tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41776801374705071992024-03-12T21:07:10.796-07:00Through Colour Blind Eyesan Orchid Musical RainbowJuliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-28287077287076439642018-09-02T07:32:00.000-07:002018-09-02T07:32:27.094-07:00Chapter 66d - Part 2 - Gen 2 - TapestryAfter we have watched Forrest run off up the stairs to search the Red County data base. I smile at Tapestry, who is staring at me thoughtfully.<br />
<br />
We are now alone in the living room, and I am half expecting him to start pecking my head over my break up with Parsley. Them being Cousins, he is bound to have something to say.<br />
<br />
"Just spit it out Tap. I know you are dying to say something!" <br />
"You should take a chance on Crimson and tell him!" he surprises me!<br />
"Why?" I frown at him "Just how much of what I said to my Dad did you hear?"<br />
"Probably everything you said about Crimson." he smiles then starts laughing "Trust me you two seriously need your damn heads banging together."<br />
"Why do you say that?"<br />
"Crimson has had a mad crush on you for as long as I can remember." he laughs<br />
"Don't talk shit Tap!!" I snap at him<br />
<br />
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"On my life, I am not talking shit!!" he chuckles quietly "Honey and Storm told me originally, but I have since spoken to him about it. He has never had the guts to grow a pair and tell you." he laughs "Parsley found out about how Crimson felt, years ago. He and Crimson had a right punch up over it, the first time you two were together. You might not have known about that time, but I am sure you know about their second punch up." he frowns at me "Do you remember when Crimson battered Parsley quite badly, just after everyone found out that he had been cheating with Straw behind your back?"<br />
"Yeah, I remember. Crimson beat him up for sleeping with his Sister."<br />
"No!! It had nothing to do with Straw. Crimson beat Parsley up for what he had done to you!!" he laughs "Crimson has always had it pretty bad, where you are concerned!! Trust me I am telling you the truth."<br />
"You can't be!!" I stare at him wide eyed "Why has Parsley never said anything?"<br />
"What, and tip you off to another guy fancying you!! Like anyone would!!" he laughs "He has always felt very threatened by Crimson, especially lately. Crimson has been there in his face, while the four of you have been hanging out together. He might have been there with Wisty, but it was you he was watching, when he thought nobody was looking!! Wisty knows it too, and was always giving Crimson hell over it!! Affair, who is sandwiched between the three of them, just finds it all very amusing."<br />
"I don't get it ... how do I not know?"<br />
"It happens ... just like I did not have a clue about Honey being obsessed with me, until we .... well you know!! he laughs quietly to himself.<br />
"Yeah we do! Vanilla, because you didn't take precautions." we laugh at each other "Why has Crimson never ... said anything?"<br />
"Like you have never said anything about liking him." he raises his eyebrows at me "Mint you have always been so blinkered!! As far as we were concerned, Parsley is all that you could ever see. You have appeared to be constantly moping over my stupid Cousin since you broke up in high school. Who is going to risk making a fool of themselves, and probably ruin a good friendship, by telling you they want to be more than just your friend. Especially when he thinks you are so hung up on someone else, he thinks he doesn't stand a chance!!"<br />
"I ..." I am stunned into silence<br />
"Seriously, you need to tell him and put him out of his misery!!" he laughs "Put yourself out of the misery!! Forrest is right. You two should be together, not with my useless cousins who are only ever going to hurt the both of you!!"<br />
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His phone starts to buzz in his pocket, which makes him start to get irritated.<br />
<br />
"I swear if that is my Dad again!!" he pulls his phone out of his
pocket and frowns at the screen before turning it to me "Who is that?"<br />
"It is your Mom." I smile at him<br />
"Yeah, I bet it is!!" he laugh sarcastically as he makes a dramatic display of switching his phone off.<br />
"Seriously Tap!!" I frown at him "You have just turned your phone off on Lilly!!"<br />
"How often do you get phone calls off my Mother? She never uses her
phone, she hates it. Most of the time she keeps it switched off. That is my Dad trying to be clever, he is using Mom's
phone to get to me, because he knows I am intentionally ignoring his
calls. He forgets I have fallen for that sly trick before!!"<br />
"Why are you ignoring his calls? What if it is important?" I frown at
him "It could be Crystal, she might need you."<br />
"Crystal will phone your Parents, you or Crimson if she can not get hold
of me. If it was important - everyone at home, especially River, would
be after me, not just Dad." he laughs "It's not Crystal, it is just
Dad being an annoyance!! He doesn't know where I am or what I am doing, and I won't
tell him. So he automatically thinks I'm up to something I shouldn't be!!"<br />
"So Crystal knows you are here?" I frown at him "Does she know why?"<br />
"Yeah she knows. She knows all about Sunny's gay lies and double
life." he rolls his eyes "She wanted to come with me to support
Crimson, but I thought it might be a bit too much for her. With the
pregnancy, I don't want her getting too upset trying to comfort him."<br />
"Yeah Forrest feels the same way about Mom and her baby bump." we both laugh<br />
<br />
Tapestry sits grinning at me mischievously.<br />
<br />
"So Mint ... How do you fancy getting
yourself some green hair dye and spending a week out in Rainbow with me and Rocky?"<br />
"What? Why? When?" I frown at him<br />
"Next week. We have three Rocky Storm concerts in Rainbow. You should come with us!!" he smiles at me "You won't have to worry about accommodation or anything,
I'll sort it all."<br />
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"Next week?" I frown at him "What about Ruby's funeral?"<br />
"The funeral is at the beginning of the week, we don't fly out
until the weekend, two days after the wedding." he starts to really
laugh "Crimson could always tag along too, if you want to make your
fake relationship look realistic. You know ... after all the drama you
are whisking him away on a romantic get away!" he smirks "Hopefully by then it will be a real relationship, not a fake one!"<br />
"Ha ha, very funny Tap!!" I laugh at him "Why do I suddenly feel like everyone is playing match maker?! Granite, Dad, now you!"<br />
"Probably because we are!!" he sniggers "In all seriousness, after everything Crimson has been through
lately, he could do with the break!! He is the oldest and everyone is
leaning on him. Both of his parents have faded and left him loads of shit to sort out. He has hardly had a break since Sunny faded, now Ruby has gone and followed him. He has already had all the shit from the Gravel baby bomb and Ruby's ridiculous Will to deal with, which is forcing him to sell the house. Straw is causing trouble all over the place which Crimson is having to deal with, and I dread to think what else might be coming from Ruby. He is worrying himself sick over Saffron and Scarlet, and now on top of that he now has all of Sunny's shit again!!!"<br />
"Yeah he told me about her Will." I
mumble "I agree, Crimson could definitely use the break away from all this shit, but I don't understand. Why you are asking me to go with you?" <br />
"Well seeing as
you get all of my exclusive news and interviews and basically are my
unofficial personal press representative ... which needs to be made official." he grins at me "Me and Rocky think
you should come on tour with us, in a professional capacity. Rocky
Storm needs a Press Agent, and so do me and Crystal ... the job is yours
if you want it."<br />
"Are you joking?" I start to chokes<br />
"No, I'm being deadly serious." he grins at me<br />
"Wow!! I don't know what to say!!" I am seriously speechless<br />
"Say you'll take the job!!" he grins at me "It is your line of work, and this job will open the coded
world up to you, as you will be trailing us around, for things like tours,
concerts and promotional work. Obviously you will be paid a hell of a
lot more than you get from the dead beat paper you work for. I need
someone I can trust, and I can't think of anyone better than you. We
are family and I have known you all my life. I know I can trust you to
have my back!" he smiles at me <br />
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"Won't it be awkward, me being a mixed berry?" I mumble "I am caged in this town!!"<br />
"No!! We can get you a licence to travel freely out in the coded
world. As long as you keep your hair dyed nobody will question you
being pure or not. The only time anyone will know is if you have to
show your identification, but as long as you have your licence with you,
or you are with us, you'll be fine." he grins at me<br />
"It is ridiculous!! We should all be able to get a licence, not just a privileged few!!" I tut<br />
"I know." he rolls his eyes "Me and Rocky are trying to shake
things up, we are trying to force their hand into making changes to
their ridiculous colour code!! We are basically trying to show them up
for the hypocrites that they are!! Ziggy and Creed are on board with us
too, they are both mixed berries."<br />
"Are they really!!" I am shocked "I didn't know that!!"<br />
"Oh you would be surprised." he chuckles "There are a lot more mixed
berries out in the coded world, hiding behind hair dye and coloured
contacts. than you might think!! The more we can let out of their cages
the better!! Which is what I am trying to do for you."<br />
"What about when I move to Berry?"<br />
"That is not a problem. Rocky is in Berry and I spend a lot of time out
there in the recording studio, and I intend to move out there
eventually. Our Colourblind Charity is also being run from Berry, which
we will want you to get involved with too. Part of your PA job will be
the PR for the charity." he smiles at me.<br />
"So you are definitely doing it then ... the charity!!" I grin at him<br />
"Yes!!" he grins at me "We have already registered the charity and got two <i>big</i> sponsors. Grape and Apple." he grins at me "Grumpy has given us a <i>really </i>fat
donation to help kick us off, as well as one of the Grape planes to use for the charity work. Blaze, Ziggy, Creed, me, Rocky and a few
others have all put money into it. We are looking for property to
lease, rent or buy now. We've already bought Winters house in Rainbow,
and I have got my eye on Gravel's house. I want it to be the Sugar Valley Shelter for the colourless." I
frown at him quite nastily. Just the mention of that house turns my stomach. It is where my Brother was shot, which ended his life prematurely. "Seriously Mint, I am not doing it to hurt anyone. Nobody
is going to want to buy that house to live in after everything that
happened there. So we may as well turn it into something that will do
some good!! I'm sure Cinnamon would approve." he smiles at me<br />
"Yeah I think he would!" I smile back at him<br />
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"I thought the
police had seized that house along with everything else of Gravel's."<br />
"It is being released, as it was purchased with inheritance money,
not with Gravel's ill gotten gains. Granite is getting Power of
Attorney papers drawn up, so he can handle anything of Gravel's that is
released. He is going to sell the house to me when it is
released, and split the money between Scarlet and Clay."<br />
"He is selling it to you?" I frown at him<br />
"Yeah, I am buying it for the charity to use. I guess one day in the distant future the charity can pay me back, when it can afford to." he smiles at me <br />
"So will they all be coming to Sugar Valley." he frowns at
me "The homeless and colourless that need use of the shelter?" I frown
at him<br />
"No." he chuckles "We have rented property in
Cherry and Rocky has bought property in Berry, for the charity to use. So the colourless will be spread between the three towns. Our first
priority is setting up the three colour mix towns first, for the
colourless, then we will work out into the coded world from there, for
the homeless. Our main worry starting up is the colourless. We have to
have at least two shelters set up and ready, which they nearly are, before we start to really push the
charity. Once we do all the childrens homes and the police will be given the charities number to phone if they get any abandoned colourless children. The colourless will obviously have to be brought straight to
one of the colour mix towns." he smiles at me. <br />
"What about the homeless?"<br />
"The homeless are not so much of a worry,
we can start picking them up off the streets once we have accommodation
for them, but in the mean time, we are working on "Soup Kitchens" for
them. Basically we will be able to feed and cloth them until we can put
a roof over there heads. We want to keep the homeless and colourless separate. So it is highly unlikely that any of the homeless will be put into the colourless shelters. Once the donations start coming in, we can rent property out in the coded world, and set up homeless shelters. A place for them to be housed temporarily, so they can get back on their feet. We will run that part of it like how Denim runs the house in Rainbow. He takes them in, helps them get themselves straight, then he helps them to get their own place to live." he smiles at me "I will get River to show
you all the plans and paperwork.<br />
"Wow it all sounds awesome, and
really well thought out!!" she grins at me "Do you honestly think
that people will bring their colourless babies to your charity, for
re-homing, rather than abandoning them?"<br />
"We damn well
hope so!!"<br />
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"We are giving them a choice and an opportunity, to do the
better thing for their child - giving them a chance of life. We are even given them the chance to stay with their child and move to a colour mix town where they won't be shunned attacked and ridiculed just because their child is colourless. At the
moment the only option they have is to dump and abandon them to fade."
he smiles at me "Crystal is doing a lot to show the coded world that
there is nothing wrong with colourless people, <i>just</i> by being out
in the public eye with me. She is showing them that the colourless can
live a normal life, have children and be just like the rest of us. Snow
too is going to be a good example of what can happen to an abandoned
child. Just like Rhythm and Rhyme, Rocky's two adopted colourless
boys. The more exposure they get, the more that it will sink in. We
are even toying with the idea of having Crystal as the face for the
charity." he chuckles "Crystal is probably drawing more media interest
than I am at the moment because the wedding dress modelling job that she did
has gone down far better than we could have ever expected. Suddenly
everyone is very curious, mostly because of what she is, rather than who she is."<br />
"Yeah, I have seen the magaizine. She looks amazing in some of those dresses. She could actually be a model, she has the face and figure for it!!"<br />
"I have been banned from seeing the pictures! They gave her one of the dresses, to wear when we get married. Free dress for us, advertising for them. She thinks it will spoil it if I see it, even if I don't know which one she has." we both laugh "She does actually have a constant stream of modelling job offers
coming in now. Which obviously she can't do because she is pregnant."
he chuckles then grins "Which will be one of your first jobs as PA. We
have managed to keep this pregnancy under wraps from the media so far,
with her being on bed rest all the time. However, it is going to come
out eventually and we want it done properly. Us having quads is going
to cause a media storm. I want a press release putting out, as soon as I go out to Rainbow, hopefully
to stop the bedlam a little here. Hopefully the press will follow me into Rainbow, as I'll be the only one of us out in the open. Which will also help to bump up the concert publicity." he grins<br />
"Clever move!" I laugh at him<br />
"Rocky Storm, me, Crystal and the charity will keep you plenty busy. I
suspect a little too busy at times, so you can bring in staff to work
under you if you need too." he raises his eyebrows at me "There is also Shadow too."<br />
"Yeah, I was going to ask about him." I snigger<br />
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"There won't be a lot of work as far as he is concerned. Just new release promotion. We are trying to keep everything around Shadow as low key as possible. Total media silence, to keep his identity a secret, and the longer that lasts the better!!"<br />
"Aren't they badgering you for his identity, what with you having a single in the charts with him?"<br />
"Yeah, we were a little stupid with that. Doing that basically told the world that I know who he is. So the press are constantly on my back, trying to find out his identity!!" he rolls his eyes "We needed to do what Rocky did for me ... basically springboard him out there. I am new hype at the moment, so he was going to be heard!! It was the quickest way, and it worked. His solo single is now flying!! They love him!! he squints at me "Have you worked out who he is yet?"<br />
"Oh I have, and so has my Dad. I'm not sure how many others of us have!!" I grin at him "With the single you two have in the charts at the moment, it is pretty obvious, when I see you two with your heads together all the time. Who he is makes sense of why he is being kept in the Shadows!! Besides, I have also heard him singing to his babies." I snigger "You know his brother is still TOTALLY oblivious which is cracking me right up!!"<br />
"Good and we need to keep it that way. He is a washer woman!! The minute he finds out, the whole world will know!!" we both start laughing<br />
"So who does know his identity?"<br />
"Besides me, Rocky and Grape ... Prelude, Cherry, Crimson, Crystal, My parents, River and Winter." he chuckles "Mace worked it out straight away, so Granite and Mace now know." he frowns at me "You and Forrest will keep it to yourselves won't you!!"<br />
"Of course we will!!" I grin at him "So, I take it you have some big plan as far as Shadow goes!"<br />
"Oh Yes we do! Unfortunately you are not privy to that information ... YET!! Rocky Storm staff only!!" he grins at me "So what do
you think Mint? Are you up for the job?"<br />
"Yes I think I
am!" I grin at him "Becoming a Press Agent is something I NEVER
thought I would be able to do living in this dump!! There are also too
many things about this particular job that I like. The whole music scene, the charity ... helping Prelude to keep you in check and on the straight and narrow ..." this has him howling "I would be an idiot to
turn the opportunity down!"<br />
"Great!! No doubt my Dad will approve of you joining my team of baby sitters!!" he smirks at me
"You will have to come back to mine with me, so that River can go through everything and sort all the paperwork and stuff
out with you ..." he grins <br />
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<br />
"Tapestry, you are a bloody genius!!" Forrest suddenly interrupts our conversation.<br />
<br />
Forrest
is laughing as he comes almost bouncing down the stairs and back into
the living room. My Mom trails behind him laughing quietly to herself.
They both look highly amused. <br />
<br />
"I'll make us all a brew." she laughs as she makes her way into the kitchen<br />
<br />
"What has you two so amused?" I frown at my Dad<br />
"Thanks to Tapestry's quick thinking, we have already found Ruby's family."
he smirks at Tapestry "Your friend Cane Blaze is only Ruby's younger Brother
... can you believe it!!"<br />
"You are joking!!" I laugh<br />
"No. We found both Cane and Abel, on the Red County data
base. They have exactly the same parents as Ruby." he frown "Gabriel
Blaze though, we can't find him."<br />
"Cane is Ruby's Brother ... I am speechless!!" Tapestry starts to laugh "Oh Berry!!"<br />
"After what you have told us about Blaze ... doesn't this
proves Ruby was lying. Didn't you say Blaze colour mixes himself!!"<br />
"Yeah, he does!! He doesn't have a problem with colour mixing or the colourless! I have even heard him talk about moving to
Berry!! He is also backing the Colourblind
Charity. Abel too. Ruby was definitely talking shit when she said they
turned their back on them because of the colour mixing. They
wouldn't!!" Tapestry looks annoyed "Which makes me wander why she was
lying and hiding!!"<br />
"Crimson is going to be gob smacked, when he
finds out that their Uncle is none other than Blaze!!" Forrest laughs
"Hopefully that will help to soften the blow of Ruby's lies and
whatever else she was hiding, a little!!"<br />
"Didn't you tell him?" I frown at my Dad<br />
"No, he has cried himself to sleep. We didn't want to wake him." he smiles at us<br />
"Oh fudge!!" Tapestry laughs "Are you <b>sure</b> that Cane is Ruby's brother?"<br />
"As sure as I can be." he smiles at me "The only thing we can do is ask him."<br />
"Yeah and I guess that is my job ... to ask him!" Tapestry mumbles<br />
"Yes. You know him, plus you have his phone number ... I
presume."<br />
<br />
Both me and my Dad start howling at the expression on his
face.<br />
<br />
"Great!" he mumbles<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
After Forrest has hit Canes phone number, I sit nervously staring at my phone, which is sat on the coffee table on loud speaker. We are listening to it as it start ringing, and wait for the call to be picked up.<br />
<br />
After only a few rings, the phone clicks<br />
<br />
"Hello" Cane snaps quietly into the phone, almost like he is irritated. <br />
"Yow Blaze!!" I laugh nervously <br />
"Yow Storm!!" he laughs back very quietly<br />
"Are you sober and on a level?"<br />
"As a judge mate!!" he chuckles as I hear a door close.<br />
"I am not calling at a bad time am I? Only you didn't sound too happy when you answered the phone."<br />
"No it is Okay! I could probably use a bit of adult conversation right now!!" he chuckles "I'm Sorry Tap, I didn't mean to snap!! I have only just got Pheonix
off to sleep after he has thrown one of his thirty minute, I can barely
keep my eyes open but I'm not sleeping tantrums. I really don't know
why he fights it!!" he tuts "I was putting him in his cot when the
phone started ringing, I didn't want it to wake him up." he laughs
quietly<br />
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<br />
"So have you got Nix for the weekend?"<br />
"No. I have <i>finally </i>got permanent custody of Nix. So I will have to be on my very best behaviour from now on!! No more drink or drugs. I have had to cut all that crap out!"<br />
"That is great!!" I laugh "Rocky told me about the custody battle, but
I did not think that it would be all over and done with already. I am really glad it worked out for you!!"<br />
"Yeah well, the bitch was only out for the money. It never went past
mediation!!" he mumbles "She decided to put a $5 million price tag on
our Son's head. She handed him straight over to me when I said I would
pay her what she wanted!! She was even smiling when she gave him to
me, and walked out with a grin on her face, like giving up her Son was nothing!!" he tuts "He doesn't need a Mother like that in his life!! Heartless money
grabbing bitch!! I swear she set me up for exactly this from the
beginning, and Nix was her golden ticket and just a pawn in her game!! Rocky warned me, he told me she was one of those, but I didn't listen!! Turns out he was right!!" he mumbles "This is where you and Rocky are both very lucky ... you were with your women before the fame hit!! You both know they want you for you!! Whereas I will never know if it is me or my money and fame that they want!!"<br />
"I'm sorry!!" I mumble not quite knowing what to say.<br />
"On the bright side ... it is finally over! I won't have to endure the hell I have been going through, just to get to see my boy, any more!! The bitch is out of my life and I have got my Son. She no longer
has any rights to him whatsoever. She signed all her rights to him away when
she took her cash!!" he laughs<br />
"That's good I guess. At least she can't come back at you when all the money has gone!"<br />
"No she can't, and I doubt that money will last her
very long, the way she likes to spend it!! She was very high maintenance!!" he is laughing loudly
"Soooo Tap, I now have a dirty big hole in my bank account, and I need to rake
it back ... what do I have to do to get you to come and twist my shit
up!! It is about time you stopped sucking Rocky's dick, and came and
sucked mine instead."<br />
"Twisting your shit up and sucking your dick!! Cane, do you know just how wrong that sounded!!" I start to laugh hysterically "Especially when I have
you on loud speaker!"<br />
"Oops!! I hope you have no kids in the room!!"<br />
"Luckily no!"<br />
"Yeah, I guess I could have phrased it better, but it so worked
tho didn't it!!" he starts howling "So are you coming to suck my dick
or what?!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
"You won't catch me sucking anyone's dick,
especially not yours. You are a slut and I don't know what I might
catch!! Half the time you can't even remember where you've been poking
it!!"<br />
"Very true. Although I will from now on, because I will be level headed, and I have sworn off women!! It is men only from now on!! At least I can't knock them up and give them the opportunity to fleece me!!" he starts howling "Anyway, more fool you if
you don't take advantage of the sluts and bitches who throw themselves at you. You
don't know what you are missing."<br />
"Oh I do ... Crystal not dumping me and STD's!!"<br />
"Seriously Tap, we need to do something with you, you are way too squeaky!! he starts howling<br />
"Squeaky doesn't have me catching nasty painful rashes, does it Cane!!" <br />
"Oh I guess Rocky has told you. Yes, I have had a dose of those, more than once!!" he starts laughing<br />
"Yeah, he has mentioned it." I laugh "As for me twisting
your shit up, you know I can't, or Grumpy will be cutting my nuts off!! You being the enemy and all that!!"<br />
"I know, I'm only messing with you Tap. Grumpy is very scary when he gets angry, and it wouldn't just be you he would come after!! The last thing I want to do is start a fruit war!! The big Apple and Grape fight dirty when they bump heads!!" he chuckles "However, I am seriously considering what our teal friend suggested. A change of scenery is probably what I need right now. My Apple feels pretty stale right now!!"<br />
"Good! If you do, swap your manky Apple label for Grape, then I
will be able to twist all of your shit tune up and it won't matter!!"<br />
"Ouch!! Shit tunes?" Really?" he laughs<br />
"You started it ... you are the one who said you wanted your SHIT twisted up."<br />
"Okay, so I guess I did!!" he laughs<br />
"I hope you do jump ship, because I could do a lot with your
stuff. I can take out the hardcore heavy and tame it, twisting it down rather than twisting it up. It is something I used to do for fun before Rocky even found me. I have
actually got quite a few of your songs already twisted. Maybe I should let you listen to them the next
time we get together."<br />
"Sounds good, I can't wait!!
We will have to make it soon!! I am work free for the next six months, I'm
taking time out with Nix, to help him settle in to his new life." he mumbles "I know you are very busy for a
while, with the tour, so you will have to get Prelude to bump heads with Abel. They can get something pencilled
into our diaries, for when you have time to squeeze me in."<br />
"I'll speak to him later and get something sorted!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Rocky has told me
your baby news ... Seriously Tap you kill me!!" he starts really laughing
"People usually have one baby at a time - not FOUR!!" he is now really
laughing "I hope you know, the media are going to have a field day with
that one, along with your wedding!! I have to say you are one jammie git!! Crystal looks <i>seriously</i>
hot modelling those wedding dresses, especially the tight fit ones!! I hope you realise she is now the
latest thing with us guys. Your wedding is going to be a media circus,
because of the both of you."<br />
"Yeah I know!!" I mumble "I think we might have to run away to a deserted island and get married on the sly!! I really don't want the fuss and neither does Crystal."<br />
"I guess you know, the bookies are running bets on which dress she will wear on the big day."<br />
"I didn't until Grumpy told me ... he has even put a bet on." I start laughing "Its bloody stupid!!"<br />
"Its the price of fame mate!! But you can always kick back ... a
deserted island and a maternity dress would really screw the bookies right
up!!" he starts howling<br />
"Don't tempt me!!"<br />
"So how are you feeling about the quads?"<br />
"I am still in shock to be honest!! I think I am going to need more than
six months off work, I can not really leave Crystal to handle four babies and two
toddlers all on her own."<br />
"Two toddlers? I have only ever
seen Vanilla, I didn't realise you had another one." we can hear the
question and confusion in his voice<br />
"Yeah, I thought you knew, we have a
colourless boy too, Snow. We found him abandoned in Sandy Shores, so we
bought him home and adopted him. I don't take him out of Sugar Valley
like Vanilla, he is still a little delicate. He was obviously traumatised and he has a lot of problems,
especially with his sleep and speech."<br />
"He is lucky you found him!!! I seriously don't understand how anyone can just dump their child like they do!!" he mumbles "Well I don't envy what you have coming!! I am struggle
with just one toddler, especially when he starts throwing his tantrums"
he chuckles "So you will definitely have your hands <b>very full</b> when, the
others arrive!!"<br />
"Just a bit." I laugh "Anyway, the reason I'm phoning ... I need to pick your brains."<br />
"This sounds ominous." he laughs<br />
"Your surname Blaze ... is it a common one?"<br />
"Not really. I can't say I've ever met anyone with it, other than my own family of course."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"So you don't know any other Blaze's in Red County other than the ones you are related to?"<br />
"No ... why?"<br />
"I know someone who is trying to track down family with your
surname. His family is red and originate from Red County, and as the
name, colour and place fit you, I just thought I would try you as a long
shot." I mumbles as I stare at Mint nervously. I don't want to ask him directly, even though I think I know that he is going to turn out to be Ruby's Brother!!! "I know about your two Brothers Abel and Gabe. Do you have any more Brothers and Sisters?"<br />
"Yeah, two
older Sisters, Ruby and Rose. They were identical twins, even
though they were born a day apart Ruby on the 10th March and Rose on the
11th. As you know, Me and Abel are non identical twins. Gabe is not actually my Brother. He is my Nephew." he goes quiet for a moment<br />
"You talk about Abel and Gabe a lot, but I've never heard you mentioning your two Sisters."<br />
"No you probably wouldn't!! I avoid talking about them, because they are both a very sore
subject. I have not seen Ruby for over twenty years, and Rose faded." he
mumbles<br />
"Oh .. so did you fall out with Ruby?"<br />
"No, when I was a child she ran away, we think, after she was expelled
from the Strawberry Fields boarding school. They put her on the train
but she never returned home to either Mom or Dad, and we haven't seen or heard from her since."
he tuts "That girl has a lot to answer for!! It is her fault that Mom and Dad split up. It is her fault Rose
faded. It is her fault that Dad lost his faith and turned into a broken
drunk. She is the reason why Me, Gabe and Abel are so wrecked in the head!! Partly
because we have spent the last twenty years looking for the spiteful, selfish bitch!!!" we can hear the anger in his voice.<br />
<br />
I
stare at Mint wide eyed like she is staring at me. I glance at Forrest
who is sniggering behind his hand. There is no mistaking he is talking
about our Ruby. her birthday and the boarding school story fits!! Now
what the hell do I do or say ... I'm way out of my depth here.<br />
<br />
"I am Sorry Tap!! It is just any mention of Ruby riles me and gets me angry. I doubt you want to hear about my wrecked family, or how much of a bitch my sister is!!" he
laughs nervously "So, who is this guy looking for his family?"<br />
"His name is Crimson ... he is looking for his Mother's family." I mumble "Crimson's Mother's maiden name is Ruby Red Blaze ..." I then tell him
her Parent's names, and her date and place of birth. "She was
expelled from the Strawberry Fields boarding school for smoking inside
school, which burnt down the music room ...."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"WHAT!?! Those are my parents!!! You are talking about my Sister!!!"<br />
"Yeah that is what we think ... "<br />
"Tap ... if you know this Crimson guy, do you<b><i> </i></b>actually know Ruby?!"<br />
"Yes I do ... she is one of my parents school friends." <br />
"Where is she?" he snaps<br />
"Here in Sugar Valley."<br />
"You are joking me right?!"<br />
"No." I mumble<br />
"You have to be ... Sugar Valley, we have checked out that
town quite a few times over the years, along with all the surrounding
towns. We figured, a colour mix town would be the best place for her to
hide, especially if she passed herself of as a mixed berry - hair dye
and coloured contacts." he mumbles "We have kept on top of both Cherry Hill and Sugar Valley. Hang on one second, because we keep a book." he mumbles<br />
"Why not Berry Shores?"<br />
"Mom and Gabe live in Berry, so we know she hasn't been there." he mumbles away from the phone <br />
<br />
We hear the phone crackle and a few different noises like draws being opened and closed.<br />
<br />
"We keep a record of where we have been, when and who we spoke
to .... hang on." he mumbles and we can now hear what sounds like
pages being flicked through in a book. "Arrrrr here it is. Sugar
Valley, Abel has been there twice, and we have spoken to the same police
officer eight times over the years."<br />
"Gravel I bet you!" Forrest snaps<br />
"Detective Inspector Rock .... Do you know him?" this sets Forrest off
laughing and Mint slaps his arm, which makes me laugh.<br />
"Yeah we know him all right!!" I laugh "Gravel Rock ... he has to
be the bent-est copper on this planet and we guessed he was probably covering for
Ruby. We think he helped her to hide her real identity, by getting her a fake Identity. He is
also the Father of one of Ruby's children."<br />
<b> "BERRY HOLE!!"</b> he yells down the phone.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"My parents were at the boarding school with Ruby, and she came to
Sugar Valley with them. Ruby is actually Vanilla's
Grandmother."<br />
"Now you are having me on ... your little girl is ... yellow."<br />
"Ruby got herself expelled from the boarding school on purpose, because
she was colour mixing and pregnant, that is why she came to Sugar
instead of going home. All her children are mixed yellow and Red.
Vanilla gets her colour from her Mom and Granddad, who were both
completely yellow."<br />
"How many children has Ruby had?"<br />
"Eight ... four boys and four girls." he chokes for a moment<br />
"I might have known that she would be happily getting on with her life after
she has wrecked all ours and would have a tonne more kids!!" he chokes
"Pregnant at school ... she always was a dirty little tramp with no sense!! that is <b><i>exactly</i></b> why she
was sent away in the first place!!" he tuts "So this Crimson guy is
one of her kids? I bet he is as he has the same name as our Dad."<br />
"Yeah, Crimson is her eldest along with his twin sister Cherry." I mumble<br />
"Oh, he isn't her eldest." he laughs sarcastically<br />
<b> "WHAT!?" </b>I snap at the same time as I hear Mint swear quietly under her breath.<br />
"Gabriel is her oldest ... but seriously never call him that or he will hang draw and quarter you!!" he chuckles "You already know Gabe don't you Tap?!"<br />
"Yeah." I choke "Gabe is Ruby's son?!" <br />
"Yeah he certainly is!! I guess she never told you about
the baby she never went back home to." he tuts "She had Gabe before
she was sent to the boarding school. Who she abandoned without a reason,
just like the rest of us."<br />
"No she has never said!!" I mumble <br />
"Yeah well that's Ruby!! Selfish to the core!!" he mumbles
"She split Mom and Dad up because Mom had to move Ruby out to Berry Shores before the baby was born. Gabe is a mixed berry, so Mom has had to stay
in Berry with him. Permanently seeing as Ruby never went back to raise
her son."<br />
"We <b><i>seriously</i></b> had no idea." I mumble "When I met Gabe, I had no idea who he was, I thought he was your Brother, because I heard him call Abel Bro!!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
"He may as well be my Brother, my Mom is the one who brought him up!!" he laughs sarcastically "Me and Abe treat him like a Brother, rather than a Nephew."<br />
"You said he is a mixed berry. I'm colourblind so I just presumed he is all red, because I met him out in Rainbow."<br />
"No Gabe isn't all red, that is why he and Mom have to live in Berry Shores. When he comes out to Red County or is out in the coded world with me, he hides behind the hair dye and contacts. He has grey hair and eyes, which makes no sense at all when there were no grey berries in Red County at the time. Hell, I had never even seen a grey berry before he was born. I don't know if you know how rare they are, they are almost extinct!!"<br />
"So where did the grey come from if there are none in Red County?"<br />
"We actually think the pregnancy happened while she was at Summer Camp." <br />
"Oh Summer camp!" Forrest chuckles quietly "Ask him which one."<br />
"Which Summer Camp did she go to?"<br />
"Sandy Shores." he mumbes <br />
"Oh fudge!!" Forrest chokes then he sits there with his head in his hands really frowning.<br />
"Why did they send Ruby to the boarding school if she had a baby?" I mumble not knowing what else to say while I am wandering what has set Forrest off.<br />
"So she could finish her education without the distraction of
having a baby to look after." he mumbles "It was Mom's idea and Ruby
was okay with it. She wasn't forced to go, she had the choice. Ruby
spent all her time with her baby in the school holidays, and she <i>seemed</i>
to love the kid!! She said she missed him while she was at school and
couldn't wait to finish school so that she could be with him full time.
We actually thought at first, that she had got herself expelled on
purpose so she could get back to Gabe." he tuts "Mom and Dad never saw
her disappearance coming. Dad has always blamed Mom for sending Ruby
to the boarding school which she never returned from. It broke their
marriage in the end."<br />
"I'm sorry!!! I don't know what to say!!" I mumble<br />
"There is nothing that can be said or done to repair the
damage that she had done. Especially to Gabe, he's had to grow up
feeling well and truly abandoned by his parents!!<br />
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<br />
"What about Gabe's Dad."<br />
"We don't have a clue who his Dad is!!" he tuts "Ruby would never
say. The only thing she would admit to is colour mixing, and that was only so our Parents could move her to a colour mix town, to avoid being locked up!! We
had to wait until Gabe was born to find out what colour she had been
mixing with." he snap "She is ridiculous!!"<br />
"Yeah, that sounds like Ruby!!" I mumble<br />
"Gabe has tried desperately to find at least one of his parents, but so
far we have drawn a blank, especially as far as his Father goes!! We have scouted Sandy Shores and there are
no grey berries there either. We thought it had to be one of the kids at
Summer Camp. We applied for the attendance records for that year, and there were no grey berries there. So it is a mystery!! Berry knows where he came from!! In all the years we have been looking we have only found two grey berry families. His father was in neither family, we even went as far as DNA tests."<br />
"You know we have a family of mixed brown and grey berries in Sugar, who have pure grey family that live in Raspberry." I mumble, and I am not really sure why I am telling him this.<br />
"I need to come to Sugar Valley to check all this out!! I swear if Ruby has been hiding in Sugar all this time, I'm going to fade her and that Police Officer!!" he snaps "Tap can you pick me
up from the airport." he laughs "Actually where is the nearest
airport."<br />
"Raspberry Hill. Are you catching a passenger flight?"<br />
"No, I have got a pilot's licence and my own wings remember. I will be there first thing in the morning, I'm too tired and worked up to fly tonight." he laughs "I will have to bring Nix with me. Abel is out in Berry visiting Mom and Gabe, and I can not trust my Dad to look after him!!" <br />
"Okay, just let me know what time you are landing and I will be there."<br />
"Tap you need to tell him about Ruby!!" Forrest says quite loudly<br />
"Who was that?" he asks<br />
"A friend." I mumble "He is just reminding me that I need to tell you something important about Ruby."<br />
"What do you need to tell me?" he mumbles<br />
<br />
I just sit there staring at Mint. The words won't come out of my mouth.<br />
<br />
"Tap? Are you still there?" <br />
"Yeah. I am still here." I mumble quietly before I take a deep breath. "I hate to have to tell you this over the phone .... Ruby faded two days ago."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Cane, I am sorry!!"<br />
<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-71755590218201475272018-08-31T17:48:00.000-07:002018-08-31T17:48:06.218-07:00Chapter 66d part 1 - Gen 2 - Mint<br />
I sit numbly on the couch in the living room.<br />
<br />
After spending a few hours upstairs listening to Sunny's life story .. the shockingly real version ... my head is too fried to even think straight.<br />
<br />
I
numbly watch everyone else in the room.<br />
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<br />
I exchange a sympathetic smile with Mace. He rolls his eyes at me, as he tries to comfort Mustard, who is clearly very upset and crying all over him.<br />
<br />
Crimson lost his mind at one point, taking his frustration out on Mustard. Screaming and shouting at him because of everything that Sunny has put Saffron through for being gay when all along he was secretly gay himself. Of course it wasn't Mustards fault, he didn't even know that Sunny was doing such an awful thing to Saffron. Crimson did apologise to Mustard later, but I am not sure it did Mustard a lot of good. Him having to relive his and Sunny's life together, for our benefit, especially seeing photographs of them together, really upset him. It is all too soon and too much for him, he is still grieving after losing the love of his life.<br />
<br />
I sit quietly watching Turmeric and Granite, who are standing by the front door. They have their heads together and seem to be sniping at
each other. I glance at Tapestry who suddenly starts to laugh. He is on the phone talking to Rocky about
work and the concerts in Rainbow that they have coming up. I realise suddenly that I am the only person in the room who is shocked by all this, this is not new information for them, but it is for me.<br />
<br />
My parents are upstairs in my bedroom with Crimson, who
understandably is in a mess right now. It hurt me to watch him breaking down and I really should be up there with him, but I had to come downstairs because we had a close call. Bay popped round and I had to get rid of him without letting him upstairs to see everyone in my room, especially Crimson and Mustard who were both an emotional mess.<br />
<br />
I can not help
but wander what is wrong with everyone in this town!! So many secrets
and lies keep coming out of the woodwork all the time, and each time
they come, the destruction they are causing seems to be getting worse!!
Like Gravel being Scarlet's biological Dad wasn't bad enough, now this
... Crimson's head and heart must be totally battered right now!!<br />
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<br />
I notice Forrest coming down the stairs, which makes me think about my own
situation. Getting used to him being my biological Dad and not
Alpine, is taking a bit of getting used to, but I am really glad that is
all I am facing, rather than what Crimson is having to deal with right
now. At least in the long run, my parents, all three of them, did what
was best for us kids, and really nobody has got hurt in the process.<br />
<br />
Sunny
on the other hand, his sordid double life and gay secret is going to smash his kids to
pieces if it ever gets out, like it has Crimson ... and Sunny, is
downright selfish not to be here to sort out the mess that he has made.
Just like Ruby, with the fall out of Gravel being Scarlet's real Dad,
they have both faded and left their kids to clean up and deal with their
shit ... and I get a nasty feeling that Ruby's shit is not all out yet.<br />
<br />
"Leafy we are going to have to shoot off." Granite smiles at Forrest "We need to get back to Clay. We also need to get Mustard out of here and taken home, before anyone walks in and starts asking questions." He nods in Mustards direction.<br />
"You are not leaving him on his own are you?" Forrest frowns at Mustard, who is still sobbing all over Mace. "He could always go upstairs, until he has calmed down."<br />
"No, it is safer we get him away from here." he mumbles "T is going to go home with him and stay with him, until he is feeling better."<br />
<br />
I sit quietly as I watch Forrest say goodbye to Mace, Granite, Turmeric and Mustard as they leave. He closes the door after them, leans against it and lets out a huge sigh and stands there for a while just silently staring at the floor.<br />
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<br />
"Did Bay suspect anything?" he asks me as he moves away from the door and sits down.<br />
"No. He was looking for you and went straight away when I told him you wasn't here. I told him you had gone out with Mom to look for Alpine." I smile at him "He said can you phone him when you get back."<br />
"Okay, I'll phone him in a bit, when I've settle my nerves!" he smiles then frowns at me "Are you okay?"<br />
"Yeah, I am just a bit shocked." I smile at him<br />
"Yeah, it is a lot to get your head around after watching Sunny's homophobic performance."<br />
"I can understand why Sunny might have wanted to hide being gay in the first place, but to take
it to the lengths he did, especially what he has done to Saffron ...
it's disgusting!!" I frown at him "He doesn't deserve you lot breaking
your necks to cover for him, especially not Granite and Mace!! After all
the shit he threw at everyone who is gay, including Bay, when the berry
hole was gay himself!!"<br />
"Mace is a loyal friend, that is why he is covering for Sunny. As for the rest of us ... we are not covering for him by
choice trust me!!" he laughs "We are doing it to protect all of his
kids from the mental torment and heartache, that Crimson is now facing. We are doing it for Saffron's sake mostly. Saffron's head is already
mashed enough .. After all the abuse that he has taken off Sunny for
being gay, just imagine what it will do to him if he finds out that
Sunny was actually gay himself ... it will destroy him completely.
This is why he can NEVER find out, especially after his failed suicide attempt!!"<br />
"Well he won't be hearing it from me, that's for sure!!" I mumble "Does Atlas know the truth?"<br />
"No!! He doesn't need to know, it would only put pressure on him and their relationship if we told him. He would have to keep the secret from Saffron, so it's best he doesn't know!!" <br />
"I can't believe that Sunny and Mace were best mates before this all kicked off. They seriously hid that very well!!"<br />
"Yeah I know." he chuckles <br />
"What is wrong with
everyone?! All these lies and secrets ... it is getting damn ridiculous and
I wander what else we have to come?"<br />
"Hopefully
nothing, although I get the feeling Ruby still might have a few
skeletons in her closet. This might not be all over for Crimson just yet!!"
he rolls his eyes "And if that was a dig at me just, because of mine
and your Mother's secrets ...."<br />
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<br />
"Dad you need to chill out with your insecurities, and No actually I wasn't
having a dig at you." I laugh at him "Sunny and Ruby's shit actually
makes you and Mom look like total saints!! We do understand, know and appreciate that you
did the best thing for us. You haven't hurt us, like they have
continuously hurt their kids. We have spoken to Meadow, Holly and Ivy, they have told us all about the hell you have put them through with your phobia!! So we fully understand why you were kept hidden from us!! You, Mom and Alpine, did what you did to protect us,
whereas the only people Sunny and Ruby have ever protected is themselves
and their dirty secrets!!"<br />
"I'm glad you can see
that." he smiles at me for a while, then he frowns "Mint, you know,
you don't have to do what Granite suggested, he was only joking when he
said it. Covering lies with lies is how these things get out of hand,
and I don't want you to get dragged into the shit. It is bad enough you
now have the burden of having to carry around and keep this secret,
without putting yourself in the firing line."<br />
"I know
Granite was only joking. He said it to wind you up!" I laugh sarcastically, but he doesn't bite at my dig at him. "However, he did come up with the best story that can explain why Crimson is staying
here, shutting himself off and not going home. Probably the only story
that would work, anything else would be suspicious, especially to his
sibling." I laugh "Us pretending to be together and him being hauled
up in my bedroom is no biggy!! He is single, I'm single ... so what
harm will it do, when it can explain why he will be virtually living
here and it stops his brothers and sisters from being suspicious and finding out the truth. If Crimson is happy to pretend he is my boyfriend, then I am okay with it too. It is not like it will ruin either of our reputations ... everyone knows, there has only ever been Parsley for me and Wisty for him."<br />
"Well I am not okay with it!! I can also think of two people who might have something to say about it for
a start!!" he pulls a face "Parsley and Wisty are bound to have
something to say about you two hooking up, so quickly after both
relationships have just broken down. It might even make them suspect, that you two were up to something before the break ups."<br />
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<br />
"They can think and say
what the hell they want, I don't care!!" I smirk at him<br />
"Wisty especially can be a nasty piece of work if she wants to be ..."<br />
"I'm big enough to take it, she doesn't scare me!! I've had
the Strawberry Tart riding my back for years, mouth and fists, so I've had lots of
practice!! Wisty has no right to say anything, after she cheated on
Crimson, and I doubt Parsley will bother to summon up the energy to get
off his lazy ass to chase me down for an explanation. He is probably
already back riding his red bike as we speak!!"<br />
"Even
still, it is not going to be as easy as you think!! I have had to do it
myself, as well as watch your Mom and Alpine playing fake relationships
for years."<br />
"Don't stress, I can handle it!! We enjoy hanging out together and a bit
of hand holding in public is not going to fade either of us!!" I laugh
at him "Besides we planned to spend more time together anyway, Crimson wants to help me with my deserted warehouse project."<br />
"Well you just be careful!!" he mumbles<br />
"How was Crimson when you left him?"<br />
"In a right
mess as you can image." he smiles at me "I need you to do something
for me, seeing as you two are now playing detective, with your fake
romance ... " he laughs sarcastically "Which kind of makes what I am
about to say to you, after what I've just said, a little off!!"<br />
"Seriously, if you are about to give me lessons or advice on how to
make a fake romance look real .. don't!!" I laugh at him<br />
"No, nothing like that!! I need you to be his shoulder to cry on. He
is feeling very alone at the moment as you can image. I know that it is
a Motherly figure that he needs right now, which your Mother can do for
him, but it is not going to do her or the babies a lot of good if she
is continuously getting upset trying to comfort him. On top of her
worrying herself sick over Alpine, and dealing with Coal in hospital and
the Gravel baby bomb. We are already having to keep a very close watch
on this pregnancy because of all the complications. I don't want her to get too stressed out by
all this!! So I need you to take some of the weight off her
shoulders, and be there for him as much as you can, for your Mothers
sake."<br />
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<br />
"That's fine - I can do that." I smile at him wandering for a moment, after what I heard Granite say to him, if this is his attempt at matchmaking as I watch him get a far away look in his eyes.<br />
"I know we didn't plan this pregnancy, but if anything happens and she looses those babies it will probably destroy her. She has never really gotten over the miscarriage she had before you, and of course she will never get over losing Cinnamon." he mumbles "Hell it will probably destroy my sanity now that my phobia has gone and I am FINALLY getting the opportunity to be a Dad and do it right!!<br />
"It's fine, I understand."<br />
"I've told Crimson that he can stay here for as long as he wants and
needs to. It will give him the opportunity to pull himself together enough to face his brothers
and sisters without breaking down in front of them and giving everything
away. Which he says he will do, because he doesn't want any of them
finding out about any of Sunny's shit, especially not Saffron and Scarlet."<br />
"I don't know how he is going to emotionally cope with all this!! He has a funeral to sort out
and I know he is determined to find Ruby's family . I am worried that
he is going to probably make it worse for himself if he contacts her
family and they don't want to know because of the colour mixing."<br />
"Crimson doesn't have to worry about all that, me and Granite have said
we will do all of that for him. I'm going to take over and finish organising
the funeral, and Granite is already on the case as far as her family
goes. He is waiting for a phone call from his Brother Shale, who you
probably know is a police officer. He is checking the missing persons
data base, checking out the original case files from when she was
reported missing and trying to track down an address for her parents or
siblings. One of us will speak to her family, and if they do reject
them, it will be easier coming from us rather than hearing it directly
from one of them unpleasantly." <br />
"That's good." I smile at him <br />
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<br />
We sit in silence for a moment, watching Tapestry getting a little loud and animated with his phone call. He seems to have finished his call with Rocky and is now having some sort of disagreement with his Dad, Mango over his whereabouts.<br />
<br />
"Have you heard anything from the police today?"<br />
"Yeah." he looks glum "There is no change. They still haven't found him."<br />
"Where the hell is he?"<br />
"Mint I wish I knew!! Alpine's disappearance doesn't make any sense to me. He has no clothes, money or medication and I can not even imagine where he might be." he frowns "He seriously can not be still wandering around out there bare foot in hospital pyjamas without anyone noticing him!! It is stupid that he hasn't been found yet!!"<br />
"Do you think he has wandered out into the coded world?"<br />
"Yeah I think he has to be out there now. We have searched every inch of this town and there is not even a sign of him. It doesn't make any sense!!" he pulls a face "If he is out in the coded world, it also doesn't make sense that he hasn't been picked up for wearing blue clothes with him being green."<br />
"What about the deserted warehouse?"<br />
"There is no way he could have got in there." he rolls his eyes "El says they have checked around the gates and there is no sign of any recent disturbances. They have applied for a search warrant but she says that could take weeks to come through, if ever!!! That place is guarded like Fort Knox!!" he points in Tapestry's direction "After Tap's abduction, they have even checked down in the sewers, but there is no sign of him down there either."<br />
"Do you think someone is hiding him?"<br />
"That would make more sense of his total disappearance ... but who??" he frowns "Who would hide him? It could only be one of the extended family, but surely they wouldn't put us through this worry and upset by not telling us he is okay."<br />
"Meadow?"<br />
"Seriously ... have you seen the state she is getting herself into. She is like Fudge, they are both openly going out of their tiny minds!! I know Meadow isn't hiding him. She wouldn't put us through the worry and upset for a start."<br />
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<br />
"So ..." I laugh at him "What is this about you wanting me and Crimson together?"<br />
"Don't!!" he covers his face "You weren't meant to know that!! Granite has got a big mouth!!"<br />
"Why Crimson?"<br />
"I think you two are a lot alike ... you both have the same ambition and drive. I could see you two being a couple like Spicey and Lemon, all about your careers with no intentions of ever having any children. " he chuckles<br />
"They had Mango."<br />
"He will tell you himself, he was a very unplanned accident. Not that Lemon and Spicey regret it now that they are surrounded by a large family. They can see what they would have missed out on if they had stuck to their original plans for their life." he laughs "That is why both you and Crimson, who are very like minded, shouldn't dismiss children in your future, because of your career ambitions. You can do both."<br />
"Our main reason for not wanting kids is that we don't want to inflict being a mixed berry on them!! It will hold them back, and cage them in this town with limited opportunities. I've told you before I hate being a mixed berry so why would I want to inflict it on somebody else, especially my own child?!" <br />
"I'm sorry!!" he mumbles with embarrassment<br />
"Yeah you can apologize for it this time!!" I laugh at him remembering when he apologized before we knew he was actually responsible for the green in me.<br />
"Like I have said to you before ... this town will make you feel that way. Once you get to Berry, you will see the world of opportunities will open right up for you." he smiles "Anyway, I knew you and Parsley would never last, you are like chalk and cheese, too different. Whereas, I can just see you and Crimson being good together. Besides he is one of the good ones, he is a decent guy!! Someone who will treat you with respect, unlike Parsley who has a lot of growing up to do!! You can't blame me for wanting the best for you!!" he chuckles "You are only just finding out I am your Dad, but I've always known and have spent your whole life worrying about your future. All three of you."<br />
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<br />
"Yeah well I doubt you will ever get your Crimson and Mint wish granted. I don't attract the good ones, just the losers, and he isn't interested in me, unfortunately."<br />
"Unfortunately?" he frowns at me "Do you actually like him?"<br />
"Yeah. I always have." I smile at him sheepishly "I used to have a crush on him when I was younger. He was always here with Cinnamon and I used to try and hang around with them. To them I was just Cinn's bratty little nuisance sister and they used to shoo me away!" I chuckle<br />
"So do you still like him?" he smiles at me<br />
"Yeah ... Hanging out with him lately with Wisty and Parsley has kind of made those feelings worse. You are right, we are a lot a like, in ways that Parsley and Wisty would never understand. I think walking away from Parsley has been made easier for me because of the way I have started feeling about Crimson." I mumble, not sure why I am telling him any of this <br />
"You should tell him!" he grins at me<br />
"What's the point, he isn't interested in me, AND you are NOT to tell him either!! You will just embarrass me and make things awkward between us. He is a good friend and I don't want it ruined by something he never needs to know!!" I frown at him "I've not even told Fudge, and I've just told you that in strict confidence, so I expect you to keep it to yourself!!"<br />
"I'm a doctor remember!!" he holds his hands up "My soul is weighed down with what people have told me in confidence!!" he chuckles "So your secret is safe with me!" he raises his eyebrows "Am I allowed to tell your Mother?"<br />
"NO!! Definitely NOT!!" I snap which makes him snigger<br />
"Probably wise or she will be pecking your head from now and forever!!" he chuckles <br />
"So, how long have you known about Sunny's gay secret?" I ask to try and change the subject.<br />
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<br />
"Officially, since he faded. However, I have had my suspicions over the years. The way he used to dance with Lilly caught my attention first. We took an instant disliking to each other, I think he suspected I was only playng gay, like I suspected he was only playing straight. And Mace is right about one thing, that homophobic act of his was <i>way too loud</i>!! I think it was when Granite came back, that I knew for certain. I saw the way Sunny kept looking at him when he thought nobody was looking. One word ... Lust!! I noticed him staring at Atlas too in pretty much the same way a few times." he chuckles "Sunny knew like the rest of us what Ruby was up to, sleeping with half of the town. He didn't kick off, try to kick her into touch or leave her. It was blatantly obvious to a few of us that there was no love there between Sunny and Ruby. Anyone staying in that situation has got to be hiding something. I suspected years ago that he might be gay on the sly!"<br />
"I'm shocked that Ruby didn't know about his gay secret and double life until he faded!! The funerals, the bigamy, his Sunny Maize identity ... it is all very shocking!!"<br />
"Yeah we had a right game with her when we had to sit her down and tell her that her marriage was a sham and that Sunny was a total lie!!" he chuckles "We thought she was going to blow it and tell everyone!! She was furious as you can imagine!! Tapestry stopped her in the end, he threatened her with something. Berry knows what - he won't tell us what he had over Ruby to keep her quiet."<br />
"Mom's face when Mustard told Crimson that Sunny has always been gay and that their relationship started when they were teenagers!! I thought she was going to pass out!!" I start laughing, still seeing her face in my head "I can't believe you never told her when you knew, or that you even suspected!!"<br />
"Yeah, she will be mad with me for keeping the secret from her. I'm in for it when she gets me on my own! You know what she's like, she will probably batter me
with something later." he rolls his eyes "I'm not sure the poor cushions in this house can take much
more!!"<br />
<br />
We both sit laughing at each other for a
moment. <br />
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<br />
I have noticed quite a few amusing things about my parents, since
the truth has come out, and their relationship has been out in the open for everyone to see. They are very touchy feely and Mom is
always whacking him with things, mostly the cushions, especially when she is annoyed
with him. Most of the time she is doing it playfully for no reason. They tend to start having cushion fights and roll around like a pair of teenagers.<br />
<br />
I have even seen
them having a food fight, which was hysterical at the time but also
pretty shocking to watch. The funniest thing being when Forrest's OCD kicked in and he started going off his head over the mess they had made. <br />
<br />
It has actually been quite a shock to the
system, seeing Mom acting this way, never having seen her like it before.
It is almost like she has become a totally different person. She acts in a way with Forrest that she has never done with Alpine,
which drives home even more what was staring us in the face all the time
but never saw. That Mom and Alpine didn't have any sort of
relationship, especially not a romantic one. It is clearly obvious that
Mom and Forrest love each other, and I really don't know how they
managed to hide it for over twenty years, when they clearly can't hide it
now.<br />
<br />
Tapestry suddenly plonks himself down on the couch, next to me, snapping me from my thoughts. <br />
<br />
"SOooo ... Crimson is the reason you have broken Parsleys heart!" Tapestry laughs at me<br />
"SHIT!" my head snaps round to look at him "I TOTALLY forgot you was here!! I'm sorry, you shouldn't have heard that!! It's not how it sounded, honestly I didn't dump Parsley because of Crimson ..."<br />
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<br />
"I know ... Don't worry, I know exactly why you dumped him!! I was just messing!!" he laughs holding his hands up "As much as I love my Cousin, he has always been a prize jerk where you are concerned!! I warned him weeks ago that he was treating you like shit and he was going to lose you <i>again</i> if he didn't buck his ideas up!! He only has himself to blame for losing you, just like Wisty only has herself to blame for losing Crimson!!" he smiles at Forrest strangely "The pair of them are both idiots for not seeing what they had until they have lost it!! Both you and Crimson deserve better!!"<br />
"I very much doubt that I have broken his heart!!" I start laughing "I bet he has already gone back to the slut and is happily riding his red bike again."<br />
"Not as far as I know. He says he is never touching the Strawberry tart ever again!! All she has ever done is caused him humiliation and heartache. As for you NOT breaking his heart ... I wouldn't be so sure about that!!" he rolls his eyes "I think the Orchids can't deal with emotional stuff and relationships properly. He loves you, he just doesn't know how to show it properly."<br />
"You are an Orchid!" I laugh at him<br />
"I'm more Muffin like River and Dad." he grins at me "Coral, Prelude, Wisty, Parsley, Storm, they in particular are all the same ... their relationships are constant train wrecks of their own making!! I put it down to their strong Orchid genes!!"<br />
"You really make me laugh sometimes!!" I laugh at him <br />
"Only sometimes!?" he gins at me "Anyway, this fake relationship that you and Crimson are having as a cover ...." he starts really laughing "... you watch, it is going to really ruffle feathers with both of my cousins!!"<br />
"See I told you!!" Forrest mumbles "You know I am really not comfortable you two playing fake relationships!! I would rather you didn't."<br />
"Well then you come up with a better idea!! Until you do, we have no choice but to do it, for Saffrons sake!!" I grumble at him <br />
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<br />
"So Mini Leaf, now that you are a fully
fledged member of our secret keeping society. What is all this mystery
around Ruby that I've been hearing about?"<br />
<br />
I thump him for calling me
Mini Leaf and he just grins at me cheekily ... he never changes.<br />
<br />
"I'll give you Mini Leaf ... Bright Eyes!!" we both start laughing at
each other "I'm actually surprised you don't already know Tap!! Seeing
as you always seem to know everyone else's secrets before the rest of
us!" I smirk at him<br />
"Seriously, it is not by choice,
trust me!! I must always be in the wrong place at the wrong time,
because I am sick of bumping into shit that I would rather not know
about." he laughs at me as he smirks at Forrest "Like down dark
allies ... kissing couples who are old enough to know better!"<br />
"Ha! Ha! Very funny Tap!!" Forrest laughs at him <br />
"So come on Mint, SPILL!! What has Ruby done now?" <br />
"We have found out, that her surname isn't Red, it is actually Blaze,
which she has hidden from everyone, as well as where she originally came
from. There are news articles from when Crimson was ten, saying that
she is a missing person, there could be more, we just didn't get to look
any further." I roll my eyes "She told everyone her family washed
their hand of her just after Crimson and Cherry were born, because of
the colour mixing. That was obviously a lie, because ten years later
according to her family she is still missing. We suspect that she never
contacted them at all after she left the boarding school and might
STILL be a missing person." <br />
"Oh fudge!!" he laughs
for a moment then frowns "I don't get it ... if she is still a missing
person, how has she managed to get away with that. Mace has told me it
is almost impossible to hide yourself because of things like medical
records, bank accounts and anything you need ID for. That is why Gravel
gave him a new identity so he could lie low, especially from the law."<br />
"That is exactly what Crimson thinks she has done, probably
with the help of Gravel. He is thinking that Gravel gave her a fake identification at the same time as he helped her to produced Scarlet ..." this makes him laugh
quietly for a moment<br />
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<br />
"You are right, Crimson says she couldn't hide
herself completely without getting a fake identity. We have only ever known
her as Ruby Red, but Ruby Red Blaze is her real name, which we found out
from the news article which told us her fathers name as well as where
she came from. Crimson found her on the Red County birth register quite
easily and her parents names tie up with a few names she gave her
kids. Crimson and Scarlet Blaze are her parents names." his eyes widen<br />
"Hang on ....." he starts to frown "Did you just say Blaze and Red County in the same sentence?"<br />
"Yeah, that's her family name and where she was born."<br />
"Is Blaze a common surname, especially for red berries?" he starts frowning, he looks from me to Forrest.<br />
"I don't know Tap. I can't say I've ever come across anyone
with that name, red or otherwise, here or out in the coded world. To be
honest, when I hear the name Blaze I think of Orange more than Red, I
don't know why." Forrest frowns at him "Why what are you thinking?"<br />
"You are into Rock aren't you mini leaf?"<br />
"Yeah why?"<br />
"Where are your CD's?"<br />
"Upstairs in my room, where they have always been, why?"<br />
"Back in a sec. I need to raid your closet." he starts laughing as he
runs off up the stairs.<br />
<br />
I know he knows where my CD's are, because when
we were younger, he would occasionally hang out with me and Parsley,
and Tapestry has always been into music. My closet was always the first place he went.<br />
<br />
Forrest just sits there laughing at him<br />
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<br />
"What is he up to now?" I laugh<br />
"With Tap you never know what you are getting!" he laughs "One minute
you see a flash of genius, the next stupidity!! He is really frying
Mango's brain because of the way he has turned out. He has always
thought he would be baby sitting a trouble making Tapestry for the rest
of his life and Mo would be the one who made him proud. However,
Tapestry is proving Mango very wrong on both counts!!"<br />
"Yeah he has definitely surprised all of us."<br />
<br />
Tapestry
comes bounding down the stairs singing one of his songs that is
currently in the charts, which amuses me, especially as at the moment I
can't stop listening to it and I have it constantly on repeat.<br />
<br />
"Seriously Mint?!" he waves one of his CD's at me before he hands it
to me "Why buy this and waste your money, when you only have to ask me
.. "<br />
"What ... are you offering to come round here and sing it for me, every time I feel like hearing it?" I snigger at him<br />
"No stupid!! I could have given you one of these CD's for nothing, and I should have!!" he laughs at me "I get a box of 50 CD's delivered every time a new one is released. You are basically my press rep, so you of all people should be getting all the perks ... next time just ask!!"<br />
"Cool!! I will!!" I smirk at him <br />
<br />
He then holds up a handful of CD's<br />
<br />
"I wasn't sure you would have any of his albums, but I actually think you have
them all." he smirks then starts laughing "My <b>red</b> mate Cane <b>Blaze</b>,
comes from <b>Red County</b>." he frowns at us "Is Blaze the same red as Ruby?"<br />
"Oh shit ... I think he is!!" Forrest chokes as he takes the albums off Tap and starts looking at the covers "I'd say his skin is the same shade of red as Ruby's, but not his hair."<br />
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<br />
"You know Blaze?" my eyes widen<br />
"Yeah, of course I do." he smirks "Say party to Cane and he's always
the first one there. He is a good mate of Rocky's they are on the same
record label, and Cane spends a lot of time in Berry. So I bump into him quite often, especially at parties."<br />
"So Blaze is actually his real surname?"<br />
"Yeah ... I am surprised you didn't think about him, with him being red and he comes from Red County."<br />
"I never even gave him a though because I just thought Blaze was his
stage name like yours is Storm, and I didn't know he came from Red
Country."<br />
"You surprise me." he laughs "I
presumed you was a super fan the amount of albums you have, so I guessed
you would know everything about him."<br />
"To be
honest, I don't really like him very much ... " I cringe "They were
Cinnamon's CD's and that is the only reason why I keep them. Scarlet
gave them to me because she can't stand rock - not heavy shit like what
Blaze pumps out anyway."<br />
"Yeah he is a bit on the
extreme side, but he is with everything he does. His head is mashed up
which is why he drinks too much and takes too many drugs openly. He is a bisexual slag who openly colour mixes, and is constantly angry. He takes rebellion to the extreme!! When he is sober he is nicest guy you will ever meet, when he is high or hammed he turns into a total Berry Hole!! He has even had a few stints in rehab." he pulls a face "He vents most of his
frustration with life out through his music and his behaviour." he rolls his eyes
"Anyway, he is red, comes from Red County, with the surname Blaze ...
I've been to Red County once and it is not a very big place. There
could be a few families with that surname for all I know, but you never
know he could even be related to Ruby somehow." he sniggers "If he isn't, at
least, I could ask him if he knows of them. He lives in Red County and I
am sure if I ask him, he would help us find her family."<br />
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<br />
"Yeah, him being in Red County and helping us might make it a lot easier." I mumble<br />
"I am actually starting to get very curious about all this
myself. Ruby is Vanilla's Grandmother remember, so all this affects her
too."<br />
"Why is his head mashed?" I ask out of curiosity<br />
"Family troubles which he doesn't really like to talk about. All I do know, is
that he comes from a very religious family and has had religion rammed
down his throat all his life ... which he hated!! That's why he hates
his name Cane, because it is a biblical name. His twin brothers name is
Abel. He also has a younger Brother, Gabriel."<br />
"Cane and Able, that is funny!" I laugh and he laughs with me<br />
"I think everything Blaze does now is partly to rebel against the religion his
Dad force fed him ... If you listen to some of his songs, it is very
obvious he is very anti religion."<br />
"Oh shit!!" Forrest starts laughing "Tap ... Ruby's Father is or was a man of the cloth."<br />
"Man of the cloth?" he frowns<br />
"A holy man. He was a vicar when Ruby was reported missing, according
to the news article that Mint showed me." Forrest laughs "I found her
and Crimson having absolute hysterics because of it. Who ever would
have guessed that Ruby was a vicars daughter?!" <br />
"Oh fudge!!" Tapestry suddenly starts howling <br />
"That's a bit of a wacky coincidence don't you think ... surname,
colour, town and now the religion." I mumble as I stare at Forrest<br />
"Yeah, it is a bit." he stares at Tapestry for a
moment, who is still really laughing "Cane and Abel did you say?" he
frowns at Tap<br />
"Yeah Cane and Abel Blaze. There is Gabriel Blaze too." <br />
"Maybe I should run upstairs and check the Red County data base. We need to find out if this Gabriel, Cane and Abel have the same parents as Ruby." he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah, I think that is a really good idea!!"<br />
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<br />
I smile at my Dad before he runs off up the stairs.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-86580783479331517182018-07-14T02:26:00.000-07:002018-07-14T02:26:28.631-07:00Chapter 66c - Gen 2 - Mint<br />
<br />
After Crimson has looked over the rest of the article, and seen what profession his Grandfather does for a living, we stare at each other wide eyed. He makes a quiet choking sound, then we both burst up into hysterical laughter at the same time.<br />
<br />
The honourable Reverent Crimson Blaze ... he was a vicar, a parish priest, at the time the news article was printed. Picturing Ruby as a holy man's daughter, who's behaviour is far from holy, is just too funny for words.<br />
<br />
The harder Crimson laughs, the harder I laugh until we are both literally doubled up and having a fit of absolute hysterics. The tears are rolling down both of our faces, and I am having to hold my stomach because I am getting a stitch from so much laughing.<br />
<br />
It takes us both quite a while to get the laughter out of our system.<br />
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<br />
"Oh well I guess that has blown it ... a man of the cloth is definitely not going to be accepting of his mixed berry Grandchildren is he!" Crimson laughs quietly as he throws himself down onto the couch "Aren't they the one's who shout the loudest that colour mixing is a sin in the eyes of Berry!?"<br />
"You never know unless you try .... and I'm sure you will be shown some forgiveness, after all you didn't ask to be created. It is her sin, not yours, and she obviously named you after him. That has got to earn you some brownie points." I laugh<br />
"Yeah until he hears about Mom and Strawberry promiscuous behaviour, and the mess Maize got himself into with Coral." we both start laughing "Saffron being gay, Cherry's colourless husband and triplets won't go down very well either!! Lets face it - mixed and colourless berries, adultery, fornication, promiscuity, homosexuality. We have it all ... our family is full of sin!! He will be fending us off with his cross and condemning us to hell!!"<br />
"Sin is in the eye of the beholder, and it is our duty to forgive ..."<br />
"Hey Mini Leaf ... please don't you get going all religious on me." he chuckles <br />
"Fat chance of that when I am the ultimate sin ... two tone." we both laugh<br />
"I seriously can't even picture my Mother, going to church, preying to the big man and being well behaved and all prim and proper!!"<br />
"Man I would love to have been a fly on the wall when Ruby went to confession ..."<br />
"Yeah ... Forgive me Father, because I have sinned ... again .. and again ..." he starts howling "I wander if she was sent away to the boarding school, for banging all the choir boys!"<br />
"Oh stop!! I just had this vivid picture pop up in my head. Picture a row of smiling choir boys ... Ruby on her knees in front of them ... but she's not singing or praying!!"<br />
"No because I should imagine her mouth would be too full of something else!" <br />
<br />
This has us both cracking up again. I can not help but be a little in awe of Crimson, as I watch him becoming hysterical again. It is good that he can laugh and even joke about all this, rather than letting it upset him and dragging him down.<br />
<br />
The bedroom door opens and Forrest walks in. He stands in the doorway frowning at us both, sat on the couch laughing our heads off.<br />
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<br />
"It is Daddy Leaf." I laugh at him as he continues to stand watching us.<br />
"I thought I would come and let you know, we are back. We have not found your Dad." he pulls a miserable face at me then starts frowning again<br />
"Okay." I mumble<br />
"Your Mom wants to know if you want any lunch?"<br />
"No thanks. We have eaten." I smile at him before turning to Crimson "Unless you want another sandwich?"<br />
"No I'm fine, we have a pizza date later remember." he smiles at me<br />
"Are you two okay?" Forrest asks curiously<br />
"Yeah ... we are sinfully amused." I laugh back at him<br />
"Oh Berry ..." Crimson starts choking <br />
<br />
Me saying sinfully, has Crimson roaring and he collapses into another fit of laughter. I can't help but laugh at him. Forrest doesn't because he does not know why we are laughing so much, he now looks even more confused.<br />
<br />
"It is unusual to see you two together." Forrest frowns at me, as he glances at Crimson, and starts to watch him almost suspiciously<br />
"Not really. We have actually been hanging out together quite a lot lately, but generally we are also with Wisty and Parsley." I smile at him<br />
"It is just the two of us now we have both dumped our baggage!" Crimson chuckles quietly<br />
"So what are you two up to?"<br />
"Don't worry Daddy dear I'm old enough to have men in my bedroom, and behave myself. We are not up to any funny business if that is what you are thinking ... and if we were, we would be using handcuffs, taking precautions, and that door would be locked." this sets Crimson off howling again.<br />
"No you cheeky madam, that isn't what I was thinking." he laughs at me "It's just that I wouldn't have expected either of you to be laughing right now after what has happened to Ruby and what is going on with Alpine."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Neither of us are the crying type." I smile at him "Besides
Doctor Rock, isn't laughter supposed to be the best medicine?!" I grin
at him cheekily "You should try practising what you preach Doc, it's
good for your soul."<br />
"Seriously Mint, you are cracking me up!!" Crimson starts howling again.<br />
"Don't push it young lady, and it's Doctor Leaf if you don't mind!"
Forrest smirks at me then starts laughing as he points at Crimson "So
what are you doing to him, to create this much laughter?!"<br />
"Nothing ... we are now partners in crime and play detective." he frowns at me "We have been using the computers trying to track down Ruby's parents and siblings. Crimson thinks they have a right to know she has faded."<br />
"So what's with all this laughter?" he frowns at me<br />
"We've found something a little ... no ... very funny ..." I glance at Crimson<br />
"Show him." he smiles at me "I guess Leafy could also do with a laugh right now."<br />
<br />
I give Forrest the laptop, and explain we have found an old news article about Ruby from the boarding school. We both watch Forrest as he starts reading. He looks up a few times and frowns, then I see his face change, and he starts to laugh quietly.<br />
<br />
"Oh Berry!!" he carries on laughing as he hands the lap top back to me "Now I see why you might be laughing ... no disrespect Crimson, but Ruby, a vicar's daughter!! She was not exactly the religious type. It is no wander she ran away!!"<br />
"That is why we have been laughing so much!"<br />
"I didn't know Ruby's surname was Blaze, I always thought it was Red." he frowns suddenly<br />
"You are not on your own with that one." Crimson mumbles<br />
"Do you still want me to ask him?" I frown at Crimson<br />
"Yeah, because I could really do with seeing both of them now." he smiles at me<br />
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"Daaaad ......." I smile at Forrest a little on the sickly side<br />
"Okay madam, what do you want?" he laughs at me<br />
"Crimson needs to slyly check out both of his parents medical records." he frowns at me then Crimson<br />
"Basically, we have found something a little dodgy with both of my parents." Crimson smiles at Forrest "I've asked Mango, but he won't let me look at medical records without something official, which takes time, and I don't have time as far as Mom goes, her funeral is in just over a week - and it could take weeks for the paperwork to come through." he smiles "If I could just sneak a look, it would help me a lot, and before you even ask ... no I won't be busting your ass. I will be breaking the law with you - so we will be even."<br />
"I can access Ruby's medical records quite easily, but... your Dad is a little tricky . He doesn't have a doctor in this town, his records are not based here - Apple Hill or Apple Falls, I'm not too sure which."<br />
"Really?!" Crimson frowns at him "I didn't know that." he starts to look thoughtful <br />
"Explain .. what is dodgy?" Forrest frowns at Crimson<br />
"Well with my Mom obviously, it is her surname. On their marriage certificate her maiden name is Red. I did originally want to see her records to find out her parents names and where she was born, to give us an idea of where to start looking for her parents. However, I know that now and her parents names ... but I still need to see what her medical records are saying. I was ten when that news report was printed, and for all I know, that missing persons report could still be valid, and she has lied to us about seeing her parents after we were born, when she said they disowned her." he smiles at Forrest. "We can't find any of Mom's papers at home, birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport etc, or any of Dads. It is like she has disposed of them all, possibly to hide something. I highly suspect that when I check the Red County data base, she is still going to be listed as a missing person ... why else would she hide and lie about her real surname?! The authorities would have found her straight away, if her medical records had been legitimate, which makes me suspect that they aren't."<br />
"I see your point." Forrest mumbles<br />
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"You know yourself Forrest, your medical records are hard to hide and get away from. I suspect if her medical records are saying her surname is Red, and her birthplace and parents do not tie up with what I have found on the Red County births register. I think to wipe away her real identity she has to have obtained a false Identity or had her records fabricated ... which is going to bug me in a professional capacity. She was only a teenager, so how, and where could she have obtained a false identity from?"<br />
"Well I can probably answer that question for you right now." Forrest laughs quietly "Gravel Rock. If there is anything dodgy that you need doing in this town, like fake ID's, he has always been the one to get it done!!"<br />
"Yeah, me and Mint have both thought exactly the same thing. I suspect he did Mom's dodgy shit, which might tie in with how the berry hole got to be Scarlet's creator." Crimson frowns at Forrest "Gravel being the dodgy bent copper, has that always been common knowledge in this town, because I've known him all my life, I worked with him, and none of us at the station had a clue, especially not me!!"<br />
"Yes and no. It all depends on who you are and if he has ever done anything dodgy for you. There was only ever a select few that knew the truth about him, unfortunately, I am one of them, but even I didn't know the half of it!!! I knew he bent the law when it suited him, but I didn't realise to what extreme!!" he laughs "He had a runner - a front man ... which I think you know now. Dodgy Swan - who has always been the visible criminal bad boy in this town. Obviously people went to Swan, but it was Gravel who was actually behind him, doing all the evil dealings. From what I've seen, learned and experienced, Gravel only ever revealed himself to those he could blackmail, use and abuse ... Mace, Turmeric, even me, we are prime examples. While everyone else saw his squeaky clean angelic front." <br />
"You was here when the school gang landed in town ..."<br />
"Yes I was ... but of course, Ruby landed way before they did. The pregnant teenage run away, who was smuggled into town by our loveable orange nerd." he laughs<br />
"So how is your memory, do you remember Mom coming here." he smiles <br />
"Yeah, my amnesia has only wiped away everything before the day me and Granite got married." he smiles for a moment "So yeah, I remember Ruby landing. I doubt anyone who was around at the time, can forget Ruby landing." he laughs<br />
"Why .... or dare I ask?"<br />
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"I think you probably already have a very good idea." he rolls his eyes "I shouldn't really be saying this to you Crimson, because she is your Mother ... but, you think Strawberry's behaviour is bad. She has nothing on your Mother at the same age." he smiles awkwardly<br />
"Explain to me what she was like ... I am way past being offended by anything anyone has to say about her!"<br />
"Ruby was a right live wire and went through the boys and men in this town, like a whirl wind!! It was practically a different one every day, and she didn't hide it either, she did it openly for everyone to see. She caused a hell of a lot of trouble, even being pregnant!! She was off the rails and it was almost like she was in self destruct mode." he laughs "Spicey was pulling his hair out with her, they were finding it very hard to control her!! Spicey even said at one point if this is the way they have been carrying on or there are others like her at that boarding school - he was pulling Mango out of there. I think the only thing that stopped him from doing it was because Lilly had been here in the school holidays, they knew Mango was a very sensible boy and Lilly was a nice sensible girl. They could already see that Mango was getting very giddy over Lilly, and thought if he was going to be doing anything like Ruby, he would be doing it with Lilly and they trusted that they could be sensible about it." he rolls his eyes "I actually felt sorry for your Dad, even before he landed in town. We all knew the story about the pregnancy and that there were three candidates for the babies Father. By the time Sunny landed in town, he was pretty much a laughing stock, for getting himself saddled with Ruby. None of us thought that their relationship would last five minutes. Surprisingly she did calm down a lot after the gang landed, but I think you know like everyone else, her promiscuous behaviour has never stopped ... instead of doing it openly like she had been, she then started to do it secretly behind closed doors, probably to stop your Dad finding out."<br />
"Gravel?" Crimson frowns at him "Before or after me and Cherry were born, I don't suppose you remember seeing her with Gravel abnormally or excessively do you?"<br />
"Mmmm it's been too long ago now, for me to say. At the time I was pretty much having my own relationship struggles, my head was all over the place, to notice what Gravel was doing. " Forrest pulls a face "But I would say, if Gravel did do what you think for your Mother, it is more than likely she dealt with Swan and didn't have a clue Gravel was behind it, unless what she was hiding was bad enough for Gravel to have a hold over her. " he laughs "As for her sleeping with Gravel, it was probably inevitable, we all had our chance, from the moment she landed in town to the day she faded, anyone could ride the town bike if they wanted to, and most took it."<br />
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"So have you ever taken your chance?" Crimson frowns at him, which makes me laugh<br />
"Hell no!! I seriously can't believe you just asked me that question." Forrest laughs at Crimson a little awkwardly<br />
"I'm not going to punch you or anything if you did!!" Crimson laughs "Or I'd have to knock half of the town out, starting with T!!"<br />
"I'm no angel obviously, but your Mother, definitely NOT!!" he laughs "Besides, I've always been gay remember ... and hiding Mel and what has been going on here was hard enough without complicating things!!" he smirks<br />
"Leafy, you are as gay as I am, so that won't convince me that you haven't had a ride of the bike!" Crimson laughs at him<br />
"Seriously, not that I have to prove myself, but, before my amnesia it wasn't just a child phobia I was dealing with. According to Mango I also had a Cromophobia too. An aversion to the colour Red. I found my red school mate drown in the meadow pond when I was a child, and after that I hated the colour red with a passion. I saw a red person coming and I walk away. It was that bad that Mango tried to rota me and Cardinal Blush, who is red, on different shifts, just so his colour didn't get to me. So your Mother I have always kept well away from."<br />
"I'm sorry Leafy, I was only pulling your chain!!" Crimson mumbles awkwardly "I didn't mean to make you think I was actually accusing you!!"<br />
"It's fine." he laughs quietly<br />
"I'm just curious I guess. Everyone tip toes around me and watches what they say. Nobody will tell me just how bad she was, and who exactly she got her claws into. I can't help but wander exactly what she put my Dad through!!"<br />
"They don't tell you, because you are her son!" Forrest chuckles "Really you are better off not knowing just how bad she was. I'm sure you have enough bad memories of your Mother to keep you awake at night, without winding yourself up over who she has been sleeping with behind your Dad's back!!"<br />
"I guess." he mumbles<br />
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"Well, It looks like I will have to pay dodgy Swan a visit in the nick. I might just have found something else to pin on Gravel, if we are actually on the right track with all this!" he smirks then raises his eyebrows "So Leafy, can you help me take a quick look at Mom and Dad's medical records."<br />
"Why your Dad's?" Forrest frowns<br />
"Dad's records in Amber, contradict what we know. According to his marriage entry here he was married to Mom, but according to the marriage entry in Amber Meadow, he was not married to Mom at all, but to somebody else."<br />
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I watch Forrest's face drop. He just stands staring at Crimson in a strange way, which puzzles me, and I think Crimson too because he starts to frown at him suspiciously.<br />
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"Leafy ... you know something don't you." Crimson squints at Forrest<br />
"I ..." he stutters and clams up<br />
"Mustard Maize." Crimson just drops his name out then he watches Forrest face twisting. There suddenly becomes an awkward silence in the room.<br />
"Dad you need to spit it out, because unless you haven't noticed you are being interrogated by PC Shine. Even I can see your head is in turmoil right now. Your face has just dropped you right in it!!" I laugh to try and snap them both out of just intensely staring at each other.<br />
"You know Mustard Maize don't you." Crimson squints at Forrest "Of course you do, when he has been spotted visiting Mace in the house you own."<br />
"Have you spoken to any of your brothers and sisters about Mustard since you found out?" Forrest frowns at Crimson.<br />
"No." <br />
"Good!!" he seems to sigh with relief "So is it just you and Mint who knows about this?"<br />
"Yeah ... why?"<br />
"Give me your phone ..." Forrest holds his hand out to Crimson who is just frowning at him "Give me your phone!!" he snaps loudly.<br />
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Crimson glances across the room to where he left his phone. He jumps off the couch and picks up his phone off the desk, frowning at Forrest confused by his request. Before Crimson can stuff it into his pocket, Forrest snatches the phone off him and stuffs it into his back pocket, then he pulls his own phone out.<br />
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"Stay right there and don't either of you move!!" Forrest says quite sternly "I'll have your phone too." he holds his hand out to me and I just numbly pass it to him. If I didn't know he was my Dad right now, I think I would be scared. <br />
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Forrest starts to make a phone call and all we can do is watch him, wandering what is going on. We watch as Forrest closes and turns the key to lock my bedroom door ... Me and Crimson just frown at each other.<br />
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We sit listening to the phone on the other end of the line ringing, when Forrest clicks the call onto load speaker.<br />
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"Well, if it isn't our favourite green thing." Mace laughs "You must be desperate if you are phoning me!" <br />
"Shut up you idiot!!" Forrest snaps "I take it Granite is with you, seeing as you have just answered HIS phone."<br />
"Yeah, he is in the shower. I'll get him to phone you when he's finish." <br />
"No, you need to get him out of the shower!! Crimson has found out about Mustard."<br />
"SHIT!! How?!"<br />
"He's a detective ... I did warn everyone this would happen, but none of you would listen!!"<br />
"Okay you twat ... you was right ... what do you want, a gold medal?" Mace laughs at him<br />
"Shut up you sarcy cow!!" Forrest laughs at him<br />
<b>"GRAN!!!"</b> Mace shouts "Forrest, please tell me Crimson hasn't said anything to Saffy."<br />
"No, thankfully I caught him in time. He is at mine with Mint, and hasn't had a chance to say anything to anyone." he mumbles <br />
"Tell me Mint knows too."<br />
"Yeah." he mumbles <br />
"Shit this is getting out of hand! So how did Crimson find out?" he mumbles <b>"GRAN!!"</b> we hear him shout really loud again.<br />
"Poking around in the birth, deaths and marriages register trying to find his Mom's parents."<br />
"Just hang on ... he can't hear me with the shower running." Mace mumbles.<br />
"Turn on the sink tap ... that will get him out!" Forrest laughs<br />
"Awesome idea!" Mace starts laughing really loudly <br />
<br />
"What's going on Forrest?" Crimson snaps<br />
"Just hold on Crimson ... we will explain everything to you when everyone gets here."<br />
"Who's everyone?"<br />
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Forrest doesn't get to answer his question because we suddenly hear Granite screaming, which sets Mace off hysterically laughing. Forrest starts to chuckle to himself.<br />
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"<b>You TWAT!!</b>" Granite yells "What the hell did you do that for ... you know turning that tap on runs the water icy cold!" he laughs sarcastically <br />
"Leafy told me to do it."<br />
"Yeah right ... stop trying to be funny Mace." Granite laughs "If you are after sex, you are going the totally wrong way about it. My balls have just shrivelled up to the size of peas, from the shock, so you can forget it now!! All you are getting is bent over my knee and a good spanking!!"<br />
"I bet you didn't know Gran has turned into a kinky fuck did you Leafy!!"<br />
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This has us all howling<br />
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"Tell me Leafy is listening to this!!" we hear Granite choke<br />
"Yes baby!! We have a problem ... Crimson has found out about Mustard!"<br />
"SHIT!!" <br />
"<b>Leafy you twat!!.</b>" Granite's voice comes quite loudly out of the phone, which Mace must have passed him "Thank you <b>MATE</b> ... I owe you one for reminding him about the taps!!"<br />
"It was my pleasure." Forrest laughs<br />
"Yeah I bet!!" he snaps "Is it true, has Crimson found out?"<br />
"Yeah, I've got him locked up in Mint's bedroom, with Mint, they both know."<br />
"SHIT!! Mint too?" he snaps "Hang on ... what is Crimson doing in Mints bedroom? I know you would love to see those two together, please tell me you have already been meddling to try and push them together!!" he starts really laughs <br />
"GRANITE just SHUT UP." Forrest virtually shouts as he turns away from us, I think in embarrassment.<br />
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Me and Crimson look at each other. Crimson raises his eyebrows at me which makes me snigger.<br />
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"You have haven't you, you've been trying to play matchmaker!!" Granite starts howling<br />
"No actually I haven't!! We came home and found them together.
Whatever they are doing, they are doing by themselves so JUST DROP
IT!!" he snaps angrily "We have more important things to be worrying
about right now ... Granite concentrate!!"<br />
"Leaf you kill me!!" <br />
"You did hear both me and Mace tell you .... Crimson has found out about Mustard!" <br />
"Yes I heard you!!" he chuckles "Can't you just fob Crimson off and throw him off the scent. He has got enough to deal with at the moment ... he doesn't need this on top, and neither do Scarlet or Saffron. Scarlet is already broken, even though Sunny was not biologically her Dad, to her he will always be her Dad!! Finding this out on top of what she is already trying to deal with, could just finish her off. Scarlet is worrying me enough, but Saffy is really frightening me right now!!" <br />
"Why is he frightening you?"<br />
"He has already started to cut himself again, because his head has totally gone. We should never have let him leave the hospital after the suicide attempt. We should have forced him into a stint in psych. Saffy CAN NOT find out about Sunny and Mustard!! I think you know, it could be disastrous!!"<br />
"I did think about trying to cover it up for a minute, but what's the point Gran. It is too dangerous, especially for Saffron. I am afraid it will blow up in our face if we don't deal with this properly!! Crimson is training to be a Detective, he has found a lead, and he is going to keep digging until he uncovers all of the truth. We can't stop him now!!"<br />
"So what are you suggesting we do?"<br />
"It is better if we all sit him down and tell it to him properly. We can contain it then, if he goes off half cocked only knowing half the truth, it isn't going to take Saffy long to find out, and that is the last thing we need Like you said it could be disastrous!! We need to do what we did with Ruby, just because Crimson knows, it doesn't mean they all have to!!"<br />
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"I suppose, we could try that again."<br />
"It is the only thing we can do to avoid another mega bomb dropping on the extended family!!"<br />
"I guess we had better round the troops up then! We will come round to yours, it is safer than doing it here." he mumbles "What about Mustard?"<br />
"I think Mustard needs to be here. I doubt Crimson will believe us otherwise, he needs to hear it from the horses mouth and see some proof, photo's and stuff." <br />
"Okay .. I'll get Mace to phone Mustard, while I get hold of T .. you track down Tapestry and expect us to land pretty soon." <br />
"I'm going to have to tell Mel, aren't I ... she's going to wander why I've got these two locked up in here and why you lot are landing. I won't be able to hide it from her, she can read me like a book when I'm lying." he mumbles "and Meadow is here."<br />
"Get rid of Meadow, way too many people know already ... leave Mel till we get there, she will have to hear it when they do, which is not going to do her blood pressure any good." he tuts "I guess she will have to know, because we are going to have to keep Crimson at yours and away from Saffy and the others, until he gets the shock out of his system!!"<br />
"Okay"<br />
"We need to hope we don't get the same kind of performance out of him as we did Ruby!!"<br />
"I doubt we will. If it was Strawberry then yes, but not Crimson. I'm sure he is sensible enough to do the right thing especially for Saffy."<br />
"I bloody hope so!" he mumbles "Tell Mel to get the kettle and cheese toasties on. We shouldn't be too long!" <br />
"Okay." Forrest mumbles.<br />
<br />
Forrest closes his phone and stares down at the floor like he is deep in thought.<br />
<br />
"Forrest .. you need to spit it out .. what is going on?" Crimson snaps at him<br />
"You will find out as soon as they get here." he mumbles<br />
"I would rather you told me now!!" he snaps angrily "You can't keep
me and Mint locked up like this against our will!!"<br />
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"I'm sorry Crimson, arrest me later if you feel you have to. However I think you will probably be thanking me instead, for stopping you from doing something stupid, especially talking to any of your Brothers and Sisters. That door will only be locked until the others get here. You need to hear the whole story and all the facts before you react to it. Everything we have done, was to protect you and your siblings from the truth and spare you from a lot of heartbreak."<br />
"You need to tell me ... spare us from what truth ...."<br />
"Please don't start bombarding me with questions ... everything will be explained to you properly when Granite, Mace, Turmeric, Tapestry and Mustard get here." he frowns at me "Unfortunately Caramel and Mint are going to have to hear it too, and like the rest of us, they are going to have to be trusted to keep it to themselves." he rolls his eyes "Crimson, we hoped that none of you Shine kids would ever find out, and now that you have, unfortunately we can't spare you from it. I just hope you are going to do the right thing, by keeping it to yourself, and spare your siblings from the same heartache that you are about to face, especially Saffron."<br />
"I'm not going to like this am I?"<br />
"No unfortunately you won't." he mumbles "I need to go downstairs and get rid of my Sister. You heard Granite, they are on their way, and as soon as they get here, we will be up to explain everything to you."<br />
"Just answer me one question then I'll shut up until they get here .... " Crimson asks Forrests who just rolls his eyes and laughs "I've heard Saffy mentioned a few times now by you, Granite and Mace, and I get the feeling you are trying to protect him in particular. I highly doubt that the Amber marriage register is a clerical error, and you've kind of confirmed that between you keep mentioning Mustard. Mustard is a bloke ... and you gay guys protect your own ... "<br />
"I'm straight remember, you have got the proof sat right next to you." Forrest grins and holds his finger up which makes both of us laugh<br />
"Okay so I forgot for a minute, that you've been pulling the wool over all our eyes for the last twenty years ..." Crimson laughs "Oh fudge I really can not believe that I am just about to say this!!" Crimson runs his fingers through his hair like he is suddenly stressed out. "My Dad ... was he doing the same or a similar thing as you ... was he ... was he secretly gay?"<br />
"Yes detective, that is exactly what he was." he mumbles quietly<br />
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<br />
Forrest smiles sympathetically. before he walks out the bedroom and closes the door behind himself. I am already in shock as we sit quietly and listen to him turn the key in the door.<br />
<br />
"This has to be a joke, right?!" I turn to stare at Crimson<br />
"Leafy didn't look like he was joking to me." he mumbles "That conversation that we heard, sounded all too serious to be a joke!!"<br />
<br />
Crimson stares at me wide eyed before he throws himself forcefully back on the bed. He just lies there quietly for a moment, staring up at the ceiling, before he starts to hit his forehead with the palm of his hand.<br />
<br />
"Stop it!!" I snap as I grab for his hand "You are going to hurt yourself!"<br />
"Hurt!" he laughs sarcastically "What are a few slaps compared to the hurt that I think my Dad is just about to deal me!!" <br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-13410965218375993882018-07-03T08:06:00.001-07:002018-07-03T08:06:40.224-07:00Chapter 66b - Gen 2 - MintAfter leaving the kitchen we make our way upstairs.<br />
<br />
I don't have to
show Crimson the way to my room, as he used to spend a lot of time in this house with
Cinnamon when we were younger. Even though I can not ever remember him
spending any time in my bedroom, which I shared with Fudge, he knew
which door to open.<br />
<br />
I follow Crimson into my room. I am staring at my books underneath the television that are not in their normal place, and can already tell that Forrest has been in here cleaning and tidying up. As I am not paying attention, I crash into Crimson, unceremoniously, when he suddenly stops dead in front of me.<br />
<br />
"Wow!!" he laughs as he stands staring around the room <br />
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<br />
"This is my kind of room ... " he laughs "You have an office in your bedroom. ... I love it!!"<br />
"Really!" I laugh "It generally annoys most people!! Parsley used to hate it!!" <br />
"It is probably just me. I'm an ambitious workaholic, who doesn't know
how to clock off. I am well known for falling asleep at my desk or in
the squad car. I wake up and am straight back on the job. Half the
time I don't find my bed for days." he grins at me "With this set up,
you can just roll out of bed and get straight to work, or visa versa,
roll into it when you can't keep your eyes open any longer!!"<br />
"Oh I do that quite often!" I laugh<br />
"So what do you do, constantly work from home?"<br />
"Pretty much!" I smile at him "Journalism is not really a nine to
five job. News can break at any time, day or night. It is more about the
articles I produce not about the hours I spend doing it. So my office
hours are flexible, and I do tend to do most of my work from home."<br />
"It's pretty cool!" he smirks then suddenly frowns "You are off duty right? I'm not going to be reading my life story in print any time soon am I?<br />
"Hell no!!" I laugh "I always ask before I start creating news articles."<br />
"Really!" he raises his eyebrows "What about the naked woman in the divebar!"<br />
"Oh don't!!" I start laughing "I'm sorry, the rules don't apply to Strawberry, when I can get a pound of her flesh!! Both me and Tap have many scores to settle with your Sister, so we jumped on the opportunity to dish the dirt!! Don't think we didn't have both Sunny and Mango tearing strips off the both of us because of it!"<br />
"I still don't understand where her head was at! She wasn't even drunk enough to have her dancing naked in a public bar .. for Berry's sake!!" he starts really laughing "I am just glad that Tapestry had the sense to warn them not to send me, when the force went in to arrest her!! I was on duty that night ... I would have had nightmares forever if I had seen her dancing naked!!" he chuckles<br />
"I'll tell you where her head was at. Even hating Tap's guts, trying to get her claws into a rich and famous rock star, that was her game. When he knocked her back, she obviously must have thought he would not be able to resist her naked slut dance." I laugh "Tapestry walking away was the best part!! I doubt many men would have."<br />
"I'm glad he did, or I would have had to knock him out for hurting Crystal." he chuckles quietly.<br />
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<br />
"Do you mind if I have a nose?" he points over towards my notice board.<br />
"No I don't mind, knock yourself out!"<br />
"What is the fascination with the deserted warehouse in the middle of
town?" he mumbles as he glances through the papers pinned to the board
"It is almost like you have an investigation going on here!"<br />
"I have pretty much! It has become my obsession." I laugh "Not that I am getting very far with it, or that there is really much point to it now that I am moving to Berry Shores."<br />
"So what are you looking for?" he glances over his shoulder at me <br />
"Basically, that place really bugs me!! It is one big abandoned suspicious mystery ..."<br />
"As well as one hell of an eyesore sat smack bang in the middle of town!!" he laughs<br />
"Exactly!! Someone needs to do something with it. That building or
the land it sits on, could be put to some use to benefit the town. Instead it is just
sitting there empty, littering up the skyline, making this town look like a dump. If I had my way, it
would be demolished!!"<br />
"I have always been led to believe it is a protected listed building."<br />
"It is registered as a listed building. Although, I don't understand
why. It is not like it is anything special that I can see or find. It
doesn't have any historical significance and it isn't an architectural
wander ... it is just a plain and simple quick build concrete block, no
different to any other warehouse." I frown at him "Has your job ever taken you inside the grounds?"<br />
"No. That place is a red taped nightmare for us!! Especially at times like this, with Alpine missing, we have to get permission to enter the grounds to search them. Then we will have a security presence escorting us around, so I've been told, it is ridiculous." he smiles "It is all very cloak and dagger if you ask me. Not even the force has any clout as far as that place goes!! I've always presumed because they are trying to protect the listed building."<br />
"The place is as suspicious as hell with it's eight foot walls and all that barbed wire making it impossible for anyone to get over the wall and into the grounds. Then there is the multi padlocked gates, that are also spiked and barbedwired to hell. Twenty padlocks I've counted on that gate!! You can see from the rusted gates, chains and padlocks and the overgrown jungle inside the grounds that nobody has opened or been through those gates in a very very long time!!"<br />
"Yeah that is why we didn't bother to get permission when Tapestry and Honey were missing and now with Alpine. You can see clearly nobody has entered the grounds from the gates, which is the only way to actually get in without fading yourself trying!" he chuckles <br />
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<br />
"Do you know who owns it?" he frowns at me<br />
"That is just the thing. Some woman who faded over six hundred years ago."<br />
"What?!" he starts to really laugh "Don't you mean sixty years ago."<br />
"No, six hundred!!" I smile at him "If she was alive today she would be over 700 years old!"<br />
"That can not be right Mint!" he laughs "There is no way that
warehouse building has been there for over six hundred years!!" <br />
"No it hasn't. That warehouse was only built one hundred and
twenty-one years old. It replaced a warehouse that was demolished the
year before. In fact, there has been seven different warehouses on that
piece of land over the last seven hundred years. As soon as one comes
down, a replacement springs up in it's place."<br />
"So I take it, this six hundred year old woman owns the land rather than the building."<br />
"Yes on paper she owns the land. If she owns the land, she also owns what's on it,
including the buildings." I smile at him "Something is very suspicious
about that piece of land and especially the warehouses that have been
built on it."<br />
"What do you mean?" he frowns at me<br />
"Besides the mystery of who is actually controlling and responsible for
that land today, seeing as the registered owner faded over six hundred
years ago. A woman who as far as I can see had no living relatives
even before she faded. Her story alone is pretty fascinating, if you
want to believe that white berries existed until they were persecuted
out of existence!!" I laugh and he grins at me. "Only one of the seven
warehouses has ever been a working warehouse as far as I can see. The
first warehouse was a textile factory, until it was burnt to the ground
in an unexplained fire. All the other warehouses that have followed
were built and never put to use. As far as I can see they have all sat
empty. just like this one does now." I roll my eyes "There seems to be a very strange reoccurring pattern happening, approximately every one hundred years, almost like it is being done on purpose. ALL seven of the
warehouses have been suspiciously registered as listed buildings the year they were built. They sit empty and heavily guarded by all the security measures, then all of them
have burnt to the ground in unexplained fires. All except for the one that is standing there
now. If this warehouse goes like all the others, time wise, we are about due for an unexplained fire."<br />
"You are right, this does all seem very
suspicious!!" he smiles at
me "Would you mind if I helped you with this in my spare time?"<br />
"That would be great!!" I smile at him "Another head on the case
might breath some new life into it. You might be able to find something
I am missing, I just keep hitting brick walls with it now."<br />
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<br />
We
leave the warehouse notice board, realising we have been distracted
away from what we came up here to do. We make our way over to the
computer and laptop, getting our head into the mission of trying to find
Ruby's family.<br />
<br />
Crimson, logs both the lap top and computer onto the network of birth, death and marriage data bases, using his police logins. I am quite fascinated with it, as they are usually not accessible to the general public as a mass. Now I can access any town I want and have the whole world open in front of me. For me it is quite exciting.<br />
<br />
We work quietly for a while, me on the lap top and Crimson on the computer. <br />
<br />
"You know this town is crap!!" he mumbles after only a short time.
"Nothing is ever done properly in this dump of a town." he points at the screen
and laughs<br />
"What am I looking at?"<br />
"Mom and Dad's marriage entry, and all the bloody blanks that <i>should</i>
be filled in, that aren't!! All that tells me is their names, dates of
birth and the date they got married, which I already know!!" he tuts
"It is ridiculous, you know at work we struggle all the time, it's like
nobody gives a shit about administration in this place!! As long as there is a
record of them getting married - the rest doesn't matter to them."<br />
"Yeah I know, I have the same sort of problems with work sometimes. Think about it, why should they bother. It is not like the rest of the
world gives a flying shit about what goes on in this town. It is not like
we have to answer to anyone!! They just leave us here to rot and do our own thing ... which I guess we do."<br />
"I know, but
still it's wrong!! Its our history that they can't be bothered to preserve!!" he tuts "Take Dad for instance ... I now have to search the
Amber data base to fill in his blanks - because I know where he comes
from, so I can. However, it is Mom's blanks that I need filling in and I don't know where she comes from and this marriage entry should tell me,
but it doesn't because some mixed berry idiot has only done half a
job!!"<br />
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<br />
"Chill!! We will find her ... "<br />
"Seriously Mint, just punch in the name Ruby Red, and just see how many
there are. Like all actually colour surnames, Red, Blue, Green ect,
there are millions of them!! Finding my mom is going to be like trying
to find a needle in a hay stack!!" he laughs "We have to find her to
find her parents ... by the time I bloody find them, she will just be
bones!!"<br />
"Crimson are you sure you should be
doing this?" I frown at him "It can't be easy for you, your Mom has
only just faded, and I think you know you are probably setting yourself
up for a slap in the face when you do find them. The chances of their opinion of colour mixing and mixed berries changing is very slim, otherwise they would be in your life already.<br />
"Yeah I know. I have already thought that myself." he mumbles "But I HAVE to find them, and do the decent thing, even if it is only for my own peace of mind!!"<br />
"I can see that you are
getting yourself worked up already. You should be grieving not putting
this pressure on yourself."<br />
"What choice do I have!
They have a right to know and I wouldn't live with myself if I didn't
at least tell them." he mumbles "Besides, if I don't do it, who will."<br />
"I could do it for you, and I'm sure if River isn't busy,
he would help me. You know this sort of thing is right up his street."<br />
"Oh I don't know ..." he frowns at me "Anyway Mint, you
can't talk to me about not grieving. Shouldn't you be getting yourself
worked up into a state over Alpine right now like Fudge is. Even getting
upset over your break up with Parsley or getting angry over the only
thing left of Cinnamon, his baby, has been tainted by my Mother and the
evil phyco?"<br />
"I'm not made that way ... I'm better
shutting myself off and doing something. It's not often you will see me
openly showing my emotions or crying, but it doesn't mean I am not
feeling it or don't care!"<br />
"Exactly, the same way that
I am ... so me doing this is what I need to do, because if it isn't
this I would only be doing something else, like going to work." he
smirks at me as he wags his finger "You are more like Leafy than you
realise ... Mini Leaf!" he laughs at me "That guy never shows any
emotion either!"<br />
<br />
I laugh at him as I hit the return
key, I had already put the name Ruby Red into the search bar ... I sit
and watch as thousands of them flash up onto the screen, there are not
millions like Crimson said, but close to 40,000, I can see when the
search is complete. Working through every one of them is going to take
us MONTHS and we have less than a week. Needle in a haystack is right
... at least if we knew which area she came from, it would give us a
better chance.<br />
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<br />
I sit thinking for a moment, then I get
an idea. I pull up the news data base that I use everyday for work, and
log in. Just as I start to type in her name, Crimson starts swearing
loudly.<br />
<br />
<b>"WHAT THE HELL!!"</b> Crimson roars suddenly, making me jump.<br />
"What's wrong?"<br />
"I thought I would be able to find Mom via Dad seeing as his records
should be and are complete the Amber end. I just searched for his
marriage records, and according to this he is not married to Mom at
all." he is really frowning at me as he points at the screen.<br />
"Are you sure you have the right Sunny Shine?"<br />
"Yes, positive, Sunny Sun Shine ... there is only actually one
recorded in Amber .... his date of birth, place of birth, parents names ...
everything is perfect and correct, except for the marriage records." he
flips a page "Look there is his twin brother, Saffron, exactly the
same date of birth, place and parents names ... registered as
deceased." he flips the page back "According to the Amber register, Dad was married
to someone call Mustard Maize ... " he frowns for a moment "...
exactly two weeks before the Sugar Valley register says he married Mom."<br />
"That has got to be a clerical error."<br />
"Even though I highly doubt it, I hope it is just a clerical error, because if this Amber entry is true ... he was committing bigamy from the moment he married Mom!! His marriage to Mom would not have been legal or even real."<br />
"It's got to be a mistake ... otherwise wouldn't you have seen or had wind of this other wife. How could anyone juggle two marriages without it being noticeable!" <br />
"Oh this gets worse ... it is a Husband not a Wife!! Mustard Maize is male!!" he chokes "That definitely has got to be a mistake!!"<br />
<br />
I was thinking that the name Mustard Maize belongs to a woman. Crimson
repeating the name Mustard Maize again, and saying he is male, sets
alarm bells ringing in my head ... I know a man with that name!!<br />
<br />
"Mustard Maize .... Oh sugar ... I know a man with that name!!" I laugh nervously,
which causes him to really frown at me "It is probably just a wacky
coincidence, but I have seen a guy with that name, here in Sugar. He is
friends with Mace and Tapestry ... Jasmine is always talking about her
Uncle Mustard."<br />
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<br />
"I've never come across him." he frowns at me again<br />
"I have seen him at Forrest's house a few times, when I've been there
hanging out with Bay ... actually he is yellow and gay. I've even seen him taking Jasmine out."<br />
"This seems all a bit odd!!" he frowns "Where does he come from, because he doesn't live in this town."<br />
"Apple I think ... I'm sure Bay said he was a friend of Maces from
Apple. He was best friends with Mace and his wife, before he did his
disappearing act."<br />
"Hill or Valley?"<br />
"Apple Hill." Crimson turns back to the computer screen "Like I said,
it is probably just a wacky coincidence, there has to be more than just
one Mustard Maize on this planet. I presume the Amber lot have got his
records mixed up and the Mustard Maize you are looking at comes from
Amber .. I bet it is just a clerical error ..." I start laughing
"Sunny was fiercely homophobic ... him married to a man ... that is just
down right nonsense."<br />
"Yeah just like we would have
thought Leafy being straight would be nonsense." he laughs for a
minute "I don't know .... I am SERIOUSLY beginning to think something
funny is going on here ..." he mumbles as he turns to look at me "This
Mustard guy was also born in Amber. He is the same age as Dad all but a
few months ... and get this ... the marriage ... it took place in Apple
Hill." he starts to choke as he stares at me wide eyed "I am getting a
really nasty feeling about this ... they were both born in Amber ...
married in Apple, why would they both come from Amber and get married in
this neck of the woods? Why would they live in neighbouring towns
now? That has to be more than a coincidence ... Dad worked in Apple, I
always thought he spent way too much time there, he virtually lived in
the place ... " he starts to choke again, but he doesn't tell me what
he is thinking.<br />
"Where did he work?"<br />
"The name of the company he worked for was <i>Maize</i> Engineering." his eyebrows almost launch off his face "Oh fudge!!" he snaps as he turns back to the computer.<br />
<br />
I watch him typing something frantically into a search engine.<br />
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<br />
"What are you doing?" <br />
"Checking out the place where Dad worked. Most places have a web page these days." he mumbles as he starts to
look over the page that he has just pulled up. "Oh Fudge!!" he chokes<br />
"What?!"<br />
"I
bet you can't guess the name of the guy who owns the place."<br />
"Mustard Maize?"<br />
"Yep!!" he snaps "Dad started working there not long after he left
school and moved to this town. He was working there for over twenty
years ... you know I found it <b>VERY</b> strange that not one single person
that he worked with turned up for his funeral!!!" he stares away
thoughtfully for a moment "Oh berry ... why am I not thinking!! I am
so stupid!! Mustard Maize, I also know that name!!" he jumps up out of
the chair, almost like he is having a panic attack. "Fudge Mint ...
why didn't I piece this together before now!!"<br />
"What?!"<br />
"The guy who showed the Amber police, the tree which Crystals twin
sisters remains were buried under. He was an old school friend of my
Dad's from Amber Meadow, as well as an old boyfriend of Dad's gay twin
brother Saffron. He remembered which tree Saffy faded falling out of
... that guy who just so happens to also be yellow, gay and living in
Apple Hill now ... for berry sake I've even spoken to the guy myself ..
" his eyes are virtually popping out<br />
"His name wasn't Mustard Maize by any chance?"<br />
"Yeah it was ...." he mumbles "Oh shit!! He also showed Tapestry and River where Saffron's grave is, when they went out to Amber with Dad's body."<br />
"Why did Sunny want to be buried in Amber?"<br />
"To be with his brother Saffron." he laughs sarcastically "Now I am beginning to wander!! The guy on the marriage certificate. The guy who
owns the place where Dad worked. The guy who helped Amber police with
their enquiries. The guy from Apple who is Maces mate .... the chances
of them being four different people is virtually impossible in my
book!! There are too many Apple Hill coincidences for them to not be
the same person!!" he snaps "I feel like I'm doing a damn jigsaw and all the pieces are falling into place!! The finished picture is not pretty!!"<br />
"I think you might be right, because
that is him!!" I mumble as I point to a picture on the web page. "That
is Maces friend. That is the guy I've seen at Forrest's house."<br />
"Are you sure?"<br />
"Yeah. I'm sure! No girl forgets a cute face, especially when it is wasted on a gay guy!!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
Crimson is chuckling at me when he
pulls out his phone. While he is calling someone I turn my
attention back to the news archives that I had been glancing through.
While I've been talking to Crimson I've scanned quite a lot of articles,
but I notice that Ruby Red as a complete name have started to peter
out. So I punch in Strawberry Fields boarding school and quite a few
articles pop up.<br />
<br />
"Mace is not answering his phone." I hear Crimson mumble from behind me<br />
"Try Granite, Shale even El, chances are he will be with one of
them." I mumble "Or Tapestry, he seems to be really good friends with that Mustard guy too."<br />
<br />
I click on an article that attracts my attention, and what looks
like a very familiar face jumps out at me. I sit staring at it for a
second, wandering if I am imagining things. I start to read the
article.<br />
<br />
"MINT STOP!!"<br />
"What?!"<br />
"Look at that picture ...."<br />
"Yeah I'm just looking at it ... she looks like Ruby."<br />
"That is my Mom!!" he squints at the picture "That is how she
looked at school, surely you've seen their old school photographs."<br />
"Yeah that's what I thought ... I've actually pulled up a news
article from the boarding school in Strawberry Fields that they went to
... but look at her name"<br />
"Ruby Blaze ..." he frowns at me<br />
"Ruby Red Blaze. Red being her middle name not her surname." I point
to her full name lower down in the article "And according to this news
article, she has been a missing person since she was expelled from
school, because of being responsible for starting a fire that caused a
lot of damage. They actually made a play of her surname Blaze, with her
setting a fire!!" we stare at each other for a moment.<br />
"That is definitely, my Mom. Mom did get expelled ... I'm sure you've
heard the story. It was set up, Ice burnt down the music room, so that
they could get Mom expelled and brought here because she was pregnant
with us. Before the pregnancy started to show and she got into trouble
for colour mixing. There being no red boys at the school." he chuckles<br />
"Yeah ..." I mumble as I point at the date of the article<br />
"Yeah, that's the year me and Cherry were born." he pulls a face, then
frowns <br />
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<br />
"She has had contact with her family since then, I'm sure she
has. She must have done, she told us they washed their hands of her
because of me and Cherry being mixed berries." he laughs "I guess she
did a runner from the boarding school and didn't tell them where she was
straight away.."<br />
"You are a police officer, can't you
check to see if she is still listed as a missing person ... because
doesn't it seem strange that you thought her last name was Red when
according to this it is Blaze."<br />
"Yeah I was just thinking
that myself ..." he mumbles as he jumps back on the computer "I'll
have to pop into work and check the missing persons database."<br />
<br />
I
open another news article that the search has thrown up relating to
Ruby and the school. I blink a few times when I see the date on the top
of the news article.<br />
<br />
"Crimson look!" I point
at the screen. Crimson was just about to make a phone call, but he
stops and drops his phone on the desk.<br />
"Oh Fudge!" he
frowns "I was six, nearly seven then!" he continues to frown at me
"She told us she went to see her parents just after we were born ..."<br />
"Another lie?" I mumble "You don't think she is STILL missing do you"<br />
"The way my Mother sneaks and lies .... seriously I wouldn't be surprised at all!!" <br />
"Well at least we know where she came from now."<br />
"Where?" he looks over his shoulder<br />
"Red County." I laugh at him as I point to it in the text.<br />
"Huh! That figures ... being red!" he starts laughing "Yeah on Mom
and Dad's marriage entry here she is definitely down as Ruby Red ... not
Blaze ... which is making her look as dodgy as Dad right now!! Why
would she NOT tell us her surname is Blaze? Why hide it and tell us it
is Red?"<br />
"Maybe because she was trying to hide something,
her pregnancy and the colour mixing. So she would want to hide her
identity and whereabouts possibly .... what about if she lied to all of
you and has never contacted her family since she left the boarding
school ... what about if they STILL don't know where she is."<br />
"She wouldn't would she?" he frowns at me then pulls a face<br />
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<br />
"She lied about Saffron, Scarlet and all the affairs she's been having, her name, and I can think of half a dozen lies she has been called on over the years, so yeah ... I guess she could have."<br />
"I don't know, but I doubt she would have got away with hiding
for long, she was a teenager and she might have covered her name up here
by marrying Dad. However, her medical records, she couldn't have
covered them up or her true identity without getting a fake
identification like Mace did, or having them fraudulently fabricated
...." he trails off and starts to look thoughtful<br />
"Gravel got Mace the fake ID didn't he." I smile at him "Gravel who is Scarlets Dad ... think about it!"<br />
"Yeah I just did as I said fake ID... Gravel popped up in my
head too." he pulls a face at me "Scarlet did come pretty quickly
after me and Cherry ... and Mom was in this town over a year before
everyone else left school, so I guess it could be possible that Gravel
helped her, for a price of course .. which was probably payment in kind,
knowing my Mother, and the unexpected prize was Scarlet!!" he chokes
but I can't help but snigger at what he has just said. "I think I need
to pop into work and check the missing persons database ... we could
just be getting carried away here, and it's more likely she contacted
them later, like she told us and her family really did not want anything
to do with us because of being mixed berries."<br />
"Have you tried to search for her on the Red County data base?"<br />
"That is exactly what I am doing right now!" he mumbles then
smirks at me "You need to quit journalism and join the force. You
would make a good detective, you've definitely got the brain for it ...
and I think we would make a good team!"<br />
"Partners in crime!" I laugh at him "Not a bad idea, I've always had a thing for handcuff!!"<br />
"You kinky minx!!" he starts howling "Next time I see you, I'll have to remember to bring my handcuffs!!"<br />
"Only if I can wear your hat, PC Shine!" I laugh at him<br />
"That can definitely be arranged ..." he starts laughing<br />
<br />
I know he's only joking ... but I wish!!<br />
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<br />
I
continue reading another article dated four years after the last one we
just looked at. The photo on the articles is all too familiar ...
because I have seen it before. I jump up out of my chair, and run down the
stairs after I've told Crimson I will be straight back. I run into
Dad's room and grab his photo album and leg it back up the stairs.<br />
<br />
"What you got?" Crimson frowns at me<br />
"Alpine's photographs from school." I mumble<br />
<br />
I flip the pages until I
find what I am looking for. An end of year photograph of the whole gang together.<br />
<br />
"Look .. it is exactly the same picture." I show it to him as I point to the one on the screen.<br />
"Oh shit yeah!" he laughs then frowns "How did they get that photograph? Dad has got that one."<br />
"They all have one don't they ... "<br />
"Oh yeah, its an end of year photo." he points at the date "I've
never noticed that before because Dad has his in a frame and the date is
hidden." he smiles at me "As they are all on the photo, I guess a
teacher or photographer would have taken the picture."<br />
"I don't get it ... if she was still missing, when you was six, surely
they would have questioned her school friends after she went missing, as
they would have been the last one's to see her."<br />
"They should have done at one point." he frowns at me "If I was at
work I could tell you, but I don't have access to the data base or case
files from here." he goes quiet for a moment as he thinks "As they
were still at school for a year after she went missing - I would say
they questioned them during that year ... and at the time, I guess they
would have been covering for her. As they helped to smuggle her here,
they would have kept quiet because of the colour mixing, they could all
have got into serious trouble for it." he smiles at me "If they all
said she was expelled and they haven't heard from them since, and don't
know where she is ... they might not have bothered to ask them again."
he shrugs "We are just guessing at the moment and could be way off!!"<br />
<br />
"I've found another one ... she was still missing when you was errr ... ten."<br />
"Why am I not surprised!!" he mumbles<br />
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<br />
"Woohoo, I think I have
found her!! Oh Berry ... her parent's names ... Crimson and Scarlet ...
her Mother's maiden name is Tart, which is
Straw's middle name. I would say I have found her!!" <br />
"Yeah Crimson is the name of her Dad in this article." I burst up laughing "Oh Berry!!"<br />
"What?" he frowns at me<br />
"Seriously ... you need to look at this ... you need to see what your Grand-FATHER does for a living!!"<br />
<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-67826482364060323802018-07-01T02:03:00.002-07:002018-07-01T02:03:40.290-07:00Chapter 66a - Gen 2 - Mint<br />
The last few days have been hell, and I need something to switch my head off from it all. So I decided to go to the library, in search of a new book to read. Hoping that I will be able to lose myself in a world of fiction, for a while, and block out the reality of my life.<br />
<br />
As I walk into the dingy library, the stale musty smell always hits me and turns my stomach, but I know after a while of breathing in the horrible smell, my nose will get used to it. It would help if they opened the windows occasionally and let in some fresh air, but I don't think they ever do, not even during the summer months when it is sweltering in here. <br />
<br />
I have to laugh sometimes, because I think I am the only person who ever uses the library in this town. I glance over at the old woman sat behind the desk and smile to myself. My smile is wasted on her, because as usual, she is fast asleep, probably because of the boredom of her job.<br />
<br />
All I generally hear in this place is the ticking of the clock, which is occasionally drowned out by the sound of her snoring. I always wander how she sleeps at night when she spends her whole day sleeping at work. I don't even bother to wake her up any more to check books in and out. I do it myself.<br />
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<br />
As I round the corner and walk past the main book cases in the centre of the library, I hear a clicking sound and somebody coughs. This tells me that unusually, I am actually not alone in this place like I normal am. I follow the sound to see who else is in the library with me.<br />
<br />
I spot that one of the Shine twins is in here, sat on the old computer in the corner. I can not tell which one because the twins both look exactly the same all but their eye colour, and I won't know which one it is, until he turns around. As I stand and watch him, I realise it has to be Carmine, because Maizie is still in the hospital after his surgery. I am very surprised that he is even out of the house so soon after his Mother's death, and because of the circumstances, I'm very nervous about facing him.<br />
<br />
I have half a mind to just turn around and walk out of the library, to avoid him and save the hassle, not really in the mood to have him kicking off at me. I have already had quite a few mouthfuls off Strawberry over the last few days, and they weren't pleasant ... anyone would think, I have faded her Mother hearing her carry on!!<br />
<br />
Before I get a chance to walk away, he looks casually over his shoulder, like he could sense me standing here. I am very surprised when he actually smiles at me, which I didn't expect, so I nervously smile back.<br />
<br />
"You can relax Mint ... I am not going to bite your head off!" Crimson laughs at me as he swings around in his chair a little.<br />
<br />
I am a little shocked that it is actually Crimson, and not one of the twins. For a split second seeing the yellow eyes I was thrown and thought it had to be Mazie. However, hearing his voice and taking a good look at his face, now I can tell it isn't one of the twins. Crimson is wearing his hair in a different way, exactly the same as Maize and Carmine normally do, tied up in in two pony tails. I can't help but stare at him, seeing how different he looks ... a hell of a lot cuter than I already think he is!!<br />
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<br />
"I am not as stupid as my baby sister ... neither are the rest of us!!!" he smiles at me "I've already had Bay walking on egg shells around me because Straw has been kicking off at him, and like I told him, we know whatever Alpine has done, is not any of your faults .... so don't stress."<br />
"I'm relieved you feel that way ... I really can't face anyone else kicking off at me over it!"<br />
"Both of our families have enough upset going on over the Gravel bomb, especially because of Mom and Alpine. The last thing we need to be doing is fighting between ourselves." he smiles at me again "She forgets your lot are suffering too, but you know Straw!!" he rolls his eyes "She has to kick off just for the sake of it, because she loves the attention and to let everyone know she feels hard done by!!" he smiles at me "I'm sorry she has kicked off with you."<br />
"I think it was inevitable, as you know I have always been her punch bag because of Parsley."<br />
"If my memory serves me right, you have always been her punch bag, even before Parsley." he chuckles "I heard you two have broke up and you are back at your Moms. I'm sorry!!"<br />
"I'm not sorry!! I was mad to go back to him in the first place!!" I smile at him and try to change the subject with the first stupid thing I can think of to say. "What have you done to your hair."<br />
"Oh don't." he laughs with embarrassment as he runs his fingers through his hair "It's Saffy and Carmine, they have been playing ... they reckon I look too much like Dad with how I normally wear my hair. I'm upsetting them, especially Saffy, apparently." he rolls his eyes<br />
"It suits you." I smile at him<br />
"Thanks. I see you've changed your hair too." he laughs "Although, every time I see you, you have it different. What do you do, change it every day?"<br />
"Pretty much." I laugh at him as he takes a quick glance at the computer screen then starts thumping the keyboard in temper.<br />
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<br />
"So what are you up to, besides trying to break the keyboard?"<br />
"I am trying to hunt down my Mothers family, but I don't have a clue where they might even be. I think they at least have the right to know she has faded and be given the opportunity to attend her funeral. However, this old piece of shit is not being very cooperative. The keys keep getting stuck down."<br />
"Probably because it rarely gets used." I chuckle "I thought you would do that sort of search at the station or at home." I frown at him<br />
"I'm on compassionate leave, and they don't really like us doing personal stuff at work. If Cinn was here or El wasn't on maternity leave, then I probably would have done it at work, with their blessing. The stand in chief is a right ass, so I dare not even ask!!" he laughs quietly "I have sneakily printed off a load of criminals with my Mothers maiden name off the data base, but I am hoping it is none of them." he rolls his eyes "I could have done it at home. However home, as you can imagine, is very depressing right now, especially with Straw's carrying on!! I just want some peace and quiet." he grumbles.<br />
"I guess that was a hint for me to take a hike, and leave you in peace."<br />
"Hell no!! Don't go!!" he jumps up out of his chair, strangely he seems a little panicked. "Peace from the tart and all the crying, is all I meant. You are welcome to stay and keep me company, as long as you don't want to cry on me, talk about baby Cinnamon, Scarlet's biological Dad, Mom or Alpine!!"<br />
"It's fine by me!! It would be nice to take time out from all the drama!!" I smile at him<br />
"I doubt I am going to get anything done on that old computer anyway. The noise it is making is putting me on edge ... I am actually sat there waiting for it to blow up on me." he chuckles<br />
"You could always come back to mine if you want some peace and quiet and a decent computer to work on. I have a laptop you can use, and Forrest has just bought me a new desk top. I also have a printer. It beats you sitting there struggling and writing it all out by hand" he smiles at me<br />
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<br />
"I could even help you with your search, if you want, I have got nothing better to do. I was only going to get out some new books and do some reading just to take my mind off everything."<br />
"Is it wise me coming to yours under the circumstances ..." he raises his eyebrows<br />
"Yeah why not. We are family remember, now even more than ever now we share our new little Nephew. You are right, we shouldn't be fighting between ourselves." I smile at him "Even after everything that happened and was said, my Mom is just as upset over Ruby as the rest of us. You won't get any trouble at ours!! Mom is really worried this is going to split the extended family up ... so us hanging out together, we will be doing our bit for world peace." I punch the air as I grin at him<br />
"Oh you idiot!!" he starts howling at me<br />
"Anyway, Mom and Forrest are out with Meadow, they are driving around Apple, Raspberry and Sugar Falls looking for Alpine. So we will have the house to ourselves for a while."<br />
"Lucky them!! At least they can get out of this dump without breaking the law, because they weren't created from their parents sin!!" he mumbles as he starts packing away the papers he has in front of him and shutting down the computer.<br />
"I guess you feel the same way as I do then. I HATE being a mixed berry!!"<br />
"That makes two of us!" he laugh quietly then grins at me "Yeah I will come to yours if you don't mind, and your offer of help is appreciated ... Saffy, Maize and Carmine think I'm barking mad even looking for Mom's family, seeing as they turned their backs on all of us because we are mixed berries."<br />
"Yeah, as you probably know my Mom's family have done exactly the same." I smile at him "So I guess we might have this very same dilema to face one day, but I know where my brown Grandparents are roughly ... they are in Rocky Falls."<br />
<br />
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<br />
As soon as we get into the house, I ask him if he is hungry. Even though he says he is not hungry, I feed him anyway.<br />
<br />
We sit at the kitchen table eating a sandwich, while we chat about random stuff, avoiding our taboo subjects. I laugh to myself as I watch him munching through his sandwich quite enthusiastically.<br />
<br />
"You did not do too badly for someone who said they weren't hungry!" I laugh at him as he stares down at his empty plate.<br />
"Yeah." he glances up sheepishly "I have not really eaten much over the past few days ..." he mumbles then laughs "Not because I can not feed myself, I just haven't been able to face it!!"<br />
"I can imagine!!" I smile at him sympathetically.<br />
"I didn't realise how hungry I actually was until I started eating this."<br />
"Your stomach growled when I mentioned cheese and ham, so I knew you was hungry, even if you was saying you weren't." I smile at him "Do you want me to make you another sandwich?"<br />
"No I'm fine." he smiles at me "Maybe I can order us in a pizza later, or I could take you to the Bistro ... a thank you for helping me with the search."<br />
"The Pizza sounds good as long as its ...." he holds up his finger and buts in<br />
"Ham, Mushroom and Pineapple, I know!!" he chuckles "I've heard you and Parsley arguing over pizza toppings many times remember!"<br />
"Yeah that's my favourite!" I grin at him, very surprised that he would even bother to remember what my favourite pizza toppings are. "Not that I used to get it very often with him around!!" <br />
"Forget him, you will get your favourite today!" he smiles at me "Thanks for making me eat!" <br />
"You are welcome."<br />
<br />
Crimson, gets up and takes our now empty plates
over to the sink and washes them up. Unlike Parsley, it looks like Crimson is house trained!!<br />
<br />
He comes back over to the table,
and sits down opposite me, to finish drinking his coffee.<br />
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"I know you said you didn't want to talk about it, but I need to ask you something." I look at him sheepishly. "When they do find Alpine ... what do you think the police will be doing with him." I ask him nervously, expecting him to snap at me for bringing up one of our taboo subjects, but he doesn't.<br />
"He will only be charged with involuntary manslaughter. Coal and Maize have both said they don't want to press charges. I highly suspect, because of his brain damage, that he will be sectioned under the mental health act, rather than be punished by the law." he looks at me glumly<br />
"So he is going to end up getting locked up either way." I mumble<br />
"Unfortunately yes!! However, he won't be going to prison, which is a blessing with his brain damage. He will be placed in a mental institute, they are not the best places, but it will be a lot better than the alternative. It will be more like he's in permanent hospice care." he smiles at me "Don't think because my Mother faded as a result of his actions, that I will be gunning for him!! Regardless of what Straw is stupidly saying, we do all know it was purely just an unfortunate accident. It doesn't seem right that he has to be punished at all." <br />
"I am surprised to hear you saying that!" I smile at him<br />
"Honestly I don't blame him for kicking off ... I kicked off at her myself and said some awful things. Gravel of all people, and it has totally ripped us all apart and destroyed some of us." he smiles at me thoughtfully "I have known Alpine all my life, and I can't imagine that he would have deliberately faded Mom, even after she did provoke him to lose his mind, reminding him that Cinnamon has faded!" he rolls his eyes<br />
"Yeah Tapestry told me about that ... what was she even thinking?"<br />
"Berry knows, but my Mother has always had a very selfish and spiteful streak!!" he tuts "The words came out of her mouth and I seriously hated her in that moment. Before he even reacted to her words, we all knew what the consequences would be ... Alpine completely losing it!!"<br />
"It is all such a mess!! Strawberry isn't helping screaming her shit!!" <br />
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"Seriously Mint, just ignore her, everyone else is!! Nobody is taking a blind bit of notice of her rambling. All she is doing is making a fool of herself as usual!! Unfortunately, she is her Mother's daughter, in virtually every way!!" he rolls his eyes again<br />
"So only she thinks he faded Ruby on purpose."<br />
"Yes, she is the only one!! If Alpine was here he would be just as upset as the rest of us, and how it happened, it was obviously accidental. He didn't mean to fade her, its not like he beat, strangled, stabbed or purposefully went for her ... him throwing the furniture around in the room he was doing in anger. Both he and Tapestry are well known for smashing things up when their heads go." he chuckles "It was just unfortunate that my Mother was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it hadn't been for Coal, it could have been both of our Mothers. I'm glad Caramel only got off with a few bruises, stitches and she didn't lose those babies." he smiles at me "It could have happened to anyone of us in that room, Bay, Maize, Granite, Turrmeric, Coal, your Mother, Tapestry while he was getting Scarlet and the baby out of the room, me ... I was there too remember. So I know he didn't do it on purpose and everyone who was in that room has given the same witness statement and said it was just purely an unfortunate accident." he smiles<br />
"We are worried that the police might think he has done a runner and is hiding out. Especially if it takes them a while to find him." I tut "They might even think that we are hiding him!!"<br />
"You don't worry about that, we know you aren't hiding him!!" he smiles at me "Both me and El know about his condition, so the force are well aware of it!! We know he has just had one of his outbursts and breakdowns, over the baby and Gravel, and everything Forrest had to tell him about himself and his parents, with the blue coming out in the baby. He was very upset, which is understandable. It was a lot for anyone with a normal head to deal with, without having brain damage. It was inevitable that Alpine would blow." he smiles sympathetically<br />
"I just wish we knew where he is and why he isn't coming home. It makes it look suspicious, like he<i> is</i> hiding out!! He hasn't had his meds for two days either, it is worrying us sick!!" I mumble as I start to get a little upset.<br />
"I can imagine!!" he reaches for my hand across the table. I am a little surprised by the way his hand feels on mine. My skin is tingling where he is touching me, and I can feel sparks of electricity running up my arm. I wander if he feels it too as he quietly stares at our hands for a moment.<br />
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"If he hasn't had his medication, he is probably wandering around somewhere not even knowing his own name right now, and that is probably the reason why he isn't coming home. I doubt it will be long before he gets picked up. The police don't think he is hiding out, because he doesn't even know what happened after he stormed out of the room does he. He doesn't know Ruby faded, or that Coal and Maize were seriously injured." he smiles at me "Don't worry, I'm sure he will be home soon, safe and sound."<br />
"Has anyone ever told you how nice you are." I laugh at him<br />
"Not lately." he laughs back at me<br />
"Anyone else would have been kicking off in your position."<br />
"Only Straw is kicking off Mint, and what is the point!! It was just an unfortunate accident and all the kicking off in the worlds is not going to change what happened or bring my Mother back is it." he smiles at me <br />
"Wisty must have been pretty damn mad cheating on you and letting you go!" I say out loud, not really meaning too.<br />
"Yeah well, it happens as you know yourself - Straw and Parsley. I am <i>never</i> taking her back and Mr older married man dumped her too - so Wisty got exactly what she deserved."<br />
"Did you find out who he was?"<br />
"No, and to be quite honest I'm not interested. It is probably someone in Rainbow who I will never have to know or see. I put money on it being one of her Uni lecturers." he smiles at me "So what happened with you and Parsley? I thought you loved him."<br />
"To be honest, I'm not even upset, and whatever feelings I had for him, are now completely out of my system. I was stupid to go back there, and I am relieved it's over!!" I roll my eyes "We are just too different, it would never have worked. He is lazy and has got no drive, and I don't think he will ever cut the apron strings and move out of his Dad's place." I laugh "I'm moving to Berry Shores and he isn't interested, so I quit on our relationship sooner rather than later. Besides Straw is bugging him again and he doesn't get rid of her quickly enough for my liking ... Strawberry is welcome to him!!"<br />
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"Are you really moving to Berry?" he grins at me for a moment. "So am I, isn't that mad!! Saffy and Atlas are moving out there after the trial, Maizie is going with them and taking Poppy, so I decided I'm going too. There are far better job opportunities out there for me. I can't go much further with my career in this town, and Berry is a lot better than this dump so I've been told."<br />
"Exactly why I'm going - especially the better jobs." I smile at him<br />
"Are you going on your own?" he frowns at me<br />
"No, I thought you would have heard ... the idea was Mom relocating because there is no hospice in this town for Alpine when he eventually needs full time care. Me, Fudge, Mosaic, Mom, Forrest, Meadow, her kids, and Alpine .. were all supposed to be moving out there together. Coal has said he also wants to come with us too."<br />
"Oh, so I suppose that won't be happening now, with what is happening with Alpine."<br />
"Oh yeah, we are still moving, regardless of what is happens to Alpine ... if he gets locked up, Shale says we can apply to have him transferred out there. But I guess we might have to delay going for a while, until they find him and sort all this mess out."<br />
"Why have you suddenly started calling him Alpine?" he frowns at me<br />
"Now if I say Dad, everyone asks which one, and I'm getting sick of it. It is just easier to call both Forrest and Alpine by their names when I'm talking about them."<br />
"Yeah we have had quite a week of shockers ... Crystal carrying quads. Gravel being Scarlet's real Dad. Coal being your half brother. Caramel being pregnant. My Mom fading. Saffron trying to top himself. The secrets Caramel, Alpine and Forrest have been hiding, especially about their relationships .... but Leafy NOT being gay, having a child phobia and being yours, Bays and Fudges real Dad ... is right up there!! I'm not sure I'm ever going to get over that one." he starts to howl "Although, looking at you now, it is so damn obvious that Leafy is your Dad. It is hysterical!!" he grins at me<br />
"Yeah I know." I grin back at him "I don't think any of us bothered to look past the gay thing. I look at a female version of his face in the mirror every morning and still even I didn't see it."<br />
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We sit laughing at each other for a moment.<br />
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<br />
"So how far have you got with searching for Ruby's family?"<br />
"Not very far. I had only really just got started when you walked in." he laughs "I am totally blind at the moment ... I don't have a clue where her family might even be. They were never really talked about by my parents. I only know her family name is Red and that she has two brothers and I think a Sister, but I'm not even too sure about that. I could have just imagined her siblings, because we all think different things. " he rolls his eyes.<br />
"Don't any of her school friends know?"<br />
"No. I have asked Mango and his parents, but they can't remember where Mom came from, and neither does your Mother or Ice. Lilly obviously doesn't have a clue because of her amnesia and there is nobody else to ask. Prelude can't remember either, he is the only other one now that was around and close to them when they all left boarding school and came here. Jazz, Dad and Cosmic have faded, Alpine and Lime are Awol so I'm stumped." he laughs <br />
"Have you asked Turmeric .... " he frowns at me which makes me cringe. I'm now regretting even mentioning it. "I'm sorry ... but I'm sure you know T and your Mom .."<br />
"Huh, yeah. Now we know where Straw gets it from!! Gravel, Turmeric and berry knows who else!!" he grumbles "I didn't think about Turmeric actually, good thinking bat girl ... I'll give him a call." he smiles at me as he pulls out his phone.<br />
<br />
While he is talking to Turmeric on the phone, I give the kitchen sides a clean. Forrest has a fit if we leave things lying around unclean and unwashed. It is like living with Bay again, they are both obsessive neat freaks, which is pretty hysterical when my Mother in particular has to be one of the untidiest people I know.<br />
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"No, no joy, he doesn't have a clue either." he pulls a face at me as he stuffs his phone back into his pocket. "Can you believe that guy is actually heartbroken!! She never talked about her family to him either ... yeah I bet, they had far better things to do!" he laughs sarcastically which makes me snigger.<br />
"Have you tried the boarding school?"<br />
"No there is no point .... we found out during Honey and Tapestry's abduction that the boarding school was closed down years ago. I could apply officially for Mom's school records, but it will take time. Time being something that we don't really have, its not like we can hold off her funeral forever." he laughs quietly<br />
"I take it you are the only one who thinks you should find Ruby's parents and siblings, seeing as you are doing this on your own."<br />
"Only Cherry agrees that they have a right to know. She has her hands full with the triplets, as well as she is worrying herself sick over both Saffron and Scarlet. She is spending as much time as she can with both of them, so she doesn't have time to help me."<br />
"She is not coping is she, Scarlet."<br />
"No ... far from it. It was always going to be hard for her with Cinnamon faded, but the Gravel bombshell just made it impossible for her to cope with. Mom fading hasn't really helped much, especially as we were all livid with her when it happened." he pulls a face "I guess you know Granite and Mace are looking after baby Cinn right now, while Crystal, Saffy, Slate and Bay are trying to pull her out of the state she is in."<br />
"Yeah, I know she is at Taps and has moved in with Granite, which I was really surprised by at first, the last thing I thought she would have wanted was reminding of is that family."<br />
"Yeah well we all know that Granite and Shale are not Gravel, and they are a good family that have actually suffered from his evil madness more than most of us.<br />
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"The Rocks are pretty tight as a family, and most families have a bad apple in them, unfortunately Gravel is theirs. I think ALL of us are really struggling to look at that baby right now except for Granite, he has Clay too remember, and he is very happy to be gaining another Neice and baby to look after. Scarlet and baby Cinn being with Granite is probably the best thing for both of them right now. Saffron, Bay and Slate are there, and when we were kids if you remember, she was pretty close to the three musketeers who are pretty much back together again. Her being there is also giving Saffron something else to focus on rather than his own problems" he smiles at me "At ours, Straw would not have done Scarlet any good, and as far as babies go, I'm useless. Being the eldest, I have a funeral to arrange and all her shit to sort out. Maize doesn't stop crying, you know how over emotional he is. For Maize this has brought Dads grief back with them going so close together. He in particular is not coping very well with now being parent less. So we wouldn't have been much help to Scarlet ... she is in the best place right now."<br />
"What is happening with the house now both Sunny and Ruby have gone?"<br />
"Strangely everything was left to only me, the house and money ... which I find very odd, even if I am the oldest!!" he rolls his eyes "I guess She couldn't even be bothered to put the effort into making a decent will!!"<br />
"That is strange, when there are seven of you!!"<br />
"Yeah, I know!! I would like to believe that she was too upset to make a proper will straight after Dad faded. He's only been gone a month. Maybe she intended to do it at a later date, when she felt better. None of us could have dreamt that she would follow him this soon!!" he frown "Although she has been acting <i>very</i> strange since Dad faded. She was far from heartbroken, which you would expect after over twenty years of marriage. Not that you could tell most of the time that they even liked each other, let alone loved each other!!" he chuckles "She has been very angry since he faded, and I haven't quite been able to work out why!"<br />
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"So what are you going to do with the house and money. I'm not sure, if I was in your shoes, that I would be comfortable with that situation. Especially keeping it all, when my siblings had nothing!!" <br />
"No I am far from comfortable with it, and am annoyed that she has put me into this situation!! Obviously all my siblings <i>are</i> upset!! Not because they are bothered about the money, it is the principal of it and the message it sends. They feel unloved and rejected by it. It is like a final insult for them from her. She probably thought, or knew, that I would not keep it all for myself, and that I would play the peace keeper. The peace keeper being what I have always been in our family." he rolls his eyes "Me, Saffron and Maize don't need the house, with the three of us moving to Berry. Scarlet is moving to Cherry Hill with Granite. Carmine and Cherry have their own
houses. That only leave Straw. She is going to move in with Carmine, so I can sell the house and split all the money seven ways. It is only right that all of us get an equal share of everything. I was going to split it eight ways and give Vanilla Honey's share, but Tapestry has told me not to. It is not like Vanilla will ever be short of money in the future with his career. So I'm splitting it all between the seven of us."<br />
"You are cute!!" I smile at him "Most people would have just taken all the money and ran! Legally you could as it was all left to you."<br />
"Yeah well, I'm not made like that. The last thing I want is all of my Brothers and Sisters being upset
and falling out with me!! Now with Strawberry I can see the appeal, I
would get some peace from the tart, but not all the rest!!" I normally would have laughed at what he has just said about Strawberry, but something else he has said is bugging me.<br />
"Did you say Scarlet is moving to Cherry?" I frown at him<br />
"Yeah ..." he winces "I'm sorry, I've put my foot in it haven't I. I've obviously beaten Scarlet to it ... she was going to talk to your Mom about it today. I'm sorry!!"<br />
"It's fine if she was going to tell Mom!!" I smile "I worried for a second that she is planning to move away without telling us and cut us out of baby Cinn's life!"<br />
"Hell no!! She would never do that!!" he smiles "She realises moving to Cherry might make seeing him a little awkward for you all. She feels really bad about it, but it is something she needs to do!!" <br />
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<br />
"She needs to get out of this town and start a fresh life with her Rock
family, who she has a right to get to know, especially Clay. She will
be out there with Bay, and baby Cinn's life will be a lot better in
Cherry than it ever will be here. The reason why Slate is taking Amber to Cherry and why Maize is taking Poppy out to Berry, to give them a
better life than this dump ever will!!" he grins at me "Besides if
your family are moving to Berry, Scarlet moving to Cherry actually makes the
situation better. You will be much closer to each other than you would
be if she stayed here!!" <br />
"Yeah, Forrest said it is only a two hour flight between Cherry and Berry. It is even a drivable journey, if you don't mind spending a day doing it!"<br />
"See." he smiles at me "You and your family have nothing to worry about!!"<br />
"I guess not." I smile at him "How do you feel about the people that you will be leaving here when you move to Berry?"<br />
"Obviously I am going to miss some of them like crazy, family and friends ... especially Cherry!!" he looks glum for a moment "Just like I guess there are people that you will miss."<br />
"Yeah, it is going to be mad not having people like Mango and Tapestry around." I chuckle "What about your Grandmother?"<br />
"We did ask her if she wanted to come with us, but she is happy staying here. She has Carmine, Cherry and Strawberry still, and it is not like we will never come back to visit or lose touch." he smiles then chuckles "Besides, according to Tap and Crystal, Gran has something going on with Tap's purple Granddad!! Bed sharing and colour mixing has been mentioned."<br />
"Seriously!?" I choke on a mouthful of coffee.<br />
"Don't say a word!" he wags his finger at me "I don't even want to imagine it!!"<br />
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We both sit laughing at each other.<br />
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<br />
"So what was you actually doing on the library computer?" I ask him<br />
"I was <i>trying</i> to search the birth, deaths and marriage register. Mom and Dad got married in this town, so their marriage certificate should tell me something."<br />
"Her birth certificate should tell you her parents names and where she was born." I frown at him "Wouldn't it just be easier to look at that."<br />
"Yeah it would if I could find it!!" he laughs "We have turned the house upside down looking for it, but do you think we can find it. We can't find any of Dad's papers either, their marriage certificate, their passports. It is like they have all vanished, which is annoying!!" he looks at me thoughtfully "Like I said she has been acting very strangely since Dad faded. It is almost like she has thrown it all away. The only thing we could find is all of Honey's papers, which I've given to Tap for Vanilla."<br />
"What about her medical records?" I smile at him and he starts laughing<br />
"I've already tried that one!! I'm a police officer who has recently arrested and banged up his own yellow Grandfather for his crimes ... so Mango and Ice are very wary. They wouldn't break the law to sneak a peek for me, without something official, and that takes time." he rolls his eyes at me<br />
"I don't know if he would, but I could try asking Forrest when he gets back. As long as you promise not to arrest him."<br />
"At this moment in time, I'm up for bending the law myself, if it helps me find them quickly." he laughs quietly "So no if Leafy does look for me, I won't be busting his ass, I will be grateful." <br />
"I guess we should go up to my bedroom then, and kill some time while we are waiting for Leafy to come home." I laugh at him as he raises his eyebrows at me<br />
"Oh right!" he smirks at me "Is my luck in?"<br />
"My computer, printer and lap top are in my bedroom obviously ... " I laugh at him "I wasn't trying to drag you into my bed!! So no your luck isn't in." <br />
"Typical!! Always Mr unlucky me!" he starts laughing "Come on
then, lead the way to your computer, Mini Leaf. I have Grandparents to
find."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Don't you start ..." I laugh at him as we both move away from the table. "Tapestry is now constantly calling me Mini Leafy."<br />
"Well you are." he laughs as we head towards the living room "Some detective I'm going to make, if I never even spotted it. Just like I never spotted that my own brother Saffron is gay!!!"<br />
"You are not on your own with either of those two ... neither did anyone else."<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-50372911928182467432018-06-15T18:49:00.001-07:002018-06-15T18:49:46.758-07:00Chapter 65b - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
Time definitely feels like it has frozen.<br />
<br />
Nobody moves or speaks. I doubt anyone in the room is breathing right now. I for one am nervously holding my breath again, waiting for some kind of reaction from Alpine. <br />
<br />
Alpine just stands there glaring at all of us. I presume his brain is trying to process the reminder that Ruby has stupidly and spitefully just given him.<br />
<br />
I seriously don't understand Ruby. She knows that reminding Alpine about Cinnamon being faded is going to set him off. So why do it?! Even I am not that stupid!! <br />
<br />
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<br />
Suddenly, and not unexpectedly ... Alpine explodes into a
violent rage.<br />
<br />
"Shit!" Granite snaps
"He should be sedated. How has he even managed to get out of Neurology?" he
mumbles I think more to himself as he quickly pulls out his phone. I presume to phone my Dad, Forrest or
someone on Neurology.<br />
<br />
Alpine starts to storm into the room, towards Ruby raring about
Gravel. Bay, Coal and Crimson quickly jump in front of him, to block his path. Turmeric pulls
Ruby out of Alpines way, while Granite tries to protect Mel, even though he is now on his phone, talking to my Dad.<br />
<br />
I am really glad that I am standing towards the back of the room. I glance down at the baby in my arms who is starting to grizzle. He is reacting to the sudden loud noise of Alpine shouting.<br />
<br />
As I stand rocking the baby, trying to stop him from crying, I watch nervously as Bay
tries to calm Alpine down with Crimson and Coals help, but it does not seem
to be helping. The more they are talking to him, the more he seems to
be getting angrier. Bay is trying to talk him down, but it is not working.<br />
<br />
I watch in horror as Alpine completely loses it, and one by one, he knocks all
three of them flying away from him and across the room. He grabs a closeby chair and throws it, then totally explodes and starts to smash
the room up.<br />
<br />
Every single one of us in this room, I now know is in trouble. <br />
<br />
I
am holding the baby, and all I can think is that I need to get him and Scarlet out of here. I quickly hand Scarlet the baby, put my arm around her and start to lead them towards the door. Things are starting to fly around the room, so I am trying to protect her and the baby from being hit by anything that Alpine is throwing.<br />
<br />
There is total chaos going on in the room now. All we can hear is things smashing, Alpine raring and lots of shouting. This sets the baby off and he starts screaming loudly, just to add to the commotion.<br />
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<br />
Alpine
comes pretty close to us as he is throwing another chair across the room.
The chair bounces off Granite's head, hard enough to knock him off his
feet. The chair leg hits me in the face as it bounces off Granite and flies past me before smashes
into the wall. My eyes start stinging and my nose throbs as it starts
bleeding. I watch Turmeric through blurred vision, trying to drag Granite out
of the room.<br />
<br />
Alpine is now right in front of me, and he glares at us angrily. I think the baby crying has attracted his attention and for a moment he seems distracted by it. I have to stand in front of Scarlet to protect her and the baby, who is now constantly wailing, probably because of all the noises going on around him. I doubt that Alpine would deliberately hurt either Scarlet or the baby. However, he has lost his head and is not in his right mind, so he probably would not know what he is doing.<br />
<br />
Before Alpine can do anything, Crimson
and Bay jump on him, which distracts him away from me, Scarlet and the baby. They knocking him flying and try to wrestle him to the ground. This gives me
the chance to get Scarlet and the baby safely out of the room.<br />
<br />
I hear a load
crashing noise and screaming behind me as I push Scarlet through the
door.<br />
<br />
Shale, who was in the doorway trying to get into the room, grabs a now very frightened and upset Scarlet and takes her and the baby over to the couch.<br />
<br />
Out
in the corridor, I stand frozen while I watch Turmeric holding a struggling Granite down, who has
blood pouring down his face, from a cut on his forehead. I can see my
Dad and River running down the corridor towards us. Forrest is with them, being pushed at speed in a wheelchair.<br />
<br />
Slate is crouched down in front of me, doing something to
Maize who is riling around on the floor in agony. He is also covered in
blood, but I don't know where it has come from, or what has happened to him.<br />
<br />
"T let me go idiot!! Mel, Bay and Coal are still in there. I need to get Mel out!!" Granite yells at Turmeric.<br />
"No Gran!!" T yells at him "Bay and Coal will look after her!! You
can not afford to get any blows to the stomach it could fade you and I'm
not letting you back in there!! I'll go!!"<br />
<br />
I can hear Bay screaming for help behind me<br />
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<br />
"I'll help you get Mel." I shout at him as I turn to run back into the room.<br />
<br />
I hear River and Dad frantically shouting at me. They are trying to stop me from going back into the room, but I ignore them.<br />
<br />
At
first, I freeze, I'm not sure what I'm looking at when I run back into
the room. It takes my mind a few seconds to catch up with the scene in front of me, that my eyes are taking in but my brain is not processing properly. The room now is total carnage. T is stood beside me and I hear him swearing.<br />
<br />
Bay and Crimson are wresting with Alpine. Alpine who has
totally lost the plot!!<br />
<br />
"The filing cabinet." Mel mumbles <br />
"Tap help me!!" T yells at me as he tries to lift the filing cabinet. <br />
<br />
Until
she mentioned it, even though I was seeing it, it had not really registered with me that the filing cabinet is now tipped over and
lying on its side on top of both Coal and Ruby. Mel's legs are trapped under Coal, but she is mostly free of the filing cabinet. The bed and
desk have also been turned upside down. From what I can see of them, Ruby and Coal seem to both be out cold on the
floor. Neither of them are making any sound or moving, and there is blood everywhere ... way
too much blood!!<br />
<br />
Both me and T manage to lift the metal cabinet and roll it away from the unconscious bodies trapped underneath it. T is down on his knees checking on both Coal and Ruby. I see him checking for pulses but he doesn't move either of them.<br />
<br />
I crouch down to help Caramel free her legs from underneath Coal, trying not to move Coal too much. <br />
<br />
"Are you hurt?" I ask Caramel<br />
"I don't think so?"<br />
"We need doctors in here!!" T choke. He is sat on the floor a hand on both Coal and Ruby. I can see he is starting to get upset, but dare not ask him what is exactly wrong. <br />
<br />
I help Caramel get up and onto her feet, and we start to make our way towards the door . I can see she has a nasty cut on her head and face.
Another chair comes flying in our direction and we have to duck to avoid
it hitting one of us. I literately fall out into the corridor trying to open
the door behind me, pulling Caramel with me.<br />
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<br />
Forrest and Dad grab her and pull her away from the door, and straight away start to check her over.<br />
I glance at Shale who is holding Scarlet and Mint has now appeared and is holding the baby.<br />
<br />
"We need medical help in here. The filing cabinet fell on them .... Coal and Ruby are out cold ... one of them is bleeding badly!!"<br />
"Where is Bay?" Forrest shouts at me<br />
"With Crimson, they are still struggling with Alpine."<br />
<br />
I
run back into the room Slate and Granite follow me. Granite
and Slate are down on their knees straight away trying to sort out Coal
and Ruby. Turmeric stands up and looks at me miserably.<br />
<br />
"We are going to have to try and help them!" he mumbles<br />
<br />
Even
with four of us trying to hold Alpine down, we are struggling. He is like
a wild feral animal, lashing out, trying to get free. We are all getting
thumped as well as thrown across the room quite frequently.<br />
<br />
I
can not help but think that we are doing completely the wrong thing,
trying to calm him down. I know from experience that the more I am
touched and shouted at while I am having an outburst, the worse I get.
Really we need to step back and just leave him to run the course of his
outburst.<br />
<br />
Dad and River appear in the doorway, I laugh
quietly noticing they are both armed with a syringe each, which are
probably loaded with sedative. We carry on struggling, trying to hold Alpine down,
so that he can be sedated. At one point I thought we had him, for a moment he seemed to give up struggling. Suddenly he seemed to find some strength from
somewhere as he sprang back into action. He literally throws Crimson and Bay off him. They fly at Dad and River and all
four of them land in a jumbled heap on the floor.<br />
<br />
Me
and T, are not as strong as Bay and Crimson, and we have no chance of
holding Alpine on our own. After only a short struggle, we both go flying,
which set's Alpine free. I hit the filing cabinet pretty hard which
knocks the wind out of me.<br />
<br />
I get back up on my feet just in time to watch Alpine go tearing out of the room ... he has got away.<br />
I just hope he does not continue his rampage out in the corridor. <br />
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<br />
"Shit!!" River snaps "I think Bay has just copped a dose of
sedative. He fell onto the syringe I was holding in the fall." Slate
is down on his knees checking Bay over, who is now spark out on the floor.<br />
<br />
Forrest
comes in and starts to freak out seeing Bay out cold, until Slate
explains that Bay has only accidentally had a dose of sedation in the
struggle. In amongst all of this horror, I find what has happened to Bay
pretty funny. No doubt we will have a good laugh about this in the future,
but not right now.<br />
<br />
"We should chase after Alpine." I mumble<br />
"No Tap!! Leave him, he is too dangerous in this mood." Forrest snaps as he stares around at the mess of the room a little wide eyed. "Security have phoned the police, we are just going to have to let them deal with him. Hopefully he will just wander off
home or to the cemetery and calm himself down. That's what he normally does."<br />
"How did he get out of Neurology?"<br />
"Mint and Fudge took me down to see Saffron." Forrest mumbles "River was watching him."<br />
"He woke up very angry." River mumbles quietly "When I tried to give him another dose of sedation ... he socked me one, knocked me out and did a runner."<br />
"One of the nurses found River spark out on the floor." Forrest chuckles <br />
<br />
I stare at River and notice he has the start of a black eye and a row of stitches on his forehead.<br />
<br />
I
watch Granite, as he interrupts us, pulling River and Dad over to Ruby. They all crouch
down while River and Dad both check her over. They sit whispering
before they all get up. I notice Coal is no longer in the room, they
must have taken him out. Turmeric is not in here either.<br />
<br />
I wander why they are just leaving Ruby lying there ... but I don't have to wander for long.<br />
<br />
"Is Mom okay?" Crimson mumbles as he picks himself up off the floor,
after Slate has treated the cuts on his hands and face.<br />
"I'm sorry Crimson ..." Dad mumbles.<br />
<br />
I notice that River Dad and
Granite are all stood between Ruby and Crimson, like they are trying to
stop him from going to her.<br />
<br />
"I'm sorry, there is nothing that we can do for you ... she has gone." <br />
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<br />
<br />
"What?!" he chokes<br />
"When we came in, she had already faded. While I was checking on Coal,
Slate tried to revive her, but it was already too late. I'm sorry!!" Granite
mumble.<br />
"Mel told us outside that the filing cabinet hit Ruby first. Until she is examined properly we can't say what damage her
body sustained." Dad mumbles "However, we can see that a major vein in her leg has
been severed. So she would have bled out within minutes, and that is more than likely what faded her." <br />
<br />
Granite pulls a sheet off the bed and covers Ruby's body. <br />
<br />
"Dr Muffin they are waiting for you in theatre three" a nurse shouts him from the doorway<br />
"Granite you go ... I am needed here." he mumbles<br />
"He is my Nephew. Are you sure?" he frowns at him<br />
"Yes .. Go!!" <br />
<br />
Granite
smiles at him weakly and takes off running. I'm just stood there numb,
staring at where Ruby's covered body lies, not knowing what to think.
It must have been her screaming when I bundled Scarlet and the baby out
of the room. It is her blood all over the floor. I can't help but
wander if I had tried to pull her out first, if they could have saved her.<br />
<br />
I
also can't help but think, Ruby and Caramel were right behind us,
trying to get out of the room. If we had been a minute slower, it could
have been Scarlet, the baby or even me lying there. I am really grateful now that I sent Crystal and the kids home and they weren't here or in the room when it all kicked off.<br />
<br />
"Tap .. " Dad snaps me out of my daze pulling me over to one side, out
of every ones earshot and starts to try and clean the blood off my face. I can
see he is getting really upset, probably because of Ruby. I can hear a
commotion going on behind me, Crimson has cracked up and River and
Slate are trying to comfort him.<br />
"Are you okay?" he frowns at me as he starts to inspect me like I'm a child.<br />
"I'm fine, stop fussing!" I snap at him as I slap his hands off me.
"I've just had the shit kicked out of me, otherwise I am fine."<br />
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<br />
"Are there any spirits here?" he mumbles quietly<br />
"No, not at the moment, why?"<br />
"Give me your phone." he mumbles, so I numbly pull it out of my
pocket. He goes through my contact list and pulls up a number "I need you
to get outside - speak to Jazz - get him and the spirits out .. they
need to find Alpine before the police do."<br />
"Are you joking?"<br />
"No ... tell Jazz about Alpine fading Ruby, and tell him that he needs to hide Alpine in the Den. If he doesn't
Alpine is probably looking at a murder or manslaughter charge, and that
is just for starters, which will have him locked up for the rest of his
life."<br />
"Is everyone okay apart from Ruby?"<br />
"Maize and Coal are on there way to theatre."<br />
"Why?" I snap<br />
"Maize has pieces of glass and metal in his body and legs, he fell onto the smashed monitor. Coal we think has a fractures skull and possibly some internal bleeding."<br />
"Where is Poppy?"<br />
"Mo has taken her home with him for tonight. He will bring her round to ours tomorrow." <br />
"Is Mel okay?"<br />
"Yeah she's okay, she has just had the wind knocked out of her. Apparently he
knocked them flying when he sent the desk flying at them, They were
already on the floor when he tipped the filing cabinet over. Coal
protected Mel from being hit directly by the filing cabinet. He like Ruby took
the full force of it. Forrest
is taking her for a CAT scan just to be on the safe side, after they
have checked on the babies."<br />
"Everyone else is okay?" <br />
"Yeah as far as I can see. Just cuts and bruises." he smiles at me "Now go and make that
phone call!!" he mumbles "Run!!"<br />
<br />
So I run.<br />
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<br />
After speaking to Jazz, I sneak off to the den to spend some time with Shadow.<br />
<br />
I can not face going back into the hospital, and I don't want to go home just yet. Crystal is upset enough already without having to learn about Ruby fading or that Maize and Coal are in theatre, undergoing surgery for their injuries. I am hoping that she is asleep and won't hear about what has happened until tomorrow.<br />
<br />
I find Shadow sat watching television on his own, amusingly he is watching a programme or documentary about cats. I don't say anything, I just down next to him. He grins at me before he scoots across the couch and sits his cold backside on me.<br />
<br />
"You don't look very happy!" he mumbles<br />
"I'm not really, today hasn't been the best!"<br />
<br />
Shadow puts his hand on my face. I know what he is doing, scouring my memories, to look at my day. Normally I would stop him, but right now I would rather he saw it for himself. It will save me from having to explain everything to him, and no doubt before the day is over he will know what has happened anyway. There is nothing that we can hide from Shadow.<br />
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<br />
I glance at Jazz who walks into the room laughing at something Lime has just shouted at him.<br />
<br />
"I thought you and Omri would be out and helping to look for Alpine." <br />
"Our spirits have it covered. There is no point us vamp's running around town right now, it's not safe." he smiles at me "We are more likely to be seen, especially if the police or anyone else is out looking for him."<br />
"Yeah, I guess, I didn't think about that." I mumble<br />
"Besides, I have your little monster to look after and Omri is on heart beat watch." <br />
"How are Lime and the baby?"<br />
"As you probably just heard, Lime is constantly moaning at me for making her fat. Other than that, she is fine ..." he grins at me "So far so good, the baby, still has a beating heart beat." <br />
"She is mortal that is why!!" Shadow mumbles without taking his eyes off the television screen. "I have told you, she is like Vanilla, I can hear and smell her! She has no venom in her." he tuts "You are watching and suffocating Mommy for no reason now. That babies heart is not going to stop beating. Not until she is old and wrinkly and old age gets her like it gets most mortals!"<br />
"So you keep saying Mr know it all ..." Jazz laughs at Shadow "As much as I want to believe you, I can not just take your word for it, can I!?"<br />
"I am right ... you will see!!" Shadow sniggers "And don't forget, I am chosing the babies name!!"<br />
"Oh fudge!" I laugh thinking about the name he has given his new kitten.<br />
"We will see!" Jazz laughs at Shadow <br />
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"So ..." Jazz mumbles as he looks at me and I watch his face turn serious "What is this I hear about Vanilla. She is projecting spirit sight and sound to you mortals."<br />
"Who told you?"<br />
"Who do you think! Sunny." he chuckles<br />
"Yeah, I should have known it would be him!!" I snap "He's an idiot!!"<br />
"Tap you know, you seriously need to be telling me these sort of things about Vanilla!"<br />
"Why? So you have an excuse to drag her into your world ... well you can forget it!! It is not happening!! I hope she never has to see this place, or even learn that you cold blood suckers exist!!"<br />
"The way things are going with Vanilla ... it might have to happen." he smiles at me<br />
"Seriously it doesn't!!" I snap "It is bad enough knowing Shadow is in constant danger, without putting her into it too!!" <br />
"I have been told that she is starting to do things on a level with Shadow. I seriously need to have some contact with her, so I can assess how much vampire she has in her."<br />
"Don't you start!! She doesn't have any vampire in her!!" I snap "She is completely moral, you heard Shadow, Vanilla has no venom in her."<br />
"Shadow is a vampberry, but still he is doing a lot of mortal things that no other vampire or vampberry can do!!" he smiles at me "I'm worried she might be a mirror of Shadow, a mortal with vampire abilities. River is right, when he says she had the venom running through her, even if it was only for a short time, and it could have affected her in some way. We have to know what we are dealing with to help keep her safe!!"<br />
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<br />
I jump up when I hear Cosmic and Storms voices in the room. Anything to avoid having this conversation and argument with Jazz. The same conversation and argument that River likes to keep having with me.<br />
<br />
"Have you found Alpine?" I ask<br />
"Yeah, he is sleeping it off in the cage. Maizie has had to sedate him." Cosmic smiles at me<br />
"Man he put up a right fight ... he was yelling at a tree when we found him!" Storm laughs <br />
"What happened Tap? How did he fade Ruby?" Cosmic is frowning at me.<br />
"It was an accident, he lost it at the hospital. The Gravel bomb obviously unhinged him. Forrest also had to tell Alpine he is a mixed berry and about his parents unpleasant history. His head went and he smashed the place up. " I mumble "He tipped a metal cabinet over on top of Coal, Mel and Ruby."<br />
"Mel and Coal are okay aren't they?"<br />
"I think Mel is okay. Coals in theatre, fractured skull and internal bleeding Dad says. Maize also got hurt enough to need surgery."<br />
"Alpine is seriously going to hate himself when he calms down." Cosmic mumbles<br />
"So what are you planning to do with Alpine?" I laugh "Keep him away from the police, by hiding him in the den forever?"<br />
"Kind of." Jazz chuckles "We are waiting for your Dad to turn up, so we can sort it all out."<br />
"Yeah I guess if he is staying here, he will need his meds and other stuff."<br />
"Alpine won't need his medication for much longer." he
laughs quietly "We are going to be either fading or turning Alpine."<br />
"WHAT?!" I choke<br />
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"His life, as he knows it, is over now he has faded someone, even if he didn't mean to. Prison or a mental institute is all he has to look forward to, if the police get a hold of him." Cosmic smiles at me "Here he can exist either in vampberry or spirit form and be free."<br />
"Can't you just keep him here as he is, WITHOUT fading or turning him??"<br />
"Not really!! You know it is not safe here for you mortals, it is bad enough that we have Lime here and you three visiting. It is also not fair to keep him here as a mortal and leave him suffering with his brain damage when we can free him from it completely."<br />
"Are you saying, by fading or turning him, you can rid him of his brain damage?" I frown at Cosmic<br />
"Yes. Omri for example, he had cancer and was close to fading when Jazz turned him. Alpine can live free of his problems in an immortal form." he smiles at me<br />
"Becoming immortal he won't have any more contact with his family. What about if he doesn't want one of your immortal lives ... are you just going to force him?"<br />
"Hell no!!" Cosmic laughs "When he has calmed down, he will have a choice. He will decide how he wants to live the rest of his life. As a mortal, vampire or spirit. If he wants to avoid the consequences of what has happened today, then he can join us. However, like you said, that comes with a price, no contact with his family and also we have to take Lime into consideration. If he can't accept and be civil with Lime because of Jazz's involvement with her and the baby, then unfortunately he can't stay and join us.<br />
"So what if he doesn't want to become an immortal or he can't accept Lime being here." <br />
"Then unfortunately we will just have to wipe his memory, of his visit here, and let him go back to the life he knows. We will just have to wait until he is ready to join us, whether that be through choice or when his mortal life ends."<br />
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<br />
"You sound like you have already thought this all out." <br />
"We have. We have a dream. We would like all ten of us
here together in the end in either spirit or vampberry form." Jazz
laughs "However, I'm not sure that can happen realistically. Us boys
yes, I am sure Alpine will want to join us and the five of us will be
here together eventually. <br />
"Does Dad know that you have an immortal life planned for him!" I laugh<br />
"Yes he does, and he is all for it." he smiles "He has chosen the spirit route when it is his time."<br />
"Seriously!?" I choke<br />
"The girls joining us, that is going to be a little more difficult we think." Jazz mumbles <br />
"Talking of which, me and Storm should go and help Sunshine sort out our first difficult problem!!" Cosmic laughs at Jazz "Do we let her stay or do we make her pass over?"<br />
"Who?" I frown at Cosmic<br />
"Ruby. Sunny and Saffy are waiting for her to wake up."<br />
"Oh heck!! I never gave a thought to her not passing over and her spirit wandering around." I mumble "That is not good - she is nothing but trouble!! Oh boy, her and Sunny are going to be constantly fighting, especially now she knows about his gay status!! She will hit the roof when she finds out the truth about Honey and Shadow." I mumble as I stare at Shadow for a moment<br />
"Yeah we know!! We are going to be getting a fireworks display" Cosmic chuckles "That is why the decision is going to be difficult."<br />
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I glance at Storm who is quietly laughing<br />
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Suddenly I feel very sick!!<br />
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The thought of Ruby staying, learning the truth and wandering around with the other spirits makes me very uncomfortable and nervous!!<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-86689926857899993352018-06-01T08:20:00.001-07:002018-06-01T08:20:05.173-07:00Chapter 65a - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
After visiting Saffron in intensive care, I help Crystal strap Snow and Vanilla into the baby seats in the back of my Grandmothers car. I wave them off, wishing that I was going home with them. I have to take time out and sit outside the hospital, for a while. I smoke a cigarette while I am trying to clear my head, .<br />
<br />
I rub my temples and wince, because I can feel a headache coming on. My head is literally spinning out of control with everything that is going on, after the Gravel bomb was dropped on everyone. I knew today was going to be a hard day, but not this hard!! I just hope that I can survive the day without having an emotional outburst.<br />
<br />
While in reality, Gravel being Scarlet's Father, does not really affect me in anyway. However, I am having to watch everyone around me breaking, including Crystal. Emotionally I already feel totally washed out. It is hard not the think about miss Cinnamon today, and just having to watch Saffron and Atlas crying, dragged me into joining them, which really has not helped me.<br />
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Saffron especially has thrown everyone through a total loop today because of the Gravel news. None of us actually thought about Saffron and how all this might affect him mentally. The Gravel news was enough to mentally tip him completely over the edge, because it has affected him a way that it affects nobody else.<br />
<br />
Saffron does not care that Scarlet is now only his half Sister, or even that Gravel is her Father. It is Sunny again that his emotional and mental torment is tied to. Saffron already felt isolated, forgotten, alone and unloved, being separated from his parents and siblings since the age of fourteen, which has broken the bond that should be there between them. Along with the years of mental and physical abuse that Sunny dealt him, has really messed Saffron's head up. Finding out that Sunny treated Scarlet, knowing that she is not biologically his child, a lot better than Saffron, who is his biological child, has left Saffron broken, probably beyond repair. <br />
<br />
Crystal is also really worrying me at the moment. Upset is the last thing that she needs right now in her condition, which is already delicate because of the four babies that she is carrying. She has been very upset, finding out that she is not actually
related to Scarlet by blood. When I had to sit her down, out in the corridor, and tell her about Scarlet's real Dad, who is not Sunny. It
really upset her. Scarlet and Saffron are the two out of all of her
Nieces and Nephews that she has grown the closest too. She became pretty hysterical when she was told about Saffron trying to fade himself. She didn't take either news very well at all.<br />
<br />
I take a deep breath and paste a fake smile on my face, before I push open the door and walk into Scarlet's
room, wandering what I might have to face. More emotional stuff, I
could do without, but doubt it is far from over yet!! I would and should have gone home with Crystal, Snow and Vanilla, however, I promised Scarlet I would pop back and tell her how Saffron is doing.<br />
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<br />
"How is Saffron?" Scarlet asks me as soon as I walk through the door<br />
"He is not too good." I smile at her weakly<br />
"He's not alone is he?"<br />
"No, Slate and Cherry are with him at the moment. Dad has made up a rota, so he is not going to be left a lone for a single second from now on. Until we know he is mentally stable at least." I smile at her<br />
"Is Crimson not with him?"<br />
"He was, but he is off on one of his missions. He has gone out with Granite, they are trying to find Ruby." I smile at her "Berry help her when they find her, the mood both of them are in." <br />
"Yeah I can imagine." she laughs quietly "Where is Atlas?"<br />
"Taking a break ... begrudgingly." I chuckle "Mace and Affair have dragged him off kicking and screaming. They are making him eat something."<br />
"Has Saffron said anything yet?"<br />
"Yeah!" I grin "We finally got him to open up, and he is talking."<br />
"So has he said why he did it?"<br />
"Yeah. He said it was a spur of the moment thing. He went into the bathroom just to cut his legs, but it all got a little too much for him. " I mumble "He cut his legs four times and it wasn't taking his pain away, so he went for his wrists. In the moment he just wanted an end to all his mental torment." <br />
"But why? What upset him so much to make him want to try fading himself?"<br />
"Sunny. Even though he isn't here, he is continuing to <i><b>SERIOUSLY</b></i> mess Saffy's head up!! It is because Sunny knew you was not biologically his child, and the way that he treated you so much better than he treated Saffron. He treated you like his little favourite princess, it didn't matter that you was not his child, while he treated Saffron, his own biological child like total and utter crap. <i>"Way to feel even more unloved</i>" were his exact words!! On top of everything he is already mentally trying to deal with, this just tipped him over the edge."<br />
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"I knew it! This is all my fault!!" Scarlet snaps and starts to get upset.<br />
"This is NOT your fault!! Nobody blames you, especially not Saffron!! Scarlet, please don't get upset. His emotional breakdown is all on Sunny!!"<br />
"He must hate me!!" she starts to snivel<br />
"Seriously he doesn't hate you!! Saffron is sorry that he has made a hard day for you even harder." I mumbles "Please don't beat yourself up over it, Atlas is doing enough of that for everyone. For Saffron, as usual it is all Sunny!! Gravel being your biological Father doesn't even bother him!!" <br />
"I wish I could say the same!" she grumbles "How is Atlas?"<br />
"He's blaming himself for not seeing the signs. For not thinking that Saffron would go as far as to try and top himself. He also thinks it is his fault, because he was not quick enough to stop Saffron from trying to do it."<br />
"Yeah it has got to be very hard on Atlas especially."<br />
"It is. He nearly lost him and now he is terrified of leaving him alone. Emotionally it has knocked Atlas through a right loop. He is thinking all sorts of silly shit!!" I mumble quietly "Granite has phoned Compass, Atlas's brother. He's catching a flight from Cherry later. If you remember he has worked in Psych in the past, and he helped Slate, through his problems. Having his Brother here should help both Atlas and Saffron." <br />
"It just keeps snowballing doesn't it!! This is affecting ALL of us in different ways. I seriously didn't think it would affect Saffron this badly tho."<br />
"I'm not sure any of us saw this coming with Saffron, even with the self harming that he is still doing. I hope he pulls himself together before I go away, I won't be able to not worry about him!!"<br />
"When are you off on tour Tap?" Scarlet asks me quietly.<br />
"Four weeks, it starts officially." I smile at her "We have three gigs in Rainbow in just over two weeks to warm us up. I'm back for just over a week, then we take off for three months."<br />
<br />
Scarlet jumps off the bed and checks on the baby, before coming to sit down in the chair next to me. <br />
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<br />
"Are you looking forward to the tour?"<br />
"Yes and No." I roll my eyes "I'm excited about the tour itself, however, It is going to be hard work, a lot of travelling and I'm not going to enjoy being away from home for so long, especially Crystal, Vanilla and Snow. I'll probably spend most of my time worrying about Crystal, especially with the condition she is in."<br />
"Yeah and who's fault is that Tap!!" she laughs at me "Four babies I ask you .... talk about being greedy!!"<br />
"Seriously I would have been happy with just one!!"<br />
"Nilla is well excited!" she laughs quietly "She keeps telling me she is getting four new brothers .... she's told me if they are girls she is sending them away because she doesn't like girls."<br />
"Yeah she has told me that too. She will never speak to me again she recons if she gets any Sisters." I laugh "But you can't really blame her for not liking girls, when she has Coral and Cotton around here ... Brat Princess one and two, are enough to put anyone off having Sisters."<br />
"I get that, you've got Coral and we have Straw!! Nightmare Sisters!!" she chuckles "Vanilla is okay with Amber, Poppy, Sugar and Marigold isn't she?" she frowns at me<br />
"Yeah she's fine, so I really don't understand where she is coming from." I laugh<br />
"Why didn't Crystal and the kids come back with you?"<br />
"My Gran has taken them home. Crystal was getting tired and overly upset. Being here wasn't doing her much good. It isn't really the best situation for Vanilla and Snow to be around either. I had to tell them a white lie, I said that Saffron had fallen over and cut himself. I don't really want them knowing the truth, especially with Saffy being thier favourite Uncle. Vanilla especially loves him and Atlas to bits."<br />
"That's understandable, you not wanting them to know the truth about what he tried to do. Vanilla has already had enough loss to deal with - Honey, Sunny, Cinnamon." she smiles weakly "I guess Crystal was getting upset over Saffron." <br />
"Yeah, she is worried about Saffron, but she is also working herself up into a state over not being related to you by blood any more."<br />
"Seriously, I have already told Crystal, it makes no difference to me!! To me Sunny, even with all his faults, will always be my Dad, and nothing will ever change that. Especially not the sperm donor, who I doubt I will ever acknowledge. Crystal is still and always will be my Aunt and those four babies she is carrying will be my cousins." she smirks at me<br />
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<br />
"The only thing I'm struggling with is you being Uncle Tap." she starts laughing "You have already provided me with a Niece, now you have made me a load of little cousins."<br />
"Yeah Saffron is struggling with that one too!!" I laugh at her "I'd prefer it if he carried on calling me <i>bright eyes </i>rather than Uncle Tap, which is now his new wind up!" This has Scarlet really laughing<br />
"Even knowing <i>why</i> he was calling you bright eyes?" she smirks at me<br />
"Stop!! I don't believe it, AND I'm changing the subject!!" I smirk at her "So, what about your new Rock family? If you are not acknowledging your sperm donor, what about the rest of them?"<br />
"They are fine. It is just HIM I want nothing to do with!! After what he did to Cinnamon, I couldn't!!" she goes quiet for a moment "I already know some of them, Shale, Granite, Mace, Slate, T ... and I really like them, which makes it easier for me. Suddenly I have a Grandfather and tonnes of Aunts, Uncles and cousins who do want to know me even if I am a mixed berry. It is quite exciting, regardless of HIM!! Getting my head around Clay being my Brother, and Slate not being just my mate but also my cousin .. that is the maddest thing!!"<br />
"Yeah, it is a very good job you and Slate never hooked up when we were kids, or things could be very awkward right now!!"<br />
"Oh shit I know!!" she laughs sarcastically "Just imagine if we had. I bet Ruby STILL would not have come clean and said anything!! She would have let us get on with it to keep her dirty secret hidden!!"<br />
<br />
The door opens and Bay walks in. He plonks himself down in a chair and just sits there without saying a word. He looks the picture of misery. I can still see the tear streaks on his face, as expected his family have taken the news of Gravel very badly. Alpine especially has been going off his head up in Neurology. At one point they had to strap him to the bed and they are having to keep him constantly sedated.<br />
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<br />
"Are you okay Bay?" I frown at him. In reality, I know my question is a very stupid one, but I am not sure what else to say to him right now.<br />
<br />
He just stares at me miserably for a moment and shrugs his shoulders. I know it is very hard for him, like the rest of his family, even before the Gravel bomb was dropped. Cinnamon not being here to see his baby is seriously weighing them all down.<br />
<br />
"Scarlet I'm sorry!!" Bay mumbles suddenly "I should never have doubted you!"<br />
"It's fine Bay!!" she smiles at him "I honestly don't blame you really. I was confused myself. I knew about the blue coming from Alpine, but the grey .... it baffled me!!" <br />
"Mom will be down soon to apologize, she feels awful for what she said to you earlier!! The last thing we want is to be doing is falling out with you."<br />
"Don't worry ... the only person I will be falling out with is my lying slut of a Mother!!" she snaps "Bay ... do you think it is still okay to call the baby Cinnamon under the circumstances?"<br />
"I don't see why not. It doesn't change the fact that he is still Cinn's baby." he mumbles<br />
"I'm surprised I haven't seen Mint or Fudge yet." she mumbles<br />
"They came down earlier but you was talking to Shale and Granite. They thought you needed the space, so they left you too it. They will be back down later. They are upstairs with Coal and Forrest. Forrest wanted to see Willow. Now his phobia has gone, he can officially be his Granddad without scaring the kid half to death!!" he chuckles <br />
"That good!! I'm really glad his phobia has gone!! So much has happened today I can't keep a track of it all!" this has the three of us laughing. "How is Alpine?"<br />
"He is not good. He is off his head in fact!!" he mumbles "It was always going to be hard for him today ... he misses Cinn. You know how he struggles, half the time he forgets he isn't here any more. When he does remember, he is constantly kicking off and grieving. I'm not sure he will ever get over it and all <i>this</i>, has just made it so much worse for him. Forrest and Meadow are really struggling with him up there!!"<br />
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The door bursts open, and I am a little amused watching Crimson, who is virtually dragging Ruby, his Mother, into the room while she is protesting. Maize trails in miserably behind them, and slumps down onto the floor next to Bay.<br />
<br />
"Crimson STOP!!" she yells at him<br />
"No I won't stop!!" he yells back at her "Hiding away from everyone is not going to make this all go away!! You owe Scarlet an explanation don't you think, and you aren't leaving this room until you have given her one!!"<br />
"I think I should leave and let you get on with it." I mumble as I stand up, like Bay does.<br />
"No Tap, you stay right there, you too Bay ... what this lying SLUT has done affects ALL of us!!"<br />
<br />
I do not think that Ruby appreciated Crimson calling her a <i>lying slut </i>very much. She slaps Crimson pretty hard across the face. <br />
<br />
"Seriously, don't tempt me to get my cuffs out!!" he snaps "You have already put me and Shale in a <i><b>very</b></i> awkward position professionally ... by rights we should be arresting you for paternity fraud."<br />
"What are you on about?" she snaps <br />
"You <i><b>knowingly</b></i> put Sunny's name on Scarlet's birth certificate, when you knew Gravel is her biological Father!" he snaps "It is a criminal offence and you want to hope Gravel doesn't want you done for it. He is within his rights and he will know that!!"<br />
"Crimson shut up!!" she snaps at him "You wouldn't arrest your own Mother!"<br />
"Don't think I wouldn't!! Dad and my so called yellow Grandfather both learned that lesson remember ... that I can and I will!!! Slap me again and you WILL end up sitting in a prison cell along with the Berry Hole you created Scarlet with!!" he snaps at her "The ONLY reason we didn't disown Dad for what YOU let him do to Saffron is because Saffron didn't want us to. He didn't want us to have to choose and be torn between him and our pathetic excuses for parents!!" he is almost yelling now "But I am warning you, you will be VERY lucky if all of us don't disown you after this!! Especially if you don't at least TRY to put this right, by Scarlet and Saffron, which up to now you haven't even bothered to do!! You are a disgusting person!!"<br />
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<br />
"You need to calm down and remember who you are talking to!!" she yells at him<br />
"Our pathetic joke of a Mother that is who I'm talking to!! Don't think for one minute any of us should have any respect for you right now Ruby!" he yells at her "You and Dad between you have driven Saffron to try topping himself for berry's sake!! You let Scarlet have that baby without even warning her what might be coming!! For Berry's sake you didn't even speak out and tell the truth when everyone was ripping into Scarlet over the blue and grey. You sat there and let her take the shit for your crap!! Then you ran off and left Mango to deal with your shit!! You are a PATHETIC excuse for a person and Mother!! It is no wander our lives are such a mess having a lying slut and a homophobic berry hole as role models!! Slowly one by one, you are destroying all of us!!"<br />
"That's not true!!" she snaps <br />
"Think about it, there is not one of us that you two haven't screwed up in one way or another yet!! Me and Cherry, the twins, Straw, Saffron now Scarlet, and we can't forget Honey and what you and Dad forced her to do out of desperation, and look how that turned out!! You are not fit to be anyone's Mother, and I wish to Berry you weren't ours!!""<br />
"Don't even bring Honey into this!!" she waves her hand in my direction "If you want to blame someone for Honey fading ... blame him and his children, not me and your Dad!!" she snaps as she glares at me.<br />
"That was a disgusting thing to say!!!" Scarlet snaps as she jumps up off her chair. <br />
"Too right it was disgusting!! You seriously don't even want to start your crap with me Ruby!!" I shout angrily "You can say what the hell you like about me because I'm thick skinned ... but I am warning you right now. If I<b> EVER</b> hear you blaming Vanilla and Shadow for Honey fading again, especially for Vanilla to hear. Berry help you!! Straw's name won't be the only one on that restraining order. You will be kissing goodbye to any contact with your Granddaughter. I already don't feel comfortable about her even being around you!!!"<br />
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<br />
Granite walks into the room<br />
<br />
"Is everything okay?" he frowns "We can hear the yelling outside."<br />
"Seriously, you can just but right out of it!! This has NOTHING to do with you!!" Ruby snaps at Granite quite nastily. <br />
"I think you will find this has plenty to do with me, when it affects my friends and family."<br />
"You have to interfere in everything don't you!!"<br />
"Scarlet is my Neice, so yeah, I will be interfering!!" he snaps "Get used to it!!" <br />
"Well Scarlet is just fine, so you should go, get lost!!" <br />
"Yeah I guess you would think that!" he snaps sarcastically "No she is NOT fine, so I'm going nowhere!!" he almost yells "Not only could Scarlet do without all this shit and upset so soon after delivering her baby, Saffron is worrying us sick. Mel, Forrest, Alpine and their kids are upstairs virtually destroyed and I've got my Dad, Brother, Nephew and Son outside in pieces. As well as four Brothers who are boarding a plane right now and heading in this direction, because they like the rest of my family, are very pissed that you have kept that girl hidden. Not just from the Berry Hole, but from us too, when we had a right to know she is our family!!" he snaps "Unlike you, I am not going to just take off and pretend like none of this is happening!!"<br />
"What is wrong with T?" Ruby frowns at Granite <br />
"Are you seriously asking me that question?!" Granite laughs sarcastically "Obviously, he is upset over what Saffron has tried to do to himself, unlike you who doesn't seem to give a shit about your Son!! After all it is us that have been trying to pick up the pieces of what you and the homophobic berry hole have done to him mentally, not you!!" he snaps "Finally T is seeing what a disgusting creature you are!!"<br />
"Just get lost Granite!!"<br />
"No I won't get lost!!" he snaps angrily <br />
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"You have been sleeping with T for over two years, and not once mentioned to him that you have also been at Gravel or provided him with a Niece!! The idiot has feeling for you, so obviously he is upset. Especially when he finds out that you went running off from here straight to him earlier when this all kicked off. Not to tell him the truth about Gravel and Scarlet, but to jump into his bed, for your own pleasure, like nothing was going on here!! His bed which me and your Son have just had to drag you out of, to bring you back here to explain yourself to your daughter!! You didn't even bother to get out of his bed to go to Saffron when Crimson phoned to tell you he was being rushed into the hospital because he's tried to take his own life!! You are <i>disgusting!!</i>" he snaps "Your behaviour today has knocked T sick!! You have just kissed goodbye to whatever the hell was going on with you and T!! He is done with you, like I imagine a lot of people will be done with you after today!!" he snaps<br />
<br />
Scarlet gets up, takes the baby off Maize and goes to walk out of the room. She starts to cry.<br />
<br />
"Are you okay Scarlet?" Granite frowns at her<br />
"No ... T isn't the only one who is done with her!! Where is your Dad?"<br />
"Outside in the corridor with Clay and Amber. We were bringing them into see you, but we didn't think it was wise with all the shouting going on."<br />
"I'm going to sit outside with them. Maybe Shale can fill me in on this paternity fraud." she
laughs sarcastically as she cuts her eyes at Ruby "I can't stand to even be in the same room as that
woman!! Getting her locked up might do us all a favour!!"<br />
"Scarlet?" Ruby shouts after her<br />
"Get lost!! It was bad enough we had to find out you was in T's bed when Dad was falling down those steps and fading .... now this!! What about Saffron ... look what you and Sunny have driven him to ... you really don't give a shit do you!! If you did you would be there, by his bedside acting like his Mother!!" she snipes "And don't think you are EVER having anything to do with my baby, because you are not!! You have already ruined his life, and he doesn't need you in his life making it any worse!! I am not giving you the opportunity to hurt him like you have hurt all the rest of us, especially your own children!! The only thing you have ever cared about is YOURSELF, while you hurt EVERYONE around you!!! I hate you!!" <br />
"Scarlet ..."<br />
"Go to Hell Ruby!!" she snaps before she leaves the room.<br />
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<br />
"Now see what you have done!!" Ruby hisses at Granite <br />
"Excuse me?! What I have done?!" he laughs sarcastically "This is all on you!! You have turned everyone upside down in one way or another, with your dirty secret and your behaviour today!! Not just my family, your own family and the whole of the extended family is being torn apart by this ... all this upset and destruction going on right now is on you lady and nobody else!! You only have yourself to blame if everyone turns there back on you after today!!"<br />
"How could you just sit there and tell NOBODY the truth, not even Scarlet, who had a right to know!!" Crimson snaps at Ruby "She has had her Grandfather and Uncles right under her nose for the past twelve months!! Turmeric has been in town over two years!! Damn she has had Slate, her cousin right under her nose her whole life and they didn't know it. Even the berry hole had a right to know she is his child, and Dad faded never knowing who's child he raised, you couldn't even tell him the truth could you!!" he snaps<br />
"He didn't want to know who her biological Father was." <br />
"<b>Liar!!</b> Sunny told me he wanted to know, he badgered you for years, but you just would never tell him!!" I yell at her "The only reason he could not tell Scarlet that he was not her biological Father was because he couldn't tell her who was. He didn't think it would be fair on her not knowing!!"<br />
"So why didn't you tell us the truth about Scarlet?" Crimson snaps "Why didn't you tell Scarlet the truth about herself?"<br />
"We were protecting her. We thought, the rest of you might pick on her for only being your half sister." she mumbles quietly<br />
"Bullshit!!! We would never have done that, she is still our Sister, half or full, that doesn't matter!! If Dad didn't single her out, after he found out she wasn't his, then neither would we have!!" Crimson almost yells "Protecting her, don't make me laugh ... do you call what has happened today, protecting her?! Just Like you did such a great job of protecting Saffron!! Dumping him out of our lives so you didn't have to deal with him being gay .... like that is such a crime ... you are disgusting!!"<br />
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<br />
"Saffron was different ... we were protecting him too, from your Dad mostly."<br />
"NO!!! You weren't protecting Saffron!! You was isolating him and giving Sunny free reign to abuse him, and Bay for that matter!!!! Saffron, Bay and Storm all hid the fact that they were gay because of it and they shouldn't have had to!!" he snaps "What you SHOULD have done is spoke out and told someone. You should have booted the Homophobic Berry Hole out and we all could have protected Saffron from him. You knew what he was doing to Saffron, visiting the Grandparents, mentally and physically abusing him at least twice a week. You didn't protect Saffron, you were just covering for the homophobic berry hole and turning the other cheek!!! The only person you were protecting was yourself!! Saffron is right, you are NO MOTHER to him!! How could you just sit there knowing what was happening to Saffron, and say NOTHING!!??"<br />
"Is any of this really anyone's business but my own?" she shouts at Crimson as she glances around the room at everyone who is staring at her.<br />
"You are unbelievable!! Yes it is everyone's business because it affects ALL OF US!! Like Granite said, we are the ones who are left picking up the peices for your shit - NOT YOU, because you are too selfish!! You seriously don't understand what you have done do you, the heads you've screwed up, the lives you have ruined!!!" Crimson laughs sarcastically "Typical Ruby, she can never admit she is in the wrong or even give anyone a half decent explanation for anything!!"<br />
"Crimson just shut up!!"<br />
"No I won't, because someone has to make you see what you have done. You don't give a shit about the upset you have caused everyone do you!!" he snaps "Most of us think if YOU had told the berry hole about Scarlet, all the destruction he has caused would NEVER have happened. What you have done does not only affect Scarlet, we are ALL suffering for it!!" he is almost yelling at Ruby "Cinnamon lost his life because of you, Granite, Shale and Atlas got shot because of you, Mace is paralysed because of you, Slate has had the life of hell because of you. You have destroyed Scarlet, Caramel, Fudge, Bay, Mint ... Alpine is upstairs going off his rocker to the point Mango is worried he might have to section him and have him committed because he might never come back from this!! We are all breaking our necks to keep this from Lilly because it is going to upset her and switch her off for berry knows how long, and Saffron, look what all this has driven him to do to himself!! ALL of your children are totally ashamed of you, and if we all disown you after all this, you only have yourself to blame!!"<br />
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"You can't blame everything that Gravel has done on me!! she snaps<br />
"Of course we can!! Cause and Effect. You not telling Gravel about Scarlet is what has created most of this mess!!" Granite snaps "Gravel has slowly gone off his rocker over the years!! It ate him up THINKING he could not have children of his own and ALL THE TIME he has had his daughter walking around right under his nose and you didn't bother to put him out of his misery and tell him!!! Why do you think he stole Slate?! Everything he has done, people he has abused and faded, was to hide that fact!!" he snaps "IF ONLY you had told Gravel about Scarlet, I would have known about MY SON existing!! Instead I've missed twenty years of his life and had to trip over him to realise he existed. YOU could have stopped everything that Gravel has done to destroy the extended family!! YOU could have prevented him from turning into the evil berry hole that we now know!! Just by doing what any decent person would have done and TOLD HIM ABOUT HIS CHILD!!!" Granite snaps<br />
"Are you actually making excuses for Gravel!"<br />
"Hell No!! I am the very last person who will ever make excuses for that man!! He has always had an evil streak and I have suffered by his hand probably more than most!! He is initially responsible for all this upset and destruction, and I hate him for it!! However, in my book, you are just as much to blame, because you could have stopped it all from happening, just by telling him the truth about Scarlet!!"<br />
<br />
Caramel storms into the room with Coal. I am a little amused that the first thing she does is marches straight over to Ruby and slaps her face, damn hard.<br />
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<br />
"What the hell, Mel!" she snaps as she holds her face<br />
"We are finished you and me!! This time you have gone way too far!!" she snaps "You and that berry hole, with your dirty secret, have destroyed the only thing we have left of Cinnamon!!"<br />
"Like you haven't had your own dirty secrets!! Forrest ... that is a bit of pot calling the kettle black Caramel!!" she laughs sarcastically<br />
"Yeah, we had our secrets with very good reason. Me, Alpine and Forrest were
protecting our four kids from being mentally scared by Forrest and his child phobia. The less people that knew the truth, the less likely it was to get out and the less likely our kids would get hurt. Our secrets weren't actually dirty, they were necessary to protect the kids, and they
haven't hurt or destroyed anyone unlike yours!!" <br />
"Oh look, and she has brought another one of her dirty secrets with her." she points at Coal. <br />
<br />
Straight away I know Ruby is being a prize bitch. Very few of us actually know that Coal is Caramel's son. This makes me worry and I start to get a little nervous. Ruby could very well drop another bomb that would just about finish today off with an almighty explosion. She could spill Sunny's gay secret out of spite - which would just about finish everyone off, especially Saffron!!<br />
<br />
I glance nervously over to Granite, who is staring at me and biting his lip. I think he is thinking the same as me ... and wandering if Ruby is spiteful enough to set off yet another bomb.<br />
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<br />
"Now you can't tell me that one isn't a dirty secret!!" Ruby laughs sarcastically<br />
"You leave Coal out of this!!" she snaps "That just proves how much of a selfish bitch you are Ruby!! What was you trying to do just then, take the heat off yourself by trying to destroy my kids lives even more than you already have!! I am guessing T has opened his big mouth while he has been knocking the back out of you. Don't think we don't all know just what you are - school bike, town bike, it will never stop will it!! More fool T for going there!! The way you put it about, T needs his head examining keep risking catching something fatal off you!!"<br />
"It sounds like you are jealous of me and T?" she laughs sarcastically "Have I got what you want?"<br />
"Oh Fudge!!" Granite starts howling <br />
"Grow up Ruby!! You are <i>seriously</i> off your head!! You are more than welcome to my unwanted cast offs!!" she is almost raring "It is just a very good job my three kids know exactly who Coal is, or I would be knocking your block off right about now!!" Caramel pushes Ruby "Go on then bitch, tell everyone because I know you are dying to!!"<br />
<br />
I laugh watching Bay put his arm round Coal, who smiles at him before kissing his forehead.<br />
<br />
"See ... the cat is already out of the bag!!" Caramel laughs sarcastically at Ruby as she points at her two boys. "I'm afraid you will be disappointed to find, there is only Crimson and Maize in this room that probably don't already know, that Coal is my son, and that me and T were stupid 13 year old kids when he was born!!"<br />
<br />
The expression on Crimson and Maizes face has me laughing at them.<br />
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<br />
"Anything else you want to add Ruby? Anyone else's secrets you want to spill? Anyone else's life you want to try and wreck!!" <br />
"Just get lost Mel!!"<br />
"You are seriously the one who needs to get lost for all our sakes!!" she pushes Ruby again "You and Sunny, should never have had any kids!! You don't give a shit how you treat them, or what you put them through, just as long as you keep your dirty secrets hidden!! I thought what Sunny did to Saffron was disgusting, but what I watched you doing to Scarlet earlier was down right evil!! You sat there and let us all rip into Scarlet accusing her of all sorts, while you sat there and said nothing. You let her take the insults for your shit, when you knew that Gravel was her real Father and that is where the babies grey hair came from ... what sort of Mother are you!!" she pushes Ruby again "One good thing to come out of all this for Scarlet, she is a Rock now, and they WILL take care of her from now on ... and I hope she disowns you, because it is exactly what you deserve!!"<br />
<br />
Ruby goes to slap Caramel but Coal and Bay both jump in to stop her. Bay grabs Ruby's wrist to stop her reaching his Mother.<br />
<br />
"Lay one finger on her and you will live to regret it!" Coal snaps at Ruby<br />
"Are you seriously protecting her after she just abandoned you the day you were born!!"<br />
"T needs to get his facts straight if that is what he has told you. HE is the only one who abandoned me, not that it is any of your business!!" Coal yells at her "And just so you know the truth, so you don't go spreading your poisonous bullshit everywhere. My Mother didn't abandon me!! Her parents took me away from her, shipped her off to the boarding school and lied to her about where I was!!" he snaps angrily "Her parents didn't even let her hold me, she didn't even know if I was a boy or girl until T landed in town two years ago!!"<br />
"So she says!" Ruby laughs sarcastically "More fool you for believing anything she says!!" <br />
<br />
Mel goes for Ruby then, she punches her in the face. Granite steps in between them, just in time to receive Ruby's retaliation punch. The punch was meant for Caramel, but landed on Granites face.<br />
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"It is just a good job you are a woman, or I would be bouncing you around this room and out of town right now!!" he snaps angrily as he holds his now split lip.<br />
<br />
He grabs Mel and pulls her away from Ruby.<br />
<br />
"Leave her Mel, she is not worth it!! You need to calm down and think about those babies and your blood pressure."<br />
<br />
Ruby starts to snipe really nastily at Caramel. Telling her how stupid she is to be having more babies at her age and that she deserves to lose them. This has everyone kicking off and the room erupts into a lot of shouting which comes from all directions.<br />
<br />
"EVERYONE needs to calm the hell down!!" Granite shouts quite loudly "Ruby just shut your damn mouth ... don't you think you have caused enough trouble without making it worse!!"<br />
<br />
"What is going on?" Turmeric walks into the room with Scarlet and the baby.<br />
"Take your <i>girlfriend</i> for a walk or something, just get her out of here!!" Granite mumbles "She obviously doesn't have any intention of being a Mother to either Scarlet or Saffron. She just seems hell bent on causing even MORE trouble than she already has!! Just get rid of her."<br />
"She can take herself for a walk!! I've told you, I'm done with her!!" T snaps as he glares at Ruby "I've only come in here to kick her out!!"<br />
"T?"<br />
"Sling your hook Ruby!!" he snaps "Scarlet doesn't want you in here and neither do I!!"<br />
<br />
Ruby storms over and drags Turmeric across the room away from everyone and they start arguing quite nastily with each other. <br />
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<br />
Scarlet hands me the baby before she sits down next to Granite, who is tutting and shaking his head, watching Turmeric and Ruby arguing.<br />
<br />
"Can you discharge me." Scarlet mumbles to Granite <br />
"I can not treat you medically now, being your Uncle." he smirks at her "I will have to go and find Ice. She can get you and the baby checked over and discharged if you are both okay." he smiles at her<br />
"I just need to get out of here!! Mentally I am struggling and I can not deal with all this shit and you are right. She is just going to continue creating more and I can't take it!!" she mumbles <br />
<br />
She looks at me thoughtfully then, almost with glazed eyes.<br />
<br />
"Tap, can you or Granite take the baby."<br />
"What do you mean ... take him?" Granite frowns at her<br />
"Take him to Tapestry's apartment and look after him for a few days."<br />
"Why Scarlet?" he mumbles<br />
"I need to see Saffron and I also need space and time to get myself together." <br />
"Are you struggling with the baby because of Gravel?"<br />
"Mentally I can't even afford to think about Gravel right now!! I am struggling enough with Cinnamon not being here." she chokes as she looks at me "He is not here for his baby, when he should be. It's like Honey not being here for Vanilla ... it's not fair!!" <br />
"No it isn't, but you shouldn't be separated from the baby, not even temporarily." Granite mumbles "He needs you more than most right now!! Whatever struggles you are having, mentally or emotionally, we can help you though them as well as help you with the baby if you need it."<br />
"I know, but I can't be around Ruby and go back to that house!! I am now homeless. I need to find somewhere to live, and I can't do that with a newborn baby in toe."<br />
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<br />
"We can help you with all that. Don't think you have to do anything alone!!" Granite frowns at her. "I thought you and Cinn had your own house."<br />
"We did. It was stupid me living in that house alone, when others needed it
more. I sold it to Carmine and Fern, so they can start the family they
want. I moved back in with the so called Mother, because Crimson didn't think
I should be alone when the baby arrived."<br />
"Crimson was right, you shouldn't be alone. Cinnamon not being here is enough for you to cope with without all this added shit ... I'm sorry!!"<br />
"It's not your fault is it!!" she tuts "You didn't cause it, the sperm donor and slut did!!"<br />
"You and baby Cinn can move into ours." I smile at her<br />
"You have enough people squatting there right now Tap. You don't want me there on top of everyone from Forrest's house ... yet again because of Gravel!!" she laughs sarcastically<br />
"It doesn't matter!! They are only there for a few weeks, and most of them are your new Rock family anyway. I think if Granite has any say in it, that is probably where you will end up anyway, with them." this has Granite laughing as he grins at me.<br />
"You do realise my Dad is going to suffocate you from now on don't you!!" he laughs at Scarlet who grins back at him. "He would want you living with us, especially if you now feel you are homeless."<br />
"Living at ours, there is no rush, you can take your time to sort out your permanent living arrangements. Besides it will probably help Crystal feel a whole lot better about the situation. You being there showing her none of this makes a difference to your two's relationship. It will help stop all the upset that she doesn't need with this pregnancy!" <br />
"It will also be good for Saffron too, to have you living there."<br />
"Okay, as long as you are sure." <br />
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<br />
The door suddenly flies open quite violently so we all turn towards it.<br />
<br />
Alpine is stood there and he almost looks deranged, standing in the doorway.<br />
<br />
"Where is he?" he snaps "Where is Cinnamon." <br />
<br />
It feels for a moment like time has frozen, as the room falls into a sudden deadly silence. Everyone is so still and silent, nervously watching Alpine, wandering what he is going to do, and how his question is going to be answered. Everyone is now looking at Bay and Caramel, they should know how to answer his question.<br />
<br />
"Tapestry has got him Dad." Bay smiles at him<br />
"Not the damn baby!!" he snaps "Where is Cinn?"<br />
"What do you want Cinn for Dad?" Bay is now humouring him<br />
"I want to know how he feels about all this Gravel rubbish!" <br />
<br />
Alpines head has obviously gone because he still thinks Cinnamon is alive. I for one am holding my breath knowing how Alpine goes when he loses
it, and he will if he remembers that Cinnamon is not with us any more. He is no different to me when I have an emotional outburst. His head switches off and he totally blows.<br />
<br />
"Where is he?" he snaps again "Scarlet where is Cinn?"<br />
"You know where Cinn is you idiot!!" Ruby snaps sarcastically "He is buried in the cemetery!! Gravel faded him months ago!" <br />
"Ruby YOU IDIOT!!!" Bay yells at Ruby <br />
<br />
If Ruby's words actually register with him, we are in trouble.<br />
I am now holding my breath again, expecting Alpine to explode ....<br />
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<br />
... and I think so is everyone else.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-67897494305788791042018-05-06T13:05:00.000-07:002018-05-06T13:05:46.400-07:00Chapter 64 - Gen 2 - Granite<br />
I frown in confusion, as I snap my phone shut.<br />
<br />
After a very quick and abrupt conversation with Mango. Not that it was actually much of a conversation. It was Mango barking out his demands and cutting the call off abruptly, without even giving me a chance to speak.<br />
<br />
I am a very puzzled by his request.<br />
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<br />
"Baby who was that?" Mace mumbles as he frowns at me<br />
"Mango."<br />
"What did he want?"<br />
"Me to pop into the hospital. He needs me for something." I mumble quietly and cringe knowing Mace is not going to be very happy with this.<br />
"Seriously Gran, you <b><i>promised</i></b>!!" he tuts "You have <b><i>only just</i></b> got back from the hospital. You live in that place and you don't even work there officially!!!"<br />
"I know, but he is not asking me to work before you even start." I smiles at him "He said he needs me to meet him in maternity. He has something important to show me and he needs me there urgently ... I doubt it will take long."<br />
"Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before. I guess I'll see you tonight or tomorrow then." he snaps sarcastically. "You need sleep, you should have said no to Mango."<br />
"Have you ever tried to say no to Mango!" I laugh as I sit down on the bed by him. "He said it is urgent, and he wouldn't drag me in if it wasn't important. He knows I have only just come home. He knows I've had no sleep because of Gravel's shit today after doing the night shift" I mumble quietly<br />
"I am coming with you!!" he snaps <br />
"No!! You stay here. He said urgent, and I would take you with me but
it will take you too long to get dressed and slap your make up on."<br />
<br />
He
slaps me which makes me laugh <br />
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"You will only get bored sat out in the corridor waiting for me. I <b>promise</b> two hours tops and I will be back ... if he hasn't finished with me then, I'll walk out!!" I smirk as I crawl over him and start kissing him.<br />
"Maternity?" Mace frowns at me as he pushes me away a little breaking the kiss, so I crawl off the bed ready to make my escape.<br />
"Yeah that is puzzling me too ... I get a nasty feeling it has something to do with Mel. Her blood pressure is a little too high at the moment and they are struggling to keep it down."<br />
"Shouldn't Forrest be sorting out his own Mrs and babies ... does Mango forget you two aren't together any more."<br />
"Knowing Mango he is just trying to protect Forrest, at the moment he does not need any added stress." Mace frowns at me "He has only just woken up today from a serious head injury remember. He is already trying to deal with his amnesia and the loss of his child phobia. Then there is Gravel's under the floorboards shit ... the police tearing his house to pieces is probably going to drive him nuts and kick his OCD off !"<br />
"That guy is a total fruit cake!!" he snipes "So I guess us going out later is about to be sacked off because of HIM AGAIN!" he pulls a face at me <br />
"No!! I told you two hours and I will be back ... so polish your ring, get your glad rags and make up ready. I'll take you out to any place you wish, as soon as I have finished with Mango and had a sleep."<br />
"You know it would teach you one of these days, if I <i>did </i>wear make up!!" he smirks at me "I'm sure Crystal, Winter or Lilly have make up they could lend me."<br />
"DON'T YOU DARE!!" I chokes and he starts howling at the expression on my face.<br />
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<br />
As I walk down the corridor quickly towards the maternity wards, I hear River shouting me from behind. I stop and wait for him to catch up. He walks beside me, a big grin on his face.<br />
<br />
"Dr Rock." he continues to grin at me <br />
"What are you doing down here Mr Trauma Surgeon?" I ask him <br />
"I have been summoned like you." he rolls his eyes <br />
""So why have we been summoned?"<br />
"There is yet another extended family drama unfolding in maternity as we speak." he laughs "Dad will fill you in when we get there." <br />
"A clue would help." I laugh at him "Mel, Scarlet, El which one is it?"<br />
"It is Scarlet, she has had her baby."<br />
"Ahhh my liver donors baby has arrived ... I hope they are not expecting me to be substitute Daddy seeing as I am carrying the babies Dad's liver around with me."<br />
"Oh you idiot!!" he starts laughing at me "That sounds just like something that Tapestry would say!!" he laughs again. I frown at him because of the way he is laughing at me.<br />
"Do you know why I have been summoned by your Dad?"<br />
"Yes, but don't ask me Granite ... I doubt you would believe me if I told you what Dad thinks is going on!! You will find out why Dad wants you soon enough."<br />
<br />
I really don't like the way he is laughing at me, almost mischievously.<br />
<br />
Now in Maternity, we hear the loud shouting as we round the corner, and start making our way down the corridor towards the noise and the delivery rooms. This pretty much reminds me of when Coral's twins arrived and we had all the drama over the arrival of the red baby, which turned out to be Maizie Shines. I dread to think what might be going on this time!!<br />
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<br />
After we have pushed our way into the noisy room we are faced with bedlem. The
Shines and Forrests are going at it hammer and tongue. I glance at
Scarlet who is in pieces and crying her heart out. Mango is just
leaning against the wall with his arms folded and eyes closed. He looks downright miserable and like he
is trying to blank out what is going on in this room.<br />
<br />
Ruby is pretty much doing the same, but she is sat motionless and just staring down at the floor.<br />
<br />
Alpine is raring, he almost looks like he is going off his rocker. Screaming and shouting that the baby is not Cinnamons, and hurling a load of obscene abuse in Scarlet's direction. Scarlet really confuses me continuously shouting at Alpine that he needs to speak to Forrest and she needs Forrest here. Bay and Caramel are trying to calm Alpine down but it is not working.<br />
<br />
I automatically jump in and grab Mel and pull her away.<br />
<br />
"Are you stupid!!" I snap at her "You are pregnant for berry's sake!! We are already struggling with your blood pressure without you kicking off!!"<br />
<br />
I frown at Mango, wandering why he is letting Mel get involved. Him hearing my voice has him opening his eyes and seems to snap him back to the reality of what is happening here. <br />
<br />
<b> "EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!!"</b> Mango yells really loudly.<br />
<br />
The room suddenly falls into a deafening silence. Even Alpine stops and shuts up.<br />
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<br />
"Bay, Crimson, Maize, help River take Alpine up to Neurology. Caramel you go up with them, after you have told maternity where you are going. Hopefully Forrest can calm you down!!" he mumbles quietly then looks at River. "River get Alpine sedated if he carries on kicking off, and put in a bed. There are no free side rooms, so you will have to put him in with Forrest. Everyone needs to be quiet, Forrest could do without the hassle of everyone kicking off around him, he's already had enough to deal with today without this added to it."<br />
"I'm not leaving here till I get some answers!!" Alpine snaps<br />
"Alpine, we will sort this mess out in a civilized manner, then you will get your answers. We won't get anywhere everyone screaming and shouting at each other, other than kicked out of the hospital by security!!" he snaps at Alpine. "I will try and get to the bottom of this, but in the meantime everyone can all wait up in Neurology for me QUIETLY!!" he laughs quietly "River, you are in charge of keeping them quiet, I don't want them causing bedlam on my department!"<br />
"Thanks Dad!!" River laughs at him<br />
"Can you remind Tapestry, I need to see him straight away. He should be with Forrest, unless he has wandered off somewhere and forgotten." he smiles at River before his face goes serious again "Now that Granite is here, we can get this mess sorted out properly." Mango smiles at me<br />
"What the hell does Granite have to do with this?" Bay snaps as he frowns at me. All I can do is shrug my shoulders because I am as confused as he is.<br />
"I was just about to ask exactly the same question Bay." I mumble "I'm as confused as you are right now." <br />
"Everyone out except Scarlet, Granite and Ruby, so we can sort this mess out in peace!!"<br />
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<br />
I watch as everyone files quietly out of the room, including Alpine. None of them looking too happy about it, but they are doing it anyway. It amuses me that none of the extended family question Mango's authority, they just do as they are told. What doesn't amuse me are Bay and Crimsons suspicious scowls, that are aimed directly in my direction as they walk past me, like I've done something!!<br />
<br />
"I just <b>knew</b> this was coming!! Ruby, I think you have something to tell your daughter don't you!!" Mango snaps angrily at Ruby as soon as the door closes behind everyone. "I was right all those years ago, wasn't I!! You tried to deny it, but the medical evidence told me otherwise!! I do not doubt that is Cinnamons baby ... and you need to quit being so damn selfish ... <b>TELL HER</b> the damn truth about her own father, instead of sitting there and letting her take the slack for your shit!! She isn't the one everyone should be shouting at!!"<br />
"Mango what the hell is going on and why am I here?" I frown at him as Ruby and Mango just scowl at each other in uncomfortable silence.<br />
"Oh SHE knows exactly why you are here! Don't you Ruby!!" he laughs sarcastically "So are you going to be the one to tell him, or shall I??<br />
<br />
Ruby jumps up and stands there scowling at both me and Mango.<br />
<br />
"I need to have a word with you outside for a moment Granite." he says as he grabs my arm and starts to push me out through the door. "Tell her Ruby, or me and you will be seriously falling out!!" he snaps quiet angrily just before he pushes me out through the door.<br />
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<br />
We stand out in the corridor and he just stands there staring into space like he has the troubles of the world on his shoulders.<br />
<br />
"What on earth is going on?" I laugh nervously at him<br />
"Before I explain what is going on here, I need to discuss something work related with you, before I forget. I need to check that you have had your copy of the Medical Convention letter." he mumbles as he pulls a letter out of his pocket. "I thought I ought to bring it to your attention as I presume they will have sent your letter to your home in Cherry Hill." I take the letter off him and read it.<br />
"Mmm is it that time again already!" I laugh quietly "I doubt they will have offered it to me this year, not after I have turned it down for the past two years, and I am on medical leave. I've not exactly been in the game this year have I!"<br />
"Yes Dr Rock, it has been offered to you again. I phoned up to check who my partner in crime is going to be this year, and it's you." he smirks at me, then frowns "Granite tell me something. You know they don't offer this place to just anyone. So why on earth would you be turning down the opportunity to take your place and show the rest of the medical profession that<i> you</i> have been ranked one of the best Neurosurgeons on the planet?"<br />
"Don't talk wet!!" I laugh at him "I'm sure there are far better Neurosurgeons out there!!"<br />
"Obviously not, or they wouldn't have been offering it to you for the last three year on the trot!!" he smiles at me "It is no wander I have had your CEO in my ear a few times over the past few months, warning me not to tempt you into staying at Sugar Valley. They obviously don't want to lose you." he laughs "I have obviously taken my eye off the ball lately!! The only reason you have slipped under my radar is because you have only just made Department Head, AND you have avoided being my partner at the annual Medical Convention for the past two years."<br />
"Yeah ... that is exactly why I have been turning it down, and shirking
any work related publicity. To avoid you seeing me." I laugh at him "I guessed
when Dr Fry retired and they offered me Head, it wouldn't take long for
you to spot me in Neurology. I've been quite happy hiding behind Dr
Fry!" <br />
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"Well you are out of hiding now Dr Rock. So there is no reason for you to be turning your place at the convention down this year is there!!" he smirks at me<br />
"No I guess not." I laugh at him<br />
"Good." he smiles at me "We will have to put our heads together later this week to prepare for it. Before you get distracted by this surprise marriage you are springing on Mace."<br />
"Sounds like a plan." I laugh at him "Yeah the timing does stink a little. Mace is seriously not going to be impressed that a week after I marry him I'll be taking off on my own for a week, even if it is work."<br />
"Yeah I know, the timing isn't good. There is something else he might not be too impressed with. The convention ties in with the start of Tapestry's tour. They have concerts in Rainbow the week we will be there, so I am actually go to one of his concerts while I'm out there!" he smirks at me<br />
"Oh Berry ... THAT I have got to see!!" I start howling at him. The thought of Mango attending a rock concert is pretty hysterical.<br />
"Oh don't worry, you will, because you will be coming with me!!" he really starts laughing. "Tapestry has sorted out two front row tickets with our names on."<br />
"That's great and fine by me!" I smirk at him "It has been years since I've been to a rock concert."<br />
"I have never been to one." he chuckles. I would be shocked if he had!!!<br />
"So what is going on in there with Scarlet and the baby?"<br />
"You might guess!! YET ANOTHER extended family sordid mess!!" he mumbles "Everyone is questioning the Father of Scarlet's baby because of stray
colouring that has been thrown up .... nobody believes it is Cinnamons
baby." <br />
"Oh dear!!" I frown at him <br />
<br />
Now I am seriously confused as to why I am here ... unless ...<br />
<br />
"Why did Scarlet keep asking for Forrest?" I mumble "You are about to tell me that the stray colour is green and Forrest is responsible for it, aren't you." <br />
"Hell No!!" he starts really laughing at me "If only that baby had something to do with Forrest it might make this a whole lot easier." he mumbles <br />
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"I don't have a clue why she kept asking for Forrest!! The baby is brown with A type blood, both of which I would lay bets on him inheriting from Cinnamon, however, it is what he has inherited from Scarlet that is causing the confusion. It is not the baby's Father that has been thrown into doubt here ... it is actually Scarlet's Father and you Granite are here for a very good reason."<br />
<br />
I suddenly remember something that Mace told me months ago, about Sunny knowing he wasn't Scarlet's biological Father.<br />
<br />
"Why me and what good reason?" I frown at him "Don't even think about trying to lay this shit on me!!" I laugh at him "I know you was right about Slate, but trust me ... Scarlet is nothing to do with me!! I still stand by what I said, not even my mouth has been anywhere near a woman, especially not that red slut!!"<br />
"Oh Granite!!" he stands there almost howling with laughter for a moment "I know she is not yours, besides you was inside when Scarlet was created." he carries on laughing "I am not even sure if Sunny ever realised that he was not Scarlet's biological Father, because of her being all red. However, I have known since the day that she was born that it was impossible for her to be Sunny's child because of her blood type. Sunny and Ruby are O, like all the rest of their children, but not Scarlet ... she is B."<br />
"Oh fudge!! She definitely can't be Sunny's ... have you ever asked Ruby?"<br />
"Yes, I did tackle her just after Scarlet was born but she stayed tight lipped,. She would not even admit that Sunny was not her Father, probably because she thought I might tell him. I didn't pursue the matter at the time because it was around the time Cosmic faded, Lilly lost their baby and we had all kinds of hell going on." he rolls his eyes "It has always bugged me, but for the life of me I couldn't see anyone in her except for Ruby, until recently when I've spotted something about her eyes." he chuckles<br />
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"Granite I have never known who Scarlet's Father is, however, it is quite obvious when you put all the facts together ... the stray colour in the baby, along with her B type blood, her eyes and the babies nose.<br />
"What colour?"<br />
"The babies hair is grey." Mango stares at me with an amused look on his face, probably waiting for a reaction to come from me.<br />
"Grey!" I mumble <br />
"Yeah. Who do you know with grey hair, B type blood AND the Rock piggy nose?"<br />
<br />
The question he has just asked me hits me like a full force punch to the stomach. I can actually feel my colour draining from my face.<br />
<br />
"Gravel ... but ... that is impossible!!"<br />
"I might have said so due to his medical condition ... however, Clay proves it is very possible. Gravel has obviously managed to defy the odds, twice, twenty years apart." he chuckles<br />
"Oh Berry!!"<br />
"I need you to confirm the babies hair is the correct grey, I can't see it because I am colourblind. However I don't doubt it will be because the baby has Gravel's awful nose, which kind of proves Scarlet is Gravel's daughter, and I have noticed recently since you have been back, something about her really stands out. Scarlet actually has your eyes, your Mother's eyes, which are very distinctive."<br />
"Hell!! Scarlet could be my Niece ... she could be Clay's half sister!!"<br />
"There is no could be about it .. trust me, Scarlet is Gravel's daughter!!" he tuts "Ruby has obviously kept that little secret all to herself. Neither Scarlet or Gravel have a damn clue!!"<br />
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"I seriously can't believe this!!" I choke<br />
"We need to tackle Ruby to get the truth out of her. That woman is impossible, and no doubt she will keep denying it until she is blue in the face. I've half a mind to set Ice on her, she can make her talk!!" he chuckles "We could actually do a sibling test on Scarlet and Clay, as Gravel is not here to do a paternity test."<br />
"I thought you had some of Gravel's blood."<br />
"I'm afraid I only took enough of his blood with Corals twins in mind, and we used some of it on Clays paternity test. The other vile, that we should have, got broken and wasted by one of the clumsy idiots in the lab." he rolls his eyes "What blood group does Clay have? Do you know?"<br />
"Yeah B." I smile at him<br />
"That is even better ... he has Gravel's blood just like Scarlet." he smirks at me "I know this will impact on your family, Gravel being Scarlet's Father, but with Alpine and his dicky head, I am going to need concrete proof to put his mind to rest. He is adamant that the baby is not Cinnamons and I don't know how I am ever going to convince him otherwise. I get the feeling Caramel and Forrest are going to have hell with him, not that either of them are up to all the hassle right now.!!"<br />
"That would make Scarlet and Slate cousins." my brain starts doing overtime "They have never been in a romantic relationship have they?"<br />
"That did cross my mind too, but no, I don't think so. However, without checking with them I can not be hundred percent sure. Cinnamon and Scarlet have been together pretty much since school, they were together before Slate and Coral started dating and I think Slate has always been too busy mooning over Juniper and Fudge."<br />
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"OH BERRY!!! I hope you are right because I feel very sick suddenly!!" something else hits me pretty hard "The brown skin - the Rock nose, the grey hair - the A type blood - my Mother's eyes ... the facts point to something else ... that baby could have inherited all that from ... Slates!!"<br />
"Yeah that has also crossed my mind ... but think about it, when that baby was created, Slate was on life support, so we are safe with that one!" he laughs at me "Scarlet has been adamantly screaming in there that it is Cinnamons baby and she has never slept with anyone else." he laughs quietly "Honestly I believe her, she has always been a very good, honest and quiet girl. She is nothing like her Mother or Strawberry ... trust me that baby is Cinnamons and Scarlet is Gravel's child!!" <br />
"Oh berry!! This is madness!!" I laugh<br />
"Oh the madness doesn't stop there ... there is more." he rolls his eyes<br />
"Go on ..."<br />
"The baby has blue eyes."<br />
"WHAT!?" I frown at him "Where the hell does the blue come from?"<br />
"That is a question, I seriously DON'T have the answer to?" he stands there rubbing his neck "Granite, your Mother was a pure grey berry wasn't she."<br />
"Yes, as far as I know she was!! Dad has never said otherwise, I'll have to ask him" I frown with confusion. "Her family turned their back on her and us because of the colour mixing. Like Dad she was born in Raspberry. The first time I saw my Mom's Brother, I was about ten. He was disgusted by us, he called me and Gravel mixed berry scum to our faces ... so I doubt the blue could have came from Mom."<br />
"I don't ever remember seeing any of your Mothers family while we were
growing up. I don't even remember seeing any of them at her funeral." <br />
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<br />
"No, they were never told at the time that she had faded. I doubt they
would have come to her funeral anyway. I presume they know she has
faded by now." I chuckle "You probably know my Uncle and don't even
know it." I smirk at Mango "Dr Grey ... Raspberry Hill. Head of Paediatrics."<br />
"Seriously!!" his eyes nearly pop out "Yeah I do know him. I did not realise he was your Uncle."<br />
"I doubt he would admit that I am his Nephew. Not publicly anyway." I chuckle "You aren't the only reason why I have avoided conventions and work related publicy ... I've been trying to avoid Dr Grey too!!" <br />
<br />
Tapestry shouts at us from down the corridor.. He is pushing Forrest in a wheelchair, which amuses me but doesn't impress Mango one little bit. I laugh seeing Snow on Forrests lap, who Forrest seems to be chatting away to quite happily.<br />
<br />
"You shouldn't be out of bed and off the ward!!" Mango frowns at Forrest <br />
"Oh stop stressing - I have only got amnesia, it's not going to fade me!!" he laughs at Mango <br />
"Fowest has got funny ears, but he's not a pussy cat!!" Snow giggles suddenly which almost has Mango's eyes popping out of his head.<br />
"He just spoke!" Mango chokes<br />
"Yeah, I've got a new friend haven't I Tap!" Forrest laughs<br />
"I think he likes Forrest, and especially his ears. He keeps saying things, and he's even been singing nursery rhymes!! I've never heard his voice so much!!" Tap smirks at Mango "I don't think I need to hire a supply teacher ... Forrest can do the job, now he is well cured of his phobia! Snow is definitely going to have to spend more time with Forrest, because he is the only one who can get him to talk."<br />
"Daddy, me wants a pussy cat." Snow giggles as he strokes Forrests arm. I laugh firstly at Mango's shocked face, but also because I think Snow thinks Forrest is a cat because of his ears.<br />
"Snow we already have a cat." Tapestry mumbles<br />
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"Yellow cat is Nilla's cat. ME wants this colour cat." he mumbles as he points at his own arm. I watch Tapestries mouth drop open as he crouches down to Snows level.<br />
"So you want a colourless cat?"<br />
"Yes, my cat!"<br />
"Okay, seeing as you are being a big boy and talking. I will try and find you a colourless cat." Tapestry laughs as he ruffles his hair.<br />
"Me's getting a pussy cat!" he squeals at Forrest<br />
"That's nice, what are you going to call your cat?"<br />
"I don't know." he shrugs his little shoulders then lies against Forrest and starts sucking his thumb.<br />
"Well I'll be damned!!" Mango chuckles as he stands there watching Snow and Forrest. "Here was us thinking he was mute and the little monkey can talk as well as Vanilla and Ocean!!"<br />
"Poof goes the child phobia ... Poof goes the selective mutism." I start laughing "Today, is just getting madder and madder by the minute!" <br />
"Isn't it just!" Mango laughs at me before he turns to Tapestry "Anyway, you took your time!" he grumbles at Tapestry "I hoped you would get here before Granite did, seeing as he and River came from home and you was only up in Neurology!!"<br />
"Sorry, I had to help Forrest break out of Neurology." he smirks at Mango "Have you told Granite?"<br />
"Yeah, kind of." he mumbles<br />
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I look between the two of them and Mango suddenly looks very uncomfortable as I frown at him. He points towards Tapestry who just stands smiling at me sheepishly.<br />
<br />
"You knew about Gravel being Scarlet's Dad didn't you!" I stare at Tapestry<br />
"Yes." he mumbles<br />
"Did Sunny tell you?"<br />
"No, Sunny knew he wasn't Scarlet's biological Dad, but he never knew who was while he was alive, Ruby would never tell him."<br />
"So how did you know?"<br />
"The way I find out about most things ... my spirit friends told me." he smiles at me while I just laugh.<br />
"Somehow I just knew you was going to say that."<br />
"Cosmic knew Gravel was Scarlet's Dad before she was born, he expected the brown or grey colour to come out when she was born. When Scarlet was born all red, it didn't come out, and Ruby got away with it."<br />
"How long have you known?" I snap at him<br />
"A few months ..." he cringes "... and before you even ask Dad, I have only just told him ... today!" he mumbles today like it was an after thought and not very convincingly.<br />
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"<b>A few months!!!</b>" I snap "Why the hell didn't you tell me Tap? You have had plenty of opportunity too, so why haven't you?" I frown at him<br />
"I'm sorry!! I didn't know how too ... Scarlet does not know herself and I was just biding my time. I guessed this might happen, the baby coming out with the wrong colouring, but hoping it didn't happen. I was being a coward and waiting until now." he mumbles<br />
"Didn't you think that I had a right to know she is my Neice and that my Dad has a right to know he has another Grandchild and now a Great Grandchild!!??"<br />
"Of course ... but what if Cosmic had got it wrong? I could have opened my mouth and caused a lot of trouble and upset for nothing, when no doubt Gravel wasn't the only one sleeping with her at the time!!! That woman has slept with most of the town!! If I had told you, would you have been able to sit on the secret until the baby arrived to prove that she is Gravels Daugher?"<br />
"Why would I have had to sit on it?" I frown at him<br />
"Gravel faded Cinnamon!! I wasn't going to be the one who lit that firework if it wasn't necessary ... this is going to destroy Bay's family and Scarlet all over again!! How the hell are they going to look at that baby knowing it has something to do with Gravel after he murdered Cinnamon!!??" he looks at me sheepishly "I'm sorry Granite, now you might see why I wanted to keep this shit to myself for as long as possible ... "<br />
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"Oh SHIT!!" The reality suddenly smacks me. I'm too busy trying to get my head around the fact that Gravel has managed to father another child, without thinking it all through properly. "OH HELL!! How much <i><b>more</b> </i>destruction is that man going to cause?! Gravel has murdered his own Daughter's boyfriend and Grandchild's Father ... how the hell are Scarlet, Mel and Alpine ever going to take this!!" I snap<br />
"Exactly!" Tap mumbles<br />
"I'll let you off for not telling me Tap ... I am not sure I could have lit that firework either, and it was probably better I didn't know, because I couldn't have sat there knowing she is my Neice and not say anything!!" I frown "But something still doesn't make sense ... the blue eyes, how is that even possible?" <br />
"I can explain where the blue comes from." Forrest starts laughing<br />
"How?" me and Mango both ask him at the same time. "Where does it come from?"<br />
"Alpine." he laughs<br />
"How can it? Alpine is a pure green berry." Mango mumbles at him<br />
"Yeah, that is what he thinks!!" Forrest rolls his eyes as he holds up the folder "You need to read this. Alpine is actually a mixed berry and he doesn't even know it himself."<br />
<br />
I laugh at Mango, who's eyes nearly pop out as he takes the file off Forrest.<br />
<br />
"Leafy how doesn't Alpine know he a mixed berry?" I frown at him as I stroll over to join them on the couch where they are now sitting.<br />
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<br />
"Only by luck so far I think!! Cinnamon had all of Mel's colouring and none of Alpines, or he could have found out when Cinn was born if the blue had surfaced then." he laughs. "Alpine was placed into care when he was a baby, obviously he is pure to the eye, so why would he doubt it. Besides he has the papers that say he is pure. He has never known anything about himself, not even his parents names or why he was put into care. "<br />
"And you do I suppose." I laugh<br />
"Yeah, Cinnamon went on a mission to get some answers to the questions that Alpine has always wandered about himself, and I helped him. Ironically Gravel even helped us at one point. What we found, would really have upset Alpine, and with his brain damage, we doubted he would take it. So Cinnamon decided he was better never knowing, and I agreed ... what he doesn't know will never hurt him." he rolls his eyes<br />
"So what was so bad, that kept you two from telling him?" I frown at him<br />
"After they traced Alpines social services records back to where he was born, it didn't take Cinn and Gravel long to discover that Alpine had been placed into care because both of his parents were arrested and sent to prison ... for colour mixing as well as fraud. Alpine being the result of the colour mixing and the reason his parents were locked up."<br />
"One of his parents is blue I take it." I frown at him<br />
"Yes, his Mother is Green and his Father is Blue." he laughs<br />
"Why would any of that really upset him?"<br />
"Alpine has deep down always had a very big problem with colour mixing. He is at heart still very stuck in the colour code as he had spent a lot of his life out in the coded world and brainwashed like the rest of them. A reason why Lime was his girlfriend at boarding school, not because he liked her because she was green. The very same reason why he latched onto me and Meadow the moment he landed in this town, because of our colour, and a reason why he was never really into or comfortable with his relationship with Mel."<br />
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<br />
"So why did he get into a relationship with Mel in the first place?"<br />
"He was a mixed up teenager, desperate and not thinking right. He got very close to his school mates, they were like his first proper little family, he cared about them like they cared about him. Up until then he'd never really been loved by anyone, and he felt loved by his friends. He was scared that when school finished he would be alone again, not having any family of his own. He knew that Lilly and Cosmic, Sunny and Ruby would be here with Mango. Caramel was talking about coming here with them, so he just jumped on the bandwagon and attached himself to Caramel, who actually did like him at the time."<br />
"So you recon he wouldn't take the fact he is a mixed berry."<br />
"No he wouldn't, especially not with his brain damage, he would have taken it badly ... he is going to take it badly, because I am going to have to tell him now ... the blue in the baby comes from him, so I can't hide it any more." he pulls a pain filled expression "I knew this baby was probably going to open a huge can of worms on two counts ... "<br />
"Did you know Scarlet is Gravel's?"<br />
"No, I knew Sunny wasn't her biological Dad, because Mango pointed out the blood incompatibility when she was born, but I didn't know she was actually Gravels until Tap just told me." he looks at Granite sheepishly "I should have known, and I think deep down I knew, but didn't think it was possible with his fertility problems. Scarlet's eyes have always spooked me, she has your eyes. I've never been able to look at her without thinking about you."<br />
"Funny that isn't it, Clay has my eyes too." Granite laughs "Both of his children got our Mothers eyes, when I have them and Gravel and Slate don't!"<br />
"Forrest why do you have this police file?" Mango mumbles as he hands it back to him<br />
"Cinnamon had it hidden at home. Scarlet gave it me for safe keeping, after Cinnamon faded, because we guessed we might need it when the baby was born."<br />
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"Where has it come from so quickly?" he frowns at Forrest<br />
"I kept it locked in my office desk, ready and waiting for when the baby arrives, just in case we needed it." he laughs "I better warn you, me and Tap have had to smash my desk up to get the draw open. My keys are at home." I chuckle at Mango who is rolling his eyes at Forrest, and giving him one of those disapproving looks. <br />
"So Scarlet already knows where the blue has come from?"<br />
"Yeah, and so will Caramel, but my three kids were never told. We knew we would have to pre-warn her about the blue before the baby arrived. But luckily Cinnamon had already told Scarlet, I didn't realise he had until she came to me in pieces when she found out she was pregnant. I guess Cinn needed to tell her, I know it was torturing him, he knew if they ever had any children there was a possibility that the blue might surface, which would mean we couldn't keep hiding it and we would have to tell Alpine the truth about himself."<br />
"That is why Scarlet kept asking for Forrest earlier!!" Mango laughs at me "Forrest, this tit thought for a minute that the baby was yours!!" this has the three of us laughing<br />
"I don't get it ... how does Alpine have papers saying he is a pure berry when he isn't?"<br />
"We never got to the bottom of that one either, not even Gravel could work it out." he laughs "It is pretty ironic really, because Alpine arrived all green. He wasn't born in hospital, they kept the pregnancy a secret and he was born at home. His Dad got Alpine dodgy papers and birth certificate, that is why they got extra prison time for fraud. They were both sentenced to ten years. I said ironic, because here is where Alpine was first shipped too when his parents were arrested and locked up. Sugar Valley." he laughs "His surname Forrest, is not actually his birth name, it belonged to the first family here in Sugar Valley that fostered him. By rights Alpines papers should have been changed by the authorities when it was first uncovered, but they weren't. His name was changed, but the fact of him being a mixed berry wasn't ... whether it was an oversight, a clerical error, or another dodgy act ... we couldn't work it out. The Forrest family were pure green berries and they moved out of this town with Alpine about a month after they started fostering him and there is a trail of foster families and childrens homes up until he went to the boarding school."<br />
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<br />
"I wander if my parents remember that Forrest family?"<br />
"Yeah I know, I've wanted to ask your parents, my parents and Shale, but I haven't to keep it to myself." he smiles at Mango "I guess we can now."<br />
"So are Alpines biological parents still alive?" Mango asks him<br />
"No, they are both long faded. If they had still been alive when we uncovered the truth, we would have told him. His Mother took her own life, a few months after being sentenced, she committed suicide, she faded when Alpine was a baby. His Father faded in prison five years ago, a few years before we found out who they were."<br />
"In Prison?" Mango frowns "I thought you said he only got ten years."<br />
"Yeah, he was stabbed. Cinnamon showed me his police records and Alpines Dad basically spent his life in and out of prison, and from what we could see, he was not a very nice character. Crime and drug addiction. We didn't find any siblings on either side - so we didn't think Alpine needed to know something that would have really upset, even unhinged him. Especially his Mother."<br />
<br />
"Where has Tapestry and Snow gone, I didn't see them go." I frown at Mango<br />
"Oh you might guess." he laughs as he rolls his eyes "There is a baby crying on his radar - so he is in there. I swear a switch trips in his head when he hears babies crying and he turns into robo nanny!!"<br />
<br />
I laugh at Mango as he pushes open the door and calls Tapestry out.<br />
<br />
"You just can't help yourself can you!!" he laughs at Tapestry as he comes out<br />
"What?! I took Snow in to see his new little cousin." he grins at Mango<br />
"Right you can take Forrest back up to Neurology seeing as you broke him out!!" he laughs at Tapestry. "I don't suppose you could tell if Ruby has told Scarlet about Gravel."<br />
"No she hasn't!! Scarlet is very confused in there by the babies grey hair." he mumbles. "Ruby is just sat there saying nothing."<br />
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"How are we going to do this .... " Forrest chokes "It is bad enough we have to tell Scarlet, but Alpine is going to totally lose it having to find out he is a mixed berry as well as his Grandson having Gravels genes in it!! I also have Mel and the kids to deal with who are going to be totally devastated!! Slate, how is this going to affect him?" he looks at me miserably.<br />
"I don't know ... Slate is who is worrying me. He didn't take Clay's existence too well to start with, did he. With Scarlet, they are friends and she is another family member who has been right under his nose all this time and he never knew it." I mumble<br />
"Slate is busy with Vanilla, Ocean and Amber, luckily he is out of the way, so hopefully you will be able to get to him before the gossip does." he smiles at me "I think we need to deal with Ruby and Scarlet first." Mango mumbles "We have the written proof to cover the blue ... now we need to get the proof to cover the grey ... before we even say anything to Alpine, Mel and the kids." <br />
"Get the proof how? It's not like Gravel is here to do a paternity test is it." Forrest grumbles<br />
"Yeah but we have Clay. I'll phone Mace in a bit and get him to bring him in so we can do a sibling test." I smile at Forrest who now looks like he is getting upset.<br />
"Forrest, you will have to go back upstairs and play dumb till we come up. You need to try and stop Bay from phoning Slate too." he pulls a face "Unfortunately there is no easy way to do this, but having Alpine upstairs where he can be sedated and put in a bed when he loses it, is the best place for him to be."<br />
<br />
I watch Tapestry pushing Forrest up the corridor. My head is totally blown and I can't help but worry about the trouble and upset we have coming!!<br />
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While I'm still trying to take in the fact that Gravel has created another child, and one that he didn't know existed. She has been walking around right under his nose and he didn't have a clue ... this will probably destroy him more than Clay's existence will!!<br />
<br />
It makes me wander if he had known about Scarlet, would it have changed things, would him knowing have stopped all of his madness and everything he has done to hide and keep a hold of Slate. I think it definitely would have done ... Ruby could have stopped all of his destruction just by telling him that Scarlet was his child!! I also probably would have known about my Son existing from the start too, which suddenly makes me angry!!<br />
<br />
We walk back into the room to find silence. Scarlet has stopped crying and is feeding the baby, Ruby is just sat quietly watching, she does not even look at us when we enter the room.<br />
<br />
"I take it you haven't said anything to Scarlet, Ruby!!" Mango snaps at her. She just shakes her head miserably, still not looking at us.<br />
"I just want a straight yes or no!!" I snap at her "Is she my Niece?"<br />
<br />
Ruby looks up quickly and stares at me quite nastily for a moment. She suddenly bursts into tears and tries to run out of the the room, but I grab her and stop her.<br />
<br />
"IS SHE?!" I rare at her as I hold her firmly by the arm. She just stands there scowling at me "TELL ME before I shake it out of you!! She is Gravel's isn't she!!"<br />
"Yes okay!! She is!!" She tugs her arm free from my grasp and runs out of the room, the doors bang violently behind her.<br />
"So typical of Ruby!! She leaves her sordid mess for me to clean up AGAIN!!" Mango tuts as he stands staring at the swinging door, his hands on his hips.<br />
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I stand staring at Scarlet, still seriously wandering if I am not imagining all this, looking for signs of Gravel in her, but I can't see any. She doesn't resemble anyone in my family, she doesn't look like a Rock, because she looks too much like Ruby. I think about what Mango said about her eyes, she has the same shaped eyes as me, my Mothers eyes, but I can't see Scarlet's eyes properly because she is looking down while she is feeding the baby.<br />
<br />
My heart starts to break for her, this was always going to be hard for her, having that baby alone, with Cinnamon now faded. Now she has to learn the truth about herself, that she is Gravel's daughter ... this is going to be very hard for her to take, because of him fading Cinnamon.<br />
<br />
"Mango, what is going on?" she frowns in our direction "Why does my baby have grey hair, it really doesn't make any sense!! I need to speak to Forrest!!" she mumbles as she starts to get upset "This is definitely Cinnamons baby ... I have never slept with anyone else!! You do believe me don't you!!"<br />
"Yes Scarlet I believe you!!" Mango smiles at her "Forrest has explained to us, where the blue comes from ... from Alpine."<br />
"Good!!" she looks relieved "I had to really bite my tongue with Alpine when he was raring in my face accusing me of all sorts. Forest needs to explain it to him, because it is going to upset him!!"<br />
<br />
I can't help but smile at what she just said. Gravel would never have sat there and took the stick to protect and save someone else's feeling. How has my evil Brother managed to create such a kind, sweet and selfless girl, when he himself is the opposite.<br />
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<br />
"Forrest is going to explain it to Alpine later." <br />
"It still doesn't explain where the grey comes from!" she mumbles "Do you think the grey also comes from Alpine?"<br />
"Can you hand the baby over to Granite, he can finish feeding him while we sit down and have a chat about the grey."<br />
<br />
I can't help but stare at her face as I take the baby off Scarlet, she looks straight at me and smiles. My stomach rolls as I stare at her eyes ... Mango is right, she does have my Mother's eyes. I wander why I have never noticed it until now.<br />
<br />
As I stand feeding the baby, I'm not really listening to Mango because my thoughts drown out the sound of his voice as I stare down at the baby who is staring up at me. I concentrate on the babies nose, Mango is right about that too, he does have Gravel's awful nose!! This cracks me up and I start to cry ... I think I've got the proof that I am holding my brothers Grandchild, and I can't help but think that this poor baby is not getting a very good start in life because of my evil brother on two counts.<br />
<br />
Scarlet suddenly starts screaming, which snaps me out of my daze. She is verging on hysterical while Mango is trying to calm her down. She looks at me wide eyed then starts screaming again. Scarlet's screaming sets the baby off. His little arms fly up in the air rigid and he let out an almighty loud cry.<br />
<br />
"I'll take the baby out so he doesn't get any more upset." I mumble as I stare at Scarlet <br />
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"I need to make a phone call anyway. I'll just be outside."<br />
<br />
For the first time, I wander how my Dad is going to take this news!! <br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-88934187347130796792018-03-05T18:01:00.000-08:002018-03-05T18:01:25.000-08:00Chapter 63 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
I remain standing next to Granite while all of our laughter subsides.<br />
<br />
Bay rolls his eyes as he wags his finger and laughs at me. I am not doubting that he will have something to say to me about keeping yet another secret from him. That is if he gets a chance to with Scarlet's baby on the way.<br />
<br />
My stomach is tying itself in knots just knowing that any minute, a huge bomb could go off, which is probably going to tear the extended family apart and cause a hell of a lot of upset.<br />
<br />
"Time to get serious." Granite mumbles as he suddenly stops laughing "You kids all need to go down to Maternity. Your Mother is very upset
at the moment, after you two girls had your unnecessary little tantrum." Granite frowns at Fudge and
Mint "She needs to see you are accepting this for what it
is!! She along with Coal have been the victims in all this, and not the
one's to shout at and blame!!"<br />
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"We know that now Daddy Leaf has explained it to us properly!!" Mint mumbles. I laugh at Forrest who is sat there chuckling quiet to himself. "It was just the shock of what we were hearing T saying to Coal. You would have got the wrong end of the stick too if you had heard what he was saying about Mom."<br />
"Yeah, I can just imagine!" Granite chuckles "The idiot thinks he is still in love with Mel and lives in cloud cuckoo land most of the time. I'm sick of hearing him going on about it, when we can all see he has obviously got feelings for that red town bike that he can't seem to leave alone!"<br />
"Mom is okay isn't she?" Fudge frowns <br />
"Not really. She needs to see that all four of you are okay. She needs to see that you are accepting Coal for what he is, your Brother, and there is going to be no fall out!!"<br />
"There isn't going to be any fall out. Its okay by me, now I've got over the shock!!" Mint laughs<br />
"Well you girls especially need to go and tell your Mother that!! I've just left her in tears and doubt this upset has done her blood pressure much good."<br />
"Okay, we'll go now and talk to her." Fudge mumbles<br />
"You should go too Bay, you are going to take root in this room!!" Granite laughs<br />
"I want to stay here .... I haven't upset her have I!! I'll speak to her later when the drama queens have calmed her down." he smirks at Granite "Besides I am waiting for Slate - he is meeting me here."<br />
"Mmm you might find Slate is not coming." he laughs "He is round at Taps with Amber, watching, Ocean and Vanilla and if you switched your phone on, you would know that!!"<br />
"I'll phone him." he mumbles as he jumps to his feet.<br />
<br />
I
frown at Bay who is just standing there, holding a framed photograph of
himself, staring at Forrest like he is unsure about something. We have really struggled to get Bay out of here for the past
four days, and even though Forrest is now awake, he still doesn't seem
to want to leave his side. It doesn't look like we are going to move him today either. <br />
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"Should I say anything to Slate about that?" he frowns at Forrest as he hands him the photograph.<br />
"No, not yet ... I'll tell them all later, including Slate. " he smiles at Bay
"I need to talk to you, Fudge, Mint and Slate all together, so I only have to do it once." Forrest smiles at Bay. I notice Granite is really frowning at them.<br />
<br />
Coal, Mint, Fudge and Bay all leave the room, which gives me and Granite the chance to sit down on one of the chairs opposite him. <br />
<br />
"When can I see Mel?" Forrest frowns at Granite "If she is upset I really should be there."<br />
"She should be up soon, although, she is a little distracted at the moment ... her Grandchild is on his way. Scarlet is in labour." he smiles<br />
"Oh!" Forrest pulls a suspiciously strange face and looks very troubled for a moment. I wander if he knows the truth about Scarlet's real Father already! But I doubt he could.<br />
"So what was all that with the photograph. What do you need to talk to Slate about?"<br />
"Meddy has finally found where Paps hid
the kids money, Slates included." Forrest laughs at Granite who just
stares at him wide eyed."<br />
"Seriously ... Slate too?"<br />
"Yeah. To them he has always been their Grandchild. The six of them got exactly the same." Forrest grins
at him "You was left something too. All ten of us got something ...
even me."<br />
"Sod off!" Granite laughs at him<br />
"Yeah, it seems Dad must have forgiven you, me and Gravel for our sins
after all." he laughs as he pulls a load of photographs out of a bag.
"He has hidden a bank book and letter behind every ones photo."<br />
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"The sly old bugger!" Granite starts howling as he takes his photograph off Forrest. "Remember, Pops always used to tell me he would have the last laugh with me, and I never believed him. Well he just Did!" Granite is really laughing which seems to annoy Forrest a little who is now frowning with confusion. Probably because he can't remember.<br />
"Anyway, <i>this</i> leaves us with a problem." Forrest waves Gravel's photograph at Granite "The Berry Hole got his share too,
which he can't spend in prison." they pull a face at each other "Me
and Meddy think the Berry Hole should sign his share over to Clay."<br />
"Yeah ..." Granite mumbles. He looks thoughtful for a moment "I'm
going into see the Berry Hole when they transfer him back to Sugar next week ...
I'll go and see my solicitor before I see him, and get it sorted out."<br />
"Are you Mad!? You are going in to see him after everything he has done!?" Forrest snaps at Granite very angrily.<br />
"STOP!!" Granite laughs as he holds his hands up "I have already had
a load of earache off Mace, Dad and Mango!! I'm doing it and I don't care what
anyone says!!"<br />
"Why would you even want to see that Berry Hole!?"<br />
"To get Mace a fair sentence." he chuckles "I'm going to use Clay, to get him to tell the truth about everyone and
everything, especially Mace." he grins at Forrest "He doesn't get to see Clay if he
doesn't do the decent thing and come completely clean!! Besides I want to see his pain. Him just knowing I have Slate as well as his boy will crucify him!!"<br />
"You are an idiot!!" Forrest mumbles<br />
"Seriously?!" Granite chokes as he stares at the bank book he has just opened.<br />
"Yeah it shocked me too!!" Forrest laughs "The kids got even more than we did."<br />
<br />
Bay walks back into the room. He has a frown on his face as he snaps his phone shut.<br />
<br />
"Is Slate having a laugh and winding me up? Are we really all moving into Mango's ..." he mumbles as he sits back down next to Forrest. This has Forrest really frowning.<br />
"Don't say another word ... " Granite laughs at Bay "I guess it is probably good that you are here, I guess you need to hear this too." he chuckles.<br />
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Granite glances at me for a moment and smiles nervously. I know he is really not looking forward to what he has to tell Forrest. He thinks with Forrest's OCD he is likely to have a nervous breakdown if they make too much mess of his house.<br />
<br />
"Why do I get the feeling something is going on?" Forrest frowns at us all.<br />
"Leafy when did you last change the carpet in the dining room?"<br />
"Its been about five years ago why?" he frowns at Granite "Tell me you have ruined it!! Gran, what have you done?"<br />
"I have done Nothing." he laughs quietly "Did you fit the new carpet?"<br />
"No." he mumbles "The carpet shop fitted it when they delivered it ... why Gran?"<br />
"Did you know that Gravel has been hiding his dodgy shit, not only under his own floorboards, but also under the dining room floorboards in our house?"<br />
"What?!" he laughs "Don't be stupid!"<br />
"Seriously!! Today I have found a load of his dodgy shit under the
floorboards in mine and Mace's room." Granite frowns at Forrest "How did you not notice the
six broken floorboards when the carpet was taken up?"<br />
"I ..." he frowns "I wasn't there .... Gravel was." he frowns "I was
at work. In fact, it was Gravel's fault the carpet had to be changed.
I was painting and the idiot knocked over the tin of paint ... so he
paid to have the carpet replaced. I was at work when they came to fit
it, so Gravel let them in and stayed till they had finished."<br />
"Yeah ... I bet he did!!" Granite starts howling "I think he played you
... he probably spilt that paint on purpose - so he could engineer being there when
the carpet came up. He stopped you from seeing and investigating all the broken floorboards."<br />
"I'm confused! How has he managed to hide stuff in my house without me noticing .... more to the point, HOW did you find it?"<br />
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"I guess he must have been sneaking in when the house was empty, while you was at work." Granite chuckles "Confession time. I was checking out my hideout, to make sure it was empty and I hadn't left anything in it. As far as the police are concerned I was looking under the floorboards for mice." Granite laughs "Leafy, there are actually mouse droppings under the floorboards."<br />
"Sod off!! There aren't any mice in that house. I would have seen some evidence or heard them!!" Forrest snaps defensively "Hideout?" he frowns "What hideout?!" <br />
"I used to hide things from you
under the floorboards in the dining room and our old bedroom." Forrest
rolls his eyes "Gravel has been using the dining room hidey hole since I left, and even made it
bigger. I only broke one floorboard - he has broken another five."<br />
"So I take it Gravel knew about your hiding places?"<br />
"I didn't tell him. Gravel caught me going into the hiding place in
the dining room, sneaking in on the sly, and I didn't know he was there watching me. That is how he managed that one time to switch my stash of coke for
bicarb ..."<br />
"You <b>SWORE</b> to me you never kept your damn drugs in the house!!" Forrest almost yells at Granite<br />
"Well I'm sorry I did!!" he snaps "Don't even start going off on one
now ... it was over twenty years ago - it's done!! And what I hid, the
odd bag of coke, weed or bottle of vodka, is nothing in comparison to what he
has done!!"<br />
"Why what has he done?"<br />
"Under your floorboards, amongst other things, there are large quantities of guns, knives, drugs, money .... we counted at least sixteen guns, that we could see without moving anything."<br />
"Tell me you are joking!!" he snaps<br />
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<br />
"No." he mumbles "The police have evicted us temporarily while they
investigate further. Like Bay mentioned, we are all having to stay at Mango's, for a few weeks at least. That is why Slate is round there now. I did ask him if he and Bay wanted to crash with you and Mel. I said I would look after Amber while she spent some time with Lilly. But Slate wanted to stay with me and didn't like the idea of being separated from Amber." Granite laughs at Bay who is sat grumbling "Sorry Bay, if you had been with your boyfriend instead of glued to your Dad, you could have had a say in where you are crashing for the next few weeks<br />
"I'm sorry Tap .. " Bay glances at me "While it will be cool to hang out with you more, we are not going to have a lot of fun with Coral living there, are we." he frowns "She is going to give me and Slate hell and upset Amber!!"<br />
"Don't worry about her Bay!! Dad has packed her off to Preludes, so she won't be around while you are there. Dad has even banned her from visiting." I laugh at him "We are ALL seriously glad that we are getting a break from the bitch and Mom is really happy to have Amber there for a while!!"<br />
"Good because I know Slate doesn't need her headache right now with the trial so close."<br />
"That is not as close as you think. The trial has been delayed, because of this latest discovery of Gravel's wrong doings!!" Granite mumbles "There is a hell of a lot of evidence there for the police to work through. Berry knows how much longer we are going to have to wait for a new trial date!!"<br />
"Seriously they have delayed the trial." Forrest frowns at Granite. <br />
"Yeah, but we will talk about the trial later." he mumbles "I'm sorry
Leafy but the police are tearing your house to pieces, as we speak ... every single
floorboard is coming up!!"<br />
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<b> "Oh No!!" </b> he yells as he tries to get up out of his chair "I have to stop them!! They are <b>NOT</b> destroying my house and moving my things around. I'm going to lose my head!!"<br />
"Yeah, I guessed your OCD might kick in and send you nutz." Granite chuckles as he makes him sit back in his chair. "Leafy sit down!! You aren't going anywhere, you fruit cake!!"<br />
"Gran it's not funny!!"<br />
"I know it is not funny!! I've had to live with your OCD remember, and now I'm having to live with your Son, who, I have to say is just as bad as you!!" he chuckles "Maybe it is a good thing that you are in here, so you can't watch them doing it. We will have to keep you well away from the house until we have put everything back in its place."<br />
"It is not just that!! I know what's coming, our house has been raided more than a few times hasn't it Granite!!" he snaps at him sarcastically "You was always locked up in the police cells when they raided our house, then you used to slope off for weeks sometimes hiding to avoid me going off on one. You never saw the mess I had to clean up!!! They don't give a shit about how they tear up peoples homes and belongings. This time it will be even worse than a raid, because they will be pulling up the carpet and floorboards as well."<br />
"It's won't be like a raid, they are only interested in what is under the floorboards, not everything in the house. They won't be smashing the place up this time!!"<br />
"They will still have to move everything IN THE ROOM, and I doubt they will do it carefully!!" he snaps angrily "You KNOW they are not going to pay for anything they damage or break!! They will trash the place, Gran you need to stop them!!"<br />
"I'm sorry, there is nothing either of us can do about it!! If I had refused to let them do it, it would have looked suspicious. It also would have only delayed it while they get themselves a search warrant. Gravel needs to hang for everything!!" Granite
mumbles with irritation "You just have to let
them do their job and pulling up all the floorboards is what they need to do. There could be a lot more of his shit hidden in another room in the house, for all we know!! In a way this is doing both of us a very big favour."<br />
"Are you off your head!! How can the police smashing our house up, because of that BERRY HOLE, be doing either of us a favour!!" Forrest snaps at Granite angrily<br />
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"Just think about it. You are selling up and moving. What if you had moved and years down the line the new owner discovered it. It could have all come back on the both of us, and no doubt he would have let us take the wrap for his shit. It is good his shit has been found now and that they know it is his."<br />
"I guess I can see that." he pulls an angry expression "I am <b>seriously</b> going to fade Gravel if I ever get the chance to!!" Forrest snaps angrily<br />
"Don't worry!! Dad is standing over them while they do it. You know El is ready to pop right now, so Dad is filling in for her. He and Crimson wont let them do too much damage!!"<br />
"Well I hope Not!!" he snaps. "They don't think any of that shit is mine, do they??!!"<br />
"No, they know it is Gravel's shit. They found missing police files,
dodgy id's and passports, some of them Gravels and Tami's missing jewellery ..." he smiles at Forrest
"However, they will be in to question you later. They think you might
have known it was there ..."<br />
"Well I didn't!!" he snaps "You know .... I would never let you keep any of your shit in the house .. so I definitely wouldn't have let him!!"<br />
"I have already told them that, and that even if you knew but couldn't say anything because he was holding a gun to your head ... you would have told them with everything else you knew."<br />
"Well I didn't know!!" hes snaps. "I didn't have a clue it was even there!! Like we don't have enough shit going on right now ... that berry hole has got the police on my back again!!"<br />
"Don't stress!!" Granite laughs at him "Questioning you is just a formality, they know this is all Gravel. If they thought you had anything to do with it, they would have been here straight away!!"<br />
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<br />
Granite gets up and stands for a few minutes reading through the notes from the end of Forrests bed. I start to get nervous knowing what is coming next. Hoping that this is going to work out, and doesn't blow up in my face. If wiping his memory doesn't cure his phobia, I am never going to hear the last of it from Dad.<br />
<br />
"So how are you feeling?"<br />
"Angry!!" Forrest snaps<br />
"Not about the house idiot!" Granite laughs at him "How is your head? Has anything come back to you? Have you started to remember anything from your childhood yet."<br />
"No."<br />
"Good." Granite chuckles as he sits back down<br />
"I'm glad you find it funny, and what is good about it?" Forrest frowns at him "My head is so empty I still can't even work out WHY I would have married you!!"<br />
"You fell for my damn gorgeous face obviously!!" Granite starts howling<br />
"Gran I am being serious!!" Forrest snaps "I'm straight, so why you? Why would I even pretend to be gay in the first place. Just looking at you now ... the thought of kissing you is turning my stomach!!" this has me and Bay really laughing.<br />
"Charming!! You used to love me!!" Granite tuts "Kissing me is something you have NEVER had a problem doing in the past, trust me!! We've been sucking face since we were ten and YOU started it!!" Granite chuckles<br />
"Yeah well, I've got a problem with it now!!" he snaps "I just don't get it!!"<br />
"Seriously, it was our emotional attachment. We have been together since we were babies, and it brain washed us. We stupidly mistook it for love. Especially you, trying to play gay when we both knew you are far from gay."<br />
"If you say so, but it is very frustrating to be me right now, when I don't remember a damn thing before we got married, especially about us!!"<br />
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<br />
"How are you actually feeling about the amnesia."<br />
"How do you think, I hate it!! I wish my memory would come back. I feel totally lost, and like I don't really know who I am properly, or you!!" he mumbles "It is just a good job that my memories of Mel and the kids are still intact or I think I might be going off my head right now!! I hope to Berry this amnesia isn't permanent."<br />
"What about if you started to look at your amnesia in a different way. Me, Mango, Tap, River ... we think it could actually be a good thing, especially if it is permanent."<br />
"How?" he frowns<br />
"Your phobia." Granite grins at him.<br />
"What about it?"<br />
"Your phobia was created by the loss of our happy childhood together. Everything changed for you when we became teenagers ... you loved me obsessively so you struggled with your sexuality, you struggled with my addictions and behaviour, then I did one leaving you broken hearted. Up until you hit your head, you were still insistent that you have truly loved me all this time. Four days ago you would have snogged my face off without a problem, now suddenly you don't remember loving me, instead I repulse you, because I'm a bloke." Granite chuckles "Now that you don't remember what was screwing you up and why, you should have lost your trigger. Realistically your phobia should have gone with your memory."<br />
"Are you trying to be funny?"<br />
"No I'm being very serious Leafy." he smiles at me and nods his head. <br />
<br />
I jump up off my chair and walk out into the corridor to collect Snow off Dad, who has been waiting very impatiently with him. Dad is mumbling about us taking so long before he runs off down to Maternity to see what is going on.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath as I walk back into the room with Snow.<br />
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At first Forrest gasps and flinches when he sees that I am holding Snow.<br />
<br />
"Are you Mad!!" Bay jumps up out of his chair "Tap you need to get Snow out of here!!"<br />
"Bay leave it!" Granite mumbles as he jumps up out of his chair to face him. "Just wait!! You heard what I was saying ... both me and Mango think his amnesia should have taken his phobia with his memories."<br />
"What if it hasn't!! If he throws another wobble I'm going to swing for you two!!" he snaps<br />
"Chill out!!" Granite laughs at him "I seriously don't think that he will be throwing any wobbles, or he would already be showing signs of a panic attack by now!!" Granite points at Forrest "All I can see is confusion." <br />
"You could at least have given him some warning that you were about to spring a toddler on him!!" Bay snaps<br />
"This was the best way ... trust me." Granite smiles at Bay "If we had warned him, he would probably have had a panic attack before we even bought Snow into the room, because he <b>THINKS</b> he still has the phobia."<br />
"Talk about me like I am not in the room!!" Forrest mumbles.<br />
<br />
Forrest just continues to stare up at Snow, and he looks very confused. While the three of us just stand watching him nervously.<br />
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<br />
"So Leafy ... how are you feeling about Snow being in the room?" Granite asks him<br />
"I ... I don't know??" he mumbles still not taking his eyes off Snow.<br />
<br />
Granite amuses my grabbing Forrest's wrist, and checks his pulse. He remains coached down holding Forrest's hands for a while, while he just watches his face.<br />
<br />
"I'm confused!" Forrest mumbles<br />
"I can already see that Snow is not affecting you like he would have done four days ago." he grins at Forrest "You are not showing the slightest signs of fear or panic."<br />
"I know, and I'm ... confused." he mumbles again<br />
"We called it right didn't we!" Granite laughs "Your phobia has gone with your memories hasn't it!! You are not the slightest bit scared of Snow are you?"<br />
"No .... I don't think so."<br />
"So how are you feeling?"<br />
"Numb and confused!!"<br />
<br />
We sit for quite a while just chatting about anything and everything. Forrest is not really joining in with our conversation, he seems to be
over fascinated with the toddler in the room. While Forrest constantly
watches Snow silently playing with his teddy bear, all three of us carry
on chatting while we are quietly and slyly watching him. Waiting for
him to have some sort of reaction to the child in the room, but none is
coming. <br />
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<br />
"What if his amnesia disappears and his memories and phobia come back?" Bay mumbles miserably suddenly "It's okay being excited now about his seemingly cured phobia, but what if this is only temporary and it comes back."<br />
"We will cross that bridge, if it comes." Granite smiles at Bay "However, it should all be fine from now on!! Me and Mango have already discussed the amnesia being temporary with his psychiatrist." <br />
"What did he say?" Forrest is really frowning at him<br />
"He is going to pop into see you tomorrow. He said he will carry on working with you, and prepare you just in case." he smiles at Forrest "IF the amnesia goes and your memories return, he thinks it is more than likely the phobia won't return. You spending this time being around children comfortably without any fear - psychologically should cure you of the phobia completely, if your memories return."<br />
"I hope you are right!! I hate this amnesia, but it looks like it <i>has</i> turned out to be a good thing." Forrest laughs "Even tho Snow is quiet and not making any noise, I know the phobia has gone. Him just being there and me watching him moving would have normally had me panicking, puking or running for the hills by now!!"<br />
"And you called him Snow and not Brat!!" Granite starts howling "Now maybe you might learn Jasmine, Amber and Clays names!!"<br />
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<br />
Not long after Granite left to go home, my phone starts to ring.<br />
<br />
I jump up and pull it out of my pocket quickly. I stare at the "D" flashing up on my screen, which makes my stomach roll nervously.<br />
<br />
"Tapestry, you are still with Forrest and Bay aren't you?"<br />
"Yes Daddy dear. You told me not to move from here, so I haven't." I laugh into my phone<br />
"You be careful, you might just be doing as you are told again!!"<br />
"Very funny!!" <br />
"How did Forrest go with Snow?"<br />
"Great!! So far so good, it looks like the amnesia has cured his phobia!!" I laugh<br />
"Well thank berry for that!!" he laughs and I can hear the relief in his voice, that I am feeling myself. "Can you tell Bay the baby has arrived." he laughs quietly<br />
"Bay your Nephew has arrived." I smile at him<br />
"Great!" Bay laughs as he jumps up, mumbles something to Forrest then runs out of the room.<br />
"Bay is on his way down to you." I laugh nervously "Dad, is everything okay?" <br />
"No!! The baby has HIS hair, so there is no avoiding it. Everyone, like Scarlet. is going to have to learn TODAY that she is HIS child." he tuts "Brace yourself, because things are just about to get very ugly!"<br />
"I guess seeing his hair, they have probably already worked out that he is involved in it."<br />
"No, while it has already started kicking off down here, surprisingly he hasn't been mentioned <b>yet</b>. Alpine is doing his nut, because he thinks the baby isn't Cinnamons!!"<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Hasn't Ruby said anything to put them right."<br />
"You are joking, you know what Ruby is like!! SHE is saying absolutely nothing and will probably continue to sit there blatantly denying it even when everyone can see the proof!!" he tuts "I am actually a little confused myself at the moment, the baby has his hair <i>but</i> he also has blue eyes."<br />
"Blue?" I mumble<br />
"Don't ask me where the blue has come from because I don't have a clue!! I think the blue has added to the confusion and is stopping them from seeing the obvious, his hair, or his name would have come up by now, I'm sure!!" he tuts "Is Granite still with you?"<br />
"No he went home not long ago, its just me and Forrest now."<br />
"Forrest needs to know because he is going to have to deal with Caramel and the kids. Explain to him what you know quickly, then get down here. Hurry up!!"<br />
<br />
I stand staring at my phone for a moment .... in usual Dad style he has just cut the call off. <br />
<br />
I glance at Forrest, who is now laughing quite loudly at Snow. Strangely Snow is laughing along with him.<br />
<br />
"He wants to know where my tail is!" Forrest laughs at me<br />
"Seriously did he speak to you?"<br />
"Yeah. He thought I was a cat with these ears." Forrest laughs "He wanted me to meow for him."<br />
"Fowest is a funny green man, not a cat!" Snow giggles<br />
<br />
Forrest grins at the shocked look on my face.<br />
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<br />
I sit staring at Snow wide eyed and in disbelief, hearing him speak a complete sentence. I feel like I am about to pass out when he suddenly starts singing to his teddy bear. He is <i>actually singing</i>, a nursery rhyme quite clearly.<br />
<br />
Even though he has had every medical test going, and nothing is supposed to be wrong with him. I have still worried about his intelligence, and whether he is actually understanding what we are saying to him, because of the blank stares we usually get from him. Now here he is singing the nursery rhyme word perfect, and even in tune.<br />
<br />
I am very shocked hearing so much of his voice all in one go, only used to hearing one word at a time rarely. That one word usually being No!! The little boy who is always so silent, is suddenly making a lot of noise, and he is singing.<br />
<br />
"Are Scarlet and the baby okay?" Forrest distracts me away from Snow<br />
"Yes and no." I mumble "We have more EF drama ... It is all kicking off down in maternity."<br />
"Why? What's wrong Tap?" he frowns at me<br />
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<br />
I take a deep breath before I start to explain ......<br />
<br />
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Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-20111577776513302712018-01-29T16:50:00.001-08:002018-01-29T16:50:10.076-08:00Chapter 62 - Gen 2 - Forrest<br />
<br />
The
door swings open with quite a violet bump, which stops me and Bay from talking.<br />
<br />
We both watch Meadow, my sister, come charging into the room like an angry bull. <br />
I can already see by the look on her face that she
is not a happy bunny.<br />
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<br />
"I notice she isn't here
again!!" she snaps as she sits down in the chair opposite me.<br />
"Who? Mel?" I frown at her<br />
"Yes Mel!! After all the trouble she has caused, AGAIN!! I'm not
really surprised that she can't show her face!! Now I find out you might be
permanently brain damaged!! Mango has just told me about the tests and
the memory loss " she is almost yelling now "Wait till I get my hands
on her!"<br />
"Meddy stop!!" I snap
at her "Just leave Mel alone!! This .... was not her fault, it was me
and my stupid phobia, so just back off and but out!! The last thing we
need is you two kicking off at each other like you normally do!! It is
over and done with ... now deal with it!!"<br />
"You say its not
her fault ... I know she is pregnant again for berry's
sake ... and isn't that the reason why this has happened to you!! You have had one of your phobia freak outs!!" she snaps angrily "Just when I think I am getting my sane brother back, all the
crap with you is going to start all over again!! I am sick of watching you so messed up and on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. It is coming again, and as usual it is her
fault!! Mom and Dad are probably turning in their graves right now ... even more Grandchildren they will never know!!"<br />
"Meddy just stop!!" I snap at her angrily "Please tell me you and Mel have not been kicking off while I have been out of it?"<br />
"No, we haven't had a chance to, because Granite and Alpine have broken
their necks to keep us apart!!" she snaps "Besides she is hiding down in
maternity and I've been banned from going down there. Not that I would waste my time going out of my way to visit her!!"<br />
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<br />
"You need to grow up!! Yes she is pregnant again, which she couldn't do on her own!!" I
laugh "I played my part in it too, just like the others, so it is just
as much my fault as hers!!"<br />
"So what has she done ... ACCIDENTALLY on purpose, forgotten to take her pill AGAIN ... she is good at that isn't she!" she snaps sarcastically<br />
"No!! As it goes, it was actually neither of our
faults, and it definitely wasn't planned. Her coil moved out of place, so it was purely an
unfortunate accident!! An accident of my making, because if I'd had
the snip years ago when I should have done, her getting pregnant again
wouldn't have been a possibility would it!!"<br />
"Oh that's it, you defend her like you always do ..."<br />
"Med, please ... all this fighting, sniping and arguing has got to stop!! You
have been banging on at me for years because you have had to keep away
from and have nothing to do with your Neices and Nephews ... and now you
can, do you really want to get off on the wrong foot with them ... "<br />
"I haven't got off on the wrong foot with them!" she frowns at me<br />
"Not yet, but trust me it won't take long with your hot head and evil tongue!! They are not going to like you very much if all
they can see is you slagging off and fighting with their Mother!!" I
roll my eyes at Bay who is just sat next to me laughing quietly "Bay
probably can remember you from when he was younger, visiting Gravel. He knows you are a hot headed fiesty piece of work, but the girls don't
have a clue who you are!! If you want them to like you so you can
become their Aunt properly, then you need to reel that tongue of yours
in and engage your head before you speak!! You and Mel need to make
friends, for all our sakes."<br />
"Whatever!" she snaps sarcastically<br />
"Seriously Med, you need to let it go!!"<br />
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<br />
"What is wrong with your memory anyway - it seems fine to me."<br />
"I've lost everything up to when I was 18. I can't remember a thing
before the day me and Granite got married ... it's all gone."<br />
"What? All of it?" she frowns at me<br />
"Yeah, I didn't even recognize this." I pull the ring off my little finger and hand it to her<br />
"Oh berry ... Mom's engagement ring." she smiles at me as she takes it off me.<br />
"Exactly, but I didn't know that ... Granite had to tell me."<br />
"I didn't expect to see that again!!" she laughs as she looks at it "I'm glad Granite took care of it and didn't flog it for a fix."<br />
"You should keep it and give it one of girls." I laugh as she tries to give it back to me<br />
"That isn't how it works is it!!" she laughs at me<br />
"What do you mean?" I frown at her<br />
"Leaf family tradition. It always goes to the oldest boy .. which you still are."<br />
"Well it is not like I am ever going to use it again!"<br />
"So you and Mel are not getting married one day?" she frowns at me "Now everything is out in the open and you and Gran are getting a divorce, I thought you would."<br />
"I expect we will get married, eventually, if it doesn't bother the
kids." I mumble as I glance at Bay "However, if I even tried to give
Mel that ring, Granites cast offs, she would probably ram it down my
throat and make me swallow it!!" This has Bay really laughing <br />
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<br />
"By right, it is Bays then. He is the oldest and only boy." she hands it to Bay who just stares at it in amusement then laughs at me<br />
"I'm gay, it's not like I'm ever going to have any children!! Its no good to me is it?"<br />
"Your Dad was "playing gay" when he got it ... just take it." she laughs "It will work itself out!"<br />
"Med, he isn't playing gay. Bay is gay!!" I laugh at Meadow.<br />
<br />
If she seriously thinks that Bay is going to be anything like me, and there are children in his future, she is sadly mistaken!! Unlike me, Bay is gay.<br />
<br />
"Here ..." she starts giggling as she hands me four picture frames that I have just watched her pulling out of a bag.<br />
"What is this now Med?!" I frown at her looking at the four framed
photographs of Me, Bay, Fudge and Mint that I recognise. They
used to hang on the wall in Mom and Dad's bedroom.<br />
"Open
the back of the frames." I frown at her because she keeps laughing.<br />
<br />
I
turn over the top picture, which happens to be Bays, and start to un
clip the back of the frame as I glance up and frown at my Sister,
wandering what she is playing at, especially why she keeps laughing. I
pull off the back of the frame and there sat behind the photograph is a
small blue book ... it looks like a bank savings book. As I lift it
out, I spot there is also a small envelope with the book. I lift the
envelope out and turn it over and it has Bays name on it. As I stare at
the book again - it suddenly hits me.<br />
<br />
"Oh Berry ... you have found the kids money!!" I laugh at Meadow who is now smirking at me.<br />
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<br />
"Yes ... FINALLY!! It was actually Holly that found it, typical after we tore the
house apart for a week looking for it and all the time it was hanging on
the wall right in front of us!" she starts laughing "I never would
have thought to look in those frames, or that the silly old fool would
use them as a hiding place." we both start laughing "She asked me if
she could have the pictures to put in the album and when she went to
take the pictures out, she found the books and letters .... we all have
one!!" she laughs "Granite, Gravel, Slate ... Even you." she smiles
at me. I open Bay's bank book and nearly choke.<br />
"How much!!" I stare wide eyed at Meadow<br />
"Yeah it kind of floored me too!" she laughs "Your three, my two and
Slate all got the same." she grins at me.
"You should open your picture ... you, me, Gran and Gravel, all got
the same, but not as much as the kids did. What we got still shocked
me, and is not to be sneezed at."<br />
<br />
I pass Bay's frame, book and
letter to Meadow before I start to dismantle my own picture frame. At first I
think she is pulling my leg when she said I had the same, because Dad
always told me I'd never get a penny. Just like with Bay's, there is a
savings book and letter behind my photograph. I stare at the money in
my book and again I choke.<br />
<br />
"I don't get it ... in
his will he said he'd left everything to his five Grandchildren?" I
frown at Meadow, "So I just presumed it meant Bay, Fudge, Mint, Holly
and Ivy, I wandered why Slate hadn't been included. And he has always
said to me that everything I should inherit, he was giving to my kids,
because I'd made his and Mom's life hell and I didn't deserve it!! I
actually felt bad for you, the only one out of the four of us, that
didn't make their lifes hell, didn't get left anything either!!"<br />
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<br />
"Yeah well, you know what Dad was like, it was probably him having the
last laugh, with all four of us." she laughs at me "I did wander why
Slate wasn't mentioned in his will, because I have heard Dad saying
exactly the same thing to Gravel many times over Slate, just like he
used to keep saying it to you over your three .... the BOTH of you did
make their lives hell as far as those four kids were concerned!! Both
of you are very selfish!!"<br />
"Yes Meadow, I do know thank you, that
they hated not being able to have any contact with their Grandchildren
... but it is not like I asked for or even wanted my phobia!! Mom and
Dad knew we were<b> ALL</b> doing the best things for my kids, proved
now by them not being mentally scared and messed up by me and my phobia!!" I snap at
her "You can call me selfish if that's what you want to think, but at
least I know they have had a better and good life without me, while I've
had to go through hell just watching!! At least I can say I did right
by my kids and that's all that matters here!!"<br />
"Okay, keep your hair on!! What's rattled your cage suddenly."<br />
"You, calling me selfish and tarring me with the same brush as that
Berry Hole!!" I snap at her "You know damn well what you just said was
out of order!! You even made sacrifices for them yourself for berry's
sake!! At least I wasn't playing games, unlike Gravel, who has mashed
up Slate's head and body for the rest of his life, just for the fun of
it to spite Granite!! He jumped on my problem and used it for his own game, it helped him to hide the truth from Slate, for his own gain!!"<br />
"Forrest you need to calm down, or you will give your brain another bleed!" she mumbles<br />
"You are very funny sis!!" I laugh at her sarcastically "I'm the
doctor here remember, and you don't know what you are talking about!!"<br />
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<br />
Meadow smiles at Bay reminding me that he is sat right next to me. I turn and smile awkwardly at Bay who is
just sat quietly listening to the conversation, I had completely
forgotten that he was sat there listening, because Meadow had wound me up. <br />
<br />
"I'm sorry Bay!!" I mumble as I look at him "My head is still a bit
fuzzy and I forgot you was there for a minute ... or I wouldn't have said half of
that stuff. I want to sit the three of you and Slate down and explain
properly now that I can, about your Grandparents."<br />
"It's okay ..." he mumbles<br />
"No it's not, and I can see by your face!!" I pull a face at
him "I'm sorry, your Grandparents, Meadow, your cousins, them not being
in your life was just something that we had to do to protect you from
me and my phobia." I smile at him "They didn't keep away because they
wanted to, they did it because they had to, and it hurt them just as
much as it hurt me."<br />
"I'm confused, why do you keep talking about Slate, like they are his Grandparents too?"<br />
"Because technically they are." I smile at him, then frown, because suddenly my mind is struggle to remember everything clearly "Med ... can you explain, because I'm struggling ..."<br />
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<br />
"Yeah." she frowns at me before she smiles at Bay "Our parents
have pretty much been responsible for Granite and Gravel since their
Father faded, well fake faded. Granite was 12 and
Gravel 8. Raven, their Mother totally went off the rails when Shale
left, she was an alcoholic, and she pretty much neglected them both,
while she drank herself stupid. So our parents were taking care of them. When
she faded three years later, our parents took them in and they fostered
Granite and adopted Gravel. To me and your Dad, Gravel especially has
always been our brother. Our parents pretty much treated Granite and
Gravel as one of their own, and to them Slate, like you three have
always been there Grandchildren."<br />
"But they never saw or
had anything to do with Slate .. did they?" he frowns at me "Slate
does not even think or consider them as being his Grandparents."<br />
"No well he wouldn't, because he was too young to remember anything
and they were kept hidden from him ... just like you." I look at him
sheepishly "When you two were babies, they had a lot to do with both
you and Slate, but when you both became old enough to notice things,
they had to walk away to protect you." I smile at him "Cutting
themselves off from you and Slate, was one of the hardest things they
have ever had to do, it really hurt them, more than you will ever know,
so when Fudge and Mint arrived - they didn't even see them other than in photographs, because it
cut them up too much having to walk away." I laugh "Meadow, she used
to come to Gravels, not to see him or me, it was her way of sneaking
time with both you and Slate. Like my reason for spending so much time at Gravels was you and Slate. It really helped me you and Slate being mates." I smile at him, which makes him laugh.<br />
<br />
I laugh at Meadow who
has put Bay's letter and bank book back inside the photo frame and she
nudges me with it. I take it off her and hand it to Bay.<br />
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<br />
"That is the picture of you that they always had on the wall. Your
Mother used to send them your school photo's every year, as well as talk
to them on the phone about the three of you, all the time." I smile at
him as Bay stares at me wide eyed. "And I think you have already
gathered, they have left you something inside the frame."<br />
<br />
I
watch Bay laughing as he un clips the back of the frame, I'm not sure
why Meadow packed it all away again. He tickles me, he doesn't even take out
the bank book, he opens the letter first and starts to read it.<br />
<br />
"Bro, we need to sort out what we are going to do with Gravels!!" she
nudges me as she pulls three more frames out of a bag. Granite, Gravels
and Slates. I turn Gravels photo over so I don't have to see his ugly
face staring up at me. "It's not like he can spend it in prison is it,
what do you think we should do with it? "<br />
"Berry knows?
What can we do with it, but give it him." I laugh "If he has any
decency, he should sign it over to Clay. Like you said, it's no good to him
in prison is it!!"<br />
"Well I'll be damned if I'm going into prison to see him. I am likely to get myself locked up ... you will have to do it."<br />
"Like hell will I!!" I laugh at her "We can give it to his solicitor
when the trial begins, then none of us have to have anything to do with
him."<br />
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<br />
I laugh as I watch the door open quietly.<br />
<br />
Alpines
comes through it and starts creeping up quietly behind Meadow. I'm a
little nervous when I see Coal coming in behind him.<br />
<br />
"What is so funny?" she asks me but I don't get a chance to answer because
Alpine grabs her and lifts her off her seat and carries her away.<br />
<br />
"Are you okay now Leafy?" Alpine frowns at me<br />
"Yeah I'm fine!" I smile at him. <br />
<br />
I
laugh at Bay who is watching them and laughing quite loudly. Even though I am not too happy
with what they are doing, I have to laugh with him.<br />
<br />
"I am taking Alpine home for a bit while the girls are round at Cottons." she grins at me <br />
"Meddy please!!" I mumble at her "I can guess <i>exactly</i> why you might be taking him home!!" I laugh sarcastically "You need to slow it down, you are seriously are going to mess his head up!!"<br />
"Shut up Forrest ... we have a plan." she smirks at me "There is no reason why we should slow it down. We are back together and me and the girls are moving to Berry Shores with you."<br />
"Seriously?" I frown at her<br />
"Yes seriously." she giggles "And before you say anything ... yes I know exactly what I am letting myself in for. If Mel can put up with your wacky head all these years, then I'm sure I can put up with Alpines." <br />
<br />
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<br />
I smile at Coal who is sat nervously in front of me.<br />
<br />
"He is having a good day isn't he?" I frown at Coal <br />
"Yeah, he was a bit rocky yesterday, but he has been fine today." he laughs quietly<br />
<br />
I watch Meadow and Alpine almost run out of the room giggling. <br />
<br />
"Mel, needs to speak to you. She is trying to sort out a drama." Coal cringes as he hands me his phone.<br />
<br />
"What's the drama?" I mumble into the phone when she answers it<br />
"Are you awake now?" she asks stupidly<br />
"Babe, I wouldn't be talking to you if I wasn't awake would I!!" I start laughing<br />
"Are you okay, that's what I meant?"<br />
"Yeah I'm fine!!" I laugh at her "Coal says you are dealing with a drama?"<br />
"Is Bay with you?" she asks "He is not answering his phone,
and I tried calling him on your phone, but then I remembered,
you left it in the living room on the table when you was talking to the kids."<br />
"Yeah Bay is here why?"<br />
"I've had to tell the girls about Coal." she huffs "I'm going
to swing for Granite!! Him and Mace were talking in private, and T
overheard them talking about Coal coming out to Sandy Shores. So T went
round to ours kicking off at Coal for being with me, and for keeping
him
in the dark and the girls heard." she is rambling "He's just been here
to start on me, but Mango, Tapestry and Granite have dragged him off."<br />
"I'm going to kill him!!" I snap "Are the girls okay?"<br />
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<br />
"No, they are upset ... more for the fact that I haven't told them. T
made it worse, by some of the things he was saying to Coal, it confused them. They even thought me and T have been at it behind your back!!" she laughs quietly "They seem to
be taking Coal worse than you." she tuts<br />
"Probably
because of the way they found out, it won't be him personally, and it is
too soon for them, I told you they needed to deal with one thing at a
time!! Now they have had me, the babies and that thrown at them all at
the same time!!" I snap "And you can't blame Gran, if he and Mace were
talking in private then T shouldn't have been listening or reacted the
way he did!! He has always been a twat!!"<br />
"Seriously, I don't know what to say to them to calm them down."<br />
"Stop flapping, and don't say anything, you will just make it worse!" I
laugh "Send them up here to see me, I'll try talking to them."<br />
"You will have to tell Bay."<br />
"Babe, seriously ..."<br />
"What choice do we have, the minute he sees the girls they are going to tell him." <br />
<br />
Mint and Fudge walk into the room, I can see neither of them look happy. They both stare at Coal, who smiles at them awkwardly. Coal stares at me and I can see how nervous he is.<br />
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<br />
"I need you two not to say anything, until I have explained to Bay.
Then you two can have your say." I smile at them "If I know your
Mother, she has been flapping and hasn't explained properly ... hopefully when you have heard
it explained properly. you might feel better about it."<br />
"What's going on?" Bay frowns at me<br />
"If you remember your Mom had something else that you needed to be
told, and I stopped her saying it was too soon ... well your sisters
have just found out by accident and its upset them a little." I smile
at him "We were going to tell you, we was going to give you a few days
to get
over the shock of me, but I went and messed that up, by throwing a
wobble."<br />
"Tell us what?"<br />
"When your Mother was thirteen years old, she got her first boyfriend and
they did something really stupid together ... she got pregnant."<br />
"At thirteen!!" Bay starts to have hysterics for a moment then stops suddenly.<br />
"Yes she had the baby. Her parents were furious, and because she
was so young, they made all the decisions and left her with no choice
in what happened. They took your Mother out of school and kept her at
home, she was not allowed to see the babies Dad again, her parents even
took out an injunction to keep him away from her, and them apart. As
soon as the baby was born, they took it away from her and sent your Mother to the
boarding school - to keep her away from the babies Father and baby. Your Mom didn't even know if the baby was a
boy or girl, her parents didn't let her see the baby or even hold him
when he was born. She didn't even have a photograph of him."<br />
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<br />
"What did they do with the baby?"<br />
"They removed the baby and put him straight into care
and up for adoption, while they packed her off to the boarding school. They
themselves moved out of Orange Falls, so that they could forget all
about what your Mother had done. Your
Mother has never known where her baby was, she only knows he went into
care and was put up for adoption. Her parents lied
to her, saying that the babies Father's family didn't want the baby either and they were just as angry with the situation as her own parents were. They told her he had been
adopted by an unknown family and they would never see the baby again."<br />
"That is bad!!" Fudge snaps<br />
"Yeah, it is, and I think you Fudge at least might be able to understand what your
Mother had to go through ... imagine if they had taken Willow away from you when he was born,
like they did her baby." Fudge chokes "I tried to help your Mom, we
made enquiries and we tried to find the baby when she
moved to this town ..."<br />
"What ... you tried?" Bay frowns at me<br />
"Yeah, I was her doctor and friend, so she confided in me, she was
getting very upset about it, and I guess that is how we eventually ended
up together. Your parents weren't getting on very well, and Cinnamon
just brought all the hurt back, having him she couldn't stop thinking
about her other baby and it hurt her. Emotionally she was a mess and
she leaned on me, because I was the only other person that knew besides your Dad. She cried on me until I was wet sometimes, quite often
she cried herself to sleep and ended up spending the night on my couch." I laugh a
little<br />
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<br />
"So you never found the baby?"<br />
"No,
she had no rights, even though it was her baby, because he was put up
for adoption. Because your Mother was only thirteen and a minor in the
eyes of the law, her parents acted on her behalf, and they signed the
baby away. Social services turned us away, because she had not rights,. Legally there was nothing that she could do, not even about her parents signing her baby away without her agreement. They wouldn't tell
her anything, not even what sex the baby was. She thought there was
never any chance of ever
getting him back, not knowing the babies name or sex made it virtually
impossible for us to find him, so she has just had to sit, wait and hope
one day that he would come and try to find her."<br />
"Why do you keeps saying he? Are you just presuming the baby was a boy."<br />
"No we now know the baby was a boy. She found out two years ago, by accident, what actually
happened to the baby, who he was and where he is." I smile at him "It
turned out that her parents lied to her. The babies Dad's parents took the baby out of care and
they adopted him - so he has been brought up by his Grandparents." I
roll my eyes "Your Mother didn't know that because of the lies she was told. If she had known that his
parents had the baby, she would have been there like a shot, after she she left the boarding school. Thinking he was placed in the care system, she didn't expect them to
have him - especially because her parents lied to her and told her they didn't have him."<br />
"How did she find out?" I laugh for a moment<br />
"When Turmeric landed in town. He told her what had happened to
the baby, his name, and everything about him and his life."<br />
"How does T know?"<br />
"T is the babies Dad." I pause for a moment as I watch
Bay's mouth drop open "Shale Rock is the babies Granddad, and he is the
one who adopted and brought the baby up."<br />
"What?!" Bay automatically turns to stare at Coal.<br />
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<br />
"Yeah ... Coal is your half brother."<br />
"Stop shitting me!!"<br />
"Seriously, look at him, he has your Mother's slanty eyes just
like you do, and her hair like Mint. He is skinny thin like Fudge and he looks a lot like Cinn. It
was pretty obvious to both me and Alpine, that he is your Mother's son, the first time we saw him." I
mumble as Bay stares wide eyed at Coal who is just smiling at him "Coal
is your half brother and the baby your
Mother had when she was thirteen." I laugh at the expression on his
face<br />
"If she's known for two years, why didn't she tell us?"<br />
"She was too scared to tell you, for the same reasons as she was scared to tell you about me." I roll my eyes "She only saw him for the first time herself about three weeks ago."<br />
"Why when she's known for two years?" <br />
"T had given her the impression that
Coal didn't want to know her for abandoning him, and at the time he
didn't. I think you know yourself what T and Coals relationship is like
- they basically hate each other, she was scared that he would be the
same way with her, and she would not have coped with it. She would
never have coped if he had reject her and she was also scared about how
you four would take it. She has already been to hell and back because
of that baby, and she couldn't face any bad fall out that might come
from it all. You know what your Mother is like, she hoards stuff,
especially problems or anything she can't face." I chuckly quietly
"However, I think she would have dealt with it before now, if Cinnamon
hadn't faded,. She did start to cry a lot over Coal, a few months
before Cinnamon faded, and we were on the verge of sorting it out, when
Gravel went phyco, which stopped her from doing anything about it,
obviously she has needed time to get over grieving Cinnamon before she could emotionally deal with Coal."<br />
"This is messed up!!" Bay frowns at Coal "So how long have you known, my Mom is your Mom?"<br />
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<br />
"Only about three weeks." he mumbles<br />
"Your Mom phoned Shale while we were in Sandy Shores. Shale sat Coal
down and explained your Mothers side of the story and Coal came out
there looking for her. So they have sorted everything out that they
needed to." I smile at the girls who seemed to look a bit happier
"Please don't take this out on Coal or your Mother!! None of this is
Coal's fault, you have to remember he has had to live his life up to
now, not having his mother or knowing he had brothers and sisters, and
your Mother has been through hell never knowing where her baby was She would never have given him up if she had been given the choice. She has never told you about that baby, because it's existence and the not knowing who and where the baby was, would have just eaten you up like it did her." I
smile at them "I know it wasn't the best way for you two to find out,
but T shouldn't have kicked off like he did at Coal or your Mother and
we would have told you as soon as we were both out of our hospital
beds."<br />
"Why has T kicked off at Coal and Mom?" Bay frowns at me<br />
"Without talking to him I don't know for sure, but I can guess ..." me and Coal laugh at each other for a moment.<br />
"T was excluded when I went out to Sandy Shores - even Shale agreed
that we should be on our own and we didn't need T interfering. So for
the past three weeks T has been pretty much kept in the dark about me
knowing Caramel is my Mother. We haven't told him that I know because
you three had to be told about Forrest first, and T would have just
caused trouble and probably blown the secret, hurting you three in the
process."<br />
"So you knew Forrest was our Dad."<br />
"Only for the past three week." he mumbles "They told me when we were in Sandy Shores." <br />
"So how did T find out about you knowing who Mom is?" <br />
<br />
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<br />
"He overheard Granite and Mace talking, about me being in Sandy
Shores with Forrest and Mom, and he didn't like that we have hidden it
from him, when he has nerve, he could have told me the truth about Mom
two years ago!! He's a twat, he has been kicking off at Granite and
Mace over Forrest and Mel. Granite, Mango and Tap, has had to drag him off now to stop
him coming in here and laying into Forrest."<br />
"WHY?!" Bay snaps<br />
"The twat thinks he has been in love with our Mother since he was thirteen. So he has never liked Alpine and is angry with Forrest. He went tits
up when he found out Forrest and Mel have secretly been together for the
past twenty years and about you three being his children and not Alpines. He has been mates with Forrest for two years, he's very miffed he kept that secret to himself." <br />
"Oh fudge!" Bay starts laughing<br />
"Why do you call him T when he is your Dad?" Mint asks him<br />
"He has never been my Dad. Shale is my Dad. T didn't want to know me
from the moment I was born, he took off completely when I was five so he didn't have to have anything to do with me. I was lucky if I
saw him once a year, and most of the time Dad had to force him
to see me. He had the chance to be my Dad but he chose not to."<br />
"So are you angry with Mom?"<br />
"No, not now. I have been in the past, because Dad never really knew
Mom's side of the story, they all just thought she had turned her back
on me, like T had, by never going back to Orange Falls to look for me.
Now I know they took me away from her and lied to her, I can't be angry
with her can I." he raises his eyebrows at the girls "So are you still
angry with me?"<br />
"It wasn't you that we were angry with
exactly." Mint laughs "It was the shock of what we were listening
too, we were angry at Mom for not telling us."<br />
<br />
The door opens and Granite comes in with Tapestry.<br />
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<br />
"Its done, you can relax, they know everything." I smile at Tapestry who laughs a me.<br />
<br />
"Tell me Tap knew about Coal?" Bay grumbles<br />
"Sorry Bay .... you wouldn't have thanked me for spilling that secret either." Tap laughs at Bay who just laughs back at him. <br />
"Where is T?" I frown at Granite who suddenly starts laughing<br />
"Don't worry about T." he laughs "El has him under house arrest ...
he's handcuffed to Prelude who has strict instruction to bang him out if
he so much as mentions yours or Mels name." he starts howling<br />
"You haven't!" I laugh at him<br />
"Oh I have." he laughs "Mace is with El and Dad, so I took T round
there - it was Dad's idea to handcuff him to something
till he calmed down." he smirks at me "Prelude was perfect for the job!!" he sniggers "That will teach him for
earwigging on mine and Mace's private conversations!! Don't be surprised if he has a black eye the next time you see him!"<br />
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<br />
This cracks us all up.<br />
<br />
However I am not looking forward to what he has to say to me, when I do see him next.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-7125987212237118542018-01-10T09:08:00.000-08:002018-01-10T09:08:24.410-08:00Chapter 61 - Gen 2 - Tapestry~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
Knocking on my own bedroom door before I enter the room, I am finding kind of funny. Amusing enough to have me standing here for a while just laughing. However, it is something that I am having to do at the moment, as Granite and Mace are temporarily living in our bedroom.<br />
<br />
Granite finding more of Gravel's dodgy stuff hidden under the floorboards in Forrest's house has had the police evicting them all, while they thoroughly search the whole house. Every floorboard in the house is coming up, so everyone who normally lives in that house is now living here for a week or two.<br />
<br />
Granite yells "come in"<br />
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<br />
"Is it safe to come in?" I peek my head around the partially open door. <br />
"Seriously Tap!!" Granite laughs at me "The door would be locked if it wasn't."<br />
"Yeah, I was going to advice you about locking the door. Everyone just wanders in and out of this place. ... if you don't lock the door you will never get any peace or privacy."<br />
"Where is Crystal, I haven't seen her yet?"<br />
"She's asleep in Granddads room." I smile at him "She doesn't do much else these days, I think the babies and constant sickness are already draining all her energy." <br />
"This feels awkward. We feel really awful for turfing you and Crystal out of your room!!" Granite mumbles. "and your Granddad!!"<br />
"It's find don't worry about it. On the quiet, Granddad was quite happy to move upstairs. He has not been sleeping in his own room much lately anyway." I laugh quietly "He has been sneaking in and out of Crystals Mom's room and they think we haven't noticed yet!!"<br />
"Seriously!! Are they still capable at their age?!" Granite starts howling<br />
"Berry knows, but I sure as hell am not going to ask him!!"<br />
"I thought your purple Granddad was very anti colour mix!"<br />
"He is, or he was. I think he has just realised colour is only skin deep ... and we guess he is too ashamed to tell us he no longer practices what he has been preaching and ramming down everyone's throats all these years!!"<br />
"Another one converted!" he laughs "You know, we could always take his room instead of you and Crystal having to move out of your own room."<br />
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<br />
"There isn't a lot of space in Granddads room, especially not for Mace's chair, or a cot. Besides, there is a single step between the two halves of the living area, which he will need to get up and down to get in and out of that room. So it is more practical that he stays in here." I smile at him<br />
"What about your two, you are away from the nursery."<br />
"Honestly it really isn't a problem. Vanilla sleeps straight through the night and Snow sleeps in with us anyway, so stop stressing!!" <br />
"As long as you are sure!"<br />
"It's not a problem really!!" I smile at him "I will enjoy having Bay, Slate, Saffy and Atlas here, and Mom is loving getting to spend more time with Amber. We are happy to have you here, especially because it has helped us to get rid of Coral for a bit!!" I smirk at him.<br />
"Yeah your Dad said you could all do with the break from her stupidity, especially your Mother!" he frowns at me "Why has she gone so off the rails? I know she has never been an angel, but your Dad is seriously pulling his hair out with her."<br />
"Its Gravel I think. We think she does genuinely love him and everything has knocked her stupid. Amber and Poppy she has really fried our brains with, she WAS happy about being pregnant, and I think she had convinced herself the twins were Gravels. When they arrived not his, after that she just seemed to switch. Since Gravel has been locked up she has been a nightmare!!"<br />
"Yeah I seriously doubt my so called brother even knows how much destruction he has caused, or cares for that matter!!"<br />
"Oh, before I forget, Mace's drawing table has just been dropped off ... its in the hallway outside."<br />
"Okay Thanks. I'll get it sorted out in a bit."<br />
<br />
I glance over at Mace who is in the rocking chair. I can see that he is openly crying, and am very amused by the two spirits that are just sat together, intensely watching him.<br />
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<br />
"Is Mace okay?"<br />
"Yeah he will be fine when he's had a snivel."<br />
"What has upset him?"<br />
"He is just a little overwhelmed with today I think." Granite smiles in his direction "His emotions have been on a roller coaster ride today!! Getting engaged had him on a high, then everything else since has knocked him sick. You know he has had to get permission from the court to move temporarily and he was shitting himself, thinking they were going to lock him up rather than let him move." he rolls his eyes "He's also seen Tami's missing jewellery which has knocked him and Dad about, and he is missing Jasmine."<br />
"Didn't you say finding Gravels shit will delay the trial." I frown at him<br />
"Yes, unfortunately." he mumbles<br />
"I thought you would have been happy about the trial being delayed."<br />
"We both were at first, then reality struck. I've only got 12 months leave ... another three months and I HAVE to go home and back to work whether I want to or not. He obviously can not come with me, so now we are scared this is going to drag on, and he is going to be left here on his own."<br />
"Could it really take that long?"<br />
"Berry knows ... it has taken them this long already, and the amount of stuff they found under Forrests floorboards, is going to take forever to sort out. They haven't even started pulling up the rest of the floorboards in the house yet, so there could be even more ... I am honestly scared!!<br />
"So what is happening with Jasmine?"<br />
"She's with my brother Shale at the moment. I've just got off the phone with him, I've arranged to have her brought back at the weekend, which I need to speak to your Dad about ..." he looks at me sheepishly "We are going to need another bed."<br />
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<br />
"Its fine." I laugh at him "She can bunk in with Cotton .. or that sofa is a pull out bed, if Mace wants her in here."<br />
"Bunking in with Cotton will be fine." he laughs quietly.<br />
"So how did the wardrobe move go?"<br />
"Oh Berry!!" Granite laughs "His face was a picture!! On the quiet he nearly shit himself!!" I think that has unsettled him a bit too."<br />
"Is he starting to believe."<br />
"I think so ... how could he not believe after watching the wardrobe seemingly move itself." Granite laughs "So which of your spirit friends moved it?"<br />
"Cosmic, Storm, Saffy and Sunny I think." I smile at him<br />
"So what does Sunny want to talk to us about?" he frowns at me<br />
"It will keep ... I'm not sure Mace is up to it today." I laugh, also hearing Sunny laugh.<br />
"Yeah, I guess not. He has had enough shocks and upsets for one day." Granite laughs<br />
"So when are we going to spring a toddler on Forrest?"<br />
"Oh Berry, in all the commotion, I forgot about that." he mumbles as he glances at Mace "I do need to go into the hospital soon anyway, to tell Forrest what is going on, before the gossip gets to him. El said she would let me tell him, as they doubt they will get a chance to interview him until later, there is so much stuff there, they need to know what they are dealing with first." he chuckles "I guess we can do the toddler thing at the same time. Let me just get Mace sorted out then, I'll come and find you."<br />
"Okay, I'll be in the living room." I smile at him<br />
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<br />
The door opens quite hurriedly, and River walks into the room holding a screaming vanilla. I thought I could hear her before the door opened. River looks far from happy!<br />
<br />
"Tap we need words!" he frowns at me<br />
"Why is she crying?"<br />
"Naughty River!" Vanilla snivels as she thumps his chest<br />
"She is crying because I have just had to shout at her!!" he snaps as he glances at Granite then I watch him looking around the room, like he is looking for something. "You need to come to my room." he mumbles <br />
"Naughty River!!" she snivels<br />
"No, Naughty Nilla" River laughs at her<br />
"Why what has she done .. attacked one of your books with a crayon?" I laugh at him wandering why he is having a hissy fit.<br />
"No." he snaps as he grabs my arm and starts tugging me out of the room.<br />
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I roll my eyes at Granite who is laughing at us.<br />
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<br />
"Well that was very rude!" I snap at him as he closes my bedroom door behind us. "They are already feeling awkward about turfing us out of our room. I bet you have just made them feel even worse!"<br />
"I am sorry, I will apologize to them later."<br />
"Then why do it?"<br />
"I have things to say that I couldn't really say in front of Granite and Mace."<br />
"So come on spit it out .. what has got your boxers in a knot."<br />
"I have just worked out what all the hostility is about."<br />
"What hostility?" I frown at him<br />
"The fighting and arguing going on with Vanilla and Ocean." he rubs his neck nervously "This little madam has been scaring him half to death!!"<br />
"How?" I frown at him<br />
"She has been showing him your spirits!!"<br />
"What?" I frown at him "How?"<br />
"How do you think!!" he laughs at me sarcastically "We have got a BIG problem, because it looks like she has inherited you know who's immortal abilities. Berry Help us if she is capable of doing everything that Sh ... you know who can do!"<br />
<br />
River rolls his eyes because he nearly said Shadow in front of Vanilla.<br />
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He puts her down on the floor, then opens the door to the living room.<br />
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<br />
"Nilla go and play with Ocean and Snow please." River smiles at her<br />
"Well make your mind up!" she tuts as she stands there with her hands on her hips. "So am I naughty or not?"<br />
<br />
This cracks me up, especially as River is standing there like he is about to combust.<br />
<br />
"You need to stop being so cheeky, and remember who you are talking to young lady." he snaps at her<br />
"I know who I am talking too ... Uncle River." she grins at him sarcastically "You flap way too much!"<br />
"Nilla, go and play please. I will be in to talk to you in a minute." I jump in knowing River is going to lose it in a minute with her. "Please don't show Ocean and Snow the spirits because you are scaring them."<br />
"Okay Daddy." she mutters.<br />
<br />
I laugh as I watch her toddle off back into the living room.<br />
<br />
"You need to do something about that attitude of hers!" River frowns at me "Not laugh at her, you are just encouraging her!"<br />
"What attitude? She is head strong and opinionated just like Shadow, and you think its funny when he does it." I laugh at him "And she did have a point ... I bet you have just been in there flapping and ripped her away from playing with them. Minutes later you are sending her back!"<br />
"Okay I did, but I can't talk freely if she is here."<br />
"Well you should have thought about that before you dragged her away and shouted at her ... she doesn't understand she is doing something wrong!!" I tut at him "Not that it is wrong, IF she actually has the ability to do it."<br />
"It is wrong when she is scaring Ocean and Snow half to death!!" he snaps<br />
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<br />
"Don't be stupid, anyway how is she showing Ocean the spirits."<br />
"Exactly like Shadow does .... "<br />
"You must just be guessing that she is showing them the spirits!"<br />
"No I know she is!! Did you not notice that she had her hand on my face when I walked into your room." he raises his eyebrows at me as he laughs quietly "So who was that female spirit sat in your room with Sunny just. They were sat on the couch watching Mace?"<br />
"You actually saw them?" I am a little shocked<br />
"Yes!! I am telling you, she can do exactly what Shadow does." he frowns at me "So who was she? Was that Glimmer?"<br />
"No." I shake my head slowly "You seriously don't want to know who that is!"<br />
"Tell me!"<br />
"It is Tami." he frowns at me "Tamarin ... Mace's wife. Granite's Sister." I mumble<br />
"Oh Fudge!!" he stares at me wide eyed "Where has she come from?"<br />
"She didn't pass over obviously!" I laugh at him <br />
"No idiot ... how did she know to come here. How does she know Mace and Granite are here."<br />
"You might guess ... the idiot told her ... Sunny." I roll my eyes "He found her in Apple. She has been hanging around Mustard since she faded. Sunny brought her to Sugar, so they now have another spirit hanging out in the den."<br />
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<br />
"This is getting ridiculous ... what are they doing, stopping everyone from passing over?"<br />
"No!" I laugh at River "She chose not to pass over, nobody stopped her. She was troubled by Mace being missing, how she faded, Jasmine being left an orphan and never seeing Granite."<br />
"So now she has seen Mace and Granite and that Jasmine is okay ... is she staying?"<br />
"Yeah I think she is ... so she can watch over Jasmine." I mumble "Sunny has been driving me crazy, because she wants to talk to both Granite and Mace."<br />
"Seriously!?" he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah." I mumble "I've tried to talk her out of it, but she won't listen. Sunny has things he wants to say to them too."<br />
"I guess she is not happy with Mace and Granites relationship."<br />
"No she isn't!!" I laugh quietly "She's really hacked off with Mace, not so much Granite."<br />
"So HOW is she planning to talk to Mace?" he frowns at me.<br />
"Through me obviously." I laugh at him.<br />
<br />
He just stands there for a moment laughing.<br />
<br />
"Anyway, what are we going to do with Vanilla ... this is all getting a little bit too much!! What if she can hear what everyone is thinking like Shadow does - then we really do have a seriously problem!!"<br />
"Well I am not taking her and hiding her in the den with her brother, if that is what you are suggesting!!" I snap at him <br />
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<br />
"Don't be stupid, that is not what I was suggesting!!" he snaps back at me "What are we going to do if she can hear everyone like he can. It won't take her long to work out Shadow is not buried in the cemetery, then how are you going to keep them apart and her out of that world?"<br />
"Vanilla is right ... you flap too much!!" I laugh at him "Of course she is not going to hear what everyone is thinking, I don't so why should she!!"<br />
"On your own, can you show us mortals the spirits?"<br />
"I don't know, I've never tried ..." I mumble "If Vanilla can do it, I guess I must be able to do it too."<br />
"Well maybe we should try and find out for sure." he frowns at me "I'm worried, being his twin that somehow she might have ALL of his abilities." <br />
"Don't be stupid!! She would have to be a vampberry to do everything he does!!"<br />
"Well she did have the vampire venom running through her at some point. Shadow is a 50/50 split .... what is to say Vanilla isn't the same."<br />
"Seriously you need to get a grip, and I am supposed to be the stupid one!!" I start howling at him "She is not cold with fangs for a start ... her heart beats because she is completely mortal, so how can you even think she is anything like Shadow!?" <br />
<br />
"I'm going for a nose to see what is happening at Forrest's house." Sunny grins at me as he floats past me.<br />
"Wait, don't float off yet!!" I laugh at the spirit <br />
"What's up Tap?"<br />
"I need to try something, to shut this idiot up." I smile at the laughing spirit before I hold my hand out to River "There is a spirit in the room .... can you see him?"<br />
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<br />
River takes my hand and looks around.<br />
<br />
"Oh Fudge!!" River laughs "Yes I can, it's Sunny."<br />
"You can seriously see Sunny?" I frown at him<br />
"Yeah." he smirks as he points at him<br />
"Hi River." Sunny laughs as he waves<br />
"I can see he is talking, but I can't hear him." River mumbles as he waves back<br />
"You would if Shadow was here." I mumble. River frowns then smirks<br />
"Wait!" he laughs as he looses my hand "We need Vanilla."<br />
"Seriously River!!" I snap at him<br />
"Just humour me, I want to try it."<br />
<br />
After he has collected Vanilla back out of the living room, I laugh at River as he takes Vanilla's hand. I think he is nuts.<br />
<br />
"Nilla talk to Gangy." I smile at her<br />
"Hello Gangy." she giggles and waves at him<br />
"Hello sweepea." Sunny laughs as he smirks at River "So what is your silly Uncle trying to do I wander."<br />
"Hey!!" River snaps "Less of the silly!!"<br />
"Oh Fudge ... he heard me!" Sunny starts laughing "Tap I think Daddy Clone can hear me!"<br />
"You can drop the Daddy Clone too!" he laughs quietly<br />
"Okay, I'll drop the Daddy Clone, but River, seriously you are a mini Mango!!" Sunny laughs at him<br />
"Yeah so I keep being told." River mumbles quietly <br />
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"Well this is just ... awesome!! I can actually see and hear Sunny!" River is laughing "Now I have let go of Vanilla's hand, he has completely gone again." <br />
<br />
Vanilla holds her hand out to me, so I hold it. I just stare wide eyed at River who is grinning at me. <br />
All I can think is Shit me, this is bloody madness!!<br />
<br />
"Naughty Daddy!!" Vanilla frowns at me<br />
"What?"<br />
"Naughty swear words!!"<br />
"What?!" I frown at Vanilla then River "I didn't say anything .. did I?"<br />
"No you didn't!" Sunny laughs as River shakes his head and frowns<br />
"I swore in my head ... but I didn't say it out loud ..." I stare wide eyed at River, wandering if she heard my thoughts.<br />
"Naughty Daddy!!" Vanilla laughs at me <br />
"Nilla what did you hear." she just stares at me with a pout on her face. "Tell me what you heard - I won't be cross with you if you say it."<br />
"You said ... Shit me, this is bloody madness." she mumbles "Which is a lot of naughty swearing!!"<br />
"Oh Fudge!! That is exactly what I thought" I choke "She heard my thoughts."<br />
"I told you Tap!!" River mumbles "Test her, see if you can communicate with her like you do with Sh .. you know who." he chuckles<br />
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<br />
I stare at Vanilla for a moment thinking I am going mad<br />
<br />
<i> Nilla can you hear me </i>... I think loudly<br />
"Yes Daddy." she grins at me, telling me with her mouth <br />
<i> Tell Uncle River, Daddy says he is a Muffin Geek</i> ... I think<br />
"Daddy says you are a Muffin Geek." Vanilla grins at River<br />
"Well thanks Tap!" River laughs at me <br />
<i> Nilla can you talk to me without using your mouth?</i> I think<br />
<i> Yes Daddy</i> I hear her in my head and her mouth does not move<br />
<i> Nilla, can you talk to anyone else like this, in your head and not with your mouth.</i> I think<br />
<i> I don't know.</i> she thinks back<br />
<i> Do you hear anyone else thinking?</i><br />
<i> Yes Mommy sometimes</i><br />
<i> Can you hear Mommy and Daddy thinking all the time?</i><br />
<i> Only when you are carrying me or holding my hand.</i><br />
<i> How did you know you could show Ocean and Snow the spirits?</i><br />
<i> I don't know, I just did.</i><br />
<br />
I stare at her for a moment and she smiles at me. <br />
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<br />
<i>"</i>Okay. You can go back in the living room and play now." I smile at her as I let go of her hand. River puts her down on the floor. "Remember, DON'T show Ocean and Snow the spirits."<br />
"Okay Daddy." she mumbles as she runs off back into the living room.<br />
<br />
I stare at River wide eyed for a moment <br />
<br />
"What?!" he frowns at me<br />
"I think you might be partly right!! I can communicate with her like I can with Shadow." I choke "And she says she can hear me and Crystal sometimes, but only when we are holding her or her hand!"<br />
"Seriously?!" he stares at me wide eyed "I told you didn't I!! Me and Dad have had a sneaky feeling this might be coming with Vanilla."<br />
"How?"<br />
"Have you not noticed just how intelligent your little girl is becoming. She is miles a head of Ocean, most of the time she makes my son look like a half wit," he chuckles quietly <br />
"Intelligence doesn't prove anything."<br />
"She is just like Shadow, abnormally years ahead of herself, and people are starting to notice. Did you know she is reading Cottons books, a hell of a lot better than Cotton is, and
Crystal for that matter."<br />
"No ... " I frown at him
"You know I don't take any notice of books. I leave that to those of you who
can read." I laugh quietly<br />
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<br />
"Well, at the rate she is going, she will be reading and writing like a high school child before she even gets to school!! We might need to have her home schooled with Snow, to hide her." he laughs "Her speech and vocabulary are very advanced, obviously not at Shadow's level, but still they are miles a head of where they should be at. She is seriously starting to stand out way above all the other toddlers around her. Like Shadow she doesn't talk like she is still a toddler, you can actually have an intelligent adult conversation with her. I bet you anything, if we go into the living room right now, she wont be playing like the other two, she will be reading something. The other toddlers and 'playing' are starting to bore her."<br />
"I have noticed lately she is reading a lot." I laugh "I've also noticed something that I'm not too happy about. Vanilla would much rather be hanging out with Cotton lately than playing with her brother and cousin. I don't like it because I'm worried the drama queen brat will start rubbing off on her, or the brat princess teaching Vanilla stuff she should not be knowing!!"<br />
"Yeah, like I said, the toddlers are boring her and she wants to hang out with Cotton to be doing more grown up stuff." he rolls his eyes.<br />
"She asked me for a phone and tablet the other day. She said she wants to go on Berry Book like Cotton. I actually thought Cotton was being sneaky and sly, trying to get me to buy Nilla a tablet for her to use." <br />
"No, Dad bought Cotton a tablet a few weeks back, Vanilla has been playing on it up in Cottons room." he laughs "I bet she was genuinely asking for herself. She is more than capable to doing stuff on the net like Berry Book."<br />
"Seriously!?" <br />
"Yeah." he grins at me. <br />
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<br />
"I have given her a dictionary." he sniggers "Just to see what she does with it."<br />
"And what is she doing with it?" I frown at him<br />
"Exactly what her brother is doing ... memorising it and her vocabulary is growing rapidly. I have even seen her looking words up to find out what they mean. She is also showing signs of having a photographic memory." he chuckles quiet "Me and Dad have been testing her. When we ask her what a word means, she quotes the dictionary word perfect, just like Shadow does!"<br />
"This is nuts when I am as thick as bloody pig shit!!"<br />
"Naughty swear words." he starts howling as he wags his finger "That is something else, I am sure you have noticed, some of Shadow and Vanilla's fetishes are identical."<br />
"Yeah .." I laugh "The no peeing when they are being watched, the obsession they both seem to have about whether they are naughty or not, and the way they react to anyone swearing ... they are both always telling me off for it, you would think they are the adults!" I laugh<br />
"Yeah, they both have the same attitude and character as you pointed out earlier." he rolls his eyes "It worries me just how alike they actually are ... it is almost like they are the same person split into two. Vanilla is progressing just that bit slower than Shadow, obviously because she is not a vampberry ... well at least I don't think she is. I can't help but keep thinking that the venom ran through her too - it must have had some effect on her, it just didn't stick with her like it did Shadow."<br />
"Seriously don't start that again!! She is NOT a vampberry!!" I laugh at him<br />
"Think about it ... Shadow appears to be a vampberry but he has mortal abilities, which he shouldn't have. I am beginning to think Vanilla who appears mortal, might just have some vampberry abilities that she shouldn't have. They BOTH had the venom running through them while it was in Honey, it has to have affected both of them." he smiles at me "Just like the alcohol that Granites Mother was drinking while she was pregnant with him ... it has affected him."<br />
"You are nuts!!" I laugh at him "When she grows fangs and starts craving blood, then I might start believing you!" <br />
"Do you hear Crystals thoughts? You hold hands a lot, so do you ever hear anything?"<br />
"No never."<br />
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"Vanilla can .. like Shadow she can project spirit sight and sound. You can only project sight. Vanilla can hear your thoughts and communicate with you through thought .. you can only do that when you are holding one of their hands. Berry knows what else she is capable of!! Her abilities are already showing signs of being stronger than yours AND don't forget, not even the vampberries or originals can get into your head ... but Vanilla can just like Shadow!!" he raises his eyebrows "I think you are doing what you do because of the white in you ... she is doing what she is doing because of the white AND vampberry in her!!"<br />
"You and Dad are driving me nuts with this white thing!!" I frown at him<br />
"Yeah well, when your Quads arrive, I am HOPING they will give me the proof that I need to prove that white is an actual colour.<br />
"What kind of proof?" I frown at him <br />
<br />
Dad distracts us, as he comes running down the steps looking mightily stressed.<br />
<br />
"You two need to get yourselves ready." he mumbles "Scarlet is in labour."<br />
"Oops!" I stare at River who just closes his eyes and shakes his head<br />
"It's more than oops!!" Dad laughs sarcastically "We could really do without this today, on top of Gravels disruptive floorboard shit!!"<br />
"Get ready how?" I frown at him "I'm supposed to be going to the hospital with Granite very soon, to do the toddler thing with Forrest."<br />
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<br />
"That's good ... I'll come with you." Dad laughs quietly "It has you
at the hospital where I need you. You can tell them everything that you know and I could do with you staying up in
Neurology with Bay. I get the feeling he is going to need you!!"<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <br />
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-74443610149028651812017-11-14T19:08:00.000-08:002017-11-14T19:08:03.272-08:00Chapter 60e - Gen 2 - Granite<br />
<br />
The carpet is rolled back into place, to cover and hide the contents of the hole. Just in case any one walks into our room before Dad does. I am worried about anyone else seeing it and the drama erupting before we have had a chance to sort out the gun stuff.<br />
<br />
I glance at the clock on the wall, with irritation, suddenly remembering that I am due into
work in less than an hour ... which is a pain because I now could really do
without it.<br />
<br />
I am not going to feel comfortable, leaving Mace to deal
with all of this on his own. Especially if the police are going to come
into the house and start interrogating us, and ripping the house to
pieces. I have to deal with Dad too, because of the
guns upstairs which might take a while. Especially if Mace is wrong and it does all go pear shaped for me.<br />
<br />
I flip open my phone. I do not want to let Mango down, but I really do not have any other choice.<br />
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<br />
"Have Forrest's scan and test results come back yet?"<br />
"Yes, I was just about to phone you actually." Mango laughs quietly "He is clear on all counts. There is nothing wrong
physically. I
suspect, because of Forrest's past psychological history and how cut and dried his memory loss is. I think we are looking at a case of dissociated amnesia." <br />
"That is good I guess." I laugh "Better that than anything else."<br />
"Yes I think so too, as long as it is permanent and not temporary." he laughs "So I guess we should test out your
theory, and find out if this has indeed wiped away his phobia."<br />
"I seriously hope it has for Mel and the twins sake!!"<br />
"I will get
Tapestry to bring one of the toddlers in for when your shift starts,
then we can test his reaction."<br />
"Yeah ... about my
shift." I mumble quietly "I am sorry ... I am going to be late, if I even manage to get there at
all. I have a mega problem at home which is probably about to
explode pretty soon."<br />
"Nothing wrong I hope."<br />
"It depends how you define wrong." I mumble "I will tell you what is
about to happen, but you seriously need to keep it to yourself until
someone else tells you. I haven't informed the police yet, calling them in is my next job ... so please say nothing to nobody, especially not Forrest!! He seriously could do without all this shit right now, not that we can keep it
from him for long!! As soon as the police start swarming all over our
house, everyone will be talking about it."<br />
"I really don't like the sound of this. You are not in any trouble are you?"<br />
"No not me." I laugh at him "I have just found a load of Gravels dodgy shit hidden under
the floorboards in Forrest's house." I mumble "I don't know if you know, the police found a lot of evidence under the floorboards in his own house. Well, it looks like Gravel has been sneaking in and using
this house to hide a lot of his dodgy shit in, as well as his own. I presume without Forrest
knowing!"<br />
"You are joking me!!" he snaps<br />
"No I wish I was!!"<br />
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<br />
"How do you know it is Gravel's dodgy shit.."<br />
"Guns, knives, drugs, money, missing police files .... it is not going to be Forrest's is it!!" I laugh at him<br />
"Shit!! Gravel is STILL causing his damn trouble, all over the place, and he is not even here!!" Mango snaps quite angrily. "We are all still suffering from the fall out of what he's done! Is it ever going to end?!"<br />
"Yeah I know ... I can see we have a right nightmare coming from this."<br />
"How so?"<br />
"I am expecting
the police to evict us for a few days while they rip this house totally to
shreds. I doubt they will leave a single floorboard unturned!! So for a start, I will need to get everyone rehoused while they are doing it, which is going to be a total nightmare with Mace being paralysed!!"<br />
"Well, there are spare bedrooms at mine if you need them. I doubt Tap would mind you and Mace crashing his apartment ... it is all on one level, which is ideal for Mace. "<br />
"Yeah it is ideal, but being at yours is not really a good idea is it, with Coral ..."<br />
"Oh don't worry about her ... I will send her to Preludes out of the way. So she won't be around to bother anyone especially not Slate and Amber!!" he chuckles quietly "I'm not getting any where with her, and Prelude has more chance of knocking some sense into her. It gives me a good excuse to send her to him!"<br />
"Seriously, I wouldn't want to put you out!!"<br />
"Don't worry ... we could actually do with a break from her selfish stupidity!! Lilly especially, Coral's behaviour is really upsetting her at the moment, which is causing more black outs. Having Coral out of her hair and Amber here for a while might actually do Lilly some good." he mumbles quietly<br />
"What about my shift today?"<br />
"Don't worry about your shift, you just do what you have got to do."<br />
"Thanks Mango, that takes a weight off my mind" I mumble "I will have
to pop in sometime later to tell Forrest what is going on, so I will let you know what is going on then."<br />
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<br />
As soon as I have finished talking to Mango I checked on Clay, who is still sleeping soundly. I jump onto the bed next to Mace, who is lying there with a big grin on his face while he is playing with his ring.<br />
<br />
"Was that a good idea telling Mango?" he frowns at me<br />
"He is fine don't worry!! He is like Tapestry ...he won't say anything."<br />
"Still, you shouldn't have said anything until you have spoken to Dad."<br />
"I couldn't let him down or lie to him!! I needed to knock my shift on the head before the bedlam starts, or I probably would have forgotten the time and gone AWOL on him."<br />
"Yeah I guess that is one good thing ... you won't be working today!" he smirks at me before he starts laughing as his hand starts wandering. "Honey fix!"<br />
"SOD OFF MACE!!" I frown at him "What the hell is wrong with you?!"<br />
"What?!" he smirks at me<br />
"Drama is about to erupt again. I am here worrying myself stupid and all you have on your mind is sex as usual!! Dad is about to walk into this room any minute, and you are BANNED remember!!"<br />
"I am just trying to take your mind off the worry and prevent your face from wearing those worry wrinkles permanently." he laughs as he runs his fingers over my frowning brow. "You are getting old and there is only so much wrinkle cream you can use before your skin sticks like it!"<br />
"Shut up you idiot!" I laugh at him<br />
<br />
Mace smirks at me as he pulls me towards him. I don't stop him, and start kissing him just to shut him up. <br />
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<br />
We are miles away in our own little world when a loud bang makes me jump away from Mace.<br />
<br />
Dad is standing in the open door way laughing at us.<br />
<br />
"You two are deaf!!" he chuckles "Three times I had to bang that door!"<br />
"Sorry!" I laugh at him<br />
"Do you two ever do anything else, other than lying around half naked mauling each other?" he laughs quietly as he leans into the cot and stares down at Clay.<br />
"Not really." I smirk at him<br />
"Hello little man." he smiles down into the cot <br />
"Dad!! Don't wake him up!!" I tut at him as he picks Clay up<br />
"He is already awake!! I probably woke him banging the door." he chuckles "You two were just way too busy sucking face, to
notice that he is lying here staring up at the ceiling."<br />
"Funny!!" I laugh at him "Clay was obviously happy enough doing it, or he would have been crying for attention."<br />
"You know this boy is way too quiet. He hardly ever cries, unlike Amber who never stops!"<br />
"Oh he cries plenty at night, when we are trying to sleep!" Mace laughs at him<br />
"I have never known a baby to be so quiet ...
" he frowns at me "You don't think there is anything wrong with him do you?"<br />
"Other than his parents ... no there is nothing wrong with him!!" I
laugh at Dad. "He is content. Mommy Mace here is taking very good care
of him, he has nothing to cry about."<br />
"You need to stop with the Mommy shit!!" Mace slaps me playfully<br />
"You saw that didn't you Dad! Mace abuses me something chronic!!" I smirk at him "He is always beating me up if I do not do as I am told!"<br />
"Sod off!!" he sniggers "I do not!!"<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Like his fanny slaps really hurt you!" Dad laughs at me "When I have seen you and Forrest, in the past, knocking the living daylights out of each other over stupidity!! Now that was abuse, even if it was mostly mental and not physical!"<br />
"Oh and here we go again ... having a dig at Leafy!!" I laugh sarcastically "You two are as bad as each other! I bet you have always got your heads together plotting the next dig!!" <br />
"Seriously Granny .... Instead of being constantly cooped up in here, Mace should be out, enjoying himself and getting plenty of fresh air, while he
still has the chance."<br />
"He is enjoying himself, mauling me and his pencil." I smirk at him, which makes him roll his eyes at me "Seriously, Mace is the one choosing what we are doing! He is happy staying inside most of the time, aren't you." I smile at Mace who smiles back at me.<br />
"We both know what it is like
inside! Having no freedom or sense of time, those four walls and the boredom are going to drive
him crazy!! He has not experienced it yet, so he doesn't fully realise what he has coming to him. He needs to be out making the most of his freedom and you, who has experienced it, should be encouraging him!"<br />
"How would you know what it is like inside?!" I laugh at him "It is not like you have ever served time!"<br />
"Oh I have." he smirks at me "I have served three months in Blue County." my eyes widen, I am shocked!!<br />
"Well you kept that one quiet!!" I frown at him "So you HAVE been a naughty boy!!"<br />
"Not exactly. Obviously, I didn't serve time for my own crimes!! I would not still be on the force if I had." he
laughs at me "Me and another fellow officer, went in undercover to
stamp out a serious crime racket going on inside. Being on the inside
was the only way we could stop it."<br />
"So you haven't served proper time."<br />
"For the most part yes. We had to blend in and exist like a normal prisoners ... so we became prisoners. We were treated exactly the same as the other prisoners, because none of the prison guards actually knew we were in there undercover. Some of the prison guards were actually a part of the racket, and it was them we needed to take down." he smiles at me "so yeah, I know exactly what serving time is like, because I have done it." <br />
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<br />
"So if the guards didn't know you were in there undercover - how did you do your undercover work?" I frown at him<br />
"Only the Governor actually knew that we were undercover police
officers. He was the one who made us aware of the problem. He asked us
to help him put a stop to it. It was too big for him to handle alone
and he didn't know which of the prison officers he could trust." he smiles "We were hauled into
the Governors office from time
to time, especially after staging fights ... that is where and how we conducted
our operation and had contact with the station and outside world."<br />
<br />
Dad suddenly starts laughing at Mace<br />
<br />
"So what is with that big grin on your face Macey boy?" <br />
<br />
Mace flashes his hand at Dad, showing off his ring.<br />
<br />
"Oh ... so you have asked him to marry you already! That was quick." he grins at me then starts laughing "I never doubted that he would say yes."<br />
"You knew?!" Mace frowns at him<br />
"Yeah ... he showed me the ring earlier." he smiles at Mace while I hold my breath, hoping he doesn't slip up and say anything about the surprise marriage that I am planning next week. "So I guess an engagement party is in the planning, before the trial starts."<br />
"We haven't really thought about it." me and Mace glance at each other for a moment "I'm not sure a party is the right thing to be doing right now."<br />
"Why not?" he frowns at us "Mace never usually misses an opportunity to throw a party."<br />
"Oh don't I know it!!" I snigger<br />
"So ... there is going to be no engagement party?" Dad frowns at me, then Mace.<br />
"Unfortunately the timing is a little off." I stare at him for a moment. "I ... I think everyone will be a little preoccupied with something else ... something we need to talk about."<br />
"Why don't I like the expression on your two's faces suddenly?"<br />
"Probably because you are not going to like what is coming!" I mumble<br />
"So you didn't want me in here just to tell me you two are now engaged?"<br />
"No ..." I mumble "There is something I need to tell you and I need your help with something."<br />
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<br />
I jump off the bed, nervously not really looking forward to what is coming.<br />
<br />
"You are going to need to sit down, this may take a while." I mumble as I take Clay off him and place him back into his cot. I go and sit down on the couch and Dad follows me.<br />
"So what do you need my help with?" he frowns at me <br />
"Something from my past is just about to come back and bite me ... I think."<br />
"Are you in some sort of trouble?" he frowns at me as he sits down<br />
"That all depends on you." I roll my eyes "It depends if you will help me clean it up or arrest me for it."<br />
"Come on let's have it!" he tuts at me.<br />
"Do you remember the small deserted warehouse on the edge of no mans land?"<br />
"Yeah." he mumbles "I have noticed the eyesore is not there any more littering up the
sky line!! They have pulled it down ... exactly what they
should do with the other deserted warehouse in the middle of town."<br />
"Yeah, they pulled it down sometime while I have been away." I mumble<br />
"So why are you asking me about that place?" he frowns at me<br />
"The Brownie mob did a job there. I am talking years ago, when Mace was
about six." Dad frowns thoughtfully as he glances at Mace "It was a
drugs deal. It was not theirs, it was one they were gate crashing. They
had been tipped off by a very reliable source when and where the deal was taking place, so they
decided to hijack it. They planned to swoop in and take the drugs as well as take out those
involved in the deal because they were dealing on the Brownie patch."<br />
"You took part in this job I take it?" Dad frowns at me, and not in a good way.<br />
"No, I didn't. I was too drunk - so they left me behind sleeping it off. Mace has told me they
used to spike me on purpose when Gravel was going on jobs with them. So
they could leave me behind and I wouldn't see him." Dad starts
chuckling<br />
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<br />
"I<i> think</i> that was one of those times, they spiked me and Gravel went on that job with them."<br />
"What makes you think that?"<br />
"I will get to that in a minute." I mumble "The job went wrong. It turned into a blood bath, those doing
the drug deal, three of the mob and about a dozen police officers were all
faded."<br />
"I know all about that case. It is actually known
within the force as "The No Man's Land Masacre" Nobody, to this day, has ever
been caught or punished for the crime." He looks glum, which confuses me "The perpetrators swooped in, took the haul of
drugs, faded over twenty people and vanished. It is thought they had
inside information, leaked from the force. There was a police operation
attached to that case, it was going to be a big drugs bust for the
force. Only the police informer miss lead them, the timing was all wrong,
and the perpetrators swooped in before the law and left a right mess for the
force to clean up ... the blood bath you mentioned." he mumbles as he looks down.<br />
"Didn't the miss leading informer get done for it?"<br />
"No, someone got to him before the law could. He was faded, probably by the perpetrators, to shut him up. His murder is attached to that case, so like the case, it is still an unsolved mystery." he rolls his eyes "I have always suspected the Brownie mod were involved, but it could never be proved. Whoever covered their tracks, did a damn good job!!" he snaps<br />
"Yeah, it was probably Gravel - the king of all sneaks!! I snap "How would you even know about that case anyway? It is not in your jurisdiction." <br />
"One of the officers hacked down ... was Pebble Rock ... my brother." <br />
"Oh Shit!!" me and Mace just stare at each other for a moment.<br />
<br />
I suddenly feel like this has just gotten a whole lot worse for me. <br />
<br />
"I will never forget the day they informed me about Pebble!! I
panicked when they told me Sugar and Raspberry police were involved. I
phoned Gravel in a blind panic, to make sure he wasn't one of the officers involved." he mumbles<br />
"Funny that! I did exactly the same thing on my way home. I made a
nonsense call to Gravel to make sure he was still alive and not one of
the faded officers. We both worried for nothing, because I can guarantee he organised the whole damn thing!!" I snap sarcastically <br />
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<br />
"I knew a few of the Raspberry Hill and Sugar Valley Officers that lost
their live that day, because I had worked with them in the past. I was informed about that particular case, obviously because of my brother."<br />
"You had contact with your brother after the force faked your fading?" I frown at him<br />
"No, we fell out years before that, before my Slate was born. We hardly spoke, only when
it was necessary and we came into contact with each other on a professional level. After I moved to Sugar
with your Mother, he practically disowned me like the rest of my family. You've always known they didn't approve of the colour mixing. Pebble thought I
had been faded by Sage Brownie, just like everyone else in the force. Obviously, he would have had to be
told the truth eventually, when I started to climb the promotion ladder and was no longer just an ordinary police officer. Unfortunately he didn't live that long."<br />
"I'm sorry!!" I mumble<br />
"So why are we talking about this ... " he frowns at me "If you did not
take part in that job, how could it catch up with you and get you into
trouble?"<br />
"When the mob got
back off the job, I was woken up by a load of shouting and screaming. I ended up having a huge fight with Fudge because he was beating Mace half to death, who was only
six. I was trying to stop him." Dad's eyes widen "Fudge told me to get rid of the
evidence ... ten guns that were used in that job ... " I look at him
sheepishly "I normally would NEVER have touched or hidden a murder weapon for ANYONE, but on this occasion I did. I took the guns without arguing, so that I could get Mace out of there and away from him. Fudge was so angry with Mace, I thought he was going to fade him. He actually told me to dump Mace into the lake with the evidence - that is how mad he was!!"<br />
"Why was he beating Mace?"<br />
"Fudge took Mace on that job with him." Dad's face twists "Mace screamed while the mob were hiding, waiting to pounce on the deal. A spider ran up his leg, and his screaming alerted everyone to the mob being there. Fudge blamed Mace for the three mob members they lost. I think because the three faded bodies, that they had to leave behind, could have lead the law straight to the mob!"<br />
"Stupid Man!!" Dad snaps angrily "He should never have taken a small child into a situation like that!!"<br />
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<br />
"Exactly what I used to think and tell him all the time, It was all part of his criminal
training apparently and I was told to mind my own business." I laugh sarcastically. "After I got Mace away
from Fudge, me and Forrest had to take Mace to the hospital, he had a
broken arm, missing teeth and needed a load of stitches, he was in a
right mess!!"<br />
"So, what did you do with the guns?" he frowns at me <br />
"I still have those guns ... hidden under the floorboards, in the bathroom upstairs."<br />
<b> "WHAT?!"</b> he shouts quite loudly "You had <b>BETTER</b> be winding me up Granite!!"<br />
"No ... seriously ... there are ten guns upstairs that were responsible for the No Mans Land Masacre."<br />
<b>"HELL!!!!"</b> I sit watching his face doing somersaults "I CAN NOT believe that <b>YOU</b> ... YOU of all people have had the evidence ALL THIS TIME, that can prove who murdered my brother!!! he starts shouting again "Are you really that <b>STUPID!!??</b> Holding onto those guns ,,, You are asking to
get yourself into serious trouble ... <b>YOU are an absolute IDIOT!!"</b><br />
<b> "YES I AM AN IDIOT!!" </b>I yell back at him. Him shouting and calling me an Idiot makes my head snap. It was always his favourite insult when I was a child and I used to hate it. "Being an IDIOT is a crime in your book .... so arrest me for it ... get it over and done with!!"<br />
"Gran just <b>SHUT UP!!!</b>!" Mace jumps in and yells at me "The last thing we need is you two kicking off at each other!!" Mace scowls at me "Dad it is not as bad as it sounds!!" <br />
<b> "YOU THINK?!"</b> he snaps angrily "He has ten murder weapons hidden upstairs, that could get him locked up for the rest of his life for <b>BERRY'S SAKE!!</b> And why have you not mentioned this until now Mace?" he frowns at Mace angrily "This is not one of the things you told the police about."<br />
"I was six years old, I barely remember it. I had actually forgotten all about it until Gran reminded me earlier, and I only remember it because of my broken arm and the teddy bear Granite gave me."<br />
"Seriously, you three boys are going to be the death of me!!" he snaps<br />
"When you hear the full story you will see it is honestly not as bad as you think. Especially as far as Granite's involvement in it goes!!" Mace smiles at him.<br />
"Just when I thought you had grown up and was done with all that crap!! Now you go and dump this on me!!!" he shouts at me quite angrily<br />
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you." I snap sarcastically <b> And I AM done with all that crap</b>, as you <b>damn well</b> know!! However, I can not change what I did in my past, even if that is not me any more!!!!" I snap back angrily as we just sit there glaring at each other. <br />
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I'm a little surprised when I glance at Mace, to see him so calm. He did not even flinching all the time that Dad was shouting.<br />
<br />
"I told you Mace, telling him was a<b> very bad </b>idea!!"<br />
"Just shut up and give him a chance to think!" Mace laughs at me<br />
"Now he has started shouting, it is game over!!" I snap at Mace, as I sit there watching my Dad's face which is fuming<br />
"He will be fine, as long as you don't fly off the handle, just keep your damn mouth shut!!" Mace snaps at me "Look at you, you have both got your backs up!! You set each other off, that's your problem!!" he tuts "As long as you don't shout back, Dad will calm down in a minute, won't you Mr Volcano Head." Mace laughs and surprisingly so does Dad. I just frown at the pair of them, now quietly laughing at each other. <br />
"My Volcano Head?"<br />
"It's what we use to call him when we were kids. When we did anything wrong, he always used to erupt like a volcano and start shouting. If we spoke or shouted back, his shouting just got worse, but if we sat there quietly without reacting to his yelling, he soon calmed down and talked to us properly. The longer he shouted, the worse the punishment." Mace smirks "Turn on the water works and he is the one in trouble." Mace starts howling "Really, Dad is a big softy underneath and very easy to play."<br />
"Granny wouldn't know that!" Dad starts laughing with Mace "He was the one who always yelled back and kept the volcano rumbling on for hours, even days sometime!!" he laughs "Gravel had me taped from an early age, just like the rest of you ... Granite was the only one who never got it!!"<br />
<br />
I sit a little bemused watching them both, now laughing at each other.
It kind of hurts that Mace knows my own Dad a lot better than I do. <br />
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<br />
Dad has now calmed right down and Mace starts to explain everything that I have told him to Dad. I just leave him to do it, he is probably doing it better than I could right now. My blood is still boiling from Dad shouting.<br />
<br />
I listen for a while, then my mind wanders off as I stare at the corner of the room where Gravel's shit is hidden. I think for the very first time ... what if there is something hidden in amongst it all that could also come back to bite me. That would be just my luck right now!!<br />
<br />
"GRANNY ..." Dad nudges me bringing me back to reality<br />
"What?"<br />
"These guns are they just loose under the floorboards?"<br />
"No. They are in a clear sealed plastic freezer bag, that has never been opened since the day the guns were put into it." I mumble "Fudge told me to wipe the prints off the guns before I disposed of them ... but I never did either."<br />
"Did you touch any of the guns before they went into the bag?"<br />
"No. I watched them all going into the bag, it was sealed, then Fudge thrust the bag at me."<br />
"So who did you see touching the bag - before and after the guns went into it."<br />
"Fudge, Anise ..." I see Mace wince at the mention of his Mother "... and me. I can't remember seeing anyone else touch it. Mace probably touched it while I was carrying him home. He was riling in my arms because of the pain. I struggled to carry him and the bag." I roll my eyes<br />
"Did you take it straight to the bathroom to hide it?" <br />
"No, I hid the bag in a bush in the garden, then after Forrest stormed out, I hid it in the bathroom and it hasn't been touched or moved since."<br />
"So you have never opened it?"<br />
"No!!" <br />
"Why was Anise touching the bag? Did she go on the job with them?"<br />
"I honestly don't know if she went with them ... I was too hammered." I glance at Mace<br />
"I don't remember Mom being there." Mace mumbles<br />
"It was Anise's job to collect the guns up ... it is what she did every time they returned from a job like that. She collected any weapons or incriminating evidence and disposed of it. We never knew how or where, but I presume Apple Lake was one of their main places."<br />
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"So it was out of character for you to do it."<br />
"Yeah. It was my one and only time. It was always Anise's job, I guess to make sure it got done properly .... I never normally had anything to do with the weapons at all ... like I've said before, I was only ever in it for the booze and drugs ... I didn't even take a cut of any of the ill gotten money."<br />
"No, he used to give his share to me and Tarragon." Mace starts laughing <br />
"So what about the weapons that you used?" he frowns at me "Did you dispose of your own or did Anise always do it?"<br />
"I never used weapons!!" I smile at him<br />
"Like I'm going to believe that!!" Dad laughs sarcastically <br />
"Seriously Dad, he didn't!! They used to go armed with guns and knives ... Granites always refused to take them, he used to say his weapons were his fists!!" Mace laughs<br />
"So any jobs you did go on ... you went unarmed?" he is really frowning at me.<br />
"Yeah." I mumble<br />
"That was a little stupid wasn't it?" he frowns at me<br />
"I was too high or hammered most of the time to even think or care about fading! If it was meant to be it would have come to me." I laugh quietly "Besides, I would NEVER intentionally fade anyone for any reason, especially not their shit reasons!! I refused to take their weapons, because if I had ever ended up having to use them and faded someone, I would never have lived with myself!!! I always punched my way out of problems."<br />
"Earlier you said you have hidden guns and knives in this house from Forrest."<br />
"Yeah I had a knife and gun here ... but they were only for mine and Forrest's protection. Having them doesn't mean I have to use them. There weren't even any bullets here for the gun!! Waving them about in most cases is deterrent enough and that is all I ever did with them!! I did not go out and fade people for fun like Gravel and the rest of them!! I did everything that I could to avoid it."<br />
"So, how many people have you actually faded?"<br />
<b> "NONE!!"</b> I snap angrily "Okay people have faded by my hand, but only those in hospital beds or on an operating theatre, that could not be saved ... I have NEVER faded anyone intentionally. I save lives not extinguish them!!"<br />
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<br />
"Where are the gun and knife now, that you had here for protection?"<br />
"Gravel hauled them in for evidence ... when he arrested me." I laugh "Possession of a fire arm was one of the thing I was done for."<br />
"Yeah I remember, that is why I was confused about you saying you didn't use weapons." he laughs quietly "Why did you keep that bag of guns between hiding it and you getting locked up." <br />
"I was spooked. Nine of the mob came
back off that job, but Fudge gave me ten guns to dispose of in Apple
Lake ... the extra gun really spooked me!! It looks just like your old
gun. It has a marble patterned grip." he just stares at me blankly
"I was being sentimentally stupid, I kept the gun because I convinced
myself it was your old gun stupidly I know. However, now I am beginning to
think I wasn't being stupid as far as that gun goes. You gave him that gun, so now I actually think
<i>it is </i>your old gun upstairs!! Gravel used it doing that job, and gave it to Fudge to dispose of with all the rest."<br />
"Oh so. that is why you was sneaking about upstairs and asking questions about my old gun earlier, instead of the bullshit reason you gave me!" he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah, partly." I mumble <br />
"You need to show me that gun." he snaps as he stands up<br />
"Before I do that ... there is more." he rolls his eyes at me<br />
"Oh Granny ... what now?!" he mumbles miserably<br />
"Don't worry ... this is not me this time." I laugh
"I have a third hiding place, in this room. Gravel knew about this one,
he caught me sneaking into it once, and after that I tried not to use it.
I checked it out just in case I had left drugs or booze in it, but we
have just had the shock of our lives ... I thought the space would be
empty, maybe a bottle of vodka or a small bag of coke at the most. However it is now Aladdin's cave."<br />
"What do you mean?" he frowns at me<br />
"It's best I just show you." I laugh <br />
<br />
I laugh at the expression on his face as I pull back the carpet and he stares at the contents of the hole.<br />
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<br />
"Seriously Granite?!" he stares at me in amused disbelief.<br />
"Trust me NONE of this shit is mine!!"<br />
"I SERIOUSLY hope not!!" he snaps "Without taking anything else into consideration, there are enough drugs there to have whoever is dealing them, doing some <b>serious</b> time!!" <br />
"There was only one broken floorboard in my day. The hiding hole seems
to have grown over the years. Since I left, another five boards have been
broken."<br />
"This is Gravel." he snaps "I can see the Mace Wood cold case police file that has vanished."<br />
"Yeah .. Gravel has obviously been using this house as another place to hide his dodgy
shit." I mumble "I doubt even Forrest knows any of this is here.!!"<br />
"How could he not know!! There is a ridiculous amount of stuff there!!"<br />
"Trust me, Forrest would have gone ape at this if he had known, especially the weapons!!"<br />
"He might not have liked it, but Gravel has been holding a gun to Forrests head all this time, just like he did T and Mace." <br />
"Yes I know, but after Gravel was arrested, Forrest would have told the police it was here if he had known. He came clean about everything else he knew, so why would he hide this?"<br />
"I suppose ..." he mumbles "But ... this is a hell of a lot of stuff for someone to hide in someone else's house without them noticing!!"<br />
"Gravel has a key to this house and I suspect he has been sneaking in
while Forrest is at work." I mumble "Forrest lives alone, so he could sneak in here and not be distrubed."<br />
"More guns ... and all that money!!" he snaps "I seriously don't know what went wrong with that boy!!"<br />
"He was an evil little brat when he was a child, you just never saw it!!" <br />
"You haven't touched anything have you?" he frowns at me<br />
"No only the carpet and the floorboards when I lifted them up."<br />
<br />
Suddenly Dad starts choking and getting upset <br />
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"You have spotted it haven't you!!" Mace mumbles "Tami's jewellery."<br />
"Yes." he chokes "I did not want to believe that he had actually done it ... but this kind of proves it. I seriously don't understand why he would even want to do it!! His own Sister who never did him any harm!"<br />
"Has he not been asked why he shot Tami?"<br />
"Yes, he was asked, before they shipped him off to Berry. El and Crimson have both asked him. He just laughed at them, exactly the same reaction they got from him when they asked him why he shot you."<br />
<br />
I just stare at Mace who stares back at me ... we both have our theories, but they are best not said, or we might just upset him even more than he is. I just stand watching him as he tries to pull himself together.<br />
<br />
"You need to show me the gun, that you think is mine." Dad
frowns at me "If you are right and it is my old gun, then Gravel definitely played a part in The No Man's Land Masacre. There is no way that he can riggle out of it either. That gun is registered in his name!! It's just a very good job I had the sense to transferred that gun over to him legally, otherwise this could have come back on me!!" he snaps<br />
"He would have let you take the rap for it too!!"<br />
"After everything he has done, I can just imagine that he would!!" he snaps "And Berry help that boy if he turns out to be the one responsible for robbing my brother of his life, as well as my daughter!!" <br />
"What am I going to do with all those guns upstairs?"<br />
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<br />
"Obviously the force need them, so that case can be put to bed. I, like many others who lost family that day, are still waiting for answers!!" he stares at me for a moment "But first we need to clean you right out of the picture before I get El
and Crimson in here. We will have to move the guns and put them with that lot!" he points towards Gravel's stash.<br />
"What about if I'm wrong and it isn't your old gun."<br />
"It was a one off, so it more than likely is. My initials are engraved on the gun, so I'll know for sure without even opening the bag." he smiles at me "Even if it isn't my gun, he ran the mob that did the job, and like you said, he probably organised the whole damn thing!! So they won't think anything of Gravel having that evidence." he laughs to himself quietly "Gravel can take the rap for his own shit, without anyone else having to suffer because of it!!"<br />
"So you are not going to arrest me for it?" I smile at him <br />
"By rights I should. Withholding vital evidence from a crime as big as the Masacre, is a very convictable offence!!" he smirks at me sarcastically "However, the very last thing I want is you losing everything, going down again for your past drunken stupidity. Slate, Clay and Jasmine's lives have be wrecked enough by Gravel, without you adding to it!! I am just glad you didn't take part
in that job and are not responsible for fading anyone, which makes it easier for me!!" <br />
<br />
Dad starts chuckling to himself quietly<br />
<br />
"Yet again you have been a pawn in Gravel's games!! Some might even look on it, and say you have preserved the evidence, that we all thought was long gone. I for one thought I would never know." he smiles at me "I think the law has punished you enough don't you think!!" <br />
<br />
I sigh with relief. Mace was right.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"But don't get thinking you
have got off with this scot free!! Just because the law won't be
punishing you, it doesn't mean that I won't!!" Dad wags his finger at me. "I won't sleep for weeks, knowing I've had to bend the law, yet again, to clean up one of your lots shit!!"<br />
<br />
I glance at Mace who is now really laughing at me.<br />
<br />
"Oh boy!!" he sniggers "Are you in for some earache!!"<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
<br />
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-71615408479995085432017-10-23T04:36:00.001-07:002017-10-23T04:51:49.197-07:00Chapter 60d - Gen 2 - Granite<br />
I stand staring thoughtfully at the large solid wood wardrobe in front of me, that I now annoyingly need to move. My mind will never rest, wandering what, if anything, is hidden under the floorboards, until I have actually taken a look.<br />
<br />
I know it is going to be very difficult, moving that wardrobe, probably impossible, even the doors weigh a tonne when you open them.<br />
<br />
I am never going to move that wardrobe on my own, and it is not like I can call anyone in to help me, without explaining what I am doing, which I would rather not be doing.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Oh Fudge ... how the hell am I ever going to move that wardrobe on my own
... with the weight of all your dresses and high heeled shoes in it!! I will be bursting a blood
vessel or giving myself a hernia!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Sod off you twat!!" Mace laughs at me "Take the clothes out to lighten the load."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah right!! That is not going to help me much is it!! You did have to go
and buy a solid wooden monstrosity, when I said a small one!" I tut at him </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Not this again!! It was on sale, 80% off, because it was the last one!! It cost less than your poxy small one would have." he smiles at me sarcastically</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "So you keep saying!" I roll my eyes at him "I am surprised it has not gone through the floorboards the weight
of it ... then you just had to go and put it on top of my hidey hole!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Well that will teach you to be so sneaky!!" he laughs at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How the hell did you get it in here anyway?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Four delivery men brought it in." he mumbles quietly</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Exactly ... FOUR ... I am NEVER going to do this on my own, am I!!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">Suddenly I get the stupidest idea, as I stare at Mace. I snigger as I quickly snap open my phone.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "Tapestry, just the man!" I laugh as he answers the phone "Is Sunny still with you, or is he lurking about here again spying on us?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> "He is here, playing with Vanilla, why?"</span> </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Can Nilla actually see Sunny too?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah she can, Crystal and Magnolia see the spirits too." he laughs quietly </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "That is strange, I wander why only you four and Alpine can see them?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "River thinks it is something to do with our over bright colourless eyes, and Alpine because of the brain damage probably." he mumbles "Anyway, why are you asking about Sunny?" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I kind of need some help. I need to move a very heavy solid wood wardrobe in our bedroom, and I can not do it alone.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Is nobody home to help you?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah, but I can not really ask anyone to come in and help me, without explaining what I am up to. It is a bit tricky, I would rather they didn't know." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Let me guess ... you and your hidey holes!!" he laughs quietly </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah, you've got it!" I chuckle "I thought Sunny could help me move the wardrobe, with maybe a few more of your other spirit friends. It took four guys to bring it in, so I will probably need as many spirits."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously you are cracking me up!!" Tapestry starts to howl down the phone "What are you trying to do give Mace a heart attack?!!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No. I have tried to talk to Mace about the ghost thing, but he is having none of it!! Maybe if he sees them moving the wardrobe, he might at least start listening."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Oh Fudge!! I would pay good money to see his face when the wardrobe moves, and if I was not baby sitting, I would be round to watch!!" he continues to laugh "Okay, I will get Sunny to round up a few of the spirits and get your wardrobe moved!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Thanks Tap!!" I laugh </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Where exactly do you want this wardrobe moving to?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Not far, tell them to put it flat against the wall, next to the sofa. I will pull the cot away from the wall so there is room for the wardrobe."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Okay!" he laughs "Expect the wardrobe to start levitating very soon!!" </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">When I snap my phone shut, I am still laughing at Tapestry who was howling when the call cut off. Mace is sat on the bed wearing the strangest expression on his face, and really, I can not say I blame him. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "Did I SERIOUSLY just hear you asking Tapestry to send ghosts round here to move that wardrobe?" his eyes are nearly popping out of his head</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yes you did!!" I smirk at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You are OFF YOUR HEAD and Tapestry is mad for encouraging you!! he laughs at me</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I laugh as I take Clay out of his cot and hand him to Mace, so that I can pull the cot away from the wall to leave room for the wardrobe. Clay continues to sleep, so I put him back into his cot, which is now right at the end of the bed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "We just need to wait now." I mumble as I get back onto the bed</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously, you have gone mad!!" he frowns at me </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You won't think I am mad for long, when you see that wardrobe moving!!" I laugh at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How do you know these ghosts of yours can even move that wardrobe."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I know because Sunny has already moved something for me." I smile at him "After I brought it, I hid your engagement ring upstairs in Atlas's room, in the hidey hole. When I went into it, I spotted the vodka and coke, but I didn't have time to get rid of it." he frowns at me "I had to leave it there and quickly put the floorboard, carpet and cupboard back, because I could hear Atlas and Saffron coming up the stairs ..." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "So it is still in there." he frowns at me, jumping in without letting me finish</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No!! Sunny was watching me, he got rid of the vodka and coke, to stop me from getting tempted."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Sod off!!" he laughs at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Honestly, Sunny got rid of the drugs and booze .... he told Tap, who had a word with me." I smile at him </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Shut up!!" he starts to really laugh at me then he stops suddenly as his face twists up "Was you tempted ... by the drugs and booze?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No ... I wasn't!" I smile at him </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I laugh at him as he is watching me suspiciously, I can tell by the expression on his face, that he doesn't believe me. </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">I glance at the cot that is now at the bottom of the bed, and watch Clay sleeping. I can still feel Mace staring at me. I know I need to move the conversation away from the booze and drugs, or he is never going to stop going on about it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You know, we should leave that cot there." I smile at him "It is a lot easier for you to get to, without having to drag yourself off the bed and into your chair."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah I guess." he smiles</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "So when did Clay last have a feed?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "About ten minutes before you got in from work." he mumbles </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Did he keep you awake much last night?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yes!! That is why the little monkey is zonked out now!!!" he laughs </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Have you given any thought about what Clay is going to call us when he grows up? Uncle, Dad or by our names." I mumble quietly.</span><br />
"I don't know, I haven't really thought that far a head." he laughs at me "I guess he will just end up copying what Jasmine and Slate call us ... so you best had have words with your Son!! The wind up merchant has started to call me Mommy Mace, which isn't funny!!"<br />
"Oh it is!!" I start howling at him, but have to stop because I can see he isn't impressed. "Okay I'll have a word with Slate." I tut quietly "Maybe we should talk about Clay. Something is troubling me ... is it
fair that that little boy has to grow up knowing what his parents are!
Should we even tell him who his parents are?" <br />
"What
choice do we have, it's not like we can hide Gravel and Tarragon and say
we created him ... " he laughs quietly before his face twists "Don't you think we have had enough lies!! Hiding everything from him while he is growing up is only going to upset him if and when the truth comes out, and it will eventually!" <br />
"I know but it's not fair that he has to grow up with the burden of knowing that his parents are evil twisted murderers."<br />
"So were mine .... " he rolls his eyes "It did not do me any harm knowing, it made me hate them and not want to be like them. I think we have a perfect example of what not to do right in front of us ... Prelude and Parsley." I frown at him "They hid the truth about Manderine from Parsley and Storm ... they were going into prison regularly to visit her while they were growing up, thinking their Mother was something that she isn't. Storm faded because of the lies and it has messed Parsley's head up big time, having to learn the truth about her. Having to find out everything she has done and especially having to see her true colours, with his own eyes!!"<br />
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<br />
"So you think we should tell him the truth about everything."<br />
"Yes, he needs to understand how evil, twisted and wrong his parents are and we need to discourage him from having anything to do with them!! Hopefully, as long as we bring him up in the right way, he will have the sense to keep away from them."<br />
"We just don't let him see them full stop!!"<br />
"We can't force him, and curiosity is going to have him going to see his parents at least once in his lifetime. It has to be his choice, and we are going to have to handle him very carefully, or he might start rebelling and turn on us .... you of all people know about kicking back and being rebellious!" he smirks at me "The very last thing we need is him turning out like Gravel or Tarragon!! The poor kid is at a disadvantage before he even starts, he has BOTH of their evil genes, so he could naturally turn out like them, no matter what we do or how we bring him up ... that is my main worry!!"<br />
"Yeah." I mumble as I bite my lip, because that is my main worry too!!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">A strange expression suddenly flashes across Mace's face, and I can literally see his colour changing.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "GRAN!! The ... the ... wardrobe!!" he starts to choke, as he grabs my arm and his eyes widen in shock.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I glance towards the wardrobe, and see what he is seeing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">The wardrobe is now off the ground and just hanging there, suspended in mid air. I hear Mace choking while his grip is tightening on my arm. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">We watch the wardrobe moving slowly, from where it was sitting, to where I wanted it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I am a little numb as I watch the wardrobe settle down onto the carpet. I am now staring at the wardrobe that just <i>seemingly</i> moved itself to our eyes. Even for me, it is hard to take in, already believing that the spirits exist and are here. I dread to think what Mace must be thinking and feeling right now. </span><br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Thanks Sunny!!" I laugh out loud.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "OMG!!!" Mace chokes "Did that really just happen!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yes it did!" I laugh at him </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Oh Fudge!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Now do you believe that I am not going crazy when I say ghosts are real!" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">His face is a picture, and I can not help but laugh at him, as I move his hand to loosen the painfully tight grip that he still has on my arm. He starts to look around warily.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Do you think they are still here?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I don't have a clue!!" I smile as I scan the room even though I know it is pointless "I just wish that I could see them like Tapestry can."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Who do you think it was?" Mace frowns at me "Has Tapestry told you how many there are?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "He has told me he sees lots of ghosts everywhere. But I know they have Sunny and his twin brother Saffron, Storm, Cosmic, and Glimmer hanging out in there house regularly."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Who is Glimmer?" Mace frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I don't know, he never said." I smile at him "So do you believe me now?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I ... eerrrr ..." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Mace just stares at me in confusion, I don't think he knows what to say.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Where are you going?!" he grabs for my arm as I sit up and </span><span style="color: black;">start to slide off the bed.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Don't worry the ghosts are not going to hurt you!!" I smirk at him </span><span style="color: black;">"We need to get this hidey hole checked out!"</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">I stand and stare at the carpet for a
moment, only just realising for the first time, that this carpet has
been changed over the last twenty years, just like the carpet upstairs. How did Forrest never see or investigate the broken floorboard here or upstairs.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">
"You are a dodgy sneak!" Mace laughs at me as he watches me pulling back the carpet</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I stand staring at the
floor boards which are not how I expected to find them, they are really
confusing me.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Says you, who had an art gallery going on in our garage loft space on
the sly!" I mumble as I pull more of the carpet back to expose more of
the floorboards. "Something is not right here!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why, what's wrong?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"There should only be one broken floorboard .... there are now six." I
frown at Mace for a second as I watch him trying to get off the bed and into his wheelchair. "I know for a fact there should only be one
broken floorboard ... because I broke it. This floor was solid before
then, because we had all brand new floorboards put down in this room!!
It was doing that, that gave me the idea that I could hide stuff in the
space under the floorboards. This floor should still be solid."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It has been over twenty years!! Maybe over time, the floorboards have been broken from wear and tear, it happens." he mumbles as he wheels himself up next to me.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Naah, I doubt it, unless Forrest has had an elephant living
in here." I laugh "This has always been the dining room until you
started to use it as a bedroom. This room has <i>never </i>been used
... maybe once a year at Christmas when his parents and sister came for
Christmas dinner. He told me he has hardly every been in this room
over the years, only to air it out occasionally, just like he never set
foot in our old bedroom."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Who is in your old bedroom now?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Atlas and Saff." I mumble </span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">I get
down on my knees and pull up the only floorboard that I think should be
broken. I am expecting the floor space underneath to be empty ... but
it is not - far from it!! It is packed with stuff, none of it mine. This can only be
Gravels ... </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">
"Oh Hell!!" I snap as I quickly start to pull up the other broken floor
boards. Every board that I pull up, exposes even more stuff and I
really do not like what I am looking at.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "What's up?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Take a look for yourself ... and I will tell you now, none of
this shit is mine!! As far as I'm concerned, this should be empty" I
stare at Mace wide eyed, before I push his chair forward so he can see into the hole properly. "Just don't even try to touch
anything!! The last thing we need is our fingerprints on any of this
shit!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Oh Shit!!" Mace stares at me wide eyed after he's cast his eyes over what I have been looking at.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"You was right, he has been using it!! He has obviously been stashing his shit in this house ...
because I doubt very much that any of this is Forrests!!" I stare a
Mace "What about if there is more, somewhere else in this room, or this
house."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"What a Berry Hole!!" he snaps "What about if someone else
had found this, especially after he moved - Forrest could have copped
for all this!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I know - and the Berry Hole would have let him take the rap for it too!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Do you think Forrest knew he was stashing this stuff here?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I highly doubt it!!" I laugh "He used to scream the place
down if he so much as found a spliff in this house. He found a flick
knife in my pocket once, he kicked me out and wouldn't let me back in
for a week." I laugh quietly "Besides he would have told the police if he had know this was here."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How could Gravel hide this much stuff here without Forrest seeing him doing it?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I presume because Gravel had a key to this house just like we had a key to
his ... he would have plenty of opportunity, with Forrest living here
alone, any time Forrest was at work, he could have come in here without
being noticed or disturbed. I bet Gravel has been collecting this stuff
up for years a bit at a time!" </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">We both remain there, quietly staring in disbelief at the contents of the hole. I feel suddenly like
I'm staring into Aladin's cave!! There is no doubting that what we are
looking at can only belong to Gravel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I can see quite a few guns and knives, one is still
stained with dry blood. There are wads of bank notes, a few piles of jewellery,
bank books, passports and what look like fake ID's. There are blocks and bags of
different drugs, which disturb me. I see quite a few envelopes and piles of papers that I would love to look at but dare not touch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I laugh suddenly when I spot something amusing for me at least.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Oh look Mace Woods. I am guessing that is your original police murder
file, that El thinks Gravel has destroyed!" we look at each other and start laughing</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Really we shouldn't laugh that guy faded, just so that I could have his identity."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I know." I mumble "Did you honestly not know that the real Mace Wood was going to be faded for that reason."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"No!! I've already told you ... Gravel grabbed me coming out of work, he dragged me off,
literally giving me no notice or warning. He put his passport, ID and
papers in my hand and told me this is now me and I'm off to Cherry to
lie low and baby sit you. He literally took me to the airport right
there and then, he threatened to fade both Tami and Jasmine if I didn't
go!!" he frowns at you "Don't you believe me?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Baby I'm sorry, of course I believe you!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Even T has told you ... Gravel got T to pull your house mate advert the day after you placed it, so nobody would enquire about it. He had it all planned, but I was the last to find out, when it was forced on me."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "He is a berry hole!!" I mumble as we both stare back into the hole.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Dad is going to be happy, as well as very upset!!" he starts to choke and get upset himself. "I can see Tami's necklaces and bracelet." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Where?" I frown at him and he points to one of the piles of jewellery."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> "Are you sure that is Tami's jewellery?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Of course I am sure!!!" he snaps almost like he is irritated. "She<i> never</i>
took that locket off and I bought her that bracelet. Jasmine has an identical baby one." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Okay, okay, keep your hair on!!" I laugh at him wandering why he just got so ratty.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You need to fetch Dad
... and we need to get Crimson and El round here."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, I know we do, but ..." I pull a face at him "What
about the guns upstairs ... "</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Leave them up there .... we need to deal with those on the quiet later!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I don't think we can .... you know don't you, that the police are probably going
to rip this whole house apart now, floorboard by floorboard!!" I roll my eyes "They will wash
this being here, but they might start getting suspicious of the
bathroom, which they are bound to find."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"You could always move them and put them with this lot, then it will just look like
Gravel has had them all along, then you will be in the clear." he laughs sarcastically "Gravel should pay for everything, you disposing of them lets him off the hook ... really the police need to find them!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Nice idea but .... I spoke to Dad about his gun not long after I came in from work ... he will suss something straight away if he sees it in
the bag. How are we going to explain us pulling up these floorboards
in the first place? Isn't it all going to be all very suspect anyway, especially
it all being hidden under the floorboards in <i>our </i>room of all places!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I guess we can only tell Dad the truth, he will sort
it out, and know the best thing to do. After all we have not done anything wrong here other than you
<b>stupidly</b> hiding those guns twenty odd years ago. It is not like you played any part in the job!!" he frowns at me "We
need to speak to Dad NOW, explain about the guns and show him this before we drag Crimson and El
into it. We can't sit on it, or then it will start to look suspicious!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I will go and fetch him." I mumble as I take a deep breath and head for the door. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">When I walk back into the bedroom Mace is still sitting there, staring into the hole.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
"I expected you to bring Dad in with you." he frowns at me<br />
"I have told him I need a word, but he has just popped to the chemist for his insulin. It couldn't wait. He will be in as soon as he gets back." I mumble<br />
"Okay." he smiles at me<br />
"Mace am I doing the right thing telling Dad the truth about those guns ... what about if he arrests me - the last thing I need or want is to go back to prison!!"<br />
"Don't be stupid!" he laughs at me "Dad won't arrest you ... he will help you sort it out!!"<br />
"Says he who has let Gravel abuse him since the age of fifteen rather than ask Dad for help, because you was too scared to!!"<br />
"That was completely different and you know it!!" he tuts at me "As long as you have not faded anyone, he will help you. I did fade someone, my cousin remember, so I knew damn well he would have arrested and locked me up for that! Fading is something that he will never help anyone cover up, not even his own family." <br />
"I have been told he has never tolerated any of his kids breaking the law, so why would he help me ... when I so obviously did break the law twenty five years ago. Okay I didn't take part in the job, but berry I still have the evidence, withholding it being a serious crime in itself!!"<br />
"No he doesn't tolerate it!! He will probably go ballistic and give you verbal hell over it for ages. He will punish you in his own way and not let you live it down for a long time. However, that doesn't mean he won't help you to get out of it, or that he hasn't got a few of us out of scrapes over the years, especially Silt!" he laughs "He was far from an angel when he was growing up!"<br />
"I don't know if I can take the risk!!"<br />
"Seriously, you can, trust me!!"<br />
<br />
I just stare at him, not knowing if I should. <br />
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"What about if you are wrong?"<br />
"Trust me I won't be!!"<br />
"Are you seriously willing to take the gamble, knowing if you are wrong, you are putting Slate, Jasmine and Clays futures at risk! What is going to happen to them when we are BOTH locked up!?""<br />
"You are worrying too much - don't you think Dad cares about their future too!! He is trying to hold this family together, not blow it apart!!" he laughs at me "If it makes you feel better, if the worst does happen ... I will take the wrap for the guns ... I'm doing time anyway ..."<br />
"SOD OFF Mace you TWAT!!" I snap at him angrily "That is NEVER happening!! I would not be able to live with myself if you did extra time for me ... I need you out here not in there!!"<br />
"The very last thing Dad wants to see is you losing everything and locked
up again!! We all know what you did in the past was fueled by drugs,
alcohol, Gravel's games and a messed up head thanks to your green thing!! I don't think you realise how proud of you he is right now ... because of how you have managed to turn your
life around, especially knowing you are having to fight your addiction every day to do it and keep it that way!! Honestly, he
will not want to push you back there or punish you for your past stupidity now!!"<br />
"He would never help me dispose of those guns ... they are attached to a serious crime for berry's sake!!" I laugh at him sarcastically.<br />
"You are right about that, he won't agree with disposing of them, and he wouldn't help you do it. He will make sure those guns find a way into the hands of the law, so whoever can be punished ... but he will find a way to clean you out of it ..." he laughs pointing at Gravel's stash "We have the perfect solution right there!! Gravel ran the mob, he ordered the job, he probably used one of those guns, if you are right about his involvement in the job. Nobody will question Gravel having the guns all this time ... let him take the wrap for ihis own shit!!"<br />
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"I want to believe what you are saying ... but I don't know!!"<br />
"Why did you take the guns off Fudge?" he frowns at me "The Granite I remember would have refused!! He never would have been so ready to take or hide a murder weapon .. so why did you?"<br />
"Because .... he thrust them at me while I was more bothered about getting the little boy away from him, that he was battering half to death. Arguing with him over disposing of his poxy guns, wouldn't have got you away from him!"<br />
"Why hide them in the bathroom?"<br />
"While we sorted you out, I had to do something with them, so Leafy didn't see them." he frowns at me "You was in a right mess, mentally and physically. For berry sake you was only six and he beat you like he would a grown bloke!! Even Forrest, the pedophobe, was alarmed and concerned over what he had done to you." <br />
"Why did you keep them this long?"<br />
"At first it was because I couldn't let go of that gun, it spooked me, I made myself believe it was Dad's gun. Then I was not given a choice after that, thanks to Gravel and his games!!" I pull a face at him "I was forced away from here, banged up and have been away for over twenty years, because I thought I had to be, to keep Gravel, Forrest and Amber safe ... I haven't really had the chance to dispose of them since, have I!"<br />
"We have been back over nine months?" he frowns at me<br />
"I TOTALLY forgot about them over the years - trying to forget about my past!!"<br />
"How can you forget about hiding ten guns?" he frowns at me<br />
"I don't know!!" I snap "I guess I don't trust any of my memories from the time I was in a permanent drug or alcohol induced haze!! So I have blocked them out, not really knowing if they were actually real memories, alcohol hallucinations or drug trips." I frown at him "What is with the interrogation ... why are you doing this Mace?"<br />
"I am trying to show you .... Really what have you done that is so wrong?" he laughs at me <br />
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"You tell me ... because I can not see past the fact I have hidden vital evidence from a mass murder, for all this time!!" <br />
"You didn't play any part in that mass murder, there is no blood on your hands, which is the main thing!! You only took the guns in the first place to protect me from my abusive berry hole of a parent,
when you normally wouldn't have touched them!! You had a sentimentally stupid moment
over Dad's gun, then you was locked up, you have not been here to get
rid of them!! When Dad knows the whole story, and why you did what you did, he will see what you did was not done with any bad intention. You don't have a criminal bone in your body, and yet again you was a pawn in Fudge and Gravel's games, so you
don't really need punishing for it!!"<br />
"That won't matter what either you or Dad think of me personally, you are both bias!! All the law will see, is that I did hide and withheld the evidence!!" <br />
"You haven't even thought yet have you, you keeping those guns
all this time and safe, has turned out to be a good thing, it has done the police a
massive favour!"<br />
"Are you mad!!" I stare at him in disbelief!<br />
"No - not one of the mob were ever arrested for their involvement in that job, and especially not for any of the murders!! I presume it is still an unsolved crime ... you are giving them the evidence that they need to finally put the case to bed."<br />
"And that matters because ...?!" I laugh at him sarcastically<br />
"Think of all the families of everyone that was needlessly murdered during that job ... still wandering who faded their loved ones. The families who are probably still being eaten up with frustration and anger because nobody has yet been caught and punished for it. Exactly the way that I feel about whoever murdered my Mother!! I will never get closer or be able to get over it, until I know who and why and that whoever it was is punished for it. It will be exactly the same for all of those families." I just stare at him blankly "That will be more important to your Dad, than punishing you for your past drunken and sentimental stupidity!!!" he smirks at me "That is why I know he will clean you out of the picture!"<br />
"Why are you so sure about all this!" I frown at him<br />
"You really don't know your Dad at all do you!" he chuckles quietly "Well I do, he has been my Dad in every way possible, since I was eleven years old .... I know him inside out and especially how his mind works. Besides, he has a very weak spot were you are concerned, I think he would do anything to protect you!! Trust me, everything is going to be okay!!"<br />
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<br />
"Well I hope you are right about all this - or I am screwed!!" <br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-36504566545718619982017-09-11T07:18:00.000-07:002017-09-11T07:18:14.795-07:00Chapter 60c - Gen 2 - Granite<br />
<span style="color: black;">Lying next to Mace, while I am waiting for my heart rate and breathing to slow down and return back to normal, I glance over at him, wandering why he is abnormally quiet. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">He is just lying there, staring up at the ceiling. I can already tell his head is going, because of the pained expression on his face, and the tears that are starting to well up in his eyes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I really need to get some sleep, before I return to work, so I roll towards him, and lie my head on his shoulder, pretending that I have not noticed that he is starting to get upset. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">While I want to say something and ask him what is wrong, I have learned not to question him about what is going on his head. It is always best to wait until he wants to tell me what is troubling him. Most of the time he is just having a momentary blip and gets over it quickly. If I try to push him to talk about it when he does not want to, he gets ratty and miserable, then he just shuts himself off and starts to wallows in self pity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">His wallowing can last for days, even weeks sometimes, so I try to avoid pushing him there.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">Mentally and emotionally, Mace has really struggled since losing the use of his legs. I am still not sure that he has even come close, or ever will, fully come to terms with being paralysed. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">Some of the changes that being paralysed has made to his life, he has adapted to quite easily, others he has really struggle with. Our sex life, and his inability to have a normal one, being one of the things that he has struggled with the most. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">That is normally and probably what is troubling him right now. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">It
always frustrates me, knowing that he no longer gains any pleasure out of our improvised sex life. It makes me feel very guilty, because I know in reality what we are doing, is only done for my benefit, and a lot of the time mentally it gets to him. He does not feel anything below the waist and he is struggling to accept the things that he has lost and can not do any more. When his head does go, I never know what to say to make him feel better about his situation or himself. For me it is just as hard at times, having to watch him suffering, especially being a doctor, knowing that there is nothing that I can ever do to make this situation any better for him!! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">As well as the frustration and the guilt, it also makes me angry. Very angry with Gravel for ruining his life and paralysing him, leaving him with all this mental torment, that he has to live with for the rest of his life!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I decide to try and distract his mind away from whatever is troubling him, while I do a
necessary bit of fishing. While he thinks us getting married is years
away, it is only weeks away, and there are things I need to find out
from him, which I need to try and do without giving the surprise away.</span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "I guess we are going to be doing a lot of fighting over who's surname we will be taking, when we get married." I mumble quietly.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Did you and Forrest fight over it?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah, for months ... strangely it was one of the very few arguments that I did win." I laugh quietly "So, I wander how long we will be having the Rock or Brownie debate for."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No debate necessary!! I will change my name to Rock, quite happily!!" he mumbles </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Really?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I just want rid of the name Brownie, so I can forget about my past! </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I
wanted to change my name when I was a child, but Dad would never let me,
he said it was safer for everyone if I didn't connect myself to him by
name</span>." he laughs quietly "Besides Clay and Slate are Rock, it makes sense we all have the same surname."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> "Jasmine isn't a Rock." I frown at him</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> "Yeah, that is something I have been meaning to talk to you about. W</span>e need to get Jasmine's name change to Rock legally, before I am locked up, or at least get the ball rolling." he mumbles "You deal with all the legal stuff, so can you get it sorted out for me ... I'll sign whatever."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Are you sure?" I frown at him "What about if she doesn't want to change her name!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "She is fine with it!! I have already spoken to Jasmine about it, it is actually what she wants." he smiles at me "I will feel a lot more comfortable Jasmine not carrying the name Brownie around with her, it just makes her an easier target, for anyone who wants revenge on me!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Okay, I'll go to the solicitors tomorrow and sort it out." I smile at him</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">As I am hovering over him, he sees me watching a single tear roll down his face, so I can no longer pretend I have not noticed how upset he is getting.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> </span>"Your head is going again isn't it!" he nods miserable as I wipe the tear off his face.<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah ... I'm just ... ignore me, it is just the normal." he mumbles quietly </span><br />
"It is our sex life again isn't it?"<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah ... I ... why would you even want to saddle yourself and marry me, when I am like this?" he chokes "I am totally useless!!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I am here and marrying you, because I love ALL of you, even the broken half!! I have told you a thousand times, you being paralysed and what we can no longer do because of it, is never going to change the way I feel about you or make me leave ... and you
are not useless!!" I smile at him </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You say that now, but I am scared you will get fed up and leave me for someone who can give you what you need!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously Mace, that is never happening!! You are all I need!!" I frown at him "I think you really need to start listening to your councillor. Sex, you lay way too much importance on it, and are dwelling on it far too much!! We need to take a break from it!!" he goes to speak, but I put my hand over his mouth and don't let him "Okay I know I started it this time, but nine times out of ten it is always you!! You are constantly pushing for it, for all the wrong reasons, and every time we have done anything lately, it has messed your head up!!" I frown at him "It needs to stop, for your sake, until you have properly dealt with what has started to screw you up again!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How can we stop ... you need ..."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Stop right there!! I DO NOT need, because unlike you, I can live without sex, it is not the most important thing in my world!!" I laugh at him</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "The only thing I need is you to be happy and to accept our lot for what it is!!" I frown at him "I know in that head of yours, you think you have to be doing it to keep me and make me happy, but you don't!! Every time we do anything, it is only reminding you of what we can not do any more ... and while I can happily accept what we have now, you obviously still can not accept it!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "That is easy for you to say ... you are not the one who can not feel anything any more!!" he snaps</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I'm sorry!! I know I could never even begin to understand how you must be feeling or what you are going through mentally ... but what you need to realise is you are screwing yourself up unnecessary worrying over both me and our sex life! You are spending way too much time worrying about what I am thinking and feeling, rather than concentrating on dealing with your own thoughts and feelings!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I can't help it ... I am scared I will lose you because of it eventually!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I promise you won't!! Seriously, you need to deal with your own demons, forget about worrying about me, I am happy with our life right now ... I love you and I am not going anywhere!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How can you be happy with it?" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It is much better than the alternatives!! </span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;">Gravel
has had a pop at ruining our lives and fading us both and failed, we are
still here and together, rather than apart, one or both of us being six foot
under. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I can live without sex, but I can not live without you!! </span>You need to remember that and make the most of what we have, instead of dwelling on all the shit and letting it drag you down!!" I smile at him
"You also need to focus on what we have gained and reclaimed, not what we have lost!!
We have a life and future ahead of us, and three kids who need us, we
can still be happy without a normal sex life!!" I laugh quietly "Besides
I think you know, me being with you, even being paralysed, is way
better than it ever was being with Forrest, in the bedroom
department!!" I smirk at him which makes him laugh "I have always had a
dysfunctional sex life, I can live with what we have now, so please
stop worrying!!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I start to kiss him hoping that is an end to the conversation for now, and he will at least think about what I have said. I laugh in my head when his hands start to wander ... he just can' t help himself!!! </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">Our
kissing is abruptly interrupted when one of our phones starts ringing. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I
sit up, knowing whichever of our two phones is ringing, I am going to have
to be the one who gets up to answer it. It does not take me long to work out it is my phone, because the ringing is coming from the clothes that are on the floor by my side of the bed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I jump off the bed and riffle through my clothes to find my phone. I stare at the name flashing on my screen and see it is Tapestry.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Tapestry. So what can I do for our favourite orange Rock Star?!" I mumble as I answer the phone more for Mace's benefit, so that he knows who I am talking to.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You don't have this call on loud speaker do you?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No why?" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I do not want Mace hearing some of what I have to say." he laughs down the phone </span><span style="color: black;"> "Sooooo ... I hear congratulations are in order." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "What?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You have popped the question and Mace is now wearing his expensive shiny new ring ... so when is the big day? I hope I am getting an invite!!" he starts laughing "If you need a hand springing your surprise wedding on Mace, give me a shout, you know I am good at acting think and keeping secrets." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How the HELL did you find any of that out??!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How do you think! Sunny has just told me ... he was there watching you both." he starts howling "You writing Marry Me on his drawing board was pretty cute, and he said he is glad you both like the honey that he left you!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously!!" I am so shocked by him knowing any of that, I don't know whether to laugh or cry "What else did he tell you?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Quite a bit ... I hope I gave you enough time and didn't disturb your ... fun!"</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously ... you need to tell Sunny to keep the hell out of our damn bedroom!!" I snap, while Tapestry starts howling down the phone. "This seriously is not at all funny ... how do we ever get any privacy with him lurking about!! I am going to be too scared to do anything from now on just in case he is here and watching!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Don't stress!! They do not hang around and watch if that is what is worrying you! While Sunny might enjoy watching your cute butt in action, the last thing he wants to see is his best mate Mace performing!!" he starts howling again before he breaks into singing <i>"Granite and Sunny sitting in a tree ... </i>just think, he could touch you up and you would never know!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Sod off Tap, you twat!!!" I laugh at him "Sunny fancying me is one thing I will never believe, and you best had tell him to keep his transparent hands off me!!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "So you do believe my spirit friends are here then?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah ... I think I have to now!!" I watch Mace who is staring at me suspiciously "We have not even left this room yet to tell anyone ... so how else would you know already? I have no choice but to believe you!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Good, because Sunny has a few things he needs to talk to you about, so I will need to be your go between so that you two can communicate with each other."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "What things?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I can't really say right now, it might shock you if I told you. Sunny says he has been following you today, he was at the hospital with you before Forrest woke up, and has been with you ever since. Besides what he originally wanted to discuss with you, he says he has seen and heard a few things today, that he needs to talk to you about." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">My blood suddenly runs cold ... if he has been following me all day, he must have seen me in the bathroom earlier ... he knows about the guns!!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Did Sunny tell you what he has seen or heard today?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No, not yet, I guess I will find out when I am acting as your go between."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why me? Why does he keep following me?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It is not just you he follows, he does the rounds, he spends a lot of time at yours because of Saffy, but like I have told you before, you have yourself a guardian angel because he is looking out for Mace." he chuckles </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "This is just madness, I feel like I am going off my rocker!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Think about how I feel, I can see and hear them!! I have had them bugging me since I was a child, while everyone has been telling me I am insane! Most still do!" he chuckles to himself "Anyway, we need to get together on the quiet, or Sunny is just going to keep doing my head in."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I can not do it today, I have work later, it will have to keep until tonight or tomorrow." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I will be seeing you in a few hours anyway, after Forrest's test results have come back, so I'll talk to you about it then." he mumbles "Have you told Mace about the ghost thing?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "We have discussed it, but he doesn't believe me."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Well we need you to try and convince him, because Sunny wants to communicate with the both of you ... he says it is important." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">I snap my phone shut, knowing, by the expression on his face, that Mace is going to start.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "What the HELL was that conversation about?" he frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Tapestry .. he knows already that we are now engaged and exactly how I proposed." I laugh as a point towards his drawing table.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Don't be so stupid!!" he laughs at me "How could he know!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Straight up ... Sunny's spirit was here watching us, he told Tap.."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Seriously, don't even start with the ghost shit again!!" he laughs at me "You know I am REALLY starting to worry about yours and Tapestry's sanity lately, especially yours!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Trust me ... there is nothing wrong with my sanity!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You believe ghosts are real, you have just had a wacky conversation on the phone with Tap about Sunny ... and you say there is nothing wrong with your sanity!" he really starts laughing</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I did not believe it at first either, but Tapestry has convinced me. He has proved to me that spirits are real. They are here and watching us all the time!!! Sunny is here and watching both of us a lot." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No, I am sorry!! You are off your head and you are never going to convince me that ghosts are real. Especially that Sunny is here!!" Mace is really laughing at me. "I think I need to have a word with Mango or Forrest ... I need to get you sectioned ... you are barking!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Fine!!" I hold my hands up "I dare you to try!! They will only laugh at you for trying, because Mango and Leafy also believe!!" I smirk at him </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It must be this town ... it drives everyone insane eventually!" he starts to laugh</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Okay, don't believe me, I will just have to get Tapestry to prove it to you too!" I smile at him "Sunny wants to speak to us about something important apparently, so I guess you will get to believe it then."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">He starts to have a fit of hysterics and while I sit watching him, I can not help but think, Tapestry phoning was a good thing ... at least it has distracted his mind away from what was troubling him a short time ago.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span>
<span style="color: black;"> "Talking about the faded ... today would have been my Mom's birthday." Mace mumbles when he finally stops laughing</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Baby, I am sorry, you should have said!!" I frown at him. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"It is not like I could do anything about it." he mumbles quietly "All
the rigmarole just to get me into Apple to clear out my house, then
they would not give me clearance to go into Apple again to bury Tami
there. So they are hardly likely to give me clearance just to go into
Apple to put flowers on my Mother's grave are they! Not that I have
actually done that many times in my life!!" he laughs quietly</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"If you had said, I could have done it for you." I mumble "I know it is
not the same, but it is the thought that counts."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Like she ever gave me much thought!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Do you miss her?" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yes and no ... she was my Mom. Not that she was much of one most of the time!! As parents go, I was definitely dealt two very shit ones!!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, you were very dragged up, neglected and abused!" I smile at him sympathetically "Your Mother was one woman
who used to constantly scare the hell out of me ..."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Me too, her beatings were worse than Fudge's." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I remember all the straight guys used to fall over themselves where she was concerned!! She turned heads and even I had to admit that she was beautiful to look at, but she was as hard as nails at the same time. She is the only woman I have ever known that could drink all of us blokes under the table any day of the week." I laugh quietly</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"That is because, she was like you, an alcoholic ... Oh Man, I have seen you in some states in the past!" he starts to really laugh "I saw exactly how hammered you used to get yourself!! I
remember Forrest too, he has always been a total ass, and I have really
struggled over the past five years to understand how he could have been
your Mr Perfect!!" </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I frown at him in a weird way, wandering how he could possibly remember Forrest.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Do you seriously remember me, from when you was a kid?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, of course I do, how can I not remember you!" he laughs at me
"I'm actually pretty amazed that you never recognised me or worked out
who I was! Just look at me, I see my old man's face quite clearly every
time I look in the mirror!" he laughs "Then again, I guess we have
the booze and drugs to thank for you not knowing me, you was constantly
off your head. I bet you don't even remember me from in amongst your
drunken haze do you?!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Actually I do remember that snotty nosed little kid who used to call
me Granti. you used to come on jobs with us, crawl through holes we couldn't get through, and steal our booze!" I smirk at him "I really don't understand myself why I never realised who
you are. I do see your old man's face when I look at you now, and I
don't know why I couldn't see it until it was pointed out to me!!
However, I will admit that I did forget you existed over the years, I
tried to wipe my criminal past away and I did totally forget all about
Fudge's two kids!" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Granti?" he frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, that is what you used to call me, you could never say Granite,
until you got older" I laugh at him "So how do you remember me, and
why would you even remember Forrest? He never came into Apple with
me." I frown at him in confusion.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Believe it or not, there has hardly been a year in my life when you
haven't been a part of it somehow. You was there from virtually my first memories, until you got locked
up and I have seen your face virtually every day since I
was eleven years old, it was very hard to forget you." he grins at me
"Dad has photographs of you everywhere. I have lost count of the times I
used to watch him sat crying over those photographs of you, just like he does
now over Tami's." he pulls a face at me "Tami had a few of you too,
on the wall in our house in Apple, which you might know used to really
nark Gravel, as there were none of him!!" this makes me laugh "Before that I
remember you very clearly, because you was the only one who was ever
nice to me. You used to talk to me, play with me and bring me things,
toys, colouring books and sweets. It is probably your fault I started
drawing, because they never bought us stuff like paper and pencils, you did." he
starts laughing "I actually still have something, in the attic at
Dads, that you gave me, the only teddy bear that I had when I was a
child ..." I snigger at him in amusement "... you actually gave me my
best and worst days when I was a kid."</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Really?! How did I?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"The worst day ... it is your fault I am terrified of clowns!!" I
stare at him blankly for a moment then I remember, which makes me laugh</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Oh fudge ... I remember, your old man thought it would be a good idea
at one of your birthday parties to have everyone dress up as clowns
..." I continue laughing "He had me jumping out of that large box when
you tried to open it." I start howling "You screamed the place down,
pissed yourself and ran off like a big girls blouse crying to Mommy."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"It terrified me, a great big clown jumping out at me. I thought they
had actually brought me a decent present for a change, instead I'm
scared half to death as a joke!! Mom dragged me inside and paled me for
wetting myself and sent me to bed!! Happy Birthday Mace!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">We lie there laughing at each for a while.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "At least you got birthday parties!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, it was just another excuse for them to have a piss up,
especially Mom, and the guests brought birthday presents, which saved them the job!" I
start laughing at him. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I'm surprised you don't hate me if I'm responsible for your clown phobia."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Naaah, it's not like you was being intentionally nasty. It
did traumatise me at the time, and since then I have been terrified of
clowns, but I can now see the funny side of the joke myself."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "And the best days?" I mumble</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"It was actually more than a day, I think ... it felt like
being in heaven!! I remember I didn't want to go home back to them." I
frown at him "I'm not even sure how old I was, I think you might have
been looking after me." he smiles at me "You bought me to Sugar
Valley, I remember because it was the first time I saw a mixed berry.
This is how I remember Forrest, and the first time I saw him. He was
mean and nasty, he kept calling me a brat. You took me to a green and
brown house, and he was there ... thinking about it now, it was this
house probably!" he laughs quietly "He went ballistic at you for
taking me there. You sat me in front of the television with a big tub
of chocolate ice cream while you went into another room with him and had
a yelling match ... I even remember hearing things smashing. He didn't
want me there and after a huge argument, he kicked us out and told you
not to come back until you had got rid of me." he starts to chuckle.
"You took me to another house, and there was a really nice lady there,
she was orange, I always think about her when I see that colour." he
smiles at me "I remember sleeping there, in a big fluffy bed." he
starts to laugh</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Really, you remember that!! I am very surprised you
would because I think you must have been only five years old at the most.
The orange lady was Amber, Gravel's wife." I smile at him "Forrest
would not entertain me baby sitting you for even a few hours, not only
because you was Fudge Brownies child, but because you was a child full
stop!!" he smiles at me "You are right, he did kick me out, so I took
you round to Gravel's and we stayed there until you could go home."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why was you even looking after me?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Your Mom was taken very ill, she collapsed and she was rushed into
hospital. I was there when it happened, so Fudge asked me to look after
you while he went to the hospital with her. It was actually a week
that I ended up looking after you for, while the situation sorted itself
out. Tarragon stayed with one of your Uncles."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "What happened to Mom?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Pregnancy gone wrong, she had an ectopic pregnancy. Obviously she
lost the baby and nearly faded herself in the process. It was actually
touch and go with her for a few days, they weren't sure if she was going
to survive at one point." he raises his eyebrows at me "The reason
why there is only the two of you, she could not have any more children
after that, and it was the only time I ever saw Fudge Brownie fall to
pieces or show the slightest bit of emotion, like he had a heart!!" I
frown at him then "Why did you say it felt like heaven?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I think you know I was dragged up and not taken very good
care of by my parents. Those few days when I was with you and Amber, it
left a very big impression on me, it is still in my head very vividly,
even now. It was like being in a different world, a much better world
than I normally lived in ... although I don't remember Gravel being in
it, only you and Amber." I frown at him for a second while I try to
remember "I was washed and kept clean, I was dressed in clean clothes
that smelled nice, I was fed decent food and fussed over. I was put to
bed properly in that big fluffy bed, you or Amger read to me until I went to
sleep, and nobody hit me or shouted at me for wetting the bed." he rolls his
eyes "I remember Amber, she kept singing, hugging and kissing me ... I was not
used to any of that."</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Gravel was around, I guess he was at work a lot and didn't
have much to do with you. Amber, she was baby mad, she thought you was
so cute and wouldn't leave you alone. She would have kept you if she
could have done, she did fuss over you proper!" I laugh "We both
enjoyed having you there, we were both very much like minded in the
children department - something we both wanted and were without for
different reasons."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I wanted to stay there, I loved being there, especially that I wasn't
ignored, shouted at and beat up all the time. I felt loved and wanted
all the time, especially by Amber, which I never felt at home. I
remember you taking me to the zoo, swimming and to this fun place ... we
played in lots of balls and ate lots of ice cream." he starts laughing</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"You are remembering the ball pit at the indoor adventure playground
over in Sugar Falls ... I used to love that place when I was a kid, and
you was my excuse to go there again. I actually took you there most
days during that week." he smiles at me as I really start to laugh "Oh
fudge ... this is just all too funny!! Whoever would have thought that
I would end up marrying that snotty little kid one day!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, it is a little funny!" he laughs quietly "Although, Lettuce
kind of predicted it, even if he only meant it as a joke, and he faded
because of it ... he faded because of us." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"How did he?" I frown at him "I heard Fudge faded him but, I don't
remember when, how or why. Mob members went permanently missing all the
time, it was always better for me just not to ask how or why."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"No you probably wouldn't remember, as usual you was totally
hammered!!" he laughs at me "It was a few years before you all got
locked up, I was probably about nine at the time and I remember it so
vividly because him fading Lettuce is the reason I have such a problem
with blood, and why I have always desperately tried to hide the fact I am
gay. Fudge made me stand there and watch him slit his throat, he forced
me to watch him bleed out, then after Lettuce had faded, the berry hole
made me clean up the blood!! He threatened me too, he warned me that
if I did turn out gay, that is how I would meet my end."</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"That's a bit ruff!!" I mumble "I don't understand ... why did
he fade him and what did it have to do with me and you?" </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"In the middle of one of your crazy group drinking sessions, Dad told
me to get more booze ... I handed you a can, like I did to everyone else,
and as usual you was the only one who said thank you, and you smiled at
me. Lettuce was watching you and said, <i>"Fudge, you want to watch those two with them both being gay, Granite will be shagging your boy in a few years!!"</i> My Dad did not take it too well."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"No, he wouldn't have!! Fudge was very homophobic, and we could
all see you was a little gay boy in the making, Fudge could see it too,
he just didn't want to admit it to himself or anyone else. Lettuce was
an idiot for saying it out loud and making a joke of it." I frown at
him "I actually vaguely remember him saying that now you remind me.
How do you know that is the reason why he faded him, what did he do,
leave it a while then get him."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"No! You was actually there when he did it, but you was out of it,
unconscious on the sofa." he laughs at me as I frown at him "When Dad
started laying into him, as usual, you jumped in trying to stop the
fight, the rest jumped on you and dragged you away. I don't know if
they knocked you out or if you passed out because of how drunk you were.
They dumped you on the sofa, and all I could see, you was out of it. Fudge
faded Lettuce right there and then." he chokes "At first he told him
he was going to cut his tongue out for even suggesting I might be gay,
but Lettuce must have been feeling brave, because he gave him a mouthful, saying that he had only said what
everyone was thinking ... they could all see it. Lettuce accused Fudge
of being a coward for not admitting that he could also see it ... so
Fudge just slit his throat ... end of conversation!!!" he rolls his
eyes "By the time you woke up, the body had been moved, the blood had
been cleaned up and they were all sat there drinking again ... too
scared to mention the subject again."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"He was a berry hole your old man!! I never quite understood
why he put up with me being gay. His brother's didn't give a shit, and I
was more mates with them, but Fudge - he was on a level with Sunny's
homophobic act."</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"It was Gravel obviously!! Why do you think you was the only
one who could ever give Fudge a mouthful and get away with it. How many
times did you go for him, nobody else would have lived to tell the tale
once, you was constantly going for him, I've seen you two battering each other many
times. If anyone else had done that other than Gravel, they would have
been six foot under a few hours later because of a knife in their
back. Your morals too use to drive him insane, your <i>"I'm not fading anyone for you or your shit reasons, go find some other mug to do your dirty work!"</i>
line, used to totally crack me up!! Especially as he had to walk away
without touching you for saying no to him, nobody else would have got
away with that!!" Mace laughs and I have to laugh at him for even
remembering I used to say that "The hidden one made it very clear, you
was not to be touched by anyone for any reason, especially Fudge - and
if any of them did, they would all pay, and not just them, their
families too."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah I realise now, that was the reason, but back then I didn't know that Gravel was the hidden one."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I used to ear wig on Gravel and Fudge's conversations all the time.
That is how I found out you and Gravel were related, It took me a while
to work out you were brothers. You know Gravel used to decide which
jobs you went on - if Gravel was going on the job, they would spike your
drink, to knock you out, so they could leave you behind. You used to
wake up thinking you had just got yourself totally hammered, but you
hadn't, you'd been spiked."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;">I just lie there staring at him for a moment.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: black;"> "Did Gravel do a lot of jobs with them?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Not too many, but he did most of the big risky jobs, his police
connection, saved the mobs skin many a time, especially from getting
caught by the law, because Gravel was one step a head of them, listening
in on his radio thing."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Mace .... your memory seems pretty good, and if you can remember all
that stuff with Amber from when you was four or five ... I wander if you
can remember something that happened when you was about six?" I frown
at him "Your Dad took you on a job ... I was hammered so I didn't go."
I laugh sarcastically thinking now,, that was probably one of those
times I was spiked. "The job went wrong, they were nearly caught by the
law and they hacked down a dozen police officers, and we lost three of
the mob." he frowns at me "When they got back, your Dad started really
paling you, worse than I have ever seen him do it before, he blamed you
for it all going wrong. I tried to stop him hitting you, so he paled me
for interfering, and I ended up taking you home with me. Forrest
kicked off that time too, but we ended up taking you to the hospital so
he could stitch you up and put your arm in plaster. I'm hoping you
might remember because Fudge broke your left arm." he lies there
thoughtfully frowning for a moment. "He full force punched you in the face, you lost a few teeth, which you adamantly held onto for the tooth fairy!" I start to laugh remembering</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Oohh I remember ... I got more chocolate ice cream while you and
Forrest had another argument ... I slept in another fluffy bed and
before I went to sleep we
watched cartoons and you drew a big smiley face on my plaster. The tooth fairy came too!!" he
grins at me which makes me laugh. "That was when you gave me the teddy bear, Forrest kicked off over that too!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why do you keep saying fluffy bed?" I laugh at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Thick comfortable mattress, pillows and quilts, on a proper bed." he
laughs "It felt like I was on a big fluffy cloud or giant marshmallow
compared to what I was used to ... a thin, hard, lumpy, damp mattress on
the floor, no pillow and just a quilt cover without a quilt. They told
me I couldn't have a proper bed until I stopped wetting myself at
night." I just chuckle at him as he rolls his eyes.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, that is the time and I did play tooth fairy, and draw a smiley face on your plaster, I
forgot about that." we laugh at each other "You kept crying on the way to the hospital, probably because of the pain. You actually threw up all over me in the back of the car. Forrest drove by the supermarket first, so we could get you some new clothes. I had to get you out of your dirty clothes, that were soaked from you wetting yourself and they were covered in puke and blood. That is when I bought you the teddy, I thought it might help calm you down." I
smile at him "Do you remember the job that he took you on? What did
you do ... why did he blame you for it all going wrong?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Oh fudge!" he starts to laugh suddenly "We was in a really dark, cold, empty horrible place
... "</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "The old deserted warehouse, over in no mans land." I mumble</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I don't know, it could have been. I saw a rat, and a spider ... a BIG spider ran up my leg ..."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Let me guess, you peed yourself and screamed the place down!!" I start to laugh at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah we was hiding and Fudge was furious with me, because I advertised the fact that we was there." he stares at me thoughtfully for a moment </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Was Gravel there?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I don't know, I can't remember. "Why?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I ... that night, after your Dad finished paling me, the reason I took
you home with me, he was that angry with you, he threw you at me and
told me to dump you in Apple Lake along with the evidence .... a bagful
of guns used during the job." I pull a face "I think I might be in
trouble, something from my criminal past could very well still catch up
with me ... I still have the evidence from that job."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "WHAT?!" he frowns "You still have the guns?"</span><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, I have checked, Forrest has never found them over the past
twenty years." his eyes widen "I have three hiding places in this
house ... under floor boards, where I used to hide things, especially
drugs, booze and weapons. Forrest has no idea they are there."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Do you have hiding places at home?" he frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No!!" I laugh at him "I don't need them do I!! I have nothing to hide, not like when I lived here and in a criminal life."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "So where are they .... the guns?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "In the bathroom upstairs ... underneath the floorboards under the bath."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It is madness that they are still there after all this time?" he frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah I know. The bathroom one was the most secure and
hardest to find, he wouldn't have found it without ripping out the bath,
which he obviously hasn't. I think if Leafy had found the ten guns he
would have gone ballistic and said something to me by now."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "<b>TEN</b> .. guns!!" he almost chokes</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah ten!" I mumble "The police
raided this house when I was arrested and they obviously didn't find any
of my hiding places, or I would have been charged with a lot more.
I have been in two of my hiding places, the one in Atlas and Saff's room, I know Forrest never found it, because there was a big bag of coke and a bottle of vodka still in there,
that I left in there over twenty years ago ..."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "WHAT?!" he snaps "You have coke and booze upstairs??!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Don't panic!! They have gone!! They have been disposed of and I did not touch either of them before you even ask!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You had better be telling me the truth!!" he snaps</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "I am I promise ... they have gone and I never touched them!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "You said you have three hiding places ... so where is the other one." I sit laughing for a moment before I point across the room.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Under that wardrobe." I laugh</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Tell me there is nothing nasty under there."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Maybe, maybe not ... I honestly can't remember if I have
anything hidden in there ... that was my least favourite hiding place.
If I did leave anything in there it will probably be a bottle of vodka
at the most." I stare at him "I gave up using the one in this room for
anything important after Gravel switched my stash of coke for bicarb
... shit that hurt when it went up my nose."</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Gravel knew about that hidey hole?" he frowns at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, he caught me going into it once, I didn't even realise he had
until I suffered from him switched my stash. He had sneaked into the
house like the slimy berry hole that he is, and I hadn't seen him do
it."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Does Gravel know about your other two hiding places?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"No, I don't think ... only this one." I laugh "I have honestly let
those three hiding places slip my mind over the years, especially what I
still have hidden in the bathroom. Leafy is planning to sell this
house after the trial, before they move to Berry Shores ... I need to get
rid of everything, before it is found by anyone."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yes you do ... you are an IDIOT!!!" he snaps "The last thing
we need is you getting banged up too ... who's going to look after Clay
and Jasmine, and what is it going to do to Slate!!" he really frowns at
me "Why in hells name would you even keep the guns from that job
anyway!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I was being stupid at the time. Nine came back off the job ... ten
guns went into the bag. The extra gun that Fudge dropped into the bag, I
probably wouldn't have taken any notice of, but it looked exactly like a
gun Dad used to have ... it had a marble patterned grip. I kept the
bag because of that gun, it spooked me."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "It couldn't have been your Dad's old gun." he laughs at me</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah I thought that, but still ...." I roll my eyes "However,
I am beginning to think now it actually could be Dad's gun. I asked
him about it - it was a one off, made for him specially by his Dad, and
he gave that gun to Gravel when he first turned up on his door step.
You said they spiked me when Gravel did jobs with them ... I was
probably spiked for that job, because I was hammered and didn't go with
them ... I think Gravel used that gun and gave it to Fudge to dispose of
it with all the rest.."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Oh Berry!!" he frowns at me "Did you say a dozen police officers were slaughtered?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah ..." I mumble "I never wiped the prints off the guns either."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"The finger prints probably wouldn't be there still after all this
long, I don't think ... but ballistics will still be able to match
bullets to guns." he frowns at me "Gran, at the least you could get done for being
an accessory and witholding the evidence - IF they believe your story!!
Police Officers were faded - you are done for if you are caught with
them, they will probably throw the book at you!! You might even end up taking
the rap for it, everyone who took part in the job is either faded or
locked up now, so how are you going to prove you didn't even do the
job?"</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Yeah I know." my eyebrows raise a little "You went on that job remember ..."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I was six year old ... do you really think they will believe a twenty
five year old memory from the man who is in love with you?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "No I guess not!!" I laugh at him</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black4;">We
both lie there for a while quietly thinking, I can see the worry now
written all across Mace's face. The more I think about this situation,
the sicker I am beginning to feel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Gravel knows about that hiding place." Mace points towards
the wardrobe "You do realise don't you, that is exactly where the
police found most of the evidence they have to back up some of the cases
... under the floorboards in Gravels house!" he laughs "Obviously he
copied your sneaky trick!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "How do you know that they found stuff hidden under Gravel's floorboards?" I frown at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Dad told me ... he asked me if I knew that is what he was
doing." I frown at him "He asked me because he thought I might know if
there is anywhere else that he could have been hiding stuff."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why do they think there is more?"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"Yeah, there is still a lot of evidence missing, it is more than likely that Gravel destroyed the evidence, but there is always a change that they could find something. Plus Dad is
very miffed over something, and I don't think he will rest until he
finds it, not that I think he ever will!! Tami's jewellery, it wasn't
on her body when they found her ... wedding, engagement and two other
rings, a gold bracelet, two necklaces and a locket. Even her nose stud, tongue and belly bars
and earrings were missing." he closes his eyes for a moment "The
locket that she wore in particular, it is an antique, it was your Dad's
Grandmothers. It has been past down quite a few generations apparently, he wanted it to go to Jasmine eventually. Monetary value it is worth quite a bit, but sentimentally it is worth a
hell of a lot more to your Dad. He hoped her jewellery would turn up in amongst
Gravel's possessions but it didn't!" he laughs "Ironically the
pictures inside the locket were of you and Slate."</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Why me and Slate?" I frown at him</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "The two people missing out of her life ... so she carried you around with her close to her heart. </span><span style="color: black;">She was a romantic and very sappy sometimes!!</span><span style="color: black;">"
he starts to really laughs " She was always very fascinated with the
idea of both of you, especially you. Slate for obvious reasons she
couldn't have anything to do with, to keep Dad's identity a secret ...
it hurt her that she couldn't have either of you in her life."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I just lie quietly looking at Mace who smiles at me </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">
"I think you best had check that hidey hole of yours ... what about if
the berry hole has been using that since you left. He could have left you with a whole lot more shit to sort out!!"</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> "Oh Hell!! I never even thought about that!"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">I jump off the bed and stand staring at the wardrobe.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">He wouldn't, would he?!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<a href="http://boolprop.net/viewforum.php?f=227" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Boolprop Sim Nano</span></a><br />
<span style="color: black;">Update # 2 </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Word count = 5,119 + 8,107 = 13,226</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-74470071931423133432017-09-01T01:11:00.001-07:002017-09-04T07:31:06.983-07:00Chapter 60 b - Gen 2 - Granite<br />
After pulling myself together, the best that I can, I leave the bathroom and run downstairs.<br />
<br />
I walk into our bedroom, trying to put to the back of my mind what is now troubling me to the point that it is already starting to give me a headache. The bag of guns hidden in the bathroom, that could have me going in exactly the same direction as Mace ... prison!!<br />
<br />
Even though my head is still in turmoil, I can not help but laugh at Mace again, who is still sat in exactly
the same place scribbling away. Like he has been a lot lately, he is away in his own little world, he
does not even acknowledge me walking into the room, or see me putting
the jar of honey down on the bedside table.<br />
<br />
I go over to the
cot and look in at Clay who is peacefully sleeping. I have to loosen the
blanket a little, because Mace has wrapped him up way too tight, I am
surprised the little boy is not roasting.<br />
<br />
I can not help but think as I stare down at Clay, about how both me and Mace being in prison would affect Jasmine and Clay, even Slate. All three of them have been left with enough shit to deal with in their lives because of Gravel ... I think I already know, I have to do whatever I can to protect myself, so that I can be here for them, for their sakes!!<br />
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<br />
I stroll over to Mace and stand watching him scribbling for a moment, he does not once take his eyes off the drawing paper, to acknowledge that I am standing right behind him. This sudden change in his behaviour is really starting to bother me.<br />
<br />
I get distracted when I spot a bruise breaking out on his back, which I know is new, because it was definitely not there last night when I was rubbing moisturising into his skin. He winces when I gently run my fingers over the red area of his skin.<br />
<br />
"Mace, where has that new bruise come from on your back?"<br />
"I fell off the shower seat again!" he laughs quietly<br />
"Seriously, haven't I already told you, not to keep trying to take showers unless I am here to help you!!" I tut at him "You have not done any damage to your legs have you?"<br />
"No, and don't even start fussing, they are fine! Slate checked me over before he went out." he mumbles "But you can check on Clay for me." <br />
"I just did ... he is spark out, snoring his little head off."<br />
"No I meant, he needs to be checked by a doctor, because I think he is getting worse."<br />
"Seriously, you are neurotic!!" I laugh at him "He has only got a bit of a snuffle, a cold which he caught off Cotton because she
was messing with him after she had wiped her snotty nose with her hand."<br />
"I think his temperature is getting worse." he grumbles "When I changed his nappy earlier he felt way too hot to me."<br />
"Mace, I just checked his head and he is perfectly fine and no more hotter than he should be! But if you
didn't keep wrapping him up so tight he would not keep getting over warm sometimes."<br />
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<br />
I put my arms around him as I peer over his shoulder. <br />
<br />
"So, what are you drawing?"<br />
"Oh, I am just scribbling out a few ideas that Tapestry has had for a new album cover." he glances at me and smiles for a moment<br />
"I though you had just done a cover for him?"<br />
"That was a single ... this is for an album." he smiles as
he carries on doodling "Rocky wants me to do one for him too, and they have
both said that they think with Dad's help, they can pull enough strings so that I can carry on doing all the artwork that they need, even
when I am in prison."<br />
"That is nice of them, at least it will give you something to do. I know exactly how boring prison can be, just staring at the same four walls."<br />
"Mmmmm" he mumbles "Which reminds me, you are going to have to keep sending in the things that I need, paper, pencils, paint etc."<br />
"We will sort that out when the time comes, if they do actually manage to pull those strings!" I mumble<br />
"I hope they do or I might just go insane otherwise!" he mumbles as he carries on drawing.<br />
"Mace, put your damn pencil down for a minute and pay me some attention for a change." he gives me a side ward glance and frowns at me "I am sick of you ignoring me!"<br />
"I'm so not ignoring you!!"<br />
"You so are!"<br />
<br />
I
laugh at the expression on his face as I snatch the pencil out of his
hand and move the piece of paper that he is drawing on, off the table.<br />
<br />
"What are you doing?" Mace mumbles in annoyance as he tries to stop me from taking the paper away. <br />
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<br />
I laugh to myself as I stare at the drawing table and the blank sheet of paper now facing me. It gives me an idea, I planned to propose to him sometime this morning, and this seems the most
fitting way to do it at the moment, as this is the only way I can get
his full attention.<br />
<br />
"Gran, don't mess, give it back, I need to get that finished."<br />
"Stop belly aching and close your eyes for a minute." I smirk
at him "Just humour me - I feel like drawing something."<br />
<br />
He tuts as he closes his eyes, but I don't trust him not to be looking, so I put my left hand over them so he doesn't see what I am up to.<br />
<br />
"Yeah I can just image what you are going to be drawing!" he sniggers<br />
"Yeah I bet you do, because you have got a dirty mind!" I laugh at him <br />
<br />
He is expecting me to draw something rude, so he is never going to expect what I am actually doing. I write in big letters on the paper<b> MARRY ME?</b>
and get the ring box out of my pocket and place it on the table. I am
surprised when I move my hand away from his face and step away from him, that he does actually continue to keep
his eyes closed.<br />
<br />
"Okay you can look now." I laugh<br />
<br />
When
he opens his eyes, I see the expression on his face change when he
spots my question and the ring box. He just sits there staring at them a
little wide eyed. Instead of the excitement that I expected, he suddenly looks troubled.<br />
<br />
"Seriously?!" he mumbles "I thought we weren't going to do this until after my prison stretch."<br />
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<br />
I sit down in his nearby wheelchair, a little taken aback by his lack of enthusiasm. He definitely did not react how I expected him to.<br />
<br />
"I thought you would be happy ... I thought us getting engaged and married is what you wanted."<br />
"I am and it is what I want ... it's just ... you have had nine months to ask me, why leave it until now, when I am weeks away from prison?" <br />
"I have not asked until now, not because I have not wanted to, it was only because
we were covering for Forrest and us getting engaged would have given the
game away. Now he has come clean and everything is out in the open ...
there is nothing stopping us."<br />
<br />
I frown at him as he still just sits there staring at me, he is not even attempting to look at the ring.<br />
<br />
"Mace I know what you are probably thinking ... and NO that
ring is not bugged or part of a police operation, it is the real thing this time, I can show you the receipt for it, if I have to."<br />
"Yeah it did cross my mind, I couldn't go through all that hurt and disappointment again!!" he mumbles<br />
"As IF I would ever do that to you again!" I laugh sarcastically "You know I didn't want to do it to you in the first place, they made me do it because it was the best way to have you bugged 24/7!!" I frown at him "I thought we had dealt with all the fake engagement shit."<br />
"We have ... it's just ... us getting engaged is not going to stop me from being scared ... you can still leave me and break my heart while I am inside." he mumbles quietly as he stares at the ring box <br />
"I know you still don't completely trust that I am not humouring you
until you get sent down, or that I will be there waiting for you when you get out ... but how many times do I have to tell you, <b>you are wrong</b>, before you actually believe me!!" he just stares
at me "I love you, and I have for the past five years, I was just too stupid to see it!! All I want to do is marry you, take you home and spend the rest of my life with you and our little family, so there is no need for you to be scared!! You are giving me everything I ever wanted, so why would I walk away from that!! The very last thing I want to do is leave you or break your heart , quite the opposite ... I am going nowhere and everything is going to be okay ... you are getting everything that you ever wanted!!"<br />
"What about if I am inside for years, like ten or fifteen years ..."<br />
"You will not be!!"<br />
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<br />
"I could be!! You know damn well Gravel could be and probably will be a berry hole!! If he does not tell the truth and back up what I am saying, and the jury don't believe me, they could throw the book at me ... I could be looking at fifteen, even twenty years, for murder and fraud!!" <br />
"Don't say that!!" I choke "You won't ... it is not happening!!"<br />
"Gran, we seriously need to talk about this properly, every time I try to bring it up, you shut me down!! I know you are in denial and trying to pretend that me getting a long stretch is not even going to be a possibility, but with my fate being in Gravel's hands, me getting a long stretch is the most likely thing to happen!! You know as well as I do, I have got more chance of walking again than we have of Gravel ever playing fair." he frowns at me "If I do get fifteen or even twenty years ... that is a hell of a long time ... time that you probably have not got!"<br />
"Mace ... please don't start that again!!"<br />
"I'm sorry Gran, but it needs to be said and we need to face the facts, if I do get a long stretch, we might not even get the chance of a future together because of your age and your health ... for Berry's sake you are a doctor so you know better than most, your life expectancy has been shortened and the transplant is only buying you time ... you can't carry on pretending that everything is going to be okay, when everything is stacked up against us ... you are fifteen years older than me and already living on borrowed time, you only have one kidney, your borrowed liver could fail at any time ..."<br />
"You stress too much, if that happens I will just get another transplant." I smirk at him which makes him laugh at me sarcastically<br />
"Okay say I get twenty years and your health problems haven't finished you off ... you will be sixty, nearly seventy, are you seriously going to waste the rest of your life waiting for me?"<br />
"Of course I am!!"<br />
"Really ... how can you be so sure?!"<br />
"Hell Mace - because I LOVE YOU!! Doesn't the last twenty years of my life show you that I can!! Twenty years I wasted waiting for him, and I didn't even love him .. I've adopted your daughter and our Nephew - doesn't that prove I am committed to you!! I have tied myself to you forever, whether you agree to marry me or not, and you are a part of my family, so I am always going to be here!! I need you and I love you and I can't bear the thought of us being apart for even a single day ... so do not think for one minute that I am going to sit here without you and LET you spend the next fifteen or twenty years in prison ... because it is just not happening!!"<br />
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"It is worrying me how delusional you are getting - you have convinced yourself I am walking away with only a few years at the most!!" he frowns at me "What if I do get twenty years ... what are you planning to do, break me out and we spend the rest of our lives on the run with our three kids and your Granddaughter?!." he starts laughing at me<br />
"No, don't be stupid!!" I laugh at him "The minute they lock you up, I will be appealing if you get five years or over, I will get you out if I have to spend every penny we have, but it won't come to that!! I was not going to tell you this, but ... you know I NEVER want to see that so called brother of mine ever again, but ... as soon as they transfer Gravel back to Sugar Valley prison, I am going into see him ..." <br />
"Oh No!!! I am not going to let you, and Dad will go tits up if he finds out you are planning to visit that berry hole, after everything he has done to us!!" <br />
"<b>I HAVE TO</b> ... I already know, I can not live without you, I will not cope or be able to fight my addiction if you get a long sentence, it will send me under, so I have to make sure it does not happen!! I am going to make Gravel tell the truth at the trial."<br />
"You are off your head!! You know damn well you will only be wasting your time trying to convince him to tell the truth ... that berry hole can not be budged for anything!!" He snaps at me "You know how much he hates you, you go grovelling to him you will just be playing right into his hands ... he will do the opposite of what you ask him to do just to spite you!!"<br />
"Oh I can budge him, and I will not need to even do any grovelling!!" I smirk at him "We have something that he would do almost anything for, something he would kill to see ..." he frowns at me "Clay!!" I smirk at him "I will have Gravel telling the truth, in exchange for seeing his son!!"<br />
"Seriously?!" he laughs "You would take Clay into see him?"<br />
"Yeah ... I'm going to tell him that I will take Clay in to see him after the trial, but only IF he does the decent thing, tells the truth so you get the sentence you deserve - a very short one. Any more than five years and he can go to hell!!" Mace starts to really laugh "I guarantee he is going to be breaking his neck to tell the truth and get you off, because otherwise he will never get to see his son!!" I smirk at him<br />
"While I love the idea of what you are trying to do for me, I'm not comfortable with you going into see him, and I REALLY don't like the idea of Clay having contact with Gravel ... what if he messes with the boys head while he is growing up!! I never really want Clay to have anything to do with Tarragon or Gravel ... I think it is the best thing for him."<br />
"Don't stress!! I don't want Clay having any contact with his evil twisted parents either!! If it gets Gravel telling the truth, I can tell him he can see his son, even that the visits will be regular if I have to, but I can play as dirty as he does ... it doesn't mean I am going to keep my word!!"<br />
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"So you are only telling him he will get to see Clay, when you don't have any intention of taking Clay into see him at all?" he frowns at me "Seriously, you go playing those sort of games with Gravel and you will have him gunning for us!!"<br />
"I am not stupid!!! .. Gravel will get to see Clay, but only once, while the boy is still too young to know or remember anything!!" I chuckle to myself "This is all Karma for me, he stole my boy illegally, now I am getting to take his boy legally and there is not a damn think he can do about it!!! It will destroy him just knowing that I have his boy as well as Slate ... I'm taking Clay into see him, just the once, so that I can watch his pain and suffering!!! After that I'm done with him, he can rot in hell with his own misery, because he has only brought it on himself!!"<br />
"Yeah, knowing Clay exists and that he can't be a part of the boys life because he will be locked up for the rest of his own, is really going to get to him and have him suffering!!"<br />
"Exactly ... it will destroy him and if he thinks by telling the truth about you in court means he will get to see his son regularly ... he is going to do it, trust me!!" I smile at him <br />
"Let's hope you are right and it does get Gravel finally telling the truth, but I am no looking forward to Dad finding out what you are up to." he smiles at me <br />
"He doesn't need to know." I smile at him<br />
"Yeah, good luck with that one!! You know Dad smells mischief from a mile off, besides he is bound to find out, I doubt you will get into see Gravel before the trial without a rigmarole or a police presence - so be prepared for some earache!!" he sniggers at me as he starts to stare at the ring box again.<br />
"So you can forget my age, my liver and prison, and stop worrying about it, because none of it is going to get in the way of us being together or us having a future, I promise!! I would marry you right now if I could and I don't even want to wait until after you have served your sentence. As soon as my divorce is through, I will be applying for a marriage licence, and the minute I get my hands on that, we will be getting married straight away, even if I have to come into prison to do it!!" I smirk at him <br />
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<br />
I am laughing in my head, because he does not realise that our marriage
licence is already in the middle of being processed, and this is all
going to hit him a hell of a lot quicker than he thinks!!<br />
<br />
He stares at me thoughtfully for a moment, then a big grin creeps across his face<br />
<br />
"So .... are you going to marry me?"<br />
"Only if you ask me properly!" he smirks at me "And don't think you are getting away with it this time
either ..."<br />
"The knee ..." I mumble<br />
"Yeah ... the knee!!" he giggles at me<br />
<br />
I twist his stool round so that he is facing me and grab the ring box off the table, laughing at him wanting me to get down on one knee again, like I haven't already done this once.<br />
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<br />
"You like the ring then I take it?" I laugh at him as he just sits there grinning at the ring on his finger. The look of shock when I opened the box had amused me.<br />
"Yeah I love it!! It took me by surprise, it is a hell of a lot bigger than I expected it to be, with you being a miserable tight ass!" he grins at me "It looks expensive!"<br />
"It was, but I thought if I did not get you one bigger and better than the fake one, you would have a tantrum on me!" I grin at him<br />
"Very funny!! You know I am not really bothered about all that materialistic crap any more!!" he laughs at me "You could have bought something smaller and cheaper, I wouldn't have minded." <br />
"I wanted too ... like I told Leafy, you are worth it!" I smile at him<br />
"So does your green thing already know we are getting engaged." he glances away from grinning at the ring on his finger for a second<br />
"Yes he does. I spoke to him about it this morning .... and before you ask, he is fine with it!" I tut at him, wandering when he is going to stop calling Forrest my green thing.<br />
"Oh so he is awake then?" he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah he woke up during the night."<br />
"So he is okay now?"<br />
"Not exactly." I mumble "Mango is having to run a load of tests on him ..."<br />
"Why, what's wrong with him?"<br />
"He has amnesia ... he can not remember a thing before the day we got married ... and this should really please you ... he has even FORGOTTEN that he loves me!" I laugh quietly "He actually asked me WHY we even got married in the first place!!"<br />
"Seriously!?" he laughs<br />
"Yeah ... he has forgotten everything, our emotional attachment, and every second of our life together before we got married!! So you don't have to worry about him any more - it is finally over and done with in his head!" I laugh at him "You can forget worrying about him trying to lure me back to the dark side when you are inside, because he is going to ask Mel to marry him, he is not interested in me any more."<br />
"FINALLY!!" a huge grin creeps across his face again as his eyes go back to his new ring.<br />
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<br />
<br />
I
lift him off the stool and carry him over to the bed. Mace starts
laughing because it doesn't take him long to spot the jar of honey,
which distracts him, he starts to inspect the jar while I start getting
undressed.<br />
<br />
"Cinnamon infused Honey, this is
different." he smirks as he takes off the lid and dips his finger in it
to taste it. "Mmmmm that is nice ... but if you think I am eating this,
you have got another think coming!!" he starts laughing as his fingers plunge into the jar and he pulls out a cinnamon stick, which he holds
suspended over the jar while the honey drips off it.<br />
"Put it back ... we don't have time for your honey fix right now." I
smile at him "You will have to wait until later on tonight." <br />
<br />
He
frowns at me as he drops the cinnamon stick back into the jar. I grab
his hand and suck the honey off his fingers slowly, which makes him
smirk, then I take the jar off him. Once I have screwed the lid back on
the jar, I put it in the draw out of his reach.<br />
<br />
"You are right, it is nice." I smirk at him<br />
"Why don't we have time now?" he frowns at me<br />
"I do not want to be going to work completely knackered and all sticky, that is if I ever get there at all, because of how long it takes you to lick it off me."<br />
"Work .." his face scrunches up<br />
"I did tell you last night, that I was only getting about four hours
off between shifts today ... but like I said earlier, you and your pencil keep
ignoring me!!"<br />
"Oh you tit ... you are starting to sound like you are getting all stupidly jealous of my ... <b><i>pencil!</i></b>" he starts almost howling at me. <br />
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<br />
"Maybe I am!! Keep ignoring me and I will be snapping all your pencils up!!" I grin a him "I knew I was talking to myself and you weren't listening ... to try
and get a reaction out of you I even slipped in that I am having an
affair with Mango and you actually said okay."<br />
"I did not!"<br />
"You did too!!" I frown at him "Seriously, you have suddenly
started blanking me and I can not cope with it ... I am used to you suffocating me, so what has changed and we don't have much time
left as it is ..."<br />
"I know I am sorry!!" he pouts
"Nothing has changed, I just can't help it. I totally switch off when I am drawing or painting, and switching my head
off at the moment is what I need to do. Thinking about what I have got
coming to me is driving me crazy especially when you are not here ... I am
scared ..." he starts to choke<br />
"So am I!" I mumble "I'm scared for you too, but I am more scared that I am losing you and that you are going off me?"<br />
"Don't be stupid!!" he laughs as he waves his hand at me
flashing his ring "Of course I'm not going off you, I love you!!"<br />
"Well it doesn't feel like it to me sometimes!! You can't even be bothered
to kiss me when I get in from work, like you normally do, I'm used to having to keep fighting you off! So what is
going on - are you going to be divorcing me in the future for your pencil?"<br />
"Very funny!!" he laughs at me sarcastically "Maybe I ought
to start kicking off and having tantrums like I used to, because you
obviously don't realise that I am really hacked off with you right now!" <br />
"Why, what have I done?" I frown at him<br />
"What was the point of sending Jasmine to Orange Falls ... so we
could spend our last three weeks together before the trial ... and
instead of doing that, what are you doing as usual ... WORKING!!" he
snaps "And you are off again ... another day I have got to spend all on
my own, when you should be here with me!!"<br />
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<br />
"I'm sorry!! The very last thing I want to be doing, especially today,
is working, but I covered the night shift for Forrest because Neurology
is short staffed at the moment and Mango is knackered!! He has been working
double shifts and I had to give him a night off, before he ends up in
the next bed to Forrest. Mango seems to really be struggling lately and
he won't tell me what is playing on his mind so much it is distracting
him." I smile at him "I'll try and make this my last shift."<br />
"It still doesn't help me today does it!!" he grumbles <br />
"I know I'm sorry!! Anyway, I doubt you will miss me ... you and El have some giggling and squealing to do over your new ring!!" I laugh at him as he slaps me "Maybe you should start wedding planning, tell El what kind of marriage you want, so I will know what to do when my divorce comes through." I frown at him and decide to fish a little "You don't want a stupid big fancy wedding with all the trimmings and a thousand guests do you?"<br />
"No ... I would never hear the last of it and have you moaning about how much of an expensive article I am otherwise!!" he laughs at me<br />
"No I am being serious ... honestly, would it upset or disappoint you if we did it quickly with no thrills or do you want a big wedding?"<br />
"Honestly no!!" he chuckles for a moment "I would be happy to marry you if it was just us wearing brown paper bags ... honestly, as long as we get married, I don't care how we do it!"<br />
"Okay, paper bags it is then!" I start laughing at him<br />
"Yeah you would too wouldn't you!!" he starts howling<br />
"When I get back tonight, we can celebrate getting
engaged properly however you want, and you can have your honey fix later." I grin at him<br />
"So why have you got undressed exactly, if we don't have time?" he smirks at me <br />
"Why do you think." I smirk back at him "We have time for that, just
not the honey, because I need to get at least a few hours sleep and a shower in
before I go back to work."<br />
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<br />
I crawl over him and start to kiss him.<br />
<br />
Mentioning the honey again, sends my head off on one, and I need to ask him, to put my mind at rest.<br />
<br />
He frowns at me when I stop kissing him and hover over him with a frown on my face. <br />
<br />
"Mace ... have you been talking to Atlas about our sex life lately?"<br />
"No why?" he frowns at me "I think you know yourself, we
hardly talk about anything these days, he has forgotten me now he has
Saffron?"<br />
"So you have not told him what we are doing with the honey or why?"<br />
"No, I haven't told anyone ..." he frowns at me "Have you?"<br />
"No." I laugh<br />
"Why are you asking anyway?"<br />
"I just wandered, if our sex life was still a hot bitching topic between you two."<br />
"Like I have anything to bitch about any more!!" he laughs
at me "Besides I think you know how upset I get and how touchy I am on
the subject of my inability to have a proper sex life ... so no, the
only person I talk to about our sex life, is you."<br />
"Not even El?"<br />
"No .." he chuckles "She is a woman, she would never understand what us men have to go through, especially those in my position. So what is the point of my talking to her about it!!" <br />
"Okay." I smirk at him "Now stop talking, we are wasting time and your mouth could be doing something much better!"<br />
<br />
He laughs at me before he starts to kiss me again. <br />
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<br />
I can not help but think ...<br />
<br />
If Mace hasn't told anyone about the honey, and I know I definitely haven't!! Maybe Tapestry is telling the truth about his spirit friends, and they really do exist after all. How else would anyone know, or how else could that honey have got into my hiding space??!!<br />
<br />
I just hope one of them is not here watching us now!! <br />
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<a href="http://boolprop.net/viewforum.php?f=227" target="_blank">Boolprop SimNano</a><br />
This Chapter ... Word count = 5,119<br />
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<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-23801231760318432472017-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:002017-07-23T05:40:25.649-07:00Chapter 60 a - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
I walk into the bedroom, and can't help but be amused by Mace, who is already sat where he seems to live these days, on his drawing table, pencil in hand scribbling away and oblivious to time as well as the world around him. I wander for a moment if he hasn't been sat there all night.<br />
<br />
I can't help but regret buying him that drawing table sometimes, especially when I can not get any sense out of him. This week he has been particular bad, constantly working, doing single covers and TShirt designs for Tapestry, as well as taking on some free lance work. I now understand what Thyme meant when he said Mace is a workaholic and never knows when to stop.<br />
<br />
I have just come in from working the night shift, and he hasn't batted an eyelid, he has just glanced at me then continued to scribble away. Normally he would have jumped on me, these days I don't even get an hello or a kiss, I'm beginning to think he's going off me!<br />
<br />
"Mace where are Saffron and Atlas?"<br />
"At Tapestry's, with Vanilla and Poppy." he mumbles without looking up.<br />
"Okay, I'll be back in a sec."<br />
<br />
I laugh as I walk out the door without any reaction from him.<br />
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<br />
I laugh as I run up the stairs, thinking if he didn't have that damn table and that pencil in his hand, he would have interrogated me before I walked out the door, wanting to know where I was going and why. So I guess there are some perks to him having that drawing table, sometimes, it keeps him off my back a little, he is not suffocating me, which in the past has really irritated me, but now that he is suddenly not doing it, I don't like it!<br />
<br />
I walk into Saffron and Atlas's room, not knowing where Slate and Dad are, so I lock the door behind me. It doesn't really matter if any of them catch me right now, but there is still something that I want to keep hidden, mine and Forrest's divorce and the papers. I really don't want the surprise that I am now planning for Mace spoilt, by anyone slipping up and telling him that we are now divorced by accident, so it is better that only me and Forrest know for now, that our divorce has come through, and what I am up to.<br />
<br />
When the divorce papers came through the door yesterday morning and landed on the mat, I'm glad I was the one to pick them up. If anyone else in the house had picked up the mail, they would automatically have given my letter to Mace, who probably would have opened it.<br />
<br />
I have not told Mace yet, that our divorce is final, because I can just imagine what his reaction would have been, he would have screamed the house down with excitement and gone all hyperactive on me. Me on the other hand, I needed time to absorb it, It has taken me the day to get my head around it. Even though it is what I wanted, to be free of Forrest so that I can marry Mace, I didn't expect it, not so soon, I thought it was going to take years, and today, it has just come out of the blue and it has knocked me for six. It is finally over, after nearly thirty years of marriage, and even though I am happy to now be divorced from Forrest, it still hurts, even more so now that he seems to have forgotten everything about our lives together before the day we got married, due to this strange memory loss that he has since he woke up.<br />
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<br />
Forrest has had our marriage Annulled, due to abandonment, without even telling me .... which annoys me a little, because that is what I asked him to do from the start, but he dug his heels in and told me if I wanted a divorce, then I would have to be the one to do it. Of course he could get our marriage annulled because I am the one who abandoned him, but I couldn't, me being the one applying for a divorce had to go the long winded way. What annoys me the most is all the money that I have waste at the Solicitors, and he knows it ... then he goes and does this, but that is Forrest all over, he has to do it his way, how and when it suits him!!<br />
<br />
Mace thinks it will be years before mine and Forrest's divorce comes through, so he will get the shock of his life when I spring on him the surprise marriage that I am now planning before the trial begins. Which is going to be tight, because I only have two weeks to do it.<br />
<br />
Hopefully it will make him feel a whole lot better knowing that we are married before he gets his sentence. I know that is one thing that has really been upsetting him, he thinks we won't be able to get married until after he has served his sentence, however long that might be. I don't think I have helped to ease his worries very much, by not putting an engagement ring on his finger yet. I still don't think that he completely trusts that I am not going to go running back to Forrest after he is sentenced and especially that I will be there waiting for him to be released ... not that a wedding ring and marriage certificate will guarantee that ... but he thinks it does, and it will put his mind at rest a little.<br />
<br />
I stand nervously, staring at the cupboard, because a conversation about ghosts existing, that I had a few days ago with Tapestry, has really been playing on my mind ever since. I stand there almost too scared to look inside my hiding place, afraid of what I might find, and that what Tapestry was actually telling me is true. I have played our conversation and the events of the day in question, over and over in my mind and I really can not find any other explanation for how he would know everything that he told me, if he isn't telling the truth ... that ghosts really do exist and Sunny in spirit form was actually watching me that day!<br />
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I look around the bedroom stupidly, even knowing that I am not going to see anything, almost creeped out by the thought that there might be a ghost here now watching me ... I honestly think that I am starting to believe it. I laugh at myself as I try to pull myself together and knock the stupid thoughts out of my head.<br />
<br />
I move the heavy cupboard, which is difficult without making too much noise for anyone to hear. This heavy cupboard being here is annoying, but on the other hand, it helps to keep my hiding place pretty much from being found. One thing I know for sure, Mace will never find my hiding place, as he can't and has never been up the stairs. I laugh again wandering how Forrest has never found this place over the past twenty years. I always thought he would discover it when he changed the carpet in this room, which he obviously has done since I lived here, but he obviously didn't spot the broken floorboard or try to move it.<br />
<br />
Since I have been back I had not even given a thought to the hiding places that I have around this house, not until I needed somewhere to hide Mace's ring from him until I propose to him. Over the years I have tried to blot out and forget my criminal past, and my erratic behaviour of being an addict, so my hiding places have not crossed my mind once. This is not the only hiding place that I have in this house ... there are two others.<br />
<br />
I sit down on the carpet quite heavily and wander if Forrest has found the other two. My blood runs very cold when something suddenly hits me, a flood of memories slam back into my head and I remember what <i>should</i> still be in one of my other hiding places, the one in the bathroom, if Forrest has not already found that hiding place. <b> Why am I so stupid</b>?! I have been back in this town and house for long enough, why haven't I even thought about them or their contents at all before now!!<br />
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At first when I was sentenced, I worried about what I had left hidden in the bathroom, and especially Forrest finding it, imagining that the hidden contents might come back to bite me and even extend my sentence, if he was stupid enough to hand them into the police. However, thinking I could never come home, I just had to hope that it stayed hidden and try to forget all about my past, and hope that it never catches up with me one day. Over the years, getting comfortable in my perfectly legal life, I have gradually wiped my bad life from my mind and forgotten completely about what I have actually hidden in one of the hidey holes ... it has totally slipped my mind until now.<br />
<br />
I can't help but think that the hiding place in the bathroom, must still be a secret and it's contents have to still be there and hidden, because if Forrest had ever found them, he would have said something and probably gone totally ballistic at me by now!!<br />
<br />
My mind flashes back twenty five years to the job that went totally wrong. Thankfully I had not taken part in it, I was too hammered to go with them so they left me behind, sleeping it off. A simple raid turned into a massacrer, and I was given the job of disposing of the evidence ... the guns. We lost three of the mob that day, but the group of a dozen police officers that swarmed them, had come off worse, because Fudge's mob had totally wiped them all out. I suddenly realise, I do still have a skeleton in my cupboard that could well bite me in the ass - I didn't take part in the raid, but I did hide the evidence and none of the mob were caught or charged with that crime, which was lucky for us because of the severity of the crime, murdering twelve police officers would have had us all locked up for the rest of our lives, even me, because I was an accessory and to this day, I still have the evidence ... I think. The realisation of it suddenly hits me ...this could still catch up with me!!!<br />
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<br />
I remember that day quiet clearly, now I think about it, and it is just one of many things that I have pushed to the back of my mind over the years. I remember how I had been abruptly woken up from my drunken slumber, ironically by Mace of all people, screaming the place down because Fudge was giving him a leathering. I had jumped up to try and stop Fudge, Mace was only a kid, probably about six and I couldn't stand to watch a grown man battering a defenceless child. Fudge blamed Mace for the raid going wrong, I'm not sure why or what he had done, and I didn't ask, because in my book, the child shouldn't have even been there or taken part in it. Fudge never liked me interfering when he was battering Mace and Tarragon, which I always did, I couldn't just sit there and watch him doing it like all the others did. Fudge turned on me then for interfering, and I let him batter me, but I didn't really mind if it stopped him from battering Mace. That was when he told me to dispose of all their guns ... I remember his worlds as clear as day <i>"Dump the evidence in Apple Lake, after you have wiped off all the prints."</i> he had then shoved Mace towards me quite forcefully <i>"You might as well dump this useless runt in the lake while you are at it, I can see he is going to be a waste of space just like you are. I'm sick of his snivelling face, his sister has got more balls than he has!!" </i> At the time, Fudge was so angry with Mace, I honestly think he meant it!!<br />
<br />
Obviously I was never going to do it, and I didn't dump anything in the lake that night, I took it all home with me, the guns and Mace. Mace being six years old, after having a battering from his Dad, a grown man, understandably was in a mess, physically and mentally. I was more concerned about him than disposing of the guns, which I hid in the back garden, in the middle of an overgrown bush before we went into the house. I chuckle quietly thinking about Forrest, the minute I went through the door carrying the little boy he started to go ballistic at me for bringing Mace home again, because it wasn't the first time. I should have seen back then that he had his child phobia, but not being medically trained at the time, I didn't even know such a phobia existed.<br />
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<br />
After Forrest's initial kick off, he did show concern over the state of the both of us, I had a bloody and swollen face and so did the little boy, who was pretty badly battered and bleeding, he needed stitches, and he had a broken arm. After I cleaned us both up the best I could, we had to sneak Mace into the hospital, during the middle of the night, so that Forrest could get Mace stitched up and his arm put in plaster.<br />
<br />
I had to break into the plaster room, which thankfully was empty and locked up for the night, we couldn't afford to let anyone see the state of him, because if social services or the police had been called in, they would have been down on Fudge like a tonne of bricks and it probably would have dragged us all down with him, especially if they got wind of what the mob had been up to that night. At the very least I would have been at the bottom of Apple lake for grassing him up, or being responsible for social services and the police on his back After we got home, me and Forrest had the mother of all arguments, because yet again he said I had dragged him into my shit, He packed a bag and went to stay at his parents, refusing to set foot in the house again, until I had got rid of Mace.<br />
<br />
My conscience was very torn at the time over Mace, I could see how soft he was, unike his sister who was already as hard as nails and a typical Brownie in the making. She was loving her life, while Mace visibly wasn't. The environment that they were both being brought up in was very wrong. While I wanted to get them out of there, there was nothing that I could do about it - I would never have lived to tell the tale if I had even tried. I didn't want to take him back to his parents and the hell that I could see he was living through, but I knew I couldn't keep him, or at least get him some proper help.<br />
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<br />
He stayed with me that night, and the very next day Fudge came banging the door down looking for his son. I laugh remembering he gave me another battering for taking his son - even though he had told me to, even watching me walk out with him. Luckily I didn't dump him in the lake like I had been told to, or I would have ended my days at the bottom of Apple lake along with many others who have met there end there.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure why at the time, but I kept the guns as insurance, not that I ever used them as such, when there were plenty of times that I could have done. I had watched them all dropping their guns into a large clear plastic seal-able freezer bag, their fingerprints still all over the guns. I remember thinking at the time, how stupid are they to trust that I will wipe away their prints, and dispose of them properly. I also could not help but notice that there was one too many guns going in that bag, especially after I watched Fudge dropping two guns into the bag, the bag which was sealed and has never been opened by me since.<br />
<br />
The extra gun really spooked me, and I couldn't help but keep staring at it, and I think that is why I initially hung onto the bag of evidence, because of the extra gun - it looked just like the gun my Dad used to have. It was quite distinctive, it had a marble pattern on the grip. I've seen plenty of guns during my time of being mixed up in the criminal world, but to this day, I've never seen a gun like the one that my Dad had.<br />
<br />
Even though I kept telling myself it couldn't be my Dad's gun, he was long gone and so would have his gun been, it was just one that looked like his ... but I still kept them.<br />
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<br />
I guess at the time, I was being sentimentally stupid, even though on the surface I hated the man who had faded when I was twelve years old, the man who I blamed for all my problems and screwed up head, he was still my Dad and that gun meant something to me, his or not, and I found myself holding onto it, even though I knew I shouldn't have been.<br />
<br />
Thinking about that gun now - alarm bells start ringing in my head. I now know that Gravel was behind the mob - he must have known about that raid and especially the officers who were massacred, he worked with some of them!! I remember panicking a little that night, worrying that he might have been one of those officers, and I made a nonsense phone call to him on the way home with Mace and the bag of evidence, just to check that he wasn't one of them. That extra gun had really bugged me back then, like it is stating too again now ... where did it come from and who used it ... I am now starting to wander - could it actually have been Gravel ... but how could he have had Dad's gun?!<br />
<br />
I now think I'm in a right mess because I kept that bag of guns. I need to
get rid of them, but first I need to check my hiding place in the
bathroom to see if they are actually still there. I could just be sat here worrying about nothing, but highly doubt it. I stare at my watch,
knowing I only have a few hours left before I am due back at work, I
know I don't have time to be disposing of them now ... not that I would now even know where or how, I'm too many years out of practice!!<br />
<br />
There is nothing I can do now, so I just have to try and forget
about my new dilemma until later. I laugh at myself as I remember why I am actually sitting on the floor in
Saffron and Atlas's bedroom. <br />
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After crawling to the corner of the room, I pull back the carpet and take a deep breath as I lift up the loose floorboard and stare down at the rusting metal tin, that is sitting between the rafters underneath the floorboards. I pull out the tin and place it on the carpet in front of me, taking another deep breath before lifting off the lid.<br />
<br />
I stare down, almost numbly, at the contents of the tin. I did get the ring box out of here before my shift last night, but I closed my eyes and didn't look, only wanting the ring, not wanting to see what else was in there, just in case Tapestry wasn't joking and he was telling the truth. I didn't want to see the contents of the tin before my shift, worrying about Forrest and if there was going to be anything wrong with him when he woke up, I didn't want to burden my mind with all this ghost stuff. I had brushed something that felt like cold glass when I was feeling around for the ring, I hoped and presumed it was the bottle of vodka, and that Tapestry is just having a laugh with me.<br />
<br />
I now have my eyes open and can't take them off what is actually now in there, seriously not believing what I am looking at!! The vodka and drugs have gone, just like Tapestry said they would be, and in there place is a jar of Honey. I stare at it and can't help but laugh - wandering if I am going mad. I take the jar of honey out as I throw the envelope containing Forrest's divorce papers into the tin, along with my own. <br />
<br />
After I have quickly put the tin, floorboard, carpet and cupboard back in it's place, I sit back down on the carpet turning the jar of honey over, taking a good look at it. It is not a brand that we usually buy, so I doubt it has come out of our fridge. So where has it come from .... more to the point, who took away the vodka and drugs and put this here in their place?!<br />
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<br />
I think about what Tapestry said for a moment <i>"Oh and he's left you something in place of your stash, he says you'll
enjoy that a lot more ... something only you and Mace know about
apparently!"</i><br />
<br />
Yeah, this is something that only me and Mace should know about, if applied to our private use of honey ... unless Mace has told someone, what we actually do with it. I wander for a moment if he hasn't told Atlas, in the past he has confided in his best mate about our sex life. Atlas, Saffron, Tapestry, Mace, they are all very close these days ... I wander for a moment if they haven't found my hiding place and this is just one big joke?! It could be ... but it still wouldn't explain some of the things that Tapestry said, that nobody could have seen because there was nobody around me to see, I was totally alone, especially when I was in this locked room on my own. Either Tapestry has to be telling the truth and ghosts really do exist, or I am going totally mad!!<br />
<br />
I jump to my feet, and after putting the jar of honey into my pocket, I go over to the door, and stand listening to see if I can hear anyone on the landing. It is deadly silent so I unlock the door and slip out of the room.<br />
<br />
I automatically think about the contents of my hiding place in the bathroom, as I stare at the bathroom door, and decide I really need to check right now. My nerves are already jangling, and I nearly jump out of my skin, as I go to grab the handle on the door, the door opens suddenly and unexpectedly ... my Dad is just coming out of the bathroom.<br />
<br />
"Hell ... you gave me a fright." he just stands there laughing at me as I try to catch my breath.<br />
"So what are you doing, sneaking about up here?" he frowns at me<br />
"I'm not sneaking!" I laugh at him<br />
"Really?!" his eye brows raise "You forget I can read your face like a book, and you don't have any reason to be up here, seeing as you live downstairs, unless you are up to something!" he laughs "I followed you up the stairs, and you've been in Atlas's room for quite a while, I heard you bumping and banging about it there ... so?!"<br />
"Okay ... I was sneaking!" I laugh at him, he is just like Gravel, he rarely misses anything!!<br />
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<br />
"Should I be worried?" he frowns at me<br />
"No! I hid something in there a few days ago so Mace didn't find it." I smile at him as I pull the ring box out of my pocket "He is very good at snooping, finding things and spoiling surprises."<br />
"Is that what I think it is?" his eyes widen<br />
"Yeah." I mumble as I open the box and show him the ring<br />
"That is a ring for Mace I take it ... not Forrest!" he frowns at me<br />
"Obviously, it is for Mace!" I laugh at him "I think you should have gathered by now, with Forrest's latest confessions, Mel and the kids, that we are over, it's done!! I even have the divorce papers to prove it!!" I bite my tongue the words are out of my mouth before I realise what I've said. So much for keeping it a secret!!<br />
"Divorce papers ..." he frowns at me "You kept that quiet!"<br />
"They only came yesterday, I wasn't even expecting them myself, after all the arguments we have had Forrest goes and does what I asked him to do in the first place and he refused to do!! He has filed for an annulment. ... so it's over, we are now divorced." I smirk at him<br />
"I bet Mace is happy!!" he grins at me<br />
"He doesn't know yet." I laugh at him "And you are not to tell him either ... only you know besides me and Leafy .... I am planning to spring a surprise on Mace ... we are getting married before the trial begins, and Mace doesn't know it yet, and he won't until it happens."<br />
"While I'm happy Mace is getting what he wants, I just hope you are doing this for the right reason!"<br />
"Of course I am ... I love him."<br />
"Ahhh light dawns on marble head!!" he starts laughing "You finally realise what we have all seen since the day you woke up after the shooting!!" <br />
<br />
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<br />
Him mentioning the shooting makes me think about his gun again.<br />
<br />
"Dad ... what happened to the gun that you had when I was a kid?"
he frowns at me "The one you caught me trying to shoot Forrest with ...
it had a marble pattern on the grip."<br />
"Oh berry, I
remember that!" he starts to really laugh "I should have known you
would turn out to be a little criminal when you was older, the way you
lifted my gun without me even feeling you doing it. I've never fallen
asleep with my gun on me since that day!!" he is really chuckling "I
nearly had a coronary when I walked out into the garden and saw you and
Forrest playing cops and robbers with that gun!! I can laugh about it
now, but it was far from funny at the time. You even manage to lift the
bullets out of my other pocket, its just a good job you didn't have the
sense to load the gun with them, or I dread to think what might have
happened!! Forrest would have been a gonner, you was actually stood there aiming perfectly and continuously pulling the
trigger ... and all I got from you was the normal ... <i>"leafy told me to." </i><br />
<br />
We both stand laughing for a moment<br />
<br />
"So what happened to that gun, because I have noticed the one you have now is different."<br />
"Well it would be after over thirty years soft lad, they don't last
forever." he laughs at me "But as it happens, I gave that gun to
Gravel, not long after he turned up on my doorstep." he smiles at me
"Like you, he was always fascinated with that gun when he was a child."<br />
"Yeah, it was very distinctive, I've never seen one like it
before, but I guess in your day it was just a common make of gun."<br />
"The gun itself yes, the handle no." he laughs quietly "That gun was pretty much a one off."<br />
"Really!?" my stomach starts rolling<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Yeah, my Dad had it made specially for me when I joined the force. Probably why I hung onto it for so long." he smiles "My brother had one too, but the pattern on his was different, his was zebra print."<br />
"It's funny, I don't remember seeing Gravel with that gun."<br />
"No, he told me he kept it locked up and didn't use it ... one of the reasons was so you didn't see it, I was a bit stupid giving it him really ... I didn't think about you seeing it at the time. I doubt you will ever see another one like it, so you would automatically know it was my gun." he starts to look thoughtful "I wander what happened to that gun? I was actually expecting it to turn up in amongst all the seized property from his house, but it didn't!!" <br />
<br />
My blood runs cold for a moment as my head starts to spin. I am
suddenly now thinking that the gun in the bag probably was Dads, and Gravel must
have gone along on that raid and been the one to use it. A little ironic that Dad should wander where it is, after he just walk out of the bathroom where it is hidden, I think.<br />
<br />
"Why are you asking about that gun Granny?" he frowns at me suspiciously, as he must have just been watching my face twisting.<br />
"Oh no reason." I mumble<br />
"Something must have made you think about that gun!" he is still frowning at me and I have to do some quick thinking.<br />
"Just a conversation I had with Mace ... Clay will never be able to have any toy guns, play cops and robbers or cowboys and Indians like little boys do ... or we will have Mace screaming the place down."<br />
"No I guess not." he laughs.<br />
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<br />
After Dad leaves me to use the toilet, so he thinks, I close the bathroom door behind me, lock it then lean against it. I stare at the bath, my head now in turmoil, thinking that has to be my Dad's old gun!!<br />
<br />
I have to think about that for a moment. Dad gave Gravel that gun, Gravel who ran the mob, and I was given the gun by Fudge to dispose of it ... obviously Gravel did do that job with them, and he must have used it and been responsible for shooting someone to be having his gun disposed of. <br />
<br />
I drop down onto my knees, and stare at an old familiar bath panel - not quite believing that Forrest has never replaced this bath or bath panel. I prise the bath panel off with my bare hands, knowing just how to do it quickly. It comes off without a problem.<br />
<br />
A cloud of dust suddenly flies up and I start choking as I wave my hand around trying to disperse the cloud. Once I can breath again, I start to laugh ... seriously has he NEVER removed this bath panel even once in the past twenty years?!<br />
<br />
I look into the dark space underneath the bath, and all I can see is years of dust and cobwebs, the odd faded spider and moth. To be honest I never expected this space to be completely untouched, and judging by the state of it, I would say it is.<br />
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<br />
As I duck down a little more, I put my hand on the floor underneath the bath to steady myself, while I lean in looking for the nail in the lino, which is sticking out a little. I laugh at myself, because of the clever little thing that I did, glued the nail into the lino, so when I pull up the nail the lino comes with it in a perfect square, which I had cut out of the lino. As I sit back to put the lino square down at the side of me, I spot my hand and finger prints on the floor in the dust .... that is not good!!<br />
<br />
The last thing that I need is to be leaving finger prints under the bath, so I start to look around for something to wipe the hand print away. I laugh grabbing a damp face cloth off the sink, as I spot a few unopened boxes of brown hair dye on the shelf. Slate and Bay have been dying their hair and going out into the coded world, no doubt this hair dye is here ready for their next trip out. I grab one and tear open the box to get out the plastic gloves that I know are always in with hair dye.<br />
<br />
Now that I can no longer leave fingerprints everywhere, I go back under the bath, I pull up the broken floorboard with the help of another glued nail. I have to go right under the bath now to stare into the hole.<br />
<br />
HELL!! I feel sick ... my eyes fall upon the bag of guns, because it is still there, exactly where I left it!!"<br />
<br />
Now I SERIOUSLY am in trouble!!<br />
<br />
I come out from under the bath, quickly replace the floorboard and lino, trying only to touch the nails. I take off the plastic gloves, screw them up and throw them into the peddle bin. <br />
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<br />
After I have replaced the bath panel and cleaned up any mess I've made,
only then can I sit there thinking, while I'm having a slight panic
attack.<br />
<br />
Now I have a new dilema ... do I hand the guns in so that Gravel can finally take the rap for taking part in that job, or do I dispose of the guns quickly to save my own skin?! <br />
<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-12104218819468429012017-07-06T22:57:00.000-07:002017-07-06T22:57:14.655-07:00Chapter 59 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
<br />
I run out of Forrest's room chasing after Dad, a little confused by what he is doing. He has vanished out of the corridor already, so I head for his office, presuming that is where he has gone.<br />
<br />
He is in his office like I thought he would be, on the phone, trying to get Forrest in for a CAT and MRI scan as soon as possible. I have to sit and wait for him to finish on his call.<br />
<br />
"Dad why are you running a load of tests on Forrest?"<br />
"We have to." he laughs "I can not just say, he has lost his memory then leave it at that!" he smiles at me "Forrest will want an explanation, and I know for one Granite will be demanding every test possible to try and get to the root of it. He is going to be imagining permanent brain damage and all sorts!! Medically, it has to be done properly."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"It seems like a ball ache when we know ..."<br />
"Yeah I know, and I am still not really comfortable with it."<br />
"Why?"<br />
"I have already had one close shave, Caramel deciding that she should have a termination before Forrest woke up, and I had to talk her out of it!! I must have needed my head testing to agree to this!!" he pulls a face<br />
"You stress too much!!" I laugh at him<br />
"It's not only all the lies I am having to tell again, but knowing he is going to struggle for the rest of his life because of the memories he has lost. I don't know how I am going to sleep at night."<br />
"Yeah but won't it be worth it!! It's not like we remember that much about our childhood anyway, and his phobia will be gone and he won't be struggling around children and especially not his Grandchildren and the two new babies."<br />
"That is if it has even worked Tapestry .., there is no saying that it will!!" he frowns at me "You need to hope this has cured his phobia, or I will never be sleeping ever again!!"<br />
"We should test him ... Snow is downstairs."<br />
"No!!" he snaps at me "It's too soon to be springing a toddler on him without a reason ... let us get the tests done first, then I can plant the idea into Granite head that he's lost all his childhood memories, which might make him think about the phobia."<br />
"What about Scarlet's baby ... have you said anything to Ruby?"
<br />
"No. I doubt that woman will ever come clean until the proof
is there for everyone to see, and I will probably just be wasting my
breath trying!!" he pulls a pained expressed "Besides Scarlet is so close now and if I go telling her she will be distraught, being in labour is hard enough for any woman, without be emotionally upset while it is happening, she already has to contend with Cinnamon not being here."<br />
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"Even though I think it is not fair on the rest of <i>his</i> family withholding this information ... I think you are right about one thing, NOT upsetting the apple cart unless it is necessary - because it is going to cause destruction when it does come out!!" he rolls his eyes "We are just going to have to sit back and wait .... and PREY none of <i><b>his</b></i> colouring comes out in the baby, to buy us a little more time until everything has settled down!!"<br />
"How likely is it, the baby having his colouring?"<br />
"More than possible ... look at Mo, he has your Grandmothers hair, Clay and Amber both have their Grandfathers hair, Poppy has your Mothers hair, Shadow has Ruby's eyes." he frowns at me "Another reason why I haven't said anything to her yet ... what about if Cosmic has got it wrong, what about if <b>he</b> is not even Scarlet's Dad and I go making a fool of myself, as well as seriously upset everyone for no reason. I think that is why we need to wait until the baby is born to be one hundred percent sure."<br />
"I guess, I never thought about that. She does sleep around so she could be anyone's" I laugh "But if Cosmic has got it wrong then so has Ruby, because she said his name quite a lot apparently when she was trying to off load her guilt, she thinks he is the one." <br />
"Unfortunately he probably is. I have had a poke in their medical records, his blood type is exactly the same as Scarlet's ... I hoped it would be different, because<i> anyone</i> other than him would be better for everyone!"<br />
"So if the baby doesn't have any of his colouring, are you going to just keep the secret to yourself and never tell them?"<br />
"Hell no!! After what Maizie did to me not telling me about River, I couldn't live with myself hiding it!!"<br />
"Shadow ... " I mumble<br />
"Tapestry please don't start with that one again. I was doing what I thought was best for you and Vanilla!!" he rolls his eyes "Us hiding Shadow from you, is a totally different kettle of fish and you know it, because of our cold friends with fangs and the world they live in. I really think that we have talked that subject out don't you!!"<br />
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"So you are going to tell Scarlet the truth."<br />
"Yes, obviously we might have no choice when the baby is born. As much as Scarlet is going to hate what we have to tell her, she has a right to know, and so does he and his family!! Unfortunately this will have to come out sometime, and if the baby doesn't show any signs of him, then I am going to wait until after the trial, and let things settle down first. They have enough to deal with at the moment don't you think, they really don't need this too."<br />
"Maybe we should warn Granite and Forrest, they can at least help us with the fall out, if it happens."<br />
"I don't think so!! They are no different to the rest, they have enough going on, and don't forget the trial is coming up, that is going to put them all through enough hell, without me adding to it. Granite will feel like I do, he had Slate hidden from him remember, and do you honestly think he will be able to sit on this secret without reacting to it!!" he smiles at me "It's best just kept to me you and River at the moment ... we will deal with the fall out, if and when it is necessary. Just thinking about what we all have coming, it is knocking me sick, I can honestly see this tearing the extended family apart, we have had drama in the past, but nothing like this ..." <br />
"Why is everyone so yampy in this town?!" I laugh at Dad suddenly "Rocky and everyone else that I know who live outside of this town - have quiet and normal lives without all this drama ... with us it never stops!"<br />
"That's a very good question." he starts laughing "We used to have a quiet and normal life here too. I blame myself sometimes, because I brought most of it home from boarding school with me!!" he is really laughing now<br />
"Trust you to blame yourself!!" I laugh at him<br />
"Yeah well I do ... if I hadn't brought most of my school friends home with me, our lives would have been a hell of a lot quieter!!" he laughs "Of course Gravel was already here waiting to go off and cause his mahem, but when you basically have a handful of already very troubled teenagers coming together, things are never going to be quiet or normal."<br />
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"What do you mean by troubled?"<br />
"Most of us were sent to that boarding school for a reason, and not very nice ones. I was the only one who didn't have a bad reason for being there. Everyone else basically, had a troubled life, family background or reason for why they were sent there, including your Mother." he laughs "They were all very troubled and messed up mentally .. which is part of what has caused all the drama. While most of them have dealt with their troubles and settled down, Lime, Ruby and Sunny in particular, I don't think ever dealt with their issues. They are all pure berries too which hasn't helped, who have tied themselves down to this town with mixed berry children, so they feel caged and frustrated. Those that had parents were disowned for their colour mixing which added to their troubles. I doubt Ruby will ever stop her stupidity, I'm not sure any of us really know why she was sent away to the boarding school."<br />
"Remind me never to send my kids to a boarding school!!"<br />
"Yeah and I hope you don't, especially not one like the one I went to!!" he frowns at me "Although, you do have the means and opportunity to give your children a far better education, than what they will ever get here ... not all boarding schools are bad and full of trouble teenagers, especially those that you pay for."<br />
"Didn't the same apply to you with us?" I frown at him<br />
"Not really!! The means yes, the opportunity, not like you do. I might be a well known Neurosurgeon in the medical world, and a mixed berry that can go freely out into the world and shout about it without getting arrested and locked up, but my power over the authorities is not like yours being world famous. I was limited to the schools in Berry Shores or Cherry Hill ... I would never have got away with sending any of you out into the coded world to be educated." his eyebrows rise a little "Vanilla is already accepted out in the world, just like you and Crystal are, she is your daughter, and she will be famous just because you are. So you have the opportunity to get her the best education money can buy ... I doubt she will ever be caged in a colour mix town, so she has the world of opportunity at her feet."<br />
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"So why didn't you, send at least Mo and Coral to either of the other colour mix towns, they would have had better education .... I know there was no point you sending me, any education would have been waste on me!" we both laugh for a moment<br />
"Our own experience of boarding schools was the main thing that stopped us, it was very hard for me being away from my parents, and your Mother would never have been parted from any of you ... if one of you had gone to Berry or Cherry, we all would have had to go, and there was too much to keep us here." he smiles at me "Besides the education we got here has never stopped me or Forrest and especially Granite, from achieving something with our lives. Sometimes it is not the education, it is what the individual does with it." he laughs quietly "Granite, you and Coral are actually the perfect examples of just that."<br />
"What do you mean?" I frown at him<br />
"If you had know Granite growing up, you would never believe he was the same person that you see today. Now that was one off the rails teenager, and he was the one who caused all the trouble in this town, along with his criminal mates. He was always destined to get locked up, I'm surprised it took so long." he chuckles to himself "He rarely went to school, especially after his Father faded, drink and drugs, it was very rare to see him not high or hammered!! He didn't even bother to turn up to take his exams. Look at him now, career wise he is on a level with me, Head of Neurology ... just proving, anyone can do it if they try, even with a bad education." he starts to really laugh "You are just like Granite .. Mr I don't even want to bother trying to learn anything, so he didn't ... I bet you still can't even count above 10 with out struggling can you?!"<br />
"No ... twenty actually!!" I smirk at him<br />
"Exactly, and look at you, with not a grade to your name ... Mr famous Rock Star who will probably achieve the most out of life and is already earning more then we ever could, or dream of." he laughs quietly "On the other hand we have Coral ... the straight A student, who walked through school and academically was definitely the cleverest one. She could move to Berry or Cherry, even spend some time at university, and get herself a very good career if she had a mind to. ... and look what she is doing with it ... absolutely nothing, and the way she is going, I doubt she ever will!! She is going to have to marry a rich man just to keep her, that is all I can see!!" he tuts<br />
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"Yeah well, she is taking being Daddies Spoiled Princess too far ... she thinks that is a career in itself!! She won't get a proper job just in case she breaks a nail!! And I hope you know she is teaching brat princess number two how to follow in her footsteps!!" I laugh at him and he pulls one of his disapproving faces at me. He hates the nicknames that I have for my two sisters. "Berry help them if they teach Vanilla how to become a brat!! Maybe I should send Vanilla away to boarding school, so they don't rub off on her!!"<br />
"Vanilla will be fine, she's already very head strong, I've heard her a few times telling Cotton to stop being a drama queen!!" he laughs "It is Snow that I am more worrying about, with his problems."<br />
"Well he definitely WON'T be going to school!!" I tut "If only you knew the hell I went through for being different!! Snow is traumatised enough without sending him to school, I'm going to make sure he never has to go through what I went through!!"<br />
"You can't not send him to school, just because you didn't like it!!" Dad laughs at me<br />
"I know, I'm not totally stupid!" I laugh at him "We are going to get him home schooled, so he doesn't get picked on, bullied and ridiculed like I did!!"<br />
"And who exactly is going to be home schooling him?" he frowns at me<br />
"Not me, that's for sure!!" I laugh at him "I'm going to hire a properly qualified teacher to do it ... I'm surprised Daddy Clone hasn't told you, I've already discussed it with him, and he is going to help me find a decent one. He is actually thinking about Ocean being home schooled too."<br />
"Seriously!?" he laughs "No he never said." this seems to have amused him for some reason.<br />
"I'm surprised, doesn't he usually tell you everything!!" I laugh quietly<br />
"No, he probably wouldn't tell me about this, because I think he knows what I'll say!" he laughs "He is always going on at me for spoiling the girls and wrapping you in cotton wool, but he can not even see he is doing exactly the same things with Ocean!!" he starts really laughing<br />
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"So I guess you don't approve of home schooling?"<br />
"Not for Ocean!! It is not a bad idea, as far as Snow goes, and probably what he needs, to stop the bullying and his social anxiety ..." he pulls a face "However, isn't that isolating him just a little too much. He needs to be encouraged to socialise with other people, not shut him away from other children his own age which will just feed his condition. We need to encourage him out of it not isolate him which will probably make him worse."<br />
"River said that, but if he goes to school and is picked on, it could make him more troubled, and he could just withdraw into himself even more, or send him off the rails like it did me." I smile at him "It is not like he will never socialise with children his own age, or other people, our house is like piccalilli station most of the time and I've always got somebody elses child to mind ... he already has a lot of cousins and he'll be getting another four play mates pretty soon, along with Vanilla."<br />
"I guess, it is worth a try with Snow at least." he smiles at me "It can't go any worse than it did when we tried it with you!" he starts laughing<br />
"I was never home schooled." I frown at him<br />
"You was for about 12 months - but it didn't work out." he laughs "You constantly played up, because you wanted to go to school with Storm and Honey ... you bit most of the teachers the agency sent, in the end they refused to send any, because they said you was too uncontrollable. So we had no choice but to send you to main stream school, there being no schools for special needs children in any of the colour mix towns."<br />
"I don't remember that!!" I laugh at him<br />
"No, probably not, you was only five." he laughs at me<br />
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"While I'm here, I suppose I should warn you about the live in Nanny, in case River hasn't told you about that either."<br />
"What live in Nanny?" he frowns at me<br />
"I'm going to be hiring one soon, to help Crystal with the kids." his eyebrows rise a little "You know I have got that tour coming up soon - I'm going to be away for three months, and I can't just leave Crystal on her own in her condition to look after Vanilla and Snow."<br />
"She won't be on her own." he frowns at me "You know there is enough of us in the house to help Crystal look after Vanilla and Snow while you are away!! You don't need to hire a Nanny!!"<br />
"I know but, it just takes the pressure off everyone, with Mom to look after as well. You can see how Crystal has been since River told her everything that could go wrong if she doesn't look after herself because there are four babies ... she is now too scared to move, she is terrified that something is going to go wrong!! The only reason I am here now is because Sunny is with her and I have Snow here." I roll my eyes "She is worrying and doesn't want me to go on tour, but I have no choice, I have to go ... having a live in Nanny just takes all the worry away from her." I laugh quietly "It will also help me to sneak out more often to see Shadow."<br />
"I suppose that little monkey is going to be a total nightmare while you are away, constantly demanding mine and Rivers attention." he laughs <br />
"Yep!! He is really not happy about me going on tour, and it is not helping that I am struggling to see his so much at the moment because of how Crystal is." <br />
"I have noticed how quiet Crystal has been lately, every time I see her she is lying on the bed watching tv, which is good because she is getting plenty of bed rest and at least she isn't bouncing around."<br />
"Yeah she is driving me mad with it, she is worrying over the top and way too much!!" I laugh<br />
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"I think having a Nanny is going to have to be a permanent thing anyway." I roll my eyes "Crystal is never going to cope with four babies and two toddlers on her own, when I'm away working. She is going to need help until they start school at least, and a live in Nanny is the best way to do it."<br />
"Well you seem to know what you are doing." he chuckles to himself "But, you need to be very careful about who you are employing, both the teacher and the nanny. Your fame could attract all sorts of trouble."<br />
"Don't stress it is all under control ... River and Crimson are going to sort it all out. River has contacted a few agencies out of town, he's doing it all in his name and Crimson will be vetting and police checking the applicants. They won't even know about me until after they get the job."<br />
"You say live in Nanny ... so where exactly will they be living." he laughs quietly<br />
"That is something we need to sort out." I roll my eyes "Granddads room would be the best place, but I can't really turf him out ... suddenly my space is not nearly big enough ... Vanilla, Snow and Ocean will soon be needing their own rooms and I don't know where the hell these four babies are going to sleep!!"<br />
"No, neither do I!!" he starts to really laugh "When we built your space, we only really had you and Vanilla in mind!!"<br />
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The door opens and Granite comes strolling in holding a very grizzly Snow.<br />
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"He wants his Dad." he laughs as he passes him to me "I have left his buggy out in the corridor ... I had to get him out of it because he was having a screaming fit when he woke up."<br />
"He always does when he wakes up, sorry I should have warned you." I laugh at Granite<br />
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"I don't think he likes me very much." Granite laughs at me "Every time I try to speak to him he just screams at me."<br />
"It's not you, he's just very shy." I smile at him "I shouldn't have left him for so long, he was probably scared waking up to a strange face." <br />
"He doesn't say much, I only heard him say Dad when he was crying for you, is he still not speaking." he frowns at me "I can't say I've ever heard him speak when he's with Saffron either."<br />
"No, not really .... " I mumble "Unlike Vanilla who never shuts up."<br />
"He is going to speech therapy isn't he?"<br />
"Yeah, although it is not really helping him very much" Dad laughs at Granite<br />
"Is there something wrong with him medically?" Granite frowns at Dad as he sits down.<br />
"No. He has had every test going, and there is nothing wrong with his brain, vocal chords or anything else ... he is actually quite a bright child when he wants to be. He just refuses to speak ... we have put it down to Selective Mutism."<br />
"Oh, that's a tough one!!" Granite pulls a face<br />
"Yeah ... he is going to be very hard work growing up, especially if he
doesn't grow out of it, and as you know, most don't, it continues into their adult life." Dad mumbles as he glances at
Snow <br />
"Is he not talking at home either?"<br />
"If we put him in a room with Vanilla or Ocean and walk out of it ... he does talk to them a little, but the minute any of us adults are around he totally clams up ... even Tap and Crystal struggle to get a lot out of him most of the time." he laughs quietly "It's actually the other toddlers who are teaching him to talk, not us adults."<br />
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"It's horrible to see children with these sort of problems."<br />
"We think it is probably due to his awful start in life ... social isolation, which is probably what happened to him, if Crystal was anything to go by - shut up in a room with no or very little human contact." he smiles "I think he suffers from a lot of anxiety, social and otherwise, which is probably a reason why he also has sleep deprivation. Berry knows what he went through before Tapestry found him!!"<br />
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While they continue to talk about Snow and his condition, Snow starts to grizzle a little, and I hear his stomach grumbling. He needs feeding, so I quickly grab him a bottle out of the bag on his buggy out in the corridor. I am glad that he never has a problem drinking cold milk, I think he actually prefers it.<br />
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"So have you checked on Forrest?" Granite mumbles <br />
"Yeah and I think you are right." a pained expression flashes across Granites face "I have already got him booked in for an MRI and CAT scan."<br />
"His last scan was all clear, he has no brain abnormalities, so I really wasn't expecting this."<br />
"Me neither." Dad mumbles "His scans are booked in for 11am ... so before then, you can access his reflexes, immediate, short term and long term memory capability and take bloods and urine, if you want to make yourself useful, before you clock off." Dad laughs at Granite, who laughs back at him <br />
"Yeah I'll do that before I shoot off." he smiles at Dad<br />
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"So, do you have any ideas about what might be going on with Forrest?" Dad asks Granite and I am glad I have my back to them, because I am finding it hard not to laugh.<br />
"No, at the moment I can't think straight or see past the worst. I don't think there is anything wrong with his immediate or short term memory - we had quite a lengthy conversation about a lot of recent stuff, before I even noticed there was a problem ... it only seems to be his long term memory that is affected."<br />
"Yeah I get that impression too." Dad mumbles "As his last scans were clear, his memory loss looks very cut and dried to me ... he doesn't seem to remember anything before the day you two got married, but he can remember everything after that day ... I think we might even be looking at a case of dissociative amnesia, which as you know results from a psychological caused as opposed to physical damage. Forrest does have a long history of psychological problems."<br />
"Hopefully that is all it is." Granite mumbles thoughtfully "So what did you ask him." <br />
"He didn't remember how he got the scar on his leg from your tree fall and the compound fracture, and I asked him about Garnet too and he had no recollection of him or how he faded." he laughs "He didn't remember your space cakes either, that me and Gravel ate."<br />
"Oh fudge ... now that was funny!!" Granite starts laughing<br />
"Not from where I was standing it wasn't." Mango laughs<br />
"You weren't standing Mango, you was rolling around on the floor with Gravel having absolute hysterics." he sniggers <br />
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<br />
"It is actually funny you asked him about the space cakes because we were laughing about that only last week because Mel has got a crab and chocolate cake cravings and Forrest got Saffron and Atlas to cook her some chocolate and crab brownies." Granite rolls his eyes<br />
"what ... crab flavoured brownies?" Dad laughs<br />
"Yeah they were disgusting, but Mel loved them!!" he laughs "Anyway, Forrest remembered the space cakes last week, he actually told Mace the story."<br />
"Yeah, he reminded me last week about his legs, when he walked into a bed and his leg niggled him for the rest of the day because he hit the scar pretty hard. " Dad laughs "He always blames me when he gets any pain in his legs."<br />
"He has definitely lost a lot of his long term memory!!" Granite mumbles<br />
"All of it I think!! I had to tell him who Spot was." Granite pulls a face "He says the first thing he can remember is you two getting married and nothing before that."<br />
<br />
Granite sits there quietly just staring at Dad, he looks like he is starting to get upset.<br />
<br />
"I can't help but think ... if he has lost everything before we got married, he won't remember what we were about any more."<br />
"Yeah he did say something that amused me, after the fuss I've watched him creating for the past twenty years ... he said he couldn't remember why you two even got married when he is straight." "Dad rolls his eyes "He seems to have forgotten the fact that he loved you."<br />
"Exactly my point ...." Granite chokes<br />
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<br />
"You know this memory loss might not be such a bad thing if their is no physical brain damage attached to it." Dad laughs which makes Granite frown at him <br />
"I wouldn't say having amnesia is a good thing!!" Granite is still frowning<br />
"Dissociative amnesia can be .... just like Lilly, she has shut out everything before the coma, so she does not remember the bad thing that used to upset her. Forrest seems to have forgotten or <i>shut out </i>the first eighteen years of his life ... aren't they the year that are screwing him up and causing his phobia. Wouldn't it actually be better for him if he did forget what you two were about."<br />
"Yeah ..." he mumbles as he stares at Dad first blankly, then his eyes widen "Oh Fudge!! His phobia ... if all his childhood memories have gone ... logically his phobia should have gone too."<br />
"Yeah that is exactly what I was thinking!!" Dad starts laughing<br />
"We could take Snow into his room to see how he reacts to him." Granite suddenly grins at me<br />
"No!!" Dad laughs "I've already had Tapestry suggest that!! Impatient the both of you ... we need to get these tests done first ... what about if we are wrong, we could have missed something, or something could have changed since his last scan ... we need to rule everything else out first and the last thing he needs is a toddler springing on him without any warning." he tuts "We really don't need him freaking out and scaring Snow half to death either!!"<br />
"Yeah, I guess you are right." Granite laughs as he stands up and looks at his watch. "I'll get these assessments done, so I can shoot off for a few hours, Mace will be onto me if I'm late home."<br />
<br />
We watch Granite walk out of the room. As soon as the door closes behind him, I laugh at Dad who stares at me for a moment then just closes his eyes and shakes his head.<br />
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<br />
"You should go home." he smiles at me "I'll call you later so you can bring one of the toddlers in, then we can see what damage you've done."<br />
"Damage!" I laugh at him "More like the miracle I've worked curing his phobia!"<br />
"Let's hope so ... or I might just be heading for a nervous breakdown!"<br />
<br />
I laugh at him as I leave his office, thinking he stresses too much!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-12470854546637501282017-07-02T03:55:00.000-07:002017-07-02T03:55:18.351-07:00Chapter 58 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
I wake up abruptly with a violent jolt in a blind panic ... from a bad dream.<br />
<br />
I lie there trying to catch my breath, while I stare up at the ceiling, as I am thinking about the horrible nightmare that I was just having, glad that it was only a dream.<br />
<br />
When I've calmed myself down I start to look around, and take in my surroundings. I can see that the night
lights are no longer on, but I don't feel like I have been asleep for very
long. I glance over towards the other bed at Bay, who is now wide awake, and just lying there watching me, the expression on his face is blank.<br />
<br />
I really don't know what to say to him. I can not even imagine what he might be thinking or feeling right now. While the last four days have been none existent for me, he has lived those four days and had plenty of time to think, while I have been unconscious.<br />
<br />
I hold my breath, even though Granite says they are okay about me and the whole situation, I think I am still expecting the worst, I'm expecting him to start having a go at me.<br />
<br />
Then he smiles at me.<br />
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<br />
"Was you just having a bad dream?" he finally mumbles quietly<br />
"Yeah." I smile at him<br />
"You talk in your sleep ... a lot!" he laughs quietly<br />
"Yeah I know, so your Mother is always telling me." I smile at him even though I'm now worried, I had been dreaming about Wisty when I woke up. "I dread to think what I've been saying."<br />
"You was mumbling rubbish mainly, that didn't really make any sense, you shouted Mom and Granite quite a lot." he laughs quietly<br />
"Have I been doing it the whole four days while I've been out?"<br />
"No only since last night, it started after they took you off the stuff that was keeping you out." he smiles at me then frowns "Are you going to be okay now?" <br />
"Yeah I will be fine after a few days rest, my brain has stopped playing up and doing stupid things ... it was only concussion, nothing to worry over."<br />
"Yeah right - they rushed you into theatre because your brain was bleeding and you was having those fits like Slate did, and you say don't worry!!"<br />
"Seizures - my brain basically hit my skull and it is swollen and bruised, which disturbs the brains ability to function properly for a while - that's
all it is. There shouldn't be any more seizures, and I don't have blurred vision or
slurred speech any more. Granite said it was only a slight bleed which they fixed in theatre, so I will be fine."<br />
"Slate didn't bruise his brain, so why did he have seizures like you did."<br />
"The alcohol poisoning caused his, but there are a lot of different
reasons why people have seizures - they are caused by abnormal,
disorganized and sudden electrical activity in the brain."<br />
"Yeah I guess it does help you being a doctor." he laughs<br />
"Not always, I know everything that could have happened when I hit my
head - which is a lot more frightening, so I'm very relieved it is only
the effects of concussion that I'm suffering from right now. A few days
and I'll be as right as rain." I smile at him "Although I can't say the same thing about my hair."<br />
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<br />
"Yeah you do look funny without your dreads." he laughs at me<br />
"Who is responsible for this?" I laugh as I wave the plait about<br />
"Me." he grins at me "You are lucky it's just a plait. Granite was looking for pink ribbon, he was going to tie it in pretty pigtails. Luckily for you Tap had one of Vanilla's hair bands in his pocket, or you might just have freaked out when you looked at yourself in the mirror, if Gran had had his way." we both start laughing<br />
"He can't help himself, he turns everything into a joke." I laugh "I bet he's been bouncing around here like an idiot for the past four days."<br />
"No he has actually been pretty quiet, he's been really worried about you."<br />
<br />
There is suddenly an awkward silence between us that has never been there before. We have always been pretty close as mate, now it suddenly feels very awkward, because everything has changed. I can't help but wander if we are going to lose the relationship that we had and he will start speaking to me and treating me differently.<br />
<br />
"So has anything interesting happened while I've been out these past four days?" I ask for the sake of it, not really knowing what else to say to him.<br />
"Oh Fudge yeah!" he starts laughing "Tap and Crystal are having QUADS!!"<br />
"What?!" he laughs as my eyes widen<br />
"Yeah FOUR babies, they found out on her scan. They are having two sets of identical twins too." he laughs<br />
"Two sets ... that's very unusual!" I laugh quietly<br />
"Yeah Mango said." he laughs "Tap's head is all over the place."<br />
"Yeah I can imagine - four babies is a little too many to be having all in one go!" I laugh quietly "Has Scarlet had the baby yet?"<br />
"No not yet, we are still waiting." he rolls his eyes<br />
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"Mint has dumped Parsley." he laughs sarcastically "I really don't get her!! She has been moping over him for years, they have hardly been back together for five minutes, then out of the blue she dumps him ... I think she's gone mad suddenly!!" he pulls a face<br />
"Yeah Granite told me when I woke up earlier. To be honest, I saw it coming." he frowns at me "She has told me a few times lately, it wasn't good, they've been arguing because they both want a few different things out of life. She wants the move to Berry and he doesn't, I think that's what has put the final nail in the coffin." I laugh quietly "I have never thought Mint and Parsley were well suited anyway, he's too laid back and lazy where as she has a lot of energy and drive ... I've always said to your Mom, Crimson is more Mint's type - they both very alike, and have the same ambition and drive."<br />
"Oh fudge!! I hope you are not going to try matchmaking!" he starts laughing "I am not sure they even fancy each other."<br />
"They probably don't, and no I'm not doing any matchmaking!" I laugh "I wouldn't be surprised if they both stay single now for a long time, they are both more interested in their career than their love life."<br />
"Yeah ..." he laughs "Just like we thought you were ... because we didn't see what you and Mom have been doing on the sly all this time."<br />
"You do understand why we hid it from you don't you!"<br />
"Yeah." he mumbles<br />
"Can you phone your Mom
for me, I don't
know where my phone is."<br />
"It's only 5 am." he mumbles
then laughs "I don't think they will be too impressed down in maternity
if her phone starts going off and waking everyone up."<br />
"Yeah I guess it is a bit too early." I frown "I thought it was later than that ... the night lights are normally still on now."<br />
"I turned the lights on ... you woke me up shouting and screaming about an hour ago."<br />
"Sorry ... " I mumble<br />
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<br />
He
lies there just staring at me and I still can not imagine what he might
be thinking right now about me or this whole situation. We have pretty much avoided the subject up until now. Finally he knows that I am his Dad, and it is
hard enough for me to get my head around the fact that I now have to
openly be his Dad if he wants me to be, so I can imagine taking it in
has been hard for all three of them.<br />
<br />
"Who do I look like?" he asks suddenly<br />
"You have your Mom's slanty eyes obviously." I laugh quietly "Facially you actually look a lot like my Dad more than anyone else. You have a lot more Leaf in you than you realise, we both have him to thank for our OCD."<br />
"So who do you look like." this makes me laugh a little<br />
"Both me and Meadow take more after my Mom, facially anyway ... I have all my Dad's colouring, but my looks come from my Mom, as well as her ears." I roll my eyes "I bet you are glad you escaped those."<br />
"Yeah just a bit." he laughs quietly<br />
"I guess you've seen Holly and Ivy, Gran said they've been here and staying with Fudge."<br />
"Yeah." he laughs "They don't like you very much do they."<br />
"No, because we couldn't protect them from me and my phobia like we could you three." I smile at him "But it hasn't been so bad for them, because most of the time they have only had to see me once a month. I've had to keep my distance. A lot of the time when I've stayed in Raspberry I've had to book myself into a hotel, so I didn't upset them too much." <br />
"What am I supposed to call you now?"<br />
"Leafy or Forrest like you've always done." he frowns at me in a wierd way<br />
"Why not Dad, because that is what you are?" <br />
"It's not that I don't want you to or wouldn't like you to call me Dad,
but Alpine has always been your Dad, I've never been that to you and I don't think I deserve it. Under the circumstances, it's not wise
around your Dad anyway, he is feeling insecure enough, without us making it
worse and upsetting him. You have always called him Dad, so really that shouldn't change."<br />
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<br />
"He is getting bad isn't he."<br />
"He has been a little unstable for a while. His medical condition
hasn't really got any worse, and he has been a lot better since the
hospice and Meadow is helping him a lot mentally." this makes him snigger "I just think he is taking a lot longer to
deal with his grief and it has been unhinging him a little. It's made worse for him because he forgets sometimes that they have faded, so when he does remember, it knocks him about, he has to keep reliving the grief." I smile at him "Cinnamon and
Sunny are
still really weighing him down, and telling you three the truth about me was
always going to upset him. He has always been scared that he would lose you, and I think as soon as he see's this isn't going
to change anything with your three's relationship with him, he will
settle down again."<br />
"But it does change things doesn't it." he mumbles "For me at least, not so much the girls probably."<br />
"How does it?" I frown at him<br />
"I think I have always known deep down he was not my Dad, or I hoped at
least." I frown at him "I am actually relieved he isn't my Dad, and I don't have to take any of his shit any more!! We have never been close, he's always treated me and Cinn differently,
and me differently to the girls. I think I've always been his least
favourite, and now I know why!! I was the one who ended his marriage ..."<br />
"Don't talk shit ... me, Mel, Alpine and Meadow are the ones who
ended their marriage you wally!! Even if you had not come along, it was
going to happen anyway, your Mother fell in love with me and Alpine with
Meadow. Their marriage was on the rocks even before Cinnamon was born, before me and Meadow started interfering in it. Their separation was more than amicable, both of them knew they should
never have got married to each other in the first place, and the only
real argument going on between them was who was having Cinnamon." I
laugh at him<br />
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<br />
"So why did he beat you up so badly if he wasn't bothered."<br />
"Pride mostly, not because he loved your Mom. It would have dented his
ego if anyone had found out his wife had gone off sleeping with
somebody else behind his back, especially when they had not been married for very long, and part of it was because I was his mate. I actually hurt him more than your Mother did. He was a little shocked, it was probably the last thing he expected because he knew I was married to Granite, and he thought I was gay!!"<br />
"Yeah, didn't we all!!" he laughs sarcastically<br />
"I was also a threat to his world which unhinged him a little." he frowns at me "You know he has been in care all his life, he has always felt very alone and your Mother and Cinnamon were the only family that he has ever had, and he didn't want to lose it. A part of why he tried to hold onto his marriage before you arrived, and why he has been happy to put himself into this dysfunctional situation, when most wouldn't have." I smile at him "So please,
don't blame
yourself for anything!! Me and your Mother are the ones who caused most
of the mess, and Alpine wasn't so innocent himself, he was sneaking
around with my Sister at the same time as I was sneaking about with your Mother!!"<br />
"Well he dislikes me for some reason!!"<br />
"Why do you say that?" I frown at him<br />
"I never felt like he loved me, or even liked me most of the time. I was the one who always got the blame and into
trouble even when it wasn't me, they could do no wrong when everything I
did was wrong. I felt like I was an irritation to him most of the time, and we all know that he didn't like me because I am different."<br />
"Are you talking about you being gay?"<br />
"Partly, and of course, I'm not even his kid, he was always telling me I wasn't his son!!"<br />
"Only probably because of his brain damage, you know this has been very hard for him, having to watch what he is saying all the time, so that he didn't give the game away." I laugh quietly "You know as well as I do, he's not very comfortable with the whole gay thing and you are hard to live with because of your OCD, like me, your Dad struggles to live with me sometimes, it has probably just been a class of personalities." <br />
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<br />
"He threw it
at me a lot of times that I wasn't his son, which he didn't do to the
girls, and it was really starting to play on my mind especially when
there has never been any love there for me from him, and I have always
been closer to you and Mango than Alpine."<br />
"Seriously Bay,
please don't call your Dad by his name, especially not for him to
hear!!" I frown at him "While I am very happy that you seem to be
accepting me for who I am, he will always be your Dad, he loves you
regardless of what you think, he raised you from a baby when I couldn't
and he didn't have to. He had the chance of a life with my Sister which
he gave up for you and Cinnamon. You probably don't realise the
sacrifices all four of us have had to make to give the four of you a
good and stable upbringing, one that didn't mash your heads up, which I
would have done if he hadn't taken my place, and it wasn't just you
three, Cinnamon would have been affected by my behaviour too. We had to do what was best for all four of you, even
though I know it
hasn't been perfect, especially because of your Dad's brain damage - but please
understand that we have done what was best for you in the long run,
especially your Dad. Me and your Mother had every reason, you being our kids, to want to protect you, but he didn't, he could have walked away with Cinnamon and left us to it ... so your Dad is the main reason why all three of you have grown up to be happy and mentally stable and not messed up in the head like Slate and Saffron are both now because of their parents and upbringing!! If your Dad hadn't taken my place and been your Dad, I would now be no better than Gravel or Sunny, because I seriously would have messed you up. "<br />
<br />
He just lies there saying nothing, he is not even looking
at me now and I can see him twirling his thumbs in circles around each other, just like Mel does when she is troubled or has something on her mind.<br />
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<br />
"Bay you need to tell me what is troubling you."<br />
"I just feel ... I don't understand why you even told us, when you keep
ramming Dad in our faces saying it changes nothing ... but it does!!
It's like you don't want to be our Dad and are still trying to keep us
at arms length ..."<br />
"Is this just how you feel or do the girls think this too?"<br />
"I ... I don't know exactly what they think, as usual they
exclude me,
they are too busy still giggling over you and Mom having a sex life!"
he pulls a face "Mint doesn't seem bothered about any of it, and if she
is, she isn't letting it show, she is like you, she keeps herself shut
off."<br />
"What about Fudge?"<br />
"She ... she's
very upset over Alpine not being her Dad, she's always been Daddies girl
and his favourite after Cinn." he laughs sarcastically "I don't know
how she feels about you being her Dad."<br />
"And how do you feel about me being your Dad?"<br />
"Relieved ... confused .... okay I guess ... but does it really matter how I feel when you are acting like you don't want to be our Dad and are still trying to keep us at arms length!!"<br />
"Bay that is the very last thing I am trying to do!!" I smile at him <br />
<br />
I
can see he is starting to get upset, he has surprised me, here was me
thinking that he would take this in a completely different way. I
expected him to be angry and hate me, but he seems to be struggling with
this in another way. He is suddenly giving me the impression that he
has always felt unloved and unwanted.<br />
<br />
I motion for him to move closer to me, and he comes over and sits on the edge of my bed..<br />
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<br />
"If you
want our
relationship to change, then it can by all means, I would love nothing
more that to finally be your Dad, it is what I've always wanted, but my phobia has always prevented
me from doing." I smile at him "Don't think I don't love you, because I do, all three of
you, it
has almost destroyed me, you not knowing who I am, and having to only watch you
from a distance, especially since
you have all been teenagers." he laughs quietly <br />
"Why has it taken you so long to tell us."<br />
"Honestly, I have been trying for the past six years to get your Mother to come clean. Neither of your parents wanted your teenage years to be ruined by this situation, especially if you took it badly, they thought it might mess your heads up. They were probably right about waiting until you were all adults, even though I haven't been happy with it." I smile at him "I am only standing
back now because I am scared, I didn't know how any of you would take
this, or react
to me. I expected all three of you to hate me for not being here while
you were growing up, like I hate myself, and the only reason I am going
on about your Dad, is because there has always been the three of us in this and that will never change!! The last thing I want to do is push Alpine
out, take him away from you or cause any more trouble, after what he has done for me and the
three of you. He is the reason we have been able to hide me and protect you, without him I dread to think what I would have done to the three of you, mentally. Obviously the three of you love him as your Dad, and this
shouldn't change that, regardless of how you do eventually feel about
me. Under normal circumstances it might have been different, he could
have coped with it better, but unfortunately we do have to accommodate
his mental state, just like since the day you was born, we have had to
accommodate my mental state."<br />
"Yeah isn't that just peachy, I end up with two Dads, who are both nutters!!" he starts laughing <br />
"Better nutters than twisted like Sunny and Gravel." I mumble
"You might not be happy right now with this situation or me, but honestly it
could have been a hell of a lot worse than it is now!"<br />
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<br />
"We are actually pretty stupid!" he laughs sarcastically "How have we never seen that me and Fudge have your hair, and that Mint looks just like you. How have we never seen what has really been going on with Mom and Dad, especially you and Mom." he rolls his eyes "If I had thought about things properly over the years, I could have worked it out, I've seen you doing things ..."<br />
"What things?" I frown at him<br />
"Since I was a child I can remember, when there was any trouble, you always seemed to suddenly appear from nowhere to take our side and sort it out. I have seen and heard you having a lot of fights with Gravel, Sunny and Dad especially over me ..." he laughs "I over heard you once, telling Dad he had no right to hit me, you both said things in that argument that make perfect sense now, you even sent me to my room and grounded me. I thought you was mad at the time, taking looking out for your mates kid too far ... but now I know why you was doing it. Like the time you layed into Parsley when he was messing about with Strawberry behind Mint's back. All the hassle with Dad, Sunny and Prelude over me being gay that you sorted out .... if I had thought about what you was doing properly, I could have worked it out."<br />
"We are really glad you never worked it out, because you knowing I was your real Dad while you was growing up would never have done you any good."<br />
"So what are you going to do about the new babies?"<br />
"Bay ... I really don't know." I mumble "It depends on what your Mother decides to do."<br />
"Mom says you want her to get rid of them."<br />
"Yes, but you don't need to worry, I doubt that will ever happen, we have had this argument over three other pregnancies and your Mother won't budge, she will have those babies no matter what." I roll my eyes "Even though I mean it at the time I'm glad eventually that she doesn't go through with it ... like now,or you three wouldn't be here now."<br />
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<br />
"So, you wanted her to get rid of all three of us?"<br />
"Actually we didn't argue over you, we weren't sure if you was going to be mine or Alpines ... it was Fudge, Mint and the baby she miscarried that we argued over. Don't think I like what I am asking her to do, because I don't!! It is only because of my phobia and the fear of what I have to face, the hell we have to go through."<br />
"If you say you are happy with us being here now, why would you want her to get rid of the new babies?" he frowns at me<br />
"Obviously because of the hell that I have a head of me, but this time more for the fact that it seriously is not fair on any of us, especially not them!"<br />
"Why?"<br />
"We are not going to be able to protect them from me and my phobia, like we did you three. I am going to mess their heads up and ruin their lives, because we won't be able to hide me being their Dads with you and everyone else knowing." he pulls a face "Besides your Mother is at a really stupid age to be having more children, which is what is worrying me the most."<br />
"Why is it stupid?"<br />
"She is getting too old to be having more babies. There is more of a risk of miscarriage because of her history, and more risk to hers and the babies health because of her age, and if they do arrive safely, she is going to have to bring these two babies up on her own. We will have to continue living our dysfunctional lives separately, and just like with you three, I won't be any help to her, if anything I will just be a hindrance being around." we pull faces at each other "This time she won't even have Alpines help, it is not safe to bring up babies in the same house as him now, so he is going to have to be moved out, and probably into permanent hospice care before his time, which really isn't fair on him. Then there is you three, how are you going to feel having to watch me acting like an irrational idiot and treating your Mother badly, because I do, not because I want to, because my phobia makes me."<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Do you hit her?" he frowns at me<br />
"Hell no!! It is only verbal, I've never hit her ... although she has hit me a time or two because of what I have said to her! You will soon see it is your Mother that wears the trousers in our relationship not me!!" this makes him laugh "I shout and scream at her, I blame her for putting us through it, especially when she has the child around me ... I upset her, at the time and I can't help it, my head goes and so does my tongue, I don't know what I'm saying but it's never pleasant. After I've walked away and calmed down, it upsets me, especially knowing I've upset her, I know she doesn't deserve it ... I really don't know why she has put up with my behaviour all these years or would want to go through all this again!!" I roll my eyes<br />
"Probably because she loves you."<br />
"She must be totally mad!!" I laugh "And if you three don't understand me and my phobia now, trust me, by the time these two have grow up, you definitely will, and you will probably hate me!! You will get to watch all the hell that they and I am going to have to go through for the first thirteen years of their life, because of my phobia, and it isn't going to be pleasant." <br />
"Granite thinks you should be able to cure your phobia now." he smiles "He has explained to me why you have it and what has been screwing you up so much. He thinks now you are moving on and getting over it and him - your phobia should go."<br />
"Yeah that is what he thinks, and so does my psychiatrist. I think that is what your Mother is also pinning her hopes on too, but I doubt I would ever be that lucky!!" I pull a face at him "I've been suffering with it since I was a teenager and I would give anything to be rid of it ... but it's just not happening."<br />
"But you are trying"<br />
"Of course I am!! I have been trying unsuccessfully since the day I found out you was my Son!!" I start to choke as I can feel myself starting to get upset <br />
<br />
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<br />
The door swings open. I glance towards it expecting it to be a nurse or Granite, but am very surprised to see both Mango and Tapestry walking in. I doubt it is even 6am yet, so I am very surprised by them being here, especially Tapestry. I could really do without this right now, all I want to do is curl up into a ball and cry over what I can see I have coming to me again, if Mel decides to go through with the pregnancy.<br />
<br />
"Daddy Leaf is awake!" Tapestry starts laughing at me.<br />
"Yeah, and I hear Daddy Tap has been very busy!!" I laugh half heartedly back at him.<br />
<br />
I really am not in the mood and especially don't feel comfortable with him being here, now that I know he knows about Wisty. If I know Tapestry he will be grilling me over it the first chance he gets, when I would much rather be forgetting all about it. <br />
<br />
"FOUR babies ... you need to bottle it Tap. They would love you down in the sperm bank."<br />
"Very funny!!" he laughs at me "Anyway it's Crystals fault there are four not mine! Poly Cystic Ovaries, fertility treatment and all the identical twins in her family."<br />
"If you say so." I laugh at him <br />
<br />
Tapestry amuses me, he hands Bay a sandwich and a coffee that I can tell have come from the cafe and he tells him to eat it. Bay jumps off the bed and goes to sit in the chair next to Tapestry, who just sits grinning at me.<br />
<br />
"It's nice to see you awake finally." Mango smiles at me<br />
"It is still very early, have you two wet the bed?" I laugh at them<br />
"No." he laughs at me "I have had a stressed out and upset Granite on the phone, waking me up and Tapestry was up anyway with Snow who doesn't sleep too well unless he's riding in the car or being pushed around in the buggy."<br />
"What is Granite stressing and upset about." I frown at Mango<br />
"You!" he smiles at me.<br />
<br />
I don't ask why, as Mango checks me over then he walks to the end of the bed to take a look at my notes.<br />
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<br />
"Where is Granite anyway?" I mumble<br />
"Down in the coffee shop watching a sleeping Snow. I had to give him some time out, so he could pull himself together." I go to ask him what is upsetting Granite but he doesn't give me a chance to ask. "So how did you get that nasty scar on your leg Forrest?"<br />
<br />
Mango asks in a matter of fact way, while he is still looking at my notes. I stare down at my legs and at the scar he is asking about ... my mind suddenly feels blank, it's almost like I'm looking at the scar for the first time, even though I can tell by the look of it, it has been there for years.<br />
<br />
"I ... I don't know?" I frown as I continue to stare at the scar<br />
"You don't know or you can't remember?" Mango asks as he puts down the notes and walks back up to the bed.<br />
"Isn't that the same thing." I frown at him and he chuckles for a moment<br />
"I guess." he laughs at me "So you can't remember why your leg is so badly scarred?"<br />
"No." I frown at him then back at my leg. I really can't remember.<br />
"What if I was to remind you ... me and Gravel were climbing a tree ..." he mumbles as he just stares at me "Does that help to jog your memory?"<br />
"No." I mumble as I continue to stare at my leg "Something is wrong isn't it ... I really can't remember."<br />
"Yes, I think there might be ... Granite is concerned, and now so am I." he frowns at me "You didn't recognise your Mothers engagement ring, or remember proposing to Granite. You don't remember who Spot is, you don't know how you got that scar, you didn't remember Granites Mothers name ... Lost River Elf." he laughs for a moment as he watches my face twisting "You don't remember any of it do you?"<br />
"No." I mumble<br />
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<br />
"Can you remember anything from your childhood?"<br />
<br />
Mango stands there frowning at me as I stare blankly back at him while I'm trying to think. My head feels just as blank as my stare. Mango suddenly starts really laughing<br />
<br />
"You have to remember the time when Granite got me and Gravel stoned?" he continues to laugh<br />
"Dad SERIOUSLY?!" Tapestry suddenly starts howling with laughter at Mango "Please tell me after all the lectures you have given me, that you was a naughty boy yourself and have been smoking dope!"<br />
"Seriously Tapesty it was not through choice, and I didn't smoke it exactly." he laughs but continues to watch me "You don't remember do you?"<br />
"No, I don't .... should I?" I frown at him<br />
"Yes you should as we laugh about it quite often." he pulls one of his troubled faces "Especially when we see a particular cake."<br />
"I want to hear how you got stoned Dad!" I can't help but be amused at Tapestry and Bay, who are sat really laughing at each other.<br />
"Granite made some chocolate brownies and Gravel decided to pinch a handful. We were only about ten, and we didn't know what Granite was up to, or that one of the ingredients was cannabis, not that we probably knew what it was at the time."<br />
"You ate space cakes!" Tapestry starts howling<br />
"Yes we did, not knowing what we were eating, and it wasn't pretty, me and Gravel were both totally off our heads. I was sick for days." he laughs quietly "Granite thought it was highly amusing, especially because Gravel had stolen the brownies, but he didn't laugh for long because mine and Forrest's Dad ripped shreds out of him, for making the space cakes in the first place and especially for leaving them lying around for us to eat." he laughs "They were actually meant for Forrest as a joke, but he never got to eat any."<br />
<br />
I just stare at Mango blankly, not remembering any of it.<br />
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<br />
"Mango, I really don't remember that." I frown at him<br />
"According to Granite you don't remember proposing to him, so what about getting married?"<br />
"Yeah I remember us getting married ... but I don't remember why ... when I'm straight." I mumble and he laughs at me for a moment.<br />
"Amber?"<br />
"What about her?"<br />
"What colour was she? Who was she? How did she fade."<br />
"Orange ... Gravel's wife and she faded when Slate was born."<br />
"What about Garnet?"<br />
"Who's Garnet?"<br />
"You don't remember Garnet?" he frowns at me<br />
"No ... should I?"<br />
"Yes seeing as he was one of your class mates and school friends when we were kids, until he faded." his face twists "He was Cardinal's older brother?"<br />
"No I don't remember." I frown at him "He faded?"<br />
"Yeah, he went swimming in the meadow pond ... he got his legs tangled up in some rubbish at the bottom and he drown." his eyebrows rise a little "It was actually you who found him. It messed you up for months ... and that is the reason why you have such a problem with the colour red." he raises his eyebrows a little "I wouldn't be surprised if that isn't another phobia that you have on the quiet."<br />
"I really don't remember that ... or him." I stare at Mango wide eyed. "There is something wrong with my brain isn't there!"<br />
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<br />
"It looks like it. Your present day memory seems fine according to Granite - but your past ... he thinks there is signs of significant memory loss ... and I am beginning to think the same." he just stares at me thoughtfully "So Doctor Rock, how would you suggest we treat this?" he asks and I have to laugh - he is testing me.<br />
"Blood, urine and nerve tests ... CAT and MRI scan." I mumble<br />
"Right ... I will get that all arranged for today ... and in the mean time I suggest you get some rest, while you have the chance." he smiles at me<br />
"Mango ... who is Spot?"<br />
"Granite's dog ... and you really should remember him, as Spot was around for as long as I can remember. You used to moan constantly because the dog slept in bed with Granite all the time. Granite had him when he was a toddler, and the dog was about sixteen when he faded, just before you got married if I remember rightly." he pulls a face "Gravel again ... he suffocated the dog with a plastic bag just for the fun of it."<br />
"How did I get that scar on my leg?" I frown at him<br />
"It happened when you was Fifteen. Me and Gravel were eleven, and we got stuck up a tree that we were climbing ... Granite came up to help us down and while he was up there, Gravel pushed him out of the tree, we think on purpose." he laughs "You like an idiot, tried to catch him and break his fall. He landed on you and you both ended up with smashed legs." he points at my leg "That particularly nasty scar was as a result of a compound fracture."<br />
"I really don't remember."<br />
"Yeah ... and that is what is worrying me." he frowns at me "Seeing as over the years, that is one of the things that you have never let me forget, we were laughing about it only last week!!"<br />
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<br />
We just stare at each other, and while I am madly trying to think, nothing is coming back to me<br />
<br />
"Is something wrong?" Bay asks<br />
"There could be. It is looking very much like Forrest is suffering from some kind of memory loss." Mango mumbles<br />
"Oh fudge, he is not brain damaged like Dad is he?" Bay starts to panic "Will his memory loss come back?"<br />
"Until we have ran a few tests Bay, we can't really say. Hopefully it is only temporary amnesia." Mango mumbles .<br />
<br />
I think maybe he said that to make him feel better as we can both see he is starting to panic a little.<br />
<br />
"Don't even think about worrying your Mother with this right now Bay!" he laughs at Bay as he watches him pulling out his phone, like I do. "We are having enough trouble keeping her blood pressure down. We should really hold off telling her anything until we know for sure, otherwise she is going to get herself worked up into a tizzy which won't do her or the babies any good."<br />
"Mel is okay isn't she?" I frown at him<br />
"Yeah, she is fine other than her blood pressure which is on the high side, and not coming down, so she could really do without any added stress!!" he rolls his eyes "I'll get on and organise these tests, the quicker they are done, the quicker we will know what is going on with you."<br />
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<br />
Sometimes, I wish I wasn't a doctor, and this is one of those times. <br />
<br />
As I watch Mango walking out of the room, my mind is running through everything that could be causing this memory loss ....<br />
<br />
Now I'm worried!!! <br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <br />
Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-89871597734165366872017-06-24T02:55:00.000-07:002017-06-24T02:56:12.857-07:00Chapter 57 - Gen 2 - Tap~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <br />
<br />
I
wake up slowly feeling very groggy and confused.<br />
<br />
As soon as my eyes are fully
open, and the blurriness starts to disappear, I realise I am in the
hospital, as I am now staring at a very familiar room, that I see virtually every day at work, and I wander how I
got here for a second, then it all comes flooding back to me, remembering I passed out and hit my head.<br />
<br />
The night lights are on, so the room is
dimmer than it normally would be, which confuses me. I suddenly feel
like I have lost time, because it must be night time, so where has the day
gone?<br />
<br />
I try to look around but my head starts to bang as soon as I try
to move it. I spot Bay sleeping, curled up on the other bed. I moan
out load because my head is violently throbbing.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Well you have gone the whole hog with this one, haven't you Leafy!"<br />
<br />
Granite is laughs
quietly. He seems to have suddenly appear from nowhere, and starts to check me over. I just lie there and let him, while I am waiting for the fog in my head to clear. When he has finished he sits down on the bed and smiles at me.<br />
<br />
"Gran ... what happened?" I ask as I automatically go to feel to make sure my
hair is still all there, knowing I've hit my head and I'm in Neurology.
Granite grabs my hand before I even get to feel my head.<br />
"You had a small internal bleed, nothing too major, so I'm sorry you have been in theatre." I
stare at him in horror, thinking they have probably shaved all my hair
off.<br />
"My hair!"<br />
"Don't panic!" he chuckles "You have only lost a few dreads. We didn't take it all off, the gash on your head told us pretty much where the bleed was, so while you have
been out, me and Bay have unpicked them all and washed your hair .... its hardly noticeable." he smiles at me as he waves my plaited hair at me.<br />
"Who did the surgery?"<br />
"Me ... and Mango observed.." this surprises me. I didn't think he would have allowed Granite into theatre with me, but in my confusion I am not sure why I think that. "Thankfully
your last scan was all clear, the erratic brain activity has stopped, the swelling is going down, so its just a case of you resting up. On top
of the bleed, you gave yourself severe concussion, so I guess
you know you are going to be in here for a few days at least, depending
on how you go." he rolls his eyes<br />
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<br />
I am a little amused when he remains holding my hand<br />
<br />
"I guessed you might be destined
for the knife, I noticed you had slurred speech, uneven pupils and
unusual eye movement before I sat you up." he smiles at me "You threw
up and lost consciousness again." he rolls his eyes "Then you started having seizures ... " he mumbles<br />
"For berry's sake!! How many?" I close my eyes<br />
"Four."<br />
"FOUR!!" I snap in shock "I don't remember anything after lying on the couch. Tell me I didn't have the seizures in front of everyone!"<br />
"Yep! Trust you to worry about making a fool of yourself, rather than what damage four seizures could have done to you." he laughs quietly "Two of them were before you left the house, the other two after we got you in here." he rolls his eyes "You terrified me for a while, you didn't regain consciousness once between seizures ... I seriously feared the worst ... but you seem to be fully back with us."<br />
"Great!!" I snap sarcastically "How long have I been out for?"<br />
"This is the fourth day."<br />
"Why did you do the surgery and Mango observe, that's not like him."<br />
"I doubt Mango would have even let me into theatre if he hadn't been left with no other choice ... he had a problem with his contacts, he was blind in one eye, you caught him when you had the third seizure, so it's your fault when you see him with a black eye." we both laugh quietly for a moment "So he had no choice but to let me do the surgery, when there was nobody else available at the time to do it."<br />
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<br />
"Where is Mel?"<br />
"Now don't panic." he mumbles quietly "She is down in maternity, she has been admitted."<br />
"Why?" I try to get up but I can't, mainly because my head is violently throbbing and Granite is holding me down.<br />
"She got very stressed out, and into a bit of state because of your head injury -
she has been here before with Alpine remember, but this time she is
blaming herself. I think Mango put her mind at rest, she knows its
nothing too serious, and we were only keeping you out until your brain
activity stabilized." he smiles<br />
"That doesn't tell me why she is in maternity." he rolls his eyes at me<br />
"Mango had her admitted as a precaution, her blood pressure was a little on the high side and ... she had some spotting."<br />
"Fudge ... if she loses them it will drive her cuckoo again!" I try to get up again, but he doesn't let me<br />
"Look she is fine, she is in the best place. She is being monitored and getting the bed rest she needs. The spotting has stopped, and the babies are fine." he smiles at me "If she wasn't down in maternity she would probably have been camped out her, not sleeping and eating properly like Bay, which would not have done her or the babies any good at all. She is better off in maternity."<br />
"I guess." I mumble "I take it there has been no talk about a termination?"<br />
"Actually there has been a lot of talk about it, Mel was about to do it, like I said she is blaming herself and she knows its those babies that have done this to you. Mango and the kids have talked her out of it ... for now." he smiles at me "Mango is the one who stopped her mainly, he thinks it is a decision you should make together when you are awake, you know what he is like." he laughs quietly "The kids, they just don't like the idea of her doing it, especially Fudge and Bay. Bay made me laugh - he said he would take them to Cherry with him and bring them up if he had to." this makes me laugh for a moment. <br />
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<br />
"Has Mel been confined to maternity the whole time I've been out?"<br />
"No, we have been bringing her up here in a wheelchair, a few times a day. She knows you are okay and that you should be waking up sometime
during the night, so I guess she'll be up here first thing in the morning." he smiles at me<br />
"So if she's in here, who is looking after Alpine?"<br />
"Mint and Meadow."<br />
"They are not being left alone with him are they?" I frown "She hasn't had Holly and Ivy there has she?"<br />
"No, Coal is with them, he is on permanent Alpine sitting duty, so you
don't need to worry about a thing!" he laughs "Holly and Ivy have been there sometimes, but they are staying with Fudge and Mo mostly."<br />
"Coal is there?" I frown at him "Has she told them?"<br />
"Not yet, she couldn't really with you being in here and her down there!"
he smiles at me "Fancy fighting with the table and
floor ..." he starts laughing "Well telling them didn't quite go as we
expected - did it!"<br />
"Not really! I expected T or Bay to put me in here not the table!!" I laugh as I point at Bay "Is he okay?"<br />
"He's been a little clingy and his head is all over the place, a reason why Mel has held off telling them about Coal. I
think he's in for the night again, he has basically been camped out
here, getting himself into a state on the sly. He says he is enjoying
the break from crying babies and Slate's snoring, but I'm not sure that
is his reason for sticking to you like glue." he laughs quietly "Mango
knows he is there, he's given him something to settle him down, and has
told the nurses just to leave him there. I think he's going soft in
his old age."<br />
"Have any of the kids been kicking off, now it's sunk in?"<br />
"No quite the opposite, they seem to understand why you have done it
this way, and it was the best way for them. Both me and Mango have had a good chat with them, they seem to be accepting
it okay." he laughs<br />
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<br />
"I don't get it!! Why haven't they kicked off?"<br />
"I think its because they know you haven't been a completely absent Dad, they
know you have been around all their lives buzzing around in the background. All three of them remember you being there even from when they were little." he smiles at me "I think you and Alpine
being friends and Meadow and Alpines relationship has helped, especially that Alpine has been okay about the whole situation all along. I think
they worked out for themselves that Mel and Alpine didn't have a very close or loving
relationship, and they know their separation was amicably. Besides they know you, and
they like you, they think compared to Alpine you are pretty laid back
for an oldie and it's not like they have had to meet a random stranger
is it." he smiles at me "Of course it has been a shock to their system
finding out you are there Dad and not Alpine, but they don't seem to hate the
idea. It hasn't fazed Mint one little bit, she is already calling you Daddy Leaf." he laughs quietly " Fudge has done the most crying, she has always been very close to Alpine
hasn't she, so it's Alpine not being her Dad more than anything that has knocked her about, not you." he rolls his eyes as he nods in Bays direction "That one
has closed himself off, and is going down, like he did when Slate was on
life support, and we have struggled to get him out of here, but we are
on top of it."<br />
"Yeah he was the one that worried me most, because he is the one I've been closest too. I've been his mate and I expected him to hate me for lying to him all this time."<br />
"Well he definitely doesn't hate you!! I honestly think he will be fine now you are awake, and him hardly
leaving your side, I think it's because he cares about you, and is
worrying himself stupid, just like he did with Slate."<br />
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<br />
"Did you explain everything to Slate ..."<br />
"Yes I've spoken to him, he's been a little quiet, but I think you know he's a thinker, and he's worrying about Bay right now. I've given Slate a few days and I'll try talking to him again. Slate and Tapestry have been sitting here with Bay quite a lot, while you've been snoozing, so I don't think he has taken it too badly." he smiles at me. <br />
"T?" I ask and he starts laughing<br />
"Kicking off royal style!! Don't be surprised if he never speaks to you again." he laughs
sarcastically "He's furious and heart broken all over again!"<br />
"Yeah I guessed he would be, the idiot!" I laugh "What has your Dad said?"<br />
"Honestly, it didn't surprise him, he's just glad there are now clear signs that we will NOT be getting back together!" he laughs<br />
"Charming! I guessed your Dad didn't like me very much."<br />
"It is not you he dislikes, it was the way you used to control and manipulate me ... he's never thought our emotional attachment was healthy. His words - you are a nice guy when you are away from me." he laughs, but I frown at him for a moment, not too sure what he means by that.<br />
"So everyone knows by now I guess."<br />
"Of course, you know how quickly gossip flies around the
extended family, especially when it is being peddled by Parsley, who had a front row seat." he
laughs then smiles at me "Don't worry about it, I think I
know what you are worrying about, but you don't need to, I've spoken to
her!" he glances at Bay<br />
"And?"<br />
"She was not happy
obviously, but she says she won't say anything to the kids, we have got some new dirt on
her that she really does not want getting out!" he grins at me<br />
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<br />
"That isn't going to stop her ... she's off her head!" I mumble <br />
"We have threatened to spill it if she upsets them, she really doesn't want Prelude finding out what we have on her ... so we think we have got your stalker off your back for
good." he starts laughing "Mace played the old school criminal Brownie, he lifted her phone on the quiet, and wiped your number and all the text that she has kept that have been going on between the two of you. He's wiped you completely out of her phone, photo's, emails, text - so she has now got no proof." he grins at me "She can't even phone you because she doesn't have your number any more ... and if she does say anything, just deny it, she can't prove it, it's your word against hers and I'm sure Mel will back you up in denying it!!"<br />
"Well I hope you are right and she does back off!! You know how she's been driving me nutz lately keep phoning
and texting me. I thought she would be the one to spoil everything with the kids." I laugh quietly "I half expected to wake up and find her dressed as a nurse, threatening to cut things off if I didn't play her game!" he starts howling at me.<br />
"Like we would let that happen!! She's gone back to uni, so it will be months before
she's in town again. Me and Tap took her to the airport and put her on a plane out of here." he laughs<br />
"Tapestry ... please tell me he doesn't know!"<br />
"Yeah, he already knew, his spirit friends told him apparently." he starts laughing "But don't worry, you know Tap won't say anything ... he helped me get rid, he is the one who dug up the dirt on her, and he is livid with her creepy stalking. The last thing he wants is Bay getting hurt by it." he smiles at me "Just forget about it now, and concentrate on
getting better, hopefully you'll be in Berry before she lands in this town again."<br />
"I hope so." I smile at him<br />
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<br />
"Has Mint moved back in with Mel?"<br />
"Yeah, me and Coal went with her to get her stuff, I'm not sure Parsley saw it coming and he kicked off a little, but we were in and out pretty quickly and there was no trouble" he laughs "Mint recons before the week is out he'll be crawling back to Strawberry."<br />
"Has she just moved out or have they broke up?" I frown at him<br />
"She's broke up with him - she is dead set on going to Berry and he doesn't want to, so she has cut her losses now." he sniggers "Coal spotted Juniper while we were there ... now he's gone a little stupid!"<br />
"I thought Maize and Juni were trying to patch things up."<br />
"They are, but it doesn't stop Coal liking her." he laughs "If Mulberry gets his way Juni and Mazie won't be getting back together, especially with the talk of Maize moving to Berry!!" he laughs quietly <br />
"Coal seems to be hanging around a lot." I frown at him<br />
"Yeah well, he is going to want to isn't he, his head is all over the place, he's doing what Bay is doing, clinging ... I'll talk to you about it later, just in case." he smirks as he nods his head in Bay's direction. I'd forgotten for a bit that he was there "He has had a couple of sleeping tablets but you never know."<br />
"Who's on the night shift?"<br />
"You should be remember!" he starts laughing "So I'm covering seeing
as you are skiving, or as Mango puts it - sleeping on the job."<br />
"Sorry!"<br />
"It's fine, you know I would have been camped out here a lot anyway until you woke up and I enjoy working. Mace isn't too impressed, but
he'll get over it once I've buttered him up a bit in the morning." he
smiles at me "And I have got just the thing to put a big smile on that
cute face of his." he starts laughing as he fumbles about in his
pocket.<br />
"Yeah I bet you have." I laugh at him<br />
"Put your dirty mind away Leafy." he laughs as he hands me a box.<br />
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<br />
I think I already know what is going to be in the box before I even open it.<br />
An engagement ring for Mace.<br />
<br />
"Hell ... that must have cost you a fortune." I laugh at him<br />
"Yeah well, you know what he's like ... he has expensive tastes." he laughs "I thought I had better get him one bigger and better than the one he had during the police operation."<br />
"I thought you said he had packed all his crap in."<br />
"He has mostly ... but he's worth it." he grins at me as he starts to wave an envelope at me "Leafy, why didn't you tell me you was doing this?"<br />
"Doing what?" I frown at him<br />
"They came this morning ... I didn't tell Mace straight away
because I needed some time to get over the shock, without him going all
hyper on me!!" he smiles as he hands me the envelope, which I
can see has my name on. "We are now free and single. Our divorce has
come through already, thanks to you." he laughs "And here was me
thinking I'd have to wait years!!"<br />
<br />
I stare at him for a
moment, before I open the envelope, suddenly I feel a little empty
headed and confused. I stare at the papers which tell me that I am now
no longer married to Granite. I am really not sure what I should be
feeling right now, happy or sad, but all I feel is numb and nothing.<br />
<br />
"So why didn't you tell me you had put in for an annulment after all the arguing we did <i>and </i>all the money I have wasted at the solicitors trying to divorce your ass!?"<br />
"I don't know." I mumble as I frown at him, I have to think for a
moment which makes him frown at me. "I guess it's about time I started showing Mel I'm serious about our relationship and I know your drama
queen is upset that you wouldn't be able to get married before he gets
locked up."<br />
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<br />
"Seriously!?" he laughs quietly "Sometimes I
really can't work you out Leafy!!" he starts to really laugh then he
gets a mischievous look on his face "Sooooo, how do you fancy getting
married on the sly, we have got time?"<br />
"What?! We have only just got divorced!!"<br />
"Not us you idiot!" he starts howling "Me and Mace, you and Mel, we
could all be married before the trial begins ... something else to stick
to the berry hole!!" he starts laugh "The look on Mace's face me
springing a surprise marriage on him ... it will be a picture!!"<br />
"Wow slow down!!" I laugh at him "If you and Mace want to get married
then go for it ... Me and Mel have not even talked about getting
married and I am not doing anything that will upset the kids."<br />
"I doubt you two getting married is going to upset them! Like Alpine says, it is very long overdue!!" he laughs
"Just think about it, because you know Mace isn't the only one who needs
reassuring that we have sorted our heads out and are not going to interfere with each other's hearts and love lives in the future, Mel needs exactly the same reassurance, she still sees me as a threat." he starts to really laugh "For berry's sake you have three
kids together and another two on the way, why wouldn't you marry the
woman!"<br />
"Like us getting married is really going to put either of their minds at rest!" I laugh at him<br />
"Keep our divorce a secret Leafy ... I will take that to hide it away." he
giggles as he takes my letter off me "I want to spring a surprise
marriage on Mace, before he gets locked up, so keep stum. This is going to be so good, it will be the very last thing he will be expecting." he grins at me "You can help me - I
might even let you be my best man!" he starts laughing <br />
"Whatever." I laugh at him quietly because I can see how excited he is
getting "Gran ... why did we even get married." he frowns at me<br />
"Because we thought we loved each other." he is frowning in a weird
way "Why ask me that question Leafy, when you know why."<br />
"I ... I'm struggling to remember." I mumble as he continues to frown at me.<br />
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<br />
"Which reminds me, I guess I should give you this." he holds a ring up to me, which I frown at for a moment, I am really starting to get confused, that ring looks like an engagement ring.<br />
"What would I want that for?" I frown at him and he frowns back<br />
"Your Mothers engagement ring ... it's only right that you should have it back." I continue to frown at the ring<br />
"Why would you have my Mothers engagement ring?" I hear him choke<br />
"You gave it me remember, when you proposed to me!" I continue to
frown and he squints at me suspiciously "You have seen this ring before
haven't you Leafy?"<br />
"I ... I don't know ... I can't
remember."<br />
"Don't you remember proposing to me?"<br />
"No." I shrug<br />
<br />
I am still staring at the ring, I'm confused because I don't think
I have seen it before, but I must have done if he says it was my Mothers ring and I gave it to him.<br />
<br />
"What do you remember?" he frowns
at me, all I can do is shrug my shoulders and shake my head, which I
instantly regret because it starts to throb.<br />
"Lost River
Elf." he mumbles, which confuses the hell out of me. My head feels
empty and it starts to ache, I feel like I should know what that means
but at this moment in time, I don't.<br />
"What are you on about?" I snap at him and I hear him choke again<br />
"You really don't remember what that means?"<br />
<br />
He jumps up on his feet, he stands and frowns at me before he starts to check my eyes<br />
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<br />
He
grabs for my notes off the end of the bed and flicks threw them, he looks troubled.<br />
<br />
"Leafy how does your head feel?" he frowns at me<br />
"Throbbing and empty." I mumble <br />
<br />
He then starts to fire a load of questions at me, names, places, times, dates
and he is really starting to irritate me, because at this point in time
my head is hurting, trying to think, I can't remember any of what he is talking about, I feel like he is
talking rubbish!!! I remember the day we got married, but everything before that is just a blank.<br />
<br />
"Where did we bury Spot?" he smiles at me<br />
"Who the hell is Spot?" I snap<br />
"You don't know who Spot is?" he is really frowning at me now, and I can see he is starting to get upset.<br />
"No I don't know who Spot is." I mumble "Just quit Granite, you are giving me a headache!!"<br />
"I'm sorry, I should know better!" he smiles at me, but not very convincingly "I've
overloaded your head, without even giving you a chance to wake up and
come round properly. You need to
rest up not me rattling your head off." he pulls a face "I'm sure
you'll remember when you are more with it."<br />
<br />
I just stare at him, I can see the concern on his face like he thinks there is something wrong.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"You should get some sleep."<br />
<br />
He
puts the
buzzer in my hand, he leans right over me, he looks upset and for a
moment I think he is going to kiss me, he hesitates then kisses my head.<br />
<br />
"I'd better do the rounds ... I'll be back to check on you in a bit!"<br />
<br />
I laugh at him as he walks off ... while I'm still trying to remember who Spot is.<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-65065089960722339422017-06-19T16:29:00.000-07:002017-06-19T16:29:17.196-07:00Chapter 56 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
<br />
After I have wiped away what I needed to ... everything in his memory from his birth to the day that Granite and Forrest got married, I jump out of his head and release his eyelids.<br />
<br />
I stand and stare at Forrest in utter and numb shock!!<br />
<br />
This is always the part of looking through someone's memories that I hate!! The part that makes me wish that I did not have this strange ability, and that I was still completely oblivious to it, like I was before I was abducted and introduced to our cold friends with fangs.<br />
<br />
I get to see things that I really don't want to be seeing!!<br />
<br />
Just like with Ruby, Forrest too has things in his head that I really wish that I didn't now know. <br />
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<br />
<br />
My intention was not to look too closely at what he has stored in his head. I wanted to just rewind at speed through his memories until I had found the day that Forrest had married Granite, wipe everything away and come out quickly. <br />
<br />
While I was doing it, I found myself having to slow everything down part way through skimming back, because I kept seeing a very familiar face continuously flashing up from in amongst Forrest's memories, a lot more times than I thought it should have been.<br />
<br />
My cousin Whisteria, seemed to feature heavily in big chunks of his memories, which started to really bug me as well as really confuse me.<br />
<br />
When I looked through all of his memories that Wisty appear in, it didn't take me long to see that Forrest and Wisty have been having a mad fling ... and even though Forrest has put a stop to it now, it looks like it was going on for quite a while on the quiet. I watched the most recent memories very carefully, there seems to be a lot of arguing going on between them, and what my cousin has been up to, it has knocked me sick!!<br />
<br />
This I really didn't want to know.<br />
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<br />
The door opens quite loadly behind me.<br />
<br />
"Are you done?" Dad mumbles<br />
"Yeah, it's done." I mumble back still not taking my eyes off Forrest<br />
"What took you so long ... you said seconds ... you was in there for ages!!<br />
"Sorry I got distracted." I laugh as I look over towards the door "Watching Granite and Forrest as toddlers together, they were quite cute!"<br />
<br />
I have to fob him off with something, I can not tell him the truth about what really distracted me. He and especially Prelude might just hit the roof if they ever find out about this. This is no different to Coral and Gravel, but Wisty and Forrest ... it has really shocked me.<br />
<br />
"Okay well, me and Granite are going to take Bay down to maternity to check on Caramel, and while we have got him down there, I'm going to take him to the cafe and make sure he eats." he laughs quietly "Mace has just turned up, so you can keep him company while we are away ... don't get running off anywhere, I want a chat with you before you go."<br />
"Can't it wait until later, I should really be getting back to Crystal."<br />
"No it can't wait ... Crystal is fine, River is with her. She is still on hyper rails, so he's put her on IV fluids, which was due to be done today anyway. It is helping to keep her still and calm her down, so he can explain to her why she can't keep bouncing around like she does. I really don't know where she gets all her energy from." he laughs "And before you ask, Atlas and Saffron have Vanilla and Snow, they have taken them round to Affairs to play with the triplets, to give Crystal a break."<br />
"How long are you going to be?"<br />
"As long as it takes for Bay to eat a meal." he laughs at me <br />
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<br />
After Dad has left the room I turn back to stare at Forrest again, and my mind goes back to what I have seen.<br />
<br />
Now I know who the missing piece of the jigsaw is ... Forrest.<br />
<br />
Prelude especially has been pulling his hair out with Wisty a lot lately. Out of all of us, she has always been the most sensible one, but lately she has gone completely off the rails, especially as far as her university studies are concerned. We knew she had been messing about with an older married man, who has messed her head up and broken her heart, because Crimson found out and dumped her because of it.<br />
<br />
However, we didn't know who <i>he</i> was .... Now I do know and I really wished I didn't!!<br />
<br />
The door bangs a few times and opens slowly ... Mace is struggling with the door, so I go over to help him. When he is in the room and his wheelchair is parked by the seats I sit down. The first thing I look for is to see if he is wearing a new ring yet, but he isn't, so it doesn't look like Granite has got round to proposing to him yet.<br />
<br />
"Man am I glad this is all FINALLY out in the open!" Mace laughs as he looks over at Forrest<br />
"Only so you can start molesting Granite openly in public now." I laugh at him<br />
"You know it!!" he smirks at me and we both start laughing "I'm also very glad that everyone will now know the truth and stop seeing me as the delusional idiot and the villian in all this."<br />
"Yeah, I guess there is that." I smile at him "But it might take a while, everyone has got to get their heads around him not being gay yet."<br />
"Granite warned me he keeps twitching quite violently sometimes."<br />
"Yeah he does ... it's kind of creepy to watch, but it should stop when his brain activity settles down so Bay says."<br />
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<br />
"Oh, I have just watched them dragging Bay off down the corridor - he really didn't want to go." he laughs "I remember what he was like when Slate was up here ... a nightmare to shift, he virtually lived at the hospital the whole time!! I think we are going to have a hells game with him again until Forrest wakes up."<br />
"I didn't see what he was like, I was away then, if you remember I came back the day Slate woke up."<br />
"Yeah, it seems like such a long time ago now, even though it isn't." he starts to snigger "Such a lot has happened in such a short space of time ... especially for you Mr Rock Star!" he starts laughing at me<br />
"You know about the babies don't you."<br />
"Yeah, all FOUR of them." he starts really laughing "Berry Tap, you do know it is a lot easier to have one at a time, don't you."<br />
"Yeah I know ... I still haven't got over the shock of it yet."<br />
"I can imagine!! Granite was virtually rolling around on the floor outside when your Dad told him ... I'm afraid you are going to get ribbed something chronic when he gets the chance."<br />
"Yeah I guessed I might!" we both sit laughing "Where is Clay?"<br />
"With Slate and Dad downstairs. They are watching him for me while I popped in here ... we couldn't get a sitter, so we brought them with us." he laughs quietly "Slate and Amber being down in the cafe was the only reason they managed to get Bay out of here I think."<br />
"Oh!! While I think about it, I have got something for you." I smirk at him
as I reach into my inside pocket. "It's not due out for another few
weeks, so you have the official first copy." <br />
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<br />
"Thanks!! Wow It looks different in print." he grins as he stares at the CD cover that I've just given him. "It's been too many years since I've seen any of my artwork in print." <br />
"Rocky loves it, he was pretty shocked when I told you illustrated the Mr Berry books, and it looks like you have got yourself a permanent job if you want it." I smile at him "He has got a solo single planned soon, and he wants you to do the cover ... I've given him your number so I guess he'll be phoning you soon ... and you'll definitely be getting all of mine and the joint Rocky Storm stuff, and there is that other dance music project I'm working on with Shadow."<br />
"Mmm Shadow ... the mysterious guy in a cloak ...who is he Tap?"<br />
"It's a trade secret. Only me, Rocky, Prelude and my boss Grape know who he is." I laugh at him "The world will get to find out who he is one day ... but in the mean time, his stuff especially will keep you very busy with him being anonymous and not having a real face in public." <br />
"That's all very nice ..." his face twists up "But don't forget Tap, this time next month I'll be inside, and I dread to think how long they might lock me up for, especially if Gravel continues to be a berry hole."<br />
"That's just a minor detail." I smirk at him "I said the same thing to Rocky, but he laughed at me, because I'm new to all this fame lark and haven't leaned how to use it to my own advantage yet!" I laugh "Rocky throws his weight around everywhere to get what he wants, plus you have Shale, so Rocky says the three of us can make noise and pull enough strings for you to carry on doing the artwork, even if you are in prison."<br />
"It would be good if you can pull it off!!" he grins at me "It will give me something to do, to save me getting bored out of my tidy mind just staring at four walls."<br />
<br />
The door opens and I think Dad and Bay might be back already.<br />
<br />
Who I see walking into the room totally floors me ... <br />
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<br />
I sit there staring at her and I can feel the colour draining away from
my face. She picks her moment to turn up after I have only just found
out what she has been up to with Forrest.<br />
<br />
The expression on her face as she stares at Forrest, kind of gives it away, which makes me snap.<br />
<br />
"Seriously Wisty!!" I snap at her "You need to sling your hook back to Uni!!"<br />
"What is your problem Tap?!" she frowns at me "I know you and Dad are best buddies right now, but it doesn't mean you have to do his dirty work for him ... I'll go back to Uni when I feel like it!!"<br />
"You are my problem, and it has nothing to do with Prelude!!" I frown at her "What are you even doing here? Not that I really have to ask!"<br />
"Granddad told me you was here, and about Forrest ... I am just checking he is okay."<br />
<br />
I watch her give Mace quite a shifty look, and he pulls quite an unpleasant face back at her ... I wander if he knows?!<br />
<br />
"Well he is okay ... so now you can go!!" I snap at her<br />
"Seriously cuz ... who has rattled your cage."<br />
"You!!" I snap at her "Don't think I don't know!!"<br />
"You tell me ... what do you know?" she laughs at me "It looks like our little Tappy is having one of his terror tantrum!" <br />
"I know who your married man is!" I snap at her "So right now I really don't want to be seeing your face, because just looking at it makes me want to have a tantrum on it!! You are as bad as Coral, it's no wander Crimson dumped you!"<br />
"You and who's army Tap! Come and try having a tantrum on my face!!" she laughs at me sarcastically "And you don't have a clue who he is, so wind your neck in!!" <br />
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<br />
"Oh I know exactly who he is all right!!" I snap at her "Wisty you need to go, there is enough shit going on around here already without you coming in here and making it worse ... stalker!!"<br />
"You've told him haven't you!" she snaps at Mace suddenly<br />
"No I haven't said a word!!" Mace mumbles as he looks between me and Wisty "I don't have a clue how he found out!!"<br />
"You know who he is too don't you?" I frown at Mace<br />
"Yeah I do" he mumbles "and you are right Tap, she does need to leave."<br />
"How long have you known?" I frown at him<br />
"Since I was in here myself ... he ended it that long ago, and stalker is the word, because she won't leave him alone. The four of us have been laying into her telling her to sling her hook, but she's not listening."<br />
"I don't get it, why was he having a fling with Wisty, with everything else he had going on."<br />
"He was in a bad place, arguing with the Mrs because she's been messing him about for six years refusing to tell the kids the truth about him. He was hurting and lonely, he bumped into Wisty in a bar, got drunk, she threw herself at him and he lost his head. He's only been seeing her when she comes here from Uni. He told us he tried to put a stop to it straight away, but she's been black mailing him, telling him she's tell everyone, and he's been terrified of the kids finding out the truth and getting hurt."<br />
"Does Mel know about him and Wisty?"<br />
"Yeah she does. He told her when he refused to go there any more, she wasn't happy obviously, but she forgave him. I think she knew she was partly to blame, she pushed him to it, because of what she was putting him through, and he swears he only carried on doing it because Wisty was blackmailing him and he was trying to protect the kids."<br />
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<br />
I notice Mace get out his phone and he sends a quick text to someone. I sit and watch my cousin a little bemused, she has been paying no attention to what me and Mace were just saying, and the way she is sat staring at Forrest, she is not even trying to hide it. <br />
<br />
"Wisty you need to leave!! I know for a fact Forrest wouldn't want her in here!!" Mace glares at her "Haven't you caused enough trouble already ... It's about time you took the hint, grew up and packed it in!! If Gran and Mel catch you in here they are going to go ballistic!"<br />
"Let them!" she laughs without taking her eyes off Forrest "I notice they are not here themselves, seeing as they are <i>supposed</i> to care so much!" she snaps sarcastically<br />
"They have good reason for not being here right now, but it won't be long before they are ... so you need to sling it!!"<br />
"Anyway, what's your problem Mace, since when did you suddenly become his guard dog ... you can't even stand him!!"<br />
"That's not the point!!" he snaps "The point is Forrest has been telling you for the past nine months to SLING YOUR HOOK and leave him alone ... so you seriously need to listen and DO IT!!"<br />
"Yes Wisty, you need to go!!" I snap at her "We really don't need anyone finding out about this, especially not Bay, he is upset enough at the moment without you adding to it!"<br />
"What has Bay got to do with this?" she laughs sarcastically "Or are you two covering for her too, helping her hide her dirty secret ... I wander what Alpine would say if he found out his wife is playing away!"<br />
"Oh Fudge!!" Mace half laughs and chokes "I bet she doesn't know yet!!"<br />
<br />
Me and Mace look at each other and laugh for a moment.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Wisty, what did Granddad tell you about Forrest?"<br />
"Just that you and Uncle Mango were here because Forrest had banged his head and ended up in surgery." she frowns at me "Why?"<br />
"So you don't know about Forrests kids?"<br />
"What kids, he doesn't have any!" she laughs at me<br />
"Bay, Fudge, Mint ... they are Forrests kids not Alpines!!" I laugh at her "plus Mel is pregnant and they have twins on the way. Alpine has known all along about Caramel and Forrest, he has been covering for them too with good reason, they are not even married, they got divorced after Bay was born."<br />
"Stop talking SHIT!!" she snaps at me<br />
"He's not talking shit Wisty!!" Mace laughs at her "You already know he's been seeing Mel, but it's not only recent like we made out, it's been going on secretly for over twenty years, he was seeing Mel behind Granites back before he even got locked up and Alpine knew all about it!" <br />
"You need to talk to your brother, Parsley will fill you in on all the gossip. He will tell you all about it and that he is dating Forrest's daughter!" I snigger at her "I've got a picture of Mint on my phone if you want to take a good look at it and compare it with her Daddies face."<br />
"Sod off Tap!!" she snaps <br />
"Wisty, I think I know why you are doing this and continuing with your shit ..." Mace mumbles "... because it worked for me, I got Granite in the end but you aren't ever getting Forrest!! He doesn't love you, he doesn't even like you!! You hit him when he was at a low point, and he's regretted going there ever since!! You haven't got a cat in hells chance of splitting him and Mel up with your creepy stalking." he starts laughing "You are even too stupid to see, your competition has never been Granite ... it has always been Mel and their kids!!"<br />
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<br />
The door opens and Granite comes barging through it, looking far from happy. I guessed Mace might be texting him. Granite goes to say something, looks at me, stops and pulls a face.<br />
<br />
"It's okay." I laugh at him "I know about Forrest and Wisty?"<br />
"How?" he snaps "Have you been opening your big mouth Mace, or is it <i>her</i>?!"<br />
"Neither ... my spirit friends told me." I smirk at him "I have already told you, that they are always telling me things that I really don't want to know, and this is one of those things."<br />
<br />
Granite just stands laughing at me for a moment. I had to tell him something, I couldn't really tell him that I've been in Forrest's head and looking through his memories. It does make me wander why Storm didn't tell me about this?! They have been watching Forrest carefully, to make sure he is doing the right thing by Alpine, so they must have seen this going on!! I would imagine Storm can not be happy watching his sister acting this way.<br />
<br />
"Wisty, you SERIOUSLY need to do one, because I am very quickly losing my temper and patience with you!!" he snaps as he storms over towards Wisty, grabbing her by the arm, pulling her up out of the chair. "In fact, it's time we put a stop to this once and for all!! You are off your head, you need sectioning!!"<br />
"Gran what are you doing?" Mace frowns at Granite<br />
"I'm showing her out and pointing her in the direction of that Uni of hers, before Bay and Mango get back." he snaps "Mace sort your phone out, I just tried to text you but your in box is full of crap!!" he winks at Mace. "Delete it all!!" he smirks and nods downwards as he is pushing a protesting Wisty out of the door.<br />
<br />
Mace looks down and starts to laugh<br />
<br />
As soon as the door closes behind them, Mace leans over quickly and
grabs Wisty's bag that she had dropped down by his wheelchair when she
came in. I watch him quickly go into it and he pulls out her phone. <br />
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<br />
"Tap do us a favour, run out and give that to her, so she doesn't come back for it." he laughs as he holds out her bag to me "You can give her her phone back after when I've finished with it."<br />
"What are you doing?" I frown at him<br />
"Wiping Forrest completely out of her phone, number, emails, photo's and texts, so she has no proof and nothing to blackmail him with." he smirks at me "This is what has been stopping us from getting rid of her completely."<br />
<br />
After running after Granite who is dragging Wisty down the corridor to give her the bag. I walk back to Forrest's room laughing, doubting that Mace will get into her phone without knowing the password. When I sit down I am amused to see Mace is actually already messing in her phone.<br />
<br />
"I didn't think you would get into it." I laugh at him "How do you know her password?"<br />
"I was bottle fed on crime, I watch everyone and everything." he smirks at me "She's sat by me loads of times punching in her password, so I've clocked it." he sniggers "There is only you who doesn't have a password on your phone."<br />
"Yeah because I can't read." I laugh at him "So has she been blackmailing him with texts?"<br />
"Yeah." he mumbles as he continues to mess in her phone "She has kept some old texts, she made the mistake of showing me, when she thought I was going to help her get Forrest away from Granite. She's been threatening to send them to everyone." he laughs "She is constantly texting, phoning, emailing and stalking him, she has actually started to scare him, he shits himself every time she is in town, because she has taken it to a whole new level ... Look, I'll show you"<br />
<br />
Mace laughs as he turns the phone so I can see and starts swiping through photo's that she has taken of Forrest, most of them look like they have been taken on the sly and he doesn't have a clue that she is taking pictures of him.<br />
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<br />
I sit watching him deleting a load of photographs then he hands the phone to me.<br />
<br />
"Give that back to her ... just tell her she left it on the chair." he smiles at me "She will be crying when she sees it has all gone." <br />
"Maybe she genuinely loves him?" I mumble<br />
"She probably does, but what she is doing now is down right creepy. She is beyond obsessed, I'm sure you saw how she was sat there looking at him, she's off her head!! He can't move for her, she is always following him and jumping out at him when he least expects it. She has even broke into Bay's place during the middle of the night, when Forrest was living there, she woke him up mauling him, she locked him in and took the key, so he had to change the locks, as well as having window locks fitted to stop her getting in again."<br />
"She actually locked him in?"<br />
"Yeah, he had to climb out of the bathroom window to escape her. It's just a good job she didn't pinch Crimsons handcuff or he would seriously have been in trouble!!" he starts really laughing "I'm sure you've seen the film "Misery" - we are half expecting her to start doing that to him next!! Tying him up and battering him because he won't play ball. She has almost turned psycho over him and she has been a whole lot worse since she found out about Mel."<br />
"How did she find out?"<br />
"Mel lost her head, and I can't say I blame her, I would have done too. Wisty sent Forrest a naked text, telling him she was horny and needed him." he starts howling "That's what he's had to keep putting up with, and like a twat he showed Mel. She phoned Wisty and started kicking off, without even thinking that she was advertising the fact her and Forrest were together. The next day Wisty caught a plane back here, and she sent Forrest another one of her filthy text which had Mel kicking off again, and that's the argument Crimson walked in on."<br />
"Oh fudge!!" I laugh "It's a good job Crimson didn't realise it was Caramel on the other end of the phone."<br />
"Yeah I know, if he had all this would have come out then, and
kicked off proper!! It is Prelude we are worried about ever getting
wind of this, he won't see his daughter is a creepy stalker, he will just make mince meat of Forrest. Then there is the kids, they could really get hurt by it." he pulls
a face <br />
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<br />
"How do you stop someone stalking?"<br />
"Berry knows, he can't even get the police involved without El and Crimson finding out!! If you ask me the girl needs psychiatric help to be that obsessed over someone!!" he laughs "I wouldn't mind, but I don't get what Mel, Granite or Wisty
even see in the green thing!! He has sent all three of them cuckoo!! You know what Granite has been like in the past, Mel is just as bad on the quiet, putting up with his Granite obssession as well as all his shit over the years, and Wisty
especially, she is totally barking!! She must be off her head, because I would chose Crimson over
the green thing any day ... wouldn't you!!"<br />
"I'm straight you twat!!" I start howling at him, which sets him off laughing with me. "And so are they for that matter ... so I wouldn't be choosing either of them!"<br />
<br />
I walk into Dads office still laughing at Mace, even though I don't really feel like laughing over what Wisty has been doing. Dad, Slate and Bay had walked in while we were laughing, so that put a stop to our conversation. Dad reminded me that he wanted a chat with me and dragged me off into to his office.<br />
<br />
"Why have I just seen a very angry looking Granite dragging Wisteria out of the hospital." Dad mumbles as he sits down<br />
"He was kicking her out and getting her away from me." I mumble "We started arguing over what she has done to Crimson, and I think Granite could see I was about to blow."<br />
"So has she told you who this married bloke is yet?" he frowns at me<br />
"No!! It's probably someone from Uni or Rainbow." I mumble as I throw her phone on the desk "Can you give that to her, she left it on the chair." he frowns at me "Before you say it, no I'm not going anywhere near the bitch to return her phone. She is as bad as Coral and Strawberry in my book and right now I'm likely to have a tantrum on her face."<br />
"So ... your head hasn't calmed down any then?"<br />
"Yeah it had until she wound me up." I frown at him "So what do you want to chat about?"<br />
"I'm just wandering how you are feeling about the babies?" he smiles at me "Are you up to talking about it yet?" <br />
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<br />
"It's not good is it ... FOUR babies." he frowns at me "River has already told me, it makes the pregnancy complicated and risky."<br />
"Yeah, and that is what we need to talk about .... but if you are not up to it ...."<br />
"No, you need to tell me, I want to know."<br />
"Well, for now I am just going to tell you basically ... when you are completely comfortable with everything, then we will discuss it all in detail."<br />
"Go on then ... hit me with the basics."<br />
"Firstly, Crystal, we need to calm her down ... I'm afraid she has a lot of bed rest ahead of her, those four babies are going to take a lot out of her, and we have to make her understand while she is carrying these babies that she can't bounce around like she does." he laughs "River is talking to her now, but we all need to keep an eye on her."<br />
"I'm sure she will listen when she knowns how important it is."<br />
"I hope so, because what you both need to understand, that if anything goes wrong with any of the babies .... if you lose one, it's twin is going to go with it, and all four of them could be affected."<br />
"Why will it's twin go with it?"<br />
"You are having identical twins - so they share one placenta. If one goes they both go, because they are joined together by the placenta." he smiles at me "And just to complicate this pregnancy more - both sets of twins are joined together by more than just the placenta - both babies are sitting in one amniotic sac - they dont have one each like most twins --- your twins are sharing one."<br />
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<br />
"Is that normal?"<br />
"Identical twins always share a placenta - but sharing the same amniotic sac is not very common ... and with them sharing one sac it brings its own set of complications."<br />
"What complications?"<br />
"Complications that you don't need to even think about unless they happen - which hopefully they won't. We will be doing extra scans and monitoring with it being Quads, so we will be keeping a close watch on everything at home. You have the added advantage of having five doctors in the house, and I'm borrowing all the necessary equipment like I did with Honey, so if your babies so much as sneeze we will know about it." he smiles at me "You also need to know, that these babies, because there are four of them, they won't be going the full term of 40 weeks."<br />
"Why not?"<br />
"Quads are generally delivered at about 32 weeks, which is 8 weeks earier than a single baby, and Crystal will have to have a C section .... a normal birth is too stressful and risky for both the mother and babies." he smiles at me<br />
"32 weeks is too early." I stare at him wide eyed<br />
"32 weeks is how far gone your Mother's pregnancy was when you three arrived."<br />
"Oh No!!" I snap "I'm not having it!! I saw how tiny I was and the state I was in!! Tubes and wires everywhere - I'm not having it!!"<br />
"Tap, you don't get a lot of choice in the matter - babies come when they want to." he sits laughing at me "Nature makes it that way. With there being four babies, the womb
will stretch to a size where it will automatically start the
contractions - your babies will come around the 32 mark whether you want
them to or not. It is natural with quads." he continues to chuckle <br />
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<br />
"You can not judge anything by your own arrival, you was a one off, a little miracle, and half the size you should have been, a lot smaller than your brother and sister. They left the baby unit a good three months before you did - maybe it is the photographs of them that you should be taking a look at, not your own." he smiles at me "Yes your babies will have to spend some time in the baby unit, because of them coming at 32 weeks and being four they will be smaller - but there is really nothing to panic over. I doubt they will be anything like you were when you arrived."<br />
"Why was I different?"<br />
"We don't know, it just happens sometimes. We suspect you might even have been conceived later than the other two." he laughs "We nearly missed you on the first scan because of your size and you was hiding behind Coral, she basically sat on you the whole time."<br />
"Typical, it would have to be her!!" I snap and he laughs<br />
"When we did your Mothers first scan, you was already at a disadvantage, while Mo and Coral were normal size for triplets, you weren't anywhere near .... your babies are all the same and the perfect size for quads ... so you don't have to worry about any of them being like you were."<br />
<br />
He sits quietly watching me for a moment. While he is probably watching me to see if I am going to get upset and blow, my mind has suddenly flown off to Scarlet.<br />
<br />
Now is probably the best time to get this out in the open with him.<br />
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<br />
"How far gone is Scarlet?"<br />
"She has just hit week 40." he frowns at me "Why?"<br />
"So she could be having the baby any time now."<br />
"Yeah, I'm actually surprised the baby isn't already here yet." he frowns at me<br />
"Oh." I mumble, thinking this is bad timing, we really could do without the hassle that is coming right at this moment on top of what is already happening.<br />
"Why don't I like that look on your face suddenly."<br />
"Probably because I need to tell you something, before the baby arrives, that you are really not going to like" I pull a face which makes him really frown at me<br />
"Go on."<br />
"When the baby is born ... it will probably cause one hell of a massive fall out and explosion within the extended family because of stray colouring."<br />
"Why?" his eyebrows fly up "Please tell me you are not going to tell me that the baby is not Cinnamons and one of you kids have been where you shouldn't have been AGAIN?!" his eyes widen as he starts to throw his arms about and get all stressy "Tap ... tell me you haven't!!"<br />
"No!!" I start howling at him even asking if it is me. "Honey and Crystal are the only places I've been." I carry on laughing "It is actually one of you oldies that have been trespassing this time!!"<br />
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<br />
"Well I can tell you now ... it definitely isn't me!!"<br />
"Oh berry ... perish the thought ... I think I would have battered you by now if it was you!!" I start howling at him "I know you and Cosmic are the only two that never rode the school bike!!"<br />
"Tap this isn't funny!!" he pulls a face "You need to spit it out! Please tell me we haven't got another Coral and Gravel going on and Scarlet is messing about with an older man?"<br />
"No, its not actually Scarlet who's been playing away, it's Ruby." I laugh quietly "Scarlet does not even know herself ... but Sunny was not her biologoical Father."<br />
"And how would you even know that Tap?"<br />
"Cosmic, Storm and Sunny have told me from the other side." I smirk as he rolls his eyes. "Sunny found out she was not his daughter when she was six - he found out because of something you had told him about parent and child blood groups. Scarlet doesn't have his or Ruby's blood group."<br />
"Oh Berry ... I can't believe he knew all that time and never said anything to me!" he laughs quietly "I knew when she was born she couldn't be Sunny's, but Ruby wouldn't even admit it to me and I have just had to keep it to myself. Over the years I have actually virtually forgotten about it because all I can see in Scarlet is Ruby." his eyes widen "So did Sunny know who Scarlet's Father is?" <br />
"Sunny never knew while he was alive who Scarlet's Dad was, Ruby would never tell him. Ruby has never told Scarlet's Dad either, he is totally oblivious, he has been walking around not even knowing she is his daughter!!" his eyes widen and I laugh "But Sunny knows who he is now, and he is hopping mad!!"<br />
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<br />
"How does he know now?" he frowns at me<br />
"Well obviously Cosmic has told him." I laugh at him "Jazz and all the spirits know who Scarlet's Dad is, so they have told me." <br />
"How do they know, when Sunny and the real Dad didn't?"<br />
"Ruby decided to unburden her guilty conscience while she was sat at Cosmic's grave ... she didn't realise Cosmic's spirit was actually sat there listening to her." this makes Dad laugh "Cosmic knew who he was before Scarlet was even born, he expected it to all kick off when she was born, but obviously being all red nobody could tell and Ruby got away with it. Scarlet's baby could give the game away."<br />
"Oh Berry ... here we go again!" he mumbles "I guess I'm the one who is going to have to clean up all the fall out."<br />
"Yeah ... Sunny wants me to pre warn you because if Scarlet's baby has any of her own Dad's colour ... it is seriously going to kick off big time, and he thinks everyone is going to give Scarlet hell and it is not actually her fault - she is oblivious like the rest of us. There is not even a way to soften the blow, all we can do is stop the confusion of the stray colour by telling them its Ruby who has been playing away and not Scarlet, and who Scarlet's real Dad is." I pull faces at him<br />
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<br />
"Maybe I should go and see Ruby now and get her to do the right thing, this really isn't fair on Scarlet."<br />
"No, trust me you don't want to go opening this can of worm unless it actually happens and the baby does have stray colouring. If it doesn't happen they really don't need to know to save them from the heartache .... Caramel, Alpine, the three kids and Scarlet are especially going to get<i> really </i>upset by it ... it is probably going to destroy them, because of who he is."<br />
"DON'T!!" his eyes widen "You are going to tell me it is Forrest aren't you!!"<br />
"No, it is not Forrest." I laugh "He is far worse ... in a way I wish it was Forrest because it probably wouldn't be half so bad for them to take if it was Forrest!"<br />
"Who on earth could be worse than Forrest." he frowns then his eyes nearly pop out of his head "ALPINE!"<br />
"Hell no!! Do you think Cosmic would have let Cinnamon and Scarlet get together if it had been Alpine."<br />
<br />
I stare down at my hands which I am wringing in my lap ... I am really not looking forward to saying his name or watching how Dad will react to it.<br />
<br />
"Come on Tap ... spit it out ... who is he?"<br />
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<br />
I just stare at him for a moment, before I take a deep breath and mumble his name.<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-62071154408131185862017-06-15T07:39:00.001-07:002017-06-15T07:42:35.864-07:00Chapter 55 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
After I have quickly legged it out of maternity, and away from Dad, I find myself, only running as far as the hospitals main entrance, where I stop.<br />
<br />
I stand for a moment to catch my breath while I am laughing at myself ... here was me thinking my days of running, when my head went, were behind me, but obviously not. I try to think back to the last time that I did actually run, and it has been quite a while ... the last time I can remember running, ironically was when I found out about Vanilla existing and being here, in the baby unit. <br />
<br />
I can not help but thumb through the scan pictures of the babies, which I am only just noticing are still in my hand. That is when I realise that Crystal is going to be pretty miffed with me, not only for running and leaving her to deal with this on her own, but I have run off with the scan pictures without even thinking, and I know that she wanted to show them to both of our Mother's. I stuff them into my pocket carefully, so that I don't lose them.<br />
<br />
I walk across the front of the hospital building, to the benches where I sit down.<br />
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I light up a cigarette which at first has me coughing my lungs up. The cigarette is a little on the stale side, because it has sat in an open packet probably for months, so it just ripped the back of my throat out. This is when I know, I really should not be smoking because of the damage I could be doing to my throat and vocal cords ... but at this precise moment in time, I don't really care, because I just need to calm my head and nerves down!!<br />
<br />
My head is now all over the place, and seems to be stuck half way between normal and having an outburst, which is beginning to give me a headache. I really don't know why finding out we have four babies on the way is troubling me so much, when lately I have handled far worse things and not felt this bad or this close to having an emotional outburst.<br />
<br />
I feel like the shock of it has unhinged me a little - FOUR babies all at once, just doesn't seem right. I was worrying enough before when I thought that there might just be one or two babies, suddenly I feel like I have four times the worry, with four different babies now to worry about, and I don't know how I am going to handle it. As I stare down at the floor it starts to blur as the tears start welling up in my eyes, I'm glad I'm on the verge of crying because it will stop me from blowing.<br />
<br />
I am not stupid, I think I already knew before River confirmed it, that four babies makes this pregnancy more risky and complicated, there is more of a chance that something could go wrong, and I am scared of what might lie a head of us.<br />
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<br />
I am a little amused when I spot my Dad, who has almost come running out of the hospital onto the car park and he starts to look around. I presume he is looking for me, but I spot him before he spots me. I just stay where I am, sat on the bench, the tears start to roll slowly down my face and I carry on smoking, which I know he is not going to be happy about when he does see me.<br />
<br />
I watch him through the corner of my eye, while I pretend that I don't know he is there. I am amused when he does spot me, he stares at me for a while, rubbing the back of his neck, he is probably now stressed out about catching me smoking. He suddenly backs away out of my sight completely, no doubt to slyly watch me from a distance. I am glad that he has had the sense not to storm over and rip into me for smoking, because that would have set me off ... but I don't doubt he will have his say later.<br />
<br />
After I have finished smoking and the tears have stopped flowing, I remain seated there for quite a while, trying to switch my head off from it all, but it is not working, so I give up hoping that spending some time with Bay can distract me. <br />
<br />
As I start to make my way back into the hospital, straight away I am annoyed by two young girls jumping out at me, asking me for a photograph. So I paint on one of my forced smiles and they get their photographs. This doesn't happen too often at home, as everyone here treats me like I'm just the same old Tapestry that I've always been, my fame does not really bother them that much, because they have known me all my life. <br />
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<br />
These two girls I can't say I have ever seen before, but something about
them makes me feel like I should know them, especially because of their
ears, they are the same as Forrest's. I've never seen anyone with
Forrests ears before, only Meadow. Then the penny drops, Meadow has two
girls, I bet they are her two daughters.<br />
<br />
I head towards Neurology, and it doesn't take me long to spot Dad, following me from a distance, he is not hiding himself very well, this makes me laugh, because he would make a terrible spy.<br />
<br />
I walk into Forrest's room and it
is very quiet, Bay is in there on his own, which surprises me. I expected Caramel, Fudge and Mint to be in here with him, like Grantie said they were earlier. I am also very surprised that Meadow isn't here either.<br />
<br />
Bay is
lay on the spare bed curled up in a ball and I think he might be
crying. I think my Dad forget's that I was not around when Slate was on life support, he was awake when I returned home after the 'abduction', so I really don't know what Dad means when he says Bay is going down like he did when Slate was on life support.<br />
<br />
I seem to be making a habit of walking in on people crying today, first Granite now Bay. However I can not even imagine how he might be feeling right now ... finding out the man who has raised you, is not your biological father, has to be a pretty shocking thing to have to learn. I can't help but think about Scarlet for a second, she also probably has this coming, but I doubt her finding out will be very pretty for most of the extended family. <br />
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<br />
"Are you okay?" I mumble as I stare down at him<br />
"Oh here he comes, another secret keeper!" Bay laughs as he
sits up and wipes his face. "Leafy told us you have known for about a month. Man I seriously wish you was more like
Parsley sometimes, he can never keep anything to himself!!"<br />
"Seriously Bay, you would really not have
thanked me for telling you this secret. It had to come from them properly!!" I
smile at him<br />
"Have you been smoking?" he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah ... sorry! I needed to de-stress." I mumble "Honestly Bay if I had told you the secret, would you have even believed
me?"<br />
"No I don't think I would!" he laughs as he
pulls something out of his pocket and hands it me "It took this before
I could actually believe what they were trying to tell us."<br />
<br />
I
stare down at two pieces of paper chuckling to myself, he doesn't
realize yet what he has done. I laugh at him as I hand the paper back
to him. <br />
<br />
"I can not read remember ... you wally!!" <br />
"Oh .. sorry I forgot ... it is my birth certificate and a paternity
test. Which tell me in black and white that Forrest Leaf is my Dad."
he laughs at himself for a moment as he stuffs the paper back into his
pocket. <br />
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<br />
"How is he?" I mumble as I walk around the bed and sit down.<br />
"He is out of it." Bay laughs quietly as he jumps off the bed "If you watch that machine, it keeps going crazy ... it's his erratic brain activity." he laughs as he sits down in the chair next to me. "He keeps twitching, quite badly sometimes, I'm scared he's going to have another seizure."<br />
"He shouldn't do should he?"<br />
"No, your Dad and Granite say he shouldn't have any more, but I don't think I will believe them until he is awake." he smiles at me "They are keeping him out until his brain activity settles down."<br />
"Yeah Dad said it might be a few days before they wake him up." I mumble "I'm actually surprised they didn't shave all his hair off like they did with Mace."<br />
"I was surprised too, I expected him to come out of theatre completely bold. Granite says when he wakes up Leafy will probably have a fit over the little bit he has lost." Bay laughs "Me and Gran are going to unpick all his dreads and wash his hair tomorrow, Gran thinks if he wears his hair differently, he should be able to hide it until it grows back."<br />
"It's mad to think a bang on the head from passing out can do that to you."<br />
"I know ... it was pretty scary. He was having a panic attack, he threw up and passed out. He hit the corner of the table with such a bang, it was horrible, I tried to catch him but I wasn't quick enough, and he hit the floor just as hard. He actually stopped breathing, he was choking on his own sick."<br />
"Seriously?!"<br />
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<br />
"Yeah. Seriously I don't know how doctors can do their job. Gran had to clean the sick out his mouth and throat with his fingers and give him mouth to mouth to get him breathing again ... I had to watch your Dad doing exactly the same thing to Slate when he took the overdose, it is gross!!" he laughs "I couldn't do it, I'd be throwing up all over the place if I had to put my mouth on someone covered and stinking of sick!!"<br />
"Me too, I'm not sure I could do it either!" I laugh at him "Has he been out of it since he hit his head?"<br />
"No he did come round for a bit." he smiles at me "He was sluring his words like he was drunk, it was hard to understand what he was saying, his eyes were freaky too, they were rolling all over the place. He threw up and passed out again, then the seizures started and he hasn't been awake since.<br />
"He's going to be okay though, Dad said he should be fine when he wakes up."<br />
"Yeah, that is what they are telling us, but I keep seeing the sly looks Granite and Mango keep exchanging ... I'm not sure they are telling it us straight." he grimaces at me "<i>I know</i> that there is always the possibility of some kind of permanent damage with any head injury. Look at Alpine, Lilly ... Pine ..." he rolls his eyes at me<br />
"You know I swear I didn't hit Pine that hard with the rock." I mumble<br />
"You didn't, I was watching you!!" he smiles at me "Which is why I am worrying about how hard he hit the table, and floor."<br />
"I wouldn't worry about Forrest, I am sure they would say if they thought there was a possibility of any permanent damage." I laugh at him "You know I think they are more worried about you than Forrest ... they think you are cracking up like you did when Slate was on life support."<br />
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<br />
Bay just sits there laughing to himself quietly.<br />
<br />
"Didn't it shock you, seeing Mom and Forrest together .... I
can't even get my head around Leafy not being gay, without thinking about
anything else, especially him sleeping with my Mother and creating the three of us!!"<br />
"Yeah it did shock me a bit, especially afterwards. I thought I was
tripping when I saw them mauling each other down the alley way." I
laugh "I think I was more angry with your Mother at the time, to even
think about what Forrest was actually doing, with a woman. I thought
she was knocking someone off behind Alpine's back, and you know there
are not many of us who actually know what being faithful means, and I
always thought she was one of them."<br />
"I can imagine!!" he laughs<br />
"I thought Meadow would be here." I frown at him "I think I have just seen her two girls outside ... two little girls with Forrest's ears."<br />
"Yeah they are here somewhere. Meadow was here a while ago, she popped in to check Leafy and spoke to your Dad and Granite, she will be back later. Holly and Ivy had to wait outside, being children, so they didn't set Leafy off, which was a bit stupid as he is out of it. I went out and said hello to them, so I got to see my cousins today for the first time. " he laughs then smiles at me "Meadow has gone to check on Alpine ... can you believe those two are having a romantic relationship again!!" his eyes widen "My head is mashed!! This morning I thought Mom and Alpine were together - this afternoon I find out Mom is with Leafy and he is with Meadow."<br />
"Forrest told me Alpine and Meadow had a fling in the past, but I didn't know they were back on again." I laugh quietly<br />
"Yeah, they have started seeing each other again lately. It's no wander Alpine has had a smile on his face since the hospice, apparently since he's been back, Meadow has been having sneaky sleepovers." he sniggers "So he's obviously been getting his leg over!" we both sit laughing for a moment<br />
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<br />
"Where is your Mom, Fudge and Mint? " I frown at him<br />
"Down in maternity." he laughs quietly to himself for a
moment "Can you believe ... my Mom is pregnant again ... Mom and Leafy
have created more life, so I'm getting a new brother or sister or even
both because she's having twins."<br />
"Yeah I know, Granite
told me earlier that she is pregnant and that's why Forrest freaked out." I frown
at him "Why are they down in maternity?"<br />
"Mom got all
hysterical when Leafy started having seizures, she was sitting here getting herself into a
bit of state. Her blood pressure was a bit on the high side, so Mango and Granite had her taken down to maternity to be admitted so
they can monitor her." he rolls her eyes "She has a history of
miscarrying apparently ... something else we didn't know until today, they sent
her down there just as a precaution, they reckoned sitting here getting
herself all upset is not going to help her or the babies. Her age and
having twins makes the risk higher apparently." he smiles at me "I'm
going to wake up in a minute and find out this has all been a wacky dream, aren't
I!"<br />
"No Bay, sorry you are not dreaming, and if you
are, I'm having exactly the same wacky dream!!" I laugh for a moment
"Your Mom is lucky she is only having twins!"<br />
"Why?" he frowns at me<br />
"I have just come up from maternity myself, Crystal has had her first baby scan today."<br />
"Oh ... how did it go?"<br />
"Here, you see." I smile at him as I hand
him the scan photo's "My head has gone!! That's why I needed a fag to calm my nerves."<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
I watch him staring at the photo's, he
is frowning as he turns them round looking at them from different angles
as he looks through each photo. I bet he will never guess that they
are not all of the same baby without me telling him.<br />
<br />
"Why has your head gone?" he laughs "And why so many pictures of the baby."<br />
"There are four pictures because there are four babies."<br />
"WHAT!?"<br />
"Yeah, that is why my head has gone ... FOUR babies!!" I laugh "We are having Quad's
... Four babies on top of the two we
already have .... is going to be a total nightmare, especially with Snow and all his problems!!"<br />
"Shit me Tap!!" he starts howling "FOUR!! How the hell did you manage that?" he can hardly speak for laughing.<br />
"Dad says ... its because I'm a triplet, Crystal is a twin, multiple pregnancies are running high with the Shines and Orchids, so there was a higher chance of us
having a multiple pregnancy ... plus Crystal was on fertility
treatment because of her condition, she has poly cystic ovaries." I laugh for a moment "Here was us thinking she might never get pregnant ... now we
have FOUR babies on the way!" I roll my eyes<br />
"Four is a bit of a shocker!" he laughs<br />
"They are two sets of identical
twins too ... which I guess comes from the Shine side as Sunny was an
identical twin, then there is Maize and Carmine. I can't tell Maize and Carmine apart, I have to ask who is who all the time ... I'm going to have a hells game aren't I ... never knowing properly who my children are unless I ask them!!"<br />
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<br />
"Fudge, Tap!!" he continues to laugh "Yeah I bet you can't see the twins different eye colours can you, which makes it easy for us ... so how the hell are you going to cope with your babies?"<br />
"They are not actually supposed to have different eye colours being identical, its another one of those strange genetic oddities that are coming out in the Shine and Orchid babies, so River says." I smile at him "Dad suggested name tags ... which is okay for everyone else - but I can not read past two or three letters .... unless we make sure they all have a name starting with a different letter - I can just about manage one letter at a time."<br />
"That sounds like a good plan." he laughs "I can just see them now - four little mini Taps all with a different letter permanently sown onto their clothes!"<br />
"Yeah, but how do you not mix them up when they aren't wearing clothes? Knowing me, I'll put the wrong clothes on the wrong baby ... they will be growing up very confused!!" we both sit laughing.<br />
"So where is Crystal?"<br />
"River has taken her home ... once she got over the shock, she became hyperactive. She couldn't wait to show our Mom's the scan
pictures ... she is so excited she has gone off and doesn't realise yet
that I still have the scan pictures." I laugh and he laughs with me
"I told them I was just popping up here to see you and Forrest, but to be
honest, I am struggling to get my head around it and I needed time out to
chill my head out. My head was starting to go and Dad could see it."<br />
"I'm not surprised ... four babies all at once is a lot for anyone to take in, without having your emotional problems!!"<br />
"Exactly, and Crystal is on hyper rails at the moment, and I need to
stop my head from going, which will happen if I am around Crystal, she
will set off one of my outbursts, because of how excited and hyper she
is, when I can not get my head around it." I laugh<br />
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<br />
"I am actually
very surprised that Dad isn't in here already watching me like a hawk, he's
already seen me holding my head a few times, so I think he knows it's
coming if I can't stop it!!"<br />
"I thought you was
practically okay now ... " he frowns at me "You handled Sunny's funeral fine, and you have
changed so much since your abduction, with your career, Vanilla and
Snow. I know you flipped out at Cinnamons funeral, but that was because of Honey and Shadow ... I only know about you having a few outburst in a long time!!"<br />
"I am fine as a rule, I've learned to control and stop them from
coming, but I can never say never, things like this and they unhinge
me." <br />
"Oh Tap ..." he starts laughing "I have just seen an orange face pop up behind the glass in the door .... so he is watching you slyly."<br />
"Yeah well he needs to stay out there ... I think you know he is the
one who tips me over the edge most of the time."<br />
<br />
We
both sit laughing for a moment, as I look and see Dad quickly step away from the door when he sees me looking.<br />
<br />
"Oh he's off again ... twitching." Bay mumbles<br />
<br />
We sit in silence for a while, as we watch his face hands and legs moving quite rapidly, quick jolting movements that are actually quite disturbing to watch. We both continue staring at Forrest in silence, who has now stopped twitching, while we are both
probably trying to deal with our own set of problems.<br />
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<br />
"How the hell can he be my Dad Tap?!" Bay mumbles<br />
"I think you are the last person who needs a talk about the birds and
bees, sweet cheeks, if what Saffron says is anything to go by." I laugh
at him as he thumps my leg.<br />
"Okay bright eyes." he laughs "Saffy talks too much!! I can't even picture Mom and Leafy together ... he's gay in my head and I don't know how I'm going to get past that!!"<br />
"The same way as you got past thinking Slate was straight."<br />
"With Slate, it was easy when he started mauling and jumping me like a gay bloke!!" he starts laughing "It is different with Leafy!! Even though I can now see me and Fudge have his hair and me and Mint have his eye colour ... it is actually blatantly obvious that he is Mint's Dad, she does look so much like him and Meadow, it's stupid that we have never seen it.<br />
"Yeah, I think we can all see it now we have had it pointed out to us." we laugh at each other for a moment<br />
"Mom says I'm a lot like him with us both having OCD and being neurotic over things, and Mint has his cold hard front, they rarely show any emotion so you can never quite work out how they are feeling ... I can actually see it all now, but still, it is just not sinking in."<br />
"You will get used to the idea, of him being straight as well as your Dad, I guess you just need time to get over the shock ... it took me a while to get my head around it, I'm not sure I took it in properly until I saw your Mom and Leafy together openly in front of me, acting like a couple who are in a romantic relationship."<br />
"Yeah I guess, Fudge and Mint have seen them kissing each other, but I haven't."<br />
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<br />
"Forrest being your Dad, it is
not such a bad thing is it ... for an oldie, Forrest has always been
pretty cool!! He has never been like my Dad or Alpine has he, strict
and stuffy!! I don't know about you but he's got me out of a few scrapes, and made me understand I was in the wrong by talking to me instead of going ballistic at me like my parent's would have. Wasn't he the one who helped you when you was struggling with being gay?!"<br />
"Yeah, which is pretty hysterical now I find out he isn't gay himself!" he starts laughing<br />
"At least you can have a conversation and a laugh with Forrest over stuff that your
parents would generally kick off at."<br />
"Yeah, that is if he stays
that way with us, and doesn't start to take his Daddy duties too seriously and
suddenly turns into Mango or Alpine!!"<br />
"I don't see why he should
change, even though you didn't know ... he has always known he is your
Dad, so wouldn't he have been like it from the start if he was going to
be like it at all."<br />
"I guess." he mumbles <br />
"Oh Berry ... just imagine if your real Dad had turned out to be Sunny,
Prelude, even Gravel, then you would have had something to cry
about!!" we both sit there laughing<br />
"Now I know how
Slate has been feeling ... how messed up is it really when we both turn out to have
different Dads to the ones we thought we had!!" he mumbles quietly<br />
"Yeah but if you ask me ... you have both ended up with better
Dads." I laugh at him "Granite is a scream, and Forrest is not too far
behind him ... I know how you have always struggled with Alpine."<br />
"Yeah and now I know why I struggled, because he is not
actually my Dad." he laughs quietly "At least now I don't have to take
any of Alpines shit because he doesn't like the fact that I'm gay -
because its none of his damn business any more, what I am!!"<br />
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<br />
"So how do you actually feel about Forrest being your Dad?"<br />
"Seriously I don't know, I think I'm relieved more than anything.
Relieved that Alpine isn't my Dad and there isn't anything wrong with me
after all."<br />
"What do you mean?" I frown at him<br />
"I've always hated Alpine more than loved him, we have never
got on or been close and it felt like there was no connection there between us,
like there should be with a Father and Son ... the connection like there
is with me and Mom. I thought he didn't love me because there was
something wrong with me!" he rolls his eyes "I used to watch other
people with their Dad's, and I was jealous at the time, wandering why my
Dad didn't love me like their Dad's loved them ... like he loved
Cinnamon and so obviously didn't love me. Even Gravel loved Slate more
than Alpine has ever loved me!!" he chokes "Like Slate now with
Granite ... they already have that connection ... that I've never had."<br />
"But everything should change for you now, aren't you already close to Forrest."<br />
"Yeah as a mate ... but does that make him my Dad?" he frowns at me "Ironically I have always been closer to Forrest and
even your Dad, more than I ever have been to Alpine." he starts to get
upset "Really I should be angry with Forrest for lying to me all this
time, especially as I have had such a hard time with Alpine, when he
probably would have been a much better Dad, especially since I've been a teenager. But the more I think about it, I
can't be angry with him because I can understand the phobia and why they hid it from
us, so it didn't mess our heads up. He could have just walked away and left town permanently, which mentally would have been better for him, he's stayed and put himself through hell to stay close to us ... he has always been there buzzing about in the background for as
long as I can remember ... pretending to my friend when really he is my
Dad." he chokes "I keep remembering things he's done ... things that if I had sat and thought about them properly at the time, I could have worked it out!"<br />
"Like what?"<br />
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<br />
"Lots of little things that he has done over the years when it should have been Alpine doing it, like teaching us all how to drive for instance. Leafy has been stepping into Alpines shoes, especially since we became teenagers, and the excuse was always that he was doing it because Alpines couldn't due to his brain damage, but secretly, he hass been playing Dad because he is the Dad." he laughs quietly "The thing that really sticks in my mind the most, was when I got arrested, after Storm ..." he trails off and just watches me for a moment "It was Mom and Forrest that came and collected me from the police station, not Alpine. Alpine said I should have been left to rot in the cells all night to teach me a lesson." he pulls a face "I remember Forrest was pretty angry, he actually went off on one at me properly for being stupid enough to go after the Freezes and be playing with knives ... he kept throwing Mosaic and Straw, even Pine at me, saying I could have ended up like them, even worse, like Storm. He genuinely looked upset by the thought of it." he rolls his eyes "I was a little confused and amused by his reaction at the time, because he almost lost it with me verbally, he even sent me to my room and told me I was grounded forever." he laughs for a moment "I actually went upstairs laughing to myself wandering who the hell he thought he was and what gave him the right to ground me." he laughs "Then I heard Leafy and Alpine downstairs kicking off with each other. Alpine was angry with me, and had hit me when I walked into the house. Leafy had dragged him off me and when I went upstairs he started laying into Alpine for hitting me. I actually sat at the top of the stairs listening to them, and their argument just escalated until they were actually having a punch up over it. A few things they threw at each other confused me at the time, but I didn't think about them later... Leafy kept telling him he had no right to hit me, like he has not right to hit Cinnamon and if he finds out he's layed one finger on me again he's going to come and knock his block off." he rolls his eyes "Alpine had said ... <i>"Well tell him the bloody truth then, if you don't like the way I discipline your precious boy!! Then you can deal with the idiot yourself and I'll keep out of it with pleasure!!" </i> he starts really laughing "It was all there wasn't it Tap ... if I had just thought about how Leafy was acting and what they had said properly, him being my Dad, I could have worked it out!!"<br />
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<br />
"Yeah, I guess it is easy to see now, but at the time you would not have had a clue that it was even a possibility ... I doubt half of the people in this town are going to believe all this straight off, because we have all thought that Forrest was 100% gay."<br />
"I need to speak to him ... what about if he never wakes up?" <br />
"He will!!" I smile at him "Dad and Granite aren't worried, they both say he is going to fine!!"<br />
"How am I supposed to go to Cherry Hill now?" he starts to choke<br />
"What do you mean?"<br />
"I only just get my proper Dad and when the trial is over I'm supposed to be leaving and moving to Cherry Hill with Slate ... how can I do that now?"<br />
"It is not like you are never going to see him again is it. Actually them moving to Berry Shores will make it easier, its only a short distance and journey, if they were staying here it would have been more of a problem."<br />
"That's not the point though is it Tap ... I feel like ... all the wasted years, and now I finally get my proper Dad who probably will be the Dad that I've needed all these years ... I shouldn't be going and leaving him." he mumbles "And I shouldn't be leaving Mom either, with his phobia how is Leafy supposed to cope with the new babies?" <br />
<br />
Bay starts to crack up and cry uncontrollably. All I can do is put my arm around him, because I just don't know what I can say. I can not even begin to imagine how he might be really feeling right now.<br />
<br />
The door opens, and when I glance to see who is coming into the room, I am really not surprised to see it is my Dad with a look of concern on his face.<br />
<br />
Granite trails in behind him, and by the amused look on his face as he stares at me, I can tell Dad has told him our baby news.<br />
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<br />
"Is everything okay?" Dad frowns at me<br />
"Bay is just a bit upset." I mumble, even though I really don't need to tell them, because I think they can both see that for themselves, seeing as he is now really crying.<br />
"What about you?" he frowns at me<br />
"I'll be fine as long as you don't start pecking my head." I snap at him<br />
<br />
I watch as Dad checks on Forrest, and Granite comes over and puts his arms around Bay, trying to comfort him. I am glad that Granite is taking the responsibility off my shoulders, hearing him crying is unnerving me, my head is still not right<br />
<br />
I can't help but notice my Dad as he stands thoughtfully staring down at Forrest.<br />
<br />
"Granite, can you take Bay into my office, I'll be along in a minute." he mumbles "I just need a quick word with Tapestry."<br />
"I want to stay here." Bay mumbles<br />
"Bay, me and Granite just need a quick chat with you, then you can come straight back."<br />
<br />
I sit and watch Granite taking Bay out of the room, while Dad just continues to stare at Forrest, like something might be worrying him.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"What set Bay off."<br />
"His head is mashed, he can't get his head around Forrest being his Dad and I think not being able to talk to Forrest isn't helping. I don't think he will be okay until Forrest is awake, him being out is unhinging him, and I think he's worrying that Forrest is not going to wake up and when he does that he might have some sort of permanent damage."<br />
"Yeah I did worry that Forrest being like this, would bring all the emotions back from Slate, you weren't here to see what Bay was doing to himself, he was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown. Emotionally that boy is very delicate."<br />
"It's not just that, I think he's suddenly very torn about leaving and going to Cherry Hill, for a few reasons."<br />
"What reasons?" he frowns at me<br />
"He's just got his proper Dad and he doesn't want to leave him and he's worrying about how he is going to cope with the new babies, so he's worrying about his Mom."<br />
<br />
Dad stands there thoughtfully staring at Forrest again.<br />
<br />
"Right you can do it ... but be quick about it."<br />
"Do what?" I frown at him<br />
"Wipe his memory." <br />
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<br />
I can not help but be very surprised, I never thought he would actually give me permission to do it.<br />
<br />
"Remove everything from his memory up until the day Forrest and Granite got married ... how long is it going to take?"<br />
"Seconds." I smirk at him "So you spoke to Daddy Clone then."<br />
"Yes and he said pretty much the same as you did." he laughs<br />
"See I told you." I laugh at him<br />
"Okay smarty pants." he laughs at me "Just hurry up and get on with it while there is nobody here and quickly before I change my mind!!"<br />
"If you had said no, I would have done it anyway, when you weren't looking." I laugh at him<br />
"Yeah, River guessed as much!!" he laughs sarcastically<br />
"You knew I would too didn't you." I laugh at him<br />
"Of course, I know telling you no makes you go and do the opposite!" he laughs "Just like our conversation about smoking just a few hours ago."<br />
"Don't start, I know you saw me." I smirk at him "I was de-stressing ... what would you rather I had done, sat and smoked one fag or gone to the dive bar and got totally hammered instead."<br />
"I will watch the door to make sure nobody comes in." he mumbles as he starts to walk towards the door. "Just hurry up Tap!"<br />
<br />
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<br />
I can not help but openly laugh as I watch Dad walking off, I swear he is running out of things to say to me. If I had known being up front and admitting to things when I was younger was going to stop him lecturing me, I would have done this years ago and saved myself hours of headache.<br />
<br />
As soon as the door closes behind him I see him standing in front of the glass guarding the door.<br />
<br />
As I walk up to the bed, I can't help but hope that Granite is right, and that this is going to work. Logically removing his memories will cure him of his phobia ... let's hope it does!!<br />
<br />
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<br />
I pull back Forrest's eye lids ... and dive into his head.<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~ Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-71640889396843890092017-06-12T08:22:00.001-07:002017-06-12T08:22:17.913-07:00Chapter 54 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
<br />
While I am sitting out in the
hospital corridor with Crystal, impatiently waiting for her name to be called out for our baby scan appointment, I can't help but keep quietly laughing to myself, because a few things are amusing me.<br />
<br />
Firstly, I have already had Granite on the phone, wanting to speak to me about all this ghost stuff. I think I have fried his head with it and he is seriously thinking about it. Secondly, I have only just noticed Crystals bare feet. We are still struggling to get her to wear shoes all the time. She does now have quite a few pairs of open sandals that she will wear, because they don't "suffocate" her feet, but she will only wear them when she goes out of the house. Today in her excitement, she must have forgotten about her bare feet.<br />
<br />
I glance at Crystal, who is sat continuously rubbing her stomach, which is already surprisingly well visible,
but that might just be because of how thin she is. She is wearing a
huge smile on her face because she is excited about this scan, me on the other hand I am
as nervous as hell!!<br />
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<br />
Even though I already have two children of my own, this is all new to me, and everyone seems to forget that, including Crystal. When Honey was pregnant with Vanilla and Shadow, I was not around, so I haven't been through any of this pregnancy stuff before, and like Crystal, I really don't know what to expect. While it is not fazing Crystal, I am a bag of nerves.<br />
<br />
I keep glancing up the corridor,
like a neurotic idiot, ever few seconds, expecting as well as hoping to
see Dad come walking down it, he said he would be here to attend Crystals first
scan with us, but he is yet to arrive. The appointment is running late
and so is Dad. I have tried to phone him but his phone is switched
off.<br />
<br />
I know if he is not busy he would be here, so I can only assume
that he has been held up with something. Even though he is not supposed to be at work today, I know he is here somewhere in the hospital, and he can't have forgotten already as I only spoke to him an hour ago when I left him in his office. I just hope Forrest is still all right and nothing has happened to him since I left.<br />
<br />
Dad not being here makes me even more
nervous, I think I will not really believe it until he tells me that the
baby or babies are perfectly normal and everything is going okay and
normally with this pregnancy. I know I am probably being stupid, but I
can not help but think that with our luck, something will go or be
wrong, because I'm letting a few things play on my mind that we were told before Crystal even became pregnant.<br />
<br />
Not only do we have her chronic morning sickness to contend with, which is already causing problems and she is having to have IV fluids pumped into to her all the time. Crystal having poly cystic ovaries, we were told, that if she does get pregnant, there is a higher chance of a multiple pregnancy, miscarriage or early delivery and that is really playing on my mind and getting to me, because just even thinking about that happening makes me remember the grief that I felt when I was away and thought that the two babies that Honey was carrying never got a shot at life. Even though we are lucky that Crystal did managed to get pregnant and a lot quicker than we expected, I am worried that this might be our only chance of having a baby of our own, a lot of women with her problems never managed it. I also have the worry that the baby could have some of my medical problems. I am not sure how I would mentally cope if anything actually went wrong with this pregnancy.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<i> "Magnolia Shine ... room two."</i><br />
<br />
A
nurse pokes her head out of a doorway, as she calls down the corridor,
not really looking at anyone in particular. I start laughing as I nudge Crystal who
just remains sitting there, in her own little world, still rubbing her
stomach. She is oblivious and is not reacting to her own name being
called out. She frowns at me, wandering why I am now on my feet trying
to pull her up out of her chair and laughing at her.<br />
<br />
<i> </i> "Come on, they have just called you!" I laugh at her "Magnolia Shine, didn't you hear the nurse calling you to room two!!"<br />
"I wish they would stop calling me that!!!" she snaps as she stands up "Can't you tell them my name is Crystal!!"<br />
"Unfortunately
that is the name on your medical and birth records, we haven't got
round to changing it yet, so that is the name they go with. They don't
know the story or that your name is Crystal." I laugh at her<br />
"I told Sunny I didn't want the name Magnolia Crystal Shine, but he didn't listen!!" she grumbles.<br />
"I know because he thought that was the name his Mother had given you, he didn't know at the time that there were two of you and your sisters name is Magnolia and not yours." I laugh at her still pouting.<br />
"Well I don't like it!!" she grumbles<br />
"I will
ask River, to help you get your name changed legally, again, if that is what
you want." I smile at her "I think Crystal Orchid suits you better
anyway!" <br />
<br />
She smiles and nods her head as she grabs my
hand, pulling me towards the room she has just been called into. I laugh
quietly, she did not react to me giving her the surname Orchid when she
normally is so insistent that she only has one name, she is just
Crystal.<br />
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<br />
Crystal frowns as we go through the doorway
and questions where my Dad is and all I can do is shrug my shoulders
because I do not have a clue. We automatically both sit down on the chairs in front of her desk.<br />
<br />
<i> </i> "Before we start." the doctor says from behind the notes that she has in her hand and is reading "I will just let you know that we have had your test results back." she smiles at us "Neither of you have the defective gene that causes Albinism, so there is no chance that baby will be like Mom." she looks at the notes in her hand again. "So baby will be orange, yellow or a combination of both." she frowns at me "Your Mother's colour is purple isn't it Tapestry?"<br />
"Yes, she should be purple." <br />
<br />
I laugh as I tell her, amused that she knows my name and hasn't called me Storm, like most strangers do these days, her being a doctor that I can't remember seeing before.<br />
<br />
"So baby could be orange or yellow with a touch of purple." she smiles at me.<br />
<br />
Crystal
smiles at me and neither of us say anything because really neither of
us actually care what colour the baby turns out to be. Yellow, orange
or colourless, it does not really matter to us, especially not to me
because I'm colourblind, I will never see what colour they are.<br />
<br />
We were not actually even bothered about
having the test, but both Dad and River insisted we have the test done,
and I am not really sure why. I think that Poppy arriving with
colourless hair and eyes has sparked them into trying to get to the root
of the strange genetic oddities that are coming out in the combined Orchid and
Shine babies in particular. The only thing the results of the test has
really done for us is struck the colourless names off our ever growing
list that Crystal is creating of baby names. <br />
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<br />
The doctor
moves a chair up close to the bed which is for me to sit on, as she tells Crystal to jump up onto the bed and pull her dress up to uncover her stomach. I laugh at Crystal who still does not think about modesty most of the time ... forget just pulling her dress up a little, she whips it straight off and hands it to me, like I want it. She lies there in just her underwear with a big grin on her face. <br />
<br />
While the doctor is
pulling the machine close to the bed she smiles awkwardly at me a few
times. I laugh to myself ... forget my career, I have always been famous
in this place amongst the staff, even those that I don't know, they all seem to know me and the story surrounding my birth. I am the little one who was never
supposed to make it, who nearly twenty years later has STILL got baby
pictures stuck on the wall in the baby unit, and they never let me forget it.<br />
<br />
"I was expecting Dr Muffin to be with you." she smiles at me "I bumped into him and Dr Rock not too long ago in the coffee shop and he said he would be joining you for this appointment."<br />
"I
was expecting him too, I am not sure where he is. I think he might
have been held up with something work related, that is usually the only reason why he is
ever late for anything." I smile at her and she laughs quietly.<br />
<br />
<i> </i> "Okay Crystal .... this might be a little cold." she smiles at Crystal. <br />
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<br />
I am a little confused by her actually calling Crystal by her proper name, instead of Magnolia. I chuckle to myself remembering that Crystal now is probably as famous as I am. Not only does the world see pictures of her with me all the time, but she caused her own stir doing the wedding dress modelling job, the pictures of which are always popping up everywhere. <br />
<br />
Crystal
giggles as she squirts what looks like jelly out of a tube all over her
stomach. Then she moves away from Crystal for a moment and over to the
door where she dims the lights a little. She starts to run the
scanning object over her stomach, a little quickly at first, spreading
the jelly around, then she slows down and starts to watch the screen.<br />
<br />
I
can not really see the screen from where I am sitting very well, and
when the doctor stands in front of the monitor as she is watching it,
she turns it slightly away from me, which block my view completely of what little bit I could see. I glance
at Crystal and she is looking at me so we smile at each other, I do not
think she can actually see the screen either.<br />
<br />
"What is happening?" Crystal asks me and I shrug my shoulders. I think that the doctor must have thought that Crystal was speaking to her.<br />
"I will just have a good look around, then I will show you and discuss what I have found." she smiles in our direction "If I am quiet, there is nothing to worry about, it is just because I need to concentrate and take a thorough look at everything, with it being babies first scan."<br />
<br />
Me
and Crystal, at the same time, pull a face at each other which makes
her start giggling. The doctor asks Crystal to stay as still as she
can.<br />
<br />
<i> </i> "We do not need colourless names any more." her lips curl downwards "What about my favourite name!!" she whines.<br />
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<br />
<br />
She
lies there really pouting, doing a Vanilla impersonation which makes me
laugh at her.<br />
<br />
It was maybe a little premature but Crystal started to
throw different names around virtually straight away. We have a list of
orange, yellow and colourless names that we like for both boys and
girls, obviously not knowing the sex of the baby yet. One name in
particular Crystal has been obsessing over, and it is a name in the
colourless list for a girl.<br />
<br />
"You know I don't
suppose it really matters!! If it is a girl you could still have that
name whatever colour she is, if you really want it. It is more than likely she will have our colourless eyes just like Vanilla, Poppy, and all the rest of us." I grin at her "And who says we have to
have a matching colour name - who says we have to be normal, and like everyone else!!"<br />
"Yeah right, Coral and Straw already call us enough names - stupid, retard and idiot being their favourites. So can you just imagine what they would say if we gave an orange or yellow baby a white name." she pulls an I don't know expression<br />
"Seriously I've told you to ignore those two bitches, they only throw so much at us because they are jealous of us and our life!! Even with a half a brain I'm happier and doing much better than they are, while they are miserable and both making a total mess of their own lives!!" I smile at her "I don't care what anyone has to say, especially not those two, because I've had their shit thrown at me all my life, I'm numb to it!!" I laugh "Besides I am colourblind, you could always blame me, we have the perfect excuse! I don't know what colour most things are." I grin at her<br />
"You don't care because you just love to stir up trouble and be rebellious!" she giggles at me<br />
"Can you only get it in white?" I laugh at her<br />
"No!" A huge grin suddenly washes across her face "Actually It does come in any colour you want ... but it suits a colourless person better.!"<br />
"Well then, it is not a problem is it if it comes in yellow and orange!! If you want that name you can have it. I actually quite like it!!"<br />
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<br />
<i> </i>"Yeah, and you know what is going to happen now don't you
Tap!!" her face twists up "She is going to tell us in a minute that the baby is a
boy!!" she starts laughing.<br />
"Didn't Dad say it is too early to say what sex the baby is on the first scan?" I frown at Crystal<br />
"Yeah." she mumbles <br />
<br />
I
glance at the doctor wandering what is taking so long. She seems to be
taking forever to say anything, she did not even react to what I just
said to Crystal. The doctor is stood very close to the screen and seems
to be really concentrating. I watch her hand, she is hardly moving the
scan thing, she is keeping it sat in one place for ages before she
moves it slightly to another position.<br />
<br />
"Excuse me." I say quite loudly "Is everything okay with the baby?" I ask, my nerves are jangling and I am not sure that I can take much more of her silence.<br />
"Yes
perfectly fine!!" she glances quickly in our direction and smiles
before turning back to the monitor "I will not be too much longer
now!!"<br />
<br />
The door opens quickly and suddenly, which makes me jump. I am
relieved to see Dad walk in, he looks a little flustered and out of
breath like he has been running. He smiles at me and Crystal.<br />
<br />
"I'm sorry I'm late!! I was unavoidably held up with something up in Neurology!!" he mumbles as he looks sheepishly in my direction. <br />
"Is Forrest still okay?" I ask wandering what might have held him up seeing as he is not supposed to be at work today.<br />
"Yeah Forrest is fine." he smiles at me "Bay threw a bit of a wobble, and Caramel had a bit of a turn, but I'll tell you about it all later."<br />
"I am glad you manage to join us Dr Muffin." the doctor smiles at Dad <br />
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<br />
"I expected you to be finished by now Dr Lynx."<br />
"Unfortunately
we are running a little late with all the appointments today Dr Muffin."
she glances over her shoulder to look at Dad <br />
"So where are we?" Dad smiles at the other doctor<br />
"I was actually just about
to page you, but you have just saved me the trouble."<br />
"Everything is okay isn't it?" Dad suddenly looks concerned. <br />
"Amazingly
yes!!" she smiles at Dad as he makes his way round the bed to the
monitor "I need you to take a look. This one is definitely a first for
this hospital. We have had monozygotic only once before, but never
twice in one shot!! It's amazing!!"<br />
<br />
They are both quiet for a moment and they look at the monitor, I am watching the expressions on Dad's face, and when his mouth drops open and he looks shocked .... I am starting to feel very scared!! <br />
<br />
"Yeah, the Shine
twins, who are actually Crystal's Nephews!" Dad starts really laughing "It obviously
runs strongly in the Shine family genes, her brother is also a
monozygotic twin, and we suspect Crystal could possibly be one herself,
with both babies being colourless and girls, but unfortunately her twin faded during childbirth, and the pregnancy was
undocumented, so we will never know for sure." he continues to laugh "Twins and Triplets run strong on the Orchid side too, so I really shouldn't be surprised by this, but I'm actually gob smacked!! Oh Berry!! My Special Little Soldier is continuing to defy the odds!!"<br />
<br />
Both Dad and the other doctor stand laughing at each other for a moment. I am pretty annoyed that he has just called me that, Special Little Soldier being one of the few nicknames that he has for me that I hate.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Dad do you have to?! You know I hate that name."<br />
"Don't worry Tap ... Dr Lynx here was around when you was born. She was actually the doctor in charge of the special care baby unit at the time, so she had just as many sleepless nights with you as I did ... " he laughs quietly "... and Little Soldier is what we all called you until I actually gave you a name." <br />
"What is going on with the baby?"<br />
"I will be explaining everything to you soon .. I just need to have a good check of everything ... with this pregnancy not quite being normal." he mumbles as he now concentrating on the monitor again. <br />
<br />
And here we go again!! We have to now sit and wait again for Dad to do what Dr Lynx has already done and taken her time over!!<br />
<br />
Me and Crystal
just stare worryingly at each other. Crystal's face is
starting to mirror how I am feeling ... confused, scared, nervous!! Even thought
the doctor has said that everything is okay, why is she staying tight lipped
and not telling us anything. Why does she need Dad to take a look? Why are they laughing? What is not normal? What is a first? Monozygotic I have heard that word before but I can not quite think where or
when, because my head is now in a tizzy, it is actually starting to hurt. <br />
<br />
The Doctor and Dad have their heads together in front of the
monitor and are mumbling away quietly to each other, non of it I can
hear properly.<br />
<br />
"Dad?"<br />
"Just give me two more minutes Tapestry, to check this out and I will be with you." he says without taking his eyes off he screen.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Finally after what feels like forever, he turns round to face us. <br />
<br />
"Oh Tapestry ... only you could!!" he starts almost howling with laughter at me. At first quietly then he almost gets hysterical, which is really starting to annoy me.<br />
"<b>DAD!! </b> Just tell us what is going on, we are sick of waiting!!" I snap at him "What is wrong because I know something is!!"<br />
"There is nothing wrong exactly." he laughs "But I guess you might not see it that way, it all depends on how many children you want exactly."<br />
"Dad my head is going into outburst mode, just spit it out!!" I snap at him angrily as I jump up out of my chair. "And yes I have taken my medication before you even ask." his face drops and he starts to look serious.<br />
<i> </i> "I'm sorry!! You had better sit down Tap." he points at the chair and smiles at me. "The
babies are perfectly fine, perfectly normal, and there is absolutely
nothing wrong, so there is no need for you to get upset or panic!!" I sit down on the chair. "The
only thing you need to worry about right now, is just how many babies there are.
It has taken a while longer because we have found more babies than we
bargained for!!"<br />
<br />
"How many?"<br />
<i> </i>"FOUR."<br />
<br />
Dad starts to really laugh .... I didn't hear that right did I!?<br />
<br />
"How many?" I repeat my question<br />
"FOUR." he repeats again<br />
<br />
I just sit there in numb shock, I feel like I've just been hit by a ten
tonne truck <br />
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<br />
FOUR!! <br />
<br />
I can feel the colour draining from my face as the
number FOUR keeps bouncing around painfully in my head.<br />
<br />
"Oh fudge Tap!! Do you ever do anything normally?!" Dad is having a fit of laughter "Berry help you two that is all I am saying!!" he continues to laugh "I think it is safe to say, from now on you two ARE taking precautions!!!" his laughter starts to get louder <br />
"Ha ha! Dad very funny!!" is all I can mumble. Since he said the number four my head and face has been frozen rigid with shock, I can hardly think or talk!! "So you are telling me there are ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR babies in there?!" I point at Crystals stomach.<br />
<i> </i> "Yes Four. You are having Quads." he laughs "But not just any old quads!! Two sets of identical twins, like Carmine and Maize!!" he continues to laugh "So telling them apart is going to be a total nightmare and you are having double trouble!!"<br />
<br />
Me
and Crystal are just staring at each other wide eyed while Dad is
still laughing. I think I am in total shock like Crystal, who hasn't even spoken yet. I can't help but think that there is NOT room for four babies inside Crystal's stick thin body, Scarlet is having one baby and she is huge ... Crystal with four babies is going to explode!!<br />
<br />
We have only
really talked about one or two ... but four, that is just ridiculous!!
How the hell are we going to cope with FOUR babies on top of the two we
have already got, and all our Neices and Nephews that we have constantly to baby sit.<br />
<br />
"How the hell can there be FOUR?!" I mumble <br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
"There are quite a few reasons - multiple pregnancies are running high on both the Orchid and Shine side, there is only Mosaic and Mulberry who have managed to have a single baby so far, and of course Cotton, but we have two sets of triplets, berry knows how many sets of twins." he smiles for a moment "Then we have Crystals poly cystic ovaries, when her ovaries release eggs, it is not just one at a time, combined with the fertility treatment ... so you have managed to go one better than everyone else and created four." he starts to laugh quite enthusiastically again "You are actually lucky there are not more than four because of the fertility treatment!" <br />
"I feel sick!!" I say as I
put my head in my hands and look down at the floor. Dad starts to flap
thinking that I am about to throw up all over the floor and he shoves a
cardboard sick bowl in my face. "No, not that sick ... mentally sick!!"<br />
<br />
Dad laughs quietly as he removes the sick bowl from my vision. I am amused when Crystal snatches it off him and promptly throws up in it.<br />
<br />
"Are you sure you have taken your medication today!" Dad mumbles<br />
"Of course I am sure!!" I snap at him "Quit going on, or you are going to set me off!"<br />
<br />
There is an awkward silence as my Dad just stands watching me nervously, I've now got my head in my hands again and I'm starting to rock in the chair.<br />
<br />
<i> </i> "Do you mind if I take over from here Dr Lynx?" Dad says to the other doctor "You already know my Son has ADHD, and it might take him a while to get his head around this. I think he needs to take some time out, to get over the shock, so we can try and avoid one of his emotional outbursts." he smiles at her "We
will get out of your hair and you can get on with your next patient,
seeing as you are running late. I'll run through the rest of this scan
with them in another room, when he's calmed himself down a little."<br />
"Yes fine!" the doctor smiles at Dad as she hands the folder of notes to him. "But you are not snagging this case Dr Muffin ... this one is mine!!" she grins at Dad who just laughs and holds his hands up.<br />
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<br />
The
doctor hands Crystal a load of paper towel and tells her to jump off
the coach and clean herself up. Crystal straight away starts to moan
that she has not seen the baby - babies, I am a little miffed too in all
of the palava we only get told there are four babies but do not get to
see the babies or scan pictures, which I was expecting. Dad tells Crystal that we are moving her to another
room and he will do another scan and run through everything with us, so she will get her scan pictures.<br />
<br />
As
soon as we get outside in the corridor, he tells us to sit down for a
moment then goes over to the main desk and starts to talk with the two
doctors, nurses, receptionists, whatever they are. When he is finished he walks back over to us and he pulls out
his phone. <br />
<br />
"River are you busy? I could do with a
hand." he mumbles into the phone "How long is that going to take?" I am amused for a second by the faces that Dad always pulls when he is talking on the
phone "Okay well meet me up in maternity in half an hour." he listens
"Yes maternity, have I got something to show you!!" he laughs "Not
saying, you can wait until you get here!!"<br />
<br />
Dad wanders
back over to the desk, speaks to the doctors again then signals for us
to follow him. He tells us that he wants to wait for River, so we go
down to the coffee shop to kill some time and give me a chance to calm down a little. All the way there he is
constantly chuckling to himself while me and Crystal follow him holding
hands, both still stunned into silence. I am seriously struggling to take in
how there can be four babies growing in Crystals stomach.<br />
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<br />
<br />
I sit down at a table in the coffee shop, while I watch Crystal and Dad go to the counter to buy drinks. They are nattering to each other, and both of them keep glancing in my direction, so I can guess what they are discussing - me and if I am going to blow. I watch Dad as he watches me nervously, I think he is waiting for me to blow. I am wandering if that is why he phoned River, for back up, he knows that River has more of a chance of calming me down and stopping the inevitable explosion. River can also deal with me better if I do blow, Dad just makes me worse.<br />
<br />
I am highly amused when Dad puts a mug of coffee down in front of me that looks, stronger than normal ... I suspect it has quite a few extra shots in it. I can see what he is doing, even though he doesn't like me drinking coffee as a rule, he has learned at least one lesson from River, that coffee does help to keep me calm. I think he knows that I am struggling with this and that my head could blow, as it is I am fighting it ... the very last thing I want to do is be having an outburst here in the hospital and upsetting Crystal.<br />
<br />
What I really need now is a cigarette, but doubt that I have any. When I check , I feel the packet in my pocket, I am glad that I have not thrown them into the bedside cupboard since I returned from Rainbow Valley. I go to get up, but Dad stops me.<br />
<br />
"Tap, I need you to do me a favour." he mumbles "I need you to help me keep an eye on Bay."<br />
"Why, what's wrong with him?"<br />
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<br />
"He's a little upset ..."<br />
"Is he not happy about Forrest being his Dad."<br />
"No, well at least me and Granite don't think that is the reason why he is so upset. He's gotten himself worked up into a tizzy, he's cracking up like he did when Slate was on life support." he smiles at me "We think he is just concerned about Forrest being okay more than anything. He watched Forrest have a few seizures and it freaked him out a little, I think it reminded him of seeing Slate doing it, and we have tried to reassure him that Forrest's condition is no where near as severe as Slate was, but I'm not sure he's taking it in."<br />
"What do you expect me to do?" I frown at him<br />
"Just be there and talk to him ... even if you let him talk and you just listen. He is not going to open up and talk to me and Granite like he would talk to one of his mates, and we know he confides in you in particular."<br />
"I'll go and see him after." I smile at Dad<br />
"So how are you feeling now?"<br />
"Fine!" I snap "Or I will be if you leave me alone and stop fussing!!"<br />
<br />
I see him roll his eyes as him and Crystal exchange a look. Suddenly I realise what he was just doing - he was trying to distract me away from the babies, by talking about Bay.<br />
<br />
I sit quietly from then on just listening to Dad and Crystal ramble on, they seem to be avoiding the FOUR babies subject, as they start to talk about Snow and his speach therapy. A lot of what they are saying is not even registering with my brain, my mind has now gone back to those four
babies, both of their voices are just an irritating mumble in my head. I don't take any part in their conversation, I'm just sat with my head in my hands, and I let my mind drift off into my inattentive world as I drink my coffee.<br />
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<br />
When we get back up to
maternity River is waiting for us.<br />
<br />
"What's going on?" River looks concerned "I thought your scan was earlier." he frowns at me<br />
"Dr Lynx didn't get to finish the first scan because Tap needed time out, he got a little overwhelmed." Dad mumbles as he smiles at River.<br />
<br />
Dad ushers us all into a different
room than we were in before. Crystal goes through the rigmarole of removing her clothes and having the jelly squirted on her stomach but a
lot quicker this time. River keeps frowning at me, probably because all I am doing is staring at him blankly. I now feel like I'm in a daze.<br />
<br />
"Dad, is there something wrong?"<br />
"Yes and no, depending on how you look at it." he laughs at River "Here you take a look!" <br />
<br />
Dad
laughs and winks at me as River steps up to the monitor and stands
there concentrating.<br />
<br />
Dad is moving the scan thing around on Crystals
stomach and grinning like a Cheshire cat, this makes me laugh a little. River
glances in our direction for a second then he goes back to the screen. They seem to be stood there for ages <br />
<br />
"FUDGE!!" he stares at Dad wide eyes "Am I going mad or have you just shown me four different puppies?"<br />
"Yes!" he laughs "Your
little brother doesn't do things by halves you should know that!!"
they both start laughing at each other "Quads it is!! But look closely River."<br />
<br />
Dad
points something out to him on the screen that River squints at.<br />
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<br />
"Oh Berry!!
There are only two placenta's!!" he frowns at Dad "They are not fused are they?"<br />
"No, both sets are mono amniotic" Dad is now smirking <br />
"Oh fudge!! So they are definitely going to be two sets of identical twins!!" River
stares at me wide eyed then starts howling. "Oh Tap you are killing me!!" he laughs at me before turning back to Dad "How much fun are we going
to have telling them apart!!"<br />
"A lot of fun ... with them being mono, there is only one way when they are older, if one is left and the other right handed." he laughs "We are going to have to make them name badges, although that is not going to help Tapestry very much is it!!"<br />
"What are the odds on this happening Dad?" River laughs<br />
"1 in 70 million or there abouts according to Dr Lynx." he grins at River "One set is rare enough, but two at the same time, it is practically unheard of .... I get the feeling this might attract a lot of attention, especially from the medical world due to his own start in life, even though Crystal is probably the reason why they are Monozygotic, and their fame might be growing for a whole different reason, especially if they prove your theory right!!"<br />
"The defective gene?" River raises his eyebrows<br />
"Neither of them have it ... so these four might just prove your theory right River, because Tapestry and Crystal are the perfect pair to do it.!" <br />
<br />
Dad and River are suddenly falling about with
laughter, the last part of their conversation I really didn't understand. Me and Crystal just stare at each other, I think she has
still not gotten over the shock of the four babies, like I haven't. I am not really sure why they are finding this all so funny, when I wish this wasn't happening ... just two babies would have been more than enough!!<br />
<br />
After their initial excitement they calm down and start to get more serious. FINALLY we get to see the babies. I stare numbly at the screen as Dad is slowly showing
us each different baby, pointing out their heads, arms and legs. He is
happy that they are all the same size, and look health, they have all
the right bits and nothing is missing. I can't help but keep glancing at River, he suddenly has a concerned expression on his face as he keeps rubbing his neck, which means he is stressing over something, which in turn starts to stress me out even more.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Can you tell if they are boys or girls?" Crystal asks<br />
"It is too early to tell yet, we will not be able to tell for definite until they have grown a
little more." Dad smiles at us. "As they are two sets of identical twins, each set will be the same sex, so it will either be four boys, four girls or two girls and two boys. Hopefully we will have a better idea on your next scan."<br />
<br />
Dad prints off some scan pictures and hands them to me, because I think I am the closest, as Crystal is now over the other side of the room cleaning the gel off herself and getting dressed. I just stare at the pictures in my hand and feel totally numb with shock.<br />
<br />
At this point, my head goes into my hands again, after seeing the four different babies makes this even more real, and my head is really starting to hurt. I am not even twenty yet ... how can I suddenly have seven children - six of my own and Snow ... it's ridiculous!!<br />
<br />
I notice River and Dad stood together mumbling, as they are both keeping a beady eye on me, but I don't watch them for long because Crystal suddenly bursts into hyperactive mode as she starts to get excited, which doesn't help me. Out comes her phone and she starts squealing as she is talking to my Mother.<br />
<br />
I can feel a sudden panic building up in me and what I really want to do is run.<br />
<br />
A hand containing one of those little pills and a glass of water appear in front of me. When I look up River is crouching down in front of me.<br />
<br />
"Here take this. It will help take the edge off." River mumbles.<br />
<br />
I don't argue I just take it.<br />
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<br />
"How the hell is Crystal supposed to have FOUR babies?" I mumble<br />
"She will have to have a C Section .... but don't worry about all that now." he smiles at me<br />
"What were you getting stressed over while Dad was showing us the babies?" I frown at him "Please don't fob me off like Dad will ... Four babies is going to make this pregnancy risky and complicated isn't it, especially if this chronic sickness doesn't stop."<br />
"Yes ... " he mumbles quietly "... but now is not the time to be filling your head with extra worries! I can see you are struggling, and honestly I don't blame you, if I was in your shoes right now I'd be totally shocked by four babies all at once, so I will talk everything through with you when you are a little calmer." he smiles at me <br />
"Can we go home now." Crystal is laughing as she closes her phone. She has now finished talking to my Mom. "I want to show Mom and Lilly the baby pictures - I don't think they believe me."<br />
<br />
I stare at Crystal jumping around like an excited child, which makes me close my eyes, especially when I hear Dad telling her she needs to calm herself down and start to take extra care of herself, because she is carrying four babies, which is not like having just one.<br />
<br />
"I need to get out of here ... " I mumble<br />
"I'll take Crystal home out of your hair, I can see she isn't helping." River laughs quietly "Why don't you take yourself off out for a walk and get some fresh air."<br />
"I'm going up to see Bay and Forrest."<br />
<br />
I jump up off my chair and start to walk quickly out of the room. Before I even get to the door Dad is trying to stop me.<br />
<br />
"Tapestry!" Dad shouts me<br />
"Dad just leave him, let him go!!" River snaps at him<br />
<br />
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<br />
"Yeah .. just leave me!!"<br />
<br />
I yell at Dad as I run out of the room.<br />
<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-33778635574129518102017-05-24T04:07:00.002-07:002017-05-24T04:07:41.344-07:00Chapter 53 - Gen 2 - Tapestry<br />
As I stand outside the nursery door, waiting for either Amber, Poppy or Willow to start crying, I can not help but think I could really do without being on baby sitting duty today. At the moment I am feeling constantly tired, because I have only been
back home for a few days, and after a hectic two weeks away and hardly
any sleep, I think I'm still suffering from jet lag <br />
<br />
I had nothing planned for today, other than popping into the vampire den to see Shadow, because this afternoon, we have a hospital appointment for our first baby scan. I really could do with some time out to relax, my head is overloaded with too many things, and I'm tired, because it feels like the hassle going on around me never stops, so I am constantly on the go!!<br />
<br />
I thought today I would be getting a day off to chill out and spend some time with Crystal, Vanilla and Snow. Poppy I am not too bothered about, because even though Maize has now taken full custody of his daughter, Poppy has spent most of her life down here with us and Crystal is still looking after her while Maize is at work anyway, so she is always here during the day time. It is just my extra Neice and Nephew I could do without.<br />
<br />
With very little notice, I have been given Amber and Willow to look after, because today is the day that Forrest spills his and Caramel's secrets. While Forrest is explaining everything to Bay, Fudge and Mint, Dad and Granite are explaining everything to Mosaic, Slate and Parsley. They thought it was best the two babies weren't there to interrupt things. I knew this was coming sometime this week, and that I would be on baby sitting duty while it happened, but Forrest could have picked any other day, just not today.<br />
<br />
I chuckle to myself for a moment, wandering just how Forrest and
Caramel's secrets are going to go down with everyone, especially how
Bay, Fudge and Mint are going to take finding out that Forrest is their
biological Father and not Alpine, and why. He told me the truth and whole story over a month ago, and I still don't think I can get my head around it. <br />
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<br />
Sunny's funeral is now over and thankfully it went without a hitch, and his secrets are still safe with just a handful of us, and all of Sunny's children were spared the heartbreak of learning the truth about him. Although Ruby could quite easily have blown it, by just suddenly storming off part way through the service, but everyone just put it down to grief. Only me, Mace, Granite and Turmeric knew it wasn't grief, she was angry knowing his secret, and Turmeric had to chase after her to calm her down and keep her quiet, to stop her blowing it all out into the open.<br />
<br />
The day after the funeral, even though I felt guilty for leaving Crystal so soon after the service, I was jumping on a plane to Rainbow Valley with Prelude, where I have spent the past two hectic weeks, mostly working. I was able to attend Sunny's burial in Amber Valley, so that Mustard was not alone, and was also around while they found and exhumed Crystals twin sisters remains from the woods. The most amusing part for me, Sunny and Saffron's spirits came along for the ride.<br />
<br />
River also went out to Rainbow with me, because he got his wish of getting involved in a medical capacity, he got to play the archaeologist and practice the forensic medicine that he loves so much. Mustard had to join us out there, he was coming out to Amber with Sunny's body and couldn't travel with us, in case Prelude or River picked up on anything and worked out Sunny's sordid secret. The best part about my two weeks away, I got to catch up with Denim and Pheonix, who I have really missed. <br />
<br />
I spent most of my time in Rainbow with Rocky and Prelude, sorting out all the last minute details for our up and coming tour, that will have me away from home for three months soon, which I am really not looking forward to. Being my first tour I am already nervous and stressing myself out over it, because I really don't know what to expect, I'm just really glad that I will have Rocky there to hold my hand and show me the ropes. It makes it harder knowing that I will be away from Crystal while she is pregnant, and I have to go three whole months without seeing her, Vanilla, Snow and Shadow.<br />
<br />
Shadow in particular is stressing me out, he really is not happy about me being away for so long, he is playing up something cronic and getting very upset, and I really don't know what to do about it. He in particular is making me feel very guilty for having the career that I do. If he wasn't a vampberry I could take him with me on my trips away, like I can sometimes take Vanilla, but it is just impossible with him.<br />
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<br />
"Where is your head at?" Crystal makes me jump, appearing suddenly.<br />
"Nowhere. I am just stood out here waiting for the screams to start." I smile at Crystal "Three sleeping babies, but I don't know how long for. You know Amber and Poppy are teething, so I doubt they will let Willow sleep for long."<br />
"Well instead of standing out here like a neurotic idiot, USE THE BABY MONITOR because you need to come and spend some time with your own children!! Vanilla and Snow are beginning to forget what you look like, they have seen so little of you lately." she mumbles "And you will be off again before we know it on that stupid tour!"<br />
"Seriously Crystal, you know I can't help how busy I've been for the past three weeks, and remember I should only have been out in Rainbow for a week, but this stuff with your twin sister, had me out there an extra week."<br />
"I know but I get fed up sometimes, you are always running around doing something that doesn't include me and the kids."<br />
"I'm sorry ... it's my job, and I would much rather be at home most of the time, but unfortunately I have stuff to do." I smile at her "Why do you think I am rushing around so much at the moment .... to get everything done so I can take time out for when the baby comes." I laugh "The album is finished, and I have a few new singles stacked up waiting to go out, so after the "stupid tour" as you call it, you will have me for at least six months, without working interfering, there are only a few thing I can't avoid doing, and Rocky has said any new stuff that we will be working on, he will come here to do it, while I'm on maternity leave." I smirk at her<br />
"Yeah, we'll see." she laughs sarcastically<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
"You haven't forgot the baby scan this afternoon have you?"<br />
"Like I can forget, when you remind me every day, a hundred times a day!" I laugh at her "I didn't plan to do anything at all today, but Forrest did warn us that they couldn't predict which day they would do it, because of Alpines rocky head."<br />
"What are we going to do if they haven't finished in time for our appointment?" she frowns at me "River and Winter are at work and we can't expect Saffron and Atlas to look after Amber and Willow as well as our two, Ocean and Poppy."<br />
"Why not - we do." I laugh at her "Don't panic, if the worst comes to the worst, we will just have to drop Amber and Willow off with Slate and Mo, whether they have finished or not. I've already warned Granite we have an appointment and can only have them till dinner time." <br />
"Where are all our spirits today, I haven't seen any of them, not even Glimmer."<br />
"They are probably at Caramels, watching Forrest drop his bomb. I know Storm is worried about Bay, and Cos is worried about Alpine, so I expect Sunny, Cos, Storm and Saffy are there. I'm not sure about Glimmer though, I haven't seen her for a few days." I frown at her "Talking about the faded, have you and your Mother decided where you are having your sister buried, because the police have told River they will be releasing the remains soon."<br />
"Yeah, we think probably here?"<br />
"Why here?" I frown at her "I expected you to put her where her grave is, with Sunny and Saffy."<br />
"It's not easy going out to Amber Meadow is it, especially not for Mom. There are too many bad memories for her there." she smiles at me "It is bad enough that Sunny is buried out there and none of the Shines can go to visit his real grave, besides I would rather have her close, so here is the best place."<br />
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<br />
"Okay, well you will have to talk to River, burials is something I've never had to organise and I don't have the foggiest clue where to start, he said he would help you get all that sorted out."<br />
"Crimson said he'd help me too." she smiles at me<br />
"Good, it gives me one less thing to worry about." I smile at her "Where is your Mom anyway."<br />
"You might guess ... with your purple Granddad." she sniggers <br />
"Please tell me they are ... NOT!"<br />
"No silly!! I think they are too old for all that!" she sniggers "While you was away, they rediscovered their love for playing crib."<br />
"Crib?" I frown at her<br />
"It's an old peoples card game, your Granddad said the young ones don't play any card games these days, especially not cribbage, because they are too busy on their phones and the internet." she starts laughing "Your Muffin Grandparents play with them sometimes, and Shale. Some days it's looked like we are running an old peoples home down here, as well as a cresh!" she starts really laughing and I can't help but laugh with her. "Mom and Grape, have been spending most of their time together playing cards and talking about the old days."<br />
"Yeah, I noticed, he seems to be a lot happier and more active since your Mom has been here."<br />
"Your Dad says its an old people thing ... they keep each other company and they are on the same wave length - they are both stuck in the past." she laughs<br />
"So who is actually watching the kids right now?"<br />
"Don't panic!! They are not on their own, Scarlet is here, she came while you was in the nursery getting Amber to sleep."<br />
<br />
Crystal mentioning Scarlet sends a cold chill of dread through me. Her baby is due any time now, and I really need to speak to my Dad about it, before the unstoppable bomb drops, which will causes total chaos in the extended family. At least Dad can be pre-warned because no doubt he will be the one having to sort the aftermath out.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Crystal has become quite close very quickly, to all her Shine Neices and Nephews, all except for Strawberry. Scarlet and Saffron she is particularly close to, and I am not looking forward to what is coming. Scarlet finding out she is not Sunny's daughter means that Crystal is not technically related to her - which I know is going to be very hard for them to take, especially Crystal.<br />
<br />
Just as we start to make our way into the living room where Vanilla, Snow and Ocean are playing, my phone starts to ring, and I just answer the call straight away. Crystal rolls her eyes and carries on without me.<br />
<br />
"Tap what are you doing?" My Dad, barks at me down the phone<br />
"You know what I'm doing - I'm at home looking after Amber and Willow."<br />
"Good! Take Amber and Willow back to Mo and Slate ..." he seems to be flapping<br />
"Seriously!! I have only just got them off to sleep." I tut at him "I thought Mo and Slate were collecting them when it was finished."<br />
"Well things have changed. Wake them up, drop them off at Forrest's with their Dad's, then come to the hospital, I need you to bring me my glasses, and hurry up."<br />
"Why are you at the hospital - I thought you had the day off."<br />
"Yeah so did I ... they have just rushed Forrest in with a head injury."<br />
"Is it bad?"<br />
"Look Tap just hurry up, I don't have time to talk - I'm needed in theatre ... and DON'T FORGET my glasses!!"<br />
<br />
The call cuts off suddenly. I can't help but just stand and stare at my phone for a minute - he is needed in theatre, so does that mean it is bad enough for Forrest to be going into theatre?!<br />
<br />
Crystal is seriously not going to be happy that I have to go out again. <br />
<br />
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<br />
I walk into the Neurology department, still a little worried by the phone call that I received from my Dad, not too long ago. After getting earache off Crystal for going out again, like I expected, I dropped Willow and Amber off with their Dad's at Forrest's house. To stop him from phoning me, I had to make a painful call to Shadow to tell him that I could not get in to see him until later tonight, which didn't go down too well with him.<br />
<br />
My mind is now troubled. Dad wanting his glasses, generally only means one of two things, there is something wrong with his contacts, or he needs to cry. Seeing as he told me they have just rushed Forrest in and possibly into theatre ... I take it he is upset and if he needs a cry, that really worries me, because Dad doesn't cry easily. Dad has always been very close to Forrest, he is one of his oldest friends.<br />
<br />
I know that Forrest joked that he would probably end up in the hospital today, he predicted that Bay might knock him out, once he learns the truth about Forrest being his biological Father, but I never expected his prediction to actually happen. I don't know how Forrest has managed to get his head injury, or why he might have been rushed into surgery, because Dad didn't really say, it was just one of his quick sharp phone calls barking out his orders, which generally annoy me. <br />
<br />
As I walk through the double doors I spot Granite, literally curled up on one of the couches in the corridor, and he is really crying, which makes my blood run cold ... now I really am worried. I suddenly get the feeling that I might be walking it to some bad and horrible news.<br />
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"Hey!" I say quietly as I stare down at Granite<br />
"Tap!" he mumbles as he opens his eyes and stares up at me <br />
"Forrest is okay isn't he?"<br />
"Yeah he is better than we expected." he mumbles as he sits up wiping his face. I can see he is very embarrassed, by me walking in on him crying. <br />
"Are you okay?" I smile at him as I sit down<br />
"Ignore me, it was Leafy, he just really scared the hell out of both me and your Dad for a while!!" he mumbles "He had a few too many seizures, a slight bleed which we sorted out in theatre and he is suffering from severe concussion. Hopefully he should be fine." <br />
"So why are you crying? You gave me a right scare when I saw you lying there like that!"<br />
"I'm sorry, nobody was supposed to see me." he rolls his eyes in embarrassment "To be honest, I am not really sure why I just cracked up ... relief I guess. My head is already all over the place at the moment, with Mace's trail only weeks away, I am not coping with just the thought of Mace being locked up for time and us being apart. Then Leafy goes and does this and I just had visions of losing both of them, and I don't think I could cope with that and stay sane and sober!" <br />
"So what happened? How did he get his head injury." I frown at him "Bay didn't thump him, like Forrest predicted did he?"<br />
"Hell no!!" he laughs for a moment "You know about his pedophobia don't you?"<br />
"Yeah, his child phobia" I nod<br />
"Talking about his phobia to the kids made him pretty anxious, and Caramel is pregnant again, and Leafy had a freak out knowing he has more babies on the way, and another thirteen years of hell in front of him. She is having twins and mentally he is struggle to cope with it, so he had a panic attack and passed out. On the way down he bounced his head off the table pretty hard, then off the floor."<br />
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I start laughing and Granite frowns at me<br />
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"I'm sorry!! I wasn't laughing at Forrest hurting himself!! It is you saying Caramel is pregnant ... wait till Mom hears about it, it is going to set her off again and she is going to start giving Dad hell again ... she has only just shut up about wanting another baby!!" I laugh "He has only just convinced her that she is too old to be having more babies now, and if Caramel is doing it, she will think she can too."<br />
"Yeah I know!" he laughs "Your Dad said exactly the same thing!! He even said he thinks it is time for him to have the snip to shut your Mother up permanently." we both sit laughing for a moment.<br />
"I seriously can't get my head around Forrest's phobia. He tried to explain it to me, but it's all too much for my stupid head!!"<br />
"Basically it is just like any other phobia. Spiders, heights, needles, blood ect. Most people have a phobia and there is generally a reason behind it. Put a tiny spider in front of most people and they are irrationally scared stiff of it. In Leafy's case, he has issues from his childhood that have scared him mentally, which has given him an irrational fear of children. Leafy just reacts to children like most people do to spiders."<br />
"That is the bit that I do get, it is Forrest having the phobia that I don't understand." I roll my eyes at him "Do you know why I can't get my head around it ... Sandy Shores."<br />
"Oh Tap if only you knew what was going in when you weren't looking!!" he starts to laugh "Leafy was crawling the walls in the bedroom having Vanilla there. The first night when she kept crying, Leafy literally climbed out of the bedroom window and went and sat down on the beach where he couldn't hear her crying." he starts laughing "I cleaned up so much puke over those two days, it beats me how you never smelt it!! Me keep dragging him into the bedroom, wasn't for sex like I was making out, it was because I could see he was starting to wobble, it was to get him away from you so he could have his melt down in private." he smiles at me "It is just a good job you found Snow after we left, or he might have just given the game away ... one child he can deal with just about, two, he has no chance."<br />
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"You should have told me!!"<br />
"We couldn't, he has always been very scared that the more people that knew the more likely his big secret would get out ... not only has he always been very embarrassed and ashamed of his phobia, he has always been terrified of Bay, Fudge and Mint being screwed up by him and his erratic behaviour caused by the phobia." he rolls his eyes "He only told you when he did because he was scared you would say something about catching him and Mel together, and it would all blow up, and the kids would get hurt ... he has always broke his neck to protect those kids."<br />
"Why has it taken them so long to tell Bay, Fudge and Mint the truth, if he has been okay with them since they were teenagers?" I frown at him<br />
"Between you and me, Leafy has been nagging Mel for the last six years to tell them the truth and she wouldn't do it, scared of what they might think or how they would react, that is why it has taken so long to come out." he laughs "If the truth be told, it is only happening now on Mel's behalf, because she's had no choice because of the trial. Forrest is expecting Gravel to blurt the truth out to the kids in court out of spite, Leafy told her he was doing it now with or without her blessing, if you ask me he should have put his foot down with her six years ago!!<br />
"Why did you invite me to stay out in Sandy Shores - if you knew Vanilla was going to upset him?"<br />
"To be honest Tap, I wasn't thinking at the time. It was actually Forrest's idea about you being able to pretty much hide out from your fame and the world at the beach house because of the private beach. When I heard you moaning about being hounded everywhere you went outside of Sugar Valley, and how you would love to take Crystal and Vanilla on vacation ... it reminded me about what Leafy had said, so I asked." he laugh "Don't worry yourself or feel guilty, it was my fault, I was the one who put him through that. We actually laugh about it now, his cat flap in the wall, the window, he flew out of it so often, it was very comical, especially from where I was standing."<br />
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"Surely this phobia can be cured?"<br />
"Not always, Forrest needs to deal with his psychological issues, which he hasn't been able to do so far." he rolls his eyes "Now if we could wipe his memory of his childhood, then he might stand a chance of getting over it." he laughs jokingly "Unfortunately we don't have that power, and I wouldn't wish amnesia on anyone, but for Forrest right now, with Mel being pregnant, and expecting twins, it might just be his only cure, and I doubt he hit his head hard enough to cause any permanent damage, even with the bleed."<br />
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I stare at him for a moment, thinking about what he has just said.<br />
<br />
"I thought you was looking after your Neice and Nephew." he frowns at me<br />
"Yeah I was. I dropped Willow and Amber off at yours on the way here, even I'm not stupid enough to bring babies into see Forrest." we both laugh for a moment "Dad asked me to bring his glasses in."<br />
"Oh yeah, he's a little blind and one eyed at the moment!" he laughs "Forrest had a few seizures before we got him into theatre, and in the commotion your Dad got a thump in the face and lost one of his contacts. So don't be surprised if he gets a black eye."<br />
"So how did the confession actually go?"<br />
"Okay, I think. Bay, Fudge and Mint are still a little shocked about Leafy being straight more than anything." he laughs "None of them have kicked off or said anything, and they can't have taken it too badly because they are all sat in his room with him now he has come out of theatre."<br />
"Can I ask you something ... tell me to sod off and mind my own business if you want to ... but why the hell did you two get married if he's straight and you are gay?"<br />
"We<i> thought</i> we loved each other, we had been together since we were toddlers, and mistook emotional attachment for love. Well I know I did, Leafy is still adamant he loved me, but he is still kidding himself. After twenty years, it is pretty obvious he loves Mel, he just doesn't realise it himself yet, like it took me five years to realise I love Mace, because we were too busy holding onto each other to see anything else, our emotional attachment has blinded both of us, and I needed to come back for us both to see the truth. Forrest is just taking a little longer to get there because his head is screwed up." he laughs "When we were teenagers Leafy tried to play gay to keep me, which is what has screwed him up so much, to cut a long story short, it is basically me and my fault he has the phobia." he grins at me "So now you know!!" <br />
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"Aren't you worried that Slate might be doing the same thing with Bay?"<br />
"Of course!! At first, me and Leafy were terrified that he was attaching himself to Bay for all the wrong reason and that he would mess himself up trying to play gay, just like Leafy did. If it all went wrong, Bay would have been just as messed up as Slate, it would have broken him, I think you know he's always loved Slate." he grins at me "But luckily it seems to be working out for them, and neither of us are worried about them any more. Slate has obviously always had it in him, to be bisexual and he didn't realise it." he starts laughing "You would think Slate is the gay one how often he jumps on Bay." we both sit laughing "He has had no struggle at all thankfully!!" <br />
"So is Bay okay? How has he taken Forrest being his Dad?"<br />
"I'm not sure, he's been very quiet. Forrest is expecting it to affect him the most, so we just need to keep an eye on him, to make sure he doesn't go down again like he did when Slate was on life support. Mint seems the least bothered by it, I secretly thinks she is happy that Forrest has turned out to be her creator, because finally she knows who she looks like." he laughs "Fudge I really can't tell, but Mel thinks it will upset her the most as far as Alpine is concerned, because she has always been the closest one to Alpine."<br />
"How is Alpine?"<br />
"He got upset. Coal is at home sitting with him, we thought it best if he didn't come to the hospital, just in case he became unhinged, we already have enough to deal with, and he was already starting to rock and roll." he frowns at me suddenly "Alpine kept saying the strangest thing .... he said Sunny, Cosmic, Storm and another ghost were there, waiting for Forrest. He actually lost it at one point saying Forrest had faded and they had come to collect him. He freaked Bay right out, because he kept talking about Storm!! he starts howling "Caramel says he thinks he can see your ghosts."<br />
"He can. Storm and Cosmic have told me Alpine has started seeing them lately ... since Cinnamons funeral, but he can't hear them like I can." I laugh back at him "And they were at Forrest's today, Sunny, Cosmic, Storm and Saffy, Sunny's twin brother .... they were being nosey, but Storm was worrying about Bay."<br />
"Seriously Tap!" he frowns at me "I know I've been told you<i> think</i> you can see ghosts, but really, do you expect me to believe not only do you see them, you speak to them too!" he starts to almost howl.<br />
"Yeah." I smirk at him<br />
"I'm sorry Tap ... ghosts are something I can't believe in! They are not real and you will never be able to convince me otherwise!" he is laughing<br />
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I think about something that Sunny has been nagging me to do for him, which involves not only Mustard, but Granite and Mace too. There is no way that I can do what Sunny wants, without first convincing them that spirits are actually real and he is still here.<br />
<br />
"They are very real to me, and they don't like being called ghosts ... they are spirits!!" I smile at him as he sniggers. "I've already had Forrest pecking my head over it, because he has started to believe that me and Alpine are seeing them, because we are seeing the same spirits. Also because I see and talk to Cosmic, and everyone will tell you Cosmic faded before I was even born, so I couldn't know him unless I am seeing him now in spirit form - which I am." <br />
"So come on then, what do these <strike> ghosts</strike>, sorry, spirits of yours look like and say to you." he laughs at me<br />
"They look exactly how they did when they were alive, except for they are transparent and bright and they talk to me just how they always have, just like I'm talking to you now." I smirk at him "I haven't lost Storm or Sunny even though they have faded, because for me, they are still here like they always have been, only they are now in the spirit world. Although they do annoy me sometimes, they are always coming through walls and making me jump, or invading my privacy." I laugh "and they are very good at telling me about things that I would rather not know, things that only they see."<br />
"Like what?!"<br />
"Like peoples secrets ... I knew about Caramel and Forrest before I even caught them, because Storm told me, the spirits didn't tell me about the kids being Forrest's because they didn't think I could take it, but Cos has been watching them for years, making sure Alpine wasn't being abused by the situation. All of Sunny's shit, I lied, he didn't tell me while he was alive, he only told me after he faded, because he needed me to clean his shit up, which you and Mace helped with." I smile at him "Cosmic has known for years that your Dad's grave was fake, there are no bones buried there ... spirits can tell these things."<br />
"Get out of here, you are pulling my leg aren't you!!" he starts laughing at me<br />
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"No!" I smirk at him "Some one went to the cemetery yesterday, to put flowers on his Mother's, baby brothers and Sisters graves. He apologized to his Sister, because he feels guilty that she has been hurting these past five years while Mace was with him, even though he didn't have a clue who Mace was and especially not who he was married to." I laugh as his eyes widen. "Then he sneaked off to Sugar Falls to buy an expensive engagement ring ... didn't you Granite."<br />
"What!?" he looks confused "Somebody was listening, and saw me?"<br />
"Only Sunny." I smile at him "I didn't even know you had a baby brother called Slate buried in that graveyard until Sunny told me. Sunny watched you visiting Tami's grave then he followed you, he took a ride with you to Sugar Falls. He was with you for half the day because he was suspicious, he knew you fibbed to Mace, when you told him you was going to Raspberry for a few hours to see Meadow, when he'd seen Meadow here in Sugar with Alpine at Forests, and he heard you sneaking a call to Meadow asking her to cover for you, when you was sat in the car."<br />
"Sod off ...." he frowns at me <br />
"Well it's true isn't it?" I smirk at him<br />
"Yeah." he mumbles quietly as he nods sheepishly<br />
"Sunny said you drove straight over to Sugar Falls, you went into McBerry's for just fries and coffee, he was amused by how much ketchup you used and that you kept laughing to yourself."<br />
"Yeah, because if Mace had been there he was have been moaning at both the fries and the ketchup." he laughs quietly<br />
"Then you went into half a dozen different jewellers before you finally found the ring you wanted. You kept looking at the wedding rings too didn't you, and asked about having your names engraved on the inside of the rings .. which amused Sunny no end, because he didn't realise you was the romantic type." I laugh at him as he rolls his eyes at me "I can even tell you where you have hidden the engagement ring."<br />
"No you can't!!" he starts laughing at me<br />
"Oh yes I can, Mace is never going to find it upstairs is he." I laugh at him<br />
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"You have hidden it in the corner of one of the bedrooms upstairs, Atlas and Saffy's room ... you have got a really clever hidey hole haven't you!!" I laugh at him as his eyes nearly pop out of his head "You moved a cupboard, pulled back the carpet, lifted a lose floorboard, where you have a metal buscuit tin hidden. How would I know that when you locked the door and was totally alone in the room ... only a spirit could have seen you." I smile at him<br />
"This is nutz!!" he is staring at me wide eyed<br />
"Sunny said you sat laughing hysterically for ages when you lifted the tin lid and found a full bottle of vodka and a stash of drugs still in the tin. He said you called Forrest a twat out loud, for never finding your stash or hidey hole over the past 20 years." I raise my eyebrows "It is worrying that you left the booze and drugs in the tin and didn't get rid of them!"<br />
"What the hell!!" he chokes "I honestly don't have any intention of touching either the drugs or booze ... I did not leave them there because I wanted to, I had to."<br />
"You heard Atlas and Saffron coming up the stairs." I smirk at him "Yeah, Sunny said you only just got everything back in place and unlocked the door, before they walked in, and you pretended you was getting their dirty washing." I grin at him "You got a splinter in your finger from the floorboard in your rush to put it back didn't you."<br />
"Yeah I bloody did!" he holds his finger up to show me "This is crazy!!" <br />
"Next time you go in your hidey hole, you won't find the vodka or drugs ... Sunny got rid of them, to stop you from getting tempted!" I laugh at him "After 20 years he thought they might blow your brains out and you will mess yourself up if you even tried either of them, and he wasn't going to leave them there for you to do it to yourself."<br />
"Yeah right, I was just starting to fall for it then .." he laughs at
me "Like Sunny would give a shit about me, he hated me, he would
probably be hoping that I take the drugs and booze, not save me from them." <br />
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"He didn't hate you, he was jealous of you openly being who you should be - gay. That was a big part of his problem, he stupidly backed himself into a corner when he was a teenager pretending he was straight at the boarding school so that he didn't get bullied for being gay, like he was at the school in Amber Meadow, and he hated the life that he created for himself in his stupidity, that he couldn't get out of. He got Ruby pregnant and it just spiralled out of control He lashed out at you gay guys, because he hated himself for having to live the lie, even though he knew it was his own fault, and his homophobic act was to drive the temptation away, especially your cute face." I snigger "He hasn't admitted it to me, but I swear he fancied you in particular."<br />
"Sod off, Mace has said exactly the same thing!!" he chokes<br />
"Sunny wasn't happy about you being Tami's brother, especially because of what he watched her go through while Mace was missing and with you, and he's admitted he put his guard up with you straight away because of you being Gravel's brother, and he though you would be a berry hole just like him ..." I grin at him "He's told me, he is watching you very carefully, because if you ever hurt his mate Mace, you will literally be feeling his hands around your throat ... and because of Mace, he is looking out for you, because he knows what losing you would do to Mace."<br />
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I start to laugh at the expression on his face. He is just sitting there saying nothing, but I can tell I've messed his head up with it, and he is thinking about it.<br />
<br />
"Go and check your stash, when you see it's not there, think about what I have said, then come and tell me ghosts aren't real! And if you want real proof that spirits are real, I can give it you." I smile at him "Oh, and Sunny has left you something in place of your stash, he says you will enjoy that a lot more ... something only you and Mace know about apparently!" I smirk at him.<br />
"Like what?" he frowns at me<br />
"I don't know, he wouldn't tell me he just kept laughing." I laugh at him "Maybe you can tell me, when you know what he's left you." I stand up "I had better go and give Dad his glasses before he starts having a tantrum."<br />
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I walk off howling with laughter at the look of sheer shock and confusion on his face. <br />
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I walk into Dads office, still laughing quietly to myself. I am amused to see, that Dad isn't sat behind his desk like normal, he is lying on the examination couch with this hand over his eyes, like he is taking a nap.<br />
<br />
"Wakey Wakey Dr Muffin!!" I shout quiet loudly and he jumps up like a startled rabbit.<br />
"Tap seriously!!" he frowns at me before he starts laughing<br />
"I finally caught you slacking at work!" I start to laugh at him<br />
"As if!! Anyway technically I am on a day off today." he laughs "I'm just getting a headache ... it's been one of those days!!" he mumbles <br />
"Yeah, I hear Forrest has thumped you, so its not surprising that you are getting a headache!" I laugh at Dad as I hand him his glasses. He frowns at me "Granite told me, you might be getting a black eye because Forrest thumped you."<br />
"He didn't exactly thump me!" he laughs "It was more a case of me being too close when he started having a seizure, I didn't move quickly enough, and he head butted me in the face."<br />
"He is going to be okay isn't he?"<br />
"Hopefully!! He is stable now, and we are just waiting to wake him up, to know for sure, but it might be a few days before we can do that yet?"<br />
"Why?"<br />
"He has given himself severe concussion, as well as had a bleed on the brain. His brain activity is a little erratic at the moment, so we are just keeping him under and waiting for it to get back to normal ... it helps to prevent any long term damage."<br />
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<br />
Dad puts on his glasses and makes his way to his desk and sits down, so I automatically sit in one of the chairs opposite him. I can't help but think he looks rough and a little droopy eyed like he has also been crying like Granite.<br />
<br />
I wander for a moment if I should pre warn him now about Scarlet's real Father, while I have the chance and we are alone. I know that is a conversation that I really need to have with him now, because Cinnamon and Scarlet's baby is due any time now ... but I am not sure how to even start that conversations with him.<br />
<br />
"What took you so long to get here anyway? I was beginning to think you had been distracted, wandered off and forgotten."<br />
"I've actually been here for quite a while, I was sitting with Granite out in the corridor talking, he was very upset when I walked in."<br />
"I'm not surprised, it got a little hairy there for a while." he mumbles. "Forrest scared both of us because of how many seizures he was having."<br />
"Granite said something to me that has got me thinking."<br />
"You be careful you don't give yourself a headache!" he laughs<br />
"Funny!" I laugh at him "This phobia of Forrest's ... I might be able to cure it."<br />
"And how on earth do you think you are going to do that?!" his eyebrows raise then he starts having hysterics.<br />
"Dad I'm being serious!! Granite said - if he didn't remember his childhood and the things that are screwing him up - then he wouldn't have a problem which would cure the phobia." I smirk at him "I can do that ... wipe his memory." he laughs for a moment then stops. "Let me try!"<br />
"Tap I really don't think ..."<br />
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"Why not?! It's worth a try isn't it!! What harm will it do if I wipe away his childhood memories, they are only causing him grief by them being there. It will only be like he has amnesia like Mom, and you have said yourself in some ways it has been a blessing because she can not remember the bad things that really upset her ... like her childhood and how Prelude and her parents treated her, Cosmic and the baby fading ..."<br />
"That is all well and good, but as you know Tapestry, this vampberry brain wiping is not all that Jazz cracks it up to be .... Crystal is the perfect example of that!"<br />
"Yeah I know and that River remembered things too that had been wiped away, but the memories only come back in dreams and a lot of the time they were jumbled up with other stuff, and they both just dismissed them as being wacky dreams, they never believed they were a memory. We all have bad and wacky dreams, even when we haven't been memory wiped." I smile at him "There is still a hell of a lot that Crystal does not remember, like she still doesn't have a clue how she got here from Rainbow. A lot of the stuff she will never know about, unless I tell her or let her see it through my eyes."<br />
"No, its not ethical, it's a stupid idea Tap." he laughs<br />
"Is it .... stuff ethics!! There is nothing ethical about me or my unusual abilities is there." <br />
"I'm surprised you even know what that word means!"<br />
"Shadow has decided to educate me - so my vocabulary is growing." I grin at him "You only think its right to cut him open or ram medication down his throat to cure him ... well I've got a much better way to cure him, which will take seconds to do, and it won't hurt him."<br />
"Oh I don't know .... as a doctor, me letting you do it, just seems ..." <br />
"Unethical ... I know!" I laugh at him sarcastically "Which is kind of hysterical you saying that when you've let Jazz mess in your head ... and all the stuff that you have done and taken part in to cover up my abduction, Honey, Shadow and our cold friends with fangs!!" he just sits chuckling to himself for a moment <br />
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<br />
"Tell me something, did you once think or believe that Shadow or Honey
were alive after you had your brain wiped up until the night I walked
into the den and you had to be reminded that they were still here?"<br />
"No I believed the lies that Jazz planted in there, that they were burried in the cemetery ..."<br />
"Well then, so isn't it worth me wiping Forrests childhood memories to cure his phobia."<br />
"Don't think for one minute that I'm going to let you mess in his head ... he has just had brain surgery!!" I laugh at him<br />
"Seriously I think you know me wiping his childhood memories is not going to make him retarded even if he has just had surgery!" I laugh at him "Otherwise you, River, Winter, Mulberry, Ice and Crystal would all be basket cases now!!"<br />
"Funny Tap!!" he laughs at me<br />
"You need to speak to Daddy clone, and see what he thinks, I bet he will be all for it!!" I laugh at him "I could do it before you wake him up, then it will be just like he has woken up with amnesia, because of the bang on the head." I grin at him "Will you be able to live with yourself if you have to sit and watch him
struggling mentally with the new babies, when we might be able to cure
his phobia, but you didn't even try!!"<br />
"Get you, when did you start to think logically and be so sensible!" he laughs at me "It's a shame you don't operate in sensible mode all the time, because I know you still have lapses. Sometimes I wander if the vampberries didn't mess in your head while you was away ... how different you are now."<br />
"They can't get in my head remember, only Shadow." I grin at him "Besides while I was away, Daddy Clone didn't wrap me in cotton wool and suffocate me like you do, it helped my brain grow."<br />
"Stop calling him Daddy Clone!!" he laughs at me as he wags his finger at me "Your brain hasn't grown enough for you to understand that smoking is bad for your health, especially your throat and vocal cords!! And this is what I meant by your lapses in being sensible, because don't think I don't know you are still smoking on the sly!"<br />
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<br />
"Oh I understand its bad for me .... but what you don't seem to understand, it is something I have to do!! I get ribbed enough for being too squeaky clean for a Rock Star, when I'm at work, because I don't drink, do drugs or shag every fit woman that throws herself at me ... " I laugh at him as his face twists up probably because I've said the word shag. "The old me would have been doing all of it, so you are very lucky he still isn't here anymore ... and smoking is the lesser of the three evils in my book, and it keeps them off my back ... it is not like I am smoking all the time, especially when I'm home ... its only when I'm mega stressed out or when I'm out working at one of the parties!!"<br />
"Well you need to stop!!"<br />
"Yeah like Coral needs to stop pretending she doesn't have two babies, like she needs to get a job and quit sponging of me and you, like she needs to stop shagging every man in town, but I don't see you on her back!!" I snap at him<br />
"I'm dealing with your sister!" he mumbles and I just laugh at him<br />
"Anyway, what would you rather I do instead of smoking, drink on my meds, get off my head on drugs or sleep around, like all the others do, cheating on their wives and girlfriends, catching STD's off the dirty tramps, like Coral and Straw?" I snigger<br />
"You don't have to be doing any of it, just because they pressure you into it!! Rocky doesn't!" he smiles at me, and I can't help but laugh <br />
"Doesn't he." I laugh at him "Okay so he doesn't smoke, and is very faithful to Lacey, however when he's out working he does drink and occasionally does drugs ..." I watch his eyebrows almost launch off his face "He is a Rock Star, it comes with the territory, even Grumpy Grape gets stoned from time to time and he's older than you." I laugh at him "Maybe I should take you to one of these parties, that generally turn into drug and alcohol fuelled orgies ... then you might just give me credit for what I am not doing rather than you jumping on my back for what I am doing ... smoking OCCASSIONALLY to fit in for a quiet life!!"<br />
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<br />
"What drugs?" he frowns at me "What drugs is Rocky doing?"<br />
"Coke and weed, OCCASIONALLY." I regret even telling him now. "He's not like most of the others, like Blaze for instance, who is permanently off his head on something. Rocky only does it at the parties and not always, and when he does it, it is done in moderations, he never gets off his face."<br />
"So how OCCASIONALLY are you doing coke and weed?"<br />
"I don't do it at all!" I grin at him<br />
"Yeah, like I believe that!!"<br />
"Ask Prelude, I don't touch the stuff!!" I smirk at him "It doesn't react well with my meds, and I know because I have already learnt that lesson. I did the booze, coke and weed years ago, when I was a kid, before I even thought about being a rock star ... " his eyebrows nearly fly off his face again<br />
<b>"WHAT!?"</b> he snaps<br />
"Oh if only you knew what me and Storm used to get up to when we were kids" I start laughing at the expression on his face.<br />
"What about Coral and Mo?" he frowns at me "Were they doing it too?"<br />
"That's up to them to tell you." I smirk at him "I don't run telling tales on them like they did me."<br />
"Where did you get it from?"<br />
"Dodgy Swan ... surely you knew he was dealing to all the kids?"<br />
"Hell no!! The adults yes, but not the kids!!" he squints at me suspiciously "So who is dealing in this town now he has been locked up?"<br />
"I seriously don't have a clue as I don't do it any more!!" I laugh at him, probably trying to catch me out with his question.
"Don't stress, I honestly have not touched any of that shit since Storm
faded, and I don't intend to in the future ... on my life!!"<br />
"Yeah, and I wander if you would be sat here saying that if you
hadn't been abducted, had space away from me where you grew your brain,
like you reckon." he laughs sarcastically <br />
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<br />
"So, what about Prelude?" he frowns at me<br />
"What about him?" I laugh<br />
"What does Prelude get up to at these parties that you Rock Stars go to?" he frowns at me "I've never been too comfortable about you two being out there in that environment, you are both way too easily led."<br />
"The old Tapestry and Prelude were easily led." I smirk at him "He is constantly nagging me to quit smoking too, so don't stress!" I laugh at him "He isn't drinking if that is what is worrying you ... I think what happened to his Dad and Slate because of alcohol totally woke him up on that score, besides El would batter him!!"<br />
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My phone starts ringing which saves me from the rest of the conversation. I can't believe he hasn't gone off on one at me for admitting I was a naughty boy when I was younger.<br />
<br />
"Tap where are you?" Crystal<br />
"Still at the hospital talking to Dad."<br />
"We have the baby scan in an hour, we are going to be late!!" she snaps at me<br />
"Stop stressing, we have an hour still, so we won't be late!! I'm coming now." I laugh at her "Get the kids ready, so we can just drop them straight off with Saffron."<br />
"There is no need, Saffron and Atlas are here. Turmeric is kicking off over something apparently, and Shale thought it best if they watched the kids here."<br />
"Okay, well I'll be back in a bit."<br />
"Yeah, make sure you are, and don't go wandering off anywhere and forgetting."<br />
"Like you will let me forget!" I laugh at her. <br />
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<br />
I laugh as I close my phone and stuff it back into my pocket. Crystal has been working herself up into an excited tizzy over the baby scan for weeks, I will just be glad when it is over and done with now, then she might calm down a little.<br />
<br />
"I've got to go Crystal is stressing." I laugh at Dad "You are still coming aren't you?"<br />
"Coming where?" he frowns at me <br />
"The baby scan."<br />
"Oh fudge!! The scan slipped my mind with everything that has been happening today." he pulls a face, then smiles. "Yes, of course I'll be there." he smiles at me<br />
"The appointments at 2.30pm ... so I'll see you there." I smile at him<br />
"I'll just check on Forrest, then I'll go down to maternity and wait for you. he smiles<br />
"And don't forget to have a think about Forrest getting amnesia." I smirk at him<br />
"Okay ... I'll think about it." he mumbles<br />
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<br />
I laugh as I leave his office, doubting he will let me wipe away Forrest's memory.<br />
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-71535291900215075362017-05-09T10:36:00.000-07:002017-05-09T10:36:41.428-07:00Forrest 5b<br />
The room has gone deadly quiet all but for Alpine quietly laughing.
The three of them are sat staring at me and each other, still wide eyed and in disbelief. I
am holding my breath, waiting for a reaction, that is taking a long time
to come.<br />
<br />
I glance at Caramel and she smiles at me, a much more relaxed smile than she gave me earlier, a smile that I generally only see when we are alone and in private, so I smile back at her in the same way. I am very relieved that it is finally out, even if they haven't actually reacted yet. <br />
<br />
It feels like time has stopped or it is moving in slow motion, with the continued silence in the room. Why have they not reacted or said anything yet?<br />
<br />
When I turn back to look at them, they have been watching me and Mel smiling at each other. <br />
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<br />
"So now you know. Leafy is the Jerk!!" Alpine says quietly.<br />
"What!?" But he can't be ... don't mess about, Leafy you are gay!!" Bay is the first one to speak<br />
"We are not messing Bay honestly!!" I mumble quietly "I am the Jerk with a child phobia, and your biological Father."<br />
"Oh Berry!!" Mint starts laughing<br />
"Seriously, this has to be a joke!!" Bay really can't believe it. <br />
. "Bay we seriously are not joking!! If you can not tell that Leafy is not gay - you need to get your
gaydar checked!!" Alpine smiles at him. "He has never been gay or you three wouldn't be here. Forrest is your real Dad honestly."<br />
"Don't be stupid, this is nuts!!"<br />
"Bay and Fudge you have his hair, Mint is the biggest give away, she has his
skin and eyes, she looks the most like him facially, and Bay you have got all his neurotic and finiky ways -
I seriously don't know how you kids or anyone else have never seen it!! Mint is so obviously his daughter it is seriously beyond me how nobody has never seen it, besides Granite, he saw it straight away!!" he starts laughing "I'm sure
you have noticed you all have Leaf as a middle name, and like Leafy said it was done for a reason ... so when you knew the truth, if you wanted to, you could drop my surname Forrest and take his surname, without actually changing your name." Alpines starts to really laugh "It has always amused me no end that his first name is the same as my surname and that your names backwards are Forrest Leaf ..."<br />
<br />
Mint amuses me by actually getting up and putting her hand on my arm to compare our skin colour, which she can see is identical. For a moment I worried when I saw her coming towards me, I thought she was going to be the first one to punch me, I am actually half expecting Bay to fly at me still, because of the look of sheer confusion on his face.<br />
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<br />
<br />
"Have not one of you thought all the time that I have been sat here
talking, that I know way too much information, especially about how the Jerk feels, to have not been the the
Jerk and the one involved. I even slipped up a few times, which you didn't spot, saying I, we and
our." I laugh<br />
"No because you are supposed to be gay!!"<br />
"Bay, I thought you at least would have sussed me and my phobia!! Think about how
I am around Jasmine, Clay and Amber, you have seen me in action. Kicking off, storming out the house, slamming doors and yelling shut up and covering my ears every time one of the babies cry. Why do you think I don't go anywhere near them or have anything to do with them ... because I am terrified of them." I smile at him "You see how nasty I get with Jasmine, just for walking into a room, I
call her a brat and go off on one and she doesn't even need to speak,
and when she speaks and squeals, I lose it completely." I laugh at the expression on his face "You have even kicked off at me yourself, over my behaviour a few times, and I'm not nasty to
Jasmine because I want to be, it is what my phobia does to me, I
seriously can't help it. Those kids being in my house is why I've had
to move out and into yours."<br />
"Oh fudge and we all thought
you was just being a miserable berry hole because she's Mace's kid!!"
Bay stares at me wide eyed<br />
"Yeah I know what you all think, and I have had to take a lot of stick lately, over Slate, Mace and Jasmine, and I've had to let it happen, and just stand there taking it. I've had to let everyone think I am the total ass hole to protect you three, rather that telling the truth. Telling the truth would have exposed me and your Mother, my phobia, me being your real Dad, which would have hurt you three in the process, without us getting the chance to sit you down and tell you properly, like we have today."<br />
"Oh Fudge!!"<br />
"And I'm the same with any children,
as Holly and Ivy, my two Nieces, your cousins, will tell you - they hate
me with a passion and I can't say I blame them. When they become
teenagers, I have a hell of a lot of making up to do with them, because I
have put them through exactly what we have protected you three from."<br />
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<br />
"No you can't be, this doesn't make sense ... you are gay!!"<br />
"Bay, I have never been gay!! Okay so I married Granite, when I was a stupid mixed up teenager, because I
loved him, it was just my bad luck he was male. I was in the same
position as Slate. He loves you for you, not for what sex you are and
while he obviously doesn't struggle playing gay ... I always did. Trying to play gay is a big part of why I am so screwed up!! Mine
and Granites relationship was never about sex, we didn't really have a
sex life because I seriously couldn't hack it, and it didn't really
matter to either of us, while he was breaking the law and getting high
and hammered and getting his thrills that way, I was being who I should have been, sleeping with women, not that he knew at the time.
I'm in your Dad's camp, as straight as they come and you couldn't pay me
to sleep with another man. The only thing I'm comfortable doing is
kissing them and even then that only applies to Granite."<br />
"So why tell everyone all this time you are gay?"<br />
"Everyone presumed I was because of Granite, and I never put them
straight. Letting everyone carry on thinking I was gay is what has helped us to get away with this for so long. Me being gay was a good cover
for me and your Mother, because who would ever have suspected us, and
it helped to keep the truth hidden from you three. I have sat in front
of you telling you <i>our</i> story and not one of you have suspected me
once, because you think I'm gay." I laugh at him "Everyone thinking I
am gay is what has helped me and your Mother hide the fact that we have
been together since just after Cinnamon was born. Look at Mint, it is so obvious that she is my daughter, it is hysterical that nobody has ever questioned why she looks so much like me, and why has nobody ever questioned it ... because they think I'm 100% gay." I laugh "I've been living
here for weeks and not one of you have been remotely
suspicious of me and your Mother, if you knew I was straight then you
would have been very suspicious." I smile at them "We go out in town
together, for a drink, a meal, to the cinema, even bowling in front of
you kids sometimes, and nobody bats an eyelid, or gives a thought to us
being together or how much time we spend together openly, because I am
gay, everyone thinks we are just good friends, they never see us doing
anything of a romantic nature, and we always have the excuse, that I'm
your Dads doctor so we are discussing his condition. You have even seen
us at the gym together Bay and not too long ago." Caramel starts to
really laugh<br />
"What's so funny?" Bay frowns at his Mother, then me<br />
"Your Mother even being at the gym in the first place!" I smirk at Caramel "Nice try babe, but it's not happening!!"<br />
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<br />
I
laugh at Caramel as I throw the cushion at her that she launched at me
earlier, she was trying to embarrass me just then, thinking I would tell Bay why she is really laughing. I smile at Bay who starts laughing. If only he knew, if he
had walked into the steam room just a few minutes earlier, he would have
caught us messing about!!<br />
<br />
"Obviously Granite
hasn't been here, and we didn't want our relationship out in the open or
anyone especially you finding out the truth, because I was being such a
jerk because of my phobia when you were little, and we didn't want you
getting hurt or screwed up by me." I roll my eyes "I am seriously screwed up psychologically, and that is the the last thing I ever wanted for you!! It seriously would have messed your heads up and
wrecked your lives knowing I was your biological Father, when I had to keep
my distance because every time I was around you I freaked out. Bay maybe now you might be able to understand a little more, I would have treated you like I treat Jasmine, and you never would have understood that especially with me being your Dad. Think about what Saffy has been through because of how his Dad has behaved towards him ... unfortunately he is scared for life and not just physically, mentally too." I smile at him<br />
"Oh Berry ... Saff is really messed up in the head because of Sunny." he mumbles<br />
"Exactly, so now can you see what we have protected you from. The way
we did it was way better for you and Granite could have come back at any
time and your Mother was under no illusion that if he came back, in my
delusional screwed up stupidity I would have left her, until I came to my senses, which would have wrecked
your heads even more so it was better you didn't know about me. I have
always been a physiologically messed up time bomb waiting to go off and I didn't want to drag you down with me!!
Trust me you have had a much better life without me being the fatherly
figure in it, even though I've hated having to watch Alpine brining you
up, but I have tried to spent as much time as I could with all of you in
one way or another especially since you were teenagers, I just couldn't tell you
who I was!!"<br />
"No!! I don't believe it!!" Bay mumbles "You and Granite ..." he looks at Caramel then at me<br />
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<br />
"There is no me and Granite, and there hasn't been for well over twenty
years. Even though we have lead everyone to believe that we still have
a relationship and he is just humouring Mace until he is locked up ...
that is far from the truth. I know I acted a little crazily when
Granite did come back, but he is a big part of why I have psychological
problems and am so screwed up!! Him coming back is what we both needed to sort our heads out, it is what I needed to help me start clearing away my physiological problems, which I will explain to you properly when you have got your head around me being your biological Dad." I smile at him "In reality and behind closed doors, I'm with your Mother, which I have been for over 20 years, and
Granite is with Mace. He loves Mace not me, we are getting divorced and
as soon as that comes through, they are getting married and when you lot move to Cherry, he will finally be out of my life for good." Bay stares at
me wide eyed "Everything we have led everyone to believe, and anything you have seen since he came back, was part of an act, not even Shale knows what we were doing. We had to keep up the pretence of our relationship, with Mace's help, which your Mother knows all about, because of how crazily we both acted when Gran came back, we did it to stop everyone, and you especially because of you living with us, from uncovering the truth,
until we could sit down and tell you the truth properly." <br />
"This is insane ..." Bay frowns at me suddenly "Leafy ... where is your wedding ring?"<br />
"Floating about somewhere in the sea." I laugh "I haven't been wearing it since the first day me and your Mother went out to Sandy Shores."<br />
"You lost it?"<br />
"No, I threw it .. I didn't need it any more. Since Gran came back, and we both sorted our heads out, we have only worn our rings for show. Granite isn't wearing his ring now either, which you obviously haven't noticed." I laugh at him "I knew me and your Mother were coming clean when we got home ... so I chucked my ring to finally get rid of it."<br />
"Leafy ... but you can't be our real Dad!!"<br />
"Well I am Bay. Look at Mint and tell me she doesn't look just like me and Meadow, she has my face, skin and eyes. Look at yours and Fudges hair ... it's my hair, the same as my Dad's and Meadows. You have my eye colour, and you take more after my side of the family than you think Bay, with your OCD and all your neurotic and finiky ways which comes from my Dad which I've got and given to you, and the blushing thing you do, you get that from my Mother, she was always permanently red cheeked and blushing just like you do. Fudge, even though she is the most like your Mother, she still has my hair, my eye shape and my blood type." <br />
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<br />
<br />
I
laugh, as all three of them just sit staring at me, while I think the girls are quietly accepting it, Bay is obviously struggle to take it in. I reach into my back pocket, I guessed they might struggle to
even believe I'm actually straight and not gay, especially Bay, he is
the one that I have been closest too, as a mate, and I guessed I would be more of a shock to him. I imagine it is going to be hard for anyone in this town to believe that I am not actually gay.<br />
<br />
"But if you can't take our word for it .... we have something to prove it, which will leave you in no doubt, that I am your biological Dad." I laugh at him still, not taking it in. They accepted pretty quickly that Alpine was not their biological father, it is me that they are struggling with ... because to them I have always been gay.<br />
<br />
I hand the three of
them the paternity test results that tell them in black and white that I
am their biological Father. Luckily we had one done on all three of
them, in my mental state when they were born, it was the only thing that
helped me accept that they were mine, otherwise I would have just
convinced myself they weren't. I jump up and go over to the sideboard and remove an envelope that I had hidden in the bottom of the draw earlier.<br />
<br />
"Why do you think things like your bank accounts, driving licences and passports sprung into existence when you became old enough to have them, even if you didn't need them." I laugh as I take their birth certificates out of the envelope. "We had to get certain things done for you, before you tried to do it yourself, so that we could hide your birth certificates from you." <br />
<br />
I pass them their birth certificates and watch them quietly as they stare at both pieces of paper, and I am wandering why they
are not kicking off about any of this, especially me.<br />
<br />
"Why now? Why only just tell us now?" Fudge looks up wide eyed from the piece of paper that she was staring at.<br />
<br />
"We were always going to tell you one day. I wanted to tell you
when the three of you were teenagers, ever since the day Mint became a
teenager, but your Mom and Dad didn't, I was out voted. Their reasoning
being that everyone's teenage years are hard enough, without having
something like this dumped on you - so we waited until you became adults
so you can rationalise and deal with it better" <br />
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<br />
"What do you mean you was out voted?"<br />
"Just because you have never seen me here as your Dad, it doesn't
mean I haven't been here, because I have always been here in the
background and have had a lot of say in what has gone in your lives.
All of the decisions made for you three kids, the three of us have
always made together. In reality you have always had three parents."
they frown at me and I laugh "When you were both playing up to have your noses
pierced Fudge and Mint, your Mother didn't want you too, but me and Alpine
didn't see the harm in it - so your Mother was out voted and you had
your noses done. And like I told your Mother at the time it would just be a passing fad, which it was as it's been years since I've seen either of you wearing nose studs." I laugh quietly "Like you Bay, when you wanted a motorbike, while Alpine
was all for letting you have one, me and your Mother thought they were
too dangerous, so Alpine was out voted, and you was told you couldn't
have one. I bought you a car instead, hoping it would stop you from
getting yourself one."<br />
"You bought my car?!"<br />
"Yeah." I mumble quietly, wishing I hadn't mentioned the car.<br />
"Forrest bought all three of your cars."<br />
<br />
The three of them just look
at each other, then back at me, and I really don't know how they are taking it. I glance at Alpine and know he will be feeling very uncomfortable with the subject of money and hope that Mel just leave it there ... but she doesn't. <br />
<br />
"One
thing you three have always been very blind too! Money and where it was all coming
from!" Caramel laughs at them <br />
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<br />
"You have never wanted for anything have you,
and most things you've asked for over the years, you've got, including
Cinnamon, he was never left out, Forrest has been supporting all four of you financially. How did you think I afforded it all on
my small wage with your Dad not working because of his brain damage? I
could barely keep a roof over our heads most of the time, which Forrest
has had to help me with." she laughs at them as they sit there blankly
looking at her. "Computers, TV's, game consoles, stereo's, skateboards, bikes,
mobile phones, tablets, the piles of presents on Birthdays and Christmas, and all the other endless things you asked for,
even your clothes, expensive trainers and pocket money - if it had been
left to me, you would hardly have got any of it, because I seriously
couldn't afford it ... if you ask me he spoiled you and it was lucky for
the four of you that he has a well paid job!!"<br />
"You paid for it all!" Bay says to me and I just smile. I suddenly feel uncomfortable.<br />
"None of that matters now ... I was only doing what I would have done
if I'd been here as your Dad like I should have been. Like I said, I
have always been in the background of your lives, I've done everything
that I've been capable of doing, I just had to stay hidden for your sakes." I mumble
"And I'm sorry, if I could have done something to fix my phobia, I would
have done."<br />
"So who paid for my wedding?"<br />
"Who do you think!" Caramel laughs "And the deposit on your house." she smiles at Bay <br />
"Can we just shut up about money!!" I snap, I know more than anything this will be denting Alpine and I can see it is making him feel uncomfortable, because he has always been frustrated that he could not provide for his own family, especially Cinnamon. "Babe, you are making it sound like I am trying to buy their approval."<br />
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<br />
"Don't be stupid ... off he goes, over thinking again ... I swear
Leafy's brain will still be thinking way after he has faded!!" she
starts to laugh at me "I am just trying to make them understand that
even though they have never physically seen you here, that you have always been
here for them! They are never going to know these things unless we
point them out to them."<br />
"I think they might be able to work that out for themselves, when they think about it. They have known me for the whole of their lives, as their Dad's friend and their doctor. I have always been there for them to see." I smile at the kids "I have done little things, like teaching them all how to drive, and all three of them, at some point in their life have had me digging them out of a problem or hole, on more than one occasion .... and it really wouldn't surprise me if they can even remember seeing me having a melt down in front of them when they were very little, if I frightened them enough doing it, because I did lose control in front of all three of you at one time or another.... " I laugh "I lost it the worse in front of Bay once, the day Alpine was hit, and I rushed into the hospital thinking the car had faded you both. I collapsed in the corridor and had a full scale panic attack when Bay ran out into the corridor straight up to me showing off his stitches ..." I laugh "He even asked me if I wanted a lick of his lollipop, while I was on the floor trying not to throw up all over him." Bay starts to really laugh "And you girls were a nightmare, because you were both little terrors and kept going for my ears!! You trying to touch them had me freaking right out in front of you."<br />
"Oh Fudge!! Your ears ... my baby could have had your ears!!" Fudge starts laughing<br />
"Yeah, but I made sure he wasn't, otherwise we would have had to come
clean sooner, before he was born." she frowns at me "I muscled in on
your scans if you remember, I had a good look to make sure he wasn't
getting my ears." I grin at her "I had to keep a close eye on all three of
your ears before you was born, because if any of you had had them, it
would have blown it right open, but thankfully that never happened, for your sakes. If it had happened you would have always known I was your Dad, which really would not have done you any good!! By
rights, being girls you two should have had my ears, it has always ran
on the female side of our family - berry knows why I got them, and you didn't. Meadows two girls has them, and every other female relative I've had." I smile at them <br />
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<br />
"Fudge!! This is messed up!!" Bay is staring at me, still with a look of confusion on his face, while he is still not getting it, both of the girls seem to now believe it. "You are supposed to be my mate ... not my Dad!!"<br />
"I still am your mate, I am still the same person I was yesterday. You
knowing I'm the jerk who created you doesn't have to change anything
unless you want it to. I don't even expect you to call me Dad, because
Alpine is your Dad, I've never been that to you and I'm not trying to
fill his shoes, take his place or turf him out ... we just needed you to
know the truth, so me and your Mother can get on with our life in the right way,
instead of all this hiding, now that I can no longer mess your heads up
with my phobia."<br />
"So what actually is going on here?" Fudge frowns "You are living here ... are you and Mom actually still together, together?"<br />
"Yes we are - we always have been behind closed doors, since before Bay was born. Now you know
the truth, we won't have to hide it any more, from you or anyone else." I smile at Mel "So we can finally live a normal life."<br />
"So, you haven't been sleeping in the spare room at all have you." Fudge laughs at me<br />
"No." I laugh "I've been sleeping in your Mother's bed,
exactly where I have been for the past twenty years, only you never knew
it." Fudge and Mint look at each other and giggle. I can't help but
laugh at them knowing what they are like "So I guess now you know who I
actually am, I am not going to be privy to your giggly conversations
about your favourite subject any more?"<br />
"That depends on if you are going to turn all stuffed shirt on us!" Fudge laughs at me<br />
"Oh fudge!! The day we found him sleeping on the couch!" Mint starts to really laugh<br />
"Yes madam, now you might understand why I was getting so grouchy and annoyed,
because of the direction you two were taking the conversation in!! It was wrong on more than just one level!!" the three of us start really laughing.<br />
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<br />
"What's this?" Mel is frowning at me<br />
"Nothing for you to worry about!" I laugh at her<br />
"Have you been running and telling Mom everything that we have been saying or doing that she doesn't know about?"<br />
"No!! Your secrets are still pretty much safe with me, especially anything you've told me as a doctor." I laugh "But I will warn you, from now on, I've had my orders from Mango, you three have to change doctors - I've got into serious trouble being your doctor since you were babies, I'm lucky I haven't lost my job over it."<br />
"So how did you do that, be our doctor with your phobia?"<br />
"With great difficulty, especially when you were children and I had to try very hard not to let you see me cracking up, which I did every time you left!!" I smile at them<br />
"Then why do it?"<br />
"Me being yours and your Dad's doctor is something that I had to do to stop anyone from accessing your medical records and working out that your Dad is not your biological Father from your blood groups. You girls have my blood type which is obviously different to both your Mom and Dads." <br />
"What about Dad?" I frown at Fudge "What is happening to Dad now?"<br />
"Nothing. Like we said nothing changes. Me and your Mother will continue to take care of
him for as long as is needed. The three of us will be living together permanently from now on. Just because I'm here now openly, it doesn't mean we are
ever going to take him away from you, or you from him, he will still always be your Dad. And like your Dad
said, there has always been three of us here, the only thing that will
change from now is that I am no longer in hiding."<br />
"That is just crazy!!" Mint laughs<br />
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<br />
"This whole situation has been crazy from the beginning. My phobia and
his brain damage has helped to shape this to what it is, and regardless
of what you might think, me and your Dad have always been good mates, even
with the initial agro of him nearly beating me half to death,and him
totally messing my Sisters head up!" I laugh "He did a big thing for
me taking care of you three and being your Dad while I couldn't, so the
least I can do for him, is take care of him."<br />
"How did you and Dad become such good friends after everything that you told us happened in the beginning?"<br />
"Me and your Dad were already good friends before the crap started." I laugh as I look at Alpine, who smirks at me. "It was a green thing ... for your Dad anyway. The minute that Mango introduced him to me, he latched onto me, because I am his colour. He was brought up in the coded world, and the colour code was very much ingrained in him and if the truth be told, he has never really been too comfortable with the whole colour mixing thing, and that was a part of his problem about being with your Mother. Even though I am a pure berry, I was born and raised in this town, so the colour code and the green thing has never really applied to me." I smile for a moment "We hit it off straight away, he used to come round to mine and we used to go out drinking, he even put up with me being gay, or so he thought!" I laugh "It was actually a while before I even saw your Mother, and your Dad had already made me believe that their relationship wasn't too good, and he'd hinted that he had a bit on the side, I just didn't realise it was my own sister at first."<br />
"So you jumped on your mates Mrs." Bay laughs<br />
"Basically in the end I guess I did, but it was never my intention,
even though I knew there marriage and relationship was rocky, but
sometimes you meet someone and you just can't control these things.
Granite was still here, not that I saw him much, he was always over in
Apple with his criminal mates getting high and hammered ... and it was
your Mother who did the initial jumping." we both laugh at each other. <br />
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<br />
"Granite was still here when you met Mom?" Bay frowns at me wide eyed<br />
"Yeah he was, just about and like I said, our relationship was never about sex and I ... I had quite a few affairs behind his back, before and after we got married, I'm not proud of myself, but my head was all over the place, I loved him, but I was a straight man struggling in a gay marriage ... it was never going to work and stupidly neither of us could see it, not until he came back. I have always been very blinded by Granite, and I think if he hadn't got locked up when he did and been absent for as long as he has, we would have worked it all out twenty years ago ... especially with you arriving Bay. Me holding onto Granite in his absence has blinded me, especially to what me and your Mother have together ... we are still together, even with my delusional head and after everything we've been through, which shows, it was always meant to be that way. Granite has done exactly the same with Mace, it took him to come back to wake us both up. Sometimes love isn't enough, when everything else is wrong in a relationship." <br />
"How did you know he wasn't gay Mom."<br />
"I didn't." she giggles "I fancied him, and he was winding me up just walking around in shorts. I wanted to see how far I could push him, and I expected him to push me away, and I got the shock of my life when he didn't say no, and I could tell, by how easily he is turned on, he was so not gay ... "<br />
"Mel stop!!" I snap at her "Do they really need to be hearing this."<br />
"Lighten up!" she laughs at me "They are grown ups, I am sure they know how we made them."<br />
"Still, you don't need to spell it out to them, I know what you are like, they will be getting a graphic description in a minute." she laughs at me and Alpine starts laughing mischievously "And don't you even mention anything about us leaving the bedroom curtains open either!" I laugh at Alpine<br />
"I wasn't going to ...." he smirks at me "Or the trail of clothes between here and the bedroom that you two quite often leave for me to pick up!" he starts howling and all I can do is put my head in my hands as I hear all three kids laughing with him.<br />
"I think I should tell them the other stuff." Caramel says suddenly<br />
"No Mel!!" I frown at her, I glance at Alpine who is pulling faces, probably thinking the same thing that I am ... it is too soon.<br />
"They have taken this so well, we should just do it all"<br />
"Babe no, you seriously need to let them get there head around this first
... they might be taking it okay now, but they might not when it sinks
in and they have had a good think about it, especially me!!"<br />
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<br />
<br />
"But ..."<br />
"But nothing!! Let them deal with one thing at a time!" I smirk at her "I think
we should go into the kitchen and make something to eat, to give them
some space, to talk and get their heads around it."<br />
<br />
I stand up and grab her hand pulling her up off the couch. I need to stop her for blurting out the rest too soon, and I think she might be trying to play a very clever game.<br />
<br />
"Kitchen now!!" I laugh at her "I'm hungry."<br />
<br />
Caramel sticks her tongue out at me, pinches my backside as she kisses my face, then goes off into the kitchen laughing her head off. I laugh at her as I watch her go, knowing she is going to be impossible from now on, when we are around other people I get a break from her mischief, now she can do it openly, she is going to be embarrassing me no end. I smile at Alpine, who is also laughing quietly, I hadn't noticed until just that he has been pretty quiet for a while, he stands up and starts walking across the room. <br />
<br />
"I think I'm going for a lie down, I'm tired." Alpine mumbles<br />
"Okay, I will bring your food and meds in." I smile at him as he walks past me and pats me on the back.<br />
<br />
I
watch Alpine walk into his room, I can see he is already starting to get
upset.<br />
<br />
We worried that this might unhinge him today, and that is why Meadow is coming later to distract him. I know he has always
been very worried that when the kids know the truth he will lose him. I
glance over at the kids and they are all just sat there staring at me, I
don't think they know what to do, say or even think.<br />
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<br />
"Can you do me a favour. Your Dad needs reassuring, by all three
of you, that this is not going to make any difference to him. He's
always been scared that when you found out the truth about me, that he
would lose you. He will always be your Dad even if I am here, and he
needs to know that." I smile at them "I can see he's already getting
upset, it would help if one of you went into him and put his mind at rest."<br />
"I'll go." Fudge smiles at me as she gets up.<br />
"Take his meds in with you, and leave the door ajar, just in case this sets him off." <br />
"I need to phone Slate, I told him I wouldn't be long." Bay says suddenly as he pulls out his phone.<br />
"Bay, you don't need to phone Slate. Granite and Mango, have
Slate, Parsley and Mosaic round at mine, they have had pretty much the
same thing explained to them, so they know already, and they know you
might be here a while, getting your heads around it."<br />
"Mango and Granite know?" Bay is now staring at me wide eyed.<br />
"Yes and Mace." I mumble quietly<br />
"How long have they known?"<br />
"Granite already knew before he came back, he illegally accessed my medical records when he was in Cherry Hill, so he found out about my phobia. He was spooked by Bay and Fudges hair, but when he saw Mint he guessed she was mine. He knew, she could be my daughter because he has always known, I am straight. So he read through my psych reports, which gave him the proof because you three appear in them, obviously I have had to talk about you to my psychiatrist." I smile at them "I only found out he knew after the
sepsis when he was still in hospital. Mace caught me and your Mother
out, messing about at the hospital, I thought he was still unconscious
after his spine operation, but he wasn't, he was awake. Mace couldn't wait to grass me and your Mother up to Granite ... so I came clean
with Gran and Mace about you three, and why I have been sneaking around for twenty years, to stop them, especially Mace, from telling anyone
about me and your Mother, so you didn't get hurt by it until we had told
you properly ourselves. Mango was told about a week ago."<br />
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<br />
"Who else knew about your phobia and us?"<br />
"My parents and Sister obviously, but that is a bit complicated,
it got very nasty in the beginning because of the circumstances, they too had to step away and hide themselves from you to protect you, which
they didn't like, it really hurt them. You asked early why Meadow would make that sacrifice for your sake ... because she is your Aunt, and she did it to protect you too, like your Dad was trying to protect Cinnamon, as well as you. Everything they did was protect you from me and my phobia. I'll explain it all to you properly when you have got your
head around this." I roll my eyes "Tapestry, has known for about a
month ... but DON'T go having a go at him, I knew I could trust him to keep the secret and he has only kept quiet so you three
didn't get hurt, he knows we are doing this today, and it was our fault he found out!"<br />
"How did he find out?"<br />
"Gran and Mace sat with your Dad so we could go out. I was walking your
Mother home, it was very late at night and we got careless, because as usual your Mother can't behave herself!" I laugh for a moment "Tap caught us
kissing in the alley way." Mint starts laughing "And Gravel,
unfortunately, he's known since just after Bay was born. I couldn't
hide it from him because I was on the verge of having a nervous break
down."<br />
"Gravel knew all that time!!" Bay is shocked<br />
"Yes, unfortunately, and I seriously regret him ever find out. At the time I was very weak, I was struggle to deal with you Bay when you was born, I couldn't deal with you being mine, and I couldn't hide it from him. He has seriously made me pay over the years ... because you three are the gun that he has been holding to my head all
this time ... the reason why I couldn't tell Slate the truth or find
Granite, I had no choice but to toe the line because if I didn't he was
going to expose us, after he had told you the truth about me being your real Dad, and wrecked your heads and lives!!"<br />
"Shiiiit!!" Bay shouts quite loudly<br />
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<br />
"Now maybe I can sit down with Slate and explain to him properly why I
had to sit and hide everything from him, not that it will help him, but it might help him not to hate me so much."
Bay is just sat looking at me wide eyed. "I will leave you three to talk,
Fudge don't forget your Dad, he needs reassuring." I say to her as she
stands there staring at me "I'll help your Mother make something to
eat." I mumble as I slope off to the kitchen quickly.<br />
<br />
I
stand against the wall in the kitchen, and let the relief flow through
me. I can't believe they didn't kick off - they seemed to just take it,
which I never expected. Granite was right, he told me to tell them the
story from the third persons prospective, and not reveal myself until
the end. He said that they would be distracted by the phobia, and are
sensible enough to be sympathetic with it, as well as understand that we
did the best thing for them. I hope this continues and they don't
start kicking off at us, when it has sunk in properly and they have had a
chance to think about it.<br />
<br />
"Well that went better
than I expected!!" Caramel laughs as she puts her arms me. "I can't
believe they didn't kick off."<br />
"Me too!!" I smile at her
"But there is still time, it probably hasn't sunk in properly yet!"<br />
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<br />
"Don't think I didn't spot what you was trying to do there!!" I laugh at her sarcastically<br />
"What?" she frowns at me<br />
"You was going to tell them about the pregnancy wasn't you." I raise my eyebrows at her "That is one sure way to swerve having a termination."<br />
"Don't be stupid!!" she laughs at me "I was only going to tell them about Coal."<br />
<br />
She starts
to kiss me, I suddenly think about the kids being in the living room.<br />
<br />
"Mel stop!!" I push her away a little "They might see us." <br />
"You need to relax!" she laughs at me "We don't have to hide us
any more." She smirks at me "So we can do this whenever and wherever
we want to from now on!"<br />
"Yes I know, but just let them get used to the idea of us first!!" I laugh at her "we can't go rushing them, and you as usual are worse than an impatient child!!"<br />
"They will never get used to us if you still keep hiding from them! I doubt Meadow and Alpine will be hiding it later when she gets here."
she laughs "Besides they are probably too busy talking and getting over
the shock!" she forces me backwards and pins me up against the wall.<br />
"You are impossible!" I laugh at her "Just keep your hands above my waist, I don't need you winding me up right now!!!!"<br />
<br />
She
giggles as she comes at me and starts kissing me.<br />
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<br />
At first I have to grab her
hands to stop her from taking it too far, because I knew she would try to
now, just because I have told her not to.<br />
<br />
Caramel mentioning Meadow and Alpine starts me thinking. I am really worried about what is going on with them. Under normal circumstances, I would be happy that they have finally got their act together, but I am worried that his condition might get a little too much for Meadow to handle, and she backs off and messes his head up. Meadow is yet to see Alpine at his worst, so she really does not know what she is letting herself in for. <br />
<br />
I'm not really sure how long
we had been kissing for, when I am jolted back by someone clearing their throat loudly, probably to get our attention, then laughing, I hadn't even heard the door open.<br />
<br />
"Sorry!!" Fudge laughs as she and Mint are stood having one of their giggling fits in the doorway. "Dad needs a cold drink!"<br />
"Well you know where the fridge is." I
laugh at her trying to cover my embarrassment.<br />
<br />
Suddenly I feel a little uncomfortable, them already catching us kissing. We have spent so many
years hiding our relationship from everyone except Alpine, it is going to take some getting used to,
doing it openly in front of anyone, and not just the kids.<br />
<br />
Caramel laughs at me before she makes her way to the other side of the kitchen and opens the fridge. <br />
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<br />
Fudge follows Caramel to the fridge<br />
<br />
"I need to ask you something ... is your phobia catching?" Mint amuses me for a second "Only Bay has got your OCD ..." I start to laugh at her<br />
"Oh berry!! No!!" I laugh at her for a moment "Bay has inherited the OCD partly from my genes, but phobia's are totally different!! A phobia is not genetic, they arise from an individuals physiological problems, you can't inherit a phobia." I smile at her for a moment "You are asking because you don't like children very much aren't you."<br />
"Yeah ..." she mumbles<br />
"Well don't worry, you not liking children is just like me not liking the colour red. We all have our own personal likes and dislikes." I smile at her "Its not like you are scared of them, throw wobbles, have panic attacks and run off when you have children around you, do you?"<br />
"No." she laughs at me<br />
"Well then, there is nothing for you to worry about. I've seen you with both Amber and Clay, so I know you don't have a problem, not like me anyway." I smile at her <br />
"So, are you moving to Berry Shores with Mom when she goes?"<br />
"Yes of course I am." I smile at her "Now you probably know the reason why I have stayed in this town ... your Mom and you three kids is what has kept me here. Personally I can't wait to get out of this town, the move will be good for all of us, as long as we all go."<br />
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<br />
"So when do you think you'll be moving?"<br />
"I'm not sure yet, but I hope as soon as we can - it all depends on you kids and how quickly we can sell both houses. As soon as everything settles down, after the trail, we are going to start seriously looking into it. I've already started house hunting, and after the trial, I'm taking your Mom and Dad out to Berry, so we can have a look around ... you should come with us."<br />
"Yeah I think I will." she grins at me<br />
"I know Mosaic has virtually said he is up for the move to Berry, because Mango has chewed my ear off over it, so how is it going with Parsley?"<br />
"It isn't." she rolls her eyes "I told you didn't I, he won't even think about it, he is too tied to his Dad's apron strings, he doesn't want to move away from Prelude and Affair, he even used Storms grave as an excuse for not wanting to go."<br />
"So what are you going to do?"<br />
"I want to move, I think you already know I want the better job opportunities, and I'll be damned if I am staying here just for him, especially if Fudge is going too!! So I am definitely going, whether he wants to or not, he can stay here and rot for all I care?"<br />
"Are you two still not getting on?"<br />
"Not really, we are still arguing over kids, he still won't move out of his Dads, he's been really narky with me since I suggested the move to Berry Shores, and Strawberry is bugging him again .... the way I am feeling at the moment, she is welcome to him, because I'm just sick of his lazy ass and all the hassle as well as living in that house!! I think we are done anyway, and something you said earlier made a lot of sense to me ..." I frown at her "you said ... sometimes love isn't enough when everything else is wrong with the relationship." she smiles at me "I can already see that I was just kidding myself going back to him thinking we would work out the second time around, just because I love him."<br />
"It sounds like you two need space and a break from each other to sort your heads out. You moving out might give him the kick up the backside that he needs ... you know there is nothing stopping you from moving back in here ... I know you said you wanted your own space, but you have missed out on Bay's place, he's renting it out to Carmine and Fern until they can find something bigger."<br />
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<br />
"Yeah I know ... " she glances at Caramel "I was actually going to ask Mom today if I could move back in, because I don't know how much more I can take living there."<br />
"It's fine by me, you know I didn't want you to move out in the first place." Mel laughs from the corner of the room "Your room is upstairs ready and waiting, just how you left it, all you have to do is go and get your stuff." <br />
"There you go." I smile at her "If he gives you any trouble when you are getting your stuff, just phone me and I'll be round."<br />
"I doubt Parsley will bat an eyelid over me leaving - it's Prelude who scares me!"<br />
"Don't worry about him ..." I start laughing "I'll come armed with sedative."<br />
"You wouldn't!" she laughs at me<br />
"Oh I would!!!" I laugh "And it wouldn't be the first time."<br />
<br />
I am very amused when I glance at Fudge who is now laughing while she is sat at the table, quietly listening and watching me while she is drinking the carton of juice that she was supposed to be getting for Alpine.<br />
<br />
"Isn't that juice supposed to be for your Dad?" I laugh at her<br />
"Err ... yeah!" she laughs at herself<br />
"Did you speak to your Dad and reassure him that nothing was going to change as far as he is concerned?"<br />
"Yeah, I started too but Meadow phoned him, so I left him to it." she laughs "She soon put a smile on his face."<br />
"Yeah I know she does." I laugh for a moment "What is Bay doing?"<br />
"Oh you might guess ... he is on the phone to Slate." <br />
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<br />
Fudge gets up and pulls another carton of juice out of the fridge and after another giggling fit, the girls make there way out of the kitchen. I can't help but laugh at them, especially at their none stop giggling.<br />
<br />
As
I stand and watch Mel cooking, I keep seeing her rubbing her pregnant
stomach. I can feel my chest tightening and my head starts to spin as I
try to catch my breath. I suddenly start to have a panic attack. <br />
<br />
I
am not sure why I am doing this now, they now know and it has gone a
lot better than I ever could have expected. I should now be able to relax, they have
even just caught us kissing and found it amusing. I'm not sure if its
the relief or if I am still expecting the worst to come. However I
suspect, Mel rubbing her stomach, and thinking about the two babies developing in there, is what has taken me off guard and set me off. I stand there trying to fight off a full blown panic attack that I know is coming.<br />
<br />
"Are you okay?" Caramel frowns at me<br />
"No, I'm having a panic attack!" I mumble as I lean over holding my stomach trying to catch my breath. <br />
"Babe, you can relax, there is no need to get yourself worked up into a
state!!" She comes over and rubs my back as she laughs at me. <br />
"It's not over though is it, you still have something to tell them, and
those babies could blow their heads to pieces, it is going to spoil
everything, because they are going to have to watch me acting like an irrational idiot!!" I snap at her "What are they going to think Mel?!"<br />
"This pregnancy is neither of our faults, and I'll make
sure I tell them that!!" she mumbles "It is going a lot better with
the psychiatrist you said, because you are working through your Granite
issues, so by the time these babies comes, you should be okay!!" <br />
"STOP talking about the babies Mel my head is going!!" I start to choke
"I really can't believe you have done this to us YET AGAIN!!" I snap
"More babies - you know I can't handle it!!"<br />
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<br />
"What babies?" I hear Fudge ask<br />
<br />
I
glance sidewards and I see all four of them standing there, Alpine has
his arm around Fudge and all eyes are on me, which is the last thing I
need, it makes me panic even more. Alpine starts laughing.<br />
<br />
"By the looks of Leafy, he is throwing a wobble. I'd say your Mother
has just told him you have another brother or sister on the way!" he is
laughing<br />
"Mom are you pregnant?"<br />
"Yes, we've had another accident." she mumbles "My coil moved<br />
"I think you are just about to be educated and see Leafy at his finest, and they call me a nutter."<br />
<br />
Alpine
is really laughing, I know he is only trying to make light of the
situation, because he knows about the baby and that we weren't telling
them today, but at this moment he is really not helping me. His
laughing is echoing loudly in my ears, I can feel the tears streaming
down my face, and I can now hardly breath, I'm there gashing for air and
going dizzy, knowing they are watching me make a fool of myself, just
makes it worse. <br />
<br />
"Finding out he has a baby on the way always freaks him out!!"<br />
<br />
That
does it, I feel myself throwing up, as I clutch my chest, I'm already
struggling to breath and the vomit coming up is choking me. My eyes
start to blur, the room is spinning.<br />
<br />
I feel myself falling. I feel
the excruciating pain in my head as my body jolts because my head hits something on the way down.<br />
<br />
Everything goes
black.<br />
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<br />
I start to come round, and I realise I am lying
on the couch. While my head is swimming, I can feel my ears being flicked, I know that it is Granite leaning
over me, because I can hear him laughing. I open my eyes and my vision is very blurred.<br />
<br />
"Get off me Gran!!" I snap at him as I try to slap his hand away
from my ears "You always have to be an aggravating berry hole!! Leave
me alone!!"<br />
"Leafy is back!" he laughs "You stink of
vomit, you are slurring your words like a drunk and your kids now think
you are a fruit loop!!"<br />
"That's probably because I am a
fruit loop!! I wouldn't blame them if they have done a runner!!" I
moan as I try to feel my head which is hurting, he grabs hold of my hand
and moves it away from my head.<br />
"You banged your head
pretty hard apparently when you passed out, you bounced it off the
table, then off the floor. I don't think you've damaged anything other than you head, there are no signs of factures or breaks. You have split your head open and need a few stitches, so don't mess!!"
he laughs "I think you knocked yourself unconscious as well as passed out, so
we need to get you to the hospital, you was out a little too long for my
liking. " I see him frowning at me as he leans right over me. "That
hollow head of yours needs to be scanned I think you've dented it." he
laughs "You never know we might just find your pea brain in there!"<br />
"Sod off!! Why is everything always such a joke to you?!" I snap at him "What are you doing here anyway?"<br />
"Bay phoned me, you was out cold and he didn't think you was breathing, so I legged it round." he raises
his eyes at me "It was a good job too, you was choking on your own
vomit, I had to clear your air way and apply CPR. What are you like ...
a few more minutes and we would have been saying goodbye Leafy!!" he
leans right over me again "Leafy follow my finger."<br />
<br />
He frowns at my eye
movement which worries me a little.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"What is your vision like?"<br />
"Very blurred. I can hardly see you." I mumble<br />
"I thought it might be. Mango is at the hospital waiting for us, I think you've given yourself a severe case of concussion, bouncing your head off the table and floor." he mumbles and I ignore him.<br />
"Oh Berry!! I have made a
right fool of myself, haven't I!" I cover my eyes with my hand to stop
him from frowning at them.<br />
"Not really, you can't help
what you are. We all have a phobia, and I've seen Mace doing exactly
the same thing over spiders and blood. At least you didn't pee yourself
like he does sometimes!!" he laughs "What set you off?"<br />
"Mel stood there rubbing her stomach. It just hit me hard out of
nowhere. I've been so preoccupied worrying about how the kids would
react to me being the one who created them, I've shut those babies right
out of my head. I thought I was coping with it, but obviously I'm
not!! I started panicking, knowing there is two of them, and I can't even cope with one at a time." I start to choke "Gran what am I going to do? I doubt she will have a termination and I can't go through all that hell again." I start to cry<br />
"Leafy please, don't upset yourself, the last thing we need is you working yourself up so you throw another wobble!!" I close my eyes and everything feels like it
is spinning and I start to feel sick. "Just don't think about it now, take deep breaths and try to calm yourself down."<br />
"Oh Berry!! They really didn't
need to see me doing that, especially not today!"<br />
"I
disagree - I think it is exactly what they needed to see, it will help
them to understand you better. It's one thing hearing about it but
something else actually seeing it. It's actually shocked them, as well
as opened their eyes to your phobia."<br />
"How can I expect them
to understand me when I don't understand myself half the time?" he
starts laughing at me "Where is Mel?"<br />
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<br />
"In Alpines room. She is calming Alpine down, because he got a bit upset. He said he's seen you throw these
wobbles hundreds of times, but he's never seen you nearly fading
yourself in the process."<br />
"She is not in there alone is she? If he's upset he might lose it and start getting violent." <br />
"Don't stress, Coal is with her." this makes me panic<br />
"Why did you bring Coal Gran ... you know ..." I don't get to say anything else because he puts his finger on my lips<br />
"Shhhh Leafy you need to stop stressing yourself out. Coal is a doctor remember, he is going to stay with Alpine for as long as is needed, so you don't have to worry about him or Mel!" <br />
"Where are the kids?" he starts to laugh loudly as he points with his finger<br />
<br />
I
gingerly follow the direction of his finger. The three of them are
sat on the other couch just silently staring at me. I close my eyes and
start laughing at myself knowing how close I was to just blurting something out about Coal for the kids to hear.<br />
<br />
"Way to make a fool of myself
... Again!!" I just lie there laughing at myself "Gran you are a berry
hole, you could have told me they were there!!"<br />
"You know
me, I just love watching you make a fool of yourself, which you
hate!!" he starts howling "Remember the time you farted out loud in
assembly at school for everyone to hear - it traumatised you for a
month!!" I hear the kids start laughing "He made it worse for himself,
if he'd sat there acting ignorant nobody would have known it was him -
but he just had to get up and storm out in tears like a big tit,
advertising the fact to the whole school that it was him! He got ribbed for weeks after!!" they are all really laughing now
"Leafy has always been so preoccupied with not making a fool of himself,
he general does in the process!! Oh I could tell you some stories!!"<br />
"Just shut up Gran!!" I laugh even though I don't feel like laughing, a horrible feeling washes over me. "I feel sick!" I mumble as I start heaving.<br />
"We need to get you up, to stop you choking again." he helps me to sit up.<br />
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<br />
"I have phoned for an ambulance, they shouldn't be too much longer."<br />
"Cancel it, I don't need to go to the hospital." I mumble<br />
"Leafy, I think you know you do!!" he laughs at me "You are severely concussed."<br />
<br />
I
sit rocking for a moment then put my head in my hands because my vision is very blurred, I feel
dizzy and my head is banging painfully. I can smell myself, as I try to look down at all
the damp patches on my top and trousers, which I can't see properly because my blurred vision seems to be getting worse. I'm fighting back the vomit that is coming up into my throat, trying
not to be sick again.<br />
<br />
"Gran ...." <br />
<br />
I try to tell him that I feel like something is wrong, my head now is becoming too painful for me to bare, but I can't get the words out because I heave and can't hold it in. I watch Granite, who is now just a dark shape in my vision, jump backwards and away from me as I start to
violently throw up all over the carpet again right by his feet. <br />
<br />
I can't help but think ... way to make a
fool of myself times three.<br />
<br />
I feel myself going, I am fall forward and I feel myself fall into someone's arms as I black out again.<br />
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<br />
"Fudge chase up the ambulance we need it here NOW!!" Granite shouts across the room<br />
"What's up with him Gran, why does he keep passing out?" Bay mumbles<br />
"I thought it was just concussion, but I am beginning to think it might be a little more than that now."<br />
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ <br />
<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4177680137470507199.post-52172501719018652352017-05-02T09:17:00.002-07:002017-05-02T09:17:21.826-07:00Forrest 5a<br />
<br />
I sit nervously playing on the games console, trying to distract myself, but I am not really concentrating properly on the game I'm playing, while I am trying to work out what I am going to say and how I'm going to tell them. My head has started spinning in anxious turmoil, and now has gone totally blank.<br />
<br />
Everything that I have thought about saying and rehearsed has gone straight out of my head, because I'm bricking it!! I am waiting for a call from Granite and the longer it takes my phone to start ringing, the better because, I just want to prologue the inevitable.<br />
<br />
I have hardly slept for days, wandering how we are going to do this with minimum fall out, and especially how they are going to take it. The three of them might be sat on the couch now laughing as we play together, but I doubt they will be laughing or smiling for very much longer.<br />
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<br />
I hear Caramel coming down the stairs and as I quickly glance at her, I see her wiping her mouth as she rolls her eyes at me. I am guessing she has just been sick again. I am really not happy that she is dragging her heels over making the decision about whether she is having a termination or not. I think she is pinning her hopes on me being cured of my phobia, now that I am slowly working through my psychological issues, but she is just fooling herself, while she ploughs on, probably destroying the rest of all our lives together, and there is nothing that I can say or do to stop her.<br />
<br />
We have had a pretty mental and hectic few weeks, and managed to achieve a few things that really needed doing, which has taken my mind away from the babies and stopped us from arguing about it too much. She did eventually pluck up the courage to tell me that we have managed to create two babies, and I have looked at the scan picture since. Seeing the two tiny foetuses that I know are going to develop into two babies, caused me to have a full blown panic attack, which knocked me sick for a day.<br />
<br />
Telling Mango the truth was the most amusing part. I placed five official documents in front of him, my pedophobia card, three paternity tests results and Alpine and Mels divorce papers as well as pulled up Mel's medical records and pointed out the pregnancy and baby she had when she was thirteen. We told him everything.<br />
<br />
I sat and watched Mango turn quite a few different colours as he looked at them and took everything in. He was pretty angry with both me and Mel, more for the fact that we had hidden it all from him, because he could and would have helped me, and I think a part of it was him being angry with himself for not noticing what has actually been going on all this time right under his nose and he has not noticed.<br />
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<br />
Our second week out in Sandy Shores, we didn't spend alone. After
our long conversation of me opening up and telling the truth about my
phobia, I spent a whole day shut up in the bedroom, crying and out of
it. I felt like I was back on that slippery slope again, the years had rolled back and I am right back at the beginning again, with at least thirteen years of hell in front of me, that I know I am not strong enough to cope with again. <br />
<br />
Me shutting myself away, gave Mel time to think, and surprisingly she did something that she should have done two years
ago, she phoned Shale and sorted out getting to know Coal, the baby that she had when she was thirteen years old. Before I
knew what was happening, after Shale had spoken to him and told him some
of the facts in Mel's defence, Coal turned up at the beach house
looking for Mel. Thankfully he came alone and didn't involve his Dad in it ... Turmeric being here, was the last thing either of us would have wanted or needed.<br />
<br />
Unintentionally she had created a well needed distraction for me, with Coal being at the beach house for the rest of the week, because it took my mind right away from the pregnancy so I didn't wallow or dwell on it, it gave me something else to focus on.<br />
<br />
As well as getting to know Mel, and hearing her side of the story, he had to hear the truth about everything, letting out secrets that we have guarded so well for such a long time was hard to do. Coal being a doctor, he understands my phobia, which made it easier.<br />
<br />
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<br />
"What the hell have you done with my bedroom curtains Alpine?" Mel half laughs as she snaps "They are not in with the laundry, and there is only you who could have taken them down and put them somewhere stupid?"<br />
"They are in my room, I've cut them up to use on that patchwork quilt I'm making." Alpine mumbles. I can't help but start laughing along with all three kids.<br />
"Seriously!!" she half yells "I knew sending you to that hospice was a mistake - you have come back even more tapped than when you went!! Sewing and knitting ... you!!" she laughs sarcastically "Don't think you are going to start cutting everything up now, before I know it all the curtains and bedsheets will be cut up into squares!!"<br />
"Shut up women, I'm not completely stupid!!" Alpine snaps "Those curtains were ripped, they needed replacing anyway, and you would have only thrown them away!"<br />
"Yes and who ripped them idiot!" she snaps<br />
<br />
I think I need to jump in, because I can see she is getting very ratty, and if she is not careful she is going to unhinge him and set him off, then we are never going to tell the kids today with him backing us up.<br />
<br />
"Mel, chill out!!" I laugh at her "I will get new curtains when I take him out to Raspberry later, I'm taking him into the craft shop anyway, so I'll make sure he has plenty of material to cut up, and like he said he isn't stupid, and those curtains do really need replacing."<br />
"That isn't the point Forrest, he could have at least waited until we had new curtains before he went taking those ones down!!" she snaps "It's bad enough that he ripped them in the first place!!"<br />
"Well try closing them at night then, instead of giving everyone outside the chance of seeing what you are getting up to in that room!!" Alpine snaps back nastily and I start to get nervous, thinking that he might say too much and give the game away before we have even had a chance to tell them properly<br />
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<br />
"Okay guys, time out!!" I laugh as I cut my eyes at Mel "I can see
you are both getting ratty, which isn't going to do any of us any good
today if you carry on and it all comes to blows!!" Mel rolls her eyes at me.<br />
"I'm going to get dresses then I need to quickly pop to the shop, we have run out of bread and milk again." she mumbles<br />
"Seriously can't it wait until later?" I frown at her<br />
"No! It is your fault, you and your damn French toast, and this lot will need feeding later, and I would rather do it now ... I could do with some fresh air anyway."<br />
"Well take my car and hurry up ... please." I roll my eyes at her "You know I've got a lot to do today." <br />
"Stupid woman!! You watch her do a runner and go awol on us, because she can't face what is coming!!" Alpines snaps as we watch Mel run up the stairs. "I really don't know how you put up with her, you must be mad!!"<br />
<br />
I cringe at what he has just said so openly, as I glance nervously at my three kids, who still all have their eyes firmly fixed on the television screen, and don't seem to have read anything into what he just said. It actually wouldn't surprise me if they are not even listening, because they are so used to the arguments going on between their parents. I've learnt one thing since I have been living here full time, Alpine and Mel bicker and snap at each other constantly over anything and everything.<br />
<br />
I continue to watch them, scared that after what we have to tell them today, they might hate me and never want to speak to me again. Granite, Mango, even Mel and Alpine keep telling me that I'm over reacting and worrying too much, I just hope that I have done enough over the years, since they have become teenagers, for them to like me enough as a person and friend, to forgive me for what I've done. I have always been pretty close to Bay as a friend, and I have spent the last week trying to get a little closer to the girls. I've spent a lot of time with them and even had them dying their hair and taken them out into the colour coded world a few times, which they love me for. They went mental in the shopping centre, they were like two small excited children in a toy shop.<br />
<br />
"Wake up Leafy!!" Bay starts laughing "Your car has stopped moving, what's up has it run out of gas, or are you chickening out because you know I'm going to beat you!"<br />
"Sorry, I switched off for a moment, thinking about work stuff." I laugh as I tell a white lie and turn my attention back to the game.<br />
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<br />
We have delayed telling them for a week, while we have waited for Alpine to be having a really good day, which has also helped them to get used to me being here all the time. They think I'm here just to help Caramel take care of Alpine, we have carried on hiding what has really been going on, hoping we have helped to soften the blow a little. However we can't leave it any longer, time is running out quickly, the trial is only a few weeks away, and I really want them to have partly dealt with this situation before that begins. Everything has to come out into the open right now.<br />
<br />
"Come on you wuss!! Put your foot down, they are killing you!!!" Alpine starts laughing at me as he puts his arm around me, probably to intentionally put me off "Leafy watch the wall!!"<br />
"Thanks mate you just killed me!!" I laugh as my car crashes unceremoniously into the wall, because he had made me jump putting his arm around me.<br />
"Seriously you are useless, you let all three girls beat you, you wuss!!" Alpine starts laughing, but he keeps his arm round me.<br />
"Dad quit with the shit ... I am NOT a girl!!" Bay snaps <br />
"You two are starting to worry me!" Fudge laughs "You look pretty cosy and loved up there, are you starting to bat for the other side Dad - you two have always been pretty close as friends haven't you!" me and Alpine laugh at each other<br />
"Hell no!!" Alpine laughs as he moves away from me "You couldn't pay me to sleep with Leafy, I know where he has been, the shirt lifting faggot!!"<br />
<br />
I glance at Bay, who is now scowling at Alpine. I knew he wouldn't like that comment. Alpine has never been very tactful or comfortable about Bay being gay. Sometimes I don't think he even realises that what he says is hurtful, especially to Bay.<br />
<br />
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<br />
My phone starts ringing in my pocket, and my stomach rolls. I pass the the game control to Alpine and jump up to answer my phone, seeing Granites name flashing up on the screen makes me very nervous. I stroll off into the kitchen so they can't hear my call.<br />
<br />
"Are you ready closet Daddy." Granite laughs "We have rounded them up. We have got Mosaic, Slate and Parsley sat staring at me, Prelude and Mango like we have gone completely mad!! They think they are in trouble for something." he laughs<br />
"Yeah, and I bet you are winding them up to the max!" I laugh at him<br />
"Of course ... it's a given!" he starts to laugh loudly <br />
"No I am not ready, I'm shitting myself!!" I laugh at him<br />
"You will be fine!!" Granite starts howling "It won't hurt after the first punch!!" <br />
"It's not funny Gran!"<br />
"Baby, would you like me to come round and hold your hand?"<br />
"No, because you will just turn it into a pantomime!!"<br />
"Come on then get it done!! Oh and be prepared, T is here, when he finds out about you and Mel and that those kids are yours ... oh Berry!!" he laughs "So I guess he will be coming round and having the first punch if Bay doesn't beat him to it!!"<br />
"Sod off, you are really not helping me!" I snap at him "You need to stop T from kicking off, we are not telling them about Coal today or the pregnancy just in case she does have a termination, so you need to keep his and your trap shut!!"<br />
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<br />
"Don't worry Prelude will hold T down, that's if Coal doesn't get at him first, you know he's dying to knock T's head off because he has hidden that he's known where Mel has been for the past two years, as well as his half sibling. Cinnamon is what has cut him up the most, not getting the chance to ever know him, and I know exactly how that feels because of Tamarin!!"<br />
"Don't let Coal and T fight please!! We need our three to get there heads around me before we spring Coal on them!! If they go kicking off then everyone will know, especially if Parsley hears it, you know how he loves to gossip!!"<br />
"Don't stress Coal knows he has to wait it out until your three know about him ... and don't stress over the kids either, them finding out you are their sperm donor is going to be shock enough" he starts laughing "But when they realise you are a basket case it will have them taking pity on you!"<br />
"Gran, stop now, why do you have to turn everything into a joke??!!" I snap at him<br />
"Sorry, I'll stop now!!"<br />
"Ohhhh ... I can't do this!!" I mumble <br />
"Yes you can!! Stop stalling Leafy - seriously, just do it how we rehearsed it and you will be fine!! They are sensible kids, they will understand that you did the best thing for them in the long run!!" he laughs quietly "I want you and Mel walking into that court room holding hands playing happy families with your kids, so we can all stick it to the berry hole!!"<br />
"They are going to hate me, so I doubt that will happen!"<br />
"Trust me - it will be fine - now grow a pair and tell them before I come round and do it for you!!" I just laugh at him<br />
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<br />
"Phone me when it's done Leafy. Good luck!!"<br />
"Thanks I think I am going to need it!" <br />
<br />
He is laughing his head off as the call clicks off. I really wish he didn't have to wind me up and make a joke out of everything, but that is Granite just being Granite, he has been the same all his life!! As usual he has made me feel a whole lot worse about doing it by childishly playing me up. <br />
<br />
I walk back into the living room knowing I can't put it off any longer. I can't even chicken out now either because Granite and Mango are going to fill in Mosaic, Slate and Parsley. It is not going to affect them too much, but they will need to get over the shock and get their heads around it, before they have to pick up the pieces, if it all goes wrong and Bay, Fudge and Mint take it badly.<br />
<br />
I stand there watching them for a moment, I keep having to take deep breaths because I can feel myself starting to panic inside. Them hating me and not wanting anything to do with me from now on, is what is scaring me the most!!<br />
<br />
"So Mom, why did you drag us all round?" Bay mumbles as he continues to play the game.<br />
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<br />
I guess that is my cue to start. If I don't do it now, I never will. I start to get very nervous as I take a few deep breaths before I speak.<br />
<br />
"Can you all put the controls down please .... there is something important that we need to talk to you about. It would help if you all turned your phones off too, so we don't get disturbed by them keep ringing."<br />
<br />
The three of them glance at me as one by one they put down the controls, and reluctantly start to turn off their phones after they have watched me turn my phone off and put it down on the side table.<br />
<br />
I smile at Mel who is now, sat down next to Alpine. She is sat by him so that she can stop him if he starts saying the wrong thing, or gets carried away, which might give the game away too early. They are not going to be told who their biological father is until the very end.<br />
<br />
Mel is wearing one of her painted on smiles, so I can tell she is very nervous, and I know exactly how she feels. Neither of us are looking forward to how they are going to react to this.<br />
<br />
"Is something wrong?" Mint frowns at me<br />
"Not wrong exactly, but that all depends on how you want to look at it. You might not be too happy with what you are about to hear, but unfortunately it has to be said." I smile at her.<br />
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<br />
I sit down nervously on the floor in front of them, and the three of them stare at me with confusion and worry. I can imagine that me being the one sitting here and about to talk to them is what might be confusing them.<br />
<br />
"I'm going to be doing the talking because as you know, your Dad
struggles and your Mom is very nervous about how you are going to react,
and she'll only tie herself up in knots, and we'll be here until
Christmas." I laugh as a cushion comes flying at me, which Mel threw at
me.<br />
"This is about relocating, isn't it!" Mint laughs<br />
"No, it is something else." I smile at her <br />
"Is something wrong with Dad?"<br />
"No, he is fine health wise, but it is actually your Dad that we need to talk about." I glance over at Alpine and he smiles at me.<br />
"Just do it wuss!!" I laugh at him before taking a deep breath<br />
"Alpine is your Dad, and he will always be your Dad, no matter what, nothing can ever change that. He is the one who has brought you up and loved you since you were babies, he is your Dad in every sense of the word ... except for biologically."<br />
"What?!" they are all staring at me in confusion after they have glanced at Alpine.<br />
"Alpine was not the one responsible for creating you ... he was not the sperm donor."<br />
<br />
I sit and watch all three of there faces drop, as they stare between me and Alpine. I can imagine the shock that they are probably feeling right now ... finding out that Alpine is not biologically their Dad and finding out that I am, were always going to be the hardest two things for them to hear, because it is going to turn their worlds upside down.<br />
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<br />
"But that's impossible ... Dad?!!" Fudge starts chocking<br />
"He is telling the truth love ... I'm sorry, but it does not change anything, like Leafy said, I love all three of you like you are my own, and I will always be your Dad."<br />
"This doesn't make sense!! Sperm donor ... so what were we, Artificial Insemination like Slate, or something?" Bay mumbles as he frowns at his sisters, who are frowning back at him. "Please tell me you are not about to tell us that we are adopted.<br />
"No, don't panic, you are all your Mother's children and you were all conceived naturally in the normal way, and the three of you have the same biological father."<br />
"Well that makes even less sense!!" Fudge grumbles "What about Cin?"<br />
"Cinnamon was your half brother. Alpine is his biological Dad, but not your threes."<br />
"So us three have a real Dad who you have never told us about?" Mint asks as she stares at Caramel.<br />
"Yes you do." I answer for her when she doesn't<br />
"I knew it!!" Mint says loudly "I told you didn't I!! I told you none of us looked like Dad!!" she is almost scoffing as she stares at Fudge then smiles at me, she almost looks happy, but I think it is more for the fact that her theory is right. I remember a conversation we had before me and Mel went to Sandy shores, when Mint said she thought she was adopted. <br />
"So who is he?" Bay is squinting at me, and I know that look, he doesn't believe what he is hearing.<br />
"You need to get your heads around Alpine not being your biological Dad first. We will tell you who he is later, he is not important right now, he has only ever been the jerk that has never been here for you to see. So I will call him Jerk from now on." <br />
"Mom?! Forrest is joking right?" Fudge seems to be the most upset by it.<br />
"Do you really think we would joke about something like this." she mumbles, she can't even look at them "I'm sorry."<br />
"Do we know him?" Mint asks her<br />
"All three of you need to stop asking questions and just let Forrest explain."<br />
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<br />
Mel starts to cry, which now makes me feel awkward because I can't go over and put my arm around her until I have got this all out in the open. I know she is terrified about how angry they will get with her, she is worried that they might even fall out with her over it, but I doubt that will happen, it will be me who they are angriest with the most. Alpine puts his arm around her as he smiles at me. I am really glad that he is having a good day today, otherwise this would have been a nightmare.<br />
<br />
"I need to start at the very beginning, and as you know I have always been a very close friend of your parents since they moved into town. So I was here from the start and know the whole story."<br />
<br />
I smile at them, all three of them are stoney faced they are already trying to deal with the shock, of Alpine not being their biological Dad, which I expected, so I give them a minute while I quietly watch them. I can already see that the three of them seem to be taking it differently ... Fudge is starting to get upset, Bay just looks very confused and Mint is wide eyed and seems intrigued. I wander for a moment if they will work out it is me, colour wise it is glaring obvious, but I don't imagine I will even be a candidate for them, with them thinking I am gay.<br />
<br />
"You two are going to have to but in if I say something wrong." I glance at Caramel and Apline.<br />
"Oh don't worry I will!!" Alpine laughs<br />
<br />
I stare at the kids for a moment and take a deep breath again before I start. <br />
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<br />
"You already know that your parents met at the boarding school and moved to this town with Mango because of the colour mixing. From the very start their relationship was not too good. They rushed into their relationship for all the wrong reasons, they were both mixed up teenagers running away from something ...."<br />
"Running away from what?" I laugh for a moment, I guessed that Bay would not be able to sit quietly and listen with out bombarding me with questions all the time.<br />
"That doesn't matter right now, it's up to them to tell you later." I smile at Bay "As soon as your parents moved into town with their school friends, they got married straight away like a pair of stupid teenagers, without even thinking it through properly, and it didn't take long for their relationship to start falling apart. Cinnamon was already on the way, so they had to stick with it, having a mixed berry child, they thought they had no choice. They were good friends, and that was all it ever should have been, they have never really loved each other in the true sense of the word. After Cinnamon arrived, they both started to become very unhappy, they both let their heads be turned by somebody else, so they both started to have an affair on the quiet."<br />
"Seriously!!" Bay snaps "Who with?"<br />
"Your Dad, with a woman who will remain nameless, and your Mom with the Jerk." I laugh at him "Your Mother was the first one to get caught out, your Dad went round to the Jerks house with Mango. The Jerk answered the door in just a towel making the excuse that he was just getting into the shower, Alpine got suspicious when he spotted Caramel's bag and shoes by the couch, which the jerk didn't think to hide, while she was hiding upstairs. Alpine ditched Mango and went back to the Jerks house, snook in through the back door, caught them in bed together and he kicked the living shit out of the Jerk!!"<br />
"Did I?" Alpine frowns in confusion, obviously because he has forgotten.<br />
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<br />
"Yes you did! I am actually very surprised you don't remember it!! Johnny Ten Men!!" I laugh at him. He suddenly smirks at me then starts laughing with me, like he has started to remember "You made a right mess of him as I recall - a few broken ribs, arm, fingers and teeth. One of his ribs punctured his lung and his face was a right mess, he ended up having to spend a few months in hospital."<br />
"Did Dad get done for it?" Bay laughs <br />
"No, the Jerk kind of knew he deserved it, and he didn't grass your Dad up, to protect your Mother and himself from the shame and gossip, you know what its like in this town. Mango would have been the first one on their backs because they were both married at the time." I laugh "The Jerk told everyone he had been jumped and mugged, nobody ever knew it was Alpine who actually did it." I smirk at Alpine "Not bad to say you was doing exactly the same thing, behind Mel's back, yourself at the time with another woman, on the sly." we laugh at each other.<br />
"It wasn't funny!! He nearly faded him!!" Caramel grumbles<br />
"Things were a bit of a mess for a while, as you can imagine, after a lot of arguing your Mother dumped the Jerk, and your parents decided to try and make a go of it for Cinnamons sake, but she was already pregnant with Bay and she wasn't sure who's baby it was, she thought it was more likely to be the Jerks, so your Dad went after the Jerk again."<br />
"You beat him up again?" Bay laughs at Alpine<br />
"Not so badly this time, he just ended up with a bloody nose and black eye the second time around, but I think what he really wanted to do was knock his block off!!" I laugh "There was nothing anyone could do until they found out who's the baby was, and they obviously didn't tell anyone that there was a possibility that the coming baby might not be Alpines. Your Mother started seeing the Jerk again on the quiet after it all blew up again, because the Jerk caught Alpine with his bit on the side. It got very complicated ... it was kind of out in the open between the four of them that they were both having an affair, so they kept it to themselves, and nobody else found out."<br />
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<br />
"Who was the woman?" Mint asks. I glance at Alpine who is just laughing<br />
"Tell them, it's no skin off my nose!" he laughs "Seeing as they will be seeing her very soon anyway, they need to be told!" he smirks at me and I roll my eyes at him.<br />
"She was my Sister." I laugh<br />
"Dad and Meadow?!" Bay starts howling<br />
"Yep!! Your Dad and Meadow." I laugh at Bay who is creased up "Your Dad is one of the reasons why she moved out of town eventually, and why her marriage never really worked out, but we won't go into that right now." Alpine laughs at me <br />
"Hang on, why will we be seeing Meadow soon?"<br />
"Because your Dad and Meadow have been seeing quite a bit of each other later." I laugh "She was visiting him every day while he was in the hospice and our trip to Raspberry later, is partly to pick her up, she is coming over to spend some time with him later." I laugh at myself, this conversation is already going off track. "Basically since he has come out of the hospice, she has sneaked a few sleep overs, that you haven't seen and she is the reason why your Dad has been a lot calmer and in a better mood this past week."<br />
"Oh berry!! This is getting crazy!!" Bay starts howling "Sleep over's Leafy you are funny, like we can't imagine what he is getting up to with Meadow if she's been staying over!!"<br />
"We will talk about your Dad's love life later ... we need to get back to this!!" I laugh quietly "So obviously, Bay turned out to be the Jerks baby, and all hell broke lose again."<br />
"Dad beat him up again?" Bay is still laughing over the Meadow thing.<br />
"No, it was the Jerk causing trouble this time. The Jerk hoped and preyed that the baby would turn out to be Alpines because it wasn't until after you was born Bay, that he admitted he had a problem. He hates children, never wanted any and wasn't having anything to do with the baby even if it was his. "<br />
"Forrest - tell it properly!!" Caramel grumbles. "Tell them about the pedophobia."<br />
"It turned out he suffers from a mental disorder, pedophobia - basically he has a phobia, an abnormal fear of children, and he couldn't be around them because it made him physically and mentally ill."<br />
"That is mad - I didn't know there was such a thing!! Fudge frowns at me.<br />
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<br />
<br />
I sit there for a moment a little stumped, I had expected to be hearing hysterical laughter by now, but not one of them are laughing, they all seem very confused by what I have just said.<br />
<br />
"Yeah, it is not very common, but it is an official medical condition. People who have pedophobia, usually have an underlying cause for it
connected with their own childhood ... being around
children brings back bad memories, feelings or flashbacks which triggers
the disorder. They feel frightened, terrified even and have major anxiety and panic attack when they are around children. They will go out of their way to avoid children, even their own - stick a pedophobe in a playground full of children and he is likely to throw up and pass out after he has had a major panic attack. It doesn't stop them from loving their children eventually, but they can't be around them comfortably until they are teenagers. Babies, toddlers, small children, freak them right out."<br />
"Wow that's mad! So our real Dad has that condition?"<br />
"Yes he does - that is why he has always been hidden from you and has never been here, in the sense of being your Father, because he physically and mental couldn't. He has spent the whole of your lives as a psychiatric patient and on medication, but as yet, nothing has helped him over come his problem. " I smile at them, I am a little amused that they are all sit there a little wide eyed and not laughing. "He was a little ashamed to start with and didn't admit to the condition properly for a very long time, especially not at first, because he didn't really understand it and couldn't deal with it himself at the time, especially accept the fact that he had a mental illness. When he was diagnosed, he started to see a psychiatrist regularly hoping it would help cure him, but it hasn't really helped. He didn't even tell your parents the truth ... to them he looked like he was just being a total berry hole, turning his back on his child and running away from his responsibilities, using he hates children as an excuse. The Jerk threw a massive wobble told your Mother he would never have anything to do with the baby, it was over between them and he moved out of town. Suddenly having a child of his own, with his condition, traumatised him and he couldn't deal with it. So your Mom was left on her own, holding the baby."<br />
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<br />
<br />
"You said he's a psychiatric patient, so is he in a mental hospital?" Fudge frowns<br />
"No!" I start to laugh "At times he has felt like he should be!" I continue to laugh "Having a phobia does not make him mental. He does have physiological issues, like a lot of people do, but he's as sane as anyone. He has actually got a high IQ, he has a very good job, and walks around this town and lives just like everyone else, and you would never know he has a problem unless you put a child in the room with him. The phobia he has in reality is just like any other phobia - spiders, heights, flying, clowns, we all have one ... phobia's make people act irrationally when they are around what they fear, like he does, his phobia unfortunately is children." I smile at them "People have a phobia and fear of the dentist because of a horrible experience they had when they were a child. People fear needles because of the painful routine injections they remember having when they were a child. Like Mace has a blood phobia, due to bad things he was made to witness during his childhood, he pretty much does the same as the Jerk, he throws up passes out and has panic attacks at the sight of blood." <br />
"So the Jerk lives in this town?" Bay frowns at me<br />
"Yes he does." I smile at him, and start talking again before he starts asking too many more questions. "So after the jerk found out Bay was his, he threw a wobble and did one, he left town leaving your parents in a bit of a hole, especially not knowing if he was ever coming back. They had Cinnamon who was both of theirs, and the Jerks baby, nobody knew that the baby wasn't Alpines so they kept it a secret, to stop all the gossip, while they waited to see if the Jerk came back and changed his attitude. Alpine took on the baby as if it was his own and they told nobody, not even Mango, so it was our secret and nobody else needed to know."<br />
"Leafy .. you knew?" <br />
<br />
I realise I have seriously just slipped up, by saying our secret so I have to try and cover myself with a white lie, I don't want them to find out the jerk is me until they have heard the full story. They are taking it quite well at the moment, and I don't want to spoil it. I think the phobia has distracted them just like Granite and Mango said it would.<br />
<br />
"Yes, I have always been a very close friend of your parents, and of course there was my sisters involvement in it. I have helped them to hide your biological fathers identity from you, I'm sorry!!"<br />
"You knew all this time that Dad was not our real Dad and you didn't say anything?" Bay frowns at me "Here we go again, just like with Slate, Leafy has been hiding things instead of coming out and telling the truth!!" Bay snaps<br />
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<br />
"DON'T blame Forrest!!" Caramel snaps at Bay "He couldn't tell you, and you have never been told about your real Dad for your own good, and if you stopped asking so many questions and let him finish speaking, you would understand that!!"<br />
"I'm sorry Bay, I couldn't tell you!! It has always been up to your Mom and Dad to tell you when they were ready, when you were old enough to deal with it properly!!" he continues to frown at me "Honestly, it was better that you didn't know the truth, especially while you was young. The jerk, with his phobia, in his uncontrollable state every time he was anywhere near you, would have just wrecked your life, he would have left you mentally scared, left you feeling unloved and unwanted .... even though he does love you from a distance, but he couldn't get close enough to show you that because his phobia wouldn't let him. Having him in your life and knowing he was your Dad would have messed your heads up and at a young age you would never have understood the mental disorder that he has, the way he would have behaved around you and especially not why he was openly rejecting you. Rejecting you, not because he wanted to, but because his phobia made him. He is terrified of children, and can not be around them, and that is the only reason why he has been kept hidden from you." I take a deep breath and all three of them are just staring at me blankly "Trust me when I tell you, your parents, all three of them, did the best thing they possibly could for you. You have had a very good Dad in Alpine while you were growing up, which you would never have had with the Jerk, they did it this way to protect you." <br />
"You said he loves you from a distance ...?" Bay is really frowning at me<br />
"He lives in this town and has always been very close and in the background of your life Bay, financially supporting and watching all three of you, you just never knew it, or that he is your biological Dad. Just because he couldn't have anything to do with you and had to keep his distance until you were teenagers, for your own sake, it doesn't mean that he has not been close to you, and doesn't care about you or love you - because he has and he does."<br />
"Do you know him?"<br />
"Yes, obviously I know him." I mumble and hear Alpine laughing quietly<br />
"You know him very well don't you Forrest!" Alpine laughs<br />
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<br />
"Do we know him?" Bay frowns at me<br />
"Yes you do know him, you have all had direct contact with him since you became teenagers, he just couldn't tell you who he was .... not until your Mom and Dad were ready to sit you down and tell you properly."<br />
"So why isn't he here telling us this now?"<br />
"Your parents wanted you to hear the full story first, so that you could at least get your head around his phobia and this whole situation, and why it has been done this way, before you find out who he is. Then you can deal with him later in whichever way bests suits you. All three of your parents want you to realize and understand that what they have done, was done with only your best interests in mind, and that this changes nothing as far as Alpine goes!! He will always be here and your Dad. Just because you are finding out now that he was not the one that created you, it does not mean you have to exclude him, love and treat him any differently. Your real Dad obviously wants you to know the truth and be a part of your life properly now that he can no longer screw your heads up to the point where he ruins your life. However, he is not going to be muscling in and turfing Alpine out, the three of them have worked together as friends for the whole of your lives and it will just continue in the same way. From now on you will have three parent, and the relationship you have with the Jerk from now on is entirely up to you."<br />
"That's all well and good - but if this guy has this child phobia problem - why are there three of us, it doesn't make sense, I could understand if only I was not Dads, but all three of us??!!"<br />
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I look over at Caramel and we both start laughing.<br />
<br />
"That is my fault mostly." Caramel mumbles "I basically left him without any choice of having three children."<br />
"I'll continue with the story - then it will all make perfect sense." I smile at them and notice that all three of them seem a little more relaxed, which is helping me to relax a little. <br />
"So after he found out Bay was his, the Jerk left town. While he was away, not really expecting him to come back, your parents decided they should try again to make a go of their marriage for both Bay and Cinnamon's sake. They both felt trapped in this town because of the two colour mixed babies, and instead of splitting up, they thought they could do it together, they have always been very good friends, regardless of their failed marriage."<br />
"So he came back?" Mint frowns at me <br />
"Yes obviously because there are three of you." I laugh at her and she just rolls her eyes at me<br />
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"The Jerk, after he had calmed down a little, started to miss your Mother and he got very curious of the baby. He never expected to ever have any children of his own with his phobia, and just knowing the baby was his, started to tear him apart."<br />
"Does he hate us?" Fudge asks quietly<br />
"No of course he doesn't hate you, he loves you ... he hates himself, for having the phobia and being the way that he is. Emotionally he has always been very torn, wanting to be your Dad, but the phobia didn't let him. Until you were teenagers he was scared stiff of you, and couldn't be around you, even though he wanted to be."<br />
"So he has never had anything to do with us ... until we were teenagers?"<br />
"That is not strictly true!!" I laugh "Don't think he hasn't ever tried, because he has!!! He has made himself physically and mentally ill over the years sticking close by and even having direct contact with you, when you were babies, toddlers and children, which can be explained to you properly when you know who the Jerk is. When you do know who he is, I think you will remember things from your childhood, that will prove he has always been around and here for you. He has stayed very close and around you all your life ... you all know him very well and have had contact with him, so never think he rejected you to the point he walked away and had nothing to do with you at all .... and his true identity has only ever been hidden from you to protect you from seeing and being hurt by his irrational behaviour caused by his phobia!!" I laugh for a moment "Of course Bay was the hardest one for him to deal with, being the first. As part of his therapy the psychiatrist encouraged him to spend time with the baby, so they could try and rationalize the root of his problem and try to fix it. So he used to sit watching you sleeping, but the moment you moved or cried, he started having a panic attack. He actually spent a lot of time here with you Bay, in the early days, but he had to keep his distance. Even though it was very hard for him, he really tried ... he even tried to beat his own fear by forcing himself to touch you and pick you up. He did manage to learn how to pick you up, change nappies and feed you but he constantly shook from the fear and couldn't do it for long without throwing a wobble. He had to stop doing it in the end, for your sake as much as his, because babies sense things, and it wouldn't have done you a lot of good sensing his anxiety and fear, most of the time you did start to cry when he touched or got close to you."<br />
"So he actually held me and fed me when I was a baby?" Bay asks<br />
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"Yes he did, but not usually at the same time. He couldn't hold and feed you it was too much, your Mother had to sit you in your rocking chair and he'd just hold the bottle, but most of the time he had his eyes shut because Bay flapping his arms around freaked him out. If you so much as brushed his hand while you were flapping your arms, he used to have melt downs right there on the spot, panic attacks, throwing up and passing out. He constantly felt terrified and it always led to a major panic attack."<br />
"He sounds like a right nutter!!" Bay laughs<br />
"That's how he feels about himself most of the time and if you watched him having one of his melt downs you probably would think he is ... but unfortunately because he has this phobia, a child can turn a seemingly sane man into a blubbering irrational wreck." I laugh back "Who is scared of spiders?"<br />
"Me!" Fudge and Mint say at the same time while Bay just sits there laughing at them.<br />
"Well, just imagine how you would feel if you had a big hairy Tarantula crawling on the carpet in front of you right now" I laugh as Fudge and Mint both shudder "You would get really scared, start to panic, probably scream the place down, and run like hell!! Just like your Mother, who has an irrational fear of the <i>tiniest</i> of spiders, you would think she is nuts!!" I laugh at Mel for a moment "You would be creeped out just knowing that spider is in the room with you, and just imagine you was forced to hold that spider!! How you would feel having that spider in front of you is exactly how he feels having a child in front of him." I smile at them "To anyone who doesn't have a phobia it seems irrational, but those who suffer from them, it is very real and it can totally control their life."<br />
"So why have three children if that is how he is and that is what he has to go through? That really does not make sense!!"<br />
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"Honestly, all three of you were stupidity on both your Mom and the Jerks parts at the time ..." I hear Alpine laughing "and even though this has been far from an ideal situation, and he especially has been through hell because of your existence ... however, don't think he has ever regretted you being here, because he doesn't far from it - the mental hell he went through when you were little, to him now, it has all been worth it, and he especially does not regret his stupidity, otherwise you wouldn't be here."<br />
"Explain his stupidity." Bay laughs<br />
"Realistically, a man with his phobia should have had the snip to prevent him from ever creating children that put him in this situation and through the hell in the first place. But he has never had the snip. Like I have said, he has always been very torn, he has tried desperately to get his phobia cured so he could be a proper Dad to you. He has never had the snip because he has always hoped one day he would be cured and would be able to have a child with your Mother, and do it right ... but unfortunately that has never happened for him. Stupidly he has hung onto a dream that has never become a reality."<br />
"So they were stupid and didn't take precautions!!" Bay laughs, which makes me and Alpine start laughing.<br />
"Oh they took precautions, well your Mother was supposed to be taking precautions, but she didn't seem to get the hang of how the pill works!!" I laugh at Caramel who throws another cushion at me.<br />
"That's it, you just make me look bad!!" Caramel laughs at me<br />
"Your Mother was on the pill when she got caught with you Bay, but she had had an upset stomach and didn't realise that she needed to take extra precautions, because illness can mess with the pill as you probably know." I laugh quietly "I'll carry on with the story, then you'll know how you were all created." I laugh "When the Jerk came back, your Mother admitted that she was in love with the jerk, and he was here, trying to spend time with Bay, and their relationship just started up again and since then, it has never stopped." I see all three of them frowning at Caramel for a moment "It didn't take long for Alpine to suss they were at it again, and that's when their marriage officially ended, quite amicably in the end because while your Mother has always been in love with the Jerk, your Dad has always been in love with my sister."<br />
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I pause for a moment while Bay is laugh, he knows and has seen Meadow more than anyone over the years especially when he was younger, because he hung around Slate. Little does he know yet, that Meadow is his Aunt and visiting Gravel's is how she used to sneakily see her nephew!!<br />
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"Just after your parents decided to end their marriage, your Mother discovered their had been a second contraception accident and Fudge was on the way. Your Mother was still on the pill at the time, so the baby was very unexpected, and she had only been sleeping with the Jerk, so they knew that the baby was going to turn out to be his, which sent his head off again, so he threw another wobble."<br />
"He threw a hell of a lot of wobbles!!" Alpine starts laughing and I just laugh with him. "He puked on the carpet so much when you two were babies, he had to replace it, more than once. I didn't realise anyone could puke so much and so often" I laugh at Caramel who slaps Alpines arm, to stop him from going any further.<br />
"With the Jerks second baby on the way, the three of them had to sit down and reach some sort of agreement. It was obvious by then that there was no stopping either of the relations your Mother and the Jerk or your Dad and Meadow, so your parents decided to split up permanently after a lot of arguing over Cinnamon. They were going through a divorce and the plan was that Alpine was going to look for a place to live, he was going to take Cinnamon, and your Mother was obviously keeping Bay and Fudge. The jerk and your Mother had to carry on living separately, because he couldn't live with you due to his phobia, which was not getting any better, if anything it was getting worse at the time, because he was so stressed out about it, especially that he could not be a proper Dad to you both. That was around the time that all three of your parents decided that for your sake it was best that you didn't know who your biological Father was until you were old enough to deal with it, which would protect you from his irrational behaviour while you were growing up. You would have noticed an absent Father, and asked too many questions which would have made it impossible for them to hide the truth and his identity, so to stop that from happening, they decided that they would continue to let everyone think that you two were Alpines kids, and he would continue to treat you as such. That way at least you would have some sort of Dad while you were growing up, because they knew you would not be getting one with the Jerk, and it was best that you never found out about him, so that he couldn't upset you. <br />
"But they didn't split up obviously!"<br />
"No, but they have been divorced since just after Fudge was born."<br />
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I see all three of them stare wide eyed at Alpine and Caramel.<br />
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"They didn't separate completely or straight away because it was all very amicable between the three of them. The longer Bay and Cinn had both of their parents the better, and your Mom was pregnant, as soon as that baby bump starts showing, the Jerk really struggles and backs away, especially from your Mother. Your Mom and Dad could live together amicably for the sake of you kids, so they were in no rush, and the three of your parents were worried that once they took the step of separating everything would come out, they weren't looking forward to the stick they would all get. They also were better sticking together, because there were things happening at the time - they were getting silent phone calls and threatening texts from Lime. Lime did her first hit and run which faded Cosmic, put Prelude in hospital and Lilly lost her baby. Obviously, them all being so close, Lilly needed them and they were all up in the air, scared Lime was coming back at them. So your parents kept quiet about their problems and put the move on hold until the dust had settled and the threat of Lime was over However it never happened because you know Lime did her second hit and run, this time Alpine was the victim."<br />
"And that bitch is still out there somewhere!!" Alpine mumbles<br />
"Your Dad's brain damage obviously changed everything. While your Dad was in hospital your Mother had to carry on pretending like everything was okay, worried that everyone would think she was heartless if the truth came out, and she knew like the Jerk did, that Alpine had no family, and they would have to look after him ... Cinnamon was all he had besides your Mother. Even after he was released from hospital, it took over a year for him to recover fully, which your Mother and the Jerk had to help him through. The result of the hit left him needing 24/7 supervision in the future for his own safety, which meant that your parents were permanently stuck together. Alpine couldn't take Cinnamon and move out like they had origninally planned, because it wouldn't have been safe for Cinnamon, so he had to stay here and your Mother was left to look after him. So your Mother has basically only been his carer since the hit and run."<br />
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"What happened with Meadow?" Bay asks "Did she dump Dad because of the brain damage?" <br />
"No, the brain damage had nothing to do with it, it hindered them with this situation, but that was not the reason why they broke up.!! There were other reasons ... It all got a bit too much and complicated for all of them. Something I can't really explain right now, but she did love your Dad at the time, actually she still does, and if circumstances had been different, they probably would have made a go of it, but there were factors that made it way to complicated. Your Mother and Meadow seriously do not get on, even still. The Jerk, Meadow and your Mother were at it hammer and tongue all the time for quite a few reasons. It was just too messy and a nightmare situation, so they chose to end their relationship for the sake of the three kids ... Mint wasn't even in the picture then." I smile at them<br />
"That doesn't make sense, if she loves Dad, why would Meadow do that for our sake?"<br />
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I stare at Alpine for a moment, I knew telling them about Alpine and Meadow would complicate things, and I can't really explain to them properly without telling them about me first.<br />
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"Like I said, that is something that really needs to be explained to you later, but with all the fighting and arguing going on, Cinn and Bay were getting old enough to notice, which was upsetting them, so it was best it stopped completely ... besides you seeing your Mother and the Jerk together and your Dad and Meadow together, was not going to help, it would have confused you, and they never would have been able to hide your biological Father's identity away from you and their biggest fear has always been you finding out about your real Dad and him messing your heads up and ruining your lives with his phobia. You have only ever seen your parents together, which is what we needed you to see, to stop you all from uncovering the truth and getting hurt. The Jerk and Meadow both had to step out of the situation, while your parents have carried on giving the impression to everyone that they are just a normal married couple. They have told nobody over the years, to protect you, because the less people that knew, the less likely you would find out."<br />
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They sit there staring at me, saying nothing.<br />
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"Your Dad suffering from the effects of his brain damage has not really been ideal for you while you were growing up, however compared to the alternatives, what you have had has been the far better thing for you!! Having no Dad at all, or having your real Dad here with his phobia, would have both mentally affected you, to the point where it could have ruined your life." I smile at them "I hope and think that you are sensible enough, when you get your head around all this, that you will see, all three of your parents did the very best thing for you!!" <br />
"So where did I come from?" Mint asks and I laugh at her.<br />
"Obviously, your Mother and the jerk have carried on with their relationship in secret, snatching any time they could get together, trying to hide it from everyone especially you kids so you didn't get hurt." I glance at Caramel for a moment<br />
"Tell them, it's okay." she mumbles<br />
"There was actually another child in between Fudge and Mint ..."<br />
"What?!"<br />
"Your Mother had a miscarriage. Another accidental pill pregnancy, or so she says." I raise my eyebrows at Caramel, forgetting myself for a minute and she just laughs quietly "I swear if he didn't have this phobia and didn't kicked up such a fuss they would have a hundred kids by now, if it was left up to your Mother!!" this makes everyone laugh<br />
"Shut up Forrest - just tell the story!!" she laughs at me<br />
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"You Mint, caused a lot of arguments between the jerk and your Mother, because there should have been no more children after Fudge, the situation was bad enough without adding another child to the situation. Your Mother, understandably was off her head a little after the miscarriage ... and her way of dealing with it, she sneakily planned you, against his wishes and without him knowing. She did not tell the jerk until after it was too late and over the 24 week mark, she managed to hide the growing baby bump from everyone. She actually fell out with the Jerk for a while, on purpose to keep him away from her, so he didn't notice the baby bump. I went ballistic at her ..." I realise I have just slipped up again saying I!! "As her doctor, she didn't come to see me, she took a huge and very stupid risk not getting any medical attention in the early stages of the pregnancy, especially after the miscarriage, and as it happened there were quite a few scares with your pregnancy Mint, so it could quite easily have happened again. After you was born, your Mother was advised not to try for any more children, because of the higher risk of miscarriage, and she was fitted with the coil to prevent any more pregnancies." I glance over at Mel for a moment and she just laughs at me sarcastically, because she knows I am having a dig at her. "Of course the Jerks head went off again, knowing he had another child on the way, but it was not so bad because he was having to keep his distance anyway, and Alpine acquired the Jerk's third child to bring up as his own."<br />
"Why did she have a miscarriage? Why didn't we know about this?"<br />
"You were too young at the time, and what was the point of upsetting you, when you got older. Your Mother, even though she will never forget it, and it will always hurt, she had pretty much dealt with it when she had Mint to distract her." I smile at Mel for a moment "The baby was a girl ... and we don't really know why. There was nothing wrong with the baby that could be seen, and I suspect it could be a weakness in the cervix, especially after her next pregnancy was very rocky. She has never really had it investigated properly, even after the scares with Mint's pregnancy, because there was not really any point when there never should be any more pregnancies."<br />
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I stare at Mel, my mind has gone a little, talking about that child, because she knows what my main worry is with this pregnancy if she goes a head with it, if the last two pregnancies are anything to go by, she is probably setting herself up for a lot of heartache, especially with it being a multiple pregnancy, the chances of that pregnancy reaching full term is almost impossible in my mind, and Mango thinks exactly the same.<br />
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"Can't this phobia be cured?" Mint asks which snaps my head back.<br />
"Sometimes they can, it depends on the phobia, the cause of it and if the patient can resolve the physiological issues that are causing it. The jerk has been seeing a psychiatrist since Bay was born and still is, he has even tried hypnosis, and various other things, but none of it has help. As it stands with him now, he is a lot better than he was, he is finally starting to work through his physiological issues and over the years he has learned to hide and control it to a certain extent, up until recently, only your parents knew in this town that he actually has a problem, because he has managed to hide it completely from everyone." <br />
"How is he a lot better?" Bay asks.<br />
"He can be around children now for a short time without showing he has a problem, but he generally walks away quickly so that he doesn't trigger his disorder and make a fool of himself." I smile at Fudge "Like your baby, he has held him recently, but it was only for a short time, the baby could probably feel his anxiety and started crying so he passed him to Mosaic and walked away quickly. What nobody saw, the jerk ran outside threw up, went home and cried for hours. Which is a big improvement on how he used to be, when Bay was tiny, he would have had a full scale panic attacks, threw up and passed out, just from watching Bay flapping his arms and legs."<br />
"This is getting freaky!! He has held my baby - when, where?"<br />
"At the hospital just after he was born." I see Fudge frowning like
she is trying to work it out "You was asleep, you didn't see him. The Jerk was with Mango, who was showing off his new Grandchild." I laugh
"He didn't have a clue, that the jerk also had an interest in that boy."
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"So is it just babies that set him off?"<br />
"No any child up to teenage. Why babies freak him out, he can't quite work out, he doesn't know himself, but that's just part of the phobia. Seeing toddlers and children doing things that remind him of his own childhood, gives him flashbacks that set him off, but it's children that are actually the worst for him. They make too much noise, which goes straight though him - it is the childish and hyperactive behaviour that causes him to have flashbacks of his own childhood, which triggers him off!!" I hesitate for a moment, knowing Bay might work me out from what I am about to say "He has a sibling who has children, who hate their Uncle with a passion because of the way that he is with and around them. The jerk sometimes stays with his sibling, and he can now live under the same roof as the children, he can even tolerate them being in the same room as him, as long as they are quiet, don't run around and he doesn't look at them, even though just knowing they are in the same room as him makes him anxious - the minute they start making noise or moving about, he goes off on one at them, he doesn't mean to be nasty to them personally, but they stir up his fear and he just can't help it. Most of the time they walk into the room and he walks out, and he is very cold and aloof with them, even verbally nasty, hense why they can't stand him. When he is there he spends most of the time in his room and that's where he eats his meals too, so he doesn't have to be around the children, which upsets him and them. The sibling has tried to explain his phobia to the children, but they don't understand. The jerk is just a horrible nasty person in their eyes and they hate it when he visits." I roll my eyes "He does not make them feel good about themselves, they feel unloved and unwanted by him, and that is exactly how he did not want you three to feel and exactly how he would have made you feel, but it would have been worse for you because he is your biological father. That is why he has kept himself hidden from you. "<br />
"I don't get it ... Mom how have you managed to hide all this?" Fudge frowns at Caramel<br />
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"With great difficulty, but we had to to stop you three getting hurt." she mumbles<br />
"I understand that, but how have we never seen it? Him? Everything!?" she frowns "I know you and Dad have never been ... touchy feely or shown any affection towards each other, I can't say I even remember you two hugging or kissing each other, but we thought that was just the way you were or you did it in private, even though we could never figure out when because you have always had separate rooms, but we thought that was because of Dad's brain damage." She laughs sarcastically at herself "I have just answered my own question haven't I!! It has been there staring us right in the face all the time hasn't it ... are we stupid not to have seen this?"<br />
"No of course you weren't stupid!!" she smiles at Fudge "We are glad you never worked it out!! Your real Dad is proof, with his phobia, of how your childhood can affect and physiologically damage you .... we never wanted that for you, which he would have done to you, unintentionally, if you had known he was your Dad acting the way he does with his condition. Even though you might not like what you are learning now, we did the best thing for you by keeping him out of your life, and the three of us, me, your Dad and the jerk, even Meadow, have had to make a lot of sacrifices to do what is best for you."<br />
"So how did you hide it? When, where and how did you see the Jerk?"<br />
"He lives alone so I used to go round to his house mostly, especially after you became old enough to notice things, but he used to come round to see me and you three when you were sleeping. He used to sleep over sometimes and creep out at 5am in the morning, before you got up to see him. That's why I've always had a lock on my bedroom door to stop you walking in while he was in there. He has had to hide out in there many times over the years." she chuckles "He used to come round to see me when you was at school if he wasn't at work. A lot of times I haven't been where I've said I've been, like work, I didn't work as many shifts as you think I do." she looks at them sheepishly "However, you have seen him here many times throughout the whole of your life, socially and sitting with your Dad, especially after you became teenagers, but as far as you are concerned he's just a friend, like anyone else who comes here to visit or sit with your Dad. Since you all moved out, it has been a lot easier, because he has been here a lot, day and night ... and I may as well tell you now, I wasn't alone in Sandy Shores, he was there with me."<br />
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I bite my lip because she might have just given the game away, and Mint glanced at me for a moment with a frown on her face, and I think for a second she has sussed it is me.<br />
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"Did you know the Jerk was in Sandy Shores with Mom?"<br />
"Yes." I mumble <br />
"You have been here all the time lately ... so you must have seen him here." she says which makes me laugh, because it looks like I am not even a possible suspect for them, and if she thought about what she has just said, she might just realise.<br />
"Yes I've seen him here." which isn't a lie because I do see myself in the mirror, I can't help but laugh, Alpine is also laughing.<br />
"Dad and you knew?"<br />
"Yeah of course I did." he laughs "I used to lie and cover for them all the time, me and the Jerk are friends, and while your Mother used to have to hide the fact she was having a relationship with him, we have both openly been his friend, we even used to go out drinking together with and without your Mother, when I was well enough to. He is and has been a hell of a lot closer to you than you even know!!" he starts laughing and I hear Caramel slap him.<br />
"And it didn't bother you that she was with someone else?"<br />
"No." he laughs "While she is basically my best friend, mine and your Mothers Marriage was practically over even before Cinnamon was born, we just clung onto it because we thought we had to. We were both just stupid mixed up teenagers, we have never really loved each other and should never have got married in the first place. Your Mother and the jerk were meant to be together, not us, and I didn't mind because the only person I've ever loved is Meadow."<br />
"So why did you stay ... and do all this, instead of being with Meadow?" <br />
"I will explain all that to you when you have found out who the Jerk is." he goes quiet for a moment and I am really glad he had the sense and sanity to say that, I am nervously sitting here waiting for him to slip up in some way. "Me and your Mother, we both had Cinnamon to think about, I didn't want to wreck his life, when I didn't need to, by taking him away from his Mother, bearing in mind I grew up with neither parent, so for all your sakes, we just tried to make the best of a bad situation, which the three of us created for ourselves. So there have always been three of us in this, me, the Jerk and your Mother, you have always had three parents while you have only ever seen the two of us."<br />
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"Did Cinnamon ever know about this?"<br />
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The three of us look at each other, I for one have been dreading this question. This is something that we couldn't agree or decide on, now he is not here to speak for himself, we didn't want them to think badly of him, but at the same time, we don't want any more lies. Alpine slowly nods his head at me and smiles.<br />
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"Yes he knew." I mumble quietly<br />
"HE KNEW that Dad was not our real Dad!?" Bay is almost off his seat as he shouts it<br />
"Bay please ... don't any of you be angry, upset yourself or think badly of him ... it didn't make a difference to him as far as you three go, you were still his brother and sisters and he still loved you the same, he was only doing the best thing for you, like all three of your parents.<br />
"So how did he get to know and not us?"<br />
"He was never meant to know and would have been told the truth at the same time as you were. However, he kind of uncovered the truth for himself, being a policeman with an inquisitive mind, I guess it was inevitable that he would play detective and get to the truth, especially when it came to his Mother." I laugh but I'm cringing "Like you lot, he was pretty oblivious while he was growing up. His suspicion only started when he notice your Mother lying a few times. She told you lot she was going to one place but he spotted her in another and every time she lied about where she was going, he saw her with the Jerk somewhere she shouldn't have been. He started to watch your Mother very closely, even followed her. He soon realised that your Mom and the Jerk where sneaking around a lot and spending way too much time together and she was doing a hell of a lot of lying. He was worried that she might be having an affair behind your Dads back, but he thought he was going mad because it was the Jerk he kept seeing her with."<br />
"Why would he think he was going mad?"<br />
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I bite my lip when the question is thrown at me, because I just realise I've made a mistake. Cinn thought he was going mad because I'm supposed to be gay, but I can't tell them that without giving myself away to them.<br />
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"He knew the jerk as being a very good and close friend of your Dads, he didn't think he would be the sort to be having an affair with your Mother, or betray your Dad." I laugh fobbing them off with the only think I can think of saying, the truth in a round about way. "He continued to watch them until he finally caught them out ... he caught the Jerk trying to sneak out of this house at 5am in the morning after he'd watched him sneak in and out of your Mothers room.<br />
"And you don't have to be a policeman to work out what they were doing in there." Alpine starts laughing <br />
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Bay starts to really laugh at Alpine and I can't help but laugh with him.<br />
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"Luckily, there was only Mint in the house, and she didn't hear anything. Bay you were sleeping over at Slates, and Fudge was at Coral's." I laugh quietly "Cinnamon twisted the Jerk up and handcuffed him. He handcuffed him to the bed and stuffed a pillow case in his mouth to keep him quiet. He locked the jerk up in your Mothers room until Mint went to school then it all kicked off." The three of them sit laughing<br />
"But he never told us!"<br />
"Your Dad spoke to him, he told him everything about the situation, then he spoke to your Mother and the Jerk, and Cinnamon calmed right down after that. He was a little shocked by it all, but he understood, that the way your parents have done it, was better for you. So he has just sat on the secret knowing one day you would be told the truth when you were old enough to deal with it." I smile at them "So please don't think badly of Cinnamon, he helped your parents keep the secret because he loved you and didn't want you to get hurt."<br />
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There is a silence in the room, while they are thinking and I really don't know what else I can say to prolong the agony of them finding out who the Jerk is.<br />
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"So who is our biological Dad?" Fudge mumbles<br />
"Well obviously he is completely green ... like Forrest." Alpine starts laughing "Or we would never have been able to get away with it, especially me pretending to by your Dad!"<br />
"Who do you know in this town who is green?" Fudge is staring at me and asking me the question, and I am trying hard not to laugh<br />
"Forrest is green." Bay starts howling "But we can count him out, he's gay!!"<br />
"There is that old green guy who lives over by the cemetery." Mint mumbles<br />
"Oh, give me some credit please!!" Caramel snaps<br />
"Don't you think you three ought to get your head around this situation before you make it worse for yourselves by knowing who he is?" I mumble quietly as my stomach is tying itself into really painful knots<br />
"No ... I want to know ... Leafy, who is he?" he grumbles "How are we supposed to get our heads around this if we don't know who he is." <br />
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I laugh at Alpine who is now really laughing<br />
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"Go on then Jerk." he smirks at me "I'll let you do the honers of telling them who their creator and sperm donor is."<br />
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Alpine starts howling after a few seconds, he has just called me Jerk and none of them have reacted.<br />
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"They seriously aren't getting it are they Leafy!! They can't see what is sat right under there noses!!" he laughs "I think you are going to have to spell it out for them."<br />
"Yes Leafy, tell us, who is he?" Bay frowns at me<br />
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"You asked earlier why the Jerk wasn't the one here telling you all this ... well he has been."<br />
"What?!" Bay laughs<br />
"The Jerk has been sat right in front of you all the time ... you all have Leaf in your name for a very good reason, because ... I am the jerk who helped your Mother create all three of you!!"<br />
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There is an awkward silence as the three of them sit there staring at me in shocked disbelief, mouths open and wide eyed.<br />
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Finally I have done it!! <br />
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<br />Juliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04784217998578574056noreply@blogger.com0