Our story started with Adam Slade arriving in Sunset Valley to start a new life, not just for himself but for the many generations that would come after him and to create a lasting legacy. In time Adam passed that legacy on to his only son, Brandon who, in turn, handed the dream on to his children, Cleo and Carl. Cleo is now raising her heir, Danielle, but, for now, the Slade story is still with the troubled third generation.
In this chapter Cleo hears from Garett and receives a surprising package ...
In the longest week of her life so far, Cleo had begun to settle into a routine with Danielle. It was tough and she hated leaving her young daughter in the care of a babysitter but there was a pretty good nursery system in Sunset Valley so good quality day care was easy to find.
Carl and Malia had set off on their grand adventure, although the plan had changed somewhat. They had found there was a like-minded community of travellers and adventurers in the resort town of Hidden Springs, so they have leased a small place which will be their base for their trips abroad.
Pascal had arrived safely back in Champs Les Sims, and his father had left a message to say he was OK, but there was no news on when Pascal might come back to the Valley.
-- * --
Having fed and dressed Danielle Cleo was about to start her normal week-end chores when her phone rang. It was not a number she recognised.
"Hi Cleo ..."
It was a voice she knew instantly.
Before she could frame a response, he implored her, "Hi, don't hang up. I have something important to tell you, something that will make you understand."
"Understand?" She could hardly believe he would have the temerity to think he could excuse his behaviour. "What is there to understand? You deliberately screwed up my relationship with Pascal, and with Carl. There is nothing you can say."
In contrast to Cleo's anger, Garett remained entirely calm and even in his tone. "I think, Cleo, that your problems with Pascal were not all down to me. You had a choice too."
Garett's apparent composure only served to further infuriate Cleo. "That was for me to deal with, you went out of your way to blow it all up and destroy my whole family!"
"Ahh, yes, that would appear to be what's happened, and now, now, I want you to know why. It is important to me for you to understand. I want you, Cleo Slade, to know where you came from and then you will understand everything."
"Where I came from? What are you talking about? I know exactly who I am!"
"No Cleo," Garett continued, "I don't think you do, not at all." He paused, briefly, "Check your mailbox. You will find two photographs, one of which I think you will recognise. Then come to the Pleasant Rest gardens at two o'clock this afternoon and I will explain and then, then, you will understand."
And the call was disconnected.
Cleo's anger at what Garett had done or, more accurately, what she and Garett had done was replaced by a feeling of unease, what could he tell her that would make sense of what he, they, had done?
She hurried down to the mailbox, there was a single unaddressed envelope. She ripped it open and found two old, faded, photographs as Garett had promised.
But, as much as she studied their faces, Cleo could find no clue as to who they might be.
Frustrated she turned her attention to the second image.
The photograph was faded, the paper worn, but there was no doubting who she saw.
Her left hand moved, involuntarily, across her mouth, as questions flooded into her mind.
She turned the paper over, in clear, even, hand-writing was a single word: "Twinbrook"
This was her grandfather, Adam, as a young man, but what was he doing in Twinbrook? And what was his relationship with the other family?
Chapter 24: Back to Twinbrook
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