~~Author's note~~

Many thanks to my sounding boards for this chapter, Snoopylover60 & T Traveller.

ALL MISTAKES ARE MINE

Chapter twenty-four

I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.

-Albert Einstein-

Grace gave herself a mental slap. Admittedly, her first reaction after Carrick caught her red-handed had been pathetic. Not content with dropping the vial, she'd drawn attention to her clumsiness by kicking it under the bed.

Talk about anti-climatic. Had this been an episode of Desperate Housewives, viewers would have every right to demand a rewrite.

"What's that?"

Carrick's voice thundered. Grace zeroed in on the veins pulsating to the sides of his head as he picked up the remnants, effectively contaminating the DNA sample she'd painstakingly collected.

And then, she fled; locked herself in the guest room like the Coward of the County.

With her back against the door, she breathed a huge sigh of relief.

She was safe for now.

The problem was, she couldn't hide here forever.

Sooner or later, she needed to deal with her nightmare of a marriage. She'd spent so many years sweeping her problems under the rug, hoping they would go away.

And now, surprise, surprise. The War of the Roses was getting closer to becoming her new reality.

In the film, the warring couple went to absurd extremes to avoid relinquishing possession of the house. Fighting over their fine china and garden hoses and swinging from the chandelier of doom.

That final dying breath scene struck a bit too close to home.

That could be her one day, filled with so much contempt for the man she married, she could think of nothing else but pushing his filthy paws off her, even if it's the last thing she ever did.

God, was it her imagination, or was someone out there wiggling the doorknob?

If there's something weird and it don't look good.

Who was she gonna call?

Not the Ghostbusters.

No.

Ghost or no ghost, running away was not an option.

Nevertheless, she was shivering.

The first time she'd tried leaving, twenty-two years ago, she'd been stupid enough to move out. But she'd learned her lesson. She could still hear Connie's voice loud and clear. Regardless of the circumstances, moving out means surrendering the property. This was true, even though some of the variables had changed. For one, they no longer had a minor child in the home, and secondly, after twenty-something years of marriage, she was sure their prenup had become null and void.

Minutes passed. Lulled by complete silence, Grace closed her eyes. Perhaps, the rattling on her door had been the product of her overactive imagination.

She had nothing to fear. Carrick would never hurt her physically, that much she knew.

As she drifted off to sleep, she decided to make peace with her decision. There was no turning back; she was filing for divorce. But she wasn't moving out.

She was done being a victim.

Never again was she falling for his excuses.

He never intended to make good on his promise to name their son his successor.

That much was clear.

...

Ana woke up at the crack of dawn to an empty bed and the sound of the shower. Christian was already up. In those first few minutes between sleep and awake, she rolled around lazily. Her eyes brightened at the sight of the tray on her nightstand. She immediately went for the buttery piece of buttery toast topped with a generous dollop of strawberry jam. The saltine crackers were next, and lastly, she downed a tall glass of apple juice.

Christian emerged from their in-suite bathroom just as she finished eating. The sight of her handsome husband clad in suit and tie made her heart swell and then sink in a matter of seconds.

His eyes brightened when they connected with hers, happy to see she was awake.

How she wished this was one of those lazy Saturday mornings when she'd woken up in his arms. Nothing like the joy of finding him gazing at her as if she were a sight to behold.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," he said, sitting on the edge of their bed.

"Are you leaving so early? It's Saturday," she pouted.

"I know... but I won't be long, I promise. I just need to check on a few things."

The truth was, he was needed to work on finalizing his project, and working at home meant too many distractions.

Ana stretched on the bed and yawned.

"How are you feeling? No dizziness?"

"No dizziness," she happily reported. "Thank you for the mini-breakfast. I think having something in my stomach as soon as I'm awake definitely helps."

"Good," he made a motion to stand.

"Don't go yet," she mumbled as he took her hand in his.

"Alright, Ana banana, what's going on? What are your plans for today?"

"I'm visiting Kate, and then I'm going shopping," she paused. "Last night, I'm afraid I wasn't the best listener. I was so tired..."

"No worries."

At once, she could tell his mind was quickly moving on to something else.

"I would like to take another look at the spinner thingy you showed me," she said, her voice attempting to sound light and casual.

"It's called the fidget spinner," he corrected her, wasting no time retrieving his laptop. "Knock yourself out, sweetheart," he went on to give a brief explanation of the files as they sprung to life.

Ana barely noticed as Christian left the room. Her mind was busy, flipping back and forth between different documents, websites, and materials. Clearly, her husband had devoted a great deal of time to his product design and functionality.

Reading his notes and observations, Ana was pleased to take a peek at her husband's beautiful mind. His above-average capacity to connect the dots. His insatiable curiosity. That mind of his was passionate, intense. Always open to learning from everything and everyone.

And that was one of the things she loved best about him.

"This is going to be revolutionary," Ana said the minute he returned, carrying a coffee and tea tray. "I love it. I see great potential," she said, the excitement in her voice contagious.

Christian felt energized by her encouragement.

His gorgeous wife believed in him.

"I hope so. I'm planning on presenting it to the board meeting on Monday and -"

"Wait," Ana interrupted. "Don't do it."

Christian sipped his coffee and cocked his head curiously.

"Christian, this idea of yours has amazing potential. It could easily become the hottest-selling non-electronic item out there. Picture loads of parents flocking to the stores fast enough to keep major retailers constantly re-stocking their shelves."

"I cannot wait to see the look on my father's face." Just thinking of it made him grin like a Cheshire cat. This was the opportunity to prove himself he'd been waiting for. "And Elliot's."

"Chris, listen, the last thing you want is to give Elliot any ideas."

"Elliot cannot steal this from me. The patent's pending."

Ana sighed. She recognized that look on Christian's face. Over the years, she's seen that same look again and again.

"I know what you're thinking. This is it. This new project is the one that will finally convince Carrick."

Christian pursed his lips. He didn't like being reminded of this.

How, all his life, he'd been like a rat running in a maze. Trying to prove himself to his father while, at the same time, striving to become his own man. Not realizing that, unfortunately, both objectives were mutually incompatible.

Do more. Be better.

Don't show weakness, be tough.

Try to be enough.

Maybe then you'll get my approval.

Christian shook his head, his attention returning to his wife. It never strayed far. She truly understood where he was coming from. And the best part was that there was no judgment in her words.

And that was the best feeling in the whole world.

"Okay, gorgeous, what other talents do you have now? Aside from being a great mind reader?"

"I can help you," Ana said, her eyes bright. "I can put together an easy-to-review presentation. Ten to fifteen minutes long that walks through the basics of your product. You're going to need investors, and often the less is said, the better."

Christian hesitated. "I need to think about this."

"You can do this, Chris. You can fly solo. You don't need your dad's company. This idea of yours is brilliant... I believe in you."

She winked at him, and he winked back at her.

"Okay, so I go solo. Isn't that the same as handing Elliot the Golden Goose?"

"You know what I see? I think you're too wrapped up in this competition against Elliot; it's blinding you. You can't see the forest for the trees. Can't you see how it's holding you back?"

Christian shrugged. He couldn't help but think that dropping out of the race was akin to admitting failure.

"What do you got to lose? Money?"

Christian shook his head. The truth was, it was never really about the money. He's been fighting a battle for what was rightfully his.

Ana studied him for a long moment.

It wasn't about the money, that much she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt. It was written all over her dear husband's face.

It was time for a Q & A session.

"What is the worst that can happen?" She asked.

Christian thought about it for a moment. "I lose GEH to Elliot."

There, he said it.

Then he noticed something extraordinary. The one thought that had been holding him captive for so long had lost some of its power. It reminded him of that time when he was four and got accidentally trapped in a dark closet. When at last, he found the light switch, his eyes initially squinted in protest. Yet, it soon became apparent that being released from the darkness surpassed any initial discomfort.

"What if you keep this project of yours to yourself until you find the right investor?"

Christian smiled. He supposed he would lose nothing by waiting.

There was no need for him to rush into anything.

While he couldn't completely eliminate the risk of failure, he could tolerate a little uncertainty. The longer he sat with the feeling, the more it felt he could handle it. Even if the decision turned out to be a mistake, it felt better than doing nothing. Twenty minutes later, he was convinced this was the right thing to do.

…...

Mrs. Kavanaugh welcomed Ana with a smile. Then, almost as soon as Ana arrived, she gathered her purse and said her goodbyes.

"Ana, I'm so glad you're here," Kate greeted her. She then wasted no time pulling her head deep into her Facebook drama.

Listening to Kate go on and on about her troubles without judgment was difficult. The idea of talking to random strangers, much less calling them friends, was foreign to Ana.

However, soon, she was filled with outrage at the 'mean girl' behavior from the women in the infertility group.

Ana's head replayed an all too familiar voice. Grandma Steele may have died years ago, but her voice was very much alive in her head. Despite coming from one of the most Catholic places on earth, her dear grandma had been a big Karma believer. She kept a list of people Karma missed next to the statue of Saint Anthony, patron of impossible causes.

She remembered like it was yesterday, sitting in grandmas' kitchen, the aroma of baking goodies tickling her senses.

And her abuela's iconic reply to her ongoing teenage drama, so charmingly devoid of any seeming contradictions:

"Don't worry, dear. With any luck, in the next life, you'll come back as a farmer and your ex as a cow."

The comment never failed to make Ana laugh and help her gain some perspective.

"You're worrying too much about this, Katie. What goes around comes around. Karma has no menu; sooner or later, these women will get served what they deserve."

Kate let out a hopeless exhale.

"If you were trying to cheer me up...it's not working."

Ana rolled her eyes, growing a bit impatient. "This is what you need to do," she spoke sharply. "Write a heartwarming letter to the group, explaining you need to leave as to not cause anyone unnecessary pain."

"But I liked this group. I liked being in charge." Kate lamented. "I don't know what I'm going to do. It sucks being chained to a bed all day long...also, I don't really have anyone able to take over."

"You could also remain a moderator to the group but not participate in the discussions until someone else can take over."

This idea cheered her up somewhat.

"Life is beautiful," Ana said brightly, eager to change the subject. " I still cannot believe we're both pregnant, only a few weeks apart...and our kids will be second cousins."

"Yeah," Kate smiled a little.

"Having cousins is the best. I still keep in touch with a few of my second cousins in Mexico."

Ana couldn't help but harbor romanticized ideas about large extended families.

Listening to her grandmother's childhood tales had been a great source of entertainment. She didn't know exactly how many cousins; her guess was as good as any. But she longed to be part of this clan of fiercely loyal people who knew how to party.

She knew their heartwarming stories by heart; through them, she witnessed the drama of sibling rivalries, the noisiness of the children, the gossiping of the women, and the camaraderie of the men.

Later

As they got ready to enjoy a freshly baked sandwich for lunch, Kate circled back to her social media drama.

"Maybe I let the group get too big," she mused, still reeling from the sting of rejection.

"I don't know why you let it stress you out so much," Ana replied. "It cannot be good for you or the baby."

"I should have been more selective in the approval process..." Kate shook her head. "Now, I'm not sure who to trust. There are four or five people I was close with. One of them was the one that wrote that post about 'my stupid baby announcements.'"

While Ana immediately understood Kate's pain, she didn't see the need to keep rehashing the same subject.

"Was I expecting too much? Why couldn't they just be happy for me?"

"They say women are their own worst enemies."

Ana flashed back to their girlhood and what had brought them together in the first place, a desire for sisterhood. When Kate had the period stain incident, a group of mean girls had laughed behind her back.

Seizing the moment, Ana put an end to years of friendlessness by lending Kate her sweater.

Pinky promises followed. Now it was the two of them against the world. More than once, over the years, Ana had questioned her decision.

Admittedly, for years, she wished she and Kate had more things in common.

And now, they were both pregnant, which meant they had a connection they didn't have before.

…..

"Listen, son, don't let personal feelings cloud your judgment. Gia Matteo is on the top of her game. Hiring her is a sound business decision."

Elliot clenched his jaw.

Years of holding back his tongue were starting to take their toll.

Still, he was able to talk himself into listening to Carrick's monologue, his face betraying nothing of his inner turmoil.

"Let me tell you a story. Years ago, when you were a tiny tot, I used to allow everything that happened around me to rule my life. It was as if I was in some sort of coma. I refused to be happy unless something happened that gave me a reason to feel good. I lived my life based on the day's events and what was happening around me. Then, one morning, while watching television, I saw the light; it dawned on me how I had allowed the world around me to dictate my moods. I had been watching a grim news segment on the state of the economy when Christian came into the room. He was being a bit of a nuisance, so I switched the channel to the Cartoon Network. I couldn't help but start laughing. I went to work that morning feeling good. Why? Because my television told me to. That's when I decided I would feel good regardless of my circumstances. It was the best decision I ever made. After making that decision, I realized how much power I had given others over me. It was ridiculous. That decision was the game-changer; it changed my personal life AND the way I did business."

While Carrick spoke, Elliot alternated between furrowed his brow and rolling his eyes. This was not the first time he'd heard the story. Besides, he was way too invested in the blame game to care.

"The second floor was newly remodeled. It was my project. What I see is Christian's judgment valued over mine."

"Elliot, you're not seeing the big picture here. You have the power to change the channel."

"What about my loyalty and lifelong service to this company? For years, I've been the one who busted my ass off working weekends and overtime while Christian lived La Vida Loca."

Carrick shook his head. "Have I not taught you anything? Like my father used to say, a little competition never hurt anybody. My father, in all his wisdom, taught me to value accomplishment over-sentimentality in every business decision. He knew he had to pick the best man to replace him. And I made damn sure he picked me from the time I was old enough to tie my own shoelaces. And I know you don't want to be waiting forever for the head position. But it won't be long now, I guarantee you that much."

Elliot cocked his head thoughtfully. "If I'm hearing you correctly, the only thing you're guaranteeing here is you will be making a decision...but not the outcome of that decision."

Carrick threw his head back and laughed. "Listen, son. It's a tough business world. It's all about rational decision-making."

Over the years, Elliot had functioned well as long as he kept his eyes glued to the winning prize. Time and time again, he had humbled himself to this raving egomaniac of the worst order. But something in him was shifting. Resentment was starting to build to the point of making him want to scream.

"You're picking Christian, aren't you? It's always been him, hasn't it?"

Carrick clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Tonight, when you go home and relax next to your beautiful wife, don't forget to look for the remote control... Keep looking, son. Don't give up. It could be hidden between the cushions. And when you do find it, don't let your television talk back to you. No matter what happens, you still got the power to change the channel."

Without another word, Elliot turned and headed for the door. Carrick watched him go, his lips twitching into a smile that failed to reach his eyes.

….

Elliot was furious. He felt used. For years, he'd played the part of the good son, working his ass off for the old man. And for what? So he could witness the lazy son's ascension to the throne? He fumed as if it was already happening before his very eyes. Carrick, anxiously watching the horizon, welcoming Christian with a ring and fattened calf.

Oh, the irony of it all. Having decided early on NOT to be a chip off the old block, Elliot had adopted Carrick as his role model. He admired Carrick for being the kind of parent he never had. Both Robert and Gladys had been wholly unreliable. He felt like an orphan at heart for much of his childhood. Gladys often left him in the care of a nanny. And while Robert was sort of okay when sober, what he remembered the most were his legendary drinking binges and relapses.

That evening, Kate immediately noticed the tension on her husband's shoulders radiating massive amounts of negative energy.

"Elliot, what's wrong? Is it something I said?"

Elliot blinked as if seeing his wife for the first time in many days. It struck him that she looked smaller and more vulnerable than right before the surgery. He was still reeling from the memories. How he'd begged her time and time again to change her mind. Her refusal had stung more than he cared to admit.

"No, no. Things at work, Carrick..." he trailed off, and Kate nodded in understanding.

"You've been working too hard," she stood up and came around the table to give him a back rub. Elliot sighed in appreciation and closed his eyes. As soon as the doctor clears me for traveling, we should take a trip."

"Hmm... okay, let's start planning the trip."

Kate's eyes widened, daring not to hope, lest setting herself up for disappointment. "Are you serious?"

In response, Elliot suddenly pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. "It's been way too long since we've been away together."

Kate beamed at him. "Pinch me."

"Hmm?"

"I need to verify I'm not dreaming."

Elliot let out a genuine laugh. Kate's heart leaped for joy.

"This is for real," he smiled. "After all we've been through, we deserve some time alone before the baby comes...just the two of us."

"Oh, Elliot. I love you," she said, resting her head on his chest. "Do you love me?"

"Of course," Elliot said coolly.

"I want to hear the actual words."

"I love you," he said.

"I know you say you love me, but sometimes...I just feel you don't get me."

"Don't GET you? What are you talking about?"

Kate's gaze dropped, searching for the words. "I feel like you're not one hundred percent with me like there's a wall between us."

"I don't know why you say that," he frowned. "I think I've shown how much I love you in every possible way," he went on, his voice taking on a defensive tone. " Everything I do, I do it for you, for us. You have no idea ...are you forgetting I did NOT want you to have the surgery?"

"I know," she murmured, swallowing hard, looking guilty.

"I think you're the one who doesn't really get me."

Kate's brows raised in surprise.

"Here I am doing everything I can for us, for our child. I've sacrificed so much, and yet, here you are questioning me. I feel that you don't get it."

"You're wrong," Kate countered. "Carrick, he's the one who doesn't get it. You sacrificed so much, and he's still

not giving you the position you deserve."

Right then, the housekeeper knocked on their door. She cleared the dishes. Dessert consisted of peach pie with a scoop of ice cream.

"This looks delicious, thanks, Alice," Kate said excitedly, taking the first bite.

As Alice exited the dining room, Kate leaned over to peck her husband's lips. In response, he gripped her hips and guided her to sit sideways on his lap.

They took turns feeding each other. When they were finished, Kate leaned her head on his shoulders.

"How are you feeling?" He wondered, his hand resting on her stomach. Even though Kate was lucky enough to have avoided morning sickness thus far, she just had a hearty meal.

"I'm fine. Maybe a little full," her expression grew suddenly serious.

"Elliot?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you love me?" She asked, doubt filling her eyes.

"Of course!"

When she spoke again, her words came punctuated by a series of long sighs, as if she'd been holding her breath for years, and now, at last, she was able to let go.

"I want you to say it. I need to feel that you love me for me...and not only because I'm carrying your child."

Elliot looked at his wife in disbelief. How could she think he only cared about their unborn child?

"How can you even think that? Don't you remember? How many times did I ask you to NOT go through with the surgery?"

Kate chewed her lower lip as if reconsidering. However, this was not the first time they'd had this exact same conversation. It baffled him how his wife needed continuous reassurance.

"Kate, I was worried sick...I didn't want to lose you."

She met his gaze, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She was about to reply when they heard a noise and their heads whipped in unison.

"Mrs. Grey is here," Alice announced.

Elliot and Kate exchanged a glance. It was highly unusual for anyone in their close circle to drop by uninvited.

"It's Ana," Kate reasoned just as Alice ushered Grace into the dining room. "Maybe she forgot something..."

"It's me."

"Grace, what a surprise," Elliot mumbled, his annoyance for the interruption evident. He'd been looking forward to a relaxing evening at home.

"It's about time you learned the truth, Elliot."

...

Commentary:

In this chapter, Elliot and Kate question whether they really get one another. Compare and contrast their behavior to C & A's interaction earlier in the chapter.

Let's also compare Christian and Elliot. While they are opposites, they do have something in common. They both made a conscious decision to reject their respective father figures. Carrick became Elliot's role model. Having grown up with an emotionally absent father, Christian decides to differentiate himself from Carrick.

Christian, however, does not have the complete picture. Life is Beautiful chapter: I wrote it mainly to show how both Carrick and Grace shielded Christian from learning

the truth about their marriage. Except they each had entirely different reasons. Grace's choices show her motivation was to protect Christian. Whereas Carrick's motivation was... ( you fill in the blank).

In the end, we have both Elliot and Grace pissed at Carrick. Any guesses as to what's going to happen next?

Have your opinions changed regarding Elliot? Kate? Christian?