The SPECTRE Of The VATICAN ©

Chapter 56 - Show and Tell.

Time: Present Day
Location: Paris, France

Margot related the tale of two star crossed lovers named Amelia and Peter, of how a mother almost killed her daughter with medication, the discovery of a pregnancy and subsequent tale of intrigue and denial, of deceit and concealment. A web of lies that had lasted a generation. How a family was sworn to secrecy even from itself.

How Peter was railroaded into becoming a priest by Tony.

"I've never liked Tony, now I know why . . . sorry Michy," Layla blurted out then blushed.

"For my part in all this, I am truly sorry especially how I lied to Amelia, all the time she was here, redirected any suspect mail to her mother. Didn't tell her Peter was desperately trying to contact her, but most of all for lying to her, or should I say maintaining the lie, that Peter had gotten another girl pregnant and was marrying her. When, in fact, he was locked up in a seminary in Melbourne essentially against his will, with the very real threat of prison if he didn't co-operate.

"I'm partly to blame for that," Michelle added, "I changed the only one of Peter's letters that we showed Amelia to make it look like he was living with a girl in Melbourne."

Margot said, "We all played a part in that lie, even Father Dan. He and Monique were thick as thieves back then. I was surprised that a priest would stoop so low, almost as surprised as I was that I had. That old saying again, oh what a wicked web we weave when first we practise to deceive."

Now the spinner was dead.

They were all dumbfounded, even Christoph didn't know that Amelia had been pregnant, that Carter was her son, that Peter had been railroaded. He was probably affected more than anyone in the room, like Carter, he too had been lied to all his life, by his own family. He simply said, "You people!" and stormed out slamming the door behind him.

Amanda called out, "I'm sorry Chris, so sorry. I better go after him."

"No, leave him alone Amanda. I'm being told to leave him be. He'll come around in time. He hates us all for doing this now. I don't blame him I hate myself sometimes," Margot said.

"Me too," Amanda sobbed.

"Now let me get this straight, Amelia was Amanda's twin sister, she fell in love with the boy next door, Peter, when she was 18...they had sex,?she got pregnant then fell ill with this mysterious disease, ended up in hospital, wasn't expected to live. Pete's dad, the doctor saves her. Tony forces Peter to go to Melbourne to become a priest, on some trumped up rape charge before he even finds out about the pregnancy. How am I going do far," Mal asked.

"Essentially correct, a few minor flaws and omissions but nothing serious, go on," Margot encouraged.

Mal was enjoying having centre stage. Layla was amazed at how much information he had retained.

"Monique sends Amelia to Paris to study music and to have the baby and she hopes to adopt it out, but Amelia keeps the baby, and names it Peter after the father. Amelia tragically dies as a result of a drug overdose. Amanda steps in adopts Peter, changes his name to Carter, marries Roger here, and they tell everyone including poor Christoph that Carter belongs to Roger from a previous relationship, where the girl died in a car accident or something. Anyway, upshot is Carter is Roger's child that Amanda had adopted as her own."

"You've got it just about right, but for my part, I'm not proud of what we did, but Monique insisted that if I wanted to marry Amanda I had to play along with her made up story and not tell a soul. Not even in confession, she was adamant as only Monique could be, you know her, I mean you knew her, better than anyone Amanda, darling."