"Q.E.D." Part 5
She did not so much hear him as feel him approach. She sensed hispresence, her mind's eye picturing him standing behind her, watchingher. She resisted the temptation to turn around and face him. Shewanted him to acknowledge her first.
He watched her from a distance for a while, and he saw her form shifton the park bench as she searched through her bag for her book. Hermovements were simple and compact, routine motions that she somehowmade elegant. He moved closer, acutely aware of the snow crunchingbeneath his boots. He kept his eyes on her as he walked, watching forany sign that she could hear him: a tilt of her head, a straighteningof her spine, a sudden intake of breath. But she remained still, hereyes trained on the pages of her book.
The book was a large hardcover, most likely a textbook, he mused.Perhaps she still pursued a degree in social work in her spare time.She probably needed a quiet place to study for an important exam. Hesmiled, remembering all of the other times he had created scenariosfor her, false memories for him of a mother he never knew.
In his dreams, his mother would read him stories and sing silly songsto make him laugh. In his dreams, his mother would comfort him andbandage his knee when he fell. In his dreams, his mother would tellhim all about the world outside of the remote island where he grewup. In his dreams, he spoke to his mother all of the time. Inreality, he could barely bring himself to say hello to her.
"May I sit down?" He noticed that she didn't seem surprised at thesudden sound of his voice.
Laura turned to face him. "Of course, Nikolas."
He sat on the other end of the bench. She closed her book, placed itin her bag and then moved the bag to the ground, removing thephysical obstacle between them. He made no effort to move closer toher.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you. I won't take up much of yourtime."
"Of course not, Nikolas. Take all of the time that you need."
She was smiling at him now, but it was a different smile than theones she gave to her Spencer family. Weighted with regrets andsorrow, it was the kind of smile one would have when looking at oldphotographs of a deceased loved one. Her first son's childhood waslost to her, and there was no getting it back.
"I want you to tell me what you know about my family's history." Hespoke slowly and evenly, carefully choosing each word.
"Nikolas... I ... only know a few things. Surely your uncle couldtell you more..."
"He's told me quite enough. I want to know what you know."
Suddenly, the winter air felt cold to her. She shifted on the bench."I... know about your grandfather Mikkos and his brothers, Victor andTony. They... had some kind of machine that could control theweather.."
Nikolas held up his hand. "I know about that history. What do youknow of my family's past? Of my ancestors?"
Laura sighed with relief. She didn't want to have to retell the awfultale of her and Luke's encounters with the Cassadine family. "Well, Iknow that the Cassadine family can be traced back to some ancientMacedonian king. Your father used to tell me that he was aprince."
Nikolas nodded his head at the familiar story. "Did my father or myuncle ever talk about their grandfather? About mygreat-grandfather?"
"Not often. Although I did see some old photographs of him.Alexander, I think his name was. Anyway, his parents knew NicholasII, the last tsar of Russia. He gave them a set of Romanov china,which I only saw on special occasions. And, as you know, Nicholas IIalso gave them that Faberge egg that you gave to Leslie Lu." Shelooked thoughtful for a moment. "I somehow got the idea that theCassadines and the Romanovs were related. A lot of royal familiesare..."
"Yes.. they are." He looked directly at her and leaned in closer,closing the gap between them. "What about you? Are you descended fromroyalty?"
She never expected that question and tried to hide her amusement athis serious expression. "Well, I haven't researched my family tree,but as far as I know, I'm not." She allowed herself a little smile."I'm afraid that your mother is nothing but a commoner."
She was surprised and delighted when Nikolas returned the smile.
"That's quite all right," he said. "I find that having royalancestors means little in this country."
"Nikolas... why did you want to know?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "How is my grandmother..Lesley? Has she spoken yet?"
Laura raised an eyebrow at the abrupt change of topic. "She's doingwell. She called me by name the other day."
Nikolas nodded. "That's good." He stood and placed his hand onLaura's shoulder. "I have to leave now. I hope that your mother willcome to know you again."
Laura grasped Nikolas' hand and squeezed it gently. "Thank youNikolas..." As he walked away from her, she said to no one, "I hopethat your mother will come to know you again, as well..."