CHAPTER 146
(JARED)
I look around the room at the crematorium, Elizabeth's body is in front of us in a closed casket. Dad is surrounded by people, none of them are here to pay their respects to Elizabeth but are here to support my dad. I am one side of him and Eva is on his other side and next to her is her dad Victor. Uncle Christian and Aunty Ana are next to him and on my side are Aunty Ireland and Uncle Christopher. I am thinking about my conversation with Corrine and it hits me I didn't tell dad about it… I forgot with everything else that has been going on. I went to tell him but he was on the phone with Arash and when he'd finished, we ended up talking about the trial instead. I glance up at him and decide to tell him afterwards as this isn't the time or place right now and wonder if what I have done will have any bearing on today. I hope I haven't made things worse by my actions, I think back to what I did after talking with Eva and Aunty Ana about Elizabeth and they had explained how she became the monster she did…
"Thank you for explaining that, I now understand… like what I said to Chris Vidal, there was a small part of me which couldn't understand why dad never tried harder with Corrine… but now… now I completely get it. She… Elizabeth, was completely screwed up by what her dad did to her and she in turn screwed up many other people's lives because she got in with people who were as warped as she was. That then caused her to screw up the next generation… but it ends right here" I say with a sense of finality.
Eva smiles at me, "That was my reasoning for telling you after I heard what you said… as it worried me and I'm glad you came to me to ask questions as I would hate for that little doubt you had about Gideon to grow into something bigger as he really doesn't deserve it" she says.
I nod, "I know, that's why I asked as I realised there was more to the way he was with Corrine than I was aware of, but I never realised…" I pause, "I think… I also feel it helps me to reach the point of forgiving Corrine much quicker than if I'd stayed in ignorance… I mean, Elizabeth was a completely twisted and manipulative woman, Corrine didn't really stand a chance did she?" I ask.
Eva doesn't say anything but tips her head slightly.
I realise she probably isn't the best person to ask that, "You don't like her though do you?" I ask.
Eva shakes her head, "No I don't, because she tried her hardest to split Gideon and I up and at one point nearly succeeded so no… I don't like her. However, nobody deserves to be treated the way she was back when she was with Gideon. By everyone, including Gideon – although I forgive his actions due to the fact his was down to him being controlled by his issues, and he was too afraid to tell her what they were as he had always been disbelieved… which was down to how Elizabeth treated him. But Elizabeth shamelessly manipulated her, and as for Chris's actions… yes well". Eva stops and shakes her head sadly.
I nod, "I think… I think I want to go and think things over now" I say.
Aunty Ana looks at me carefully, "Are you ok? Do you need to call Caroline or anything?" she asks and I shake my head.
"No, I'm ok" I say.
I go to my room piecing together what I now know with what I am going to do now. I pick up my phone and call Angus who answers quickly.
"Hello lad what can I do for you?" he asks kindly.
"Hi Angus, I feel the need… I'd like to speak to Corrine as I have now reached the point of forgiving her. I know she doesn't want a relationship with me and I don't want one with her either… but I just want to speak to her once more privately… do you have a number for her? I'd ask dad but I don't want to disturb him right now" I say.
There is a brief silence and then Angus speaks, "Ay lad I have one… are you sure this is the right thing to do?" he asks.
"It is Angus, I've learnt more tonight about dad and Elizabeth and it has made me realise a number of things… so I just… I just want to talk to her one final time… call it closure" I say.
"Alright lad, I'll get that for you, but you must tell Gideon what you've done at some point… just in case" he says.
"I will" I say.
A short while later Angus calls again with the number for Corrine and I thank him. I sit looking at my phone and then taking a deep breath I place the call.
"Hello" I hear Corrine's voice and feel my mouth go dry.
"Erm… hello is that Corrine?" I ask.
There is a short silence, "This is she, who may I ask are you?" she replies suspiciously.
I swallow hard and lick my lips, "Erm… it's me… Jared… please don't hang up, this won't take long. I just… I'm now fully aware of everything. Everything that happened, and I get it now. I get it. I want to make it clear that I still don't think dad was to blame for what he did to you because… because he was messed up, so messed up by his mom and what she caused. But you… you were also messed up by her. She manipulated you, into doing something which was wrong, and then Chris… I know what happened – everything that happened. I get it now, and I want to say I'm sorry for what I said to you in Central Park and I hope you can forgive me because I forgive you for what you did. You are not a bad person Corrine, you just made loads of bad decisions and I forgive you for the ones which concerned me. But… I need you to know one thing… that… that your decision to put me up for adoption wasn't one of the bad ones, it was for dad because he never knew about me but for me… well… doing what you did… you gave me a brilliant mom and dad and you made their lives so happy. I had a brilliant home and family, and for that I thank you".
I stop and I hear a small sob, "Don't cry Corrine, please don't cry" I say. "I know you don't want a relationship with me and that's fine because I don't want one with you either, but I felt I just had to call you just this last time… for closure. I have said sorry for my mistake that I made... my decision to publicly humiliate you – it was wrong and I am sorry for that" I quickly add.
I wait and I hear a sniff, "Does Gideon know you are calling me?" she asks almost hopefully and I go cold.
"No, he doesn't but I am going to tell him about this conversation. I also don't want you getting any ideas about using this to try and get close to dad again or to try and split dad and Eva up. I know she went to see you and if you do try anything now after this then that would make you as bad as Elizabeth" I say.
Corrine gasps at that, "Elizabeth was a manipulative monster who never believed her own son had been abused" she says.
I snort, "Oh she was much more than that, believe me. You have no idea of the depths of depravity she sunk to, that woman was pure evil but if you want me to think of you the same way I think of her then go ahead and try and mess up my dad's life again… but just know you will fail if you do" I say.
"Alright, I accept your apology and I also apologise for my own mistakes, I think… much like ripples in a pond the actions of one person can spread out and affect so many" she says thoughtfully.
I realise she is spot on, considering everything I now know. "That is very true" I agree.
"Well, thank you for calling me Jared and I promise you I won't make contact with you or Gideon again" she says.
"Thank you for hearing me out, and I'll tell dad you said that" I reply…
I feel dad stiffen at my side along with murmurs from Eva, Aunty Ana and Uncle Christian and movement from Uncle Christopher and Aunty Ireland and it pulls me from my memory.
"Dad? What's wrong?" I ask.
I turn following his icy gaze and stiffen, "Oh shit, no, she promised!" I gasp as I see Corrine sitting quietly at the back of the room.
Dad swings his gaze to me, "What did you say?" he asks sharply, I swallow hard as guilt fills me for forgetting to tell him about my phone call to Corrine. I touch dad's arm.
"I'm sorry dad, I forgot… I meant to tell you I really did… I called Corrine, for my own closure the other night after Eva and Ana told me everything about Elizabeth and her past. I called her and apologised to her for the Central Park thing, we talked and she promised me she wouldn't do anything, she promised she wouldn't try and contact us… I'm sorry dad" I say earnestly.
Dad sighs and wraps his arm around me, "No Jared, you have nothing to apologise for. I wish you'd told me about it though" he says.
I look up at him, "I really was going to but then all that stuff happened with the trial and it went out of my head. Ignore her, just ignore her and pretend she isn't here" I say.
Dad thinks about that and nods, and passes that down the line of people who are all listening to me. As I look at Corrine once more, I see movement near the door and am surprised to see four unexpected but familiar figures walking towards us.
"Dad, look" I say as I nudge him again. He sighs and turns to look.
"Well, shit" he mutters which gets Eva's attention along with everyone else and as one everyone turns to look.
"Hey I hope you don't mind us coming… Eva told me what was cracking off and well… after everything you did for me when Kate was being a pain and also what you did for Sadie we felt it was only right that we came and supported you at this time… I mean you are my brother-in-law" Uncle Elliot says as he holds his hand out to my dad.
Dad accepts the handshake with a smile. Then I watch him greet Megumi, Sadie and Lucy. I had only very briefly met Sadie and Lucy when we were in Seattle, but they seemed like nice people from the very short amount of time I spent with them at the joint birthday party for dad, Aunty Ana and Uncle Elliot.
"Thank you, this is unexpected but thank you" dad says and I can see he is a bit overwhelmed that they have done this.
Sadie reaches for dad and gives him a hug, which I don't think he was expecting. "You are a good man Gideon, and I asked Elliot if we could come along as well after everything you did to help us. I felt I had to come to offer you what support I could at this sad time" she says.
I hear dad snort at that, "Sad isn't a word I'd use to describe how I feel, but thank you" he mutters. He looks at Uncle Elliot questioningly.
"Where is Ava?" he asks and Uncle Elliot smiles.
"With mom and dad back in Seattle, this is just a flying visit. I called Christian and explained we wanted to come and he sent his plane for us, but we are flying back later today".
Dad nods in understanding, "Well I'm very touched and grateful that you all came" he says then he stops speaking as something has attracted his attention, I look at the sound of more footsteps and we see Uncle Ryan walking towards us, he is handcuffed to a prison officer but he is dressed in a suit rather than prison clothes.
"Gideon" he says as he reaches us all and holds out his uncuffed hand to dad.
"Ryan, glad you could make it" dad replies. Uncle Ryan glances at Uncle Elliot and nods at him before greeting Uncle Christian, Aunty Ana, and Eva.
"Ryan, you know my father in law Victor and let me introduce my brother and sister-in-law… this is Elliot and Megumi Grey and this is Elliot's birth mother Sadie and sister Lucy" dad says as he waves his hand at the people gathered.
Understanding fills his face, "Oh right… you're Christian's brother… but you are also…" he fades off.
Uncle Elliot grins, "Yeah I know" he says simply.
Everyone takes their seats as the official appears and clears his throat. I reach for dads' hand and I see Eva reach for his other one and he responds to us both accepting the offered support and comfort.
"Welcome, we are gathered here today for the passing of Elizabeth Yarwood, Cross, Vidal. Elizabeth Yarwood was the daughter of Senator Morris Yarwood and she was born and grew up in upstate New York. She went to school in the area and then attended Columbia University where she would meet her future first husband Geoffrey Cross. While at Columbia she and her circle of friends including Eric Landon and Geoffrey Cross were well known for their… social escapades".
I glance at dad, this must be the parties Eva told me about and when they abused their fellow students and then blackmailed them into silence. Dad looks at Uncle Ryan who actually grins at him and shakes his head.
I return my attention to the official who is still speaking.
"It was after leaving university where Elizabeth gave birth to her first child, Ryan who she signed over all parental responsibility and rights to his father, businessman Eric Landon and he was raised by Landon and his wife Martha. Soon afterwards she married Financial Investor Geoffrey Cross and had another child her second son Gideon. Upon Geoffrey Cross' death she married for a second time, to Music Producer Chris Vidal and went on to have two more children another son Christopher junior and her only daughter Ireland. This marriage sadly broke down recently and the couple divorced. Elizabeth had a complicated relationship with her middle son and in recent times also became estranged from her younger children. However, all her children are present today to say goodbye to their mother".
I hear dad, Uncle Ryan and Uncle Christopher all snort rudely at that remark and Aunty Ireland shakes her head. That has to be the saddest eulogy I've ever heard as it basically stated the facts about her life and those weren't even the full facts, just the socially acceptable diluted version. I see Eva whisper something in dad's ear and he clears his throat.
"I think we all know the reasons why we are all here today, I think we can move on now" he says coldly.
Uncle Ryan nods, "I agree" he says.
The official nods and moves to the side as the table moves and the coffin slowly disappears through the curtain and the curtains close.
"Burn in hell bitch" Uncle Ryan mutters quietly.
"Well, that's that then" dad says and I watch him sigh deeply and he closes his eyes a moment before simply nodding his head and opening them again.
"Dad are you ok?" I ask and he smiles at me.
"I am, she is gone and it's over" he says simply.
We turn to leave and I take a deep breath in as I am prepared to face Corrine but am surprised to see she has vanished.
"Look dad, she's gone" I say.
"Who?" he asks.
"Corrine, she's not here anymore… so she kept her promise, she obviously just wanted her closure as well" I say.
"I have to go now" Uncle Ryan says as he looks at dad carefully and gestures towards the prison officer he is handcuffed to.
Dad nods, "Quick question before you go, what am I to do with her ashes?" he says.
Uncle Ryan shrugs, "Whatever you want, I've got my closure as soon as that coffin disappeared behind the curtain and that was me done as far as she is concerned" he glances at Uncle Christopher and Aunty Ireland who are listening to this, "You two were closest to her so I think you should decide what happens to her ashes" he says.
Uncle Christopher looks at Aunty Ireland and shakes his head, "I don't really care either, as far as I'm concerned we have all gone above and beyond what was expected of us in the circumstances, what about you Ireland?" he asks.
Aunty Ireland thinks about it, "I don't know… part of me wants to say we should do something, but then another part of me says why should we? She was a terrible person to Gideon and she didn't even attempt to be a mom to Ryan. She manipulated you into hating your own brother and while I had a good relationship with her for most of my life she was resentful towards me when I pursued a relationship with Gideon… so do we have to do anything?" she asks.
There is really no answer to that, as we all discuss what is to happen I see movement and I grip dads arm.
"Dad" I say.
Everyone looks at me as I nod towards the door, and standing there is Chris Vidal.
"Dad, what are you doing here?!" Aunty Ireland exclaims as she, Eva, Aunty Ana and I all subconsciously move in front of dad, protecting him.
"I came to pay my respects to my ex wife… despite everything I loved her once" he says.
"Well, she's being burnt as we speak, the ceremony is over" dad says coldly.
Chris glances at everyone gathered around dad, protecting him, Ryan is still here and he holds up his hand to the prison guard who is watching the unfolding events with interest. Chris' eyes rest on me and everyone's words regarding Elizabeth go through my head one after another and it gives me an idea.
"Dad, he said he loved her once… and he made the effort to come here and he certainly isn't here to support you like everyone else is… so, if none of you want her ashes, and none of you want to do anything with them why not give them to him?" I ask gesturing to Chris.
"That's actually not a bad idea, I don't want her" Uncle Christopher says nodding his head.
"I'm happy with that" Aunty Ireland adds.
"I don't give a shit" Uncle Ryan says bluntly with a shrug to which there is a ripple of sniggers.
"Neither do I" dad says, and he looks at Chris questioningly. "Well?" he asks him.
"How can you all be so callous?" Chris blurts out.
I stare at him, "No more callous than you have been towards my dad" I retort, "You never did answer my questions when you called. You just hung up, so why don't you answer them for me right now or are you going to run away again?" I ask.
"That woman was a monster Chris, how do you expect her children to respond?" Aunty Ana says.
Chris looks around at us and shakes his head sadly, "I'll take her ashes" he says simply but doesn't offer to respond to my other questions and pointedly ignores them and me.
"Fine" dad says simply and turns towards the official who is hovering, watching what is going on. "You'd better give him your contact details then if you want them, so if that is everything?" he says as he moves to walk away.
Chris reaches out to stop dad and immediately everyone reacts and he steps back in alarm.
"Is this how it ends?" he asks angrily.
Dad shrugs, "You made it that way Chris so don't be offended that we are all following your lead. If that is all, I have better things to do with my time than stand here talking to you. Unless you are actually going to explain yourself and answer my son's questions" he says.
With that Chris just pushes past us and goes to speak with the official.
"Thought not" dad says sardonically. "Come on let's go" he adds.
Ryan has now left, but everyone is rallying around dad. I see Victor whispering in dad's ear and he pats his shoulder. I don't know what he is saying but dad hesitates a moment and then shrugs.
"Knock yourself out, but I doubt it will do any good" he says eventually.
Victor nods and after patting dads shoulder again he walks towards Chris who looks surprised by this turn of events.
Everyone is watching and listening as Victor stares at Chris who shuffles uncomfortably. He is clearly intimidating Chris by his demeanour which screams law enforcement as he stands in front of him, his legs slightly apart and his strong arms folded.
"Are you going to do the right thing?" Victor asks simply and Chris just stares stupidly at him.
"I'm speaking to you, I said are you going to do the right thing. I fought for you, back at the prison that day when you behaved like a child. I said to Gideon that you had been fed lies and you were embarrassed by the fact you'd had the truth so blatantly pointed out to you and you were ashamed… Christian and Ana came to see you to extend the olive branch to give you the opportunity to do the right thing, but you threw it back in their faces. Since then I have learnt all about you Chris and while the statute of limitations has long since expired for what you did to Corrine, that doesn't alter the fact you did it and so as a cop you should know that I'll be keeping an eye on you. Eva tells me that Jared has called you out on your stupidity and asked you why you have behaved the way you did and like you did after the confrontation at the prison when you physically ran away you did the same thing again. You really are just a weak pathetic little man and those people are better off without you in their lives as they are far better people than you will ever be. I'm giving you one final chance to do the right thing here Chris are you going to take it or continue being a snivelling coward?" Victor pauses, you could hear a pin drop as he waits for Chris' response.
"Well?" Uncle Christopher asks and Aunty Ireland shakes her head.
"He won't do it, he can't because he is as bad as mom" she says.
Christopher shakes his head then, "Then I think we are done here" he says and Ireland nods.
"We are" she says.
I see pain appear in Chris' eyes at hearing his own children effectively dismissing him. He glances at Gideon and that pain disappears and resentment replaces it.
"I never wanted you; I just wanted Elizabeth and you were the unnecessary baggage she brought along with her, I never had any intention on being a father to you, and now you have turned my own children against me – you will regret this" he spits and takes a menacing step towards dad as he says it, his arms waving in the air.
Everyone gasps, but that gasp isn't for what he has said it is for the fact that Angus has appeared from nowhere and punches Chris in the face, making him stagger backwards.
"Angus no" Victor says pulling him back.
"You broke my fucking nose" Chris says as blood is pouring from it.
"You deserve worse" Angus says.
"I'll fucking press charges for this" Chris shouts.
Victor laughs, "For what? Angus is a bodyguard, you were threatening Gideon and his family, he reacted to that threat. We all saw you walking towards Gideon waving your arms at him and threatening him" he says simply and calmly.
Chris looks around and everyone is nodding. Much to my surprise and it seems everyone else's, Sadie steps forward.
"I am saddened by what I have witnessed here today. I am not aware of the details behind this, but I do know that Gideon is a good man who went out of his way to help me escape an abusive relationship. He was a child when he came into your home and even if you didn't want it, you automatically took on that role as a father to him simply by being with his mother, if you didn't want it then you shouldn't have been so damn selfish and sought a relationship with a woman who had a child. I came here today, because Gideon along with the Grey family helped me and supported me – a complete stranger to him, he did everything he could to help me and my daughter. He is a good man and as such it inspires people to stand with him when he needs support. Don't you think it is rather telling that you are standing there alone with blood dripping from your nose and nobody is even offering you a handkerchief to stem the bleeding… not even your own children. While Gideon stands here completely surrounded by his family… people who love him and who support him. You should think about that" she says.
Dad steps forward, "Elizabeth's actions along with yours deprived me of a family for so many years. I essentially raised myself, but now…" he pauses and holds out his hands and looks around. "Welcome to the world I occupied for so long, you are on your own Chris through your own actions you are now on your own… with only Elizabeth's ashes for comfort" he says.
Chris stares at everyone as realisation finally seems to hit him and he sags. In that moment he seems to age before our very eyes.
"This ends now Chris, you try and contact Gideon, Eva or Jared again and I will put a restraining order on you" Victor says.
"Add me to that Victor" Christopher says.
"And me" Ireland adds.
Eva grips dad's hand, "Come on Ace, it's over… let's go home" she says.
Dad nods, and looks round, "Thank you all for coming and supporting me today, it's over now… let's go home" he says.