Page 56 of Fight

I quickly do as she asks and help her to put the mixture into the small vials that I’ve come to associate with her poisons.

“Is there somewhere to store them in here?” I ask.

She nods, “Yes, once they’re cooled, we will put some in the storage here and then take the rest into the house where we can securely store them and where they’re easy to access.”

“Sounds good,” I smile, putting the cork in the last one.

Demelza looks over to me as if she’s contemplating telling me something, and instead of asking, I just stay silent.

Finally, she says, “Would you like to learn how to make something else, or would you like to visit your father's grave? We may not have anything to bury, but we need a place to visit him and to grieve, somewhere that could offer us a small amount of closure.”

I think about it before I answer, not wanting to make the wrong choice. I had no desire to visit my mother’s grave, and I still don’t; if I’m being honest, I’m clearly harboring some resentment toward her for what she put me through and for not telling me anything about my father and denying me the opportunity to get to know him better and help. But when I think about visiting my father’s grave, I find that it's actually something that I want to do.

“I’d like to visit if that’s okay?” I reply.

“Of course, come on. It’s on the grounds, not too far from here. We had a flower garden that, in your father's opinion, had the best climbing tree on the whole estate. He loved it there, so we put his grave there.” She tells me with a fond smile as she leads me down by the side of the greenhouse. The walk doesn’t take too long, and we’re soon pushing through a small wooden gate and walking through an overgrown garden until we get to a tombstone, the grass around it neatly trimmed and flowers placed lovingly in front.

No words are said as we both stand there and appreciate the moment. I feel a wash of peace go through me as it finally occurs to me that I know who he is, I know where he is, and I know as much of his story as it’s possible to know.

For the first time in my life the part of me that was constantly searching for more information about my father and where I come from settles.

Chapter Twenty

“Do you still have feelers out just in case something pops up?” I ask her.

She nods, “We do, but as I said, there was enough to convince us that he was gone. The only thing we were lacking was his body. The feelers that we have out were for if any bodies or bones turned up that could match.”

I nod, “That’s what I meant. What was his name?”

“Oh gracious, do you not know?”

I shake my head with a chuckle, “You might have mentioned it once right when we first found that you were alive, but a lot has happened since then. I’m ashamed to say that I can’t remember if you did tell me or not, and everyone just refers to him as ‘your’ father.”

She hums, “Yes, that would make sense. That first day was quite a lot to take in. He was called Alastair.”

“Thank you,” I say, falling silent again as I mull his name over in my mind. After a while of just standing in comfortable silence, I add, “I wish I got to know him, but I’m glad that I get the opportunity to know you.”

Demelza smiles, “Me too, dear. We’re both so happy that we have you in our lives, and I want you to know that your father would be proud of you and the person that you’ve become. I see a lot of him in you.”

My smile is watery, “That means a lot.”

After that, we head back inside and catch up with Gerald, who insists we all have lunch together while he tells me stories from my father’s childhood and the ridiculous things that he used to get up to. Demelza was right; it sounds like we’d have a lot in common were he alive today.

For the rest of the day, I hang out with them and enjoy getting to know them and then having a big dinner all together when the guys get back. They’re all really happy, so I’m guessing they’ve had good days with their grandparents as well. Ace tells us that he and Cecil have found all the blind spots, and there are only a few, so it shouldn’t take us too long to set up the cameras the next day. It’s decided that we’ll go in pairs, and it ends up with me and Rip being sent out down some back road somewhere to place a few cameras. I’m actually looking forward to getting out and spending some one and one time with just Rip. I don’t get to spend enough time with them individually, and that’s something I want to change.

Demelza and Gerald also decide that it might be a good idea for all the grandparents to hunker down at Rome’s place on the day that we deal with the smugglers just in case and also so that everyone is in the same place and easy to keep track of. Ace also points out that it would mean that everyone can stay updated on what is happening because Cecil can keep an eye on the cameras and also let us know if the buyers switch it up by coming to the main entrance or something. Malory has also decided to stay away until it’s all been dealt with, she said, so that she wouldn’t get in the way, but really I think she was just enjoying the break. I know that I would be if I were her.

It was a really nice evening, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

**********

We didn’t end up placing the cameras yesterday because Cecil wanted to go over the placement one last time and make sure that we got all the blind spots. So instead, we just chilled out for the day, and today we’re going to place the cameras. Ace has given us all instructions on how to do it, which of course, I’ve already forgotten. My grandmother has lent us all vehicles, and we’ve all agreed to meet back at the house for dinner, where Ace will double-check that they’re all working properly in preparation for the Conspiracy team that is due to arrive first thing the following day.

“Okay, do you know what you’re doing with these cameras because I’ve forgotten what Ace said,” I ask Rip, who is driving us to the location where we’ve got to set up the first camera.

We’ve only got three cameras to put up, but we’ve got to place them in the exact locations that Ace has told us to; otherwise, there will still be blind spots, and we’ll just have to go out and do it again. There are several points along the road that need cameras and we’re going to have to drive to each one. So although we’ve only got three cameras to do, it’s going to take us a while to do them. Thankfully, my grandmother has packed us all sandwiches and snacks, so I’m viewing it as a kind of date with Rip, and I’m really excited about it.

Rip chuckles as he glances over at me before he looks back at the road, “Yeah, don’t worry. I’ve set up a couple for him before, and it’s actually really easy. He specifically got the easier ones so that we could help him.”

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