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Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 41
Fleur had been close in her guess, but the missing family member, was a relief, Paul had decided not to join them.
Carry had booked out almost every available room in the local town, and to free up accommodation, Milo, Piers, their kids, along with JJ and Jem traveled home late that afternoon, with Fleur promising they would visit the following weekend.
Roslyn had approached Fleur and Dale during the afternoon, calling for attention from the family, and handing a beautifully tooled deep blue leather ring box to Dale.
"I can take back Momma's ring now, and you can put this one on her finger".
When he opened the box he was mesmerised.
"Wow, is that real, it's beautiful?".
"Fleur held out her hand, allowing him to remove Roslyn's ring, which he handed back to Roslyn, then almost like in a marriage ceremony, they'd stared deep into each other's eyes as he slid the new ring onto her finger".
But he was in for another shock.
Roslyn handed over another box, this time to Fleur who, opening it so the content was facing him, said.
"Roslyn knew why I would want this two piece set, the ring was a present from Tsar Nicholas the 2nd, to his wife Tsaritsa Alexandra, she in turn, as a surprise, had a matching pair of cuff links made and presented them to him, these are those very cuff links, so now it's my turn, wear them on special occasions for me please".
He was completely speechless, they matched exactly the Yellow Diamond and Emeralds of the ring now on Fleur's finger.
Dale had been left in absolute awe by how close Fleur's family were, and the hugging, even after being warned, he still chuckled at every time someone wrapped their arms around him.
He liked Junior and Daniel immediately, but found the story of Danny and Petre to be a bit far fetched until Roslyn had assured him.
"Yeh, Petre the terrorist, it's doubtful the family would have accepted him, but Pierre forgave him, and no one in the family has ever doubted Pierre, in truth, he's proven to everyone, he was just a misguided fool, he and Danny are devoted".
Whilst sat watching everyone catching up, Dale asked Fleur about Pierre.
"Pierre was someone you would definitely have loved, he was born a cripple, at twelve years old he'd never walked, he spent all of those years in a wheelchair, and raised his little brother Piers, worked any and every job he could find, just to secure them a little pocket money, they were orphaned when Piers was only a small boy, living in an orphanage, nothing deterred Pierre, I miss him so much".
He could see how emotional she was getting.
"Okay stop, another time maybe, I don't want you getting upset".
He'd hugged her close.
"Where do you want our wedding to be?".
His question had come out of the blue, but she hadn't had to even think about it, her response was instantaneous, just as Jenna dropped down into a seat beside them.
"Montclair, my family home, I want to marry you in the grounds of Chateau Montclair, surrounded by family and friends".
Jenna had looked crestfallen, and it wasn't lost on Fleur, she vowed right there and then, they needed to get the money issues out of the way as soon as the family left.
On Wednesday morning the family moved on, bidding them fair well as they headed for a couple of days with Milo and Piers, before flying home.
Wednesday afternoon Jenna and Frank arrived, in response to Fleur's request, and they sat in the lounge of Roslyn and Cecile's house, unprepared for what they were about to learn.
Fleur had started out nervously.
"I wanted you here because I have to speak about something most people only dream of, like winning the lottery, and we all do it, but it's not always the happy ever after life we dream about, sometimes it's a curse, and it can spoil lives that should be happy".
With the exception of Roslyn and Cecile, they were looking baffled, and Dale said.
"I don't understand, what are you saying?".
She looked directly into his eyes as she said.
"When we marry, I want the old fashioned wedding vows, where we accept, what's mine is yours, what's yours is mine, to love cherish and obey".
He still didn't understand where this was going, he just nodded.
But her next statement brought a collective drawing of breaths from them.
"As of yesterday, I have a personal fortune somewhere around two hundred million US dollars".
There was silence, Dale just stared at her for several minutes, no one said anything.
Then he got up, when she made to reach out to him, he put his hand up stopping her, and he walked outside leaving Fleur crying on the couch.
He was shell shocked, it was the only way to describe how he felt, he'd needed air, and no more facts.
Outside he'd been leaning on the balcony rail of the raised porch, looking out to the garden Roslyn and Cecile had planted, drawing on a cigarette.
Inside Jenna had moved to draw Fleur into a hug.
"That was brave, I sort of guessed a long time ago that your family was fairly well off, but I have to admit, even I was way off the mark, he's shocked, give him time luv".
Cecile had wandered outside, bumming a cigarette from him.
"I was you once, my parents tried so hard to break us up, Roslyn's money was the rock they used to beat me, I believed them for quite a while, left her and ran away home, then there came a point where I knew, I didn't just want her, I needed her, Pierre put us back together, that's when she told me what Fleur has just said to you, and like Roslyn, Fleur's doing it because she knows you'll love and care for her and your family for ever, you'll be an equal partnership, think hard and long, it could have been a secret, she doesn't want any secrets, throw that male pride into the trash, true love beats it any day of the week".
He heard her, tried to make sense of it, but his emotions were all over the place
He went home that night.
Fleur slept alone again, damning the fortune that she'd always seen as a curse.
He'd turned up the following day, not at the house, but she knew he was on the property, she'd caught a glimpse of him issuing instructions to some of the workers.
In the afternoon, sitting in the shade with Franky, she'd been aware of a shadow, looking up he was there and her heart soared, only to be trashed again.
"Can I take him for a few minutes?".
She'd just nodded, not bothering to voice an answer.
Dale lifted Franky out of her arms.
There'd been an uneasy silence for several minutes until she'd said.
"We'll be away for a few days from tomorrow, I'm going to fulfill the promise we made to Piers and Milo".
He got the message immediately, she wasn't asking if he was going with them, she was telling him she was going, and she was taking Franky with her.
He'd challenged her straight away, his voice even, as he played with his son.
"Are Jimmy and I no longer invited to join you on that visit?".
Her response came out without even thinking about it.
"I'd like to take Jimmy, if it were okay with you".
His reply was clearly from someone hurt by her response.
"But you don't want me there?".
This time she snapped, she couldn't help it.
"Why would I, you've ignored me these past two days, so why would you want to come, if it's just to keep up appearances, I won't do that, I live an honest and truthful life, if you want a relationship with me I'm here, but I'm not playing games with you".
As she finished speaking, she stood, took Franky from him and went inside, leaving him feeling sad.
But he'd followed her.
"I'm sorry, I know I've hurt you, but I'm trying, I just don't know how I feel, and that has nothing to do with my feelings for you, I love you, I don't have any doubts about that, I want to come with you, as your fiance, please".
She didn't speak, simply nodded.
An uneasy truce ruled when they set out to visit Piers and Milo.
Jimmy was absolutely bouncing at the thought of visiting his new cousins, and he spent most of the drive playing with his little brother.
They'd shared a room, which to Fleur felt like rooming with a stranger.
The usual family greetings reigned when they arrived in Sydney.
Dale had marvelled at their house, partly thinking how beautiful it was, but also thinking this was something he could never give Fleur.
As they were getting ready for dinner he'd noticed her hand.
"Where's your ring?".
Her matter of fact reply had started to make him realise how far this had gone.
"In my purse, there's no point in wearing it is there?".
And then, as they sat relaxing with Piers and Milo, he'd seen it.
He'd been deep in thought as they ate, and suddenly it started to become clear.
Baz, Jez, and Pil cooked for them, then cleaned up, scrubbing down the BBQ, clearing the dishes.
And he'd learnt from talking to Milo, the kids took out the garbage, cleaned their own rooms.
He'd tried to understand why Piers and Milo worked, and he knew they worked damned hard, and yet they were wealthy on a scale that almost made Fleur look like a pauper
He was grappling with so much when Piers sat down next to him
"So, here we are, the money fucks it up again, if this family has an Achilles heal, it's the bloody money, but we can't just ignore it, we have so many depending on us, we can't afford to not make it grow".
Dale looked baffled, but Piers carried on.
"I was luckier than most, Milo already had enough to be more than comfortable when we met, but even with us it caused a ripple, because I had so much more, but it's only money, set it aside, if you love her don't let this destroy you".
Dale had thought on what Piers had said for a few minutes, before asking.
"But it's not a real life is it with such huge wealth?".
Piers giggled.
"Does it look like we live a Millionaire lifestyle?, don't get me wrong, there are occasions when we relax and have a blow out, but most of the time we live within strict budgetary rules, the kids have a monthly allowance, they have to manage it, asking for extra is a bit like enduring the Spanish Inquisition".
Piers could see him thinking, so he carried on.
"Fleur didn't suddenly gain her wealth a few days ago, she's had it for years, so why didn't you see it when you met her a year ago, I'll tell you why, because she doesn't flaunt it, none of us do, we live a fairly normal life, the interest we generate feeds a lot of struggling charities, and that's where we really work hard, we understand the burden we have, to make our core wealth work hard, it has to produce enough to service the needs of the charities we support, there's no possibility that we don't give what they need, that's just unthinkable".
Dale understood what Piers was saying, but he was a Macho Male who'd been indoctrinated into the mindset that he should be the provider, it was just so difficult for him to accept.
The night before they were due to leave Fleur called a halt.
"I can't do this anymore, I really wish I'd never come back, I'd much rather have carried on with the fantasies, dreaming that maybe it could have a fairytale ending, but that's all it was I see it now, there is no happy ending, there's a room prepared for you along the corridor, sleep there, I want to be alone".
He'd spent the night in the other bedroom, not that he'd slept.
Next morning when he came out, she was gone.
Piers handed him a letter.
He'd opened it with a feeling of dread, and cried as he read her words.
'I'm sorry Dale, but there's no point in prolonging it, I should never have come back. So many wonderful things happened in this last week that I truly believed I had found happiness at last with the man I will always love, only to have my dreams dashed, and my heart broken again'.
All my love always. Fleur
He was devastated.
Piers sat next to him.
"If it's just the money you're being an absolute idiot, she loves you so much, maybe you'll get over her and move on, I don't know you well enough to call that one, but I can tell you Fleur won't ever get over you, you're consigning her to a sad and lonely life, and if you can do that, then I'll admit to being a poor judge of character, because I wouldn't have put you down as capable of hurting her that badly, oh and in case it's of any interest to you, she'll be arriving at the FBO offices at Sydney airport in about an hour and a half, so in a little over two hours she'll be gone from your life for ever".
Piers made to get up, but Dale grabbed his arm.
"Help me Piers, how do I put this right, how do I stop her?".
Piers smiled.
"You go out front and get in the car that's waiting, Sam our driver will get you there in around fifty minutes, but don't get in that car unless you can commit, and accept everything that comes with it".
He was out of the chair and hugging Piers, then he almost ran to the car.
At the FBO Offices, Roslyn was cradling Franky as Fleur gathered her flight bags and directed the staff on what was needed in the cabin.
They all stopped at the sound of his voice.
"None of it is going anywhere just yet so leave it and give us some space please, Ros, would you take Franky inside, I need a few minutes with Fleur".
When they were alone she didn't give him chance to speak before she rounded on him.
"Make it quick, I have a plane to catch, missing a take off slot costs money, and I know how sensitive you are about money".
He should have been annoyed, irritated, but he wasn't, he just smiled, pulled her physically into his arms saying.
"I love you so much, I know what an idiot I've been, and I can't guarantee I won't have some serious meltdowns in the future, but don't leave, please, I'm sort of getting there but I need you to help me, and love me, and stay with me always".
She was staring at him, he could see she was trying to make up her mind.
"I'll let you go if it's what you want, and I'll promise not to trouble you, but I'll always love you, and I'll always hold out a hope that one day you might want to come back".
She spoke so quietly he could hardly hear her.
"I don't want to go, but you've made me feel so dirty this last week, as though I should be ashamed of what I have, well I don't need someone who doesn't know what he wants making me feel that way, so no, I won't stay, because all of those people I'm helping, I was one of them a long time ago, I lived on the streets, and I haven't forgotten how desperately I prayed for a miracle to save me, I was lucky, well now I have to give back as much as I can, and nothing, no one, can get in the way of that, so I guess I'm saying goodbye Dale, I'll never deny you access to Franky, but there is no you and I".
And she was gone.
Roslyn had tried to reason with her right up to the point where the flight crew had physically deposited her on the Tarmac, retracting the plane steps and closing the door.
It would be a long time before Roslyn spoke to Dale again, he continued to manage Montclair-Thorn vineyards, but he rarely spoke to management, and when he did it was always with Cecile.
It was a little over a year later when an article in the press prompted him to seek out Roslyn.
As soon as she opened the door she was caustic.
"What".
He held out the flat box.
"I apologise for offending you with my presence, but I need someone I can trust to return these to whomever should have them".
He was holding out the deep blue, tooled leather box, which contained the priceless cuff links Fleur had given to him.
Roslyn didn't offer to take the box, instead she asked him a question.
"Why now, why not over the last year or so?".
He looked as though he was finding it difficult to talk but she just stared, daring him to explain.
"I always hoped she might find it in her heart to forgive me, maybe come back, but that's not a possibility now, I saw an article in the news, she's moved on, had another child, those cuff links were given to mark a love she no longer feels, it seems fitting they should be returned to wherever they came from".
Not waiting for Roslyn to reply he reached inside, placing the box on a side table by the door, then turned to leave.
Roslyn's voice stopped him.
"Come in, I need to speak to you".
She could see him hesitate, so she added.
"There's something you need to know".
He relented, turned fully and entered the hallway, where Roslyn indicated he should go into the lounge.
"Have a seat, I'll get tea, I think I'm going to need it".
When she returned with two china mugs he didn't give her time to sit before asking brusquely.
"What is it I should know?".
She shook her head, but answered him.
"I've been sworn to secrecy on this subject, but in truth, I never agreed to it in principle, so I have to ask for your word, your promise, if you act on the information I give you, it must be done in a way that doesn't suggest the information came from me, no one can know I gave it to you, will you give me that assurance?".
He nodded, following it up with his oath.
"Yes, I give you my word, now what is it".
She took a sip of her tea before answering him.
"You read about her involvement in a motorway road accident, and that she and her infant child were injured?".
He nodded, but didn't voice his reply.
Roslyn was dreading what his reaction to the next piece of information would be.
"The infant is her six month old daughter, your daughter".
He heard her but for some moments it didn't sink in, and she asked.
"Did you hear me, I said your daughter".
He'd been in a sort of fog, but now he snapped out of it.
"Why didn't I, or my family know I have a daughter, we deserved to know?".
Roslyn sighed, the next part would likely hit him even harder.
"Your family know, your Mum has been in contact with Fleur since she left, that's where she took Jimmy for three weeks of the summer".
He was shaking his head, he didn't speak, so Roslyn picked up his mug of tea, handing it to him.
"Here, drink this, and think wisely what you want to do with the information you now have, it wasn't kept from you out of any sense of malice, that's the only reason I agreed to keep silent, it was because she thought it would bring you running, force you to abandon your principles, she said that would be unforgivable".
He still hadn't spoken, and for a while he didn't, then.
"I'm pleased she didn't exclude Jimmy, or my Mum, but she's wrong, I told her on the day she left, I was trying to understand, asked her to be patient with me, told her we could have a future, but it didn't work, I'd hurt her too much by then".
Roslyn asked him.
"Tell me honestly, forget the money it's a non entity, do you still love her, do you still want to be together?".
He didn't hesitate.
"Yes, it's my dearest wish, and I don't see a time when it won't be, but it's a pipe dream, it's not going to happen is it?".
In reply she handed the blue box back to him.
"Deliver it yourself, try again, but don't tell anyone where you're going, don't tell her you're coming, just turn up".
He stared at her for a few moments.
"I thought you didn't like me, why are you doing this?".
She chuckled.
"Try speaking to me more often, you might be surprised to find I'm nothing like the image you've created in your head, but to answer your question, I have nothing against you, it's the general Macho Male attitude which pisses me off, if you'd been the one with money, it probably wouldn't have occurred to you that your future bride might find it daunting, the prospect of marrying into a wealthy family, but turn it around and male pride comes roaring out of the closet, you're a joke most of you".
He nodded in full agreement.
"Fair play, and just so you know, the money part is irrelevant now, I can accept that, but it's how much I hurt her that will prove to be the biggest barrier".
Roslyn was intrigued.
"What changed your mind, about the money I mean?".
He smiled.
"Spending time with Milo and Piers, they're a normal working family, and yet they have this vast fortune behind them, it really surprised me that they could talk about their wealth in front of the children, then I find out, they have regular family meetings with their charitable committees which the kids attend and play an active part in".
She agreed.
"On the whole it's how we all see it, we were brought up to respect what we had, with an overwhelming need to never ignore need in others, where we can help we do, Piers and Milo are a shining example, they brought the younger generation in a lot earlier than most of us felt comfortable with, but they've proved themselves to be right, even young Gracie takes an active role".
He stood up to leave and she'd asked.
"So will you go?".
He'd nodded.
"Yes, but I don't know how I'm going to explain it, once I have that figured out I'll let you know, don't worry about things here, I'll make sure there are at least two or three weeks of rosters drawn up".
Roslyn was beaming.
"Don't do anything until I've spoken to Cecile, she'll bollock me for breaking the confidence, but secretly she'll be pleased, I'm thinking she can come up with an important conference we need you to attend in our place, something that would take at least ten days or more, drop in after work tomorrow evening".
He nodded.
"Thanks, you're not so bad after all, for a licker that is".
She slapped the back of his head laughing.
"Fuck off, you listen to your Mum too much".
In Montclair Fleur was nursing a really painful arm and shoulder, but the biggest problem was her knee, it had struck the steering column with such force, she'd thought at first her leg was broken, and they'd told her it would have been simpler if it had been, instead it was her kneecap, which apparently took a lot longer, and much more physio to mend, right then she was looking at the brace which ran from her upper thigh, almost down to her ankle, it was stiff, unyielding, and made getting around that much more difficult.
At least she now had help with the children, her Poppas had ignored any protests and moved the family to Chateau Montclair.
Thankfully Franky had been in school, but little Jacqueline, born six months earlier had been in her car seat, Fleur was silently thanking the heavens.
After much arguing she'd finally given in to her Poppa Jaque's insistence that they get the deeper, more expensive model, it proved to be worth it's weight in gold, Jacqueline had been shook up, but not harmed in any way.
She'd been relaxing, trying to relieve the pain and stress on both her shoulder and her knee, her Poppas were out and they'd taken both children with them, so when gate security announced a visitor requesting entry, she'd sighed, until she heard the name of the person requesting entry.
She'd shuffled slowly out into the entrance hall of the Chateau, then struggled to pull open one side of the two smaller doors set into the two huge wooden front doors, and there he was.
It would have been a lie if she'd said her heart hadn't fluttered at the sight of him, but her pain overruled everything else.
"Couldn't you have told me you were coming, it's very inconvenient, but I suppose I ought to invite you in and offer you refreshments".
She'd been struggling to close the door when he put his hand over hers to help, that had a profound effect on her.
She started to cry, and he put his arms around her, allowing her to nestle her head into his shoulder.
He hadn't expected her injuries to be so extensive, the media had said she was bruised and shook up.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd been so badly injured, what happened?".
He was playing the 'ignorant of the fact' game, but he could clearly see how upset she was, and walking was quite obviously painful.
"Put your arm around me, I'm going to lift you, tell me if it hurts".
But it hadn't, and she hadn't felt so secure in a long, long time.
He'd walked carefully back to the salon, setting her down gently on the chaise lounge where she'd been resting before he'd disturbed her.
In all honesty, she would have liked to revel in his being there, but her brain was screaming, get rid of him, they'll be back soon, he'll find out about her.
"Thank you, but why are you here Dale?".
He carried on the charade.
"I saw a report in the press about your auto route accident, or motorway accident, whatever you call your highways, it linked you to the bumper harvest at Montclair-Thorn, but they said you only had bruises, they're idiots, if I'd known you were badly injured I would have come sooner".
She was confused, and it came across in her reply.
"You came all this way because you saw a news report that I was bruised and shook up?".
He was hoping his acting skills were going to carry him.
"Well no, I didn't see the report until I was already here, I'm attending a conference of wine producers in Nice, and I knew you'd stopped wearing our engagement ring a long time ago, so I saw this as an opportunity to return something".
But, as he said it, he saw the ring on her finger, and she saw him staring at it.
She realised suddenly this was getting out of control, and to diffuse the situation offered him refreshments.
"I'm sorry, I'm not myself at the moment, let me ring for some tea, or would you like something stronger?".
She hadn't waited for his reply pressing a buzzer on the table to her side.
It was only moments before a staff member arrived.
"Could we possibly have tea please, and I believe my Poppas are due back shortly, as soon as they arrive, would you inform them that my ex fiance is here and we would like them to join us in the salon".
The message was intended to warn her Poppas, hide her, but it was all in vain.
He'd stood, shocking her, he knew exactly what she was doing.
"I need to stop this now, I lied, I'm not attending a conference, I came all this way because I saw a report that you and your infant were injured in a car accident, and I knew, that infant was my child, but even now, you don't want me to see, or know my child, I know what I did was wrong, but how far are you prepared to go to exact a revenge on me, you already keep Franky away from me, whilst conspiring to encourage my first born to lie to me and come to see you behind my back, I know I was wrong, but what you are doing to me that's not fair, I begged you to give me a chance, I was getting there, but no, you said I'd made you feel dirty, well congratulations, you have your pound of flesh, now I feel abused, not just by you, but by everyone I thought loved me, I see now, they've lied and laughed behind my back with you all this time".
Jaque and Pete arrived just as he finished speaking, walking in and expecting to greet Dale, but they were shocked when they heard his final words.
"I don't know what I expected to come of this meeting, but I know now, you never loved me, because no lover would do what you have, you've ripped out my heart and made me watch while you steal my family from me".
As he left he'd thrown the cuff links box down beside her, but it wasn't that, she'd seen the tears rolling down his cheeks, and she knew she'd gone too far, seen how much she'd hurt him, and she wanted desperately to take it all back, but to late, he was gone, and she didn't even know where he was staying.
Dale had called the number Roslyn had given him, telling the person who answered he wanted to leave as soon as possible for Sydney.
A little less than two hours later, after stopping at his hotel in Nice, he arrived at the FBO offices in Nice, he was going home.
The time following his departure from Chateau Montclair had been frenetic.
Pete had called Josef.
"We have something of an emergency, Dale came to see Fleur, and he knew everything, he left in tears, Fleur desperately needs to find him, but we have no idea where he is staying, I suspect he will fly home today, can you help find him".
Josef had called back less than an hour later.
"He was registered at The Marriott in Nice, but he's already checked out, we found a flight plan filed for take off in approximately one hour, a private jet bound for Sydney, he's showing as the only passenger, if you want to speak with him, I'd suggest going directly to the FBO offices at Nice, but call first, ask them to deliver a message, get him to delay his departure".
Fleur made a call to the FBO offices, she requested they give Dale a message, telling him she was traveling now to speak with him, asking that he delay his take off.
She had to stop him going home, she had to tell him she was sorry, but most importantly, she had to tell him how much she loved him and wanted to be with him.
Dale arrived at the FBO offices and was handed a piece of paper with the message from Fleur written on it, the staff were surprised when he screwed up the paper and advised them he wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Fleur was only half way to Nice when she received a call from Josef.
"He didn't wait Fleur, we were watching departures, his flight took off a few minutes ago, dare I ask what's going on, is there any way I can help?".
Josef could hear her sobbing, for a few minutes she couldn't speak, finally telling him.
"There's nothing anyone can do, it has to be me, I caused it, I have to put it right, but I don't think he'll give me a chance now".
Fleur asked the driver to turn around and head back to Montclair, resigned to the thought that spending a life alone with only her children for companionship, was a distinct possibility.
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.