CHAPTER 142

(GIDEON)

I hang up with a sigh. I should've expected this, Eva wouldn't let Corrine get away with stalking us. I pinch the bridge of my nose, I feel like I have a headache starting which is probably down to all the stress, so I rummage in my drawer for some pain killers and grabbing a bottle of water I quickly gulp them down. I know I've fucked up. I should never have said what I said and I should've controlled the situation in Central Park far better than I did.

I leave my study and go to look for Jared, I pause as I hear voices in the kitchen and I realise he is in there talking to Victor, so I make my way towards them but I slow down and listen to what is being said.

"I just hope everyone forgives me for all the trouble this has caused" he says and my heart lurches. Jared shouldn't be feeling bad for what he did, he had no idea what ramifications his actions would have, but I did and I still allowed it to happen. My guilt increases at the obvious worry in my son's voice.

"Listen son, you have nothing to worry about. Trust me, nobody is angry at you, and I personally have been expecting some kind of meltdown at some point because of everything you have had thrown at you. Plus, the fact you are new to this life… this life of having to be careful because what might happen with the media. It's not a life which I personally like but I accept because my daughter loves Gideon and he loves her. I also have complete faith that he will protect her and not let the media intrude too much. At times that means not saying what you really think, it means doing things which at the time don't seem to be honest".

"Like today when we went to lunch… I met Eva's mom and she seemed fake to me, she seemed to be putting on a front because she was in public. Dad said it was because… oh shit! I'm sorry!" Jared says.

"No son, go on what were you going to say?" Victor asks.

"No, I mean… shit!" Jared says.

"Ok son, calm down, the only thing I'm going to call you out on here is saying shit. So, mind your language, ok? You were going to say because Eva and her mom didn't seem to be getting along… am I right?"

"Yes" Jared replies meekly.

"And the reason they are not getting along so well at the moment is because Eva is still pretty angry with her mom about the fact she lied to her about me, is that what your dad told you?" Victor asks calmly.

"Yes, pretty much… he said Eva's mom wasn't happy when Eva and Ana announced they were sisters or when they did that interview with Elliot either" he says.

I hear Victor chuckle, "That is correct… Now that was a moment in time where Eva and Ana played the media at their own game, that was an example of having your say in the right way and what your dad calls owning and controlling the narrative. You see the guy who is their biological dad tried to cause trouble by going to the media and announcing the fact he was their biological dad. This caused pretty much what is happening outside right now with hoards of reporters gathering for a comment on the story. So, Eva and Ana calmly went outside and confirmed while artfully turning the story on him by explaining what sort of man he really was and why he was only coming to light at that point in time. When they did the interview with Elliot and announced he was their brother, that was another example of controlling the narrative. You see Elliot's ex-wife who was a reporter was going to break the story and make it sound sordid and nasty, so Eva, Ana and Elliot got in there first with their interview to break the news so effectively there was no story… do you get what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I do… so what you are saying is I could've still had my say but done it in a way which was more controlled and not caused trouble for everyone" Jared says. "But why was Eva's mom upset if that was the right thing to do?" Jared asks.

I hear Victor sigh, "Because Eva didn't tell her, the first she heard was when the story broke and she saw Eva and Ana on TV. You see Eva was feeling vindictive towards her for the fact she had essentially lied to her all her life about who her dad really was. So, that was Eva's way of getting back at her. She didn't give her a heads up about what she and Ana were going to do. She did do the right thing and told her about the interview with Elliot though".

"Oh I see… I get it now" Jared says.

"Yeah, that is why I can't understand why your dad did what he did, he is normally so careful about the media and so guarded. To be honest with you, I am worried about him as this sort of behaviour is totally out of character for him. He is normally so on the ball, I mean we had our own argument about it when I was here in New York for the charity gala, where Ryan Landon shot Christopher and it all came out about what Gideon's mom had done, which was down to some unsolicited comments Ireland made that night which had been overheard. He knew that they had lost control of the narrative and that it was all going to blow up so he sent me back to San Diego to protect me and my anonymity due to the fact I'm a cop. But since then I've relocated and am now living here in New York".

I make myself known at this point, "I've dropped the ball Victor, I made a mistake" I say as I stroll into the kitchen.

"Dad!" Jared says and he immediately comes to me. I wrap my arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.

Victor smiles at me, "You can say that again son!" he replies wryly.

I sigh, "I do know better, and what I did today". I pause and look down at Jared, "I'm sorry Jared I let you down, I was supposed to do what was right. I was blinded by my own resentment though and I am the adult here, so I should've said no to you… when you asked me to meet her I should've done things differently and protected you better" I say.

Victor stands up, "Should've, Could've, Would've… it's done son so stop beating yourself up about it".

I go to answer when the kitchen door opens and Eva appears, she looks ashen and I frown at her appearance.

"Angel" I reply and leaving Jared I walk towards her and pull her into my arms, "What is it? What happened?" I ask.

"We need to talk, but first we also need to decide what to do about that lot out there" she says pointing towards the window.

Jared approaches and looks at me and then Eva, "You did an interview… perhaps?" he begins and Eva looks at him and I can see the cogs turning in her head.

"No, absolutely not" I say with an emphatic swipe of my hand but Eva holds hers up.

"Wait Ace" she says and looks at Jared, "Are you up for that Jared?" she asks.

Jared nods enthusiastically, "I am, just tell me what to say so I get it right and I'll say it" he says.

Eva looks up at me her eyebrows raised, "It would put an end to having to fight to get in and out of the penthouse and prevent pissing off the neighbours any more than we already have done" she says.

"I don't like this" I say stubbornly.

Eva reaches for me, "If we go out there as a family unit, you will be there to protect Jared and support him as will I" she says. "We need to do something" she adds.

Jared looks up at me hopefully, "Please dad" he whispers, "Let me help you put this right" he says.

I glance at Victor questioningly and he gives me a small nod, "Fine, but this had better not make things worse" I say and Eva grins at me.

"Please Ace, when have I ever let you down?!" she says and I can't help but smile at that as she hasn't. She has never let me down.

oooOOOooo

"So, we are all happy with what is going to happen?" I ask.

Jared nods, Angus smiles at me and Eva slips her hand into mine and presses a kiss to my shoulder. I let out a long sigh.

"Right, let's get this over with" I say with a sense of resignation and we move towards the elevator.

As we step out, I immediately see it is far worse than I anticipated, and Eva is right we need to end it and this really is the only way. I reach for Jared and the reporters go apeshit when they see us. My security are holding them back and we wait in the doorway for them to calm down.

"If you don't calm down you won't hear what we have to say and we are only saying it once" Eva calls out and almost immediately an eerie silence spreads out punctuated only with the sound of camera's clicking.

She nods and turns towards me, and I step forward, "There has been a number of unsolicited stories in the media recently regarding the fact I have a son. Today, I am here to set the record straight and hopefully answer the outstanding questions". I pause and touch Jared's shoulder, "This is my son Jared Martin-Cross. I was completely unaware of his existence until a few weeks ago, when he found me via the Finding Family organisation. Please be aware and mindful of the fact he is a child. He is thirteen years old and has had his entire life tipped upside-down recently. Everything he has known has been ripped away from him and he now finds himself living in a brand new family and living a lifestyle which was far different from what he was used to. I confirm that his biological mother is Corrine Giroux, (nee. Hamilton) who I had a relationship with many years ago. I was unaware of Jared, as she never told me about him and I would've remained in ignorance had he not searched for me. I am delighted to have Jared with me now, but I am also mindful of the fact, this is only the case because he tragically lost his adoptive family recently and we are helping him come to terms with that. My son is grieving the loss of the only parents he has known his entire life up to this point so I ask that you respect that fact and allow him to grieve his loss and give him the space to come to terms with this new life he has been thrust into".

I stop and look at Eva who steps forward, "As Gideon's wife I am helping support Gideon and Jared with this life changing event whilst also looking forward to my new role as step-mom". She pauses and grins at Jared as she says this. He looks up at her and I'm pleased to note he reaches for her hand and slips his hand into hers. Eva squeezes it reassuringly before she continues.

"As I'm sure you all can understand this is a bewildering and overwhelming time for Jared and I am doing my part to help him to adjust to this new life he now has. Jared would like to say a few words now but there will be no questions, a full statement is available and can be obtained from Cross Industries Public Relations Department, which offers more detail to what has been said today". Eva stops and looks down at Jared, "Ready? You don't have to do this if you don't want to" she says but Jared shakes his head.

"No, I want to… I need to" he says. He takes a small step forward and immediately I close in and wrap my arm around his shoulder and Eva takes his free hand in a silent show of support. There is total silence now as Jared clears his throat and begins to speak, reading from the slightly crumpled paper in his trembling hand.

"I was Jared Martin, I was the adopted son of William and Angela Martin and we lived in a nice area of Chicago and we were happy…" he pauses and swallows hard, I increase my grip on him as he composes himself. "That all changed when my mom and dad were killed in a senseless shooting which police in Chicago are still investigating. It was at that point in my life that it focussed my mind on where I originally came from and I expressed an interest in discovering who my biological family were and so I contacted Finding Family with the information I already had about my origins. That led to them finding… my dad, my biological dad who happened to be this guy, Gideon Cross. Since he found out about me, he has accepted me into his family and has done his best for me, to help and take care of me. Today I met my biological mom for the first time and to say it didn't go well would be a gross understatement". Jared pauses as a ripple of laughter goes through the press pack and that noise makes me relax as I realise, we now have them onside. Jared watches them and then continues to speak.

"I wish to make it clear that I have no desire to make any further contact with her or have a relationship with her. I am now Jared Martin-Cross, as I have now been adopted again. This time I am with the man who was never given the opportunity to be a father to me when I was born. I would like to thank my dad and Eva for everything they have done for me and how they have tried their hardest to help me come to terms with everything that has happened…" he pauses again and looks up at me, I wonder what he is thinking as that was the end of the official statement Eva wrote for him, he looks towards the press pack once more as he continues to speak. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the wider family who have welcomed me as one of their own. My new aunts and uncles in Seattle, Christian, Ana, Elliot, Megumi and Mia Grey and also Christopher and Ireland Vidal here in New York along with all the other members of this amazing family I am now a part of". He looks up at me once more and nods at me, letting me know he is now finished.

"Thank you for your time" I say and we turn to walk away.

When we get inside Eva whispers in my ear, "That went well, now for the other thing" she says.

I turn towards Jared and tell him I need to speak with Eva and he nods at me. After reassuring myself that he is ok with that I grasp Eva's hand and lead her to my study, Jared watches us go and he silently turns and goes to his room. Angus joins us in my study and closes the door.

"You need to sit down for this lad" he warns.

I look questioningly at Eva and Angus, "Alright" I say as I take a seat on the sofa.

Eva pulls out her phone, "Where's Jared?" she asks.

Angus points, "He's in his room and I think he's introducing Victor to the delights of the GenTen" he says with a grin. Eva lets out a small snort at that.

"Dad's no novice, and he will love that, he used to play computer games with Cary" she says, before sobering as she looks down at her phone.

"It's not pleasant" she says warningly as she presses play on the voice recorder on her phone.

I sit and listen as Corrine's voice comes through the speaker, I smile as I hear Eva call Corrine's bluff about calling the cops and how she not so subtly got her talking by telling her what we thought her reasons for what she did were. I am actually shocked when I hear the quiet confirmation that our theory was correct.

"So, we were right" I begin but Eva pauses the recording and looks at me.

"Yeah, but there was far more to it than what you thought, seriously Gideon this is going to blow your mind" she warns.

I nod, "Alright, let me hear it" I say.

Eva hesitates a moment and then presses play once more, and Corrine's voice comes out of the phone, but nothing prepares me for what she says.

'There was a third person… but it wasn't consensual'.

Those words ring in my ears and I feel like I've been dumped in a vat of ice. I hold my breath as I listen to her explain.

I gasp and sit back in my seat, "Fucking hell" I breathe, "Eva just play that again… just to make sure I've heard that right" I say as the recording comes to an end.

I listen to it again in its entirety and I am totally dumbfounded by the revelations.

"I don't know what to say" I say eventually, "I am honestly speechless" I add.

A long silence spreads out between us until Eva moves and comes to sit with me. She slips her hand around my arm and I immediately move and pull her so she is sitting in my lap and I hold her to me tightly.

"Thank you Angel… thank you for finding out the truth" I say. "I'm going to go and talk to Jared now, I'm obviously not going to give him the entire story, but he deserves to know the truth" I say.

"Ok" Eva says simply and she eases herself off of my lap, "Do you want me to come with you?" she asks.

I hesitate and then nod, "Yes, if you would" I say gratefully.

We make our way to Jared's room and hear Victor laughing and exclaiming loudly, "Ooh that was close! Quick, quick Jared that one, that one there".

I go in and see them playing some sort of adventure game. I stand and watch, a spike of jealousy goes through me at the sight of Jared laughing and joking with Victor. I feel pushed out... set aside, I quickly dismiss those thoughts ruthlessly pushing them aside as ridiculous.

"Oh you missed him!" Jared exclaims before he spots me, "Dad!" he says, "Victor is so good at this, he's as good as my dad was!" he says excitedly.

I feel my chest tighten at his innocent words but I don't say anything and push down the feelings of jealousy that are creeping over me. I crouch down beside him, "You'll have to teach me to play it" I say. Victor immediately gets up and offers me the controller, "Be my guest" he says. I take it and sit down on the beanbag Victor has just vacated.

"What do I do?" I ask and after some patient tutelage I feel confident enough to have a go.

I watch as Jared messes with the settings, "What did you just do?" I ask, feeling it is quite ironic I should be asking this when it is my company that has made this console.

Jared looks at me, "I put it on beginner so it's easier for you" he says kindly.

"Let's do this" I say with more than a little false bravado.

Eva and Victor stand watching grinning from ear to ear as I play my first computer console game. I don't show myself up too badly, as I quickly come to grips with the controls.

"Ooh dad, quick there… get him, get him" Jared exclaims and I press the button and I hear Jared cheer.

I don't know how long I spend on this game but I have never had so much simple fun in my life, I am laughing and getting involved so much that I let out loud exclamations. Then suddenly it seems to be all over and I feel... disappointed, I want to continue feeling like this.

Jared slaps me on the shoulder, "Well done dad, considering this is the first time you've played you're a natural!" he says his eyes shining at me.

"Is that it have I done it?" I ask and Jared nods.

"Yeah but that was beginner level though, so it was really easy but you aced it. Perhaps we could play again on a harder level next time?" he asks warily and I nod.

"Definitely, and I want to have a go on some of your other games, if you wouldn't mind teaching me how to play?" I say.

Jared's face breaks into a bright smile, "You're on!" he says.

I feel my good mood slip slightly as I recall my original reason for coming in here, and in that moment I don't want to destroy Jared's happy mood. I reach over for my son and pull him towards me ruffling his hair and I press a kiss to his head.

"I love you son" I whisper to him and he looks up at me smiling.

"I love you too dad" he says.

"Right guys, dinner because I don't know about you but I'm starving!" Eva says suddenly, as she seems to know that I'm not going to say anything to Jared about Corrine.

I turn towards her, "What are you thinking Angel?" I ask.

Eva shrugs, "I'm feeling pretty lazy if I'm honest, it's also getting quite late… so I'm thinking just phone for a pizza tonight?" she says.

Jared's eyes widen with excitement, "Ooh yeah pizza!" he says.

I nod, "I'm happy with that, order me my usual" I say and Eva nods.

"Jared, what would you like?" she asks him.

"Erm, mega meat feast with extra pepperoni please" Jared immediately says and Eva smiles.

"Excellent choice, dad? What about you, are you staying for pizza?" she asks Victor.

Victor nods, "I'd like that" he says, "And you know what I like" he adds.

With that Eva pulls out her phone and orders the pizza.

oooOOOooo

After dinner, I look around the table and I know that I have to tell Jared about what I've learnt about Corrine.

"Jared I need to speak to you" I say carefully.

Jared pauses his glass at his lips and looks at me carefully. He takes a gulp of his drink and putting his glass down he nods, "Ok dad, what about?" he asks carefully.

I swallow hard and look at Eva, who reaches for my hand. Victor is watching us and he seems to realise this is something important.

"Do you want me to go?" he asks and I shake my head, "No Victor, I'd like you to stay… please" I say. I reach for my phone and text Angus also asking him to join us as I need his support for what I am about to say.

Angus slips into the room and sits down next to Victor. I look at him and he smiles reassuringly at me.

"You know what you have to do lad" he says.

Jared is watching us, his eyes flicking between us.

"Tonight, before she came home Eva went to see Corrine" I begin and Jared's eyes immediately dart to Eva.

"Corrine confessed as to what had happened… what really happened in the events surrounding your birth and I feel you have the right to know" I say.

Jared nods, "Was it like what we thought?" he asks with a small voice.

I nod, "It was, Corrine couldn't understand why I was pulling away from her and my mother advised her to try and trap me by sabotaging the contraceptives I used. She did that, and she also admitted to sleeping with Jean Francois. However, after she realised she was pregnant she had second thoughts about her plan, my mother continued to try and manipulate her but she realised that what she had done was wrong and so she opted to put you up for adoption. It was at that point she also decided to cut her losses with me and went off with Jean Francois. She was shocked when it came out that you had found me and that I now knew about you. She claims her trip to Seattle and her following us, here in New York was her attempt to try and speak to me to explain herself. After talking to her, Eva believes that… and so do I. She has assured Eva that she won't bother us again and she is happy to leave things as they now stand and have no relationship with you and she also expressed the fact that she is sorry for everything she did… I am also choosing to believe her.

Jared thinks about that and looks up at me, "So it was your mom again… she was the one who caused the trouble… again" he says.

"She was a factor, and Corrine was in love with me and was easily manipulated by her, things got out of her control and she albeit belatedly realised she had done the wrong thing and her actions were her clumsy way of trying to put it right".

Jared thinks about that and nods, "But that doesn't explain why she put all those bizarre demands in the adoption, that was like she was hiding something? I mean she could've still just told you and held up her hands and say I made a mistake" he argues.

I look at Eva helplessly as I really don't want to tell my son that his mother was raped by my step father. Eva grips my hand tightly and leans forward.

"In her own way, she was trying to protect Gideon… after talking to her I understand now why she did what she did and there were other factors involved which she was trying to protect Gideon from so she thought that this was her only option".

"But that meant he didn't know about me, it meant he never got the chance to be my dad" Jared argues.

I smile at him, "And as I told you before, that was a good thing considering the man I was at that point in my life. You dodged a bullet as I would not have been a good father to you as I was too messed up".

Jared nods, and looks at Eva and me. It is a look of suspicion, "There is something you're not saying… you are not telling me something… and it's something important, what is it?" he asks.

I let out a snort, "Frighteningly perceptive" I mutter and I shake my head.

I lick my lips, and sigh, "If I tell you…"

"Gideon" Eva warns and I grip her hand and shake my head once more.

"No, he deserves to know the truth, I promised him I would always be honest with him" I say.

"For fucks sake Gideon you can't tell him that" Eva exclaims.

"Eva, mind your language" Victor says and Eva rolls her eyes but offers Jared an apology.

"Dad tell me" Jared insists, "How bad can it be, I have learnt you were raped as a child? I learnt that from not only from what you told me but also from the internet" he reasons.

"He has a point, lass" Angus offers.

"If I tell him, it will all be out there no skeletons to come out at a later date. My mother is now dead so she cannot cause any more trouble and Chris… well, I don't care if I never see him again".

Jared frowns, "Chris? As in your stepdad Chris?" he asks and then his eyes widen, "Oh. My. God" he says as he has clearly worked things out, "The reason he knew the truth about me… was he also in the frame to be my dad?" he asks.

I nod, "He was" I confirm.

Eva clears her throat, "But it wasn't consensual and Corrine tried to protect Gideon from finding that fact out, that is why she did everything that she did".

Jared stares at me, "I feel bad now for the way I spoke to her" he says.

Eva waves her hand, "And this is why we shouldn't have told him this" she says.

I shake my head, "No, do not feel any guilt about that Jared, you are the only totally innocent party in all this. My mother manipulated Corrine, but never lose sight of the fact Corrine allowed herself to be manipulated. When my mother told her to sabotage the contraception I used, she didn't have to do it… but she did. Corrine didn't have to sleep with Jean Francois… but she did. Then there is Chris who is responsible for his part in this mess as well. It could also be argued that I should share the blame because I was too spineless to end the relationship with Corrine but I just buried my head in the sand and let the relationship fizzle out. She was in love with me and couldn't understand why I didn't want her the way she wanted me so it was my actions which allowed her to be open to manipulation from my mother".

Jared shakes his head, "No dad, you were messed up. We have already been through that, you were messed up and that was also down to your mom and what you went through… no the person at the root of all this is your mom. She was the reason you were messed up which caused the problems with your relationship with Corrine. She put the idea in Corrine's head to trap you".

I tip my head in acknowledgement of that.

"What did Corrine say about me?" Jared asks looking towards Eva.

She smiles at him again, "She said… she said she'd leave you alone and that she wouldn't pursue a relationship with you" she says diplomatically.

Jared nods satisfied with that, "I don't want one with her either" he says.

"Jared, do you need me to call Caroline? Do you want me to organise a video call?" I ask.

Jared thinks about that and shakes his head, "No, I'm ok… I definitely want to talk about it in my scheduled session but for now I just want to think it through" he says.

"Alright, but if you change your mind just say" I say.

He smiles at me and nods, "Thanks dad" he replies, "and thank you for telling me the truth and trusting that I could deal with it, that means a lot. This is my life, and so I had the right to know exactly why I was adopted and why you were never given the chance to be my dad from day one… and now I know".

"And you are ok with it?" I ask warily.

Jared thinks about that and nods, "Yeah, I am… it's like closure on that part of my life. Corrine got herself in a mess, she did what she did to rectify it and so I ended up with my mom and dad… they have now died and its sort of gone full circle as I'm now with you… where if things had been different, I would've been with you from the start… so yeah, I'm good" he says with a sense of finality.

I stare at him completely speechless, marvelling at his incredibly mature outlook on life.