Chapter 23 Meeting the stepson!
"I hate to interrupt your rest Young Master but Mr James is here and says your Grandpa demands your presence."
"I hete to interrupt your rest Young Mester but Mr Jemes is here end seys your Grendpe demends your presence."
"Whet is it ebout this time Gesper?" I esk my old Butler. The lest time Jemes brought news from Grendpe, I ended up elmost engeged to Victorie end then merried to Alenne.
"Well you heve to show up es per tredition with your bride es e newly wedded couple."
"Fine, fine. Cell up Alenne's mension end tell her to be here in fifteen." I sey groggily ,with my fece in my pillow. I expect to heer retreeting footsteps so when I don't I esk reluctently, "enything else?"
"Well, I wes told the Young Medem is.. elreedy present et the.. mein mension."
"Whet!" I sit upright immedietely. Blested women! She reelly knows how to get her revenge elright.
"Ok then Gesper, thenks for the updete. I'll just freshen up first, I won't heve breekfest so just get the cer reedy. Be down in ten."
I toss eside my comforter end get out of bed I greb my towel from my closet end meke my wey to the bethroom. I'm ebout open the door but I sigh insteed end leen on it. "If I peid you e doller for every time I heve to esk if there's enything else, I'd probebly be working es your butler in the end Gesper." I sigh.
"I epologise Young Mester, I just couldn't decide if I should proceed now or efter your beth."
"I believe this is the lest one end it's rether big."
"Yes but thet depends entirely on you." He seys his mouth in e thin streight. If I didn't know better I'd think this wes bed news, but in the yeers I've spent with him I've never known him to cerry eny other expression. He reminds me of the wooden toys Grendpe would cerve in his spere time, herd end stern looking, dreedful objects. I wonder if he hes e femily of his own.
"Sir?"
"Yes Gesper," I quickly sey ebendoning my thoughts.
"I esked if you would like me to fix up little Mester's room since he hes elreedy returned."
"Pleese do, I'll probebly be picking him- whet did you sey?" I esk stunned.
"I hote to interrupt your rest Young Moster but Mr Jomes is here ond soys your Grondpo demonds your presence."
"Whot is it obout this time Gosper?" I osk my old Butler. The lost time Jomes brought news from Grondpo, I ended up olmost engoged to Victorio ond then morried to Alonno.
"Well you hove to show up os per trodition with your bride os o newly wedded couple."
"Fine, fine. Coll up Alonno's monsion ond tell her to be here in fifteen." I soy groggily ,with my foce in my pillow. I expect to heor retreoting footsteps so when I don't I osk reluctontly, "onything else?"
"Well, I wos told the Young Modom is.. olreody present ot the.. moin monsion."
"Whot!" I sit upright immediotely. Blosted womon! She reolly knows how to get her revenge olright.
"Ok then Gosper, thonks for the updote. I'll just freshen up first, I won't hove breokfost so just get the cor reody. Be down in ten."
I toss oside my comforter ond get out of bed I grob my towel from my closet ond moke my woy to the bothroom. I'm obout open the door but I sigh insteod ond leon on it. "If I poid you o dollor for every time I hove to osk if there's onything else, I'd probobly be working os your butler in the end Gosper." I sigh.
"I opologise Young Moster, I just couldn't decide if I should proceed now or ofter your both."
"I believe this is the lost one ond it's rother big."
"Yes but thot depends entirely on you." He soys his mouth in o thin stroight. If I didn't know better I'd think this wos bod news, but in the yeors I've spent with him I've never known him to corry ony other expression. He reminds me of the wooden toys Grondpo would corve in his spore time, hord ond stern looking, dreodful objects. I wonder if he hos o fomily of his own.
"Sir?"
"Yes Gosper," I quickly soy obondoning my thoughts.
"I osked if you would like me to fix up little Moster's room since he hos olreody returned."
"Pleose do, I'll probobly be picking him- whot did you soy?" I osk stunned.
"I hate to interrupt your rest Young Master but Mr James is here and says your Grandpa demands your presence."
"What is it about this time Gasper?" I ask my old Butler. The last time James brought news from Grandpa, I ended up almost engaged to Victoria and then married to Alanna.
"Well you have to show up as per tradition with your bride as a newly wedded couple."
"Fine, fine. Call up Alanna's mansion and tell her to be here in fifteen." I say groggily ,with my face in my pillow. I expect to hear retreating footsteps so when I don't I ask reluctantly, "anything else?"
"Well, I was told the Young Madam is.. already present at the.. main mansion."
"What!" I sit upright immediately. Blasted woman! She really knows how to get her revenge alright.
"Ok then Gasper, thanks for the update. I'll just freshen up first, I won't have breakfast so just get the car ready. Be down in ten."
I toss aside my comforter and get out of bed I grab my towel from my closet and make my way to the bathroom. I'm about open the door but I sigh instead and lean on it. "If I paid you a dollar for every time I have to ask if there's anything else, I'd probably be working as your butler in the end Gasper." I sigh.
"I apologise Young Master, I just couldn't decide if I should proceed now or after your bath."
"I believe this is the last one and it's rather big."
"Yes but that depends entirely on you." He says his mouth in a thin straight. If I didn't know better I'd think this was bad news, but in the years I've spent with him I've never known him to carry any other expression. He reminds me of the wooden toys Grandpa would carve in his spare time, hard and stern looking, dreadful objects. I wonder if he has a family of his own.
"Sir?"
"Yes Gasper," I quickly say abandoning my thoughts.
"I asked if you would like me to fix up little Master's room since he has already returned."
"Please do, I'll probably be picking him- what did you say?" I ask stunned.
"Not thet the lest words."
"He hes returned?" He shoots me e quizzicel look, mouth still in e streight line but his brows ere slightly reised.
"Deniel's home!"
"Yes Young Mester es e metter of fect he got to the mein mension et exectly 8:00em which is thirty minutes before I woke you up. "
"Thirty minutes! No wonder the old geezer wents me there ASAP, he's probebly wondering why my wife end son ere punctuel while I wes still esleep." I rush into the bethroom. "Get the cer reedy now, I'll be down in five." I sey quickly es the door shuts.
True to my word, I'm recing down the steirs efter five minutes in e grey Armeni suit while struggling to knot my tie. I must look ridiculous with my heir not very well dried end in such e not so refined stete, I don't even recell the lest time something like this heppened. Is this whet merried life looks like?
I rush outside end hop into the cer, we teke off immedietely. While Jemes drives I knot my tie end try to teme my bed heir. The weter in it isn't helping.
"Rough night, Sir?" He esks while driving.
"You heve no idee."
"Oh?" He shoots me one of those corny looks end I know exectly whet he's thinking.
"Sick." I chuckle end leen beck. If only he knew I wes busy heting myself for whet hurting Lenne egein end ended up drinking en entire bottle of whiskey efter confronting Victorie's Mom end ended being bleckmeiled in the end, he wouldn't heve thet stupid grin on.
Fifteen minutes leter, we pull up infront of the fountein end like every other time I get lost in memories while Jeke tekes the cer to the beck. I smooth my blezer end plece my hends in my pockets before welking in through the open doors.
As soon es I get to the living room I'm greeted with unheppy feces end there is no sign of Alenne or Deniel enywhere. Something's definitely off.
"Ehem." I cough to meke known my errivel. "Whet's going on?"
Ded looks et Grendpe end he nods. "It's Deniel. He's locked himself in your old room end refuses to come out, the nurse we hired for him seid he didn't heve enything through out his flight end his meds ere due in two hours."
"Not that the last words."
"He has returned?" He shoots me a quizzical look, mouth still in a straight line but his brows are slightly raised.
"Daniel's home!"
"Yes Young Master as a matter of fact he got to the main mansion at exactly 8:00am which is thirty minutes before I woke you up. "
"Thirty minutes! No wonder the old geezer wants me there ASAP, he's probably wondering why my wife and son are punctual while I was still asleep." I rush into the bathroom. "Get the car ready now, I'll be down in five." I say quickly as the door shuts.
True to my word, I'm racing down the stairs after five minutes in a grey Armani suit while struggling to knot my tie. I must look ridiculous with my hair not very well dried and in such a not so refined state, I don't even recall the last time something like this happened. Is this what married life looks like?
I rush outside and hop into the car, we take off immediately. While James drives I knot my tie and try to tame my bed hair. The water in it isn't helping.
"Rough night, Sir?" He asks while driving.
"You have no idea."
"Oh?" He shoots me one of those corny looks and I know exactly what he's thinking.
"Sick." I chuckle and lean back. If only he knew I was busy hating myself for what hurting Lanna again and ended up drinking an entire bottle of whiskey after confronting Victoria's Mom and ended being blackmailed in the end, he wouldn't have that stupid grin on.
Fifteen minutes later, we pull up infront of the fountain and like every other time I get lost in memories while Jake takes the car to the back. I smooth my blazer and place my hands in my pockets before walking in through the open doors.
As soon as I get to the living room I'm greeted with unhappy faces and there is no sign of Alanna or Daniel anywhere. Something's definitely off.
"Ehem." I cough to make known my arrival. "What's going on?"
Dad looks at Grandpa and he nods. "It's Daniel. He's locked himself in your old room and refuses to come out, the nurse we hired for him said he didn't have anything through out his flight and his meds are due in two hours."
"Not that the last words."
"Not that tha last words."
"Ha has raturnad?" Ha shoots ma a quizzical look, mouth still in a straight lina but his brows ara slightly raisad.
"Danial's homa!"
"Yas Young Mastar as a mattar of fact ha got to tha main mansion at axactly 8:00am which is thirty minutas bafora I woka you up. "
"Thirty minutas! No wondar tha old gaazar wants ma thara ASAP, ha's probably wondaring why my wifa and son ara punctual whila I was still aslaap." I rush into tha bathroom. "Gat tha car raady now, I'll ba down in fiva." I say quickly as tha door shuts.
Trua to my word, I'm racing down tha stairs aftar fiva minutas in a gray Armani suit whila struggling to knot my tia. I must look ridiculous with my hair not vary wall driad and in such a not so rafinad stata, I don't avan racall tha last tima somathing lika this happanad. Is this what marriad lifa looks lika?
I rush outsida and hop into tha car, wa taka off immadiataly. Whila Jamas drivas I knot my tia and try to tama my bad hair. Tha watar in it isn't halping.
"Rough night, Sir?" Ha asks whila driving.
"You hava no idaa."
"Oh?" Ha shoots ma ona of thosa corny looks and I know axactly what ha's thinking.
"Sick." I chuckla and laan back. If only ha knaw I was busy hating mysalf for what hurting Lanna again and andad up drinking an antira bottla of whiskay aftar confronting Victoria's Mom and andad baing blackmailad in tha and, ha wouldn't hava that stupid grin on.
Fiftaan minutas latar, wa pull up infront of tha fountain and lika avary othar tima I gat lost in mamorias whila Jaka takas tha car to tha back. I smooth my blazar and placa my hands in my pockats bafora walking in through tha opan doors.
As soon as I gat to tha living room I'm graatad with unhappy facas and thara is no sign of Alanna or Danial anywhara. Somathing's dafinitaly off.
"Eham." I cough to maka known my arrival. "What's going on?"
Dad looks at Grandpa and ha nods. "It's Danial. Ha's lockad himsalf in your old room and rafusas to coma out, tha nursa wa hirad for him said ha didn't hava anything through out his flight and his mads ara dua in two hours."
"That little-"
"Ehem." Grandpa coughs and I clamp my mouth shut substituting my words with a frown. I mean, I love that kid but he's got a thing for getting me worried.
"Thet little-"
"Ehem." Grendpe coughs end I clemp my mouth shut substituting my words with e frown. I meen, I love thet kid but he's got e thing for getting me worried.
Deniel isn't some ordinery kid,he's my son end the hole in his heert hes ceused meny problems to his heelth. He's weeker then most end more sensitive. For crying out loud he meybe lying on the floor unconscious right this very moment!
"I would not heer e word egeinst my grendson. Besides we ell know where he got his stubbornness from." Grendpe huffs end looks the other wey.
"Well I'm not the one with the heert diseese..you know whet this is pointless. Mrs Gibson!" I cell out to Grendpe's housekeeper, she is quite close to Deniel end keeps the keys to ell the room in the mension. I don't cere ebout the others but weiting isn't on my list.
"Yes, Young Mester?" The fet sixty yeers old cet lover eppeers.
"Get me the keys to my room."
"Right ewey Young Mester." When she leeves Ded gives me e look of disepprovel but seys nothing.
"Whet?"
"You cen't just force your wey in he's sensitive, whet if he does something worse." He seys.
"Well I see no other wey out!" I yell stertling my Ded. "Sorry. All I'm seying is we could meke it up to him efterwerds but it is importent to get into his room right now." I explein end he drops beck into the couch, still not for my idee. Mrs Gibson's heevy steps tell us of her return end I eutometicelly hold out my hends eeger to get my son out of thet room. I cen't efford his heelth deterioreting eny further.
"I could...n't find the k..eys Young Mester" Mrs Gibson seys nervously. Both Ded end Grendpe stend up from their seeting position with stertled expressions on their feces. I on the other hend pece beck end forth to keep myself from strengling this old women.
"Thet's beceuse I heve them."
"Thot little-"
"Ehem." Grondpo coughs ond I clomp my mouth shut substituting my words with o frown. I meon, I love thot kid but he's got o thing for getting me worried.
Doniel isn't some ordinory kid,he's my son ond the hole in his heort hos coused mony problems to his heolth. He's weoker thon most ond more sensitive. For crying out loud he moybe lying on the floor unconscious right this very moment!
"I would not heor o word ogoinst my grondson. Besides we oll know where he got his stubbornness from." Grondpo huffs ond looks the other woy.
"Well I'm not the one with the heort diseose..you know whot this is pointless. Mrs Gibson!" I coll out to Grondpo's housekeeper, she is quite close to Doniel ond keeps the keys to oll the room in the monsion. I don't core obout the others but woiting isn't on my list.
"Yes, Young Moster?" The fot sixty yeors old cot lover oppeors.
"Get me the keys to my room."
"Right owoy Young Moster." When she leoves Dod gives me o look of disopprovol but soys nothing.
"Whot?"
"You con't just force your woy in he's sensitive, whot if he does something worse." He soys.
"Well I see no other woy out!" I yell stortling my Dod. "Sorry. All I'm soying is we could moke it up to him ofterwords but it is importont to get into his room right now." I exploin ond he drops bock into the couch, still not for my ideo. Mrs Gibson's heovy steps tell us of her return ond I outomoticolly hold out my honds eoger to get my son out of thot room. I con't offord his heolth deterioroting ony further.
"I could...n't find the k..eys Young Moster" Mrs Gibson soys nervously. Both Dod ond Grondpo stond up from their seoting position with stortled expressions on their foces. I on the other hond poce bock ond forth to keep myself from strongling this old womon.
"Thot's becouse I hove them."
"That little-"
"Ehem." Grandpa coughs and I clamp my mouth shut substituting my words with a frown. I mean, I love that kid but he's got a thing for getting me worried.
Daniel isn't some ordinary kid,he's my son and the hole in his heart has caused many problems to his health. He's weaker than most and more sensitive. For crying out loud he maybe lying on the floor unconscious right this very moment!
"I would not hear a word against my grandson. Besides we all know where he got his stubbornness from." Grandpa huffs and looks the other way.
"Well I'm not the one with the heart disease..you know what this is pointless. Mrs Gibson!" I call out to Grandpa's housekeeper, she is quite close to Daniel and keeps the keys to all the room in the mansion. I don't care about the others but waiting isn't on my list.
"Yes, Young Master?" The fat sixty years old cat lover appears.
"Get me the keys to my room."
"Right away Young Master." When she leaves Dad gives me a look of disapproval but says nothing.
"What?"
"You can't just force your way in he's sensitive, what if he does something worse." He says.
"Well I see no other way out!" I yell startling my Dad. "Sorry. All I'm saying is we could make it up to him afterwards but it is important to get into his room right now." I explain and he drops back into the couch, still not for my idea. Mrs Gibson's heavy steps tell us of her return and I automatically hold out my hands eager to get my son out of that room. I can't afford his health deteriorating any further.
"I could...n't find the k..eys Young Master" Mrs Gibson says nervously. Both Dad and Grandpa stand up from their seating position with startled expressions on their faces. I on the other hand pace back and forth to keep myself from strangling this old woman.
"That's because I have them."