The Convenient Wife
by Kelly

chapter 26

She gazed up into those intense blue eyes that had always looked at
her with honesty…Sometimes with anger, sometimes with sadness, but
never with judgment. She knew he was Sonny's friend, but he would
never abandon her. He was the only one who hadn't.

"I promise, Jason."

And she allowed herself to be swallowed up in an embrace that was
more supportive and reassuring than anything else. But as she rested
her head on his strong shoulder, she couldn't help but miss the days
when their embrace had been more intimate. The days when his simple
trust in her and acceptance of her crazy impulsive nature had been
enough. But she had thrown all that away for the explosive passion
she'd felt for Sonny. Now the pain of that failed relationship
threatened to incinerate her soul.

Perhaps she'd taken the wrong road back then. The road away from
Jason. And it had cost her. She doubted he would ever be able to let
her back to his heart without reliving her betrayal with Sonny. She
may have lost her chance with him forever.

But this wasn't all her fault alone. Sonny should be suffering, too,
her wounded heart cried. But was he? No, he was panting after that
overeducated, stuck up bitch, Alexis. And tonight he would lie in her
bed in her apartment as her husband. And Carly would be alone with
her kids and her bitterness.

Jason had asked her to let it alone…and she had promised she would.
But there was one last loose end she could not ignore. Not even for
him.

Sonny raved about the virtues of his new wife. He thought she walked
on water because she married him and had his back. Well, Carly
wondered how he would feel when he knew that Alexis was a liar…that
she'd robbed him of his child for two years now? That secret would
effectively destroy every last shred of trust he held for his new
wife. Their relationship would be rubble beneath Carly's feet.

But Carly would need a pawn to do the actual dirty work. Someone who
hated Sonny and who would relish the thought of revealing this little
tidbit for her.

It didn't take long for the perfect person to pop into her mind.

***

It was much too early in the evening to be getting smashed, but he
was going to give it the old college try. The first few drinks had
slid through his veins nicely numbing the pain to a dull ache. But it
would take a lot more of the rather watered down vodka of this
establishment to erase her words.

"I most certainly do love my husband. With all my heart. That's why I
married him."

More telling than the words had been the glimmer in Alexis' eyes when
she'd said them. The depth of the emotion was there for his brother,
clear as day. Mocking him. Mocking what had been hidden in his heart
for so long.

"My husband is quite an honorable man…I love him."

He had wanted her for himself. But once again, here sat Ric Lansing,
his arms empty, his heart full. And his brother was to blame.

He drained the glass easily, hoping to vault past numb to knocked out
in the next hour.

"Hey there, Ric."

A familiar voice broke through his reverie and caused him to swivel
the barstool around.

"AJ," the DA muttered. "When did you get in?"

"Late last night," came the reply.

"You missed a lovely arraignment today," Ric informed him. "My
brother plans your murder and I don't know how many others over his
auspicious crime career and the judge gives him bond. And an ankle
bracelet. No jail time."

"Musta been a female judge," AJ quipped, hopping onto a neighboring
barstool. "I think it's the damn dimples."

Ric's laugh was more bitter than humorous. "Even my own mother was
susceptible, apparently."

AJ grimaced. "I know how that can be. Favored son and all. I suppose
the favored son in my life is standing by Sonny as usual?"

"Oh yeah, of course. No matter what, his buddy Jason is at his side.
Those two should get married and end the suspense for everyone."

The two men shared a heartier laugh over that remark. Then AJ grew
serious and fixed his gaze on Ric. "Do you guys really have him this
time? You're sure the case is strong?"

"Open and shut," Ric stated flatly. "This is what we've both been
waiting for."

AJ grinned and stuck his hand out to clap Ric on the
shoulder. "That's all I needed to hear," he said. "So whatever's got
you in this mood…or whomever…shake it off. Your greatest goal is
within your reach. Finally."

Yes it was, Ric acknowledged silently. But he hated to think of what
he'd lost to attain it.

***

She was starting to fall for him; Alexis recognized the signs.
Sitting at the dining room table in her apartment, Alexis was
formally introducing father to daughter when Kristina got
uncharacteristically shy. That's when she knew that her baby girl was
developing a bad case of infatuation for her charming father. And
judging by his absolutely enraptured gaze as he ran his fingers
gently across Kristina's curls, Sonny was about to suffer the same
fate.

"You remember Mama's friend, right, baby?" she asked Krissy, cuddling
her close in her lap.

"Yes," Krissy said, pointing shyly across at him while half-burying
her face in her mother's neck. "Sonny."

"That's my smart girl! Well, Sonny's gonna be staying with us now.
And that's gonna be really great cuz Sonny's a much better cook than
Mama, and he might make us lots of gourmet dishes. You'll like his
spaghetti Bolognese, I can tell you that. And his pesto sauce is just
to die for."

Sonny's amused gaze caught hers over Krissy's curly top. "So you're
gonna teach your daughter to use me for my culinary skills?"

Alexis's eyes twinkled. "Why not? It worked for me."

"There's much more of me to love than just my cooking," he quipped,
the flirtation easy and light.

"Oh yeah, like what? I haven't noticed anything else worth my time."

"Really? I'll have to work hard to make you notice my other
attributes then," he replied, laughing huskily when she blushed to
the roots of her hair.

And then the first awkward moment arrived.

"Make cookies!" Kristina declared imperiously to Sonny, latching on
to a tendril of her mother's hair with one tiny hand.

"Uh-hmm," Sonny noted, "Just like I suspected. She's got the bossy
gene. Now did that come from the Cassadine or the Quartermaine side?
That's what I have to figure out."

Alexis froze for a second, and wished with all her might that she
could tell him exactly where that gene had originated from…

chapter 27