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Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 15
Josef had left strict instructions with Rick before they'd departed, no one, especially Juan, was to know their intended destination, if anyone enquired, they were to be informed Josef was in London on business, and Carry had traveled with him.
When they landed in Nice Aly and Bo were waiting in the FBO Lounge.
As soon as Jo's plane was on stand, they were driven out to board it.
Carry was sat in one of the four Captain chairs toward the rear of the cabin, reading a magazine, her back to anyone entering the cabin, she made no effort to greet either Aly or Bo, who chose seats at completely the opposite end of the cabin.
Josef was stood midway, having not taken a seat when his steward asked him to be seated and buckle up.
He surveyed the situation and sighed before telling the steward to inform the pilots they were not ready to leave, he would inform them as soon as he'd resolved a family matter.
As the steward left the cabin Josef turned to Aly and Bo, saying.
"Bare with me guys".
He then went to the back of the cabin, sitting down on a Captain chair directly opposite Carry, he didn't say anything, he simply sat staring directly at her, it had the desired effect, after a couple of minutes she looked up and snapped.
"What?".
He simply continued to stare, raising his eyebrows, she got the message, unbuckled, walked towards where Aly and Bo were sitting, and as she took a seat close to them, she said.
"Welcome onboard, thank you for coming with us".
Aly surprised the hell out of her, he unbuckled, walked the couple of steps to where Carry was sitting and, leaning down he kissed her on the cheek, saying.
"I'm sorry, I was being unreasonable, this visit needs carrying out as much for Piers as for Juan, if he doesn't alter his attitude, I fear he'll suffer just as much, what's more, it has the potential to fracture the wider family, I'm ashamed to say, I didn't think of any of that, it was Bo who pointed it all out after you cut me off, so I'm sorry, and thank you, for waking me up".
Carry smiled and patted his hand.
Josef picked up the intercom handset, and informed the pilots they were good to go.
Jacqueline was staring at the reply card, no reason, no apology, just six words, 'Piers and Milo will not attend', she was baffled, surely they both, or whomever had sent the reply, knew how rude it appeared, even if the message was made clear.
She'd let it bug her for nearly half an hour, then she couldn't hold back, she rang Aly at The Inn, only to be informed, he and Bo had gone to Sydney with Josef and Carry that morning, to visit Piers and Milo.
She'd intended to ask Aly what had caused this rebuff, but in his absence she decided to go directly to Piers and Milo.
When the call connected it was Milo who picked up in their home just outside Sydney.
"Milo, it's Jacqueline, I received the reply to your wedding invitation today, I'm really surprised, and disappointed to say the least, is there a reason you've declined?".
She could tell Milo was struggling with what to say, then he blatantly lied to her.
"I'm sorry Jacqueline but you have me at a disadvantage, I didn't know we'd received an invitation, Piers must have dealt with it, I'll get him to call you".
Jacqueline asked if she could possibly talk to Piers now, and that's when Milo lied.
"I'm sorry, he's actually on his way to Montclair to visit his Poppas, he left a few hours ago, so if you wait a day you should be able to ask him in person".
Jacqueline was now really upset, there was something going on, just at that point Woody came back from his visit to the winery, he could see her expression and asked what was wrong, Jacqueline explained.
Woody rang Juan at Guardian, to be told he was in Madrid.
Woody called Juan on his cell phone.
"Woody what a pleasure, and it saves me disturbing Jacqueline if you would pass on a message, I'm bringing someone with me to the wedding, I'll text the details to Jacqueline for name cards, place settings etc".
Woody waited for Juan to stop talking before he spoke.
"Of course, I'll do that but, ............. I err, ........I need to ask if there's anything wrong with Piers and Milo?".
Juan was taken aback.
"Not that I know of, and Jo hasn't said anything, why, what is it you're concerned about?".
Woody explained about the card they'd received in reply to the wedding invitation, in particular how curt, and rude, it was.
Juan was surprised, but he said.
"I'm completely clueless, let me ring Jo, as far as I know he's at home, I'll call you back".
At that point Woody lost it, completely.
"Juan if there's something going on just tell me, if it needs to be confidential I'll honour that need, but this constant lying is not appreciated, I already know that Jo, Carry, Aly and Bo are currently flying to Sydney, and yet Milo appears to have blatantly lied when he told Jacqueline only an hour ago that Piers is on his way to Montclair to visit his Poppas, so who's telling the truth and who's lying?".
That was the point where the penny dropped for Juan, and his mood plummeted, Piers must have heard about Ralph, and was upset with Juan, it all made sense now, all the times he had been unavailable to take Juan's calls over the last week or so, then the other day when he'd terminated Josef's video call as soon as Juan appeared.
"I think it's because of me Woody, it must be, I've been seeing someone who I'm really fond of, Piers must be upset, they're probably going to try and change his mind, and if I'm right, Piers was there when Milo spoke with Jacqueline, look, keep this just between us and Jacqueline for now would you?, I'm going to call Jo, wherever he is, just in case I'm wrong, I promise, as soon as I know for sure, I'll come see you".
Woody accepted what Juan said, as he told Jacqueline later.
"He actually sounded really hurt, I wanted to hug him, if he's right, it's not fair, all these years he's been alone, he deserves some happiness".
Juan called Guardian's Torremolinas Control Room.
"This is number two, please connect me with number ones plane".
He was on hold for a couple of minutes before Rick came on the line.
"Juan, is there something I can help you with, Josef's uncontactable at the moment, he's in London, but I don't have the details of where exactly".
Juan was tempted to let rip, but he was conscious of the fact that Rick had most likely been instructed not to give out Jo's whereabouts.
"Rick, I know where he is, and Carry, Aly and Bo, they're en-route to Sydney, and I think I know why, so let's dispense with any further lies, put me back to control and tell them to connect me with his flight".
Rick didn't say anything, the line went back to hold, within a few seconds a controller came on the line.
"Just connecting number two, as soon as I know you are established I'll duck out, have a good day sir".
Juan heard the pilot answer.
"Jerry, this is Juan, put me through to my brother, tell him I know, that should be enough for him to take my call".
It was only a few moments before Josef came on the line.
"I'm sorry Bro, I'd hoped we could straighten this out without you ever knowing about it".
Juan was completely deflated, it was clear in the way he responded.
"You forgot about Jacqueline, she got a rude refusal to the wedding invitation, I'm assuming Chicago got the same and that's how you found out, it's because of Ralph isn't it?, I can't pretend I'm not hurt because I am".
Jo, told him Aly wanted a word and passed the phone over.
"Juan, I want you to understand something, be very clear about this, Bo and I want to meet this man in your life, we are agreed, Pierre would want you to be loved, and be happy, you've been alone far too long, it's time to live life again son, don't question that, grab it with both hands and embrace it".
When Aly finished speaking and handed the receiver back to Josef, Carry got up out of her seat, went over to him and returned his earlier gesture, kissing him on the cheek and saying.
"Thank you, that was a lovely thing to do".
Meanwhile they heard Jo saying.
"Bro, ............please, don't be rash, we all make mistakes, ................please, I'm asking, reconsider, wait and see what we can achieve, ..................I agree, .............okay, let's leave it there for now, I'll update you tomorrow, ...................as you wish".
When he'd ended the call they were all staring at him, and what he had to say wasn't good news.
"He's bitterly disappointed, really hurt, he said if Piers thinks so little of him after all the history they have, then he wants nothing more to do with him, whatever the outcome from our visit".
Surprisingly, it was Bo who responded.
"I can't say I'm surprised, nor would I hold it against him, Piers has struck a seriously hurtful blow against Juan, and it's not some minor spat that you brush off, if we can get Piers to see sense, that will be the point where he has to decide if he is man enough to do what's right, and try to repair his relationship with Juan".
In Sydney Milo was shouting at Piers, they'd been arguing on and off since the call from Jacqueline, almost a day earlier.
"You're being ridiculous, he's been alone for over twelve years, he's raised their kids, dealt with one of them killing herself, lost a son in law, faced the prospect of losing Junior on the battlefield like Carlo, and you begrudge him this chance for happiness, you're wrong, and what's more, you know you're wrong, Pierre would not agree with you, he loved Juan, he wouldn't wish him this half life you seem to think is what he should be thankful for".
Piers was crying, Milo never shouted at him, he ran from the room, slamming doors behind him.
He didn't stop until he was out by the rose garden, where he could talk to Pierre.
"You need to help me here, I'm right aren't I, Juan is being disloyal, I can't condone it, I can't have anything to do with it, he can't replace you, everyone thinks I'm wrong, even Milo, but you're not giving me any signs of how you feel about it".
Milo had followed him, he sat down and put an arm around Piers.
"Have you thought, maybe, it's just possible he's so pissed off with you he can't reply, try changing your tack my love, ask a different question".
As they were talking one of the housemaids came out to them.
"You have visitors, I've shown them into the small lounge".
Without really wanting to hear the answer, Piers asked who the visitors were.
"Your Poppas, Mr Aly, and Mr Bo, with Mr Josef, and Mrs Carry".
Piers expression was one of terror and pleading as he looked at Milo.
"Please, you go, I'll be there in a minute, I promise, I'm not ready to face them yet".
Milo sighed, but he kissed Piers and went to greet their guests.
As soon as he walked in Aly's gruff voice hit him.
"Where is he Milo?".
Milo's reply surprised all of them, and left no room for misinterpretation of his position.
"Tone it down Aly, you're in our house, I, we, set the rules, observe them or leave, that goes for all of you".
Carry tried a more subtle approach.
"We understand where we are Milo, but you must understand, we've traveled this distance because the situation is grave, it has the potential to destroy two people's love for each other, and seriously hurt the wider family, we only want to try talking to Piers, you must understand why we feel he's wrong?".
Milo's reply had none of his earlier anger.
"Please, have a seat, I've asked for tea, if anyone wants anything stronger I'd be more than happy to join you, it seems I've done nothing but argue for days now, I'd like to get bloody drunk and forget this stupid subject, and yes, for your information, I disagree with Piers stance, but don't be fooled, I won't stand by and allow anyone to attack him, I'll help in any way I can to achieve what you want, unless it has the potential to hurt Piers, then I'll pull the shutters down, do I make myself clear?".
Josef replied.
"Yes Milo, we hear you loud and clear, is he going to join us?".
Milo sighed again.
"He told me he would join us in a minute or so, but I wouldn't hold your breath, he's been trying to get some sign from Pierre for days now, he spends all his time out there, I think if you want to talk to him, you would be best to go out there, but not as a delegation, I want you to work with me here, have some tea, relax, chill down, then decide who's going first, be gentle, don't hurt him, remember I'll be watching".
Carry had been voted as first up, she approached a Piers who appeared frightened, behind her a housemaid with a tray holding a teapot, milk jug, and china cup and saucer, she leaned down to kiss his cheek.
" I'm sorry my love, but I'm dehydrated, I need gallons of tea, can I sit with you?".
Piers just nodded, as a tear slipped down from his eye, something Carry didn't miss.
"I understand Piers, I really do, I have to admit, it was my first thought when I met Ralph, you know that's his name, I remember thinking, what would Pierre say about this, it's a shame really, because he never gets a spontaneous welcome, everyone he's introduced to stops to ask themselves the same question, 'What would Pierre think of this', but I hope I knew Pierre well enough to know, he would want Juan to know love again after all the years of heartache he's endured".
And then Carry surprised Piers with what she said next.
"I need a rose garden like this, I feel so relaxed here, as if Pierre is with me".
They'd talked, well, Carry talked, for nearly an hour before Milo came out to tell Carry dinner would be in an hour if she wanted to freshen up.
Piers had begged to be allowed to miss dinner but Milo had warned him.
"I'm trying to work with everyone here, they've travelled thousands of miles, if your convictions are so strong, believe in yourself, dinner shouldn't matter, we will not be rude, if you don't want this discussed during dinner, okay, I'll make it happen, but hear me loud and clear, you will do dinner if I have to throw you over my shoulder and put you on a chair, you rule in almost everything Piers, until I see you heading for the cliffs, then I take control, just believe, I'll protect you, right or wrong, I love you".
In Madrid, Juan had done exactly as he'd promised.
After his call to Josef, despite how bad he felt, he'd called Woody in Montclair.
"I was right, I'm flying back tomorrow, can I come and talk?".
Woody said yes, he and Jacqueline would welcome a frank discussion on what was going on.
Dinner in Sydney had been strained to say the least, Piers had barely said two words, the conversation had been carried by Milo, as agreed, there was no mention of the elephant in the room, they kept to neutral subjects, mostly how Guardian was doing.
The following morning Josef was up early and found Piers sitting on his usual bench in the rose garden, he asked out of courtesy.
"Would it be okay to join you?".
Piers nodded his agreement.
"Carry wants to add an area dedicated to roses on the roof garden when we get home, I came out here before we went to bed last night and I could understand why, the scent was beautiful".
Piers surprised Josef by answering.
"That's not why Carry wants a rose garden, it makes her feel closer to Pierre".
Josef had been surprised when Piers spoke, but he tried to keep the interaction going.
"Is that what you feel?".
Piers answered automatically, but as Josef thought, at least he's talking.
"I've always felt close to him here, and in the garden at Avenue Montclair, I'll never be able to do that again".
Josef watched as Piers started to shake, the tears rolling slowly down his face.
"Oh Piers, what are we going to do with you, so what is it that's going to stop you from visiting the house on Avenue Montclair?.
His tears had slowed as he answered.
"Juan won't want me there when he has his new lover installed, why would he, that means I've lost another link to Pierre, it feels like he's slipping away from me".
And Josef saw it, it was right there before him, why hadn't he realised this, they'd got it so wrong, done completely the wrong thing.
A little later in the lounge he'd said to the others.
"It's Juan he needs to hear from, he's afraid of losing Juan, afraid of losing his link to Pierre, I got it wrong, I'm sending for him, but I don't want Piers to know, so engage with him but don't give any hint of what I'm doing".
Milo was hesitant.
"Are you sure that won't just make things worse?".
Josef was honest when he answered.
"No, I'm not, but I'm confident enough, Juan loves Piers, whatever he said the other day, I know my brother, he will always go back to what Pierre would have wanted, trust me, that's all I can ask".
Juan had cut short his weekend in Madrid, explaining the problem honestly to Ralph, and flown back to Nice.
He was at Chateau Montclair with Woody and Jacqueline when his cell phone rang, the display signalling a call from Josef.
He apologised to Woody and Jacqueline as he accepted the call.
"Hello Bro, how's it going? ............ You're joking I hope, .......... why, I don't understand, .............you seriously think that's what's behind it, ............Of course I'll come, ................yes I know what I said, but you knew even then I couldn't lose him, ......... I'll speak to Jacqueline, I'm with them now, I thought they deserved to know the truth, ..........I'll call you when I have it sorted".
As he ended the call he realised Woody and Jacqueline were hanging on his every word, trying to understand what was going on.
"As you'll have gathered that was Josef, he thinks he got it completely wrong, he thinks it's me that needs to be there, Piers and I need to thrash this out, so after everything I've said about cutting him off, I need to get to Sydney as soon as possible".
Jacqueline now understood the reference to speaking with her, Juan needed a large plane for the distance.
"The plane is at Nice, but it's needed in five days for Pete, he has a delegation of investors he needs to transport".
Juan reassured her.
"That's okay, I only need to get there, the plane can come back as soon as the pilots are rested, I'll jump a ride home with Jo".
Jacqueline smiled.
"In that case it's at your disposal, now, I have two questions, will you stop for dinner?, and when do we get to meet Ralph again?".
Juan accepted dinner, saying he just needed to update Ralph, and would try to arrange something when he got back from Sydney.
Juan had called Ralph to say he probably wouldn't be available next weekend, and explained why, Ralph had been completely supportive, chastising Juan for not telling him about this earlier, urging him to go, as he put it.
"Piers is an important link to Pierre for you, just as you are for him, go reassure him I'm no threat, but Juan, if it does come down to it, I'd rather walk away than destroy a family, I couldn't live with that".
That worried Juan and he actually cried when he repeated it to Jacqueline.
At home on Avenue Montclair that evening, he sat in his usual spot, in the midst of the roses Pierre had planted so many years before.
"What do I do love, I'm really angry with him, it hurts to know he thinks so little of me, but I can't lose him, it would be like losing you all over again, I want to just hold him, tell him I love him, make him understand how much he means to me, I said I'd go out there to face him, if that's what it will take to straighten this out I'll do it, but I worry it's not the right thing to do, if you think I should go try letting me know.
There'd been nothing Juan could say was a sign from Pierre, he'd been toying with the idea of calling Jo, telling him he didn't think it was a good idea to face off with Piers, that was until he sat down for breakfast opposite his grandsons.
Juan realised Carlo was looking strangely at him, Juan was about to ask why he was staring, when the boy spoke.
"You need to go to Sydney, it's going to be ok".
Juan gasped, almost choking on his coffee.
"What did you say?".
Carlo looked confused, worried.
"I don't know Gramps, have I been naughty?".
Juan moved around the table and hugged him.
"No child, you did something wonderful, you gave your old gramps the courage to do something really important".
Before he left, he went back to the rose garden.
"Thanks my love, I trust you, but if it's not too much to ask, a little push from your side wouldn't go amiss, oh, and there's something I need to talk to you about, but that can wait until I get back, I think you probably know what it is anyway".
Two days later Juan landed in Sydney, Josef collected him, and they exchanged their typical Thorn Family greeting.
On the drive from the airport Josef filled Juan in on the things they'd picked up whilst talking to Piers.
"Everything he says leads back to a common theme, losing you, a strong link to Pierre, he's frightened, he even said he'll never again be able to visit Pierre's rose garden at Avenue Montclair, it's all about you, and I'm sorry, that's as much help as I can give you, I don't know what to tell you about how to tackle it, I'm completely stumped".
Juan wasn't concerned, he'd heard enough.
"Don't be concerned Bro, and don't think you got it wrong, you didn't, if I'd come out here first, I would have attacked him, and it would probably have ended badly, but now I sort of understand where he's coming from, it means I have a totally different perspective to work with, a completely different approach, one I'm hoping he'll understand".
At the house, Piers was once again sitting out in the rose garden, when a shadow fell on him, he looked up and saw Juan.
"I could rant, rave, and swear, say a lot of really angry stuff, stupid stuff, because you've upset me, hurt me, badly, but I think, above all, I want to do this one thing the most".
Juan straddled the bench next to Piers and scooped him into his arms, as Piers started sobbing.
"Why Piers, what on earth made you think I would ever move away from loving you, I need you, you're my brother in law, the brother of the man I loved so much I didn't want to live without him, the man I still don't go a day without thinking about, asking myself how he would have solved whatever problem is looming, like this one, the answer was obvious, hold him, tell him how you feel".
There was silence after he stopped speaking, nothing but the shaking he felt from Piers crying.
"Speak to me Piers, I love you, I couldn't ever abandon you".
But Piers didn't need to speak, Juan felt his grip increase, as his sobbing diminished.
And finally came the outpouring of words.
"I thought you'd move on, leave us behind, forget Pierre, I panicked, I still can't believe he died, he was the one who made me, I shouldn't be here, he sacrificed so much to bring me up, I miss him so much, even now, after all these years, it still hurts that he died and I lived, it shouldn't have been like that, he deserved to live".
Juan hugged him tighter.
"Now you're just being silly, and you know what he'd say if he were here, he spent a lot of years bringing you up, don't trash that effort, he lived, he died, you have a duty to live the life he brought you up to live, and I'll never be far from your side, but you need to meet this man who you've made into a threat in your mind, he's not you know".
Piers reacted instantly to Juan's words, he felt it in the release of his grip.
"And what if he didn't want to have anything to do with me, who would you choose Juan?"
Finally, Juan knew he could put this to bed.
"Piers, I had a conversation with him before I flew here, and I admit, it hurt, and I cried, because he said to me, "Piers is an important link to Pierre for you, just as you are for him, go reassure him I'm no threat, but Juan, if it does come down to it, I'd rather walk away than destroy a family, I couldn't live with that', so you decide Piers, is he a person who you think you should fear, or does he sound a lot like someone we both have already known?".
He felt Piers relax, then it appeared he was speaking to the air around them, but they both knew who he was talking to.
"It's going to be okay, you were right".
The sudden breeze rustling through the roses reassured them, on a day where there was not even the slightest hint of a breeze, he was there with them.
TBC Allan
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