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Life's Illusions The Next Generation - Chapter 18
It had been four weeks of arduous exercises, they'd all marvelled at how David had coped, they were tired, how he wasn't completely exhausted still baffled them, but there came a day, when he couldn't pretend anymore.
He'd sat in his wheelchair before them, apprehensive, totally uncertain, they could all see it, he didn't know if he could do it, but he was determined to try.
To be given the all clear, be discharged, and leave the clinic, he needed to walk, unaided, ten metres.
He had to walk from his room doorway to the reception desk, that would be five metres, then turn himself completely around, and walk back to his room.
To any of the musketeers it would have been a simple task, but for David, it was like asking an unfit person to climb Everest.
It had been his goal, his aim, but now, faced with achieving it, he was filled with doubt, until Jo spoke.
"Hey, drop the look, you've achieved miracles in the last four weeks, it doesn't have to be today, look on this as a test, let's find out how far you can really walk, then we'll work on extending that day by day".
To David, Jo's words were a challenge, they didn't think he could do it.
He breathed deep before, without warning, he made his move, hoisting himself up out of his wheelchair, struggling at first to gain his balance, then he had it, they saw his expression change again to one of determination, using his crutches, he took his first steps, he was nervous, wobbly, but each time the wobbles threatened to get out of hand he stopped, got himself back in balance, then started out again.
It took him nearly ten minutes to reach the reception desk, but his face, dripping wet with sweat, was an absolute picture of euphoria.
Using the desk as leverage, he turned himself around, now he was facing them, and he realised how far away they were, at first he didn't think he could do it, then he chastised himself mentally, he'd gotten this far never thinking he would, this was the last hurdle, to get back there.
They were all watching him, with wet eyes, praying, willing him to do it.
He took a step away from the desk, he was okay, still balanced, concentrating on Jo's face, not looking down, he took step after agonising step, the pain increasing, at half way he started to wobble, he saw the look on Jo's face change, detected him moving forward, it surprised him, hearing his own voice, gasping out a sharp command.
"No, don't, I'll do it, go back".
He just stood, but this time the wobbles didn't stop as easily, it took longer to get them under control, it was only a few more steps, but as he'd admit later, in all truth, he didn't think he could do it, but do it he did, falling forward as he reached the doorway into Jo's arms.
A round of applause sounded as Jo turned him, lowering him gently back into his wheelchair.
David closed his eyes, sucking in air, he'd never done anything so hard, nothing he could remember, even when he'd been running track and field in College and University, nothing had ever left him feeling so drained, physically and emotionally, and the pain was escalating, so much he gasped out.
"Pain Jo, it's too much".
The doctor who'd been watching him heard, snapping his fingers to the nurses on the desk, saying.
"Now, quick, five milligrammes, straight in, another five milligrammes in two hours, then let him tell us if he needs more".
One of the nurses came quickly down the hallway, they'd known what would happen, the pain relief was drawn and ready, within minutes David was breathing easier.
"Oh that feels good, what did I do, have I damaged something?".
The doctor smiled.
No, so don't go panicking, it's a natural reaction, you tensed your body so much, some of the nerves would have been pulled quite hard, they're just telling you they didn't like it, relax as much as you can now, no more exercise today, in a few hours, if the pain subsides, I'll give you clearance to go home tomorrow".
David couldn't believe he was hearing it.
"Really, I can escape this torture palace?".
Everyone laughed.
The doctor had been right, when the second dose of medication wore off the pain was only minimal.
He was cleared for discharge the following day, so with Jo lugging all of the stuff he'd accumulated during his stay at the hospital, he was eased gently into their car.
Back at the house it was almost a party atmosphere, some relatives had already arrived, over the next few days the majority of the wider family came to stay, most only for a couple of days, but they couldn't resist, at Jacqueline's bidding they'd been holding off for weeks, now she'd given them the green light.
A few days after David arrived home, the musketeers said their farewells and headed home.
David was facing several months of exercises and hospital visits, but they felt their job was over, a job well done.
David worked with a physio team for another four weeks until he could walk unaided, then he had a self managed cycle of daily exercises to complete.
He had a slight limp, but as Jo told him, it wasn't so much a limp, more like a sexy swagger which continually amused them both.
Life should have been so euphoric when they came home, but there you go again, believing life's illusions.
Jo could see the look on Mel's face, as she left the room, it had been what he'd just said, he saw Jace's expression of anger as well, ready to launch the equivalent of a nuclear missile at him, he was tempted to giggle but he realised he'd fucked up big style, not intentionally, he'd just been too enthusiastic, he'd said all he wanted to say, but it didn't come out the way he'd intended.
They'd been back in Chicago nearly three months, back to a semi normal existence, but David's doctors had exacted a promise, he wouldn't return to work for three months, that deadline was fast approaching
David was itching to get back to work, Jo had already been working alongside Mel for the last couple of months.
In the long weeks of his rehabilitation, Jo and David had talked about everything, a lot of it mundane chatter to fill the long hours of exercises, but one thing David said caught Jo's attention, and a simple spark set off a fire.
David had been recounting a conversation he'd had with a claimant he'd been investigating, the claim had been found to be genuine, a random series of events, plus badly completed claim forms, had led to suspicions that didn't pan out, hence why JBJ had been called in, but what the claimant had said stuck with David.
"He said it would have been a lot simpler if they'd done what most companies now do if the claim is large or complex, hire in an Assessor to build the claim, and that's stuck with me because I keep thinking, is that something we could do, would we be experiencing a conflict of interest, but I don't think it would be a problem if we were careful, it's another revenue stream".
David had realised Jo was just staring at him.
"You don't think it's feasible, it's okay, it was just a thought".
Jo had snapped out of his trance.
"Not bloody feasible, are you crazy, I think it's genius, a fantastic idea, we change the structure, you and I continue what we're doing, the company name will need amending to Adjusters, then we set up a new company called Assessors with a whole new set of clients, you my love are an absolute star".
And so it had been their focus, they'd agreed, as soon as David was ready to go back to work, they would ask for a family board meeting.
That meeting was today.
And Jo had wanted to acknowledge Mel, thanking her for everything she'd done whilst they'd been out of action, but now they were both back in action.
What Jo hadn't been prepared for was Mel's reaction.
She'd looked completely crestfallen, saddened, hurt.
With tears starting to fall she'd stood, saying only two words.
"Excuse me".
Then she'd exited the room.
Hence why most everyone around the table, including David because of how he'd delivered it, looked ready to launch a nuclear arsenal straight at him, making him realise he needed a preemptive strike.
"Okay, maybe I didn't put that as well as I could have, but we have a totally separate project for Mel, it involves her setting up her own new division, now Jace, if you'd like to stop glaring at me like a lion eying raw meat, and get Mel back here, perhaps we can discuss it".
Thankfully he'd managed to say enough to diffuse the situation, though he suspected every one of them was still seriously annoyed with him, and he was sure he wouldn't escape paying a penance, plus a talking to from David, about how to get to the point without seriously upsetting someone along the way.
What he couldn't have imagined was the penance they would decide to exact, a harsh and complete over reaction.
Jace had left the room to find and soothe Mel.
His Momma had led the charge in their absence.
"That was crassly put Jo, it hurt Mel, she's struggled whilst you've been away, you all but dismissed her efforts as nothing, I'm disappointed".
His Poppas had followed suit, with Poppa Jay speaking out.
"I echo your Momma's words, we were grateful for Mel stepping into a role which was no easy task, she's excelled in your absence, your little speech was a slap in the face, almost dismissing everything she's achieved, I'm really disappointed".
David didn't join there tirade, he spoke to Jo, but he also made it clear, he was less than impressed with the family thinking they could collectively attack Jo.
"You said it yourself love, you could have put it better".
Then he turned to the others.
"But I don't think it's for everyone here to fire shots, I know there's something Jo's excitedly wanting to explain, which he and I are very enthusiastic about, I hope everyone will be open minded and objective when it's explained".
At that point Jace led a calm Mel back into the room, and they resumed.
Jo led off on what he and David had discussed.
"David told me about a conversation he'd had with a claimant we'd been investigating, it led me, well, to both of us asking ourselves, was there another revenue stream out there that until now we've been missing, and are we capable of capturing it, and we believe the answer to both of those questions is yes".
They were all listening intently.
We receive our income from insurers who have had their suspicions raised, they pay us to investigate claims they think might be suspicious, and yes, we do find quite a lot of suspicious claims, ones that we can categorically define as fraudulent, but there are claimants that need help to put a claim together as well, honest claimants who find putting a claim together difficult, fraught with complicated language that they don't understand, that's the market we want to capture".
Now the questions started.
Billy was first.
You mean as a Loss Assessor, an adviser?".
Jo nodded.
"Yes, and because it can be costly to a business if they don't get it right, they're prepared to pay for professional help to get everything documented properly, that's where we come in, as a separate company, which David and I think Mel is capable of setting up and running, JBJ Loss Assessors, it would mean tweaking the existing company name to JBJ Loss Adjusters, so we have the differences clearly labelled".
Mel was positively beaming, imagining what it meant, but from everyone else there was silence, Jo went on.
"Well, somebody say something, what are your thoughts?.
But it didn't take long before Jo realised, from their replies they wanted to make him pay for hurting Mel.
Jace said nothing at first, he was stone faced, glaring.
His Momma objected, saying it was an idea they could possibly research, but it was risky setting up a new business when they were already successful.
His Poppas both echoed his Momma's words, they were not convinced, not at all sold on the idea, preferring to shelve it for consideration at a later date.
Will was on the fence, it wasn't a jab at Jo, he just didn't want to get involved in any infighting, so he shrugged but didn't comment.
Jo turned to Jace.
"And you, aren't you going to enjoy deriding my proposal?".
Jace still didn't offer anything resembling a friendly face.
"Actually I agree with Momma and the Poppas, it's too risky, maybe we'll look at it another time, that's if you can manage to not hurt anyone when you raise the subject".
All this because he'd upset Mel, and he said as much.
I can't believe you're doing this, we bring a sure fire business proposal to the table and you turn it down, not because you don't think it's a seriously good proposal, but because I phrased wrongly what I said, how I put it, and upset Mel, you think I'm still some little boy who can have something taken away as a punishment, this isn't a toy, I'm not a little boy, your behaviour is pathetic, and I can't accept it going forward, as of this moment I quit, I no longer work for JBJ, well done, I hope that makes you all happy, you've hurt me, so your mission is accomplished".
Looking at David he watched as David nodded his agreement, and echoed Jo's words.
Jo had stood and, taking David's hand said.
"It seems this family have decided they don't need us, can do without us, it's time to leave".
And they did, walking out and up to their room.
Jo was furious, but he was also crying, dragging suitcases out of cupboards in their dressing room and piling clothes in, he said to David.
"Pack enough for the next few days until we can find a base, I'll have the rest collected".
Whilst they were packing there was a knock on the door.
When Jo opened it, Jace was stood there smiling, he said.
"Come on Bro, okay we were a bit hard, but you deserved it, let's talk about it, everyone's still waiting downstairs".
Jo was fuming, so much so, Jace quickly realised from the anger in his reply, how badly wrong they'd been, how much they'd all overplayed their hand in hurting Jo.
"You think this is funny, you slapped me down viciously because I got my words wrong, you'd hurt me, and David as well, that badly just to score a point, my whole family intent on delivering hurt to me, to us, and now you think I should forget it, just trot back downstairs because I've been summoned, be grateful for whatever crumbs you toss my way, well I'll save you the trouble, if you remember, we already quit, now if you'll excuse us we're packing".
By the time he finished his rant, he was crying, the tears streaming down his face, a testament to how much they'd hurt him, then Jo slammed the door, leaving at totally shocked Jace staring at the closed door.
He'd rushed downstairs, he immediately told his parents how Jo had been, the tears, the packing, he was worried, Jo was leaving, that hadn't been in the plan.
Jolly said.
"I'll go up and speak to him, we went too far, he's hurt, I need to stop this now".
But as Jolly came out into the foyer, Jo and David were already there with several suitcases.
Jolly was shocked, this was like part of her being ripped away, her eldest, her firstborn, he was getting ready to leave, and not on good terms.
"Jo, stop this, it shouldn't have happened, we were all in the wrong, please son, think before you do something silly, let's talk it out, we'll endorse your proposal, just don't walk away like this, you'll hurt us all badly".
Jo had been stacking the suitcases whilst his Momma was talking, now he turned to face her, tears still running down his face.
"You say I'll hurt all of you, but you didn't have any worries about hurting me did you, be very clear Momma, it's not me hurting you, this is something you all instigated, it's all of you who drove me away, it's what you did, so now you reap your rewards".
At that he opened the door and carried several of the suitcases out to his waiting car.
Before they got in the car he embraced his Momma, both had tears flowing.
"Why Momma, I don't understand, I got my words wrong, I didn't mean any harm, but what you did, it hurt, I didn't deserve that".
And then they were gone.
Jolly hadn't returned to the small dining room they'd been using for the meeting, she gone into the family lounge, sat on a settee and cried, great wracking sobs, a complete state of despair engulfed her, that's how Billy and Jay found her later.
And Jace, when he went up to bed that night, found the door to Mel's room, the one they'd been sharing these many weeks, months, securely locked, when he'd knocked, he'd heard her voice, knowing she was crying.
"Go away Jace, I need time alone to understand what happened tonight, I saw something I'm not sure I can accept, a raw nastiness that didn't need to be brought out, I don't like that, Jo and David were hurt badly, I can understand why they ran, right now I'm not sure I want to be here either, I'll talk to you tomorrow".
When Jace had gone down to breakfast next morning the first thing to hit him was his son, quite literally.
As he bent his head to give Ary his customary kiss, Ary slapped him, forcefully across the face.
"Go away, I hate you, Bobby's gone, it's all your fault".
Ary had run out of the breakfast room crying, Jace had been left stunned, Ary's words delivering a bigger message than he'd imagined, if Bobby was gone, then Mel was gone too.
He'd gone to her room, it was empty, except for the ring box sitting on the dresser, the emerald and diamonds giving the worst possible message, she was saying they were over.
It was Saturday morning, Jolly had received a message to meet Mel in the city, she'd said nothing to Billy, Jay, Jace or Will.
When they met, Mel had hugged her saying.
"I can't stand that I was the catalyst for this, I wish I'd never met Jace, never come into your family, I feel so terrible, it's as if this is all my fault, the break up of the boys close relationship, I'm so very sorry, but I can't condone what happened, I have to walk away, please understand, look after Jace, I love him so much, but we can't be together right now, I need space to think, to understand if I can get past what happened last night".
Jolly understood, and her reply gave Mel some reassurance.
"I understand, and you were in no way to blame for what happened, it shouldn't have happened, I don't know what triggered it, I know there was anger, I don't understand why, but we'll figure that out, I do know my boys, they can try as hard as they like, they won't be able to hold out that long, they'll crack and it will be like it never happened, so I'm begging you Mel, don't rule Jace out, he's a good man, you deserve to be together and I know he'll chase after you in time, he'll respect your wishes for now, but there will come a time when he will pursue you again, don't waste that opportunity because of a miss placed sense of loyalty to the family, think only of you and Bobby".
When she got home Jolly couldn't function, in her head it was as if her whole family were falling apart, first Jo and David, now Mel and Bobby, it seemed as if it was becoming a frequent occurrence when Billy and Jay found her sobbing in the lounge.
Life took on a sort of mechanical function for the remaining family.
On Monday morning Jace returned to JBJ Corporate.
Will returned to JBJ Brokerage.
Mel had informed them over the weekend, she would not be returning to JBJ Assessors, she'd left her car in the employee parking garage, her electronic security pass she'd handed to a startled security guard, with instructions to hand it to HR on Monday.
Billy and Jay took over once again at JBJ Assessors, only this time they realised they had to be looking to appoint someone who could head up the company, but it would prove an impossible task, though neither of them would admit it, no one came close to being Jo or David.
Mel secured a new position within the week, as head of Suspect Claim Department, at a Leading insurer.
She'd never gotten around to clearing out her old apartment, she and Bobby moved back in, she bought a second hand car to get them around, but she had a problem that she couldn't ignore for long.
Bobby like Ary, became a child recluse, unable to understand why he'd been taken away from his brother, convinced he'd done something bad to cause it.
Weeks turned into months, Jo and David had set up JD Loss Assessors, it had been an instant success, even they couldn't believe the number of referrals they were receiving.
They were living in an apartment in the city, it wasn't like the Barrington Hills house, it didn't have character, it wasn't ever a home, but it served as a base, despite their longing for the family.
There finally came a time when Jace knew, he couldn't stand it any longer, he missed Jo and David so much, the house wasn't like it had been, there was no happiness anymore, Ary never sought him out, never greeted him when he came home from work, preferring to stay in his room.
In his mind he knew what to do, he had to grovel, for as long, and as low as they wanted, he'd be prepared to do whatever it took, just to bring them back together.
He knew where they were living, Jo had employed a removal company to clear their suite at the house, packing up clothes and personal items.
Jace had gleaned the address from the job sheets the men were using.
On a Saturday morning he went in search of Ary.
"Munchkin, I was wondering if you wanted to see your uncles Jo and David?".
Ary couldn't hide the fact he'd love to see them, so Jace had a plan.
Let's get you ready and we'll go see if they're at home".
He didn't intend giving them any notice, in reality, he wasn't giving them any chance of avoiding him.
At their apartment block he parked his car and with Ary almost skipping along beside him, they'd made their way through the lobby, admitted, he'd had to wait for someone to exit, shouting.
"Hold the door".
He'd mumbled thanks and shuffled Ary through towards the elevators.
On the twenty fifth floor they'd exited into a plush hallway with only four apartment doors, the marble floor gleaming, there were side tables with large and intricate objects of art displayed at intervals around the hallway.
Jo saw the door of apartment two five zero one, he suddenly felt a rush of panic, he hadn't realised he was stood just staring at the door, until Ary shook his hand.
"What's the matter Poppa, you have to push the doorbell".
It shook Jace out of his fog and they walked up to the door.
He lifted Ary up, he wanted anyone looking through the spy hole to see Ary, it would make it that much harder to turn them away.
He'd made a game of it, letting Ary press the doorbell.
He heard the movement inside, caught the change of light in the glass of the spy hole, but nothing happened, whoever had looked at them had decided not to acknowledge them.
Jace felt like crying, but he put on a brave face for Ary.
"They must be away munchkin, maybe we'll catch them another time".
Then, slowly, he turned and walked back to the elevator.
They were crossing the lobby, about to leave the building, when David's voice had stopped them.
When the doorbell rang, David had been dressing after a late shower, he'd heard it assuming Jo would get it.
When he'd come out of their bedroom, he'd been shocked, Jo was stood to the side of the apartment door, tears running down his cheeks.
David had him in his arms in moments.
"What is it, I thought I heard the doorbell, who was it?".
Jo's words shocked him.
"Jace with Ary, I didn't answer it, I froze".
David almost threw him aside.
"Jo Thorn, sometimes you can be such a bloody idiot".
David was wrestling with the security lock, then he was gone, heading for the elevators.
Exiting the elevator in the lobby he saw them, just about to leave the building, Jace was still carrying Ary.
"Jace wait".
David crossed the lobby, wrapping his arms around both of them.
"This is not going to be easy, he saw you and froze, he's stood in the apartment crying, come back up Jace, if we can get anywhere near healing this rift I'll help you in any way I can".
Ary made them both laugh when, looking down he said.
"Uncle David you're wieners sticking out".
David hadn't finished dressing before bolting out of the apartment, now he was red faced as he hurriedly tucked himself in and zipped up.
They took the elevator back up to the twenty fifth floor, the apartment door was still ajar.
As they entered Jo was still stood to the side of the door, the tears were still streaming down his face.
David took Ary from Jace saying.
"Come on Munchkin, I want you to see the view from our balcony, it's amazing".
Turning back to Jo he said.
"It's now or never Jo, he's here, you've been yearning for this moment, all you need to do is open your arms, I guarantee he'll be in there like a shot, he needs you just as much as you need him, don't waste the moment".
As David walked across the lounge toward the balcony door, he glanced back at a sight which was such a relief, Jace in Jo's arms, the both of them crying.
And so as it turned out, reconnecting with Jo and David had been a pushover, now life could perhaps get back to something like it had been in the past.
But that was just Jace's thinking, in a state of euphoria, he had his big brother back, and he wasn't really listening, until he caught something about Mel, he'd suddenly perked up when Jo said.
"She can't work now, what will you do after, will you take Bobby?".
Jace was suddenly in panic mode, Mel must be seriously ill, why didn't he know.
Jo and David saw his expression, they knew immediately, he was completely in the dark, Mel hadn't told him.
TBC ARB Allan
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