tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40201413002107419032024-02-23T06:45:49.187+00:00Doctor Grace Trevelyan-Grey tells her son's story. By G E GriffinAs the mother of Seattle's most eligible bachelor, Doctor Grace Trevelyan-Grey fills us in about her son Christian Grey, and her future daughter-in-law Anastasia Steele. By G E Griffin.Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-4492011795429460342015-06-16T06:00:00.004+01:002022-02-19T15:17:11.096+00:00GRACE'S STORY<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-4i_rSWjz_eTQnONtAvPOk2SijVAuUFo2tDKCnmPu6jH2JQzBfeZ7CGzb_tL6UFWvfAwGF4jYt4TBPS9BKY3NIyfpWSpt8YbANL8bd9A2v7FKoarO8DRbdZhc4f5rwsYUvcwwdcwcNV/s2048/Grace+cover+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8-4i_rSWjz_eTQnONtAvPOk2SijVAuUFo2tDKCnmPu6jH2JQzBfeZ7CGzb_tL6UFWvfAwGF4jYt4TBPS9BKY3NIyfpWSpt8YbANL8bd9A2v7FKoarO8DRbdZhc4f5rwsYUvcwwdcwcNV/w251-h400/Grace+cover+1.png" width="251" /></a></div></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span face=""><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">Read the illustrated version of <b>GRACE'S STORY </b>here </span><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">on this blog by clicking the link at the top on the left, which will take you straight to the first chapter.</span></span><br />
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<span face=""><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;">Alternatively, you can download it to read as a complete book on your reading device by clicking </span></span><span face="">the 'Download' tab at the top, and following the instructions
there. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span face=""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: x-large;"><span lang="" style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other works by G E Griffin available on Amazon, Apple & other platforms:</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gegriffin.com/duplicity" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-fqpSQyy2H0_u5zsIwSbzKz-wBhK1zqA175JRMNDNUE6GFXMc6E8Egre6PfUWF9LXVPdPVHi9CRPqJCRnYHxm4pY1Y9JAZnn9G51Lx4u1kZOLcVsqPAbU-tYjJtSZO2_vnUtlI1tRLc0KUtEKeup6I2fboG8AU2OkjgSmaOiD_M2Ay9WBPwa-9712aA=w299-h400" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-38596796014010470402014-02-28T10:26:00.000+00:002016-03-26T11:46:26.439+00:00GRACE'S STORY<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-outline-level: 2;">
<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This blog is where you can read Doctor Grace Trevelyan-Grey's perspective on the story of her son
Christian Grey, and her future daughter-in-law, Anastasia Steele.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://christiangreymomstory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/chapter-1.html" target="_blank">Click here to start reading Grace's story</a> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><i>Then why not
visit my <a href="http://www.gegriffin.com/#!starr-series/cnec"><span style="color: blue;">website</span></a> for details of my other books</i></span></span></div>
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For full details, go to my <a href="http://www.gegriffin.com/" target="_blank">G E Griffin website</a>.<br />
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-62352779226737971442013-08-02T06:00:00.000+01:002016-04-21T17:36:36.154+01:00Chapter 9 - Happily Ever After... and Epilogue<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom? Are you at the hospital?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to get a
worrying phone call out of the blue from one of their children. I instantly got
goose bumps at the note of panic I could detect in my son’s voice.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, Christian. Why, whatever’s the matter?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s Ana. She’s been hurt and we’re on our
way in the ambulance. Can you meet us in the ER?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My heart missed a beat, but I knew I had to remain calm, so I called on my professional experience to quell the rising
panic I felt.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, of course, but what do you mean Ana’s
hurt? Is she okay?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I… I don’t know how bad it is, Mom. She’s
unconscious.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That didn't sound good.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh Christian! What on earth happened?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My first thought was that perhaps she’d been
in a car accident.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll fill you in with the details at the
hospital, if you can meet us there?”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, yes, of course. I’ll be there waiting.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian looked shocked and pale when I met
them in the ER a few minutes later, having hurriedly called a colleague to
stand in for me. Christian stubbornly refused to let go of Ana’s hand as
the ER team started their examination, but he was getting in their way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Just let them get on with what they need to
do, Christian,” I gently persuaded him as I led him a short distance away. “Trust
me, they are the experts. Do you honestly think I’d let anyone but the best
near my daughter-in-law?” I knew Heather Bartley was an excellent doctor,
and I had every confidence in her team.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian watched like a hawk as the nurse
cut Ana’s clothes off so that they could examine her properly, and then removed
her jewelry for safe keeping.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Not her wedding ring. We never take our
wedding rings off,” he insisted, and then watched as her ring was securely
taped in place.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So are you going to tell me what’s been
going on?” Naturally I wanted to find out what had happened, but I also wanted
to keep Christian occupied and out of the way for a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It seems that Hyde, the f... the man who
tried to kidnap her before, somehow managed to get released on bail, and we think
he was blackmailing or threatening Ana in some way. We think she was meeting up
with him to hand over the money when somehow he ended up being shot and Ana
ended up unconscious.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But I thought she had her own designated
protection officer…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d always assumed it would be virtually
impossible for anyone to get near Ana, because of Christian’s insistence that
she had to be escorted at all times by members of his elite security
team.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She does, but for some reason she saw fit to
deal with this on her own, and managed to give Sawyer the slip. I’m not exactly
sure what happened, because I was away in Portland on business when this all
kicked off. We’re still trying to piece it all together.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Knowing how Christian kept such close tabs on
Ana, I thought it odd that he didn't know what had been going on. I sensed that
he wasn’t being totally honest with me, but I let it pass for now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I could see that he was desperately worried
about his beloved Ana, and he only agreed to let her out of his sight for a
while when I was allowed to go with her for some urgent tests to be carried
out. I was reassured that at least all her vital signs were stable, and
that she didn't appear to have any obvious serious injuries. However, as Ana
was showing no signs of regaining consciousness yet, it was crucially important
for the medical team to assess the extent of her head injuries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana, the darling sweet girl who had wrought
about such a change in my son.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">She looked so young and vulnerable as she lay
there, oblivious to all the scans and tests being carried out on her. I looked
on her as a daughter now; we’d become very close since we’d started meeting up
regularly for lunch. I’d been keeping up a brave front to reassure Christian,
but now I anxiously waited for the results of the tests. I thought it best to
get these first before we contacted Ana’s parents, and then hopefully we might
have some positive news for them to soften the blow about this vicious attack
on her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I scanned through Ana’s medical notes while I
waited. As I read them, I thought I must have picked up the wrong set.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘Husband advises patient is
pregnant. Exact gestation unknown but thought to be in the region of four to
five weeks’.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I double checked, but these were definitely
the correct notes for Mrs. Anastasia Grey. But that meant….<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Pregnant? Ana was <i>pregnant</i>? They
were expecting a baby?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Heather Bartley noticed my shocked
expression.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I take it you didn't know you were going to
be a grandmother?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No… I didn't think a baby was on the cards
for quite a few years, actually.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s very early days, so I expect they only
just found out themselves and wouldn’t have had a chance to tell you yet.
Anyway, you’ll be pleased to know that the results of your daughter-in-law’s
tests are all clear; no major injuries, just a hairline fracture to her skull,
and her ribs are only bruised, not cracked. Although she suffered a major
contusion to her head, thankfully there are no signs of cerebral edema, and her
brain activity is normal. Her vital signs are stable and strong, and there are
no indications of any problems with the pregnancy. She’ll no doubt have one
heck of a headache when she wakes up, and she’s going to feel very bruised and
sore for a while, but she’s young and fit so I see no reason why she shouldn’t
make a full recovery. ”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Thank goodness for that. I’m not sure
how my son would have coped otherwise. They’ve only been married a short while
and are very much in love. He’s very protective of her.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, the fact that he had to be practically
torn from her side was rather a give away,” Heather smiled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I just don’t understand how this could have
happened, because the man who did this to her was meant to be in police
custody, as far as we all knew. But no doubt we’ll get to the bottom of
things once my husband gets involved.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick was in court, so I’d left a message
for him after I received Christian’s call, and I was sure he’d be making
his way over to the hospital just as soon as he could. I also knew he wouldn’t
rest until he found out why this Hyde character had been released on bail, when
he clearly posed such a danger to Ana, having already made a previous attempt
to kidnap her. Carrick had been reluctant at first to fill me in on all the
details about this, but had finally had to open up to explain why our son felt
it necessary to order increased security for all our family. I'd secretly felt
that Christian was overreacting, as he tends to do in these matters, seeing as
Jack Hyde was in custody. Now it had been brought home to me only too vividly
that he had been right to be so worried.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The news about Ana’s pregnancy still
hadn't sunk in. I couldn’t imagine this had been planned, which had
probably freaked my son out because of his strong need to control every aspect
of his life, but at least it was hardly as if having a baby was going to cause
them financial hardship was it? No doubt it had been a shock, but I wondered if
they realized how incredibly lucky they were to have effortlessly conceived a
baby. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Probably not, I decided, because unlike me,
they hadn't experienced the heartache of desperately longing for a baby more
than anything else in the world, but being unable to have this wish fulfilled.
My emotions got the better of me, and I could feel my tears welling at the
thought of holding their new born baby in my arms for the first time, having
never been lucky enough to experience that for myself.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">A baby.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t think of any better news, now that
I knew Ana should make a full recovery from her injuries. As we headed back, I
decided I’d just have to play things by ear to see how Christian was coping
with the prospect of being a father, and do my level best to help him adjust to
this change in their circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian hurried over as soon as he saw us
returning, fear etched all over his beautiful face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “The scan showed no serious problems.
I’ll let Doctor Bartley go through all the details, but Ana should be fine,” I
quickly put him out of his misery. “And Christian, I read her medical notes. So
I know… I know she’s pregnant.”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
By the look of sheer panic that crossed his face, which he tried unsuccessfully
to hide from me, it was obvious that he was not at all happy about this, as I
suspected.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh Christian! I take it this wasn’t a
planned pregnancy?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, it wasn’t. Ana forgot to get her shot.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I see. So no doubt this has come as a bit of
a shock for you both?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You could say that.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But before we could discuss things any
further, Carrick came rushing in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I was in court, so I only just heard. How is
Ana?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Unconscious but stable. The results of her
tests were all positive; no signs of any major problems,” I started to fill him
in, but before I could elaborate any further, he took me to one side.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s wonderful news. But there have been
some other developments that you need to be made aware of, that I was told
about while you were busy with Ana and Christian ….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mia? But how?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">‘It seems that under Hyde’s instructions, his
accomplice abducted Mia as she was leaving her gym earlier today. Hyde then
contacted Ana and demanded five million dollars ransom money, threatening to
harm Mia if she didn't comply with his orders to the letter within the
specified time. He also instructed her that she was to tell no one what she was
doing.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I struggled to make sense of what Carrick was
telling me. I knew he’d given in to Mia’s insistence that she didn't need the
close protection officer that Christian had provided for her, because he’d
thought that Hyde was safely locked away in custody and no longer posed a
threat. Surely whoever stood bail for him must have known he was dangerous?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hyde actually had Mia?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes. The police found her in the derelict
house where he’d been hiding out. She’s been drugged, but she doesn't seem to
have been hurt otherwise - in any case they’re bringing her in for a full
examination to be on the safe side. We can go and meet her now that we know Ana
isn’t too seriously injured.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, of course. But there is something else
you need to know. Carrick, there is the most wonderful news. You are
going to be a grandfather….”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Even in her hazy drug-induced state, my
daughter was livid at what had happened to her, but it seemed that because
she’d been abducted by Jack Hyde’s accomplice, she hadn't actually had much
contact with him before Ana had arrived with the ransom money, and there was no
evidence that she had been harmed by him in any other way. Thankfully, she was
given the all clear to go home, once I promised to closely monitor her until
the drugs had completely worn off. If I hadn't been a doctor, she would have
had to stay in to be monitored, but I pulled strings to get her home, where I
was sure she would recover far more quickly, knowing how much Mia hated
hospitals.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> I felt very torn. I wanted to be
with Christian, to support him while he kept his bedside vigil, as he anxiously
waited for Ana to regain consciousness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don't worry. Once I've got you both settled
in at home, I’ll come back to the hospital and sit with Christian. Maybe by
then Ana will have come round,” Carrick promised.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay, but please tell Christian I’ll return
just as soon as I can. We can take it in turns to watch Mia - by morning the
drug should be pretty much out of her system anyway. I don't want him to
feel we’ve abandoned him in his hour of need,” I worried. “I didn't even get a
chance to talk to him properly about Ana being pregnant, and I could see that
he wasn’t coping very well about it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll talk to him, Grace. It might be better
coming from me - man to man, father to father, that kind of thing. And you
know, now I've gotten over the initial shock at the prospect of becoming a
Grandpa, I think Ana falling pregnant could be the best thing to happen to
Christian. Maybe it’s best the decision to start a family has been taken out of
his hands, because otherwise I don't know if he would ever have felt ready.
A baby will be another step in getting him to open up and embrace his
emotions and feelings, to build on the incredible progress he’s already made
since he met Ana. There’s nothing more powerful than the parenting instinct
once it kicks in, is there?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Have I ever told you that you are a very
wise man, Mr. Grey?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Not often enough, Mrs. Grey.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I made sure both of Ana’s parents were filled
in with all the details about her medical condition following the attack, but I
didn’t break the news about her pregnancy. I felt that should be left for the
young couple to do, when they felt the time was right. A lot of couples prefer
to wait until they’ve had their twelve week scan, because then they know
everything is fine before telling everyone. This was Christian and Ana's
decision to make, not mine.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">When I was sure that Mia was doing well, and
could be safely left under the watchful eye of her father once he’d returned
from sitting with Christian and caught up with some sleep, I hurried back to
the hospital after finding out from Carrick how he was coping.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian has stayed by Ana’s side all
night. I tried to persuade him to go home and get some rest, but he refused to
leave her even for a few minutes. He’s worried that Ana still hasn’t come round
yet. And you were right, he is really freaked out about this pregnancy, even
more than I expected. He doesn't think he has it in him to be a good father, so
I tried to reassure him that everyone feels that way at first. But you know
what he’s like; he has such a negative self image.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know,” I sighed. “I’ll try talking to him
as well, but I think only Ana really stands a chance of getting through to him.
I hope she comes round soon; I have to admit I'm concerned, because I’d have
expected her to have woken up by now. Of course I won't be telling Christian
that.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana was incredibly brave in what she did to
save Mia. She put herself at risk for our family and we owe her so much,”
Carrick said emotionally. “When I think what might have happened, how things
might have turned out…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I know. Ana was foolhardy, especially
in her condition, and yet what else could she do? We have a lot to be thankful
to her for.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> That’s the first thing Christian said
when I walked in, as he looked up from where he sat next to her bed,
holding her hand. He looked dreadful. He clearly hadn't slept, he was unshaven,
and still in the same clothes he’d been wearing from the day before. He’s
always so immaculately groomed, so it shocked me to see him looking so
disheveled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She will, darling. Her body just needs her
to rest right now, to allow her to recover,” I tried to reassure him, secretly
disappointed to see that she was still unconscious as I looked over at her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I just wish… I wish I could turn the clock
back. I behaved so badly when she told me she was pregnant. I said some horrid
things to her.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">He looked tormented, and I really felt for
Ana. I knew only too well what Christian was like when he was in one of his
terrible tempers, and how cruel he could be when he verbally lashed out. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We all say things in the heat of the moment
we don’t mean. I’m sure Ana understands that.” I hoped that was true; I hoped
he hadn't pushed her too far.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I accused her of getting pregnant on
purpose.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Because she didn't keep the appointment for
her contraceptive shot?” Christian nodded. “Well maybe she had other things on
her mind with everything that's happened to the poor girl lately, thanks to
this lunatic man Hyde. And don't forget that her father was very ill in
hospital last week.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian just nodded, not denying that he
had acted badly. I hoped Ana understood her husband well enough by now, to
understand that he acted this way when he was scared and felt out of control.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To me, learning that a baby on the way was
the most welcome news in the world, but to my son, I guessed that an
unplanned pregnancy, this loss of control over such an important aspect of his
life, would be enough to trigger all his old feelings of rage, frustration
and fear brought on by the helplessness he'd felt when he'd had to endure such
terrible abuse in his early childhood. And no doubt poor Ana had borne the
brunt of his wrath.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Christian needed to grow up and face a
few facts. He was a married man with responsibilities. He could no longer act
the wild, unreasonable teenager, throwing a tantrum when things didn't go
exactly as planned. He’d wanted to marry Ana and had willingly committed
himself to everything marriage entailed. He’d promised to support her
through good times and bad, whatever life threw at them, and now he needed to
live up to that promise, to prove they weren't just empty words. He was Ana’s
husband, and now he was going to be a father. It was time to point out a few
home truths to my son.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If Ana is already over five weeks pregnant,
it wouldn't have made any difference even if she had kept her appointment. It
seems to me the shot failed, or at least ran out earlier than it should have
done. These things happen. No contraceptive is completely foolproof, or one
hundred percent reliable.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know. I’d pretty much worked that out for
myself,” he sighed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So surely you talked this through with Ana?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No.”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Why ever not, Christian?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We had a huge row and we weren’t talking.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What do you mean you weren’t talking?” I
stared at him, determined to get to the bottom of things. “What did you do?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian! What did you do?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I was so angry…” I could see that he
was filled with remorse at his actions. At least that was a step in the right
direction. He wasn’t putting all the blame on Ana still.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hey, things can't be that bad, surely?” I
put my arm round his shoulders, pleased to see that he didn't shy away from
this contact.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I stormed off. You know, the way I used to
when I was a teenager?” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I remembered that only too well. He’d
shout and swear and slam doors before he’d disappear to cool off somewhere,
while I worried myself sick until he turned up back at home.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Where did you go?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I tried to go and see John Flynn, to calm
myself down and start making sense of it all, but he wasn't there.
So I just walked and walked, and eventually somehow found myself outside
Elena’s salon. She was just locking up and… well, we ended up going for a drink
together.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian! How could you? After everything…
after what happened at your birthday party?” I was horrified. Elena Lincoln was
the last person I felt my son should have turned to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She said she wanted to apologize, and at
that moment I just thought of her as an old friend I could talk to. But I
didn't talk about me and Ana - well, not about the unplanned pregnancy anyway -
I didn't tell her anything about our personal life. But I did tell her marrying
Ana was the best thing I ever did and that I loved my wife very much indeed. I
even told her Ana wanted a family, so finally she got the message that she had
no place in my life anymore. After we parted ways, she sent a text telling me she
understood and that I’d make a great father. I stayed out, carried on drinking
and ended up blind drunk before going home. Somehow, Ana ended up seeing that
text, and she went ballistic. She thinks I betrayed her by seeing Elena and
that I told her about the baby, even though I didn’t. That’s what the huge
argument was about."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You told me you’d cut all ties.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know. But seeing her finally put it all in
perspective for me. You know… with the child. For the first time I felt… what
we did… it was wrong.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What <i>she</i> did, darling…
Children will do that to you. Make you look at the world in a different light.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She finally got the message… and so did I… I
hurt Ana,” Christian whispered.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We always hurt the ones we love, darling.
You’ll have to tell her you’re sorry. And mean it and give her time.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She said she was leaving me.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Did you believe her?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“At first, yes.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Darling, you always believe the worst of
everyone, including yourself. You always have. Ana loves you very much, and
it’s obvious you love her.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She was mad at me.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m sure she was. I'm pretty mad at you
right now. I think you can only be truly mad at someone you really love.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I thought about it, and she’s shown me over
and over how much she loves me… to the point of putting her own life in danger.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, she has, darling.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, Mom, why won't she wake up? I nearly
lost her.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">All I could see in front of me now was a
scared little boy, so I wrapped him in my arms as he started sobbing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sshh now, everything will be just fine. Ana
will come round soon. Then you two can begin working through this sorry mess
you’ve gotten yourselves into. And you will, because I know you really love
each other. Just learn from your mistakes to turn all this into something
positive.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I couldn’t bear it if she….”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hush now, no more talk like that. You have
everything to look forward to. A whole new wonderful future together, with your
own family.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But I’m scared I won't know how to be a good
father. I'm not ready for this.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course you’re scared, that’s only to be
expected. But just be yourself, Christian, because I know you have so
much love to give. And is anyone ever really ready for a family until it
actually happens? Do you know how lucky you are to have this precious gift of a
baby, regardless of whether it was planned or just a happy accident?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But I wanted to show Ana so much, take her
to so many places. And she’s so young - she’s only just finished college and
started her job. She’s very talented and I think she’s secretly quite
ambitious. We’re both too young.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Biologically speaking, you and Ana are the
perfect ages to have a baby. Believe me, so many couples think they can leave
starting a family until later, only to find they have problems when time is not
on their side. And it is possible to combine a career and raising a family. I
should know, after all,” I smiled at him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I worked part time, job shared, found all
sorts of ways to bring up my family without giving up my career, although I
don’t deny it wasn't always easy balancing the demanding job of being a doctor
with the needs of my family. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“In many ways Ana has a perfect job, because
unlike me, she can work from home to fit around the baby’s schedule. And don’t
forget, you’re going to have grandparents nearby who will be only too happy to
babysit for you, whenever you want to go out. In fact, I think we shall be
insisting on it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks, Mom. I guess you’re right.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And it’s not as if an unplanned pregnancy is
going to cause you any financial hardship, is it? Ana is in the fortunate
position of choosing if she wants to work or not. Either way, your child will
want for nothing.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">To my surprise, Christian had not yet pushed
me away as I continued to hold him in my arms to comfort him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “It’s taken twenty four years for you
to let me hold you like this,” I sighed, as I stroked his lovely soft copper
hair.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know, Mom. You’ve really helped me to put
things a bit more into perspective. I’m glad we talked.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Me too, darling. I'm always here. I can't
believe I'm going to be a grandmother.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I stayed for a while longer, relieved that
Christian seemed a lot calmer, before I returned home.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As I left, I was certain that once Ana woke
up and they could talk things through, their deep love for one another would
see them through this rocky patch in their marriage.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I was over the moon when Carrick received a
call from Christian to say that Ana had finally regained consciousness, that
she seemed fine and was asking for food - always a good sign. I appreciated the
call I received in the morning from Prita Singh, who had taken over from
Heather Bartley, updating me about Ana’s condition and letting me know that she
was being discharged. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian had got his Ana back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On Saturday evening, we headed over to
Christian’s home after another unexpected phone call from our son, asking for
our help in filling in some of the details about what had happened to him
just before we adopted him. He explained that George Welch, his head of
security, had been delving into his background to try and work out why Jack
Hyde had targeted our family, and had unearthed some information that was
unfamiliar to him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I insisted that Mia had to come with us,
because I still didn't want to leave her on her own, even though she appeared
to have made a full recovery. Typically, Mia being Mia, she used the occasion
as an excuse to invite Kate and Elliot along as well, for a family party.
I worried that Ana might find this too much, but she didn't seem to mind
as she smiled and welcomed everyone in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Darling, I’m so glad you called us.” I said,
as I reached up to kiss my son’s cheek . As I touched his arm, I could
literally feel the tension radiating from him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was Ana’s idea. She practically insisted
actually.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I'm glad you listened to her. She’s a
very smart young woman. We’re more than happy to help you fill in any missing
pieces in any way we can,” Carrick smiled at Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">While the other members of our family chatted
and headed off to the kitchen to prepare some food, Christian took us to his
study, and produced some old photos that had been unearthed. One of them
brought tears to my eyes as I looked at it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“My poor boy. You were so skinny and small
for your age, and we were desperate to adopt you as soon as possible, but we
had no option but to comply with the law and wait for two months to make sure
there were no other family members who might have wanted to adopt you,” I
explained. “So we checked out the Colliers - the family you were being
sent to - and were reassured when we found they were very experienced
foster parents. They came highly recommended, and turned out to be very decent
people. I know they did their best to take good care of you while all the
adoption paperwork was going through.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I just find it strange that I have no
recollection at all of that period of my life. Why can't I remember it?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was a very confusing and difficult time
for you, Christian. It’s little wonder that you’ve lost some of the memories. I
just wish more of the painful memories had been blocked instead.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I guess. Can you tell me anything about the
Colliers to see if it jogs some memories?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think Mrs. Collier was a good cook who did
her best to start feeding you up, because you already seemed to have grown by
the time we got you living with us,” Carrick told him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And she tried to get you into a regular
bedtime routine to make you feel more settled and try to prevent the recurring
nightmares you suffered from. I remember her telling me how you loved her
reading to you at bedtime,” I added.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I could see the confused look on Christian's
face as he tried to force the memories to resurface.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Just give it some time, Christian. Maybe
it’ll come back to you; maybe it won't. There’s no point in trying to force
things,” I patted his arm. “So, how is Ana now?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Recovering. Don’t worry, I’m taking some
time off work, so I’ll personally be taking good care of her and making sure she
gets plenty of rest.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And are you talking again now?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah, we are. Still got some things we need
to iron out… but we’re getting there,” Christian smiled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good. Communication is the key here. No
secrets. Be honest and trust Ana, because she has very good instincts. Even if
she was reckless, she was also very brave and we can't thank her enough for
what she did for your sister.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mia seems back to her normal self anyway,”
Christian commented wryly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“She’s mad at Hyde and his accomplice, but I
think that’s perfectly understandable, and quite healthy actually. You know
Mia; never one to bottle things up. She just comes right out with how
she’s feeling. ” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian and Mia are chalk and cheese. He
tells me virtually nothing about how he feels, while she tells me virtually
everything.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I think I’d best go check my wife
isn’t overdoing things. Thanks for coming over anyway.” </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That was our cue to
tell us that Christian had had enough of baring himself to us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’re just delighted that you finally felt
able to ask for our help. And don’t let this missing piece of your past worry
you too much, Christian. Most people can't remember many events from when they
were four years old.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We had a pleasant evening, but I was
determined that we would not outstay our welcome, not wanting Ana to get
overtired, and so I overruled Mia’s protests and insisted that we left at a
relatively early hour, and luckily Kate and Elliot also took the hint. I
knew that Ana and Christian needed some time to themselves;<i> she</i> was
the one that he would open up to, which was what he needed to do in order to
deal with his past and finally be able to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I think it was no surprise to anyone that
Christian’s overprotective nature really came to the fore during Ana’s
pregnancy. Luckily, she positively bloomed and sailed through with no
problems, with every indication that she would give birth to a fine healthy
baby. And she handled Christian’s insecurities about impending fatherhood
in a calm and no nonsense manner that seemed to work really well with him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ve told him he has no choice. He’s going
to be a good father whether he likes it or not, because I won’t let him be
otherwise,” Ana told me with a wink, when I asked how Christian felt as we had
our weekly lunch together one time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You are so good for him, my dear,” I smiled
at her. “He’s never listened to us over the years when we’ve tried to get
through to him, to try and dispel his self doubt. To the rest of the world,
he’s this powerful, confident billionaire who exudes confidence…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But we know differently, don't we?” Ana
smiled back. “I often think of him as a lost boy, rather like Peter Pan.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s it exactly,” I agreed. “Part of
Christian has never grown up. Until now, that is, thanks to you. I can't
believe you actually managed to get him to visit his birth mother’s grave, to
get him to confront his feelings about her. He’s always point blank refused to
discuss anything to do with Ella, just referring to her as ‘the crack whore”,
which I hate.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I hate it too, so I’ve banned him from
calling her that. It was a very emotionally draining trip, I have to admit. It
was so incredibly sad seeing Ella’s headstone, knowing she’d died in such
tragic circumstances. It was such a waste, wasn't it? But at least Christian
finally admitted that he had loved her, just as any little boy loves his mommy.
It’s just a shame that he won’t take the next step and look at that box of her
possessions that you’re holding onto for him. But as Dr. Flynn says, it has to
be his choice; he has to decide when he’s ready to deal with it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, and I'm sure in time he will, with your
support.” I reached over and took my daughter-in-law’s hand. “He is so lucky to
have you.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m the lucky one,” Ana murmured back shyly.
“Even now, I still can’t quite believe that he’s my husband, and that we’re
about to have a baby together.” She rubbed her large bump - she was over seven
months pregnant now.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">They knew the sex of the baby, but had
decided to keep the news to themselves. I really didn't mind what they had. My
mother was certain they were having a boy. She had been delighted, although not
in the least bit surprised, when she'd been told that she was going to be a
great-grandmother.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“What did I tell you? I said we’d be hearing
the pitter patter of little feet within the year, didn't I? I could tell that
young couple were just made for each other and that mother nature would take
care of things sooner rather than later,” she’d announced smugly. “And it’ll be
a boy first, of course, and then a girl next. I just hope I last long enough to
see that.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mother, you are as strong as an ox, and will
most likely outlast us all,” I’d told her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Now I looked at Ana’s face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s all happened rather quickly hasn’t it?
I hope you don't feel too overwhelmed. All I can say is that Carrick and I will
always be here to help you, whenever you need us. You do know that, don't you?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, thank you, Grace. You and Carrick have
both been wonderful.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Thankfully time had largely healed the rift
between Ana and my husband, especially when she saw how tirelessly he worked to
ensure Jack Hyde was brought to trial, convicted, sentenced and then safely
locked away for a very long time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And you know we will be knocking down your
door, begging to be allowed to babysit every chance we get?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana giggled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You may live to regret those words, Grace,
because I think you are probably the only people Christian is ever going to
trust. He’s already told me not to even think about ever asking Kate to
babysit. He still thinks she’s a bad influence over me, just because she
encourages me to speak up for myself.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I can imagine,” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Kate and Christian were both protective
towards Ana, and it had led to a few clashes, which luckily Elliot usually
managed to diffuse in his usual laid back way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But in any case, I think you are more than
capable of speaking up for yourself . You know, Kate's forthright manner has
been very good for Elliot. She is just what he needed to get him to settle
down, because it really was high time he gave up his old playboy lifestyle. I am
really looking forward to their wedding.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, me too. I just hope I’m going to be
able to get into my matron of honor dress,” Ana frowned.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t you worry about trying to lose weight too quickly once you’ve had the baby, or feel under pressure to regain
your figure straight away. It’s far more important to look after yourself and
eat sensibly, especially as you’re planning to breast feed. It takes nine
months to make a baby; it’ll probably take at least that long to get back to
normal again,” I tried to reassure her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know you’re right, Grace. It’s just hard,
because I don’t want to let Kate down, not when she’s got everything planned
out so perfectly. And she is going to look amazing, of course.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I’m sure Kate will look beautiful, as
will you, my dear. And don’t forget, her mother is designing your dress, so she
can simply alter it to accommodate your new figure.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I suppose she can,” Ana smiled back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unlike Ana, who had been happy to let me make
most of the arrangements for her wedding to Christian, Kate had very definite
ideas about exactly what she wanted, and as she had her own mother on hand to
help, I was taking a much more back seat role in this wedding. I didn't
mind; as long as Elliot was happy to go along with how Kate wanted things, that
was all that mattered. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As for Mia and Ethan - they finally seemed to
be working things out between them. Following their trip together to
Aspen, I learned from Ana that Ethan had confided in Christian.
Apparently, they’d had a man to man talk while they were out fishing, and it
transpired that his hesitancy in starting a relationship with Mia was all down
to the fact that he refused to follow his father’s footsteps into Kavanagh
Media, much to Edward Kavanagh’s disapproval.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ethan had his own agenda, and he was
determined to follow a totally different career path. He wanted to become
a psychotherapist, and so had enrolled on a two year Master of
Arts Psychology course, which he was funding himself out of his trust fund.
Until he was qualified, he wouldn't be able to set up his own practice and
start earning a living. He knew that Mia was used to a very affluent and
comfortable lifestyle, and he didn’t think she’d be prepared to wait around for
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But Ethan had underestimated my headstrong daughter.
Mia announced that she didn't care whether he was rich or poor, and that she
didn't see why that should have any relevance if they liked each other. She
insisted that she was not some shallow rich kid, who needed all the wealthy
trappings in order to be happy, but that in any case, she had no doubt that one
day Ethan would be very successful.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Somehow, out of this, they had found a way
forward and were now seeing each other. I liked young Ethan, and the fact that
both Elliot and Christian seemed to approve of him, when they’ve always been so
protective towards their baby sister, certainly went a long way towards putting
my mind at rest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We finally got the phone call we'd been
waiting for from Christian, after anxiously waiting all day for news when we
knew that Ana had been admitted to hospital early that morning in labor. I
resisted the strong urge to go to the hospital and find out what was going on,
telling myself that we had to stand back and leave it to the young couple to
let us know if they needed us there.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s a boy, Mom. We have a beautiful baby
boy,” Christian told me emotionally.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“A boy! How wonderful! And are they both okay
- Ana and the baby?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Congratulations! That’s the best news. You
have a son! We’ve been waiting hours for your big news. ” Carrick chimed in. He
was by my side listening in, with a big grin on his face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sorry about that, but it’s been a really
long day, and Ana ended up having an emergency C-section. She had a hard time
because he’s a big baby - he weighed nearly nine pounds.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But they’re both fine now, after the
emergency C-section?” I asked anxiously.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah, it was touch and go for a while, but
they’re both doing really well now. Ana’s totally exhausted, and she’s all
drugged up with pain killers, so she’s sleeping. ”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, she’ll need lots of rest. So we’ll wait
until you tell us it’s fine for us to come by and visit,” I insisted, even
though I was desperate to see my new grandson.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Actually, Mom, I was hoping maybe you’d come
over, so that you could check a couple of things out for us? It’s not that I
don’t trust Dr. Carter, the neonatologist you recommended, but I’d just
feel a lot happier if I knew you had confirmed that everything is as it should
be with the baby.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course. I’ll come right now if you like,”
I offered without a second's hesitation. I certainly didn't need asking twice,
that was for sure.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Say hello to your grandson. Mom, this
is Theodore Raymond Grey. We’re going to call him Teddy for short,”
Christian said as he proudly handed his new born baby son to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCLNviO9jIQ_JPrjLGURnQHCAKqiGTWrLdMGatao-upuJ9oDqqo20s2SxkrpwKyQIfDt3dyKhrxn96VK71FhLHJt1tsKyhZ91tnQ-z0sqf8272iS17a_CqLPnumcPg0hZ54k3Vhl8W3sP/s1600/TEDDY+HAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtCLNviO9jIQ_JPrjLGURnQHCAKqiGTWrLdMGatao-upuJ9oDqqo20s2SxkrpwKyQIfDt3dyKhrxn96VK71FhLHJt1tsKyhZ91tnQ-z0sqf8272iS17a_CqLPnumcPg0hZ54k3Vhl8W3sP/s320/TEDDY+HAT.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I glanced over to see that Ana was sleeping
soundly, so Christian had had the baby all to himself for a while, which I
thought was a very good thing, as it was giving him a chance to spend some
precious one to one time bonding with his new son. The wondrous look on his face
as he gazed down adoringly at his baby, fast asleep in his arms, told me
everything I needed to know. It was clear that his protective paternal
instincts had already kicked in very powerfully. Despite Christian’s childhood,
it was obvious that there were going to be no issues with him bonding with his
son, and I instinctively knew he was going to be a wonderful father, just as we
had all told him he would be.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course, I made a complete idiot of myself
by bursting into tears as I took my grandson in my arms, forgetting all about
being a doctor, just savoring the moment I became a Granny.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh Christian, he’s beautiful! He’s just
perfect. And I love the name you’ve chosen for him; your grandfather will be
thrilled. I see Teddy has your hair,” I commented on the baby’s mass of dark
copper tinted hair, as I kissed the top of his sweet head. It was the most
wonderful feeling holding this precious, warm, little bundle in my arms, who
carried on sleeping, despite the emotional blubbings of his grandmother.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, he’s a fine boy, isn’t he?” Christian
agreed proudly. “But I’m glad you’re here because there are a couple of things
I’ve noticed that I wanted to check out with you before Ana wakes up,” he
frowned.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh? What’s worrying you?” I pulled myself
together and managed to stop blubbing, now that Christian was asking for my
professional help.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana nursed him for a short while soon after
he was born, but then he fell asleep. The doctor told me not to worry, but
surely he needs to feed more than that to gain adequate nutrition?” Already
Christian was worrying about his son eating properly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“He fed within the
first hour after birth ?” Christian nodded. “Then he’s off to a good start, and
it’s perfectly normal for him to sleep now. Don't worry, he’ll be sure to let
you know when he’s ready for his next feed.”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He certainly has a fine
pair of lungs. I had no idea such a tiny baby could cry that loudly,” he
commented next.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, at the moment crying
is his only way of communicating his needs to you, so he has to
ensure that you can't ignore him,” I smiled, as I gently stroked the soft
smooth skin of the baby’s cheek. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Teddy screwed up his face and stretched
before settling down to sleep again. He was completely adorable and I instantly
fell in love with my gorgeous grandson. I’ve examined hundreds of babies during
the course of my career, but in my eyes, this little boy was the most beautiful
child I had ever seen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And he does this funny
thing when he cries, where his chin kind of wobbles,” Christian worried next.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh yes, it’s really funny
how newborns do that, isn’t it? Don't worry, that’s perfectly normal,” I
assured him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Really? And is he meant to
be all scrunched up like this? I thought once was he was born he’d want to
stretch out more.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“He will, all in good time.
He’s been curled up tightly in the womb for nine months, so now is a period of
adjustment as he gets used to not being so restricted.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“And I noticed that he’s…
well, for a little guy he seems so big… down there. Is that normal, or is he
especially well endowed or something?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t help laughing at
Christian’s expression, which was a mixture of worried concern and masculine
pride.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll give him a full
examination if you want, but a newborn baby boy’s genitals are often a little
enlarged to start with. It’s perfectly normal and nothing to worry about. He’ll
grow into them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, right, that’s good to
know. So you really think he seems okay? Nothing that we should be concerned
about at this stage?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I decided the only way to
put Christian’s mind at rest was to give young Theodore a quick examination, so
I laid him back down in the plastic crib, and then read through the
medical notes, before carrying out my examination. I learned that Dr. Greene
had been seriously concerned that Ana had been hemorrhaging, possibly due to a
detached placenta, hence the emergency C-section. Thank the Lord everything had
turned out so well, although Ana looked pale and exhausted as she slept.
However, I had no doubt that Christian would be taking inordinate care of both
her and the baby over the coming days, weeks and months to ensure she regained
her strength.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“You and Ana have a
perfectly normal, healthy, baby boy, Christian,” I was soon able to confirm Dr.
Carter’s initial examination, Teddy having slept throughout. “More assessments
and checks will be carried out at various stages, but I'm sure your son will
sail through them all. Now, can I have another cuddle with him before I leave?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure, Mom. And tell Dad
we’d love to see him tomorrow.” Carrick had held back from visiting with me,
not wanting to crowd the young couple so soon after the traumatic birth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“He’ll be thrilled to see
this young man. But I should avoid having too many visitors
parading in and out for these first few days; try and keep things tranquil and
low-key so that Ana has a chance to recover. All three of you are going
to need plenty of rest and some quiet bonding time.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No worries on that score, Mom. Don't forget
that I have Taylor and his team to keep unwelcome visitors at bay,” Christian
grinned at me. I knew this was true - I had had to pass through the security
team who were stationed outside the room. They were on full alert because of
the masses of reporters and photographers hanging around, in the hope of
getting an exclusive first shot of Christian Grey’s new baby son.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Does that man ever sleep? I’m sure Gail
hardly ever gets to see him, even if they are married now.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Long hours are all part of the job. Both
Taylor and Gail know that.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Have they settled in okay in their new staff
quarters?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Seem to have done. Haven’t come running to
me with any complaints anyway.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I can't wait to see Theodore in that
beautiful nursery you’ve had installed in your new home. He really is one very
lucky young man, isn’t he?” I held the baby up and kissed his forehead, and
laughed as he sweetly yawned a huge yawn.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don't you think that’s really neat? I
had no idea babies knew how to yawn as soon they were born,” Christian
observed, as he took the baby back from me. I was delighted to see the way he
instinctively tucked the baby up against his chest, with no problems about this
close contact between them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAiNx6ntJoZ9XMvt5s2TX6h-U1ggKXzFm0uJWgTHq_-sgeVP6uAlDX8YgtTsnRnEgC5Qqw66ARloGcnPJ4X78uj6UcWdA4os3kzqPYNDzTZ2cWxUOee4mxp4s4UXl4OqUE9a24TO33Ygz/s1600/chest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAiNx6ntJoZ9XMvt5s2TX6h-U1ggKXzFm0uJWgTHq_-sgeVP6uAlDX8YgtTsnRnEgC5Qqw66ARloGcnPJ4X78uj6UcWdA4os3kzqPYNDzTZ2cWxUOee4mxp4s4UXl4OqUE9a24TO33Ygz/s320/chest.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick was right. This darling baby would be
another powerful catalyst for healing Christian’s emotional wounds, and turning
him into the man he’d always had the potential to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Epilogue ~ Two years
later</span></i></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian and Ana are wonderful parents, as
I always knew they would be.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">At nearly two years old, Theodore Raymond
Grey is the spitting image of his father in every way, except that he has his
mother’s blue eyes rather than his father’s gray ones. He’s a very bright
child, just as his father was, so he can be very demanding, but Ana knows how
to handle him, just as she knows how to handle his father, better than anyone
else.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Sometimes I see Christian watching his son
wistfully, and I wonder if he’s comparing his son’s idyllic upbringing to his
own tormented early years. Ana does her best to prevent Christian from
spoiling their little boy, but I’m confident that however privileged and
affluent an upbringing he has, there will always be firm rules set in place to
guide Teddy, so that he understands the difference between right and wrong.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Most weekends we go over to their house and
babysit our grandson, so that Christian and Ana can go sailing, or gliding, or
whatever they wish to do. It’s easier if we go to their place because of all
the security issues - their house has every possible security measure installed
and then some. It saddens me that this is necessary, but I do my best to ignore
all the horrid implications - that there are people out there who wish harm to
my son and his family.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian still works extremely hard, so I'm
glad to see him and Ana going off and spending some time relaxing together,
while we get to spend time with our grandson.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> The difference now is that Christian’s
priorities have changed. His family comes first, before anything else. I
remember how Ana told me he'd called a halt to a very important meeting and
walked out so that he could rush back home, because she’d let him know that
Teddy had just started taking his first steps.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Luckily, everyone falls over backwards to do
business with my billionaire son, so he gets to call the shots and is allowed
to be as eccentric as he likes. If he wants to go home and see his son because
he’s smiling, or has learned to sit up, or crawl, or is taking his first steps,
then he has. I think it’s wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian is affectionate and demonstrative
with Theodore, as well as having infinite patience with him - I think
because he finds his son completely fascinating. He reads to him, plays
with him, and when Ted was a tiny baby, he didn't turn a hair at changing dirty
diapers, or seem to mind when he got milk burped up all over his eye-wateringly
expensive bespoke suits. He’s most definitely a hands-on father, and I’m really
proud of the way he’s taken to it and adapted, after all his initial self
doubts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I’m delighted that our family is
expanding. We now have a granddaughter as well, because Kate and Elliot
have a beautiful baby girl - Ava - who is just a couple of months old.
Elliot is totally besotted with his daughter, which is so sweet to see. Both my
sons have become terrific fathers, I'm proud to say. And Christian and Ana's
family is expanding - she is six months pregnant with their second baby, as
they decided they didn't want to have a large gap between Teddy and his sibling,
which I think is a very good plan. I feel so very lucky to have my
grandchildren close by and see them so often.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana has managed to successfully combine her
career with motherhood, and Christian has told me that Grey Publishing has gone
from strength to strength, thanks to his wife’s knack of being able to spot a
winning manuscript. She was also very quick to spot the trend for e-readers
such as the Kindle, and she made sure that Grey Publishing was right at the
forefront of this rapidly expanding market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I am still a little sad that although
Christian has made huge strides in dealing with all his childhood issues over
the last couple of years, he has yet to read his birth mother’s diary that he
has now been made aware of, since I told him about the box of his birth
mother’s last few possessions that I’m holding onto for him. We have talked
about it, but Christian still finds it hard to accept the fact that his birth
mother stood by and watched him being abused.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“How could she do that, Mom? If she had cared
for me at all, how could she have let that happen? You and Flynn have both told
me that being a parent should give me a better insight into how hard it must
have been for her on her own, and I get that, I really do. But now that I have
my own child, I find it even harder to comprehend how she could have let her
pimp do those things to me, when I know neither Ana nor I would ever let
anyone treat our son that way, no matter what the circumstances.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">What could I say in Ella’s defense, when in
reality her appalling neglect was indefensible? All I could hope was that one
day, with Ana’s help, he’d feel ready to take this final step and read her
diary to gain an insight into his birth mother's thoughts. Maybe then he'd be
able to lay the last of his childhood demons to rest, by somehow finding it in
his heart to forgive her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I feel he has already taken some of those
steps, by supporting several drug abuse charities of the kind that might have
been able to reach out and help Ella and her son in their time of need. It’s a
start anyway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps one day, I’ll know that </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">Christian,</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;">my beloved
son, has finally felt able to come to terms with all of the many
shades of darkness that have colored his life up to now.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When that day comes, Christian
will be able to spend the rest of his life living happily ever after,
basking in the light that he has discovered, thanks to the power of Ana’s
healing love for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The End</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b>~Author's note~</b></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Thank you for following
Grace's story through to the end. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as
I have enjoyed writing it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So, what to read
next? </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
Due to popular demand, there are now downloadable versions of both 'Meet Fifty Shades' and Grace's blog for you to download if you wish. You will find the
link to these on the tab at the top. If you have enjoyed reading these <b>free</b> blogs,
I would like to suggest that you maybe consider making a small donation to
charity, by way of thanks. Personally, I support any of the Cancer
Research charities, The Alzheimer Society, and <a href="https://www2.smiletrain.org.uk/powerofasmile/donate-now-i/?sctp=ppc&sccm=brand&scvn=google&scsrc=google_search&sckw=smile%20train&s_src=SEARCH_GoogleUK&s_subsrc=Brand&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Brand%20-%20UK&utm_term=smile%20train&gclid=CjwKEAjwwtOsBRDdjZTbvYvTlzcSJADOY0DRnFDk-A_HF8mvsEsvMvjMBynGtUBMdGfouCsdRHHv0BoCqFHw_wcB" target="_blank">Smile Train</a>, which supports children born with cleft lip and/or palate, so a donation to any of these would be wonderful. I thank you for your generosity in
advance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There are also my own
original books, details of which can be found on my author's website:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.gegriffin.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">www.gegriffin.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-48959780344476108912013-04-20T09:00:00.000+01:002016-03-26T11:44:03.085+00:00Chapter 8 - Girl Talk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t wait to see
Christian and Ana to hear all about their extended honeymoon, so I arranged a
welcome home family barbecue for Sunday, the day after they got back from their
honeymoon, and before they went back to work.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d really missed them, and
I had to admit that I was also quite anxious to check that everything had gone
smoothly for the young couple, knowing how challenging Christian can be, how
intense and overwhelming he might be for Anastasia to cope with at times,
especially as they haven’t known each other that long, and she is only a young
girl of twenty one after all.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When they arrived, they
certainly looked tanned and well, although Ana seemed rather preoccupied as
Christian talked about all the places they had visited. Perhaps she was a
little sad at having to come back to the real world after what sounded like a
dream honeymoon.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Listening to them brought
back so many happy memories of our honeymoon, and I wistfully wondered where
all the years had gone. It made me think that now the kids were grown up, maybe
Carrick and I should think about having a second honeymoon in Europe. When I
voiced my thoughts out loud, it was obvious from the look on the boy’s faces
that they clearly thought we were far too ancient to be thinking about such
things. However, I was well aware that it was very easy to become lazy and
complacent, and that you have to work to keep the romance alive in a
marriage, especially after all these years.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then Elliot started talking
to Christian about the renovation work for the new house he’s bought - it always
gladdens my heart to see my two sons both socializing and also collaborating on
projects. Despite their banter and the vast differences in their respective
personalities, it’s obvious they have great respect for each other, and trust
each other’s judgment. I believe Christian has given Elliot some very sound
financial advice to ensure his construction business continues to thrive and
expand, while the various renovation projects that Elliot has handled have
always been completed on time and to his brother’s very exacting
standards. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With Christian’s okay,
Elliot had shown us around the new property while they were away on their
honeymoon. I was thrilled that Christian had acquired what was to all intents
and purposes a <i>family</i> home for them, right here in the
neighborhood. I hoped that it was an indication that one day at least, they
planned to have children. I thought it would make a beautiful home, with a
wonderful view, and was in an ideal location – not too far away from the
grandparents who would be only too willing to do more than their fair share of
babysitting duties when the time eventually came.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Whenever we have a
barbecue, I always let Carrick deal with it, because </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">according to him, it’s 'man’s
work'. So Mia and I were more than happy to leave him to it, while we
concentrated our efforts on preparing all the salads and other accompaniments.
Mind you, at Mia’s suggestion we’d invited young Ethan Kavanagh along too, so
she was rather more distracted than usual. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I could tell that she had
taken a lot of trouble with her appearance to ensure that she looked casually
gorgeous in her tight jeans and skimpy top, and Ethan’s eyes followed her round
the whole time. And yet he still kept his distance from her, which probably
made Mia all the more determined in her efforts to capture his attention. I
couldn’t work out what was going on between them, so I decided I’d have to try
and get to the bottom of things when I got a chance to talk to my daughter
alone at some point.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was hard to take my
husband seriously as he carried out his 'real man' duties at the barbecue,
because he was wearing the chef’s hat and James Bond ‘Licensed to Grill’ apron
that Mia had given him for his last birthday. She’s always teased her father
that he looks very similar to one of the actors who used to play James Bond,
hence her gift of the appropriately themed apron.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I noticed that Ana found it
hard not to giggle every time she looked at the way the silly hat </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">wobbled precariously on his head
as he slaved over the hot barbecue, and I was pleased to see she appeared
to be slightly more relaxed around him. Hopefully, in time, things would
get back to a more comfortable footing between them, which I knew Carrick
desperately hoped for, as he’d never intended to upset his daughter-in-law with
the whole prenup debacle. Poor man, his heart was in the right place and he
meant well, so perhaps he’d learned his lesson to be more tactful around her in
future, although being a typical forthright male, I didn’t hold out too much
hope of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Luckily, the decent weather
held just long enough for us to finish our food before the heavens opened and
it started to rain, sending us all scurrying indoors. As everyone sat around
casually chatting and relaxing in the wonderful way that families do, I saw
Christian heading for the piano. That meant he was either very relaxed and
happy, or troubled and in torment, because I knew these extremes of mood were
when the call of music was greatest for him. I hoped it was the former, but no
doubt his choice of music once he started playing properly rather than
tinkering around would give us the best indication of his mood.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While Christian was
otherwise occupied, I made a point of going over and sitting with Ana. I wanted
to let her to know that although I had no intention of being an overbearing or
interfering mother-in-law, I would always be more than happy to provide a
shoulder for her to lean on, or a sympathetic ear if she needed it, as her own
mother lived so far away.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sounds as if you had a
wonderful time on your honeymoon, my dear. What was your favorite from all
those wonderful places you visited?” I asked, as I smiled warmly at her.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s far too difficult to
single anywhere out, because I loved every place we went to, for all sorts of
different reasons. I’m very lucky, Christian really spoiled me,” she said, her
eyes instantly drawn over to him, as her obvious love shone out.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Did my workaholic son
actually manage to relax and unwind enough to leave work behind him?” I
queried.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, he still worked every
day,” Ana laughed. “Didn’t matter where we were in the world, he still checked
into the office. But that was okay. That’s Christian. I can't expect him to
change the way he is, can I? And he made sure we still did so many wonderful
things that I really didn’t mind if he needed some time to himself to work for
a while each day,” she explained.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Maybe it was also nice to
have a little time for yourself as well?” I gently probed.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana looked slightly
shocked, as yet again her eyes shot over to her new husband.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I suppose, so, yes,” she
quietly admitted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s just that I
understand how very intense and demanding my son can be at times,” I said
quietly, as I looked her straight in the eye, trying to convey that she
could trust me with any concerns or worries she may have, without fear that it
would be taken as a criticism of my son. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, you could say that,”
Ana murmured. “Inevitably we did have a few ups and downs. I guess it takes
some time to get used to being married.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s perfectly natural,
and let me tell you that Carrick and I still have our ups and downs, even after
all these years. So, yes, being married certainly does take some getting used
to, no doubt about that. But I'm sure you’ll both be fine, you’ll get there.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I'm sure we will,”
Ana smiled back at me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, I was wondering, would
you consider doing me a favor?” I asked her next.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course. Anything, just
ask.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Look, I know Christian has
opened up to you about his difficult childhood, and the profound effect it had
on him, and I can’t tell you how delighted I am that he has. But I’m sure that
I don’t need to tell you how hard it is to get any kind of personal
information out of Christian, and I can't help it, silly old woman that I am, I
still worry about him. So what I wondered was, because you've brought about
such a wonderful transformation in him, I would really like it if we could keep
in close contact, maybe meet up for lunch, say once a week? Just the two of us,
so you can reassure this old mother hen about her son. And if there was
anything you felt you needed to know, or to talk through, then I’d be more than
happy, if you felt I might be able to help in any way.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure, I’d really like
that. I’d never want you to feel I’d somehow come between you and your son,
Grace. I know Christian thinks the world of you, that you were his savior who
rescued him,” Ana replied earnestly.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, my dear, you are the
savior, you have rescued him from a lifetime of loneliness and solitude, and
for that, I will never be able to thank you enough,” I said, as I gripped her
hand.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Just then, I realized that
apart from the music playing on the piano, I could hear singing. As I looked
up, I saw that I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. Everyone in the room was
staring in the same direction.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Because it was Christian
who was singing.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘I'll go
wherever you will go,</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Way up high or
down low,</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I'll go
wherever you will go’.</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As soon as he
realized that he had become the center of attention, Christian frowned, then
stopped playing and singing.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Go on. I've never
heard you sing, Christian. Ever,” I whispered as I stared in wonder at my son,
but it seemed the moment had passed for him. He closed the piano lid and walked
away, as Ana went over and joined him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I used to sing to the
children all the time when they were small, which although Christian seemed to
really enjoy, he never once joined in. So, despite the fact that he is a
very gifted musician, I'd never actually heard him sing out loud before.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But now, because of the
wonderful healing love he'd discovered with Anastasia, he’d finally found his
beautiful singing voice. I was certain that his soul would be all the better
for finding this way of allowing his true musical nature to run free.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t help myself. I
was so overcome with emotion that I knew I was about to burst into tears. I
made an excuse about making some tea for everyone and then hastily made my
escape to the kitchen, where Carrick followed me out, having seen my reaction.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Our boy was singing, Cary.
Actually singing out loud,” I blubbed into my hanky. “That shows how happy he
is, how happy Ana has made him.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know, my love. There’s
been such a transformation in him; it’s wonderful to see, isn’t it?” He put his
arms around me and gave me a big hug.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know you think I’m
soppy, but I really think Christian was destined to meet Ana for her to change
his life, because however much love we tried to give him, we could never reach
him the way she has, could we?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, we couldn’t, but it
wasn’t for lack of trying, certainly not on your part, Grace.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Or yours, Carrick. I think
it was even harder for you, because Christian always had such an issue dealing
with male adults because of the abuse he’d suffered. But you never gave up, did
you?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course not. Christian’s
our son. However difficult and challenging he’s been at times, I knew
that he was also extremely vulnerable and unquestionably in need of
strong, unconditional love from us, even if it had to be tough love at times.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But I still feel we must
have got something badly wrong for Christian to have been with… <i>that</i> woman…
for so long, and for us not to have had the slightest inkling. I’m his mother;
I should have sensed something wasn’t right, shouldn’t I?” </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I felt so guilty, to think
what had been going on right under our noses, when we should have been
protecting him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That was unquestionably
down to how manipulative and evil that predatory pedophile bitch Elena Lincoln
was. Pretending to be your friend, all the while taking advantage of your
good nature to allow her to prey on our son’s weaknesses. You couldn’t possibly
have known what she was really like. You mustn't blame yourself, because don't
forget that hindsight is a wonderful thing.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian said that Ana
has always hated Elena. She somehow instinctively sensed that she was pure
evil. That bitch didn't manage to pull the wool over her eyes,” I pointed out.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Perhaps because Ana was
coming from a different place to you, perhaps because Christian told Ana a lot
more than he ever told us. Maybe Ana was better informed to make a more
accurate assessment.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Perhaps. But I'm so
thankful that our daughter-in-law has been such a positive influence to
counteract all the harm that harlot has inflicted on Christian. Thank God for
Ana,” I stated fervently.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Amen to that,” Carrick
agreed.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When Ana arrived for the
lunch date we had arranged for the following week, in a convenient restaurant
not too far from the hospital where I work, she was escorted by a tall
Afro-American female.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARadFS1lqLtesRQI4GORBoyrHzqvNi_he0MBGU9wz8VqImQlfqYiTubqFHECkAOHqR15VpyVP2bM31EYK2_XUO2LD4sFLIJnvfzCiW8X6QlYahif7PCyN7DBNxeyJU8dEIPkNXbz6RS61/s1600/Grace+8+Prescott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARadFS1lqLtesRQI4GORBoyrHzqvNi_he0MBGU9wz8VqImQlfqYiTubqFHECkAOHqR15VpyVP2bM31EYK2_XUO2LD4sFLIJnvfzCiW8X6QlYahif7PCyN7DBNxeyJU8dEIPkNXbz6RS61/s200/Grace+8+Prescott.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">PRESCOTT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Grace, this is Prescott,
my personal CPO. We will also be joined by Sawyer, whom you’ve already met,
once he’s parked the car,” Ana explained, as she sighed. “Sorry to be so
formal, but I get told off if I use their first names. Apparently it’s not very
professional.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ma’am,” Prescott nodded to
me, as she scanned the room and then sat herself down at a table just across
the aisle from us. I knew Carrick had been talking to Christian about
increasing security for all the family, but even so I was surprised that he
felt it necessary for Ana to have two members of his team to escort her. I put
it down to the fact that he clearly felt very protective of his new wife.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“So, have you settled back
in at work after your honeymoon?” I asked, while we both glanced at the menu.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, although it’s hard
after such a long break, and with all the changes at work. But please don't
tell Christian I said that. He’d love nothing better than for me to stay at
home all day and twiddle my thumbs, but I've told him I'd die of boredom,” Ana
whispered, as she glanced over nervously at Prescott as Sawyer walked in and
joined her to sit at their table.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Your secret is safe with
me,” I whispered back as I smiled in sympathy, thinking it must be driving the
poor girl mad having her privacy invaded this way, worried that every word she
said would be reported back to her husband. She was discovering the
negative side of being a billionaire's wife, which balanced out some of the
advantages of being incredibly wealthy.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Once we’d placed our
orders, having both chosen just a light chicken salad, I sat back and spoke
quietly.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, I'm sure you’ve
worked out for yourself why Christian is so overprotective, as he had the good
sense to confide in you about his traumatic childhood.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“As I understand it, he
feels tremendous guilt that he couldn’t protect his birth mother, but he also
experiences conflicting anger and abandonment issues. He had a terrible start
in life, didn’t he? I guess it really is no wonder that he sometimes suffers
from such terrible nightmares.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He still has those?” I
sighed, remembering how he used to wake up screaming in terror night after
night when we first adopted him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, just now and again,
especially if we… if there is any kind of dispute between us. In these
nightmares, all kinds of irrational fears about my safety seem to surface. So
I’m trying to tolerate his over protectiveness to a degree, but I can't deny
that I don't always find it easy. I still need to be me after all.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course you do, my
dear,” I sympathized. Our food arrived, and as we started on our lunch, I
decided I had to broach the subject that was uppermost on my mind.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, I’m sorry to bring
the subject up, but I need to ask if you're aware whether Christian has heard
from <i>that</i> woman again. Because if she is still playing any
kind of mind games with him …”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“As far as I know, he
hasn’t heard from that bitch again. Trust me, Grace, if I found out that she
was trying to wheedle her way back into his life again, I would be the one
giving her another well deserved bitch slapping,” Ana stated with strong
conviction.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You had her number right
from the very beginning, didn't you?” I said admiringly. “Yet I let that
she-devil hide in the very bosom of our family. I let her groom my teenage son
with her sick pedophile ways, right under my nose, for six whole years. What
kind of a mother must you think I am?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think you are a
wonderful, loving mother, who chose to see the good in someone, rather than
believe such evil was possible from someone who purported to be a good friend.
And knowing a bit about Christian’s nature, I'm sure he was pretty much a
closed book, an expert at keeping secrets from everyone, however much you
encouraged him to be open with you. So I know you did the best you could with a
very difficult son, and I know Christian feels very guilty for all the
pain he’s put you through. The whole Elena affair was not your fault Grace.
She’s a very clever and evil manipulative bitch, and I'm just glad she finally
showed her true colors to him. She claimed she wanted to help us, but I just
sensed her motives were anything but helpful, however much Christian initially
defended her.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“So she tried to manipulate
you too?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh yes. Even after
Christian had told her to back off several times, she still kept trying to see
me behind his back, but it misfired on her in the end, because I just kept
forwarding her letters and emails to Christian for him to deal with. And you
can imagine how much he liked her going against his express wishes.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I wish I’d pieced it all
together sooner. I knew she was acting rather bizarrely, but I couldn’t figure
out why she apparently disapproved of Christian’s relationship with you so
strongly. I just dismissed it because I thought it was none of her business,
but now I can see quite clearly that she was jealous of you, because she knew
you were a real threat to her, to her influence over Christian. I’m so very
sorry, Ana. Things should never have been allowed to get to that stage.
Considering Carrick’s a lawyer and I'm a doctor, we should have been able to
see her for what she was a lot sooner than we did.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You can’t go blaming
yourselves, Grace. I hold <i>her</i> totally to blame for the whole
thing. So have you seen her at all?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good God, no! I don’t
think I could be held responsible for my actions if I did. I've taken steps to
ensure our paths will never meet again.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What kind of steps?” Ana
asked curiously.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Let’s just say that she’s
fallen to the very bottom of the social ladder she’s been trying so hard to
climb for so many years. I can guarantee that no one worth knowing will have anything
to do with her from now on.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Really?” A slow smile
spread over Ana’s lovely face. “I'm delighted to hear it. As I told the sick
child molester, I’d like to toss her into the seventh circle of hell and then
walk away smiling, but I suppose being totally socially eviscerated will be a
suitable punishment for someone like her.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Enough talk of that
bitch. Let’s find something else to talk about instead, hmm?” I suggested.
“Now, tell me, have you any clue what on earth is going on between Mia and Kate’s
brother Ethan?”</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And so the subject of
Elena-the-bitch-troll-Lincoln was closed for now, as Ana and I spent some time theorizing about why on earth Ethan and Mia were pussy footing around each
other, before we both headed back to our respective jobs.</span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I don’t own any of
the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They belong to E L James.
I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit. Please refer to the
Legal’s page for further details.<b> This work is not to be copied or
reproduced in any way without permission. </b></span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-76408845603289862602013-03-08T18:00:00.000+00:002016-03-26T11:43:46.185+00:00Chapter 7 - Mother of The Groom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HlOKnW-pXpPOxQfKxsm8jrWLYtBM5dtaTJZlNEm8ejRTHPctUbLX0YrKxWC0RW7wz2AslnxL5cs1CXqGQeGV7nqQVEoI-3Lja48BuX6EaDNm069suwPNSbWp1Pe0L4qhSUOO2B3FeMdr/s1600/mama+grey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HlOKnW-pXpPOxQfKxsm8jrWLYtBM5dtaTJZlNEm8ejRTHPctUbLX0YrKxWC0RW7wz2AslnxL5cs1CXqGQeGV7nqQVEoI-3Lja48BuX6EaDNm069suwPNSbWp1Pe0L4qhSUOO2B3FeMdr/s320/mama+grey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was in
seventh heaven when Christian asked if he and Ana could get married at our
place, but most of my friends thought I was mad to agree to arrange their wedding
within a month. However, the short timescale meant that we simply had to be
decisive and make our choices based on what was actually possible, so I’d say
in some ways it was actually easier than if we had six months or a year.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was
fortuitous that Christian and Ana seemed to know what they wanted. They chose
pale blush pink as their signature color, which I was delighted about, because
I knew from experience that such a soft pretty color, subtly intermingled with
cream and silver, would effortlessly make everything look very beautiful and
elegant. I also knew that this color theme would not present any kind of
problem for the florists, which was perfect as I was planning on having
gorgeous fresh flower arrangements absolutely everywhere.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC33qcvrSapGmwnQFN5E-Zo6J_gYMcb1Vkkh_k7rSc4GDEWyN9Diwnu8kicby-pXn_vHi8pzuCoy0WTqiaByAKg7IfO9Mi2QnlE66307f1R22Jb7N21mj12tYdOnqWxHr9doVOJQ32nUez/s1600/wedding+roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC33qcvrSapGmwnQFN5E-Zo6J_gYMcb1Vkkh_k7rSc4GDEWyN9Diwnu8kicby-pXn_vHi8pzuCoy0WTqiaByAKg7IfO9Mi2QnlE66307f1R22Jb7N21mj12tYdOnqWxHr9doVOJQ32nUez/s320/wedding+roses.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It certainly helped that I
found Ana such an easy to please girl regarding all the arrangements – she
never demanded anything unreasonable or threw any kind of hissy fit about some
minor detail. So it wasn’t anywhere near as difficult to pull together as
people might have supposed, although I don’t deny it was a lot of hard work.
But I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as I still had some annual leave owing
to me, so I managed to get some time off to allow me to throw myself
wholeheartedly into all the arrangements.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick had accepted
that his son’s marriage was going to go ahead with or without his approval, so
rather than be left out and cause a horrid rift, he managed to put all his
doubts and misgivings about them rushing into things to one side, to fully come
on board and help with all the arrangements, much to my relief.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But nevertheless, I still
took the precaution of forbidding him from bringing up the controversial
subject of the prenup again, unless Christian came to him specifically asking
for his advice on the matter, because he just had to accept that this was his
son’s choice.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Carrick managed to comply with this, I think as much as anything
because he hated the fact that Ana had now reverted to calling him Mr. Grey
rather than Carrick, making him feel terribly guilty for unintentionally
hurting shy little Ana’s feelings. But the damage had been done, and he just
had to hope that in time things would right themselves and she would feel more
comfortable with him again.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We were used to organizing
our annual Coping Together fund raising ball, where we catered for a much
larger number of people than would be attending the wedding, as the young
couple had stipulated that only family and close friends were to be invited.
The last fund raiser had only been a few weeks back, so we already knew the
best firm to hire the marquee from and where it would be best to position it.
We also knew the best caterers to employ, and what food would be most suitable,
and as usual I left Carrick in charge of organizing all the drinks as this is
his area of expertise.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My main concern was the
weather. Everything would be so much better if it didn't rain, but inevitably
in Seattle rain is always a strong possibility. So, although we were planning
to hold the wedding outside, Carrick and I had several contingency plans ready
in case we had to move things indoors. In that eventuality, the marquee would
be positioned right next to the house as a virtual extension. It would be a
shame, as our preferred location was the far edge of our grounds, so that we
could have one side of the marquee left open to make the most of the great view
over the ocean, but if it was pouring with rain, there wouldn’t be much of a
view to be admired anyway.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was so proud of the way
our family all pulled together to get everything organized within such a tight
timescale. Mia and Kate were marvelous as they took on the responsibility of
helping Ana with her wedding dress and the bridesmaid’s outfits. I hadn't
appreciated that Kate’s mother, Diane Kavanagh, was a very talented dress
designer who ran her own very successful business, and Kate immediately
contacted her to see if she would agree to create a dress for Ana at such short
notice.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom said she would be
delighted to produce Ana’s wedding dress, and says she already has a design in
mind that she thinks will be perfect for her,” Kate announced when she was
round for supper one evening with Elliot.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “That’s wonderful,
Kate. And is Ana happy with that?” I checked, just wondering if this had
actually been run by her, having discovered that Kate could be rather
domineering at times.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh yes, she’s very happy,
because she gets on great with my mom. She spent part of last summer with us at
my parents’ place. That’s how come she knows Ethan pretty well,” she explained.
“Mom’s also more than happy to design our bridesmaid’s dresses, Mia, so you
must let me know when you’re free to come for some consultations and fittings.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Cool! I love the idea of
our own individually designed dresses,” Mia replied. “Mind you, if it was up to
me, I would have chosen a different color, because I wore a pink dress to the
Masked Ball.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, darling, no one will
remember that, and pink really suits you, so you’ll look lovely,” I reassured
my daughter. “And anyway, it’s Ana’s choice, so you’ll just have to go along
with it.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I don’t know about it
being Ana’s choice, more like Christian’s” Kate muttered to Elliot.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He’s such
a control freak. Do you know, he’s already called my mom on the pretext of
telling her that money is no object so she could go ahead and only use
the very best fabrics, but then acting as if that gave him the right to try and
influence her design for Ana’s dress? Of course she told him where to get off
in no uncertain terms. I mean, since when does the groom get to choose the design
of the bride’s wedding dress?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “So tell me Elliot,
have you been working on your Best Man’s speech?” I queried, wanting to change
the subject as Elliot just shrugged in answer to Kate’s little tirade. From the
times I’d seen how they interacted, I’d already picked up that there seemed to
be a clash of personalities between Kate and Christian, probably because they
were both very protective of Ana in their own individual ways. I just hoped
this would settle down between them, but right now I really didn’t want to sit
and listen to Kate criticizing my son right here in my own home.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure have, Mom. I’ve got
all sorts of great jokes and stories lined up ready - Christian's gonna love
it,” Elliot smirked.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing too risqué or
embarrassing, I hope - I don’t want you upsetting your brother. And don’t
forget Ana’s parents are going to be there, as well as your grandparents.
Perhaps you’d better get your father to read it through beforehand, just to be
sure,” I suggested, knowing my eldest son could be rather juvenile in his sense
of humor.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, trust me, it’ll be
fine. You worry too much, Mom. I just want to make sure it won't be dull or
boring,” he insisted in his usual laid back manner. But I decided in any case I
would be having a word with my husband later, and strongly urging him to read
and censor Elliot’s speech if necessary.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick was absent that
evening because he was meeting up with Christian, Welch, Taylor and the rest of
the security team our son employed, to discuss all the security arrangements
that would be required at our home for the wedding. I think he also wanted to
find out more about the Eurocopter investigation, to discover if they had
worked out exactly why Christian’s helicopter had crashed. Although he'd been
trying to hide it from me, I knew this had really been worrying him, especially
as Christian had told us that he fully intended to start flying his helicopter
again as soon as possible. I didn’t dare let myself dwell on the implications
if it turned out the engine malfunction was not down to a technical fault, so I
buried my head in the sand as I kept myself busy with all the wedding
preparations. But unfortunately security issues kept cropping up.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was through ‘Coping
Together’ that I had gotten to know Reverend Walsh. I had always found him to
be a really lovely man, always so friendly and helpful, so I suggested him to
Christian and Ana as a suitable minister to perform their wedding ceremony, as
they both freely admitted they hadn't got a clue about who to approach. Bruce
Walsh had happily agreed, and had even generously offered to donate his service
fee to ‘Coping Together’. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOCKECYYpxjXYmBaHfDcELOZbFg1CHoeOimZh1iSe54oZh9i9Yxkh_x3juOazQALJwnGaO_Z48I0dPYL1t6t4gV0uT3J-JarU8vEu6mlPRs9DiEuuG2aocSiUSCE9xYTuV2ouBxLbo8S-/s1600/reverend+walsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOCKECYYpxjXYmBaHfDcELOZbFg1CHoeOimZh1iSe54oZh9i9Yxkh_x3juOazQALJwnGaO_Z48I0dPYL1t6t4gV0uT3J-JarU8vEu6mlPRs9DiEuuG2aocSiUSCE9xYTuV2ouBxLbo8S-/s1600/reverend+walsh.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">REVEREND BRUCE WALSH</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So it came as somewhat of a
shock to me when Carrick said I had to hold off getting the wedding invitations
printed, because it was necessary for Reverend Walsh to pass all the detailed
background checks the security team deemed essential, before it could be
confirmed that he would be the officiate performing the ceremony.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Is that really necessary?”
I'd queried.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Just because he’s a man of
the cloth does not mean he’s immune to bribery and corruption, Grace. People
aren’t always what they seem. You read the newspapers, so you’ve read for
yourself how anything is possible with regard to politicians, law officers and
even church ministers. So, sad as it is, I’m afraid I have to agree that the
security team is right to be cautious,” Carrick had insisted. I had the
distinct impression that there was more to this than he was letting on, but I
let it pass. I didn’t want to have to think about such unpleasant matters at
what should be such a happy time in the lead up to our son’s wedding.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Do you know Ana’s parents
very well?” I asked Kate. Ana’s mother Carla, her current husband Bob, and her
ex husband Ray were all coming for the wedding rehearsal the day before
the big event, and for the dinner that we were hosting afterwards. I’d invited
them all to stay with us rather than go to a hotel, but I couldn’t deny that I
was feeling a little anxious about how the two men were going to get along. It
all sounded rather complicated, especially as it turned out that Ana’s mother
had been married a total of four times.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ve met Ray quite a few
times over the years since Ana and I became friends, so I know him pretty well.
He may be Ana’s stepdad, but he’s pretty much the only father she’s ever known,
as her biological father died right after she was born, so she never knew him.
And Ray’s a real sweetie. He doesn’t say much, he’s one of those ex military,
strong, silent types, but I know he thinks the world of Ana and would do
anything for her. I don’t know her mom so well, but I have met her a few times,
and she’s very nice too, even if she seems a bit scatty sometimes. I haven’t
met her latest husband, but Ana seems to think he’s okay, and that her mom is
happy with him,” Kate filled me in.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I hadn't wanted to seem too
inquisitive by asking Ana lots of probing questions, but I couldn’t deny that I
felt much happier now that I had a little more background information. In any
case, as hosts Carrick and I would be doing our utmost to make our future
daughter-in-law’s family feel welcome and included in all the proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I needn’t have worried
myself about Ana’s family, because everyone got on just fine, both at the
rehearsal and the dinner afterwards. Ana’s mother Carla was a vivacious, bubbly
lady and I liked her very much, and her husband Bob was a very amenable and
pleasant man too. Kate was right about Ana’s stepfather Ray – he didn’t say
very much, but I noticed that he watched Ana closely a lot of the time. Of
course Carla and I both got very emotional at the wedding rehearsal, although I
don’t think I was quite as bad as she was, and I dreaded to think what we were
both going to be like at the actual wedding.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh my baby girl,” Carla
kept wailing, as Bob did his best to comfort her. “My beautiful little girl. If
only her father were alive to see her now.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My mother was in her
element, of course, she loved being included and meeting everyone, and my
father was on top form making jokes at her expense. They really were like an
old fashioned double act at times. But at least my mother was very good at
making Carla feel welcome, which I appreciated.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My heart had been bursting
with joy as I'd watched Christian and Ana going through their paces at the
rehearsal, smiling at each other, so happy and so in love. I hadn't had much
opportunity to speak to him other than to run various arrangements by him for
his approval, as my workaholic son had been frantically busy, organizing his
business matters so that they could have an extended honeymoon. I was delighted
that Christian was actually taking a proper vacation, as I couldn’t remember
the last time he had – not since he’d set up his company probably. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And we were touched that
Christian secretly asked our advice about the best places to visit, because he
remembered that Carrick and I had spent our honeymoon in Europe. We were under
strict instructions not to breathe a word about his plans to anyone, especially
Ana of course, because he wanted to surprise her, which was so sweet of him. I
was really happy to see Carrick discussing various art galleries with Christian
that might be worth a visit in the South of France, pleased that they seemed to
be getting on better again. They’ve always had a rather fraught relationship –
Carrick thinking he knows what’s best for our son, Christian rebelling against
him - but I know that doesn't mean they don’t care deeply for each other.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian
insisted all along that he wanted everything for his wedding to be done in the
time honored traditional way. So I reminded him of this when I turned down his
request to stay the night here at Bellevue with Ana, the night before their
wedding, after the rehearsal dinner. I’d not had a problem with them sharing a
room when they’d stayed the night after his birthday party, because ever since
I’d practically walked in on them the first time I’d met Ana, I obviously knew
they slept together, and quite frankly I was so delighted by this turn of
events with the son I’d feared would never have that kind of relationship, that
I was hardly going to insist they slept in separate rooms when they stayed
over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But tradition decrees that
it’s bad luck for the groom to see his bride on the actual wedding day before
the ceremony – he has to wait to see her walking up the aisle to him. I
think this is probably a throwback to the days of arranged marriages, when the
groom hadn’t even met his bride beforehand. The worry for the father who was
trying to marry his daughter off was that the groom might not turn up if he
found out in advance that his bride was hideously ugly, when he’d been told
that she was beautiful. I think that may also be part of the reason why the
bride’s face was covered with a heavy veil too!</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian was not at all
happy about having to leave at the end of the evening, and he lingered in the
hallway talking to Ana, putting off the moment of parting. I nearly quoted some
Shakespeare at them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>‘Good night, good
night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be
morrow’</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But instead Carla and I
just teased them, and practically threw Christian out – he was just going to
have to manage without his darling girl for one night. I knew it would make
that first moment when he saw her walking to him more special, and he would
thank me later. But the dreadful scowl on his face as he left was priceless,
and reminded me of when he was a small boy and couldn’t get his own way.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I knew the forecast for the
day of the wedding was for dry and sunny weather, but I didn’t dare believe it
until I woke on the morning, and threw back the drapes to see a perfectly clear
blue sky.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good lord, are they some
of Christian’s security men I can see out there with Taylor already? There are
so many of them,” I exclaimed as I looked out over the grounds. There appeared
to be at least half a dozen men with him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick came and looked out
of the window over my shoulder.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, they’ll be making
regular sweeps throughout the day, but please don’t draw attention to them,
Grace. Christian doesn’t want Ana worried by their presence, so they’ll be
keeping as low a profile as possible.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Is all this really
necessary? I mean I know the paparazzi have been pursuing them relentlessly
ever since news of the wedding got out, but now that Christian’s agreed to
release some of their wedding photos in return for donations to the charities
he’s nominated for them to choose from, I thought they’d backed off,” I said.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s just a sensible
precaution, that’s all,” he replied rather evasively.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What are you not telling
me, Carrick? This all seems way over the top, because the level of security is
even tighter than it was for the Masked Ball,” I remarked suspiciously. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nothing, nothing, Gracie.
Now come on, I think we need to get a move on, there’s a lot to be done,” he
insisted, so I let the matter drop for now.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The morning passed in a
flurry of hairdressers, beauticians, florists, caterers and also photographers
coming and going. As two very private people who really hated the way nosy
photographers had been trying to invade their space recently, Ana and Christian
had decided that although they obviously wanted lots of beautiful wedding
photos of their special day, they didn’t want the atmosphere ruined by a
photographer dictating to them where to stand and how to act, or holding up the
proceedings in any way while he re-took shots.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So in the end they asked
Ana’s friend José, who was apparently a very talented amateur photographer, to
take as many shots as he could during the course of the day, as well as hiring
a professional photography team recommended by Kate’s mother, who were renowned
for quietly merging in and taking much more natural pictures rather than formal
poses. I was very happy with this arrangement, having been to some weddings
where it almost felt as times as if the intrusive photographer was running the
whole show.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In my opinion, the whole
focus of the day should remain firmly on the couple declaring their love for
each other as they make their vows in front of their friends and family, rather
than worrying about camera angles and great shots. And anyway, Christian and
Anastasia made such a beautiful couple that I was sure any pictures of them
couldn’t fail to be anything less than stunning.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana’s dress had been
delivered to our house the day before by Kate’s mother, under wraps and
practically under armed guard as well. She informed me that in her business,
she had to operate under the most secretive conditions for her clients, as if
pictures of her gown designs were leaked out they could fetch huge sums of
money, which with her husband being head of the mighty Kavanagh Media, she
would be in the know about.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“There have even been
attempts to hack into my computer systems recently, but as my husband has
always strongly advised me to have the very highest level of security
encryption for all the systems at Kavanagh Designs, no one has yet succeeded.”
Diane informed me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Goodness, it sounds as if
you work at Fort Knox rather than in the fashion industry,” I exclaimed.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So far none of us had been
privy to the wedding dress design – so we were all itching to see the creation.
I’d been allowed to see the bridesmaid dresses, but only under strict instruction
not to breathe a word about them to anyone, but they were gorgeous and I knew
both girls were going to look wonderful in them. Mia and Kate had also helped
me to choose my outfit. I’m always looking for any excuse to wear a great big
hat, so naturally I indulged myself for the wedding. But Carrick made me
promise to only wear it for the ceremony as he thought it would be in the way
after that, so I compromised by having a different evening outfit to change
into for later.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick, Elliot and Ray
were all going to be wearing pale pink vests under their tuxedos, while
Christian was wearing a silver vest under his. As part of his best man duties,
Elliot collected Christian in the morning from his apartment and brought him
over to Bellevue, under strict instructions not to let him arrive too
ridiculously early. At least my son was obviously very keen to marry his
sweetheart, with no chance whatsoever that he would fail to turn up, however
much Elliot may have joked about it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I think Elliot was still
rather miffed that he hadn’t been able to persuade his brother to have the
whole Las Vegas bachelor party experience, but I for one was glad, because
these events often end up getting out of hand, especially when copious amounts
of alcohol are involved. But I’d been safe in the knowledge that Christian
would never have agreed to it however hard Elliot tried to twist his arm - he
should know by now that no one can make Christian do anything he doesn’t want
to. I’d just worried that Elliot might have been tempted to go ahead and fly
down to Vegas to party on his behalf anyway, as he’d already drawn young Ethan
Kavanagh into his plans, much to Mia’s displeasure – I think she is definitely
sweet on him, and I also think she probably has a very jealous streak, much
like her brother Christian. So the thought of Ethan at a strippers show would
probably not have pleased her one bit.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d tried to find out from
Mia what the state of play was between her and Ethan, but unusually she refused
to be drawn very much – which is what convinced me that she did like him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure, I like him, Mom. But
he keeps blowing hot and cold, so I don’t know what’s going on, and I’ve
decided I won’t be messed around,” she announced.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But I thought that when
Ethan saw her looking so gorgeous in her lovely bridesmaid dress, he would find
it hard not to be won over, and I was sure that thought was also going through
my daughter’s mind too. I might be biased, but my daughter is a very beautiful
young woman – and one who most surely knows how to work it as well.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> We left the men
to it downstairs, as the women busied themselves with all the required
preparations and beauty procedures upstairs. I saw Ana checking her cell and
smiling, so I knew I didn’t need to tell her when her fiancé had arrived. Franco
the hairdresser had brought two of his assistants to help with everyone’s hair,
but he concentrated on putting Ana’s hair into an elaborate up- do, seeming to
have a very clear idea of exactly what would suit her. I have to say that he
was certainly very talented, because when he’d finished she looked amazing, and
I hugged myself to think of Christian’s face when he saw his stunning bride.
Ana kept looking in the mirror as if she couldn’t quite believe it was her
reflection she could see – I imagined that she hadn’t got dressed up like this
very often in her previous student life.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My mother was lending Ana a
silver filigree hair comb to secure her veil – the same one that she had worn
on her wedding day. I had also worn it for my wedding to Carrick as my
‘something borrowed’, so I was delighted that Ana would now be borrowing it to
carry on the Trevelyan tradition.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think it’s important to
keep the old ways alive,” my mother had declared when she’d taken us upstairs
to her bedroom to get the hair comb and present it to Ana. I’d offered to drive
her over to visit my parents one evening in the week before the wedding when
Christian had been tied up with work, but he’d insisted that Ana’s protection
officer should drive us over - much like Taylor, he was another man of
few words called Sawyer. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At least that gave us girls
more of a chance to chat as we sat in the back of the car together. I’d thought
she’d probably feel more comfortable if I was there to help shield her from my
mother’s rather over exuberant enthusiasm for their wedding, and it was nice
for me to have some one on one time with my future daughter-in-law away from my
protective son. I’d found Ana to be totally delightful as we happily chatted
about all the final wedding arrangements. I decided that I would suggest that
Ana and I should have regular girls' lunch dates when she got back from her
honeymoon, because I was determined to get very close to her. I also suspected
that she might appreciate some support from someone who understood what a
complex character my son could be. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s beautiful, and I'm
really honored that you would allow me to wear it, Mrs. Trevelyan,” Ana had
said sincerely as she took the precious gift, obviously very touched by the
gesture.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think you should call me
Grandma, don’t you? After all, we’re going to be family now. And talking of
families, I really don’t think it’s going to be long before we hear the pitter
patter of tiny feet. You mark my words, this time next year…” my mother had
winked at Ana, who had then proceeded to blush a very deep shade of red.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mother! For goodness sake,
stop embarrassing the poor girl,” I’d reprimanded her.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She really was shameless
about her wish to see some great-grandchildren, and of course secretly I
desperately shared her desire to hold a new born baby of theirs in my arms. But
as they were not even married yet, I told myself to be patient and hope this
was something we had to look forward to in the future.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">In any case I was really
looking forward to seeing Anastasia wearing the hair comb that Mom had lent
her, knowing that it created a unique bond that we three ladies would always
share.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The wedding had been set
for quite early in the day – partly at Christian’s suggestion that it made
sense to fit in with his plans to whisk Ana off for their secret honeymoon, and
partly because my impatient son couldn’t see the point in hanging around
waiting all day to get on with the business of getting married. It was
all right for him; he never had to spend very long on his grooming because he
always looked so very handsome. It was quite another matter for most of the
ladies though.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But finally everyone was
ready, and so we started gathering outside with all the guests. I knew Ray was
nervous about his role in all the proceedings, but Carrick had tried his best
to reassure him that everything had been kept very simple and straight forward,
so there really wasn’t anything that could go too far wrong.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“And Ray, don’t worry about
giving a long drawn out speech at the reception. Just speak from the heart; no
one will think any the less of you if you just keep it short and sweet – in
fact everyone will probably thank you,” Carrick had said to try and put him at
his ease. We both really liked Ray’s quiet, understated personality, and just
wanted him to relax enough to actually enjoy his only daughter’s wedding day.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My heart swelled and nearly
burst with pride as I saw my two wonderful sons waiting at the front with
Reverend Walsh, looking so smart in their wedding outfits.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Nice hat, Mom. Careful you
don’t take someone’s eye out with it,” Elliot joked, as I swatted him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then I looked at Christian.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You look very dashing and
handsome. I’m so proud of you, Christian. Ana’s a very lucky girl,” I whispered
emotionally, as I reached up to caress his cheek.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, Mom. I’m the lucky
one,” he replied, as he kissed my cheek in return.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My darling boy. For so long
I had been so sad, as I thought this day would never come for him, because I’d
assumed he would never marry. Yet here he was, deeply in love and about to be
wed. After everything he had gone through, finally he was learning to open up
his heart and let us love him, because of the healing love he’d found with
Anastasia. I thanked God every day for arranging the chance meeting that had
rescued him from the undoubted pit of loneliness he’d existed in until then,
despite our best efforts.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And I refused to even think
about <i>that </i>woman today and the harm the evil bitch had
inflicted on him. Today was all about new beginnings and looking forward, and I
wasn’t going to let anything or anyone spoil it. I knew Carrick’s conscience
had obliged him to undertake some discrete inquiries to ensure she wasn’t
currently involved in any way with a minor, because he’d never have forgiven
himself if he had allowed an illegal situation involving a pedophile like her
to continue, when he could have intervened to put a stop to it. It disgusted
both of us to learn that the whore was involved with a young man virtually half
her age – Christian’s age more or less – but however distasteful we found it,
he was over the age of consent, so there was nothing illegal in their
relationship.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So now I focused on the
happy event that was about to unfold in front of me. Carla was already crying,
and I had my hanky at the ready, because I could also feel the tears welling.
Carrick looked at me, gripped my hand and smiled, with no need of any words. We
were both remembering the day we made our vows, and despite some inevitable ups
and downs, I’ve never once regretted marrying Carrick, and I knew he felt exactly
the same way about me. We have been truly blessed in our marriage, and our
fervent wish was that Christian and Ana would be equally blessed in theirs.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then we heard the music
start, so everybody stood and looked towards the back, waiting for Ana to make
her entrance on her proud father’s arm. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The music they’d chosen was<b> </b>the
piano and cello rendition of ‘A Thousand Years’ and it was so beautiful and
evocative that the tears I'd been trying to hold back started to flow. And then
we all saw Anastasia, and I heard a collective gasp as she made her way up the
aisle, because she looked so very beautiful in her exquisite wedding dress. It
was a simple fitted, off the shoulder design made from a gorgeous pale ivory
lace , with a matching lace veil flowing behind with the train of her
dress. </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mia
and Kate followed her, both looking so pretty in their pale blush pink dresses,
and I noticed Elliot and Ethan both staring at the girls.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> <i>More weddings to come perhaps?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana looked rather nervous
until the second she locked eyes with Christian, then I saw her smile and
relax. And from that moment on, it was obvious they only had eyes for each
other, which was just as it should be for a young couple about to profess their
love and lifelong commitment to each other. Ray’s hand trembled as he passed
Ana’s hand over to Christian, and I thought how hard it must be for him to be
literally giving his daughter away, especially as he was all on his own with no
partner. I resolved to make sure we didn’t leave him out, that we always
included him in our family gatherings whenever it was possible.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I knew there had been some
sort of controversy about the wedding vows between Christian and Ana, but
whatever had happened, they’d obviously resolved it and the outcome was that
they both expressed the most heartfelt sentiments and said the most beautiful
words to each other. The tears were streaming down my cheeks by now as I tried
to discretely dab them with my hanky, while Carla was practically bawling her
eyes out.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian’s voice was so
sincere as he quietly but confidently spoke out.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I solemnly vow
that I will safeguard and hold dear and deep in my heart our union and you.<br />
<br />
I promise to love you faithfully, forsaking all others, through the good
times and the bad, in sickness or in health, regardless of where life
takes us.<br />
<br />
I will protect you, trust you, and respect you.<br />
<br />
I will share your joys and sorrows and comfort you in times of need.<br />
<br />
I promise to cherish you and uphold your hopes and dreams and keep you
safe at my side.<br />
<br />
All that is mine is now yours.<br />
<br />
I give you my hand, my heart, and my love from this moment on for as long
as we both shall live.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana’s voice was a lot
quieter, but she didn’t falter or hesitate with her vows either.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I give you my
solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, to stand by
your side in good times and in bad, to share your joy as well as your sorrow.<br />
<br />
I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals and dreams,
to honor and respect you, to laugh with you and cry with you, to share my hopes
and dreams with you, and bring you solace in times of need.</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And to cherish
you for as long as we both shall live.”</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I don’t think there was a
dry eye in the house by the time they had exchanged their wedding rings – Carrick
pretended to have something in his eye, of course. Men! What’s wrong with
showing some emotion?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I now pronounce you
husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” Reverend Walsh finally declared with
a big smile.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">They kissed, and then gazed
into each other’s eyes, so very much in love, and I found myself offering up a
little prayer to Ella, sure that she would be looking down on her son at
undoubtedly the happiest moment of his life so far.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And so we moved on to the
reception to celebrate their wedding, and I have to say that everything in the
marquee looked fantastic, even if I do say so myself. The blush pink theme had
worked out beautifully, just as I’d hoped it would. The florists had excelled
themselves, and there were pale pink and ivory roses everywhere, that matched
the roses in Ana’s gorgeous bouquet.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian and Ana both
dutifully circulated round to speak to all their guests, sometimes together,
sometimes apart, but never separated for very long. Then we sat while the food
was served, and I was relieved that it was all excellent – you can never be
sure how things will actually turn out on the day, however much planning goes
into it. Christian ate like a horse because he always does, but I noticed that
Ana just picked at her food - I think she was just too excited to have much of
an appetite.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The speeches passed off
without incident – Ray made a very touching speech about how special and
precious his daughter was to him, but how he felt that in Christian she had
found a worthy partner to share her life with. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course Carla and I ended
up in tears again, and Ana got very emotional too, as she hugged her dad. I was
relieved that Elliot managed to get the balance of his speech just about right,
with a few little jokes at his brother’s expense, but nothing too bad, and
afterwards I saw the two boys have a manhug that involved a lot of back
slapping. I think I might even have heard Christian whisper ‘<i>Thanks Lelliot</i>,”
which was how he used to pronounce his brother’s name when he was a little boy.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After the meal it was time
for some dancing, and again the young couple were very good and made sure they
danced with other people as well as each other. Naturally I made sure I grabbed
a dance with my son.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Happy?” I asked him as I
smiled up at him, knowing it was a rhetorical question.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You have to ask, Mom? I’m
the luckiest man on the planet right now, because of my wonderful new wife,” he
beamed back at me. The pride in his voice as he referred to his <i>wife</i> was
so sweet to hear.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, Ana is a very lovely
girl - I'm so delighted that you two found each other, and I couldn’t be
happier to hand you over to her. But I will always be here for you, and I will
always love you, no matter what, Christian. Never forget that. I will never
stop being your mother, and a mother’s love is unconditional.” I wanted
us to draw a line under the whole business with <i>that</i> woman,
because I didn’t want it to come between us, however hurt I had been by it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks, Mom. That’s means
a lot to me,” he whispered and smiled again. I loved seeing him smile so much,
but even better, as the music came to an end, he gave me a big hug as well, and
I was thrilled. I loved seeing my son so happy and relaxed in this way.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While I had been dancing
with Christian, Carrick had been dancing with Ana, and I knew he was trying his
best to put her at her ease and smooth things over between them again. I
fervently hoped he would succeed, because this girl was part of our family now.
I had faith that Ana would see how sincere my husband was in his wish to make
her feel that he regarded her as his new daughter. I suppose we just had to
give it time – everything had happened so quickly after all.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally the young couple
announced that they were leaving – I think a joint effort from the grandparents
to coerce them into starting a family right away proved to be the final straw
for Christian’s tolerance, and understandably he wanted to have Ana all to
himself. Unusually, Ana remained in her wedding dress as they prepared to
leave.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian doesn’t want me
to,” she just shrugged at her mother and Kate when they queried why she wasn’t
changing into her going away outfit as had been planned. Kate muttered
something about her not promising to obey Christian, but I thought it was
lovely that Ana wanted to please him, rather than conforming to what her friend
thought she should do. It was <i>their</i> wedding day after all,
which I felt Kate needed to remember.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My son hadn't been able
take his eyes off Ana in her wonderful dress, so it was obvious that he liked it
very much indeed. I’d noticed that under the top layer of lace, the dress
beneath was made of beautiful silk. I remembered how, as a boy, he’d always
loved touching and feeling silky fabrics, although I’d always been careful not
to draw attention to this for fear of making him self-conscious about it, if I
saw him touching one of my silk scarves for example. I also remembered
how when we first adopted Christian, he used to suck his thumb as he fingered the
silky edge of his comforter blanket – his blankie. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So if he wanted Ana to
remain in her silk gown, if he wanted to have the pleasure of holding her and
touching her while she was wearing his favorite fabric, then I thought that was
an excellent reason for her to continue to wear her dress for as long as
possible on their wedding day, and I was glad that she was happy to do this for
him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So finally we had to let
the young couple leave for their honeymoon, but not before all the guests had
been gathered up to make a human arch for them to go through, as we showered
them with rice. As was traditional, Ana tossed her bouquet, and Mia suddenly
appeared from nowhere to catch it, effortlessly beating all the other
contenders.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Tradition
dictates that whoever catches the bouquet is going to be the next bride, but
somehow I doubted that would be my daughter, even though I suspected she was
pretty keen on Ethan Kavanagh. Whatever was going on between those two, I’d
seen the looks they’d been exchanging all day, even if they had been keeping
their distance. But if I had to put my money on who was most likely to get
married next, I’d have to say it would Elliot and Kate. She seemed to have
tamed my erstwhile playboy son, and they were very loved up. Perhaps the services
of Diane Kavanagh would be called upon to design another wedding dress in the
near future?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I pushed these musings to
the back of my mind, and concentrated on making my farewells. Then the happy
couple had gone, as Taylor drove them away, headed for the airport and the trip
of a lifetime.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-76858813245344435012013-01-25T06:00:00.000+00:002016-03-26T11:43:23.309+00:00Chapter 6 - The Devil Incarnate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Despite the late hour when
we got back from Christian’s apartment, Carrick and I lay in bed together
unable to get to sleep, as we both struggled to unwind after the most agonizing
day of our lives.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I couldn’t believe my eyes
when I saw Christian walk in tonight. I was so relieved. I was so scared. I
really thought…” I whispered, as I gripped his hand.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know, darling. It didn’t
look good, did it?” Carrick replied as he squeezed my hand back. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But it seems
our son can actually fly that helicopter of his. He must be some pilot. How he
managed to get it down safely when both engines failed, I just don't know. Both
engines, for crying out loud!”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, of course, and I know
you want to get to the bottom of that, but it’s just going to have to wait for
now, isn’t it? But that’s Christian. Of course he's a good pilot, because
anything he does, he has to excel at.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, which is why I still
don't understand why he didn’t complete his degree at Harvard, especially after
the lengths we went to in order to secure him a place when it was so difficult
to get in. And it wasn’t as if he was struggling academically was it? But now
he has to carry the stigma of being a drop out for the rest of his life.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh please let it go, Cary!
That’s all water under the bridge now, and I hardly think anyone would judge
our billionaire hot shot entrepreneur son a failure these days, would they?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, I guess not,” he
sighed. “It just seems such a shame, when he was so close to finishing. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Even
Elliot managed to complete his Environmental Sciences and Engineering course to
come out with a decent degree, when between you and me, he was the one I always
thought might end up dropping out.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I guess it just goes to
show you never can predict how things will turn out. I mean, look at the way we
saw Christian behaving with Anastasia tonight. None of us would ever have
believed the day would come when we would get to see him quite happily sitting
there with his sweet lovely girlfriend cuddled up on his lap.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, it was a joy to see,
wasn’t it? They certainly seem very close – very close indeed. Which makes me
wonder. You know how impulsive he can be, and seeing as this is Christian’s
first sexual encounter, do you think perhaps one of us should have a word with
him, Grace? Perhaps we should make sure they’re being careful, not getting
carried away or taking risks?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, Cary! Don't you dare
say anything! I know Christian would be horrified if either of us were to try
and interfere in that way. We just have to trust him. He might be sexually
inexperienced, but he’s a very responsible and sensible young man. I know he’s
spoken to Elliot several times about practicing safe sex because he was worried
about his brother’s somewhat relaxed morals regarding girls. That’s why I think
Kate is very good for Elliot. She’s clearly a strong minded young woman, and
there’s little doubt she won’t stand for any nonsense from him, which is
precisely what he needs,” I insisted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The last thing I wanted was
another falling out between Christian and his father, however well-meaning
Carrick’s intentions were.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I suppose you’re right,
Gracie,” Carrick sighed. “It’s just so hard letting go, and accepting they’re
adults. You think it’ll get easier as they get older but it doesn’t, does it?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know, darling. But did
you see the way Christian hugged me, I mean actually properly hugged me
tonight? It felt so wonderful, especially after I thought I’d lost my darling
boy. He actually let me hold him close. I feel we’ve turned a huge corner with
him, and I'm certain it’s all down to Anastasia. That’s why I really want to
make her feel part of our family, and why I don't want you upsetting the
applecart in any way.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay, message received
loud and clear. I'll do my best to refrain from giving our son the benefit of
my wisdom. Now, I really think we need to try and get some sleep, as I gather
Mia has quite a birthday party planned for Christian.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, you’re right. I do
hope she hasn’t gone overboard, you know how Christian hates any kind of fuss
about his birthday. He usually just about tolerates a quiet family meal.
I did try to prevent her from going too mad, but you know how determined
Mia can be. Perhaps I ought to warn him, I’d hate there to be any kind of an
upset,” I fretted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Maybe speak to him just
before he’s due to leave. That way it’ll be too late for him to make an excuse
to back out, but at least he’ll still be forewarned and prepared,” Carrick
advised.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I think that might be
best. Well, good night my darling. I'm just so happy and thankful we got our
boy back safe and sound.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Me too. Good night,
Grace.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> ***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Luckily, most of the party
preparations were already well in hand, so the fact that we were rather later
than usual in getting up in the morning didn’t impact on things too much. Mia
had put the catering experience she’d gained in Paris to good use to help me
plan out a wonderful buffet, which we decided, after much deliberation, to
serve informally in the kitchen. Gretchen had enthusiastically offered to come
in and help when she heard we were celebrating Christian’s birthday.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“So that means <i>he’ll </i>actually
be here then?” she’d beamed excitedly. Clearly she had a crush on my son, like
most of the females he came into contact with.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Another female who also had
a crush on my very handsome son was Mia’s friend Lily, who managed to inveigle
an invitation on the somewhat dubious grounds of being Mia’s best friend. But
as Mia had organized this party, I supposed she was entitled to have her best
friend attend if she wanted. Somehow my daughter had managed to get hold of all
sorts of Christian’s closest associates – I wouldn’t really call them friends
as such. Christian didn't really have friends. Sad but true.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But my parents would not be
attending. All the stress and worry yesterday when Christian was missing, along
with a late night, had brought on one of my father’s angina attacks, and so
reluctantly they had taken my advice to stay at home to rest.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’ll take lots of photos
to show you,” I promised.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Make sure you do, and tell
both the boys to bring their girls over to visit real soon,” my mother
insisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian’s acting all
weird,” Mia pronounced at lunch time.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What do you mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He’s
just rung because he wants me to let a florist into the boathouse for him. He’s
got some sort of a surprise lined up for Ana, apparently. In the boathouse, for
goodness sake! I mean can you imagine anywhere less romantic? I tried to suggest
somewhere way more suitable, but he wouldn’t listen.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I should just go along
with whatever your brother asked you to do, my dear. It’s usually the best way
with Christian,” I smiled at her.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At least it sounded as if
Christian fully intended to show up tonight with Anastasia, so that was
promising. Even so, over the years I’ve learnt to always tread very carefully
with my son, so I decided it would still be best to warn him about the party.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I called his
cell just before I judged they were probably about to leave, or maybe even on
their way to Bellevue.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hi, darling.
How are you feeling today? Fully recovered from your ordeal yesterday?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m fine, Mom.
Really. Look, I was going to talk to you later, but seeing as you’ve rung, I
wanted to ask a favor?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Sure,
anything. How can I help?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Can you
recommend a top Orthopedic Surgeon? I mean the best there is, in Seattle or
Portland?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well yes, as a
matter of fact I can. I trained with David Archer, who is now the top
Orthopedic Surgeon at the Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. He’d certainly
be who I’d recommend. Why are you asking?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Dan McAllister, the truck driver who
gave us a ride back yesterday. He told us his wife is in constant pain because
she needs an urgent hip replacement, but their insurance doesn't cover it. I
was hoping maybe you could…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Give me all
her details when you come over, Christian. I’ll speak to David personally and
get her an urgent consult,” I immediately insisted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks, Mom. I
thought you’d be able to help. And just tell your doctor friend to bill me
direct. No need for McAllister to be involved,” he said.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This was so
typical of Christian. Quietly helping others with no fuss. I was very proud of
him, and only too willing to step in.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, Christian,
your father and I will take care of this. Anyone who helps our family the way
that truck driver did, most certainly deserves our help in return. It’s the
least we can do. And once I've explained to David all the circumstances, I'm
sure he’ll go out of his way to make sure this lady receives the full gold star
treatment.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There's an
etiquette in the medical profession. Speaking directly</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> to another medical professional to personally request
their assistance, means a patient is to be treated as a VIP. We don't need to
spell it out, it's just an accepted unwritten rule. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’d be
perfect. Thanks, Mom. Now, was there anything in particular you were ringing
for? Only we were just about to leave.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I just
wanted to warn you that your sister has excelled herself in organizing a party
for you, rather than the quiet dinner you’re probably expecting. But I don't
want you to worry, because they are all friends of yours,” I explained,
crossing my fingers that he wouldn’t react adversely.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But he really
surprised me by how well he took the news.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s cool,
Mom. Actually, I'm pleased they’ll all be there, because I’ll be making an
announcement,” he told me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Really? An
announcement? What kind of an announcement?” I asked curiously.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ve asked Ana
to marry me, and she has said yes. I asked Ray, her stepfather, for his permission,
and he has given it. So tonight I will be announcing our engagement.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I nearly
dropped the phone in my excitement.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“<i>CHRISTIAN! </i>That’s
wonderful news. You and Ana, getting engaged! Oh I’m so happy for you both,
darling.” </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This was
perfect news as far as I was concerned, even if it had come out of the blue,
and even if they hadn’t known each other that long. I just knew they were right
for each other, and it was hardly as if they needed to wait while they saved
up, was it?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Thanks, Mom.
Just keep it to yourself for now. I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise for
everyone.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Well, of course
I had to share the news with Carrick. How could I possible keep it secret from
him when I had such a huge soppy smile plastered all over my face, and I was
bouncing up and down with glee as if I was Mia? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, that’s great… but you don't think
they’re rushing into things just a little bit?” my cautious husband worried.
“Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly approve of Ana, but isn't this just another
case of Christian being impulsive? Maybe a knee jerk reaction to his relief at
cheating death? She is his first girlfriend after all, and they’ve only known
each other for a few weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh don't be so
unromantic, Cary! They’re head over heels in love, they’re perfect for each
other, and Ana has already worked wonders with him in these few short weeks.
They’re getting engaged, showing the world they’re serious about each other.
Just be happy for our son. You can’t deny you’ve seen the change in Christian
for yourself, haven’t you?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course I have. So yes,
I can be happy for them. And getting engaged isn’t the same thing as getting
married, is it? In a year or two, it’ll be the perfect time for them to set a
date.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So it was going to be a
triple celebration. A birthday, a safe return, and now an engagement as well. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As planned, most of the
guests arrived before Christian, so that they would all be there to welcome
him, but they were unaware that there was also going to be a special </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">announcement. I had to try my best to contain my excitement so as not to spoil
the surprise, but Mia still kept giving me odd looks. My daughter knows me very
well.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick and I were very
pleased that John Flynn was able to come to the party, this time accompanied by
his wife, Rhian. I liked her very much indeed, and we chatted for quite a while
about her two little boys, who sounded delightful and clearly kept her very
busy.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I hadn’t had much chance to
catch up with Elliot since he and Kate had returned from their vacation in
Barbados, where they'd both picked up a nice healthy tan. Kate looked stunning
in a gorgeous red dress, and Elliot couldn’t take his eyes off her. So now both
my sons were head over heels in love it seemed. Two very different girls, but
both perfect in their own way for my two very different boys. But Kate seemed
on edge for some reason as we waited for Christian and Ana to arrive, although
I had no idea why. I wondered if perhaps she and Elliot had had some sort of a
lovers tiff.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Elena made her way over to
me to have a few words, looking divinely elegant as usual in a close fitting
black silk dress.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Grace, darling, so lovely
to see you,” she smiled, as she air kissed my cheek. “You must have been so
relieved yesterday when you found out Christian was safe. I know I certainly
was.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You have no idea, Elena.
It was the worst day of our lives when we thought… anyway, enough of all that.
He’s safe and well, and very happy with Anastasia.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Elena’s smile seemed to
freeze a little.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, he’s still with her,
is he? I’d have thought that would have all blown over by now. She really
doesn’t seem his type to me,” Elena stated, as she took a sip of her drink.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But before I could pick her
up on what she could possibly mean, Carrick pulled me to one side.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian and Ana have
arrived,” he whispered, “But I don't know what’s going on, because before we
even made it here to the living room, they were accosted by Kate and dragged
off into the dining room for some sort of a private discussion. She literally
slammed the door in my face, Grace!”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What on earth is going on?
Maybe Kate's found out about the engagement and is annoyed that Ana didn't tell
her first. They are best friends after all. I can't think what else it could
be, can you?” I worried. This was the last thing we needed.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Look, we’ll give them a
few minutes, and if they haven’t reappeared, I’ll pop my head round the door to
see what’s going on,” I suggested. “It’s probably nothing, just girl talk.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So when they still hadn’t
appeared after a few minutes, I tentatively knocked on the door and poked my
head round.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Everything okay, darling?”
I asked Christian. I couldn’t help noticing that he looked less than happy.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Everything’s fine, Mrs.
Grey,” Kate said quickly, as she glanced at Ana rather guiltily.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Fine, Mom,” Christian
confirmed. Well, whatever it was, it seemed to have blown over.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good. Then you won’t mind
if I give my son a birthday hug,” I beamed at him. And once again, Christian
gave me a wonderful big hug, which I savored every second of as I closed my
eyes in sheer bliss. So yesterday wasn’t a one off fluke, because
Christian was hugging me again, and I was reassured that everything really was
fine.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Happy birthday, darling.
I'm so glad you’re still with us,” I whispered.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Yesterday I’d feared we
would never celebrate another birthday with him, but now he was safely
returned, and we had even more good news to celebrate. Christian and Ana were
getting <i>engaged</i>.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom, I’m fine,” Christian
said, as he gave me one of his rare wonderful smiles. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m so happy for you.” I
caressed his beautiful face, and he didn’t even flinch as he grinned back at
me. <i>Thank you for bringing about this change, dearest Anastasia.</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, kids, if you’ve all
finished your tête-à-tête, there’s a throng of people here to check you really
are in one piece, Christian, and to wish you a happy birthday,” I prompted
them.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ll be right there,” he
promised.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I glanced over at Kate and
Ana, but all seemed well. So I couldn’t help myself, I gave Ana a special
wink as I left the room. <i>My future daughter-in- law.</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Back in the living room, I
noticed that although Elena had been talking to Elliot, she made a bee line
straight for Christian as soon as he and Ana finally made their entrance. She
kissed Christian on both cheeks and even hugged him, but ignored Ana, which really
irritated the hell out of me. And how
come she was getting so close and personal with Christian? </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Hugging him, when I’d
only just been granted that privilege myself?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What concern was
Christian’s relationship to her anyway? She was only here at his party because
a few days back, she’d rung to ask what we had planned for his birthday, and
then it had seemed rude not to include her. She’d also rung me yesterday when
Christian was missing, trying to find out what was going on, but I'm afraid I’d
cut her rather short as I didn’t feel like talking to her, plus I’d wanted to
keep my cell free, just in case Christian had called. Then it went clean out of
my mind to let her know he’d got back safely, but she must have heard all about
it on the news anyhow.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally I saw her
acknowledge Ana, but her smile was so false that I wondered what exactly her
problem was. Why was Elena so set against Ana, when it was so obvious how happy
she made Christian?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then Christian called for
everyone’s attention, and I hugged myself in anticipation of the wonderful news
our son was about to announce, as I held Carrick’s hand and smiled happily at
him. Even he looked relaxed and happy, having pushed his doubts to one side.
Lord but that man worries about his kids, and I love him all the more for it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“… Miss Anastasia Rose
Steele has consented to be my wife, and I’d like you to be the first to know,”
Christian ended his short speech. And he looked so proud and so happy, that I
thought my heart would burst with joy to see our boy so happily in love.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I looked round at
everyone’s reaction. Elliot whooped, put his fingers in his mouth to whistle
loudly and then applauded. Mia squealed and clapped her hands in delight as she
jumped up and down. Kate smiled broadly and applauded. Everyone seemed happy
for the young couple.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Except young Lily, of
course, and Gretchen, both of whom turned virtually green with envy as they
looked at Ana. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And then I noticed that
Elena had virtually the same look on her face, as she gaped open mouthed at the
happy couple. Perhaps it was because her own marriage had ended so
acrimoniously that she found it hard to be happy for a young couple just about
to set out on their matrimonial pathway, but if that was the case I thought it
very mean spirited of her. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I went over to give Ana a
big hug and kiss, determined that she should be in no doubt about how thrilled
I was about this news. Carrick did the same, even sneaking a quick hug with
Christian.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, Ana – I am so
delighted you're going to be family. The change in Christian… He’s… happy. I am
so thankful to you,” I found myself gushing, making Ana blush deeply. But she
looked very happy.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mia wanted to know all the
details about their wedding plans, which clearly they hadn’t even gotten around
to discussing themselves yet, and I could see Christian getting irritated as he
threatened to fly to Vegas. Over my dead body! I would certainly be ensuring
they had a beautiful wedding, not some rush job in a tacky Vegas chapel. I
thought Christian was just joking – I hoped so anyhow.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Way to go, bro,” Elliot
said, as he clapped his brother on the back, genuinely happy for him.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I
heard Elliot whisper in Kate's brother Ethan’s ear as he smirked suggestively.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Hey
dude, hope you’re up for the bachelor party of the decade. I just happen to
have the number of a contact who can arrange our very own private strip
show."<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Ethan
just nodded his head approvingly as he grinned back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian and Ana spent
some time circulating in order to speak to everyone, and I was happy to note
that my son seemed perfectly at ease, because all the guests were people he
trusted and felt comfortable with. Mia had done very well, despite my initial
doubts.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Just as I was announcing
that dinner was being served in the kitchen, I noticed Mia disappearing with
Ana into the dining room, along with a couple of Carrick's lemon martinis. He
loves making up these recipes and trying them out on these occasions, but
personally I prefer champagne.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then I remembered Mia
mentioning something about Christian wanting her to distract Ana so that he
could go and check out his surprise that the florists had been working on in
the boathouse. I hadn’t seen what they’d been doing, as Carrick had said it was
okay for them to drive their van right up to the boathouse. So once Mia had let
them in, we just left them to it, especially as we had so much else to get
ready in the house.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When neither Christian, Ana
nor Mia appeared for the food we’d spent ages slaving over, I was slightly
annoyed, so I went looking for them, heading for the dining room where I’d last
seen the girls. But I was shocked and perturbed to hear angry raised voices
coming from in there, and I was thankful that the rest of the guests were all
in the kitchen, busily helping themselves to the buffet.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As I got closer, I realized
with horror that one of the voices I could hear was Christian’s. Surely he
wasn’t angry with Mia or Ana? I stood and listened for a moment, to try and
work out what was going on.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I taught you everything
you know, everything you need,” I heard a female arrogantly declaring. <i>Elena?</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You
taught me how to fuck, Elena. But it’s empty, like you. No wonder Linc left.
You never once held me. You never said you loved me.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Love is for
fools, Christian.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She taught him
everything? Christian had been having an affair with Elena? That <i>whore</i> had
been seducing my son?</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A surge of
white hot fury raged through me, and I didn’t even think about what I was
doing. I just wanted that… that… <i>slut</i> gone.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“GET OUT OF MY
HOUSE.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian,
Elena, and Ana all turned to look at me as I stood in the doorway. Ana was as
white as a sheet, Christian appeared to be virtually incandescent with rage,
and Elena had something dripping from her face. From the empty glass in Ana’s
hand, I deduced it was probably one of Carrick’s cocktails. <i>Good girl,
Ana</i></span><i style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 150%;">.</span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU-Q-wDz9ZiwNvThJiiSwFDrb5ohXVKC5hbez3JPEamPfiVjznTuYEsTFUo1QBta6qFe_zd8VlTLJAcHZ0lOwnX8JK0EhBXKRbmLdWOCAGfSEiaeuX6M_ozg7Lrr-bzoVBdwLq1b63mId/s1600/drink+in+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU-Q-wDz9ZiwNvThJiiSwFDrb5ohXVKC5hbez3JPEamPfiVjznTuYEsTFUo1QBta6qFe_zd8VlTLJAcHZ0lOwnX8JK0EhBXKRbmLdWOCAGfSEiaeuX6M_ozg7Lrr-bzoVBdwLq1b63mId/s1600/drink+in+face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I have never been so angry in all my
life as I marched across the room to confront that bitch from hell.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I slapped her
as hard as I could, really hard, right across her face. The sound of it
resonated loudly round the room.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztewxeCyH82MBcWoja1IbRqamwySbildeuV8q88sOQsg5-Od82Gxg8bT9Tt7sYV97rGO9sb8go8mu2gouq9_ks6PjtZ2Auni-wj24cVTudgVjoYvZpB-ihde7mZ7lQok9gJaDBOyMdZp1/s1600/C51+BITCH+SLAP.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztewxeCyH82MBcWoja1IbRqamwySbildeuV8q88sOQsg5-Od82Gxg8bT9Tt7sYV97rGO9sb8go8mu2gouq9_ks6PjtZ2Auni-wj24cVTudgVjoYvZpB-ihde7mZ7lQok9gJaDBOyMdZp1/s1600/C51+BITCH+SLAP.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And I thought
that was really quite restrained of me under the circumstances. I wanted to
slap her repeatedly, pull her hair out and kick her boney ass. But I didn’t.
Just one hard slap was all I dealt her. But the thought of that evil woman…
with my son… her teaching him… touching him in that way… ‘</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">You taught me how
to fuck, Elena’</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">… I felt physically sick.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I saw her hand
possessively touching Christian’s sleeve. How <i>dare </i>she
contaminate him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Take your
filthy paws off my son, you whore, and get out of my house – now!” I spat at
her.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At first Elena just stood there blinking,
until she collected herself and hurried from the room clutching her cheek,
which was glowing bright red from my slap. I realized my hand was really
smarting and throbbing from where I’d hit her so hard, but it was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But now that
Elena had gone, I needed to find out just exactly what had been going on – from
my son.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, before I
hand him over to you, would you mind giving me a minute or two alone with my
son?” I said quietly, just about managing to keep my temper under control,
although I could feel my hands were shaking with rage.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course,”
Ana whispered, then hurriedly made her escape from the room, as Christian's
eyes followed her longingly. But he had to remain behind to face the music.
There would be no escaping from me until I had some answers about the shocking
revelation I had just stumbled across.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“How long,
Christian?” I asked. <i>How could I have not seen this?</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was a long
time ago,” he replied evasively.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What did that
mean? How long ago? Six months? A year?</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“How old were
you?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Like I said,
it was all a long time ago.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Oh no, you
don’t. Don’t think you can fob me off. Not this time, not about this.</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Tell me. How
old were you when this all started?” <i>How young did Elena like her toy
boys to be?</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian
realized I was not going to give up until I got to the bottom of things, so he
resigned himself to his fate as he took a deep breath.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Fifteen.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Fifteen!</span></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was shocked to my very core. This was
far, far worse than I’d initially thought. Elena had seduced my son when
he was still a child? He’d only been fifteen? He’d been a minor? She had known
he was under the legal age of consent, and yet she’d still molested him?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All these years
she had pretended to be my friend, when the truth was she was a sick pedophile,
taking advantage of my complicated and disturbed son by grooming him for her
own perverted pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> And I
hadn’t spotted it. Carrick hadn’t spotted it. We were two supposedly
intelligent, educated adults – I'm a children's doctor for crying out loud. I'm
supposed to be trained to pick up on these things. Yet this had happened right
under my nose, and I’d just stood back, assuming Christian’s shut off and secretive
behavior was all down to his difficult start in life. Which of course Elena
knew all about – from me - and then she’d used that information to manipulate
my son. That was truly evil of her. She was the Devil Incarnate.</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You were just
a child, Christian.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, I wasn’t
Mom. I was an angry, out of control young man. You remember how I was?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, of course
I remember. But you <i>were</i> still a child. In the eyes of the
law, and in my eyes too. How did it all start?” <i>How did I miss this?
What kind of a mother was I?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“You really
want to know all this stuff?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes I do. I
need to know how I couldn’t see what must have been going on right under my
nose.” <i>All those lies he must have told, and I swallowed them all.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It started
that summer I did some work for Elena in her back yard. She came on to me. Made
me stop drinking and getting into trouble, in return for…. sexual favors.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All these years
I'd thought Christian was gay and celibate, because he never brought a girl
home, when all along Elena was taking advantage of a disturbed young man and
manipulating him to hide the truth.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
Images of her showing him exactly what she wanted him to do kept forcing their
way into my unwilling mind. I had to swallow hard to keep the bile down, as I
thought of the means she must have employed to get him to conform and toe the
line so effectively, when everything we’d tried had failed so miserably.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “You and
Dad thought I was taking extra curricula activities at school, but actually I
was seeing Elena.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I remember. I
remember how thrilled we were, because we thought that you were finally joining
in some normal, healthy school activities. But now I find out that all along
you were lying to us and sneaking off to see that… whore.” <i>Lies, lies
and more lies.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m sorry,
Mom. Truly I am. But at the time, it just seemed right, and it worked for me.
You and Dad seemed really happy when I settled down and didn’t get into fights
any more. I started working hard at school, because that’s what Elena told me I
had to do. Everything in my life became a lot calmer and easier to cope with, because
of her.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">This was
terrible. Even now, he couldn’t seem to see that what she did to him was wrong.
That’s how much she had groomed and influenced him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But Christian,
don’t you see, she was taking advantage of you. She was an adult, a married
woman, and she pretended to be my friend, when all along she was… seducing my
son. She knew it was wrong, but she manipulated you and took advantage of you,
because she knew all about your issues through me. That’s despicable. It’s
truly evil. So how long did it go on for?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Until I was
twenty one.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Dear God! It
hadn't been just a fling for a few months, it'd been long term.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Six years! You
were seeing her for six years? So in all that time, she prevented you from
forming any kind of a normal relationship with a nice young girl? That was the
real reason you never brought any girls home?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That was never
going to happen was it, Mom? Nice young girls weren’t interested in me. Not
with all my issues and problems. ”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’ll never
know will we? You were never given the opportunity to find out, because that
vile woman had her claws so deeply into you. Why did it finish? Who broke
things off in the end?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It finished
when Linc found out. In all honesty, it was over by then in any case, and we
ended up as just friends.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On top of
everything else, Christian had had an affair with a married woman. How could he
not have seen that was wrong?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Linc found
out? Is that why they divorced?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“They would
have divorced anyway, but I guess it was the catalyst.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian,
surely you knew what you were doing was wrong? We brought you up to know right
from wrong, didn’t we?” <i>Were we such terrible parents? If we failed to
instill the basics of right from wrong in our son, we must have been, surely?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course you
did, Mom. Don't go blaming yourself. It was me, just the way I was.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“If I blame
anyone, it’s Elena. She’s a whore, a slut. No, worse than that, she’s a
pedophile.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That was Ana’s
reaction too,” Christian murmured. “She’s really struggled to understand and
come to terms with the relationship we had.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“So Ana knows
all about Elena?” <i>And she’s still with Christian? Did this have
anything to do with their break up, and why Elena knew about that when I
didn’t? No wonder she’s always acted as if she knew my son better than I did.
Because in a lot of ways she did, and that hurts – really hurts.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, we have
no secrets. I've told her everything.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Well that was
one less thing to worry about. If Christian had kept this affair secret and Ana
had just found out, then it would surely have been the end of their
relationship. But at least it seemed they were starting out on the right
footing by being open and honest with each other.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I think
that’s very wise, and the first sensible thing I've heard you say in all this.
So, what happened tonight?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Some sort of a
disagreement between them. I was just trying to get to the bottom of it when
you came in, but I know Ana loathes Elena with a vengeance. She always
has.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I knew there
was a reason I liked Ana so much. It seems she has great judgment as she
instinctively knew Elena was bad news.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m with Ana
on that score. I loathe her too, now. The evil witch was trying to break you
and Ana up, wasn’t she? She’s jealous of Ana. I knew something was wrong when I
saw her with Ana earlier, just after you’d announced your engagement. Elena had
a really unpleasant fake smile plastered on her face, and I couldn’t figure out
why. Now I know.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Something like
that maybe. Elena’s always looked out for me, so I guess she’s finding it hard
to let go.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian
thought Elena looked out for him? Tried to control and manipulate him for her
own benefit more like. How could he not see her for what she was? Maybe that
was another thing Ana was opening up his eyes to. Pure, honest love, that’s
what Ana was showing him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I heard her
telling you that love is for fools. You know she’s wrong about that, don’t
you?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I do now. Now
that I've found Anastasia. She’s shown me the true meaning of love. I know now
it was just empty sex with Elena.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think you’d
better go and find your sweet lovely Ana, and make sure she’s alright, don't
you? And I think I've heard just about all I can take in right now. I’m still
mad at you for deceiving us for so long, but I’m far angrier at Elena for
corrupting my son, when he was just an innocent and vulnerable young boy.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“All I can say
in my defense is that it didn’t seem like that to me at the time, Mom. But
you’re right. I need to go and find my girl. Just one thing though – do you
have to tell Dad about this?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Yes,
Christian, I do. No secrets. Just like you and Ana, your father and I have no
secrets in our marriage. I have to tell him. But otherwise, we’ll keep this
just between us. Your brother and sister don't need to know.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s what I
thought you’d say,” he sighed, as he left the room to go and find his
Anastasia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was determined that evil
bitch was not going to ruin my son’s party, so I plastered on a smile, and
pretended that everything was fine in front of our guests, just about holding
myself together, throwing myself into singing along with the karaoke with Kate
in the family room to distract myself as best I could, and avoiding Carrick,
because he’d have known something was wrong straight away. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d decided I’d tell him
once all our guests had left, to avoid a potentially ugly scene in front of
them all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian and Ana had
disappeared, I imagined to the boathouse for whatever this surprise was that he
had planned for her, and quite frankly I was pleased that he was out of my
sight while I tried to get my head around his horrendously shocking admission
that Elena had stolen his innocence, along with his virginity, when he’d only
been fifteen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> For years I’d worried
myself that our son was celibate and gay, lonely because he was unable to form
any kind of a loving relationship due to the terrible neglect and abuse he’d
suffered during the first four years of his life.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
And then, after I found out about Anastasia, I’d happily assumed in my
ignorance that she was his first lover, and I’d thought how sweet it was that
they were discovering the joy of physical love together, when all along, his
views on love, sex and relationships had been tainted by that She- Devil.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">‘<i>You never once said you
loved me’</i> I’d heard Christian say.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> ‘<i>Love is for fools'</i>, she’d callously
replied.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
So had it been just a purely physical relationship between them? Was that
better or worse? I decided it just made Elena an even bigger whore. She’d used
and abused my son, and not even made him feel loved and comforted.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWMKFBnKuSV7BkqSZNUvlOUn7KsYXv5_pFysWrMUmqfkxc1AZE1W8wbOvyU4QjUp1GJfVNeUWanupmSM-zRIqo7gJ9nKsu2PYBj-1Y27Rr7nhLw_Qg6mZZAhiNQcWW4BUVtHVO291aqK8/s1600/the+whore+of+babylon+by+willima+blake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWMKFBnKuSV7BkqSZNUvlOUn7KsYXv5_pFysWrMUmqfkxc1AZE1W8wbOvyU4QjUp1GJfVNeUWanupmSM-zRIqo7gJ9nKsu2PYBj-1Y27Rr7nhLw_Qg6mZZAhiNQcWW4BUVtHVO291aqK8/s200/the+whore+of+babylon+by+willima+blake.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE WHORE OF BABYLON BY WILLIAM BLAKE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally all the guests left. Kate and Elliot
were staying over, as were Christian and Ana, with the idea that everyone could
relax and enjoy a few glasses of champagne, and then we could have a nice
family breakfast together in the morning before everyone left.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So eventually I had Carrick to myself –
Christian and Ana had yet to return from the boathouse, so I decided it was now
or never.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, I must say that was a great evening…”
he started to say, but stopped when he took one look at my face.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> “Oh Carrick, I don’t know how to tell
you this…” I started, as I struggled to hold back the tears I’d kept in check
all evening.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good lord, what on earth is the matter,
Grace?” he asked, as he sat me down on one of the chairs at the kitchen table.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I found out… I overheard… she was so… he
said…”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Take it slowly. You’re not making a whole
lot of sense here, my love.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I took a deep breath to calm myself.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Earlier on, when I went looking for
Christian and Ana to tell them to come and get something to eat, I heard raised
voices coming from the dining room. So I listened to try and work out what was
going on…”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I paused to take a shaky breath, as Carrick
frowned in bewildered concern.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was Elena and Christian shouting at each
other, while Ana was standing there watching them.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But why would Elena and Christian…?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Because Elena had been really horrid to
Ana.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Horrid to Ana? Elena? Why would she do
that?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Carrick, I discovered tonight that Christian
and Elena had an affair. She seduced him when he was only fifteen, and then it
carried on for six whole years, right under our noses.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">My husband was so shocked that he literally
paled in front of me, and had to sit himself down on the chair next to me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No! That can’t be right. You must have it
wrong, Grace. Christian wasn’t capable… he couldn’t bear to be touched…” He
struggled to try and work out how it could be possible.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Elena knew all about his issues, and she
used them to manipulate him so that he felt grateful to her for giving him sex.
When I confronted Christian, the way he explained it was that she used sex as
an incentive to control him, so that he stopped getting into trouble and
started studying harder. He seems to think that was a good thing, and that he’s
indebted to her, but that’s only because she’s groomed him to see it that way.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“But it started when he was only <i>fifteen</i>,
you say?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I nodded my head.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“We’ve included that woman in our close
circle of friends, when all along she was a pedophile, preying on our son?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know. That thought makes me sick to my
stomach. I slapped her in the face, Carrick. Really hard. But I’m not ashamed,
because she deserved it,” I said, as I unconsciously rubbed my still sore hand
while Carrick stared at me. He knew I never normally condoned physical
violence, but there are always exceptions.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I see,” he muttered, bemused.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Carrick, I want that perverted evil monster
charged with every possible crime you can think of, so that everyone knows what
she is, and then they can lock her up and throw away the key. Would that be
possible, after all this time?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Theoretically, yes. But in reality… I’m not
so sure it would be a good idea.” He held his hand up as I started to protest.
“Just think about it, Grace. First off, Christian would have to be prepared to
cooperate fully and give evidence, which knowing what a private person he is,
combined with what you’ve just told me, I don’t think is very likely. Secondly,
all the sordid details would have to come out in court, so the newspapers would
have a field day. Would you really want our family to be subjected to all that?
And what about Anastasia? Just think how it would affect her. How much does she
know anyway?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Everything, apparently. That’s what
Christian told me. He said they have no secrets, which I think is the right way
for them to go. But as Ana knows all about Elena, I imagine that’s why her
drink, one of your finest lemon martinis by the way, ended up all over her
face, because the evil jealous bitch was trying to break them up. That’s why I
can’t just stand back and let her get away with what she’s done. She's still
trying to manipulate our son and control him even now, isn’t she? I couldn’t
understand why she was being so negative about Ana, but now it’s obvious. She
can’t bear to lose her influence over Christian, especially as he’s so rich and
successful. I can’t even begin to imagine the methods she must have
employed to have had him so completely under her spell over such an extended
period of time. And when I think about how she must have been laughing behind
my back for all these years, when I was worrying myself sick in case Christian
was gay but scared to come out, when all along she knew.…”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I remembered how she'd boasted to me just last
week that she had always known he wasn’t gay. Of course she had- it all made
perfect sense now. All her little hints about how she knew more about him than
I did. <i>His own mother</i>. But now it transpired that she did indeed know
him in ways I never could – ways that she should not have known him
either. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So did Christian imagine himself in love
with her? Is that why he acted that way? Clearly he knew it wasn’t acceptable
behavior and that’s why he acted so secretly. And she must still have been a
married woman at the time. How could he have possibly thought it was okay? He’s
supposed to be highly intelligent, for crying out loud.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So I take it you’ve told him, Mom?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">We both looked up to see Christian and Ana
making their way back into the kitchen from the backyard. It really upset me to
see the way the happy smile died on Ana’s face as she worked out what
Christian’s comment meant.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, my dear, I would really like to talk to
my son on his own, if you wouldn’t mind?” Carrick said, as he stared intently
at Christian.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, of course, I was going to go straight
up to bed anyway,” she blushed, and then hurried out of the room. Christian had
asked if they could have his old bedroom rather than one of the guest bedrooms,
so that was where I had taken their overnight things earlier, and where Ana
headed off to.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So, Dad, do I get the full lecture about how
irresponsible I’ve been? Or are you going to accept that I'm an adult now and
have moved on?” Christian's voice was deceptively quiet as he helped himself to
a glass of wine.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t act like a sullen teenager, Christian.
Surely you can appreciate that your mother and I are extremely hurt and upset
to discover that you have been lying to us for years, deceiving us and going
behind our backs, when all along you must have known that what you were doing
was wrong?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Like I told Mom. At the time it seemed to
make you happy that I was finally calming down, finally becoming a socially
acceptable son. And it was all down to Elena’s influence. You may not like it,
but that’s the honest truth. At that time, she was good for me.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No! Christian, how can you possibly think
that about a woman who groomed and seduced a fifteen year old boy? Your
judgment was impaired then because you were still a child, but how can you
possibly still defend her now, as an adult?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Let’s just agree to disagree about all this.
What’s done is done, and I can’t change anything. I'm really sorry that you had
to find out about it this way, and that I’ve caused you so much grief, yet
again.” Christian looked directly at me as he spoke. “We’re never going to see
eye to eye, Dad, and quite honestly, all I want to think about right now is the
future and marrying Ana. Please, can’t you just be happy for us?” </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course I'm happy about you and Ana
getting engaged. But it’s hard to move on, when you won’t accept that your
judgment was impaired about having a love affair with an older, married woman,
a decision that is still having repercussions to this day.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It wasn’t a love affair, actually. It was
just sex, okay? Would you rather I’d have paid a hooker to sort me out? Or maybe
it would suit you better if I’d been the lonely, celibate gay that you all
thought I was?” Christian retorted bitterly. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian! Please! There’s no need to be
like that,” I said, shocked by his words, but knowing all too well how cruel
and cutting he could be when he got into one of his really bad tempers, knowing
that he and Carrick were in serious danger of having another massive falling
out. “But perhaps Christian has a point, Carrick. What is the point of raking
over old coals? We need to look forward and concentrate on the good news about
his engagement to Ana.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I had already started to think of ways I
could punish Elena without going through the courts, and I didn’t want to risk anything damaging things between Ana and Christian.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I think that would be far more
productive, Mom. Especially as we’ve decided we’d like to get married in one
month’s time, hopefully here if you’ll agree.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“A <i>month</i>?” Carrick spluttered. “I
thought you’d have a long engagement, give you time to get to know each other
better. Don’t get me wrong, Ana’s a nice enough girl, but you’ve barely known
each other for five minutes, and now you’re saying you want to get married in a <i>month</i>?”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Of course, if that’s going to be a problem
for you Dad, I’m sure we can find somewhere else to get married,” Christian
calmly stated, as he took a sip of wine, and coolly stared his father in the
eye.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, no, I'm sure it’ll be fine,” I hurriedly
protested, horrified at the thought of them going off to get married somewhere
else because of Carrick’s attitude, but neither of them was listening to me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“So, what’s the big rush? Any reason in
particular?” Carrick asked suspiciously.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“If you’re asking me if I’ve gotten Ana
knocked up, the answer is no, I wouldn’t be that stupid. The simple truth is that
we want to get married as soon as possible, and there are no financial
constraints to prevent us from doing so.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ah yes, because of your considerable wealth.
So what kind of a prenup have you agreed with Ana? Who've you got drawing
it up for you? I can advise on the best format to suit your circumstances.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Prenup? Why the fuck would I want a prenup?”
Christian growled furiously, as he scowled at his father.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Because it is a sensible precaution for a
wealthy man such as yourself, especially when you’re </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">impulsively rushing into getting married. This
is nothing personal against Ana, but bearing in mind what we’ve discovered
tonight, I think it’s fair to say that your judgment in personal relationships
is suspect to say the least.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, so it’s back to that is it? Well
I'm telling you now there will be no prenup. I don’t need one. Ana isn’t
interested in me for my money, and in any case, if she were ever to leave me,
the money would be worthless. So there is no point in having a prenup, and I
refuse to discuss this any further. Good night, Mom. Dad.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">And with that, our son stalked out of the kitchen.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I gave my husband a slow hand clap.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Bravo, Carrick. You handled that so well,
implying that Ana is a gold digger after his money.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I did no such thing! A prenup would be no
reflection on Ana whatsoever, but surely you can see that I’d be derelict in my
duty both as his father and as a lawyer not to insist he takes the sensible
precaution of negotiating a fair prenup, especially when he’s worked so hard to
build up all his considerable assets. And don’t forget that many people rely on
him for their living now. As their employer, he has responsibilities that he
can’t just foolishly ignore and take risks with.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know you’re only trying to protect and
look out for our son, but alienating him is not going to achieve anything is
it?” I sighed, worried that if both men stuck to their guns there was going to
be an almighty rift in our family.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hopefully, he’ll have calmed down and will
see sense about setting up a prenup tomorrow,” Carrick persisted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one,” I
murmured.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">That night as we lay in bed, I began to make
my plans for exacting revenge on my former friend.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I may not get to see that whore Elena
receive the punishment she deserves in the law courts, but I'm sure as hell
going to make it my personal mission to ensure she becomes persona non grata
among all our friends and connections. She relies heavily on the patronage of
the rich and elite of Seattle to make her business successful. Her reputation
is everything.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Be careful, Grace,” Carrick warned. “The
last thing you want is to give Elena reason to launch a defamation of character
case. You need to be fully aware of what could be construed as libel or
slander.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, don’t you worry. Trust me, I can do
subtle. I’ll start by letting it be known that no one in my family will ever be
attending her salon again. I'll make it my personal mission to ensure that
slut’s name is removed from the invitation list of every social event on the
calendar worth attending, and a few more besides. It won’t be that hard. Nobody
really likes her; she has no real friends. She's only been tolerated because of
her connections with this family. I will now be very publicly severing those
connections. All I have to do is cross her name from those invitation lists
that are passed to me for approval, and that will speak volumes without me
having to utter a single word. I don’t have to give a reason, but if anyone
asks, I’ll just say ‘no comment’, and people will draw their own conclusions.
Bottom line - I don’t want to have to lay my eyes on that sick, evil,
bitch-troll from hell ever again.”<i> </i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I see,” Carrick muttered, but I hadn't
finished yet.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Most people regard Elena Lincoln as nothing
more than a social climber. Replacing Elena's name on all the lists with
Anastasia’s will show everyone where our allegiance lies, after she had the
audacity to snub our son’s fiancée. And Carrick? I expect your full support in
making it crystal clear to the entire world that <i>every </i>member
of the Grey-Trevelyan family is totally<i> </i>over the moon and fully
supportive of our son’s choice of Anastasia as his future wife.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Grace, of course you will have my full
support. Nothing I said tonight about the prenup was in any way intended as a
criticism of Ana, far from it. If anything, a prenup would protect her
against any insinuations about her motives for marrying Christian. Truly, I do
honestly think it would be for the best all round.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So clearly Carrick hadn't given up on the
idea of prenup yet.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The following morning we were all gathered
together in the kitchen for breakfast, when the thorny subject of the prenup
reared its ugly head again. Somehow, the Seattle Nooz website had already
gotten hold of the news of Christian’s engagement, although they didn’t seem to
have any details about Ana. But already they were speculating about the type of
prenup she’d be signing. Perhaps someone had sold some information to the
papers - <i>Gretchen</i>? Or perhaps someone had wanted to stir up
malicious gossip? <i>Elena?</i></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Unfortunately Mia didn’t think before she
tactlessly read the column out loud to everyone.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Word has reached us here at the Nooz that
Seattle’s most eligible bachelor, <i>the</i> Christian Grey, has
finally been snapped up and wedding bells are in the air. But who is the lucky,
lucky lady? The Nooz is on the hunt. Bet she’s reading one helluva prenup.”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian glared furiously at Mia, but far
worse was Ana’s reaction. Her look of shock and horror as the blood drained
from her face, was evidence that the thought of a prenup had never even
occurred to her, as was only natural for a naïve young girl like her. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian immediately tried to reassure her, shaking
his head and mouthing ‘<i>no</i>’ at her.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course my husband couldn’t resist the
opportunity to open up the subject again, as I suppose this article proved it
was a subject that was not going to go away.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian…” </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m not discussing this again,” Christian
snapped back. “No prenup,” he stated adamantly, before turning back to his
paper again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian, I’ll sign anything you and Mr.
Grey want,” Ana said very quietly, as Carrick looked at her rather guiltily.
Even he could see that she was completely mortified by all of this, and totally
sincere in her offer. But now she’d reverted to addressing him formally as Mr.
Grey, because he was making her feel like an outsider again.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
And I wanted to throttle him for that.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">As for Mia – I would be having words with my
daughter to try and get her to think before she opened her mouth in future.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian looked up and glared again.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“No,” he snapped.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s to protect you,” Ana bravely persisted.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But I felt we were all intruding into
something that they needed to sort out between themselves.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian, Ana – I think you should discuss
this in private,” I suggested, as I threw a black look at my husband. <i>Let
the matter drop for goodness sake, </i>I
ordered him with a frosty glare.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, this is not about you. And please, call
me Carrick,” he said quietly, finally seeming to realize the damage his
attitude was causing with his very sensitive future daughter-in -law.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I could see Christian was furious with his
father. And I could understand why, as I saw the way Ana nervously knotted her
fingers and stared down, clearly feeling very insecure because she thought we
saw her as a gold digger, which couldn’t be further from the truth.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">But the way Christian sought to reassure her
was so kind and sweet, as he reached over to take both her hands in his. I
couldn’t hear exactly what he said, but I was sure he was telling her not to
worry. Ana seemed to be arguing with him, and I cursed Carrick for putting
doubts and worry into her head, when she already seemed to lack confidence. But
in any case, Christian was having none of it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Stop. Stop now. This subject is closed, Ana.
We’re not discussing it any more. No prenup. Not now – not ever,” he declared,
as he turned to me.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom, can we have the wedding here?” he asked
pointedly, as he glared at Carrick.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, darling, of course you can, if that’s
what you would both like, and if Ana’s parents are agreeable too. We would be
thrilled and delighted to have the wedding here, wouldn’t we Carrick?” I
insisted firmly, as I saw Carrick roll his eyes in defeat.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There was no way on this
earth I was going to let the stubbornness of either my husband or my son
prevent us from hosting the most wonderful wedding that I could possibly
arrange for the young couple, and he knew it. He was either going to be
with me on this, or he was going to be a very sad and lonely man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt;"></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 18px;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com84tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-38156693295951179812013-01-18T06:00:00.000+00:002015-07-01T22:11:18.649+01:00Chapter 5 - The Guardian Angel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TLqRbhEXQOyGOC4pirvjmOV5VkYov56vu2p_VKmpVPdI8qQgxvul_9QE2hoJzYdAQktZjd0hk8AkGzkpFrNut2w52s_WziTr-a0Bv5opLM4xDyUMvngJcizrPotrkHN6kB5TEVr3CdtH/s1600/angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TLqRbhEXQOyGOC4pirvjmOV5VkYov56vu2p_VKmpVPdI8qQgxvul_9QE2hoJzYdAQktZjd0hk8AkGzkpFrNut2w52s_WziTr-a0Bv5opLM4xDyUMvngJcizrPotrkHN6kB5TEVr3CdtH/s320/angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I was sitting in my office at the hospital, just finishing up my paperwork following my pediatric outpatient clinic before heading on home, when I was surprised to look up and see Carrick standing in the doorway. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Hello, darling, this is a surprise. What brings you here?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">My husband rarely comes to my office, so this was a highly unusual event, and I felt an immediate niggle of worry, especially when I saw how serious he was looking.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I wanted to catch you before you left for home. Grace, there’s something you need to know, and I didn’t want to tell you over the phone.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I got up and went over to him, worried by his words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“What on earth is the matter, Carrick? You’re scaring me now.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">He looked into my face, gripped my shoulders and took a deep breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“There’s no easy way to say this, my love. I’ve just had a call from Andrea, Christian’s PA. It seems that he flew down to Portland with his assistant Ros today in his helicopter, and…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Carrick’s voice faltered and I could see that he was struggling to maintain his composure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“What? What’s happened to Christian.....” my voice dropped to a horrified whisper.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“He was due back by three this afternoon at the latest, according to his flight plan. It’s now nearly six, and there’s no sign of him. It seems his helicopter has gone missing.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Missing? But they don't know for sure that he’s actually crashed? Maybe he’s just landed somewhere?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes, that’s possible, so the search and rescue teams are out looking right now, but it’ll be getting dark shortly, so if they don't find him soon…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Oh, God, Carrick. Our poor boy…Christian could be dead, he could be lying critically injured somewhere….what if they don't find him…”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Carrick caught me as I sagged and nearly collapsed, a huge sob escaping from me as I burst into tears.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Hush, now Grace, we don't know for sure it’s that bad. There’s still hope. As you say, he might just have landed somewhere remote and hasn’t got a signal for his cell. It might just be that simple.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Of course you’re right. I’m sorry, I must pull myself together,” I said, as I took a Kleenex from my purse, wiped my eyes, and blew my nose. Going to pieces was not going to help anyone, was it?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“The thing is…Andrea says the press has already gotten hold of the story somehow, and so they’re being hounded for details. They’re doing their best to hold them off, but she says it’s only a matter of time before the news breaks on TV. She thinks it would be best if we told the rest of the family before that happens.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes, of course, that makes a lot of sense. I’m fine now, really, so let’s get organized. You call Elliot, and I’ll call Mia. And Anastasia, of course! What about Ana, she mustn’t find out about this from the news, must she?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Exactly. But we don't have her cell number, and she’ll have left work by now, so I’m not sure how to get hold of her.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Elliot. When you speak to him, he’ll know how to make contact with her, because Kate is her best friend.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">And so we rallied the family round, deciding it would be best if we congregated together in one place, where it would be easier to keep everyone in the picture regarding the latest information, although we persuaded my parents not to make the journey into town, promising to let them know the moment we had any news or updates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Carrick managed to contact Taylor, who returned immediately from a family crisis concerning his daughter that had called him away earlier in the day – apparently that situation had been happily resolved as it turned out to have been some sort of a false alarm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">It was agreed that it would be best to use Christian’s apartment as the central base, with Taylor’s office as the communication hub, because of all the specialist communication equipment it apparently had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Elliot with Kate, and her brother Ethan arrived, bringing Ana with them, along with a friend who was visiting, a young man called José. We collected Mia on our way in, so that was all the family gathered together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Mia was adamant that Christian would be back safe and well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I’d know if something really bad had happened to him, I’d just know. So he will be back, I’m telling you all,” she bravely insisted as the hours ticked by and there was still no news.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Of course, darling,” I tried to smile. But a nasty, horrid little voice kept going round in my head. <i>You’re never going to see him again. He’s not going to see his twenty eighth birthday. You will never see your son again. Christian is dead. Your beautiful boy has gone. No more birthdays for him.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I tried to ignore that horrid voice, but every time I sat down, it was all I could hear, so I couldn’t settle. I just couldn't sit still. Carrick coped by keeping himself busy with Taylor in his office, as they tried to find out from the authorities what the latest situation was. Apparently the last known contact from Christian was when he radioed in to Air Traffic Control to ask for permission to fly close to Mount St Helens, not long after he’d taken off, which was granted. There was no reported volcanic activity that would have caused any problems for the helicopter. After that, nothing more was heard from him, no Mayday, no distress call, nothing. It was a complete mystery.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"> I wandered in and out of that room and every other room too. Kate, as an aspiring journalist, seemed fascinated to watch events unfurling on the news reports on TV. I couldn’t bear to see the banner headline ‘Christian Grey Missing’ going round and round, so I left her to it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Apparently Taylor was extremely frustrated at not being able to track either Ros or Christian’s cell, due to the lack of signal in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest area, where it was likely the helicopter had gone down. I also overheard Taylor explaining to Carrick that he was mystified that there was no tracking signal from the locator device that apparently was fixed to the helicopter. If only that had been emitting a signal as it should have been, then it would have made the job of the search and rescue teams so much easier. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“It could possibly mean one of three things, Mr. Grey,” I heard him explaining. “Either it’s faulty, or it’s missing, or….” Taylor hesitated when he noticed me standing there listening in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Or what?” I insisted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“It could have been totally destroyed as a result of a very high impact crash,” he said quietly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I couldn’t bear to even contemplate the implications of what Taylor was saying. The thought of my son’s helicopter plummeting out of the sky and smashing into tiny pieces….</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Another low point was when the authorities announced they were calling off the search for the day because it was too dark to continue. It meant there was no realistic hope of any news until the morning, and I felt the spirits of everyone in the room sink. But no one felt like going home, or going to bed to try to get some sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">That Anastasia was in a state of shock became apparent when I saw her shivering and shaking and realized she was freezing cold. She had been unable to do more than shake or nod her head ever since she’d arrived. She’d just sat there, her arms wrapped about herself, gently rocking, lost in her own thoughts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I think we need to watch over Ana,” I whispered to Mia, thinking it was best to concentrate on doing something positive to try and help where we could. “She’s in a terrible state even if she isn’t wailing and weeping.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Come and sit by the fire, my dear,” I urged her, while Mia fetched a blanket and put it around the poor girl’s shoulders, and Elliot messed around with the fire to get it to turnout some extra heat to try and warm her up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I think Mia was glad to have something to do. I’d noticed her talking with Kate’s brother Ethan several times over the course of the evening. Ever since he’d stepped in at short notice to take her to lunch when Ana had to drop out, Mia hadn’t stopped talking about him. She liked him, that much was obvious. And what Mia wants, Mia usually gets. But how he felt about her was less apparent. So I would be watching what developed there with great interest, and at least he seemed like a decent young man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I’ll make her a nice hot tea,” Mrs. Jones offered when she saw us trying to get Ana warm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">She had been a marvel, getting everyone hot drinks, and sandwiches, although no one had much appetite. I understood that she needed to keep busy, to feel useful. I’ve always really liked her, because I can tell that she genuinely cares about my son, in a kind motherly way, and that she really enjoys looking after him. And watching how concerned she was about Ana, I realized that she was also very fond of her employer’s girlfriend. No doubt she too had noticed the change she has brought about in him, and it seemed that she also thoroughly approved of their budding relationship.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">The young boy José watched Ana constantly, and I suspected that he was probably rather keen on her. I seemed to recall Kate mentioning something about Ana meeting up with him when they were all over at our place for dinner that time, and how Christian’s face had glowered with what was most likely jealousy. But for now, I thought he was just trying to be a supportive friend at a very difficult time for her, because José was by Ana’s side in an instant when he saw her break down and finally start sobbing, holding her hand and asking if she wanted to call her parents. Ana just shook her head and clutched his hand tightly. It was obvious that she was completely distraught because of how deeply she cared for my son.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“This is so unfair!”</span></i><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"> I ranted at the Almighty. <i>“After everything my darling boy endured as a child, now that he has just begun to come out of his shell, has just discovered the joy of love, this has to happen! Why? What has he ever done to deserve this?”</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Still feeling restless, I went over to the boys as they stood together by the breakfast bar, and darling Elliot gave me a wonderful, comforting big hug, because he is just the kindest, sweetest natured boy. Of course, my eldest son has never had any issues with physical contact or showing affection and it was just the best feeling as he held me tightly. But it was also a bittersweet feeling, because it made me realize that I might never get to achieve my long term goal and ambition to get the chance to enjoy a similar big hug from my younger son.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">It has always been my dream that one day Christian would finally feel able to open up, to let his barriers down enough to allow me to hug him properly. All he gives or receives at the moment is a quick peck on the cheek, and a brief touch on his arm. Even better, I’ve always hoped that maybe one day, unforced and of his own free will, Christian would just come up and hug me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">He used to get hysterically upset if I tried to hug him when he was a little boy, so even though it broke my heart, I learned to hold back and respect his phobias. It was even worse if Carrick ever tried to cuddle him, our poor boy was even more terrified of any kind of physical contact with him. But recently, seeing how much he’s changed for the better since he’s met Anastasia had finally given me hope. Now that hope was dashed. He was missing. He could very well be dead. The longer things went on, the less likely it was that there would be a happy ending. I was never going to get the chance to hold Christian to me, and now I wondered if perhaps I should have tried harder while I still had the chance. Perhaps we’d fallen into a set pattern and I’d given up trying after being rejected so many times. But as his mother, I should never give up, should I? Perhaps it was my fault for allowing him to stick to his established behaviors. Perhaps I should have been more challenging. Now it looked as though I would never get the chance to try to break through with him again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">It got to be well past eleven, and as midnight approached, I worked out that Christian had been missing for eight hours. He might have been lying in agony somewhere for eight whole hours, as his life slowly drained away. Or he might have been dead for eight whole hours. I tried to work out how long it would be until dawn, when they could send out the rescue teams again, but my mind was too fuzzy and tired to do the math.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I was just wondering if I should suggest that Ana go and lie down and try to get some rest, when I looked up and thought I saw an apparition.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Standing there in the entrance was my son. It took all of about three seconds for me to realize that this was no apparition. By some miracle Christian was right here, large as life, with his shoes and socks in his hands, looking totally bemused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I didn’t hesitate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I shrieked out his name and went running towards him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Christian!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I didn’t hold back. I launched myself at him and fervently hugged and kissed him. My son had just been returned to me from the dead. So there was no question about it. He was going to be hugged and kissed whether he liked it or not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Mom?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I thought I’d never see you again,” I cried emotionally, as I threw my arms around his neck, bracing myself for him to push me away after a couple of seconds, as such close contact would be unbearable to him. But he didn’t.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Mom, I’m here,” he reassured me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I died a thousand deaths today,” I whispered, before I started sobbing uncontrollably in relief. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">And then another miracle happened. Christian actually hugged me back. And he continued to hug me as he gently rocked me. It was wonderful. I might have forced his hand just a little by launching myself at him, but Christian was unquestionably hugging me back. The worst day of my life had just turned into one of the best days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Then I heard Carrick yelling "He’s alive! Shit – you’re here!” as he appeared from Taylor’s office clutching his cell phone. Then he and Mia both came over to start hugging our boy as well. And then it seemed that everyone was crying and laughing and hugging, so happy to get Christian back because we all loved him so very much.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Finally Carrick pulled away, and I think even he was wiping a tear away as he clapped our son on the back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Then I started to recollect myself. I’m not usually given to such wild outbursts, but I think it was excusable under the circumstances.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">However, I wanted some answers now that I’d gotten over the initial shock.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Where were you? What happened?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">All that worry, and all those terrible thoughts, and now he was here, in the flesh. I couldn’t help it – I started crying again from sheer relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Mom, I’m here. I’m good. It’s just taken me a hell of a long time to get back from Portland. What’s with the welcoming committee?”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Even as Christian was trying to explain to us what had happened, and reassuring us that he was fine, I could see that he was anxiously scanning the room, obviously looking for Anastasia. Then I saw him frown when he finally saw her, because he instantly noticed José holding her hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">That my son is the jealous type is blindingly obvious, which is so silly of him. If he’d seen how utterly devastated Ana had been when we feared the worst, he would have known how irrational he was being. Surely as he saw her with tears pouring down her face, he would understand that she was totally in love with him, and had eyes for no one else. He had no reason whatsoever to be jealous in any way.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">As he spoke, it became obvious that it clearly hadn’t even occurred to Christian that we would all be so worried about him when he didn't return, and so he hadn't bothered to stop on his way back to call one of us to put us out of our torment. Men! They can be so thoughtless at times. So his cell was dead - call collect then!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Oh Christian! Don’t you ever do that to me again! Do you understand?” I yelled at him in frustration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes, Mom,” he said but as he hugged me again and gently wiped my tears away, of course he was forgiven. It felt so amazingly wonderful to be hugged by him after all these years of restraint between us. It was almost, but not quite, almost worth all the worry we’d just been through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">But Mia was not quite so forgiving of his thoughtlessness. She slapped him hard on his chest as he went to hug her too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“You had us all so worried,” she yelled at him, before bursting into tears as she hugged him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I'm here now, for heaven’s sake,” he muttered, clearly bemused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Carrick peeled Mia from her brother, then put a comforting arm around both of us, as Mia and I sobbed and laughed at the same time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Elliot had been waiting his moment. He had been a tower of strength all evening, even though I knew he’d been desperately worried about his brother the whole time. He’d also been so sweet the way he’d solicitously looked after Ana when he brought her in to us and settled her down on the sofa, although I think she hardly noticed what was going on around her to be honest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Great to see you,” Elliot said very loudly, probably to cover up the fact that he was pretty choked up, as he gave Christian a proper big man hug and slapped him on the back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I looked over to see that Kate was now comforting Ana, although I privately thought she had been rather thoughtless the way she’d kept wandering off a lot of the time to see what was happening on the TV, rather than staying with her friend. Luckily José had been there with Ana, doing his best to be helpful and considerate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">But the time came when I think Christian had had enough of his family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I’m going to say hi to my girl now,” he stated, as he stared longingly over at her. <i>The look of love.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I glanced up at Carrick and we both smiled, delighted to see this look. As he started to walk towards Ana, she leaped to her feet and literally threw herself at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Christian,” she sobbed, clearly beside herself with relief.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Hush,” Christian comforted her, closing his eyes as he clutched her to him as if his very life depended on it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">It was very touching to see their reunion. No one who witnessed them could possibly be in any doubt that this was a young couple deeply in love. It was a wonderful moment, made all the more poignant because just a few short moments ago, it had seemed to be an impossibility.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">The young lovers whispered to each other and gazed into each other’s eyes, kissing and touching each other, totally oblivious to the rest of the word around them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I squeezed Carrick’s hand as we both looked on in a sort of a trance, almost unable to believe what we were witnessing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“They really do love each other,” I whispered to him, grinning broadly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I know,” he whispered back, grinning just as broadly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Are you okay?” Ana asked Christian anxiously, as she ran her hands all over him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">He lets her touch him – everywhere</span></i><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">. I glanced over at Carrick again, and he squeezed my hand to let me know he’d noticed this too. This was more than we’d ever dreamed possible for our boy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">They simply couldn’t bear to let each other go, as they cuddled up together. Christian very firmly tucked Ana under his arm, and let Mrs. Jones get him something to eat and drink rather than have to let go of his precious girl. Of course Mrs. Jones was more than happy to oblige, as she hastily wiped her eyes and hurried off to the kitchen to get him a nice cold Budvar to start with.</span><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“So what the fuck happened to you? First I knew was when Dad called me to say the chopper was missing,” Elliot wanted to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Helicopter,” Christian corrected him, as Elliot grinned back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Elliot!” I exclaimed. His brother hadn’t been back for five minutes before he had to start with his old tricks, trying to wind Christian up to get a rise out of him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">His helicopter was one of the first things Christian bought himself when he entered the super-rich league, and to be honest he was a tad precious about it. He’s always been fascinated by helicopters, and it was a dream come true for him to have his very own personal helicopter to fly. It meant he’d achieved one of his first major goals, and I think it was his way of proving to himself that he had made it. Always a stickler for detail, he insisted on correcting Elliot every time he referred to it as a chopper, because apparently that is not an acceptable term in the flying world. Of course that was like a red rag to a bull for Elliot, and he had to take it a stage further by using the term chopper to crudely refer to a certain part of his male anatomy. In the past I’ve asked Carrick to have a word with Elliot about it, but he always just laughs, and says boys will be boys.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">But tonight, I think this was just Elliot’s rather clumsy way of getting things back onto a more normal footing with his brother, after being so scared that he’d lost him forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Christian noticed Taylor quietly hovering in the background, so he raised his beer to him by way of an acknowledgment. They spoke briefly about organizing the collection of the helicopter, agreeing it could be left until the morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Behind the ever present professional man of steel front, I knew Taylor had been desperately worried today about his young employer. I think he had probably aged about ten years, because he felt terrible for not having been around when the whole crisis initially kicked off, even though Carrick had tried to assure him that of course he’d had no option but to go when his young daughter was rushed to hospital, and that there was no way anyone could have predicted what was going to happen today. So I wasn’t surprised to see a very rare smile crease Taylor’s face to see Christian safely returned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I believe a special and unique bond exists between these two men, even though they may not even realize it, but I can clearly see it. That’s why Taylor always goes above and beyond the call of duty for Christian, and why I feel reassured that he will always do his utmost to protect my son. Of course Carrick thinks I'm just being sentimental if ever I mention it, but I know I'm right, and I would bet that Gail Jones is aware of it too. But tonight Taylor didn’t linger once he’d seen for himself the evidence that Christian was indeed safely back. He disappeared again, no doubt not wishing to encroach on our family reunion, although I'm sure none of us would have minded. Perhaps he felt the need for a stiff drink, and who could blame him if he did?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I was glad to see that Christian remembered his manners and was at least polite to José when they spoke a few words, as I thought he had been a good friend to Ana, supporting her the way he did in her hour of need, more so than Kate, to be honest. I don't think she’s the type of girl who has a lot of patience. I think she’d rather be in the thick of the action, rather than be left quietly holding someone’s hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Of course now we all wanted to find out what on earth had happened, so as Christian sat on the couch with Ana safely tucked up next to him, he filled us in. She sat staring at him, gripping his hand tightly the whole time he was speaking, drinking his presence in as if she couldn’t believe he was actually here. I have to say I knew exactly how she felt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">He told us how he was flying back from a very successful meeting at WSU with Ros, his number two, and they decided to make a detour to look at Mount St. Helens by way of a small celebration because Ros hadn’t seen it before. As they were flying low to view it, a fire broke out in the tail, so he’d had no option but to cut all the electronics and land by Silver Lake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“A fire? Both engines? But I thought…” Carrick quizzed him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">He has a knack of cutting to the chase, quickly honing in on the most important facts - that’s one of the reasons he’s such a great lawyer. I could already see the cogs turning in his brain as he started to piece together what had happened to our son.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I know. It was sheer luck I was flying so low,” Christian murmured.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I noticed Ana shiver, as I did, because we were both thinking what a close call Christian had had. He put his arm around Ana when he felt her shiver, concerned that she was feeling cold. <i>So sweet</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Kate seemed to want to know all the gory details, in just the way an inquisitive journalist would.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“How did you put out the fire?” she demanded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Extinguisher. We have to carry them – by law,” Christian calmly replied.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Why didn’t you call or use the radio?” I asked next.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">That’s what was bugging me – the lack of communication, especially as he hadn’t even contacted Ana. That’s what had made me certain he really was in trouble – he might not think about his family a lot of the time, but he sure as hell thinks about his Ana, so if he called anyone it would have been her, I reasoned. But in any case, surely he’d realize how worried we’d all be under the circumstances? He disappeared in his helicopter, for crying out loud. All this worry could have been avoided if he had made just one brief call. So why didn’t he?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Christian patiently explained that he couldn’t risk switching on the electrics to use the radio because of the risk of fire. So then he and Ros had to navigate their way to the nearest road using their cell phones, which took a while because Ros was in heels. By the time they reached an area where they might have had a signal, both their cell batteries had died.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Hearing all the details of their struggles to get back was quite sobering, and as Ana hugged Christian again, he responded by casually pulling her onto his lap, where she snuggled right up against his chest as he rested his chin on her head. They looked totally comfortable and perfectly at ease with each other, and this was obviously normal behavior for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">It was a revelation to me, and to everyone else. We had never seen him act like this before, not even with Mia, who has always been very close to him. I almost felt as if we were intruding, but Christian didn’t seem in the least bit worried that we were seeing them like this. He acted as if it was perfectly normal to see him being so affectionate towards another human being, allowing such close physical contact. <i>My son, acting normally. With his girlfriend. Normal. Hallelujah. No longer a lone soul. No longer lonely.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“How did you get back to Seattle?” I still wanted to know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Christian explained they had hitched a ride back, how a truck driver had stopped and agreed to bring them home, and how he had shared his lunch with them, but refused any payment. Hearing that there are still genuine, decent people out there, who are prepared to do a good turn and not expect anything back in return, restored some of my faith in humanity. But it transpired that this kind truck driver didn’t have a cell they could borrow, which was Christian’s excuse for not calling.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Took forever to drive back. And he didn’t have a cell – weird but true. I just didn’t realize…”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“That we’d worry? Oh Christian, we’ve been going out of our minds!”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Did he truly have no idea of how much we cared about him? Was he that closed off from us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“You’ve made the news, bro,” Elliot informed him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yeah. I figured that much when I arrived to this reception and the handful of photographers outside. I'm sorry Mom. I should have asked the driver to stop so I could phone. But I was anxious to be back,” he explained, as his gaze came to rest on José, unwittingly giving away the reason why he was in such a hurry that he wouldn’t even stop for a few minutes to make a call.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Silly, jealous, insecure boy. I guess he overreacted because Ana is his first girlfriend, and I have to remember that this is his first sexual relationship. He’s probably finding such feelings overwhelming, especially after being in such an emotional and physical vacuum for the whole of his previous life. No wonder Ana found him intense and I could maybe understand why she had felt the need for some space away from him, following Elena’s disclosure to me about their short break up last week. That was probably another factor in making Christian so possessive about Ana too. My poor complicated son. But looking at them together now, there didn’t seem to be anything to worry about. Ana was still having bouts of crying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Hey. Stop with the crying,” I heard him say to her, as he tried to wipe her tears away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Stop with the disappearing,” Ana retorted, which made Christian smile. And my darling boy has such a beautiful smile. I’m hopeful that we are going to see a lot more of his happy smiling face in future, thanks to dear Anastasia.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Electrical failure…that’s odd, surely?” Carrick said again, and I sighed to myself, because I knew he was going to be like a dog with a bone, worrying about this until he got some answers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes, crossed my mind too, Dad. But right now, I’d just like to go to bed and think about all that shit tomorrow,” Christian replied wearily.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“So the media know that <i>the</i> Christian Grey has been found safe and well?” Kate probed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes. Andrea and my PR people will deal with the media. Ros called her after we dropped her home.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes, Andrea called me to let me know you were still alive,” Carrick smiled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I know he was very grateful to Andrea for ensuring that our family had been put in the picture before everything had kicked off in the media, and that she’d handled matters very efficiently and tactfully. I remembered reading a newspaper article about Christian a while back, where he stated that he attributed a large part of his success to surrounding himself with the best possible staff. Seeing how everyone had pulled together today in a time of crisis, I had no doubt this was true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I must give that woman a raise,” Christian commented.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">But I was sure it came down to much more than paying decent money to his staff. I thought my son would be surprised to discover the incredible level of loyalty and support he had personally earned from his staff, which had been so apparent today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Sure is getting late,” Christian murmured next, as he tightened his grip on his girl. <i>Of course. He wants to be alone with his sweetheart.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I think that’s a hint, ladies and gentlemen, that my dear bro needs his beauty sleep,” Elliot leered rather suggestively. He really can be rather tactless at times, especially as I saw Christian grimace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">But he was right. It was time for us to leave them together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Cary, my son is safe. You can take me home now,” I declared to my wonderful husband. He had also died a thousand deaths tonight, yet he never stopped working, ceaselessly bombarding the authorities, to ensure no effort was spared in their endeavors to find our son. And I knew he wouldn’t be able to rest easy until he’d got some answers as to why the helicopter had suffered such a severe malfunction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes. I think we could use the sleep,” he agreed, as he smiled down at me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Stay,” Christian sweetly offered, but I knew he was just being polite.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“No, sweetheart, I want to get home. Now that I know you’re safe.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Our work here was done. We had to let him and Ana enjoy their reunion in private. And we had birthday party preparations to get busy with in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Christian stood up to say his goodbyes, reluctantly letting go of Ana for now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I hugged him again, actually resting my head against his chest, as I closed my eyes in sheer bliss, and he even hugged me back too. I would remember this night for many reasons, but the melting of my heart by my son for finally allowing me touch him would be the most memorable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I was so worried, darling,” I whispered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“I’m okay, Mom.” He hugged me a little harder.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">I studied him, and then looked over at Ana. I felt a slow smile spread over my face, because here was the reason my boy had finally started to come alive. She was the reason I had finally got to hold him so closely. And I had no doubt that she would continue to help him grow and develop now that she'd found her way to his heart. All because of the wonderful pure healing love they shared, which had shone out so brightly tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">“Yes. I think you are,” I said contentedly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Maybe the same guardian angel who had ensured that I was the receiving doctor on duty at Michigan’s Children’s Hospital on the day that Christian was brought in, had also ensured that Anastasia would be the one to drive up from WSU to interview him and capture his heart. Maybe that same guardian angel had brought him safely back down today. Maybe Ella was watching over her son, maybe that was the penance</span><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"> she'd been given to make up for her terrible neglect of him during her time on this earth. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;">Of course I kept these thoughts to myself, because I knew that Carrick would think I was </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">completely</span><span style="line-height: 24.5333347320557px;"> insane.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-81701962678728359922012-09-29T08:44:00.001+01:002015-07-01T21:58:30.891+01:00Chapter 4 - The Masked Ball<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick and I have been
hosting our annual fundraising event for Coping Together for many years now, so
we have a very well-rehearsed schedule to follow, to make sure everything runs
like clockwork. We are very lucky; we can count on the support of many of the
rich and famous of Seattle, as well as others from across the country. But if
we are expecting these affluent patrons to spend large sums of money at our
fund raiser, we have to ensure that every last detail has been taken care of to
make it a truly memorable evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Inevitably there are always
some changes and alterations that need to be made, but generally speaking we
use the same caterers, florists, musicians, pyro-technicians and so forth from
year to year. Why change a winning formula?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Preparations for the
following year start as soon as one event has finished, while things are fresh
in our minds about what worked well, and what was not so successful. We choose
a different theme each year, which is always the fun part. This year, on Mia’s
suggestion, we decided to make it a Masked Ball, and she’d been enthusiastically
involved in all the arrangements since her return from Paris. She had
been an absolute godsend, as I’d been incredibly busy at the hospital due to
the measles epidemic. Mia saw to it that everyone who had bought a ticket understood
that they had to wear a mask for the entire evening, until permission was given
to remove it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Coping Together is a
charity very close to our hearts. Christian suffered appalling deprivation
during his early formative years, because there was no one that Ella, his birth
mother, felt able to turn to for the help and support she desperately
needed. If she knew who Christian’s father was, she never disclosed that
information to anyone as far as we could discover, and his birth certificate
simply listed his father as ‘unknown’. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">That made it virtually
impossible to trace his father; but in any case, Christian has never shown the
slightest interest in doing so. He must have been a pretty distinctive man
though, as Christian didn't inherit either his trademark dark copper
hair or his musical ability from his mother. I also imagine Christian takes
after his father in being so tall and well built, as his birth mother was a
small, slim girl, with a pale complexion and long brown hair. But as she was a
gifted mathematician, I think he must have inherited from her his extraordinary
ability of being able to just glance at complicated accounts and spreadsheets
to instantly comprehend and accurately interpret the figures.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As a young single parent
struggling to cope, with no family around to offer her any kind of support,
Ella became addicted to crack heroin. Once she had gotten herself into
such a terrible, self-destructive downward spiral, it was sadly only too
inevitable that she would ultimately end up as a prostitute to fund her
addiction, no doubt coerced by her dealer, who then became her pimp. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It is a desperately sad
story, and such a waste of a very talented but vulnerable young girl’s life –
she was only twenty three when she passed away, not much older than either Mia
or Anastasia. I believe she was too scared to ask for help from the
authorities, because she feared they would take her child away from her.
Despite all her problems, Ella must have loved her son because she did not want
to be parted from him, although most people would probably argue that it would
have been far better for him if she had handed him over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps she would have felt
more able to ask for help if she had been able to turn to an organization that
was non-judgmental, one that simply promised to give as much support and help
as possible, no questions asked, whatever the circumstances. Maybe if an
organization such as Coping Together had existed then, perhaps they could have
enabled her to cope and look after her child, and then Christian would not have
had to endure the terrible hardships that he did.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Coping Together does
wonderful work, and every cent we raise goes directly to support them.
I'm truly proud to be associated with such a worthwhile organization.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian always gives his
full and very generous support to this and the other charities we are involved
with. As a pediatrician and a mother, inevitably there are several children’s
charities that I have found myself drawn to and getting involved with. But I
think it would be very unfair to burden him with some of the horrifying details
of the abuse I learn about, because that would only serve to dredge up
terrible memories for him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Although he never admits
it, or even talks about it to anyone other than Dr. Flynn, I know that
Christian still bears the deep scars of his terrible early years. Despite many
years of all kinds of therapy, he still really struggles with his abandonment
issues, haunted as he is by his memories of terrible abuse and his birth
mother’s horrific death. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I think maybe this goes a
long way to explaining why he has never formed any kind of a personal
attachment to anyone, even keeping us, his close family, at arm’s length, and
why I am so thrilled to finally see him overcome this barrier by starting a
relationship with Anastasia. She seems to have reached him in a way that no one
else ever has before, and I truly think she could be his salvation in
overcoming his issues, to finally find some well-deserved personal
happiness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A week before the Masked
Ball, Mia, Carrick and I were going through all the final arrangements and
details.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s such a shame that
Elliot’s going to miss it this year, he’s always such good fun at these
events,” Mia sighed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, I know, darling, but
he seems to be having a wonderful vacation in Barbados with
Kate, doesn't he?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, did I show you the
latest text he sent me? I can't believe he hasn't got bored with Kate
yet. This must be an all-time record for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">*<i>Hey sis, beats rainy
Seattle any day of the week*</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Mia held up her phone to
show me the text with a picture of Kate and Elliot on the beach. It showed a
very loved up young couple, clearly having a wonderful time. I thought maybe he’d finally met his match in Kate,
in which case I’d be very happy. It was about time our eldest son stopped
fooling around and thought about settling down, having sown more than his fair
share of wild oats, luckily without any unfortunate consequences as far as we
were aware. At least that was one worry we haven’t had with Christian, one
advantage of him being such a late developer with girls.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Elliot was lucky to be
able to take off like that. I just hope he won’t regret leaving his team in
charge of finishing off the Collinson Project. It wasn't very professional
of him,” grumbled Carrick.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He’s always taken a very
active interest in all three of his children’s careers, offering them his
advice and the benefit of his experience and wisdom, and then getting upset
when it’s ignored, even though I've told him numerous times that’s
pretty standard behavior from one’s offspring.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, come on, you’re only
young once. And you know what they say ‘all work and no play…’ I’m sure he has
it all under control,” I tried to reassure him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Elliot has always had a
very relaxed and laid back approach to work and to life in general, which
Carrick sometimes found hard to comprehend. Lawyers are rarely laid back about
anything, in my experience.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Talking of all work and no
play, have you been able to get hold of Christian at all,
Mom? I've left several messages and emails, and
he hasn't answered any of them, which is not like him. I know he’s
always ridiculously busy, but he usually gets back to me pretty quickly,” Mia
queried.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">To be honest, I had also
been trying to get hold of Christian and not having much luck. Ever since I’d
excitedly told my mother about his sweet new girlfriend, she’d been dying to
meet Anastasia, and had been pestering me to arrange a family dinner for this
purpose. So I had also been trying to get hold of Christian to invite them to
lunch or dinner on Sunday, but, like Mia, I had not heard back from him, which
I had to agree was unusual.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My mother loves all her
grandchildren equally, but she does have a special soft spot for Christian,
because she has such vivid memories of the shocking state he was in when we
first adopted him. Just like me, she is very proud of him for the success he
has achieved in his career, but I think she is even more desperate than me for
him to find some personal happiness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What’s the good of immense
wealth if he’s all by himself, living his life as a lonely, crusty old
bachelor? What he needs is the love of a good woman to sort him out - one that
will open his eyes and spark his interest in the bedroom, instead of spending
all his time pouring over all those boring facts and figures to make yet
another million. I would love nothing better than to see him happily
married, and getting on with producing some great-grandkids for me to bounce on
my knee before I depart this world,” she has declared on several occasions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He needs to let me know
what masks he wants for the ball. I even asked him for Anastasia’s number so I
could speak to her direct about it, but he hasn't responded to that
either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps I should just drop by his apartment, see if I can catch him
that way,” Mia pondered.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Er no, I don't think
that’s such a good idea,” I hastily replied, remembering how embarrassed I’d
been when I’d dropped in on Christian unannounced and had practically walked in
on him and Anastasia <i>in flagrante delicto</i>, just because Elliot and
I had been worried about him – unnecessarily as it turned out. “I expect he’s
been so involved with Anastasia, that he’s not got round to contacting us yet.
Just give him a bit more time, Mia darling.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I think even Taylor would
probably be unable to stop Mia from seeing her brother if she turned up at his
apartment unannounced. She would just go right ahead and march straight into
his bedroom whatever he said, because she is pretty much unstoppable once she
sets her mind to something. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Can’t you women just leave
the poor boy alone, for goodness sake? Give him some space so that he and
Anastasia can get to know each other, without his family dropping by every five
minutes. These things take time, you know,” Carrick declared.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Look Dad, it’s really
important, you know? I mean, I just want to be sure he’s bringing Anastasia to
the ball, because you know how difficult Christian can be about these things. I
can't wait to see my friend’s faces when they see him with a girlfriend,
especially Lily. They think I’m making it up, or that I've got it wrong,
because they’re all certain he <i>has</i> to
be gay, just because he’s never shown the slightest interest in any of them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think we’ll just have to
wait for Christian to get in touch. I know the event is definitely in his
schedule, and if all else fails, nearer the time I’ll check with Andrea to see
if he’s still planning to attend. Now, Mia, which dress have you decided to
wear in the end – the pink one or the orange one?” I asked in an effort to side
track my daughter.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And thankfully that was
enough to get her started on the merits of each of the dresses she was
considering wearing, and forget about dropping in on her brother for the time
being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
***</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It wasn't until
the evening before the ball that Christian finally confirmed that he was
coming, and that Anastasia was definitely coming with him too.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“He’s cutting it a bit fine
– it’s a good job I know where to get the best masks from,” Mia grumbled. “He
said if I picked them out for him, Taylor would collect them sometime on
Saturday, because he’ll be over here to do some sort of security check or
something. He’s opted for a plain black mask for himself, but he wants three in
different colors for Anastasia to choose from, because
she hasn't decided which dress she’s going to wear yet. All sounds a
bit last minute to me. I wonder if he forgot to ask her or something. I hope
he’s not getting cold feet about Anastasia, because I really like her. Or
perhaps she’s gone off him…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m sure it’s nothing like
that, Mia. Don't go looking for problems where none exist.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All the same I had to
confess I had been worried. Christian always likes to have every last little
detail under control and he is normally very organized and efficient. So this
sudden last minute arrangement was not like him at all, and I too had secretly
been worried that something had occurred between him and Anastasia. Sadly, I
knew better than to hope that if that was the case that he would confide in me.
However, I do believe that in John Flynn, he has finally found someone that he
trusts with his deepest anxieties, so hopefully he would turn to him if he was
having issues of some kind. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">On the face of things, it
would seem unlikely that Christian would hit it off with Dr. Flynn, who is
British and very different from all his previous counselors. But he’s been
seeing him now for about two years, which is by far the longest time he has
ever stuck with any doctor or therapist or counselor. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I heard about John Flynn
through my medical connections, when he first set up his practice here in
Seattle, so I knew he was very highly regarded, with a reputation for taking on
the most difficult and challenging cases. That was why I suggested him to
Christian when he stopped seeing his previous therapist. He had declared that
one to be worse than useless because he suggested hypnotherapy, which my son
apparently considered to be nothing more than a waste of his precious time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But I knew that Christian
needed to have some sort of an outlet for venting his inner turmoil and
frustrations. I've always fervently wished he felt able to confide in me, or
his father, but sadly that has never been the case. I think he feels much more
comfortable with a third party, someone who is not personally involved, and I
have to respect that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So Christian was one of
John Flynn’s first patients in Seattle. They just seemed to hit it off and have
gone on to build up a very relaxed rapport, from what I can glean from my
son. I've met John Flynn a couple of times, and I like him. He
seems very down to earth, not fazed by Christian’s unconventional start in
life, or his immense wealth, which is a good thing. Not that he discussed my
son with me in any way, because of course that would be unethical without
Christian’s consent. This was just the impression I got of him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was pleased when Christian
suggested that John Flynn be invited to buy a ticket to our charity event. It
proved that Christian thinks very highly of him, which is high praise indeed,
considering that he has deemed every previous therapist an idiot or a time
waster. The only other people he ever suggests we invite are business
connections that might prove useful to him, but that equally might also prove useful
to us in supporting Coping Together. Most of these people are only too willing
to have the opportunity to seek my son’s patronage and do business with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When Carrick had an early
morning phone call from Christian on the day of the ball, I wondered what on
earth it could be about.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian’s just told me
that Taylor’s recommended he order extra security for tonight. So that means
there will be some new men coming over to carry out some checks before he and
Anastasia arrive, and there will also be extra men hanging around this evening
as well. He says they've been given orders to be very discreet and
not get in the way, so it shouldn't be a problem,” he explained.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Extra security? But why?
What’s happened to make Taylor concerned enough to call in reinforcements?” I worried.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I don’t know,
Christian didn't elaborate.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well
why didn't you ask him, for goodness sake, Cary!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I did, but you know how
Christian can be - it’s like getting blood out of a stone with him. He said not
to worry, that Taylor is just being over cautious. Maybe Christian’s ordering
extra security because of Anastasia, which is possibly a wise precaution.
A young man in his position can’t afford to be complacent, not with the
threat of kidnappers and the like out there.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Maybe. I suppose being in
a relationship, being close to someone is all very new to him, so possibly he’s
being very protective of Ana, and Taylor is just responding to that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I have the greatest respect
for Taylor; I am very thankful that he is always there in the background,
looking out for my son. So I decided that if he was recommending security be
stepped up, then I was happy to go along with whatever that entailed.
I couldn't help feeling uneasy though - I hated the thought that
someone might wish my son and his new girlfriend harm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">*** </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Are they here yet?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My mother peered at the
crowds of people thronging the marquee. There were approximately three hundred
and fifty guests, so it wasn't surprising that
she hadn't seen Christian and Anastasia yet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m not sure, to be
honest, Mom. It’s hard to see when there are so many people around. But we’ll
all be sitting together for dinner, so you’ll see them both then,” I assured
her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“And he's definitely
bringing a <i>girl</i> along for us to meet? Because I've always suspected
Christian batted for the other side, if you know what I mean," my father
asked in a loud whisper, as he raised his eyebrows at me knowingly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes,
it's definitely a girl he's bringing tonight, Dad. You'll see
for yourself soon enough,” I replied, thinking they’d better darn well turn up now or my father would think I was delusional. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then Mia came hurtling
over. She had opted for the pale pink dress in the end, and it suited her very
well – my daughter looked beautiful, and I was very proud of her. I think her
pink filigree face mask, with its huge plume of long feathers was the most
elaborate one I had seen, but she could certainly carry it off.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Hi Gran, hi Gramps, lovely
to see you both,” Mia hugged and kissed my parents. “Wow, you both look totally
amazing in those bronze masks.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Aw, stop with all the
flattery, my darling granddaughter. Look at you, you’re certainly a sight for sore eyes,” my father said
affectionately, as he returned her hug. They have a very special bond between
them, and as with all the men in our family, Mia can twist him round her little
finger.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mom, I've seen
them, Christian and Anastasia are here!” Mia was literally bouncing up and down
on the spot, as she clapped her hands together in delight. “You should have
seen Lily’s face when I took Ana over to meet all my friends. She looks
absolutely stunning, and Lily couldn't help herself, she had to be
cutting and snide and make some comment about Christian being gay. It’s just
pure jealousy of course, so I soon put her straight. Then Christian
whisked her off to mingle - I think he wants to show her off to everyone. It’s
just the sweetest thing to see them together, and he’s so loved up that he
won’t let her out of his sight. Of course he looks divinely handsome, as usual,
so I suppose it’s no wonder my girlfriends swoon over him the way they do. ”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Naturally, I was relieved
to learn that they were both here, but then as hostess, I had to disappear to
make sure the catering arrangements were going to plan. Carrick was also busy,
checking in with the Master of Ceremonies about all the last final details of
the proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So
I didn't actually get to see Christian and Anastasia until I sat down
at our table in preparation for dinner being served. When I finally saw the
young couple making their way over to our table, my heart swelled with joy to
see them holding hands and looking simply adorable together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana looked stunning in a
gorgeous silver satin gown that really suited her, and showed off her enviably
slim figure. It looked to be a very expensive creation, so I imagine Christian
had probably bought it for her, and I was pleased about that. I’d been rather
worried that Ana might feel overwhelmed this evening, bearing in mind that only
a few short weeks ago she was just a student, used to managing on a pretty
tight budget, I imagine. Now she was being swept off her feet by Christian, but
as he can be very generous and thoughtful when he chooses, I was reassured that
it appeared he’d tried his best to make sure she would not feel out of place
tonight. She was also wearing some very beautiful diamond drop earrings, and by
the way they twinkled and sparkled as they caught the light, they were
undoubtedly the real thing. Another present from Christian, perhaps? <i>Diamonds
are forever – that’s a good sign, isn't it?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Her stunning blue eyes
looked enormous, highlighted as they were by her silver mask, but I could see
that she looked rather nervous, so I did my best to put her at ease and make
her feel welcome. She probably had no idea quite how immensely thrilled and
excited we all were to see her here tonight, or what a huge milestone this was
for Christian, to be seen out in public with his girlfriend. <i>And he’s
actually holding her hand!</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, how delightful to see
you again! And looking so beautiful, too.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mother,” Christian said,
as he kissed me on both cheeks. Not a hint of a hug or anything like that
though. I just wished he could be more relaxed with me. I always feel he’s
holding back from me, afraid to let his guard down, even now after all these
years.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, Christian, so formal!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My parents had spotted
Christian with Ana now, and were hastily making their way over. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh my, don't they just
make a <i>lovely</i> couple,” my mother whispered loudly, already
starting to get very emotional, as she made a beeline for her grandson.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Christian, it’s wonderful
to see you, and looking so debonair and handsome too. Come, give your old
grandmother a kiss hello,” she insisted, and Christian dutifully complied. “And
now, tell me who this beautiful young lady is.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Grandmother, Grandfather,
may I introduce Anastasia Steele?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, he’s finally found
someone, how wonderful and so pretty! Well, I do hope you make an honest man of
him,” my mother gushed, as she shook Ana’s hand and then kept hold of it. I
could see Christian cringing, and Ana blushing as she gently retrieved her
hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Mother, don’t embarrass
Ana,” I warned, as I smiled reassuringly at the poor girl. She smiled back at
me, and I liked her even more for her gracious attitude to the old folk. I just
had the most special feeling about this girl. Even though we hadn’t known her
that long, there was something about her that convinced me she was perfect for
Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ignore the silly old coot,
m’dear. She thinks because she’s so old, she has a God-given right to say
whatever nonsense pops into that woolly head of hers,” my father stated, as he
also shook Ana’s hand enthusiastically, and stared at her with a big smile on
his face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then the heat was taken off
the poor girl as Mia introduced her date to us all, a young man called Sean
that we hadn't met before. She’d been determined to have an escort
tonight, I think to prove some sort of a point to her friends, maybe even a
bet. I'm not sure Sean actually had any say in the matter to be honest, but he
seemed a nice enough boy. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I wasn't concerned that it was anything
serious, although Christian stared intently at him in an apparent effort to
work out whether this boy was a suitable escort for his sister. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian’s always been
very protective of Mia, and as I could imagine him also being super protective
of Anastasia, I decided that Carrick was probably right; concern for her safety
was most likely the reason behind the increased security he’d ordered for
tonight. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d already noticed Taylor
and three other men lurking around, because they were not wearing masks. As
they were keeping in the background, it wasn't too obvious unless you
were actively looking for them. Some of the other
staff weren't masked either, so I think anyone not in the know would
simply assume they were extra members of staff for tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As everyone settled in
their places at the table, Carrick appeared on stage to open the proceedings.
He’s a very good public speaker, as you would naturally expect from a lawyer
used to holding his own in court. Mia had gotten him a gold Punchinello mask
with a long beak nose to it – I think that was her idea of a joke, but he took
it all in good heart, and still managed to look distinguished and handsome.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He gave his usual speech
encouraging everyone to dig deep to support Coping Together. All he ever says
is that it is a cause close to both our hearts. Our friends understand that
this is a reference to our experiences with Christian. Other people probably
assume he’s referring to issues relating to both our jobs – either way, it is a
very worthwhile cause and we really appreciate everyone’s generosity. Every
year to date we have increased the money raised, despite these difficult times
with the recession. Of course this is when the charity needs supporting more
than ever.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Once he’d handed over
proceedings to the MC, Carrick came and joined us at the table. He too was
clearly delighted to see Anastasia, and greeted her warmly by kissing her on
both cheeks, the ultimate seal of approval from my husband, although I think it
took her by surprise.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The evening really got
going then, as Mia enthusiastically volunteered to be our table head. Ana
quietly watched everything going on around her, as she sat between my father
and Christian, who was very solicitous in his care of her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ana was obviously embarrassed
to be caught out when the MC asked for donations for the draw, but Christian
just quietly handed her a hundred dollar bill. She looked mortified as she
whispered to him, but he just calmly passed her his pen to write her name on
the note. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I noticed he also helped
and guided her through all the courses of the meal. We have to put on this kind
of fancy display to impress all our influential benefactors, but no doubt all
the various cutlery and glasses can seem confusing when you’re not used to
them, so I was pleased to see him being caring and courteous to his date in
this way. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">They whispered and gazed at
each other throughout the meal in such a sweet way, and I know my mother
noticed this too, as she nodded her head at them and winked at me.
It didn't stop her being her usual vociferous self though – she and
my father take great delight in scoring points off each other. I think my
mother won that evening, as she was on top form. Lord alone knows what Ana made
of it all, but that’s families for you – full of quirky characters that you
just have to get used to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian got into quite a
heated discussion with Lance, my friend Janine’s husband. They were sat at our
table to make up the numbers as we were missing Elliot and Kate, who were still
on vacation. It was quite unusual to see him so animated, so it must have been
about something he’s involved with at work, but I couldn't hear all
the details.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">However, while Christian
was engrossed in his discussion with Lance, Mia got Ana to agree to take part
in the First Dance auction which was being held a little later on. I strongly
suspected Ana hadn't a clue what she’d agreed to, and I just hoped
Christian would be fine about it - I had no idea how he would react to his
precious new girlfriend being auctioned off to the highest bidder. If Elliot
had been here, he’d have found the idea of his girlfriend being auctioned off a
huge joke of course, but with Christian you just never know.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Anyhow, Mia was doing a
good job of looking after Ana, as she helpfully showed her the way to the
ladies powder room, saving Christian the bother, although he looked anxious
until she returned to sit next to him again, when he quickly took her hand in
his again. It was as if needed to have some contact with her all the
time. <i>So sweet.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We were very lucky again
this year with the wonderful auction prizes that had been donated. It’s always
such a good way to raise funds, with people getting something back in return
for donating their money. We always donate a week’s stay at our place in
Montana, and Christian does the same with his place in Aspen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We were all aware that Ana
had only just recently finished at college, and that although she came from a
decent family, they were certainly not affluent, from what we’d gathered. So
you can imagine how shocked we all were when bizarrely, out of the blue, she
suddenly bid twenty four thousand dollars for the week at Christian’s place in
Aspen. She surely didn't have those kinds of funds to splurge
unnecessarily, and I’m sure Christian would happily have taken her there
anyway, without her having to bid for it. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He certainly looked none
too pleased at her actions, although he managed to put a brave face on it, as
he smiled and whispered something to her. I think maybe Ana acted on impulse,
and I just hoped it wasn't a misguided gesture on her part to try and
keep up with everyone else, because we certainly didn't expect
that. I looked at Carrick, and saw the same thought was going through his
mind too.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t worry. I’ll have a
quiet word with Ana later. I don't want her to think she has to impress us in
any way,” he whispered to me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Okay, but be very tactful
about it won’t you darling? I don't want her feelings to be hurt,” I murmured
back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Trust me, I’ll be very
discreet. It really is very sweet of her to want to contribute
though, isn't it?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, it is. I don't think
Christian is too impressed though. I hope it doesn't cause any upset between
them. I just want things to run smoothly between them, you know?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’m sure everything will
be fine. What’s he going to do – punish her somehow just for donating to
charity? I don't think so, Grace. You worry too much.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Looking over at the young
couple now, I decided Carrick was right. Perhaps I did worry too much about my
son’s complicated nature, always anticipating problems. Right now, he was happily sitting with his
arm draped over Ana’s shoulders, gently stroking her back, and I was very happy
indeed to see him being so openly affectionate towards her, in a way that I had
never seen him be with anyone before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then it was time for the
First Dance Auction.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I think it was nerves
maybe, but Ana got a fit of the giggles as Mia told her it was time for them to
get up on stage. At least she didn't seem too worried about the
proceedings anyhow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was obvious that
Christian was very reluctant for his girl to disappear, even for just
a short time. Before he let her go, he murmured something in her ear,
and then gently nuzzled her neck. Ana responded by softly kissing his mouth and
gazing into his eyes, as Christian smiled at her. A genuine, happy smile. <i>My
son looks happy!</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s the look of love if
ever I saw it!” My mother leaned over to whisper urgently in my ear, beaming
from ear to ear in delight at seeing her normally very reticent, very
restrained grandson acting in this way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I know! Don't they look
just adorable together? He simply can't take his eyes off her,” I replied
delightedly. Tonight, for the first time, my son actually looked like the
carefree twenty-something young man he should be. <i>Christian in love.
Yes!</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Quite a turn up for the
books. Not sure I’d have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own
eyes,” Carrick whispered to me, and even the cynical lawyer was smiling broadly
as he gazed affectionately at the young couple.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course the MC went well
over the top with his sales pitch for the young ladies who had volunteered to
take part in the auction – but that’s all part of the fun.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian joined the other
men gathered round the stage, as the first two young women were auctioned off.
He seemed pretty relaxed about it all, while Anastasia looked highly embarrassed,
but at least she had Mia by her side for moral support. I was quite certain
that when the time came, my son would be placing a very high bid to ensure that
he would be dancing the first dance with his girl.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When Ana's turn came to be
auctioned off, the MC hadn't even finished his introduction of her,
before Christian immediately placed a bid of ten thousand dollars, which was at
least twice the sum the two previous girls had gone for. He meant business
alright, and we all assumed that was it, a done deal, no one would be
outbidding him. So there were gasps from the crowd when a counter bid
rang out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Fifteen.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was a loud, deep voice
that sounded vaguely familiar but that I couldn't quite place, as I
looked over at the tall gentleman in his mask who’d placed the bid.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But clearly Christian knew
who it was, and thankfully he seemed amused rather than upset, as I might have
expected. He just stood there scratching his chin and smiling wryly, as the
other man nodded to him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Twenty.” Christian
gave a lazy smile as he upped the stakes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Twenty five.” The
mysterious man upped his bid again, causing more gasps from the crowd.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“One hundred thousand
dollars,” Christian responded loudly and clearly. <i>Enough is enough -
don't mess with me</i>, he seemed to be saying to the other man.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There were loud gasps from
the crowd, and in her excitement Mia was actually jumping up and down on the
stage next to Ana. I was more concerned about the state of my son’s
mind, rather than the money.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">After all, as Carrick proudly
informed me recently, our son is a billionaire, one of the youngest
on the Forbes list, along with Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder who is
about the same age as Christian, and Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft, who
is of course much older. Interestingly enough, it turns out that they both
dropped out of Harvard too, just like Christian. Make of that what you will – I
guess it shows you don't need to graduate to prove you’re a financial genius.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So, as a billionaire, one
hundred thousand dollars was probably quite a paltry sum to Christian. Pocket
money, even. But by the look of total shock on Ana’s face, it was clearly a
huge sum of money to her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The other mystery bidder
shook his head and bowed out graciously. I imagine he was probably wealthy, but
not in the same league as Christian. Not many people are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then, without further
delay, Christian collected Ana from the stage, and quickly led her away from
the crowds to beat a hasty exit from the marquee. It was a lovely evening, so I
imagined that maybe he was going to show her the view – and possibly spend some
time kissing and cuddling with her too, which I thoroughly approved off.
Clearly, he just wanted her all to himself, but I noticed that Taylor and the
other security men followed them at a discreet distance. I sighed, as I
realized that was the price he paid for being so rich – the lack of privacy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I wondered to myself how
Ana was going to cope with that side of things – the body guards, the intrusive
paparazzi, as well as the gossip pages, all no doubt hungry for a juicy story
about my son falling for her, once word got out. It made me sad, to be honest. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Why couldn't people just mind their own business and leave them alone
in these fragile early days of their new found romance? Maybe that was the
reason behind Christian’s increasing their security – to prevent anyone trying
to get some sort of an exclusive picture or story about Ana. The last
thing he’d want was her to be scared off by nosy, invasive reporters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was just thankful that
Taylor was so good at his job, and always so meticulous and thorough. He’d even
insisted on checking out Christian’s old bedroom earlier in the day, although
I couldn't see why he deemed that necessary. Christian hadn't used
that room in years, although I've always told him that this is still
his home, and that his room will always be there for him, should he ever need
it. I've kept it just how it was when he left to go to Harvard, and I
sometimes go in there to sit and think about those years when he lived at home.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian refuses point
blank to ever discuss his birth mother, and always stubbornly refers to her as
the ‘crack whore’, no matter how hard we've tried in the past to get
him to see that she did love him, and that she was herself a
victim of circumstance. But despite all his protestations of disinterest, he
has always kept the small black and white photo of Ella - as far as we know,
the only one left in existence of his birth mother - in the corner of the pin
board in his bedroom. Several times we’ve offered to have it restored and
enlarged for him, but he’s always steadfastly refused to allow it to be touched
in any way. We’ve respected his wishes,
and so the photo is still there in his room, I've never moved it or
put it away. He didn't take it with him when he moved out, and
I wondered if he saw it as making a break with his past when he left it behind.
I'm pleased he never destroyed it though, as I'm sure he would eventually
regret it one day if he had.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I also have a box that
contains the very few possessions he had when we adopted him – his precious
comforter blanket, and his two toy cars, along with the few things that were
left of his birth mother’s. Nothing of financial value of course, because
she’d sold everything she had to fund her drug habit, but there were some books
and a diary. I've never read the diary, as it would seem a gross
invasion of Ella’s privacy somehow, but I think as her son, Christian has the
right to read it if he chooses to. Until now, there has never been a time that I
felt was right to offer these things to him, but I hope that maybe one day, he
will be in a better place, where he can be more accepting and think about his
birth mother in a less judgmental way, and so be able to look through that box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">*** </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Sean didn't manage
to win Mia in the First Dance auction – I think it was rather out of his
financial league, poor boy. But Mia didn't seem too worried about it,
probably because she was too excited at being won by a tall, handsome stranger.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Isn't he a dish?” she
mouthed at me, as she nodded towards her new partner, and I smiled my agreement
back at her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Then I was taken by
surprise when my friend Elena came up and greeted me.
I didn't recognize her at first, because she was wearing an unusual full
gold mask that concealed her trademark platinum blonde bob. She looked her usual extremely elegant and
beautiful self, in an exquisitely cut black velvet gown, making me wonder if maybe
I should have worn something more classic, rather than the mint green gown I’d
opted for in the end, largely on Mia’s insistence. Elena always looks far younger than her actual
age, making me feel rather frumpy by comparison, especially as she is always so
immaculately groomed in every way, although Carrick insists I have nothing to
worry about.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Elena always looks as hard
as nails. All that bleached blonde hair and red talons for nails. Nothing
natural about her at all,” is his considered opinion.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Grace,
darling, you've really excelled yourself this year. Everything is
just fabulous, but then I wouldn't expect anything less from you and
Carrick,” she enthused, as we pecked each other on the cheek in our normal
manner.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Elena my dear, how are
you? I didn't think you were coming this evening, but I'm glad you
changed your mind. It’s good to see you, and thank you so much for the donation
of the Esclava voucher for the auction. It’s very generous of you and much
appreciated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I hadn't actually
spoken to Elena for a while, not since she’d made some rather harsh comments
about Christian’s new girlfriend the last time she’d called me, which I’d felt
was uncalled for. To be honest, I couldn't really see what business
it was of hers, but for some reason, she’s always taken quite an interest in
Christian, much more so than my other two children.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Maybe it was because I’d
confided in her about my fears for Christian when he was going through that
particularly difficult spell, when he was about fifteen or sixteen. I was so
worried that he was secretly drinking, that he'd possibly inherited an
addictive personality trait from his birth mother, and that he might even go on
to start taking drugs. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">At the time, she had been a
friendly shoulder to cry on, although to be honest we didn't really
have that much in common. I think we became friends because I felt sorry for
her, as I could see that she was trapped in a loveless marriage. Her husband
treated her as a trophy wife, and they’d never had children, so I think she was
probably lonely. We’d gotten to know each other through mutual acquaintances,
as often happens.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I’d been surprised when I’d
learned that Christian had gotten involved in some sort of business venture
with Elena, something to do with her chain of beauty salons.
I assumed he’d provided some sort of financial backing, although he’s never
really elaborated much about their arrangement. I do know that he likes to
dabble in all sorts of new business ventures that he sees potential in, so I
guess that’s why he got involved. Maybe there’s more money to be made in the
beauty industry than I realized, especially as Elena only caters for the top
end, for exclusive clientele. As a very busy doctor with all my onerous
responsibilities at the hospital, it’s certainly not my area of expertise, and
I don't have the time to indulge in many of the treatments she offers – I just
have my hair done regularly, and the occasional manicure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It was my pleasure to
donate the voucher, it’s such a worthwhile cause, after all,” Elena smiled,
then changed her tune as she got her claws out. “I see Christian is still
infatuated with this young girl, making that outrageous bid at the First Dance
Auction to win her.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I felt my hackles rise at
her sneering tone.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think it’s much more
than an infatuation, actually Elena. I think he’s in love, and it’s pretty
serious between them. I, for one, am delighted to see the change Anastasia has
brought about in Christian. I've never seen him like this before, <i>ever</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t get me wrong,
Grace, I’m thrilled to see him so happy too. But aren't you just a
little concerned?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What do you mean?
Concerned about what?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Well, if things don't work
out? What if Anastasia can’t cope with a challenging man like Christian? She’s
just a young, immature girl, fresh from college, swept off her feet by a very
rich, very handsome young man pursuing her. And he seems to
have impulsively jumped straight in the deep end, with what is after
all his very first relationship. But once she realizes that he moves in very
different circles to those she’s more used to, she might not be able to cope,
especially with his undeniably complex personality. I'm just worried he’ll get
terribly hurt if she breaks things off with him again.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Again? What do you mean, <i>again</i>?” What did Elena know that
I didn't?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh, Didn't you
know? Didn't Christian tell you? Anastasia broke things off with him
last weekend, and the poor boy was totally devastated. Now I think he’s made
her all kinds of unrealistic promises just to win her back, so that they can
try again.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">That would explain why
we hadn't been able to get hold of Christian all week, and why
he hadn’t confirmed to us that Ana was coming to the ball right up until
last night. Now I felt really terrible for not trying harder to get in contact
with him. I wondered why they had broken up? My poor boy,
why hadn't he told us what he was going through so that we could
support him? He must have been heartbroken, and yet he still hadn't turned
to us to support him. This was just typical of him though. But how come Elena
knew about it when we didn't?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“How do you know all this?”
I asked her frostily.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It just so happened
that we had a business meeting arranged last week, when he was going through
this. I could tell that he was very upset about something, and when I asked him
what the matter was, he confided in me. Much as you confided your woes to me
about Christian all those years ago. I guess I must be a good listener. Look,
please don't mention to Christian that I've told you about any this, not if
he hasn't already mentioned it to you himself. I’d hate him to think
I’d broken his confidence, but it’s probably best that you’re aware of what
happened.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Can I ask, why did Ana
break up with him? Do you know the reason?” I <i>hated</i> asking her, <i>hated</i>
that my son had confided in her rather than me, but I had to know.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I think she finds him, his
needs, very demanding, and it all got too much for her. You know Christian
followed her all the way to Georgia, flew there in his private jet, even though
she specifically told him she needed some space, some time away from him to think
things through?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I recalled how Ana had been
talking about making a visit to her mother in Georgia when Christian had
brought her to dinner at our place that first time, and how he’d seemed upset
about it, so what Elena was telling me did ring true.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Poor Christian, it seemed
he simply couldn't bear to be without his Anastasia. You could see it by the
way he was constantly by her side all evening, how he couldn't take his eyes
off her. He really was head over heels in love, and I suppose I could see
how Ana might feel rather overwhelmed. My son can be very driven, determined to
get what he wants at any cost, which of course is why he is so
successful. He just needed to remember that Anastasia was not a business
acquisition that he could steam roller through in his usual intense way. He
needed to learn about the more subtle aspects of a relationship, and I couldn’t
argue that he had a lot of catching up to do in that area. But it was very
obvious that Ana was deeply in love with him too – any fool could see that.
They just needed to learn to compromise and adjust to each other.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But they seem to have made
up again now, and they look very happy together. So hopefully they have managed
to work things out,” I insisted, upset that Elena had rained on my parade. I’d
been so thrilled to see them together, so happy that my son had a lovely
girlfriend, but was I closing my eyes to the reality of the situation?
I couldn't argue that Christian was indeed a very difficult young
man, so was it fair of me to expect Anastasia to be the answer to all our
prayers and magically solve all his problems overnight?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, they seem to have
papered over the cracks for now at least. Don’t get me wrong, Grace. Just like
you, I’d love to see Christian happy in a close relationship. But it’s no good
looking at things through rose colored spectacles is it? Maybe being outside
the immediate family means I can see things a little more clearly. I’m not
being swept along by the euphoria of discovering that
Christian isn't gay, because I've always known that he wasn't.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“How? How could you
possibly have known that he wasn't gay?” I queried
disbelievingly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It wasn't just me
who’d made that assumption. Carrick, Elliot, Mia and even my father had all
reached the same conclusion, that Christian was most probably gay. Why else had
he never brought a girl home, or even been seen with one? At the time, it had
been a perfectly logical assumption.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I don't know, just call it
a sixth sense about these things if you will,” Elena shrugged. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“But I've always known that Christian was straight and definitely not
into guys.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I didn't really
believe her, to be honest. It was easy enough to claim that now, seeing him
with his girlfriend, and quite frankly, I was getting rather sick of her
insinuation that she knew my son better than I did. Just who did Elena think
she was?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Luckily, just as I could
feel my temper rising and I might have said something I would regret later, Carrick
appeared at my side to collect me. The first dance was about to be announced
and we needed to make our way over to the dance floor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That <i>woman</i>…” I
muttered to him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“What? What’s the matter?”
he asked, concerned.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Never mind. I’ll tell you
about it later, Cary. ”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">My good humor was restored
by seeing Christian grinning happily as he led Anastasia onto the dance floor,
having returned just in time from wherever they had snuck off to.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We all started dancing as
the band struck up ‘<i>I've got you
under my skin’</i>, and as I glanced over at the young couple dancing together,
smiling and whispering together in their own private little world, I pushed my
annoyance with Elena to the back of my mind. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All young couples
inevitably have their ups and downs, but looking at them now, there was
absolutely no doubt in my mind that they looked very happy together. I decided
that Elena was probably just one of those glass-half-empty kind of folk who
always cast doubts and look for problems. And anyway, whatever went on between
Christian and Anastasia was really none of her goddamn business.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When the dance ended, the
identity of the mysterious man who had bid against Christian was revealed, as I
recognized John Flynn cutting in and asking for the second dance. So it seemed
he knew about Ana being Christian’s girlfriend, which I could only think was a
good thing, because it meant that Christian had confided in him and hopefully
turned to him for support when they broke up last week. In any case,
Christian didn't seem to have a problem with letting John dance with
her, although he watched them from the sidelines like a hawk of course, and was
there to reclaim her the second the music finished.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick and I stood on the
sidelines to watch, fascinated because we'd never seen our son so
eager to dance and take part in the festivities before. Normally, he dutifully
completes just one dance with me, his grandmother and his sister before making
his escape. Tonight, he was obviously relaxed and actually enjoying
himself. I couldn't imagine where he learnt to dance that well,
unless maybe he’d had lessons at college, but there was no doubt that he was a
very good dancer indeed, as he effortlessly swept Ana around the floor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Good evening, Dr.
Trevelyan, Mr. Grey. Thank you for inviting me this evening.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I turned round to see John
Flynn, as he proffered his hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Please, it’s Carrick and
Grace,” my husband insisted, as the two men shook hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s a pleasure to see you
here tonight. Is your wife here?” I inquired, thinking she
probably wouldn't know many people, so perhaps I ought to seek her
out.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“No, unfortunately
she couldn't get a babysitter for our boys at short notice. Rhian
won’t leave them with anyone she doesn't know, she’s very
protective,” he explained.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s a shame, but I
quite understand how she feels. I was just the same with our
kids, wasn't I, Carrick?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, you most certainly
were, darling. Well, hopefully next time you’ll have a bit more notice to
organize a sitter, Dr. Flynn, because we’d certainly love to meet your wife.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“That’s very kind of you.
And please, it’s John.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">All three of us were standing
on the edge of the dance floor, watching Christian and Ana dancing together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It’s a delight to see
them, isn't it?” John commented, smiling as he nodded towards the
young couple – Christian was expertly spinning Ana around, and she was laughing
up at him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“It most certainly is.
We've never seen him like this before, and it’s wonderful to see him
looking so… <i>happy…</i>and <i>normal</i>, just like a young man in
his twenties with his whole future ahead of him ought to be. He’s always seemed
old before his time, continually alone and just concentrating on his work,” I
agreed. “But… I just hope we aren't expecting too much. From
Anastasia, I mean. Christian can be rather… c<i>hallenging</i>, can't he?” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The doubts that Elena had
put in my mind had resurfaced.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Between you and me, I
think Anastasia is the best possible thing that could have happened to him,”
John winked at us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Really? You truly think
so?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> I couldn't hide
the note of hope and longing in my voice. If, as I suspected, John had been
supporting Christian during his break up with Ana, and now his opinion was so
positive about them, surely that was a very good sign? I knew
I couldn't ask him anything directly about it, but I took his words
as a hint that things had turned out for the best between them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I’ve been looking
forward to meeting Anastasia in person, and I have to say now
that I've met her, in my opinion she is a total delight, and just
perfect for Christian,” he replied with a big smile.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Oh thank you, you don't
know what that means to us,” I gushed, and then I just couldn't help
myself, I gave the poor man a hug and kissed his cheek. He looked surprised,
but at least he didn't seem offended, so perhaps he was not as
reserved as some British people I've met.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick was also rather
taken aback by my unusually exuberant display, but of course he had no idea
what Elena had told me earlier. I decided I would fill him in later, because I
really didn't want to talk about that just now. If the good Doctor
Flynn thought everything was going well, that was good enough for me.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So Cary and I danced a few
more dances together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I haven’t had a chance to
speak to Ana about her auction bid yet, but I can't see her or Christian at the
moment,” he said as he glanced around the dance floor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Perhaps they've escaped
for a while. Perhaps they wanted to be… <i>alone</i>, if you catch my
drift,” I suggested with a smile. “You remember those days, don't you?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I most certainly do, and I
still like stealing a kiss or two from my lovely wife,” he teased as he gave me
a quick kiss. “Ah, there they are. Won’t be long.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">With that, he headed off
towards Christian and Ana who had just reappeared, and after a few words with
them, he was dancing with his son’s girlfriend to <i>‘Come Fly with Me</i>’. I just hoped he wouldn't say anything
that would rock their very precarious boat, especially as he was unaware that
they had only just reconciled after breaking up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I needn't have
worried. When he came back, he was singing Ana’s praises.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Ana said she’d
unexpectedly come into some money she didn't need and that she really
wanted to donate it to Coping Together, because Christian had told her some
things about his childhood. Grace, he’s actually opening up to her; he’s
talking about what happened to him with her. He’s <i>never</i> done
that before, has he? This really is a huge step forward for him, don't you
think? Anastasia is having such a positive and beneficial effect on him, so I
really think we must do everything in our power to support them and encourage
this relationship. She is so good for him.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“I couldn't agree
more, Cary. No one is happier than I am about this romance, so we must
treasure Ana and make her part of our family.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">For the first time in many
years, Christian stayed for the firework display – he is normally long gone by
the time they start. But this year, he stood and watched them as he cuddled up
very closely with Ana, every now and again leaning down to kiss her. <i>Yes,
head over heels in love, the pair of them.</i> As everyone had now
been allowed to remove their masks, I could see their expressions more clearly,
and they were both like young children, excitedly watching the
impressive display. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">A little while after the
display had finished, they sought us out to say their farewells.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Please do come again,
Anastasia, it’s been lovely having you here,” I told her warmly, as I kissed
them both goodbye, and hugged the dear girl. <i>My son’s salvation?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, my dear, you are
always very welcome, anytime,” Carrick echoed my sentiments as he also kissed
and hugged her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I had to admit they both
looked rather bemused at our effusive display, but we didn't care,
although it was a good job my parents had left earlier, or else no doubt they
too would have been joining in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“Make sure you include us
next time you have Christian and his young lady over to dinner, won’t you?
We didn't get much of a chance to talk to them tonight,” my father had
insisted when they left. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I didn't like to
point out that he had actually talked to Ana for a quite a considerable time at
dinner, when he'd been sat next to her. I’d overheard him telling her all about
the origins of the Trevelyan family name, and how his family originated from
Cornwall in the south west of England. I think he’s always been rather
disappointed that none of my children have chosen to use the old Cornish part
of our name, preferring instead to stick with the much simpler Grey. I can’t
say that I blame them though – Trevelyan-Grey is rather long winded.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">“They are such a sweet,
lovely young couple,” my mother had sighed happily as they left. “And they
would make such beautiful babies together too.” <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was certainly very glad
they weren't around to hear that last remark of hers, because I'm
sure Ana would have blushed right to the very roots of her hair, even if I did
secretly agree with my mother. God willing, they would indeed make very
beautiful babies together, if they should ever progress to that stage in their
relationship sometime in the distant future. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But of course we were
getting way ahead of ourselves. All I could hope at the moment was that the
course of true love would run a little more smoothly for them, now that they
seemed to have reconciled whatever their differences had been. It still rankled
with me that I’d had to learn about their difficulties from Elena. I'm
Christian’s mother, for goodness sake, and he should have felt able to confide
in me, shouldn't he? But it made me all the more determined to
befriend Ana, to be as supportive of her as possible, especially as her own
mother lived so far away. I felt sure that she was definitely the key to
getting closer to Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As the Coping Together
Masked Ball finally came to its conclusion, Carrick and I agreed that this year
had without doubt been the best event we had ever hosted, and a very large part
of that was due in no small part to a certain young lady who was having such a
remarkable effect on our son.</span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #222222; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com105tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-57529264571842977622012-07-20T16:28:00.000+01:002016-03-26T11:42:40.516+00:00Chapter 3 - A Thousand Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HlOKnW-pXpPOxQfKxsm8jrWLYtBM5dtaTJZlNEm8ejRTHPctUbLX0YrKxWC0RW7wz2AslnxL5cs1CXqGQeGV7nqQVEoI-3Lja48BuX6EaDNm069suwPNSbWp1Pe0L4qhSUOO2B3FeMdr/s1600/mama+grey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8HlOKnW-pXpPOxQfKxsm8jrWLYtBM5dtaTJZlNEm8ejRTHPctUbLX0YrKxWC0RW7wz2AslnxL5cs1CXqGQeGV7nqQVEoI-3Lja48BuX6EaDNm069suwPNSbWp1Pe0L4qhSUOO2B3FeMdr/s320/mama+grey.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The house came alive once Mia returned from France.
On her first evening home, we had a family meal to welcome her back, and I
insisted that everyone had to attend, no excuses from the boys, family first
for once. We had a wonderful evening, with lots of merriment as Mia regaled us
with stories about her time in Paris.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">However, I did have to warn
Elliot not to be so crude as he teased Christian about his new girlfriend,
having spent the day helping the girls move from Portland to Seattle. I swear I
almost saw Christian blush when Elliot told him,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“By the way, Ana said to
say ’Hi’ to you.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Did she now,” Christian
muttered, as he toyed with his glass of wine, a frown marring his face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Aw, you’re all lovesick,
aren’t you little bro.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Shut up, Elliot.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Looked like a very
comfortable mattress I helped carry in for Ana’s bed, you’ll be pleased to
hear. Nice and bouncy, if you catch my drift. I bet you can’t wait to try it out with her in their new place. You’ve really got some catching up to do in
that department, haven’t you?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Elliot had a huge grin on
his face as he said this, play punching his brother’s arm.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“I told you to <i>shut
up</i>,” Christian growled, as he grabbed Elliot’s fist to force it back.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Enough, boys!” I stepped
in. Elliot can be a touch insensitive at times. It’s always a fine line with
Christian, knowing how far you can push him. Clearly he was very sensitive
about his new girlfriend, and I didn't want anything to spoil the evening.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Still, I knew that
underneath all that banter, Elliot really was a very caring big brother,
especially after confiding his recent worries to me that Christian was becoming
withdrawn and depressed. Thank goodness that after my unannounced visit the
other weekend, I was able to reassure him that his fears were unfounded. Maybe
he knew Christian better than the rest of us however, as he hadn’t seemed all
that surprised when I told him about Anastasia. Maybe he already had his
suspicions, as his new girlfriend Kate is her best friend.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">After dinner, Mia begged
Christian to play a piece for her on the piano.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Please Christian, I got
the sheet music especially so you could play it, because it is <i>sooo</i> beautiful,”
she pleaded, as she handed it to him. “And there’s a cello accompaniment, so I
thought maybe we could play it together eventually, once you’ve mastered it.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Christian frowned as he
studied it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Oh God, not more of that
rubbish Twilight shit you like so much,” he groaned. I frowned back at him for
swearing, and he shrugged his apology at me. “And anyway, when did you last
play your cello?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“<i>Pleease</i>, Christian.
Just try playing it for me, then maybe I’ll be inspired to get back into
playing. Or maybe I’ll just sing the vocals with you instead, because the words
are really cool when Christina Perri sings them. I bet Anastasia would love it,
it’s <i>really</i> romantic,” Mia implored him. And of course he was
unable refuse his little sister, so he just sighed and took the music sheet
over to the piano.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Christian is such a
naturally gifted musician that after he’d sat and played around with the score
for just a short while, he’d pretty much mastered it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">We all sat spellbound as we
listened to him play. It was wonderful. Even Carrick, who is not really a
musical person, was entranced.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Oh darling, that was
simply beautiful,” I told him when he’d finished playing. “What is that piece
called? I’m not familiar with it at all.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Er… says here it’s called
‘A Thousand Years’. Like I said, it’s part of all that Twilight sh… rubbish
Mia’s addicted to,” he pronounced grouchily. I suppose I could understand that
unlike my daughter, Teen Vampire romance stories were hardly likely to appeal
to Christian. But nevertheless, I noticed that he took the music score home
with him when he left later that night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">It isn’t often that I have
all three of my children at home, so having them visit two days running made it
a very special weekend. Mia managed to persuade the boys to bring their
respective new girlfriends round for dinner again the next evening, so that she
could give them her personal stamp of approval. This was no problem with
Elliot, as he happily agreed to bring Kate along, but needless to say Mia had
her work cut out with Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">But she is pretty much an
unstoppable force once she sets her mind to something, and in any case she can
twist her big brother Christian round her little finger in a way that no one
else can. She wheeled me in to add weight to her argument, so Christian finally
agreed that he would bring Anastasia to our family dinner on Sunday.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“But be gentle with her,
Mia,” he warned. “She’s not used to a big family like ours, she’s actually
pretty shy and you…well you’re you,” he teased, as he ruffled her hair.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Hey, don’t mess with the
hair, you big bully,” she teased him back, as she reached up to ruffle his hair
in return.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"> Of course Christian’s
hair didn’t look any different, as it always looks tousled anyway. He’s one of
those fortunate people who don’t have to spend hours on grooming, because he is
just naturally a very good looking, very handsome young man. Almost too good
looking I sometimes think; which is maybe why we all accepted so readily that
he was gay. A lot of very ‘pretty’ young men do turn out to be gay after all,
but now it seemed that we’d all been mistaken on that score with Christian.
Mind you, I’m not sure that Carrick was totally convinced about this initially.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Are you sure it’s not just
wishful thinking on your part, Grace? This girl you saw him with, maybe she’s
just a new PA or something? You know how he carries on working right through
the weekend, so maybe he had her there to complete some paperwork,” he
suggested, when I excitedly told him all about meeting Christian’s <i>girlfriend</i> when
I returned from dropping in on him at his apartment.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Carrick, I know it seems
hard to believe after all this time with not so much as a hint of any kind of a
girlfriend, but when I arrived at his apartment, they were in his <i>bedroom</i> together,
for crying out loud. I nearly walked right in on them; it was only Taylor
practically barring the way that stopped me from making a complete idiot of
myself. And I’m telling you, there is no doubt at all in my mind that they
were… well you <i>know</i>…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Put it this way – they
weren't in there playing scrabble together, were they?” Elliot, who had dropped by for a quick visit at the time, called out from the other side of
the room with a big smirk on his face.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Yes, thank you Elliot, I think
I get the picture,” Carrick huffed. “Well, even if that is the case, who
is this girl anyway? What do we know about her? Christian is an extremely
wealthy young man, so inevitably he’s going to present a very lucrative prize
to a certain type of female. Especially as he’s so inexperienced with women; I
think he’d easily fall prey to their seductive feminine wiles. And you know how
impulsive and unreasonable he can be at times, stubborn too, just like when he
dropped out of Harvard…”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I quickly interrupted him
then, not wanting him to start up about all that again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 200%;"><br /></span>
</span></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7xiibJCJIfHb-SVQATrIjD705m-JBQYU6I-lk6cEEa9ynmuh9ALNHYX_fdZ53hZ5s-BVSb9zVmnI7I0MCh_ISwq47g7iOgJm_O6pIRolAdmyoe2ll7w5dQ9h2IlRNHzI7xqjUQptF8Ok/s1600/Andrew+Airlie+carrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7xiibJCJIfHb-SVQATrIjD705m-JBQYU6I-lk6cEEa9ynmuh9ALNHYX_fdZ53hZ5s-BVSb9zVmnI7I0MCh_ISwq47g7iOgJm_O6pIRolAdmyoe2ll7w5dQ9h2IlRNHzI7xqjUQptF8Ok/s1600/Andrew+Airlie+carrick.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Carrick Grey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">But Carrick finds it so
hard to switch off his protective father/lawyer mode, so of course he couldn’t
help himself, he still had to quiz Elliot about the girls after he’d spent the
day with them helping with their move. I think Carrick was reassured to discover
that he knew Katherine Kavanagh’s father, as he’d dealt with him in a
professional capacity and considered him to be a respectable kind of man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Hmm, so at least Kate
comes from a decent family,” he pondered. “But this Anastasia, we really don’t
know anything about her at all do we?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Dad, you worry too much.
Just chill, Ana’s a real nice girl, very honest and down to earth. You’ll see
for yourself when you meet her. You’re just gonna love her, I know you are,”
Elliot assured his father, who didn’t look at all convinced.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The thought of Christian
bringing home his first girlfriend was indeed a very novel one, and of course
Mia was just dying to meet her. She made me tell her every little detail that I
could possibly recall about Anastasia several times over that day, as we planned
out and made preparations for the meal.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“So, is she stunningly
beautiful, like in a top model kind of way? I mean Christian is so ridiculously
hot that he could have practically any girl he wanted, couldn’t he? Or guy,
come that. Do you think maybe he’s bi rather than gay, Mom?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Really, Mia! No, I don’t
think your brother is bi-sexual, I believe it’s simply a case of him being a
late bloomer as far as girls are concerned, but now he’s met the right girl,
she’s awakened his interest romantically. He’s been spending all of his time up
to now totally immersed and focused on work, which of course goes a long way to
explaining why he’s as successful as he is. Speaking of which, you ought to
talk to him to get his advice about this plan of yours to set up a high end
catering business, now that you’ve completed your Parisian haute cuisine
course.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Yeah, Mom, I was planning
to. I mean, he’s like the ace man, the top dude when it comes to all that
business stuff isn’t he?” she said proudly. She’s always looked up to Christian
in such a touching way.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“And as for Anastasia, I
would describe her as being beautiful in a very natural way, unlike those fake
model types you see, plastered in makeup and so forth. I think that’s probably
why she appeals to Christian – she must seem like a breath of fresh air to him
in his high powered, executive world.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Oh I can’t wait to meet
her. I just <i>know</i> we’re going to be best friends,” Mia sighed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“That would be lovely,
darling. So tonight, let’s make a real effort so that both she and Kate are made
to feel very welcome. I really want them to feel part of this family, so that
the boys are happy to bring them home any time they want. That way, we’ll
really get to know them, won't we?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Of course, Mom, you know
you can count on me,” Mia beamed happily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">***<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Elliot arrived first with
his new girlfriend Kate. She seemed a lovely girl, very attractive, as well as confident
and outgoing. She was clearly besotted with Elliot, as she hung on his every
word and couldn’t take her eyes off him. But she was also a very bright and
talented young woman, and Carrick seemed quite taken with her, as he chatted
with her about her father. I hoped she'd be a good influence on Elliot, help
him to settle down, instead of having a new girlfriend just about every week.
He was very different from his brother in that respect, that was for sure.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Then we heard Christian’s
car arrive, so Carrick and I went and waited for them by the front door.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Don’t you dare spoil this
evening with any of your nasty, suspicious probing about Anastasia’s motives
with regard to Christian. I’ll never forgive you if you upset our son in any
way that would prevent him from bringing her home again,” I hissed at Carrick,
who looked rather wounded by my words.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Of course not, I’d never
do that,” he protested.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">As I saw them get out of
the car and make their way over to us, I was thrilled to see them holding hands.
They looked so natural together, and I had to pinch myself to be convinced this
was actually happening. <i>Yes, it’s really true, Christian has a
girlfriend. I didn't just dream it.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Anastasia, you’ve met my
mother, Grace. This is my Dad, Carrick.” Christian politely made the formal
introductions – I brought my children up to show good manners at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Mr. Grey, what a pleasure
to meet you,” Anastasia smiled, as she took his outstretched hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“The pleasure is all mine,
Anastasia,” Carrick responded. I saw his eyes shrewdly examining her and then
softening as he failed to detect the slightest hint of ‘gold-digger’ about this
young woman. I relaxed a little then, relieved. <i>See, I told you she was
a lovely young girl, didn't I?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Please, call me Ana,” she
insisted.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, how lovely to see you
again,” I told her, as I wrapped her in a big welcoming hug. “Come in, my
dear.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Then Mia, who had been
chatting amiably to Kate and Elliot in the living room, suddenly realized that
her other brother had arrived.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Is she here?” she
screeched, as she came running down the hall, and I saw Anastasia looking over
at Christian rather nervously.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“That would be Mia, my little
sister,” he quietly informed her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Anastasia! I’ve heard so
much about you,” exclaimed my daughter, as she gave her a big hug.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Ana, please,” she replied,
seeming rather bemused as Mia dragged her inside.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“He’s never brought a girl
home before,” Mia told her excitedly.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Mia, calm down,” I told
her, as I saw Christian rolling his eyes, very aware that this was new
territory for all of us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Hello, darling,” I said,
as I kissed my dear boy on both cheeks, and was relieved to see that he was
still smiling as he shook his father’s hand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">As we made our way into the
living room, there were more greetings, which I noticed seemed rather cool
between Kate and Christian, but then Elliot played his part to make Ana feel
welcome by giving her a big hug. I think maybe the poor girl felt rather
overwhelmed by all this attention. Just as well I resisted the temptation to
invite the grandparents over as well, even though I knew they would have loved
to have been included.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">But then it was just the
sweetest thing to see Christian standing there by Ana’s side, with his arm
around her protectively, pulling her even closer to him. They made such a
lovely couple, and I suddenly realized that we were all just gawping and
staring at them, I suppose because it seemed such an unbelievable sight – one
that we never expected to see. Christian with a girlfriend. Even Carrick just
stood there gawping at them with a soppy little grin on his face, before he
quickly pulled himself together.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Drinks? Prosecco?” he
offered.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Please,” Christian and Ana
answered in unison, which was again so very sweet, and showed how they already
seemed be thinking as one.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mia clapped her hands in
delight. “You’re even saying the same things. I’ll get them.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Dinner’s almost ready,” I
told everyone, as I followed my daughter out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Once we were in the kitchen
and out of ear shot, Mia turned to me and trilled in her usual over the top
manner,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Mom, they are just <i>sooo
cute</i> together aren’t they? I mean Anastasia is just the <i>sweetest</i> thing,
and you could see Christian doing his alpha male overprotective thing by
putting his arm possessively round her like that, you know, after Elliot hugged
her. He is obviously <i>crazy</i> about her. And now I totally get
what you were saying about her being a natural beauty, she’s lovely. I really
like her,” Mia pronounced with a contented sigh.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">“I’m pleased to hear it,
Mia darling. I like her very much too. Now, are you going to take that Prosecco
in to them while I get this dinner on the table?”</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">***</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wnMffwCvSwd83ySWsuYNUHjnqPMwdbjZaNWbw2OCB2OlvAYfsCrqY0Nmjdyk_qcPzZw5OV-FG5XNooyKV89KVZUmT5rrDP6I1bd0AQJGDyu2UNfrfOBsyKB9M2diXjBMboFx0QAmZUXW/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wnMffwCvSwd83ySWsuYNUHjnqPMwdbjZaNWbw2OCB2OlvAYfsCrqY0Nmjdyk_qcPzZw5OV-FG5XNooyKV89KVZUmT5rrDP6I1bd0AQJGDyu2UNfrfOBsyKB9M2diXjBMboFx0QAmZUXW/s400/family.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I couldn’t help noticing
Christian holding Anastasia back to whisper urgently in her ear as everyone
made their way into the dining room, and I just hoped it wasn’t some kind of a
lovers tiff, although it didn’t look too promising, judging by the expressions
on their faces.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">As we all sat together
around the table, I could see Mia getting on like a house on fire with Kate,
which I was pleased about. But I could see Christian and Ana continuing to
whisper to each other, and I wasn't the only one who noticed either.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“What are you two
whispering about?” Kate boldly asked, making it clear that she was not a shy
young woman, especially as she didn't even quail when Christian gave her one of
his infamous black looks.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Just about my trip to
Georgia,” Anastasia answered. I didn't know anything about this, but I guessed
that was possibly what she and Christian had been whispering about. He didn't
like the idea of her going away, maybe?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“How was José when you went
to the bar with him on Friday?” Kate asked Ana, with what seemed like a
challenging glance at Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I looked over at Christian,
and was shocked to see a look of fury in his eyes. Who on earth was this José?
An ex-boyfriend of Ana’s maybe? But why was Kate bringing this up now?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“He was fine,” Ana
murmured. Christian leaned over and whispered to her again, and I saw her
literally squirming in her seat. This did not look promising, and I worried
that things were already going wrong for this young couple. I hoped that it was
just some kind of a misunderstanding.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Then, as Gretchen was
bringing the food in, the phone rang, and it turned out to be the hospital for
me. Worryingly, we had another measles case. If only people would have gotten
their kids vaccinated! It made me reminisce about when our children were small,
although the worst thing they ever had was chicken pox, with poor Elliot
getting far more spots than the other two.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Much to my relief,
Christian seemed to have gotten over his snit with Ana, as he relaxed and
joined in the conversation with everyone, so I took the opportunity to chat to
Ana to get to know her a bit better. She told me how their move to
Seattle had gone very well, and from what she said it sounded like a very nice
apartment that Kate’s father has settled them in. I hoped they’d be very happy
there, and I was just so happy they’d moved up closer to the boys here in
Seattle.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Then the conversation
turned to Paris, as Mia and Kate chatted about their favorite things to do with the city. Ana confessed she’d never been there, and I suspected she’d
probably never even left mainland USA. Christian said he thought Anastasia
would prefer London in any case, and I couldn't help thinking that he could
easily take her to Paris and London; in fact he could show her the world,
they could share so many wonderful experiences together. <i>Grace, stop
it. You’re getting way ahead of yourself. They’ve only just got together
haven’t they?</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">The talk of Paris brought
back so many happy memories because Carrick and I honeymooned there, more years
ago than I cared to recall. I looked over at Carrick, and he smiled back at me
happily, as he recalled it too. We have certainly been blessed in our very
happy marriage. He was a tower of strength for me when I discovered that I
couldn’t have biological children of my own, and thought that my world had
collapsed. But as is often the way in life, what seemed the closing of one
door, was in fact the opening of another.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Adopting our three
wonderful children has brought the most indescribable joy into our lives, even
if it has also provided many challenges over the years – especially with
Christian. But he was the one who needed us the most; he was the one who had
existed in the type of hell that no child should ever have to endure for four
long years, before we finally got to him, and I thanked my lucky stars every
day that we were given the chance to rescue our darling boy. Thank God that
some sort of guardian angel was watching over him to ensure that I was the one
on duty at the hospital on the day that he was brought in, only just alive.
Because that angel would have known that once I’d seen him, I would have moved
heaven and earth to be allowed to take care of him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">So as I looked over at him,
sitting there with his sweet new girlfriend that he had obviously fallen
head over heels in love with, I found myself hoping and praying that same
guardian angel was going to make sure he got the final key to happiness in life
that he deserved. Materially, he had everything and more that any man could
ever wish for, but as his mother, I knew that he needed <i>love </i>in
his life to finally make him the complete man he should be. The happy, kind,
loving man that we sometimes caught a glimpse of – I think Mia probably saw
more of that side of him than anyone else. But watching him, seeing how
solicitous he was when Ana choked on her wine, I could see that’s how he was
with her too.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">I was thrilled to see how
Kate and Elliot couldn’t take their eyes off each other either. It seemed that
love was in the air for both my boys, and I was delighted.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">After dinner, as Mia and I
were clearing away, Christian came into the kitchen, towing Ana behind him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“I’m going to show
Anastasia the backyard,’ he pronounced, as I happily waved them out. No doubt
he wanted to be alone with her, I smiled to myself. Who would ever have
believed this would be happening, even just a short while ago? Christian taking
his girlfriend out for a romantic walk, holding her hand, stealing kisses. I
hugged myself with glee at this wonderful turn of events. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">They were gone quite a
while, and it was only when Elliot and Kate were making moves to leave that I
finally allowed Mia to go and find them, having ordered her to leave them alone
previously.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Let them be, Mia darling.
Give them some space, some time alone together,” I insisted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mia sighed irritably as she
looked over at Kate and Elliot sitting together on the couch again, barely able
to keep their hands off each other - it was plain to see that there was a very
strong attraction indeed between them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“I think those two need to
get a room,” Mia whispered loudly to me, and as she pulled a face, I had to
hide a smile at my daughter’s reaction. Carrick and I used to be just like
that, many moons ago. <i>Never did us any harm.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;">***</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">Mia turned up with
Christian and Anastasia just as Kate and Elliot were making their farewells.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“We should go, too – you
have interviews tomorrow,” Christian reminded Ana.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“We never thought he’d find
anyone!” Mia exclaimed, as she hugged Ana, and I could see Christian rolling
his eyes again.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Take care of yourself, Ana
dear,” I told her warmly. But before I could embrace her, Christian grabbed her
hand and pulled her over to his side.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Let’s not frighten her
away or spoil her with too much affection,” he grumbled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Christian, stop teasing,”
I scolded him, understanding that my son was just being protective of his girl,
worried that she’d find us all rather overpowering, recalling that he’d told
Mia yesterday that Ana was shy and unused to large families. As he bent down to
kiss me good bye, I thought it was very thoughtful of him to be so caring for
her feelings.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Mr. Grey – goodbye and
thank you,” Ana held out her hand to Carrick, but seemed taken by surprise when
he hugged her instead. Of course I was delighted that he seemed to have
forgotten his misgivings about this young woman.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Please, call me Carrick. I
do hope we see you again, very soon, Ana,” he smiled at her.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">With that, they headed out
to the car where Taylor was holding the door open ready for them. I’d made sure
he’d had something to eat while he was waiting to drive them back, as I usually
did whenever he brought Christian over. I always felt happy when Taylor was
around my son, reassured that someone was looking out for him, so the least I
could do was make sure the man was kept well fed and watered. He was always very
polite and appreciative anyway.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“I just hope Christian
wasn’t boring Ana this evening when they went outside, because do you know
where I found them? In the boathouse, where he was showing her his rowing
trophies from Harvard. I mean, you’d think he’d find something more romantic to
do with her, wouldn't you?” Mia commented, as we made our way back indoors.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;">“Oh I imagine he found
other things to show her too,” I smiled, imagining that Christian had no doubt
managed to steal a kiss or two with his lovely young lady during the course of
the evening.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 200%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If
you would like to listen to the music that Mia wanted Christian to play, click on
these youtube links. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgaTQ5-XfMM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgaTQ5-XfMM</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtOvBOTyX00</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br />
</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com103tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-46298694988128731552012-06-24T20:33:00.003+01:002016-03-26T11:42:22.309+00:00Chapter 2 - In Flagrante Delicto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Taylor came
running after me as I headed for my son's bedroom, clearly under instruction
from Christian not to let anyone in, and of course Taylor always did exactly
what he was told, because that was his job. But I wasn't going to be fobbed
off by anyone, not if my son could be lying wallowing in a deep depression,
or even worse contemplating suicide….</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Mrs. Grey, there really is no need for you to concern yourself. Mr.
Grey is fine." He tried to block me.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"But if he's still in bed, then he must be ill. He's never in bed at
this time. Christian never sleeps in." I pushed past him.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Mrs. Grey, please." Taylor tried to head me off again.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Taylor. You cannot keep me from my son." <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No one</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> was
going to prevent me from checking on my son if he was ill. I was determined
to see him.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Mrs. Grey, he's not <i>alone</i>." Taylor stared at me and
raised his eyebrows, clearly trying to convey some deep hidden message.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"What do you mean, he's not alone?"</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"He has <i>someone</i> with him." Taylor spelled it out
to me, as he indicated the bedroom with his head.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Oh…"</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
The penny finally dropped. Christian was
entertaining a <i>friend </i>of some
description <i>in his bedroom</i>. Taylor was </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%;">tactfully</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">trying to tell me that
Christian was </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">in bed</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> with someone. That possibility hadn't
even occurred to me. The implications sunk in… so that meant… he wasn't
celibate. </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Oh God!</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> I stumbled towards the couch and shakily
sat down. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Taylor backed away,
satisfied now that I wasn't going to go ahead and march right into my son's
bedroom. I realized that Christian would have heard me just outside his
bedroom door, and would no doubt be making his way out just as
soon as he was decent.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<i>Oh God! </i>Who on earth was this <i>someone</i>
going to be? Taylor, ever the soul of discretion, hadn't specified any gender,
so that definitely made me think it was a guy. Did this mean Christian had a
partner he'd been keeping secret from us? Was he ashamed of his boyfriend, too
embarrassed or worried that his family would be judgmental or
unsupportive of him? If that was the case, then I'd truly be disappointed,
because I thought I'd made it plain to him numerous times that I just wanted
him to be happy, and would support his life choices whatever his sexuality. So
I quickly decided to be friendly and welcoming to his boyfriend if he brought
him out and introduced him to me, to show that I was perfectly fine about it,
and not upset or shocked in any way.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
But then it occurred to me… what if… <i>Oh God… </i>what if he didn't
have a regular boyfriend, but was being secretive because he was using some
sort of a male prostitute instead, some 'crack head rent boy' type that I'd
heard people refer to. Someone he was paying to satisfy his sexual needs. If
that were the case, then I assumed Christian would most likely keep this <i>someone </i>hidden away from me in his
bedroom. I was just going to have to play this by ear, wait and see how
Christian acted and what he said to me.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
I heard the door open, then watched bemused as Christian sauntered out, with
bare feet, wearing his standard casual weekend attire of jeans and T shirt,
looking his usual very handsome, tousled hair self. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I didn't let myself dwell
on the reason why his cheeks looked flushed and his eyes were sparkling. <i>Classic post orgasm signs?</i> <i>Whoa,</i>
<i>don't let yourself go there, way too much information for a mother.</i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He casually strolled
over, leant down to kiss me and then sat down next to me on the couch.
An amused little smile was playing around his mouth – at least he didn't look
angry or upset that I’d turned up unannounced, so that was a good start.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"This is an unexpected pleasure," he said, appearing very relaxed.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"How are you Christian?" I asked, as I scrutinized his face,
trying to judge if I dared ask who he'd got in the bedroom with him. I didn't
want to risk upsetting him, so I waited to see what he was going to say.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"I'm good thanks. How's Dad?" he replied casually.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"He's as busy as ever, you know what he's like," I replied
absent mindedly, as I couldn't help glancing over at the bedroom door. It
seemed he was not going to say anything about whomever it was he had lurking in
there. But as this was the first chance I'd ever had to discover anything at
all about my enigmatic son's personal relationships and sexuality, I wasn’t
about to give up just yet.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Mia's due back soon isn't she?" he said next, clearly making polite
chit chat in a most unlike Christian way. Was he waiting for me to go? Should I
just come out and say something, ask him straight out?</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Yes, that's right she is, and she's asked if you can pick her up from the
airport, if that's alright darling. I think she's missed you while she's been
in Paris."</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Yeah, I've missed her too, and I've already said I'll be there to pick
her up. She emailed me."<br />
"That's good then." I tried to smile, but then watched in horrified
fascination as I realized the bedroom door was slowly opening.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<i>Right,</i> I quickly told myself. <i>Plaster a smile on your face Grace girl, and
whatever you do, don't appear shocked or upset in any way whatsoever. Breathe
in slowly, deep breath, in and out. Be calm and welcoming, whoever walks out of
that door. I'm broad minded enough to handle this. I have to be for Christian.</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i>
But I couldn't help it. I was shocked to my very core when I saw just who was
making their way out of his bedroom. My eyes simply couldn't take in what I was
seeing. <i>It couldn't be… surely not… this
couldn't be right… did this mean?… but I was <b>sure</b> he was…</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i>
It was a beautiful young woman who was nervously making her way out. A girl. A
female. Christian had a girlfriend. A sweet, beautiful young girl. Clearly not
a hooker of any sort at all. She was perfect. Just perfect. I thought I was
going to cry. <i>Don't make a complete idiot of yourself for goodness
sake.</i> But Christian had a <i>girlfriend</i><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">By her flushed cheeks and
sparkling eyes that exactly mirrored my son's, it was very obvious just exactly
what they'd been getting up to in his bedroom, no doubt about that at all. So
that meant… he wasn't gay. Christian was not gay. He was just a late developer
with girls, that's all it had been. I'd worried myself sick for years over
nothing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Here she is,"
Christian said proudly. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He stood up and then
possessively pulled this girl up to him when she’d made her way over to us,
blushing shyly, dressed in what appeared to be my son's shirt, fresh faced and
not wearing a scrap of makeup. She didn't need to; she was simply a natural
beauty, with stunning big blue eyes. She was just adorable, and I was over the
moon with delight, as I'm sure my huge beaming smile gave away.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Mother, this is
Anastasia Steele. Anastasia, this is Grace Trevelyan-Grey." Christian's
manners were impeccable as he formally introduced us.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
"What a pleasure to meet you." I somehow managed to get the words out
as we shook hands. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was still pretty incredulous with shock; I still couldn't
quite believe this was actually happening. It was like a dream sequence,
because this was exactly what I would have wished for my dear boy. A potential chance
for happiness, just like Carrick and I had found together.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Dr. Trevelyan-Grey," she murmured shyly as we shook hands.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Call me Grace," I smiled warmly at her. "I am usually Dr.
Trevelyan, and Mrs. Grey is my mother-in-law."</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
I could see Christian frowning in surprise, as he knew that I rarely let people
call me by my first name unless I knew them really well. To hell with
formality, I wanted to get close to this wondrous young girl, make her feel
welcome. I winked at her.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"So how did you two meet?"</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
Where on earth had Christian met someone like her? She was nothing like the
classic blonde ice maiden types he always seemed to employ around him in his
office.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Anastasia interviewed me for the student paper at WSU because I'm
conferring the degrees there this week," Christian replied.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
Ah right, that explained things. She didn't work for him. Just a chance
meeting. <i>Serendipity.</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i>
"So you are graduating this week?" I asked Anastasia. I quickly
worked out that meant she was probably only around twenty one or so. Quite a
bit younger than Christian, but that was okay - Carrick is eight years
older than me.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
It also explained why she was so sweet and shy, because she was just a
young student. My word, she was certainly being swept off her feet being
courted by my handsome billionaire son, poor little thing. But I thought she
was just perfect for Christian, a breath of fresh air.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Yes," she replied, but then had to excuse herself to answer her cell
phone that was ringing somewhere in the kitchen. I smiled gleefully to myself
when I saw the way Christian hungrily gazed after her - he simply couldn't
take his eyes off this girl. He was clearly totally smitten and head over heels for
her, which I guessed explained why he was distracted and not really listening
to me.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"...and Elliot called to say you were around – I haven't seen you for two
weeks, darling.” I was explaining why I’d dropped by, but it was falling on
deaf ears. I didn't mind though. This explained why Christian had seemed so
preoccupied to Elliot yesterday – obviously he couldn't stop thinking about his lovely new girlfriend. It all made perfect sense now. Oh I was just so
relieved and happy at this unexpected turn of events, and I couldn’t wait to
tell Carrick about it, knowing that he was going to be every bit as surprised
as I’d been.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"Did he now?" Christian murmured as Anastasia re-joined us, and the
way he was staring so intensely at her made me feel that I was intruding. <i>Time to take my leave. Two's company…</i></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><i><br /></i>
"I thought we might have lunch together, but I can see you have other plans,
and I don't want to interrupt your day," I said as I picked up my coat,
and proffered my cheek for a kiss, knowing from years of experience that this
was the most contact I could expect from my son, unlike the big hugs I received
from Elliot. But now that Christian had a girlfriend that he was clearly on
very intimate terms with, perhaps that would change? I could only hope that would be the case. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"I have to drive Anastasia back to Portland," he explained, as he
gently pecked my cheek.<br />
"Of course, darling. Anastasia, it's been such a pleasure. I do hope we
meet again," I told her sincerely as we shook hands.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
<i>Please, please, please, let this work out for my sweet boy</i>. To the rest
of the world Christian might be the super-rich CEO of Grey Enterprises, but to
me, underneath it all, he was still the damaged little boy that we had adopted,
and I wanted so much for him to find true happiness and spiritual well being. I instantly had such a good feeling about this
young woman, I truly did, because my gut instinct was telling me that this
sweet young girl might just prove to be his salvation, the balm to his poor
wounded soul. Carrick has always claimed that I’m an incurable romantic, and
perhaps he’s right, but what’s wrong with that?<br />
Taylor escorted me out through the double doors to the foyer, and pressed the
button to call the elevator for me. I was hugging myself, and I had a huge
soppy smile on my face as I looked over at him.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">
"He's head over heels isn't he?" I couldn't help myself, I just <i>had</i> to say something or I'd have burst,
because I was so thrilled and excited about this wonderful development in my
son’s life.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
"I couldn't possibly comment, Dr. Trevelyan," Taylor replied in
his usual succinct manner, but then gave me a sly wink to let me know that he
agreed with my assessment of how things stood for his employer.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br />
Having worked for my son for several years now, I’d seen how fiercely loyal and
protective Taylor was, so I was sure he would dearly like to see him happily
settled in his private life.<span style="background: white;"><br />
I was just so glad that I'd gone over to see Christian today, all thanks to
Elliot. As I left, I got my cell phone out to call him, to let him know that thankfully
his concerns were unfounded and he didn't need to worry after all. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Goodness,
but he was going to be so surprised to find out that his brother had a
girlfriend. He probably wouldn't even believe me, but I'd seen the evidence
with my very own eyes now.</span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4020141300210741903.post-88465729613977385052012-06-24T20:33:00.002+01:002016-03-26T11:42:07.818+00:00Chapter 1 - Brotherly Love<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Do you think he might be sinking into a depressive state?" I asked
Elliot, worried by what he'd been telling me about Christian.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Well I couldn't say
for sure, Mom. You know Christian, he never really opens up does he? All I know
is that when we went hiking today, he wouldn't talk about himself at all. I
tried to get him to come out for a drink afterwards to unwind, but as usual he
said he was too busy. He just seems… preoccupied somehow. "</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Maybe I should call
him…" I pondered.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"He'll tell you he's
fine, Mom. It's only when you actually see him, you know?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Hmm, yes, I know what
you mean. I haven't seen him for nearly two weeks now… maybe I should drop by
unannounced, so he can't fob me off."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Well, that might not
be such a bad idea. Then you can assess him properly. He won't bite your head
off the way he does mine either. I do happen to know that he'll be in his
apartment tomorrow morning."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Maybe I could drop by
Escala then, and insist on taking him out to lunch."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"That would be great,
Mom. I'd feel a lot happier if I knew you'd checked up on him. But I would go
over early, just to make sure you catch him."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Yes, that's what I'll
do then. And thanks Elliot, for being such a caring and concerned brother to
Christian, especially as I know he doesn't always make it easy for you."</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">*** </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So the following morning I
headed off to my younger son's luxurious penthouse apartment. There was no
doubt whatsoever that Christian was extremely successful and hugely wealthy now.
But was he happy? Would he ever be able to find any kind of personal
contentment and act more like the twenty seven year old young man he was,
rather than some cold, middle-aged, business tycoon?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Given his horrendously
abusive early start in life, it was no wonder that Christian was such a complex
and difficult young man. I'll never forget the day he was brought into the
hospital, where I was the receiving doctor on duty at the Child Protection
Center at Michigan's Children's Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He was barely alive, he was
so dehydrated and emaciated. The police believed that he'd been left alone,
shut up in a slum apartment with the body of his dead mother for several days
after she died, with nothing to eat or drink. She was a drug addict, who'd
turned to prostitution to fund her crack cocaine addiction. Her young son had
clearly been neglected and abused for most, if not all, of the four short years
of his life. Her evil pimp had no doubt found having a young child around not
conducive to securing clientele for his prostitute mother, and had taken his
fury out on the poor child by beating and tormenting him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It made me sick to my
stomach to think of what this little boy had gone through. Even in his terribly
neglected state, he was such a beautiful child. He had a mop of unruly
dark copper hair, piercing sad gray eyes, with a face that had the most
exquisite bone structure. I think his birth mother could have made a fortune if
she'd only had the wherewithal to have gotten him to a model agency, instead of
spending her time craving the next fix to get back into a drug-induced state of
ecstasy. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Of course Christian should
have been taken into care years before, but he was one of those unfortunate
kids that had slipped through the net, who’d somehow never shown up on the authority’s
radar. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I guess his birth mother
must have loved him in her own way, because she’d chosen to keep him rather
than give him up for adoption, when there was no shortage of couples desperate
to adopt a baby. I tried to give her the
benefit of doubt and assume that she had at least tried to look after him, but that
she just wasn't capable.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But it was hard, and I
could barely contain my fury as I tried to examine this beautiful little boy. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He was filthy dirty, his
clothes little more than rags. He clung tightly to his precious, soft comforter
blanket, the only thing that seemed to bring him any solace. The nurse tried to
take it away from him because it was so filthy, but I ordered her to let him
keep it, as it was all he had in the world that he treasured. I determined to procure
him a new blanket just as soon as it could be arranged, then carefully launder and
de-louse the original one and return it to him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I could see that he had what
were clearly cigarette burns over his chest and back, as well as numerous cuts,
bruises and other injuries, evidence of the brutal beatings that he'd obviously
endured over a long period of time. He couldn't bear to be touched by anyone,
and he was mute. He never spoke a word or made a sound other than to
scream if he was touched or handled in any way, although it was clear that he
understood what was being said to him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I went home in floods of
tears that night, very reluctant to leave this poor little boy alone in the
hospital, but having no choice. I'd already made up my mind that come what
may, we were going to adopt him, and I begged Carrick to support me in my
mission. Luckily my husband is a wonderful man, and once I'd filled him in with
all the horrendous facts, he was just as keen as I was to adopt Christian.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I was unable to have
biological children of my own, and we had already adopted one child, our son
Elliot. He was a sweet natured boy, and I thought he'd be able to cope with us
adopting a brother for him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And so we took Christian into
our family, although it took a frustratingly long time for due process to be
followed. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Despite the fact that we
were already approved as adoptive parents, Christian had to be placed with
foster parents while all the necessary checks were made, to ensure that he
didn't have any living relatives who would have had the right to adopt him if
they so wished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But no one was unearthed,
no one came forward, so we were eventually given the green light to adopt
Christian, to take him into our family and give him our name of Trevelyan-Grey.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">While going through the
registration process, we could also have chosen a new given name for him, but
we chose not to. Christian wasn’t a
baby, he was four years old, so he was used to his name, and as he’d already had so many changes to cope
with, we felt it wouldn’t be fair to cause him further confusion, even though his name hardly seemed appropriate
given his ungodly start in life.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Things were not easy, and
it was a difficult time. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It soon became clear that
Christian was an exceptionally bright, intelligent boy, yet he still didn't
talk. Instead, he would let us know what he wanted by nodding or shaking his
head, or pointing to what he wanted. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He also suffered the most
dreadful nightmares that had him waking up drenched in sweat, screaming blood
curdling screams. He still couldn't bear to be touched, or held, or cuddled in
any way, but I used to lie down next to him on the bed to try and calm him, gently
whispering and singing to him and stroking his hair, until eventually he went back
to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Finally we had a break through,
when Christian was around six years old. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I like to play the piano,
and would play songs to the boys, hoping it might encourage Christian to find
his voice and join in. Elliot would join in for a while, but would quickly get
bored and run off to play with something else. However, Christian would remain
sitting next to me on the piano stool, studying my hands on the keys, quite
clearly fascinated.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Would you like me to
teach you how to play for yourself?" I tentatively suggested. I was
thrilled when, after thinking about this for a minute, he nodded his
head and gave me a little smile. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So I did, and right from
the start he loved it. After just a few sessions, it was obvious he had a
natural talent by the way he picked it up so quickly, and when we found him a
proper piano teacher, Miss Kathie said he was the most talented pupil she had
ever taught. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And in time, Christian relaxed
enough with us to start whispering a few words, which was a huge step forward.
We were finally making progress, getting somewhere with our boy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The next big event was that
Mia came into our lives to complete our family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">She’d been abandoned by her
teenage birth mother when she was just a tiny baby, so we managed to adopt her
by the time she was six months old. We thought long and hard about whether it
was the right thing for us to do, as we already had our two boys, one of whom
had special needs. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But in the end, we decided
we had enough love to go round, and so we went ahead and adopted
her. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian was actually a
very self-sufficient little boy, who looked after himself most of the time. He
would eat anything that was put in front of him, and I encouraged him to help
himself to any food he wanted if he was hungry, assuring him that he would
never be scolded for doing so. On a healthy diet, he quickly filled out and
grew to make up for lost time, and actually was quite tall for his age by the
time he was six.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When we brought baby
Mia home, Elliot was rather put out at having another
demanding addition to our family, but Christian simply adored her
from day one. His worried concern for his new baby sister got him talking more, as he hurried to
fetch me if she was stirring in her crib, or if he thought she needed feeding
or her diaper changed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">"Mommy, Mommy come
now. Baby Mia needs you, Mommy," he would urge, as he'd tug on my sleeve
insistently.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He would spend ages just
watching her sleep, gently touching her cheek or stroking her dark silky baby
hair. It was a revelation, and a turning point. This was the wonderful, kind,
caring and loving little boy that had been hidden for so long behind his fear.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian made enough
progress for him to be able to go to regular school, which at one time we’d
feared wouldn’t be possible, but his deep seated issues meant he found it
difficult. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">He still couldn't bear to
be touched in any way. He didn't mix, didn't socialize or make friends, and he had
the most ferocious temper that could explode into uncontrollable rage at the
slightest provocation. He was exceptionally bright, which meant that he found
school boring, because everything was so easy and presented no challenge. We
were initially reluctant for him to be accelerated into
classes with older children as the school suggested, as we felt he needed to
develop his personal skills first. However, in the end we acquiesced, realizing
that the benefit of increased intellectual stimulation outweighed the other
considerations, and that was how he ended up in a lot of classes with his older
brother.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Elliot was protective of
Christian, but also a little scared of him, because he had seen his violent
temper in full vent. But Elliot's natural good nature and temperament meant
that he always tried to look after his brother, and I was proud of him for that.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I'd explained to him when
we first adopted Christian that he had been treated very unkindly before he'd
come to us, so it was our job as his family to make up for that by giving him
lots of extra love.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As the years passed, we
became reasonably adept at keeping things on a pretty even keel most of the
time. We tried our hardest to give our kids
plenty of quality family time, and as we wanted them to have a broad based upbringing,
we made sure we took them on trips to Europe, as well as vacationing at home.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Then we came to the teenage years, and when
the hormones started kicking in, Christian became an absolute nightmare to
handle. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">His violent temper
frequently surfaced with a vengeance; he got into a lot of trouble and was
expelled from two schools for fighting. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I suspected that Christian
was drinking, and I even feared that he might turn to drugs, just as Ella, his birth
mother, had. From what little we’d been able to discover about her, it seemed
that Ella had been an extremely clever girl, having won a mathematics
scholarship to get into college, but then she’d gotten in with the wrong crowd,
one that dabbled in drugs, which was how she'd become addicted to crack
cocaine. This had led to her dropping out of college and eventually ending up as a prostitute to fund her addiction.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Ella had been an only
child, and after her parents had been killed in a car crash, she’d been left
with no one to turn to or help her, so she’d spiraled out of control into the
depths of depravity, dragging her young son down with her as she sunk further
and further into her self-inflicted hell. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And somehow at that time, I
could see history repeating itself, as Christian seemed set on a similar path
of self-destruction. Carrick and I insisted that Christian had counseling,
but it didn't seem to help. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It was a very worrying
time, and I considered myself lucky to have the support of my friend Elena, who
provided a shoulder for me to cry on, as I unburdened myself to her with my
worries about my son. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">And then when Christian was
fifteen, coming up to sixteen, he suddenly seemed to calm down. Maybe his
hormones leveled out, maybe the counselor at the time
finally managed to reach out to him. Whatever it was, he settled down, got on
with his studies and eventually got into Harvard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian hated
Harvard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">It wasn't so much the
studying, as he found the academic side, especially anything related to economics
and business studies incredibly easy, I just think it was the whole lifestyle and
socializing aspect that he despised. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">We tried to talk him out of
dropping out and setting up his own company when he had just a year left to
complete, but he'd made up his mind and wouldn’t listen to reason.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick was furious, and
I'm not sure he's ever really forgiven him, despite how successful his change of direction turned out to be.
Christian might have risen to be one of the wealthiest young men in America, but it
still rankled with his father that despite being so gifted, his son was now classified
as a drop out, all because he didn't have the mettle to stick it out at Harvard
when he was <i>this</i> close to graduating. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">But so impatient was Christian
to get on with making his first million, that he launched himself into the business world rather than wasting time by finishing college. No question, patience has never been one
of our son’s strongest attributes. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">No doubt he would argue
that his subsequent success justified his course of action, but although I was
very proud of my son for his incredible business success, I was worried for his
personal happiness. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian had been a very
beautiful child, and he'd grown into a very beautiful and handsome young man.
He literally had women swooning at his feet, and yet he showed no interest whatsoever
in any of them. He could be absolutely charming if he chose to be, but
that was as far as it went. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Christian had never had a girlfriend, he'd never brought
a girl home, which just didn't seem natural to me. His brother Elliot, on the
other hand, who had also grown into a very handsome and charming young man, clearly
took great pleasure in female company, with a new girlfriend practically
every week. He clearly had no problems whatsoever in taking care of his natural inclinations
and needs, which as long as he acted responsibly, and took all the necessary sensible
precautions, I didn't really have a problem with. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I'd come to the conclusion
that Christian just wasn’t interested in women, and that he was most likely
gay, and as I'd never seen him with a gay partner, I could only assume he was
celibate. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Lord alone knew what he’d
seen as a small child, when his prostitute mother had entertained her ‘clients’,
and maybe this went some way to explaining why he was repressed and celibate. I
supposed I should at least be grateful that he hadn't turned out to be one of
those disturbed young men that have unusual and depraved tastes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">So as I made my way up in
the elevator to Christian's apartment, I worried that his damaged childhood was still
affecting him, now that Elliot had told me of his concerns that he was becoming
reclusive and withdrawn. I couldn't stand the thought of him brooding alone,
and potentially having negative thoughts that could set him on a path to
self-destruction. Having surpassed his goal of becoming super rich, what
new challenges could he find? He had every material comfort that he could possibly
want, but I knew that wasn't enough for anyone to be truly happy. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Carrick and I have been
blessed in our very happy marriage, and it was my dearest wish for Christian that would find himself a life partner - in a gay relationship if that’s what made him happy - to share
everything he had with. All his vast wealth seemed so pointless otherwise, if all
he did was shut himself away in his ivory tower in miserable solitude. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When I reached his
apartment and Taylor told me that Christian was still in bed, my worst fears
were realized. Knowing how hard he still found it to sleep, and that he never
slept in late, the only reason I could possibly imagine for him being in bed at
this time of day was that he was in some way ill. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">I insisted to Taylor that I
had to see him, and determinedly made my way towards his bedroom.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
don’t own any of the Fifty Shades Trilogy or the characters therein. They
belong to E L James. I’m just borrowing them for fun and not for profit.
Please refer to the Legal’s page for further details. This work is not to
be copied or reproduced in any way without permission. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Christian Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07202337786652508385noreply@blogger.com62