrifying. I just want to bury the past, and I want you to bury it, too. No more searching. No more questions, please.
” Her voice cracked. “Bo, it’s tearing me apart. ”
“I’d like nothing better than to have you back in my life,” he said. “But I also know you, and you’re not going to rest until you can get the answers to your past.
”
“I want to let go of my past as Gina, but you don’t. And you want to let go of your past with Billie, but I can’t. ”
“Oh, Billie again? ”
“The image of the two of you making love – I can’t get it out of my head.
It’s torturing me. ”
“I told you, I thought you had gone off with Franco. Why can’t you accept that? ”
“I hope I can, but I’m not ready to deal with it now.
And I can’t deal with you pressuring me all the time. ”
“All right. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pressure you or to get you upset.
Why don’t we just go back to Mrs. H. ’s? I’ll help you unpack, then we can go to dinner.
”
“I’m not going back to Gran’s. I need to work these problems out alone. ”
“Hope, you know we’re stronger when we work as a team. ”
“When I could count on you, on your love, on your loyalty, and when I did know that I was the only woman in your heart – yeah.
”
She walked away, and Bo watched her go, wondering what she was becoming. At the DiMera mansion, Rolf pressed ice to Stefano’s bruised face. “You are lucky that Bo didn’t put you in the hospital. ”
“He’s lucky he did not put me in the hospital.
But even with Bo’s stupid attack, nothing is going to get in the way of my happiness. When Gina got here today, she was carefree, loving, flirtatious. She swept me back in time. She was always able to make me feel like I’m a very desirable man.
”
“Well, try not to get carried away by the mood that Gina was in today. I remember times when you suffered terrible doubts about her love for you. ”
“That was a long time ago. Now it’s different.
”
“Because then she was Princess Gina. And even though you’ve turned Hope back into Gina, you must never act upon your feelings for her, or next time, Bo really could try and kill you. ”
“You are always jumping to the direst conclusions. ”
“I am a cautious person.
”
“You are a downer. Besides, Bo is not going to find out about my relationship with Gina, and he is just about to become a bad memory. ”
“I know that Gina would be happy to be rid of him, but she is not the real Princess Gina. ”
Stefano sighed.
“But Hope has the same feelings and emotions and thoughts as the real Princess Gina. And I have no doubt that my feelings are reciprocated. Tell me something. Is it deliberate, Rolf?
Do you get some kind of a kick out of raining on my parade? ”
“I only do what you pay me to do – protect you, keep you grounded in reality. I remember your concern when the real Princess Gina lost her will to live. Do you recall that?
”
Stefano’s eyes went distant. “Yes. It was shortly after John left for the states. ”
He did remember.
He had gone to Gina’s secret studio expecting to find her painting, but she stood by the window, furious. “Why don’t you tell me the truth? ” she had demanded. “What’s wrong, Gina?
”
“John would never leave without saying goodbye, Stefano. You lied to me when you said that he got homesick and wanted to get back to the states. I think you took him away deliberately. I want to know what you’ve done with John.
”
“I used John for another assignment. Don’t worry. I will get you a different partner. What is the problem?
”
“I want to work with John. ”
“I just don’t understand why you are so upset. John is one of my creations. He’s not even a real person.
”
“John was not a robot. You may have trained him to be a warrior, a mercenary, or whatever you want to call it, but he has a heart and soul all of his own. ”
“Heart and soul? What exactly do you mean by that?
”
“He was a wonderful friend to Greta. I refuse to believe that was all an act. He was also a very devoted friend to me. ”
“I’m sorry.
I did not mean to sound so callous. Fine. John is a wonderful man. ”
“Then I demand that you bring him back as my partner.
”
“Gina, you do not need John now. Come here. Look at me. You have me now.
You will always have me. For God’s sake… I love you. ”
Rolf watched Stefano’s face. “I’ve often wondered if Gina had developed feelings for John, and he for her.
Is that why Princess Gina wanted to bring John back? And is that why, after we recently transformed Hope into Gina again, she wanted to bring John back? ”
Stefano waved a hand. “Princess Gina’s behavior that day gave me pause, but she never had a relationship with John that was not professional.
And if I remember, that was the beginning of Princess Gina’s illness. ”
“A terrible pity. She just withered away and died. ”
“But I have no doubt that Gina never stopped loving me and that we will be together again… soon.
”
Later that night, Gina sat alone, thinking about the day. “What a day. I had a close call with Steffy, but now I have him right where I want him. He’ll help me get John back without even realizing it.
But Bo’s trouble. I’ve got to find a way to get him off my back. But how? ”
Across town, Greta was still reeling from her discovery.
She had been at the DiMera mansion again, looking for answers about her mother. “If Stefano was my father, why wouldn’t she want me to know? ” she asked John. “They were obviously friends, although I never met him until I was at Maison Blanche.
Why did my mother send me to boarding school in New Orleans? Was it because Stefano had a plantation nearby and she wanted him to look out after me? ”
“Well, how could he do that if you never met him before? ”
“Maybe she told him to keep his distance but still protect me.
I always wondered how my mother could send me so far away to a foreign country for boarding school without anyone there to look after me. Oh, my God. Stefano has to be my father. Who else could it be?
”
John shook his head. “But if Stefano were your father, there’s no way he’d ever stay out of your life. Certainly not after Princess Gina died. ”
“You think he would claim me as his daughter?
”
“Absolutely. If for no other reason than to flaunt his virility. If a beautiful young woman such as yourself were his child, he would want to broadcast it to the world. Trust me.
I know the man. ”
“What if Stefano didn’t know? What if my mother lied to him? ”
“I remember being at Maison Blanche,” Greta said, “and Stefano telling me how much he cared about my mother, and telling me that he promised her that he would take care of me.
Did he do that? Did he promise that because I’m his daughter? ”
“Greta, you know that Stefano didn’t know that Lexie was his daughter until a few years ago. ”
“Well, that was different.
Stefano never knew that Celeste was pregnant with his child. But he knew that Gina had a child. And if DiMera ever slept with your mother, if he had any suspicions whatsoever that you were his child, he would’ve worked his way right into your life, whether Gina liked it or not. He’s not your father.
”
“I wish you could remember your time with my mother,” she said quietly. “I have a feeling you know a lot of her secrets. ”
John rubbed his forehead. “Are you okay?
”
“Yeah. Thanks for putting my mind at ease about Stefano. And when you do get your memory back, I hope you’re able to tell me everything about my mother and also tell me who my father was. ”
Outside, in his car, John gripped the wheel.
“I need answers. I got to know more about my relationship with Princess Gina. ”
And somewhere across town, Billie stood at a window, her own mind heavy. “I can’t bear to see Roman so torn up.
Thank God he forgave me. That’s more than Bo could do. If only I hadn’t lied about our baby. My little Georgia, if you would have lived, Bo and I would be together right now.
”
Gina stepped into the office behind her. “Hi, Billie. ”
Billie turned. “Hello, Hope.
”
