Chapter 4
BRADY HOME
Aiden finished coming down the stairs, and stood next to Hope.
AIDEN: Aiden Jennings. And, who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?
Aiden held out his hand. Bo ignored him. Sensing that he would get no handshake, Aiden put his hand back down.
BO: I'm Bo Brady, Hope's husband.
AIDEN: Ah, I see. Well, I hate to tell you this, Bo...may I call you Bo?
BO: No.
AIDEN: Either way, I'm Hope's husband.
BO: Which is impossible.
HOPE: No, it isn't. We got divorced, Brady.
BO: We can't have. I never got any papers, and I certainly didn't sign any.
HOPE: There was a long enough period to where you didn't have to.
BO: And another thing, why would you divorce me?
HOPE: Oh, let's think for a moment, maybe because you abandoned me and Ciara.
BO: Fancy Face, this really isn't what it seems to be. I assumed that I'd be gone a few weeks, a month at most.
HOPE: And somehow, that month turned into three years. Three years where we had no idea where you were. Three years where I had to try to explain to our daughter why her daddy wouldn't be home to tuck her in at night. Three years.
BO: Look, you think I don't know that? You think I don't regret every single second that I had to be away from you two?
HOPE: Look, I can't deal with this right now. We will talk about this, all three of us. But, not tonight. Aiden and I just got married. I think it's best that you go.
DIMERA MANSION
André sat in his Zen Room, meditating. His meditation was disturbed by a knock on the door. He got up and opened it to reveal Harold.
ANDRE: I trust you know how to read. Did you not see the sign on the door?
HAROLD: Of course I did, Mr. DiMera. I must sincerely apologize for disturbing you. However, you did request that I alert you when I am preparing Stefano's evening tea.
André looked down and saw that Harold was carrying a tray with tea on it.
ANDRE: Very good. Set it down. I shall deliver it in person.
HAROLD: As you wish, sir.
Harold set down the tray, bowed, and left the room. André quickly changed into a three piece suit, picked up the tray, examined it, and went into the main room of the mansion, where Stefano sat in his wheelchair.
ANDRE: Here we are, father. Your evening tea.
STEFANO: Tea, tea. Always tea. Whatever happened to having a nice brandy or Merlow in the evening hours, hm?
André shook his head as he put the tray down.
ANDRE: No, I'm sorry, father. But, you know what the doctors said. It's tea until you get your strength back.
STEFANO: Doctors, ha! What do those quacks know, anyway?
ANDRE: Ordinarily, I'd agree. But, in this case, I can see their point. You do seem to be growing weaker. Which, after all, is why you asked me back here. To take care of you, as well as the business.
STEFANO: Yes, yes. You are a good son. Even though for years we thought you were my nephew, I have always wanted a son like you, André.
ANDRE: And I have always looked up to you as a father. You taught me everything I know.
André took Stefano's hand in his and patted it.
STEFANO: Now, where is Chad? I have not seen him here lately.
ANDRE: Oh, I assume he's off with Abigail Deveraux, working on part of the plan. I shouldn't worry about him.
André, who had been preparing Stefano's tea for the last minute, handed Stefano a cup.
ANDRE: There we are. Now, if you'll excuse me, father, I'm off to continue with my meditations.
STEFANO: Yes, quite. I shall have Harold take this when I've finished.
André kissed Stefano on the forehead, went back to the Zen Room, and changed back into his robes. He walked to a part of the room that had a secret door, which he opened revealing Chad, also in robes, lying on the floor.
