The Fourth Life: Chapter 12

"Jack, help me out, will you?"  Starr asked, trying to carry Little Ray, take Hope's hand, and keep Sam in tow.


Jack came to her aid by taking Ray's carrier.  He said, "Okay, do we have everything?"


All of them were dressed as if going to a formal party, which, Starr assumed by her father's instructions, was the idea.  She had pulled out the dress from the wedding for Hope, Sam had on his little Easter suit, Jack in a suit vest and pants, much like his father, and Starr in her favorite gown.  Addie was tailing behind, and made her entrance down the staircase in a lavender silk gown.  


They all went to the lobby and waited for Williams to pull up.


"How far is the surprise?"  Sam asked.


"An hour or so."


"An hour?  Darn."


"Sam, you can watch Sponge Bob in the limo."  Jack said.  


"Yay!"  Sam answered.  


Starr looked at Jack.  "Let's make this evening perfect for them, Jack."


"What does that mean?  Like I'd do anything to ruin it?"


"Stay away from the booze.  I mean it.  Don't think about it at the new house and don't let on that you're still after it.  You're killing them with this."


Jack wasn't sure what to say, but she was right.  He wanted to lash out at her and make her pay for her comments, but in the end, he knew it was true.  He'd do whatever he had to so that they could have the anniversary both dreamed of.


***


Blair could not believe her eyes, as they got out of the SUV, him taking her bags over his shoulder, and slipping one arm around her waist as she absorbed the appearance of the villa.  He looked at her expression, as tears glistened in her eyes and she, stunned, surveyed all of it, without saying a word.  Finally she turned to him, "Oh, Todd," she said.  She broke into tears and hugged him.


"Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Manning."


"Happy Anniversary, Mr. Manning.  I can't believe this place.  It's like something I would have dreamed of, Todd."


"I am relieved and happy that you like it."


"Like it?  You never stop making me happy, Todd.  You never stop surprising me.  I love it.  Love it."


"It's yours.  Ours.  Our family's home."


She allowed her tears to spill over freely, and said, "I can't wait to see inside."


He put out his free hand, and she took it, as always, and they walked to the door.  When he opened it, she was overwhelmed immediately.  The foyer was grand.  The floor was polished marble, and a beautiful angular staircase lead to the second floor.  The ceilings were so high they created the illusion of majesty.  A modern chandelier graced the center, and the decor was mostly almond and soft burnished beige.  She looked back at him.  "You've always had impeccable taste, Todd."


"Yeah, look at who I married, not once but four times." 


"This is beautiful.  I love it so much."


"Don't worry about the place being cleaned.  I've hired a live-in staff to take care of that.  They live in the cottage out back.  By the pool, and the two hot tubs."


"I knew you'd have at least one of those," she chided.


"We also have one off our master bedroom suite.  Believe me.  In the master bath."


She heard sounds coming from another room.  "Todd, what's that?"


"The caterers."


"Caterers?"


"Yep.  For the party."


"What party?  Todd, what are you planning?"


"A family event.  There's a small party this evening, to celebrate our marriage anniversary.  One year and one hundred to go."


"Oh my God, you thought of everything."


"I tried.  Now, we'll go upstairs and I'll show you around, then we'll get changed and get ready to receive our guests."  He lead her up the twisting staircase to the second level.  "This, is Unforgettable," he said.


***


The limousine ride was enjoyable for the kids.  Sponge Bob played on the car television, Ray slept, carefree, Starr and Jack listened to music and relaxed.  Starr was hoping there would be no glitches in her father's plan.  She so wanted him to come out the winner, in every battle he fought, and in recent times, he seemed to be losing, more often than not.  She prayed for a victory for her personal hero.


Jack, on the other hand, had no doubts that his father would pull off this grand event, or anything else he planned or had control over.  He knew how invested Todd was in making his mother happy, and he'd watched him do it, in the short time he knew him, over and over.  He'd mentioned to Starr how badass his father could be, and how he'd use that to make this evening work.  "He's one badass mo' fo'" Jack had said, adding, "He fought his way to freedom and beat death at least twice. This will be easy as peas for him."


Starr gazed out the window, thinking back to some of her father's other plans.  Fix it!  Get Mommy out of jail, get Mommy out of jail!  She remembered herself yelling at him, when her mother had shot Max in the back, and he, in his jealous, deep love for her, fluctuated between both saving and crucifying her.  She laughed to herself, and smiled.  She loved them together, the two of them, each so deeply tied to the other they were never the same apart.  She'd seen it from her first year on earth, through his 'marriage' to Tea, his subsequent 'emotional ban' from Llanview, and his later return.  It was always all over his face, she thought.  He was always in love with her mother.  She saw it in his eyes, and even in Blair's, and even when they were married to other people.


Of late, she had actually feared their connection at times.  She saw how it almost killed her mother when he had first 'died' in 2003, and then when he was taken from her this year.  She also saw how her father reacted when Blair was in peril during childbirth.  She had never seen two people loving each other to the depths of her parents.  Somehow, it was both a comfort and curse.


The car wound up the long driveway.  Having heard from him what the house was like, Starr was not sure what to expect.  In her mind, she imagined something extravagant, and wasn't sure it would be quite like that.  As they pulled up in front, she saw that she was wrong.  It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen.  Elegant and immense, yet not too ornate to be ostentatious, the villa was something she knew her mother would adore with all her heart, for Starr already did.  


Jack said, "BADASS!" and raced to the door.  Sam and Hope stood by Starr, in awe, and waited.  


Starr called, "Uh, Jack?  How about Ray?"


"Sorry!"  He went back and got his little brother, who was cooing in his carrier, with a smile on his little face.  They all headed to the door, but not before spying Viki's limousine pulling off, Shaun's car parked, and a few other vehicles that they could not identify sitting in wait.  


Addie came up behind them, and said, "Oh my, just like a fairytale."  


"Is it a party?"  Sam said, his excitement causing him to run around her in circles.


"Yes!  It's Mom and Dad's anniversary!"  She said.


He said, "Yippee!  But what's an an-versary?"


"Ask Dad," Jack said.  They all went inside.


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