CHAPTER 42
The Next Morning…
(ELLIOT)
"Good morning" I say as I make my way into the small kitchen where most of my family are currently hovering around the coffee machine.
Christian turns and grins at me while Ana just reaches for me and squeezes my arm as I walk past her.
"So…?" Christian asks clearly wanting to find out what happened last night and I am eager to find out if my assumptions were correct and he was responsible for a bit of match making and for Megumi being there last night.
I shrug, deciding I'm not going to give him an easy time. "So, what?" I say nonchalantly as I reach for a mug.
Christian's grin gets wider as he knows that I know.
"So El… what the fuck happened last night between you and Megumi? I have to say I was quite surprised when we got back last night and saw that she was here with you… alone" he says as he raises his eyebrow's significantly as he says this.
"Christian stop it" Ana says as I scowl at him.
He lets out a small chuckle, "I'm sorry, that was a crass thing to say. Look I'm pleased for you bro" he says after a moment.
I know he is desperate to find out what had happened and I appreciate his apology so I decide to throw him a bone. "Megumi is a very nice girl and we are just friends. I've been hurt, and I'm not ready to jump into any relationship yet, plus I have Ava to consider. I don't want her growing up with an endless stream of women walking through her life as that will completely fuck her up, so I'm not even considering anything romantic until I am absolutely sure and convinced the other party is going to stick around for the long haul. Megumi has obviously been hurt as well and she pretty much admitted that she wasn't capable of anything other than friendship at the moment. Then there is the logistics to consider, she lives here in New York while I live in Seattle which is on the other side of the country which would be the very definition of a long-distance relationship… so taking all that into consideration we are just friends, and for the record nothing happened between us last night - we just talked".
Christian nods satisfied with my answer and doesn't say anything so I continue, "She is a lovely person and I'm not ruling out something developing in the future and if it does it does, and that's great, but at this point in time I don't even know what happened to her and it is clear something did so there is no point in reading more into this than what is there".
I go to move and then stop and look up at my brother, "Megumi said you went to see her… why?" I ask and I see Christian shuffle uncomfortably and take a gulp of his coffee. Ana moves closer with open curiosity at that and I see a look of realisation on her face. I realise from her reaction that she didn't know he had done that.
Christian looks at me and then at Ana before he shrugs, "I saw her reaction when you touched her. You know what I'm like about being touched and her reaction, the way she shrank away from you and panicked… well… you see… I wanted her to know that I got it, that I understood. She assured me that she didn't suffer from Haphephobia though. Plus, I wanted to put in a good word for you. I wanted to let her know that you wouldn't hurt her and that you are a good man. The chemistry between you two was off the charts and I wanted her to know that so her fears didn't override any potential happiness she could experience with you and vice versa". He stops and turns away slightly awkwardly and I reach out and grab his arm.
"Bro" I begin and he turns to look back at me.
"Thanks" I say simply and I watch as he just waves his hand dismissively and shrugs.
"Were you responsible for Megumi being at dinner last night?" I ask.
Christian hesitates and takes a shot look at Ana before he nods, "I text Ana and asked her to persuade Eva to invite her along. I apologise if I overstepped but I did what I did with the best intentions" he says.
I shake my head, "No, you didn't overstep. You were looking out for me… thank you" I say.
Ana is now standing between the two of us looking first at me and then at Christian with a huge grin on her face.
She reaches for Christian and presses a kiss to his chin before she speaks, "Well, I think you did a lovely thing Christian but your part in this is now done," she turns her attention to me as she continues, "and El, I'm glad you and Megumi are friends and obviously I hope that with time something more will come of it but if it doesn't that's fair enough. Always remember though, you deserve to be happy".
She moves away from Christian and wraps her small arms around my waist and squeezes me as she says this and I automatically wrap my arm around her small shoulder and press a kiss to her head.
"Thanks sis" I mutter.
"What are the plans for today?" Christian says suddenly and we both look at him and my mind focusses on the here and now.
"Erm…" I begin and Ana quickly jumps in.
"I think we are meeting Eva and Gideon at Central Park as I said I'd love to go there again; I think Ava would love it there too" she says.
I nod, I had been hoping to take my daughter a walk around Central Park and perhaps take her for a ride on one of the horse and carriages. As I'm thinking this, I hear Ana's phone ping and she quickly looks at it a smile filling her face.
"It's Eva, she says they will meet us at Central Park at about 10am" she says.
oooOOOooo
"HI!"
I look up to see Eva walking swiftly towards us leaving Gideon to catch up, she throws herself at Ana and hugs her tightly before turning towards me and throwing her arms around me.
"Did you have a good evening with Meg?" she whispers in my ear and she looks at me eagerly waiting for my response.
"We had a nice chat and we are just friends" I reiterate for what seems like the millionth time. Eva nods satisfied with my reply.
"You could do far worse El… just remember that" she mutters and she pats my arm affectionately.
"So, what are the plans for today?" I say as I try and move the topic of conversation away from my personal life.
Before anyone can respond I hear a phone ringing insistently. I look around and see Ana fumbling in her purse for her phone.
As she pulls it out she looks at the screen and a look of surprise fills her face.
"It's Uncle Arnie" she says as she quickly answers.
Christian immediately moves closer and I can see he is itching to discover the reasons behind this call.
"Oh I see" Ana says after a moment, "Well, I'll obviously have to talk it over with Eva but I personally don't want to" she says.
The conversation continues for a few more moments and then she glances at Christian, "I'll tell him" she says before she says her goodbyes and pushes her phone back into her bag.
We are all waiting with bated breath as she takes a deep breath and look up.
"Christian, Uncle Arnie said to say hello to you" she begins and Christian nods and waves his hand in a gesture for her to continue as that was clearly not the reason for his call.
"Frank has been sentenced to five years in prison for what he did, and he has asked to see us" she says gesturing between herself and Eva.
Eva immediately shakes her head, "No" she states firmly and Ana nods.
"I quite agree" she says, "I don't want to see him" she adds.
Christian moves towards Ana and pulls her protectively into his arms.
I am unsure of how I feel at this moment. I wasn't mentioned as he has no idea of who I am and that I exist, not to mention the fact of how I am linked with Ana and Eva. I had said that I wasn't interested in meeting him or having any relationship with him after I had read the letter from my birth mother and that still stands. However, I am filled with a certain level of curiosity not to mention a desire to see him face to face… just once. Eva and Ana got that confrontation when they met him in Seattle. They got to say their piece and so they got their closure. I will never meet my birth mother face to face and I accept that. But…
"Are you ok El?" Gideon asks me and I look up at him.
"Yes, I'm fine" I reply with a somewhat forced smile.
Eva and Ana look carefully at me and move closer.
"No, you're not. Talk to us El" Eva says bluntly.
I sigh and shake my head, before glancing at Ava who is looking up at me. I smile again.
"I'm fine" I reiterate, and glance at Ava before looking meaningfully at Eva, "Not now" I add.
Christian and Gideon quickly step in and Christian pulls Ava into his arms and sits her on his shoulders.
"Come on squirt lets go and explore" he says brightly as Ava giggles loudly.
Christian gives me a meaningful look as he and Gideon walk away with my daughter.
"Ok spill" Eva says once they are out of earshot.
"I…" I begin and then stop.
"You want to see him" Ana says carefully and I nod.
"I want closure" I say, "I have closure with my birth mother, she wrote to me and while she doesn't want to see me and I accept that it feels finished with her. I know who she is and where she came from and the circumstances surrounding my birth. I accept that she has moved on and doesn't want me in her life… but him… it's different. He has no idea what happened to the first kid he abandoned. He doesn't know if I even exist. For all he knows my birth mother could've aborted me. You two got your moment with him to put him in his place and tell him where to go, you got your closure and I just want mine" I say.
Eva and Ana look at each other and its as if an unspoken conversation is going on between them. Eventually Ana looks up at me.
"I'll call Uncle Arnie and arrange a visit with Frank… for all of us. I don't want to see him but we will go with you so you can get your closure once and for all".
Eva nods, "Absolutely. I mean, I say fuck him. I don't want to see him again ever, but I get that you need that moment, the moment we had. Plus…" she pauses and grins, "It will send a massive message to him as well. If he thinks we are going to show up and he just ends up seeing you. He will think he is calling the shots, if he thinks we are going to see him and that we have come running but while we can go to support you we don't have to actually go in there and see him. That will send a powerful message to him… well it should do" she says as she gestures between herself and Ana.
I nod understanding where she is coming from.
"Let me call Uncle Arnie back" Ana says as she reaches for her phone once more.
She dials the number and puts the call on speaker so we can all hear.
"Hello" the disembodied voice of Arnie Hawkins comes out of the phone at us.
"Uncle Arnie, it's Ana" Ana says, probably unnecessarily as I'm certain Arnie knew it was her.
"Hi, sorry for dropping that on you. I was shocked when Frank asked me to contact you. I have no idea what he is playing at and I totally understand if you don't want to come and see him" he says.
"Well, here's the thing" Ana begins, she looks at me and then at Eva before she continues.
"Neither Eva or I want to see him ever again. But, El wants closure" she says.
"El?" Arnie asks with obvious confusion.
"Our elder brother. The first child Frank abandoned after he seduced his brother's girlfriend when he was a teenager" she says. There is a gasp from the other end of the phone.
"Jesus Christ" Arnie mutters.
"How did you find him?" he asks.
Ana lets out a small snort, "He was kind of close to home, under our noses all the while. El is Elliot Christian's adopted brother. Do you remember how he mentioned he was interested in finding out about where he came from after it all came out about Christian?" she pauses a beat then continues. "Well, he did and he contacted Finding Family and imagine our surprise when his birth mother contacted him and gave him the details of who his biological father was. You really couldn't make it up. So…. El wants to see him just once, to get his closure. Eva and I said all we wanted to say when we met Frank back in Seattle and we really don't want to see him again, but we are prepared to make it look as though we will honour Franks wishes so that El can get into the same room as him, so he can get his closure… the closure we have already got" she says.
"Alright, I can sort that out for you" Arnie says carefully.
"Thanks Uncle Arnie, just one more thing though, if you could make him think it is just us coming. I want him to believe that we are going to see him. But Eva and I have no intention of ever seeing him again and we think that doing it this way will send a massive message to him".
I hear a small chuckle come down the line at that, "What I wouldn't give to be a fly on the wall when that conversation happens. Frank will think he is seeing his daughters again and instead he will meet his son. That is a massive head trip right there and I'm guessing that what Elliot wants to say to Frank isn't totally positive" he says, now with clear amusement in his tone.
"Got it in one" Ana replies.
(CHRISTIAN)
"So… what do we do now?" Gideon asks as we are walking through the park.
He glances at me and then at Ava who is perched on my shoulders and who is looking around wide eyed at her surroundings.
"Kids like animals, so I suggest we head towards the zoo. El, Ana and Eva will catch us up soon as I can't see them standing talking for too long" I say.
"Good idea" Gideon replies and I quickly watch him tapping on his phone. "I'm sending Eva a text letting her know where we are heading" he explains as he sees me watching him.
When he is done and we are continuing to walk towards the zoo he speaks suddenly, "Do you and Ana plan on having kids of your own?" he asks.
I smile but hesitate to answer as I try and work out how I am going to explain how it is between Ana and I. Some people just don't seem to get that we are happy as we are. They think that because we are married and in love children are the inevitable next step. Almost as if there is no choice in the matter and our marriage is somehow incomplete because we aren't parents. As I work out how I want to explain it the silence spreads out between us and when I'm sure he thinks I'm not going to answer I speak.
"Ana and I are happy as we are at the moment. When it all came out what Kate's intentions were and how she assumed Ana wanted kids it focussed my attention on the subject. I had always thought about children in the abstract. That I would like to have kids with Ana at some point in our relationship. There is no time frame though, Ana is young enough and I know she is career minded at the moment. Grey Publishing is her baby and after me that demands her attention more than anything else and she is passionate about it. I know that there will come a day when that isn't enough and she will want to start a family and I will be more than happy to do my part in making that happen". I pause and glance at Gideon as I say that and I see him grin.
"What about you and Eva?" I ask.
Much to my surprise Gideon shrugs, "I have no idea to be honest, it's not a subject which we have really talked about. I have to say with my issues and the way I am I feel we need to address that before adding a child into the mix".
His reply reminds me of the conversation I left him to have yesterday. "How did things go with the therapist I told you about? Were you happy with the initial call?" I ask. I have been itching to know what happened when I left Gideon to make the call and this seems to be the perfect time to bring it up.
He nods enthusiastically, "It seemed ok, I spoke to her and explained you had recommended her. She was aware that I would be calling and she told me she was glad I had taken that step… did you tell her about my objections to shrinks?" he asks warily and I am surprised by the question as I would never betray him by telling someone else what he confided in me, not even a therapist.
"No, of course not. All I said was I had a friend who was looking to get some help with some long-standing issues he had and was it ok if I gave him her name… that's all, I don't even think I told her your name" I say.
"Gideon nods, "It's ok, I'm probably just being paranoid but she seemed to not be surprised when I explained things" he says.
"Why?" I ask curious to know what was said that gave him that impression.
"She got more information out of me that I was intending to give, I think that is what the issue is. I told her more than I wanted to and now I feel vulnerable and I'm looking for someone to blame" he says.
I let out a small laugh, "I should've warned you; she is like that. She manages to get you off guard so you are revealing things and you are left thinking how did that happen, but trust me when I say I believe it has been beneficial to me and I hope she can help you too".
Gideon nods again, "Thanks, I have arranged a video session with her and so I'll see how that goes… I'll let you know" he says.
"Gideon! Christian! Wait up!"
We pause and see Eva, Ana and Elliot walking swiftly towards us.
"Daddy!" Ava calls and immediately she is wriggling trying to get off my shoulders. I grab her and carefully stand her on her feet and she runs towards El. I watch him bend and swoop her up into his arms. The sight is touching seeing how much Ava adores El and how the feeling is mutual. I see Gideon watching and I am certain he is having the same thoughts.
"Where are we going?" El asks Ava and she points in a random direction.
"Uncle Kiss Chun and Uncle Gideon said zoo" she says excitedly.
Elliot looks at me and grins.
"Yeah, it's true I did" I say.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Eva says as she walks up to Gideon and wraps her arms around him.
He immediately lowers his head and presses a kiss to her temple and the look on his face is one of complete contentment now Eva is back at his side. I glance at Ana as she makes her way towards me.
"Hey baby" I say as she mirrors Eva's actions and wraps her arms around me.
"Come on I want to go to the zoo" Elliot says excitedly as he walks past us.
I roll my eyes and grab Ana's hand.
"Come on lets go!" Gideon says as he grabs Eva's.
"ZOO!" Ava shouts from Elliot's shoulders.
