The Best Laid Plans-Chapter 55
 
 
 

Dara’s mother left her in her room after she had cried for a bit. She went down the stairs, into the den, where her husband was reading.

“ What’s wrong with Dara?”

“ That Jacks fellow broke her heart.”

” She told you this?”

” No. Actually, she’s said nothing. But, I can tell. Despite what you might think, I DO have a Mother’s intuition.”

“ I never said that you didn’t love Dara.”

” Well, everyone seems to imply it.”

“ Well, I don’t. But, even you have to admit, your relationship has never been that close.”

“ And, that’s my fault? When she was little, we did everything together. And, then, one day, it seemed like she didn’t want to spend anytime with me. She only wanted to be with you.”

” I don’t think that’s the case.”

” Yes, it was. She barely wanted anything to do with me. You were the one she discussed everything important that went on in her life.”

” But, she still must have use for you. After all, you’ve been the one to comfort her.”

” Maybe.”

” Look, I’m going to go upstairs and go to bed. Maybe, if she thinks you’re alone, she’ll start talking. Goodnight.” He kisses his wife and leaves.

Dara’s mother was sitting in front of the fireplace, thinking,when she heard the door open. She turned around and saw Dara standing there, in an old long t-shirt and some socks. Her mother just smiled. It was entirely an inappropriate outfit for a lady, but, Dara had her own ideas. Dara walked over to the couch, to Dara’s mother’s right., sat down, and pulled a blanket over her. It was silent between them for a few minutes before Dara spoke.

” I broke up with Jax.”

” I had already guessed that.”

” Where are your ‘I told you so’s’ Mother?”

” There won’t be any.”

” Just the satisfaction of knowing that you were right, once again?”, Dara says sarcastically.

” Dara, if you’re just going to insult me, then why come here at all? Obviously, I’m not the person that you need for comfort. So, you could have sought one of them out. Despite what you think, as your Mother, it gives me no pleasure to see you unhappy. Goodnight.” Dara’s mother gets up to leave.

“ Mama...wait........I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

” That’s alright. It wasn’t the first, and I doubt it will be the last time.” Dara’s mother goes and sits on the opposite end of the couch. “ What happened?”

” I guess, short answer? The real world entered into the relationship. We took a trip to Memphis. And it went SO wrong.”

” How?”

“ From the beginning. Disrespected by the Hotel Clerks, various ‘slights’, but I guess what sealed it, was Jax getting into a fight with some rednecks and winding up in jail.”

“ Oh my. Did Mr. Jacks get hurt?”

” No. Physically, he came out fine. It was his blind insistence in staying and fighting in the first place, after I had requested that we leave the situation that is the problem.”

“ Oh.”

“ Yes.  And, then, after I got him out of jail, we had a discussion, and he just doesn’t get it. He was trying to lecture me on how to survive being Black in this country.”

” The old ‘ you can’t just take that’ argument?”

” Exactly. He had no clue about picking and choosing your battles. Or, the stress associated with taking on every battle.”

“ You don’t have the time. Life’s entirely too short to battle everything that comes to you.”

“ So true. Which made me ask him what he saw when he saw me.”

“ Uh oh.”

“ Uh oh is right. He said that he didn’t see that I was Black. So, I told him that would be a major problem, because I am Black. And then, I really stepped into it. I asked him what he actually saw coming from this relationship. Bad choice.”

” What did he say?”

“ You know, I don’t know what he said. Because, it was so slow in coming, I knew what he DIDN’T say. What I was hoping and praying he’d say. That he saw marriage, kids, you know, a family.”

‘’ Oh, Dara, I’m....sorry.”

“ Sorry. What do you have to be sorry for?”

“ I knew that you were falling in love with him. But, I didn’t know that you were FALLING in love with him. You’ve never even mentioned children before.”

“ Before Jax, I didn’t even see them. Sometimes, when I watched him sleep,I would imagine us, at the Vineyard during the summer. We were on the beach, in one vision in particular. I was pregnant, and we already had a son and a daughter. I was sitting in a beach chair, watching him teach them how to build sand castles. They were smart, and precocious, somewhere in the middle in skintone. Jax would look up at me and just smile, with those dimples, and we would both know that this was a terrific time for us. Well, fantasies are just that- fantasies.”

“ There’s nothing wrong with having personal dreams, Dara. Everyone wants somebody to love. “

“ I don’t disagree. But, it hurts like hell when it’s the wrong person.”

“ How do you know that you can’t patch things up with Mr. Jacks?”

“ Mother......come on. We both know that once you’re with someone Black, you become a Black family. What about our children, if we were to have any? I know that I would be responsible for taking care and providing them with a respect and racial defense system. But, what good is that, if I have a partner who neither acknowledges or comprehends that it’s necessary? I can’t afford illusions. And, my children certainly can’t.”

“ But, what if he learned?”

“ I don’t have the energy, to teach him. And, I doubt that I could trust it anyway, if I taught him. There’s something that rings hollow there.”

” You don’t think that Mr. Jacks is a racist, do you?”

“ No, Mama. But, maybe he’s something worse. Someone who truly doesn’t comprehend the powerfulness of racism, and how it would affect me. And our children.”

“ Dara, are you the first woman of color that he’s dated?”

“ Dated, yes.”

” Then, don’t you think that you’re asking an awful lot of the man? That, possibly, you should cut him some slack?”

“ Cut Jax slack? Where is this coming from? You didn’t even like the relationship.”

” That’s true. But, now I know what it means to you. I wish you could have seen yourself in the mirror as you were talking about that Vineyard Vision. You lit up. And, I had a flashback of my own, to when you and your brothers were little. I’ve lived that scene. And, I want it for you. Now, unless you’re telling me that Mr. Jacks said that you meant nothing to him and that he was using you..”

” No, Mama. Nothing like that. Jax has treated me like a lady. “

“ Has he said anything about his feelings towards you?”

“ He said..........he said, he loves me.”

“ He loves you. Then, you’re halfway home, Dara. You’re two people who love one another. I’m not going to sit here, and tell you that love conquers all. I know it doesn’t. But, people don’t get many chances at happiness. When the foundation for one is as solid as yours is, maybe you should put the work into completing the project.”

Dara sighs. “ Maybe you’re right, Mama. I’ll go up and sleep on it. Goodnight.” Dara kisses her and leaves.

Her mother looks into the fire, and laments, “ I hope things turn out better....this time.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“ Good morning, Sasha”, Mai beams as she bursts through the door.

” Hello, Mai. It’s so good to see you.” Mai and Sasha hug one another.

“ Well, we were worried about you. VERY worried.”

” So I’ve been told. But, the doctors were just here. And, aside from more bedrest, I should be fine. So, what’s been going on while I was in deep slumber?”

“ Well, the final stages of the Katherine Bell plan are going forward. Ms. Davis approved them.”

” Excellent.”

” And, both the J&J Jacks projects, and ELQ are proceeding according to plan.”

” The news keeps getting better and better. But, you know what concerns me most.”

” England.”

” Yes. I’ve been incommunicado for too long. I have to get there, and soon.”

“ You know that your Father and Nikolas will NEVER approve of you leaving before the doctors say so.”

” Yes. But, I must go. So, I want you to arrange things for me. We need to be able to take off from Port Charles at a moment’s notice. And, I will worry about the excuses to my family later.”

“ The doctor’s said that you should be in here, for at least 3 more weeks.”

” Mai, I don’t plan on being in here for 3 more days. Arrange it.”

“ Fine. I thought you should know that Nikolas took a trip, using your jet.”

” Where? What could get Niko to leave my bedside?”

“ The flight plan said Switzerland.”

” Switzerland? Why would Niko go see Laura Spencer? Did you hear something about his sister or grandmother being sick?”

” No. According to our people, Laura, Lesley Webber, and the child, are in picture perfect health.”

” Just another puzzle for me to unravel. Mai....”

” Yes.”

” Have you had any contact with Justus?”

” He called about the projects. And, I know that he visited you. And,” Mai points over to a huge arrangement, “ the bouquets on that bureau, came daily from him.”

” I see.”

” But,  I doubt that he got to visit you much, considering that your family was on the eternal vigil by your side. And that includes Bobbie Spencer.”

” Bobbie?”

” Yes. She got herself assigned to the case, and was continuously checking up on you. She took very good care of you.”

” I’m not surprised.”

“ Well, I’ll be going now. I happen to know for certain that Nikolas and your Father will be here very soon, bearing breakfast.” Mai touches Sasha’s hand and Sasha sees that there are tears in her eyes. “ I am so VERY glad that you are alright, my dear friend.”

“ Thank you, Mai.”

At that moments, Alexis enters the room. “ Am I interrupting something?”

” No,  Ms. Davis . I was just leaving. Bye.”

” Bye, Mai....So, cousin, what have you been up to?”

“ Oh, a little of this. A little of that.  “ Alexis just stares at Sasha for a minute.

” What, Alexis?”

” I can’t believe it. You were on the brink, you know. We didn’t think that you were going to make it. I almost think it’s a dream.”

“ Well, I am just fine. Or, I will be. So, how are things proceeding with Katherine Bell?”

Alexis laughs. “ I guess I KNOW it’s not a dream. For your information, things with Katherine are going quite according to plan.”

” No one will know that it’s us?”

” Well, I don’t think Katherine is the brightest bulb on the block, but I think she’ll be able to figure out that it’s the Cassadines.”

” So what if she does? By that time, it will be entirely too late.”

” I was wondering.”

“ About Katherine?”

” Yes. She does have 2 friends in town: Mac Scorpio and Edward Quartermaine. Now, Scorpio can’t help her. But Edward Quartermaine....”

“ You don’t worry about that. By the time this all goes down, Katherine Bell will be without a friend in the world. I assure you.”

“ And Stefan and Nikolas?”

” What about Stefan and Nikolas?”, Stefan says as he and Nikolas enter, with Nikolas carrying a large picnic basket.

“ I was just saying  Stefan that you and Nikolas were by Sasha’s side the entire time that she was ill.”

” Oh. I could have sworn that it was said in the form of a question.”

” No. Not at all.”

” Hello, Papa. Niko. Good morning.”

“ Good morning, Katya.”, Stefan says as he goes over to kiss his daughter. “ Did you rest well?”

” Yes. I am feeling stronger and more coherent with every passing moment. So, Niko, what’s in the picnic basket?”

“ Our breakfast.”, Nikolas says as he leans over to kiss her. “ Alexis, there’s enough for all of us.”

” Well, even if there wasn’t. I ‘m not going anywhere. So, let’s set this up.”

Nikolas and Alexis arranged the breakfast of scones, jelly and a fruitbowl. Stefan had delivered coffee and juice from the cafeteria. They all sat down and began enjoying themselves.

“ I am so glad to be having this meal with you .”, Sasha says.
 

” No more than we are, Katya. We were very worried about you.”

” So I’ve been told.”

“ Well, since we are all here, I believe that I should make an announcement.”

” What is it, Uncle?”

” Katherine and I are no longer seeing one another. She is no longer a part of my life.”

Alexis began to cough from the choking that was happening with her. Stefan rushes over to Alexis and pats her on the back to help her. “ Alexis, are you alright?”

Alexis grabs her juice to drink it.  She barely gets out  a “Fine. I am fine.”

“ I would say that she’s better than fine. She’s terrific. At least, I am. What brought on this sudden attack of intelligence, Papa?”

” It’s heartening to know how devastated you are Katya. Katherine and I decided that we should no longer be together.”

” I see. Was this her decision, or yours, Papa? Wait, I don’t want to know. Because, I don’t care. The end result is all that matters where this is concerned. You certainly know how to brighten someone’s day, Papa. You know, I am getting tired. “

” Of course, Katya. You need your rest. We’ll leave.”

” Well, all except Alexis. I want to tell her the things from my room that I want delivered.”

” Well, you take care.” Stefan kisses Sasha and leaves.

“ I’m so glad you’re awake.” Nikolas says, before kissing her. When he leans down, Sasha whispers in his ear, “We’ll talk about your trip to Switzerland later.” Nikolas looks at her surprised, but not too surprised. “ Bye, Niko.”

After Nikolas leaves, Alexis walks over to Sasha.

“ What are we going to do about Katherine Bell?”

” I don’t know what you mean.”

” Sasha, what’s the point now, with Katherine. If she’s out of Stefan’s life.”

” Alexis, you yourself approved the final stage of the Katherine plan. We are unable to stop what is going to happen to her. Look at this as an insurance policy. You never know if Katherine is really broken up with Papa. But, this plan, and what it does to her, will insure that she rues the day she ever heard the name Cassadine. Besides, she deserves it.”

Alexis laughs. “ It’s good to see that you haven’t lost your sense of compassion, Sasha.”

“ As if I ever had one to begin with, Alexis. Well, I guess I should give you a list of belongings to bring to me. So that Papa won’t be suspicious. Here.” Sasha writes out a list and gives it to Alexis. “ Alexis, relax. Everything will be fine.”

” I hope so.” Alexis kisses Sasha and leaves.

Once Alexis is gone, Sasha picks up the telephone.
“ Hello? Yes. I would like an overseas operator. Country? England.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alicia is waiting for Bobbie at her hotel suite when there is a knock on the door.

” Hello, Bobbie. Come in.”

“ Thank you Alicia.”

“ I came as soon as possible.”

“ I’m grateful.”

” You sounded so urgent on the phone. What’s the matter?”

” Alicia, I need for you to get me a divorce from Stefan as soon as possible.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It is a beautiful morning overlooking the Aegean. The woman is calmly drinking her tea. The gentlemen walks out onto the terrace and just stands there. Saying nothing until he was spoken to.

“ Yes, Ari?”

“ I thought you would like to know, that your Granddaughter is out of her coma. She should make a full recovery.”

“ Thank you. You may go.”

Helena Cassadine picked up the picture of her and Sasha.

“ Ah, my darling Anastasia. It has been too long. But, we will be reuinted soon.”