CHAPTER 83
(CHRISTIAN)
I sit watching Elliot and Ana laughing, discussing their 'slap down' of Kate today. Elliot and Megumi came for dinner tonight and while Kate Kavanagh was a banned subject over dinner, talk has now somewhat inevitably moved towards the events of earlier today. Taylor told me how brilliant Ana was when she went down and dealt with Kate. I feel slightly left out as Elliot and Ana laugh together and discuss how they dealt with Kate. Megumi is also watching and she looks across at me and smiles.
"Do you think she will give it up now?" she asks me as she moves to sit next to me.
I let out a small snort, "I honestly don't know, you would've thought she would've given it up long before now but Kate Kavanagh is a pain in the ass who never knows when to quit" I say bitterly and a little sharper than I intended so I just raise my wine glass to my mouth and drain it.
Megumi looks a little startled by my response and I am about to apologise when she speaks, "I don't really know that much about her, Elliot refuses to talk about his time with her. He just says the only good thing about his relationship with Kate was Ava… and I don't like to pry".
Elliot looks across at the mention of his name and smiles at Megumi before rising to his feet and moving towards us. He sits down next to her and as she shuffles closer to me to give him room he wraps his arm around her. He pulls her close and presses a kiss to her forehead before reaching and placing his hand on her stomach and stroking it gently. Megumi reacts by placing her hand over his and gently squeezing, the obvious sweet affection between them is touching and in stark contrast with how he previously behaved with Kate.
"I'm sorry, I just don't like talking about her. She was a mistake in every possible way. I suppose the way we met and how things evolved…" he pauses and glances at me, "I saw how happy Christian was with Ana and I saw how good Ana was for him and so I assumed… I very wrongly assumed that because Kate was Ana's friend that she would be like her… I quickly realised she wasn't but I got caught up with her and things escalated. Before I knew where I was, I was proposing and it was soon after we married that I realised what a huge mistake I'd made. I saw how Christian and Ana were together, the love was a tangible thing between them and still is but it was different with Kate. Indifferent was the way I'd describe her, oh she made all the right noises at the start of the relationship, professed her undying love for me… but it didn't last long. I think that is what made me almost sleepwalk into the decisions I made, because she kept telling me how much she loved me and stupidly I believed her and I loved her, god I loved her... to begin with, but as soon as the ring was on her finger she changed and that was when I knew I'd been taken for a fool. As time passed we drifted further apart rather than getting closer. With hindsight I should never have persuaded her to have a baby with me. I knew she wasn't up for it, but I thought maybe it would bring us closer together and I was longing to be a dad. It was after Ava was born and I saw how little she cared about her that I knew our marriage was dead. So, I focussed all my love and attention on Ava instead and that seemed to make things even worse between us, as she seemed jealous of my relationship with my own daughter. I tried, god I tried to make our marriage work but after the car crash of our last vacation and then when it all came out about what she had said to Ana about me, I knew… I knew it was irreparable and I had to get out. That day Christian called me and said Kate was here and she was bad mouthing me and everything was being recorded I knew that I had to grab that opportunity and I had to break away from her. I knew I'd survive the divorce financially as Kate had signed a pre-nup, that's why she didn't want to end things as she knew she wouldn't walk away with a huge settlement. She was prepared to stay in a marriage and make us both miserable just for the money and advantages having my surname gave her".
"What did she say?" Megumi asks, she is hanging on Elliot's every word and she is gently running her hands up and down his arms. You can see she loves him, and Elliot is savouring her touch.
Elliot snorts, "She called me Ass wipe. It seems she never called me by my name when she was talking about me to Ana, she always referred to me as ass wipe and…" he pauses and shakes his head.
"She stood there and she openly admitted everything. She said – as Elliot has just said, that she only married him for his name and his money and that she would never divorce him. She married him for the doors that the Grey name opened for her and she considered that her compensation for staying married to him. She admitted to Ana that she had never loved him and she only married him basically because Ana married me, and she was jealous of the fact her 'friend'… " I pause as I put air quotes around the word friend, "…had found love and found happiness with me. Although I think she was more jealous of the fact Ana became an incredibly wealthy woman when she married me as Kate was always more interested in the superficial material things and money".
"Not that I wanted a penny of it" Ana mutters sulkily and I grin at her comment.
Megumi's eyes widen at my damning assessment of Kate, "She seemed to be very self-centric when she accosted me outside Grey House, everything was all about her".
"Narcissistic is the term I'd use" I say coldly. "During that conversation here that day she called Ana one step up from trailer trash, and Ana made it clear she never wanted to speak to her again and yet here she is showing up and expecting Ana to help her".
Megumi looks at Ana in shock, "Oh my god that's awful, how could she be so cruel? She was meant to be your friend?"
Ana laughs, "I thought she was my friend but in reality I was just her maid. Kate is not very domesticated and she relied on me while we were at college to keep her fed and to keep on top of all the household chores. She used me, and had I not met Christian and got together with him I'm certain I'd be living with her right now and still being her housekeeper".
Megumi shakes her head, "I think you are both better off without her in your lives".
Ana smiles and looks at me, "Christian tried to tell me, he got her number from the start, I think that's why Kate always accuses him of controlling me. He knew what she was like and she couldn't manipulate him, and because he tried to tell me how she was just using me and wasn't really my friend she was scared I would listen to him and she tried everything to drive a wedge between us and Christian… well, he was afraid I would believe Kate and it would put an end to our relationship".
Elliot opens his mouth to speak but Ana's phone rings out making him swallow what he was going to say.
Ana rummages in her pocket and her face lights up as she looks at the screen. "It's Uncle Arnie!" she exclaims and quickly answers. I pick up my ears at this, I'm assuming the call is something to do with my birthday celebrations this weekend. Arrangements have been made for all my birth family to fly in and I hope that Arnie is still able to come.
"Hi Uncle Arnie!" Ana says exuberantly, a smile filling her face. There is silence as Arnie is obviously speaking and I watch as the smile slowly fades, slipping from her face. She looks up at me and a jolt of panic surges through me as I see the growing distress in her eyes.
"Ana?" I ask and I go over to her and sit beside her, she reaches out for my hand and I give it to her willingly. Inwardly silently begging her to tell me what is happening.
"Thanks for letting me know, and you will try to make sure she doesn't get access to him?" Ana says eventually.
I frown at this wondering what she means, then it hits me… Carla. Is she trying to get access to Frank? I wait patiently for Ana to end her call, and when she does she doesn't immediately speak but just sits staring at her phone.
"Ana, baby?" I ask, as I coax her to speak.
She looks up and to my surprise she turns her attention towards Elliot. "Kate is trying to get access to Frank" she says in an empty voice.
Megumi gasps and Elliot's eyes widen at that statement. I am shocked, Kate? That particular scenario never crossed my mind.
"Kate?" I ask and Ana turns towards me and nods.
"Yes, Kate and I think it might be something I said today. I called Elliot my brother, and I very nearly had a brain to mouth malfunction and blurted out he really was my brother when she was sneering at me for calling him my brother. If Taylor hadn't intervened when he did I would've told her, but it seems she picked up on Taylor's warning and is now digging for dirt" she says and to my horror I see tears appearing in her eyes. "I'm so sorry El" she adds quietly.
I don't hesitate and I pull her close, "Don't" I say simply and I press a kiss to her head and hold her tightly.
Elliot shakes his head, "Don't apologise Ana, you did nothing wrong and besides what if she does find out? It's all out there about you and Eva being sisters!"
"But what about Sadie? She didn't want the attention and it originally stopped her from making contact with you? What if this ruins the relationship you are building with her?" Ana argues but Elliot shakes his head.
"You have to remember she was in a totally different situation then. She was in an abusive controlling relationship. She was too terrified of rocking the boat for fear of what that bastard of a husband would do to her. She is in a totally different situation now, and she has the umbrella of security of the Grey family which surrounds her".
Ana nods, "I think you should give her a heads up though in case Kate finds out something" she says.
Elliot nods and pulls out his phone. He dials a number and puts it on speaker so that we can hear.
"Hey Sadie" he says brightly.
"Hello Elliot, is everything alright? Ava is watching the television did you want to speak to her?"
I am surprised at that, I had assumed he had dropped Ava off at our moms tonight when he came here.
"No, it's you I need to speak to. I need to give you a heads up" he says warily.
"Oh?" she asks.
"Yeah, Kate… you know my ex-wife, well she is digging again. She has been approaching Ana trying to get her to help her get to me and Ana refused to help her. Now she is trying to get access to Frank. As you know he is in the military prison in California and Ana has got word of what she is doing. I'm just letting you know, in case she does get access to him and he tells her about me being his son. As you know she is a journalist and how vindictive she is feeling at the moment because we are not doing what she wants, if she finds out the truth about Frank being my dad… well" he stops and waits.
"I see" Sadie says.
"I just want to reassure you though, that you would have the complete protection of my brother's security and I'm sure my dad would step in if you started getting harassed in any way" Elliot says clearly trying to reassure her.
"Elliot, it's fine. Obviously, I hope that it doesn't all come out… but that is for yours and Megumi's sake… and of course your sisters, as the fuss that was made when Ana and Eva came out and announced they were sisters… and this is different as you are technically Ana's husbands' brother as well. I don't have the same fears anymore as I'm not in the situation that I was, but if it does all come out then I assure you, you have my complete support".
I see the relief on Ana's face as she hears this and she almost sags in my arms. I hold her tightly and kiss her once again.
"Thanks Sadie" Elliot says with clear affection in his voice.
"What are you going to do?" Sadie asks.
Elliot glances at Ana, "I think the guy who called Ana to give her the heads up that Kate was fishing is going to try and prevent Kate getting access to Frank. He has known Ana since she was a little kid and he is like an uncle to her. He is also pretty high up in the military food chain so if he gives an order it will be followed. Hopefully we can get more information from him on Saturday at Christian's party… you are still coming aren't you?" he asks.
"I am, indeed. I wouldn't miss it for the world. You have all been so kind to me since you helped me escape from Detroit".
Elliot takes the call off of speaker and wraps it up. As he pushes his phone into his pocket he looks at Ana once more, "See, everything is fine so stop worrying" he says with a grin.
oooOOOooo
Two days later…
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Christian, happy birthday to you!"
I stand surrounded by my family with a huge chocolate cake in front of me. Ana is at my side and my arm is secured firmly around her. I have a huge grin on my face and I feel content and happy. I glance around at all my family surrounding me, all my birth family who I am sharing my birthday with for the first time and my family who have put up with me for years when I really wasn't a nice person to know before I met Ana… Ana, my beautiful Ana. My attention is drawn to her as she moves in my arms and looks up at me.
"Happy birthday Christian" she whispers in my ear as she leans up and presses a small sweet kiss to the corner of my mouth". I respond and kiss her quite passionately before returning my attention back to the cake.
"Don't forget to make a wish" Ana adds a little louder.
I look around, "I don't need to baby, I have everything I have ever dreamt of right here" I say. I lean forward and after sucking in a deep breath I blow out all the candles.
As the candles are extinguished a cheer goes up and everyone starts clapping. I feel slightly embarrassed but try not to show it. Mia has done us proud and she really didn't go over the top, it is a wonderful occasion. I release Ana to pick up the knife to cut my cake and as I do so once again glance at all my birth family standing silently watching proudly and my eyes move to Gideon and Eva who have also flown in especially for today. As my gaze meets Gideon's he simply raises his glass to me. Then I see my mom, dad and Mia all beaming with pride, I see Elliot and Megumi they are standing with Ava to my left and then my eyes fall on Ana and I drop the knife and wrap my arm around her and kiss her soundly.
I reluctantly pull away and turn my attention once more to the people in front of me and I decide to say a few words.
"Thank you all for coming today, as you know I don't really like any fuss or attention drawn to the fact it is my birthday but every year my wife seems to ignore that fact and make a fuss. But this year is different and I am glad she insisted on making a fuss as so much has happened recently and as a result my family has expanded significantly and I can't think of anything better than celebrating with you all".
There is another round of applause and I glance at Elliot and look at him questioningly. He takes a deep breath and gives me a quick nod before grasping Megumi's hand.
"But today isn't all about me, we have some more good news to celebrate. As most of you know my brother Elliot eloped and married Megumi a while ago" I say as I glance at mom who shuffles and I realise that she still harbours resentment for that. "Well, it appears that he hasn't wasted much time in consolidating his new family. Plans were in motion for Megumi to officially adopt Ava and I think dad has something regarding that?" I say as I look towards my dad.
My dad nods and pats his jacket pocket with satisfaction. I grin at that gesture. He had pulled Elliot aside earlier and told him the adoption was now complete and that Megumi was officially Ava's mother and this seems to be the perfect time to announce that along with Meg's pregnancy.
"The adoption is now complete and Megumi is now officially Ava's mother and… from what Elliot and Megumi have told me it also appears that Ava will also be a big sister soon".
The gasps fill the air as my words are digested by everyone.
Elliot clears his throat and steps forwards his hand gripping Megumi's tightly, "Erm yeah… thanks Christian. Yes, it's true Meg and I are having a baby and we couldn't be happier" he says as he looks lovingly at Megumi and he kisses her hand before he releases it and wraps his arm around her.
I glance once more at my mother who looks completely stunned by this news. She is frozen in place like a statue. I wonder what is going on there as this is not normal behaviour for her. My dad walks over and produces the adoption papers and presents them to Elliot with a huge sincere smile on his face.
"Here you go son" he says proudly.
"Thanks dad" Elliot says as he takes them and stares at them.
I watch as mom seems to come to and she moves closer and offers Megumi what appears to the casual observer as a warm hug and words of congratulations. But something seems off about it, and I can't help but notice that she is distinctly and visibly 'off' with Elliot. Ana leans towards me and whispers in my ear.
"What's going on with Grace, she looks like someone pissed in her drink?"
I let out a small snort at Ana's crass comment, but it is true. "Eva's bluntness is rubbing off on you" I murmur.
"Sorry" she says quietly but I shake my head.
"No don't be, it's fine. As for mom I have no idea, I knew she was upset when Elliot and Megumi eloped but I thought she'd got over it. There does seem to be a bit of a rift between mom and El at the moment though".
Ana nods, "Yeah, and the fact he asked Sadie rather than Grace to watch Ava when he and Meg came for dinner the other night. That one surprised me, when Sadie made it clear Ava was with her".
I nod in agreement, as that had surprised me as well. "I'm sure we will all find out what's going on" Ana mutters and then stops speaking as mom walks towards us.
"Christian darling, happy birthday" mom says as she embraces me tightly, and I glance at Ana over my mother's shoulder and she raises her eyebrows, we both noticed the difference in her greeting compared to the one she gave to Elliot and Megumi.
"Thanks mom" I reply as I return the hug.
"Ana, it's a lovely party" mom says turning her attention towards Ana and giving her a warm loving hug.
"Thank you Grace, although Mia has to take the credit for it as I pretty much dumped it in her lap when everything kicked off in New York" she says.
"Oh yes, how is everything in New York now?" she asks and glances towards Gideon and Eva who are standing with Elliot and Megumi and laughing at something Elliot has said.
"It's all under control now, it was pretty intense there for a while but as far as we are aware everything is slowly working itself out, Eva and I talk daily and she keeps me updated".
"Mom is everything ok?" I ask unable to stand this charade any longer.
She smiles at me brightly – a little too brightly, "Of course it is darling, why do you ask?" she says.
I raise my eyebrows and give her an 'oh come on' look, "Seriously mom you have to ask that, the atmosphere between you and El can be cut with a knife, what's going on? You're not still upset about him eloping are you?" I ask.
There is a long pause and I watch as my mother's face darkens. "I was hurt that he would sneak off and get married without his family present" she says simply.
I shake my head, "Mom we were all shocked when he did that, but it was right for him and Megumi. They wanted private, discreet and no fuss. It was their day. Was I put out that I didn't witness my brother getting married? Of course I was, but I got over it because it was his decision. Then I remembered that I had entertained thoughts of flying Ana to Vegas when I decided I wanted to marry her, and doing exactly the same thing so I can't really argue with the decision he made. Gideon and Eva eloped and it was just them, so you need to get over it" I say.
Mom stares at me wide eyed, "But now they are having a baby, it's so soon. What if things go wrong like they did with Kate? It all seems to have happened so quickly and Megumi seems to have quite the influence over Elliot, what if… what if it all goes wrong?" she asks.
Then it hits me, what she is getting at. "Jesus mom, you are sounding like dad now when he is being an ass. Is this about Megumi fleecing him because if it is you clearly don't know what sort of person she is" I hiss.
I'm surprised by the flash of anger in my mother's eyes before she responds "That's the thing though Christian, nobody knows what she is like as this has all happened so quickly… none of us really know her".
I look up and to my horror I see Megumi standing there, she has obviously come over to speak to us and the hurt expression on her face, tells us she has heard everything. Ana leaves my side and goes to comfort her and this draws the attention of Elliot, Eva and Gideon. A moment later Eva has appeared and Elliot and Gideon also come closer.
"What's going on?" Elliot asks looking at everyone in turn.
Megumi straightens her shoulders and looks coldly at mom, "Your mother seems to think I am a gold digger like Kate" she says bitterly.
"What the fuck!" Elliot exclaims loudly.
"Language Elliot" mom says but Elliot holds up his hand.
"No mom, don't. Just don't" he hisses.
"I'm so sorry Meg" Ana whispers and Megumi shakes her head.
"No, you have nothing to apologise for Ana. You and Christian have made me feel nothing but welcome, and it was Christian's encouragement and solid endorsement of Elliot which made me take the leap of faith… and it was a huge leap of faith" she stops as Elliot pulls her into his arms.
"You have nothing to explain baby, if mom can't see you are totally different from Kate then that's her problem not ours." He pauses and looks at me, "I'm sorry to ruin your birthday bro, but I'm not staying here if mom has a problem with my wife".
"No please don't go El" Ana and Eva say immediately in unison.
"Look, let's just bring this down a bit" I say holding my hands up.
Gideon nods and speaks, he has been silently watching the interaction.
"As far as I can see as an onlooker it is reasonable for Grace to have these concerns, as things have moved incredibly quickly. However, today was not the occasion to air them. I would suggest Grace and Elliot sitting down and talking everything through as it's clear that there is much more going on here than meets the eye. But as I say now isn't the time or place and while Christian and Elliot saw fit to announce Elliot's good news, and let's be clear on this it is good news; today is primarily Christian's birthday celebration".
There is a stunned silence at his insightful comments. Ana and Eva beam at Gideon and Eva nods adamantly.
"Well said Ace!" she says.
Before anyone can say anything else mom walks away from the group without a word. Dad watches her go and with a sigh he follows her.
"Has mom had a personality transplant?" Elliot blurts out angrily as he watches his mother walk away.
I shrug, at a loss for anything to say.
"I mean I would've expected that sort of dickish behaviour from dad, but not mom" he adds.
Ana looks deep in thought as she watches mom walk away. "I think it is much more than Megumi and El getting married, I think it is also much more than the baby. I think this is down to the fact she feels threatened".
"What do you mean sis?" Elliot says clearly surprised by her remark.
Ana smiles, "Look around you, look who is here today. All Christian's birth family are here, your birth mom and sister are here… Grace feels threatened, she feels her place in your life as your mother is threatened. My guess is she has been feeling like this for a while, since Christian found out about his birth family which then led you to search for yours. She had a massive wobble then, and I really don't think she has got over it".
Eva nods, "Yeah, Ana is right" she holds up her hand as Elliot opens his mouth to protest.
"No listen El, I know what you're going to say and you have a point, as thinking Meg is a gold digger isn't cool. In fact thinking she is anything like that bitch you married is totally unacceptable but Grace is worried – as a mom, about you. Then, she feels her place as your mom is also slipping away".
"But Sadie reassured her, Sadie told her… I don't look at Sadie as my mom. Mom is my mom" Elliot says obviously confused and getting more upset by this.
Eva smiles reassuringly at Elliot and places her hand on his arm, "I know that, and you know that and to be fair everyone here knows that but clearly your mom still thinks deep inside that you are going to turn to Sadie more as there is that biological link there".
"She has been totally welcoming towards Christian's birth family" Elliot retorts.
I sigh, "That's because my birth mom is dead. The woman who gave birth to me is not a threat to her. The woman who gave birth to you is standing right over there" I say.
"So, I'm not allowed to have a relationship with my birth mom? In case it upsets mom… because that's not fair" Elliot says.
"No it's not, which is why you and mom need to sit down and talk this out" I say.
"Is everything ok?"
We all turn at the voice and Ana grins and wraps her arms around Arnie who has wandered over.
"Hi Uncle Arnie" she says warmly.
Arnie looks around nervously, "I couldn't help but notice something was going on so I waited, is now a bad time?" he asks.
I shake my head, "No, you're fine" I say firmly.
Arnie nods and glances at Elliot and then at me. "It appears Kate Kavanagh hasn't given up, she has been blocked from accessing Frank, but now it appears she has written to him. All mail for prisoners is opened and read, now under normal circumstances it would then be passed on to the prisoner. In this case…" he stops and I know he isn't going to say it out loud.
"We appreciate that Arnie" I say gratefully.
"No problem, I will say though she may try again and while one letter can get 'misplaced' if she persists I won't be able to keep blocking her".
I see Eva look at Ana and they both look at Elliot, and I know what Eva is thinking. They announce the link, so Kate has no story.
"What if we make the announcement, it kills the story dead there and then" Eva says confirming my thoughts.
Ana nods, "If we did it like we did when Eva and I announced we were sisters it would take the story away and Kate wouldn't have anywhere to go".
Elliot nods thoughtfully, "Hang on" he says, and he walks over to Sadie who is sitting chatting with Mia.
A moment later he returns with Sadie at his side and we quickly go through everything bringing her up to speed with the developments.
I watch as Sadie thinks carefully and then she turns towards Elliot, "Do what you need to do Elliot, you have my full support. I'm no longer afraid of the truth coming out, as I'm proud to be your birth mom".
Elliot swallows hard as he gives Sadie a warm hug. As he does so I give Ana and Eva a significant look, and they meet my gaze with a look of agreement. We all realise right there and then as that statement confirms for all of us exactly why mom is feeling the way she is.