Chapter 36: My Three Sons

 

Carly opens her apartment door to Justus, giving him a signal to be quiet as she welcomes him in.

Carly whispers as she takes his coat. "Anthony just went down. Have a seat, Justus. Would you like something to drink? Tea perhaps?"

"Tea would be great, thanks." Justus replies quietly while taking a seat on the couch. He opens his briefcase to remove a file.

Carly returns with tea, pouring them both a cup once she's seated on the couch next to him. "I was so surprised when you called this morning. Aunt Ruby and I were never very close. She adored Anthony of course, but when it came to me, there was a permanent tone of disapproval in her voice. If it weren't for Anthony, I think she would have hated me."

"Well I've learned from my family, the Quartermaine side that is, that disliking family members doesn't mean you don't provide for them. I'll keep this simple by summarizing the contents of the will." Justus opens the file. "Ruby left Kelly's to you and Anthony."

Carly practically drops her cup. "What?! How...?"

Justus continues. "She set up the bequest with the condition that Luke control the running of Kelly's until you're thirty. Obviously his death complicates things. She died so quickly after Luke, there wasn't time to revise the will."

Carly reels from the news. "Aunt Ruby left the diner to Anthony and me? I can't believe it."

"Obviously she never told you." Justus looks at her sympathetically. "Now we'll need to set up another person to oversee the diner until you're thirty. The obvious choice would be your mother Bobbie."

Carly puts her tea cup down as she considers the idea. "I'd have to ask her. A few weeks ago I'd have said 'not in a million years', but Bobbie and I had a long talk at Luke's wake. We cleared the air."

"If she says no, Laura might be willing to do in Luke's stead. Legally-speaking, they are your two best choices. The courts are more willing to accept family in these kind of situations." Justus's explanation is interrupted by the doorbell.

Carly strides over to the door to open it, surprised at the sight of her mother. "Bobbie! Come on in. Justus is here telling me about Aunt Ruby's will."

"I'm sorry, I should have called first." Bobbie backs away, hesitant to interrupt. "I just got off shift and thought I'd stop by to see Anthony on my way home. I'll come by some other time..."

Carly stops her. "No Bobbie! Please stay. Anthony would love to see you. And actually, Justus and I were just talking about something that you might be able to help with."

Bobbie walks in warily."Help? With what? Are you writing your will or something?"

Carly shakes her head as she relieves Bobbie of her coat. "No, that's already been done. It's about Aunt Ruby's will."

"Oh, this must be about Kelly's Diner. She mentioned to me that she was leaving it to you and Anthony." Bobbie takes a seat in one of the chairs.

Carly looks at her in amazement. "You knew and you're okay with it?" Bobbie nods.

"Ruby put a stipulation in the bequest that Luke oversee the management of Kelly's until Carly's thirtieth birthday," Justus explains. "Ruby didn't have time to change her will before she died herself."

Bobbie processes the information. "Wow, what a mess. What can I do to help?"

Carly looks at the floor uncomfortably. hating the idea of asking her mother for help. Finally she looks up at her Bobbie, their eyes locking. "Justus said that I need to find someone responsible to take over Uncle Luke's responsibility." Her next words stick in her throat. She gets up and looks out her living room window, staring at the dirty streets below. Even though she no longer hates her mother, the idea of asking for her help is galling.

Bobbie's eyes widen in surprise, but she holds back the urge to blurt out the question. The last thing she wanted to do was look like a fool or ruin the uneasy truce between them. She decides to take a cautious approach. "What is it that you're asking, Carly?"

Justus becomes uneasy as he sees the tense family dynamics play out. He gathers his things as he stands to leave. "Maybe I should leave you two alone to discuss this. Carly, I'll let myself out." Justus leaves the two silent women alone.

Bobbie tries again gently. "Carly?"

Carly looks at her feet. "God, I hate asking you for anything. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate you or anything. Not anymore, not for a long time. It's just..." Carly shrugs helplessly.

Bobbie tries to ease the tension. "I don't hate you either, Carly. I don't think I ever did. I was angry for a long time. Still am about some things. But I want the best for you and Anthony."

Carly's next words come in a rush, her face trembling with nervousness. "Would you take Uncle Luke's place, and oversee the management of Kelly's.. for Anthony and me?"

Bobbie hesitates for half a second. "Yes, for you and Anthony. How, I have no idea. But I'll figure it out."

"You would?" Carly looks at Bobbie with a mixture of relief, gratitude and disbelief. "Thanks so much! You won't regret it!"

Bobbie smiles at her generously. "The question is how are you and I going to run Kelly's with our respective schedules? With you in the nurses program and me as nursing supervisor, we're going to need help."

The moment is broken by Anthony's cries. Carly smiles as she leaves living room to retrieve Anthony. "My break is over!"

Bobbie follows Carly to Anthony's room. "Well, that's what Grandmothers are for. Helping tired moms. How would you feel if I took him a couple of afternoons a week after my shift?"

Carly is stunned. "You'd do that? For me?"

Bobbie smiles devilishly. "Yes, I would. But I do have a hidden agenda. I want some time with my only grandson!" Bobbie coos at Anthony. "Hey big boy, did you miss me?"

....................

Jerry sits on the Jacks' private jet, sifting through the pictures of his son. The first picture he comes to is one of Billy when he was six months old. Jerry smiles sadly at the sight of Billy pulling his mother's hair gleefully. He flips through some pictures and finds one of Billy at age 3 1/2. Jerry remembers the day he surprised Miranda by showing up on her doorstep. The day he learned of Billy....

Miranda's front door opens and Jerry quickly swoops her up in his arms, embracing her tightly. "Hey luv! I see you survived Jax's rejection."

Before Miranda can say anything a small boy with the trademark Jacks family blue eyes comes out from behind her and stares up at them, asking, "Mommy, why is that man hugging you?"

....Jerry strokes Billy's picture as tears fall, whispering to himself, "Billy, what have I done? How can I keep my promise and stay out of your life? First Dad, now you. I don't know how I'm going to go on."

The oppressive weight of Jerry's grief causes his shoulders to sag in defeat. The tears fall furiously, blinding him to the pictures in front of him. Finally he gives in, doubling over in his seat, his shoulders shaking violently from the gut wrenching sobs.

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Edward talks on the phone in his study. "How's your son holding up?" Edward fiddles with the cord absently. "Do you think it would help him to be around family, Tracy? Yes, I know I told you to leave, but we're Dylan's family too... I'll make it right with everyone. So you'll come? Good. I'll see you in a few days. Have you told Ned?"

Edwards brow furrows with displeasure at her response. "He should be told. Well, I'll call him then. See you soon, darling. Give Dylan my love. Bye."

Edward dials another number and smiles when a woman answers. "Hello sweetheart, how are my little granddaughters? Giving you a run for your money? Good, I expect no less. Is Ned there? I need to speak with him regarding a family emergency."

Edwards tone changes from lighthearted to serious when Ned gets on the phone. "Ned. Have you read the paper today?" Edward frowns grumpily into the phone. "What are you doing down there in Brooklyn? Singing sappy love songs to your wife and burying your head in the sand?! Of course it's important, Ned, or I wouldn't call! No wonder Tracy didn't want to call you herself. There's been a death in the family; Paul Hornsby died in a plane crash."

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