August 2027: The Coronation Part II
Other than Beats and Elliott, the only other person that knew the whole story was Flint, who had of course been taken into his best friend's confidence when the first parts of the situation had emerged in mid-June. Up until that point, the three children of Beats' late sister had been thriving in the care of their grandparents, their father having kept to his promise and making regular contact. At the end of May, they had been taken down as soon as the school year finished, to his home in Louisiana, and there had been many happy images taken there of the children enjoying time with their father. The previous anger that the elder two had felt towards him had been largely forgotten and a new page started in their relationship.
However, back in Zanesville, the Harpers had received a visit from the principal of the school that the youngest of their grandchildren had attended until the end of term. In the privacy of their home, they had felt able to disclose to the Harpers a number of things that they had not been aware of. The first of these was that the academic performance of the young lady in question had begun to slip not long after the death of her mother; that was down not to grief but to the fact that she had been the target of a group of bullies. She had been picked upon because of the circumstances of her mother's death; indeed the leaders of the group were actually relatives of the man that had been driving the vehicle from which she had been thrown to her death.
The principal had come to see the Harpers now as they were concerned that the situation would deteriorate further the following year, as her elder siblings would be leaving the middle school for high school, and she would be on her own in a much larger school whose students came from across the town. "I have spoken to the principal of the middle school and told them of my concerns, but whilst they are sympathetic, there is only so much that they can do to protect her. To make matters worse, we believe that much of the bullying is mental, not physical, and that is so much harder to spot," the principal said apologetically.
The knowledge that their youngest grandchild was being bullied was hard for the Harpers, but they now faced an even more difficult situation. Their first course of action had been to call her father and appraise him of the issue; he had acted as a good father should, and had taken her to one side, and in private, had asked her to tell him what had been going on at school. Her initial response had been to burst into tears…
Beats had been in Flint's company when his mother had called him a couple of days later to let him know what was happening. He was angry to say the very least, but he was a reasonable person, and knew that the school's attitude was right; there was very little that they could do. He knew that from his own experience there all those years before. The obvious solution was to remove her from the middle school, but there was only one in the city of Zanesville, and she was much too young to attend a school like Crawford, had there even been such a facility nearer to home.
"We have spoken to her father," his mom said, "and like us, he is deeply concerned by it all; but he is also a realist. Yes, we could move the whole family to a different school district, but there is no guarantee that would be a solution, as there would be talk as to why they have moved into the area, and news travels fast in Ohio. Her father is in no position to have her stay with him in Louisiana, or he would like a shot. Add on the fact that her brother is now aware of what is happening and is ready to come right back to Zanesville this minute to beat up every one of the bullies, and well, we are facing a hectic summer once they are home next week. Small towns are great places to raise children in the main, but their size also brings its drawbacks."
When his mother ended the call, Beats was obviously upset, but he felt helpless being so far away. "I want to do something to help her, but what can I do here in New York?" he asked his best friend with a sigh. "I had hoped that things would be better for the children with their mother gone, but it looks as if that is far from the case."
Flint said nothing for a moment, then replied quietly, "Well there might be something that you could do here, but it might not be a popular option for any of you." He paused, then seeing the look of anticipation on Beats' face, he went on. "I know that the last thing that any of you would want to do is split the siblings up, but that might be your only option until your youngest niece is of high school age at least. You could have her come here to New York and live with you and Elliott. She would be away from all her bullies and all of the talk here, and hopefully, by the time she is of age for high school, the worst of the tension will have ebbed away…"
Flint would remember the way that his best friend had pulled him into a bear hug and then kissed him at that juncture for weeks afterwards, as it had come as quite a shock to Izzy, who walked in just as the kiss took place. The fact that Beats had promptly run out of the door, shouting that he had to tell Elliott at once what was going on had not done much to improve the circumstances, and had Izzy not been sure that her husband was 100% straight, she might have misconstrued the entire situation…
Beats had run straight to the Spotlight Diner, where Elliott was on shift, and the conversation they had that day was short and to the point; his husband had agreed that having her come and stay would not be an issue for him, but nonetheless he did feel compelled to add two small notes of caution. Firstly, he insisted that Beats speak to both Dante and Ty before he said anything to his parents, particularly as it would be the bedroom that had belonged to their adopted son that she would naturally occupy; secondly, that the young lady herself might not like the idea at all, and might want to remain with her siblings, regardless of how difficult her situation would be.
Beats would speak to both his adopted and foster sons that evening, the former summoned to come at once, and thinking that there was a crisis. They were both understanding, and willing to help, but Dante had suggested a compromise, whereby Ty would move into his old room, which was the larger of the bedrooms, and able to accommodate two beds if required. This was a sensible move, as whilst his relationship with Lachlan was going well, and living together was smooth, something could happen that might mean he had to come home, and that gave him somewhere to sleep…
With the whole of his little family onboard, Beats made the call to his parents; however, he made it a video call, and invited his former brother-in-law to join them to speed up the process. They had listened to the plan that he had, and credited to Flint as the honest man he was. They had all agreed that it had merit; like Elliott, they all knew though that their opinion of the scheme counted for naught if the young lady involved did not wish to leave Ohio for the bright lights on New York. They had no way of knowing how she would respond…
At first young Olivia had been against the idea of being separated from her older siblings Zach and Allie, but now that they were aware of what was going on, they actually encouraged her to think about it carefully. Her brother went so far as to say that he envied her, as she was being given the opportunity to live in New York.
"Zanesville is okay, but I know that you really like music and theater, and we don't have all that much of that sort of stuff going on here, at least not professionally. If you are living with our uncles in New York, you will be able to go and see so many shows with real performers, not just people that we know from town. You also like clothes, and there will be so many more places to buy fashionable clothes there too. As for your reading, there is an excellent library system there, and there are still lots of bookstores that you can go into there as well; our cousin Dante works in one, and they have 18 miles of shelves to choose from. Yes, we will miss you, and I think you will miss the two of us, but you will be safe there from the bullies. You being safe keeps me safer too; if they hurt you, I would hurt them, and find myself in all sorts of trouble. We can video call each other all the time, like we do with dad. I think that Uncle Beats will spoil you, and Uncle Elliott is a great chef."
Mrs Harper had been listening behind the door when Zach spoke to his little sister, and she had to admit that what the boy had said made a lot of sense. Of course, showing her that would be an even better idea, and so with the approval of her son, she suggested to the children that they take a weekend trip to New York – however, whilst she and the two elder children stayed in a hotel, Olivia would stay with her uncles and thus experience what her life could be like. The prospect of a trip to the city for them all influenced her older siblings all the more in saying that it could be a good move for her. So it was that in the middle of July they had arrived, and by that time the necessary changes in the West Village apartment had been made; Ty was now in Dante's room, albeit with the latter's old bed in there still alongside his own…
It was no sightseeing trip for the children, and both Beats and Elliott adhered to their normal weekend routine, which would show Olivia the reality of living with them and Ty. Beats did ensure however that she met as many of the neighbours as possible, not that any of them were aware that it was more than just a holiday trip for her. She and Ty hit it off at once, she loved the room that she would be calling her own, and she was seriously impressed when she discovered the occupations of the people that lived around her uncle were. At one point she had taken ballet lessons, so Mike was an instant favourite for her. Even Caleb had warmed to her when she went for tea with Nick, Jeff and Wes. So it was no surprise when the time came for them to head back to Ohio that she asked when she could come back and live there…
Those words caused the departure back to Ohio to be delayed for a night, but fortunately the hotel in which Mrs Harper and the older children had been staying was able to accommodate them for a further night. It was necessary as Mrs Harper, as Olivia's legal guardian, had to be the one that went to visit the various agencies that needed to know that she was being placed in her uncle's care. She had to visit the education department to enrol her in a school, and was glad when she was able to get her a place in the school closest to the West Village street she would soon be living in.
The staff at the education department of the City Council were able to inform her that the principal of the school was on the premises that day, and so Mrs Harper was able to go along and meet her. Ty was also a student at the school, and so the principal knew the family, and was more than happy to also have Olivia there and give her a tour of the campus. That visit was to prove even more beneficial, as what the girl saw there, particularly in the shape of the art department that was far better equipped than the one at Zanesville Middle School, and all the evidence that art, music and drama were highly valued subjects…
With the paperwork done, and Olivia enrolled, Beats found himself being given an extensive list of requirements that evening when he arrived home from work that evening and he was more than happy to try and fulfil them all; he also sat her down and asked her to choose a colour scheme for the redecoration of her room; not just paint, but curtains and bedding too. He was not in the least surprised when she rejected pink and opted for a mix of bright, primary colours. They placed online orders that evening, and it was agreed that she would return to stay in a week's time. That would allow her to settle into her new environment before the school year began.
Although her arrival as a resident of the street was unexpected, she was nonetheless welcomed into the little community at once. One of the first things that she was able to participate in was down to Mike. He had arranged with Drew to take Evie to one of the vacation day dance taster sessions that were hosted at the City Ballet, and that was taking place the day after Olivia arrived; he was only too pleased to have the new arrival tag along if she wanted to. That was approved of by her father; he had been the one to bring her to New York, which had come as a surprise for Beats, who had assumed it would be his mom or dad.
Elliott saw it at once though for what it was; a father checking up that the place that his youngest daughter was going to be staying in was up to scratch. The freshly decorated room had impressed him at once, but not quite as much as his daughter, who had squealed in delight the moment that she had stepped into it. His introduction to Ty also went well, as he instantly showed that he had none of the prejudices of his ex-wife in any shape or form. Dante and Lachlan had already been invited to come for dinner that night, and although their initial response had been cautious, by the end of the night they were both calling him uncle, which he liked no end. Dante would later tell Elliott that he could see why he had left his wife, as the two of them were chalk and cheese in so many respects.
He had time before he left the city again to accompany Mike and the two girls to the ballet session, and he could only smile as she quickly was able to join in, recalling all of the steps that she had learnt years earlier and impressing Mike as well. He knew then that he had made the right choice in allowing his youngest daughter to live with her uncles in the city. It had been a tough decision to make, but it was the right one for her, and from what he could see so far, she was going to flourish in her new environment.
When the flight that had conveyed Nick, Jeff, Wes and Pam across the Atlantic arrived in London, the latter allowed herself to be guided through the airport by her companions, the young couple much more familiar with the busy airport. She had managed to get a couple of hours sleep in the end, as indeed had Nick eventually, before the cabin lights had come back up as the plan approached the western coast of Ireland and the crew had them made quick work of serving them a light breakfast. Now they found themselves in the line for the immigration desks, the electronic advertising boards around them showing images of the King and his Queen Consort, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace; it was a sign that the countdown was now well and truly on for the big event…
The queue was not long, and soon they had all reclaimed their bags and were out on the main airport concourse. They had each been offered a car by the royal household, but Nick had declined on behalf of himself and Jeff, and Pam had done the same on his advice. Nick knew that it would be much quicker to board the Piccadilly Line and take the tube to Green Park station, which was a short walk from the hotel they would all be staying at, and from the Palace as well, a place that they would all see something of over the next few days.
For Pam, the relatively soft seats of the tube train were a revelation, used as she was to the hard but easy to clean seats of the subway back home. Wes had dozed off again almost as soon as they had boarded the tube for the journey into the city and Jeff followed suit not long after, which allowed Pam to have a quiet chat with Nick. She began with the obvious polite question. "How is your head feeling now?"
"It is fine now, as it always is as soon as I get off a long flight. It has to be the air pressure change that causes it, there is no other possible explanation."
"I have to admit that I am glad to be back on the ground too," Pam replied, "although I am in need of a long nap!"
Nick smiled, then answered, "I would actually advise against that if you can; in my experience of these eastbound overnight transatlantic flights, you will feel a lot less jetlagged tomorrow if you stay awake as long as you can, and just have an early night tonight."
Pam nodded, deferring to the young man, knowing that he was much more experienced in these kind of journeys in comparison to herself, and thus his advice would be wise…
On the short walk from the station at Green Park to their hotel, they had their first chance to see in person how the city was preparing for the event that would mark the moment that the Carolean Age would begin in earnest. There were flags out along the length of Piccadilly, not just Union Jacks but those of all the Commonwealth nations too for a start. The windows of Fortnum and Mason were full of themed goods, all set against a backdrop of red, white and blue. They did not pass the main entrance to the store to get a glance inside however, turning down Duke Street to reach their accommodation, passing the exclusive stores and the old gentlemen's clubs, to find their hotel nestled within walking distance of St James' Palace…
It was easy enough to find, and they were expected, so check in was swift. As Nick and Pam sorted out their respective paperwork, Jeff took a seat with a still sleepy Wes on an old and comfortable chesterfield sofa, looking around at the grand Edwardian architecture that was still so unspoiled. Then he felt something rub against his leg, and he almost jumped out of his skin. He looked down, and was surprised to see a tortoiseshell cat, who like his own back home, clearly thought that they owned the place. "Papa, did we accidentally pack Caleb?" asked a tired voice, and Jeff smiled, replying in the negative. Still, the feline did look a lot like their own… He glanced around then, and suddenly saw the concierge at their desk, smiling at them broadly. "Don't worry sir, she is friendly and belongs here. Her name is Lady Alice, and she loves people, especially those that she can tell are cat lovers. She has a nose for exactly who has a cat of their own at home and welcomes them in the way she is welcoming you now."
Jeff nodded, and bent down to stroke her gently, the cat beginning to purr at his touch. Then Wes was down on the floor, holding out his hand, and the cat gently rubbed against it, enjoying the ministrations of the two. Across the room, with the check in now complete, Nick watched for a moment, rolling his eyes for a moment, then smiled as he cleared his throat to attract the attention of his husband and son. Reluctantly they bade the cat farewell, and the animal miaowed to them as they walked over to reception, following behind. For a moment Nick wondered if they were to have an additional guest in their rooms, but then saw her jump up onto a plush velvet cushion on a low ledge by the desk. He smiled, realising that she was back in the spot from which she surveyed her domain…
After freshening up, and enjoying a spot of brunch in their room, which the hotel had told them was provided for by their royal hosts, the little group of four headed out into the city once more. Nick had spoken to Carole before they left and asked her where she had been on the previous trip that she and Burt had made to London; the one that she recalled was St Paul's Cathedral, and they had explored that thoroughly. For that reason, it was the obvious place to take Pam on her first day in the city, as it might also be her only opportunity to see it.
They walked through the narrow and bustling streets to Piccadilly Circus, the busy junction with the illuminated advertising signs that was the nearest equivalent that London had to Times Square, and jumped onto a bus that would convey them along The Strand and Fleet Street to the cathedral. They passed through Trafalgar Square, which was also festooned with flags, all the more so as the procession would pass through it en route to the Palace after the Coronation was completed. As they headed east, the flags and bunting did not seem to cease, not even in the narrow street that had once been home to the printing presses of the media, and intensified as they came to the great cathedral…
The building was one that Pam had seen numerous times in pictures and on the screen, but to be there on the steps of the cathedral was something else for her. She paused there for a moment to survey the scene, and she could have sworn that she heard an ethereal voice singing as she did; the words being that of the song from Mary Poppins. There was no old lady selling bags full of crumbs though and she supposed that if there had been, then the price of them would have been a great deal more than tuppence now. What startled her most though as she stood there was that she recognised the voice; it was one that she hadn't heard for so long, but her heart knew exactly whose it was…
It was Blaine's voice…
She shook her head, putting it down to tiredness and lack of sleep, turning round to glance up at the west frontage of the cathedral; there were the carved Saints and Apostles of the song, or at least seven of them; St Peter, St Paul and St James right above her, and around the two towers the four gospel writers… There were birds there too, of course, sitting on the building and flying around it. She smiled at that, hearing the song again, and it made her feel comfortable and warm inside… She realised that the other three were waiting for her, and so she followed them up the steps and into the glory of the cathedral…
What she did not know was that an angel was watching her from a spot next to St Peter, his wings carefully folded and a smile on his lips…
As they stepped inside the building, the noise of the traffic outside almost immediately lessened as the quiet calm of the great domed cathedral took over. From a distant corner of her memory, Pam suddenly recalled the first time that she had seen the interior of this building on television, when the man that was being crowned on Saturday had married his first wife; to the young Pam, who had not been much older than Wes was now at the time, it had seemed like the stuff of fairy tales, watching the young beautiful bride marry her relatively handsome prince. Of course, history had now informed them all that far from being a dream, it had been a nightmare for both of them, an arranged marriage in so many ways that had been a horrible mistake, the only positive to have emerged from it all being their two sons.
The little group of four made their way slowly up the nave to the area known as the crossing, where the great dome was right above them at the meeting of nave, chancel and transepts. There were chairs arranged there, and Pam took the opportunity to sit down on one and drink in the beauty of a building that was more than three centuries old, a vast tribute to the skills of the builders of that era, who had constructed such a masterpiece with none of the modern technology that helped the construction workers of today achieve their goals. Looking up at the dome, she assumed that the lower part of it had to have been constructed with some sort of scaffolding, but lifting the blocks of stone up to that height must have been a strenuous and back-breaking task…
"It is beautiful to look at from down here," said Jeff, interrupting her train of thought, "but it is even better when seen from up there in the galleries below it. Of course, that is where you will find the famous Whispering Gallery, which has a secret all of its own…" He pointed up as he named the feature in question, and looking up properly, Pam could now see figures up there, looking down at them. "It used to be such a difficult place to access, with only one narrow flight of stairs built inside the walls, but there is now an elevator that takes you part of the way up, built at the north side where the view is not so great. Would you like to head up there now and see it for yourself?"
Pam agreed, and soon they had taken the elevator up to just below the famous gallery. Nick and Jeff had been there before with Wes and so they suggested that Pam might like to go up on her own, as it was popular and usually very busy with tourists. She decided that they had a point as she saw a large group of children emerge from the steps and left them to climb up on her own. On arriving at the gallery, she stepped forward and looked down, catching her breath as she saw the spot she had been sitting in some 100 feet below, where people were milling about as they admired the building. She noticed that there were directional arrows to follow around the gallery, and so she turned in the correct direction to walk round, moving away from another group of schoolchildren that she realised were talking in Spanish…
She only looked up again when she was halfway round and was quite surprised to discover that she was now alone in the gallery. She smiled then, deciding that it actually gave her an opportunity to test out the most famous feature, which Jeff had explained to her in the elevator; that if you whispered along the wall, your words could be heard anywhere along the dome. In theory then, she would be able to hear her own words bounce back to her. She whispered some nonsense, and when the sound came bouncing back she smiled like a child, almost wanting to giggle. The fact that she could still find such things thrilling made her feel young. She whispered nonsense again, and this time she allowed herself to laugh when it came back to her. She went to move on around the deserted gallery, but then froze, when she heard the words "Hey mom!" clearly in her ear…