Chapter 4
They all hopped in Elliot's truck and headed to Bellevue. Ana was in awe as they pulled up to the magnificent house. "Wow, you have a beautiful home. What do your parents do?" Elliot laughed, "My dad's a lawyer and disappointed neither Chris or I will follow in his footsteps. My mom is a pediatrician." Christian agreed, "The house is nice, but the bitch lives next door."
That's when it hit Ana, Elena was their mother's best friend. She could get to Christian whenever she wanted. "She's crazy and perverted. She used your mother and abused their friendship." Kate added, "Let's drag her right out of her house. Four against one." They all walked into the front door. "Mom! Dad!" Elliot called out. Kate held his hand, Christian stood to the side and Ana hid in the back.
Ana saw a middle aged woman with brown hair come out, "Hi sweetheart! Your dad isn't here yet. He's picking up Mia." She turned to Kate, "So good to see you again." She looked at Ana and smiled, but kissed Christian's cheek first. "Who's your guest?" Kate smiled, "Grace, this is Ana." Grace hugged her tight, "Ana! I've heard so much about you. It's about time Kate and Elliot brought you along. Come on in."
The whole space was open, with only a few walls separating the kitchen and formal dining room. They all walked in and sat on the couches. Ana saw a piano and all the glass windows and doors that led outside to the pool. Ana looked at the pictures hanging on the wall of the family. "Who plays the piano?" Grace smiled, "Christian does and he plays beautifully."
They all turned as Carrick walked in with Mia. "We're home!" Carrick and Mia went through the same introductions. Mia loved Kate and fell in love with Ana just the same. "Kate, are you still taking me shopping this weekend for a dress." She turned to Ana, "I have the spring dance in 6 weeks." Kate shook her head, "Of course and remember, your mom is coming and we're having lunch." Mia turned to Ana again, "Do you want to come with us?" Ana laughed, "Sure. I'm not good at shopping, but I love hanging out."
Grace clapped her hands, "It's a date." Gretchen the Grey's housekeeper announced dinner was ready. Mia whined, "I was about to give Ana the tour." Carrick explained there was plenty of time after dinner. Elliot saw an opening, "Mom and Dad, Chris and I would like to speak to you after dinner." Grace heard his tone and knew immediately something was wrong, but she stopped herself, since they had guests. Carrick heard it too, but he was more laid back, "Sure son."
They sat down at the table and tried to have normal dinner conversation. Christian pulled out the chair so Ana was next to him. Grace was still worried, you could see it all over her face. Elliot was her silly outgoing child, but this time he was solemn and serious. Carrick carried on, "So Ana, we know about Kate and her journalism major. How about you?" Ana smiled, "I'm in a double major program. I want to teach English and then become a school counselor. I love reading and literature, but my life has not been easy, so I hope I find a balance and help kids along the way.
Carrick was impressed, "Double major, wow you have your work cut out for you." Ana smiled, "I actually met Christian this week at Bellevue. I'm a practicum student." Carrick scoffed, "You mean he actually attended class?" Christian looked down, embarrassed with his behavior lately. Ana touched Christian leg and smiled, "He did! And you would be very proud. He's a very alert student. He makes positive contributions to class discussions." That made Christian smile and both his parents noticed his change. He hadn't smiled in a long time.
Gretchen came back after everyone had their dessert. Mia was climbing the walls, "Finally, come on Ana, I'll show you around." Kate wasn't staying around for the family talk, "I'm coming! Ana will love the movie room." Mia pulled Ana and Kate down to the basement first. "Come on! Down here we have an exercise room, game room, and all of our bedrooms. It's the kid's space." Christian watched and smiled at Ana as she started to disappear down the stairs.
Elliot asked to move the conversation to Carrick's office. The four of them walked down the short hallway and closed the door. Carrick and Grace sat giving Elliot the floor. "We need to tell you something. It will definitely be upsetting." Elliot went through the entire story and talked when Christian struggled. "Oh my gosh. I knew something was wrong with you Christian. How could she do this to my boys?" Grace cried uncontrollably and then got angry, "I'll kill her!" Elliot and Christian stopped her quickly.
Carrick was pissed and immediately picked up the phone to call his friend, the Captain of the police department. Christian was nervous, "Dad, what are you doing? We don't have proof. Who would believe me?" Grace was crying, "Is that why you didn't tell us, because you didn't think we would believe you." Elliot and Christian both said yes and added the fear of embarrassment. "It's wrong, all of it. We…we should…" Carrick stopped, "No son, she was wrong. Don't blame yourself."
Carrick explained, "I'm getting our options first son. We can trust him." Elliot figured he would tell his parents, "The girls know mom and dad." Christian told them how Elena was pulling him out of school and Ana caught on. Carrick questioned Christian, "Is that why you miss school?" Christian shook his head, "What the hell kind of school is this? Thank God for Ana, observant and smart." Elliot remembered what he heard Ana say, "Wait dad! Ana saw Elena hit Christian. Can we use that?"
Grace heard Mia and the girls back on the main floor and got herself together. "Let me check on them and when the Captain comes, I'll come back. Grace joined the girls. "How was the tour Ana?" Ana smiled knowing Grace had heard the news by now. "You have a lovely home Mrs. Grey." Grace touched her arm softly, "Please call me Grace." Grace already loved Ana, because in her eyes, she saved Christian.
The doorbell rang and Grace went to answer it, "Captain right this way." Kate and Ana saw the uniform, "Mia, how about we sneak another piece of that cake from dessert." Grace was glad they were there to keep Mia entertained. After an hour the Captain left, everyone appeared in the family room with smiles, and Elliot offered to take Ana and Kate home. Carrick and Grace told them goodnight and it was expected they would come back to family dinner often.
Christian walked them out, "I would go with you, but my parents want me close and I have school tomorrow. Ana smiled, "You do and I want you to do well." Ana looked next door at the dark house. "She's not there. She's out of town with her husband and being watched. El will explain it." Ana walked towards the truck, "Aren't you looking at colleges?" Christian rolled his eyes, "Harvard for business. I have to go to get my trust from my grandparents. If I had my way, I would start my business immediately." Christian thought he was only thinking about Harvard because of Elena, but Ana was making the University of Washington look better every minute. "See tomorrow Ana."
When Ana climbed in Elliot's truck, Christian closed the door. Kate smirked, "I told you two would make a cute couple." Elliot explained the Captain and Carrick had a plan. "They have been watching her for about a month." Ana was right that there were other boys. The good news was that those boys made complaints. The Captain also explained that due to her high profile and her husband's power company, it was a difficult case. They were actually investigating and planning a trap. "Christian doesn't want to be involved. He doesn't want people to know. Ana you were right, there are other boys. Enough to put her under the jail, without Christian or me."