Chapter 31
APOV
The long 4th of July weekend is finally here. Luckily we have had no other drama or incidents with any exes. I think this is probably just a one-off. Now we can focus on being a couple engaged to get married.
We get to Bellevue for the picnic and are greeted at the door by a very excited Staffordshire terrier puppy. Christian's mom comes up to us. "I see you got to meet Lucy. This is Elliot's new puppy."
I crouch down to pet the puppy and she is so excited to see us her little butt wiggles uncontrollably. "Hi, Lucy! Aren't you a cutie pie?"
Elliot suddenly comes from around the corner. "Oh, there she is. I thought she got out somewhere." He picks the puppy up and gives her an ear scratch.
Christian looks at Elliot disapprovingly. You would think Christian is the older brother here the way he scolds Elliot. "Elliot, you need to keep a better eye on your puppy. Something could have happened to her. She could have gotten hit by a car." At least I'm not the only one Christian fusses over.
Elliot rolls his eyes at Christian. "She was perfectly fine. I think I am capable of taking care of a dog." As Christian and Elliot get into a little exchange about who the better dog owner would be, I grab Lucy from Elliot's arms.
"Come on, Lucy girl. Let's go outside and play while your daddy and uncle act like boneheads."
We get out back and I decide to take Lucy for a little walk to see if it will help with her energy. We get pretty far away from everyone and the picnic and I'm enjoying the view of the sound.
A loud voice booms abruptly behind me, "You gold digging whore." What? I stop and turn around to see Elena standing there.
"Excuse me?"
Her face is hardened with hostility. "I think you heard me. What do you think you are doing?"
I give her my most quizzical look. "I thought it was obvious I am walking the dog."
"That is not what I meant and you know it, you tramp. What is your end game with Christian?"
"First of all, I find it ironic that you are calling me a tramp. Secondly, not that it is any of your business but my end game with Christian is to live a long and happy life."
"A long and happy life? You are delirious. Christian isn't the marrying type. He doesn't believe in love. He has needs and desires you will never be able to satisfy. You're just a dumb little girl who is pretending she's in the movie Pretty Woman."
"You know Elena, I've kept my mouth shut about you because it's not my story to tell. It's Christian's. But if I had it my way, you'd be drawn and quartered and your head would end up on a stake. You are a vile and despicable human. You know nothing about Christian's needs and desires."
"I know more about Christian than you ever will. I had him first. I was the one that he yearned after. You're getting him after all those other women, and if you think you're going to have your happily ever after you are sorely mistaken. You're just the current flavor of the month."
I can't take it anymore. I feel the anger from deep within and I am furious. I walk up to her so I am just inches away looking eye to eye and I slap her. Hard. She grabs her cheek in shock. "You little slut!" She draws her arm back to hit me and Lucy barks at her and jumps up on her stopping Elena. Shortly after Lucy barks at Elena, Christian comes up to us.
CPOV
"Ana, I was looking everywhere for you!" I stop dead in my tracks as soon as I see Elena. "What's going on here?"
"Christian, I'm looking out for your best interests. You don't love her. She'll ruin you. You're blinded and can't see her for who she is."
"Who she is? Anastasia is the most open and honest person I have ever met. I know exactly who she is and that's why I love her. I am going to marry her and spend the rest of my life loving her."
"Christian, get real. I know you. I know the real you. And, she isn't you." What the fuck is this? Who is she to tell me what I want and who I am?
"Elena you know nothing about me. You never looked after my best interests! You looked after your own interests."
"Christian, I made you who you are. I gave you drive and control to enable you to be as successful as you are. If it weren't for me you'd probably be fetching coffee at your father's law firm." I can't believe she just said that.
"You didn't give me anything except for isolation and bruises. All you did was fuck me, how you wanted. You never cared about me!"
"That's enough!" We all turn around to see my mom standing there about ten feet from us. Her eyes are glaring with fury. She walks right up to Elena.
"Mom…" I need to try and explain. I don't know what she's heard.
"Shut up, Christian. This is my house and I am speaking. You will listen." She speaks calmly but I know how angry she is.
"You." She points her finger right at Elena. "You pretended to be my friend and this whole time you seduced my child? My little boy who I had to work with so hard to overcome his fears. And, you didn't even care for him. You are disgusting. And you are no longer welcome in my home. Get out now."
"Grace, you don't understand…" Elena tries to persuade my mom.
"Oh, I understand plenty. You are a monster. Get out." Elena looks at my mother, then to Ana and me, and then back at my mom before she walks toward the front of the house where her car is parked.
Grace looks at Ana and gives her a sympathetic smile. "Ana, honey, are you OK? Did she hurt you?"
I can tell Ana doesn't know what to do here. "Oh, um, she didn't touch me. I'm just going to finish walking Lucy now." She looks at me and then to my mom. They exchange a look that lets me know exactly what is going on. Ana is giving us privacy. Shit. I didn't ever want this to happen.
"Mom, this really isn't a good time to talk about this." I try to calm her down and see if I can push this inevitable discussion off.
"Christian Trevelyan Grey. It will never be a good time to discuss something like this. I am going to speak with you about it this one time and then I do not ever want to speak of it again. Do you understand?"
I feel like a teen-aged boy who is getting in trouble for wrecking the family car or something. I just nod to let her know I am listening.
"When did it start?"
"When I was fifteen." My mother gasps in horror. And I see her eyes glass over and I know tears will soon follow.
"How, how did it happen?"
"Mom, do you really want to know this shit?"
"Christian, I don't want to hear this but I need to."
"It happened the summer I was fifteen. I was at their house doing some work in their yard and she kissed me. And it started from there."
"For how long?"
"Mom…"
"Christian, answer me. How long did this go on?"
I look down at my feet unable to look my mom in the eyes. "Six years. It stopped when I was twenty-one."
"Dear God. Why didn't you ever say anything? Why didn't you ask for help?"
"I didn't want help. I enjoyed it. I'm not sorry for what happened. But I am sorry for hurting you. I never intended for that to happen."
"Christian, it's too late now. That is something you should have thought about all those years ago. And what about poor Ana?"
"Ana knows. She thinks of Elena as a pedophile. I'm sorry, Mom."
"Ana is a smart girl. You need to treat her well and let her know you love her. And if you ever see that horrible woman again or if you hurt Ana, you will have to answer to me. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Mom. I can't tell you how sorry I am. I never meant to hurt you."
"Christian, you better go find that beautiful and smart fiancée of yours and make sure she is OK."
I just nod and turn to walk away and find Ana. I'm not sure if this could have happened in a worse way. At least she was spared the details and thinks we just had sex.
I am off to find Ana. I have to see if she's OK but I also need her. She calms me and grounds me. She is my elan vital and the proverbial shit has hit the fan.
