Chapter 28 <br><p> 



"Can't you spare a few minutes for your mom Dr. 
Burgess?" For the second time in the last 12 hours 
Alice arrived unannounced at Ellen's apartment. On 
this occasion Ellen had on her 3/4 length blue winter 
woolen coat and leather boots and was on her way out 
of the apartment when Alice arrived. 
 <br><p> 
Ellen stepped aside and allowed Alice to enter. 
Speaking with a tinge of impatience in her voice, 
Ellen explained, "I really need to go and take care on 
something now. Mother, I love spending time with you 
but really you should call before you come by." 
<br><p> 
"With Matt out of town I didn't think you needed 
advance warning before I dropped by. Obviously I was 
wrong last night," Alice said flashing an unmistakable 
look of disapproval at Ellen. Late the night before 
upon leaving a nearby movie theatre, Alice and Mary 
Scanlon decided to drop by Ellen's apartment and give 
her a surprise visit. Knowing Matt was out of town, 
they thought she could use the company. Needless to 
say they were the ones surprised and stood 
open-mouthed as they met Kevin Collins leaving Ellen's 
apartment just as they arrived. Alice sensed Ellen 
would die right there of shame when Alice offered 
Kevin a facial tissue and said, "You missed some," 
referring to the faint traces of burgundy lipstick 
that were still on his lips and face. Both Kevin and 
Ellen's reaction to her comment told Alice all she 
needed to know, but she came back this morning to hear 
the truth from her daughter's own lips. Alice removed 
her coat and made herself comfortable on the living 
room couch. Taking a deep sigh, Ellen resigned herself 
to the fact that she had to talk to Alice now. She 
removed her coat and sat down on the couch also. 
<br><p> 
Remembering Ellen's impromptu excuse for cutting their 
visit short last night, Alice's voice dripped with 
sarcasm when she inquired, "Are you feeling better 
this morning?" 
<br><p> 
"Somewhat, but I'll feel better if I can leave soon 
and take care of what I need to do Mother. Can't I 
come by your house later today to see you?" 
<br><p> 
"No, we're going to talk now Ellen. What happened last 
night between you and Dr. Collins?" 
<br><p> 
"I told you last night, Mother. We went to Dara's 
apartment for dinner and Kevin brought me home. He was 
here only a few minutes and was leaving just as you 
and Mary Scanlon arrived."  <br><p> 

Refusing to let Ellen dodge the question Alice 
persisted, "You know what I'm asking Ellen. What's 
going on between you and Dr. Collins? Have you 
forgotten you're engaged to be married?" 
<br><p> 
"Mother, one area of conversation we need to stay away 
from is my relationship or assumed relationship with 
men. It caused us to be separated for several years 
and I don't want to go through that again. Just trust 
me, O.K.? For once, just trust me to lead my own 
life." Biting her bottom lip and feeling her face 
flush, Ellen reached for Alice's hand. "I know that it 
did not look good last night and maybe your questions 
are even justified, but I refuse to answer them. At 
least right now I do. Let me take care of things my 
way, O.K.?" 
<br><p> 
Alice's heart constricted as she listened to and 
watched her only daughter. It was obvious that Ellen 
was disturbed about whatever happened last night but 
she was right. She had to let Ellen handle it. Ellen 
was a smart girl and a caring person. Alice had to 
have faith in her that she would do the right thing. 
"Go on. We'll talk later." Ellen hugged and kissed her 
mother on the cheek, and quickly left the apartment. 
<br><p> 

~~~****~~~~ 
<br><p> 
"Come on in Dr. Burgess." The enthusiasm in Victor 
Collins' greeting somewhat surprised Ellen. As Victor 
helped Ellen out of her coat, she asked if Kevin was 
busy. Victor said no and told Ellen to make herself 
comfortable while he went to fetch Kevin. 
<br><p> 
Wrapping her arms around herself, Ellen walked around 
the living room of the lighthouse and stood for a 
moment in front of the fireplace that generated a 
warm, comfortable heat. The crackling sound of the 
fire and even the smell of the burning wood helped to 
relax Ellen. She lost track of time, standing there 
with her eyes closed. She didn't hear Kevin walk down 
the stairs. For a few seconds he just watched her and 
reflected on how beautiful she was. Not wanting to 
startle her he walked towards her and softly said, 
"Ellen." 
<br><p> 
Ellen turned to face Kevin and asked, "Can we talk 
now?" 
<br><p> 
Taking her hand, Kevin led Ellen to two chairs that 
weren't far from the fireplace and they sat down. He 
raised his hand to touch her face but in mid-air 
stopped and instead he placed his hand on his knee. 
"Did you get any sleep last night?" he asked observing 
Ellen's slightly puffy eyes. 
<br><p> 
"Not much," Ellen replied. "Kevin, last night you said 
that you never told me your feelings previously 
because 'it was never the right time'. Kevin, it still 
isn't the right time, at least not for me." Kevin 
started to interrupt Ellen but she halted his speech 
by clasping both of his hands in hers. "No, please let 
me finish. You're not involved with someone but I am. 
And I'm more than involved; I'm engaged to be married. 
I love Matt, Kevin. I really do love him. I know you 
want me to take time and explore these feelings we 
have for each other - see, I'm not denying it. I agree 
that something is there. But I don't want to explore 
them. I have very few rules, I mean moral rules, which 
I live by because the few I have are quite 
comprehensive. One of the main ones is not doing 
something that I wouldn't want done to me. It's kind 
of the reverse of the Golden Rule. I would be furious 
if Matt came to me now and said that he needed time to 
explore his feelings for another woman, and there is 
no way that I could put him through that Kevin. It 
wouldn't be right." 
<br><p> 
Ellen paused to take a deep breath before continuing. 
"You're one of my closest friends, Kevin. Maybe even 
my best friend. I don't want to lose your friendship. 
But last night, for a moment, we crossed a line that 
we shouldn't have crossed. And we can't do it again. 
You have to make a decision, whether you want us to 
continue our friendship. It is very special and 
important to me and I want to maintain it. But that is 
all I can offer and all I want Kevin, a friendship." 
<br><p> 
As much as he wanted to try and change her mind, Kevin 
knew that it would be useless. "I can't say that I'm 
surprised by your decision, Ellen. But I was 
hoping..." Kevin reached for Ellen and they embraced. 
Holding her Kevin knew that it would be hard to 
pretend that Ellen was only a friend to him but he was 
willing to try. Unless he left Port Charles he 
couldn't see not having her in his life and he was 
going to do whatever it would take to maintain a 
relationship with her. He could feel her relaxing her 
arms around him and reluctantly he released her from 
his grip. "I don't want to lose you Ellen. I'm willing 
to try." Kevin tried to be honest in his response and 
Ellen recognized that he didn't say he wanted to be 
just a friend. 
<br><p> 
"O.K." Ellen replied. As she prepared to leave Ellen 
thought of Victor's greeting to her. "Oh, was anything 
going on with your father this morning? He was looking 
at me a little...strangely." 
<br><p> 
A crooked grin appeared on Kevin's face. "It was 
probably due to Mary Scanlon's call to him early this 
morning." 
<br><p> 
"Oh no," Ellen groaned. 
<br><p> 
"Don't worry," Kevin assured her as he opened the 
front door for her. "I'll talk to him Ellen and maybe 
he can help put a stop to the rumour mill before it 
starts." 
<br><p> 
"Thanks." Ellen tip-toed up to kiss Kevin on the 
cheek. "I'll see you later. Bye." 
<br><p> 
"Goodbye Ellen." Kevin stood at the open door in the 
freezing cold and watched Ellen's car until it was no 
longer in sight." 

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