Faith

Chapter 15

© 2003

A few days later, Courtney received her final divorce

papers. Now that she was completely rid of AJ, she and

Jason could concentrate on their wedding plans.

Neither one wanted anything fancy, and they both

wanted to be married as soon as possible. Carly was

already in full planning mode. She had already called

the church to find out when the next available date

was for the wedding. Once she discussed the options

with Jason and Courtney, Carly reserved the church.

They had exactly one months to plan everything. Carly

began to panic, but Courtney managed to remain calm.

“Courtney, the florist needs to know what your final

decision is on the flowers.” Carly pulled out her

notebook, keeping track of any and everything that had

to do with the wedding.

“I think we should go with the yellow and sterling

roses.”

“Okay. I’ll call them later and let them know. Now, we

have to start looking at dresses. Do you want the

bridesmaid’s dress to be yellow or lavender?”

“What do you think?”

“Well, I look good in either color so it really

doesn’t matter to me.” Carly grinned. “Besides, it’s

your wedding.”

“Why don’t we just wait until we go shopping for

dresses?”

“Okay. When is your next day off?”

“Tomorrow. Do you have plans?”

“Not one. I’m going to get going. I have to meet

Michael at school. He has soccer practice.” she

laughed. “Is 9:30 okay for you tomorrow?”

“Sure. Give Michael a kiss for me.”

“I will. Bye Court.” Carly grabbed her jacket and

headed out the door.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Jason stood on the docks watching the ships pull in

and out of port. He had just finished up some business

at the warehouse, and decided to go see Courtney at

Kelly’s. He was so happy, happier than he ever thought

possible. Before her, he would have never thought to

take the time to stop and watch the pure beauty of the

sun setting on the smooth surface of the water. The

only thing that would have made it more perfect would

be if Courtney was there to share it with him. He was

brought from his thoughts when someone spoke.

“Is that really Jason Morgan standing there watching

the sunset?”

Jason turned around, shocked to see who stood before

him. His baby sister Emily had finally returned home,

“Emily…” he smiled as he quickly pulled her in for a

hug. “What are you doing home?”

“I missed my family, so I decided to come home.”

“Have you been to the Quartermaine’s yet?”

“Oh yeah.” she laughed. “I walked in on the Kristina

debate.”

“Typical. I’m so glad you’re home. There’s so much for

me to tell you.”

“Well, come on. Let’s sit and you can tell me

everything.” Emily pulled Jason’s hand and led him

towards the bench nearby. Jason sighed heavily, a

smile playing on his lips. “What’s going on Jase?”

“Well,…you see….I’m…well…”

“Spit it out Jason!”

“I’m engaged.” Emily’s jaw dropped. She never believed

Jason would be the kind of man who wanted to get

married and have a family, but it was a wonderful

surprise. She hugged him tight.

“I’m so happy for you. Who’s the lucky girl? I know

you and Elizabeth broke up a long time ago. You two

didn’t get back together did you?”

Jason shivered, “God no! Her name is Courtney

Matthews.” Emily’s eyes widened.

“Courtney as in AJ’s ex wife?”

“Yeah.” he smiled sheepishly. “Please don’t judge her

before you meet her. AJ did some really bad things to

her. We just kind of always got thrust together and

one thing led to another and we fell in love. You

can’t help who you fall in love with Em.”

“Did you really think I’d judge her like that? You

love her. I can see it in your eyes. Any woman who can

make you feel that way is a saint in my book.” she

laughed. “I’m glad you’ve found someone to love Jason.

I always knew you deserved that kind of happiness.”

“Thanks Emily. It really means a lot to me that you

feel that way.”

“You’re my brother and I love you. So, when do I get

to meet her?”

“I was actually on my way to Kelly’s to see her. You

can come along and I can introduce you. You won’t be

able to miss her. She’s the most beautiful woman in

the world. Courtney has this amazing long blonde hair,

and mesmerizing blue eyes that sparkle when she

smiles.”

Emily grinned, “You’re so whipped.”

Jason laughed, “I am, and I couldn’t be happier.”

“Come on,” Emily stood. “I want to go meet this woman

who’s beaten my brother into submission.” Just as they

started to leave, Jason’s cell phone rang.

“Morgan…..yeah….right now?” he sighed heavily,

“Alright, I’m on my way.” He hung up his phone with a

sad smile. “I have to go.” Emily nodded.

“I figured as much.”

“You can still go to Kelly’s and meet Courtney. I’ll

catch up with you there later, okay.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” he kissed her cheek and headed back to

the warehouse, as Emily headed to Kelly’s.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Courtney sat behind the counter, reading a Bride’s

magazine when she heard the door open. She looked up

and saw a young girl around 20 walk in. She had long

brown hair, brown eyes, and a warm smile. Courtney

smile as she approached the counter.

“Hi, welcome to Kelly’s. What can I get you?” The girl

smiled up at her.

“Are you Courtney?”

Her brow furrowed in confusion, “Yes….”

“It’s nice to meet you Courtney,” she extended her

hand. “I’m Emily, Jason’s sister.” Realization settled

in and Courtney’s smile grew bigger.

“Oh my gosh. It’s nice to finally meet you. Jason has

told me so much about you. When did you get in town?

Jason told me you were going to Stanford.”

“I was, but I missed my family so I decided to come

home.”

Courtney chuckled, “You missed the Quartermaine’s?

With the acception of Jason, Lila, Monica, Ned, and

you they are all pretty messed up.”

“Yeah, Jason told me AJ did some really bad things to

you.”

Courtney looked down at the counter for a moment, “I

know AJ is your brother, and you love him. I don’t

want to say anything against him to you. I just don’t

want you to think bad of me for going from AJ to Jason

so quickly. Jason was there for me when I truly needed

a friend. That’s how it started for us, then as things

got progressively worse between me and AJ, Jason and I

began to grow closer. Jason was my protector and I

began to lean on him more than ever. We feel in love.

Neither of us planned it or wanted it to happen at

least at first. But now, both of us are so incredibly

happy together. We’re getting married next month. I

hope you will be there.” Emily’s eyes welled with

tears as she listened to Courtney. She knew Courtney

was a perfect balance for Jason. They were soul mates.

“Of course I will. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Thank you so much. I’m beginning to see why Jason

loves you so much.” she laughed.

“Same here. Listen, I’m going to run to the restroom.

I’ll be back in a minute.” As soon as Emily walked

away, Elizabeth walked inside. She saw Courtney

flipping through her bride’s magazine once more and

her anger began to boil.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I know you don’t

actually think Jason is going to go through with this

wedding.” Elizabeth hissed as she approached. Courtney

rolled her eyes and sat down her magazine.

“Hello to you too Elizabeth. As always, it’s SO good

to see you.”

Elizabeth snorted, “Don’t patronize me Courtney. You

know good and well that Jason was MINE! You pretended

to be my friend acting all concerned about my feelings

for Jason, then the moment I had my back turned your

pounced on him. You stole the man I love.”

“If I remember correctly, you left HIM. I tried to get

you to give Jason another chance months before

anything ever happened between us. Besides, you always

told me it was completely over with him.”

“So I wanted a break from him. That didn’t mean I

never wanted to be with him again.”

“What makes you think you deserve Jason anyway? You

cheated on him with Zander, then after he decided to

give you another chance you dump him for protecting my

brother.”

“And you’re so perfect? You stand there and preach to

me about what’s right and wrong when you sleep with

your husband’s brother while you are still married.”

“AJ and I were over before anything happened between

me and Jason.”

“Yeah right. You expect me to believe that.”

“I personally don’t care what you believe Elizabeth.

I’ve got Jason and we’re happy. There’s absolutely

nothing you can do about it.”

Elizabeth glared at her, “We’ll see about that.”

“Are you threatening me Elizabeth?”

“Take it any way you want to.” She turned to leave, to

find Emily standing behind her smiling. Elizabeth’s

frown turned into a smile when she saw her best friend

standing there. “Emily! I’m so glad you’re home.” She

pulled her in for a hug, but Emily didn’t return it.

Elizabeth pulled away with a confused expression on

her face, “Is everything okay?”

“I guess I should thank you.”

“For what?”

“For keeping the man I love ‘occupied’ while I was

away.” Emily stared down at her with hate in her eyes.

Elizabeth opened her mouth to speak but Emily stopped

her. “Don’t even try to deny it or explain. You stand

there and yell at Courtney for simply loving my

brother when all you ever did was cheat on him and try

to change him. It’s obvious how much Jason and

Courtney love each other. She loves him the way he is,

despite his faults and the line of work he is in and

she doesn’t try to change him.”

“But you don’t know the whole story Em. She pretended

to be my friend and stole him out from under me.”

“How can she steal something that never belonged to

you? You never had Jason’s heart, but from what I can

tell Courtney does. I’m so happy my brother has found

someone that makes him happy, and I’m very happy that

he’s finally free of you. You’re nothing but a

conniving , whining little twit who pretends to care

about people while she uses them. YOU don’t deserve

Jason. I’d appreciate it if you would leave now and

don’t bother Courtney anymore. Both she and I have

heard enough of your mouth to last a lifetime.”

Courtney couldn’t stop the smile that spread across

her face as she listened to what Emily had to say.

Elizabeth stuck her nose up in the air and left the

restaurant. Emily turned to Courtney with a smile.

“Sorry about her. I thought she was my friend, but I

guess I was wrong.”

“I’m sorry you had to hear about her and Zander like

that. I didn’t know you were standing there.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad I know now. I really

know who my friends are now.”

“Are you going to forgive Zander? I mean I know he

still loves you.”

“I…I really don’t want to talk about him right now. I

want to talk about your wedding plans.” Emily smiled

as Courtney filled her in on her plans so far.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

About an hour later, Jason made it to Kelly’s. He

stood outside and watched two of the most important

women in his life laugh and talk as if they had known

each other for years. He smiled as he walked inside.

Courtney looked up and saw the man of her dreams walk

inside. She launched herself into his arms hugging him

tight.

“Hey baby!” she laughed as she kissed him. “I was just

sitting here filling Emily in on our wedding plans.”

“I see that. It’s nice to see two of my favorite girls

together.”

“Guess who had to come in and ruin it all.” Courtney

rolled her eyes.

“Elizabeth?”

“Yeah, but Emily told her off and she left.”

Jason smirked, “Emily told her off?” He looked over at

her with questioning eyes.

“What? I heard what happened between her and Zander

and I couldn’t stand the way she was talking to

Courtney. She deserved everything I said.”

“You heard about Zander?” he asked softly, knowing how

much that had to have hurt her.

“Yeah, but I’m glad I did.” she smiled up at him.

Jason put his arm around both Courtney and Emily.

“What do you say we head back to the penthouse and

I’ll make dinner for my two favorite girls.”

Emily looked over at Courtney with questioning eyes,

“Jason cooks?”

“He’s actually pretty good. Well, his pasta is

anyway.” she laughed softly.

“Then it’s a date.” All three headed out the door

back to the penthouse for a nice dinner together.