Grey Encounters
Ted's POV
I knock on the door knowing that I am about to get a piece of the mystery that is me.
I expected a domestic servant to open the door. However I am taken back a little to find, my grandmother standing at the door. I recognise her from all my research. My mother has for some time, been forthcoming in answering numerous questions for me. Once I learnt the names of my grandparents, I googled them and found a set photos and articles based on them. I studied them. Seeking whatever information I could acquire, but seeing her now in person, was so much more.
She looks at me astonished, and even gasps a little. She covers her mouth with her hand, to control her emotions. If it was physically possible, she would be picking her jaw up from the floor. Usually I find this extremely uncomfortable and irritable, but I guess I can't blame her. It wasn't as if dad carried a photo of me around to show them, or anything.
Behind her, walks my grandfather, to join us. There is a definite sense of respectability about him, and my grandmother, as she starts to beat her shock. My grandfather though poised is too stunned. Okay this is getting too much now, time to change this state of shock.
"Hi, I am Theodore Raymond Steele, but I prefer Ted." I hold out my hand to shake theirs. My grandmother looks at my hand, but she ignores it. Rather she throws her arms around me, embracing me warmly. A few stray tears spring from her eyes. At first, I didn't know what to do, but then, I also put my arms around her, though loosely. If I failed to reciprocate, it would probably make her cry more, and I can't stand the tears already running down her face. Eventually, she releases me.
"Ted, I am Carrick Grey, your grandfather, and this is Grace, your grandmother. She isn't normally this shaken but considering the circumstances." He reasons and shrugs.
"I understand, Mr and Mrs Grey. Less than twenty-four hours ago, you were told you had a grandson that has been a colossal secret, and then he turns up at your doorstop, about to infringe on everyone's perfect lives because he has more questions than he has answers." I respond. I know that there is a sense of hatred in my vice. They both look at each other, both unreadable.
Great one Ted act as much as an asshole as your father! "I apologise for my manner, this trip has become harder than I expected. It is good to meet you both, finally."
"Please come in" My grandmother states. "Also please don't refer to us as Mr and Mrs Grey. We are your grandparents, regardless." My grandmother has quickly regained her composure. I can feel a strong warm and caring undertone to her voice. Just like my mother has often told me.
"I am sorry. I have had this issue of trying to work out how to refer to certain people ever since I landed in Seattle on Thursday evening. I am not usually this indecisive. What would you prefer me to call you both?" I ask.
"Personally?" My grandmother smiles broadly with a twinkle of happiness shining brightly in her eyes.
"Yes." I state cautiously.
"Grandma and Grandpa would be our first preference, but if you are probably not comfortable with that, then Grace and Carrick is suitable. Whatever makes you, feel the most at ease" My grandma informs.
I am taken back by their enthusiasm and graciousness. So different to what I encountered from my father when I went to see him on Friday. My mother's words though circles in my mind 'I accept your father probably was emotionless and standoffish, but how did you approach him? Tit-for-Tat Ted"
"I am sorry I just don't know how I feel about…." I drop my shoulders this was going to be harder than I thought. I should have stayed in New York, ignored the trust fund, ignored that I am half of me is a Grey and went off to college to study Law and gone about my life.
"Ted, please DO NOT feel uncomfortable, or like you are in the wrong here, this is a horrid situation. Please take a seat. Can we get you something to drink or eat?" My grandfather offers.
"I would love a cup of coffee." I finally start to feel at ease. The atmosphere relaxes significantly after we are served coffee and muffins. I start to feel as I have the right to be in the company of my grandparents. Dad's unspeakable secret, not so secret no more.
"I have a lot of questions as you probably do of me and I promise to answer every question that you have, but first can you both tell me something?" Both nod their heads politely. "When you answered the door, you were both visibly shaken. Do I genuinely look that much like my father when he was my age?" I think I know this answer, but they could fill it better than anyone else.
"You more than resemble your father. In fact, you are a carbon copy of him when he was your age. You have his cooper hair, grey eyes, jaw line, even your height is the same. When I opened the door and saw you, it was as if I had opened a door to the past. I almost referred to you as Christian" My grandmother tells me. I try not to show my displeasure, I had prayed that there was something physically different between him and I. Damn it, even my mother believes that we have similar personalities traits at times.
"So is there anything you want to know about me?" I offer first. My grandfather raises his eyebrows. He like I both don't know where to start with our questions.
"Yes, we have a million. First tell us about yourself." They both look so hopeful, what if my biggest fear is true? Would they forgive me for that?
"About me?" My lips form a solid line as I wonder where to start. Is there that much about me even? "I suppose you both now I live in New York, with my mother, Ana Steele, and have since the age of five. She is working at HarperCollins, and I have been attending a private school in Manhattan. I am a senior and just trying to decide which college to go to."
"You father mentioned that you have been accepted into some Ivy League colleges. He sounded quite proud of you" My grandmother noted.
Proud of me? I doubt that and why does he even get the right to feel that emotion towards me. I believe that right should exclusively go to my mother. I think I am more of a financial obligation to my father than a source of pride. I decide it best not to discuss my father, for the moment.
"I am considering Yale or Harvard. I plan on studying Prelaw" I tell them.
"Pre-law? If you have time, I would love to show you my law firm. I don't know if your mother ever mentioned it, but I am a practising attorney." my grandfather is overjoyed. I have been around for an hour, and we have started to find some common ground. Even I am surprised over how well this is going. I didn't think it would happen. "How long are you in Seattle for?"
"We leave this weekend. I want to get back to school and mom needs to go back to work." My grandparents look a little down "But I would love to visit your firm" A smile grows on my grandfather's face. I also can't help but be satisfied that I have brought joy to someone since I landed in Washington State.
"Your mother is here?" My grandmother looks pale now.
"Yes." There is an unexpected change in the atmosphere now. "Is there anything else you would like to know?" My grandmother now gives a short laugh.
"What is your favourite colour? Favourite movie? Favourite food? Favourite childhood hero? I want to know everything." Shrugs my Grandmother apologetically. "Sorry, am I asking too many questions?"
"No, it's fine. I am just glad that you are interested in me. My favourite colour is red. My favourite movie is the Terminator, but I tell every girl I meet that it is the Notebook. Though that has never worked for me. I really like a traditional roast dinner and my childhood hero was embarrassingly the Wiggles." Even I have to laugh at my previous response with my grandparents. "Is there anything else?"
"Do you play any musical instruments or sports?"
"Yes I do. My mother enforced that mantra as she called it. She said that she wanted me to be as well rounded as possible, and one person she once knew enforced it with her children or something like that. Play the piano due to my mother's wishes. I was forced to learn a foreign language, in which I learnt Japanese as per my school curriculum; and I do Judo, twice a week."
"You're mother wanted you to do this mantra you say? Grandma clarifies.
"Yes." I see a tear run down my grandmother's eye, but she has a larger smile on her face. But why? "Is there anything else you want to know?"
"I honestly think we will have a lifetime of questions. But actually it is your opportunity to ask questions, please ask away." my grandfather offers. Where do I start?
"First can I look around the property? I have heard so much about it that I am extremely curious about it?"
"Absolutely, but who told you about our house? Your mother?"
"Mom has spoken a little about it, but mainly Ava" They look startled
"How much have you and Ava spoken over the years?" My grandfather had a look on his face I hadn't seen before. He is almost probing now.
"I have known Ava all my life, but it was a long time before I realised she was my cousin, not until I was ten, was I actually told. There was a concern that, I might tell Ava and then she in turn would blurt it out to…." I immediately stop knowing I am about to say something hurtful.
"To us?" My grandmother sighs.
"Sorry." I feel sick, like a co-conspirator to their pain.
"DON'T BE. THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT" My grandfather sternly tells me. I nod, but it's not true. This condition is due to me, so I do have some responsibility in the matter.
"Ava is yet to know she is my cousin. In fact, I don't think she is aware of this fact yet, but she will before I return to New York" I advise them. "Ava at times would tell me about time she spent here, and I use to ask her questions. I have these borrowed memories in my mind, and I want to place a location to it."
I walk around the property with my grandparents. Of all parts of their extensive property, that they show and talk about, I am most interested in a lovely manicured and well-kept area of lawn. Ava would tell me how she would play there. Our grandfather taught her how to hit a softball there and how she would have picnics, in that very spot, when they baby sat her. I mourned for those types of childhood memories that I was never destined to have with any of my grandparents. If it wasn't for my mother's unwavering love and attention, I don't know where I would be today. She was fantastic, but I do wish I had more of an extended family presence in my life.
"Ted, we want you to know that, had we known about you, we would have been in your lie from the first second. One of biggest regrets is that we have missed so much in your life. We don't want to miss anymore. We don't want to pressure you but, please consider maintaining whatever connection you want to have with us" My grandmother says with her hand on mine. I nod politely. I need to think about everything, though I also don't want to cut my grandparents out.
"Would you like some more lunch? Or another soft drink?" My grandmother dotted.
"No, thank you. This has been tremendous. However, I actually want to ask you both some questions now." I demand a little too austerely as my grandfather seems quite taken back.
"Ask away" he replies
"What were my parents like together, before they separated?"
"They were beautiful, remarkably lively and happy. Your father changed a lot due to your mother. He became open and even allowed his mother to touch him…" My grandmother frowns at this comment, and leaves the room.
"My father doesn't like to be touched?" I queried
"No, but that is a long story and one that you should have with your father, rather than us." My grandfather clarifies.
"Grandpa" I stop realising this is the first time I have used these newly founded terms of endearment, he too is smiling. "I do not have a positive relationship with my father, in fact, I doubt I ever will. I have so many personal and painful questions that only he can answer, I don't want to hurt my mother, but I want to know. I have to get my father to talk, to answer my questions whilst keeping my anger in check." My grandfather doesn't enter any discussion and is again unreadable. The short lived tense silence is now broken by my grandmother entering with an album of sorts.
"These are some photos that we kept from when your parents were together." I slowly reach for it. Each photo reinforces and illustrates how young they looked so happy and playful. I took that away!
"This place looks familiar. Where is it?" I point out a picture of my mother, father, Aunt Kate and Uncle Elliot.
"I think that was taken at your Aunt Kate's apartment. She and your mother lived there when they moved to Seattle. Does it look familiar?" My Grandmother questions
"I think I may have lived there, with my mother. But I was so young when I left Seattle, I might just be mixing up a series of memories." Frustration starts to build. So many random memories mixed with dreams. I continue to go through photo, after photo. There is one of them at a ball and then a variety of wedding photos. They look inseparable and in love. The joy in this picture just causes to increase the pain I feel.
"When was this photo taken?" I enquire. It has a photo of my mother and father, in front of a white sports car. My grandparents look at it and frown.
"That was at your mothers 22nd Birthday in Portland, your father gave that car to your mother for her birthday. That was the day before…" both look terribly sad and tired of what to say. "…. Your grandfather, Raymond Steele passed away. He was improving and then the next day, he passed." I nod in acknowledgment.
"Elliot has a similar car, though of course, a more modern now" I state.
"No, he doesn't. Your uncle has a 4WD that he uses for work, and he has a BMW for personal use. Your father is the one who has the sports car. He updates his Audi sports car every couple of years." My grandfather clarified.
"But when Taylor, picked me up, there was a sports car outside my Uncles house, where we have been staying." It then hits me. My father was there, probably waiting for me to leave. He would have known that Kate and Elliot would be at work and Ava at school. He was planning on her being alone. I grab my cell phone but fail to connect to my mother.
"Ted, what is wrong?" My grandfather is now standing next to me. I am so angry that I almost can't control my emotions.
"I have to go. I can't get hold of my mother. My mom didn't want to see my dad while we were here, and I think he has gone to see her. I have to go." I start to run out, with both my grandparents close behind me.
"Ted, STOP." My grandfather orders. I suddenly stop and adhere to his demands. "We are coming with you."
As soon as we arrive back at the house, we all notice that my dad's car is still here. I rush into the house, with my grandparents and Taylor following me. I rather dislike that Taylor's able to keep up with me. I see them both outside, and I can't believe the scene. I go outside, and before my father realises it, he is on the ground and has blood pouring out of his lip. Taylor and my grandfather are now holding me, ensuring that I do not continue my physical assault on my father.
"Ted, what on earth are you doing?" My mother hisses.
"I could ask you both the same thing?" I scold her.
A/N:
In chapter four, I will discuss that happened between Ana and Christian, from the moment she found him in her room after having a shower and what Ted saw and made him react… I know these chapters are not overly long especially in comparison to what I use to write for 50 shades of growing up, but this story is harder to write; also everyone keeps begging for an update that it was to give you this now, or make you to wait another five days.
Thank you for the huge response to the last two chapters. I am overwhelmed and tremendously grateful. please review and keep telling me what you think.
Big shout out to Crystal9034 who is editing my work on this story.