“I slept with her,” Mike said flatly. Mickey Horton leaned back in his chair, studying his son across the desk. “Once? ”
“Once.
We were consenting, unattached adults. We didn’t hurt anyone. ”
Mickey’s silence was louder than any accusation. “What?
What’s that look for? ”
“I’m not judging you, Mike. But when something like this happens, someone always gets hurt. ” He paused.
“Ali claims you promised her something. ”
“I never promised Ali anything. ”
“Then what did you say to her? ”
Mike sighed.
“We were in bed, okay? I made a joke about getting her the head nurse job. It was before either of us even knew she was in the running. She had to know I was kidding.
”
“She didn’t,” Mickey said. “She’s basing this whole lawsuit on the fact that she took you seriously. ”
Mike ran a hand through his hair. “That’s just great.
Just what I need on top of everything else. ”
“The situation with Carrie? ”
“I love her, Mickey. I want to marry her.
”
“She’s already married. ”
“I meant when she’s free. Look, I asked Carrie to resign. I had to get her out of the hospital, out of the line of fire in case this thing with Ali blew up.
And it looks like it’s going to. ”
He leaned forward. “What am I supposed to do, stop loving her? I can’t give her up.
I won’t. All I can do is try to get this lawsuit out of the way so I can move on with my life—and that’s a life that includes Carrie. ”
Mickey was quiet for a long moment. “Mike, I can’t be objective about this.
I know the hell you went through. I was there. You, your mother, and me. But this isn’t the same situation.
For one thing, Carrie’s not going to have your baby. ”
“I know Austin is being hurt. But he deserted her. ” Mike’s voice hardened.
“I’m doing the best I can. ”
Mickey studied him. “Can you tell me anything about Ali I can use? Anything to discredit her?
”
Mike didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. She’s certifiable. Ali is nuts.
”
Meanwhile, across town at a party hosted by Vivian Alamain and Stefano DiMera, John Black had just made an announcement that sent shockwaves through the room. “You heard correctly,” John said, his arm around Marlena. “The day after tomorrow, Marlena and I will become husband and wife. ”
Lexie cheered.
Abe clapped John on the back. Kate offered her congratulations. Even Victor Kiriakis stepped forward to wish them well. But Gina wasn’t celebrating.
Bo watched her closely. “So, how do you really feel about what’s happening? ”
“About John and Marlena getting married? I think it’s fabulous,” she said brightly.
“No, you don’t. It bothers the hell out of you. Why don’t you want John and Marlena together? ”
Gina forced a smile.
“You’re imagining things. ”
“I don’t believe you,” Bo said flatly. Nearby, Vivian watched Stefano with barely concealed satisfaction. “How can I be sad when Stefano looks so miserable?
”
Kate had pulled Marlena aside. “I’ve missed our friendship,” she said. “I’ve missed our talks,” Marlena replied. “I want to tell you how much I appreciate what you did when Sami was in trouble—helping get Roberto’s confession.
”
“Marlena, it’s been difficult for us. We’ve both had to defend and support our children. But now I hope we can put all of that behind us someday and be friends again. ”
“I would really like that,” Marlena said.
Kate wished her and John all the happiness in the world. But across the room, Vivian was working her own agenda, maneuvering Victor into a conversation about Titan. “You don’t care about me,” Victor said bluntly. “You just want to use me to take revenge on Kate.
”
“How can you say something like that? It’s not true. ”
“Then why do you need 49% of Titan? ”
“To run the company the way it should be run.
We both know Kate is incompetent. ”
“Vivian, you’re ill. You’re dying. You expect me to think you can run a major corporation?
”
“I think the work would be a challenge for me. A tonic. It would give me strength. ”
“There was a time when I thought you were a very good businesswoman.
”
“There was a time when I thought you were a good woman, period,” Victor said, and walked away. Stefano had cornered John earlier, but John wasn’t backing down. “Love and survival,” John said. “It seems our love has survived everything you’ve thrown our way—brainwashing us, kidnapping us, attempts on our lives, including secrets about my past you’re still keeping from me.
But that’s all behind us now, isn’t it? ”
Stefano smiled. “You should be celebrating, for God’s sake. ”
“We are celebrating,” John said.
Marlena squeezed his hand. “We’d like all of our family and friends to continue the celebration with us. We’ve tried before and didn’t make it. But this time is the charm.
Now we’ll become husband and wife. ”
“Forever,” John said. Stefano watched them, his smile never reaching his eyes. Later, he pulled Gina aside.
“Don’t be so concerned about the wedding,” he said. “I’m not about to let this wedding happen. ”
“Neither am I,” Gina said. At the Tuscany restaurant, Sami had arranged a special evening for Carrie and Austin.
She’d planned a dinner, complete with a necklace for her sister and a song playing so the two could dance. “I feel really horrible about all the time you two had to spend apart because of me and Will,” Sami said. “But I want all that to change. You’re my sister, and I want what’s best for you.
No more competing, no more jealousy. I want to be a good sister to you, Carrie, and a good friend. I want to become strong and independent so I don’t have to rely on you so much, Austin. That way maybe you two can start making a family together and spending more time together.
”
Carrie seemed touched. Austin thanked Sami for the necklace. Then a messenger walked in. “Carrie Reed?
You’re being served. ”
Carrie froze. Austin’s jaw tightened. Sami looked between them, confused.
“What’s going on? ” Sami asked. “What is it? ”
Carrie stared at the papers in her hands.
“Divorce papers. ”
“I’m sorry,” Austin said. “I didn’t want you to get hit with this in public. We didn’t want you to find out about it just yet, Sami—this being your first day of freedom and all.
But hey, too late for that. ”
Sami’s face crumpled. “I don’t understand. Divorce papers?
”
Austin looked at Carrie. “Do you want to explain? ”
But Carrie said nothing. Meanwhile, Ali McIntyre was deep in her own delusion.
Earlier that day, Mike had fired Carrie, and Ali had overheard enough to convince herself it was all part of her plan working. She’d called Craig and Nancy, practically giddy. “The lawsuit has done its job, folks. Mike has seen the light and awakened to the fact that the one he loves is me.
”
Craig and Nancy exchanged worried glances. “Ali,” Nancy said carefully, “Mike isn’t in love with you. He never has been. ”
“That’s right,” Craig added.
“We’re sure he still loves Carrie. ”
“Then why did he fire her? ” Ali demanded. “Ali, please focus.
Try to look at things and see them for what they really are. ”
Ali’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I’m beginning to. I’m beginning to see that the two of you are traitors.
You’re not on my side at all. ”
“Ali,” Craig tried again, “you’re not a P. R. person.
Your field is medicine. Do you remember? ”
“And Mike isn’t going to hire you to replace Carrie,” Nancy said. “He doesn’t want you around.
”
“Oh, no? ” Ali smiled. “Well, when you receive an invitation to Mike’s and my wedding, you’ll realize I was right all along. And I’ll be expecting a huge apology for your misguided behavior.
”
Nancy shook her head. “That poor girl. She has totally shut down. ”
But Ali wasn’t done.
She’d spotted a messenger earlier, delivering an envelope for Carrie Reed. Ali had intercepted the man, telling him Carrie no longer worked at the hospital and directing him to the restaurant instead. “I doubt it’s good news for our former P. R.
director of University Hospital,” Ali said smugly. Nancy’s eyes widened. “Former? ”
“That’s right.
Mike fired Carrie. Now the field is totally cleared for me to get Mike back. ”
On the dance floor at Tuscany, Austin and Carrie swayed stiffly to the music, pretending for Sami’s sake. “This pretending—I hate it,” Austin said.
“Me, too. ”
“We have to tell her. ”
“I can’t. ”
“Right.
I understand. You don’t want to admit to sleeping with another man. ”
Carrie’s eyes glistened. “Austin, this isn’t how I wanted any of this to happen.
”
“It’s done,” he said. “I can’t get it out of my mind. I can’t forget it. I’m divorcing you, and that’s final.
”
Across town, Mike was making a call to Mickey’s colleague. “Gregory, Mickey Horton here. Listen, I want to set up a psychiatric evaluation for your client—Ali McIntyre. ”
Mike’s lawyer had explained it clearly.
“If I can get a psychiatric evaluation that proves she’s mentally unstable, we can get the lawsuit thrown out. ”
Mike had felt the first spark of hope in weeks. “It’s the first piece of good news I’ve had in a long time. ”
But that night, alone in his apartment, Mike’s resolve crumbled.
He’d spent years running from his father’s pain, from his mother’s affair with his uncle, from the fractured family that had raised him. And now he was repeating the pattern, falling for a married woman, hurting people in the process. He picked up the phone and called Ali. “I made a complete fool out of myself,” he said, his voice thick with regret.
“I’m so sorry. You’re the only one I love, and I’ll love you forever. Do you forgive me? ”
On the other end of the line, Ali’s voice was soft.
“Yes. ”
But as he hung up, Mike stared at the wall, knowing he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life.
