CHAPTER 77 - PAST HISTORY, POSTERS AND PLOTTING

JFK AIRPORT - SATURDAY MORNING, A WEEK BEFORE THE PREMIERE

BRIAN

“Jesus, Jules does not mess about, does he?” I mutter to Justin as I look around the airport. Now we know who we are being guarded by, we see them everywhere! The meddlesome morons are still in Pittsburgh being watched by both the FBI and Jules’s team. But here are, at least, eight familiar faces!

“I know right. Can you imagine how many would be in Pittsburgh if Ruth was there with Carlo?” He laughs. “And how pissed she would be? She is more than capable of stopping those two should she need to.”

“True enough, but this way she’s kept out of jail.” I point out and do a headcount...when I get the nod from one of the faces, I’m relieved. “Okay, everyone let’s go!”

KOSLOV MOUNTAIN RETREAT

RUTH

I love and trust dad, who Jules is truthfully, but I just want to see them all. I finally lower my shoulders when I saw see the coach pulling up the drive.

“They’re here!” I shout and run to open the door.

“Ruthie!” Gus yells as he carefully comes down the stairs of the coach and then starts to run to me.

“Wait Gus-Gus! Want to see Ruthie too!” Gumdrop shouts from the stairs and my heart swells. Now that she’s officially Ben’s, she’s come along by leaps and bounds. Debs said that she never asks about Michael or Lindsay. As far as she is concerned, Ben is daddy, Xavi is papa, Mel is mommy and Leda is momma.

“Sorry!” Gus stops and waits until she catches up and they run to me hand in hand.

“Oh, my sweet darlings!” I cry, gathering them into my arms, showering them with kisses. “I can't believe how much you have grown! Now you see Gramma Reba at the door, go straight to her.” They both nod and run to her shouting their hellos.

As the rest of them come out, my heart is racing to see Harper and Lee. After everything I have heard, I just want to hold them for a few minutes. As soon as I see them, I swallow down my tears, shake my head and smile.

“Go to the lounge and wait.” Mom orders in a tone that brooks no argument. Sighing, I do as I am told.

LOUNGE

As great as it is to see everyone, I just want one minute...just one!

“Before we do anything else.” Brian announces. “There is a mommy, who wants to hold her babies, so let’s give her some time with them.” I start to well up when he and Justin let Harper and Lee crawl happily towards me, grinning. “Take your time.” Brian calls out and shuts the door.

UPPER LOUNGE

ARNO

I had barely stepped in the room with a sleepy Carlo when I was pounced upon by Debs. “I take it you have missed him?” I laugh as she settles next to Carl and he wraps his arms around the pair of them.

“Just a bit.” Carl grins back. “I can’t wait for you all to be back in the Pitts, we miss you!”

“We’re coming back after the premiere.” I get smiles of joy. “There is only so much protective dad she can take. She’s close to punching him.” I grimace slightly.

“Punching who?” Mama comes in and closes the door quietly. “Gus and Gumdrop are having a nap. Now what is this about punching?”

“Ruth....”

“Oh I see.” She sighs and there are looks of confusion. “He means well, very well. But Carlo is his first and he tends to forget how Ruth is.”

“What do you mean?” Debs asks quietly, rocking Carlo.

“She is very independent. When he first put me on her, she was absolutely furious and almost broke up with Hanno over…”

“Hold it! What do you mean put you on her?” Ben interrupts.

“She’s not told you how we actually met?” I ask and get blank expressions then smile. I look at Gilly and she nods. “About two years into their relationship, her father got sick and after much persuasion, she went to see him…”

“But you said that he’d not seen her since he left after the pepper thumb incident.” Justin looks at Gilly.

“She is also a very private person, remember?” Gilly smiles at his nod of recognition. “And in light of what is happening…”

“Worry not.” Mama reassures them.

“So back to how you two met...” Emmy now has Carlo and is speaking quietly. “Seriously, he is just beautiful.” He looks at Lucas, who just smiles back. Oh what’s happening there?!

“Anyway.” I clear my throat again. “She went to see him with Hanno and it got pretty close, but he survived. A few weeks after his recovery, Hanno told her to let her dad stay with her but Ruth said no. So in the end Hanno being Hanno, he got his way. In a way, he let him recuperate in his place. And they bonded. But at the time Ruth didn’t live with him and wouldn’t give her father her home address…”

“But Hanno did?” Carl sighs.

“Yes.” Mama sighs. I nod at her and she takes over the story. “So when she arrived home one night, he was there and he claimed that he found the place ransacked. Of course, she had no way of proving it was him. But that was enough for Jules and Hanno to decree she should move in with Hanno…” Carlo whimpers and mama is up immediately. “Here let me take him Emmy. You carry on, Arno.”

“Okay, it was fine for a few weeks but then she started to feel really uneasy around him. He’d never respect her physical boundaries, would always touch her in just about an appropriate way, but no matter what she said to Hanno about it, he wouldn’t listen…” I take a deep breath, hating my brother even more for not seeing what was so fucking obvious! “Anyway, one night she was coming home and some guy tried to grab her but she fought him off. Of course, Hanno brushed it off as a random incident. But it freaked her out so much that she finally broke down and told mama about that and about her dad. Mama told papa and he called me to shadow her. The irony of it is that if her dad hadn’t pointed me out to her, saying Hanno was stalking her and maybe he trashed her place, she would never have known that he was following her…”

“He was follow....” Lucas sighs. “Jesus.”

“Yeah, so papa persuaded him to leave. She was so fucked off, but was relieved that she wasn’t imagining her father’s overtures. After that, we became firm friends.”

“Where is he now?” Xavi demands.

“He is the same as CB...but unlike him, natural causes.” Papa’s voice startles us all.

“Must you do that?!” I almost shriek, mindful of Carlo.

“What?” He tries for innocent.

“Creep like a ninja!” I chuckle.

“I am wearing soft sole shoes and this is carpeted.” Papa smirks.

“That’s the second time you’ve said CB.” Mel chimes in. “Who is...wait is it Cody Bell? The guy that Carl mentioned?”

“Yes.” Jules replies, heading for Carlo. “He is no longer with us and if Justin wishes to explain who he is, that is his story to tell.”

“And I don’t. So let’s leave it there. Agreed?”

“Agreed. Nobody will ever ask.” Emmy’s voice is unusually firm as is his countenance. It surprises everyone and we all nod.

“Do you think we should go and…” Debs asks, getting up.

“I checked before I came in. They're all sleeping.” Papa interjects, waving her back down.

"So what is happening this weekend?” Jennifer sips her wine.

“Shopping, spa treatments…” Mama frowns as the doorbell rings. “Excuse me.”

We wait for her to return and when she does, Justin flies across the room to hug Daph! “You said you were going to be too busy!” He chides her.

“I know! Right as much as I love you...lemme at him!” She demands and with a grudging sigh, papa lets her take Carlo. “Where are the…”

“Carummies are with their mom, Gumdrop and Gus are napping and…”

“Carummies? Gumdrop?” She frowns.

“Give me my grandson. You need to be caught up and I’ve been told about your temper!” Mama laughs, but Daph doesn't and looks around.

“What have they done?” She demands.

An hour later, she’s stopped wearing a hole in the carpet. “Oh, I do so feel so sorry for them…”

“Who?” I demand astonished.

“Anybody that gets between me and anything I want when we go shopping tomorrow!”

MICHAEL AND LINDSAY’S - TWO HOURS LATER

SPARE BEDROOM

LINDSAY

We are still smarting from the pictures online and the comments underneath them, especially Michael. Now those have been particularly vicious; particularly those commending Justin for changing Zephyr. I enjoyed writing some of them! Admittedly, there were some other people writing, but only after I dropped a couple of comments and the floodgates opened. I wasn’t as vicious when it came to my images, but one has to be balanced!

I am in, what will temporarily be, Gus and Gum...JR’s room. I’ve not heard from Ethan yet and all my calls go to voicemail. Unlike the calls to Hobbs, these are made from my spare phone. The ones to Hobbs are made from Michael’s but by me...in full quiver.

“Lindsay!” I hear the door slam and the shrill voice of Michael and roll my eyes. Now what has got his panties, his extra-large panties, in a twist?!

“Up here!” I call out and step out so he can find me quickly and I can calm his latest round of histrionics.

“Look at this!” He spits and I wipe my cheek. “Sorry, but look!” He hands me a poster and I gape. “I know right?! Look at the artistry of the thing! He never did this for us! That little fucker held back on me!”

“Held bac...Michael, you have clearly missed something more significant than the artwork!” I snap, glaring at him. “But wait... where did you get this from?” I frown.

“Comic book store in town.” He replies as if I am stupid. Luckily for me, he is! “They’re all over the city. I can’t fucking move for seeing them!”

“Michael, the premiere is in 2 weeks!” I snap, pointing out the date on the poster.

“What?!” He looks at it again and wipes his sweaty face. “So we’re going to Los Angeles, then?” I frown. “Well where else would it be held, unless it’s in New York?”

“It could be anywhere! They filmed most of it in Paris…”

“Animated, Lindsay.” He corrects me, smugly. “It’s animated now, no longer a movie in the conventional sense of the word. Though not a route I would’ve taken.” He finishes sniffily.

“Whatever.” I retort. “The point is that we don’t know where the premiere is taking place, just the date so until we do we aren’t booking anything. Now get your phone!”

“Why? And what has happened to your manners?!”

I roll my eyes at him. God, how have I saddled myself with such an idiot?! Think of the greater good, Lindsay. Think of the greater good! I sigh deeply and explain. “Because you need to call Hobbs to step up or, at least, start his mind-fuck of Boy Wonder.”

“True. And I look forward to hearing about that.” He snickers as he turns to make the call but before he does, the doorbell rings. He shrugs and I head downstairs to see who it is while he continues his call.

I open the door to a smiling couple. “Can I help you?”

“Yes, we wanted to say hi. We’re new to the community. I’m Fred Lawson and this is my partner, Kevin Right.”

“Oh! Well hello, please come in! I’m Lindsay and I live with my friend, Michael. Come into the lounge.” I can hear Michael, talking loudly to Hobbs and start to wring my hands. “He’s a little stressed out at the moment. He-he won’t be long. Would you like a drink?”

“A tea please. Kevin?”

“The same.” He replies.

“Won’t be long.” I smile at them and head to the kitchen. As the kettle comes to the boil, I hear Michael stomping down the stairs.

“Lindsay, where are you?!” He yells. “Who the fuck are you two?!”

Bingo! I rush into the lounge with a tight smile. “Michael! Remember your manners; no need to be rude. This is Fred and his partner, Kevin. They are new to the community and wanted to say hello. Fred, Kevin this is Michael.”

“Hi.” He grumbles. “Lindsay, a word please?” He steers me back into the kitchen. “Can you get rid of them now? We need to talk about Hobbs…”

“Michael!” I hiss just loud enough. “Calm down. I will make our apologies, but try not to lose your temper please!” He folds his arms and glares. “Now go upstairs and let me get rid of them!” I whisper to him and he nods before stomping upstairs.

I head back into the lounge. “I’m so sorry about that, but there’s been an emergency. So could we reschedule this?”

“Of course! I hope that everything is okay. Here’s my card. Call me and we’ll sort something out.” Kevin smiles. I take it and gently usher them out. As I open the door and they step out, I apologize again. “Please accept my apologies for Michael’s behaviour. He’s going through an emotional time right now…”

“No problem. Don’t worry. Hope to see you soon.” Kevin replies.

“Thanks.” I smile and watch them walk down the path then shut the door. I almost slide down to the floor in relief. Seriously, that could not have gone better if I had planned it myself!

HOME OF FRED LAWSON AND KEVIN RIGHT - 20 MINUTES LATER

FRED/AGENT COLTRANE

“Well, what do you think?” I ask Agent Brown. “You played Kevin beautifully, the strong silent type.” He gives me the finger and laughs. “Well?”

“She played the damsel in distress enough for someone, if it wasn’t us and we didn’t know what to look for, to be concerned. That’s why I gave her my card.” He starts to type up the report. “I could really do with a cup of tea you know, since we missed out earlier.” He gives me a puppy dog stare.

“What did your last slave die of?” I grumble with a smile.

“He over-oh’d” I pause and look at him. “Fucked him to death!” He smirks.

“Fuck you!” I snort.

“Get in line!” He retorts, chuckling.