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The Final Chapter of Book Four - Thanks for sticking with the story, and my thanks to all of you that have written to tell me how much you've enjoyed it, my love and best wishes to you. Enjoy!!
Life's Illusions - Book Four - Chapter 46
It was Friday evening, Milo and Piers had been lazing on the patio for most of the day, they hadn't decided yet what to do about dinner when the door bell rang.
Piers got up to answer it, thinking it would be the concierge confirming details for the cleaning crew he'd asked to come by the following morning, when they'd expected to be leaving for home.
He hadn't been prepared to see his three boys stood sheepishly before him, with Vinny, Paulette and Gracie behind them.
In fact he'd been momentarily struck dumb, but Baz had brought him back to life.
"We're sorry Poppa, can you forgive us, we promise it will never happen again, we love you".
Then he'd been group hugged by all three professing their apologies and love before he'd replied.
"It wasn't so much me you hurt, it was your Poppa Milo, and he's out on the patio, so go see if you can make him feel better, then I'll give you my answer".
And they were gone, in search of their Poppa Milo, leaving Piers to welcome Vinny, Paulette and Gracie.
Gracie was crying, hanging onto Piers for dear life, telling him how much she'd missed him.
Eventually he'd got to hugging Vinny and Paulette, saying a genuine thank you, but not expecting the reply he got from Paulette.
"If you'd told us what was going on we'd have been here sooner, don't ever let it ride in future, you're too important for us to allow anyone to mess with you, and she'd planted a big kiss on Piers cheek".
Vinny just beamed a massive grin and said.
"What she said exactly, spot on".
Then he grabbed his Poppa into a hug.
Out on the patio, Milo had been swamped by three genuinely apologetic boys, and predictably, he'd forgiven them.
Vinny suggested that, rather than travel home the following day as Milo and Piers had planned, they stay another day, but there was a sting in the tail of his plan.
"Tomorrow we make time to talk about what happened, I know you guys have made up, but saying sorry isn't quite good enough in my book, you hurt our Poppas, I want them to be able to understand what happened, why it happened, and to have their chance to tell you what it did to them, are we agreed?".
Baz was the first to reply, putting an arm each around Pil and Jez.
"I hope I can speak for my brothers, yes, I think it's a good idea".
Piers and Milo took them to a little Italian Restaurant they'd found only days earlier, where everyone praised the food, especially the boys, who each ordered different pizzas, sharing all three between them.
They'd spent most of Saturday at the beach.
When everyone got up Saturday morning, they'd found Piers in the kitchen, adding items to three large cooler boxes, he'd spent nearly two hours making up a picnic which would withstand an assault from several youngsters with above average appetites.
He'd also cooked bacon, sausages, mushrooms, and scrambled eggs for breakfast, and he'd prepared baked potatoes, rubbed with salt and pepper, then wrapped in baking foil, which he planned to leave in the oven, to cook on a low heat whilst they were out, a side for the steaks he'd left marinating, which they would be grilling for dinner.
It had been a happy, enjoyable day, playing games on the sand, taking frequent dips in the ocean.
Back at the apartment Vinny took charge of the grill on the patio, an appliance he'd always loved, it was even better than the one they had back at the house in Sydney, a massive central grilling area, with twin level shelves for steaks, vegetables, and all manner of treats, but Vinny raved about the side leaves, with a burner and Bain-Marie on each side, he loved that he could steam or boil veg, fry onions in a pan, whilst the main grill shelves took care of steaks, burgers, sausages and ribs.
They'd feasted until Paulette swore she was about to burst, by which time the boys, including Vinny, had demolished everything they'd cooked.
Then the boys teamed up to clear away, load the dishwasher, then strip and clean the grill.
It was early evening, they were all seated comfortably on the patio, each allowed beers and wine, including Pil and Gracie.
With the light fading, Vinny said.
"So, about what happened, the reason we're here, I don't want to upset anyone, but at the same time, I don't ever want to see it happen again, so I think it's important that we talk some about it, no anger, no retribution, just an understanding of how it came about, why our Poppas got so hurt".
Surprisingly, Pil was the first to say anything, he almost caused Piers and Milo to break into tears.
"I think it was my fault, I caused it, I embarrassed Baz, and I didn't know what to do, I thought he'd stopped loving me, I thought if he didn't love me, none of you would, I was frightened, and I kept making it worse".
Putting his arm around Pil, Baz answered him.
"You didn't do anything wrong Pil, I was the one in the wrong, I heard what my so called friends were saying and I didn't come to you, I stood back, even joined them in the taunts and name calling, that was so wrong of me, I'm ashamed to admit that I did that to you, my little brother, I'm sorry, but you have to know, I'll never stop loving you, and I'll never desert you again".
Jez then spoke up.
"I was wrong as well, I didn't understand until Paulette explained it to me, doing nothing is just as bad as being the one who's doing wrong, and I did nothing, I told myself it wasn't my problem, I should have done something, I know I'm not really your brother, but I should have still done something".
And that was a turning point.
Every one of them was staring at Jez.
Vinny was the first to break the silence.
"What did you say?".
Jezz didn't understand, so he repeated part of what he'd said.
"I should still have done something".
But they were all still staring as Vinny asked again.
"No, you don't understand, what did you say about not being our brother?".
Jezz looked puzzled.
"Well I'm not, you're a family, I love all of you, but I was adopted".
There was complete silence until Piers spoke.
"You've still got a lot to learn Jez, like why your brothers and sister are staring at you and looking completely dumbfounded right now".
Jez was completely mystified.
"I don't understand Poppa, what did I do?".
But it wasn't Piers who answered him.
Milo actually brightened as he answered, something he'd been forcing since they'd all arrived, but not now, what he said was completely genuine.
"You dissed the fact that they see you only one way, as their brother, just as your Poppa Piers and I see you as a boy we're proud to call our son, it's time you stopped doubting that Jez, you're a brother, a son, a brother in law, a grandson, an uncle, an important member of this family, don't ever question that again, each and every one of us love you just because you are you".
Vinny, who'd been holding Paulette's hand, pulled her gently to her feet, and circling behind Piers and Milo they placed an arm around each of them as Vinny said.
"It seems we've all learnt something this evening, but I want you to understand, this couple here, our Poppas, you might think they're indestructible, but this last week has shown us, they're not, they can be hurt, oh they'd like you to think they're made of Teflon, and you've all seen them in action, like Goliaths when defending us, but don't be fooled, they can still be hurt, because we are their Achilles heel, I want you to remember that, never again is all I'm saying, they don't deserve that".
Paulette leaned down to whisper something to Piers and Milo, who turned as one to hug her, the tears flowing, and Vinny added.
"I'm guessing Paulette just told our Poppas a secret, that we are expecting our daughter to be born in a few months, so uncles and aunt, you need to step up, family is everything, and we are a family, each of us bound forever to the other, we might be a rag tag family, but no one is going to come between us, not ever, are we agreed?".
And Baz had surprised them, something no one had been expecting, blurting it out.
"The reason I faltered about managing Pil, I want to get my degree in Law, I shouldn't have been so hasty, I should have gone to University, I want to go back, do a night school course, sorry Poppas, it means more hassle, but I understand now, I need it, do you think you could help me with it?".
Piers actually laughed.
"And why wouldn't we son, if it's important to you, it's important to us as well".
But Piers was interested in exploring something he knew Milo wanted an answer to as well.
"And you Pil, are you comfortable with not having Baz as your manager when you embark on your singing career?".
Pil was smiling as he answered.
"Yes Poppa, I'm okay, it was always a dream that Baz would be my manager, but I don't think either of us had ever given any thought about how that could or would happen, I'm okay with choosing a manager I can work with who isn't Baz, because I know all I have to do is call and he'll be there for me".
Baz was beaming as he answered Pil's unanswered question.
"Believe it Bro, I'm on call day or night".
And so we leave them.
Baz was all set to return to a night school course, to earn his Law Degree.
Pil was planning his debut as a recording artist.
Roslyn and Cecile were undertaking the reestablishment of a brand they'd walked away from years before, which meant so much to them, but would also mean pledging every cent they had.
JJ and Jem were planning their marriage, looking forward to a bright future, as were Fleur and Dale.
Around the world things were good.
But there we go again, believing life's illusions, could it be true, or was fate going to prove them all wrong?.
We'll see in the future when we join them again in Book Five around the second or third month of the New Year.
Happy Holidays Happy Christmas Happy New Year
Stay safe and well my friends.
Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.