Chapter 19: Confusing Carl

The Slade story starts with Adam Slade, who came to Sunset Valley many years ago with just a pocketful of cash and a vision.  A vision to create a family dynasty, a dynasty that would leave a lasting mark, a legacy. His grandchildren Cleo and Carl are carrying that legacy forward and with the recent birth of Danielle the Slade family is on course to fulfilling that destiny.

In this chapter Cleo deals with an intruder and Carl and Garett remember the past   ...


It was the middle of the night, Cleo and Pascal, Danielle, Carl, and Garett were all fast asleep when a wailing siren pierced the stillness of the Slade home.

One by one they were roused from their sleep, as they blearily met on the landing outside their respective bedrooms they realised that the alarm was sounding in the garage.

By the time they got out to the garage the would be thief was being tackled by a local police constable.

Unfortunately, PC Patty Light was an inexperienced officer facing an experienced criminal and it wasn't long before it was clear that she was losing the contest.

Thankfully, with her fire department training and excellent physical fitness, Cleo was more than able to assist in the arrest and bring the housebreaker under control.

Having put herself in danger for the safety of her fellow citizens Cleo was particularly angry at having some low-life burglar attempt to steal what her family had struggled to acquire. She was going to insist that the full force of the law would be brought to bear on this one.

It was only a couple of hours until they were going to get up anyway, and now they were fully awake it seemed pointless going back to bed so Pascal and Garett sat down to breakfast.

Naturally enough they spent some time talking about the attempted robbery.

"Must say," Garett commented, "you have got a fine woman there in Cleo. Put us all to shame how quickly she got involved and got that scum under control. Very impressive."

Pascal nodded in agreement, "Yes, she is used to dealing with dangerous situations."

"Well yes, but when you’re facing a person rather than a fire, the outcome could be more unpredictable, y'know, they might be armed."

"I suppose, but she is very fit, so should be able to handle a single intruder."

As he got up to leave the table, Garett mused "Indeed, she is a very impressive woman, so you'd have to be a very special man to be chosen by her. You must feel very lucky Pascal."

This wasn't the first time that Pascal had the feeling that there was something important he didn't know about Garett.

That conversation seemed pleasant enough and, indeed, they were all impressed by Cleo's bravery and ability to bring that prospective burglar to the ground. But there was something in the way Garett spoke about her that just didn't sound entirely honest. He just couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Not being hungry, Carl went back to his laptop to continue working on his next novel, "The Idaho Connection".

But thoughts of the attempted robbery kept getting in the way of his own story so he eventually closed his writing project file and went to the Chatrooms to see if any of his friends were online. Being still quite early, there was no one he knew to be found.

Just as Cleo and Carl had succumbed to his charms, young Danielle also loved playing with "Uncle Garett". To be honest she loved everyone, having received so much attention from the day she arrived, Danielle had become accustomed to being adored by adults, and now expected it.

And now that she could walk and talk, as soon as she woke Danielle was in an almost constant state of excited discovery of the world around her. A whirlwind of fun and laughter bouncing around the house, who wouldn't love her?

One of her favourite tricks was to hide in the big toy box until someone came into the room when she would leap out and demand to know all about one of the toys she had found.

 -- * -- 

Pascal and Danielle were in the garden, which wasn’t necessarily a good thing as Danielle loved to take Pascal's plants apart so that she could examine them in minute detail. But Pascal wasn't too concerned about the loss of one or two plants if it meant she would learn an appreciation of the natural world.

Cleo was out on an emergency response call, so Carl and Garett had some time alone in the house.

Carl was struggling to complete his latest book, "The Idaho Connection", and thought that it would help if he talked through his plot with Garett.

"It's about two people," Carl started, "who meet in a bar and, finding they have a lot in common, set up in business together. But as the business grows they discover that they are not that similar after all. The story is really about where their differences come from and how they try to deal with them."

"Interesting idea," Garett nods in approval, "so what is it that makes these people different, what's at the heart of their characters?"

"Places. Where they come from. As you learn more about them, you learn about the places they came from and that's what makes them who they are."

"Ahh, I see." Garett smiles, "It's a story of roots, that we cannot escape where we came from ... or can we?"

"Exactly!" Carl is delighted that Garett has picked up the central idea of his book. "And that's kinda where I'm struggling, can they get beyond their differences, can they really become 'new' people? I want to find a resolution that says one thing or another, but it’s just not coming."

"But do you really need a definite resolution?" Garett asked. "Many stories, like real life, don't have a neat and tidy conclusion. You've set your characters on their journey, they will handle significant events, learn and move on. Trust your reader to see their trajectory and be able to imagine what might happen after your part of their story has been told."

"Yeah, yeah, I see that," Carl agreed enthusiastically, "I remember when Dad and I used to watch films that didn't have a 'proper' neat, ending and he would hate it and say something like 'what sort of ending was that?' but I loved it coz I could make up more stories about what happened next."

"Absolutely, a good writer will make his characters so real that the reader feels they know them intimately and will be able to continue with them without you telling all the details."

"Well, I don't know if I'm that good yet!" Carl laughed, though his smile quickly faded as his expression became something much more thoughtful "but you're right a lot of people in real life don't have 'proper' endings either ..."

"Like your father?" Garett suggested.

"Yes." Carl paused. "I still miss him so much. I don't know if he's still alive or ..."

Garett reached over and put an arm around Carl's shoulders.

"I know," Garett spoke softly. "The thing is to remember the good times and believe that he is still happy doing what he loves."

"Yeah, there were plenty of good times."

"You know, I think you can see a lot of your family in your book. Like I imagine your grandfather had a lot to leave behind when he arrived in Sunset Valley to start his new life."

"I don't know," Carl said thoughtfully, "I don't think he ever spoke of his past. Dad never said anything about before granddad moved here."

"No? Well, it has to be said that he certainly put down sound roots here on Summer Hill."

Carl didn't say anything, he was contemplating the passion his father, Brandon, had for this place. Instinctively he settled back against Garett, the memories of his father and the warmth of Garett next him, he felt so comfortable and 'at home' right now.

Feeling totally relaxed and at ease with his friend, Carl turned to look at Garett, looking deeply into his eyes.

Garett held his gaze as Carl scanned across his face for signs of that intimate connection he felt with his friend. Then, still locked on his eyes, Carl moved forward and kissed Garett.

Garett did not resist nor reject Carl's kiss but when, after a few seconds, it was over Carl was apologetic "Sorry, I don't know why I did that."

"Don't apologise, did it feel right?" Garett asked.

Sheepishly, "Yes, but I've never kissed a guy before."

"It's not about gender Carl. It's about our feelings for the person."

"Yeah, but ..."

"It's OK Carl. I feel it too, you and I, there’s a connection between us."

At that moment Garett's phone rang. He looked at the screen, "Sorry Carl, I've really got to take this."

Garett walked outside to take the call so Carl went into the dining room to play with his niece.

He loved Danielle and, young as he was, thought about how he would feel being a father. But now he was confused. He had feelings for Garett, and also for Malia, he couldn’t love two people at the same time. Could he?

-- * --

The call was from Mary Hauser. She had arrived in Sunset Valley and wanted to see Garett. They arranged to meet up in town.

It was great to see Mary again. It had been years since Garett had left Twinbrook where they had been the best of friends but he had to get away. Away from his past, to start a new life.

They both knew why she was here, to be honest, it was expected.

His father had been ill for many years and Garett just couldn't handle it, he had to escape. And, although she missed having Garett around, Mary understood why he had to leave and she was happy to help out his father during his final years.

She did not, however, expect the news Garett now delivered.

"I've found them! They're here. The Slades! They have no idea who I am and they know nothing of Twinbrook!"

"Really?  So what are you going to do?" Mary asked, concern in her voice.

"Oh, I have plans, come back with me, I'll tell you everything."

"Back where? Boyd told me that you'd moved out of your place."

"You won’t believe this – I’m living with them! I spun them some yarn and they fell for it! Come on."

Mary could hardly take it in. The Slade house was so much more impressive than anything she could have imagined.

"This is awesome! How on Earth did they end up with this?"

"Apparently," Garett explained, "Adam Slade ending up here, bought this huge plot of land and worked it up from there. And we both know how he managed to do that."

"And they have no idea who you are?"

"Nope. Seems Adam never told anyone anything about his past, not even his own family." Garett sneered, "but then, he had plenty to hide."

"So you’re here to take it off them?"

"No, I don't want anything from a Slade, but I want them to suffer like we suffered. And, best of all, they're going to do it to themselves!"

"With a little help from you."

"With a little help from me." Garett laughed as they lay back in the hot tub. "Keep an eye on this address, there'll be some fireworks coming soon."

Chapter 20: Where the hell is Twinbrook?