Control Part 9

Thorne and Katie…

(Panicked) “What? Just tell me that Brooke is alright!”

“Of course she’s not alright. How could she be?”

Thorne quickly moves to Katie’s side. He grabs her by the arm. “Oh my god, I have to get to the hospital. What happened? Did she have some kind of complications? (Katie says nothing for a minute) Tell me!”

Katie ignores him and calmly walks behind Thorne’s desk and sits in his chair. Thorne just stares at her, confused. “How can you be so calm?”

Katie slowly shakes her head. “Thorne just shut up for a minute. Brooke is fine, physically. In fact, she is being released in a few hours.”

Thorne visibly relaxes. “But, what are you talking about then? You said she wasn’t alright….”

“And how could she be after her conversation with you. (Angry) How dare you?”

(Taken aback) “What?”

“You heard me. Do you know how badly you hurt her? Again? (Thorne hangs his head in shame) Thorne, look at me.” He looks up at her. “Well, I’m here to make sure that never happens again. Ever.”

********

Hearing the doorbell, Taylor rushes to answer it before the kids wake up. Upon hearing the bell ring again she runs to the door and notices her husband just standing in the living room staring at the fireplace. “Ridge! What is the matter with you? I just put the kids down, do you want them to wake up from their naps and be cranky for the rest of the day?”

Ridge finally turns towards his wife. “What Taylor? Did you say something?”

“Arghhh.” Taylor opens the door, surprised to see Eric. “Eric, it’s good to see you.”

(Distracted) “Well, it’s nice to be welcomed somewhere.”

“What?”

“Oh, Taylor, I’m sorry, never mind.”

“Eric, are you alright? You look like you just lost your best friend.”

“Well, in a matter of speaking I did. Look, I really need your advice right now.”

“Sure, come on in.

As they walk into the living room, Eric notices Ridge. “Oh, son, I didn’t think you would be here. I thought you were working at the office today.”

“Did you want to speak to Taylor alone?” Eric nods. “I’ll go check on the kids.” Ridge leaves as Eric and Taylor sit down.

“Eric, what’s wrong? Stephanie’s alright isn’t she?”

“Oh, yes. There’s nothing wrong there. This is just something I couldn’t talk to her about, at least not yet. It involves things we swore we would never tell her. Besides, as a mother, maybe you could give me some answers. I just can’t believe she did it.”

Taylor can’t imagine what Eric is talking about. “Eric, you’ve lost me? Who did what?”

“Brooke. She just completed her goal of destroying my life. She started with Forrester Creations. Losing any remaining control was bad, but I guess she felt it didn’t hurt me enough. No, she felt she had to take away the only other part of my life she had some control over; my kids. Well, she succeeded and turned the kids against me. I just came from the house. They never want to see me again.”

********

“Katie, just listen…”

“No Thorne, it’s you that needs to listen. To me. And I’m not leaving until we get a few things straight.”

“Look, Katie, if you’re here to tell me about Venice, don’t bother. I already know. After my conversation with Brooke, I forced Ridge to finally tell me the truth.”

“And?”

“And what? He admitted everything. Brooke was telling me the truth the entire time. My family has been lying to me for months.”

“So you finally believe her now?”

“Yes.”

“And what are you planning to do about it? (Scathing) Beg her forgiveness, forget it ever happened, or forgive your family and stay the lapdog you’ve become?”

(Shocked) “Katie, what has gotten into you? I almost don’t even recognize you now?”

(Smiling) “Well, Thorne, there’s a lot about me you don’t know. I was more than happy to remain in the background, letting my sister take center stage. I didn’t mind, because I knew she could handle anything, and I admired her for that. But do you know what you and your ‘loving’ family have done to her?”

“Katie, I know how much I’ve hurt her.”

“No, I don’t think you do. You know what I don’t understand? Is it a gift, or genetics? I mean were you born with this talent or what?”

(Confused at the change in subject) “What are you talking about?”

(Mock seriousness) “Why, this great ability that all Forrester men seem to possess in great quantities. (Thorne just stares at her.) This wonderful trait you all share, being able to hurt Brooke. I mean what is it? Is it hard wired into your DNA or is this gift passed down from father to son, like some great legacy? Did Eric sit you and Ridge down one day and explain to each of you the secrets to hurting Brooke? Is this some great knowledge that you two plan on passing down to your own children someday?”

“Katie, come on. Of course that’s not what happened. You know that.”

“Do I? What I know is that for twenty years you have done your best to try and destroy her. And by ‘you’ I mean the entire family. Each one of you is equally guilty. You have schemed and lied to get what you want, never caring about her feelings. One minute you vow to love her always, and in the next, the instant that vow is tested in the slightest bit, you run away, hurting her again. And you forever blame her! Doesn’t anyone in your family ever take responsibility for their own actions? Well, I won’t stand for it anymore. This latest scheme was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She isn’t the same woman anymore. She is hurt, and angry, and so many other negative emotions I can’t even name right now. How do you think that makes me feel? To see my sister, who was once so strong, give up on things. I never thought she would ever need anyone to protect her; she was always able to protect herself. Well, I’ve stepped up to shield her. And I won’t let anyone hurt her ever again. Do you hear me?”

Thorne just nods, shocked by what he’s heard. How can this be true? Brooke is the strongest person I’ve ever met. There’s nothing she can’t handle.

*********

“Eric, what are you talking about? Just tell me what happened.”

Getting angry, Eric starts to pace around the living room. “I’ll tell you what happened. She’s filled their heads with lies. Stephanie was right. We knew something was wrong, ever since Rick moved back in with his mother. They have become distant, and cold towards both Stephanie and me. You should have seen them when we ran into them at the hospital. They looked at us with such contempt. I needed some answers. That just isn’t like them. I know they love the both of us. Well, I finally went over there to find out what was going on. They said their mother finally told them the ‘truth’ about things. (Sarcastic) Right, like Brooke would ever know what the truth really is. She has told them so many lies just so Rick and Bridget would hate us, and it obviously worked. I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised. Brooke only thinks about herself, never about anyone else’s feelings. That was the reason for the plan we had to get her away from Thorne.”

Taylor simply sits there trying to comprehend everything Eric is saying. At the mention of ‘the plan’ Taylor shudders. She has never been totally comfortable with her part in it. “Eric, just calm down a minute. Come here.” She pats the couch next to her. Eric stops pacing and sits down. “Good, now take a deep breath and tell me everything the kids said.”

*******

Upstairs, Rick knocks on his sister’s door. He can hear her sobbing inside. “Bridget, are you alright?”

Brushing the tears from her eyes, she opens her door. “I’m fine, why do you ask?”

Rick smiles. “Well, maybe because your eyes are red and you missed a tear.” Rick wipes away the stray tear. “So are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. I just got something in my eye, that’s all.” She tries to move away from her brother, but he grab hold of her a gives her a hug.

“You don’t have to hide from me, I’m just upset as you are.”

Bridget pulls away for a second. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rick sighs and sits on her bed. “Look Bridget, no matter what type of brave front you put up, I know you’re upset about what happened with dad. (Bridget just shakes her head in disagreement.) No, don’t try to deny it. Bridget, no matter how mad we are at him, and with good reason, he is our father. I don’t like what is happening anymore than you do. But maybe, he will take what we said to heart. You never know, he might come around, see how badly he has treated Mom, and by extension us, and change his attitude. Who knows, we might be one big happy family yet.”

Bridget looks at her brother with hope in her eyes. “Do you really think so?”

“Anything is possible. But I do know one thing. Well, two things actually. One, no matter what despicable things he has done, Dad does love us.”

“I know he loves us, and I love him. But I can’t stand to be around him right now. I don’t know if I ever will again.” Bridget starts to sob again.

Rick hugs his sister again. “I know, me too. Things will have to get better.” They sure can’t get any worse.

A few minutes later Bridget is calm again. “What is the second thing?”

(Confused) “What?”

(Smiling) “You said you know two things. You only mentioned on of them. What’s the other?”

“Well, I just called the hospital before I came up here. Mom is being released in a few hours.”

Bridget is ecstatic. “Great. Not a moment too soon.”

“Yeah, so, we need to make sure this place is spotless, get dinner ready, and wipe away all tears. I don’t think we should mention Dad’s visit here to her, it would only cause more worry. Agreed?”

“Yes, agreed.”

*********

“Eric, listen to me. It sounds like a lot of what Rick said has been festering inside him for a long time. His point about you disappearing and reappearing from their lives does have some merit.” Eric opens his mouth to disagree, but Taylor cuts him off. “Look, Eric, I’m not blaming you, and I’m not trying to upset you. But think back over the years. What he said is partially true, you have to agree with that.”

Eric thinks it over for a second, and then shakes his head. “No, anything I ever did was for the good of those kids. I love them.”

“Eric, I know you do. I’m sure they know you love them. But this is about what they think and believe, not you. Right?” Eric nods. “Ok, I’m sure those issues never would have come up, except they are angry with you for hurting their mother. That is the heart of the matter.” Eric once again is about to disagree, but Taylor forestalls him again. “Eric, remember, this is about what they believe.” Eric remains silent. “Now, from what you said, they didn’t give you many details about what Brooke told them. The only detail they mentioned is the ‘plan’ that took place in Venice, right?”

Eric thinks back over his conversation with the kids. “That’s right. He said ‘everything, culminating with the plot’.”

“So, you don’t know what Brooke has been telling them.”

Eric looks at Taylor with disbelief. “Are you actually defending that woman, when she has caused this family nothing but pain?”

“Eric, I’m not defending anyone, I’m trying to figure out what is going on in the minds of Rick and Bridget. I do believe you came over here for help, right?”

“Yes, I did, but...”

“But nothing. Now be quiet a minute and listen to me. The only thing you know for sure is about the Venice plot. And no matter how you try to explain it to the kids, we put the feelings of Stephanie ahead of Brooke’s, correct?”

(Vehemently) “Of course we did. There was nothing else we could have done. And I would have done it again in a heartbeat.”

Taylor tries to calm Eric down again. “Ok, I’m not trying to argue the point with you. As for anything else Brooke might have said to them, the point is you don’t know what was said. Look, why don’t I call them in a few days (Eric looks stricken to have to wait so long so Taylor quickly adds) to give them a chance to calm down, (Eric relaxes) and try to get more details. I can’t help if I don’t know the facts. Does that sound alright?”

“Yes. Taylor, thank you. I really appreciate this.” Eric looks around the living room, seeing toys on the floor; family pictures everywhere, and smiles. “Well, I’m so glad things are going so well for you and Ridge. That’s one thing less I don’t have to worry about.”

Taylor looks towards the stairs. I only wish I was so confident.

********

“I really thought you were the one that could really make my sister happy. Especially since, well, that’s not important now. When I found out that you called her, I was glad because even after everything that has happened between you two, I thought the two of you could work things out. I believe you still might be the one to make her happy.”

(Sarcastic) “Even more than Giovanni?”

Katie ignores his last statement. “I thought you finally came to your senses and saw everything your family did, you realized how wrong you were and were truly sorry. I guess I was wrong, if you had to rely on the truth from Ridge.”

(Determined) “I’ll make it up to her.”

“How? Do you even know why she was so hurt? Ever since you returned from Europe married to Macy Brooke has closed her heart. She was determined never to let herself be hurt again. But you know what, yesterday, when you said you wanted to be with her again, she actually started to feel hopeful again. And what happens? You dash those hopes straight to hell by telling her you forgive her. And prove that you still don’t trust her, and maybe never will. Well, her heart closed right back up again, and I don’t think anything will ever open it again. Are you proud of yourself?”

“Katie, listen to me, I will never hurt her again. I love her and want to be with her. Only her.”

“So what changed, were you tired of Macy and decided to go back to Brooke?”

(Aghast) “Of course not, that’s not what happened. I realized that I couldn’t live without her.”

“Why couldn’t you have figured this out seven months ago. Why should she trust you ever again? It’s quite obvious you don’t trust her; otherwise you would have believed her from the beginning. Besides, what’s to stop you from hurting her again? What guarantees do you have?”

“Katie, no one can offer guarantees.”

“True, but you know what their reaction will be when you tell them you want to be with Brooke.”

Thorne sighs. “I have some idea.”

“Yeah, so how do we know that you won’t let your family come between you again? Hurting Brooke, again? Until you can figure that out, stay away from my sister.”

“I can’t stay away. I love her and need her.”

“Then you had better think of something. But don’t try to reconcile with her until you have some answers.”

Thorne just looks at Katie, slightly puzzled. “You know, I can’t tell if you are trying to keep me away, or you want us to work things out.”

Oh, if you only knew. “I haven’t made up my mind yet. I don’t care whom my sister is with as long as he puts her first and makes her happy. The man in my sister’s life can’t let his family control him, blackmail him, or make him feel guilty. He must be ready to tell his family to go to hell if they ever upset her again. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes.”

Great, now for the final touch; a small dose of the green-eyed monster. (Katie shrugs her shoulders) “Besides, this might all be moot. (She smiles at Thorne’s confusion.) Right now, Giovanni has the inside track. (Thorne winces at the mention of Giovanni) He hasn’t hurt her, cares only for her feelings, and would do anything for her.” Well, that wasn’t totally a lie. He is a great friend to her. Katie glances at her watch. “I’ll leave you to think things over. I have to get to the hospital.”

Leaving, she closes his office door behind her, but waits outside for a minute to see Thorne fall into his chair. Don’t let me down Thorne; prove that you are the man I know you are. Fight for what you really want. If you don’t, then I’ll do everything in my power to keep you away from Brooke. Katie shudders, violently. What am I saying? Man, I really scared myself. I sounded just like Stephanie. How frightening.

End of Part 9

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