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<blockquote data-quote="Karin" data-source="post: 212599" data-attributes="member: 57167">Thank you for the feedback! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />[USER=72]@Pammy P[/USER] I am glad you think I write Katherine well. I love the character and wasn&#039;t sure if I really wanted her to be behind Pam&#039;s kidnapping. But since the ground work for that was laid on the original Dallas with Katherine showing up at the hospital and Bobby intially suspecting that she was behind Pam&#039;s disappearance I thought it made sense to go down that road. Besides since Katherine&#039;s already dead on Dallas TNT I figured it wouldn&#039;t matter all that much if I made her the scapegoat in my story. It did redeem Pam&#039;s character which is more important for this story. [USER=130]@stevew[/USER] yeah Pam is calm for now but there&#039;s definitely a storm brewing!<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink&nbsp; &nbsp; ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />I love that quote from Gone With The Wind (1939) that you threw in. It&#039;s my favorite movie. I agree that Bobby on Dallas TNT wasn&#039;t quite the same as on original Dallas. He had grown so angry and bitter. But then again Dallas TNT is still Dallas but it has a darker tone than the original show which was more humerous. Yeah Katherine was crazy. If she wasn&#039;t she wouldn&#039;t have tried to kill Bobby. But at the same time she was entitled to her father&#039;s money just like Josephine now is entitled to what should have been her inheritance but that went to Cliff instead. So I think you could understand where she was coming from. *&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Going through old photo albums later that night, the reality of the situation hit Afton like a ton of bricks. Cliff was really gone and it hurt. She and Cliff had shared a complicated relationship and yet she took comfort in knowing that she had done all that she could for Cliff. She had been so young when she’d first met him and at first she hadn’t been all that interested. But then Cliff had weaseled his way into her heart and as hard as she had tried to kick him out of there, she had never really succeeded. She had loved Cliff until the day he had died. But towards the end her love for him had no longer been blind. She had known who he was and what he was capable of. He had done many things in his life that she didn’t approve of. He had been drinking too much, he had been stealing from her, he had gambled with his business and he’d even tried to take his own life once. Thinking about it now Afton was glad that he hadn’t died then, since if he had their daughter never would have existed. She might have had a better life without Cliff as he’d been a lousy boyfriend and an even worse husband. But she wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on their relationship since both she and Cliff did love their daughter, even though he hadn’t really been a good father to her. Seeing Cliff neglect their daughter and then use her for his business schemes had hurt Afton deeply. So yes she knew better than anyone that Cliff Barnes had been no angel. But she also knew that he hadn’t been the monster some people thought he was either. He had simply been a sick man who couldn’t see things straight. Yet Cliff’s vulnerability had always attracted her to him and that’s why she had been able to forgive him for all the bad things he’d done in the end. The tears ran down Afton’s cheeks as she remembered her reconciliation with Cliff.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Afton had been puzzled when she’d been invited to sing at a fundraiser in Abi Dhabi since she hadn’t thought that she knew anyone there. Once she’d finished her performance and was packing up her things backstage she had been shocked when she’d met the woman who had invited her. Because she did know her. It was at that moment Afton had learnt of Pam’s real fate. She wasn’t dead after all. Considering that the woman had been the closest thing she’d ever had to a sister Afton had been happily surprised to learn that. She had been less thrilled when she’d learnt about the real reason why Pam had invited her to Abi Dhabi. To patch things up with Cliff. Afton had been reluctant to see him at first. But when she’d found out that their daughter had left Cliff to rot in a Mexican prison a sense of guilt had made her agree to see him after all. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cliff had been sitting up in an armchair out on the balcony, looking at the view of the bay when she’d come to see him. He had looked older and more frail than she’d ever seen him before but his face had lit up like a Christmas tree when he’d first caught sight of her. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Afton!” He’d beamed at her. “Pam told me you were coming but I didn’t know if I dared to believe her.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well here I am,” Afton said, as she shifted uncomfortably. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Why don’t you have a seat?” Cliff motioned towards the chair across the table. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Alright,” Afton said, as she sat down in the chair. “So you wanted to see me?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Cliff smiled. “You look magnificent and you were sensational last night.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Afton closed her eyes for a moment as she let the meaning of that sink in and a thousand memories from their times together came flooding back to her. At the beginning of their marriage Cliff had still loved to hear her sing. Towards the end he just hadn’t bothered to show up for her performances anymore. So to hear that he’d been there last night was news to her. Opening her eyes she looked at him in surprise, “You were there?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes I wanted to hear you sing one last time,” he said wistfully. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I don’t believe this, you brought me 8000 miles just to hear me sing?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Does that surprise you?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Frankly yes,” Afton said. “I knew you liked my singing but...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Alright so maybe I didn’t bring you here just to hear you sing,” Cliff sighed. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Figured as much, so what do you want?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I want to apologize for the way our marriage ended. I was obsessed with Barnes Global and I let it go out over you and Pamela.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You did,” Afton nodded. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I’m sorry for taking you for granted. I just never thought you’d leave me.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Neither did I, but I had had enough Cliff,” Afton said. “I couldn’t stand being second best any longer and I hated what you did to Pamela. Our daughter worshipped you but you constantly let her down.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I know,” Cliff said hanging his head down in shame. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You know Pamela was crushed when you favored Frank to run Barnes Global for you over her.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I know,” Cliff acknowledged with a sigh, “I was wrong but I let Frank manipulate me. He made me believe that I had adopted him...”Cliff grimaced as he was not proud over how it had turned out. “You know I always wanted a son...” Cliff went silent for a moment as this was painful for him to talk about. Afton nodded since she knew too well what he was thinking of. Then Cliff shook it off and went on with his explanation. “Frank wanted a father and I needed a son. So we pretended for a while. But in the end I let him down too. He killed himself to protect me.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Afton raised an eyebrow, “It wasn’t a suicide?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I don’t know,” Cliff shrugged his shoulders. “I might have said something that...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “He killed himself for you?” &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Cliff said, hanging his head down. “It was either him or Pamela and well Pamela’s blood so I couldn’t let any harm come to her.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “But you still used her to get access to Christopher’s methanol project. I mean what kind of father asks his own daughter to marry her cousin for business?” Afton asked in an accusing voice. She was really furious with him for putting their daughter through that. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I never should have done that,” Cliff sighed. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “That I agree with.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “She blames me for losing her babies, you know?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes is that why she locked you up in jail?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I guess,” Cliff said, shrugging his shoulders. “Not that I can blame her. I never should have given the order to blow up that oil rig. I don’t know what I was thinking. Somebody could have been killed...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Someone was killed Cliff,” Afton said seriously. “Those babies were killed. Our grandbabies. We could have been grandparents Cliff but you took that away from me.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I’m sorry,” Cliff said, as a tear ran down his cheek. Seeing the pain in his eyes Afton could feel her heart ache. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I believe you really are Cliff,” Afton sighed. “But sorry’s not gonna bring those babies back and that’s why you’ve lost our daughter.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; “I know she left me to rot in that Mexican prison,” Cliff said. “It was the most awful place I’ve seen in my life. If it hadn’t been for Pam I would have died in there...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “So you really are dying?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Cliff confirmed. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I’m sorry to hear that,” Afton said. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Are you really?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Afton said. “Just because I’m still bitter about the way our marriage ended it doesn’t mean that I don’t have any feelings left for you at all.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You you still care about me?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Afton said. “If I had known what Pamela was planning to do I would have talked her out of it. I know you hurt her but she still had no right to lock you up in jail...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You don’t approve of what she did?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No,” Afton said. “Does that surprise you?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “A little, but then again you always loved me more than I deserved.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I did,” Afton sighed. “But you didn’t deserve to go to prison Cliff.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Thanks,” Cliff said. “You might not believe this and lord knows I never treated you right. But in my own way I do love you Afton. More than any other woman I’ve ever been with.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “More than Sue Ellen Ewing?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Much more,” Cliff said. “She was just a way for me to get my revenge on JR. You were my wife and you gave me a child. Nobody else did.” &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well I’m glad to hear that, but it’s too late for us to start over Cliff.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I know,” Cliff said sadly. “I’m not asking you to take me back. I’m just asking you to stay on a little bit longer. I don’t have a lot of time left and I’d like to spend what little time I have left together with two of the three most important women in my life.” &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Three?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes, my sister, my wife and my daughter,” Cliff clarified. “I have my sister back and I know my daughter will never forgive me. But I was hoping that you would Afton.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Cliff I...”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Afton please,” he said, reaching across the table for her hand. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Feeling his hand on her own she had to close her eyes again and no matter of how hard she tried to resist him she knew it was no use. He had her right where he wanted her and realizing it she sighed heavily, “Alright, I forgive you Cliff.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; He smiled at her and she could see a spark light in his eyes, as he now had hope, “So you’ll stay?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes for now,” Afton said. “I can’t promise I’ll be here for the end. But for a little while longer at least.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Thank you,” Cliff said and squeezed Afton’s hand tightly and they exchanged a smile. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Afton was brought out of her memories by their daughter’s voice, “Mom are you okay?” Pamela Rebecca asked in a concerned voice as she sat down next to her mom in the sofa.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No,” Afton said, as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Your father and I have been divorced for years so I never expected it to hurt this much.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I know, I didn’t either,” Pamela said, as she gave her mother a hug.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “It’s strange as he’s only been gone for two weeks, but I really miss him,” Afton said.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I miss the way he was before he turned into a baby killing monster,” Pamela said bitterly.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “About that, you do know that your father was very sick when he did that?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yeah you’ve told me that repeatedly since he died,” Pamela nodded.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “He was,” Afton insisted again. “You should have seen him before he died, he was so weak.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Pamela dropped her chin in surprise, “You went to see him?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yeah and I’m glad that I did,” Afton said. “Since at least I got a chance to make things right with him before he died.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Pamela’s eyes widened, as she hadn’t expected her mother to care that much about her father anymore, “You really visited him in jail?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No,” Afton shook her head. “I didn’t know he was in jail, somehow you forgot to mention that detail when you remarried John Ross.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well I didn’t think you’d approve,” Pamela shrugged her shoulders.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I didn’t,” Afton said. “It still makes me angry when I think of how you could just leave him there. Your father had his flaws. I know that better than anyone. But he didn’t deserve to go to jail for it.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “But he killed my babies,” Pamela screamed. “You were there mom, you saw them die inside of me.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes and I know that was painful honey,” Afton said, “But believe me when I say that your father regretted it. He wanted your forgiveness so bad.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “So now you’re siding with him even though he was wrong and I was right?” Pamela asked in an upset tone of voice.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “I didn’t say that, I just want you to realize that what you did was wrong too. Framing your father for a murder he didn’t commit. How could you?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well at first I thought he really had killed JR,” Pamela excused himself. “You know how he always went on and on about how much he hated&nbsp; him. So it wasn’t that hard for me to believe he’d done it. Then when I found out the truth I wanted to release him but there was something inside of me that just couldn’t.”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Well luckily for him, your aunt Pam didn’t have that same problem,” Afton revealed and Pamela Rebecca froze as she realized what that meant. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Pam let him out of jail?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yeah he was staying with her in Abi Dhabi when I saw him,” Afton confirmed.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Why didn’t you tell me that before it was too late?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “You wanted to see him?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Yes,” Pamela cried.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “To do what?” Afton yelled. “To send him back in jail, is that it?”&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “No!” Pamela cried, as she got up from the sofa. “God mom, I can’t believe how you could think so little of me!” Pamela yelled angrily before she turned around and ran upstairs.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Pamela Rebecca wait!” Afton called out after her daughter, hoping that they could talk this through. But Pamela didn’t stop and looking after her as she disappeared upstairs, Afton sighed heavily. Today had already been one of the worst days in her life so the last thing she had wanted was to have a fight with her daughter on top of everything else. To Be Continued...</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Karin, post: 212599, member: 57167"] Thank you for the feedback! :) [USER=72]@Pammy P[/USER] I am glad you think I write Katherine well. I love the character and wasn't sure if I really wanted her to be behind Pam's kidnapping. But since the ground work for that was laid on the original Dallas with Katherine showing up at the hospital and Bobby intially suspecting that she was behind Pam's disappearance I thought it made sense to go down that road. Besides since Katherine's already dead on Dallas TNT I figured it wouldn't matter all that much if I made her the scapegoat in my story. It did redeem Pam's character which is more important for this story. [USER=130]@stevew[/USER] yeah Pam is calm for now but there's definitely a storm brewing!;) I love that quote from [I]Gone With The Wind (1939)[/I] that you threw in. It's my favorite movie. I agree that Bobby on Dallas TNT wasn't quite the same as on original Dallas. He had grown so angry and bitter. But then again Dallas TNT is still Dallas but it has a darker tone than the original show which was more humerous. Yeah Katherine was crazy. If she wasn't she wouldn't have tried to kill Bobby. But at the same time she was entitled to her father's money just like Josephine now is entitled to what should have been her inheritance but that went to Cliff instead. So I think you could understand where she was coming from. * Going through old photo albums later that night, the reality of the situation hit Afton like a ton of bricks. Cliff was really gone and it hurt. She and Cliff had shared a complicated relationship and yet she took comfort in knowing that she had done all that she could for Cliff. She had been so young when she’d first met him and at first she hadn’t been all that interested. But then Cliff had weaseled his way into her heart and as hard as she had tried to kick him out of there, she had never really succeeded. She had loved Cliff until the day he had died. But towards the end her love for him had no longer been blind. She had known who he was and what he was capable of. He had done many things in his life that she didn’t approve of. He had been drinking too much, he had been stealing from her, he had gambled with his business and he’d even tried to take his own life once. Thinking about it now Afton was glad that he hadn’t died then, since if he had their daughter never would have existed. She might have had a better life without Cliff as he’d been a lousy boyfriend and an even worse husband. But she wouldn’t have wanted to miss out on their relationship since both she and Cliff did love their daughter, even though he hadn’t really been a good father to her. Seeing Cliff neglect their daughter and then use her for his business schemes had hurt Afton deeply. So yes she knew better than anyone that Cliff Barnes had been no angel. But she also knew that he hadn’t been the monster some people thought he was either. He had simply been a sick man who couldn’t see things straight. Yet Cliff’s vulnerability had always attracted her to him and that’s why she had been able to forgive him for all the bad things he’d done in the end. The tears ran down Afton’s cheeks as she remembered her reconciliation with Cliff. [I] Afton had been puzzled when she’d been invited to sing at a fundraiser in Abi Dhabi since she hadn’t thought that she knew anyone there. Once she’d finished her performance and was packing up her things backstage she had been shocked when she’d met the woman who had invited her. Because she did know her. It was at that moment Afton had learnt of Pam’s real fate. She wasn’t dead after all. Considering that the woman had been the closest thing she’d ever had to a sister Afton had been happily surprised to learn that. She had been less thrilled when she’d learnt about the real reason why Pam had invited her to Abi Dhabi. To patch things up with Cliff. Afton had been reluctant to see him at first. But when she’d found out that their daughter had left Cliff to rot in a Mexican prison a sense of guilt had made her agree to see him after all. [/I] [I] Cliff had been sitting up in an armchair out on the balcony, looking at the view of the bay when she’d come to see him. He had looked older and more frail than she’d ever seen him before but his face had lit up like a Christmas tree when he’d first caught sight of her. [/I] [I] “Afton!” He’d beamed at her. “Pam told me you were coming but I didn’t know if I dared to believe her.”[/I] [I] “Well here I am,” Afton said, as she shifted uncomfortably. [/I] [I] “Why don’t you have a seat?” Cliff motioned towards the chair across the table. [/I] [I] “Alright,” Afton said, as she sat down in the chair. “So you wanted to see me?”[/I] [I] “Yes,” Cliff smiled. “You look magnificent and you were sensational last night.”[/I] [I] Afton closed her eyes for a moment as she let the meaning of that sink in and a thousand memories from their times together came flooding back to her. At the beginning of their marriage Cliff had still loved to hear her sing. Towards the end he just hadn’t bothered to show up for her performances anymore. So to hear that he’d been there last night was news to her. Opening her eyes she looked at him in surprise, “You were there?”[/I] [I] “Yes I wanted to hear you sing one last time,” he said wistfully. [/I] [I] “I don’t believe this, you brought me 8000 miles just to hear me sing?”[/I] [I] “Does that surprise you?”[/I] [I] “Frankly yes,” Afton said. “I knew you liked my singing but...”[/I] [I] “Alright so maybe I didn’t bring you here just to hear you sing,” Cliff sighed. [/I] [I] “Figured as much, so what do you want?”[/I] [I] “I want to apologize for the way our marriage ended. I was obsessed with Barnes Global and I let it go out over you and Pamela.”[/I] [I] “You did,” Afton nodded. [/I] [I] “I’m sorry for taking you for granted. I just never thought you’d leave me.”[/I] [I] “Neither did I, but I had had enough Cliff,” Afton said. “I couldn’t stand being second best any longer and I hated what you did to Pamela. Our daughter worshipped you but you constantly let her down.”[/I] [I] “I know,” Cliff said hanging his head down in shame. [/I] [I] “You know Pamela was crushed when you favored Frank to run Barnes Global for you over her.”[/I] [I] “I know,” Cliff acknowledged with a sigh, “I was wrong but I let Frank manipulate me. He made me believe that I had adopted him...”Cliff grimaced as he was not proud over how it had turned out. “You know I always wanted a son...” Cliff went silent for a moment as this was painful for him to talk about. Afton nodded since she knew too well what he was thinking of. Then Cliff shook it off and went on with his explanation. “Frank wanted a father and I needed a son. So we pretended for a while. But in the end I let him down too. He killed himself to protect me.” [/I] [I] Afton raised an eyebrow, “It wasn’t a suicide?”[/I] [I] “I don’t know,” Cliff shrugged his shoulders. “I might have said something that...”[/I] [I] “He killed himself for you?” [/I] [I] “Yes,” Cliff said, hanging his head down. “It was either him or Pamela and well Pamela’s blood so I couldn’t let any harm come to her.”[/I] [I] “But you still used her to get access to Christopher’s methanol project. I mean what kind of father asks his own daughter to marry her cousin for business?” Afton asked in an accusing voice. She was really furious with him for putting their daughter through that. [/I] [I] “I never should have done that,” Cliff sighed. [/I] [I] “That I agree with.”[/I] [I] [/I] [I]“She blames me for losing her babies, you know?”[/I] [I] “Yes is that why she locked you up in jail?”[/I] [I] “I guess,” Cliff said, shrugging his shoulders. “Not that I can blame her. I never should have given the order to blow up that oil rig. I don’t know what I was thinking. Somebody could have been killed...”[/I] [I] “Someone was killed Cliff,” Afton said seriously. “Those babies were killed. Our grandbabies. We could have been grandparents Cliff but you took that away from me.”[/I] [I] “I’m sorry,” Cliff said, as a tear ran down his cheek. Seeing the pain in his eyes Afton could feel her heart ache. [/I] [I] “I believe you really are Cliff,” Afton sighed. “But sorry’s not gonna bring those babies back and that’s why you’ve lost our daughter.” “I know she left me to rot in that Mexican prison,” Cliff said. “It was the most awful place I’ve seen in my life. If it hadn’t been for Pam I would have died in there...”[/I] [I] “So you really are dying?”[/I] [I] “Yes,” Cliff confirmed. [/I] [I] “I’m sorry to hear that,” Afton said. [/I] [I] “Are you really?”[/I] [I] “Yes,” Afton said. “Just because I’m still bitter about the way our marriage ended it doesn’t mean that I don’t have any feelings left for you at all.” [/I] [I] “You you still care about me?”[/I] [I] “Yes,” Afton said. “If I had known what Pamela was planning to do I would have talked her out of it. I know you hurt her but she still had no right to lock you up in jail...”[/I] [I] “You don’t approve of what she did?”[/I] [I] “No,” Afton said. “Does that surprise you?”[/I] [I] “A little, but then again you always loved me more than I deserved.”[/I] [I] “I did,” Afton sighed. “But you didn’t deserve to go to prison Cliff.”[/I] [I] “Thanks,” Cliff said. “You might not believe this and lord knows I never treated you right. But in my own way I do love you Afton. More than any other woman I’ve ever been with.”[/I] [I] “More than Sue Ellen Ewing?”[/I] [I] “Much more,” Cliff said. “She was just a way for me to get my revenge on JR. You were my wife and you gave me a child. Nobody else did.” [/I] [I] “Well I’m glad to hear that, but it’s too late for us to start over Cliff.”[/I] [I] “I know,” Cliff said sadly. “I’m not asking you to take me back. I’m just asking you to stay on a little bit longer. I don’t have a lot of time left and I’d like to spend what little time I have left together with two of the three most important women in my life.” [/I] [I] “Three?”[/I] [I] “Yes, my sister, my wife and my daughter,” Cliff clarified. “I have my sister back and I know my daughter will never forgive me. But I was hoping that you would Afton.”[/I] [I] “Cliff I...”[/I] [I] “Afton please,” he said, reaching across the table for her hand. [/I] [I] Feeling his hand on her own she had to close her eyes again and no matter of how hard she tried to resist him she knew it was no use. He had her right where he wanted her and realizing it she sighed heavily, “Alright, I forgive you Cliff.”[/I] [I] He smiled at her and she could see a spark light in his eyes, as he now had hope, “So you’ll stay?”[/I] [I] “Yes for now,” Afton said. “I can’t promise I’ll be here for the end. But for a little while longer at least.”[/I] [I] “Thank you,” Cliff said and squeezed Afton’s hand tightly and they exchanged a smile. [/I] Afton was brought out of her memories by their daughter’s voice, “Mom are you okay?” Pamela Rebecca asked in a concerned voice as she sat down next to her mom in the sofa. “No,” Afton said, as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Your father and I have been divorced for years so I never expected it to hurt this much.” “I know, I didn’t either,” Pamela said, as she gave her mother a hug. “It’s strange as he’s only been gone for two weeks, but I really miss him,” Afton said. “I miss the way he was before he turned into a baby killing monster,” Pamela said bitterly. “About that, you do know that your father was very sick when he did that?” “Yeah you’ve told me that repeatedly since he died,” Pamela nodded. “He was,” Afton insisted again. “You should have seen him before he died, he was so weak.” Pamela dropped her chin in surprise, “You went to see him?” “Yeah and I’m glad that I did,” Afton said. “Since at least I got a chance to make things right with him before he died.” Pamela’s eyes widened, as she hadn’t expected her mother to care that much about her father anymore, “You really visited him in jail?” “No,” Afton shook her head. “I didn’t know he was in jail, somehow you forgot to mention that detail when you remarried John Ross.” “Well I didn’t think you’d approve,” Pamela shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t,” Afton said. “It still makes me angry when I think of how you could just leave him there. Your father had his flaws. I know that better than anyone. But he didn’t deserve to go to jail for it.” “But he killed my babies,” Pamela screamed. “You were there mom, you saw them die inside of me.” “Yes and I know that was painful honey,” Afton said, “But believe me when I say that your father regretted it. He wanted your forgiveness so bad.” “So now you’re siding with him even though he was wrong and I was right?” Pamela asked in an upset tone of voice. “I didn’t say that, I just want you to realize that what you did was wrong too. Framing your father for a murder he didn’t commit. How could you?” “Well at first I thought he really had killed JR,” Pamela excused himself. “You know how he always went on and on about how much he hated him. So it wasn’t that hard for me to believe he’d done it. Then when I found out the truth I wanted to release him but there was something inside of me that just couldn’t.” “Well luckily for him, your aunt Pam didn’t have that same problem,” Afton revealed and Pamela Rebecca froze as she realized what that meant. “Pam let him out of jail?” “Yeah he was staying with her in Abi Dhabi when I saw him,” Afton confirmed. “Why didn’t you tell me that before it was too late?” “You wanted to see him?” “Yes,” Pamela cried. “To do what?” Afton yelled. “To send him back in jail, is that it?” “No!” Pamela cried, as she got up from the sofa. “God mom, I can’t believe how you could think so little of me!” Pamela yelled angrily before she turned around and ran upstairs. “Pamela Rebecca wait!” Afton called out after her daughter, hoping that they could talk this through. But Pamela didn’t stop and looking after her as she disappeared upstairs, Afton sighed heavily. Today had already been one of the worst days in her life so the last thing she had wanted was to have a fight with her daughter on top of everything else. To Be Continued... [/QUOTE]

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