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Life's Illusions The Next Generation - Chapter 35
Three boys, huddled together, all sobbing uncontrollably.
That was the situation Jace, Mel, and Phil encountered as they entered the Trauma Department of North Western Memorial, that afternoon.
Phil was almost shouting as he begged the boys to tell him where Trevor was.
Jace took control whilst Mel dragged her son's into a protective hug.
Jace shook Phil by the shoulders, saying.
"Now is not the time to lose it Phil, come with me, we'll find someone to give us answers".
Phil followed lamely after Jace, feeling totally inadequate, stupid, and terrified.
Within minutes Jace had the attention of a young medic.
"My friends son was brought in a short while ago, an RTA case, would you be so kind as to locate him, his father desperately needs to see him".
After taking details of Trevor's name and age, the medic scanned through the admission register before turning back to Jace and Phil, addressing Phill in particular.
"Please don't be upset, but I have to establish that you are who you say you are, do you have identification, we have details of the patient from his possessions, I need to match you?".
Phil pulled out his wallet, handing over his drivers license I.D.
A quick study and the doctor tapped details into the console before him, then dropped the I.D. Card onto a scanner, by which time Jace was losing patience.
"How long is this going to take?, Phil needs to see his son now".
The doctor hit save and turned back to them.
"I'm sorry, but we have to be sure only bona fide family members are allowed access to either patients, or their details, Trevor is in theatre, but please don't be alarmed, he was stabilised on admission, I was part of the trauma team who worked on him, he's going to be okay, he'll make a full recovery, there are several suspected fractures, as well as confirmed broken bones, nothing that won't heal given time and rest, but there was a bleed, possibly a rupture of the abdomen, which needed immediate attention, hence why he's in theatre, but it's a routine surgery to locate the bleed and repair it, he should be out of theatre within two hours, now, can I take some billing details, then I can tell you where he'll be accommodated".
Phil started to stutter a reply but Jace took over.
"You have the details for my family, it's the Thorn Family, Barrington Hills, bill everything to us, password is Lenny, give me your key pad and I'll enter my pin code".
When the formalities had been completed, Jace said.
"Make sure you allocate Trevor his own suite, and ensure there's a spare bed installed, his father will want to stay with him most of the time".
The doctor made to object, Jace cut him off.
"If you can't fulfil my instructions, get your administrator down here, it wasn't a request".
The doctor picked up the phone and after a brief conversation, where both Jace and Phil heard him repeat, 'The Thorn Family', several times, he replaced the receiver.
Turning back to them he said.
"I'm advised to inform you, your request is noted and will be accommodated, now if you'll come with me, I'll take you to Trevor's suite, his records have already been updated, he will return there as soon as he exits the recovery room, I would anticipate, in a little more than two hours from now".
On the way they collected Mel, Ary, Bobby and Dillon.
In the suite they faced a barrage of questions from the boys, mostly from Ary and Bobby, Dillon was a trembling, sobbing mess.
Jace took Dillon from Mel, pulling him onto his lap.
"Now then number three, I want you to pull yourself together, I know how much you love Trevor, all of us do, but when he wakes up he doesn't need to see you looking devastated, he needs to be reassured he's going to make a full recovery, which is true, so put on a brave face my little soldier, you're his closest friend, you have the most important job, you have to keep his spirits up, can you do that?".
Dillon perked up immediately.
"Yes Poppa, I can do that".
Jace looked up to see Mel with tears in her eyes, he just nodded to her, signalling, he had it under control.
A little over two hours later, a half conscious Trevor was wheeled into the suite, already hooked up to a whole bank of monitors, one arm and both legs encased in plaster casts, he was clearly agitated, coming out of sedation and totally confused.
Phil tried to settle him, but it wasn't working, then Dillon slipped in bedsides Phil taking Trevor's hand, getting right in his face.
"Trev, it's Dillon... I'm going to explain, can you relax and listen to me, you know I won't spin you a line, it'll be from the heart?".
Trevor, although a little foggy, visibly relaxed seeing Dillon, and a groggy voice replied.
"For you I can... I love you.... I trust you".
Phil was completely gobsmacked his look at Jace said as much.
Jace had been forewarned to some extent, by Ary's outburst from the accident scene, but Mel was oblivious, and her look to Jace said exactly the same as Phil's.
Jace's look in response told both not to ask questions, they both understood, he would explain later.
Ary and Bobby actually giggled.
They all listened as Dillon explained it in factual detail to Trevor, who seemed to be hanging on Dillon's every word, even in the fog that enveloped him.
Phil watched, looking occasionally to Jace and Mel.
Jace knew he had to speak first to Phil.
At about one in the morning Mel called a halt, it was time for the boys to go home, they would visit tomorrow, but for now she was putting her foot down.
Dillon tried to object, but Jace stopped him, drawing him into a hug he whispered.
"Not now son, you have my support, but Momma's called time out, and Trevor needs rest, plus his father just learned you're in love with his son, I'm going to have a difficult time selling this scenario, give me a little breathing space, do as your Momma says, say your goodnight to Trevor, tell him you'll be back tomorrow".
Dillon looked at his Poppa, and decided he was right, Trevor needed rest, and the worst was over, he was safe now.
Next morning as Jace was making his way down to a late breakfast, he was waylaid by Ary and Bobby, he guessed they wanted to talk about Dillon and Trevor, he wasn't wrong, as he found out when Ary spoke.
"Poppa, we wanted you to know about Dillon and Trevor, it's something Bobby and I have talked about a lot with Trevor, we don't want you to get the wrong idea".
Jace was now intrigued, he detoured into his study, the boys following him.
"I thought you told me Dillon and Trevor were in love?".
"Ary was looking directly at his Poppa when he answered.
"No, I told you Dillon was in love with Trevor, that's not the same".
Jace was looking baffled, Ary and Bobby could see his expression, so Bobby took over.
"Dillon thinks he's in love with Trevor, but that's just Dil, you know how intense he can be, he doesn't understand about love and the, well you know, the other things, so we've just let it carry on, we know eventually he'll sort it out on his own".
Jace was now even more confused.
"But we all heard Trevor, he said he loved Dillon".
Ary sighed, before attempting to explain.
"Trevor came to us about six months ago, he told us he was worried, Dil had told him he thought he was in love with him, Trevor didn't know what to do, he admitted he loved Dil, but because of Dils age, as a brother, a number one best friend, not in the way Dillon was seeming to see it".
Jace just nodded, indicating Ary should go on.
"We suggested having a talk with Dil, but Trevor stopped us, he reminded us, we'd all had 'The talk', in Sex Ed, Dillon hadn't, he won't get to that for another six months or so, he didn't think Dil knew what he was saying, so we all agreed, to ignore it and let it go on, we figured, when Dil got to 'The talk' stage, he'd sort it out himself, Trevor was adamant, he didn't want Dillon upset, or feeling awkward, you see, Trevor and Dil really do have a strong bond, it's just not what Dil thinks it is, so what Trevor said, it wasn't meant to be taken the way everyone took it, does that make sense to you?".
Jace smiled, saying.
"Yes, it makes perfect sense, thank you boys, and I agree, Dillon shouldn't be shocked into realising his body, his emotions, are going to be changing, it's right to let nature take its course, I'm really proud of you, and of Trevor for looking out for Dillon, now let's go have breakfast, because I suspect your brother will be chomping at the bit to get to the hospital".
Whilst the youngsters were finishing their breakfast, Jace pulled Mel aside, explaining what he'd learned from Ary and Bobby, she nodded throughout his explanation, finally saying.
"That is so sweet, and from Trevor too, protecting Dillon's innocence for as long as possible, I can't believe how considerate they are, I think I agree with you, just let nature take its course, will you explain it to Phil?, I saw how shocked he was by Trevor's declaration of love to Dillon".
Exactly as Jace had predicted, whilst everyone else was only part way through breakfast, Dillon was finished, having hardly eaten anything, until he was forced to by his brothers, but now he was pacing back and forth, demanding to know how much longer it would be before they could leave for the hospital.
Finally they were ready, and all five of them departed in Jace's 4x4.
When they entered Trevor's suite, they found him sitting up, but fast asleep, Phil dozing in an armchair beside his bed.
Phil became alert as soon as they entered, with Dillon taking up his position right beside Trevor, not saying anything, just staring intently, almost as if he were willing Trevor to wake up.
Jace signalled to Phil to meet him outside in the corridor, when they were alone, Jace started to explain.
"What happened last night, I saw how much it shocked you, but I think I can reassure you, it wasn't what it seemed".
Surprising Jace, Phil smiled, holding his hand up to stop him from going on.
"I know Jace, Trevor explained it to me, they're all protecting Dillon, and they don't want us to get involved, in fact, Trevor made me promise, to ignore anything that seemed to suggest he and Dillon were in a relationship, as he put it, they are in a relationship, but it's just not what Dillon sees it as, and it doesn't matter".
Phil was deep in thought, so Jace didn't interrupt.
"I was shocked, but I've had all night to think about it, and I don't know if this will shock you, but to be honest, had it been true, I wouldn't care, I only want to be assured that my boy is happy, and loved, nothing else matters".
Jace smiled now, putting his arm around Phil's shoulders.
"I do believe we are in total agreement, and we've both been given our instructions, courtesy of our sons, so I guess we'll follow those instructions and see where it leads".
Trevor spent four weeks in hospital, his recovery was steady, but having suffered so many broken bones, it was a painful path to the point where his medical team were willing to discharge him.
When he was finally discharged, it wasn't his own home he arrived at.
Jace and Mel, along with the whole family, had sat down with Phil, insisting that he and Trevor move into the Thorn house, and Phil admitted, it was a practical move, working out how to look after Trevor whilst being able to continue his daily duties at the office, was something he'd been worrying about
When he was discharged, Trevor still couldn't walk, or support his own weight, his legs had suffered multiple broken bones, which were mended by the time he was discharged, but he had hardly been out of bed for more than a month, his muscles couldn't cope.
Since Jace and Mel's family occupied one complete wing of the house, and Jo, David, Will and Tame's respective families occupied the other wing, there were all of the guest suites in the main house to choose from, split over two floors and serviced by an elevator.
Mel was the one to choose rooms for Phil and Trevor.
Facing out to the rear of the main house were four suites on the first floor which enjoyed a connecting patio or balcony, it was a large semi circular area supported on four columns, providing not only a patio area for the four bedroom suites, it also provided a shaded, sheltered area below.
Mel chose two of those rooms for Phil and Trevor, because, as she said.
"Trevor can wheel himself outside for fresh air and enjoy the view of the garden, plus, the one I've allocated to Trevor has twin Queen beds, because I'm guessing he'll have plenty of company".
In truth, Trevor would have no need to worry about wheeling himself anywhere, Dillon, along with his brothers and cousins, had all but camped out in Trevor's suite from the day he was discharged, in fact, after school each weekday, it became the communal meeting place for all of the youngsters, including the gremlins, whom Ary, Bobby and Dillon looked after between four in the afternoon and six in the evening when their parents arrived home.
It was nearly six months before Trevor was fully healed and fit enough to return to school.
It should have been a happy time, but that's where 'Life's Illusions', kicked in.
Call it luck, timing, whatever.
The day Trevor returned to school was the very day Dillon got 'The talk', in his Sex Ed class.
Contrary to their hopes, Ary, Bobby and Trevor weren't prepared for Dillon's reaction, when he realised exactly what he'd been blatantly telling the world for the last year or more, he was upset, and angry.
The first person to encounter his rage when he exited his classroom that afternoon was Tish.
She was visibly stunned by his outburst.
"I suppose you're in on the joke, let's all have a good laugh at stupid Dillon, why would you do that to me, I thought we were all friends, well that really does prove how stupid I am doesn't it, all my classmates were laughing at me, calling me Dillon the queer, Trevor's boyfriend, you needn't bother coming here and waiting for me in future, I'm taking the early bus, I don't want to have anything to do with any of you from now on".
Tish was stood alone outside Dillon's classroom when the others arrived, and Jermain was quick to spot the tears.
"Whoa Sis, what's wrong, where's Dillon?".
Her reply, left a sinking feeling hanging over all of them.
"He's angry, he shouted at me, then stormed off to get the earlier bus, but I don't understand what he meant, he said we've been laughing at him, his classmates were calling him queer, saying he was Trevor's boyfriend, he asked why we would do it to him, but I don't know what he's talking about, he said he doesn't want anything to do with any of us from now on, I haven't done anything, I wouldn't do anything to hurt Dillon".
Jermain pulled her into a hug.
"Don't worry Sis, Dillon's got the wrong end of the stick about something, it's nothing to do with you, we'll talk to him when we get home".
Jermain had said all along that his cousins, and Trevor, were wrong.
He'd told them it could backfire on them, urged them to sit down with Dillon and explain to him that he was saying things that could be interpreted differently, he'd even volunteered to be the one to explain it to Dillon, but Ary, Bobby and Trevor had been dead set against his idea, plus, when Trevor was injured, Dillon's Momma and Poppa agreed with the boys.
Now he looked directly at Ary, Bobby and Trevor before saying.
"I warned you this could happen, you'd better start thinking about how you're going to put it right, and make Dillon aware that Tish had nothing to do with it, so he needs to apologise for upsetting her".
The ride home was noticeably quiet, a complete contrast to their normal journeys when everyone was vying to be heard, on this journey hardly a word was spoken by any of them.
At home they were met by Shelby as soon as they entered the main house.
"Okay, hold it right there you lot, and believe me when I say, cryptic answers will not cut it, I've just had a rather baffling conversation, if you could call it that, with Dillon, who is clearly upset about something, though he wouldn't elaborate, so, who's going to fill me in, because I don't do too well with mind reading?".
Ary answered.
"It's nothing Shel, Dillon's just got the wrong end of the stick about something, we need to talk to him, we'll do it when we have the gremlins, he'll listen to us then, he won't lose his temper in front of the gremlins".
Shelby's reply directed at Ary threw all of them.
"Well now that would probably have worked if Dillon hadn't already told me he's not helping with your brothers and sisters any more, and his reason is, if you're training them to grow up like you and Bobby, he doesn't want anything to do with them either, so I'm guessing you're going to have your work cut out putting whatever this disagreement is about to rights, good luck with that".
Shelby then turned away, shaking her head, realising, if they didn't want her to know what the problem was, then she might as well give up.
Upstairs they made a beeline for Dillon's room, but the door was locked, something which had never happened before, and Dillon wasn't answering their knocking on the door.
Ary whispered.
"It's okay, we can get in through the shared bathroom".
But Dillon had bolted the connecting door from the inside, denying Ary entry through that door as well.
Ary finally led the group back to Dillon's bedroom door, resorting to knocking and calling to Dillon, but his calls were met with loud music.
The boys finally gave up, it was time to give the nannies a break, and in truth, they enjoyed the couple of hours with their younger siblings.
At dinner, Dillon was already seated when everyone else arrived, but he wasn't in his usual seat next to Ary and Bobby, he'd taken the seat at the farthest point from them, at the far end of the table, forcing everyone else to shuffle along by one seat.
It was not something which was going to be missed, and eyebrows were raised by all of the adults, the younger family members remained heads down, whilst the adults in turn asked themselves, do we really want to know what this is about, and very quickly, most answered their own private thoughts with a negative answer, no they didn't.
By the time the first course dishes were being cleared away, Jace knew, the atmosphere around the table was toxic, normally his Momma would have dealt with it, as she had in the past when he and his brothers had had spats, he knew now it was down to him, he had to do something.
He got up and spoke to their housekeeper, apologising, whilst asking her to delay the next course, explaining, it appeared they had a family spat that needed dealing with.
Returning to his seat he took his knife, tapping on his side plate he quickly had everyone's attention.
"Okay, I get it, we have something going on here, but I'm not privy to what exactly the problem is, and now I'm annoyed, because our staff don't deserve this sort of disrespect, and that's exactly what is happening here, the guys in that kitchen never disappoint us, night after night, for however many, they produce a meal fit for a King, and believe me, I know, it's no mean feat to do that day after day, so I'll ask you, how can it be justified, that we cause them to have extra pressure by rolling out our petty spats at the dinner table, so I'm saying, whoever this concerns, either set it aside until after dinner, or leave the table, do I make myself clear?".
Jace had expected a quiet muttering of agreement, neither he, nor anyone else, was expecting what happened.
Dillon's chair slammed back, he was standing, with tears coursing down his cheeks as he shouted angrily.
"Yes I'll go, you can call it a petty spat, I call it betrayal, I'll go, but don't you ever expect me to come back, I don't want to be a part of this family anymore, it's not right, yeah I'm a fool, but to do what they did to me, why, I didn't deserve it, and I don't understand?".
When he'd said those last few words he'd been staring at Ary and Bobby.
With that, Dillon almost ran from the room.
Jace, though as shocked as everyone else, looked directly at Ary and Bobby.
"Is this to do with what we talked about?".
Ary and Bobby, both now tearful, just nodded.
Jace got up and went into the kitchen where he apologised again asking the staff to resume serving, but to set two main courses aside in the warming oven.
Unbeknown to Jace, whilst he was in the kitchen apologising, Dillon was in his room, crying, and stuffing things into his rucksack.
Several minutes later, returning to the dining room, he whispered to Mel.
"Stay here I'm going to have a chat with Dillon, we'll eat later".
But Jace didn't get any further, he was interrupted by their Head of Security entering the dining room, he made directly for Jace.
"Mr Thorn, we appear to have a problem, I've implemented a lock down, we detected a body leaving the property over the south wall, but when the guards got there they couldn't see anyone, is everyone accounted for?".
At that very moment Jace's heart froze, he turned and set off running, the rest of the family pushing back their chairs to follow behind him.
At Dillon's room the door lay wide open, the room was empty.
Jace turned to the security guard, it's Dillon, he's run away, get out there, my baby boy's in the wind, find him, I'm begging you".
TBC ARB Allan
This is the last chapter in this series.
I want simply to thank you for sticking with the story, and for the kind messages from so many.
Stay safe and well, it's almost certain, the story will continue in the New Year.
Comments are welcome to Allan at : cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.