Anthony decided he would give civility, maybe even friendship, with Nick another try. "So, you want me to elaborate on something not all of Middleton knows…" Nick replied carefully, "Only if you want to."
"Ok, then," Anthony said, moving forward and speaking in a hushed voice. "Middleton may know that my parents divorced and my mom remarried." Nick nodded—even he had heard that. "What is not known is how awful it was for the kid in the middle. I mean, I don't want or need a pity party or anything, but it was not a fun time." Nick was silent, somewhat stunned. He had not expected a confession like that.
After what seemed like ages to both boys, Nick said, "I'm sorry to hear that. Can I ask what happened?" Anthony considered Grace's words and Nick's own recent actions and decided to give it a shot. Anthony recounted the tale of his parents' divorce and custody hearings that he had told Grace just hours before. Nick tried to imagine what it may have been like if his mother and father had actually gone through that process—he couldn't. "Wow that must have sucked."
"It did," he continued, "and in the end I ended up spending most of my time at my dad's. My mom remarried about a year later but, well it sounds like Grace probably got a better deal in the step-dad department." Nick smiled at the mention of his father and, looking to Elizabeth, said, "Yeah, I guess we're pretty lucky to have our Dad, huh Lizzie?" "Dadada!" she answered, seemingly in agreement. Both boys laughed, but Nick got serious again. "I am sorry you had to go through that. I can't even imagine what it must have been like."
"Well, consider yourself lucky that you didn't then," Anthony said. Nick simply nodded. Just then Stephanie came in, "Ok, sorry to keep you waiting. Here's the cake. Cassie already paid, so you're go to go!" Nick placed Elizabeth back in the stroller and the cake safely down in the basket below. "I hope you enjoy it," she smiled. "'Ummy!" Elizabeth said. Nick gave his sideways grin and said, "I think we will. Thanks." Stephanie waved at them both and went back behind the counter. "Bye Anthony. I'm…I'm glad we talked. Don't be a stranger." Grace was right, Anthony concluded, Middleton had changed Nick, he had grown up. "Bye Nick. Yeah, I'll see you around." He looked at Elizabeth and gave her a little wave, "Bye, bye Elizabeth." Bye, bye, bye," she repeated, waving her hand all about.
Grace, upon leaving the Bistro, had gone to meet Courtney and catch up with her for a spell before heading back home. She soon felt another presence coming up behind her and she stopped, turning to see her step brother and little sister. "Nick," she called out. "Hey Grace!" he answered pushing the stroller faster, much to the delight of his smiling sister.
"What are you two up to?" she asked, with a smile and kiss for the smaller Radford. "'Gace," Elizabeth smiled and clapped her hands. Nick explained. "Cassie asked me to take Lizzie into town to pick up this dessert from the Bistro."
"Oh, really," Grace responded slyly.
"And, you'll never guess who we ran into…"
"Well, if I'll never guess you'd better tell me."
"Your old friend Anthony."
"Anthony? Really?"
"Grace," Nick smiled. "Thank you. It was really good to talk to him and…apologize."
"And you're thanking me now?" she questioned. She hadn't expected Nick to apologise to Anthony, but she was glad it had happened. Nick had changed and she loved the brother he had become.
"Well, that was really good of you. Really good."
"Yeah, well I was a jerk to him. He didn't deserve it." The step-siblings and best friends looked at each other, Nick gratefully believing his sister had pulled some of her 'magic', and Grace simply happy that she could finally help people dear to her, just like her mom.
Arriving to their street, Elizabeth began to get excited and want out of her confines. "Howse," she exclaimed pointing to Grey House. "Howse!"
"All right Miss Elizabeth," Grace said taking her out of the stroller. "We are almost at Grey House."
"Tell our parents that I'm dropping the cake off at home. I'll see everyone at dinner."
"Ok, later." Grace answered. Nick headed off towards their house while Grace and Elizabeth made their way towards the Bed and Breakfast.
"Come on, Lizzie, let's go see Mama."
"Budder." she stated looking next door.
"Yes, you went on a walk with your big brother, and I have a feeling you may have pointed him in the right direction too," she smiled kissing her little sister on the cheek and walking through Grey House's front door.
Nick walked into the house. All was quiet. His parents must have still been next door. He put the cake away and thought about his encounter with Anthony. Knowing his mother and father, he was certainly grateful there hadn't been any custody hearings.
His phone rang and he saw 'Mom' appear on the caller ID. His mother had already called several times, so he decided he'd better answer.
"Hi Mom," he answered flatly.
"Nicky," she responded. "Finally. Why haven't you answered my calls?! This is no way treat your mother. You—"
"Mom, mom please," he cut in. "What do you want?"
"What? What do I want?!" she answered in a shocked tone. "I wanted to know what possessed you to act the way you did last night. Your father said you're angry…"
"Yes Mom, I'm angry. Finding out from Geoffrey that you didn't even counter Dad on custody, yet telling me he stole me from you. Would you expect me not to be angry?!"
"Nicky, I…" she tried.
"No. I don't want to hear it, Mom. My life has changed. I have a family. A little brother and sister. A step-sister, who is also my best friend. And, I am surrounded by people who are actually interested in me and what I am studying at university. You don't even really know that and you're my mother," Nick argued.
"Nicky, I am sorry. It wasn't fair of Geoffrey to corner you like that. He had no right to say that."
"No, that was your job Mom and you didn't. If it was up to you, I would have probably never found out, right?"
"Well, your father…"she tried to counter.
"Don't bring Dad into this. This is something you did and you can't change it."
"Nick, come on," she said seriously. "There has to be something I can do to show how sorry I am."
"Listen Mom, you don't need to worry about me anymore. You can continue with your career and your life. No need to concern yourself with me. I have a family who cares about me. Go to London, go to Hong Kong, or stay in New York, whatever. Your life is your life again, ok?"
"My life is my life again?" She repeated with a tinge of sadness.
"Yeah," he continued, tears unknowingly welling up in his eyes. "Good-bye Mom."
The line went blank on Linda's end. She slowly sat down, shocked and numbed by the conversation that had just transpired. Had she really just lost her son?
Nick hung up on his mother. He couldn't believe he actually hung up on his mother. Wiping the tears that had gathered in his eyes, he took a deep breath. "It's done."
Later that evening, all of the family had returned to the house next door and the smell of dinner began to fill the Radford household. Grace and Nick were in their rooms preparing for the upcoming new semester. Alexander and Elizabeth played contently in front of the kitchen while their mother and father finished dinner preparations. "Mmm, smells wonderful as usual, my love," Sam whispered in her ear, giving her a kiss on the neck. Cassie loved it when her husband was so attentive; he wasn't one for a lot of public displays of affection, but when they were alone, it was certainly a different story. "Chili," she informed him. "Care for a preview?" He gratefully accepted a spoonful of her infamous chili and a big grin spread across his face. "Excellent."
Sam walked over to the twins and picked up Alex. Cassie followed just behind him taking Elizabeth into her arms and both parents sat down to enjoy a quiet moment with their children while the chili simmered to perfection. "I haven't seen Nick since this afternoon," Sam mentioned as he lifted Alex up and down making him laugh. "Did he stop by Grey House?" "No, Grace came by with Lizzie and said he had come home. He'll resurface for food. He always does." Cassie answered keeping a sharp eye on their Elizabeth wandering 'round and around the coffee table. Sam laughed, "Yeah, I think he is quite grateful that you are the cook in this family. I think pasta and cereal for dinner was beginning to wear thin."
"I love that we cook together," she said getting up to intercept her youngest daughter from wandering too far from their sight, giving him a kiss on the cheek at the same time. "And, that you do dishes." Sam smiled, getting up to set the table as Cassie prepped the chili for serving. Once dinner was ready, Nick and Grace emerged from their rooms. They each served themselves and sat down, discussing the day, while Sam and Cassie fed the twins in between their own bites. "Nick" Cassie enquired, "Was Lizzie ok on your walk this afternoon?"
"Oh, yeah, fine," he said, looking up from his food and speaking for the first time.
"She just likes to move around so much I was worried she might start fussing before you made it to the Bistro." Nick cracked a smile. "We made it before that happened. And, I saw Grace's old friend, Anthony, there. We talked and I, erm, apologised," he admitted. "I was a jerk to him in high school." Sam looked at his eldest son, impressed. "I am proud of you Nick. That took a lot of maturity." Cassie smiled and added, "Nick that was very good of you." Nick smiled, slightly embarrassed from his parents' praise, "Thanks Dad, Cassie." Grace smiled and Cassie gave her a knowing look. Nick spent the rest of the meal in silence, his whole family aware of his demeanour. When the main meal was done being enjoyed, Sam and Cassie prepped the familiar, special dessert while Grace cleared the table and Nick watched over the twins. "Something's still up with Nick," Sam informed his wife when they were out of earshot. Cassie nodded in agreement, "I have a feeling the issue with his mother is far from resolved." Sam shook his head. "I hate this," he said, cutting the dessert into pieces and bringing them to the table.