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This is the penultimate chapter, enjoy.
Life's Illusions - Book Five - Chapter 28
Driving away from Roddy's parents house Franky was angry, beside him in the passenger seat Roddy was silent, but even out of the corner of his eye, Franky didn't miss the tear sliding down his cheek.
He'd had difficulty believing they couldn't see how heartbroken their son was, weren't upset enough to beg their only child to think long and hard before going so far away, but nothing could have prepared him for how they'd reacted to his news.
His father had answered the door to them.
There'd been no greeting, he'd simply opened the door and turned his back on them, walking into the kitchen where Roddy's mother was baking, announcing loudly.
"You have visitors".
He'd been heading out of the back door from the kitchen when Roddy spoke out.
"Would you wait a moment please father, I have something to tell you, I won't take up much of your time".
His father turned, looking decidedly annoyed.
"Well hurry up, I have things to do".
Roddy reached for Franky's hand.
"I know you won't approve but I wanted you to at least meet my boyfriend, this is Franky, we're in love".
Neither his Mother, nor Father made any move or gesture toward Franky, his father just sighed, and almost spat out.
"You're right we don't approve".
He'd started to turn, obviously intent on leaving Roddy's mother to deal with the situation, when Roddy stopped him again.
"Wait, there's more which I think you will approve of, I'm leaving, I won't come back to bother you anymore, I'm going to live in Australia, at least I can believe that I did this one last thing which will make you happy, even if it breaks my heart".
Whilst he'd been talking his mother had been making tea and slicing cake ready to serve, but Roddy's final words stopped her.
"We're not stopping, it's pointless really, you don't love me anymore and you don't want me here, but before we leave I want you to be sure of something, despite how you've treated me these last few years, I love you both, I can't help it, I always will, and if there's ever a time when you need help, you only have to call and I'll come, that I promise, because I love you".
He'd placed a hand written note giving details of where he could be contacted on the table next to his mother, then taking Franky's hand he'd turned and led them back through the hallway and out of the house, closing the front door so gently behind him.
Arriving back at Chateau Beauchene he'd gotten out of the car and walked through the house toward the gardens at the rear, saying to Franky.
"Give me a few minutes would you?".
Franky watched as he headed out to a group of seats, before sitting and leaning forward, placing his head into his hands.
Fleur came up behind Franky, enveloping him in her arms.
"How did it go?".
Franky explained, unable to hold back the anger and sadness.
Fleur kissed his cheek saying.
"Give us a few minutes then join us".
He'd watched his mother approach Roddy, sit down beside him, then drawing him into a hug, he could see Roddy was crying.
As she got nearer Fleur could tell he was crying, she didn't ask if she could join him, just sat and drew him into a hug.
"I have to admit, I don't know how any parent can act in that way, but I'm really proud of you for telling them you still love them, perhaps one day they'll see sense, until then, Dale and I want to volunteer ourselves as your surrogate parents, that's if you'll have us, we can be a bit bossy at times, but I guarantee we'll always love you".
Roddy looked up through tearful eyes.
"Thanks, I accept Momma".
She could see he was thinking so she stayed quiet, just hugging him.
"I expected the way they would treat me, but it really hurt that they completely blanked Franky, and when we left, as I closed the door, that was probably the saddest I've ever felt in my entire life, knowing we'd quite possibly never meet again, and it didn't bother them, so why does it hurt me?".
Fleur was rocking him slowly.
"Because a drawback of being a wonderful caring person is feeling pain where those less caring are immune, but I'd say suffer it Roddy, don't change, stay the wonderful man we all love, now wipe your eyes, your man's approaching".
Fleur stood up, winking at Franky and leaving them alone.
Telling Dale about it later she'd been tearful, but he'd held her close, saying.
"He has a family now that will love him Fleur, and I doubt it will be very long before they decide to marry, so I want to run something by you".
She looked quizzically at him until he explained.
"They should have the option of starting their own household if they decide it's what they want, I've been looking at the house Ros and Cecile built, I was thinking of demolishing it, and having plans drawn up for three smaller houses to replace it, what would you think about that?".
She hugged him closer.
"I'd say you give me new reason to love you more each day, do it, they might not want it but the option will be there for all of them, and they'd still be close bye".
Unbeknown to either Dale or Fleur at that moment Franky was on the verge of bearing his biggest secret to Roddy, and he was terrified.
"There's something I have to tell you and it frightens me, because it's something that always causes problems with partners in our family, please promise me you'll not let it hurt us".
Roddy was apprehensive, but curious at the same time.
"Well I love you, so unless you're a secret serial killer, I'm guessing I can give you that undertaking, but I'm not helping to bury the bodies".
Franky chuckled before explaining.
"I'm too squeamish to be a serial killer, but thanks for offering to keep my secret, I'll bare that in mind".
Roddy turned from where he was being snuggled to face Franky.
"Seriously, if we're going to be a couple, we have to listen to each other, and share everything, in my book being a couple means we don't shoulder anything alone, so tell me, because whatever is worrying you is my worry too".
Franky started out explaining.
"You know my Grandparents, there's Gramps Frank, and Gramma Jenna, my Daddy's parents, then there's my Gramps Jaque, The Comte de Montclair, and my Gramps Pete Montclair, that's were the worry comes from".
Roddy was chuckling now.
"Ah, so they're the bloody serial killers, well it's still the same answer, I'm not helping them bury the bodies either".
Franky was actually rocking with laughter now.
"It's their wealth, and mine that worries me, it nearly broke my Daddy and Momma, I don't want it to come between us".
Roddy understood immediately, Franky was actually frightened.
"Don't be worried, tell me in your own words".
Franky stopped laughing, this was it, his confession.
"I have three trust funds, I only draw a small income from them, my Gramps Pete's company manages them, the bulk of the income goes to charities, but if you and I ever marry, I'd insist there was no prenup, we would be equals in every sense".
Roddy was quiet, thinking how to respond, but he sensed Franky was getting agitated.
"Stop panicking, I'm trying to work out how to reply to you, I'm not bothered by what you have, well no, that's not strictly true, there's a lot you have that appeals to me, but mostly those are things covered by your underoo's, money doesn't figure in there, though on reflection, I'd definitely pay to get in there, but that's a subject for another time, so thank you for trusting me, but I'm not fazed, and I'm relieved I don't have to help bury the bodies".
Franky sighed with relief, saying.
"Thank you, I love you, a hundred and eighty million seemed a bit difficult to explain".
Roddy then almost choked, blurting out.
"How fuckin much, jeez, I'll bury the bodies, stack em five high no problem".
And then they were laughing uproariously for half of the night.
At breakfast next morning they were still laughing, when Pauly asked what was so funny, and Roddy answered.
"If you're needing help with the bodies, I'm your go to guy, but only five high".
And they'd dissolved into laughter again as Pauly walked away commenting that they were very well matched, a pair of idiots.
Arriving home to Orange, they couldn't have been prepared for the news Rosie gave them.
Jimmy was in panic mode, the mediocre vintage had been received with a ridiculous anticipation after the critics reviews, she'd completely sold every last bottle Jimmy could produce, but it was what else she laid before them that caused them to gasp.
"If we thought the mediocre was good, the superior is like nectar from the gods".
She paused.
"Make no mistake, I dragged the most industry hated critics here kicking and screaming, that's how confident I was, and they couldn't fault it, their reviews have started a stampede which Jimmy is having difficulty satisfying, the winery is running at full capacity, and he's exhausted, so am I, I want to rip that phone out of its socket and throw it out of the window".
Fleur reassured her that she'd help out in the office whilst Dale, Franky and Roddy headed for the winery.
Jimmy looked frazzled, he was overseeing the loading of two delivery wagons as they entered.
"Oh boy am I happy to see you guys, I'm knackered, can someone take over here whilst I check the bottling plant?".
Dale took the clipboard with delivery details, telling him to go.
Franky and Roddy went along with him.
"Ruben's been fantastic whilst you've been gone, he's been helping me whenever he could, even drafted in a few of his friends over the weekend, it's difficult keeping everything loaded for the production line and supervising despatch, I keep coming back to find production has stopped because I don't have enough staff to man every area and it's run out of bottles, corks, labels, boxes".
Franky knew enough from previous years of working with Jimmy to say.
"Okay, leave the production line to us, you concentrate on feeding in the glug".
Dale caught up with them about an hour later.
"Those two are away son, what's next?".
Jimmy grabbed a sheaf of order notes, passing them to his Daddy.
"All of these have to go out today, the next wagons start arriving in about two hours".
Dale took all of the notes from him.
"Leave these to me, I'll start building them onto pallets with your guys now".
Jimmy shouted over the noise of the machinery to his Daddy.
"Is there any chance we could talk this evening?, I desperately need more staff Daddy".
Dale stuck his thumb up rather than shout back and saw his son smile.
They'd worked with Jimmy all day.
Dale saw the rest of the deliveries loaded and safely on their way before leaving to get dinner underway.
Franky and Roddy supervised the production line without having any stoppages until Jimmy sounded the klaxon which signalled production was coming to a halt for the day.
Once the line stopped and the winery workers had departed Franky thanked them.
"You guys have been an absolute god send today, I'm in front for the first time in over a week, now let's go have a rest and see what Daddy's knocked up for dinner.
After dinner Fleur started the ball rolling.
"Okay everyone get a drink, we're having a family meeting".
Roddy got up and was headed out into the garden when Dale said.
"Where are you going Roddy?".
He'd turned to reply.
"I thought I'd go sit in the garden while you have your meeting".
Dale smiled.
"It's a family meeting, you're a part of the family now so stay where you are son".
Roddy sat back down just as Franky arrived back with a beer for him.
Dale now kicked the meeting off.
"Jimmy you wanted to talk about extra staff, and you don't need to convince us, we've seen your problem first hand, so go ahead, tell us what you need son".
Jimmy knew he could say anything he wanted, it had always been that way.
"I need five more staff, three can be just anyone, two of them I actually know who I want but there could be a problem with all of them".
Rosie now chipped in.
"We'll get to the problems later, I think I know what's coming on that front, first tell us where you need these extra staff".
Jimmy knew his sister was really saying don't worry I've got your back.
"I need two to supplement the guys on the production line and one to build the deliveries, the other two I want are a Line Manager for production, and a Despatch Manager, I just can't keep on top of it anymore, it's too much".
Dale agreed with him.
"Having been involved as we were today I agree, so I guess we now discuss whatever you think is the problem you mentioned earlier".
Jimmy looked at Rosie who gave him a nod.
"I told you Ruben brought in some of his friends to help out over the weekend, they were all parolees, out on license, and they worked their socks off, I thought you should know that because the three guys I want as general employees, and the two guys I want for Management positions are them".
Fleur was smiling, she knew exactly how Dale would answer.
"These parolees, are their past crimes anything I would have a problem with?".
Jimmy shook his head.
"No Daddy, they were stupid things, done by foolish teenagers, but because of their records they can't get ahead now, no one is willing to give them a chance".
Dale questioned.
"So why do you want to help them?".
Jimmy was quite matter of fact.
"Because they helped me when I needed it, now I see it as my turn to lend them a hand".
Dale looked at Fleur.
"Any thoughts my love?, I don't see any problems".
Fleur's response was predictable.
"I'm with you, there's nothing that concerns me, in fact I think it's an admirable thing to be doing, after all, Ruben turned out alright".
Franky's head snapped around to his Momma.
"You know about Ruben?".
Dale answered him.
"Yes we know about Ruben, his parole officer turned up the week after that accident where his leg got sliced open".
Jimmy laughed.
"And you still offered him a job, and we were walking around on egg shells, dreading that you might ask us about him".
Fleur asked.
"Why were you dreading us asking?".
Rosie answered.
"You know why, we'd have had to tell you the truth".
Dale asked if there was anything else to discuss, and Fleur indicated there was, looking directly at Rosie, who didn't take the hint, so she voiced her opinion.
"Rosie, for some reason hasn't used the opportunity, but I know first hand the office is understaffed, I would recommend a further two people are needed to ease Rosie's burden, Now daughter dearest, can we have your thoughts please?".
Rosie sighed.
"Okay I'm stretched, but if we're taking on five extra staff for Jimmy, I'll manage a little longer".
Dale's reply was firm.
"No Rosie you won't, the way I see it we all enjoy our work, but being stretched, or just about managing doesn't gel with the concept of enjoying your work, it's just going to lead to dissatisfaction, so your Momma has a valid point, take on the extra staff members you need to cover the workload".
Franky now spoke up.
"Do we have any final decision on the six Vinyards Jimmy had us look at, because if that goes ahead I'll need more manpower as well".
Dale nodded.
"Actually yes we do have a decision to make, but for once it's not your Momma and I making it, it's going to be a collective decision, we have Roddy onboard now, which means he and your Momma can commence building up a stock of new vines, so do we want to go ahead?, all in favour raise your hand please, that would include you Roddy".
All six hands were raised, as Dale summed up.
"Okay, I'll have our lawyers agree the purchase, then we'll need a detailed account from you Franky on how many staff you need to recruit, but can I make a suggestion to all of you, recruit for your own roles too, take a step back, become senior managers, you are all experts in your particular field, but there has to come a time when you start guiding others in what you want to achieve, you can't continue to do everything".
They were all surprised, but Fleur reassured them.
"You've become us, we stepped back and gave you free reign, only offering guidance and direction, now it's your turn to do it, the company is growing at a phenomenal rate, we have to be able to adapt, including the fact that the winery is going to need serious expansion soon Jimmy, you should be thinking about that now before it becomes a problem, take it as a compliment, if you guys weren't so successful, we wouldn't be in this enviable position, but you are, and we are".
Jimmy had called Ruben as soon as their meeting finished.
"Hey Rube's, those five guys who helped me out last week, is there any chance you can get them out here tomorrow sometime, or to somewhere I can meet up with them?, I have a proposition for them, ............. about eight would be great, ......... cheers pal, oh and I have something to tell you as well which I think you'll find funny, ......... no I'm not telling you, don't be so nosy biatch, ....... yeh maybe, but you're still not getting into my pants, see ya".
The whole family were laughing at Jimmy's exchange with Ruben, as he was explained.
"Ruben reckons I'm secretly in love with him, and I suppose I am, as a little cousin, nothing more, he really makes me laugh, what you see is definitely what you get with Ruben".
Roddy asked timidly.
"Could I ask a question?, it's about being gay".
Jimmy replied immediately.
"Of course you can, shoot, nothing's banned except bad language, religion, and politics".
Dale and Fleur were looking on smiling as Roddy asked hesitantly.
"Have you never been just a little disappointed that Franky is homosexual?".
Rosie surprised Roddy by demanding a high five, whilst all the others were laughing as she explained.
"It's been ages since we had a lively topic to debate, you are going to love this, it's called Jimmy on his soap box".
Jimmy cut her off.
"Hey, if anyone disagrees with me they only have to speak up".
Speaking generally he went on to say.
"I thought at first I knew before Franky, and I'll admit, it worried me, but don't be fooled, my worry wasn't about him liking the male form rather than the female form, it was because of the nutters I knew could make his life difficult, but as time moved on and he told us what he believed, that's when I realised, I didn't know before him, I probably figured it out around the same time he did, he'd just been hesitant about telling us".
Roddy got a little bolder.
"But that doesn't exactly answer my question".
Jimmy smiled.
"As Daddy would say, slow down cowboy, we're just setting the scene, so for instance, I don't like raw celery, in fact it makes me nauseous, always has, I can't be near it, Rosie has the same reaction to mustard, then there's Momma who couldn't coax herself to drink Scotch Whisky if her life depended on it, much to Daddy's consternation I would add, but if you take those few idiosyncrasies, and add in that around this table we could have any one of several blood types represented, which one of us should be labelled a freak?, because for me that is what calling someone Heterosexual, Homosexual, Lesbian, Transgender, or any silly label, other than Human does, we are all in my opinion variations on the species of Human, so to answer your question, no, I have never, ever, been disappointed that Franky prefers to have a man as his soulmate, he's my brother, I love him, he doesn't have to impress me, but he does, more times than he'll ever know".
Rosie started the clapping and they all followed her, but none of them were prepared for Roddy's comment.
"I wish I'd had a brother, or sister like Franky does, I think I would have been braver, more confident, I doubt I would have been accepted by my parents, but I would have revelled in having someone in my corner who loved me just for being me".
Franky pulled him into a hug, realising he had tears in his eyes.
Jimmy replied.
"Well now's your time, revel away, because you finally have both, and woe betide any fool that doesn't respect you".
Ruben turned up the following evening with the five guys who'd helped Jimmy out whilst the family had been away.
He'd gotten beers for them then taken them out to the garden.
"Okay, I'm not going to spin this out, I know each of you has a job right now, but it's a means to an end, you work your socks off to earn a meagre living, and you still went the extra mile to help me out last week, because Ruben asked you too".
They were apprehensive now, each expecting he needed them to do a few days work again, but even Jimmy wasn't prepared for one of them speaking up at that point.
"You're right when you say we did it because Ruben asked, but more to the point, he said you were a mate in need, that's really why we did it, we know what it's like to be in a bind".
Jimmy smiled.
"So here's why I wanted to meet, I need five full time employees, and who would I go to except the guys who went out of their way to help me when I needed it, so if you're up for it I'm offering you all full time employment, with genuine prospects if you want it".
Even Ruben was gobsmacked, saying.
"Do your Daddy and Momma know their history?".
Jimmy actually laughed.
"Yes, and apparently they've always known yours, we never needed to shield you".
The one who'd spoken up earlier said, in a rather despondent tone.
"It's a dream come true for us, but you'll forgive us if we don't celebrate, it needs approval from our P.O. (Probation Officer) and he's not exactly bothered about us, sometimes I think he just gets a kick out of seeing our disappointment when we get turned down yet again".
Franky replied.
"Hold that thought while I get my Daddy.
When Dale joined them Jimmy explained they would all be onboard, but they thought their P.O. would block the move.
Dale pulled out his cell, dialling as he said.
"Give me a minute, but what's your P.O.s name".
They'd told him nervously.
His cell call answered and he turned away, but they could hear his conversation clearly.
"Wiggy you old goat, how are you, ......... you and Jenny need to come see us soon, .... Yes I admit, you have me bang to rights, I want five of your parolees, or rather my son does, and I think you know if he says they're good, then I'm already sold, but it seems you have a dick of a P.O. who prefers to scupper their chances rather than do the job he's supposedly being paid for, ..........., okay I'm waffling, so to the nitty gritty, I want an employment request for these guys approved, and I want that dick sacked, ........ stop waffling Wiggy, he's a dick, he's doing us no favours, ............ of course I could call for a ballot at the next reunion and that would put you very firmly up shit creek, ................ well thank you my friend, I'll have my boy send everything to your office tomorrow morning, I'll expect their employment request to be approved straight away, goodnight my friend".
Dale turned to Franky and the guys seated, who were all staring speechless.
"Sorted, send your request to Wiggy's office in the morning, oh sorry, that would be to the office of Richard Wigmore, State Parole Board Governor, and welcome aboard guys".
TBC
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.