Scenes From a Soap Opera

The Mustache Comes Home

It was a big day for Victor Newman; after three weeks in the hospital, he was finally coming home. Nikki was relieved that her husband on was the mend. For Victor however, he wasn't on the mend, he was far from it. The ability to speak hadn't returned to the mustache and he was growing more and more agitated by the day.

"Welcome home darling." Nikki said in an over-enthusiastic voice. Victor was being pushed in a wheelchair into the home by a nice male nurse named Greg. To an outsider it looked like the mustache was pouting. "Thank you so much Greg. We really appreciate it."

"Of course, Mrs. Newman." Greg responded. "If you don't need anything else, I'm going to go upstairs and make sure your bedroom is all set for Mr. Newman."

"That would be lovely, thank you Greg." The nurse smiled before leaving the room. Nikki turned to face her still pouting husband. She threw a grin on. "I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am to have you home. These past three weeks have been absolute torture." She grabbed his hands and gave them a squeeze.

Victor dropped her hands and reached for the whiteboard Abby gave him. Since he couldn't speak, but could still write Abby thought a whiteboard would be a useful gift. Nikki watched as he wrote out a thought. I'm happy to be home. She smiled at the thought; that smile fell off as she read his next thought. Where is Victoria?

Nikki had made the executive decision that no one tell Victor about Victoria while he was in the hospital. She was afraid that finding out about Victoria would cause Victor to have a setback he'd be unable to recover from. Her husband had assumed that his eldest was staying away out of anger and she let him think that. Thankfully before she could answer Nick walked in.

"Hey Dad. Welcome home." Nick greeted his father as he gave his mom a hug. He turned to face his dad and saw his note. Remembering his mother's orders, Nick lied to his father. "Victoria who?" Nikki closed her eyes in exasperation as Victor glared at his son.

The mustache wasn't stupid; he knew something was wrong with Victoria. He could see the panic in Nikki and Nick's faces anytime, he asked for her. Victor was too tired to fight their assumption that he believed Victoria was staying away out of pettiness in the hospital, but he was home now and he wanted the truth. Determined, he grabbed the marker and hit the whiteboard with it daring his wife and son to answer the question.

Mother and son shared a look before Nikki gave out a deep, frustrated sigh. Clearly Victor wasn't going to swallow her lies any longer; really, she was lucky that he accepted them as long as he did.

"Victor darling, I want you to know that I only kept this from you because I was afraid you'd have a setback." She took a deep breath before continuing. "Victoria confessed to murdering Ashland. She's worked out a deal with Christine and is currently at Fairview."

Victor's eyes bugged out. This was not what he wanted. Billy was supposed to be in prison for this, Victoria was supposed to be free. A question popped in his head and he wrote it on his handy whiteboard. What deal did she make?

"Christine recognized that Victoria snapped in the moment and refused to send her to prison. The only good thing she's done. Our daughter is getting the help she needs at Fairview. And after the past few years, you can't deny that it will do her some good." Nikki answered.

Victor nodded, knowing that the situation was out of his hands. He could tell though that Nikki was holding something back. After over forty years, he could read her like a book. What else aren't you telling me?

"I don't know what you're talking about Victor. I'm not keeping anything from you." Victor noticed how she wouldn't look at him.

You're lying. I know you. Tell me now.

Nick looked back and forth between his parents like he was watching a tennis match. He knew his father would win, he always won, but he also knew that the meltdown would bad. Feeling bad for his mom, Nick decided to bite the bullet and tell his dad. "Victoria secretly recorded you confessing to framing Billy and gave the tape to Christine."

Nikki stared at her husband; eyes wide in horror. Victor was wearing an unreadable facial expression. His wife and son weren't sure if that was a good or bad thing. Nick regretted the words the second they came out, but the truth needed to be told.

Victor stared blankly; he didn't know what to think. His daughter had betrayed him for her waste of space, pathetic ex-husband. After everything he did for her, this is how she repaid him; he couldn't believe the audacity of that girl.

Get Greg. I want to go upstairs. Nick ran to get him for his father. Both he and his mother knew Victor was pissed. The fact that he couldn't speak only made it worse. Nikki started to walk over to her husband but stopped when she saw the look on his face.

Nick quickly returned with Greg. The wonderful nurse grabbed Victor's wheelchair and started pushing it towards the stairs. The mustache could walk, but still didn't have much strength in his legs so it was best that he had help going up stairs. After he left Nikki turned to stare at her son. Neither knew what to do or how angry Victor truly was.