Christmas with the Gerard's

17

4 days til Christmas  

Toby’s face paled at my smile and I could have chuckled at that moment, but instead I took my phone and replied.  

*Great, he’s here too. I am gonna get started. Get back up. * 

I looked at Colton and smiled.  

“I was gonna tell you at the café, but since we were asked to come here, I guess I will just tell everyone the truth.” I walked towards the boys holding my mum and aunt and pulled them out of their holdstoo. “Let’s be adults about this. Everyone, follow me. You too Toby.” I said as I led them all to the lounge. Everyone sat down on the sofas and floor while I stood by the fireplace. I looked around at all the faces and took a deep breath. 

“So, fourteen years ago, I saw something in the garage, something that changed my life.” I started but Heidi couldn’t keep herself from fidgeting and it was so distracting that I stopped and stared at her. Then I looked at my mum, she was still quietly sobbing and I moved towards her and kneeled in front of her.  

“Mum? What were you going to tell me about Heidi earlier?” She looked at me and cupped my cheek, her hand was cold and it made me shiver, but I placed mine on top of hers and she smiled.  

“It doesn’t matter love; she will tell us all herself when you finish telling us why you left.” She patted my cheek twice and removed her hand, making mine flop down to my side. I stood and walked back to the fireplace, James’ eyes followed me around the room, as well as Toby’s and Heidi’s.  

“So, as I was saying, I went out there to pinch one of Heidi’s menthol cigarettes. I knew she kept some hidden there for when she came around. I was in there when I witnessed something that revolted me.” I stopped for two seconds to catch my breath and Toby took the chance to intervene. 

“Cordelia, are you sure that’s how you want to tell it? Because I think this family deserves the truth. It was always you Cordelia. Don’t drag anyone else in with your lies.” He stalked towards me like a tiger stalking his prey and my heart thumped in my chest. He was so close to reaching me, I was petrified, but part of me knew that if I showed any weakness, he would pounce and I would never ever clean my name. My phone vibrated in my hand again and I looked down at it.  

*Open the door*  

I glanced around the room and then the knock sounded at the door.  

“It’s for me I’ll go.” I ran towards the door and opened. Tomas stood on the other side smiling like the cat who got all the cream. Behind him stood Sally and Marina, Sally’s friend who I had hear talking on the phone to Tomas in the club the other week. We had met last night and convinced her to get Sally back, with their help, I was going to bring Toby down. Now that I knew the whole truth. 

I moved out the way and they walked in. I motioned for them to follow me and when we all walked in everyone gasped. Toby’s face went from cocky to terrified in seconds and I grinned at him.  

“What the f**k is he doing here?” Toby asked pointing at Tomas. 

“Oh, come on Toby pal, as if you don’t already know what’s coming.” Tomas said with a chuckle. Everyone’s eyes were on us and I suddenly felt a bit horrible for doing it this way, but what other choice did I have. 

“I am sorry for this.” I said facing mum, Gabe, Avery and Mal. I then turned to Colton and smiled. He simply nodded as if to say do it.  

“Avery, this is Sally and Marina. Of course, you all know Sally, she dated Theo. What you might not know is that Sally is pregnant. At first, she told us it was Theo’s baby. But after a small confrontation, she changed her story and admitted the baby was Tomas’, seeing how they had an affair it was the only possibility. But what if Sally had in fact had someone else? Sally?” I turned around and motioned for her to take center stage. Her eyes were red and puffy and she had her hands over her stomach in a protective hold. She walked calmly towards me and lowered her head. I held her hand and squeezed it.  

“Sally is a drug addict” She glared at me and I winced “Sorry, was a drug addict.” She let go of my hand and stood directly in front of Avery. 

“My baby is your husbands.” Sally did have a way with words. I’d found out last night while on the phone to her that, she didn’t mince things. No sugar coating for this lady. Avery’s face paled and the tears pooled in her eyes. 

“Bullshit! I have never seen her outside of when she dated Theo!” Toby shouted. “Avery, you can’t be believing this s**t?” He asked her, but she simply ignored him. He’d cheated before and she knew it.  

“That’s not all.” Sally said looking around “I was actually admitted to hospital last week when I fainted. The doctors thought something was wrong with the baby, but all is well. While there, I decided to protect myself. I decided to ask for a DNA test on the baby. They can do that now a days. I had some of Toby’s hairs, from when he last slept over...” She gave Avery a sheepish look and carried on “99.9% compatible.” She pulled an envelope out of her bag and handed it to Ave. “Toby is also the town’s big drug...” A loud bang on the door interrupted her, we all looked towards the door, and as more and more banging sounded, I got this dreaded feeling in my stomach again. I watched in slow motion as the door flew off its hinges, splinters flying everywhere, and three masked guys walked in with guns in their hands. My nan screamed and Gabe automatically jumped on her to protect that, Theo jumped on my mum while James jumped for the twins. Colton and Tomas where right in the path of the guns and I couldn’t help but scream too. Sally and Marina where behind me and then it all went so fast.  

Toby came out of nowhere and grabbed Sally by the hair, dragging her backwards away from me and Marina. The guys with the guns simply stood rooted to the spot, their guns slowly moving between Tomas, Colton and I.   

“I’m sorry it had to be this way.” Toby said. I wanted to turn around and see who he was talking to, but I was too scared to take my eyes off the guns. “Shoot them two and the two bitches by the fire. Leave the rest alive. Bring James.” He shouted. One of the guys moved to stand next to Toby, passing him a gun, when James shouted.  

“No! I am not going anywhere. It’s over Toby.”  I glanced at him, he had Avery and Mal behind him, their faces pale and scared. James looked confident, like I hadn’t seen him in years. “Tell the truth Toby, the jig is up.” 

“Never. Change of plan, shoot James too.” He shouted and started to leave, but the distraction had been enough, Tomas kicked out at one of the guys and his gun flew out of his hand landing next to Colton's feet. The moment it did, everyone was screaming, shots rang out and I panicked. I watched as Marina ran towards Sally, her body jerking forwards as a bullet pierced her back, I turned and saw Colton and Tomas fighting one guy while the other held his gun up, smoke sliding out of the barrel. I watched in horror as Marina laid on the floor, a pool of blood slowly oozing from under her, Sally trashed like a wild buck in Toby’s hold, trying to get to her friend, but he placed the gun to her temple and she stopped. Another shot rang out and I heard Tomas scream. I didn’t want to look, but I turned. Tomas was on the floor, his left arm holding his right, which was covered in blood, Colton stood in front of the second guy, guns pointed at each other while the first guy laid on the floor unconscious.  

“Let the girl go Toby, or I will kill your minion.” Colton said and my heart stopped. I couldn’t let Colton do that. 

“Kill him then, I have the upper hand. I don’t give a f**k about him.” He sneered and I wanted nothing more at that moment than to plant my foot right on his ballsack. In all the commotion, no one noticed the new arrival, well no one except me and Colton. I watched a small head of golden hair appear behind thug number two and a second later I watched my nans bright pink umbrella land on the back of his head. He dropped on the floor like a sack of potatoes, and Colton turned his gun on Toby, who had shielded himself with Sally. Thug number three had his gun pointed at Colton.  

“Go on, shoot Colton.” Toby jeered. Colton’s hands tightened around the gun but I could see the defeat in his eyes. He couldn’t risk harming Sally.  Colton lowered his arms and Toby laughed. We soon heard the sirens approaching and Toby pressed the gun harder into Sally’s head. “Last chance James, come with me.” He looked towards James but the latter just shook his head. “You’ll regret this.” Toby spat. We heard the police shout and I thought we’d be safe, Toby pushed Sally forward and she stumbled, I went to grab her but Toby was not done, he lifted his gun and shot Sally in the back of the head. Her blood and brains exploded on my face and I screamed as her lifeless body fell into me.... I screamed and screamed as I watched Toby’s silhouette leave, I kept screaming as I saw Colton approaching me, my throat was starting to hurt, I could feel her warm blood pooling around me but all I could do was cry and scream until the darkness at the edge of my eyes took over me and I passed out.