Second Chances

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Stefan Cassidine and Jonathan Jasper Jacks were having an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. "Young man," Stefan intoned seriously, "I survived a mother who would strike fear in the heart of Attila the Hun. I crushed my classmates at the Academy during annual mathematics and science examinations. I eliminate my business competitors as easily as if I were squashing an insect on the thoroughfare. But you, my friend......" Stefan sighed loudly, but not quite loudly enough to drown out Jon's anguished cries. ".....you have me completely mystified."

Brooke Lynn tugged on Stefan's trouser leg and he stared indulgently down at the toddler. "Don't feel bad, Mr. C." She grimaced at her crying cousin. "Jon doesn't like *anybody* except my Uncle Carter and Aunt Bwenda."

"Really." Stefan's reply was more of a statement than a question. "And how does your Aunt Bwenda deal with his vocal histrionics?"

Brooke looked vacantly at Stefan for a minute but then understanding dawned. "Oh!.....You mean, how does she make him stop crying?" Stefan nodded, holding Jon at arm's length to put distance between his lungs and the bachelor's ears. "You should bounce."

"Bounce?" Stefan crooked an eyebrow at the infant and then down at his female instructor. He began to rise to the balls of his feet and then settle down again. "You mean like this?"

"Stefan Cassidine!" Lois entered the fray, smiling as she walked into the ornate living room. "You don't treat a baby like a tennis ball that you're about to serve!" She took her nephew from Stefan, shifted him to her shoulder, and began the age-old mommy "dance," shifting from foot to foot. "It's a kinda bounce and sway thing -- like this."

Stefan watched her hips, trying to imitate her once and then throwing up his hands in surrender. "I shall leave the "bouncing" to the females of the species. Obviously, when God made man, He neglected to include bouncing aptitude in our repertoire."

As Jon continued to wail, Casey entered the room. "More like, when God made man, SHE didn't include mealtime aptitude in your repertoire." She held up a small bottle and reached out for her son. As soon as she shifted him to the crook of her arm and held the bottle's nipple near his lips, he latched on hungrily and all crying ceased. Casey looked up triumphantly. "See -- I'm afraid that this time, Stefan, you just didn't have what it took to make him happy."

Stefan sighed, but then looked at Lois, Brooke, Robin and Casey in turn. "Well, considering my lovely dinner companions this evening, I must say that the company more than makes up for the earlier *fireworks* provided by Carter's heir."

Brooke looked up at Lois in confusion. "What did he just say, mommy?"

"He said that since all of us are such pretty ladies, he doesn't care that your cousin was screamin' his lungs out and almost busted one of his eardrums." Brooke nodded in understanding, causing Stefan to break into another huge smile as Lois winked at him. "And here I thought that maybe Mr. C. would regret invitin' us and send us home with no dinner."

Stefan gasped theatrically. "Do you really think I would be that cruel, dear lady?" Then he crouched down to Brooke's level. "And besides, what would Mrs. Lansbury do with all of that lovely spaghetti that she prepared for us tonight for dinner?"

Brooke's eyes lit up. "We're havin' pisgetti?"

Stefan nodded. "Your favorite -- with no meatballs." He held out his arms to Brooke. "Will you allow me to escort you to the dining room, fair princess?" Brooke looked cautiously up at her mother, but when Lois nodded, Brooke gave Stefan a big smile and rushed into his arms.

Casey set the empty bottle down on the table next to her and put Jon over her shoulder. "Well, since the only other male in attendance tonight has a full tummy now, I think we might be able to have a quiet dinner!" Stefan extended his other arm to Robin in a courtly fashion, and as he led the way to the dining room, Casey and Lois followed.