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Life's Illusions - Book Five - Chapter 18
JJ heard the question, but he couldn't answer.
Piers had asked.
"So tell us about your plans to move back out here".
JJ and Jem's expressions looked like rabbits caught in the headlights.
Ahmed excused himself, he could see they were entering a very private conversational subject.
It was Jem who finally answered.
"You have to keep this to yourselves, it's just a hope, nothing concrete, we've discussed it several times since all that business happened in Montclair with Daniel, but we have more than just ourselves to consider now, and I won't deny it is part of the reason why we're here, I wanted JJ to recuperate here, I know it's the best place for him, being with you guys, but I'll also admit part of me wants to try to sell it to the kids, and that's the tough part, it can't be a hard sell, it has to be a soft sell, show them as much as possible, then let them make up their own minds".
Milo was looking at both JJ and Jem as he answered.
"Okay, we're with you, whatever we can do we will, and this stays just between us, agreed Piers?".
Piers nodded.
"Agreed".
Ahmed had got himself a drink and wandered back, JJ called him to sit with them.
"I'm sorry my friend, we didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, so what do you think of Oz so far?".
He smiled.
"I wasn't uncomfortable JJ, I just sensed that you were in personal territory, so I gave you some space, I love it so far, but then, with such wonderful hosts, and such good company how could I not".
Jem jumped in.
"Well we're going to be here for around four weeks, and I think we'll need you for all of that time, so enjoy it, before you go back to the Burj Al Arab".
His reply shocked Jem.
"I won't be going back there, I was sacked the same day I agreed to accompany you".
Jem and JJ were almost in unison.
"What".
Jem shot back immediately.
"But I had an agreement, they pay your salary until we no longer need you, and then we either bring, or arrange, your return, what changed?".
Ahmed was matter of fact in his reply.
"Please don't feel you are in any way to blame, it was just unfortunate that the manager you spoke with has been trying to get rid of me for some time, he saw this as a golden opportunity, if I'd refused your request, I would have been let go for not doing everything possible to satisfy a guests requirements, but by saying yes I gave him the opportunity to bring in his nephew, a useless individual who I've refused to employ on many occasions, it is what it is, please don't be concerned, if I don't make waves, I might stand a chance of getting a fairly good reference and securing another position".
JJ was furious when he replied.
"Oh believe me Ahmed, we don't intend to make waves, more like a bloody tsunami, you're definitely not going back there, and that's something else we need to discuss, but that bastard won't know what hit him once we get started".
Milo asked.
"JJ says you're the best there is, so why not start up your own business, we can help with that, you'd be surprised at the connections we have around the globe".
Ahmed was amazed and said as much to Milo.
"You only met me a few hours ago, why would you do that for me?".
It was Piers who answered, whilst giving darting looks at JJ.
"You chose to help one of the most loved and important people in my life, and you did it knowing what the consequences would be, you couldn't possibly know it at the time, but your decision brought you into the Thorn family, like it or not, you made yourself one of us, so suck it up Ahmed, and tell us where you'd like to set up".
Just at that moment JJ's alarm went off, and Ahmed asked with genuine concern.
"Are you still okay?".
JJ replied with a smile.
"I'm better than okay, and I'm pretty sure it's improving, so excuse me, I have a five minute constitutional to complete".
Ahmed replied again.
"Just remember, gently, relaxed, it's not a race, just the opposite".
JJ just gave a thumbs up and went off on his walk.
Piers continued with what they'd been saying.
"We're not bulling you Ahmed, decide where you would like to be and we can help you set up, come on guys, give me some locations".
Milo offered.
" Here in Oz, pretty much wherever you want, we're like a spiders web, we can assist in just about every state".
Jem offered.
"The USA, we can set you up in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, California, Florida".
They all looked at him and queried.
"Florida?".
Jem laughed.
"See, you lot don't know as much as you think about your Thorn family history".
At just that point JJ returned, and Jem said.
"Ah good timing my luv, we're naming the places we could easily give Ahmed a hand in setting up a successful practice, I said, amongst other places, Florida, and they're all questioning me, so validate me".
JJ was laughing.
"That's the trouble these days, we are so diverse, so widespread, it's sometimes difficult to remember exactly where we can reach, but anyway, Florida, well that would take us back to the founder of Woodruff Hotel and Banking , one Woodruff Thorn, grandfather and mentor of PJ Thorn, husband of Lenny Thorn, the founders of the Thorn Dynasty, but I digress, Woodruff Thorn owned a huge old Colonial style mansion property at Shell Beach, he owned most of the district around there as well, so go in either direction from Shell Beach, up to Orlando where Walt built his empire, or down to the Florida Keys, whenever you mention the Woodruff Thorn connection, you're in".
They all laughed as Piers said.
"Okay so that's the US, where else?".
Milo again chipped in.
"A lot of places in Europe, Spain, France, U.K. its a sort of choose your spot and its a fair bet we've got a connection, or we have a connection who has a connection".
JJ said with genuine concern.
"Ahmed, understand us here, if you want to be reinstated at Burj Al Arab, then consider it a done deal, I'll go in there with all guns blazing, and I know I won't fail that's not an option I ever consider, but I don't want to waste my time if it's not what you want, tell us what you want, we can make it happen".
Milo stopped them.
"I think between us we've given Ahmed enough to think about, he knows he has options, we have weeks in front of us, let's drop it for now, come back to any one of us when you're ready, is that okay with you, but I do have a last question, what's your full name?".
He replied without hesitation.
"Ahmed Hamidat, a proud family, of which I am the only surviving member".
They all sensed there was a lot more to that statement, but judging by the look of sadness in his expression, now was not the time to ask.
For Ahmed, that question had taken him swiftly back to the place he'd called home, their house in Syria, his sweet Momma, proud Father, and his two older brothers.
The war had been getting more and more ferocious, his father had told them they might have to flee to his cousins in Jordan, he'd written the address of his family for each of them, in case they became separated, but it had happened in the middle of the night, a huge explosion which completely obliterated their home, and took them all, he was the only one spared, fifteen years old, completely alone he'd struggled with his injuries, crossing borders in the dark, walking through Iraq, then finally making it to Jordan and his dear fathers relatives, who'd been true to the description his father had given of them, kind, compassionate people, they'd cared for him until his eighteenth birthday when he'd left with a friend to seek his fortune, promising he'd return one day, that had been nearly ten years before.
Ahmed nodded, trying not to cry, but his glistening eyes weren't lost on any of them.
They'd planned to leave for the Gold Coast apartment after two days with Piers and Milo, but JJ asked if they could possibly change that.
"I'm sorry to be a nuisance Piers, but I'd really like to stay long enough to meet up with Pil and DJ, would it be too much of an imposition if we stayed here a few extra days?".
Piers had been shaking his head before JJ even finished talking.
"Stay as long as you like, the idea is for you to recuperate, relax, so do whatever makes you happy, the apartment will be there whenever you're ready".
JJ's therapy continued like clockwork, each morning the boys ran his bath whilst Gis collected, and served his breakfast tray in bed.
When he finished breakfast the boys helped him into the big tub in the master bathroom, they stayed with him, one washing his hair, the other gently soaping his body.
After thirty minutes they would help him out of the tub, dry him and help him into his bathrobe, ready for Ahmed to administer his daily massage, then Ahmed would let them know he was ready to dress and they would return to help him.
Both JJ and Milo had protested several times that it wasn't their place, or duty, to wait on JJ hand and foot, but Cade summed it up perfectly, he looked directly at JJ as he said.
"If it had been one of us instead of you injured, if we were in as much pain as you've suffered, would you just leave it to someone else to look after us, or would it be you doing everything possible to help us recover?, I would add, that was a rhetorical question, no answer is expected".
Milo didn't answer, he'd just pulled all three into a group hug.
JJ did answer, with a single word.
"Thanks".
Ahmed made a comment about visiting New Zealand one day and Piers almost pounced on it, which JJ thought strange.
"Milo's going tomorrow, he has business there, why not go with him, I'll come as well to act as your guide".
Ahmed had agreed, saying to JJ.
"Tomorrow was going to be the first day I officially missed your massage, I think we're at the point where it could prolong the healing process if it's done daily, we'll change to twice weekly unless you tell me you experience any extra discomfort during tomorrow".
The following day when Milo's plane landed in Christchurch his car was waiting.
He'd arranged that the car would drop him at Guardian's office and then be available to show Piers and Ahmed around several landmark sights.
As soon as Milo had left them Piers gave the driver an address he wanted to go to, turning to Ahmed he said.
"I'm sorry, I have to admit I had an ulterior motive for coming to Christchurch today, you mentioned that you wanted to visit Canterbury Museum, as soon as he drops me off, the driver will take you there, I don't anticipate being more than an hour, or maybe two, so I'll come find you when I'm finished, just one thing, I'd appreciate if you didn't mention that I wasn't with you all day, I'd rather this visit I'm making stay secret".
Ahmed nodded, just as the car pulled up outside an apartment building.
JJ jumped out and went toward the building entrance.
Ahmed watched him pressing a door bell on the panel as they pulled away.
Annie answered the door, her expression was one of total surprise, shock even, but she didn't turn him away, something he'd been afraid of, she opened the door wide, offering him the chance to enter.
"This is a surprise Piers, I didn't think we'd ever meet again".
He didn't reply, because he didn't know what to say, he just opened his arms, and they were hugging.
Annie was sobbing, that was when he found his voice.
"I tried to stay away, I thought you might contact me, it's been eating me up, seeing Baz so broken, not knowing how you were, I had to come, just hoping you wouldn't turn me away".
She'd stopped crying, and was looking at him.
"He hasn't told you what happened has he?".
Piers shook his head.
"No, and that's not why I'm here, I don't want to know, my primary concern was to know that you are alright, when you married Baz you became our daughter, you matter as much as any of our children, I can't just switch of my feelings, maybe that makes me a freak, I don't care".
They were still stood in the hallway, she led him into a nice lounge, he noticed immediately, there were several framed photographs, of Annie and her father, and of Annie and Baz, one in particular Piers had as well, it was of Annie and Baz on their wedding day, he picked it up, as she said.
"That is still the happiest day of my life, and yes Piers, he's still the only man I love".
He returned the photograph to its place on the side table as she indicated he should sit, and she went into the open plan kitchen area to make tea, she knew Piers preference.
When she returned with a tray on which there were two cups, a teapot, and milk jug, no sugar bowl, she remembered their weekly catch ups when she was home, neither took sugar but both loved their tea.
"So tell me how things are with you Annie, I was sorry to hear about your father".
She half smiled.
"I'm carrying on, the business has gone, I sold it a little over a year ago, I couldn't run it, and I didn't want to ruin it, Daddy spent most of his life building it".
She stopped to sip her tea.
"I'm not working at the moment, financially I'm secure, I'd like to go back to my music, but motivation is a problem, I can't seem to find a reason to be motivated".
Piers hadn't interrupted until then.
"Two broken people, a result of stubbornness, it's a shame, but it is what it is I suppose".
She didn't bite, but she did respond.
"You can't call it Piers, you don't know what actually drove us apart".
He half smiled, not in fun, more in sadness.
"It's true there's a lot I don't know, but I do know I see two people, supposedly deeply in love with each other, inflicting some sort of a penance or pain regime on each other, if you're really so deeply in love with someone, a heartfelt sorry should be enough".
Piers had spent nearly two hours with Annie.
As he was leaving she said.
"Thank you Piers, for restoring just a little of what I thought I'd lost, come again if you can manage it".
He'd caught up with Ahmed at the museum.
Neither said anything for a while, they just walked around absently looking at exhibits, until finally Ahmed spoke.
"It's really saddened you, was it worth the trip?".
Piers was quiet for a while longer, then.
"It's not the visit that saddens me, it's the thought of telling Milo what I've done, for once I really don't know how he'll react, that both saddens, and frightens me".
Ahmed's response made him think.
"Have you done something wrong, that's not asking for an explanation, just a yes or no answer".
He could see the flickering emotions cross Piers face, before a half smile emerged.
"No, I only did good, I think I've made an improvement".
Piers received a text around four in the afternoon, it was from Milo.
'Just leaving the office, where are you?'.
Piers replied.
'Canterbury Museum, we'll be waiting outside'.
It was only ten minutes before the car pulled up and they were on their way to the airport.
Milo and Ahmed chatted animatedly throughout the flight, but it didn't go unnoticed how quiet Piers was.
At home Milo went straight to their bedroom suite to change out of his business clothes.
Coming out to the garden he saw Piers sitting alone, looking deep in thought, sitting down beside him made Piers jump visibly.
"Okay, you're worrying me now so tell me what you've done".
Piers looked at him.
"How do you know I've done something?".
Milo smiled.
"Duh, how many years together Piers, just accept I know, so tell me".
Piers sighed.
"You're right, I went to see Annie, we spent nearly two hours together, and I'm going to go again".
Milo's face was blank, completely expressionless, Piers was looking directly into his eyes, almost pleading with him to say something, but he didn't, he got up and walked away.
Ahmed, Jem and JJ were sitting on the other side of the garden, Piers hadn't joined them, he'd chosen to sit alone when he came out into the garden.
JJ saw Milo sit next to him, and instinctively he knew something was wrong, he watched as Milo visibly stiffened, then got up and walked away, but what caused JJ to move was seeing Piers crying, he told Jem and Ahmed not to follow him and made his way slowly over to Piers.
"What is it Piers?".
Piers answered him quietly through his tears.
"I did something, with all good intentions, but I think Milo's angry with me".
Meanwhile, back on the other side of the garden, Jem was looking at Ahmed.
"You know what that's about don't you?".
Ahmed looked at Jem.
"Yes, but I'm not going to discuss it, if Piers wants it known he'll tell JJ, it's not my place to go there".
Jem nodded, it was exactly what he'd expected.
As Ahmed had been talking they saw Milo coming back out to the garden, he was heading straight for Piers, who actually looked terrified, until Milo leaned down, dragged him upright and kissed him full on the lips, a kiss that lasted quite a while, before they broke apart.
Piers said.
"I thought you were angry with me when you walked away".
Milo hugged him close still standing.
"I wasn't sure what I was, I wanted a few moments to get my head together, and I see a lot clearer now, if you're going back I want in, she's my daughter in law too".
JJ walked back to where he'd left Jem and Ahmed.
"Bit of a freaky moment, but all's okay now, has Ahmed told you?".
Jem laughed and decided to have some fun.
"No he told me to mind my own business".
Ahmed immediately retorted.
"I did not".
Jem was laughing.
"No he didn't, he was the absolute diplomat in how he told me to mind my own business".
JJ laughed with them, saying.
"Well as you're the only one here who doesn't know, I'll tell you, but there's a condition, it's never mentioned again unless Piers and Milo make it public, because there's real danger for others in it becoming generally known, Piers went to see Annie, and he's vowed to go again, Milo wasn't sure at first, but I'm guessing you can see he was finally good with it".
Jem nodded that he understood.
Ahmed spoke hesitantly.
"I know you said never to mention it again, but I don't understand, who is Annie, and why can't it become known that Piers visited her?".
JJ explained.
"Annie is Baz's ex wife, they divorced about three years ago, but no one knows what actually caused them to part, we know what caused the initial problems, but they weren't what caused them to divorce".
Ahmed queried.
"But how can you know that?".
JJ struggled with an explanation until Jem summed it up.
"Because to divorce for the reasons we know about is a little bit like knocking down the house and rebuilding because the windows need cleaning, proportionately it doesn't make sense, there had to have been something more, something, or things, that they didn't see a way to get past, because they will admit even now, they are still deeply in love, to the exclusion of all others".
Milo and Piers were still sat talking, Milo asked.
"Did you learn any more of what really caused it?"
Piers shook his head.
"She asked if Baz had told us, I said no, and I didn't want to know their private business, I just wanted her still to be in our lives, but as I was leaving she said something which made me happy, and yet so sad at the same time, she thanked me for restoring just a little of what she'd lost, and asked me to visit again if I could".
They were both silent for some time, until Piers added.
"Baz has to know luv, I can't keep it from him, I wouldn't be able to look him in the eyes".
Milo was quiet, then he nodded.
"I agree, but pick your moment carefully, because I don't know how he will take it, or what it will do to him".
When Baz arrived home that evening he was carrying a package, when Piers asked what it was he handed it to him.
Piers opened it and saw lots of papers, and what looked like several certificates, he was amazed when he realised one was Baz's Masters Degree in Contract Law, he'd never told them he'd got it, but the mind blowing find was a certificate showing he had been admitted to the NSW Bar Association as a practicing Barrister.
Piers looked up at his son.
"You made Barrister?".
Baz half smiled and nodded.
"The ceremony was today".
Piers was shocked, confused.
"Why didn't you tell us?, We would have been proud to have been there for you".
Baz looked dejected, much as he had since he and Annie divorced.
"Because there's nothing to celebrate Poppa, just the opposite, now I go back to just having time on my hands, while I was working toward that goal I didn't have time to dwell on other things".
Piers took the chance, he honestly didn't know how it would turn out, but here was the opening.
"By other things you mean Annie?".
Baz sighed.
"Yes, I mean Annie, or more accurately, no Annie, I can't move forward Poppa".
Piers felt sad but he blurted it out.
"I went to see her, I had to, I needed to know that she was alright, don't hold it against me son".
Baz actually smiled.
"Far from it Poppa, I'm pleased, is she alright, did she welcome you in?".
Piers sighed with relief.
"I've been dreading telling you, yes she welcomed me in, we chatted for nearly two hours, I'm going to make a regular thing of visiting, you made her our daughter, we can't just disregard that, it's not in our nature, your Poppa Milo wants to go with me next time, as for is she alright, no Baz, she's not, she's like you, a half person, struggling to move forward and getting nowhere, I described you as two broken people, a result of stubbornness, I think I'm right".
There was a glistening of tears in his eyes as Baz responded.
"Perhaps you're right Poppa, but I don't see a way past it, love sometimes just isn't enough, I can't forgive myself".
Piers had to ask.
"What is 'it' Baz, can you tell me?".
Baz sank into a chair and started crying for real.
"I abandoned her Poppa, I wasn't there when her Father died, nor when she found out she was pregnant, nor when at nearly five months she lost our child, I was too busy playing the martyr when our child was growing, and dying, too busy judging her when she needed me the most".
Piers was holding him tightly, sobbing along with him.
"Oh son, I'm so sorry, so very sorry, but you have to find a way past this, you got it so badly wrong between you, but even a total fool can see the love you have, can I talk to your Poppa Milo about this?".
Baz nodded.
"Yes, I think it's finally a relief to tell you, it's been eating away at me for more than three years".
In their bedroom suite as Milo was changing into his casual gear after work, he was concerned when a tearful Piers entered, he had him pulled into a hug immediately.
"What is it Piers?, you're worrying me".
It took him a few moments to calm down enough to reply.
He poured out about Baz gaining his Masters in Contract Law, being admitted to the NSW Bar Association as a Practicing Barrister.
Milo started to say something, but Piers was crying harder now, he put his hand up to stop him, and Milo felt a chill, he just knew instinctively, something really bad was coming.
"He told me what 'it' is, Annie found out she was pregnant, and suffered a miscarriage at five months, it's what they can't get past, that he wasn't there when her father died, or when she found out their child was growing, or when their child died, he's destroying himself with remorse, it's not Annie holding them in limbo, it's Baz, he can't forgive himself".
Milo was crying but he reached for his cell phone and pressed a pre-dial button.
When the call answered he said through tears.
"We need you son, it's Baz, we know what happened and we don't know how to help him, he's going to self destruct, please come home, we're worried".
Milo listened for a few moments then closed his cell.
"Vinny's coming".
In Torremolinos Vinny answered his cell, and Paulette became concerned, she saw the tear slide down his cheek, heard him say, I'm on my way.
After cutting the call he turned to her.
"I need to go home urgently, will you come, I could definitely use your help I think, it's Baz he's set on a self destruct course".
She nodded.
"I'll get everything arranged, tonight or in the morning?".
It never ceased to amaze him, no argument, no moans, just when.
"As quickly as possible".
She'd been all efficient as if he'd just asked her to pour a drink.
"Okay, you talk to Momma's office for a plane, I'll get packing, Momma will you look after the kids, if we're going to be to long she can bring them out to us".
Carry had nodded her agreement, but predictably Josef had interjected.
"Really?, right now when the company's in turmoil, your running home".
Vinny spun around full circle and centred his gaze on Josef.
"Yes I am, because I value family, when I hear my Poppa in tears, I know it's time to forget business, family comes first, and you would do good to drop the fucking attitude and grovel before Junior, because he deserves it you prick, now, have a good evening, we're leaving".
Paulette could be heard giggling as they headed to their bedroom suite to pack.
Josef was actually smiling as he said to Carry.
"That boy never ceases to amaze me, he's so justified as the heir apparent, and he's right, I'll go tomorrow, will you ride shotgun with me?, we can take the kids with us".
Carry was laughing.
"Yes Jo, if you're ready to mend those fences you kicked down I'll be there".
Two hours later Vinny and Paulette's plane levelled out at Thirty thousand feet and the pilot connected Vinny to the Harbourside House in Sydney.
"Poppa, we're airborne, Paulette's with me tell us everything".
When Milo finished explaining Vinny was tearful, but as he hugged a completely distraught Paulette he said.
"Okay, let me think, it's not insurmountable, I'll fix it, I promise, but I need you to do something, it's very specific, you have to sit Baz down, make sure he's listening and tell him exactly what I tell you".
Milo and Piers were in Baz's room, Baz was sitting facing them, he was looking totally shocked as he processed what his Poppa Milo had just told him, he kept hearing it, and his brain was struggling trying to remember, and then he got it, his Poppa had recited exactly Vinny's pledge to them on the day of their Daddy's funeral.
'I don't know how I will do it, but I pledge to you all, I will solve and make right any problem that befalls you, don't ever doubt me, call and I will come running".
Baz was repeating one phrase over and over.
"Vinny's coming, Vinny's coming".
Piers had sat, then lay with him until he was sleeping soundly.
In the lounge Piers found JJ and Jem, and Jem had said.
"We've arranged a flight for tomorrow morning out to the Gold Coast, you seem to have some serious family stuff going on, we'll stay and help if you need us, but we suspect you'd be less stressed if you were visitor free, come see us when it's resolved, and thank you".
Piers dropped down into the chair next to JJ and burst into tears.
JJ dragged him into a hug.
"Shit Piers, what's going on, can we help?".
It was minutes before he could reply.
"No, you're right, we need to concentrate on something pretty serious, Vinny's coming, he's in the air now, Milo called him, it's going to get quite intense, it would be better if you were out of it, I love you both, but this is too complicated, we're pegging all our hopes on Vinny".
JJ, Jem, the children, and Ahmed, departed after breakfast next morning.
Vinny arrived late in the afternoon, with a plan, and locked himself into Baz's suite, instructing them.
"I don't care how long it takes, don't anyone disturb us, if we need anything I'll text Paulette".
TBC Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.