Mickey Horton poured himself a drink and fixed his son with a long, careful look. Mike had finally admitted the truth, and Mickey knew the conversation was only going to get harder. “I slept with her,” Mike said. “Once,” Mickey said.
“Once. That was it. We were consenting, unattached adults. We didn’t hurt anybody.
” Mike caught the look on his father’s face and bristled. “What? What’s that look for? ”
“I’m not judging you, Mike.
Lord knows I was the renegade son of the Horton family long enough to turn my own father’s hair gray. But there’s one thing I learned over the years. When something like this happens, someone always gets hurt. ”
“Ali and I tried a relationship.
It didn’t work out. It happens. ”
“Tried a relationship. ”
“What, is that immoral now?
”
“If you weren’t sure you cared about Ali, why did you let it go so far? ”
“I never promised her anything. ”
“Really? Because that’s not what she claims.
”
Mike sighed in frustration. “We were in bed, okay? And apparently I made a joke about getting her the head nurse job. It was before either of us even knew she was in the running.
It was frivolous. She had to know I was kidding. ”
“But she didn’t,” Mickey said. “She’s basing this whole lawsuit on the fact that she took you seriously.
”
“That’s just what I need on top of everything else. ”
“The situation with Carrie, you mean? ”
“I went over this with Grandma. I love Carrie, and I want to marry her.
”
“She’s already married. ”
“I meant when she’s free. Oh, there’s that look again. I assume you don’t approve.
”
“Mike, please understand. I can’t be objective about this. It happened so many years ago, but the pain is still there. ”
“You’re talking about when Mom betrayed you with Bill.
”
“My brother. They not only had an affair, they conceived a child. You. A wonderful little boy who’s now a wonderful man of whom I’m very, very proud.
But I have never gotten over it. I’ve never gotten over losing you and Laura to him. ”
“I know the hell you went through. I was there.
I know the hell we all went through, you and Mom and me. But this is not the same situation. For one thing, Carrie’s not going to have my baby. ”
“That makes it all right?
”
“I know Austin is being hurt, but he deserted her. I’m doing the best I can. I asked Carrie to resign. I had to get her out of the hospital, out of the line of fire in case this thing with Ali blew up.
And it looks like it’s going to. What am I supposed to do, stop loving her? I can’t give her up. I won’t.
All I can do is try to get this lawsuit out of the way so I can move on with my life. And that’s a life that includes Carrie. ”
“Then give me something to work with,” Mickey said. “Can you tell me anything about Ali that I can use to discredit her?
”
Mike didn’t hesitate. “She’s certifiable. She’s completely delusional. I’ve told her a dozen times we have no personal relationship.
It’s strictly professional. She refuses to accept that. She rants, she raves. Her moods change at the drop of a hat.
She was in my office earlier, and I told her the lawsuit was bogus. She called it an act of love. Then she blasted me for treating her like garbage, and ten seconds later she pressed herself up against me and kissed me, saying she’d rather make love than war. ”
“Something’s definitely not right there.
”
“You’re telling me. I met her mother, Dr. Claire McIntyre. What a piece of work.
I’m no shrink, but anybody could see she destroyed Ali’s sense of self-worth a long time ago. ”
“We might have something here,” Mickey said slowly. “If I can get a psychiatric evaluation that proves she’s mentally unstable, we can get the lawsuit thrown out. ”
“That’s the first piece of good news I’ve had in a long time.
”
At the party given by Vivian and Stefano DiMera, John and Marlena made their announcement. The room buzzed with surprise as John raised his glass to his bride-to-be. “That’s right. You heard correctly.
The day after tomorrow, Marlena and I will become husband and wife. ”
Lexie cheered. Vivian looked stricken. Stefano watched with a thin, unreadable smile.
“No one deserves to be happier than the two of you,” Gina managed. “There’s not much time for you to plan,” Lexie said. Marlena smiled. “We feel like we’ve been planning this our entire lives.
”
“And there’s nothing any of you can do to stop it,” John added, his eyes landing squarely on Stefano. “Including you, DiMera. ”
Stefano spread his hands with mock innocence. “John, for goodness sake.
Why do you want to mar such a wonderful occasion by making accusations? You should be celebrating. ”
“We are celebrating. Love and survival.
It seems our love has survived everything you’ve thrown our way. Brainwashing us. Kidnapping us. Attempts on our lives.
Secrets about my past you are still keeping from me. But that’s all behind us now, isn’t it? ”
“Yes, it is,” Marlena said firmly. Kate approached Marlena later, pulling her aside.
“I’ve missed our friendship,” she said. “I’ve missed our talks. I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you did when Sami was in trouble. Helping get Roberto’s confession.
”
“It’s been difficult for us both,” Kate said. “We’ve both had to defend and support our children. But I hope we can put all of that behind us someday and be friends again. ”
“I would really like that.
”
“I wish you and John all the happiness in the world. ”
Bo watched from across the room, his attention fixed on Gina. He cornered her before the night was over. “So how do you really feel about what’s happened?
”
“About John and Marlena getting married? I think it’s fabulous. ”
“No, you don’t. It bothers the hell out of you.
Why is that? Why don’t you want John and Marlena together? ”
Gina’s smile tightened. “Satisfied?
”
“No,” Bo said. “Not by a long shot. ”
John and Marlena stood apart, unaware of the tension. John seemed almost giddy with relief.
“Did you see the look on DiMera’s face when I made the announcement? He knows he’s powerless to stop the wedding this time. ”
“I hope you’re right,” Marlena said quietly. “Don’t worry.
It’s over. It’s never going to happen again. ”
Stefano pulled Gina aside, his voice low. “Don’t be so concerned about the wedding.
I’m not about to let this wedding happen. ”
Gina’s eyes glittered. “Neither am I. ”
Later, after the party had wound down and the guests had drifted away, Vivian confronted her husband.
“Why did you put an end to my party? That was very rude. ”
Stefano barely looked at her. “This evening has gone on long enough.
”
When the last guest finally left, Vivian insisted he come home with her. “I’d like you home with me tonight, to hold me when I go to sleep. ”
Stefano agreed, his voice soft and accommodating, but when he turned to lead her out, he cast one last look back at the room. Something in his eyes had already moved past Vivian, past the party, past everything but the plans forming behind them.
At the same time, across town, a messenger entered a restaurant on Highland Avenue and walked directly to a table where Carrie Reed sat with her sister Sami and her husband Austin. “Carrie Reed, you’re being served. ”
Carrie stared at the envelope he placed on the table. Sami’s eyes went wide.
“Carrie, what’s going on? What is it? ”
“Divorce papers,” Carrie said. Austin reached out, his voice low and careful.
“I’m sorry. Bad timing. I didn’t want you to get hit with this in public. ”
“I don’t understand,” Sami said.
“Divorce papers? ”
“We didn’t want you to find out about it just yet,” Austin said. “This being your first day of freedom and all. We didn’t want to ruin it.
Too late for that now. ” He turned to Carrie. “Do you want to explain? ”
Sami shook her head, struggling to take it in.
“You were right about Mike and Carrie all along, weren’t you? About their feelings for each other. When you and I went on the run, they fell in love. When I went to Vegas to try to patch things up with Carrie, I caught her in bed with Mike.
”
“I don’t believe it. ”
“It’s true. And I can’t get it out of my mind. I can’t forget it.
I’m divorcing Carrie, and that’s final. ”
Sami had arranged the whole evening. She had brought Austin and Carrie together at the restaurant, telling them it was her gift to them. “You’ve spent so much time apart because of me,” she had said.
“I wanted to be the one to bring you two together for once. No more competing. No more jealousy. I want to be a good sister to you, Carrie, and a good friend.
I want to become strong and independent so I don’t have to rely on you so much. That way maybe you two can start making a family together. ”
She had pushed them onto the dance floor, watching them hold each other like she remembered from the old days. But Austin and Carrie had only danced because pretending was easier than telling the truth.
“Pretending. I hate it,” Austin had whispered against her ear. “Me too. ”
“We have to tell her.
”
“I can’t. ”
“Right. You don’t want to admit to sleeping with another man. ”
Now the truth was out, and the dance floor had vanished.
The divorce papers lay on the table, separating everything. While all of this unfolded, Ali McIntyre had watched the messenger leave the restaurant with a satisfied smile. She had sent him there, after telling him exactly where to find Carrie Reed. Nancy turned to her daughter.
“What was that all about? ”
“The messenger was looking for Carrie Reed. I told him she was dining at Tuscany tonight. An envelope at this time of night is never good news for our former P.
R. director of University Hospital. ”
“Former? ” Nancy asked.
“That’s right. Mike fired Carrie. Now the field is totally cleared for me to get Mike back. ”
Craig stared at his daughter-in-law in disbelief.
“Ali, why are you doing this? ”
“Because Mike fired Carrie today. The lawsuit has done its job. Mike has seen the light and awakened to the fact that the one he loves is me.
”
“Ali,” Nancy said carefully, “why don’t you beam yourself back to earth where things make a bit more sense? ”
“Okay, what things? ”
“For starters,” Craig said, “Mike isn’t in love with you, and he never has been. ”
“Then why did he fire her?
”
“Ali, would you please focus? Try to look at things and see them for what they really are. ”
“I’m beginning to. I’m beginning to see that the two of you are traitors.
You’re not on my side at all. ”
“Ali, I just spoke with your mother,” Craig said. “Please have Alison call me immediately. ”
“Forget it.
I can’t be bothered with my mother right now. I’ve got to focus my energies on getting Mike back. ”
“That poor girl,” Craig said quietly after she walked away. “She has totally shut down.
”
Ali didn’t hear him. Her mind was already racing ahead. “I just thought of something. Since Mike fired Carrie, maybe he’ll offer me her old job.
”
“Ali, you are not a P. R. person,” Nancy said. “Your field is medicine.
And Mike is not going to hire you to replace Carrie. He doesn’t want you around. ”
“Oh, no? ”
“No.
”
“Well, when you receive an invitation to Mike’s and my wedding, you’ll realize that I was right all along. And I’ll be expecting a huge apology for your misguided behavior. ”
Mike stepped out of the restaurant just as Ali turned away. He had seen enough.
He walked up to her, his face pale and drawn. “Ali. I made a complete fool out of myself. I’m so sorry.
You’re the only one I love, and I’ll love you forever. Do you forgive me? ”
Ali’s face lit up. “Yes.
”
Mike forced a smile and walked past her, his shoulders tight, his jaw clenched. Ali didn’t see any of it. She only saw what she wanted to see. Across the street, Carrie stood alone outside the hospital where she no longer worked.
She had come back without thinking, drawn by habit, and now she didn’t know where to go. “What am I doing here? I can’t go in there. I don’t work here anymore.
I’ve got no place to go. ”
She stood there for a long moment, the divorce papers folded in her hand, then turned and walked away into the dark. Back at the party house, Bo watched the last guests leave. He had spent the evening watching Stefano and Gina together, watching the way they moved, the way they talked, the way they looked at each other.
He had not gotten what he wanted, not yet, but he was closer. “I’m sorry you didn’t find out the truth tonight about Stefano and Hope,” Greta said quietly. “It wasn’t a total bust,” Bo said. “The two of them are definitely involved.
And I’m getting closer and closer to figuring out what that’s all about. ”
Lili Faversham passed by, disappointed. “I was hoping to hear something about my stolen paintings tonight. ”
“Don’t give up, Mrs.
Faversham. Bo is the man to find them,” Greta said. Bo barely heard them. He watched the house where Stefano had insisted on staying behind, and he knew the night was far from over.
Inside the house, Stefano stood alone in the dim light. He had seen the way John looked at him, the way Marlena clutched John’s arm with quiet fear. They thought they had won. They thought the wedding would happen.
Stefano smiled to himself in the dark. He had told Gina not to worry, and he meant it. He was not about to let that wedding happen. And somewhere in the night, Mickey Horton was on the phone, setting up a psychiatric evaluation for Ali McIntyre.
If everything went according to plan, the lawsuit would be thrown out. Mike could move on with his life. He could be with Carrie. But Carrie was standing alone in the street, holding divorce papers, with nowhere to go.
And Ali was planning a wedding that would never happen. And Stefano was planning something of his own. The night was full of plans.
Not all of them would survive the morning.
