Hi....don't want to give away any spoilers...but it might start to get a bit less angsty in this chapter...........many thanks to all my readers who have either just picked this tale to follow on alert, or be kind enought to offer comments and reveiws
Disclaimer as Norm….
INTERVENTION
"NO Dr. Foster – listen to yourself, you are a trained psychologist you must be able to tell that you are not making any sense. We have proved to you – in every way possible that you were not pregnant – that you have not given birth – and yet you still continue to maintain that you did! Use that scientist in you and study the truth, study your own reactions to it."
"Truth! Who's truth? yours not mine – I had a BABY"
His slammed his fist down on the desk she was sitting at making her flinch.
"NO again – look at some of the other evidence we have given you:
Virtually all your money –gone.
Your own home – sold and the money handed over to them.
All these other women that have done exactly the same as you – and yet not one of them can show anyone a living, breathing baby to show for it – not one of them Gillian!"
"STOP IT – you are lying to me – they said you would- they warned me …they said"
The man shook his head, then walked out and slammed the door.
After a few minutes the other man came in. He put a cup of tea in front of her and pulled up a chair.
"Drink that Gill, and take some time to try and calm down a bit ok"
She nodded her head and sipped the tea.
"He's not that bad really, my friend. A bit scary I know, it's just that he gets real upset when he see's that a nice person- that's you Gill – has been taken advantage of by people that are …well shall we say not so nice"
Gillian just stared defiantly at him,
"You know, you have spent such a lot of time inside lately, we have beautiful grounds here, I thought you might want to take a walk outside"
Gill stared at him trying to see if he was hiding something – a catch – a trick, but she could detect nothing so she agreed.
The grounds were indeed beautiful, large green lawns with many varieties of trees, well placed areas of flower beds and a large lake with ducks and swans.
"This is stunning" She drew in deep lungfuls of the clean fresh air.
"Yes, I thought you'd like it – lets walk round a bit, not far because I think you will tire quite quickly, but a small walk will do you good"
They strolled round in silence, occasionally Gill would stop to admire and smell certain flowers – but he was right, she found herself tiring quite quickly.
"There's a comfortable bench just over here, would you like to sit down for a while?"
She sat and just took in the views.
A shrill beep startled her.
"It's ok Gill, just my cell. I'm just gonna walk over there a bit to take the call ok"
He moved off leaving Gill in peaceful silence again.
It was only a short time before another sound made her jump again.
This time a voice. A high, young, slightly hesitant voice from behind her.
"Hi Gilly" Emily smiled as Gill swung round to face her. "Can I…come sit with you? Would that be ok?"
"Errr yes Emily, of course, please do" So they did have a plan she thought!
Emily sat a few feet away from her, her head was down and she was twiddling her thumbs.
Gill moved closer and placed her hand on Emily's.
"So – how have you been Em?"
"Oh, ok yer know…I've missed you Gilly, so much..really"
Her eyes started to water and this made Gill want to hug her, but something held her back, so she just squeezed her hands.
"I've missed you too sweetheart. So come on, tell me what you've been up to"
"Well – oh there was this big fuss at school the other day….."
Emily happily chatted away. She told stories about school and shopping trips, latest fashion trends – she carefully kept any reference to her father and other members of the Lightman Group out of the mix as she had been instructed to do.
"And then there was this boy at school – oh Gilly it was so embarrassing cos he got this crush on me and kept following me everywhere. I tried to tell him nicely to leave me alone, but he just wouldn't listen so I just kept telling him to go take a pill or something, but then he started following me half way home and that got a bit creepy. Anyway I spoke to the principal and he seemed to sort it out coz he left me alone then, but, of course when I told dad, he just flipped and threatened to come to school with me the next day and 'have a word' with the guy and …….ohh"
Gillian read in her face immediately why she had suddenly stopped.
"It's ok Em…They told you not to mention your father didn't they? Don't worry sweetheart, it's ok…I'm ok"
"I'm sorry Gilly….Why do you hate him? I don't understand, I've asked, but no-one will give me an answer that I understand…I know I shouldn't ask you but…you were always the one that could explain things to me when no-one else could"
"Oh Emily….I don't …h..hate your father exactly..but …well you know he always has this habit of doing, and saying things that upset me, and we argue and don't talk for a while…you have seen it before sweetheart"
"I know, I know Gilly and normally I agree with you – he can be a complete..well..prick a lot of the time, but this time..I don't know what he's done, what did he do Gilly?"
"Emily hunni, I don't know what to tell you…I…it's so complicated this time"
"Complicated! That's what everyone else says when I try and ask them..they just say it's 'complicated' and pat me on the head like I'm some kinda…little child…You never did that to me Gill, you always explained things to me – like I was an adult …but now you're doing the same as them" she dissolved into tears.
This time, pure instinct took over and Gillian pulled her into a close hug, kissing her head and rocking her slightly until the initial wave of tears subsided into small sniffs and hiccups.
"Emily, I am so sorry, it's just that I don't know how to explain it to you because…well..I'm just not so certain anymore myself what has happened… I'm confused and…I just don't know Emily" This time it was Gillian that broke down.
Quickly the roles were reversed and she felt Emily's arms round her, Emily's kisses on her head, Emily rocking her and telling her that everything was going to be ok…that she was going to be ok.
xXx
"Remember, go easy, she's made a lot of progress since your daughters visit – but she is still very unsure – especially about you. Don't push her, and if she starts to get too upset, walk away."
"Yeah, yeah, you've told me a thousand times already – I've got it ok! It was her that asked to see me wasn't it?"
"Yes – it was. However we don't yet know why. We asked her of course, but she won't say – she could just wait till you get close enough and slap you round the face"
"Wouldn't be the first time"
"Well she is out there waiting for you, you know where to go"
Cal simply nodded and made his way to the bench that Emily had told him about.
His approach was from behind, so a little way before he reached the bench he coughed a few times. She didn't move but he knew she had heard him.
Finally he reached the seat, he stopped when he was in front of him, although she hadn't yet raised her head to look at him.
"Gillian"
Slowly she raised her eyes until she made direct contact with his.
Pain, confusion, doubt, sadness, guilt! They were all their- in her eyes, he let out the breath he was holding when he realised that he saw no hate or contempt, the coldness he had seen weeks before had gone as well.
"Cal" it came out almost as a plea, but a plea for what he wasn't sure.
"Is it ok if I come and sit with you luv?"
"Yes, of course, please"
He sat close, but not too close. At first there was silence, neither of them seeming to know what to say, how to break the silence.
"I need your help" It was not what he was expecting.
"Of course luv, anything – whatever you need"
"You shouldn't be so quick to say things like that when you don't have the faintest idea what I am going to ask of you"
He tried to play it light "Wot – someone you want me to beat up for you? One of the guys here pissed you off that much? Just point him out luv an stand back"
Happily this did seem to illicit a small grin from her.
"I think I've missed your humour"
Without warning she grabbed his hand in both of hers- her grip was intense.
"I..I know I was stupid..I let those…people brainwash me – I don't know how –I should have known what was happening, recognised the signs, been able to hold out against them…"
"Hey, hey – calm down, these people were bastards, but they were also damn good at what they did, bloody experts, plus all those drugs..you really didn't stand much of a chance – not your fault luv – really don't go there"
Silence again, he started rubbing her hands with his thumb.
"So – this..help…if it's not beating the crap outta someone – wot is it?"
She was incredibly nervous he could tell, sitting on a tightrope of whether to ask him or not.
"Gill- whatever it is luv – I'm not gonna judge you on it..so..cum on Foster…out with it"