Chapter 54
Again, I don't own any of these characters
Ellie, Cody and Bailey couldn't help but smile at seeing the looks of total shock and confusion on the faces of Carey, Zack and Cassie. Finally, Ellie turned back to Tommy.
"So, I assume this means you are free to be yourself now?"
Tommy grinned. "Sure am. I am officially back part of the family again..."
"Good. Its about time!"
Carey turned to her mother. "Wait...You've know about this for a while?"
Ellie smiled and nodded. "I sure did. I learned back in October about Tommy actually being alive...A good six months after those two did..." She gestured to Cody and Bailey.
Zack turned to his brother. "You knew about this and didn't tell anyone?"
Before Cody could say something, Tommy spoke up. "No, I asked him and Bailey not to. If you will all give me a few minutes, I think I can explain things..."
And with that, Tommy essentially gives everyone the same story he gave Cody and Bailey in the Tomb. "And with me no longer knowing any big government secrets, I'm free to be me again..."
Everyone just looked at each other trying to digest everything. Finally, Carey spoke.
"Well, I guess I have another uncle then..."
Tommy nodded. "Yeah, along with some cousins. I have a son Mitchell and two grandchildren, Ty and Ella...I hope you will get to meet them soon..."
Cody spoke up. "Everyone is invited to come to our wedding and get to know each other there..."
Bailey nodded. "Yeah, that would be a good opportunity to do so...Ty and Beth have already been invited."
Tommy smiled. "I will check with everyone, but that sounds like a good idea..."
Zack just looked back and forth between his new Great Uncle Tommy and his brother. "Wait a minute here! Who are Ty and Beth? And how did you two already know about all of this?"
Cody grinned. "Sorry, Zack...Ty and Beth are friends of ours...well, Ty is actually our cousin. As for how we know, we can't say..."
Zack was incredulous. "What do you mean you can't say?"
Cody winked at his brother. "We can't say..."
Zack was about to say something else when Cassie whispered something in his ear. Zack sighed. "Fine..."
Carey had been thinking about something. "Did you say you owned this building?"
Tommy nodded. "Yes. Well, my company does. Wellington Industries..."
"But that's owned by Ben Wellington..."
Tommy laughed. "You're looking at him. That's what the government changed my name to. Speaking of which, I need to discuss this penthouse with Cody and Bailey..."
Bailey sighed. "There's no way we can afford this. We're just two students..."
Ellie grinned. "Something tells me there is a family discount..."
"She's right. Tell you what. Cody, Bailey and I will negotiate, and then I will take you all out to dinner. Carey, feel free to invite Arwin to join us..."
Carey just stared at him. "But...how...how do you know about Arwin?"
Cody and Bailey just looked at each other and tried to keep from laughing.
"There is a lounge on the second floor with a game room. Please be my guests and relax there. Cody and Bailey, please follow me to one of the conference rooms..."
Everyone did just that. Ellie, Zack, Cassie and Carey went into the lounge and relaxed in the comfy chairs and watched one of the flat screen TV's. Cody and Bailey followed Tommy to a conference room down the hall from it.
"Alright, I hear Cody maybe going to med school but has the skills of a barrister. Lets see what you've got..."
Cody turned to Bailey before turning back to Tommy. "Well, we're planning on getting our money from living expenses in Bailey's settlement with Yale. We figured we could do at most $5,000 a month because that would lead to a total of $240,000 for four years. A quarter million is the going rate to settle this..."
Tommy nodded. "So I hear..."
Bailey spoke. "The penthouse is beautiful, but there is no way we could afford $12,500 a month..."
Tommy paused. "What could you do?"
"We just told you, $5,000 is our max and even that is more than we want to spend..."
"What if I waived the amenities fees and the parking fees?"
Cody turned to Bailey. "What do you think?"
Bailey sighed. "I don't know, Cody..."
Tommy sighed. "You two are tough...Well, let me add in the family discount. $3,500 a month..."
"But..."
"Okay, the Skull and Bones discount too, but its the lowest I can go...waive all fees, two free guaranteed parking spaces, Porkers is welcome, and $2,500 a month..."
Bailey and Cody both smiled. "We'll take it!"
Tommy grinned. "Good. It'll be good to have a med student and vet student around. Now, when will you move in?"
"We both have orientation on August 18th and 19th and classes begin on the 20th..."
"How does August 10th sound? Gives you over a week to get settled..."
Cody nods. "That actually works well. Our current lease expires on the 15th. That will give Jo and Bill five days to do what they need to have done before someone else moves in..."
Tommy smiled. "Good. Now, let's go eat! I'm starved..."
The met up with everyone else and let them know an agreement had been reached. Of course, Zack was more convinced than ever that Cody and Bailey had their own leprechaun locked in a cage somewhere. They headed off to a very nice restaurant where Arwin met them. Everyone was under dressed, but Tommy owned the restaurant, so they let is slide.
Tommy agreed to keep in touch, and he promised he would try to have his whole family on the ship for the wedding. After the long day, everyone returned back to the Tipton to relax. Back in their suite, Zack finally got a chance to talk to his brother.
"You found out through the Skulls, didn't you?"
Cody paused. "Maybe..."
Zack nodded. "Is there anything else you know that I should know about?"
"Nope..."
"That place hasn't told you who really killed Kennedy?"
Cody smirked. "If they did, I'm sworn to secrecy. Besides, I don't ask all about your fraternity secrets, do I?"
"Well, no. But..."
"But nothing...Your organization has its secrets, so does mine..."
Zack didn't like that, but he did have to admit that Cody did have a point. As it was pretty late when they got in, everyone headed to bed soon after. As they laid in bed, Cody and Bailey snuggled.
"So, Bails...Think we can turn it into our home?"
Bailey nodded. "I think so. It won't be as nice as its usually decorated, but it will be 100% us. You know, it all kind of reminds me of being back on the ship..."
Cody grinned. "Bails, you know we could fit our entire cabin inside the solarium outside..."
Bailey laughed. "I know, but the idea of having everything in one place that you needed. Plus, the two blocks to school will be nice..."
"I know, and having Boston Common close will be nice..."
"We have a third bedroom now, what should we do with it?"
Cody paused. "Maybe we buy another bedroom suit and have a guest room?"
Bailey nodded. "Good idea. And when we don't have guests, it can be Porkers' room..."
Cody laughed. "He'll love that. And he'll love the rooftop deck. Heck, I'll love the rooftop deck..."
"Me too...And the fireplace..."
"Not to mention the hot tub in the solarium. I'm already having daydreams about it..."
"Me too. Am I crazy to say bring on the next Noreaster?"
"Nah. Plus, I know we will be busy and working hard the next four years. We deserve to have some comforts when we have time to relax..."
Bailey paused. "We will be really busy, won't we?"
Cody nodded. "Yeah, we will..." He leaned down and kissed her. "But I will never be too busy for you..."
"Me either..."
To be Continued...
