Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:31:16 +0000
From: Clive Westwood <cfgw2000@aol.com>
Subject: Life's Illusions - 10 years on - Chapter 16 Relationships

Please remember to donate to Nifty, it gives so much to all of us.

Any amount, large or small, is welcome in order to keep this free site
available.

Thank you, donations to the address below.

http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

Life's Illusions - 10 years on - Chapter 16


June 1st, six months since he became Chairman and Ramon was on hand in
Cornwall to welcome guests to the first open site, around the country the
other sites would all be open within the following two weeks.

He'd deliberately overspent on landscaping, insisting on much more robust
planting, compensation for the earlier than anticipated opening, which
would rob the original planting scheme of precious warm summer months to
grow into what was needed, but then, spending an extra half million GBP on
landscaping was of no concern when weighed against several million GBP of
extra revenue.

Every aspect of the parks had been meticulously scrutinised and tested by
Ramon or Raul , they were like ghosts, appearing and disappearing
everywhere.

The staff had been in training for weeks before the mock opening.

Two weeks earlier every family member and a large portion of Woodruff staff
had been pressed into service, they'd had to suffer a weekend of luxury,
testing every aspect of the parks, which, not withstanding a few teething
problems, had passed with flying colours.

Ramon's inspired advertising campaign had resulted in an average 96 percent
bookings/occupancy for the first year forecast, an unprecedented
achievement.

The press, both local and national had been enthusiastic in their
reporting.

The best headline in a two page spread of a national newspaper being :

...................Holiday Parks Forced To Up Their Game...............
...........................Woodruff Offers Genuine
Luxury.....................  .............................At The Same Price
As Squalor......................
.............................................Your Choice
!!.................................

By August Ramon had plans ready for a further three parks to open the
following March in the UK but by far his most ambitious plan was for six
parks throughout France, three of them being situated along the coastline
of the French Riviera in Southern France where Montclair was located.

Aly did as he'd said he would, returning to Afghanistan to submit his exit
papers, two weeks later he left the country, never to return.

Stevie's body had been flown home to the town in Southern England where he
grew up.

Stevie had always said it would never be his choice to live there again, it
had held little for him in the way of childhood memories, France and Italy
had been the countries he would have chosen to live out his days had fate
not robbed him of his wish, which was what finally tipped the scales for
Aly in deciding where to settle Stevie's ashes.

Aly arrived in Montclair at the end of February exhausted from traveling,
dressed in his full uniform which he'd worn for the flight home as honour
guard for Stevie's body, the funeral and to collect Stevie's ashes.

As his train pulled into Montclair station he'd been sound asleep.

Discovered by the Guard doing his routine inspection before the train made
its return, he was a little disoriented, the Guard handed Aly over to the
Station Master who, in reverence to anyone in uniform, promptly ushered him
into his own quiet parlour questioning where Aly was headed, on hearing
that Aly intended to walk to his destination, which was Chateau Montclair,
he provided the smartly dressed soldier with a cold beer and bade him rest
whilst his onward journey was worked out.

Although the lands of Chateau Montclair completely surrounded the town of
Montclair, the Chateau itself was a good five miles or more outside of the
town and the Guard could see Aly was exhausted, in no fit state to walk the
distance needed.

Woody and Jacqueline were having lunch with Jaque and Pete when their
housekeeper interrupted them to tell Woody there was a soldier by the name
of Alejandro at the railway station who seemed exhausted and disoriented,
he was being looked after by the Station Master.

Woody and Jacqueline were out of the house in minutes heading for the
railway station.

Pulling up in the car park they were met by the Station Master.

"I hope I did the right thing Monsieur Thorn, he's really tired, I couldn't
let him walk, I doubt he would have been able to make the journey".

Woody could have hugged the man for looking after Aly.

"You did splendidly, he is my most precious childhood friend, I owe you a
great debt for your kindness".

The Station Master shrugged off any further praise, as usual, just being
able to perform a service for the 'Montclair's' was reward enough.

In the days that followed Aly did little other than relax in the gardens of
Montclair.

Recounting his journey from Afghanistan, Woody realised why Ali had been
exhausted when he arrived in Montclair.

He'd left Afghanistan on a military carrier accompanying Stevie's coffin,
arriving many hours later in Germany, from there he'd transferred to a
second military flight into RAF Lyneham, just outside the town of Wootton
Bassett, Wiltshire, England.

He described the ride from the RAF Base through the town of Wootton Bassett
to the Undertakers Chapel of Rest.

As they'd approached the town, all traffic pulled over and drivers along
the route got out of their vehicles, the hearse slowed to walking pace on
the outskirts of the town, one of the funeral directors got out to walk in
front of the hearse through the town, every person on the pavements stopped
and bowed their heads as the hearse passed by, he'd admitted it brought
tears to his eyes to see Stevie honoured in this way.

Once he knew Stevie was safely settled in The Chapel of Rest he'd
registered at a forces accommodation whilst he arranged for Stevie's
funeral, that had been his only full nights sleep.

The following morning, all alone, he'd said goodbye to Stevie's earthly
body in a simple service before he was cremated.

Stevie's ashes were returned to him later the following day and Aly saw no
reason to linger in England, he'd booked his seat on the Eurostar Service
taking the last train of the day from Kent, England, through the Channel
Tunnel into France, transferring to a French train for the journey to
Montclair.

In all he had traveled for more than seven days and only slept one night.

He'd made two trips up the winding path from Chateau Montclair to the
family burial plot, in its centre was a tall stone cross of about twenty
feet, around it were dotted graves dating back as far as the sixteen
hundreds.

For most of the day the plot sat in the shade of a mighty oak tree, it's
swaying branches giving splashes of dappled light to the headstones of its
slumbering inhabitants.

Beneath the oak tree was a stone bench and before the bench a burial plot
framed many hundreds of years earlier but still unused.

In talking to Jacqueline and Jaque he'd been surprised it was unused
because the plot was regarded as the prime position, asking why it hadn't
been used Jaques reply had shaken both him and Woody who was listening
intently.

"I think it's been waiting for Stevie, it's written in documents dating
back as far as the sixteen hundreds that the plot will one day be the final
resting place of a great warrior, one who gave his life for the greater
good of all, from your description I see that as meaning Stevie, why else
would fate bring you here with his remains?".

Stevie's internment was held on a Sunday in August, most of the family
arrived on the previous day.

Aly carried Stevie's ashes in their casket up the winding path to the site,
there he was shocked to find not only family but almost the entire
population of Montclair and twenty of Stevie's Officers and fellow soldiers
flown in by Woody.

A headstone was already in place, it read,

Major Steven James Oliver VC, 1982 - 2014, Soulmate of Alejandro, killed in
Afghanistan, fighting terrorism, defending freedom for all.

In the bottom corner was another smaller inscription which read, Sleep well
Stevie my love, until the day we meet again, a piece of my heart rests with
you........Aly.

The service was beautifully performed by the local Priest, hymns were sung
by both church and school choirs before Aly placed Stevie's casket into the
grave and covered it with Montclair earth.

In the days, weeks and months which followed Ali seemed to gain strength
and a will to live again, he started running each evening and under
guidance from the local workers enjoyed long days in the vineyards doing
any menial tasks available.

Although Aly very rarely drank, he took to stopping at the local Inn on his
evening run, enjoying a cold soft drink, but mostly he enjoyed the pleasant
conversation and company of the aged Innkeeper Emile.

Their conversations covered every subject and it seemed Emile could give
advice on everything under the sun, knowledge gained listening to the words
of his patrons over many years.

When Aly suggested serving meals and converting the old orchard at the rear
into a beer garden for guests, the stables into accommodations, Emile
immediately dismissed the idea, saying he was far too old to be increasing
business, that would be a task for whomever followed him.

Some evenings Emile would be visibly tired and Aly could be found behind
the bar serving patrons up until closing time before undertaking the five
mile jog back to Montclair.

Aly had been working in the vineyard when a message was relayed that
Monsieur Woody wished to see him.

Arriving at Montclair Aly found Woody and Jacqueline in Woody's study,
their faces told Aly the news was not good.

Woody spoke, "I had a call from the Office of the Gendarmerie, there's no
easy way to put this, Emile passed away in his sleep last night, the
cleaning lady found him this morning when he didn't get up for his
breakfast, I'm sorry Bro, I know you two had become good friends".

Aly was devastated, but he remembered Emile's advice, 'Stay put for a while
boy, Montclair will show you your future, just be patient', he'd been
content to do as Emile suggested, but now he felt in flux again.

The Inn remained closed after Emile's death, his funeral was organised by
Sebastian the towns elderly solicitor who was also a personal friend of
Emile.

After the service, Aly was walking back to the car with Woody, Jacqueline,
Jaque and Pete when they were hailed by Sebastian who was struggling to
catch up with them.

"I apologise for my approach but I need urgently to speak with you
Alejandro, it's about the Inn".

Aly was puzzled, "What about the Inn Sebastian?".

Sebastian now nodded, "As I thought, he didn't tell you did he?, I asked
him if he had, he just fobbed me off, said, 'don't be a fool man, do you
think I'd be so foolish with the future of my lovely Inn without being sure
it would be looked after and loved the way I've loved it all these years',
I realise now he never did answer my question, just like Emile, the old
devil".

Aly was still puzzled, "I don't understand Sebastian, you're not making any
sense, what is it about the Inn?".

Sebastian's next statement really threw Aly.

"It's yours, he left it to you, he said he was finally confident he'd found
the one who would love it like he had all these years, he said you had
plans to make it grow, to help it flourish, well it's yours, free and
clear, the Inn, and four houses he owned in the village which are currently
rented out".

Although in a daze, Aly made plans to visit Sebastian's office the
following morning.

One week after Emile's funeral Ali reopened the Inn, unbeknown to him at
the time, it would be his home for the rest of his life.

At Montclair it was late evening, Jaque was leaving the Gate Lodge Office
which was used to manage the combined Montclair Vineyards, it was a few
minutes walk back to the main house, mostly in the dark along the main
driveway, until the house lights came into view.

Jaque sensed a presence, he couldn't be sure but it was a feeling, he was
being watched.

As he walked he texted to Woody, 'Urgent, floodlights, I'm on driveway,
being followed".

Within only seconds the dark driveway became as bright as a summers day,
and there before Jaque, a boy, he looked to be around 8 maybe 9 and visibly
terrified.

Behind the boy was Woody with several estate workers advancing, before him
stood Jaque, there was no escape, he dropped down on the ground crying,
looking totally beaten.

Jaque advanced on him and scooped the crying child up into his strong arms,
he was light, too light, his clothing was filling him out, but Jaque could
feel that underneath the boy was skin and bone, calling out to Woody he
stopped the advance of estate workers.

"False alarm Woody, it's just a child".

Woody continued alone towards Jaque, the estate workers retreated back to
the Winery and their late shift roles.

Jaque was concerned now that the child was alone and obviously
undernourished, it suggested the child was fending, or at least trying to
fend, for himself, and by the feel of his thin body he was not doing too
well.

The child was sobbing in Jaques arms but he appeared resigned, he wasn't
trying to get away, as Woody approached Jaque spoke.

"I'm bringing him back to the house, he's far too thin, I have a bad
feeling he's been abandoned, I think he's on the verge of giving up".

Woody nodded, a child, any child, had Woody's attention, one who was
suffering would receive help whether he wanted it or not, it was just his
way.

As they entered the Chateau through the kitchen door Jacqueline was waiting
for them.

"What was it, are you both okay?".

Woody being first in, Jacqueline couldn't see the child Jaque was carrying.

"It's okay Jac, it was sort of a false alarm, it turned out to be a child,
looking for food I think because he certainly needs some help, Jaque's
bringing him in now, can we get something hot going for him, he looks to be
starving".

While Jacqueline busied herself heating leftover soup Jaque brought the
terrified child into the kitchen.

Sitting him at the table he brushed the hair out the boy's eyes, "What's
your name boy?".

The boy stared at Jaque but didn't respond, "Do you understand English?".

Still no response

"Your Momma, Poppa, are they here?".

Still no response, Woody winked at the others indicating he had a hunch of
how to test the boy.

"Either the child is stupid Jaque or he doesn't speak English, he was
probably looking for something to steal when you found him".

That brought an angry, loud, shouted response which had all of them
grinning.

"I am not stupid, I speak perfectly good English, now let me go, I'm sorry,
I was only looking for food you'd thrown out in the bins, I don't steal".

As Woody had gained the response he took over.

"It's okay boy, I'm sorry too, I didn't mean what I said, I just wanted to
get you to speak so that we can try to help you, but first Jacqueline is
heating up some soup for you, eat first then we'll talk, take your time,
there's plenty if you want more".

With the soup in front of him the boy attacked it, ripping bread into
chunks and dropping it into the bowl to soak up the soup before devouring
it, Jacqueline refilled the bowl several times before the boy eased off and
finally laid down his spoon.

He touched Jacqueline's hand as she gathered the dish, "Thank you, I really
was hungry, thank you".

Jacqueline smiled, "if you let us, we will try to help you, that's all we
want to do".

Jaque picked him up from the seat at the table and was rewarded with a big
burp, he smiled and the boy giggled, "Now little one, I'll tell you what's
going to happen, first we talk, that means you have to answer, preferably
without shouting, then you get a hot bath and a nights sleep in a warm bed,
in the morning we'll decide what to do with you".

Carrying the boy into the parlour lounge they all sat, the boy still on
Jaques lap, in fact he was hanging onto Jaque tightly.

"No one will hurt you, we only want to help, so first, what is your name?".

The boy looked torn, should he tell them or not, he decided yes, they'd
been kind, "Jetmir Jashari, it means 'good life', my Poppa said I always
should live by my name".

Jaque hugged him, "Well Jetmir, I agree with your Poppa but tell me why
you're alone?".

It was a bad question to ask, tears started pouring, he sobbed, but despite
sounding broken he answered.

"They left me, I woke up and they'd gone, I don't know what to do now".

He was shaking with sobs, Jaque hugged him tight.

"Hey calm down little man, you're safe here, there's plenty to eat, and a
warm bed, for now you're okay, so let's figure out the rest of it okay?".

He calmed a little but the tears still flowed as he nodded his head.

"So who left you, was it your parents?".

Yet again an angry reply bellowed out of the boy.

"My Momma and Poppa are dead, they couldn't help leaving me, they didn't
want to, they loved me, it was the others, they promised Poppa they'd look
after me, he gave them all of our money before he died, they're thieves, no
better than filthy animals, I hate them".

The deep sobbing started again as he buried his head into Jaques chest and
Jaque hugged him tight, but he realised they needed more answers.

"Jetmir, do you know where you are from, where were you born, and what
happened to your parents?".

The sobbing had stopped, but there was no answer, Jaque was about to ask
the question again when Jacqueline shushed him, putting her finger to her
lips, looking down Jaque could see the boy was fast asleep.

"So much for the hot bath, I think he deserves to rest, everything else can
wait, I'll take him up and he can stay with me tonight, that way if he
wakes up, he won't be frightened".

As Jaque carried his sleeping bundle from the room, he turned to them.

"I don't know what Pete will say when he gets back tomorrow, I don't want
to let go now, I want to look after him, raise him, he deserves so much
better than the lousy life I think he's been living".

As Jaque disappeared upstairs, Woody and Jacqueline were left speechless,
until Jacqueline spoke.

"I never thought I'd see Jaque so passionate about anything, we have to
support him Woody, please".

Woody looked at his wife and there was, not reproval, more disappointment
in his reply.

"Jacqueline Montclair-Thorn, firstly, you don't ever ask for my approval,
it is a given that I will support you in everything you do, secondly, you
should already know I would support Jaque on any subject, but where a child
is concerned I will be front and centre, if Jaque is serious then we should
start pulling in favours, we'll talk about it in the morning".

Jacqueline realised she'd inadvertently offended him, "I'm sorry Woody,
that was a really poor choice of words nothing more, forgive me".

Woody wrapped her in his arms, "There is nothing to forgive, though I could
pretend hurt and extract a punishment".

Jacqueline was giggling, "And what punishment did you have in mind sir?".

Woody was wiggling his eyebrows, "Oh well, come upstairs and all will be
revealed, literally".

Jaque opened his eyes and realised the boy was awake and staring at him.

"Well, good morning little one, did you sleep well, I put you in my bed
because I didn't want you to be frightened if you woke in the night and
didn't know where you were, I hope you're not angry with me".

The boy stretched and smiled.

"This is the first bed I've slept in for a really long time, it's so soft
and warm, it makes me feel safe, but I know I can't stay here, I'm just
being soft and stupid like that woman said".

Jaque propped himself up on one elbow, "Ah yes, the conversation we didn't
finish last night when you started snoring loudly".

The boy looked upset.

"I'm sorry, I was so tired and the food was so good I couldn't help it, I
didn't mean to be rude".

Jaque was smiling now.

"I'm teasing, you didn't snore, you just closed your eyes, now let's get
you bathed and then we'll have some breakfast and perhaps you can tell us
some more about where you're from and what happened to you".

Jacqueline had sorted out some of Paul's clothes, he was younger than
Jetmir but the clothes fitted, mainly because the boy was badly
undernourished.

At breakfast he had been a little subdued at first until Roslyn and Paul
appeared, they'd taken to him immediately, piled food onto his plate and
generally rattled their way through breakfast bidding him goodbye as they
left for school and telling him they'd see him later.

Leading the boy back into the small lounge Jaque had sat down with Woody
and Jacqueline when the boy climbed onto his lap.

Jaque hugged him.

"Now let's get back to that conversation, where were you born, how old are
you and what happened to your parents?".

The sadness returned to the boys face but he gave them a pretty good
explanation of his life to date, he was 10 years old in just over a month,
his parents had been farmers, they worked a farm in Albania where he was
born, he remembered really happy times before his Momma got sick.

Several times he'd had to stop as the tears began to flow again but when
he'd composed himself he went on.

He remembered vague memories of men coming and telling them to leave the
farm and his Poppa packing as much as they could carry in their old truck,
he thought that was about six or seven months earlier because it was winter
and just after Christmas.

His Poppa had told him they were going to go somewhere warm where his Momma
would get better and they could start again but as they'd traveled his
Momma got worse.

They'd slept in their truck to save money, one morning his Momma wouldn't
wake up, he hadn't know until later, she had died in the night, he sobbed
as he'd told them he hadn't said goodbye, she was just gone and he missed
her.

The police had taken his Momma away and after several days told his Poppa
she was being buried in the local churchyard.

He'd gone with his Poppa to the churchyard and waited all day, it had been
bitterly cold but late in the afternoon they came, the Priest read some
words, he remembered crying.

As he told them, "My Momma loved me, I loved her, but I hadn't said
goodbye, they wouldn't let me, they just shooed us out of the churchyard,
we had to leave Momma behind".

No one said anything, but tears were running down all of their faces as
they listened.

He carried on, telling of their onward journey, sobbing again as he
remembered his Poppa had cried that day, he'd never seen his Poppa like
that before, he'd been so sad and he'd been coughing like his Momma had,
more and more.

They'd left that town and kept driving, his Poppa had told him they were in
France and things would get better the further they went, it would get
warmer he'd said, much warmer.

The truck broke, they didn't have enough money to fix it and his Poppa
couldn't get work, he remembered people were cruel they'd said his Poppa
was sick, not worth paying, his Poppa had been so sad, he hadn't laughed
any more and he was coughing so much.

They'd set out walking with what they could carry, just clothes and some of
his Mommas things, slept wherever they could, sometimes with other people
in camps, they'd shared meals.

They'd met up with a family in one of the camps, they'd walked with them
for several days.

His Poppa had pulled him away from the others one night, counted out all of
their money and told him to hide half of it in his shoes, he'd put the rest
back in his pocket, he'd told him he loved him dearly, but if anything
happened to him, he was to go with the other family, they'd promised his
Poppa they'd look after him.

He'd told his Poppa he didn't want to go with them, he wanted to stay with
his Poppa, but his Poppa had said he was sick, he might have no choice, God
might take him to be with Momma, he remembered crying so much, the other
family weren't nice, the woman had been really nasty to them.

The next morning his Poppa wouldn't wake up and the other family were gone,
he'd felt in his Poppa's pockets, all of their money was gone, they'd
robbed his Poppa and left, he'd been all alone and so frightened.

He'd hidden for hours then watched as the police took his fathers body
away.

He'd hidden in the local churchyard for days thinking they would do as they
had for his Momma and finally they turned up one day, he'd seen the crate,
it had his Poppa's name on it and some numbers, he'd watched as they buried
it then after they'd gone he lay next to his Poppa all night.

He'd left the next day, carrying as much as he could, the rest he'd hidden
in an old grave at the back of the churchyard.

That had been weeks ago, since then he'd spent his days looking for food,
some days he'd been lucky, other days he'd not, he hadn't really cared
anymore, when Jaque had found him he knew it was over, he didn't know what
would happen, he didn't really care, everyone who loved him was gone,
nothing mattered anymore.

Jacqueline held out her arms and the boy slid off Jaques lap and into
Jacqueline's embrace.

"I'm so sorry Jetmir, sorry all those things happened to you, it's not
fair, I'm sorry your Momma and Poppa died, but I believe there is a reason
why you were in our garden last night, why my brother Jaque found you, I
think god or fate want to give something back to you, make up for some of
what it has taken from you, and I think we are a big part of that, will you
trust us?, we'll do all we can to keep you here, if that's what you want,
you have to decide that, it has to be your decision, now let me have a
hug".

As Jacqueline released him he instinctively turned back to Jaque, climbing
into his lap and snuggling close.

Looking up into Jaques eyes he said, "Could I please stay here, I'll be a
good boy, Poppa said I was a good son, I can work, I'll earn my keep, I
promise".

Jaque smiled.

"For now you will stay and I'll do my best to make it happen on a permanent
basis, I don't want to lie and promise something I may not be able to
deliver but I will do all I can".

Woody watched, he saw the child sigh, he watched as hope faded away from
the boy, his expression returned to despair.

Woody clapped his hands.

"Wrong answer Jaque, now shall we try that one again, on a more positive
note".

Jaque looked at Woody who was nodding, he realised Woody was telling him he
was with him on this, that meant it would happen, one way or another, it
would happen.

"I'm sorry Jetmir, what I meant to say was yes, you will stay, but the work
will be schoolwork and you will earn your keep by being the best person you
can possibly be, the person your Momma and Poppa would be proud of, okay?".

Hope was back in the boys eyes, he was beaming and hugging Jaque.

Later that morning Woody made a series of telephone calls, ensuring at
Montclair for lunch that day were the local Magistrate, the Mayor, the Head
of Child Services and the Bishop.

Woody had decided to be less than honest, in fact he intended to be
downright devious, in order to allow these good people to do the proper
thing and put right a grave slur against The House of Montclair.

The fact no slur existed was neither here nor there, it only needed to be
perceived to create a need for the townsfolk of Montclair to feel an
overwhelming need to pressure certain high profile figures to ensure that
they put matters right.

Woody had visited the bakery in town that morning, chatting with his
friends the owner and his wife, his off the cuff comments had set up a
chain reaction, by midday the topic of conversation throughout the town was
the slur rained on the Montclair's, everyone was incensed, how could this
happen, The Montclair's were above such things, someone's head should roll
for this, and someone needed to put it right, The Montclair's were almost
saints, how could anyone do this.

He coached Jaque, Jetmir and Jacqueline prior to lunch on following his
lead, to Jetmir he said, "When I look at you and open my eyes wide, I want
tears, buckets of them, got it?".

Luncheon began in a somber mood, every guest had heard of the slur, each
was shocked, but none of them knew what the slur was, each thought the
other knew, but in truth none of them knew because really, it didn't exist.

As they took their seats in the Blue Dinning Salon, (Woody's choice to
further throw his guests off balance, this room was normally used when the
family was in mourning) the choice of room was not missed by anyone.

The Magistrate tried to open the conversation, feigning ignorance and
questioning the reason for the luncheon invites, Woody was almost ready to
jump up and clap his hands, sounding indignant he replied.

"You think there should be an ulterior motive for The Family Montclair to
invite you to take luncheon?".

The Magistrate almost chocked on the water he was taking a sip from, the
other guests were glaring at him, it was clear they thought he had just
taken them nearer to the cliff edge not brought them back.

Next to try was the Bishop.

"I find it a pleasure to share a luncheon with your family Monsieur".

Crafty old devil thought Woody, but you ain't been doing this since you
were twelve like I have,

"An interesting statement Your Excellency, is that because you didn't
expect us to invite you for some reason?"

The Bishop was the next to almost choke, and the other guests looked ready
to batter him.

Woody decided as they'd had the first course, it was time to drop the bomb.

As the main course was placed in front of their guests and just as they
were lifting the first forkful to their mouths, Woody slammed down his
cutlery, causing their guests to nearly jump out of their seats.

"The dictionary describes a slight, a slur as, 'To treat someone with
discourteous reserve or intention', please, enjoy your lunch".

Jacqueline, Jaque and even Jetmir were working desperately to control their
urge to giggle.

Woody decided half way through the main course it was time to go in for the
kill.

"There is no ill feeling from The Montclair's, but I would like to try and
understand why, a distant relative, finding himself orphaned, is denied the
chance to be part of my family".

Woody now looked at Jetmir and opened his eyes wide, unseen by the guests
who were suddenly drawn to a wailing child with tears streaming down his
cheeks.

Woody would later admit, Jetmir overdid it by a lot more than just a
little.

The Magistrate immediately dispensed with all game play.

"I don't understand, what is it you need Monsieur?".

And there it was, the opening Woody needed.

"My brother in law and Brother wish to adopt our poor orphaned cousin and
give him the life his dearly departed parents would have had him live had
the Lord not seen fit to take them so early from this life".

It took only a few quick looks and nods before the Magistrate answered,
admittedly he almost had to shout to be heard above the wailing, overacting
Jetmir, that is until Woody kicked him in the shin and his wail turned
first to a scream then died instantly as the Magistrate shouted.

"That is acceptable, put the paperwork before me tomorrow, I will have it
approved".

Woody smiled, and they knew, every one of them knew, they'd just been had,
but what to do, if they left this house with The Montclair's unhappy the
townsfolk would probably burn them all at the stake, and in this town, that
was not a joke.

So all was well, no, that was just another of life's illusions.

Pete arrived home to what he considered a strange welcome.

Traveling from New York he'd stopped off in Paris, once his business was
concluded he'd taken the train to Montclair, at the railway station in
Montclair he noticed strange looks, grins and nods of acknowledgement from
the locals, the Station Master tipped his cap and offered congratulations,
as he drove through the town people waved, Pete was puzzled.

Arriving home he found Jacqueline in the kitchen and was just about to tell
her about the strange behaviour when, a child, a boy, walked into the
kitchen, they looked at each other with curiosity, Pete was thinking,
'who's this', Jetmir was thinking, 'who's this', when Jacqueline said.

"Jetmir, come and meet Pete, he's Jaques husband, Pete, I'd like you to
meet Jetmir".

They were staring at each other, until Jetmir nervously broke the ice.

"Are you my other new Poppa?".

Pete was perplexed, there was something odd, something he didn't
understand, his answer was maybe a little gruff, certainly a little loud.

"Other Poppa, and who else is your Poppa?".

Jetmir, shrank back a little, this man didn't seem to like him, he answered
but much quieter, his confidence definitely wavering.

"Poppa Jaque, he said Poppa Pete would be coming home today, I thought....,
I well..., I'm sorry, I'll go, sorry...".

By now tears were running down his cheeks, he backed slowly towards the
door as Jacqueline called to him.

"Jetmir, wait, don't be upset, Poppa Pete is surprised that's all".

But he was already half out of the door, turning he ran.

Jacqueline was livid with Pete.

"You insensitive, stupid oaf, could you not have shown a little more
compassion, you've upset him, he thinks he's not wanted".

Pete was equally irritated.

"Oh forgive me, how remiss of me, I forgot, in this bloody lunatic asylum,
it's common practice to come home after four days away, to find your
husband now has a child, one you weren't consulted about, one who appears
to know all about you, and yet you know nothing about him, yes, of course,
I was being insensitive, stupid, an oaf as you put it, excuse me".

Pete had walked out of the kitchen and slammed the door behind him.

Totally unaware of the fiasco which had played out in the kitchen Jaque
climbed the staircase and immediately heard the sobs, unmistakably Jetmir,
he almost ran to the boys bedroom where he found him stuffing his meagre
possessions into the worn backpack.

"What's the matter son, what happened, why are you packing, please calm
down and tell me what's wrong?".

Jetmir was still sobbing.

"Monsieur Pete hates me, I'll go, thank you, you're a nice man, I would
have been proud to be your son, you're a good man".

Jaque was completely at a loss, he hugged the boy.

"Oh, he's a silly fool at times, but he's a really kind fool, he just needs
to meet you properly, wait here I'll go speak to him".

Jaque left the room heading for his and Petes suite of rooms on the floor
above.

Pete was in their lounge, unpacking his briefcase, cursing and throwing
papers onto the desk, when the door opened and Jaque walked in.

"What the hell did you say to him, he's sobbing and packing his things
ready to run away?".

Pete snapped.

"I apologise, I went away for a few days, I heard nothing from you, nothing
to indicate I was supposed to play the dutiful father when I walked back
through the door, oh yes, that would be because you didn't bother to tell
me about it did you, didn't it occur to you to pick up the telephone and
call me, I'm your husband, did you even give me a thought in all of this?,
no I don't think you did, so you'll excuse me if I'm also a little upset".

Jaque was completely thrown by Petes mood, he'd expected surprise, shock
even, but not this angry, petty attitude.

"Is that what this is about, because I didn't call you, I would have if I
hadn't been busy trying to understand the awful ordeal this child had been
through, meanwhile you're acting like a prick, not like the caring man I
married".

Now Pete was absolutely fuming.

"Well maybe you married the wrong man".

Jaque was also fuming.

"Yes, right now I think perhaps I did".

Pete knew this argument was getting completely out of control but he was
now furious.

"That's easily corrected, you go play Daddy, I'll pack and leave".

At that Pete stalked into his dressing room and slammed the door, cutting
off any further conversation.

Pete leaned back against the slammed door and groaned, what the hell had he
just done, how on earth had he let it get so out of hand, he'd just told
Jaque he was leaving, as if he wanted to, that was stupid, nothing was
further from the truth, he needed to tell Jaque he was sorry and he needed
to do it now.

Jaque was also shocked, how on earth had they got to this point, he didn't
know what to do, he knew Pete needed space to calm down so he went back
downstairs to Jetmir's room, but it was empty, he'd gone.

Jaque was in a panic, searching the room he realised the boy had packed
only what he brought into the house, but he was definitely missing.

Pete came down the stairs at the same time Jaque exited the boy's bedroom,
they met on the landing, Pete, ignorant of the fact that the boy had gone
started to apologise to Jaque.

"Can we try to put this into perspective, what I said was stupid, it was
said in anger...............".

Pete didn't get any further as Jaque rounded on him, tears in his eyes,
eyes which were flashing with anger.

"You want perspective, well right now a little boy who'd already suffered
incredible heartache from finding his beloved mother dead, then woke up one
morning next to his dead father, he dealt with the fact they'd been robbed
by heartless thieves while his father lay dying, picked himself up and
carried on, trying to feed himself, and now he's out there again fending
for himself, and why is this?, it's because you acted like a prissy little
princess, all upset because you weren't kept in the loop, get out of my
way, get out of my house and get out of my life, this boy needs me, you
don't".

Pete was left stunned as Jaque stormed off down the staircase.

In the lounge Jacqueline was being comforted by Woody when Pete entered
carrying two large bags.

"I'm sorry Jacqueline, you were right, I acted stupidly".

Woody looked at the bags, "You're going away again now?, Pete we need you
here, can't you postpone?".

Pete looked at his younger brother with tears in his eyes.

"I'm not going on business, I'm leaving, Jaque threw me out, told me to get
out of his life and his house, he married the wrong man, I'll ask Aly if I
can stay at the inn temporarily while I sort something".

At that with Woody staring dumbfounded at him, he walked out of the door.

Jaque had searched the grounds of Montclair but there had been no sign of
Jetmir, he'd vanished.

As Jaque walked back into the lounge he found Woody and Jacqueline waiting
for him and it was Jacqueline who launched into him.

"You idiot, you always were stupid, but even I didn't think you would throw
away the love of the one person who would lay down his life for you, and
what makes you think you have the right to throw family out of this house,
you don't".

At that Jacqueline stormed out of the room, slamming the door as she left.

Jaque was stunned but looking at Woody he could see he was getting no
sympathy from him.

"Do you want to explain what I did to deserve that outburst from my
sister?".

Woody could have done exactly the same as Jacqueline and scathed at him but
he didn't.

"I remember just before our wedding my Momma said something which I've
remembered but until now didn't make as much sense, she said, love your
children, protect your children, but don't forget your partner, because one
day your children will move on to live their own lives, but you two, God
willing, will be together for ever, you just messed that one up big style,
Pete has gone, he said you threw him out".

Jaque dropped down into an armchair, he knew he'd messed up 'big style', as
Woody put it.

"You're both right, I was a fool, an angry fool but right now I have to
find the boy, if Pete loves me, we'll be able to put this right later".

Driving into town Pete remembered the time when Pauly vanished, how he'd
felt, the sadness, it was back, that awful, painful, sense of loss, like
there was a great hole in his life, one that no one else could fill, he'd
lost Jaque and it was all his own fault.

As he passed by the churchyard he saw something, it couldn't be, could it?,
he pulled his car to the side of the road and grabbed a torch from the
glovebox.

Trying not to make any sound he snuck into the churchyard, slipping quietly
from gravestone to gravestone until he saw what he was looking for, a boy,
kneeling beside a fresh grave, no headstone, just mounded earth.

He heard a voice, young, between sobs, "I'm here Poppa, I want to come with
you, I can't do this on my own, I want to be with you and Momma".

Pete's heart almost broke hearing the sad words from the boy, he sounded
out of hope, no wish to carry on, he wanted to die.

Pete inched slowly forward until he was near enough to grab the boy.

Jetmir screamed.

"Get off me, I didn't do anything, I just want to sleep by my Poppa", he
was sobbing, "Poppa and Momma loved me, I want to be with them".

Pete pulled the sobbing boy into a hug, "Hush Son, I'm not going to hurt
you, I'm Poppa Pete".

Jetmir looked up but he couldn't see Pete's face against the beam of the
torch.

"You hated me, I heard you shouting at Poppa Jaque, he's a good man, I
didn't want to make him unhappy, I want to go to my own Momma and Poppa
they loved me, why couldn't I just go with them, it's not fair, I've tried
to be good like Poppa said, but everyone's nasty to me, I don't want to
struggle any more".

Pete felt so stupid.

"I'm sorry JJ", he hugged the boy closer, "You will have a good life with
Jaque, he is a good man, he'll love and protect you, don't deny him that
chance, you're Momma and Poppa would look down and see you grow in a safe
home being loved as a son they can be proud of, you have to go back,
please, will you do that for me?".

Pete looked down and saw the boy was asleep, lifting him and grabbing the
rucksack he'd laid besides him, he trudged back to his car.

Pulling up to the gates of Montclair he was waved through by the security
guards, he dialled Woody's number.

"Bro, I'm out front with a beautiful little boy, tell Jaque I was a fool
and I love him, come get him Bro he's out cold but I've made sure he knows
Jaque loves him".

Woody was trying to think.

"What about you and Jaque?".

Pete wanted to answer it was all alright, but what he said didn't give
Woody any hope.

"I don't think that can survive, but I need to know this boy will survive,
he's a wonderful boy, he's taught me a lot and he doesn't even know what
he's done, come get him Woody and remember to tell Jaque I love him,
whatever he thinks of me".

Next morning a groggy Jaque opened his eyes and his first sight was Jetmir,
fast asleep in the bed next to him, right where Woody had placed him last
night.

Grabbing him into a hug woke the boy.

"Oh thank god I was so worried, how did you get back here?".

Jetmir snuggled closer to Jaque.

"Poppa Pete found me in the churchyard at Poppa's grave, he called me JJ, I
like that name, he told me what a good man you are, he said you'd love and
protect me, I went to sleep on his lap, when I woke up later I was here
next to you so I went back to sleep".

Jaque felt elated that Jetmir was back safe but he was secretly hoping Pete
had stayed too.

"Did Poppa Pete stay as well?".

Jetmir could see the sadness in Jaques eyes.

"I don't know, I was asleep, but he must have brought me here, there was no
one else around".

Jaque later heard from Woody what Pete had said about loving him and he
realised how much of a loss he felt, with Pete gone he would never quite
feel whole again, there would always be part of him missing.

TBC

ARB Allan

Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.

Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.