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Life's Illusions - 10 years on - Chapter 18
PJ didn't know how this could be happening, they were all there in Lenny's hospital suite, waiting for news of the triple bypass operation being performed as they sat staring anywhere but at each other.
The tension in the room was so pronounced it was almost like electricity crackling.
Of his children only Woody and Billy were talking to him.
For Woody the situation was worse, only his father was talking to him.
The previous three days had been nothing short of a nightmare for PJ.
Hearing that scream, the line going dead, he'd almost passed out, there was something terribly wrong with his beloved Lenny and he was on the other side of the Atlantic, thousands of miles and many flying hours away.
He'd frantically redialled the apartment in Torremolinas but the call had gone unanswered, he'd tried Lenny's cell phone but again it hadn't been answered.
Rushing out to where Pip worked in her own office next to his, he'd been shouting.
"Get Woody, there's something terribly wrong at home, I think Lenny's collapsed, ring anyone you can think of in Torremolinas, I need to know what's happening".
Pip had been dialling Woody, who was in the Finance Office with Chris, whilst she listened to PJ, Woody only heard her say.
"Urgent, get up here now, we think your Momma's collapsed at home in Torremolinas".
She didn't elaborate, she simply cut the call.
Next she stuck her head out into the corridor and shouted at the top of her voice.
"Priority, I need two people to man the phones in PJs office now".
Within seconds two of the Executive Secretaries came running in.
"Something has happened at the family residence in Torremolinas, we think Mrs Lenny Thorn has possibly collapsed, this is a list of everyone who works in, or is near to, that residence, call them we need information, if you get someone who can fill us in let me know, I'll be on the phone to Teterboro alerting the pilots".
Pips office had been a hive of activity as Woody burst in, unable to talk to him, she indicated he should get to his father and look after him.
After alerting the pilots to have the plane fuelled and ready to go she called Ramon on his cellphone, thankfully he answered.
Where are you?, oh thank god, run upstairs, something's happened, we can't be sure but PJ thinks Lenny collapsed while he was talking to her, go, call me back as quickly as possible use my cellphone, we'll be in the car".
One of the secretaries waved Pip over.
"I've got one of the household staff, Marcie, Lenny collapsed, Rosa and Leo are trying to revive her, they're waiting for an ambulance, she's out cold on the floor in the lounge".
Pip grabbed the phone.
"Marcie it's Pip, can you pass the phone to Leo or Rosa", Pip waited a few seconds before Rosa came on the line.
"Not now Pip, she's not breathing, Leo and I are doing resuscitation".
Pip understood and cut the call.
Pip took off running into PJs office as she dialled PJ's driver.
"Phillip, I need his car at the front of the building now, we're on the way down and heading to Teterboro".
She almost dragged PJ and Woody out of the office to the elevator, shouting to the secretaries as she passed.
"Keep going girls, anything you learn, call my cellphone".
In the Lobby as they headed to the car she took a call from Ramon, he was openly crying.
"They're trying to resuscitate her Pip, there's no response, they've used the defibrillator paddles twice, she's not responding, oh god, there's still no response", then he almost screamed, "Yes, they've got her back, she's breathing".
Pip could hear an almighty roaring, it almost drowned out Ramon's voice, she could hear him talking to a sobbing Rosa.
"Pip, the air ambulance is taking her to Vithas Xanit International in Malaga, it's a Cardiac Facility, I'll follow in the car with Leo and Rosa".
PJ and Woody were staring at her as they got in PJs car and it screeched away from the curb, tears were streaming down her face as she relayed everything Ramon had said.
Both men slumped into their seats, nothing was said, all that could be heard in the car was sobbing.
The flight had seemed endless, Pip had pulled herself together and taken charge, calling all of the family, thankfully there was a plane at Montclair which had taken Jacqueline home the previous day so Pete, Jaque and Jacqueline were able to be in the air and headed for Malaga quickly.
Pip arranged a private charter to collect Beth and Dave then pick up Billy, Jay and Jolly.
Pauly and Reece jumped in their car and were first to arrive in Malaga joining Ramon, Leo and Rosa.
And so, here they were, waiting, PJ, Woody and Jacqueline in a corner, the others scattered around the room.
They'd been told Lenny wouldn't come back to this room for at least a week, she'd go straight from theatre into the recovery suite before being transferred to ICU, there she would be closely monitored until she was well enough to return here into this room.
Normally the room would already be accommodating a new patient but Lenny had insisted she wanted to keep the room whilst she was in ICU to give family and friends a base, a private area to wait.
She'd been in theatre about two hours now and the mood in the room was deteriorating fast.
Beth had left the room and returned with a tray full of coffees which she'd proceeded to hand out to everyone except PJ and Woody.
This had proved the tilt point for Dave of all people.
Dave who never caused a ripple, never objected and went along with just about anything Beth wanted.
Only not this time, he held the coffee Beth had given him pointedly over the trash bin before dropping it in.
"Keep your coffee Beth, if you can't provide for your father don't provide for me, I allow you complete freedom in most things, but mark my words, this is not continuing, I will not have you publicly disrespect your father in this way, so get over it or you and I will have very serious problems, and you'd be wise not to test me on this".
At that Dave walked out.
PJ realised it was his and Woody's presence which was causing the upset so he stood and addressed the room.
"You can choose whether to listen to me or not, I no longer care, neither Woody nor I were directly responsible for what happened, there was no malice, no intention to hurt or harm on our part, we strove to put right the wrongs once they were evident, and yet you all are trying your best to hurt us, to exact some sort of revenge, well I can't speak for Woody but personally I can tell you you're being very successful, you are hurting me, more than you can know, and I've had enough, I'll go elsewhere and wait on my own, you've achieved your goal, you've hurt me and you've driven me out".
PJ left the room.
Next Woody stood up.
"He's right you know, about everything, what you're doing to me, it hurts, I admit it, so you achieved your goal with me too, I can't stay here".
Woody walked out.
Jacqueline glared at them, including Pete and her own brother as she followed him, but before she left she turned.
"Be careful, I'm warning you, my Woody is one of the most honourable men on this earth, you mistakenly believe he deserves to be punished and he's been magnanimous in his acceptance until now, this is where I tell you to stop it, if you know what's good for you, stop it, you all saw it, I know you did, if you can ignore that, then I don't want you as family".
She turned directly to Jaque.
"And you The Comte Montclair, I wonder, what would your subjects make of you were they to witness your behaviour here, I'm disappointed".
The door closed behind Jacqueline.
But one thing Jacqueline had said really hit home, they'd all seen it, Woody was crying.
Jay stood up.
"I can't be a part of this Billy, I don't believe your father or Woody deserve this sort of treatment".
To Billy's complete surprise he was joined by Jolly, they left the room almost walking into Woody and Jacqueline.
Out in the corridor Jacqueline wrapped her arms around Woody.
"Don't be upset my love, they're being stupid, irrational, soon enough they'll see it and all will be well again you'll see".
They'd gone to the public waiting room at the far end of the corridor and found PJ drinking coffee with Dave who said, "I guessed there'd be a few more of you coming out, I got extra coffees".
And so for the next few hours, there were two camps.
A little over five hours after Lenny went to theatre her surgeon found PJ in the public waiting room, he was clearly surprised to find PJ with several family members there but chose not to make any comment.
"PJ, she's in recovery, all went well the bypass looks to have been successful, I have to warn you, when you get to visit her, it may upset you, she will have wires and tubes going in all directions, literally dozens of each, but in about three days she will be well on the mend, I'm afraid due to the length of the operation I have to put a block on anyone visiting before tomorrow noon, with the exception of you PJ, you may have five minutes now, no more, and the only touching I will allow is a kiss, just one to the brow, we have to be cautious, infection can be passed easily and she's highly susceptible at the moment, from noon tomorrow until noon the following day I will allow only you to visit PJ, for a total of only one hour in the afternoon, after that it's a free for all but only two visitors at a time until she gets back into her private room".
PJ thanked him and asked if he could possibly pass the information to his family waiting in Lenny's room, the surgeon understood immediately, family rifts, difficult, but a fact of life.
A nurse led PJ off to see Lenny and he arrived back just as the rest of the family exited the private room, PJ walked past them to where he, Woody, Jacqueline, Jay, Jolly and Dave had been waiting, they walked out of the hospital together, ignoring the others.
Back at the apartment PJ told Woody he was intending to take accommodation at The Woodruff until Lenny came home, he didn't want to suffer the atmosphere in the apartment.
Dave was having none of it, marching into the bedroom he and Beth were sharing he announced loudly.
"Get packing sweetheart we're moving to The Woodruff".
Moving next door to Pauly and Reece's room he knocked and entered leaving the door wide open.
"Get packing boys you're going home", his next stop was Pete and Jaque's room, again he knocked and walked in leaving the door wide open.
"Pack up guys you're leaving, no idea where you're going, but I suggest you arrange something quick because security will be removing you shortly".
His last stop was Billy's room.
"You have a choice, make your peace with Woody or leave with the others, this is your fathers home and I for one will not have him move out because you lot want to regress to your childhood, it's decision time".
By now the hallway was full of indignant, grumpy people.
Beth stormed into the lounge to confront her father, the others right behind her.
"Really, you're throwing us out of our family home, and you think Momma will be alright with this?".
PJ rounded on her, clearly his patience exhausted.
"If I remember correctly the dictionary definition of family is, 'A social unit consisting of one or more parents and the children they care for', well from my point of view that works, but from your points of view, the social element is sadly lacking, and you've all made it abundantly obvious you don't like me, in fact your attitude displays open hatred, but you expect me to extend you hospitality, tough, that offer is withdrawn, sling your hook, all of you, except Dave, Jay and Jolly, they of course are welcome to stay".
At that, PJ walked away and Woody burst out laughing.
"Bloody hell Beth your face looks like a slapped arse, well done, you just backed yourself into a corner, oh bye the way, I happen to know The Woodruff only has one vacant room available so you best get your arse in gear".
As Woody followed his father he could be heard chortling with laughter.
Beth rounded on Dave.
"This your fault............".
She didn't get any further as Dave, clearly in no mood to debate the point snapped back.
"No Beth, this is entirely of your own making".
His voice now became steely hard.
"Pauly and Reece may have some cause to be upset, though in my opinion even they have now over milked the cow extensively. You Beth, Pete, Billy and Jaque do not have any cause, you can sympathise with Pauly and Reece, but this display of indignant hurt when you have suffered nothing is completely and utterly out of context, for me it's embarrassing to watch you all behave in this way, as for your question would your Momma be alright with this, you know as well as I do, when she finds out how you have been treating your father there will be hell to pay, I seriously hope you all are prepared for that event because it won't be pleasant, now, make your choice, apologise to your father and Woody or clear off, I don't have any patience left for you", turning to the others, "That applies to all of you, apologise or pack up and piss off, enough is enough".
There was silence for what seemed like an eternity, then Billy walked over to Dave and held out his hand.
"Momma always said I sometimes needed it spelled out for me, well put Dave, you're right, I for one have been a prick, excuse me while I go make my peace with Woody if he'll accept it".
Dave shook his hand.
"You know he'll accept it, he worships every one of you".
Jaque was next, turning to Pete.
"Dave is right, we are guilty of a great wrong, neither your father nor Woody deserves to be treated in this way, you do whatever you want but I for one will ask forgiveness from both".
Jaque started to walk away but Pete grabbed his arm.
"Together, please, I agree with you".
Pauly and Reece were next.
"He's right Beth, come on let's get this over with".
Surprisingly, as they all approached on the roof terrace, Woody stood up.
"If you're intending to apologise don't, there's no need, it's not what we wanted, Poppa and I are just glad to be able to talk to you again".
Billy dropped down on the sofa next to Woody.
"You said don't but I have to, I'm sorry Bro, I got a bee in my bonnet and it took Dave and Jacqueline to shift it, I knew this afternoon I had to stop it, Jacqueline told me why and Dave basically told me I was a prick".
Billy hugged Woody to him, Woody was confused.
"What exactly did Jacqueline tell you?".
Billy looked at him.
"You were crying, it broke my heart to see that, I'm sorry I was responsible, if it ever happens again, punch me don't cry".
Billy could see Woody was deep in thought so he left him alone.
One by one they all made their apologies, Beth was last to plop down next to Woody.
"I'm such a cow aren't I?, Dave gave me hell after you left, he was right though, I don't think I ever blamed you for anything, you just became a target to pin my anger on when I got the news about Momma, I'm sorry Woody, I hurt you, I don't think I'll ever forget that".
Late into the night Woody went back up to the roof terrace where he knew he would find his father, he was there, sitting alone, he sat with him.
"Are you alright Poppa?".
PJ had been deep in thought.
"No Woody, no I'm not, it's funny, and not in a ha ha way, I've just been adding up the number of times Woodruff has been responsible for hurt and pain in our family and it doesn't make very good reading in my mind. My Grandfather, Lenny's Parents, it could be argued my own father was responsible for their deaths, but it was greed bred by what he could take from Woodruff that corrupted him. Josh we so nearly lost traveling between meetings for Woodruff. Pete and Chris, I believe they would have been together forever, never having to have gone through the nightmare they did, if not for Chris's parents being in that auto accident, they were out on Woodruff business when they died. Dear sweet Rosy, Woodruff corrupted Will, thank god he's been able to change. You and Will, that episode still haunts me, I really thought I'd lost you, for a long time I hated Woodruff. My attacks, it drained me after you left, I should tell you again how sorry I am for what I did Woody, I still feel ashamed, but you never once showed me anything but love. Now it's attacked Pauly and Reece, it nearly destroyed them, but it's not what has brought me to a decision. I feel guilty admitting this, but everything along the way wasn't enough, it's what it did to your Momma, I can never ever forgive that, she could have lost her life if Rosa hadn't acted so quickly, I keep thinking what would I do without her, I'm like you Woody, if I dwell on a subject long enough I see an answer, but this time, I don't see any answer, I can't imagine a future without her, life would have no meaning for me. Its time Woody, we discussed it after my attacks, well I don't care what the market says, it's time now, float it, sell it, whatever it takes, get rid.
I want us to keep Woodruff Banking, WFC and Woodruff Holiday Parks, the rest can go, I'm giving you a direct request, set it up please Woody, before it kills one of us".
Exactly eight months after Lenny came out of hospital, Jacqueline finally convinced her to make the trip to Montclair.
"Lenny you are killing me, come to Montclair, save me this twice weekly flight, Christ woman, I'm offering you a house with kids to boss about, what more do you need".
Lenny had collapsed into laughter, she had the perfect relationship with Jacqueline, like a little sister not a daughter in law, and Jacqueline loved Lenny and PJ, to her they were the parents she'd always wanted.
PJ and Woody were due home that evening, the demise of Woodruff was all but sealed in ink, there only remained the final board meeting to confirm the decision, all of the families were at Montclair, the house was bursting with life.
Beth and Dave had brought Dave's parents along this time, Dianne and Rob Morton.
Pip, Ramon and Roco were due to arrive the following morning along with Leo, Rosa, Reya and Raul.
Woody suspected they had an ulterior motive, he guessed they would try to convince Aly to leave the Inn he owned and loved in Montclair Town and go home to Torremolinas.
One of the funniest things to have come out of the awful time at the hospital, whilst they'd been a family in feud was Jacqueline letting the cat out of the bag about Jaque's title.
When he'd heard about it, Woody had dissolved into fits of laughter, he'd not been able to resist teasing Pete, calling him the Countess Montclair, and he'd had just as much fun with Pauly telling him he had to curtsy to Jaque and Pete if he didn't want to be marched off to the guillotine.
In a much more somber moment he'd asked Jaque why he'd never mentioned the title and why he didn't use it, Jaque explained in his usual matter of fact manner.
"The title was granted in an era when the Comte Montclair was expected to protect the citizens of Montclair, I can't and don't fulfil the requirements of the title, therefore it would be wrong to use it".
Woody decided he needed to show Jaque exactly what the people of Montclair felt about their Comte.
Unknown to Jaque, Woody used the towns unique messaging system to start the ball rolling, sitting in the tea rooms, part of the bakery, he mentioned over coffee that his brother in law felt bad about using his title, he felt like a cheat, he didn't protect the citizens of Montclair.
The Bakers wife became immediately animated.
"How can he think he doesn't defend us, Montclair is the reason we thrive, it's true his parents didn't do much with Montclair, but after they passed the children toiled hard in the years before you arrived, keeping the estate alive, Montclair has breathed new life into the town".
She gabbled on listing the things Jaque had achieved for the town and surrounding village folk, apparently Comte Jaque had done so much to help the people's of Montclair, he was constantly advising local Vineyard owners of things which either were affecting right then, or could, in the near future, affect their Vines, often dispatching his own workers to help out if needed, just as the locals rolled up in droves to Montclair at harvest time, unasked they toiled from dawn to dusk bringing in the harvest, this, she told him, was their way of showing the Montclair's how much they were appreciated.
Woody told her they were going to have an open day at Montclair, everyone was invited and it would be a day of fun.
When he brought up the subject with Jacqueline she was all for it, she loved the people's of Montclair, she loved the tourists, realising the taxes they brought in helped the town survive, brought it alive, allowed it to look after and nurture its residents, at her suggestion they coordinated their open day with the Mayor who enthusiastically appointed a committee of which Jacqueline was a prominent member.
Montclair Day would be a Carnival day throughout the town, the Carnival procession would wind it's way through the town and out to the gates of Montclair, whereupon the gates of Chateau Montclair would be thrown open to all, there would be all manner of stalls representing the different trades people of the town, the Baker and his wife would set up a coffee shop in a small marquee, there would be fairground rides and amusements, plus the local orchestra had agreed to entertain the visitors and accompany the school and church choirs.
Aly had agreed to run a beer tent with the same strict rules of conduct which applied to The Montclair Inn, bad behaviour received a short sharp lesson in good conduct.
Six months after taking ownership of The Inn, Aly received a visit from the Mayor along with the Chairwoman of the Township Guild, listening to them he couldn't argue, he'd seen the state some of his patrons got into, and he'd witnessed their behaviour as they got more and more inebriated.
He'd taken a pretty drastic step, he'd closed The Inn for two days, by which time he had the attention of every single person in the town.
For two days there was a notice displayed on the door which said,
I am advised that the behaviour of a minority of the patrons of The Inn is unacceptable and I'm sad to say I agree.
If The Inn is to reopen there will be changes, these will be explained in a public meeting at Noon on Saturday in the beer garden.
On Saturday he held his meeting in the beer garden, he'd explained, The Inn was his sanctuary, it was a place he held dear, a place where he sheltered from the past, it was not a place for anyone to use as a place where they got so badly drunk they caused trouble or gave cause for concern to others.
He explained, he understood the need to unwind, to socialise, to sometimes be a little tipsy, but going forward anyone displaying bad behaviour would be banned for one month.
In order to be re admitted after that month, there would be conditions, they would need to submit to a urine test every day during the month to prove an abstinence from imbibing alcohol every day during the whole month, if they couldn't agree, or couldn't comply with the requirements, then they couldn't ever be admitted again, those were his terms.
The Inn reopened and only three bans had been applied since that day, but it had been effective, a look from Aly reminded anyone who displayed the possibility of offending, it was time to go home.
Montclair Day was a roaring success, the Carnival procession had been a thing of beauty, the floats so imaginative and beautiful, grapes and vines had been used as decorations somewhere on every float.
As the day progressed there came a moment when The Mayor mounted the steps of the small stage requesting the attention of all, behind him as he spoke, the beautiful Chateau Montclair.
"My friends, today has been a celebration of Montclair, and what more fitting place to celebrate but here before the house that started it all.
There have been Montclair's in this house for more than four hundred years, some great and famous, some not so much, the town has grown in all those years, from a few workers cottages, into a hamlet, village and a town as it is now, an important town, it has been noted many times throughout its history, mostly for wars and taxes, but never has it been as famous, prosperous, or been the holder of something as precious as it is today".
He paused for a round of applause.
"Why is it famous, that's easy to answer, look around at the vines, the winery, why is it prosperous, again, same reason, but what is that something it holds that nowhere else on earth can boast, it's not because of the vines, nor is it because of the winery, other places have both but they don't have what we have here in Montclair".
More applause.
"We have something much more precious, I don't elude to this beautiful Chateau, though it's beauty and grace are wonderful, I know you agree with me, we have The Family Montclair".
Again he had to pause, the applause was deafening.
"There are many Chateaux and Estates across our country but none I know of that are as fortunate as we, none that have a house containing a family so fine, so gracious, so caring, so loved, as the family of The Comte Montclair, our Comte".
Another pause as he looked directly at Jaque.
"You sir, you really don't understand do you?, you, and your family, are our Crown Jewels, the beating heart of Montclair".
More applause.
"I heard something recently, it concerned me, I heard that you don't believe you protect us, you're wrong, you don't have to raise an army to protect us, you just have to continue doing what you and your family do every day, love us, nurture us, help us when we're down, be the man you are".
There was a start of applause but The Mayor raised his hands to quieten it.
"I tried hard to find someone in this town you haven't helped in some way, someone who can put a hand on their heart and say, 'he has done nothing for me, I have not received any benefit from The Comte Montclair, I couldn't find such a person, but now with everyone assembled I'll ask again if anyone can make that statement raise a hand".
There was silence as everyone looked around but no hands were raised.
"I rest my case and now I give you The Comte Montclair, Protector of Montclair".
As Jaque, blushing furiously made his way to the stage the applause was deafening.
"Thank you Mr Mayor, I'm humbled by your kind words, yes I hold the title of Comte but as you point out, Chateau Montclair is home to a family, a family of which I am so proud, we work together to produce what we achieve in everything, so every one of them deserve to share your kind words, but I need desperately to point out, none of what Montclair has today would have been possible without the deep pockets and massive heart of one person, my brother in law Woodruff Montclair-Thorn, he came to Montclair when we were dying, he breathed life back into us, urged us to blossom, to grow, none have ever been denied his help and love, if anyone deserves the accolade of Protector of Montclair it is he".
Woody was by now trying to be invisible, blushing furiously.
The Mayor took back the microphone.
"Now that's a coincidence, because I just happen to have something here which should come in handy at a time like this, Mr Woodruff Montclair-Thorn, as Mayor of Montclair I award you the keys of our town and bestow upon you the title Protector of Montclair, please sir come up here".
Woody had made his way to the stage to receive his award and made a bubbling speech before inviting everyone to enjoy themselves.
The afternoon had been a fun time for families before the evening of dancing under the stars.
At around 11.30pm the last of the townsfolk took their leave of Montclair and the security guards closed the massive wrought iron gates to Montclair.
Sitting on the terrace enjoying a last glass of wine before they retired, Woody was smiling as he asked Jaque.
"You engineered that didn't you?".
Jaque was also smiling.
"I've learned a lot from you Woody, but I think the one thing I learned which stands out is, credit where credit is due, none of this would have been possible but for you, yes it could have been someone else with money who started it off, but the nett result is not just money, it's what you give of yourself that makes it what it is, I for one thank the lord for bringing you to Montclair".
That night in their bedroom The Comte Montclair demanded satisfaction from one of his subjects who was happy to oblige, Pete looked deep into his husbands eyes as he pillaged his tight hot hole, it took little effort to bring them both to a shuddering climax before they lay sated in their king bed cozily chatting before sleep would claim them.
"It's unfair really, if I'd fallen in love and married a woman she would be The Countess Montclair but you, because you're a man, can't be recognised".
Pete, half asleep mumbled, "I don't need a title, you're all I need".
Almost as sleep closed in Jaque had another thought, no one had ever mentioned to JJ that since his adoption he was now The Vicomte Montclair.
The following morning at breakfast Beth and Dave surprised them with a plan they had.
They'd heard of a Chateau which was all but derelict, it had several hundred hectares of land and was just outside a small village about thirty miles from Montclair, they pulled out the paperwork which showed the dilapidated state of the Chateau, in its former days it would have been as grand as Montclair but now it was a sad crumbling wreck.
They admitted their previous visits to Montclair had always left them missing the place greatly when they flew back to Palo Alto, which was why they'd convinced Dave's parents Rob and Dianne to accompany them to Montclair this time.
Dave had been offered a a position as Senior Surgeon at a prestigious medical facility in Nice, only a thirty minute drive away.
Their plan had achieved the right result, Rob and Dianne were smitten, they'd agreed to move with them if they relocated to France.
Beth wanted a property with enough land to produce crops, they'd done their homework, the land they wanted to look at was perfect for salad crops in greenhouses, fairly flat, it would benefit from direct sunlight throughout the day, there was sufficient extra land to grow several root crops.
Beth was torn on the subject of the house, should they restore the Chateau or demolish it and build a new purpose built house, before deciding they wanted to visit the place.
Woody arranged with a local coach company for the supply of a luxury motor coach, the sort used by rock and pop groups on tour, it easily accommodated twenty two people on a visit to the property Beth and Dave had designs on.
Chateau Beauchene was about one mile outside the village of Beauchene, it's name translated to 'Chestnut Tree'.
The estate was circled by a high stone wall, as with Montclair, the entrance gates were of elaborate wrought iron and despite the ravages of time, still stood majestically guarding the entrance to Chateau Beauchene.
In keeping with its name the driveway leading from the road up to the Chateau was lined by huge old chestnut trees which provided an avenue of dappled shade.
The driveway curved slightly before the Chateau came into view, from a distance it retained its majestic beauty, only showing its scars as they neared it.
After an hour of touring what was safe to explore, Beth had made a decision.
"Momma, I think Winter-Thorn Developments are going to have their work cut out this time, would you get them going on the restoration as soon as we get the go ahead please?".
PJ and Lenny had transferred the ownership of Pacifico in Palo Alto into Dave and Beth's joint names some years before, Beth confided in them that she was loath to let it go but she realised once they made the move there would probably be no going back so they'd decided to develop it.
Pacifico was the last remaining large estate in that area of the hills above Palo Alto, it consisted of a little over thirty acres of prime real estate, they intended to knock down the present house and build a gated community of luxury homes, they had plans which showed one hundred twenty five units as achievable.
Again Beth turned to her Momma.
"We intend to let purchasers choose from a range of designs we will offer, or alternatively, they can have their own architect design for them, but I want complete control over the builders involved, Winter-Thorn will have sole builders rights, no purchaser will have any option to use their own builder, the finished article has to be of a guaranteed first class standard.
Right in the centre, where Pacifico stands now, will be our house, we're not letting go completely.
Two days later PJ and Woody were due to return to host the Woodruff Board Meeting at Chateau Montclair.
TBC
ARB Allan
Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.
Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.