Dream a Little Dream

Chapter 26

Lucy Coe-Collins strode around backstage at the ballroom theater at the Lady Jane Plaza. Even clad in a red silk robe and furry red slippers, her hair in curlers, and no makeup on yet, she still exuded authority.

Trailing her like a mincing minion was Elton Herbert. He was Laura's assistant at Deception, but had come back to assist Lucy for the Nurses' Ball. Showtime was just a few hours away, and Lucy was starting to reach crisis mode. She rattled off questions that Elton answered in his most soothing voice.

“Where on earth is Heather?” Lucy asked.

“She's out in the kitchen, Punkin, setting up the dessert trays,” Elton replied. “They'll be covered in the walk-in fridge until it's time to serve them.”

“Oh, no, what about the gift bags?”

“Carly has about a half-dozen nurses filling them right now; she's handling it,” Elton said.

“And everything for them arrived?” Lucy demanded.

Elton ran down the list Carly had given him – CDs from L&B Records, perfume and cosmetics from Deception, chocolates from Heather Webber's dessert shop, engraved money clips and bejeweled compact mirrors from Wyndham's Department Store, books of poetry by AIDS patients from the bookstore in the Waterfront District, condoms and AIDS prevention pamphlets from General Hospital's women's clinic, and glittery enamel red ribbon pins from a local jeweler.

“Check, check, check, check, check, check and check,” Elton said. “It's all here. And the bags themselves are really pretty.”

Lucy smiled. Elizabeth Webber had designed this year's logo, and it sparkled in silver on the ice blue bags. Silver and blue tissue paper would peek out from the top.

“Okay, dressing room assignments,” Lucy said. “I want to make sure Zander isn't on the same side of the stage as Nikolas and Emily. And I don't want any of the Quartermaines to see Michael.”

Elton flipped through his papers.

“Don't have that,” he said.

“Where the hell is Carly?” Lucy asked.

“Over handling the gift bags, Lucy,” Elton said patiently. “Now you relax or I'm going to be giving you one of Alexis' paper bags. I'll go get the dressing room list from her. Wait here.”

Lucy waited, tapping her foot while checking the clock. Performers would start arriving in about an hour. Oh, where was Elton?!

Elton promptly returned, bearing the dressing room chart. Dressing rooms flanked both sides of the stage. Zander Lewis was sharing a dressing room with Brian Beck, Linc Murphy and Steven Lars Webber. Nikolas Cassadine and Emily Quartermaine were assigned to rooms on the other side of the stage. Since scenery changes would be going on behind the stage, there was no direct way to get from one side to the other. Only Lucy, Elton and Carly, as well as the stage hands, could cross backstage. Michael Quartermaine, along with a few other surprise performers, would be in a hospitality suite near backstage.

Lucy nodded approval. “Good,” she said. “Now let's go look over my clothes for tonight to make sure everything's here.”

* * *

AJ Quartermaine checked his bag to make sure everything for his performance was in it. Everything was.

He looked in the mirror critically. The bruises from last week's beating at the hands of Jason had faded, mostly thanks to Carly's early care. Elton would cover the faint yellowish spots remaining with stage makeup when he got to the Lady Jane Plaza; Carly had arranged that. His tuxedo was immaculate, his tie was straight, and a pair of gold and ruby cufflinks that were Edward's were on his sleeves.

Jason and AJ had hardly seen each other since the fight. Jason was taciturn with the whole family, even the returned Emily. AJ had withdrawn from much of the family, too. Carly had returned to their room the day after their fight. AJ chuckled as he remembered walking into the room to find Carly sitting in the bed.

“The guest room bed sucks,” she'd said, with a raised eyebrow and grin. “I really have to talk to your mother about that.”

They'd apologized and made up, but AJ still felt insecure. He couldn't put his finger on why. Carly, wrapped up in the final Nurses' Ball preparations, did not notice.

AJ picked up the bag, and went down the hallway to the nursery. Leticia was in there, giving Morgan his supper. Michael was reading a book.

“Wow, Dad, you look awesome!” Michael said, tossing the book aside and scrambling up for a hug. AJ hugged him back, hard.

“Be good for Leticia tonight, okay, buddy?” AJ said. “We'll see you in the morning and tell you all about the ball.”

“Sure, Dad,” Michael said, fighting back an I-know-something-you-don't-know grin. “Have fun!”

AJ met Dillon on the stairs as he was heading down.

“Sure you don't want a ride, Dillon?” AJ asked. “There's plenty of room in the limos.”

“No, thanks, AJ,” Dillon said. “I have to pick up Georgie and Maxie at their house. See you there!”

AJ went downstairs to meet Alan, Monica, Tracy, Ned, Brooke Lynn, Jason, Emily and Justus. At the sight of AJ, Jason stalked off with Emily to the other limo. Emily gave an apologetic glance back to AJ. Alan patted AJ's back.

“Hang in there, Son,” Alan said. “Give it time.”

“Let's not think about it tonight, Dad,” AJ said with a resigned sigh. “Tonight's not about us. If Jason wants to be unhappy tonight, I really can't do anything about it, much as I'd like to. We can start over with the usual Quartermaine fights tomorrow.”

“That's right,” Monica said. “There are people more important than us there tonight.”

Meanwhile, Dillon had gone into his room and finished packing up his stuff for the Nurses' Ball. He looked out a front window and saw everyone get into the limos and leave. He went down the hall. Michael was waiting there with a grin.

“Nobody guessed a thing!” he crowed.

“Good work,” Dillon said. “You've got the Quartermaine sneakiness in you. Just use your powers for good and not evil. Let me check your bag one last time.”

“I already checked it!” Michael protested.

“Humor the director in me, okay?” Dillon joked. “Your number's pretty important, Michael, and I want it to be perfect.”

Everything set, Dillon and Michael picked up their bags and went to Dillon's car, then it was off to the Jones-Scorpio home for Georgie and Maxie.

* * *

“Carly!” Lucy cried. “You're not dressed!”

“Calm down, Lucy,” Carly said. “I just got my makeup done. Laura supplied enough Deception products for everyone. All I have to do is get dressed, and Elton can help me with that while Tammi does your makeup.”

Lucy took a deep breath. “What time is it?” she asked.

“People will start getting here in forty-five minutes,” Carly said. “So, scoot. I'll be dressed and at the other backstage door when people arrive.”

“Okay,” Lucy said. “Don't forget your walkie-talkie.”

“Got it,” Carly said, waving the walkie-talkie dangling from a lanyard around her neck. Lucy went to her dressing room to get her hair and makeup done.

* * *

Right on time, performers began arriving. Carly and Lucy directed them to their dressing rooms.

The Quartermaines were among the first to arrive. They hung their costumes in their dressing rooms, and made sure everything was ready to change into quickly.

Meanwhile, other performers began showing up. Gia Campbell, Linc Murphy, Brian Beck, Ric Lansing, Elizabeth Webber, Steven Webber, Mary Bishop and Sam McCall arrived nearly at the same time.

Dillon arrived with Michael, Georgie and Maxie. Lucy sent Dillon and Michael around to a side entrance. Michael and some other performers would stay in a hospitality suite near the ballroom until their number, so as not to be seen. Jax had set up a closed-circuit television so they could watch the performances, and they'd have dinner brought to them.

Luke, Laura and Lulu arrived. Laura had brought her costume when she dropped off the Deception products for the performers and gift bags. Lulu had her outfit hidden in a garment bag.

“Hey, my little Lucy Coe-lada,” Luke said. “Nice outfit. Wonder if this will be the one?”

Lucy made a face at him.

“Not happening, Spencer,” she said. “You're going to have to settle for me fully clothed.”

“You say that every year, Cupcake,” Luke said with a pinch on her cheek as he walked on. “Hope you've got your prettiest skivvies on. I'm looking forward to the show.”

“Ooooh! That man!” Lucy said with a stamp of her foot. Laura looked back with an eyeroll of sympathy. Luke felt inside his waistband for his cell phone, which he'd set to vibrate. He had talked to World Security Bureau agent Frisco Jones the previous weekend about the discovery Nikolas had made about Helena's still-active account. Like Luke, Frisco doubted Helena was still alive.

“But we can't take that chance and do nothing,” Frisco had said. “People like Helena make the world a much more dangerous place.”

Frisco promised Luke he would call as soon as he knew anything. So the cell phone was never out of arm's reach for Luke. Something he whimsically called his “spider sense” told him this was no dead-end lead.

* * *

“Oh, my gosh, Karen!” Robin Scorpio gushed. “You look fabulous!”

“Thanks!” Karen Wexler replied. “So do you all.”

Karen, Robin, Gia, Elizabeth, Sam and Mary stood around near the stage admiring each others' finery. Karen was in a golden brown beaded slip dress that slightly swished against the floor. Delicate gold drop earrings peeked out from her loosely waved hair. Robin's gown was a deep aqua strapless sheath, with a pearl and aquamarine necklace and aquamarine earrings. Her hair was pulled back in a French twist. Elizabeth wore a deep purple strapless gown sprinkled with crystals, with a pair of drop diamond earrings her parents had given her for her nursing school graduation. She had curled her hair and wore it down. Mary glowed in a pale pink confection with a tulle skirt. She'd pulled her curly hair up into a loose knot and let little curls frame her face. Sam had bit the bullet and bought an evening dress – a golden champagne gown with sheer cap sleeves, an empire waist and beading on the bust. There goes a new couch for the house, she thought as she was paying for it. She'd set her hair to fall in big, loose waves. Anna had lent her a pair of faux pearl vintage earrings to complete the look. Gia wore a simple, curve-hugging, one-shouldered gown in fire-engine red, with diamond stud earrings.

The girls were so absorbed in their chatter and each others' clothes that they did not notice several things.

First was Lucky Spencer, partially shielded by a curtain. In her shimmering dress, with her hair falling all around her like that, Sam looked to him like a goddess. How did I ever think of her as one of the guys, Lucky wondered. He'd been trying to stop it since the camping trip, but he could feel himself falling for Sam more and more. And he knew she couldn't feel the same about him ... could she?

Luke watched his son from a dressing room door. Seeing the longing on Lucky's face was almost painful. I guess he wasn't over Elizabeth like he thought he was, Luke thought as he followed Lucky's gaze. Amazement dawned on his face when he realized it wasn't Elizabeth Lucky was gazing at, but ... Sam?! Luke knew Sam through Lucky's rescue squad work and liked her pluck and spirit. Good call, Son, Luke thought.

Elizabeth was also the object of an adoring gaze, this one from the other side of the stage. Ric Lansing was hopelessly head over heels for her. Every date was a fight not to declare his passion. He loved the delicious courtship, but trembled that something would break the spell.

The girls also didn't see Emily and Nikolas approaching.

“Hi,” Emily said, with a shy smile. She was wearing the green velvet halter gown, sandals and earrings Nikolas had found for her.

After a moment of awkward silence, Elizabeth embraced Emily. “Welcome home,” Elizabeth said.

“It's good to see you all,” Nikolas said. “Mary, you look lovely.”

Mary smiled sweetly. While she was disgusted by Nikolas' behavior in regards to Zander, she also remembered the kind friend who helped her out of her lonely darkness.

“You have quite a tan there, you two,” Mary said. “Vacation agreed with you.”

“It did, very much,” Emily said. “I can't remember the last time I slept so deeply. I'm feeling totally ready for school.”

“Good to hear,” said Dr. Chris Ramsey, appearing behind Emily. “Maybe this term you'll stay awake in lab.”

“Not if you're lecturing,” Karen shot back. Chris sauntered away with a grin.

* * *

Jason sat alone at the Quartermaine table. He felt out of place amid the hustle and bustle of backstage.

He was hesitant about coming tonight, but decided it was an important cause. He'd seen Robin backstage, and was glad he'd made that choice. But with all the other Quartermaines involved somehow, he felt a little left out.

“Jason?” he heard a woman ask.

He stood up and turned to see Heather Webber, the cousin of his birth mother, Susan Moore.

“Heather,” Jason said. “Wow. It's been a long time.”

Heather strode up and took his hands, beaming at him.

“You look wonderful,” she said.

“Thanks,” he said. “So do you. I hear you've gotten into the dessert business.”

“Yep,” Heather said. “I got interested in it about ten years ago. Took some classes, apprenticed with a pastry chef. I was working in New York when I heard about the Waterfront District revitalization. Steven was talking about coming to GH when he finished his work in Bosnia, and I wanted to be near him. My mother had left me a little money, so I took that and opened the business.”

“Is it weird?” Jason said. “You know, being back here after being away for so long?”

“It was,” Heather said. “A lot of changes. The town looks a lot different. New people have come, people I once knew are gone. And I still sometimes think my mother is going to drop in. But I realized I'd changed, too. I'm not the 'desperate housewife' I once was. I have my business, Steven's back in my life, so I won't complain. Don't worry, Jason. You'll find your way, too.”

Just then, a young man approached.

“Hey, Mom,” Steven Webber said. He didn't have a problem calling both his mothers “Mom.” Fortunately, Mrs. Jeff Webber 1.0 and 2.0 were never in the same room.

“Jason, have you met your cousin yet?” Heather asked. “This is my son, Steven Webber.”

The two men shook hands.

“Hi, Cousin,” Steven said. “Welcome back.”

“Thanks,” Jason said. “You're Elizabeth's brother, right?”

“Yeah,” Steven said. “I also have a sister, Sarah. She's a doctor, too, working in Africa right now with my uncle Tom Hardy.”

Alan and Monica walked over. Monica was wary – she never trusted Heather after Heather schemed to take Jason, and his trust fund, after Susan was murdered.

“Sneak anything out for me, Heather?” Alan asked.

“Sorry, Alan, you'll have to wait like everyone else,” Heather said. “Except Lucy. She had to sample the cannolis.”

* * *

Carly's walkie-talkie crackled. “Come in, Number Two, this is Number One.”

“Lucy!” Carly said. “That's gross!”

A moment's silence, then, “Oh, yeah. See what you mean. Anyway, how are things over there?”

“Good,” Carly replied. “Everyone's checked in here.”

“Same here,” Lucy said. “Now do a walk-through of the dressing rooms. Make sure everyone's set with their costumes. I'll do the same, and go on stage to open the evening in 20 minutes. Copy?”

“Ten-four, good buddy,” Carly said, and went off on her rounds.