CHAPTER 46 – THE FAMILY HAS BUBBLES OF HAPPINESS…THE REST GET REALITY

BRIAN

Five minutes later, Emmy Lou comes round.

                “You okay, you’re not going to faint again when we tell you the rest?” 

I ask him handing him a brandy, he gratefully swallows it down and looks between me, Justin and Drew.

                “Did I hear correctly, you’ve got your memories back?”  He demands sniffling

                “For now.”  Justin replies.

                “For now, what do you mean for now?”  Zee rubs her forehead worriedly.

                “Well they said that it could be a permanent memory or with the next lot of migraines they could be gone again, but for now they are here and that’s all that matters.” 

Justin smiles his Sunshine smile and then tilts his head up for a kiss, which I am happy to provide.

                “And you and I need to talk privately.”  He turns and whispers in my ear.

                “Uh huh because…”  I nuzzle his neck

                “You were there every night.”  He whispers back and smiles.

SHADYSIDE

MICHAEL

We’re still outside in shock.

                “You need to remove your stuff.  Mr Novotny and Ms Peterson you need to remove your stuff from the van, so we can take it back.”  Malcom Warth tells us.

                “What do you mean take it back, what are we supposed to go?”  Lindz demands

He shrugs and then folds his arms and glowers at me.

                “I’m curious about one thing.”  He tilts his head on one side.  “What on earth did you spend $3400 on?”

                “Since we paid it then it’s none of your business.”  Lindz snaps.  “Now excuse me I have to call our lawyer to lodge a complaint for…”

                “Two bathrobes, a couple of towels, one room service bill and the upgrade from the standard bedrooms to the suite.” 

Zee comments as she stops on the way to collect more of their stuff.

                “How the fuck do you know that!”  Lindz shouts at her.  “They had no right to tell you!”

                “Itemised billing is a wonderful thing.”  Her voice is like ice.

                “Wow, just wow.”  Warth laughs. 

Suddenly another van draws up and Zee frowns.

                “Get either Charles or David for me please.”  She asks Warth

Soon David comes out beaming.

DAVID

                “Ah it’s here, thank goodness!”

                “David this place comes fully furnished…”

                “Yes but this is for you two!”  He smiles.  “Charles it’s here!”

                “Guys, can you carry on we’ll be right back!”  Charles calls out shutting the door.

                “Come on, come on, come and look!  Now if it’s not the right one let us know and we’ll get it changed.”

                “Seriously you didn’t need…Faal can you come here please?” 

She calls out in a choked voice, he’s rushes to join her and we quickly follow him.

                “Mama!  Papa!”  He shouts.  “How did?  When did?”  He hiccups.

                “My boy let me breathe!”  His father demands chuckling.

                “Thank goodness they’re here; now that was the hardest secret ever to keep.”  Charles giggles.

                “Now you two have done enough for us.  Go home and be with them.”  I tell them gently.

LINDZ

                “Ex-fucking-scuse me but we are homeless!”  I bellow.  “Remember, Michael and me currently homeless because of the actions of…”

                “Do you need money?”  Faal’s mother asks.  “Although you look very well dressed for people who live on the streets.  How much should I give Faal?”

                “Uh mama this…”

                “No, no we have to be compassionate to people who have little or nothing, even though she’s highly demanding.  Now how much do I give?”

                “No mama, you misunderstand, she’s…”

                “Faal, please let me look…”

                “Look?”  I ask confused.

                “Yes, for the fuck I don’t give you meddling trollop!  So, now we go to the Treehouse!”

                “Wait is this it?”  Faal’s dad asks and when she nods, he turns to face me.   “You never had a chance, why did you even try?”

                “Seriously taking you home now.”  Faal grins.  “David, Charles thank you so much, I can’t believe you did this.  Can one of you tell Brian we want to swap weekends so you guys come to us?”

                “Michael you need to take your shit out my car.”  Zee calls to him.

                “Your car?”  He echoes

                “Yep, I wanted you to see what you were going to miss now that it is gone…again stuff out of my car.”

                “We’re going to follow you in the truck.”  Faal’s dad calls out.

                “What on earth for?”  Faal is surprised.

                “I have to keep an eye on the produce.”

                “Produce?”  Zee echoes

She looks again in the back of the truck.

                “How the fuck did you get that through customs?”  Zee demands.  “You know what forget it let’s just go home.”

                “Oh wait Charles, David, remember not a word except cool boxes yes!”  Faal’s dad calls out.

Laughing and nodding they return to the house.

WARTH

                “You know that is the quietest I’ve heard Zee when she wasn’t simmering with anger.  Now again, Mr Novotny and Ms Peterson, stuff out of the van or rent it to take you elsewhere.”

Lindsay continues to stare at me like I have two heads and my patience has run out.

                “Okay boys dump it!”  I call out.

                “No wait we’ll hire it!”  I shout.

                “Where are we going to go Lindz?”  Michael whines.

                “Let me call daddy.”

PETERSON RESIDENCE

RONALD

                “Lindsay darling, how are you?  Your mother and I are just fine.  Oh you do, I thought you would be back in the Brownstone by now?  Ah their redecorating it are they, I see.  Right let me call you back.”

I put the phone down and having had to avoid the grasping hand of Nancy, who is glowering at me and for once I hold her gaze and it is her who looks away first.

I look through our portfolio and but then pause, no this will not do.

                “Lindsay, its daddy, sorry darling but the place I thought would work now has a tenant in it.  Yes I know you’re my daughter darling I was there at the conception but they are paying tenants, why not check into the Courtyard Marriott instead, well for as long as you need to be there of course, at least it’s a base.  Okay let us know when you are settled.  Bye darling.”

I take Nancy’s hand and she’s standoffish, unyielding and cold.

                “Nancy, listen to me, we have to be strong and be strong together.  It’s for the best.”

Eventually I feel it, a tiny squeeze on my hand to say she’s with me.

SHADYSIDE

MICHAEL

                “So where are we going and what do we do with my collectibles?”

I see her start to tense up and then suddenly she lets out a breath and then smiles. 

                “Right, first I need to speak to Mel.”  She takes out her phone and waits for her to answer.  “Mel where are you?!  The problem is that we are now homeless which you most probably knew about and left us to walk into that humiliation.  Right now I need the key to the storage unit.  What do you mean check my keyring?  Mel?  Mel!”

She jabs her phone off and stalks up to Warth.

                “How much to hire this van?”

                “You need to speak to the driver.  Now excuse me I need to make sure that my clients are happy with their new home.”

He walks smartly up the path and is let inside.

Four hours later we back at hotel having had to go to the storage locker to put our stuff in there, we take a taxi back to the hotel still smarting from the van having cost us another $400.

                “She certainly didn’t waste any fucking time clearing her stuff out!”  Lindz bleats

                “Well it’s a good thing she did or my stuff wouldn’t have fit in.  So what’s our next plan of action?”

She sighs heavily and hands me the paperwork we got earlier.

                “Let’s start reading.”

BRITIN – DAWN SATURDAY MORNING

MASTER BEDROOM

BRIAN

Oh fuck, oh God, feels so good is the only thought blazing through my mind as wave after wave of pleasure wracks my body.

I’m covered in sweat, my nipples are tender from where he has feasted on them.  I’m sure I have hickeys on my ass after he rimmed me.  And now I’m biting my lip and twisting the sheets because if I make a noise or touch him he’ll stop and God I don’t want him to stop. 

Slowly he pushes back inside me, his cock is covered with cooling lube and he slowly strokes warming lube down my shaft.  I arch my back as he applies a drop to my slit and as the heat blooms I almost bite through my tongue.

                “So you were there every night?”  He withdraws leaving only his tip inside me

I nod frantically wanting all of him back inside and I watch as he applies more lube to himself

                “So you made sure I was okay?”  He groans thrusting back in slowly

My hands leave the bed and want to grab his hips but I manage to force them back down before inhaling deeply and nodding, his slim fingers whisper across my pelvis and I almost burst into tears as it feels like a thousand feathers tickling my skin, I buck up and he stops moving raising an eyebrow.  I manage to still my hips.

                “You so loved me then?” 

He sits on his knees and swiftly pulls me up his thighs so he’s deeply embedded inside me, I open my mouth in a soundless scream.  He pulls my legs over his shoulders, which must be heavy for him and I was about to object when he kneels up and starts to pound.

                “You…loved…me…didn’t…you?”  He thrusts on every word.

I feel his hands on my cheeks as he pulls them apart and thrusts harder, hitting me every time.

                “Loved…oh God…loved me then?”  He demands

I nod and thrash my head at the same time.

                “Answer me!”  He jabs sharply and strokes me at the same time.

                “Yes!  Yes…I l-loved you t-then!”

                “Good.”  He yells and then proceeds to fuck me until we both pass out.

JUSTIN

I slowly open my eyes and peel my face off of his chest, he grins down at me and quirks an eyebrow.

                “Oh yeah I want to try that.”  I grin back.

Slowly we untangle ourselves and look somewhat dazedly around.

                “What…what time is it?”  His voice is hoarse

Fumbling for the clock, I run my fingers through my hair but they come up against dried cum, he chortles smugly.

                “Just gone six, we need to have a bath.”  I mumble and sit up.

He nods and slowly walks to the wardrobe and checks out his ass.

                “Justin!”  He gripes as he sees the hickeys I put there.

                “What.”  I try and fail to look innocently at him.

He leans down and gives me a sweet tongue fucking kiss.

                “Come on, let’s go test our new tub.”

He grabs our robes and we head downstairs after we strip the bed.  We had spoken to Zee and Faal about the tub in Portland and they gave us the details and then told us to call Baz.  In the end we decided to make the window into double doors that look out into the garden and we increased the size of the tub, but at Alice’s and Vince’s insistence the doors had to be semi opaque.

Whilst the tub is filling I make some coffee and we keep grinning at each other.

                “What?”  I ask.

                “That was fucking hot and cold.”  He nudges me.  “How are your shoulders?”

                “A little sore, I didn’t quite think that through.”  I wrap my arms round him.

                “So you have your kneeling position and I have mine.  Can’t wait for the honeymoon!  Think the bath’s done.”

He kisses my ring finger and we head to the bathroom.

PHIL MITCHAM’S HOUSE – EARLY SATURDAY MORNING

I look at the time and then at my phone.

                “No, no fucking way am I speaking to her.” 

I switch off my phone and wrap my arms round my wife before going back to sleep I make a mental note to put her on the hang up list once the bill is settled.

COURTYARD HOTEL

LINDZ & MICHAEL’S SUITE

LINDZ

                “He’s not answering.”  I pace round the room.

Now I know it came across to Mel that I wasn’t paying attention to her ramblings about her job but I know a subpoena cannot be ignored.  Fuck I had hoped to delay them a bit longer.

                “Well we keep trying until we get him.  And if he doesn’t answer then we go round to the office…”

                “Michael it’s Saturday.” 

                “Well his home then…we are the clients he has to speak to us when we want him to.  I’ve had enough of being pushed around!”

I like this new determined Michael.

                “You’re right he does.  I’ll try him every 20 minutes and you try and find his home address.”

BRITIN – LATE MORNING

GARAGE

ALICE

I have had such a frantic morning, when Brian and Justin told me and George about his memories last night I burst into tears, I was a snivelling wreck so I was glad that they told us privately. 

I’ve been stocking up his studio as he wants to paint what he can remember whilst he can and on top of that we’re meeting Faal’s parents and I’ve already had a call from Zee sounding somewhat harassed and asking if I have a cake stand.  I have barely had a moment to myself!

                “Cool box, cake stand, furballs’ food, furballs, cushion and something else what is it?” 

I mutter to myself as I get in the car and smile at Phil, he is looking at me funny.

                “What?”  I ask him.

                “Is it one of those PJ lunch things that Vince told me about?”

I look down and realise I’m still in my raggedy sweats.

                “Dammit!”

I get out of the car only to be greeted by George with an overnight bag and a grin on his face.

                “Not a word you old coot!”  I chastise him and take the bag.

Brian and Justin wisely say nothing either as they head to the car with Vince.

                “Snickering counts as saying something Vince!”  I call out.

BEN & HUNTER’S

STEVE

                “Ben?  How you feeling about Hunter’s new lawyer do you really think he can stop Michael from fighting this?”

                “He seemed to think so.  We’re still waiting for a fucking reply from them about a court date but Mel says she’s got something to tell the family about that.  And Zee says she also got something to tell us as well.”

                “I hope Mel has good news, those kids needs a fucking break from him, a permanent one…legally of course”

                “Oh of course.”  He grins at me.

                “Any idea why we need a cool box?” 

He shakes his head as he locks up and we head to Eli and Monty’s with Taylor skipping ahead, she’s got a play date and overnight with their children.

                “Well hello there Taylor, you know where they are go ahead sweetheart.”

                “Thank you Uncle Eli!”  She runs down the corridor yelling for them.

                “Here’s her stuff, we’ll be round to pick her up about nine tomorrow morning if that’s okay.”

                “Its fine, they’re looking forward to their weekend next time.”  He smiles.

As we turn to go to the car he calls Ben back and when he gets in he looks a little stunned.

                “What, what did he say?”

                “That he’s never seen me look so happy.  And despite everything I really am.”

I take his hand and kiss the back of it.

                “Good.”

COURTYARD HOTEL SUITE

MICHAEL

                “Right so we can’t go to the office or the home, well let’s go to the source of the problem.  Didn’t he say that they were swapping weekends; well let’s go have some lunch and if we don’t get in today we can go back tomorrow right?”

Lindz smiles and nods at me, the days of being a pushover for me are over.

JUDGE MAATJE’S RESIDENCE

I have read the paperwork for these cases three times and I can’t I can’t not do it.

                “Edward its Meriam, okay so I have to close the Peterson vs Mitchell, but you take her and I take him.  Let’s try and do it in a week, from what I see from this and from her behaviour in court they need to understand the legal difference between wrong and right, since they don’t seem to see the moral one.”

BRITIN – EARLY AFTERNOON

KITCHEN

ZEE

Thank goodness it’s gone 1200 I knock back the glass of wine quickly.  I absolutely hate doing desserts, which is why we’ve agreed from now on at E&ZHoD that Emmy Lou does them, but Hugo and Martha are big on desserts so I have made a lemon blueberry cheesecake, which might not sound fancy but when you consider it is a layer of blueberry sponge cake then a cheesecake filling and then another layer of blueberry sponge cake with candied lemon peel on top it is quite impressive, now all I need to do is get it out of the fridge and onto the stand without fucking it up.

                “Can I help now?”  Hugo asks.

                “No and tell your son not to bother either.”  I smile at him.

                “Son she’s onto us!”  He calls out heading back to the lounge.

I see the cars coming and shove them into the office and tell them to keep quiet.

                “Hey sweetie, where’d you go yesterday, leaving us to sort the house like that was very naughty!”

Emmy Lou is already in the fridge as usual, digging out bubbles.

                “Oh something came up, you okay after your fainting thing yesterday?” 

This brings on a fresh lot of tears and I pull him into my arms.

                “Shush, sweet Emmy, shush.  It’s a good thing like he said be happy.”

                “These are happy tears and it’s going to be worse when the rest of the family finds out.”  He sniffs.

                “So it’s going to be a day of good news then?”  I wipe his tears away.  “Come on let’s get set up.”

LOUNGE

As I let the last of the family in, I smile to myself.  I didn’t get to be where I am without anticipating the odd move or two.

BRIAN

                “Can I have your attention please, some of you already know because you were there, but, I’m pleased to say that Justin has all his prom memories back, them coming was what was causing the migraines, now they might not stay but for now he’s got them and, Sunshine…”

                “I’m going to try and recapture them so don’t be surprised if this week you barely see or hear from me.”

Everyone is crying, even the normally stoic Carl has tears coming down his face.

                “Come on this is a happy thing, so cheers to memories!”

                “To memories!”  Everyone cries.

                “Dammit, nibbles, I’ll be right back!”  Zee calls out.

ZEE

I shut the lounge door having had to scoot Storm back inside who fell in love with Hugo the moment she saw him, she adores Faal’s so thinks there’s two of him and is in heaven.  A quick tap on the office door brings them out and we gather the loaded mini pulled pork subs, ancho chilli wings, Thai sliders and confit duck bao buns and take a deep breath and head back. 

                “Right we have…”

                “Oupa, Ouma!”  Matt yells flying across the room to get to them.

                “Yeah them!”  Faal guffaws.  “Everyone these are my parents Hugo and Martha, also known as grandpa and grandma.  Charles and David surprised me with them yesterday, which is why we went early.”

There is confusion on some faces.

                “Let me explain.  Michael and Lindsay no longer live in Shadyside because Charles and David now do, which I believe puts a big ding in their hopes of getting physical custody of them without a permanent residence.”  I smile.

                “Shadyside?  You’re in Shadyside?”  Jenny looks between David and Charles.

                “He arrived this morning and is spending some time with Josh, Carrie and Sarah. Now don’t be mad at him, he didn’t know where were going to live, so it was a surprise for him too.”  David smiles at her.  “So we can expect you for lunch say tomorrow…obviously with Mel and Leda too, alongside the dogs because they will need walking, which I’m sure that you and Hank can handle correct?” 

Jenny goes as red as a tomato and mumbles into her glass.

                “Think that was a yes.”  Leda smiles.

                “And speaking of good news.  We’ve found a lawyer that will work pro-bono for me to fight him on the dissolution case, he really wanted to help and I feel good about him.”  Hunter grins

                “Who is this guy have you checked him out?”  Carl asks

                “Oh no, I haven’t, his name’s Ivan Vine, I guess I should look him up.”  Hunter’s shoulder’s sag a bit.

                “No need, he’s absolutely fine.  Trust me.”  Brian grins at him.

                “Oh and some funny news.  You know all that crap from Michael’s room that I sold, well guess who’s been buying them…”  Debs cackles.

                “No!”  Blake cries out.  “How did he not know?”

                “Damned if I know and fuck if I care, the last of it is gone and on its way to the Courtyard Hotel.  His face was an absolute picture when I told him!”

                “Great at least we know where to send the paperwork to.  I have some good news as well.  They’ve been subpoenaed for the last week in March and there is no getting out of it and according to Adam it’s not going to be pretty for them.  Remember the breach of promise hearing, well it seems that Lindz has still not written the letter and Judge Maatje is getting a little cross.  And you never want a cross judge.”

I don’t know what made me look up but I see the backs of them going down the path and laugh.

                “What’s so funny?”  Faal asks

When I point everyone turns round to look and then turn back to me. 

                “I took the idea from you Ben.” 

                “You disconnected the bell?”  He flicks me a wink.

Hugo is staring at Brian and Justin, who have settled in their normal spot on the sofa.

                “So now you two.  Faal has told us all about you and your lovely story, so don’t get too comfortable, come and see what we have for you so we know what to stock you up with!”

                “Papa what have you done?” 

Faal looks concerned as we follow them out to the truck, which we were not allowed to investigate last night.

HUGO

I’m still so fucking cross.  I know exactly why she thought she could get Faal, I so wanted to punch the little madam in the face, but luckily I know their love for each other is strong.  They were lucky the bell was disconnected or I would’ve gone after them for sure, especially for the wine.  How can two people cause such pain and to their children as well.

I open the truck and help Faal inside, Ben and Steve soon follow as does Tucker and we unload box after box.

                “Papa what is in here?!” 

                “Beef we have Waygu and Kobe; ostrich and kudu steaks; kingklip both fillets and whole; giant prawns; lobsters, snails and of course we have beers, wine and spirits...”

                “Why did we need to bring a cool box?”  Tucker asks heaving out another box.

                “Well you’re not going to be at the honeymoon so you get to taste what they are having and we get to find out what they want stocked and not.  Oh the black mushrooms are exquisite Ben you will like them especially in an omelette.”

                “Papa seriously how did you get this here?”  Zee give me an indulgent smile.

                “When we knew we were coming, we ordered from an emporium I know, and no I’m not telling you where it is Faal so don’t ask you will only complain when Zee ‘doesn’t do it like mama’, so it’s all fresh so just needs to be frozen.”

Two hours later everyone has their box filled…Justin has lived up to his reputation by watching like a hawk to make sure that everyone’s especially theirs has the same amount.

                “So Martha, Faal, Debbie, Jennifer and Alice come with me…time to braai!”

                “Why can’t I come, I need to know how to cook them when we get there.”  Justin objects.

                “No you don’t.”  Martha smiles at him and then winks at Faal.

                “I don’t.  Why don’t I?  Wait; why don’t I?”  He calls out to my retreating back.

COURTYARD HOTEL SUITE

MICHAEL

We’ve been trying Mitcham for the last hour and he’s still not picking up. 

                “Michael, let me try daddy he would definitely know his address.  Daddy it’s me, listen I really need Phil’s home address, I want to send his wife some flowers to apologise for pulling him out of his home last weekend.  Yes I have a pen, thank you daddy.”

She grins at me and flashes the piece of paper.

                “Okay let’s go speak to our lawyer.”  I grin back.

Twenty minutes later we are staring into the stunned face of Phil and the not so happy face of his wife. 

PHIL MITCHAM’S HOUSE

PHIL

                “What the hell are you two doing here?” 

                “You weren’t picking up your phone so we decided to come and see you instead.  Aren’t you going to let us in?” 

Her imperious tone is like acid on a cut and I reluctantly step aside mouthing apologies at my wife.

                “Make this quick.  How’d you get my address anyway?”  I growl

                “We’ve been subpoenaed.  From daddy of course.”  She tells me.

                “Good old daddy.  I know you’ve been subpoenaed I’m your lawyer…”

                “Well you aren’t acting like it!”  He grumbles

                “Oh trust me I’m acting like it, now here’s the thing, there is fuck all I can do about this because it is a Saturday and the courts are closed so we can’t challenge the subpoena until they open now if you called me on Friday when I was in my OFFICE then I might have been able to do something but since this is my HOME and it’s Saturday I can’t and even if I could I wouldn’t.  Now return from whence you came and I call my office on Monday to set up an appointment…”

                “But we’re here now let’s just set up one…”

                “I’m in court all day on Monday so call my office and set up an appointment!  Good day to you both!”

I swing the door open and they take a few minutes to try and stare me into compliance before flouncing out.

                “Darling I’m so sorry.  Now just bear with me a minute, I need to make a call.  Ronald its Phil, no I’m not well, I’m furious!  Can you tell me why you gave your daughter my home address without checking with me first?  I don’t care what reason she gave, this is my private residence and you had no right to give out that information!  Well as my grandmother says that fine apology butters no parsnips; once the legalities with your daughter are resolved, I will be reviewing the retainer between the two of us with a view to cancelling.  Have a good weekend.”

                “Daddy, can we play tea parties now?”

                “Yes darling we can.”

TREEHOUSE

LOUNGE

ZEE

Now I know what Justin feels like when he wants in the kitchen!

                “Not fun is it?”  He pouts from Brian’s lap.

                “No, but I do have one advantage over you.  Who wants tartare?”

                “Isn’t that the raw steak thing with a raw egg?”  Hunter looks a little green

                “Yep.”

                “I love steak tartare.”  Jennifer groans.

                “So who wants wagyu beef steak tartare?”  I smile at them as hands are raised.

                “How does this get you in there?”  Justin is wriggling with excitement and Brian gets boss eyed.

                “Come with me.”

They follow me down to the kitchen and I knock on the locked door, just barely managing not to grind my teeth, Faal pokes his head out.

                “Yes?”

                “Have a request from the family.”

                “And what is that?”  Hugo calls out.

                “Waygu beef steak tartare.”

There is a beat of silence.

                “Well Faal go get it!”  Hugo calls out.

                “You devious little minx!”  Faal chides me kissing me quickly.  “I knew you would find a way.”

When he comes back with a slab of perfect steak, I check my knives and pull out the perfect one.

                “Okay what chop am I going for, fine or medium or combo of the two.”

After a bit of discussion it is agreed on a combo and there is stunned silence as I make quick work of slicing and dicing, then adding seasoning, and plating up.

                “Honey, why didn’t you tell me you could do that?”  Emmy Lou demands scooping some up.  “Oh my God that is so good!”

                “Because it has to be eaten the moment it’s served; greying raw meat is not pretty, so lobster ceviche.”

                “Aaargh!”  Faal cries out and flops on the loveseat with the cats.

Soon I have the lobster ceviche prepared and between Alice and Debbie they have managed to get the dessert out and Hugo’s eyes get really big.

                “Mel.  I’ve been thinking.”  Steve begins.  “Now that she doesn’t have a base here, unless her parents give her something you don’t think she’d take the kids to Canada to her place would she?” 

The room goes dead silent.

                “It’s a two bed, even if she could take the kids there it wouldn’t work.”  Brian points out.

                “But our old place isn’t.  She can easily get a job back in Canada and just reregister the kids.  And it’s in both our names.  Fuck why didn’t I think of that!”  Mel curses

                “Oh don’t worry people it will be fine.” 

Ted decrees airily before helping himself to some more tartare.