For The Love Of Chéri (CHAPTERS 1-112 REWRITTEN)

Chapter 116 : Paa, How Can I Ever Live Up To You..

Gabriél, Dolores and Constanza were out at an art exhibition when his phone went off. He read the text and his eyes widened.

He turned to his mother. "Momma. I got a strange text off Lennon. It must be like...three in the morning, in America."

"What does he say?" Dolores asked.

"He's asking me to get Suzanne from the bed and breakfast and bring her to the Bordello..." Gabriél said.

Madam Dolores looked surprised. "Why? Marcel removed her and his reason was, a failure to thrive."

"I don't know but he's very insistent on it." Gabriél answered.

"If I did not know that Lennon was an honourable man, I would suspect him of flaunting a mistress in the face of my baby son!" Dolores said.

"Is he just trying to stick it to Marcel?" Constanza asked.

"In the text he says that Suzanne and Javier are in love and want to live together. But...Javier never mentioned anything like this in our meeting. Though I know he visits her, so maybe it is true...but, several things I know about him argue against that."

Dolores shook her head. "I want to speak to Lennon about all this when he returns. I have some serious questions that need answers. I am aware that Suzanne has a baby daughter and that Lennon organised false papers for the baby. But, I want to know why Lennon seems to want to move heaven and earth for my Chéri and that woman Suzanne."

Gabriél sighed. "Mom. How do we go about this with Marcel?! He'll loose face."

Dolores looked thoughtful a moment. "Tell him that she is returning, but not as an asset. Also inform him that I will want serious reasons from Lennon as to why she is here, and if Marcel can prove any affair, I want to know. Also that she is not allowed in the working areas and that she must support herself. So, as a courtesy, I will grant Lennon's wish until I can speak to him about it. I better not find anything untoward is happening, or Lennon will be very, severely delt with."

"How do I get her into the Bordello?" Gabriél asked.

"Through the front door..." Dolores answered. "Give Javier a larger apartment for two. Looks like his wife is coming to live with him."

~ X ~

Lennon was making some scrambled eggs as Merrick walked up to him. "I hope you're throwin' some bacon in that pan, son."

"I will now Paa!" Lennon said with a smile.

Merrick laughed a moment then tapped Lennon on the shoulder and held up a large gift box in multicolored paper.

"What's this Paa?" Lennon asked.

"Its for Mozart, for Christmas day. He once told me that...you and he had some fight 'bout your belt. I went down the same leather goods place where I got all our belts made, and I got an identical belt made for him. I asked your momma to find out his waist measurement and they cut holes for him as he's so tiny." Merrick said.

"Really?!" Lennon answered surprised. "I'm surprised he told you about the belt thing." Lennon said as he took the gift box. "Is it like, just like ours?"

"Yeah. Tennessee, Confederate and American flag. Got his name embossed on the back and all." Merrick said.

"Paa, I think he's really gonna appreciate it. It'll be crazy him wearin' that in Spain." Lennon said.

Merrick looked a little uneasy as he touched his chest. "I need to sit." He said as he picked back up his coffee cup and slowly sat down on a chair by the large dining table.