Scott's World-Ch. 23
Spencer had made his way back into the file system of Horizon students. His target this time was to gather any and all information on a blonde-headed girl named Shelby. Once his job was completed he headed back to Denver to deliver the information to his employer. He had viewed the file on the plane ride back and was quite surprised at the facts that he had viewed. This kind of information would probably give the old man a coronary heart attack.
Barringer Estate
Scott had proceeded to the sitting room after dinner so that he could converse with Corinne. He wondered around looking at different things trying to kill some time. There was a beautiful grand piano in the room and Scott just couldn't resist the temptation. He sat down and played some lovely soft ballets that brought his mind thinking about Shelby. In the process of playing, Corinne wheeled herself in and sat back listening to her grandson play so beautifully. She was pleased to see the talent that he had and didn't dare disturb him. Scott finished one song and heard the soft applause of his grandmothers clapping hands. He turned to greet her.
"Oh how lovely you play."
"My mom taught me to play when I was little."
"Your mother was so talented. I really liked her sweet spirit."
"I thought that the Barringer side didn't approve of her."
"Not everyone sees eye to eye with Edward. He's so demanding and in control and I don't always agree with him. He's made some very bad decisions in his life that has affected this whole family. He's not one to admit his mistakes and he doesn't know how to apologize because of his pride. He wanted so much to control your father but Martin was to head strong for him. When Edward couldn't mold Martin into his image than he found it best to let him go. I cried for days and I begged him to reconsider but Edward never goes back on his word. He felt that if he reconsidered than that would make him weaker than Martin. Edward and your father are actually so much alike because neither one wants to be weaker than the other is. Since neither one would give in, it tore my family apart. I've wondered for years how things were with him and Susan. Did you grow up in a happy home?"
"Yes for most of my life it was great. We used to do a lot together and we'd spend a lot of time with each other. It didn't start going bad until a couple of years ago when my mother walked out. I didn't understand at the time why she did it and I put a lot of the blame on myself at first. My dad said that it wasn't my fault and that she loved me but it was still hard to accept. I just became more involved in other activities to try and forget the pain. My dad and I became really close for awhile until he met her."
"Who's her?"
"Elaine his second wife. She ruined everything that we had together. I don't think anything will ever be the same again."
"I heard that they no longer live together. Doesn't that help?"
"It might help some but we lost the trust in each other. I don't know if we'll ever get it back. He doesn't look at me the same way anymore."
"How could he loose the trust in you? You're only a child."
"I betrayed him."
"How can someone so young betray another so as not to be forgiven?"
Scott couldn't bring himself to tell her what he had done. He felt ashamed right now as if the whole thing was his fault. Everything that he had learned at Horizon just flew right out the window. He tried so hard to keep control of his feelings but he was slowly loosing the battle.
"I need to get out of here. Please help me get out of here. I don't belong."
"Of course you belong here and so does your father. I want you to feel welcomed here anytime you want. We are part of your family also. Please don't be angry with us. We won't hold you against your will but please remember that you have other family that you can turn to."
By the time Corinne was trying to get some trust in Scott Edward walked in. "Corinne what false hope are you trying to feed this boy? No judge on this earth will give custody back to his incompetent parents."
Scott became worried at the last statement. "What do you mean custody?"
"Well think about it Scott. Your mother abandoned you and your incompetent father marries a women who sexual abuses you and then he himself physically abuses you. On the other hand, I can provide proper upbringing with proper education and a loving home."
Scott was becoming paranoid now. "You mean to tell me that you're going to go to court and file a custody suit? What about kidnapping. You can't do this. I won't let this happen."
"Relax Scott. Kidnapping won't hold up in court because I was just trying to protect you. There won't be a judge out there who won't see things my way. You can have the best of everything that you deserve. I can get you into the most prestigious boy's school where you can receive excellent education. You weren't getting that at Horizon."
"You have no proof of anything that you just mentioned. How did you find out about any of it?"
"It's all in documented files from Horizon. I can also prove that Horizon is an unfit school. Evidently the students can run around unsupervised and engage in pre-martial sexual activities. That should look good in court."
Scott was fuming mad now. "This is all bullshit. You can't prove anything and how do you know what does on at Horizon? You don't know anything."
"I never give facts unless I have substantial evidence to back me up. Are you going to stand here and tell me that you didn't have sex with a Shelby Merrick?"
"You're just trying to set me up. You want me to say something bad about Horizon so you have a case to build upon but I won't."
"You're right. Shelby was a known prostitute so she could have been sleeping with various boys at Horizon. The problem is that only one could be the father of the child she is carrying."
Scott collapsed into a chair. "Oh shit your lying. How could you know something like that?"
"I hacked into the computer system of Horizon and it's all written and well documented by Peter Scarbough himself."
Scott was becoming hysterical now. "You've got to let me go back. I can't leave her alone at a time like this. Please let me go, she needs me."
Edward grabbed Scott and shook him. "Now you listen to me and you listen good. You are not going to screw up your life like your father did. You are going to stay here and get proper schooling so that you can have a successful future. You will not see Ms. Merrick again and you will not have anything to do with her. If you care about her at all than you will comply too these demands or Ms. Merrick might have some unfortunate accident. Do you understand what I'm saying."
Scott was crying now. "No you bastard, don't you hurt her. She hasn't done anything to you. You are so cold. Now I know why my dad couldn't stand living here. You are a maniac and you won't get away with this."
"Scott this is your choice. You choose the fate of Ms. Merrick. What will it be? You stay and she goes unharmed, you fight me or leave here and she and her baby will have an unfortunate accident."
So much was running through Scott's head right now. He didn't know how but someway he was going to set things right. The first thing that he needed to do was to make sure that Shelby was taken care of. "This is blackmail. I'll comply if I can add a stipulation to the rule."
"I try to be a fair business man. What's your offer?"
"I know you have the money so I want a trust fund opened up in her name so that she can afford to raise the baby properly and I want to be able to talk to my parents."
"If I comply to your demands than you have to tell your parents that it is your choice that you live here and you will agree to go to a school of my choosing."
Scott hated this more than anything but he had to do what he thought would work out best. He dropped his head down in defeat. "Ok, I'll do it."
"I want to call my mom first and I want a record of the trust fund so I know that she got it."
"The phone is over there. We'll leave and let you have some privacy. No tricks because if I find out that you double crossed me than you'll be the one to blame."
Scott shook his head and waited for them to leave so that he could make his phone call. He dialed the number and prayed that she would be home. Susan answered the phone sounding somewhat depressed.
"Mom it's Scott."
"Scott oh my God where are you. Everyone is looking for you."
"Mom I need you to listen and not interrupt ok? I need to tell you something important."
"Ok Scott go ahead."
"I living with grandfather and grandmother Barringer right now."
"But Scott. . . . ."
Scott cut her off. "Mom let me finish. I've made a real mess of things and I need you to help me out. I fell in love with this girl at Horizon named Shelby and she means everything to me. We had sex mom and I thought that we were being careful but she got pregnant. Please can you take care of her until I finish school. I have set up a trust fund for her but she probably will need someone to help her get through this. I know that Horizon won't let her stay there because they can't. Mom please, I know that I messed up real bad and I'm sorry. I don't know what else to do. I can't see Shelby right now. It's the way things have to be right now. I really do love her and I don't want anything to happen to her. Her family is not able to cope with this kind of thing. Can you help her? Please do it for me."
"Scott I'm not stupid. I know how Edward works. He's blackmailed you hasn't he?" No answer. "Talk to me Scott. What's really going on there?"
"Mom if I don't comply than he'll just destroy all of your lives by dragging a lot of shit through the court system. He'll get you for abandonment and Dad for physical and sexual abuse. He knows how to make people do what he wants. I'm just trying to protect everyone here. It's just best if I comply too his wishes. It's not like he wants to hurt me. He just wants to help me gain a future. Do you understand?"
"I understand Scott but he doesn't have the right to control your life through threats and blackmail."
"I can handle it for a little while until I can figure out what to do. I just need to know that Shelby is getting taken care of."
"Ok, I'll go to the school tomorrow and see what I can do. I'll try and get authorization to become her legal guardian until she turns 18. There is a school here for unwed teenage mothers so they can finish high school. How will I be able to contact you?"
They discussed the possibilities of using the Internet to keep in touch with each other. Scott would request a computer to take to school with him and then they could communicate without having phone calls retraced. Scott prayed that all would work out until he could be in the arms of Shelby again. Scott added one last demand for his mother. Make sure that she told Shelby that he loved her.
To be continued.
Spencer had made his way back into the file system of Horizon students. His target this time was to gather any and all information on a blonde-headed girl named Shelby. Once his job was completed he headed back to Denver to deliver the information to his employer. He had viewed the file on the plane ride back and was quite surprised at the facts that he had viewed. This kind of information would probably give the old man a coronary heart attack.
Barringer Estate
Scott had proceeded to the sitting room after dinner so that he could converse with Corinne. He wondered around looking at different things trying to kill some time. There was a beautiful grand piano in the room and Scott just couldn't resist the temptation. He sat down and played some lovely soft ballets that brought his mind thinking about Shelby. In the process of playing, Corinne wheeled herself in and sat back listening to her grandson play so beautifully. She was pleased to see the talent that he had and didn't dare disturb him. Scott finished one song and heard the soft applause of his grandmothers clapping hands. He turned to greet her.
"Oh how lovely you play."
"My mom taught me to play when I was little."
"Your mother was so talented. I really liked her sweet spirit."
"I thought that the Barringer side didn't approve of her."
"Not everyone sees eye to eye with Edward. He's so demanding and in control and I don't always agree with him. He's made some very bad decisions in his life that has affected this whole family. He's not one to admit his mistakes and he doesn't know how to apologize because of his pride. He wanted so much to control your father but Martin was to head strong for him. When Edward couldn't mold Martin into his image than he found it best to let him go. I cried for days and I begged him to reconsider but Edward never goes back on his word. He felt that if he reconsidered than that would make him weaker than Martin. Edward and your father are actually so much alike because neither one wants to be weaker than the other is. Since neither one would give in, it tore my family apart. I've wondered for years how things were with him and Susan. Did you grow up in a happy home?"
"Yes for most of my life it was great. We used to do a lot together and we'd spend a lot of time with each other. It didn't start going bad until a couple of years ago when my mother walked out. I didn't understand at the time why she did it and I put a lot of the blame on myself at first. My dad said that it wasn't my fault and that she loved me but it was still hard to accept. I just became more involved in other activities to try and forget the pain. My dad and I became really close for awhile until he met her."
"Who's her?"
"Elaine his second wife. She ruined everything that we had together. I don't think anything will ever be the same again."
"I heard that they no longer live together. Doesn't that help?"
"It might help some but we lost the trust in each other. I don't know if we'll ever get it back. He doesn't look at me the same way anymore."
"How could he loose the trust in you? You're only a child."
"I betrayed him."
"How can someone so young betray another so as not to be forgiven?"
Scott couldn't bring himself to tell her what he had done. He felt ashamed right now as if the whole thing was his fault. Everything that he had learned at Horizon just flew right out the window. He tried so hard to keep control of his feelings but he was slowly loosing the battle.
"I need to get out of here. Please help me get out of here. I don't belong."
"Of course you belong here and so does your father. I want you to feel welcomed here anytime you want. We are part of your family also. Please don't be angry with us. We won't hold you against your will but please remember that you have other family that you can turn to."
By the time Corinne was trying to get some trust in Scott Edward walked in. "Corinne what false hope are you trying to feed this boy? No judge on this earth will give custody back to his incompetent parents."
Scott became worried at the last statement. "What do you mean custody?"
"Well think about it Scott. Your mother abandoned you and your incompetent father marries a women who sexual abuses you and then he himself physically abuses you. On the other hand, I can provide proper upbringing with proper education and a loving home."
Scott was becoming paranoid now. "You mean to tell me that you're going to go to court and file a custody suit? What about kidnapping. You can't do this. I won't let this happen."
"Relax Scott. Kidnapping won't hold up in court because I was just trying to protect you. There won't be a judge out there who won't see things my way. You can have the best of everything that you deserve. I can get you into the most prestigious boy's school where you can receive excellent education. You weren't getting that at Horizon."
"You have no proof of anything that you just mentioned. How did you find out about any of it?"
"It's all in documented files from Horizon. I can also prove that Horizon is an unfit school. Evidently the students can run around unsupervised and engage in pre-martial sexual activities. That should look good in court."
Scott was fuming mad now. "This is all bullshit. You can't prove anything and how do you know what does on at Horizon? You don't know anything."
"I never give facts unless I have substantial evidence to back me up. Are you going to stand here and tell me that you didn't have sex with a Shelby Merrick?"
"You're just trying to set me up. You want me to say something bad about Horizon so you have a case to build upon but I won't."
"You're right. Shelby was a known prostitute so she could have been sleeping with various boys at Horizon. The problem is that only one could be the father of the child she is carrying."
Scott collapsed into a chair. "Oh shit your lying. How could you know something like that?"
"I hacked into the computer system of Horizon and it's all written and well documented by Peter Scarbough himself."
Scott was becoming hysterical now. "You've got to let me go back. I can't leave her alone at a time like this. Please let me go, she needs me."
Edward grabbed Scott and shook him. "Now you listen to me and you listen good. You are not going to screw up your life like your father did. You are going to stay here and get proper schooling so that you can have a successful future. You will not see Ms. Merrick again and you will not have anything to do with her. If you care about her at all than you will comply too these demands or Ms. Merrick might have some unfortunate accident. Do you understand what I'm saying."
Scott was crying now. "No you bastard, don't you hurt her. She hasn't done anything to you. You are so cold. Now I know why my dad couldn't stand living here. You are a maniac and you won't get away with this."
"Scott this is your choice. You choose the fate of Ms. Merrick. What will it be? You stay and she goes unharmed, you fight me or leave here and she and her baby will have an unfortunate accident."
So much was running through Scott's head right now. He didn't know how but someway he was going to set things right. The first thing that he needed to do was to make sure that Shelby was taken care of. "This is blackmail. I'll comply if I can add a stipulation to the rule."
"I try to be a fair business man. What's your offer?"
"I know you have the money so I want a trust fund opened up in her name so that she can afford to raise the baby properly and I want to be able to talk to my parents."
"If I comply to your demands than you have to tell your parents that it is your choice that you live here and you will agree to go to a school of my choosing."
Scott hated this more than anything but he had to do what he thought would work out best. He dropped his head down in defeat. "Ok, I'll do it."
"I want to call my mom first and I want a record of the trust fund so I know that she got it."
"The phone is over there. We'll leave and let you have some privacy. No tricks because if I find out that you double crossed me than you'll be the one to blame."
Scott shook his head and waited for them to leave so that he could make his phone call. He dialed the number and prayed that she would be home. Susan answered the phone sounding somewhat depressed.
"Mom it's Scott."
"Scott oh my God where are you. Everyone is looking for you."
"Mom I need you to listen and not interrupt ok? I need to tell you something important."
"Ok Scott go ahead."
"I living with grandfather and grandmother Barringer right now."
"But Scott. . . . ."
Scott cut her off. "Mom let me finish. I've made a real mess of things and I need you to help me out. I fell in love with this girl at Horizon named Shelby and she means everything to me. We had sex mom and I thought that we were being careful but she got pregnant. Please can you take care of her until I finish school. I have set up a trust fund for her but she probably will need someone to help her get through this. I know that Horizon won't let her stay there because they can't. Mom please, I know that I messed up real bad and I'm sorry. I don't know what else to do. I can't see Shelby right now. It's the way things have to be right now. I really do love her and I don't want anything to happen to her. Her family is not able to cope with this kind of thing. Can you help her? Please do it for me."
"Scott I'm not stupid. I know how Edward works. He's blackmailed you hasn't he?" No answer. "Talk to me Scott. What's really going on there?"
"Mom if I don't comply than he'll just destroy all of your lives by dragging a lot of shit through the court system. He'll get you for abandonment and Dad for physical and sexual abuse. He knows how to make people do what he wants. I'm just trying to protect everyone here. It's just best if I comply too his wishes. It's not like he wants to hurt me. He just wants to help me gain a future. Do you understand?"
"I understand Scott but he doesn't have the right to control your life through threats and blackmail."
"I can handle it for a little while until I can figure out what to do. I just need to know that Shelby is getting taken care of."
"Ok, I'll go to the school tomorrow and see what I can do. I'll try and get authorization to become her legal guardian until she turns 18. There is a school here for unwed teenage mothers so they can finish high school. How will I be able to contact you?"
They discussed the possibilities of using the Internet to keep in touch with each other. Scott would request a computer to take to school with him and then they could communicate without having phone calls retraced. Scott prayed that all would work out until he could be in the arms of Shelby again. Scott added one last demand for his mother. Make sure that she told Shelby that he loved her.
To be continued.