Chapter 17
Carrick
No sooner had he driven off the Steele property onto the state highway, than his wife and daughter began a recap of the day. The lively conversation in the car proved to make quick work of the drive back home to Bellevue.
"I'm crazy about my little nephew," Mia said, sighing with pleasure. "I could just eat him up. Can we spend every Saturday visiting with Kit and Ana?"
"Don't you think that would be asking too much of Ana? She went out of her way for us," he said, thinking of how fatigued she'd appeared near the end of their stay.
"If only she'd bring Kit to us. There would be no food prep or rearranging of furniture. She could relax," Grace said.
"I don't understand why she won't bring Kit to the house," Mia said.
Grace gave him an expectant glance, signaling that their daughter's comment was his to volley. While their Mia had many fine qualities, discretion wasn't necessarily among them. Her candor and honesty sometimes went too far. It wouldn't do for Mia's friends to hear that Kit's mother thought the Greys had sketchy friends.
"She doesn't feel comfortable taking the baby away from his home. He's only eight weeks old," he said. "She'll bring him later in the year, when he's older."
"That's a little bit weird. He's so freaking adorable, you'd think she'd want to show him off. Were you like that when I was a baby?" Mia asked her mother.
"No, sweet girl," Grace said, looking back at Mia with a smile. "I paraded you around to all who could see. I was so proud to show you off. I was the same way with your brothers."
It was true, he thought. Grace relished being a mom. She bragged as much as she could without completely alienating friends and co-workers.
"Elliot's bringing Kate to brunch tomorrow," Mia said. "I'm so happy they're talking again."
"Me, too," Grace said. "But I'm not getting my hopes up, only to have them dashed. Those two seemed serious all summer and into fall, then just as I was beginning to think of Kate as a potential daughter-in-law, they broke up."
"Kate's wonderful. But then, so is Ana. Judging by the way she looked the first time I met her, I never would have guessed that Ana grew up poor," Mia said, leaning forward from the back seat. "To be honest, I'm still in shock. I think Christian should pay Elliot to build the Steeles a new house."
"You, darling daughter, are spoiled," he said. "And you sound snobby. The Steeles aren't poor. They're middle class. I've failed as a father, if you can't recognize the difference."
"But the bathroom towels were raggedy and the furniture was all bunged up," she said. "I'm not a snob. I'm just not used to seeing that."
"Wear it out, use it up, make do… that's what I heard growing up," Grace said. "We were well off, but we didn't run out and buy new and shiny, just to keep up with the Joneses. I admire Ana. She has grit and pride. There's no pretense with her. When she ran out of clean forks, she simply pulled out the plastic fast food cutlery and kept everything moving. I like Ray, too. He's a bit taciturn, but kind, don't you think?"
"Yep," Carrick said. "He's a good guy. But when it comes to Christian, he sure does have a bur up his rear. Understandable, of course, but still not the way I'd like for him to regard my son. He and I had a long talk in his workshop. He asked how I would feel if, quote, 'some rich asshole took advantage of Mia and treated her so badly she was afraid to tell him she was pregnant.' Putting myself in his shoes, I had to agree that Ray isn't wrong to be absolutely furious."
"I'm not too happy with him myself," Mia said. "Elliot found out from Kate that Ana was a virgin when she met Christian. And listen to this, Ana's never in her life even been on a date. And then Christian treated her shabbily. She's so nice and he's been so horrible."
Mia's gossip was enlightening. The young women in his office often chatted amongst themselves in the break room about the terrible state of the dating world, but the fact that there were still twenty-one year old virgins in Seattle was indeed a surprise.
"I don't understand what's gotten into him," Grace said. "First he turned against Elena, then me, and now Ana. Who's next? I heard Flynn is in England. I hope he'll return soon. Christian needs help."
"Maybe he'll turn up for brunch tomorrow," Mia said. "Elliot and I have been reminding him and encouraging him. I'll stay home and help Gretchen with the food while you're at Mass with Grammy and Gramps. I'll send Christian texts every twenty minutes and wear him down."
"Wear him down or make him spitting mad? Please don't antagonize him. It's been such a long time since he's come to the house," Grace said. "I'm not optimistic."
"All we can do is keep loving him," Carrick said, knowing full well that sometimes love isn't enough.
It had warmed up considerably since they'd left the house for Mass. He looked forward to removing his sport coat and sweater vest, then sitting down with a glass of iced tea.
He offered his arm to his mother-in-law, Margaret, assisting her up the steps into the house. His father-in-law, Theo, was too proud to accept any help, though he could probably use some. Grace walked behind her father, ready to assist him if needed.
"The homily was particularly moving today," Theo said. "Only faith that is tested can become great… what a wonderful message. Wish our young folks had been in attendance. As much as we need to hear the message, I think they need to hear it more."
"As true as that may be," Margaret said, "We should be careful about getting preachy. Let's keep the conversation light, especially if Christian decides to show up. Gracie says he's been very touchy lately."
Upon entering the foyer, Grace ushered her parents into the living room to join Elliot and Kate. Carrick stuck his head into the dining room where Mia and Gretchen bustled about setting up the brunch buffet.
"It's warm and stuffy," he said to Grace. "Shall I open all the windows to take advantage of that breeze coming off the lake or would you prefer the AC?"
"Since it's stuffy, I choose windows," she said. "I'll get Elliot to open the ones down here, if you can take care of upstairs."
"Deal," he said.
He took the stairs two at a time, just to prove to himself that he wasn't too terribly old. He removed the jacket and vest, putting them away carefully just as he'd been taught as a boy by his own beloved grandfather.
If Kit grows to love me half as much as I loved Grandfather Grey, I'll be a lucky man.
Opening all the windows proved to take longer than he'd anticipated. It was an old house with original windows and several of the sashes were fiddly, proving difficult to open. He ended his window mission where he'd started, in the master bedroom. As he finished the last window, he heard the purr of Christian's R8 coming up the drive. Right behind him was Elena's white BMW.
Carrick didn't approve of eavesdropping, but at the moment the master bedroom window had a unique vantage, being just above and between the two cars. This was an opportunity to understand more of his son's relationship with Elena.
Christian didn't get out of his car right away, choosing to take time to raise the top on the convertible.
Elena exited first, slowly approached, and tapped on the driver side window of the R8.
"I want to talk before we go inside. Please," she said. "I've apologized more than once."
Christian stepped out of the car, pulled off his sunglasses, and stood over her menacingly.
"Your apologies are worthless," he said. "You've used and abused me. I told you, I'm finished with your money-grubbing ass." There was more from his son but he couldn't make out all the words. He heard the words unvetted and dangerous. There was something about subs. Then he heard mention of Dr. Baker, who was Christian's primary care physician, and a reference to disease.
Substitutes... submarines? Do Baker and Elena know each other? Is Baker treating Christian for some wretched disease? Please, Lord, don't let it be so.
He knew Elena had received large sums of money from Christian, hence the 'money-grubbing,' but the rest of it made no sense to Carrick, and more importantly, none of it seemed related to the latest findings of the private investigator hired to dig into Elena's life.
As it turned out, there had been two civil suits filed against Elena within the past eighteen months, both settled out of court, with the records having been sealed.
He had to figure out a way to legally and ethically unearth those court proceedings. He didn't know how, only that he must.
"Stay the hell away from me and my family," Christian growled.
"But your mother invited me," Elena argued. "I'm practically a member of the family. I have every right to be here."
"When I talk about my family, I'm referring to Ana and our son. They're mine. I won't have you taint them. Do not go near them. What you do with my mother when I'm not around is your business. I'm going inside and you're going the fuck away."
Christian clicked the key fob to lock the car and turned for the front door. Elena got back in her car and drove off.
Carrick raced back downstairs to greet Christian, who was already being met with enthusiastic and loving greetings from the rest of the family.
"Son, it's great to see you. Glad you could make it," he said.
"Hey, could you give me a hand with these two windows?" Elliot asked his brother. "Mom wants them open and they're stuck."
Christian went to Elliot's aid and the two of them wiggled and pulled until they freed the sashes.
"Why did Elena leave?" Elliot asked Christian. "I saw you talking to her and it didn't look pleasant."
"Elena was here?" Grace asked, stepping from the dining room into the living room. "I didn't see her. Is she returning?"
"I don't know have any idea what that bitch is doing. I told her to fuck off," Christian said.
"Language and manners!" Grace ordered.
Carrick knew that Grace was especially embarrassed by their son's behavior, because it was in full view of her parents and Kate.
Christian answered his mother with an impudent smirk.
"You have a son now and you're a role model," she said, hands on her hips. "Stop with the filthy language."
"Well, if I'm the role model, I guess the kid is in for a world of disappointment," Christian said. He stood on the threshold between the foyer and the living room, as if trying to decide whether to stay or go.
"My expectation is that you pass on to Kit all that your father and I taught you," she said. "You were raised with empathy and kindness, now you'll teach your own son."
"Not only will the boy be disappointed," Christian scoffed, "but if I follow your model, he'll be well and truly fucked up. I'd better set up a special trust for the therapy bills."
"You're being ridiculous," she said dismissively. "Please tell me you'll visit Kit regularly and develop a loving relationship with him. Children need lots of play, affection, and physical touch."
"Affection and physical touch…" His son's eyes flashed with fury and his voice boomed. "Oh, like the non-existent physical affection you gave me. Got it."
"Stop being so mean. I can't do this," Grace said, tears streaming down her face. Carrick moved to her side and put an arm around her shoulder.
Oh, shit. This fell apart in a hurry.
"Show some respect, son," Carrick said sternly.
Not only was his wife crying, but so was his daughter. Margaret and Theo appeared stunned. Elliot and Kate didn't seem surprised, only concerned.
"Respect is a two-way street. Neither of you ever wanted to deal with me. That's the bottom line. You two have outsourced everything in your lives. You've never cleaned your own house, planned your own parties, or raised your own children. There were nannies and therapists, and when the going got really tough, you sent me to Mrs. Lincoln's house. And guess what? I've still got haphephobia, all because you wanted to respect my boundaries."
There was some truth to Christian's accusations, but Carrick still regarded his son's cruel and angry delivery as unfair. There had been many happy family outings and events, but those seem to have been conveniently forgotten. Christian's outrage was an injury not only to Grace, but the whole family.
"I did what I thought was best," Grace cried. "Stop being so mean."
"Son, you need to leave," Carrick said. "You can't treat your family this way."
"I'll leave when I'm damn good and ready," Christian said. "Mom needs to hear this. You both did what was expedient, leaving me to sit on the sidelines while I watched you roughhouse with Elliot or toss Mia around in the pool. While reading bedtime stories, Mom snuggled up with those two while I sat alone on a different piece of furniture. She's a quack of a doctor and a fraud of a mother. You knew what she was doing was wrong, Dad, but you participated in it. Both of you screwed me over. Thanks for nothing."
With that Christian stomped out the front door, slamming the door behind him. They were still in shock as they heard him peel out of the driveway in the R8.
"Does he hate Elliot and me because we got more affection?" Mia cried. "I never knew he was so unhappy."
"Don't say that. You didn't get more affection. I loved all three of you equally," Grace said.
"He doesn't hate us," Elliot said. He went to his sister and pulled her into a hug. "But he's right. He was always on the outside looking in. I knew it and I tried to be his friend. You may have felt equal parts love for each of us, Mom, but it wasn't demonstrated to Christian. I love you, but you let him down."
"So did I. There's so much I should have done differently," Carrick said, needing to accept his responsibility in the failures of child-rearing.
"There's no time for hand-wringing," Theo said. "What's done is done. The big question is, how can the fractures be repaired?"
Hello, dear reader!
I hope you enjoyed this update. As for Theo's question, do you believe Christian's relationships with Grace and Carrick can be rebuilt?
Please know that I will be traveling and dealing with family obligations over the next three weeks. If you don't hear from me during that time, I'm not pausing the story or deliberately neglecting you. (For the guest who asked, I am not on an update schedule. I do endeavor to update at least 2-3 times per month.)
The next chapter will involve a short time jump. With the No Contact Order having been lifted, Ana and Christian will have their first meeting as co-parents.
Many thanks for your interest in this story. I read each and every word of your feedback.
All the best, Paula
