Chapter 8

Stefan watched the flames dance. He took the papers in his hand, and
shook his head. It was hard to believe he had gathered information on
Luke Spencer just to know what kind of man she was marrying. What
kind of man she had fallen for. How pathetic. He didn't need this anymore, he thought bitterly, as he threw the papers in the fire. He unfolded the newspaper clipping. An announcement of their wedding. It was in a week. She looked happy with him. He placed the clipping into the fire.

Taking a deep breath, he looked at the clock. It was 3PM. He needed a distraction, but he didn't want to bother Alexis anymore. He looked through his address book. It didn't have many entries, and he was about to give up when he came to the Ts. Susan. He smiled. She had moved to New York and given him her phone number he now recalled. It had been years since they had seen each other, but he had nothing to lose. He'd give her a call.

"Hello?" a feminine voice answered.

"Susan Thompson, please," Stefan said.

"This is she."

"Susan, this is Stefan Cassadine."

"Stefan! My God, how long has it been?"

"Close to five years," he responded, relieved that she had remembered him. "I'm in New York City and was wondering if you'd care to join me for dinner tonight. I know it's very late notice-"

"It so happens I'm free and I would love to have dinner with you," Susan said warmly. "We have a lot of catching up to do, and I'd love to see how my favorite student has been doing these past years."

"Excellent, is your address the same?" he asked.

She laughed. "Goodness, no. Let me give you my new one."

As he jotted down the information, Stefan smiled. He would forget about Laura Baldwin yet.

*****
Dinner with Susan quickly led to other things. She was as beautiful as he remembered, though now in her early thirties. She was also intelligent, articulate, and most importantly, unattached. She was not a child, she was a woman. The kind of woman that could help him move on.

Stefan was no longer that awkward, sexually inexperienced teenager, Susan soon found out. He still had a lot to learn, but she would teach him. She sensed he was hiding something, but she didn't pry. She had secrets of her own.

Neither was looking for a serious relationship, but it would be nice to have someone to share fun times with, someone who wouldn't ask any personal questions. Yes, this was exactly what they needed, they both decided.

*****
Laura felt the light from the sun coming in from the window. It was her wedding day. She smiled and got up. She turned on the hot water and relaxed. Everyone had worked so hard to make this a perfect day. It had almost not happened, but she had managed to soothe Luke's ego after their encounter with...

No, she couldn't think of him. She had promised Luke. It was her wedding day and she was marrying the man she loved. That was all she needed.

The hectic day started soon after she walked out of the shower. Everyone was running around, fixing her hair, putting on her makeup, helping her dress. It was impossible not to get caught up in the excitement of it all. Before she knew it, the minister was asking her, "Do you, Laura Webber Baldwin, take Lucas Lorenzo Spencer to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"Yes."