Chapter 22

Author's Note: I would like to acknowledge and thank Rightytighty for all her help and encouragement, and introduce her has my new beta reader. Psst, c'mere, she's a terrific author too.

Recap and Narration: While flying home from a terrific weekend in Savannah, Christian gets disturbing news that his sister has been in a fight with his ex-mistress. He is overwhelmed with guilt and shame, and feels humiliated that he has brought this to his family. He deals with Paige once and for all, with help from his team and some new information. Ana and Carla entertain some family and friends, which creates a very tricky situation.

~Christian~

I am out of the car before Taylor comes to a full stop, guilt and remorse urging my legs faster. You would think they would make me feel heavy and sodden but I just want to get to my sister and see for myself she's alright. Barreling through the front door I hastily make my way to the kitchen where I hear voices. As I enter the kitchen I see my mom at the sink rinsing fruit and Carrick and Elliot sitting at the far end of the island, and there she is. All I can see is her rear end as she is bending retrieving something from the freezer. I rush forward and just as I am clearing the center island she turns toward me. Quickly I scan her face and see no injuries, so I pull her into the biggest embrace I've ever initiated.

"Mia." Is all I can manage past the lump in my throat.

I gently clasp her shoulders and take a couple of steps back so I can study her. I can't believe my little sister was in a violent altercation, one that I precipitated. Fuck. It all turned out ok, but what if…what if Paige had gotten the upper hand? The image of that in my head causes a sharp pain to slice across my stomach. Conflicting emotions collide within me, ride me, making me simultaneously sad and furious. Concern for Mia and the need to see her with my own two eyes is the only thing stopping me from driving to 'that bitch's' apartment and giving her the beating she so richly deserves.

I momentarily forget myself, it's not until Mia shrugs under my hands that I realize I am squeezing her shoulders tightly. I release her shoulders and my hands glide to her face, happy that the face in my hands is free of cut and bruises.

"I'm sorry, so sorry for having put you in that situation," I tell her earnestly.

"Yeah, you sure can pick 'em." Her eyes shooting fire at me. I drop my hands, I have no defense, whatever she says or does I'll stand here and take it like a man. "She's horrible, what kind of woman badmouths a two year old?" And that's who you wanted…Uck, disgusting." When Price gave me that bit of information I seriously considered going straight to Paige's condo. She shouldn't even mention Teddy name, let alone bad mouth him. Mia rolls her eyes as she brushes past me. I cringed when she spit, 'and that's who you wanted'; of all the many things I am ashamed of, that, has to be at the top of the list. It's then I remember the rest of the family is there watching.

"Mom," I hesitate for a second before heading over to hug and kiss her. I guess I am expecting her to finally, finally reject me, but of course she is the epitome of grace, and opens her arms to me lovingly. I almost breakdown, I don't deserve her. "What can I say….I…." I falter.

"Sssh, Christian, hush son, I know…I know." She whispers and cups my face. I turn into her hand and let my eyes drift close at her gentle touch.

"Son?" I clear my throat and drag my hands across my eyes before I turn to greet my dad and Elliot.

"Dad, Elliot." Carrick and I exchange an awkward hug and El reaches across to quickly shake my hand. Pleasantries out the way, it's time to get down to the heart of the matter.

"Mia, please tell me what happened."

"Sure, but first have the guys come in and everyone can get a bite to eat while I retell this story for the last time." Well look who's taking charge.

I hesitate for just a second, but realize quickly she's right, it would be best if they hear the story from her firsthand account. Taylor, who I did not realize was in the kitchen, steps out to get the rest of the security team, leaving one of the new guys to stand guard at the gate.

We all listen with rapt attention as Mia recounts her tale. Taylor and I have taken up posts on either side of her while Price and Colton take up real estate at the end of the counter, but equally focused on her take of earlier events, fuckers know their jobs are on the line. There is tense silence once she's finished. So caught up envisioning her words I almost miss Elliot's raised eyebrow stare.

"Everything, little girl."

"Shut-up Smelly, you've got a big mouth, Jerk." She says while cutting a mean eye roll at him.

"Mia, why would you try and hide som…..," My eyes must betray my frustration because she cuts me off before I can finish.

"Oh, take it easy," she flags me with a flap of her hand. My patience is fraying fast. "I told you everything that happened, Smelly Elly is talking about my feeling that it was all a set up, also that I started to go tell Price that she was there, but didn't." She shrugs her shoulder like 'no biggie'. Every male within ear shot closes their eyes; I imagine counting to ten, like me.

"Mia." Grace lets out a frustrated gasp.

"Young lady," Carrick says in angry warning.

Price just stands there glaring; angry over the ass chewing he just got that apparently could have been avoided.

"Miss Grey," Taylor tries reason. "This is no laughing or light situation. If Miss Dennison is targeting the women of this family, we need to know everything that happened, including your impressions. Don't make our jobs harder."

I am glad to see Mia chastened by Taylor's word, that and the fact that she has had a schoolgirl crush on him since she was about seventeen years old, so when 'Jason' speaks, Mia listens.

She goes on to tell us about Allison's behavior and the odd smirk on her face when Paige and Traci arrived, and we knew that she was with them when they approached Mia and her friends just before Mia popped Paige in the mouth. Taylor asks Mia what Allison's last name is so he can start a check into her background and why she would want to instigate trouble for my sister. My affair and marital problems have been a side show for half of Seattle this entire summer. Flynn nailed it when he told me other women would come out of the woodwork looking for their shot, some don't even care if it's just one time. The mailroom has been inundated with letters, cards, and even a few panties with DNA, absolutely disturbing and disgusting. Ana's received advice on how to chop my balls off, offers for a huge pay out for her 'tell all' memoirs, and an alarming number of marriage proposals. Fucking vultures. If there is any silver lining in Ana being in Savannah it's that she doesn't have to deal with the whispers and stares, and pointed fingers.

"I brought this shit on all of us, I know, and the humiliation I feel makes it hard for me to stand in this same room with you. I promise I will make this right." I say to everyone.

"We are a family son, we aren't going to abandon you." I feel like he is reading my thoughts, speaking directly to the root of my fear. "It would have been one thing had she gone after just you, but she has repeatedly gone after the women of this family and that is simply something I will not abide. So this is what we are going to do….."

By Thursday of that same week we managed to get Mia, Mom, and even Kate to Savannah. After much debate on the best way to handle this situation, after my dad and Elliot vehemently gave their opinions and reasons for wanting the opportunity to confront Paige and help banish her from our lives, Taylor and I finally relent and we agree to bring her to an offsite office belonging to Carrick's firm. It's better than Elliot's idea to bring her to Bellvue so that she can see what she'd be missing out on; the shittier part of my personality really liked the idea of twisting the knife, but the grown up part of me knew that was completely unnecessary, and Taylor talked him off the ledge by telling him that none of us wanted her to know where our parents lived.

So here we sit, just an hour after getting the ladies on my jet, waiting for Reynolds and Colton to bring Paige through the back door. I'm nervous because I don't know what she's going to reveal in what I'm sure will be an angry emotional outburst. I'm guilt ridden that my family is involved in this ugly encounter on any level. That conversation went back and forth for an hour, with me and Taylor on one side not wanting them involved at all, to my dad and Elliot arguing vociferously that because of her actions they deserve the right to confront her also.

I'm brought out of my thoughts when the door opens and in walks Paige with Taylor, Reynolds and Colton just behind her. I dismiss Reynolds and Colton, and Taylor points to the chair for her to sit. We all just stare for an extended moment, Paige's eyes are on me and just when I'm about to speak she slides her glance to Elliot then Carrick. I'm seated at the head of the table and my dad is to my right and Elliot has finally stopped pacing behind me.

"So you're Paige." Carrick is the first to speak.

"Who are you and why are all of you here?" She asks.

"Let's not play games, you know exactly who we are." Carrick states coldly.

"And we're here because you keep fucking with the women in our family," Elliot interrupts, and leans on the table palms flat on the surface, pinning Paige with a menacing glare, "And that's going to stop."

"What were you hoping to accomplish with this behavior, young lady?" Carrick goes into his stern fatherly voice.

I flick a look at Taylor and his face says what I'm thinking, shut this shit down now. Evidently Elliot is thinking along the same lines.

"Who gives a shit what she wants." He's pacing again. "She's getting nothing from any of us, except maybe a swift kick in the ass.

"Enough Elliot!" Dad raises his voice. "I give a shit, is that alright with you?" He turns back to Paige and we all await her answer.

She sits a long minute and stares across the table at me, until Carrick tells her this is her chance to speak her piece, and probably the last opportunity she will get. She finally finds her voice.

"I fell deeply in love with you, Christian." She says never taking her eyes from me, talking only to me, as if there was no one else in the room. I glare back with the blackest blank look I can muster. "I thought we would be together forever once you divorced your wife. You showed me a love and lifestyle that I want to be a part of for the rest of my life. Now I feel duped, tricked, used. And I am hurt and angry. I thought if I could talk to your mother and sister they could make you understand, but it seems Ana has them tied up just as tight. Like I said to you months ago I just wanted to love you and have you return my love."

"It's not going to happen. I don't love you Paige. Get this through your head. It wouldn't be you….ever! Should my wife decide that she doesn't want me anymore, that she can't get past the way that I hurt her, it won't be you that I come to for comfort. Should every willing woman on the face of the Earth suddenly keel over dead and you're the only one left with a pussy, I'd sooner shove my dick in a knot hole of an oak tree then fuck you again; does that make it clear enough for you? It will never be you and me. If I hadn't already decide that after the dinner we had at the Space Needle, you certainly sealed the deal on that by showing up at my wife's place of business, starting a fight with my sister, and accosting my mother…..my mother for fuck sake…..are you crazy or just stupid?" My control is slipping and by the end I am shouting like a mad man. "You have proven that you cannot be in the same vicinity as me or my family, so it's time for you to go." I notice Taylor stepping to the other end of the room to take a call.

Where do you suggest I go?" Her tone is haughty but her demeanor deflates with every word I utter.

"Straight to hell for all I care; I don't give a fuck where you end up, but it won't be in these United States. It's over Paige; it should have never started. There is no happily ever after for you with me, and there was never going to be. Walk away and find a life for yourself somewhere else. Keep fucking with me and mine and it will only get uglier for you, don't make me show you."

"Anastasia doesn't want you anymore, she fled clear across the country to get away from you, took your son too, as I hear."

"There you go again. Ana and especially our son is none of your concern. You decide how you want to leave Seattle, under your own steam or bound and gagged in a dog crate in the cargo hold of an airplane bound for the Sandwich Islands, it's up to you. I'm through being reasonable."

"Sir," Taylor nods toward the door, "a word in private."

As I step into the hallway I notice my dad and Elliot right behind me. What don't they understand about the word private?

"Mr. Grey," Taylor addresses my dad. "I would prefer you not be included in this conversation as this could involve some questionable legalities that would require action on your part if you knew of them."

"Dad, please." I nod for him to go back into the conference room. He hesitates a moment and looks as if he plans to debate, but then decides to stay out of this part.

"I'm going to get some coffee, finish this shit up already." He turns and heads off down the corridor. I shift my gaze to Taylor and he is eyeing Elliot.

"It's fine Taylor, it's not like we have to worry about him losing his license to practice law, get on with it," my patience fraying even further.

"Welch just confirmed, she's here on falsified documents, we can…..," I don't give him a chance to finish, I've heard all I need and march with purpose back to the conference room.

"You haven't learned that I'm the wrong one to fuck with, have you, especially not where the women that I love are concerned. I leave no stone unturned, and my team is thorough; I warned you to leave us alone, now I'm going to make you." The temperature in the room drops several degrees with each cold word I utter. "I know you're in the US on fraudulent and falsified records. I'm sure, even you, are aware that at this time illegal immigrants are a hot topic and persona non grata. And they will have no trouble in finding you once I point you out, and the holding time for deportation is several months if not years in a state penitentiary." I watch as fear infiltrates her entire demeanor.

"I won't allow you to insinuate yourself in my life, even on the periphery. I don't want you, period. Leave of your own accord or take your chances with Home Land Security." I stand to leave just as Carrick opens the door.

"We're done here." I walk through the door without a backward glance.

~Ana~

"Ana, I don't want to overstep by telling you things Christian has told me in confidence, or saying anything that would make you uncomfortable," Too late for that, my subconscious tuts, "but I will tell you he was pretty lost as well."

I stare at her, trying to decipher exactly what that means. I am sure my eyes convey the sense of confusion and disbelief I am feeling; 'he was lost' how? I shake my head and decide not to push this topic any farther.

"Don't give up on him Ana."

"Grace," I say my voice full of shock at her plea, "I didn't give up on him, he gave up on me." I knew from the moment that Sawyer pulled into my mom's driveway with all three Grey women that this conversation was inevitable, but that doesn't make it any more enjoyable. Just as I fix my mouth to ask her why she would possibly think I had given up on him my mom rounds the corner of the dining room with the huge centerpiece for the table.

"Mom! Why didn't you ask for help, you could hurt yourself trying to carry this massive arrangement," I chide her while taking the other end of the oddly shaped container.

"Not heavy just awkward," she answers.

It was Carla's brilliant idea to throw a dinner party for Grace, Mia, and Kate when I told her they were coming to visit, and as usual her ambition is bigger than her abilities. When we got back from site seeing for me, Teddy and Grace, shopping for Kate and Mia, mom was in quite a state, so we've all jumped in to help her with the last minute details.

It's 4:30 and Teddy is whiny and wound up, he needs a nap, and I realize I never did put him down for one once we got back as we just immediately started with tasks for the dinner party. I am kicking myself, because he will be a nightmare through dinner if he doesn't lay down for a bit, but he will be up all night if he goes for a nap so late in the day. Shit.

"Ana, there's nothing to be done about it now," Grace says, reading my thoughts. "Give him a bite to eat, and take him to his room for a lie down, why don't you go on up and rest as well." She sees I'm about to refuse and stops me before I start. "I'm not taking no for an answer, come on let's get Teddy his supper and you two go on up, we'll finish down here."

Thirty minutes later Teddy and I are in his room, not five minutes after I wipe his face and hands and get him out of his shorts, is he curled up on his bed sleeping soundly.

It's amazing how a little nap can make your feel. Two hours later I am rested, showered and dressed in upscale casual as my mother instructed. I've just checked on my son who is still deep in sleep, I'm headed downstairs as my mother races toward the door.

"Grace you look lovely, Mia your dress is too cute," She looks back to see me just entering the foyer, "Ana, you're up, wonderful." She is a bundle of nervous energy. "The guest should be arriving shortly, go get yourselves a drink and relax."

"No, mom, you get a drink and relax." I retort, rolling my eyes.

"I really should, I am so anxious." She giggles, actually giggles. I shake my head and take Grace and Mia into the living room.

"Where's Kate," Mia inquires, not in her seat two seconds. "Isn't she ready yet." I don't get the opportunity to answer before she is headed across the room, "I'll go see what's taking her." O-kay, I say under my breath.

My mother-in-law and I chat for a bit, then she asks, "Ana, do you know who all is invited this evening?" Her expression perplexed.

"Just Christian as far as I know."

"Uh, no…the dining room is decked out for more than just Christian." She says and it sounds like a warning.

I am immediately headed toward the dining room. Oh my God. There are at least six more place settings then necessary. My eyes are round as half dollars, and a sinking feeling is growing in my stomach.

"What the hell, Mom!" I bellow.

Three things happen all at once, Mom enters from the hallway to the kitchen, Kate and Mia round the corner from the living room, and the doorbell chimes, eliciting a giddy bounce from Carla.

"Our guests are arriving," She sing-songs, "Ana would you get the door, Hun?" I smell a set up. I can't imagine what it could be because I already know Christian is coming; something stinks. Non-the-less, I go answer the door.

As the door swings open I see Christian, of course, in a tailor made summer weight navy sports coat and tan pants, his signature white button down shirt, no tie, unbuttoned at the collar. Looking totally yummy as always, with a huge bouquet of flowers and two bottles of wine, but behind him is the surprise. There stands Carrick and Elliot grinning like two loons. My hand flies to my mouth, then my heart.

"What - !" Both Carrick and Elliot shush me.

"Where are they, we want to surprise them." Elliot says.

"Oh, of course," I blush.

"Are you going to invite us in, or are we dining out here?" Christian asks, his tone and expression playful, as he takes me in from head to toe.

"I'm sorry, come in," I whisper and flag them in. Before the door shuts I notice Sawyer and Morgan standing sentry. We quickly head through the foyer and living room and as we enter the dining room I say….

"Look who I found lurking- ," I don't get a chance to finish because three grown women jump and shriek in shocked excitement. You would think they had been apart two months not two days. Once all the hugging and kissing is done Grace turns to me wagging her finger, "Did you know?"

I put both hands in the air, "No, don't look at me," I point to Carla, "I believe she is the mastermind."

"Carla, you sneak, thank you" Grace is all smiles, "This is a wonderful surprise."

"You are so welcome Grace, though I had help from your husband and sons."

Just then Christian walks over and hands my mother one of the bouquets and kisses her on the cheek. I thought it was one huge bouquet, but it turns out to be two. He then turns and walks back to me and hands me the other, leaning hesitantly, this time I allow him to press a quick, unsure kiss to my cheek. It is odd, familiar, uncomfortable, and comforting to feel his lips on me again.

I quickly move away and to dispel some of the weird energy and awkward silence that has invaded the room. I ask my mom who else is she expecting just as the doorbell chimes. She is saved from answering as she heads off to open the door. Moments later she re-enters the living room where we have all reassembled with Bob, his sister Alicia, her husband Les, and their ever annoying, social climbing daughter Chellie. There goes my evening. What I thought was going to be just a little family gathering has morphed into some sort of….of….shit, I don't know what to call it. The two servers that came with the caterer that Carla hired are doing a fantastic job keeping everyone's wine glasses full, especially mine, thank God. I don't know what made me think to ask, but I stop Carla on one of her tours around the room to see if there are anymore surprise guests intended this evening.

She laughs and says no more surprises, and how happy she was that she managed to pull that one off. She was just waiting some associates of Bob's to arrive and dinner would be served. Good, I think to myself, how bad could some clients of Bob's be….?

I look up just in time to see Christian headed out of the living room on his way up the stairs. My God, how did I forget about Teddy being upstairs, and I am hot on his heels.

"Christian, did Teddy wake up," I ask as I try and catch up to him.

"Not that I know, but I've been here almost an hour and I haven't seen him yet. So, I'm going to check."

"Do you know where his room is or were you just going to check each room until you found his?" I sound gruffer than I intended.

He doesn't stop until he gets to the landing. "I know where my son's room is Ana, I've seen it, even spent some time with him in it." His voice is clipped as he tries not to show his irritation.

I didn't know that, must have been all those weeks I would purposely stay out to give him time to pick our son up and leave before I returned. Well, I guess he told me. For reasons that I can't quite articulate, I don't want him traipsing through the house, so I go ahead of him in the direction of Teddy's room. When I open the door I see his little form still stretched out on his bed, but as soon as Christian pops his head around the door, my boy is sitting up rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands.

"Daddy," He mumbles, his voice gravelly with sleep. Christian is immediately kneeling at his bedside, "Yeah, buddy, I'm here. Did you have a good nap?"

"Mmmmhmmm," His head bobbling back and forth. I stand at the door and watch them for several moments. Shaking my head, I snap myself out of my melancholy musing.

"Come on, buddy, let's get washed up quick." I try to make my voice excited. "There are some people downstairs and they are waiting for us, do you think you would like to meet them? His answer is immediate.

"NO, stay daddy." He shouts.

"Whoa, slow down there little man, don't shout at mommy, okay. And I'm going to meet them also, will you go with me?" Christian tries.

"No daddy, me no wanna go." He protests.

"I know son, but it will be fun." I feel bad for lying to my son. "Gammy Grace is downstairs, you want to see her right."

It takes us a little while but we finally get him in some khaki pants and a light blue gingham striped shirt, little black loafers and a black belt. His hair much like his dads will not be tamed; I push it around his head a couple of times, but give up when he whines for me to stop.

"Alright baby boy, you are as party ready as you're gonna get." Christian insists on carrying him down to the living room.

"There they are." My mom says alerting everyone to our entry. "Everyone's here so let's get dinner underway."

I survey the room to see who the extra guests are, and my heart stops when my gaze lands on Dr. Beau and the gorgeous blond standing next to him. Christian must notice them also, because he has visibly stiffened and the temperature in the room has risen by several degrees.

There's no time to panic as everyone starts to filter into the dining room. Now here comes the really tricky part; where to sit? There are no place cards so everyone is just milling about not knowing exactly where to sit. I do notice Chellie stalking Christian, I'm guessing she plans on being right next to wherever he ends up, and it looks like Alicia is helping her. Grace has asked if Teddy can sit next to her, so his highchair is set up at the corner of the table between her and my mom. When it all shakes out it looks like families have grouped together. Carla and Bob are at either end, the Grey's at the end near to my mom, the LeClair's on the opposite side from me, close to Bob's end of the table, and across from them Dr. Harper and his date. I end up in the middle, between Mia and the leggy blond with the cute pixie cut and the killer rack that came with Beau. Chellie is directly across from me with a stupid shit eating grin on her face, because to her left sits none other than, Christian. Kate and Elliot are to Mia's right, and Carrick is next to Grace, with Christian to his right.

This evening has taken a bizarre turn toward the twilight zone. If this wasn't my life, I would think someone was writing this shit just to fuck with me.

;)kekeke

"Ana," Beau addresses me from the other side of pixie cut. "I would like you to meet my sister, Bijou, or Bizzie as we like to call her."

The grin on my face is instant along with the searing blush. I am vaguely aware of other conversations going on around us, but keenly aware of Christian and Chellie's interest in our little introduction.

"Oh, you're Bizzie, jeez, I'm sorry. Is it ok for me to call you Bizzie?" I ramble kind of stupidly.

"Only if it's ok that I call you Ana," Her smile is beautiful and her Georgia accent thick. "I've heard a lot about you," she whispers. I flick my gaze to Beau in time to see him nudge her under the table. "Bizz." He warns.

"Beau." She counters, grins and winks at me. They are definitely siblings.

"So, Beau my boy, what brings you out, I thought Bart was coming." Bob asks the million dollar question.

"He was supposed to but, Trev was hurt at football practice and had to be taken to the hospital."

"Is it serious?" Grace asks.

"We don't really know yet, but Bart really wanted me to come, so I asked Bing first and when he turned me down, I guilted Beau into coming." Bizzie tells us

I can literally feel Christian boring a hole in the side of my head with his intense glare.

"Why was it so important for you to come, I mean in the face of a family emergency." Christian asks.

"I don't know about emergency," She says in her slow southern drawl, "with how rambunctious our nephews," She turns to include Beau, "and some of our nieces are we should keep a room on reserve at the hospital. But Bart and I wanted to meet, you. We know that you are heavily involved with the Farming Division at WSU. We were impressed by some of their research and want to learn more about their Soil Science program, and we hoped you could facilitate some introductions." She finishes and holds his gaze. I'm impressed; she's funny, articulate, and confident.

"And you aren't normally involved with this side of your family's business." He all but throws the statement at Beau, disdain evident in his voice. I want to kick Christian, his tone his so cold.

"No, I am usually on the West Coast, as you know." Wow, Beau gives as good as he gets. "Normally," He flicks a cold eye back at Christian, "it is Bart, Brad, and Bing…Becky and Bizz here handle administration, sales, and marketing. I'm just the occasional field hand."

I want to change the subject. And luckily the first course is being served.

"So all of you have names beginning with 'B'," I prod.

Bizzie rolls her eyes, "Yup, 'fraid so. We have Birdie to thank for that. In order of birth, it is Bartholomew, Beckett, Beauregard, Bradley, Bing, and me, Bijou." And without missing a beat we hear, "Bless you" from Elliot. The table erupts in laughter, his comic timing, as always, is flawless. Teddy is even laughing though I know he has no idea what he is laughing at. Christian doesn't laugh, but he does have an amused smirk on his face, as he usually doesn't find Elliot's antics funny.

The dinner progresses nicely, and there is lots of laughter and animated conversations. Teddy is giving Elliot a run for his money in terms of funny antics, he is on his best behavior and charming the pants off everyone at the table, I couldn't be more proud. Dessert is served and we enjoy the dessert wine Christian bought from his collection. Teddy got chocolate milk. I notice Chellie's attention has drifted to her lap, and I can faintly hear her fingers swiping on what I guess in some sort of phone; how rude, I think to myself. As I watch I can see Christian trying to ignore her, but losing the battle he turns to say something, but whatever is on her phone makes his eyes stretch wide, then narrow to slits. What the hell…..his eyes burn with fury as he turns them to Beau. I think for a second he's going to come across the table, then his eyes are sad and questioning as they settle on mine.

"You'll have to excuse me." He manages through gritted teeth and rises quickly pushing his chair back with enough force that it tips but doesn't fall.

"Son," Carrick questions?

"Christian." Grace exclaims.

"I'm taking Teddy with me." He releases Teddy from his chair and storms from the dining room. We are all dumbfounded. Grace is looking at me like what just happened, all I can do is hunch my shoulders, I am as clueless as everyone else, except Chellie.

"Oh my," She's trying for innocent but it doesn't work on her. "Do you think he saw my photo?" I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. Is she showing him nude pictures of herself? Looking me straight in the eye she turns the picture, and there I am, my eyes closed, faint smile on my lips and Beau leaning in kissing me on the cheek.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the primary investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security

All previous disclaimers apply.