It was 7:00 a.m. Sunday morning and Clint had just gotten out of the shower. “Why in the hell did Lindsay have to show up, anyway?” thought Clint. “It would be so much easier if she had just stayed in San Francisco. I’ve got to call Viki and warn her that Lindsay is here, but there is no way I can call her from the room without alerting Lindsay.”
Clint went over and woke Lindsay. “Hey, Sleepyhead, you’d better wake up. I called room service before I took my shower. They should be here soon,” said Clint, trying to appear relaxed.
“Okay, honey,” said Lindsay, as she got out of bed and put her robe on. Just then there was a knock on the door. “It must be room service,” yelled Clint from the other room where he was dressing. “Would you let them in?”
Clint heard a scream and then a thud. He raced into the room to find Lindsay on the floor unconscious, with Brent standing over her. “I’m sorry, Clint,” said a very confused Brent. “I think that she just fainted. I’m sure that she’s all right. If you don’t mind my asking, who is this lady?”
“It’s Lindsay. My wife, Brent,” said Clint as he put a wet wash cloth on Lindsay’s forehead. “She showed up about 2:00 a.m. I had no idea she was coming and I haven’t had a chance to tell her about you yet.”
Lindsay moaned and opened her eyes. Looking at Clint and Brent, she almost fainted again. “What is going on? Which one of you is Clint?” said Lindsay, who appeared almost frightened.
“Lindsay, I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to warn you,” replied Clint, starting to get a bit concerned about Lindsay’s reaction. “This is my brother, Brent. He is the big family secret. I didn’t even know about him myself until a couple of days ago. Brent is why we are going to Llanview. We are having a family gathering tonight to introduce Brent to the family. I will fill you in on all the details later. I am sorry about the shock of seeing Brent, but I didn’t know he would be stopping by this morning before I had a chance to tell you about him.”
“I’m okay, I guess,” said Lindsay, who still seemed a little shaky as Clint helped her to a chair. “I’m sorry about fainting, but seeing two of you is quite a shock. I’m feeling better now. I think maybe I will go take my shower now — if you promise that when I come back there won’t be any more of you.”
With Lindsay in the bathroom, Clint was able to talk to Brent, and fill him in on Lindsay’s unexpected appearance. “Brent, I have a favor to ask,” said Clint seriously. “Could you drop by Viki’s room and tell her about Lindsay being here? As you probably have guessed, I still have very strong feelings for Viki. I rushed into my marriage to Lindsay because I thought that Viki didn’t love me or want to be my wife. I met Lindsay and she made me feel wanted and needed. She made me feel like a man again. So I married her out of need, not love, and I know now that isn’t enough to make a marriage work. Despite Viki’s and my feelings for each other, I have not been unfaithful to Lindsay, but I have realized that Lindsay and I can’t go on like this. I have to figure out some way to end this marriage, hopefully without hurting Lindsay too much.”
“I’ll be glad to go talk to Viki for you. I could see last night how much in love the two of you are. Anyway that I can help you, Clint, I will be glad to. I think I’ll leave so you can talk to your wife alone. I’ll see you later and we can talk then,” said Brent as he shook Clint’s hand and left the room.
~~~~~~~~~~
Asa and Renee were sitting on the couch having pastry and coffee. “These aren’t on your diet, Asa,” said Renee, pointing to the piece of pastry that Asa was preparing to take a bite out of and trying to sound cross.
“I don’t care about any diet. What the hell’s the use of living if you can’t eat what you want, anyway?” said Asa, making it clear that he intended to enjoy eating the pastry, whether he should or not.
“Renee,” Asa continued, “it is okay if we make our little announcement tonight, isn’t it?” I know that I kind of hinted at it yesterday without talking with you first, but I want the family to know about our decision to remarry,” he said, looking at Renee with love in his eyes.
“Oh, darlin’, of course it’s okay,” said Renee as she moved into the circle of his arms and kissed him tenderly. “I think we’d better set a wedding date now so that we can let everyone know when our big day is going to be. I was thinking a month from now would give us enough time to plan something special.”
“I am sure that I can fit that into my schedule. I do love you, Renee, and I want very much for you to be my wife again. You’re not getting much of a bargain with me, but I will try to be a better husband this time,” said Asa tenderly as he held Renee in his arms and kissed her.
~~~~~~~~~~
Brent and Viki had just arrived at the west wing at Llanfair. Viki had called ahead and made arrangements for a cleaning service to come out and make that section of the house inhabitable since it had been closed for quite some time. “I sure appreciate your letting me stay here, Viki,” Brent said earnestly. “I will see about finding myself an apartment as soon as possible so that I can get out of your hair.”
“Nonsense, Brent,” replied Viki. “Please stay as long as you want. I’m rattling around Llanfair by myself now, except when Jessica comes home from college for visits. It will be nice to know that there is someone close by. But, at the same time, we will both have complete privacy. What more can you ask for?”
“If you are sure that it won’t be inconvenient for you, I would love to stay,” said Brent with appreciation as he looked around at the spacious rooms he would have full use of. “What time did Clint say that he and Lindsay would meet us here? I think we should plan ahead of time as to when I should arrive at the lodge so this whole thing will go as smoothly as possible.”
“We have about an hour until they get here, Brent,” said Viki with a deep sigh. As she looked at Brent. All Viki could do was think of Clint. “It hurts so much to see him with Lindsay. At least I know now that he loves me and not her, but I’m not sure whether that makes things easier or harder. I can’t do this to myself. I have to trust that Clint will be able to figure a way to end his marriage. Then maybe we will be able to find our way back to each other.”
Brent saw the tears in Viki’s eyes and guessed what she was thinking. Brent went and put his arm around Viki’s shoulder. Viki stepped into Brent’s arms, put her head on his chest and started to sob. Brent held Viki as he would a hurt child and lets her cry herself out as he held her and rocked her back and forth. After about 5 minutes, Viki began to get control of herself.
“I’m so sorry, Brent,” said Viki, very embarrassed. “I didn’t mean to take this all out on you. It is just so hard for me to think and talk about Clint when I am looking at you. Clint and I had a long talk this weekend and he told me that he still loves me and wants to be with me in spite of everything I have done to him. He says that he is going to divorce Lindsay, and that he wants to marry me again. Oh, Brent, I love Clint so much and I want to be his wife again more that anything else in this world. Seeing him now with Lindsay feels like someone is putting a knife through my heart.”
“Viki, I know that we have only known each other for a short time, but I care about you very much as a friend,” said a very concerned Brent. “What I feel for and about Clint I can’t even describe. There is already a bond between us that is almost unbelievable and I think that there is more to it than the fact that we look alike. I will do anything I can to help you and Clint. Just the little while that I have seen Lindsay and Clint together, I can tell that, although she seems like a nice enough person, she and Clint do not belong together.”
~~~~~~~~~~
Clint was drinking a beer and talking to Cord on the front porch of Asa’s lodge. Clint looked over at the table where Kevin, Joey, Jessica and Viki were talking, joking and laughing as they ate their dinner. “Cord, can I use your camera? I want to take a picture of the kids to take back to California with me. Why don’t you stand behind Viki and I’ll get you in the picture, too?” said Clint, trying to sound as casual as possible.
Clint had eaten very little. He was just too nervous, not only about introducing Brent to the family, but also because Lindsay was there. “Having Lindsay, Nora and Viki in the same place for very long could end up being trouble. At least Lindsay won’t be here until later,” thought Clint. Lindsay had volunteered to keep Brent company until everything was set to introduce Brent. They are at a small cabin by the lake at the edge of Asa’s property, waiting for Clint’s call.
Asa and Renee were watching the family as everyone was finishing up their dessert — apple pie a la mode. “This family get-together was a great idea. I hate to admit it only because it was Clint’s idea and not mine. We should do this much more often, don’t you think?” asked Asa. “I’m glad that Bo talked Larry into coming. He spends way too much time at that hospital. He needs to get out and enjoy himself more. We should start looking for a woman to fix him up with. He’s been alone way too long.”
“Yes, darlin,’ I will start looking for the right gal for him right away,” said Renee, giggling. “Asa, lets make our announcement now, okay?”
“Folks,” yelled Asa, “can I have your attention please? I know that Clint has something he wants to tell us. But I am still the head of this family and so that means that I get to make the most important announcement first. I would like to invite you all to a wedding right here at the lodge a month from today. In case you are wondering who is getting married, why it is me, of course. Renee has decided to give me another chance to be her husband.” Asa put both arms around Renee and kissed her passionately.
A giant cheer was heard as Asa continued kissing Renee. “Way to go, Grandpa!” yelled both Kevin and Joey in unison. The whole family gathered on the porch to offer their congratulations to the happy couple.
Clint and Bo approached Asa and Renee, all four of them grinning from ear to ear. “Well, you two sure surprised us with that one. How did you get her to agree to take you on again, Pa, anyway?” said Bo, as he gave his father a big hug and kissed Renee.
“I’d like to know the answer to that one, too, Pa,” teased Clint, with an arm around both Asa and Renee.
As the rest of the family offered the happy couple their congratulations, Bo and Clint went into the house to talk privately. “I think that I will call Brent, and tell he and Lindsay to meet us here at the back of the lodge in 10 minutes,” said Clint. “As soon as things calm down, I think that we’d better tell everyone our big news.” “You’re right, Clint,” replied Bo. “Maybe with Asa in this good a mood, it will help cushion the news. We can hope so anyway.”
~~~~~~~~~~
It is just after 8:00 p.m. and everyone has gathered inside the lodge, talking about plans for the upcoming wedding and waiting for Clint to make his announcement. “Well, I guess I better tell you folks why I called this big family meeting,” said Clint in a loud voice, trying to get everyone’s attention. Bo was standing next to Clint to lend his support and quiet everyone down. Asa and Renee had taken seats next to each other on the couch, and the others had stopped talking so they could hear Clint.
Viki came up and stood between Bo and Clint, knowing that she would be called upon to explain her part of the story. Clint asked Viki to tell what happened when Brent came to her office. Viki told the family about Brent’s visit, his resemblance to Clint. Then Clint told them about Brent’s mother’s deathbed confession that Brent was Asa’s son.
Asa jumped up from the couch, shouting, “I don’t know who this charlatan is, but he is not my son!” Asa was very upset. “I have been in New Orleans many times over the years, but I don’t remember any affair with a woman named Julia. This reprobate is after the Buchanan money, and I will not fall for it.”
“Calm down, Pa!” Clint interjected. “Bo had a complete investigation done on him. Brent Hamilton owns Hamilton Shipping which, as you know, has one of the largest shipping fleets in this country. B.E. does business with them all the time. He also owns 49% of Hamilton Publishing, so the last thing that Brent needs is your money. Brent probably has as much, if not more money than you have, Pa — and that is quite a bit.”
“Well, I know he wants something from me, and I am not about to be suckered in by him,” continued Asa, becoming more upset by the minute. Renee looked at Asa, very concerned, and said, “Please, Asa, sit down and listen. Give Clint and Bo some credit. They would not be telling you about this man, unless they were very sure of their facts. Please sit down, calm down and give them a chance to help all of us make sense out of this.” Asa sat down at Renee’s urging and appeared to be calming down somewhat.
While Renee was trying to get Asa to relax, Clint went to the back of the lodge and returned with Brent and Lindsay. As Clint brought Brent into the room, a giant gasp was heard. “I think that you can see why we believe that Brent is my brother and Asa’s son” said Clint, as everyone stared in astonishment.
The room was absolutely silent as the family stared at what appeared to be two Clints. Asa looked at Brent and Clint and blinked in disbelief. Asa’s breathing became irregular and he turned very white. Larry went over to Asa with his medical bag and began to check Asa’s vital signs. “Oh, for heavens sake, Larry, I’m fine,” fumed Asa. “W hat we are seeing here is enough to give anyone a heart attack.” His color began to return and his breathing became more regular.
“I know that, Asa,” replied Larry while listening to Asa’s heart with his stethoscope. “That is why I am making sure that you are okay. You seem to be just a little over- excited, which is to be expected.”
Asa stood up and walked over to where Bo, Viki, Brent, and Clint were standing. Bo and Viki stepped aside, as Asa looks carefully at the two identical men. “Pa,” said Clint with tears in his eyes, “this is your son, Brent.”
Asa’s face showed a tremendous conflict of emotions. He and Brent stared at each other. Brent looked his father in the eye for the first time in his life. Tears started to roll down Brent’s cheeks, and Asa also started to cry. “As impossible as it is for me to believe, you must be my son, Brent. You <.u>must be my son!” said Asa, as he pulled Brent into a rough embrace.
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