AUTHORS NOTE: In this chapter I want to try and show the ripple effect in action again, how circumstances and people's decisions have a knock-on effect and how those effects ripple outwards.

CHAPTER 126

The next day the men from Child Protection Services arrive early and everything is quickly formalised to give guardianship of Jared to Peter and Suzanne. I think they want this whole episode to just go away as they know they completely dropped the ball on this and for that monumental error of judgement to come to the attention of someone like me with my resources and influence isn't a good thing for them. After a substantial amount of apologies and regrets are expressed everything seems to be quickly finalised. After they have gone, we all accompany Jared to his uncle's house to collect his belongings.

Raul is there waiting as we arrive; he had flown in overnight to help assist us with Jared's removal and he has an amused expression on his face as he leans casually against the wall which borders the property with his hands shoved in his pockets.

He pushes away from the wall as we reach him and nods towards the house behind him. "The aunt isn't happy, she told me to go away and get off her property - but in a more colourful manner and she is refusing to open the door and she also said that she won't allow Jared in to collect his things" Raul says.

My eyebrows rise at that, but before I can say anything Suzanne pushes past me and marches up to the front door and hammers on it so hard it visibly vibrates from the impact.

"Stop being a stupid cow Beverley and just let us in" she yells loudly, "Phil is getting what he deserves, and you damn well know it - what the hell was he thinking pointing a gun at a child especially after what happened, was he out of his mind!? If you don't let us in and let Jared collect his things, that's obstruction and we will call the police and you will end up in the cell next to Phil,". Eva openly giggles and I see Christian smiling widely at the events unfolding in front of us.

The curtains twitch and Suzanne sees it and yells again. "I know you're in there and I can stand here yelling all day Beverley, I'm sure your neighbours will love to hear what I have to say about you and Phil!" she shouts.

A moment later the front door slowly opens, before the woman can react Suzanne pushes her way forcibly into the house. We all follow and Jared goes to his room to collect all his things followed by Raul and Angus. He doesn't even acknowledge his aunt and I wonder just how bad his time here really was.

I stare at the woman and she visibly shrinks under my gaze, and her eyes dart away she looks at everyone else in the room before settling her gaze on the ground.

"So, you're the sperm donor then?" she mutters sullenly without looking at me.

I snort at her feeble attempt to try and insult me, "Is that all you can come up with? I believe that I have been more of a father to Jared in the past 24 hours than your husband has been since he took guardianship over him" I retort. "This time yesterday I was completely unaware that I was his father so I don't believe you have any room to make judgement against me considering your husband's actions towards my son, actions which you witnessed and didn't put a stop to" I retort.

The woman opens her mouth and then shuts it again. But makes a distinct huffing sound.

I look around the room, this is a comfortable home but not affluent, I recall Jared's words that his uncle was in financial difficulty and I can see why, it is clear they are living way beyond their means with expensive drapes, furniture and technology but the tell-tale signs that they don't have the money to maintain any of it are also clearly visible.

A short while later Jared, Raul and Angus reappear all carrying a number of large boxes. "There are just two suitcases and a few more boxes and then that's everything" Jared says brightly, it is clear he is eager to get out of here as quickly as possible. Christian steps forward and helps with the boxes while Peter and I move towards the room Jared has just come from and I see the boxes and the two large suitcases, Peter grabs the suitcases and I reach for the remaining boxes. I take a moment to look around the room and am horrified, in contrast with the comfortable surroundings of the living room this room is dire. The bed is old and looks to be broken and just held crudely together, the carpet is threadbare and stained and the bedding if it can be called that, is thin and grubby. There is barely any furniture in this room and what there is, is old and shabby. I look at Peter who also looks shocked at what he is seeing.

"I tried to come and visit Jared, but every time I tried they weren't in… or they just wouldn't answer the door, I can see why now" he says as he looks around the filthy room. I realise he feels a degree of guilt about this.

"I tried to see him, but they wouldn't let me in, and when I organised video calls with Jared, he was always in the living room" he adds as we carry the boxes and cases outside to the car, before returning inside once more.

"I asked him repeatedly if everything was ok here and he always told me it was… I knew something had happened though, I couldn't put my finger on it but Jared changed in the time he was here, he was always so open, happy and had a twinkle in his eye. But the past few times I talked with him, he seemed so withdrawn and sullen. I felt so helpless… I knew something was wrong, I even called the police to do a welfare check on him, they did but and they assured me he was here and he was safe but I doubt they even entered the house because if they did they would've seen something wasn't right" he says gesturing around him.

I shrug, "You assumed your brother had Jared's best interests at heart and he clearly didn't. Do you have any idea what he was involved in? Who the man was that Jared witnessed in the house?" I ask.

Peter shakes his head, "I have no idea, and I dread to think. I know Phil was an imbecile with money it flowed through his fingers like sand. Even when we were kids, he wasn't averse to doing something stupid to try and make money. I assumed as he grew up, he learnt from his mistakes and knew better… clearly not as it is clear whatever he was doing wasn't legal".

We quickly double check the room and the adjoining bathroom which is just as bad, with mould growing on the tiles in the shower, to make sure Jared hasn't left anything behind but we find nothing. We head out and I see Suzanne is berating Beverley once more telling her that she should stand up to Phil and blindly defending him will only get her in serious trouble and that he wouldn't hesitate to throw her under the bus. I don't get involved as I have achieved what I came here for, and that is to get my son away from these people.

We load up the hire car and as we do so Jared joins me and throws a pair of shoes and coat into the back and then opens a box and carefully places a mug inside. "Have you got everything?" I ask.

Jared nods, "I have now, I nearly forgot those but that is definitely everything now – apart from my bike" he adds sadly.

"Your bike?" I ask.

He gestures to the car, "I doubt it will fit" he says.

"Fetch it" I say and after giving me an incredulous look he runs off, a few moments later he returns with a mountain bike and he is quite correct it won't fit, with all his other luggage in here. I think for a moment and glance at the car Raul arrived in and is using.

"Raul lower the back seats in that car and see if we can fit this in there, once we get to the airport everything will be fine as we can load everything on to my plane" I say.

With a bit of adjustment and more than a bit of pushing and shoving we get Jared's bike in the car and I turn towards him once more.

"Is that everything?" I repeat and he nods.

"You said you had a GenTen do you have that? I ask as I glance into the back of the hire car filled with his boxes once more and he nods.

"All my gaming stuff and my laptop is in that strong box there" he says pointing to a sturdy plastic box.

"What about a television or monitor?" I ask

Jared shakes his head.

"No, I don't have one of those… my dad used to play on it with me so it was always located in our family room at home" he pauses and swallows hard at the obviously painful memory. I instinctively move to comfort him and am pleased to note he doesn't pull away. "So, when I moved here I plugged it into their TV when I wanted to play… but that didn't happen very often" he says sadly with a shrug.

He takes a deep breath as though he is shaking off the memory then he hesitates a moment before he looks up at me, I realise he wants to ask me something and I give him my full attention.

"Has that French guy called you back yet?" he asks in an overly bright and confident tone. I am momentarily surprised by the change of subject but I go with it and quickly respond with a shake of my head.

I had called Jean Francois last night and left a voicemail message asking him to call me with a view of organising a meeting with Jared so he could get his chance to ask his questions.

"No, he either hasn't checked his voicemail yet or he is ignoring me" I say.

I glance at Angus who is listening to our conversation and he immediately starts tapping on his own phone.

Jared shrugs, "If he ignores you, then that says it all doesn't it? I reckon if he is too scared to answer my questions then he knows what Corrine did was wrong… either that or he is just a coward and doesn't want to face me and answer the questions I have".

"Or he could be trying to contact Corrine before he talks to you" Christian offers. I hadn't noticed Christian appear alongside us and I momentarily freeze at that remark. The last thing I want is Corrine back in my life again. But if Jared wants to meet her then there is no stopping it, after all the terms of the contract put in place upon the adoption are totally null and void now, considering I am fully aware of Jared and the fact his adoptive parents are dead.

"Are you hoping to meet Corrine at some point?" I ask Jared carefully and he pauses and thinks for a moment and then shakes his head.

"No, she has made it obvious that she didn't want me and even if your assumptions about what happened are way off the mark, she didn't behave well and she made it clear she didn't want any part of me so I'm not about to go looking for any more trouble" he says.

I touch his shoulder, "Jared I don't consider meeting you trouble. I… I… want us to form some kind of relationship. I understand that you view your uncle as a father figure and that is absolutely fine and as it should be. You have known him all your life. You've only known me for nearly a day, so I wouldn't presume to have that kind of status in your life. But… I… but I would like to be your friend" I say hopefully.

Much to my surprise Jared wraps his arms around me and hugs me, it takes me a moment to realise what he is doing and I return the hug as I do so my heart lurches. I am hugging my son for the first time.

"She made her choices" he mumbles against my chest. "If she does make contact with me I'll let you know as I guess you don't want her causing any trouble in your life again" he adds looking up at me once more.

I pull away from him and look at him carefully, "Jared, she is your biological mother. Please don't dismiss out of hand any chance of meeting her on my account. I am big enough and ugly enough to look after myself should she try anything. If you want to meet her that is your prerogative" I say.

He nods, "I get that, but I don't really want to. As I say even if your assumptions about what happened are wrong that doesn't negate the fact, she was just basically an incubator and nothing else. The facts that we know are, that she put in place a series of bizarre demands to try and make sure you never found out about me and they can't be disputed as it was all put into the adoption contract which my mom and dad signed. Then, she told people lies that you knew about me and didn't care – again something which can't be disputed as that French guy told you that. Then, she just popped me out and basically ran from the hospital to dump me on mom and dad before leaving without a backward glance, which was witnessed by Uncle Pete. They are not the actions of a loving maternal mom. My mom… my mom will always be Angela Martin, the woman who spent sleepless nights with me when I was a baby, who was always there and who cared for me when I was ill. The woman who loved me unconditionally and unselfishly till her last breath left her body" he stops and I see the tears forming in his eyes as he says this.

I pull him towards me once more and I feel him quietly sob against me. I feel so close to him at this moment as my own mother was also missing something important maternally – Which is probably why she got on so well with Corrine, but unlike me Jared had the maternal love he needed as he grew up and for that fact I am thankful. I do wonder what happened to them, all I know is they were killed in an accident. I wonder what kind of accident that was, was it a car accident? Or something else. I am not about to ask Jared for the details as he is clearly still grieving their loss and he has been through enough. I could ask Angus to dig but that feels wrong, so I decide to ask Peter at some point.

"Jared?" I am pulled from my thoughts by Peter who has appeared and he places his hand on Jared's shoulder. He is still sobbing quietly into my chest and Peter is obviously concerned. Suzanne also appears and before I know it everyone is crowded around us.

Jared takes a deep breath and pulls away, I immediately release him and smile down at him, "Is that better?" I ask and he nods.

"Yeah, sorry" he mutters.

I shake my head, "Never apologise for crying Jared – real men are not afraid to show their emotions" I state.

He blows out a long breath and wipes his eyes before giving us all a brave smile, "It was just thinking about my mom… it kind of got to me for a moment" he says.

Peter and Suzanne immediately move toward him to offer him comfort but Peter looks at me and smiles at me, mouthing the words thank you to me.

Christian moves closer and is watching Jared carefully, as Peter and Suzanne satisfy themselves he is ok and step away from him Christian moves in.

"Jared" he says carefully and Jared looks at him.

"Yeah?" he replies.

"Just remember that Caroline is based in Seattle, should you need her… I've made her aware that you are coming to live in the city and don't worry about the cost" he says as he offers him Caroline's business card. I am relieved when Jared accepts it and pushes it into his pocket.

"Thanks Christian" he says. "I might just do that, I still have flashbacks to that day so she could help me with that… as well as everything else that has happened since" he says.

I immediately pay attention to that, "Flashbacks?" I ask.

He nods, "Yeah the day mom and dad died" he says.

Christian and I move closer, and wait for him to continue, but afraid to say anything in case we trigger something.

We move over to the wall and lean against it. Jared shuffles slightly so he is sitting on it. Eva and Ana join us and Peter and Suzanne also appear.

"It was weird" he says after a moment.

"What was weird?" Peter asks.

"What happened the day mom and dad died" he says. I see Peter stiffen at his words.

He turns to me, "I don't appreciate you questioning Jared about this" he states coldly.

I shake my head, "I didn't" I reply simply.

Jared touches his uncle's arm, "Don't, it's not Gideon's fault. Christian just told me that he has arranged for Caroline to see me if I want to when I get to Seattle and I thanked him…" he pauses and pulls out the business card showing it to his uncle. "I think it would be a good idea, and I said I still get flashbacks to that day and I… I just wanted to talk about it as I haven't really spoke of it to anyone since…" he stops.

Peter relaxes slightly and nods, "I apologise" he says to me and I wave my hand dismissively.

Our attention returns to Jared as he starts to speak again. "It was Sunday afternoon, and we were walking along by the river. Just enjoying the day… we were supposed to be meeting up with Uncle Phil and Aunty Bev, for lunch". He stops and shakes his head.

"We had just turned down this road and we saw Uncle Phil and Aunty Bev waiting for us we just about got to them but then I heard gunshots. It sounded like… I don't know it sounded like the bullet had hit something it made a funny noise. Mom grabbed me and held me to her and dad pushed me and mom to the ground and covered us with his body, Uncle Phil and Aunty Bev dived to the ground as well… there were more shots and then dad went all heavy on me and I couldn't breathe… I passed out. I didn't see anything, so I don't know how it happened but I came to and the police were there and paramedics. Uncle Phil stopped me from looking, but I knew… dad had died. I looked for my mom, she was at my side before I passed out but she wasn't there. Uncle Phil told me she had been taken to the hospital as she had also been hit… she fought, she really fought but she died. The police questioned me but I didn't see anything, I told them I heard this funny sounding gunshot like it had hit something and how dad had pushed us down and there were more shots, but I said I couldn't see anything as dad was on top of me. The police said that we weren't the intended victims, they said we had just been caught in the crossfire and that it was probably a gang related incident. But my mom and dad were dead, Uncle Phil and Aunty Bev stayed with me – I think that's what gave the authorities the idea that he was a good choice as a guardian". He pauses again and snorts, "He hated me though, and I hated him" he stops and shakes his head.

"Why did he hate you?" Eva asks gently.

He looks at her, "Because I knew he was an idiot. I was a typical nosy kid, I overheard stuff… I knew dad had bailed him out many times over the years when he got into financial difficulty and he heard me ask my dad once why he kept giving him money if he didn't do the right thing with it? Uncle Phil got angry and yelled at me, he didn't realise I knew about it. Dad told him to back off and that I was just a child and that I had also made a very good point… he said that if he didn't apologise to me immediately, he would never help him again. He always resented me after that, and made the point to have a dig at me whenever he could… making comments about me being adopted and how I wasn't a real Martin. But when mom and dad died, he was there for me. For a time, I actually thought he cared a bit… until the authorities approached him to take me. He said he didn't want to, he said I'd be better off with Uncle Pete, but they argued that uprooting me and sending me to Seattle wasn't a good idea. I think it would've been an excellent idea, but what do I know… then when I went to live with him things deteriorated even more, he made it clear he didn't want me. Aunty Bev tried but she was as bad as him. I felt so alone and that was when my thoughts turned to where I came from, because he kept digging at me saying I wasn't a real Martin. He knew about Corrine being my mom as dad had told him and one day when he was drunk and feeling particularly resentful towards me he said to me, here I am with fuck all stuck with raising you and supporting you when you ain't even a real Martin - and here's the kicker you get every cent my brother had, but you can't touch it till you're 21 so you will walk out of my home after leaching off me for years and you will be a wealthy man without having to earn a fucking dime of it, but the best bit is you could also be a billionaire's bastard so how is any of that fucking fair?" he stops and looks apologetically at his aunt and uncle, "I'm sorry about the F bombs but that's what he said" he says.

They nod, "Don't ever let me hear you saying those words again though" Pete says and Jared nods.

"I won't," he says.

"Jared, you should've told us, you should've said something" Suzanne says.

He nods, "I know but I was so confused I didn't know what to do, I thought nobody would believe me if I told them… I mean they disregarded what I wanted when they sent me to live with Uncle Phil, they didn't even listen to you guys so I thought I had no choice but to suck it up. I missed mom and dad so bad and everything just kept swirling around in my head" he says.

I stare at him, this thirteen-year-old traumatised child, his story is so different and yet so heartbreakingly similar to my own… he didn't think he would be believed, he was disregarded and so assumed nobody would listen if he did speak out.

To my surprise Jared jumps down off the wall and smiles at us all, "But it ends today. I am free now, I am going to live with you" he looks at his aunt and uncle. "I have found my biological dad and he wants to be in my life and along with him I've also met his family" he looks at me and then at Christian, Ana and Eva, "So it's all good… I'm going to look forward, I can't bring back my mom and dad no matter how much I want to, I am going to speak to that lady therapist and work through everything and best of all I don't ever have to set eyes on Uncle Phil or Aunty Bev ever again… so shall we go?"

I glance at Angus and Raul who are listening to all this and I look meaningfully at Angus, he nods and I know he is going to do some digging into this as something doesn't seem right.

"If that is what you want" I say simply and Jared nods.

"It is, I don't want to be here any longer" he says glancing back at the house.

Peter wraps his arm protectively around Jared's shoulder, "Then let's go" he says.

Although, Peter and Suzanne are planning to remain in Chicago for the rest of the day, we head to the airport where my plane is waiting to take them back to Seattle and we load it with all Jared's belongings.

"I'm not sure what we are going to do when we land?" Peter says as he takes in the enormous pile of luggage now stacked inside the plane.

"I'll arrange for a suitable vehicle to be available for you when you arrive in Seattle" I say.

Christian steps forward, "Let me call El, I bet he would help out and it will give you a chance to meet him" he says.

Peter stares at Christian in confusion and I quickly explain.

"El is Christian's adoptive brother – Elliot Grey, he owns his own construction company so he has a number of vehicles so I'm sure he would allow us to borrow one" I say with a shrug.

"El is also mine and Ana's biological brother – long story!" Eva adds with a grin.

"Oh yes, we saw that interview on the TV" Suzanne says her eyes widening as she recalls the TV interview and puts everything together in her mind.

A few moments later Christian hangs up and grins at us, "All sorted, and we will hitch a ride with you back to Seattle as well when you leave. My plane returned to Seattle as Ros needed it for a business trip" he explains.

I grin at him, I know full well that had he wanted to he would've made Ros fly commercial for her business trip so he has done this on purpose.

Angus appears and touches my arm, "If I could have a word lad" he whispers and I nod moving away towards the back of the plane with him.

"What's up?" I ask.

"It appears that Jean Francois Giroux boarded a plane this morning and returned to France" he says in a low voice.

I curse under my breath and rub my face. "Shit, so as soon as he was told he wasn't in the frame as Jared's dad he made his escape. Didn't it ever occur to him that Jared would want to speak to him regardless of whether or not he was his father?" I ask.

Angus nods, "I think that's probably why he's gone lad… so he doesnee have to answer those questions" he says.

I nod, "Very true, but I've got to tell Jared now" I say.

Angus smiles at me, "That wee lad will understand. He has a good head on his shoulders, he won't blame you" he says with a smile.

I realise with a start that I was thinking along those lines. I take a deep breath, "I'd better go and tell him" I say. "Angus" I add and Angus looks at me questioningly.

"You heard what Jared said… about the accident" I say evasively and he nods.

"Ay lad, and I'll look into it as I am smelling a rat" he says.

"So am I" I reply, "Thank you Angus" I say and he smiles at me.

"No problem lad" he says as he walks away.

I head back to where everyone else is gathered. "Jared" I say and he looks up at me.

"I've… I've just been informed that Jean Francois Giroux boarded a flight for France this morning… I'm sorry Jared, he's gone" I say.

Jared shrugs, "Guess he didn't want to speak to me then!" he says simply, "But thanks for trying Gideon. You did your best, you called him. If he's too much of a coward to face me and answer my questions that's on him" he says.

I move forward and wrap my arm around him, "You are ok about it?" I ask and he nods.

"Yeah, from what I've heard about him I don't think I'm missing much. Uncle Pete has said some stuff about him, you know what he remembers about him and from what he said he sounded a bit of an asshole if I'm honest".

"Jared, language!" Suzanne calls.

Jared flushes and apologises to his aunt, but I grin and leaning down I whisper in his ear. "Yeah, he is" I whisper.

"What's going on?" Peter says as he hears Suzanne's rebuke. He was talking with Christian and Ana and everyone now has their attention firmly fixed on us.

"Jared used a bad word… again, and this time there was no excuse for it" Suzanne says.

Peter raises his eyebrows and looks at Jared questioningly. "Sorry Uncle Pete… but Gideon just told me that, that French guy Jean Francois has gone. He never returned Gideon's call and just left the country and went home to France. He asked me if I was ok with that, and I told him that you had told me about him and to be honest after what you told me and everything else I've heard about him it doesn't surprise me he has just gone and I called him an ass…. An A hole" he says.

Pete smiles sympathetically at him, "Ok, well I'll overlook your language on this occasion under the circumstances but you know I won't tolerate bad language - it isn't big and it isn't clever" he says.

Jared nods solemnly and apologises again. I look at Christian and we both grin, I think the same thoughts are going through his head as are going through mine at this moment as I realise that both Christian and I have dreadful language and I will need to make a concerted effort to watch mine when I am around Jared. I also see Eva and Ana grinning widely at that remark and they have obviously made the same connection.

"So, what is happening now?" Peter asks changing the subject.

"Well, I think as things seemed to get away from us yesterday, and after this morning I'd like to take the rest of today to get to know you all. I have spoken with Jared and I've made it clear that I want to be a part of his life, so I think we spend the rest of today just chilling, getting to know each other socially – perhaps do the tourist thing, Jared can be our tour guide and show us the delights of Chicago".

Peter nods, "I'd like that" he says. He glances at Christian, "I've been talking with Christian and he has made it clear that he is available to us should we ever need anything when we return to Seattle, but I think that just spending the day together in a casual setting will be beneficial to us all".