Helping Hands

"What are you doing?! Get back to your table!"

"You can't be fucking serious," Lana replied. "There is no way that I'm letting them say that shit!"

"Mom! Why are they saying those things about Dad?" Lacey questioned with glistening eyes.

The two Stratton sisters stood just outside the ballroom in the lobby, watching in horror as their dad faced a barrage of questions. They recognized TV news reporters from Blackbridge and several local journalists. Lana noticed that her former classmate, Cleo Monroe, didn't join in with a question. Cleo appeared as in shock as most of the ball-goers who had rushed out into the lobby to catch a glimpse. One journalist that Lacey did notice asking questions worked for the Daily Flyer, the Swift family's newspaper, and that made her blood boil.

What the hell is Grandpa Rollie's guy doing talking to Dad like that?! Where the hell is Rammy?

"It's nothing, honey. Sometimes your dad makes enemies. Unfortunately, it comes with the job," Rachel explained.

The elementary school principal had her arms stretched out to block her daughters from passing her, as she would on the school playground. Yet, she also glanced over her shoulder at the bombardment of questions that her husband faced. The redhead winced as she saw Clive snap impatiently at the Channel 4 reporter who asked if he would resign. She also saw two people attempting to push their way toward her husband.

"Cory, get back here! Cormac!" When her nephew's head turned around to look at her, Rachel added, "You too, Finn. Right now!"

Surprisingly, the twenty-three-year-old law student followed her order and rushed over. Rachel might have smiled under different circumstances at how Finn helped make it happen. Still, her nephew didn't look happy to do so and made that clear with his complaint.

"You're supposed to be watching your cousins," Rachel reminded, causing Cormac to throw his arms up and point back at the scrum. She ignored that gesture and turned to face the other young man. "And you should be worried about your mother's event."

"And let Uncle Clive face that?" Finn argued in a soft tone.

"You can't be fucking serious?" Lana repeated. "I'm not going to sit on my ass while Dad is--"

"You will do as I say and not make things worse for your father," Rachel growled. "Cory, take them back."

"But somebody needs to help Uncle Clive!" Cormac protested with Finn nodding.

"And they are," his aunt replied.

Rachel watched as Graham's assistant, Tamsin, took charge. The petite yet fiery brunette practically dragged a slender, leggy blonde into the middle of the scrum with her. While Tamsin began proclaiming that the reporters were on private property and needed to leave, the blonde blinked several times in confusion. Then her face transformed, and she became an instant spokesperson, explaining that District Attorney Stratton had no comment at this time. A befuddled Clive began to argue that he would continue to comment until Tamsin's glare shut him up.

His wife sighed in relief as she saw Harvey running down the hallway toward Clive. Behind him, Graham half-jogged with Dalton bringing up the rear at the speed of a steady walk. As one of her husband's closest friends since freshman year of college, Dalton wasn't acting lazy by taking his time. Instead, he patiently issued orders to his hotel employees on how to handle the matter.

What finally allowed Rachel to help Cormac escort Lana and Lacey back into the ballroom came from the sight of Cormac's mother joining the circus. As the second-oldest Stratton sibling, Blair Trimble had been the one Stratton to vigorously defend her younger brother's decision to join the DA's office out of law school rather than the family firm. Now a law professor, Blair carried herself with a dignified air that came with an unblemished reputation. She immediately began questioning the reporters' facts as she would with her students in the classroom.

"I'm not going back--"

"Your aunt is handling it. Do you want to question her competency?" Rachel challenged.

For all her bravado, Lana knew better than to do that. So with Cormac agreeing that his mother would take care of things, the feisty redhead backed down. And with her favorite aunt in the mix, Lacey proved even less of an issue.

"Finn," Rachel called after noticing that he wasn't walking away with them.

"I'll...I just want to make sure that he's alright, okay?" Finn asked for permission with a pained face.

"But only watch," Rachel stressed, knowing that he would listen.

Still, that led Lana to attempt to negotiate a way to stay longer, but her mother wasn't having it.

Returning to the prison table, Lana looked ready for another fight, but Teresa and Bianca didn't make a peep. Not a Stratton, Cadence appeared more consumed with continuing to sulk over her punishment. Only Izzy seemed to be gleeful over what was happening.

"Now, you girls know this is bullcrap. Your father would never be involved in those activities, nor allow them under his watch," Rachel said to soothe her daughters.

Izzy clucked her tongue.

"You wanna say something, bitch?" Lana growled, leaning in her direction.

"Knock it off, Izzy," Teresa ordered in an even harsher tone.

Her cousin appeared miffed by the order yet said nothing more. Cadence added a hmph to the tension, but nobody paid her any attention.

"As I was saying, this is nothing. It will go away quickly once people realize that it's probably in retaliation for someone's imprison...," Rachel trailed off as Clive's concern from earlier on the trip came back to her. "Dammit! I should've...it's probably the Klackhursts. That big trial is starting this week. While Regina and Winona are prosecuting the case, your dad is still the boss. They might think that if they cause enough trouble, it will delay the trial."

"That sounds possible," Cormac agreed. "They did go after Cillian Thirlby several times when he was DA."

"Oh, if it's them, I'm gonna make them pay," Lana swore. "And starting with Butch. He's already on my shit list for perving on Peyton."

Teresa nodded as she'd witnessed a couple of those moments. She also couldn't help but add, "Butch is the worst. Because of my family's...Or I should say my ancestors' shady past, Butch thought we should screw as I'm from a crooked family. Let's just say that having a guy as your best friend can work wonders."

"I didn't know about that," Lana admitted.

"Why would you?" Teresa sassed back.

"Rachel, um, you don't need, uh, I can handle this. Go check on your husband," Carmella suggested after walking over. She looked uncomfortable addressing the subject, yet also felt a responsibility to take over as she'd jointly created the prison table. Not to mention, Carmella also felt worse now over how her daughters had helped cause a problem for the event with the fight. "And I can find a chaperone to join your nephew."

"I'd appreciate your help, but I don't need it on at least the chaperone part as she's coming over now," Rachel responded.

"Aunt Rachel, I don't need any help," Cormac insisted. "I'm perfectly capable of--Skye Willows?!"

Lana and Lacey would've enjoyed the swift change in their cousin's demeanor if there hadn't been the brouhaha with their dad happening.

"Do you know each other?" Rachel inquired. Knowing her nephew, she worried about a possible fling that didn't end well. Not that he was an asshole, it's just that women seemed to fall in love with him far too easily, and he wasn't a relationship type of guy.

"I know Skye by reputation but have never had the pleasure," Cormac stated. Then, offering his hand, he introduced himself. "Hello, I'm Cormac Trimble."

"I know. Not only by reputation, as we've also been at several of the same parties over the years," Skye revealed. She couldn't help but reveal that nugget as she thought that Lana and Lacey might get a kick out of it.

"We have? Not to be rude, but I doubt that. I'd hardly fail to notice you, no matter how packed those parties might have been."

Carmella made eye contact with Rachel and rolled her eyes. On the other side, Rachel found the exchange amusing and a welcome distraction for a moment.

"Well, you were quite busy going after a few of my friends," Skye replied with a twinkle in her own eye.

"And who might be your friends?" Cormac asked, ignoring Lacey's giggle.

"Hmm, let's see. There's Evelyn Naylor, Chavelle Cox, Selena Lucio, Blush Ashby, and Renee Zirne. I believe you know a few of them quite well," Skye listed with a cheeky grin.

"Good to know that they still speak fondly of me."

"Some." Skye's one-word answer caused even an upset Lana to crack a smile.

"Alrighty, I need to go check...I'd better check on Finn. Thank you, Carmella," Rachel corrected as she didn't want the girls to worry about their father. Still, she offered them a parting warning. "You behave."

Walking away, Rachel never made it back to the lobby. Instead, two figures swooped in on each side and escorted her to a private spot.

The sultry redhead glanced up from where she was washing her hands at the sink. Recognizing a former cheermate turned foe turned friendly acquaintance, Nadia Doig nodded with a greeting. "Hello, Gabby."

Only Gabriela hadn't entered the bathroom by herself, as the ex-cheerleader and former Sugarbee immediately noticed. A sympathetic smile formed on Nadia's face as Rachel entered at the behest of Bridget, who set foot in the bathroom last.

"Hey, Nadia. Yeah, we're gonna need the room," Gabby stated.

"Of course," the ginger replied. After drying off her hands, she gave Rachel a supportive pat on the arm while exiting the bathroom.

Bridget immediately locked the door.

"Gawd, fucking Sugarbees are everywhere! You'd think that Cassie worked as their student manager, too," Gabby griped before asking a question. "What did Carmella want now? I swear if that bitch is trying something tonight of all--"

"That's not why we came in here," Bridget reminded.

"Oh, right," Gabby replied. "So, can you believe that nonsense out there?"

"Rach, how are you doing?" Bridget asked.

"I'm fine. This stuff comes with the job. And it's probably just fabricated lies that the Klackhurts made up. You, of all people, know how that family works better than any of us. It will all pass over," Rachel rambled until the tears morphed into sobs.

Sensing the breakdown coming, Gabriela was there to catch her best friend as she nearly collapsed under the weight of her problems. She held Rachel as the redhead cried out the fears she'd masked in front of her daughters.

"Will this wreck Clive's career? Why did it have to be tonight? Why did it have to ruin Cassie's moment? Finn's moment? He deserves so much better," Rachel questioned as Gabby rubbed her back.

"It's a high-profile event that maximizes the damage to Clive," Bridget replied to Rachel's rhetorical questions. That earned her a glare from Gabby as her BFF cried harder. "Sorry," Bridget mouthed.

"There, there, it will be okay, Rach. I'm here, and I won't leave. I'll stay behind when Jeff and Jared head home. Those people who want to buy or sell a home can just wait until I'm done fixing your life," Gabby said.

"Geez, Gabs, we came in here to console Rach, not scare the shit out of her," Bridget remarked. That earned a laughing snort from their upset friend. "Uh, not to complicate the situation, but it might not be the Klackhursts behind this attack."

"Who is it?" Gabby snarled.

Rachel merely wiped her eyes as she turned to their slightly younger friend for information.

"It's possible that this is more in line with the attacks on Mayor Dunkley," Bridget began.

"The Stinging Truth?" Rachel queried with surprise. She mentally kicked herself for not considering that possibility as well. Clive is also up for re-election this spring, and the deadline for candidates to file is in two days.

"Now, I only learned this at the hospital the other day from Harvey when he informed Graham. It turns out that Fred heard rumors about a possible connection to those attacks."

Gabby snorted.

"No, for all of Fred's faults, he's got a nose for sniffing out rumors," Rachel pointed out.

"That's what Graham eventually admitted as well. A local businessman started a fund to help like-minded businesses. Fred heard it's to buy goodwill for a mayoral campaign," Bridget continued.

"Who is it?" Rachel asked.

"I'm not going to say right now," Bridget responded, smiling sadly. We don't need her rushing out and confronting Orrin Rusk. Knowing that Gabby was about to argue the matter, she added, "Not Harvey, Graham, Fred, or Jeff think that this person can afford to bankroll the smear campaign against Dewey. There is another person or persons behind him."

"Jeff knows about this? Oh, I'm gonna--"

"And Clive doesn't?" Rachel asked, cutting off Gabby.

"Do you think his friends wouldn't tell him? Clive's been in the thick of it since Fred passed on the rumor early on during our stay. I believe they wanted to wait and talk to Dalton before deciding how to proceed," Bridget informed.

Rachel nodded as that sounded precisely like the move her husband would suggest.

"From what I understood at the hospital, Graham reached out through a back channel to Dunkley's campaign. Nobody is taking any chances. Phones could be tapped," Bridget speculated, hinting at the paranoia that comes from growing up with a father who occasionally did the same on a case. "Harvey actually met Fiona in her family's crypt after Cassie's service."

Gabby's whistle echoed around the bathroom.

"This must be serious for a Diamond and a Wynwick to play cloak and dagger," Rachel commented. Unfortunately, that realization only caused more concern.

"And this is why neither of you can mention any of this out in the ballroom. The people behind it might be out there," Bridget stressed.

"Our friends?!" Gabby exclaimed.

"Weren't you the one just bitching about all the Sugarbees out there? Not everyone here is our friend. A number of ball-goers came just to hobnob with wealthy, influential people. They turn out for every New Year's Eve charity ball. Hell, the old dancers are more our friends than some of the others," Bridget pointed out.

"And we're happy that they came," Rachel admitted. "That's more donations for the foundation."

Gabby begrudgingly agreed.

"I know about this since I was at the hospital with Harvey, but Clive spotted....sorry, rather Austin spotted a man outside of the Vandermeers' lakehouse the other night when he left with Clive," Bridget relayed, picking back up the tale. "That's why Clive slipped away after he returned to the cabin to call Harvey. Who then proceeded to play Boy Scout and search the woods."

"That sounds like the old Harv," Gabby couldn't help but say.

"Yes, it does," Bridget remarked sarcastically. "Well, he claims to have found tracks and signs that the person spied on the house from a tree."

"So the Vandermeers are involved?" Rachel questioned.

"No, Harvey thinks they might have been watching him, or it's now possible that Clive was the target. We both wonder if it might have been the same man we noticed in the ER's waiting room. Somebody had to have been in there based on the details in those tabloid articles."

"Jesus. What the fuck is going on around here?" Gabby questioned.

"Nothing less crazy than what's happened in the past," Bridget countered, with Rachel nodding in agreement.

"This is a whole lot to process," Rachel admitted.

"Which is why I'm going to step in and assume your duties for tonight," Bridget revealed.

"What? No! I can handle--"

"You handle taking care of your family," the blonde doctor responded. "I already felt guilty over not helping enough with the planning, so let me do this for you. At least, the first half, okay? After that, I'll gladly step aside if you feel up to it later."

"What duties?" Gabby asked.

"I was going to act as the master of ceremonies."

"Ooh, can I emcee?"

"No!" Rachel and Bridget both exclaimed.

"Geez, you make one...fine, you make several scenes over the years on a microphone, and you aren't considered trustworthy," Gabby grumbled. "Still, it makes sense for Bridget to handle this task. She was Cassie's best friend."

"Are you sure, Bee? I have a whole batch of notes for all that's planned. This might be too much for you to pick up at the last second," Rachel fretted.

"I've seen some of your notes." Bridget shot a quick shake of her head at Gabby. "But I'll need to study them during dinner. And don't worry, I have a few ideas for helpers."

Both older best friends watched as Bridget whipped out her phone and started typing.

"Now, don't worry, Rach, we got your back. And Clive's friends will stomp out this bullshit in no time," Bridget assured while hugging her friend. "I'm going to go try and calm things down out there."

"Hey, who did you text?" Gabby called out as Bridget unlocked the bathroom door.

"My co-host. I told her that she's got five minutes to get her shit together."

"Bridget, what's going on?" Cecilia "CeCe" Bank questioned, wide-eyed.

Actually, the whole table looked at her for an explanation. Besides Cassie's parents, the table of honor included Cassie's brother, Sander and his family, Fred's sister, Sybil and her family, along with Finn and his longest male friend, Barney. Having seen the seating chart, Bridget knew this to be a recent change as Barney had been set to sit with his parents at a table with the O'Haras. She agreed with Rachel's alteration as Finn needed one close friend at his side.

"Is Aunt Rachel okay?" Finn inquired with a worried face.

"She's going to be fine. I also promise to explain what I know later, okay?" Bridget said, more toward Cassie's parents, who nodded. "However, I don't think Rachel should handle the master of ceremonies duties."

"We absolutely understand," CeCe, Cassie's mother, replied, appearing distressed. That broke Bridget's heart and made her want to kick the ass of whoever ruined tonight.

"I can do it," Finn offered.

"I don't think that's a good idea either. Tonight is going to be emotional for you," Bridget responded, earning nods of agreement from most of the table. "I'm going to handle it unless Rachel can take over later. However, I will gladly accept your help for what Rachel already has you scheduled to do."

"We're supposed to help too," Sanna announced. That made her mother, Cherry, try to shush her.

"I know, sweetie. Now, I have a co-host lined up, but I was wondering if you two would like to be my helpers tonight. Would you like that?" Bridget asked Sanna and Serinda.

"Would we?!"

"Yes!"

"Oh, I don't know," Cherry said, causing her daughters to turn and glare at her. Having grown up in Honey Hollow, she worried that her daughters would be poorly influenced by the town whenever they visited from Eldermoss. Clearly, she didn't know about their obsession with Nosy Nectar.

"Yes, I think that could be--" Sander began to agree after an elbow nudge from his wife.

"An awesome idea," Finn interrupted, knowing how serious his uncle could be. "Mom would've loved to know that you helped Aunt Bridget."

"We agree. I think it's a wonderful idea for the girls to spend time with Bridget," Cassie's mother declared. Even her husband, who wasn't as fond of Bridget, agreed.

Hearing Finn bring up his sister's feelings already deflated Sandy's argument before his mother completely shattered it. He looked over at his wife and shrugged, "What's the harm?"

"Yay!" the sisters cheered, ignoring whatever their mom said.

"Are we helping now?' Sanna asked, jumping to her feet.

"Yes, we're already running behind schedule. So we need to get these people to their seats for dinner," Bridget explained as they made their way to the stage.

"What about your co-host?" Serinda questioned once they had climbed onto the stage.

"Oh, she'll be joining us shortly," Bridget replied, walking to the podium.