Making Her Own Way

Realization for the Girl

Ross called his father telling him what had occurred with Elizabeth. He told him, "I know she would never be a farmer's wife or live in Nampara, she has hopes of grandeur." His father asked, "did you ever really think that girl would settle to live at Nampara?" Ross told him, "Yes, dad I did, I know it was all I talked about when I was younger. I always said, I wanted to raise my kids on this farm. I do not know when she changed but that is no longer her desire." Joshua was quiet a couple of seconds. "I am sorry Ross, but she never wanted that, she may have led you to believe it, but she never really wanted it. She always wanted to be at the top of society?" "Dad, do you think I can come to the Penthouse and speak to you about Claude." Joshua answered, "Ross you are always welcome, to speak to me!"

Ross cleaned himself up and went to the penthouse as soon as he got out of the lift, he notices the smell before his father answered the door. Ross asked, "Dad what is Eleanor cooking now?" "She put a roast, carrots and potatoes in the crockpot with some seasoning and spices," Joshua told him. Ross said, "It smells so good, do you think I would be welcome to stay for supper?" Joshua laughed, "well Eleanor is still work but I don't see why not." Ross said, "well are you not going to ask me about Elizabeth?" Joshua said, "thought if you wanted to talk more about her, you would." Ross the retold the story, "I broke it off, she wants something completely different from me and I don't think she loves me, I know I don't love her. She is no less beautiful, but that beauty is only skin deep, her makeup helps hide her ugliness. She wants to tear the house and build an extravagant Manor, she also refers to as the premier couple of Cornwall, I never wanted that. I also realized that she did not think very highly of mother, even though from what I remember, there was never a more loving and giving woman." Joshua said, "I chose your mother over Joan Chynoweth, her mother I am sure is the source of bitterness that came from her mother. Society thought your mother, was beneath me, but it was I that did not deserve her."

Ross said, "that brings me to Claude, I realized today why you were hesitant to bring him home if I married her. You were right, her interaction with him was limited. In fact, once I thought back, she did everything to keep me from him. I want him home, I never wanted him to leave." Joshua imparted to Ross, for the first time, what led to the placement of Claude in a home. "I was not in a good place when your mother passed, you know what it was like. I know you and Claude depended on each other. I did not know how to cope with raising you albeit a special needs child. Then the one day he came in crying because you could not find him, do you remember that?" Ross shook his head no. "You were besides yourself you two were at the beach with Francis and Verity, even then Francis could be a shit! Anyway someone, it was Francis, told Claude to hide in the caves. The tide came in and you called and called for Claude, you even tried to go into the cave, but the current was too strong for you. You came to get me, I have way to being drunk, I could barely stand but you helped me get to the beach. I could not get in the cave, but you never gave up you kept fighting the current finally the tide started to ebb, and we got in. Claude had climbed up on a one to the shelfs, how he got up there I do not know. I carried him the whole way home, berating you for allowing him to be in there. You were sick for a week with pneumonia from being so tired and cold trying to get to him. I realized I was putting the burden of Claude on your shoulders even thought you were just a boy. I failed both my boys that day. Then Agatha and Charles, told me I should allow you to be a boy you were not a caregiver, they arranged it all, I hope Grace forgives me I allowed outside forces to direct the path I took with him." Ross nodded, "Aunt Agatha and Uncle Charles, I do remember them talking about Claude, they said he shouldn't be allowed to venture outside the house, but I did not think they would go that far." Joshua nodded, "I can't blame them totally, my concerns was for his any your welfare, your uncle and aunts was for the stigma they thought he brought to our family." Ross said, "I think we should take a trip see him and ask if he would like to come home?" Joshua nodded; I think I would like that to.