Forgotten Birthdays

By

AJ

Part 12

A Revealing Conversation

"I don't thing it was taken by an ordinary thief, Dick," Tim answered.

"We were followed," Bruce added.

"We've got to get that package back," Tim stated.

"We'll get it back, Tim. Only a collector would be interested in what's in that package."

"But we don't know what was inside."

"Would your father have kept a list of the artifacts that had been found at the dig?" Bruce asked.

"Yeah," Tim answered. "That would be in his filing cabinet."

"Did the thief go through that?"

"No, oddly enough he only went through the boxes that I packed. I hadn't gone through the filing cabinet."

"Then we'll go back to your father's and check for what might have been in that package," Dick stated.

"Not before we say our goodbyes," Tim stated. "We've come all this way to find our Mother's parents, it would be rude to leave now."

"You go ahead," Dick stated, somewhat harshly.

Tim could sense that Dick was still upset about what was said by Ester Roustin. It did seem odd that Ester had not fought her husband to bring Dick to Newtown, to raise him. Did his grandfather really hate Dick Grayson's father for taking his mother and was there something more? Tim knew Ester was hiding something in the way she had said that her husband hated Grayson, as if he knew him. It was also odd how he reacted toward Mary when she came home and told him that the child she carried wasn't John Grayson's. There was something in . . . what was his name? Tim realized that Ester never mentioned his grandfather's name.

'Um Bruce, I'll be right back. I forgot something."

"All right Tim. We'll check for more clues," Bruce answered.

Tim went back into the house to find Ester sitting on the couch and looking at an old scrapbook.

"I did not expect you to leave so quickly," Ester stated.

"We had something stolen from our car," Tim stated.

"Oh dear, do you wish to call the police?"

"Um . . . we already reported it," Tim lied. "I came back to let you know we haven't left yet."

"Good. I wanted to show you this. I've kept it all these years."

"Um . . . Ester," Tim started to say.

". . . . Oh please, call me Grandma."

"Is it all right if Dick calls you Grandma as well?"

"Of course, why would it not be?"

"Well . . . he's upset with what you said . . . and . . ."

"Yes, I can understand why he would be," Ester stated. "It's the fact that I didn't take him in, but I had no choice. I even asked my husband why he was so adamant about not wanting us to bring our grandchild home."

"What did he say?"

"You really don't want to know," Ester replied.

'I do, but I don't think you'll tell me. There might be another way I can find out,' Tim thought, so he changed the subject. "I . . . have another question," Tim stated. "What was his name?"

"Edward Roustin."

Tim pursed his lips at the name. He seemed to recall there was mention about an Edward Roustin in the newspaper, a small article about the owner of several department stores in Newtown. He was the richest man in the small town, but that didn't explain why Edward Roustin would refuse to raise his grandson. He changed his mind and asked the question anyway.

"Why wouldn't I want to know what he said?" Tim asked. "After all, he was my grandfather as well and I just learned that both of you even existed. And I'm sure I could get Dick to understand."

"It is wonderful how you care for your brother. But I want you to know your grandfather wasn't always a nice man. And he was into things that . . . I don't want to go into detail. It isn't right to slander the dead," Ester stated. 'Even if it was the truth, I've held the secret far too long. I shall not divulge it now.' She thought. "Here, why don't you take this with you." Ester handed Tim the scrapbook. "Maybe you and your brother can look at it later. I will tell you this much. That scrapbook is the only thing that I kept hidden from your grandfather. And when your mother was killed . . . well, it devastated your grandfather. Even so, he felt that to bring a child into this house would have been a mistake. You were both better off not coming here."

"I don't believe that," Tim argued. "I may have had my father, but Dick, at the time, would have had a family."

"Yes, he would have . . . " Ester said, "But . . . please don't ask me anything else. Let's just say your grandfather . . . would have resented Dick because of who he represented. But since my husband is . . . gone . . . there is no reason why you and your brother cannot come and visit this old lady in her waning years."

"Can I ask you one more question?"

"Sure, dear."

"Who was Aunt Harriet to Dick?" Tim questioned. "I heard of her, but I never met her."

"Aunt Harriet was my older sister. She never married."

"So, you kept up with Dick's life . . ."

"Oh my yes. It's not that hard when a billionaire like Bruce Wayne takes in a boy like Dick Grayson. It was all over the news. Sending my sister was the only way I could keep in touch with his life. Oh, please don't tell him."

"But how did he know her?"

"Harriet did a lot of traveling and she promised to look after Mary. She would attend every performance the circus did. Wherever they appeared, she would be there and let me know. Unfortunately, she wasn't there on that day. Our own parents died just days before in a car accident while traveling across the country. She had to claim their bodies and bring them home. Then she had to go out to California to settle their estate. So she never knew about Mary until after the funeral and after Mr. Wayne had taken Dick in as his ward."

"He'll find out soon enough," Tim stated.

"I know, but I want him to understand I didn't feel the same way as my husband did. I wanted him here, with me . . . but it just wasn't possible. I'm just glad that my sister decided to move in with Dick and Mr. Wayne to take care of them. Harriet let me know as soon as she could and we kept in touch as much as we could. I was very saddened when she died. She was the only family I had left, besides Dick."

"Your husband died six years ago. Why didn't you contact Dick then?"

"Please don't ask me that," Ester stated. "It was enough to know that Harriet was with him and that he was growing into a fine young man. I wasn't about to . . . take him from a life that he was accustomed to. I heard that John Grayson's brother did that and he was going to sell the boy back to Mr. Wayne. It was in call the papers. I would never do such a thing. Please, you better go. I'm certain your brother and father are waiting for you."

"I'll return the scrapbook to you later," Tim stated.

"No, you keep it. Maybe it will help your brother to understand."

Tim grasped the scrapbook in one hand as he allowed his newly discovered Grandmother to hug him. He then headed out to the car where Bruce and Dick were waiting. There was a lot he had to think about, but one thing Tim knew what he was going to do. He was going to find out more about Edward Roustin and what his involvement was with regards to the death of John and Mary Grayson.

Continues with Part 13