The Melaswen Paradox (Read 297,242 times)

[André DiMera]

Chapter 799

SALEM UNIVERSITY
CHASE: Okay, so the most important thing is to be yourself.
THEO: Well, obviously. I mean, how can I be anyone other than myself? I can’t turn into someone else.
CLAIRE: He means, there’s a reason Kennedy asked you out, so just act the way you usually do around her.
THEO: Okay.
CLAIRE: Also, it sounds like you and Kennedy have similar interests, since you’re taking the same class, so try to talk about those.
CHASE: But also ask what else she’s interested in. It’s possible you two might have more in common than just that.
Theo nodded.
CLAIRE: Another important thing is eye contact. If you’re talking to her or she’s talking to you, try to look at her.
CHASE: You also don’t want to stare, though.
THEO: No, my dad told me staring is rude. Anyway, dating sounds confusing.
CLAIRE: It can be. Look, the most important thing, like we said earlier, is to be your usual self. Kennedy clearly likes you, and the two of you are gonna have a great time at the party.
THEO: Okay. It still sounds very confusing, but thank you.

SALEM UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
DAVID: You do realize that this is a hospital, Trish, and that it’s for sick people? We have some actual work to do here.
TRISH: Well, I should hope so, based on the sign at the front door.
David sighed.
DAVID: What do you want?
TRISH: To catch up. We’ve had so little time to, even though I’ve been back since the end of June.
DAVID: Well, as you can see, now’s not really the best time, seeing as I’m at work.
TRISH: There never seems to be a good time.
DAVID: You had your chance to talk a long time ago. I was more than willing to talk back when we were getting ready for Scott’s wedding, you chose to shut me out.
TRISH: “More than willing”, please David, you were being as stubborn as ever when we saw each other there. Besides, that was not the time or place.
DAVID: Maybe not, but what about before that? All those times that I tried to get us to talk it out, but you wouldn’t have it.
TRISH: That ridiculous counselor? Where did she even get her degree? She didn’t do anything but let us argue and interject every now and then.
DAVID: Look, I’ll admit, I’m not perfect either. There are some things I could have done differently.
TRISH: That’s very big of you.
DAVID: But that doesn’t change the fact that I seemed to be the only one interested in saving our marriage.
TRISH: Things have changed now, David. We’re at a different point in our lives.
DAVID: You’re right, things have changed. I’ve moved on, I’ve found a woman who loves me, and I love her.
TRISH: And yet, here you are, still stuck in Salem.
DAVID: No, not stuck. I’m here because I want to be, surprising as it is. Anyway, if you don’t mind, I’d rather not continue to air our dirty laundry in the lobby of a hospital, so if you could please…
TRISH: Fine, I’ll go. But I’ll be seeing you soon, David. Very soon.
Trish turned and walked out.

[heroicmuse]

For the last time, Trish, David is not into you. Go away!

I hope Theo is able to follow Chase and Claire's advice and that he doesn't feel too pressured on this date.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[mae00]

I hope this date doesn't cause Theo to shut down because it becomes too much for him.


I just can't even with Trish. Not today.....maybe not ever. LOL.

[Kpatch]

Get the message, Trish!

[André DiMera]

Chapter 800

HORTON CENTER
JADE: So, back in middle school, I met him. Stuart Dirk. He prefers to go by his last name. I didn’t really know him all that well, at first. When we got to high school, though, we started hanging out in the same social circles. Dirk had a reputation as a bad boy, and I was building my own reputation as the second coming of Jan Spears. Ironic, isn’t it? I wanted so badly to be her, only to be scared off by the real her, then found out she’s my real mom.
ERIC: It is an extraordinary set of coincidences, yes. So you and Stuart met each other when you were young, but didn’t get to know each other until high school, when you had both acquired reputations as being “bad,” as you say.
JADE: Yep. And I was. You know about the stuff I did to Claire. Joey, too. Dirk wasn’t as bad, but he was still a bully. He’s the one who helped me come up with the idea of the embarrassing video for the Last Blast. I was always faithful to Joey when we were together, but occasionally, I flirted with Dirk. Like, if me and Joey had had a fight, I’d flirt a bit with Dirk to make him jealous. Joey and Dirk were on the basketball team together, and even though they were teammates, they were also rivals. I liked to play on that, at the time. Though, I feel horrible saying that now. Anyway, after Joey and I broke up, I was in a really bad place. Despite how mean I was to him sometimes, I really did love Joey. I think he may be the only person I’ve ever really loved, besides Emmy.
ERIC: Knowing that you did love him, in spite of the poor choices you sometimes made out of anger, you were very upset when you and Joey were no longer in a relationship.
JADE: Exactly. He was the first person I really trusted. The first person I could be myself with. The first person I let do things to me that I wanted, if you know what I mean.
ERIC: I do. The two of you were intimate and you let him get that intimate with you, despite your traumatic childhood experiences. And because of that level of intimacy and trust you felt with him, you took the break up very hard.
JADE: Exactly. I mean, I gave him everything. Well, not literally everything, that was taken from me way before that, but everything that I could. Anyway, to get back at Joey, I did what I always did, flirted with other guys to make him jealous. Only this time, it went too far. Dirk and I never officially dated, and I never felt anything for him than a minor attraction. He wasn’t my type, still isn’t. Anyway, I made bad choices, like I always did when I was upset with Joey. Then, one night, it happened.
Jade sniffled. Eric handed her a tissue.
JADE: Thanks. Sorry, this part’s really hard for me to talk about.
ERIC: It’s all right. You are safe here, Jade. Anything you say, it stays here. Just take a breath or two and remind yourself that you are safe here.
Jade wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.
JADE: So...Dirk and I were hanging out one night. We were at my place. My dad was out, and would be until very late, he worked second shift. Anyway, Dirk had brought over some drinks and offered them to me. I was in a really bad place, so I accepted. I had drank a few other times, but usually not very much. Not that it matters much, I’m a lightweight. I also get kind of emotional when I drink. Well, after a few drinks, I was getting into my emotions and at first, Dirk was comforting me. Then, he gave me a few more drinks and started touching me in ways I didn’t want him to. I tried to tell him to stop, but he didn’t listen. Then he got on top of me and...I guess it was my fault, anyway.
ERIC: No, it wasn’t.
JADE: How do you figure that? I put myself in that position. I knew Dirk had a reputation for being a bad boy and I still hung out with him. I flirted with him.
ERIC: You also told him “no”. You said that you didn’t want him to touch you like that, or to do those things. You didn’t let him do anything. Whether you flirted with him or not, you did not deserve what he did to you. I understand those feelings that you sometimes have, though. I understand those feelings, but they are not right. What happened is not your fault.
JADE: I Still could have made better decisions, though. I knew my judgment got impaired easily, but I drank anyway. Whatever else he forced me to do, he didn’t force me to drink.
ERIC: Jade, why do you feel that just because you made some bad choices that you deserve what happened to you?
Jade shrugged.
JADE: I don’t know. Ever since it happened, I just kind of figured it was what I deserved for all the bad things I’ve done.
ERIC: Nobody deserves to have that happen to them. Nobody, regardless of what they’ve done. As I said, I understand those feelings, but they are not the truth. Those thoughts you have that tell you that you deserved it, they are wrong. It is not your fault, and you did not deserve that.
JADE: At least one good thing came out of it. I got Emmy. Even though I did try to use her to blackmail Joey before she was born. Once she was born, I decided that I would change, or at least try to. She’s the only truly good thing that’s ever happened to me, even if she was part of him.
ERIC: I’ve heard you say that quite a bit, that you think Emmy is the only good thing you’ve done. That’s not true, though, is it?
JADE: It seems like it, sometimes.
ERIC: I’m very sorry to hear that. However, I would like you to do something. In between this session and our next, I’d like you once a day, even if it’s just for a minute or two, to think of something you’ve done, besides giving birth to Emmy, that you think is good.
JADE: I’ll try.
ERIC: Good.
JADE: How much longer do we have?
ERIC: About fifteen minutes.
JADE: Okay. Can I ask something?
ERIC: Of course.
JADE: What do I do when Emmy is old enough and asks about her dad?

[heroicmuse]

Oh man, I had never guessed that Dirk raped Jade.

I'm glad she's having this session. She and Bev from my story need to be in a support group for mothers who got pregnant via rape.

Great chapter André DiMera.

[mae00]

I'm glad she's opening up to Eric about all of this.

[André DiMera]

Chapter 801

HORTON CENTER
JADE: I’m not sure how to tell her, or what to tell her. I mean, when I found out that my dad, my real dad, I mean, not Hal, when I found out what he did to my mom...I didn’t know what to think. Except that I worried. I still do. I’m so worried that Emmy’s gonna turn out like me. She’s gonna be screwed up, just like I was.
ERIC: Do you truly believe that, Jade?
JADE: Well, I don’t see how she won’t be. I mean, I’m pretty screwed up, and I’ll probably end up passing that on to her. I don’t want to, that’s the last thing I want, but it’ll probably happen.
ERIC: We don’t know that. Nobody knows the future.
JADE: Yeah, but the cycle will just continue. Jan was messed up, she got raped which led to me, I was messed up and got raped which led to Emmy.
ERIC: But Emmy has something that you didn’t when you were growing up.
JADE: What?
ERIC: A mother who loves her, who truly loves her. From our previous sessions, Jade, you’ve mentioned that while Hal provided your basic needs, you’ve said that he was not loving towards you, nor was his wife for the two years of your life she was around.
JADE: You’ve got that right. He got his child support payments, which he used for food and clothes, but that was about it. The fact he didn’t do anything and didn’t even believe me when I tried to tell him about his brother touching me told me all I needed to know.
ERIC: Whereas, from what I’ve seen, everything you’ve done from the time she was born has been for Emmy. For her well being, to protect her, to make sure she feels loved. Even going back to school after Christmas, yes it will better you, but in the long run, it will also help her. If you look at the way Emmy has grown up so far, how do you think it’s different from your situation, or what Jan told you was hers?
JADE: Completely. I actually care for Emmy. Like you said, I want to make sure she’s safe and doesn’t feel the way I feel. Which is why I’m so afraid that I’m gonna screw up. And that Dirk’s gonna find out that she’s his. He’s back in town. That’s why I was on the verge of a panic attack when you saw me at the park yesterday. I ran into him on the way.
ERIC: The person who led to you becoming pregnant is back in town and you’re afraid that if he finds out that his actions produced a child, that he will do something to hurt you or Emmy. That is an understandable fear. Have you told anyone else about the situation?
Jade shook her head.
JADE: No. Not even Joey. I’ve wanted to, but there’s never a good time to bring it up.
ERIC: Have you considered informing the authorities?

SALEM P.D.
Billie scanned the paper she was reading, but put it down when she heard a knock at the door.
BILLIE: Come in.
The door opened and in walked Shane. Billie stood up.
BILLIE: Director Donovan.
SHANE: Agent Reed.
Billie and Shane shook hands.
SHANE: Good to see you again, Billie.
BILLIE: You too. What brings you to Salem?
SHANE: A lead. I’ve gotten some reports that might move us a bit closer to finding and apprehending Thomas Banks.

[heroicmuse]

I wonder what leads Shane has.

I'm glad Jade is talking to Eric. I hope she does tell the cops.

Great chapter André DiMera. Will there be previews?

[mae00]

So much time has passed that at this point, the only thing Jade might be able to do is file a restraining order. However, any action on her part will result in Dirk finding out that Emmy is his sooner rather than later. She's stuck between a rock and a hard place for sure.

[André DiMera]

Thanks for reading and commenting, heroicmuse, mae00 and Kpatch!

---

Next week...

Eric has made a suggestion to Jade.
ERIC: Have you considered informing the authorities?

But will she go for it?
JADE: I don’t think there’s much they can really do.

But Dirk isn’t the only thing Jade has to worry about.
JADE: What do you want?

Meanwhile, the rest of Salem gets ready for a Halloween party!
ALANIS: This is gonna be awesome!

All this and more next week on THE MELASWEN PARADOX!

[heroicmuse]

I really hope that Jade tells the authorities anyway.

I can't wait for the Halloween party.

Thanks for the previews André DiMera

[André DiMera]

Chapter 802

HORTON CENTER
JADE: I mean, it’s not exactly something I haven’t thought of, I just don’t know how much the police would be able to do. It happened three years ago. Any evidence, aside from Emmy, is gone. Plus, isn’t there some legal thing about how long you can report a crime before it doesn’t matter to the cops, or something?
ERIC: There is a statute of limitations, which means someone can be charged with a sexual assault crime wthin a certain number of years, yes. In this state, it’s ten years as long as it’s reported within three years.
JADE: Well, there you go. It happened in June of 2016, this is October 2019.
ERIC: There is also the option of putting out a restraining order against him. If you have reason to believe that he would try to harm you or Emmy, which it sounds like you do, then you have reason to ask for a restraining order.
JADE: Wouldn’t that inform him that he has a daughter? Because I don’t want him to know. I don’t want him to have anything to do with Emmy!
ERIC: I know. However, it’s possible that he already knows.
JADE: That’s what Joey said. Back when I was pregnant with her, Joey figured out that Dirk was Emmy’s father. I asked him not to tell, which he didn’t, but he said Dirk would probably put the pieces together, anyway.
ERIC: If he in fact does not know, yes, it would inform him of the fact that he has a daughter. However, if he did try to get near her or you, he would get into very serious trouble for breaking the terms of a restraining order.
JADE: I don’t know. I really don’t know what to do.
ERIC: In the end, it is your decision, I can only make suggestions. I will, however, support you in whatever decision you make.
JADE: Thanks.

SALEM P.D.
BILLIE: What lead?
SHANE: We have reason to believe that Thomas Banks was in this area very recently, maybe he still is.
BILLIE: Really? Well, that’s good news! Do John and Steve know?
SHANE: I’ve sent a call out to them. Hopefully, between the four of us, we’ll be able to apprehend him, if he’s still in the area.
BILLIE: I should hope so. Like I said, this is very good news. I’m just not sure why you left D.C. for something like this.
SHANE: Well, I know I’m the Director now, but I still find it thrilling to capture a wanted man, especially one towards the top of the ISA’s list.
BILLIE: I see. Well, it’s good to have you back, either way. Did Kimberly come with you?
SHANE: No, unfortunately. Kim is back home. She’s not feeling well. I told her I’d only be gone a few days, though I do hate to leave her when she’s feeling ill.
BILLIE: Gotcha. Well, like I said, good to have you back. Plus, I’m sure being in Salem will give you the opportunity to look in on Theresa and catch up with Andrew.
SHANE: Yes, indeed. I’m looking forward to that. Speaking of which, I should give Andrew a call. I’ll let you, John and Steve know when it’s time to capture Thomas Banks.
BILLIE: Sounds good. See you later.
Shane nodded and walked out of the room. Billie tapped her pen lightly on her desk. She put it down and picked up her phone.
BILLIE: We need to talk. How soon can you be over?

[heroicmuse]

I wonder who Billie is calling.

I hope Jade does tell the cops. I'm worried Dirk may try to kidnap Emmy.

Great chapter André DiMera

[mae00]

Who is Billy calling?

I hope Jade doesn't wait too long and something happens to Emmy.