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Chapter Four-Hundred-Twenty



“Wi?” Kori spoke up after a long silence, as the two of them were just finishing up their dinner. They had managed to keep an entire conversation going all through out dinner and make it seem like nothing was wrong. But the real conversation Kori wanted to have with him loomed in the back of her mind just waiting for the right moment. She’s decided that now is better than any other time if she ever wanted to get it done and over with.


“Hmm?” Wiley asked while smiling at her some and he reached out and squeezed her hand gently. Her eyes darted away from him instantly, as she doesn’t want to see that loving gaze of his. She will only feel ten times guiltier and if she feels any guiltier she won’t go through with it.


“I need to talk to you about something important…”


“Me too,” Wiley added, abruptly getting to his feet and she gazed at him confused. “But not here okay? Let’s go some place more private. I will just go pay our bill…you meet me at the door okay?” he added and then before Kori could even muster up a reply, he was gone. Kori blinked in confusion as she stared after him, and then she followed him headed for the door. When she got up there, instead of waiting she walked outside and leaned against the wall.


“Is everything okay? He got up kind of quickly…how angry is he at you?” AJ’s voice spoke quietly, as he remained hidden behind the other side of the wall.


“He’s not…I told him that I needed to talk to him about something important and he got up and said he does too. But not here, somewhere more private.”


“What do you think that means?” AJ asked, feeling even more confused then she does.


“I don’t know…your guess is as good as mine.”


“I’ll be near okay? I’m not going anywhere.”


“Kay,” Kori whispered, feeling more at ease upon hearing those reassuring words. “I’m beginning to understand why Ashley turns to you so quickly in times of conflict.” AJ was about to reply – he was about to tell her that he hopes she will start finding him safe to turn to as well and remind her that technically – through Ashley, she is his sister too but his phone suddenly rang. He looked down at it to see that he’s received a text message. He flipped it open and read it quietly to himself. Alex where are you? I miss you it read.


“Speaking of Ashley…”


“Put that on vibrate will you? What are you thinking?” Kori hissed, slightly irritated by his mistake.


“Sorry I forgot I had it,” he replied and then quietly began to answer her. By the time he had Hey Sweetie, I’m with Kori right now. I will be there ASAP okay? Love you punched in Wiley came out and he heard him on the other side of the wall with Kori.


“Ready love?”


“Yes where are we going now?”


“I thought we’d go hang out at the lake. We haven’t done that in awhile. Is that okay with you?”


“Sure,” Kori answered and she allowed him to take her hand and take her in the direction of the lake. AJ pressed send as he watched his sister walk off with Wiley and put his phone on vibrate. When he saw that they were far enough away that he could easily see them, but not the other way around he began to trail them like he promised. His phone vibrated again and he flipped it open and glanced it over to see that it read love you too… and just by the way she wrote it he can tell that she’s feeling insecure right now and he sighed softly. He waited until they got to the lake and then ducked into the bushes while Wiley and Kori went to sit by the lake. She perched herself on a big rock and he sat next to her. While they were no longer looking, he quickly typed in a reply. Love you more. I look forward to your hugs =) He sent that and began to pay attention to the sister at hand.



~*~*~*~*~



“He’ll be back soon honey, I promise” Nick reassured when Ashley reluctantly handed his cell phone over to him. “It’s a good thing that he and Kori are bonding – I promise you. Nothing but great things can come from that.”


“I know,” Ashley replied and she crawled over and lay down so her head was in his lap as he sat indianstyle on the bed. He cupped her cheek delicately in his hand and leaned down and rubbed his nose lightly over hers. “Then what’s wrong sweetheart?”


“Nothing too important, I just miss him.”


“He’ll be back soon,” he reassured gently and she slid her arms around his neck after he had shifted her so she was straddling his hips and lying back between his now opened legs and he rested his forehead against hers.


“Can I call Kevy?” She asked after a long while.


“Why do you want to do that? Last time I checked you weren’t exactly on speaking terms with him.”


“Yeah well…I can’t stay mad at him forever…life is too short.” Nick handed her his phone after pressing the right speed dial number and while she placed the phone to her ear and waited as it rang he leaned down and placed light kisses on various parts of her face as she lay comfortably in his lap.



~*~*~*~*~



“Daddy something is vibrating,” Ellie announced, as she lay on the floor at his feet with her head rested comfortably on his backpack.


“That would be my cell phone,” Kevin announced amusedly and he leaned over as she sat up and he opened up his backpack, pulled out his phone, and flipped it open before placing it to his ear.


“Hey Nicky what’s up?”


“Hey Kevy, its Ashley.” Kevin arched his eyebrow, and no matter how hard he tried he just couldn’t hide his surprise.


“Hi sweetheart…are you talking to me again?”


“Ashley,” Brian whispered, answering Kristin’s confused expression.


“What did Kevin do to end up making her not talk to him?”


“She feels very strongly about putting a stop to Child Abuse…that’s pretty much her career goal, so you can imagine how upset she would be about the whole situation with Summer. Especially when it happened to a child she happens to know personally and love.”


“And Kevin put Summer before Ellie too,” Jerald added in a whisper. “After he promised she would always be his number one girl…that didn’t sit too well with Ashley.”


“Kevin told me he and Ashley have a very close relationship,” Kristin whispered back.


“They do, that’s the other thing. When Kev found out that everybody knew the truth before he did…he went off on everybody. Everybody…and well…Ashley is extremely sensitive.” Kristin nodded in understanding, and then turned her attention on Kevin just on time to see him get up and walk out of the room.


“Yeah…I just wanted to apologize for not telling you what happened…” Ashley answered and just by listening to her on the other end he can tell she has tears in her eyes.


“Its all right sweetie…I’ve calmed down…I’m beginning to understand why none of you did, I’m not angry anymore okay? Please don’t be upset.”


“Kay…” Ashley replied softly.


“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I love you…”


“I love you too.” Kevin couldn’t help but smile some – he misses her. He misses the sound of her voice.


“I have someone I want you to meet when you get home.”


“Who?” she asked, and he grinned at the curious tone in her voice. That means his mother hasn’t gotten to her and everybody up there yet – he’ll get to tell them all first.


“Ellie and I met someone at Denny’s…she was a really kind waitress and Ellie has sort of attached herself to her…”


“Another woman, Kev?” She asked, and he heard the excitement in her voice turn to skepticism.


“She’s nothing like Summer honey, I promise.”


“How do you know?”


“Because Ellie adores her and vise versa, that’s how. She’s very sweet…I know you’ll approve.”


“Are you dating her already?”


“Ellie invited her to go ice skating yesterday and a picnic this afternoon if that counts as anything. We haven’t kissed though…and we haven’t really gotten past the just friends stage yet if that will comfort you any.”


“But you want to be past the just friends stage?”


“Eventually…yeah. I want to take my sweet little time getting to know her though.”


“Well…I can tell by the sound of your voice that she means something to you…and that’s what matters Kevy. I can’t wait to meet her – has she met anyone else yet?”


“Brian, Jerald, Howie, Brooke, and my mother – I am hanging out with her in the playroom at the orphanage as we speak.”


“Kay. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and I’m looking forward to meeting her.”


“I’m looking forward to it too.”


“Can I talk to Brian now?”


“Mhm, of course” Kevin replied, feeling relieved that she asked for Brian and not Jerald. Brian is more open to Kristin and will be fair when answering the many questions he knows she will bombard him with the second he hands over the phone. He walked back into the playroom to hand over the phone and as he did, he noticed Kristin lying on a bean bag reading a Berenstein Bears book to Ellie. He can’t tell which one it is from the distance he is in, but he can tell that it is indeed Berenstein Bears. He handed the phone to Brian and quietly told him that it was Ashley wanting to talk to him and then he looked to Jerald.


“Hand me your phone.”


“Why?”


“Just do it.” Jerald arched his eyebrow at him curiously, but handed his phone over to him nonetheless. Kevin flipped it open, went straight to the camera and he held it up toward Kristin and Ellie and snapped a picture. After doing this, he sent the picture to Marcus’s phone after typing show this to Ashley underneath the picture.


~*~*~*~*~


Back in Jersey, at the lake, Wiley and Kori both sat on a rock near the water. Both in silence, as they each tried to gather their thoughts. Kori sighed heavily, as she'd no idea just how she was going to tell the wonderful man sitting next to her, that she'd chosen Scott over him. While Kori eyed Wiley, Wiley was watching her carefully himself. He sighed when he heard her do so as well. He knew what he had to do, in order to keep her as his, though he knew he shouldn’t have to do this at all to keep her - but, he was willing to do anything necessary to keep the woman he loved from Scott.


"Wi, I've something I have to tell you," Kori began softly, finally turning to face him. "I -"


"I've something to tell you as well," Wiley began, fingering the item in his pocket. "I love you, Kori. I always have and always will. I love you more than life itself. I love Spencer just as much too, and as though he were my own. "And even though I know you've made some mistakes, I've always looked past them and welcomed you back with open arms. Heck, I've made some mistakes myself as well." A.J. watched them warily, from where he was safely hidden behind a tree.


"Just what in the Hell is that Brit up too now?" He muttered to himself. "He better not be about to do what I think he's about to do!"


"Kori, what I'm trying to say is," Wiley continued, as he got down on one knee and pulled the beautiful diamond ring out of his pocket. "Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" Kori looked at him slacked-jawed for a moment, blinking in confusion. She'd cheated on him, betrayed him, was about to tell him she'd chosen Scott over him - and yet - here he was proposing?!?!? What in the world...


"Say, what?"


"Will you marry me Kori Mortenson?" Wiley repeated. "Please?"


"I - dammit, Wiley!" Kori exclaimed, as tears began to blur her vision. "How could you do this to me? Why here? Why now?!?? Just - dammit! I need to go!"


"Kori! Wait!" Wiley exclaimed, as he stood to reach for her. "Don't go!"


"I can't do this! Not now!" Kori shouted. "How dare you do this to me! How dare you make this even harder than it has to be!" Wiley watched as she began to run.


"Dammit Kori! Quit running, will you!?!"


"Just - stay away from me!" Kori yelled at him, as she glanced back a moment midst her hasty retreat. "The lot of you! Stay away! And you can tell Scott he'd best do the same!" With that being said, she hightailed it back to the diner as fast as she could. Wiley began to go after her, when an angry looking older brother suddenly blocked him.


"You'd best damn well do as my sister asks of you," A.J. growled. "I am sick of you guys making her cry! Quit making this harder on her!"


"What the...?!" Wiley trailed off. "You followed us??? How dare you!"


"I did what any good, protective, older brother would've done!" A.J. stated firmly. "And this isn't about me, it's about Kori!"


"But-" Wiley tried, only to be given an angry glare.


"Stay away from her Wiley," A.J. told him. "Or have your ass kicked. Goodnight." A.J. then turned and hurried on back to the diner as well, wanting to be sure that Kori was indeed all right. He couldn't even begin to imagine just how shaken up she had to be right now. She seemed so sure of herself before, and now she was back to a confused mess, all thanks to one man's untimely proposal.



~*~*~*~*~



“Is Julie asleep?” Annabelle questioned when Doctor Johnson entered his childhood bedroom that he was currently sharing with the woman he loves. He left her while she was getting ready for bed to go check on Julie for the last time that evening before turning in and she was now lying in bed in one of his over-sized t-shirts and some panties waiting for his return.


“Like the angel that she is,” Doctor Johnson reassured while crawling onto the bed and making his way over to her. He slid his arms around her waist and rested his forehead against hers while smiling at her some and she smiled back as she cradled his face in her hands. He kissed her forehead softy, rubbed his nose lightly over hers affectionately, and grazed his lips lightly over hers as she lay back against the pillows pulling him closer.


“Steve…I feel like I should ask you something,” She told him suddenly after a few seconds.

“You can ask me anything.”


“I don’t want to sound like Brandon or anything…and I’m not judging you because believe me I understand but I do feel like I need to know.”


“You can ask me anything, I want you to always feel like you can be honest with me. What’s on your mind baby?” he asked gently, while pulling their blankets up on them and shifting so they were both lying on their sides facing each other. He tightened his arms around her waist protectively and once again rested his forehead against hers as he gazed into her eyes curiously.


“You call Julie angel all the time…”


“Does it bother you? I can stop if you want me to…”


“No, it doesn’t bother me I enjoy it immensely. I love that you love her and have developed such a good relationship with her. It makes me happy…but I also can’t help but wonder if you sometimes look at like she were Kayline.”


“I will admit that she sometimes reminds me of her – a lot,” Doctor Johnson replied as his fingers danced a long her cheek in a delicate caress. “She has a lot of similar qualities that my sister did…and seeing her running around this house brings back a lot of good memories. But I know they are two separate people I promise. I love Julie for being Julie…I’m not confusing her with Kayline in anyway.”


“I just had to make sure because I know you are still grieving…I felt silly for asking, but then Brandon made a good point so I couldn’t help but wonder.”


“It brings me nothing but great joy to have Julie in my life. She always knows how to put a smile on my face even when I am in the worst possible mood. She came into my life when I needed her the most…she brings happiness back into my life. Not just because she has similar qualities as Kayline though Id be lying if I said that didn’t have a small part of it. Not because I’m confusing the two of them like Brandon is so worried about, but because she is just very good at being Julie. She’s sweet, adorable, and often hysterical at times, and she just has a way of brightening up a room as soon as she enters it. She brought life back into me…you and her both. That’s why I call her my angel…does that make any sense?”


“Yeah it does,” Annabelle answered softly as she smoothed her fingers through his hair and gently rested her hand at the back of his head as their foreheads still touch. “And I can’t help but believe that you two were gift wrapped and given to me for Christmas by the Angels from above themselves too – my sister. I refuse to believe otherwise.”


“You know you don’t have to argue with me about that,” Annabelle insisted.


“I love you,” Doctor Johnson informed and before she even had the time to come up with a reply, his mouth was against hers, kissing her deeply as he pulled the blankets over their heads. He had shut the door and locked it on his way in so he knows he has nothing to worry about except the beautiful woman he is kissing.



Meanwhile in Kayline’s old bedroom, Julie lay asleep all snug and tucked into her bed with the baby doll Doctor Johnson had bought her clutched under her arm. She along with everybody else in the house completely unaware of the angel guarding the little one’s bed as she sleeps – just like in the song Doctor Johnson had caught Julie singing.


“Julie…” Kayline spoke to her in a soft voice that the slumbering child would only hear in her sleep and think is part of her dream. She will see her in her sleep too – and think she’s dreaming it.


“Hi Kayline,” Julie muttered softly in her sleep. “Stevie misses you every day. It makes me sad to see him sad.”


“I know,” Kayline spoke sympathetically, still speaking in that soft gentle tone she had spoken to her in before. “I miss him too. He’ll be happy soon.”


“Promise?”


“I promise. Hey, do you want to play a game?”


“Okay,” Julie answered readily.


“Lets play a game of follow the leader…won’t that be fun?”


“Yeah” Julie answered and she crawled out of the bed, eyes open, but still sound asleep.


“Okay, I will be the leader” Kayline insisted, and she began to do silly things that kids do when playing follow the leader, having Julie following her moves in her sleep as they did. She led her out into the hall, the two of them doing somersaults in the hall, zigzagging, and using great stealth – Kayline fully aware that her brothers or Annabelle could wake up and catch her. They played in the hall as she led her through it until they were just outside Brandon’s art room. Kayline twisted the knob and opened it.


“We aren’t supposed to go in here.”


“It’ll be okay. Brandon will never know that we were” Kayline promised, and Julie followed her into the room. “Okay, new game. How about we play a game of Kayline says?”


“Okay,” Julie replied readily.


“Kayline says, walk across the room to the cabinet doors Brandon keeps his paints in.” Julie obeyed, walking across the room and she looked at Kayline. “Good, very good. Now Kayline says to open it and pull out the paint brush jar.” As Julie did this, Kayline spoke again. “As soon as you have the jar, Kayline says to reach inside and get out the key that is in there.” Julie fished around the jar for the key, and when she pulled it out and looked at Kayline she spoke again. “Now Kayline says to go over to Brandon’s safe, and unlock it. There will be a ring inside. Kayline says to please take it out.”


“But that is Stevie’s special ring. No one is supposed to have it – he’ll get mad.”


“He’ll understand all in good time,” Julie replied. “I’m his sister, I only want him to be happy – don’t you want him to be happy?”


“Yes,” Julie nodded in her sleep.


“Well, then, Kayline says to take the ring out.” Julie obeyed. When she had the ring out, she spoke again. “Kayline says, to take it outside and bury it in the sandbox where it can’t be found.”



“But—“


“Stevie’s happiness Julie, remember?” Kayline reminded gently.


“Okay…” Julie replied, and in her sleep, she turned around and headed for the backyard with Kayline right behind her, silently happy that her plan for her brother was being set into motion.