Trust
Ted's POV
"I need your help in fulfilling a promise for me. One I made before I went to Africa" Josh agrees. I drive until we reach our destination and he is shocked where we have ended up.
"Here? This is the place we need to be?" Josh asks
"Definitely" I respond. "Where did you think I was going to take you?" I look at Josh curiously, but then again I am yet to tell him what I promised.
"Well, considering that you are getting married tomorrow and expecting twins, I thought you were going to take to me see a house or something. Your penthouse doesn't have a lot of grassed area for kids to run around" Josh evaluates, acting usually serious.
"First off, my children will be born babies, so they won't need much grass to start off with. Secondly, you grew up your entire life in New York and lived in an apartment, as did I. There are parks around Seattle and the Washington state." I clarify.
"Yes, but I spent practically every weekend at the Hamptons, and you didn't live in New York until you are five. I just can't see you bringing up your children in a penthouse of the Seattle city skyline to be honest. You are too much of an outdoorsman, and you are going to want to be doing outdoorsy things with your children." Lily and I hadn't talked about this, but Josh did have a point. Escala had been an ideal environment for Lily and me and would be suitable for the babies, but not forever. Everything just happened so quickly that we haven't stepped back and had a look at the big picture yet. I mentally decide to hold off on this until we return from our honeymoon, but it is something we need to think about.
"Ready to go to Toys R us?" I ask.
"Sure. I use to love this shop. Are we buying something for the twins? Or Phoebe?" Josh asks.
"My sister. On New Year's Eve, I promised her that when I returned to Seattle, I would teach her to hit a baseball. I was going to get her a proper junior bat and ball, but decided against it. My personal assistant at GEH, Laura, informed me that they sell foam and plastic kid's bats and balls here. My mother and Lily, hell every female member of my family plus Ros and Gwen would kill me if I got her a proper softball bat and ball, and she got hit in the face or something the day before she is going to be a flower girl. " Josh agrees with my evaluation.
As we enter the large store and both gulp simultaneously. I look over at Sawyer who has been assigned to us as my CPO has been given a few days off prior to Lily and me flying out for our honeymoon. He doesn't look pleased in the slightest to be in this toy shop.
"Far out, look at all these toys and such. Are you sure you are ready for all this times two?" Josh and I both feel lost as we instinctively enter newborn and infant toys area.
"I don't know" I say slowly. "Let's just skip all this fisher price, playschool and baby Einstein stuff and go to the kids sporting section" I am eager to get out of this section. I think I am going to use dad's technique of a private shopper to buy toys, or just support Lily when she does this. Actually I could bring Phoebe here with me to purchase all toys. No strike that. A five year old girl with a large obsession with dolls, in a large toy store, is never going to be a smart idea.
I gravitate towards the first bat and ball set I see and pull it off the store hook. There that was easy.
"You can't get that one." Josh is looking at me like I have no clue.
"Why?" I examine the bat and ball. It's soft, and not broken. I don't understand why it isn't appropriate.
"Look at it. That bat is for a three year old, and your sister is already tall for her age." Josh starts to examine the stores wide selection and after a solid ten minutes of picking up different bats and ball and doing a thorough examination, he passes me a kit.
"Purchase this one. The bat has a firm grip, but it is made out of a firm foam like material. It is shaped the same as a proper bat as is the soft ball. It won't cause any bruises, but still let phoebe develop her skills." Joshua suggests, and he is right.
"Instead of giving law school to be a comedian, maybe you could become a personal toy shopper" I mock him. It is rare when I get a comment over him.
"Just pass me your GEH credit card, and I will use it" He grins. I can't let him have the last word on this.
"And who would have thought that all those years of high school baseball and going to softball games in college to pick up girls are finally coming in handy, for me at least " I mock.
"Nice come back. Want to revisit the fisher price section" Josh challenges. Shit he has got me there.
"No, let's go and pay for this." I begrudgingly accept defeat at our play on words. I put the baseball set in the boot of the car and start to run through if there is anything else I need to do before I get married to tomorrow. I am getting married tomorrow. My hearts beats faster out of nerves and excitement. I run my hands through my hair, my mixed emotions are becoming a little too much to bear. Hang on my hair, it grows too fast. I look at Josh and decide that his blonde hair needs modification too.
"You need a haircut, as do I. I think I saw a salon on this road." I tell him. I did get a haircut two weeks ago, but my hair is constantly unruly that I think another one is the only thing that will keep it in some order tomorrow.
"A Salon? I have never been to a salon. Girls go to salons not me" Josh comments put off.
"You will survive" I states. We walk to the salon and when we are about to enter when sawyer, in an uncharacterised act, blocks the door.
"Sawyer what are you doing?" I ask surprised by his stance.
"Ted, I don't think this salon is the best place to go. Let us go somewhere else or I will have a hairdresser to come to the sound" he offers
"There is no point, when we are already here. Move please" I request. I start to get annoyed when Sawyer doesn't move aside and let us enter. I have long since accepted my father's wishes that I am followed by security, but I have always been given free will and never prevented entry to anywhere. I glare at him, but he is giving me an unreadable look.
"Come on Sawyer, why can't I go inside?" I ask. Sawyer briefly open his mouth to talk but fails to speak. Rather he pulls out his phone and sends a text message. Less than a minute later, my phone rings, ending the silent standoff. I look at the ID, and it's my father. I don't understand all this who-ha.
Ted: Dad, you need to talk to sawyer…
I am about to explain the situation when my father interrupts me.
Christian: I have organised for a hairdresser to come to the house. You and Josh can have a haircut here.
Whoa… how on earth does he even know what I am doing? What did sawyer write in that text message?
Ted: What? We are here in front of a salon, and it looks reputable…
I look at the glass wall and read the elegant gold writing
Ted: it's called ESCLAVA.
Christian: Ted turn around and come home. Your grandparents and other family members are coming for lunch.
There is something strange about my father's voice. His is demanding, but he is also a little fearful. I don't think I have ever heard him be fearful. He is always able to hide that feeling.
Ted: Dad seriously what's going on?
Before my father says anything else, my eye catches the rest of the writing on the glass, and that is when I see the name of the proprietor. 'Elena Lincoln". Elena? That is the name of that woman my father told me, he had a relationship with. Surely it isn't... But then maybe. It would make sense why he too isn't willing to let me enter. That means Sawyer knows about this.
Christian: Franco is twenty minutes away. Come home now and then you have had your hair cut by the time everyone has arrived.
Ted: okay.
I discover that my voice has become small. I look into the salon and wonder if she is in, but I can only see a young female at the desk.
"Ted, you okay?" Joshua asks obliviously.
"Yeah. Come let's go, I would rather not go into this salon, too many girls. They might see me and be taken by my good looks. Lily can get jealous." I successfully joke, hiding the true reason why we can't go inside. I don't want to try to attempt to answer his questions also.
"Whatever, Mr billionaire. Anyway I can't wait to show you up in front of your little sister. You do remember that I was had less error and a better batting average than you on our high school team"
####
Franco finishes making the final touches on my hair, and when we are both satisfied, I tell Josh that I will meet him outside, after his haircut. I note that my whole family has already arrived with the exception of Ava as she is with Lily in preparation for tomorrow. Seriously how much time does it take girls to get organised?
"Ted, you father wanted to speak to you. He is in the study" My mother tells me as she helps Gail and my mother get lunch ready.
When I enter the study, I find my father, grandfather and a team of security deep in discussion. They draw me into their conversation of how tomorrow's security operations will operate. Everything is water tight, and I am overjoyed that Lily and I will be able to get married next to the water at the end of my grandparent's property as no boats will be allowed to go past an hour before and after the ceremony. I wonder how much this is costing my parents.
"Ted, security has also been briefed for your honeymoon. They will be ready to go whenever you and Lily are tomorrow night" Taylor informs me.
"Thank you." I reply.
"So if there is nothing else, I would like a private word with my son thank you" My father tells the security team and my grandfather. They exit the study swiftly. I don't know who wants to have this conversation the least, my father or me. I sit as my father goes to the side cupboard and pulls out two glass. He puts several ice cubes into each glass and fills them with bourbon I believe. Sitting next to me, he passes one to me. My father looks uncomfortable and looks distant as if he is remembering a painful memory.
"Dad?" I call out to him, bringing him back to the here and now. He looks at me blankly for a moment.
"I couldn't allow you to go to that Salon today" he states.
"I know. I saw the name of the owner just before we ended our phone call. Is that the same Elena? The one that you and her… you know..." I go a little read as I don't want to say the words.
"Yes. It is the very same," my father confirms. "I had Welch do a quick check while you were on your way home, and he confirmed that she still owns the salons." Salons? There is more than one?
"However, I am told that she rarely goes into the salons these days. Someone else manages them for her as she has essentially retired"
"Okay." I reply, not sure what else to say.
"I don't want you to seek her out. That is part of my life that is over, and I don't want Elena to ever get the privilege to see you. Neither would your mother" My father tells me. "Promise me ted. Promise me that you never will"
"I promise" Agreeing to my father's terms mollifies him significantly,
# # # #
Regardless of the strain experienced during our conversation, my father and I greatly enjoy lunch. He exchanges numerous of jeers and comments with his brother, and it makes me realise why I have kept such a close relationship with Josh through the years. He is the closest thing I have to a brother. We grew up together, and we too share numerous of comments from each other.
"Teddy, can you teach me how to hit a baseball now?" Phoebe asks.
"Sure Fifi." I inform her. Josh and I start walk to the grassed area, whilst Phoebe skips ahead excitedly.
"Okay Fifi. Put one foot here and the other here, then face me. "Now, put your left hand at the bottom of the bat and then your right hand just above your other hand" I instruct her.
"It feel funny" She responds.
"I know, but it won't once you get used to it. Now Josh is going to throw the ball, softly, and I am going to help you hit it okay?" Phoebe nods. I stand behind her, and help her hit the ball.
"Can I try it by myself?" Phoebe asks.
"Yes. Just remember to keep your eyes on the ball." I tell her. I stand back to observe. Josh throws the ball softly, but Phoebe fails to swing. "Try again" I encourage, but she does the same thing. Stands there and doesn't move.
"Fifi, you need to hit the ball." I tell her.
"But you told me that I had to watch the ball." Phoebe frowns.
"Yes, watch the ball but when it gets close you need to swing." I tell her. Ten attempts later and she is yet to even touch the ball with the bat alone.
"It's too hard! I am worried the ball is going to hit me" She says frustrated. I am a little lost what to do. She knows the ball is soft, but she is still worried.
"Let me change things up a little." Josh offers. He kneels down, so he is at Phoebe's eye level. "Phoebe, do you trust your brother?"
"Yes"
"You know that he will never hurt you, don't you?" Josh asks.
"Yes"
"Good. So your brother is going to throw the ball very slowly, and he is going to aim it for the bat. So all you need to do, is trust him, when the ball is close, just swing." Josh advises. He passes me ball and step back. I give Phoebe a large smile and softly throw the ball. She starts to swing and then makes contact with the ball. Both Josh and I are surprised by how far she hits it, considering.
"I did it," Phoebe says running up and jumping into my arms.
"That was brilliant," I tell her.
"Good work Phoebe." Josh praises.
"Phoebe, it's time for you to go", my mother calls out. We look towards the house, and there are our parents and grandparents.
"I better go" she states.
"I will see you tomorrow. Look after Lily for me until tomorrow" I request
"Alright teddy. Bye Josh" Phoebe starts to walk off.
"Bye Phoebe and save me a dance tomorrow," Josh says.
"I have to ask my dad, and I don't think he will say yes" Phoebe then runs off. I can't help but laugh at Josh.
"Shit man, you even get a dance with a five year old these days." I mock
"Oh well. One day the right girl will come my way," Josh states.
# # # #
I wake up strangely well rested and relaxed. Today I am going to get married.
Authors Note: I went away this weekend with some girlfriends, so I didn't have time to genuinely write much. I hope this chapter at least gave you something, even if it was a filler chapter. I will write and the wedding, honeymoon and the birth of the babies, and then jump into the future. So did any of you guess that ted had taken Josh to get a baseball bat, as per her promise to Phoebe before he left Seattle? Thank you Maria Amore.