Chapter Twenty-Five

Cole strolled out of the kitchen and into the main living area of the main house. He poked his head around the door of his mother's office only to find it empty. He'd never been able to work out why she had an office, she hadn't worked in all the years he could remember.

Continuing on, through the house, and out the door he found his mother enjoying an iced tea under the rotunda. It was one of those white metal settings with the hard, cold seats that gave you piles. But despite the discomfort, he pulled out a chair, the metal cold against his hands and sat down.

His mother started to talk before he even had the chance to greet her. "Oh dear, I'm so glad you're back." She said.

"That's nice of you to say, mother." He teased. He could tell she was in a fluster by the way she wrung the napkin in her shaking hands.

"I'm in a right state, I didn't know what to do about Tess, and you were off wining and dining these businessmen, while I was dealing with the doctor." She picked up her iced tea, the condensation from the glass leaving a damp circle on the white linen table cloth she insisted on having, even outside. She gulped at it as though she'd been running a marathon.

Cole smiled at her. She really did get in a tizz over the silliest things. "Just because the doctor cancelled, it's not the end of the world. As a matter of fact, that's what I wanted to ask. Can you book him for tomorrow? It's probably worked out for the best. I know Tess wanted me to be here for her."

His mother froze, the glass suspended inches above the table, her eyes searched him, questioningly. She looked like she'd seen a ghost and it was a good minute before she found her voice. "Wha...whatever do you mean Cole? The doctor has already seen her."

"What? When?" Coles's heart raced and he removed the handkerchief from his jacket pocket to dab at the beads of sweat that had formed on his lip.

"Yesterday dear. He came and it's terribly dreadful news." She sniffed back a tear.

"What? What did he say?" Cole shouted.

"Don't get snarky at me, this is horrible, whatever will we do? Oh, Cole, he said she's schizophrenic. Beyond anything that any medication will really help."

Cole sank down lower in his seat and stared at his shoes. His mind whirled and any chance of making sense of it got tangled in the aftermath. "So what now?" He whispered. The lump in his throat was choking him.

"He suggested care." She whispered. Getting up from her chair she shuffled over and put her arm around his shoulder and patted him lightly.

"So he wants us to just chuck her in a home? A hospital?"

"He said it would be for the best but I wouldn't allow it, not until I'd spoken with you. Besides, I would never want her to be committed to any common old place. But there's an independent care facility about an hour from here. Each patient has one on one care. We'll pay for it all. Tell her not to worry."

Cole glared at her. "Just like that? Lock her up and throw away the key?"

"They do some lovely crafts. Crocheting and sewing and they make gorgeous teddy bears with little outfits that they make themsel—"

"Mother! Focus. Tess is a young woman. She doesn't want to knit and do crafts. She's so alive and vibrant I just couldn't..." He let his voice trail off. Shaking his head, he got up from the table, his legs wobbled beneath him. He turned back to his mother as he walked away "I've told the chef to send some meals over to the guest house, we have a guest, a friend of Tess's." Then he stalked across the grounds and back to the guest house.

He let himself in, Tess and GG were in the kitchen giggling and chatting, Freddy snuggled comfortably in GG's lap. The creak of the door announced his arrival, both women stopped laughing and stared up at him, the smiles on their faces dropped almost immediately. Tess jumped up and ran over to him. "What's wrong? Are you alright?" She smothered him in a hug.

She was so, so sick yet here she was, worrying after him. He loved her so much, he'd just gotten her back and now he felt he was losing her all over again. He gripped her tight and nuzzled her hair, it smelled like peaches.

When she pulled him back and held him at arm's length he smiled. The biggest smile he could muster. She didn't need to be stressing about him on top of everything else. In fact, he wouldn't even remind her about the doctor until he had some better solutions to offer her.

"Dinner will be here shortly." He announced. "I thought it might beat me back here in fact."

"No offence Cole. I really like your company, but I wish it did, I've starved." GG rubbed her stomach.

"Let's get the table set ready shall we? That way we can dig right in." Cole suggested.

"You've got a great guy here Tess, he knows a way to a woman's heart," GG said and cradling Freddy in her arms she walked around and sat at the table.

During their exchange, Cole was aware of Tess's eyes on him. She barely blinked, trying to sum up what the emotion was, that she'd caught on his face in the few seconds before he got his guard up. He shouldn't have rushed back; he should have gotten control of himself before he barged in here scaring her.

He caught her eye and gave her a little wink, paired with a side smile. Her shoulders relaxed a little and she smiled back. She'd convinced herself she was mistaken, he could tell.

They busied themselves, setting the table, the whole nine yards, white linen and lace tablecloth and all.

"Shall we?" Tess held up a pair of crystal candle holders.

"Indeed we shall." Cole teased. "It's not every day we have a celebrity dining at the ranch." He bowed playfully at GG.

Cole joined GG at the table, while Tess rummaged around and found some candles and matches. She lit them and sat down next to Cole.

"What a lovely candlelit dinner, now we just need the dinner," GG said. "Hint, hint, still starving."

As if she had summoned them, there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it." Tess jumped up from the table and rushed to the door.

When she was out of sight Cole leaned in close to GG and whispered, "We need to talk, in private." He took a quick glance over his shoulder, to ensure Tess was still out of earshot. "It's an emergency."

GG didn't have time to respond, Tess's voice came closer. GG frowned at him for a moment before nodding her agreement.

Tess came through the door, followed by Beverly. "I found something better than food." Tess nodded toward Beverly.

"What are you doing here?" Cole asked. "I told mother we have a guest and don't—"

Tess patted his arm, "It's okay, Beverly and I are friends. We became equated a few days ago."

Cole was sceptical. Other than the initial dinner he didn't recall them having met. Was this one of her episodes?

"When? When did you become friends?" He questioned her.

Beverly stepped forward. "Oh, the other day when you were acting like a class A jerk."

Cole let out a sigh. So they had met and become friends. That was great, strange, but great. He couldn't imagine what his uptight sister and Tess could have in common.

"So are you here for dinner?" Cole asked.

"No, I'm eating with our parents. I just want a quick word if I can." She enlarged her eyes at Cole and nodded her head toward the front door.

"Sure, excuse me ladies." He made his apologies and followed Beverly and slipped out the front door. As soon as he stepped out, she reached past him and pulled the door shut behind them.

Glancing around she leaned in and whispered, "I need to tell you something but you have to promise not to freak out on me."

Not again. There is only so much he could handle in one day.

"What is it Beverly? I have other things to worry about today." He ran his fingers through his hair and stopped briefly to rub his temples.

"You're going to want to hear this. Fathers home."

He glared at her. "Yes, so what? He does live here."

"I may have been listening at the door of the study while he and mother were talking. They were whispering and you know that usually means it's something really juicy." Her eyes shimmered and he was unsure if it was from unshed tears or excitement.

"Look, I love you but I have my own problems, I haven't got time for idle gossip." He turned to walk back inside but Beverly put her hand out blocking his way. "Seriously?"

"Yes seriously. They were talking about Tess and Freddy." Her voice grew louder. Cole shushed her.

"Keep it down, I don't want to worry Tess with any of this while GG is here."

"Sorry, but you need to hear this." She lowered her voice to a whisper again.

"What were they saying?"

"A lawyer is coming here tomorrow to have custody papers drawn up. They want to get you sole custody of Freddy." She stood back and placed her hands on her hips and waited for the gravity of her words to hit.

Cole stared at the grass, watching as it swished back and forth. Thoughts came and went with the motion of the wind. Finally he looked up. "Why?"

"They said Tess is crazy and they're going to have her committed. They don't want her associated with the Washington name." Beverly practically tripped over her words to get them all out before he blew a gasket.

The vein in Coles neck beat faster, he grit his back teeth and breathed in and out of his nose, trying to get control of his anger. "They actually said those words?"

"Yep." Beverly nodded, her eyes wide.

"You're sure? There is no room for storytelling Beverly." He was barely holding his temper.

"I'm certain. Mom, of course, was saying how you were better suited to Marigold."

Cole rolled his eyes and shook his head. How could they?

"Marigold is a dear friend and that is all either of us wishes to be." Coles's voice was steady, controlled. He needed to stay calm for Tess.

"You're preaching to the choir brother; Marigold bores the shit out of me. I don't want her as a sister in law any more than you want her as a wife. Mother doesn't agree though, she thinks you're destined. She said she would always hold out hope. Argh!"

"Thanks, Beverly. But don't tell anyone yet. In Tess's weekend state, I don't want to stress her out."

She rolled her eyes. "For God sake, there's nothing wrong with Tess. Don't you see? Someone is playing you both. A lot of people benefit if Tess goes away Cole."

Cole stared at her through darkened eyes, "What? Surely you can't mean?"

"Oh stop acting so surprised, you know what this family's like. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want."

Cole screwed up his face, sure they were a family of shrewd business people but this was different. This was life-altering. This was...cruel. This was personal. "So what is it you think they want?"

"They want you to get custody of Freddy and to settle down with someone soul suckingly boring and appropriate like Marigold. Here, I'd always thought you were the smart one." She patted him on the back. "I've got to get back before they get suspicious. Protect your family Cole." She called as she hurried across the lawn.

Cole stood there reeling. Could this be true? Were his parents capable of something like this? Maybe it wasn't his parents, maybe it was Marigold, or even Beverly trying to shift blame. He was beginning to think he was going crazy himself. Stuffing his hands in his pockets he strode back and forth along the front of the guest house. Praying for something to make sense, when a small, rounded buggy drove up along the path and came to a stop practically at his feet.

One of the maids from the main house jumped out and ran around to the passenger side. She retrieved a box stacked full of server trays. It was a strange contrast, the polished silver domes, so elegant and regal, stacked inside an old cardboard box, tattered and full of character. He couldn't help but smile at the comparison his mind jumped to.

He stepped forward and took the box from the maid and nodded a thank you. She blushed and looked away. Cole walked back inside before she'd even driven away. He took a deep breath and plastered a smile on his face before coming around the corner of the dining room.

"GG, surely you must be happy to see me now?" He held up the box.

"Oh goodness, yes! Get over here, quickly before I fade away to nothing. Take the child and let me at that food." She laughed but the way she couldn't drag her eyes off of the trays as he placed them in the centre of the table, told him, she probably wasn't kidding.

They sat down to a wonderful dinner and Cole had to give GG credit, she was hilarious. Even though she knew something was wrong, no one would have been able to tell. The three of them spent the evening telling stories, getting to know each other and having some laughs- lots of laughs. Despite his earlier mood and his worries, GG and Tess had him in hysterics.

This is how family dinners should be, not with one parent away working ninety percent of the time. He loved how casual and fun dinners were with Tess. They would sit down and eat but really enjoy one another's company. Not like dinners he'd grown up with, the silence was deafening, you could hear each other politely chewing with closed mouths and stiff faces.

There would be the best silver, that needed to be used in order. When he was a child he could tell you which fork to use before he could even write his name. He'd never experienced dinners like this until he...well until he met Tess.

"Well, it's been a long day." Tess stood up from the table and pushed her chair back. "I might get Freddy to bed and then hit the hay. I'll just set up the pull-up sofa for GG and—"

"No, you won't." Cole interrupted. "You look beat. Take Freddy and go to bed. I'll set GG up in the sitting room and make sure she has everything she needs."

Tess gazed at him through heavy eyes and let out a yawn. "Thank you. Are you staying here tonight?"

He smiled at her. "Of course, now get over here and kiss me goodnight."

Tess picked Freddy up from his bouncy chair where he'd fallen asleep an hour earlier and took him around to Cole, who kissed him lightly on the head. Immediately at the feel of his father's touch, his eyes fluttered open and he frowned up at Cole.

Cole let out a laugh, "What's wrong buddy? You don't want to go to bed and leave daddy and auntie GG?"

Tess handed Freddy to GG. "Don't worry mini sweetness, Auntie GG will still be here in the morning and we can snuggle all day." She kissed his nose and when she pulled back a small gurgle escaped his lips before they turned up in a gummy grin. "Oh my God! Did you see that? He smiled at me."

Tess stretched her neck to see and Cole jumped up from the table to have a look.

"It was probably wind." Tess said.

"No way. It was a real smile," GG said and with that Freddy's lips curled up again. "Look, look."

"Well, I'll be, it is a real smile," Cole announced.

"His first real smile and it was to GG." Tess smiled and hugged GG around the neck.

When she straightened up she gave Cole a goodnight peck on the cheek and took Freddy from GG.

"Sorry to break up the party but I'm running on about three hours sleep." Tess waved over her shoulder as she shuffled from the room.

"Goodnight." GG and Cole chorused as she disappeared around the door.

They sat silently and listened to Tess's footsteps as they walked down the hall and into the nursery, the sound of her steps pattering back and forth as she patted Freddy to sleep. Finally, they heard her steps move to the main bedroom and then, complete silence.

GG spun to face him, "So what's going on?"

Straight to the point, he liked her. "I assumed you know all about Tess's mind issues."

"Of course. Not that I believe it."

Cole was stunned. "You don't?"

"Why would I? She never had issues before, she's never had an episode while she's been talking to me and she always remembers every conversation we've had."

"That's interesting." Cole rubbed at his chin. "My sister Beverly doesn't believe it either."

GG stood up. "Well, there you go then."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, just like that. She's my friend, like a sister to me in fact. If I thought for a second that she was suffering from some sort of illness I would do all I could, but the fact is... I don't." She made her way into the kitchen. "Want one?" She held up a coffee mug.

He nodded yes. "So if there's nothing wrong with her, what is this all about?"

"To be honest, I thought it was you."

"What? What do you mean?"

GG put the kettle on the stove and scooped some instant coffee into the mugs. "Well, I thought maybe you were tricking her into staying here with you. If she thought she was incapable of looking after Freddy on her own she would be forced to stay here- with you."

Cole's eyebrows knit together. "GG there's no way I'd ever—"

"Oh yeah, I know that now. I didn't know you before." She held up the sugar.

"No sugar thanks. You know you're not the only one who thinks someone could be behind this."

"Really?"

"Yeah, my sister believes the same. She thinks it could be our parents or maybe Marigold. Marigold's my—"

"Yes I know; I've heard all about her from Tess."

Cole rolled his eyes. "Of course. The evil ex."

"No, not at all. In fact, Tess and she seem to genuinely like each other."

Cole smiled. "Yes, Tess has a way of winning people over doesn't she?"

"She won us over."

"Well, that's the truth. So let's just entertain this conspiracy theory for a moment. Let's just assume she has in fact been a victim of gaslighting. Who could be behind it?"

"Gaslighting?" GG asked.

"It's a term used when someone is driven to believe they're insane, leaving them at the mercy of the culprit."

"I've never heard of that before but I think it's a possibility. More of a possibility than these supposed episodes. How is she when she's with you? Not anything you've heard second-hand but between you and her. Have you noticed anything?"

"That's a good point. None of the things she's forgotten were things I'd told her. She's fine with you and she's fine with me."

"So now it comes down to a process of elimination. So could it be your father? She mentioned that he didn't think much of her."

Cole thought for a moment. "It could be, and if anyone were capable, it would be him. I'm unsure he's had the opportunity though."

"What about Marigold? If she has a secret crush on you she could have a motive."

"I think the only one that thinks Marigold and I should be together would be my mother."

GG's eyes lit up. "So could it be your mother?"

Cole laughed, "Have you met her? No, not possible. She seems to really like Tess despite what my dad thinks."

"Or does she?" GG squinted her eyes and appeared deep in thought.

"What?"

"What was the very first indication we had that there was something wrong?"

Cole thought for a moment. "She seemed really upset about a pink coffee mug, if I recall."

"No! The first thing was believing that you had her fired." GG smirked in triumph.

"But really, she quit. She told my mother so."

"But maybe she didn't. Think about it. Your mother may have been involved all along." She poured the water from the kettle into the mugs and was momentarily shielded by a curtain of steam.

"But the coffee mugs and the dirty laundry? All those things happened while she was here alone. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless she only thought she was alone. My mother has keys to the guest house." He scratched his head. It couldn't be. Could it? "The staff also have keys though. Maybe it was a rival maid, who was jealous that Tess broke away."

Tess pushed his coffee toward him and picked her own up, looking at him over the brim she said "A rival maid? Really?" She sipped her coffee and placed it back on the countertop.

"Hey jealousy amongst employees is a common thing, I'll have you know." He smiled because he knew she was playing. He picked up his own coffee and took a sip. It was disgusting. It was all he could do not to spit it out all over the kitchen floor. Who the hell would buy instant coffee? He wondered.

"You just don't want to think it could be your mother. Admit it." She folded her arms across her chest and raised an eyebrow in challenge.

"Alright. Let's just say, she sneaked over here moved around some coffee mugs, dirtied some clothes and lied about everything to do with Tess, including the fact, she said the doctor did come while I was away and he diagnosed Tess as severely schizophrenic."

"Are you serious?" GG came around the counter and sat on the barstool next to Coles. "Cole, no more playing, we need to get to the bottom of this, now." She banged her hand down on the counter.

"It is funny, now you mention it, everything is hear-say between my mother and Tess. Tess doesn't seem to have these issues unless my mother's involved."

"See? I knew it." GG chewed her lip and stared intently into her coffee.

Cole traced the pattern of the tiles on the counter with his finger. They were so close; he could feel it. He was so close to being convinced if only there was some sort of—

"Oh my God! That's it. How could we be so blind?"

Cole stared at GG. He stayed quiet and watched her expression as he frowned and contorted her face through a jigsaw of pieces she seemed to be putting together. He was unsure if he wanted the proof his mother was a monster or the proof that Tess was mentally ill. Neither was a great outcome. He couldn't wait any longer, "GG what is it."

"You said, no one here knew you and Tess were involved in the beginning, when she was still a maid."

"That's right. We were really careful not to let anyone know. I wanted to establish where it was going before making it public. Once we announced our relationship, Tess would have to quit her job. She wasn't ready for that yet and I wasn't ready to face my parents." He looked up and saw GG scowling at him. "Don't get me wrong. I'm not ashamed of Tess. I love her. I just knew what a tough time my parents would give her. I knew they wouldn't approve. I was trying to protect her from that."

"Okay so when Tess ran into your mother at the salon, not only did she pretend not to recognize her, she then reported back to you about the baby."

The color drained from Coles's face. "My God, you're right. Why would she tell me Tess was carrying a baby unless she suspected that baby was mine?"

"Boom," GG shouted and threw her arms up, fist-pumping the air. "Got her!"

"Oh my God GG. My mother's a monster." Cole got up and stumbled into the sitting room where he collapsed on the sofa.

GG grabbed his coffee and followed him, sitting on the recliner opposite. She offered him the mug. "Here drink this before it goes cold and take a few deep breaths."

Cole raised his hand to take it but his hands shook so violently GG held her hands over his as the mug moved to his lips and back. Cole was grateful for GG in that moment. Even for her trying to break the silence with her chatter.

"You know it's funny, I met Tess just like this. She nearly fainted in an elevator and I sat her down and had her sip water."

"It's not every day you find out your family name isn't all it's cracked up to be."

"Let's get proof. Just in case hey? Maybe your father put her up to it." GG soothed.

Finding new resolve,he tilted his chin in the air. "Yes let's."