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

Chapter Thirty One: Caroline

             "I lied to him Caroline," Steffy cried as she entered the house looking frustrated and confused. I closed the door behind her because I honestly didn't expect to see her here at this time of day.

       "Who did you lie to?" I wondered.

        "Wyatt," Steffy replied as tears began running down her face. "I-I-I'm such a horrible person. I don't deserve him as my husband. I-"

      "Ssssssh  calm down," I told her as I led Steffy over to the couch. She was scaring me because I never seen her like this ever in my life. I sat her down and handed her some tissues to blow her nose and dry her eyes.

        "I'm so sorry that I'm getting so emotional on you Caroline," Steffy apologized as she sniffed, "it's just that...life is complicated."

        "You don't have to apologize for anything Steffy," I told her. "My biggest concern though is how exactly did you lie to Wyatt?" Steffy took in a deep breath as she wiped away her tears with the tissue.

       "I told him that I was going to take a simple late night jog," she explained, "but the truth was I came to see you. I needed someone to talk to."

        Once Steffy told me that, that was when I understood everything. "About Liam I'm assuming?" I asked.

      "Yea," Steffy replied as she nodded her head, "about Liam."

      "Well I'm all ears," I told her even though I was just on my way to bed before Steffy came in unexpectedly, but I made time for her anyway.

      "I almost kissed him during the dinner that we had earlier," Steffy admitted. "I know that I'm married to Wyatt and all but at that moment, I wanted  Liam to kiss me. I wanted  to feel his body press against mine the way it use to." Steffy looked at me. "I don't mean to ask such a question to you but has there ever been a time in your life when you just craved to be with someone apart from Dad?"

      When Steffy asked me that question I froze. Have I ever craved to be with someone apart from Ridge? I did and it hurts because that person that I did crave for was Ridge's son and Steffy's brother: Thomas. He was Douglas's father after all and we had history together but I'm trying to let all that go because I love Ridge.

      "In a way yes," I answered.

      "So you understand where I'm coming from," Steffy said.

      "I do," I told her. "I also understand that you love Liam."

       "Yes," Steffy told me, "that I can't deny. I love Wyatt too."

        "But you love Liam more."

         Steffy sighed and looked down at the floor. "Yes. I do love Liam more."

         "Then tell Liam this Steffy," I replied, "tell him how you feel."

         "I can't Caroline," Steffy said. "He has a nice and beautiful girlfriend now and-"

        "Ever thought the reason that he has this nice and beautiful girlfriend is because he's trying desperately to get over you?" I asked.

       Steffy shrugged. "I don't know." She leaned her head on my shoulder and sighed.

        "You and Liam are meant to be," I told her, "tell him how you feel. Chances are that he may come back to you and you'll be together again."

        "And what about Wyatt?" Steffy asked. "I can't just leave him. He means a lot to me too."

        "If Wyatt met a lot to you Steffy,  you'd let him go," I told her. Just like I had to let Thomas go...

       "B-But m-m-my vows," Steffy stammered, "I made vows to love him Caroline. Vows that I refuse to break."

        "That you did because I was there when you made them," I reminded her. "You can't have both of my cousin's Steffy and you know that. You may have both of their hearts but there is only one who you truly love."

       "Thomas told me something like that a few weeks ago," Steffy said. Did he now? "But I didn't listen and here I am blubbering to you about my complex love life."

      "It's not really complex Steffy. You're the one whose making it that way." Steffy was silent as she sniffed. "Give it some thought and stop stressing yourself out."

       Steffy picked her head from off my shoulder and nodded. "You're right. I should give this some thought. Making myself go crazy won't make this whole situation any better."

      "Exactly," I agreed. Steffy sniffed and gave me a slight smile. She seemed to have been feeling much better than before. "How about this, I make you some Chamomile tea and oatmeal raisin cookies that I made for your dad some time ago. He refused to eat them but maybe you'll like them."

         "I'd like that," Steffy replied and I hope she will like the slightly burnt oatmeal raisin cookies as well. I got up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. "Caroline?" I stopped at the door and turned to Steffy. "It's a shame that you never ended up with Thomas. You two would had made a very nice couple."

        Would we have? I mean Thomas has changed from the play boy pig  to this kind and mature man ever since he returned from Paris. Giving him a second chance was not in my book and it never will be.

        "Yea," I replied, "but your father is just the man that I need. Not Thomas."

       Steffy nodded. "Where is Dad now? I thought I might find him here working on something at this hour, keeping you company."

     "He's asleep," I answered. "He had a long day and wanted to have an early night rest like Douglas. Besides, Stephanie over there was up with me keeping me company."

     Steffy turned around to see a huge portrait of her late grandmother staring like a majestic Queen above our fire place.

        "That's the best company you could ever ask for," Steffy replied.

      "Definitely," I said as I glanced at the regal portrait. "And to think your grandfather wanted to replace that painting with Quinn."

      Steffy rolled her eyes. "Everyone is entitled to do something stupid," she replied. 

       "Yea," I said with a sigh. "But let me put on that tea for you. I'll be back." Steffy nodded as I went into the kitchen. I turned on the kettle as the water boiled.

       "It's a shame that you never ended up with Thomas. You two would have made a very nice couple." replayed over in my head as I waited for the water to boil. 

      Why did Steffy have to say that? Did we really make a nice couple or was she trying to annoy me? I reached into the cookie jar and pulled out old looking oatmeal raisin cookies that stuck to one another. I placed them on a plate and purposely gave Steffy more cookies than I would usually give anyone. The reason for that was because she made that statement about Thomas and I which I didn't really like hearing. 

         The hot water came to a boil and I placed the chamomile tea bag into a cup and poured the water in. I carried the hot tea by the handle and the plate of nasty looking cookies in the other hand and pushed the kitchen door open with my hip.

       "Here you go Steffy, nice and hot-" I paused as I saw that Steffy had company on the couch. Thomas was sitting right with her but stopped what he was saying when he saw me. "T-Thomas I-"

      "Are those cookies for me?" Thomas asked as his hand reached for one of the awful cookies.

       "No!" I yelled and then I covered my mouth when I realized I was yelling. Steffy and Thomas exchanged glances. 

       "Caroline are you okay?" Steffy asked.

       I felt my whole face go warm and I knew that I probably was red face.

      "Yes! I mean no. I mean yes...I mean-" I was unsure of what to say. Thomas looked at me as though I was a strange creature. I didn't want him to look at me that way. "Excuse me."

        I quickly went into the kitchen to collect my thoughts. I felt like a nervous wreck and I didn't know why. Was it because of Thomas? It couldn't be...could it?