Chapter XXVII

I Believe In You
~ * * * ~

Yes, it truly had been a night to remember. Mike and Leila seemed to be in shock, so Max came forward. He tried to get the officers to listen to reason. He tried to explain that Rebecca Jamison was a pillar of the community, a well-respected and prominent woman. The officer merely shrugged and said, "She's not above the law, sir. You can come and get her released on bail in the morning."

"In the morning!" Mike was indignant. "You mean tonight! Can't you see we're in the middle of a wedding?!"

"Sorry sir," the officer replied, "it's late tonight, you'll have to wait until morning to post bail." The two officers led the handcuffed Rebecca out of the room and into the squad car, without even allowing her to change her clothes.

Max reassured Rebecca that he would take care of the situation. Leila was strangely quiet, Mike put his arms around her and said, "I'm so sorry honey, this isn't quite what I had planned for tonight."

Leila looked at Mike with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Mike," she said, "how could this be happening? My mother is most gentle person I know, she wouldn't hurt anyone. Please, Mike, go with Max and help my mother."

Madra came over and took Leila's arm. She looked at Mike and said, "It's alright Mike, go with Max, I'll stay with Leila until you get back."

The two men left for the police station, and Madra and Sabrina sat with Leila. Leila had her head on Madra's shoulder and was softly sobbing. Madra stroked her head saying, "I'm sure this is just some awful mistake, Leila, and your mother will be home before you know it."

However, the men returned that night without Rebecca. The police refused to listen to reason, saying that Rebecca had the means to leave the country if desired. Max even offered to personally post a bond to release her into his custody, to no avail.

They returned to the Jamison ranch and found the three women eagerily awaiting their return. Leila was unusually quiet at the news Max shared, but he reassured her that he would "take care" of things. He told Mike to take Leila upstairs and not to worry about a thing. He explained that he would be back very early in the morning, with an attorney. He had just the perfect one in mind.

It was very late in the states when Max and Madra arrived at home, but Max decided that it wasn't too early to notify Jax of the situation. He called him and merely told Jax that he had to come home. No need putting them in a panic he said -- I merely told them that it was important that they come home immediately. Max reassured Jax that no one was in dire danger, and that Jax should call him with their flight information and he would pick them up at the airport.

He turned to Madra and said, "Darling, I don't think Jax even knows he has a son, let alone that Olivia was here. I think it would be best if we told him before he hears it from strangers."

Madra hugged her husband saying, "I agree, Max. Oh, dear, this is just terrible.....poor Rebecca, in that awful place...." Max kissed the top of his wife's head and said, "I'll do my best for her."


~ * * * ~

Max and Madra went to the police station to meet with the attorney Max had called to help Rebecca. Max seemed a little edgy and was pacing a bit before she arrived.

Then they heard a soft voice, "Ah, Peter darling," she said, "you are looking well ~ it's been much too long since I've seen you!" and she extended her hand to his.

Max cringed at her calling him "Peter" - no one ever called him that except for his mother. He extended his hand and said, "Vanessa, you look well also."

Vanessa shook Max' hand and continued to hold it a moment, "You know, Peter, I was rather surprised to hear from you after all these years."

There was that name again, he thought, as he pulled his hand away. The incident had not escaped Madra's attention and she squeezed Max' arm a bit. "Vanessa," he said, "I would like you to meet my wife, Madra. Madra, Vanessa Stewart."

Vanessa, who had been pretending not to see Madra, turned and said, "Oh, my, Peter's wife! How lovely to meet you," but she did not extend her hand. Then she turned to Max and said, "Your wife is a pretty little thing."

Max cleared his throat, "Ahem, well, Vanessa," he said, "the reason I called you is because I have heard that you are the best criminal attorney in the country. I would like to put you on retainer to help a good friend of ours, Mrs. Rebecca Jamison."

"Ah, yes," Vanessa said, "the media is all abuzz with this story ~ don't worry, I'll have her released in no time."

After they left Vanessa, Madra looked at Max and asked him how he knew her. Max merely said, "That's a long story, my dear...."

Vanessa watched Max and Madra leave as she thought to herself, now why did I ever let that one get away! She turned and headed into the station. She was going to find out what evidence the police had against Rebecca and then have a conference with her new client.

Vanessa was established as the attorney of record and allowed to view the records. Hymmm....she thought, this may not be as easy as I initially thought. Then she demanded to see her client.

Vanessa was led into a stark room where Rebecca had been waiting for her. The woman was still dressed in some sort of evening attire.

"Mrs. Jamison," Vanessa began, "my name is Vanessa Stewart and I am your attorney. I assure you that I am the best at what I do, however, first we must trust each other. Is there anything that you need to tell me, please do so now."

Rebecca looked at the young woman who would hold her life in her hands, "Yes," she said, "I am innocent."

Vanessa studied the older woman, "Wonderful," she said, "now, let's discuss the payments you were making to her and why Ms. Grant's body was found in the trunk of your car!"

After leaving Vanessa to do her job, Max and Madra headed off for the airport. They only hoped that they could reach the couple before they heard the news from another source. They arrived at the gate just as the plane was landing. When they saw Jax and Gene, they waived them over. Madra looked at Gene and immediately knew ~ oh, my goodness, Madra thought, she's pregnant, we must be very gentle with her. She approached her friend and said, "Gene, darling, you look marvelous! I do hope you had a great time!"

Gene smiled at her and said, "It was magical, wasn't it, Jax?" They exchanged pleasantries for a few moments and then Max said that he had something extremely important to discuss with them. He dared not wait until they got out in the busy airport for fear that they may see the headlines. He took them to a quiet corner and told them the story, leaving out the information about Simon.

Gene looked as if she was in shock. Jax blurted out, "Olivia Grant ~ who in the world is she? And why would anyone think my mother would want her dead?!"

Max tried to put it as gently as he could, "Well, there's more..." he began and tried to explain gently about Simon. Gene let out a gasp and Jax looked even more perplexed. "My child" he said, "how could it be my child, I don't even know who this person is?" Max explained that Rebecca had a paternity test done and that the test confirmed that the baby was his.

Then as if it just hit her, Gene began to cry, "Oh, Jax, you betrayed me! You lied to me - you lied to me!" and she was sobbing now.

Jax tried to talk to her but she wasn't listening. "Gene, Gene," he began, "I don't even know who this woman is....please believe me, I have not been unfaithful to you since the day we met. Please darling, please.....believe me... There must be some mistake."

"Why should I believe you," Gene said, "Why?! It's all my own fault anyway...everyone warned me about you, that you couldn't be faithful, but I trusted you - I trusted you! Oh, Jax, Jax, Jax......how could you."

At this point, Jax had tears in his eyes, too. He tried to hold his wife, he wanted to so much to just take her in his arms and tell her it was only her he loved. He didn't even know who this Olivia person was. The only person who meant anything to him was Gene. Didn't she know that. "Gene, baby, I thought you trusted me....please just trust me when I tell you that it's only you I love...please, baby, please."

Max saw that people were beginning to watch. He went over and took Jax by the arm, saying, "Come on, man, let's go get the luggage and Madra and Gene will go to the ladies room to freshen up and meet us."

Jax looked at his friend and Max could see the pain in his eyes. "It's ok, Jax, Madra will take care of Gene. Don't worry."

Madra understood and immediately came over, took Gene by the arm and led her to the ladies room saying, "Come on, Gene, let's go freshen up a bit, you must be so tired after that long flight.

Madra gave Gene some tissues and told her to wipe her eyes. She gave her a hug and told her that she wanted her to listen to her for just a moment. When Gene had composed herself, she began, "Gene you know Jax loves you. I know it, Max knows it, his mother knows it, and you know it, too. Sometimes, things happen that we have no control over, but the best thing to do is to just sit it out and wait and see what happens. I know that the timing of this couldn't be worse, but you have to have faith in your husband."

Madra went on, "I met Olivia. She was a nasty little twit of a girl, who couldn't have cared less about that baby. I truly think she only wanted to extort money from Jax. Believe me, if Jax did have an affair with that girl, it must have been very brief and obviously unmemorable. You, my dear, have his heart! He loves you Gene, and I know you love him. Now, you have two choices here, you can either get indignant and walk away or, you could fight for your marriage. Only you can decide that. But, darling, I see that you're having a baby, don't you want to at least try....just a little?"

Gene looked at Madra and gave her a hug. "Oh, Madra, what would I do without you?! You always make so much sense! And, yes, we are having a baby, and I'm really happy about it," she said as she began to cry again. Madra put her arm around her and said, "Then why are you crying silly? Now, let's go find that handsome husband of yours."

When they met up with the men, Jax looked as down as a man could be. Gene walked up to him, slid her arms around him and said, "Oh, darling, I'm so sorry, can you forgive me? I love you so." A huge smile came to Jax' face as he hugged his wife, "Oh, God, Gene I love you too -- so very, very much. I'll spend my life proving to you how much I love you! Now, we'd better go see if we can help my Mother."

To be continued.......