The Bold and the Beautiful: A Tale Of Demons And Undying Love.

Chapter Seventeen: Ridge

              I was shocked, speechless even, to see Caroline standing there looking at Thomas and I in total bewilderment. Thomas quickly let go of my collar and pretended as though he was fixing it for me. How dumb could this boy that I call son be?

        "Don't tell Caroline what?" Caroline repeated. She sounded more annoyed than when she asked the first time.

       "How beautiful she is," I replied as I walked over to her. 

       "For some reason I doubt that was what you two were talking about," Caroline said skeptically.

     "Now why would I lie to you about that Caroline?" I asked feeling a bit nervous. "Ask Thomas."

     Caroline turned to Thomas who I caught staring at her all too fondly.

       "Thomas?" Caroline asked.

        I glared over at Thomas. That boy better defend me and not tell Caroline anything else.

     "Dad's right," Thomas told her and I smiled. It was about time he said something right for once in his life. "We were here having a nice father and son talk, mostly about how much Dad loves you."

       "True," I said nodding my head.

        Caroline blinked like she didn't understand. "So Ridge told you that I was beautiful and he didn't want you to tell me that he told you so?"

     "Yea," Thomas replied, "pretty much."

       "But that's-" Caroline began.

       "That's  all in the past now," I finished as I gently placed my hands on Caroline's shoulders. Thomas looked at me and then at Caroline. I wanted him to stop looking at us with his bug eyes and red lips. "Besides, I think it's time for Douglas's feeding."

     "I'm pretty sure he doesn't need feeding," Caroline told me, returning back to the bubbly woman that I love, "but I'll go check."

      I smiled and Caroline smiled back. She walked up the stairs and I watched her behind swish as she made her way to Douglas's room. I knew for a fact that letting Caroline go would kill me inside. I couldn't imagine how she would feel once I broke the news to her. I looked and saw Thomas also looking upstairs. When he saw me looking at him, he pretended to look at the banister instead. I knew that he was looking at Caroline.

    "That was a very noble thing you did," I told him, "covering up for me in front of Caroline and-"

     "She didn't buy it," Thomas said flatly.

      "I know," I replied, "but as long as she stops questioning us about it  then I see nothing wrong."

     "Do you hear how you sound ?" Thomas asked, eyes watering. I thought I sounded like a decent human being. I didn't know what Thomas's problem was.

      "No I-"

      "You lied to the woman that you love," Thomas said, eyes bulging like a mad goats. "That's twice in one day. Yet you don't even feel ashamed."

       "Stop overreacting Thomas," I said annoyed. "I'm here trying to thank you for covering up for me and you-"

     "Don't expect me to do that again," He said firmly, "because I won't."

       And with that he took up a Victoria Secret bag and left the house. To think he was who I wanted Caroline to be with? I'm starting to have second thoughts about that.

       "I think Douglas want's to see his daddy," came Caroline's voice as she made her way down the steps. "He probably wants to play peek a boo and-" She paused when she saw that it was only me standing near the staircase. "Where's Thomas?"

      "He left," I replied.

       "Again? I could've sworn that he just went out already," Caroline said sounding a bit too disappointed.

      "He had a lot on his mind," I told her. I knew Caroline was one of the few things that was probably on his mind.

      "Oh," Caroline said, "I guess the peek a boo would just have to wait then." Indeed it will have to wait.

     I looked at Caroline. Now that Thomas was gone this was the perfect opportunity to break the news to her. I sighed.

       "Caroline," I said as I took her hands in mine, "there's something that I need to talk to you about."

        Caroline looked up at me and smiled. I knew that smile would turn into a frown as soon as I tell her that I wanted a divorce.

          "Me too," She said happily.

         "You do?" I asked confused.

       "Yea," She replied as she led me to the couch. I wondered what she had to tell me. We both sat down on the couch and I almost wished that I never said anything. "Should I go first or do you want to?"

        "Why don't you go first," I answered as I forced a smile. I'm pretty sure whatever it was that Caroline had to tell me, it couldn't be as bad as what I had to say. I tilted my head to the side and listened closely to what Caroline had to tell me.

      "I received the dress that you ordered for my birthday a few hours ago and I just want to tell you that it's beautiful. I haven't tried it on yet but I already fell in love with it."

       I smiled. I knew that she would love it. "Just don't love it more than me," I joked.

        Caroline laughed and her laugh bought music to my ears. This may be the last time that I would see and hear her laugh for a long time.

       "Never," She told me, "you'll always be number one in my eyes Ridge-actually number two."

      "Whose number one then?" I wondered. I hope it wasn't Thomas.

      "Douglas of course," Caroline replied. That was a fair enough answer. Caroline placed her hand on top of mine. "I can't thank you enough baby. Thomas and Rick would never buy me something as beautiful as you did. This means so much to me."

       Of course Rick and Thomas would never had gotten Caroline such a dress. Rick is too cheap and Thomas is just Thomas. Deep down in Caroline's heart, I knew that she wished Thomas would have bought her such a gown. Caroline continued as she leaned her head on my shoulder.

       "Thank you," She kissed my cheek. I knew this would be one of the last kisses that I would get from her. "I'm hoping that I stay marry to you for as long as I live." Why now was Caroline expressing her feelings about me? This was making things worse for me. Caroline looked up at me. "Now what did my lovely husband have to tell me?"

      After Caroline was practically praising me for being such a good husband to her, I didn't have the heart to tell her that I wanted a divorce. I could always tell her tomorrow.

       "Just that the decorator is coming over tomorrow to turn our place into a ball room," I replied.

      "And...that's it?" Caroline asked as though she knew that I had more to tell her.

      "And,"  I continued, "I decided that if you want your uncle to attend your party, you can." What was I saying?!

     Caroline's face brightened. "Really?" She asked excitedly. I nodded. "Truly?" I nodded. "Wow! Well that's something that I never thought I'd hear you say. Why the change of mind?"

      "Because," I replied, "since it is your birthday party you should have the choice on who you want there. Just because I hate the man I have to remember that he's your uncle and that you...you love him."

      "I wish he could hear this right now," Caroline commented. "He probably would think a little better of you." More like punch me in my nose again. "But why am I just sitting here? I need to call him again and tell him this." I wish she wouldn't. Caroline got up from the couch and headed upstairs. "Love you." I heard her say from upstairs.

      I loved her too. Probably even more than she loved me. I couldn't let her go. Not yet...not ever.