Chapter 42

Demi stood at the court room stairs for a few moments and watched Victoria leave with her lawyer. Once they had gone she went back to her car. She felt dread at the thought of going home, to the reminder she had lost Ben, forever.

As she put Trevor into his car seat she thought now the court case was over she would need to pack Ben's things and arrange his funeral. She was too young to be a widow.

Tears clustered around the corners of her eyes, making it hard to see where she was going. She stumbled around the car and climbed into the driver’s seat.

Once inside she rested her head on the steering wheel and let out the tears she had been holding back. How could Danny break her trust and callously lie to her all of this time. She finally got to the bottom what happened. He was being evasive because he knew what really happened all along. What if Amanda had done the same thing to Trevor?

With a sniff she wiped her eyes on her cardigan sleeve and started up the engine of her car. She was meant to drive Misty home, but couldn't bear to go back into the court room.

The driver’s door opened as she was about to pull out, Demi looked up surprised.

"What do you want?"

Danny stepped forward and leaned into the car in one fluid motion turned the car off and took the keys from the ignition. He slipped them into his pocket.

“Give those back,” Demi cried out in protest.

"Demi, stop.... I'm sorry I wasn't honest with you."

"No you weren't. I gave you every chance to be honest with me and this is how I find out the truth. Why Danny, why did you lie!"

Danny slumped down on the curb beside Demi's open front car door and rested his head on his knees.

"I just - well I panicked when we were in the hospital and told one lie and had to keep on lying, I never meant to."

It's never too late to tell the truth, why didn't you say something sooner. You put Vic through hell and back, you should have been honest Danny!"

"Dem I wanted to tell the truth. I got railroaded by Alistair and I was afraid of what would happen if they investigated me, or Amanda."

"You know what Danny, I'm afraid too - I'm afraid of the person looking back at me, the one person I trusted. I just want to go!" snapped Demi, opening her hand out to take the keys back from Danny.

He shook his head.

“You screwed up - If you were on the stand you would sound even worse than Victoria, and that's saying something. Give me my keys Danny I'm done. I have enough problems caused by lying and cheating I don't need to clean up after you too!"

Danny lifted up the keys in his hand, dangling them from his finger for Demi to take, unable to meet her gaze.

"Sorry Dem."

A lifetime of conditioning to take care of Danny weighed down on her. She could hardly breathe. They should have been be sticking together, but he pushed their fragile bond to breaking point.

She closed the car door, started the engine and didn't look back, her eyes planted on the road ahead. She would get through this all on her own and so would he.

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Victoria wondered who wanted a moment of her time. Was it a news network or magazine looking to get a scoop? She looked around the limousine, pure white leather interior, mini bar, it was very expensive. Whoever sent for her had money. Would a magazine go all out like this to get an exclusive story from her?

The car slowed and Victoria looked out of the tinted window, the first thing she noticed was the hospital, and her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to leap out of the vehicle, and not stop until she reached Emily's side. Nothing was more important than her daughter.

Stacy, seemed to sense Victoria's compulsion and put her hand on her knee.

"Straight in, straight out, let’s hear this person out and we can go....its only fair since we took advantage of their chauffeur service.”

Victoria groaned, but Stacy had a point.

“God I’m going to miss not having you around to tell me what to do,” she whispered.

“Like you listen anyway,” said Stacey and raised her eyebrows.

The car pulled up at the hotel and seconds later the door swung open. Eddy smiled and gestured for them to get out. Then closed the door and ushered them towards the hotel lobby.

Inside by the counter stood a tall dark haired woman, dressed in the same blazer as Eddy and a black knee length skirt.

"Thank you for coming,” the lady said softly.

As she spoke Victoria looked at the woman hard.

“Marilyn?”

"Yes Victoria, it's me."

"You are so different, so un-Marilyn...”

"I thought it was high time that I stopped acting like a teenager and grew up. I am a grandmother after all, the Marilyn Monroe thing is done, and I'm just lucky that I have another chance to make things right."

"You look great Marilyn, I'm happy for you, but you never kept your promise, you weren't there. Emily and I have been through so much, we couldn't take having our hearts broken again.”

"You are right, I wasn't there, and I never have been. I was careless with your heart and I don't deserve your forgiveness - which is why I brought you here today. I want you to see firsthand the changes I am making, to prove I can be the person you want to trust and let into your life again.”

"What changes are you making, apart from changing your hair color and wearing a uniform?"

"Well before I go into detail I would like to introduce Eddy properly. Eddy saved my life last night, in more than one way. And we have decided to go into partnership together. Eddy and I bought this hotel.... we are going to run it together."

Stacey shook Eddy and Marilyn’s hands.

"Congratulations, wow this is going to be a really exciting adventure..."

"How? How can you afford this?” said Victoria unconvinced.

"Well,” sighed Marilyn, "It all started with a massive diamond ring and a little green box, but that isn't what’s important right now. What’s important is we are across the street if you need us. There is a room for you any time you need it. I don't expect you to just forgive me, all I’m asking is that you give me one last chance to prove I'm not going anywhere. Maybe then we can see, hey."

Victoria looked at Marilyn, and she felt a familiar lurch in her stomach, the same as she used to get the moment she saw her pull up in Nana’s driveway. It was that sensation that drove her into the arms of her mother.

"I missed you so much Mum, Emily and I need you in our lives, just don't break our hearts, and help us mend them....”

"There is nothing more in the world that I want," said Marilyn holding her daughter as she looked up at the heavens and silently said "Thank you."

Everyone looked up startled as Eddy popped the cork out of a large bottle of champagne and they each took a glass.

"Here is to new beginnings," all four of them said together.

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