Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2016 20:15:43 +0100
From: Clive Westwood <cfgw2000@aol.com>
Subject: Life's Illusions - 10 years on - Chapter 44 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 44


In Montclair Woody was meeting with PJ to finalise his exit from Woodruff
Corporate.

As Woody returned to full health, it had been PJ who had sought him out one
afternoon, he'd been dozing in a chair on the terrace behind the Chateau
and was completely surprised to see his Poppa.

"This is a pleasant surprise, you didn't say you were planning a visit".

PJ sat with him and told Woody why he was there.

"I realise now how selfish I've been, expecting you to, not just maintain,
but to keep helping expand the empire I built, I'm sorry son, I want to
discuss how we can extricate you from Woodruff".

Woody was caught completely by surprise.

"Poppa, I know how much Woodruff means to you, I'll carry on, there's no
need for you to be concerned".

PJ leaned over to hug his son.

"No Woody, I'm absolutely determined, it's not something you want to do, it
would be be wrong to have you carry on when you don't have your heart in
it, this here, the Chateau, the Winery, the Brand, is what you built, it's
a fine, vibrant, flourishing business, and it deserves your full
attention".

Woody couldn't argue with PJ, he would have been lying if he'd said he
wanted to carry on with his role at Woodruff, but it still felt like he was
letting his Father down.

PJ could see Woody's dilemma.

"We're finally going to float it Woody, it's far too big now, we've been
its loyal servants for all these years, it's been faithful, it's repaid us
by growing into what it is today, but it's enormous now, my dear Gramps,
God rest his soul, wouldn't recognise it".

PJ paused to think, Woody didn't interrupt.

"I don't want to be so tied, you don't want to be so tied, and now Josh is
telling me the same, we're not getting any younger son, it's time, and more
to the point, I know it's the right time because I don't feel guilty about
even suggesting it, that in itself speaks volumes".

Again PJ went silent.

"So I guess I'm here to ask you for one last thing, help me float it Woody,
it doesn't need us anymore, it's grown to the point where it needs a fully
diverse board of professionals to oversee it's needs".

Woody was relieved, it was what he wanted as well, to be able to
concentrate on his own venture.

The business Woody, Jacqueline and Jaque had built was now an
internationally recognised brand, House of Montclair Wines were vigorously
sought after, their forward production already secured several seasons in
advance.

And so after months of negotiation and planning the day arrived where
Woodruff was listed as a public company on the stock markets, it's new
name, Woodruff Incorporate.

PJ had opted to retain thirty percent of the shareholding, that was split
according to the share percentage held by the original shareholders of
Woodruff Corporate with just one change.

All those years earlier, when Woody had left, following the episode with
Will in the Woodruff Corporate Offices, he'd transferred his shares back to
PJ, now, on PJ's insistence, Woody once again was the holder of Woodruff
shares.

The new board of Woodruff Inc retained Josh as Executive Chairman and Bryan
Fielding as Chairman, every other shareholder elected to vacate their
position.

PJ and Woody watched the share price progress on the day of the floatation
with absolute awe, the shares had been pegged at two dollars fifty, but
within the first hour of trading they had reached Five dollars fifty and as
trading ended on the first day they had settled on four dollars, a massive
increase on the expected value.

That night at Montclair Jacqueline hosted a huge party to mark the launch
of Woodruff, one guest attended in a nervous state, it was the very first
time he'd trusted anyone to look after Pierre, not once in the year and a
half since they'd been back in Montclair had Juan left him.

Aly, Bo and Piers who were frequent visitors to the house on Avenue
Montclair had constantly encouraged Juan to get out more, but it was
altogether someone else who convinced him.

Most of the wider family were present at the party, including Reece and
Josef.

Leo was there with Casey Black and his family.

Also invited, and brought in on one of PJ's planes, was Sofia with her
boys.

Before Sofia arrived at Chateau Montclair she'd made an unscheduled, and
unannounced stop, at the house on Avenue Montclair which was a complete and
overwhelming surprise for Juan.

It had been just after eleven in the morning, Pierre's physio team had just
completed his daily exercises when the doorbell rang.

Juan had cursed the inconvenience and opened the door.

He'd stood, not able to speak, mouth agape, she hadn't changed, his
beautiful sister, two little boys clinging tightly to her.

"I didn't know if you would welcome me, but I have wanted to come for so
long, he saved me, it's so unfair, he gave me back my life, I get to live,
but he doesn't, I just wanted to kiss him, talk to him, I promised him I'd
bring the boys for a visit one day, I wanted to honour that promise, it was
given to someone I owe so much to".

Juan had thrown his arms around her and through tears of genuine joy,
invited her in.

Sofia had spent most of the day at Pierre's bedside, talking loudly one
minute, whispering the next, many tears were shed as she expressed her
genuine guilt that he was where he was, only because his good heart had
been set on helping her.

Late in the afternoon Juan asked where she was staying, the look told him
she hadn't really thought about that.

"I assumed there would be a hotel of sorts in the area, so I'll just get a
cab to take us there.

Juan hoped what he said next would be accepted.

"Stay here Sis, there's loads of room, Pierre took this place on when he
was desperate to get away from me, I don't think he actually gave any
thought to how big the place is, it must have been a distraction for him,
renovating it, then decorating and furnishing it, but in true Pierre style,
every room is immaculate".

Sofia wanted to stay, she also wanted something else.

"I'll stay if you agree to accompany me to the party at Chateau Montclair".

Juan was thrown into a mild panic, he'd never left Pierre, except with his
daytime physio team whilst he ran errands, never in over a year had he left
him in the care of anyone else at night.

When Sofia suggested maybe one of his regular physio team might watch over
him whilst they were out Juan relaxed a little, and when Juan approached
them, two of them agreed to spend the night, telling Juan to get as drunk
as a skunk for once, they'd look after Pierre.

And so Juan arrived at Chateau Montclair with Sofia.

On the drive out to the Chateau Juan broached a rather delicate subject.

"You realise there are people who will be here tonight, you will have to
meet them, it's not an option, certain people in particular?".

Sofia knew exactly who Juan was referring to.

"You mean Poppa and Josef?, yes, I know, the difficult part is, I don't
know how I'll react".

She went quiet but Juan didn't say anymore, he just let her dwell on it
until she finally spoke again.

"I think meeting Poppa will be the most difficult, I hurt him badly when I
went away, I know that, and although I was sorry, I couldn't help it, I had
to distance myself from you and Josef, Poppa was a casualty of that action,
I have to tell him I'm sorry, and I am, I want to make it up to him, I just
don't know how at the moment".

Again she was quiet.

"Meeting Josef, that worries me, I adored him, idolised him, all my life,
he was the big brother who knew wrong from right, he guided me, he couldn't
do anything wrong, neither of you could, the two of you destroyed that
image when you hurt Pierre, but it was somehow worse that Josef instigated
it, I couldn't deal with that, so I ran away, now I have to face it, and to
be honest, I don't know what I'll do".

Sofia was thinking.

"Can I ask you something Juan?, it's personal, it might hurt you but I want
to know the answer".

Juan had a good idea what she wanted to know, the stark truth would be all
he could offer, but he nodded.

"If Pierre were to wake up some day, what would you do, what if he still
didn't want you?".

Juan was quiet for a moment, not because he hadn't thought about just that
situation many times, but because he would finally be voicing what he knew
was possibly the one thing that could actually break him.

"First, it's not if Pierre were to wake up, it's when Pierre decides to
wake up, and he will, of that I'm confident, he will".

Sofia waited for him to go on.

"I'll deal with that situation when it arises, but yes, there is the
possibility Pierre will turn me away, if that were to happen I would
respect his wishes, it would probably be the straw that broke the camels
back, it would hurt me more now than it did before, but I will put Pierre
before my wants and needs for the rest of our days, so in answer to your
question, if he doesn't want me, I'll go away".

Sofia could see how sad it had made him to answer her question.

"And that is why I can finally forgive you".

Juan was stunned.

"You do?, I don't deserve it".

She hugged him.

"That answer tells me you do, it restores my faith in you".

Meeting her Poppa was every bit as emotional as Sofia had expected.

Reece had aged, he was still an extremely handsome man, but the worry since
Pauly's death had weighed heavily on him, he told Sofia that evening he
felt responsible for how Josef and Juan had behaved, and at the same time
he felt Poppa Pauly would have been annoyed, upset even, with how he'd
dealt with it.

Sofia hugged her Poppa and almost in joking asked what she could do to make
it up to him, the answer, although it surprised her, left her thinking.

"Come home, bring my Grandsons to Torremolinas, I'll give you, The Villa,
I'll move out if you prefer, just come home".

She was quiet but when she replied Reece was shocked.

"Let me think about it Poppa, but if I did come home, there would be no
giving me The Villa, nor would you be moving out, you would be required to
instil some paternal discipline into two impressionable boys, a job I
believe you are qualified to take on by way of your past experience".

They'd been laughing, walking towards the dining room when they came face
to face.

His expression was clearly one of terror, he had no idea she might be here,
he was confused and his only thought was to make a speedy exit.

"Poppa, Juan, Sofia, I didn't expect to see any of you here, if you'll
excuse me, I was just leaving".

Sofia dropped Reece's arm and stepped in front of her brother.

"You and I have some serious outstanding business, I've braved my demons to
be here, if you walk away now we're finished, there will be no repairing
our relationship, ever, the choice is yours".

Josef didn't reply, he simply held out his hand to Sofia and led her out
into the gardens.

"If you want me to apologise I will, if I could tell Pierre, I would, I
tried you know, so many times, I tried to apologise to Pierre but he was
having none of it".

He stopped to think what he wanted to say.

"Even now I'm not entirely sure what happened that day, a combination of
things turned me into a heartless bully, the very thing I'd fought
vehemently all my life".

She didn't say anything, just waited for him to go on.

"When I think back, I wasn't even bothered by your working at Guardian, it
was something that had been impressed on us all our lives, we needed to be
useful, productive, freeloading was not an option, but Juan was wound up,
and I was stressed, Pierre was bringing more stress, I was trying to push
it away, I wasn't pushing him away but I couldn't differentiate, I reacted
out of context, my mind wasn't making sense, I know it's not an excuse, but
I think everything just came together and the result happened".

Again he was quiet for a few moments.

"I'll always be ashamed of what happened that day, not just sorry,
completely, utterly ashamed, I loved him, no, I do love him, he is as much
my brother as Juan is, I don't think now that Juan was responsible for
anything that happened, I think Juan just reacted to my actions, with
catastrophic consequences, it was me who really set things in motion, me
who caused it to happen, now I've set the record straight I'm leaving,
goodnight".

And he did, he left, not giving Sofia any chance to speak.

When she returned from the gardens, both Reece and Juan were waiting where
she'd left them.

"He's gone, he explained it all, he knows, and accepts, that he was the one
who caused it, but he can't forgive himself, it doesn't matter if I forgive
him, only Pierre could give him the forgiveness he needs".

During the evening Sofia also came face to face with Rick who later
admitted, he'd only accepted the invitation because he thought there was a
chance she would be there.

She was overjoyed to get the chance to express her gratitude.

"I've wanted to contact you to thank you for what you did for me, you
disappeared so fast after that executive was arrested, I didn't get a
chance to say how grateful my boys and I are".

Rick took it as a chance to get to see Sofia again.

"If you're going to visit your Father in Torremolinas perhaps we could have
dinner, you can tell me how your life's going now".

Sofia smiled, a genuine smile, He was really nice, she felt comfortable in
his company.

"I'd like that, I'll let you know when I'm in Torremolinas".

Whilst Sofia and Rick were chatting, Milo, who'd accompanied Rick was
concentrating on someone else, his gaze never left Piers.

Piers was aware that Milo was staring at him, even when he glanced almost
furtively, Milo didn't look away, finally he had to say something.

"Hi, I'm Piers, I don't think we've met before, Pierre is my brother".

Milo reached out a hand to take the one Piers had extended, as their skin
touched they both shivered, it was like having an electric shock.

Piers tried to draw back, but Milo was holding on tight.

"I didn't want to come today, now I'm glad I did, I got to meet you, I
think we have a connection, would you like to have a drink with me
sometime, or now even?".

Piers was blushing, but he liked this guy.

"I'd like that".

They wandered away from the others with Reece almost giggling as he
whispered to Juan.

"I think Piers just fell in love, I'd better find Aly and Bo, they need
warning there's a wolf at the door".

As Reece drifted off in search of Aly and Bo, Juan realised he was standing
alone, Sofia and Rick had followed Piers and Milo to the Marquee where
drinks were being served.

A familiar voice from behind made him jump.

"It took me a long time to stop wanting to hurt you badly, I trusted you,
and your brother, not just with my company, but with something much more
precious, my Grandson, you may have done good things with the company, but
it can never wipe away the damage you did to my Grandson".

Juan hadn't spoken, he couldn't, everything Leo said was true, Leo just
stared, then turned away.

Juan hadn't answered because he knew what Leo wanted, like everyone else,
he wanted an apology, and Juan had stopped apologising a long time ago, it
wasn't that he wasn't sorry, it was because the only person who he wanted
so desperately to apologise to couldn't hear him, one day he would say the
words to Pierre".

He was wandering around, saying the odd hello, nodding to people he knew
when Aly came running towards him.

"It's Pierre, the guys rang here, they didn't have your cell phone number,
they said don't panic but he's become reality agitated, thrashing around,
more activity than they've ever seen him display, they've called the doctor
out in case he needs some sedation, I said you'd be back in a few minutes,
Woody's arranged a car, it's out by the front gates".

Aly kept pace with him as they jogged toward the gates.

As they got into the car Aly realised Juan was crying.

"Juan what is it, surely this is a good sign, there's movement?".

Through tears Juan looked at Aly, not wanting to tell him of the
conversation he'd had with Pierre's doctors before he'd brought him home,
but he knew he had to, Aly deserved to know, to be prepared".

"The doctors told me he was clinically dead, they said any muscle activity
would be his body reacting to his organs shutting down, they said it would
be the beginning of the end, I'm frightened Aly, frightened he's decided
it's time to go".

For the first time in years, Aly pulled his ex son in law into a hug,
Juan's love for Pierre was plainly displayed there in front of him, the boy
was genuinely breaking his heart.

"Don't Juan, they've been wrong before, have faith, he's a tough little
nut, I wouldn't discount his surprising us again".

When they arrived at the house on Avenue Montclair there was an ambulance
parked outside, it was no ordinary ambulance, Juan recognised it from when
they brought Pierre home, it was equipped to cope with a full size
specialist bed, Pierre's bed, they were planning to take him back to
hospital.

Juan went into a panic as soon as he saw the doctors directing operations
to get the bed containing Pierre out of the house.

"Stop, you're not taking him to hospital, we won't be able to control his
care in a hospital, if he's going to die, it will be here, in his own
home".

What the doctor replied shocked both Juan and Aly.

"Far from it my boy, we need the hospital urgently, those tubes are causing
him trouble, he's struggling to breathe on his own, they need to come out,
and quickly, don't ask me what's happened, I can't answer you on that
question, he shouldn't be able to do this but he has, he's back,
struggling, but make no mistake, he's definitely back".

Juan collapsed to his knees sobbing, with Aly in a similar state, they
hugged each other.

The next few days were a blur for everyone, he was breathing on his own, he
would seem to wake, his eyes would open, but he wasn't focusing on anyone,
anything, after a few moments his eyes would close again.

The doctors were at a loss, as one of them explained.

"There's monumental brain activity, it's as if he's processing everything
he's heard for the last few years, running it back and forth like a non
stop film, there is sensation in his limbs we know that, he reacts to
tests, but he seems to be stuck in a sort of limbo, all we can do is wait
and watch, he's got this far, I for one believe he'll do the next part when
he's ready, and finally, I see no reason to keep him here, take him home,
let him be comfortable in his own house".

And so the arduous task of transferring Pierre back to Avenue Montclair was
carried out the very next day.

Another month rolled by and there was no further change.

For Juan life fell back into a pattern, until the day an angry voice behind
him almost stopped his heart beating.

"What are you doing in my house?".

Juan whirled around to see Pierre attempting to get out of bed.

"No, Pierre you can't, you haven't put weight on your legs for years.

Pierre's face was not a happy one.

"What the heck are you talking about, get out of my way,and get out of my
house".

Juan was at a loss, he watched as Pierre put weight on legs where the
muscles hadn't been used in years, watched as Pierre sank to the floor
groaning, then he moved in and scooped him up in his arms, depositing him
back on the bed.

"Now stay put, I'll explain everything, but you can't get out of that bed
again, I'm not losing you now, just because you woke up in a bad mood, with
a face that looks like a slapped arse, smile, I promise you, this is a good
day".

Pierre's expression hadn't changed.

"I asked you what you're doing in my house, I take it I've been ill, I'm
guessing you came to visit, still trying to impress everyone, well I'm
better now, you can leave, get out".

Juan left his room and called Piers.

"He's awake, in a bad mood, you'll need to arrange someone to look after
him, he's ordered me to get out, I'll wait for you to get here, then I'll
pack and leave".

Piers was initially euphoric, but as soon as he got to the house along with
Aly and Bo, his mood changed, Pierre immediately launched into an attack on
all of them.

"How nice of my family to think about me, after I wake up to find him in my
room, too much trouble was it, couldn't be bothered, you just let any Tom,
Dick and Harry do the dirty work".

Piers was incensed but he allowed Pierre some slack.

Pierre, you're the one who left Power of Attorney to Juan, he's been
looking after you for nearly three years since it happened.

Pierre was totally confused.

"Since what happened?".

This time piers didn't sugar coat it.

"Since you died, you were in a road traffic accident in England, you were
pronounced clinically dead, thanks to Juan you survived, though I have to
say, if you don't drop the attitude you may not make it through another few
minutes, because right now I'm tempted to smack you repeatedly in the
mouth".

The shock registered on Pierre's face.

"Dead?, why did you keep me going?".

Piers was still not happy.

"We didn't have any say in it, Juan has cared for you night and day for
nearly three years, he refused anything and everything associated with
helping you to die, he was always convinced you'd wake up one day, he put
his whole life on hold for you, even though he knew you might wake up and
still not want him, I still remember his words, 'As long as he's alive
somewhere on this planet that's enough for me', you might want to think
about that now that you've ordered him to leave, you're only alive because
of him".

Pierre was silent, shocked, he just kept repeating.

"Three years, he did that for me".

Aly took over, talking gently to Pierre.

"It's us you should be angry with, non of us believed you could survive,
but not Juan, he's been resolute all this time, cared for your every need,
been with you almost every waking minute, when you started to get muscle
spasms the other night his heart was almost breaking, the doctors had told
him that would be a sign your organs were shutting down, I seriously
believe if you had died, he would have followed you from a broken heart,
he's truly sorry Pierre, please, speak to him, at least thank him, you're
only alive because of him".

Pierre nodded.

"Would you ask him to come see me, then leave us alone".

Aly had found Juan packing clothes into two bags.

"He wants to speak with you Juan".

Juan didn't stop packing.

"As soon as I'm packed, I'll stop off at his room before I leave".

Juan knocked on Pierre's bedroom door and heard the muffled answer to come
in.

"I'm leaving now, there's a detailed schedule on the table in the lounge,
what times everyone comes in daily, physio team, cook, cleaner, even the
gardener, every bill is paid in advance through to the end of the month".

Pierre suddenly thought about the bills.

"Do I need to swap my bank account back to me taking charge?".

Juan didn't show any emotion.

"Your accounts have not been touched since you last used them nearly three
years ago".

Pierre blurted out.

"Don't leave Juan, stay on for a while, see how we get on, I owe you so
much apparently".

Juan was on the verge of breaking down but he answered calmly.

"I can't stay when all you feel is a sense of gratitude, that's the only
reason you feel the need to offer me a place in your home, but I'm not
blind, there's no offer of a place in your heart or your life".

He paused, as much to get his emotions in check as anything, he didn't want
to give Pierre any reason to pity him.

Be absolutely clear about this Pierre, you owe me nothing, not a thing, all
I've done these last three years is what I should have done on that day
years ago, I should have looked after you, protected you, loved you, but
back then I didn't, for a few silly moments I didn't, and for that stupid
mistake I'll be eternally sorry, I'll leave here hoping that one day you
might find it in your heart to forgive me".

At that Juan lifted his bags and turned to leave.

"What if I tell you I love you, I want you, I need you, I forgave you a
long time ago, then will you stay with me, please?".

The only sound was of his bags hitting the floor as Juan spun around, in
moments he was holding him, hugging him, whispering only four words.

"Yes my love, forever".



TBC
ARB
Allan

Comments are welcome to cfgw2000@aol.com.

Thank you for giving me your time, enjoy.