So, here it is. The next chapter in my ongoing saga about Gaby.

Chapter 16

Jenny and Dave were sitting in a quiet booth in the back of the restaurant. They had been quietly discussing Gaby’s revelations of that evening as well as their part in what had happened. While they had had the best of intentions, they now realized that they had exacerbated the problem – not maliciously or on purpose, but by a lack of knowledge and from not including Gaby and Jules in the discussions.

“So luv, what do you think? I had no idea she felt the way she did and how much of what I did affected her, and all of you so badly. I have to say I feel like a complete and utter shit right now.

I know, I know – she didn’t say anything to us, and we didn’t ask. But I have to say that right now I feel I’ve failed her as a parent. I feel like I should have seen something, although I wasn’t bloody well around enough was I?”

“Now Jen, if it’s the blame game we’re playing I have more than my fair share to take too. I WAS there and didn’t notice. Well, let’s be brutally honest – what we did notice we thought was our child doing some self-exploration and we didn’t want to stifle that by being “those parents”. And neither of us had an effing clue what Maddy and Em and Brit were up to.

I guess what I feel worst about is when we made her be Gaby because it was a convenience to us.

But, all that being said, Gaby with that wonderful big heart of hers has forgiven us. And I guess the biggest thing is where we go from here.

And here are my thoughts for what they’re worth. And let me get them all out on the table and then we can talk about them, okay?”

Dave looked at his wife, and she nodded her assent.

“Okay, so I’m going to kind of group them into Immediate, Medium Term and Long Term.”

Dave paused for a moment and took a sip of tea while he gathered his thoughts.

“So, in the immediate column we have

- Maddy and Carol. I have never seen Gaby, or Drew for that matter, ever lose her temper like that
- Her race this weekend in Atlanta. I think it’s all she’s been holding on with here in Grottoes.

- Her surgery. As the doctors said, we have some time but not more than a month. And with that comes the whole issue of her privacy in this, this would hit the rags in a minute at home and none of us want that for her.

And in the Medium column we have

- School, and the discussions that will have to happen with the Head, as well as the reactions of the rest of the kids when and if Gaby returns to school there

- Her racing. What that may mean to the British Developmental Squad and just racing in general. Granted we have the DNA test results and can just tell them she wanted to compete against the boys but now realizes that long term that won’t be possible. And I think we can enlist Caro’s help there.

And long term we have to decide if we want to stay in Warsop or if we move and make a clean start elsewhere. And this is where we need to talk to Jules as well. It would mean totally uprooting her life too. Like I said earlier hon, I can always find a job elsewhere, but I’ll never find you three anywhere else.”

Jen reached across and gently squeezed her husband’s hand.

“And I know just how lucky I am to have the three of you Dave. And we’ll do what’s best for the four of us, and sod anyone else.

You seem to have summed up the situation quite nicely. Those do appear to be the major issues right now. I know other things will pop up here and there, but you have put it all into perspective.”

Jen was just about to say something else when her mobile phone rang.

“Hello, Jenny Bond here”

“Of course, Dr. Macarthur. We’re in the restaurant at the hotel having a cup of tea. Why don’t you and Dr. Page join us?

Right then, see you in a few minutes”

She looked at Dave.

“If you hadn’t guessed that was Dr. Macarthur, and she and Dr. Page will be coming to join us in a few minutes. She said they had a number of things they wanted to discuss with us.”

“Well dear, why don’t you shift over to this side of the table, we’ll get another pot of tea and maybe a piece of cake, and we can tell the waitress that we’ll be having 2 more people joining us shortly.”

“So Jenny, Dave that’s what we’ve found out so far. The situation seems to have been orchestrated by Maddy and Brit overall. Yes, Em had a part in it, but it would appear that Maddy was using Em’s naiveté against her to wind up Gaby even more. In many ways Em has become a victim of Maddy as much as ‘Drew’ did. Not to the same extent of course, but a victim nonetheless. Karen is scheduling a session with her tomorrow and will help her in arranging to see the proper doctors once she gets home”

“Well Maggie, it would appear that we have a lot more to talk about. I know I had talked to you about a joint session with Carol and Maddy in the morning, but I think we may need to meet with you and Karen by ourselves first. Wouldn’t you agree Dave?”

Looking over to her husband, Jenny could see Dave’s face suffused with anger.

Dave’s jaws worked a few times, and when he answered his voice was tight with rage.

“You are telling me that all of this was orchestrated by Maddy and Brit?! And that they, and Em were putting Gaby in danger for shits and giggles?!”

“Not to put too fine a point on it Dave, but that would appear to be the case. And more importantly right now is that we – and by that I mean, you , Jen and Juliette as well as Karen and myself have a chance to talk this out with Gaby before there are any ‘confrontations’. And I am quite sure that Gaby is going to want to say a few things to both of them, but we believe this needs to be done in a manner which is going to minimize the psychological trauma to her.”

“Obviously, given what you have told us about Gaby and Maddy’s encounter earlier this evening, Gaby has started figuring out that Maddy has been manipulating her for some time. And she has figured out that Carol has some sort of reason for wanting to see Gaby as well. Beyond the manipulations of her daughter that is. And I suspect that getting some answers as to why will also become increasingly important to Gaby as time goes on.”

“Truly Dave, Jen. Maggie and I understand your anger. It is real and justifiable. But the important thing to remember here is Gaby’s health. And her ongoing wellbeing. And to be frank, all we are going to be able to deal with in the immediate term is what has happened here in Grottoes. What has gone before, will need to be dealt with on an ongoing basis so that she doesn’t become fixated on that anger and let it rule her life.”

“And, as we have said, it would appear that Em may well be a victim here as well. That Maddy and Britney were using her as a catspaw. Well, Maddy mostly.”

“As you said Jen, I too believe that we should start out our morning having a discussion with the four of you, then have Gaby do her physical testing. That should give her a bit of time to burn off some stress and some anger. Those tests should take about one to two hours. I believe all will go fine with the tests, but we want to be as sure as we can before giving her the okay.

And I suspect that the race in Atlanta is going to take on much greater importance to Gaby after our discussions. I can see where she will be wanting to get on her bike and use it to put some distance between her and the events here in Grottoes. Both mental and physical distance. She has said that on the bike is where she feels the most comfortable and the most free – where she can just be, where there is no Drew and no Gaby, just a rider on a bike. And, obviously it is the one thing that has been allowing her to hold it together while she has been here. I can see where the revelations about her friends will simply intensify that need. This is going to come as a huge betrayal to her, and she will need something familiar to hold on to in the short term. Cycling is the likely candidate for that. It will be something she can focus on, direct her energy to, and give her some time – by herself – to begin to process all of this.

During Gaby’s testing Maggie and I can meet with Maddy and Carol. After lunch, we can bring you all together if all parties agree and if you think it will be helpful.”

“Helpful” Jen snorted. “Yes it would be bloody helpful to know why both Carol and Maddy decided that Drew should be around as little as possible.”

Maggie interrupted with a question.

“Ummm…Carol? How does she fit in besides being Maddy’s mother, and Maddy manipulating her? It sounds as if you know something here that we don’t.”

“Oh, sorry Maggie. We hadn’t gotten around to that part of this evening’s discussion with Gaby yet.”

Quickly, Jen told them about the shopping trip and a couple of other instances where Carol had gotten Drew to be Gaby without the influence of Maddy.

“Oh my” came from Karen. “That could present another interesting dynamic to this whole thing as well. I’m not sure exactly how that fits into everything else at this point. But I take it, from the sound of your voice, you would like some answers to that Jen.”

“Too bloody right I would.”

Meanwhile, back at the Peters’ hotel room, an entirely different conversation was going on.

“Okay Maddy, I waited until we were back here in the room, but now I want to know exactly what is going on and what exactly you may have had to do with Drew ending up in the hospital. I have to face your Uncle Dave and Aunt Jenny in the morning and I want some answers young lady!”

“What makes you think I had anything to with that Mum?” Maddy squeaked out. “I haven’t been there and staying with them, how would I know?”

“Madeleine Elizabeth Peters!” thundered her mother, “Enough! I heard everything Drew said to you, and to me! You will tell me, and tell me now how it came to be that Drew was on the girl’s cheerleading team and how only Gaby came here to America! And how Gaby had to always miraculously appear as often as she did!”

“And then, missy, we are going to get on the phone with your father and you can explain it all to him too.”

Maddy shrank under her mother’s steely eyed gaze.

I’m done for now. She’ll know if I lie to her. And even if I tell her I’m in love with Gaby, that’s not gonna matter. Oh God, and if I have to explain it to dad, after he worked to arrange this exchange I’ll be lucky if I ever see the outside of the house again. Shite! What do I tell her? What am I gonna do?!!!

Fran and Jessica had just returned from picking up a few things of Fran’s and were sitting down to finish the glasses of wine they had left earlier in the evening.

“You know Jess, before we call it a night I should give Carol Peters a ring and tell her that we are going to need to speak to her and Maddy tomorrow. And that given what we have learned that there may be disciplinary action coming out of all of this.”

“You’re right Fran. If I was Mrs. Peters I wouldn’t want to get ambushed by something like that. I suspect it is going to come as something as a shock to her though.”

“Well, I may as well get it over with, so we can sit and relax and enjoy our glass of wine. Although part of me thinks it should be Hemlock.”

With that Fran rose and grabbed her mobile phone. After dialing the number, she stood waiting for the call to connect.

*ring-ring*

*ring-ring*

*ring-ring*

“Hi Carol, it’s Fran. Fran Cowlishaw. Have you got a minute?”

She turned and gave Jessica a quick nod.

“Excellent. Thank you.”

“The reason I’m calling is that Miss Bell, the AHS advisor and I need to speak to Maddy tomorrow. About a disciplinary issue, I’m afraid; and since you’re here we would like you in attendance as well.”

……….

“Oh really?”

……….

“Yes, of course.”

……….

“Oh, my!”

…………

Fran was holding the phone to her ear and listening intently. Carol continued to speak, and Jessica heard Fran give the occasional “mm-hmmm” and “oh really” here and there, but mostly she was just listening to what Carol had to say.

It was about 20 minutes later when she heard Fran say “thank you, we’ll see you tomorrow” and hang up.

Fran sat down again, took a large sip of her wine and sighed.

“Well, apparently Maddy is expecting the death sentence tomorrow.”

Jessica looked at her quizzically.

“Apparently, Drew and Maddy had a confrontation outside a restaurant earlier this evening. Where Drew made reference to the ‘ENTIRE’ Gaby situation.”

“Oh my!”

“After Carol and Maddy ate and went back to their room, the ‘parental look of death’ came out and Carol demanded an explanation of everything Drew had been talking about. Everything.”

“Ohhhhhh….. and by the length of your conversation, Carol learned some things that she really didn’t want to hear I take it?”

“That’s a very polite way of putting it. And mildly stated, she is completely appalled at her daughter’s behaviour. And she agrees we need to speak tomorrow. I’m just to call her on her mobile tomorrow because the doctors want to speak to Maddy and Carol tomorrow as well. We’ll set up a time after she talks to them.”

“And then, I’m afraid, it will be time to involve the Headmaster.”

Morning seemed to roll around far too early for a lot of folks in Grottoes the next morning. There had apparently been quite a few sleepless nights.

For Gaby and her family however, after all the discussions of the prior evening, everyone had had what seemed to be “the best night’s sleep in an age”.

Gaby herself was actually quite anxious to get to the hospital so she could do her tests and find out if she was going to be able to race on the weekend. It was what she had been holding herself together for after all. And she really didn’t want to have to miss it. The rest of her family were also wanting to get an early start at the hospital as well, but for entirely different reasons.

It seemed as Dave, Jen and Jules all had an air of determination surrounding them. Like they were girding themselves for battle. Which in some ways they were. The battle for Gaby’s mental health and the battle for answers.

But there also seemed to be an unspoken agreement amongst all of them this morning too. That they would be just an average English family going out for breakfast and that nothing serious would be discussed until they got to the hospital.