"With seemingly nothing to use to identify Braden, Adrian announced that he'd call some of his contacts in Washington to see what they could dig up. Tad was offended that Adrian wanted to tackle the investigation on his own, setting the stage for another argument between the two men. Dixie stepped between the two men and asked them to calm down and accept the fact that they're brothers. She reminded them that neither of them had anything to do with their being related. "If you're so upset [that you're brothers], yell at Opal," Dixie suggested. The men looked at each other and realized that they had been acting a bit like heels and agreed to work together. Their pact was sealed with a handshake.
On another of her strolls from the bedroom, Vanessa sat on the sun porch writing thank you cards to everyone who had sent her flowers during her hospitalization. As she licked another stamp, Adam appeared with a broad smile on his face. No awkward introductions were needed for Adam and Vanessa were old friends. Vanessa wondered how Adam had found him. Adam grinned and explained that a "mutual friend" has mentioned that she was in town. That mutual friend, Erica, had also informed Adam about David's stunt the night Vanessa collapsed to the ground outside The Valley Inn. Vanessa tried to change the subject, telling Adam not to send her flowers so that she wouldn't have to write him a thank you note. Vanessa then mentioned that Erica could probably use the flowers. Adam was shocked into silence. His face turned white as Vanessa informed him that Erica had been involved in a "horrible car accident." Vanessa was surprised that Adam and Erica were still on terms---they were, after all, exes twice over. "Our relationship," responded Adam, "is complex." Vanessa smiled warmly and took Adam's hand. She told him that he seemed like a very good friend. As they held one another's hands, David walked onto the porch and demanded that Adam unhand his mother. Vanessa rolled her eyes and scolded her son for talking badly to her visitor. "Someone people," Vanessa snapped, "actually enjoy my company." She assured David that Adam was there to cheer her up. Adam excused himself and headed off to visit Erica. Meanwhile, Vanessa asked David why he'd made such a "powerful enemy." David looked coldly at his patient-slash-mother and told her that he could and would handle Adam Chandler "when the time is right."
The question had been asked before, but some questions need to be asked more than once. Jake wondered why Liza had decided to marry Adam before the birth of her baby. "It seemed right," Liza replied vaguely. She explained that since she and Adam are starting over together, being married when Colby is born seemed to make sense. Jake was quick to note that Adam was not the baby's father. The doctor's face dropped when Liza informed him that Adam's name would appear on the baby's birth certificate. Liza informed her friend that he would still be a part of Colby's life as "a friend [and] a godparent." But being known as "Uncle Jake" wasn't enough for Jake. "That's a lie," Jake said sternly. Liza didn't argue the validity of Jake's statement. Instead, she repeated her previous statement, this time a little more forcefully, "Adam is going to be [Colby's] father." Jake snorted slightly and muttered that he'd pay money to see Adam change a dirty diaper. Liza said that Adam would be a father to Colby in every way---every way but one. Jake reached into his pocket and pulled out a printout of Liza's most recent sonogram. Jake admitted that he had mixed feelings upon seeing the images and he and Liza both agreed that it might be best if they did not discuss Colby again.
With a beautiful basket of flowers and goodies in hand, Janet approached Erica's room. Myrtle pulled her aside and brought her up to speed on Erica's condition. Myrtle talked of the possibility that Erica's face will be scarred, but made it known that Erica could not know about the seriousness of her facial injuries until she was judged strong enough to handle the shock. Inside the room, Opal watched from the corner as David tried to get Erica to cough to keep her lungs clear of fluid. The pain was too great and Erica said that she could not comply with the doctor's orders. Erica had refused to take painkillers of any kind. David called the decision "admirable," but he didn't feel that it was the smartest decision. It's unclear if the doctor was aware of Erica's past addiction to painkillers. Opal stepped forward to offer her encouragement to her long-time friend. It did the trick. Erica was able to muster a muffled cough and David was able to determine that Erica's lungs were free from fluid. The doctor stepped out of the room and Opal scooted up next to the bed to talk to Erica. Opal dubbed Erica "strong" for being able to deal with the possibility that she'll carry a scar for life. Erica shrugged indifferently and remarked that the incision scar would fade over time---and that plastic surgery was bound to conceal it. "I'll be in low-cut dresses before you know it," grinned Erica. Opal's face twisted a bit as she started to work her way to asking Erica about the gashes on her face. Before she could do so, David returned tot he room and ordered her not to say another word. Opal was booted out of the room where she learned of her near faux pas. Janet and Myrtle urged David to tell Erica about the true nature of her injuries, but David became very angry. He warned them that he would block them from visiting Erica if they countermanded his orders. The women filed into Erica's room and listened painfully as Erica talked of her plan to return to modeling upon her release from jail. Adam appeared in the back of the room. From the look on his face, it was obvious that he had not anticipated the severity of Erica's condition. Myrtle, Janet, and Opal left the room. Adam walked up to Erica's bedside and asked her how she was doing. "I survived being married to you twice," said Erica with a grin. "I can survive this." Adam informed Erica that Vanessa had told him about the accident. David entered the room just as Adam was asking Erica why she'd been driving in a blizzard. Erica shook her head and said that she couldn't recall. That brought a smile to the cardiologist's face. Erica looked up and saw David and slowly memories of the events leading up to the accident began to return to her.
Childhood had been anything but normal for the two Lavery brothers. Braden had stuck up for his little brother many times---and Braden had paid the price for it. Ryan had been "too small" to stand up to their father, so Braden stepped in and beared the brunt of many, many beatings. Even though his brother had "buffed up," Braden still remained committed to helping Ryan. Ryan glumly noted the only way Braden could help him was to find the man who had really raped Kit Fisher. Braden shook his head and said that no one would step forward to admit that they'd "had sex" with Kit. If they did, they'd end up where Ryan was---behind bars. Ryan picked up on Braden's usage of the phrase "had sex." Braden clarified that no jury would believe that a drunken Kit had been sexually assaulted. Ryan was proud of the name Braden had made for himself---even if he was only known by one name. Braden looked intensely at Ryan and told him that he could not allow anyone to take away what he'd worked to get. He mentioned that Tad had threatened to run a background check on him. Ryan panicked and said that Tad's background as a private investigator might unearth that he and Braden are brothers. Braden was confident that that would not happen. Braden headed off to work on freeing his brother. Before leaving, he offered a few words of encouragement to Ryan. "Score one for the kid," Braden said with a placid look on his face. Ryan sat down on the cot in his cell, his mind whirring into overdrive. He remembered a statement Derek has made about the "astronomical" improbability that anyone but Ryan had attacked Kit. The seventy-percent DNA match proved that. Ryan fell against the fall and softly repeated Braden's parting words. Ryan leapt to his feet and called for the guard. Derek straggled into the cell area and informed Ryan that the guard had gone to dinner. A sense of urgency evident in his tone, Ryan asked Derek to have Trevor and Jack summoned immediately. "I want to tell the truth about the rape," Ryan stated."
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