If you’re in the mood for soapy drama with a unique flair not seen on the three broadcast networks, Soap Hub Insider has a treat for you.
Introducing our exclusive online daily soap opera for Insider members. Like current soaps on air, Best For Last features daily written episodes focused on the drama surrounding Laurie, Seth, and a host of other players.
Get immersed in stories and characters you’ve never seen before and let them become family, like the players we see every day on Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful.
Continue from Episode 41
“You don’t,” Lauren informed her mother after the party was over and Lauren had changed out of her ballgown into a simple wrap dress that thankfully grew along with Lauren’s belly. “I’m over 18. That means you don’t have any say in whether or not Granddaddy can adopt me. All I have to do is sign the papers, and it’s a fait accompli.”
“Oh, don’t you get smart. If it weren’t for me, you never would have gotten your fancy French education, not to mention all this. You think you’re so much better than me? Look at you, knocked up and with no husband to show for it.”
“Somewhere,” Lauren sighed. “There is a black pot desperately calling out your name.”
The allusion went over Polly’s head. “Junior is supposed to be Jeremiah’s heir. Not you. Junior.”
“Junior has no interest in the business. Did he really think Granddaddy would leave him in charge when he doesn’t know a thing about it?”
“He doesn’t have to be in charge! Hell, you’re welcome to be in charge! Spend your days with your nose buried in floor-plans and your clothes covered in sawdust. But, the money – that money rightfully belongs to Junior. I have no intention of letting you steal it out from under us.”
“This was Granddaddy’s idea. I didn’t know anything about it.”
“Bullshit. Did you tell him how horrible I was? How badly I treated poor little you? Did you poison his mind against me? Against Junior?”
“Granddaddy and I never discussed you. Or Junior. Frankly, it made him too sad.”
“You conniving, little bitch.”
“Okay. Whatever.”
It was not the answer Polly was looking for. She grabbed Lauren by the wrist, twisting it hard enough to hurt. “Is he the father?”
“What?”
“Your precious Granddaddy. Is he the father of your bastard? Is that how you made this all happen?”
“You’re out of your mind!” Lauren yanked her arm out of Polly’s grip, nearly losing her balance in the process. Lauren never knew where her center of gravity would turn up these days.
“Oh, relax.” Polly’s attempt at a casual laugh sounded brittle enough to fell a dead tree. “I was just messing with you. I know the daddy is Garrett Ashley.”
“How do you know that?” While she was certain a number of people had guessed via the process of elimination, Garrett’s legal papers had scared Lauren enough that she never publicly confirmed the fact, lest the Ashleys interpret it as a violation of their gag order and make good on their threat to back out of the Salt Lake City joint development project.
“Oh, sugarplum, everybody knows it! Garrett’s been telling the world all about how you and your granddaddy tried to trap him and his family, and the bloody noses they gave you for your troubles.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Polly’s previously insincere smile widened, and the joy she’d only been faking finally reached her eyes. “You really don’t, do you?”
Continue to Episode 43
About the Author
Alina Adams wrote the “As the World Turns” tie-ins, “Oakdale Confidential” and “The Man From Oakdale,” and co-wrote “Guiding Light’s” “Jonathan’s Story.” She was the Creative Content Producer for “Another World Today,” and worked on the 2013 relaunches of “All My Children” and “One Life To Live.” Her books include romance novels, figure skating murder mysteries, and the historical family saga, “The Nesting Dolls,” from HarperCollins. Read more at: AlinaAdams.com
