The End of Blame: Chapter 17

After spending some time researching the Andracus Family, Todd looked up to see John returning from his phone calls.  Finally, the jet was prepared, fueled and set to go. The flight plan was developed, with Todd's internet prowess as the guide.  "All right, so according to your researching, where exactly is this orphanage?"  John asked.   He and Todd had accessed the internet cafe in the lobby of the Athenian.


"Somewhere in Mylos.  A small town there, I think it's called 'Pollonia.'"


John squinted.  "I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."


"Long lost love?  Disease?"


John laughed slightly to himself, "No, I just can't help but feel it's familiar.  I can't place it."


"It will come to you," Todd said.  "You know how that is."


"Who's going to tell Orinia that she needs to go with us?  You, or me?"  John asked.


"Whatever suits you.  I can tell her if you want.  She and I, we kind of have a sort of, connection."


"I've noticed. Similar experiences."


"Right.  I don't mind telling her."


"Think it would come off better from the cop?"  John asked.


"Think it would come off better from the ex- con?"


They walked a bit in silence, then hit the elevator button.  "I'll tell her," John said.


"Fine, you can.  Or I can."


They looked at each other in the elevator.  "If she puts up a fuss, I'll have you step in."  John said.


"Yeah, because after all, I'm the tough one here," Todd rolled his eyes.


They approached the door to the suite.  "Think she's ready?"


"Knock."


Both men knocked.


Blair came to the door.  "Hey."


They entered, and Todd kissed her.  John said, "Hey."


"You guys all set?"


Orinia was playing with baby Ray.  Todd said, "Orinia?"


She did not respond.


"Hey, Orinia?  I have to talk to you."  He repeated.


She said, "Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Mahnning.  I was distracted by the baby.  He's a charmer."


"You're coming with us," he blurted out. "You're an adult now, you want your kid, you have to deal with your grandfather, your disappearance, and everything that goes with it.  We'll help, but we're not doing this for you."


She thought a moment, and Todd was expecting a full-blown argument.  Then, she said, "All right." Both John and Todd looked at each other, and she continued, "If I am trying to show that I am mature and ready to have my child back, then of course, you are right.  I must face my grandfather.  Anything to get a chance to have my son back."


"Back.  Did you meet your son?  Did they allow you to?"


She smiled, "Oh yes, I met him.  I even held him, for a moment," she became wistful.  "I cannot wait to see him again.  He is going to look so different than he did that day."


"Yes, he'll be quite grown-up.  He'll be similar to Sam."  Blair said.


"Right.  A little person, not just a baby.  It's all exciting, don't you think?"


Blair said, "Of course.  Every time you have a baby, and watch it grow, there's excitement."  She looked at Todd, and then to her hands, and he went to her and hugged her to him.  She whispered, "I'm all right."


"Well," Orinia said, "I don't have anything but the clothes on my back, so I'm ready when you are.  I am so excited that you are going to help me find him."


"Anything we can do," John said.


"All right then.  Sister, it was a pleasure meeting you."


"My dear, Godspeed.  I am hoping that my prayers will help ya on your journey."


"Thank you."


Within a few moments, Jack, Sam and Viki returned from breakfast.  Jack stared at her from the door, and she stared back.  She said, "Jahck.  I...don't know what to say."


He said nothing.  He just watched her.  Sam said, "Jack's all right.  He has me and mom and Dad."


"He is fortunate," she said.  Jack turned from her and went into the other room.  She said, "He is not going to be able to forgive me."  Then she said, "Mrs. Buchanan, also to you, a pleasure meeting you."


"Thank you, Orinia.  Same here and good luck with your grandfather."


"Well, that leaves just my friend Ray, here."  She turned to the baby, and taking him in her arms, she began to cry.  "I will miss you, my dear friend.  You are so precious."  She kissed his forehead and wiped her tears.  She handed him to the nun, and said, "All right, I suppose it's time to go." Looking toward the other room, she said, "Goodbye, Jahck."


John escorted Orinia out of the suite, directing Todd and Blair that he would be waiting for them in the lobby whenever they were ready.  After saying goodbye to the younger children, they went together to Jack's room.  He was on the bed, lying on his back, hands under his head and elbows flanking his ears.  He said, "I'm fine."


Todd said, "Son, we wanted to say good-bye.  We'll be gone a couple of days."


"Okay.  Good-bye."


Blair sat on the bed.  "Jack, we know you're hurt."


"No you don't, because I'm not."


She caught Todd's eye.  He said, "All right, you're not.  You're pissed off, though."


"Maybe."


Blair petted his hair, and he flinched, like most teen boys do around their mothers.  She said, "Do you want one of us to stay here?"


"No," he said.  "Go and do what you have to to help her."


Blair considered his answer confirmation that he was more hurt than he was letting on.  "That's what we want to do.  If that's all right with you.  If it's not, then we can stay and John can go with her."


"It's all right.  You should go."  The entire time, he never shifted his eyes from the ceiling.


Todd said, "Buddy, it will get better.  When I get back, you and I will really talk about all this."


"Yep,"  Jack said.  "She had a baby, right?"


"Yes, she had a baby."  Blair said.


"She wants to find him.  You guys can convince the grandfather, blah, blah, blah.  I get it.  Just go take care of it and get back here so we can leave and get back to Llanview."


Blair said, "That's exactly what we are going to do, Son."  She stood up, leaned over and kissed her son's forehead.  His face twisted, slightly, and water came to his eyes.


"We'll be back soon," Todd said.


Blair walked out, and as Todd turned, Jack said, "Dad?"


"Yeah, Jack?"


He sat up in his bed, propping himself on an elbow, "Bye.  Make sure you come back to us."


Todd went to his son and embraced him.  Pulling back and heading to the door, he said, "Always, Jack."


The flight was uneventful.  Orinia was in good spirits.  She talked to Blair about her plans for her son's return and possibly attending medical school.  She said, "I can't thank you all enough for what you are doing for me.  I just hope and pray I will be a good mother, like you, Mrs. Mahnning."


"You will.  It just takes love."


John was busy, making calls to Llanview on the Airphone, writing notes in his little notepad and reading over various papers.  Todd was more stoic; he looked out the window at his journey above the earth, one of his favorite places to be.


Finally, they landed, and Todd had procured a car for them to transport them from the airport in Mylos, to a small town called Pollonia, and to Cepov tou Paidiou, or The Sanctuary of the Child Orphanage.  When pulling up in front of the stucco building, covered in part by ivy and overgrown plant life, Orinia took in a large breath.  Todd said, "We can go in first, if you want."


She said, "No, Mr. Mahnning, you were right.  I must be an adult and take control of my own life.  If I want to get my son back, that is what I must do.  Do you think he is safe, and healthy?  Have they taken good care of him?"


"I am sure they have," Blair said.  The group walked to the entrance, and John rang the bell.  When the door opened, a woman, dressed in uniform said, "My God, Ms. Orinia!  Let me get your grandfather, he's been sick with worry.  Please, won't you all come in?" She invited the group into the lobby of the neat and modest establishment.  "I'll get Mr. Andracus."


Orinia said very little from the moment they had left the car.  Todd and John were in front of her, side by side, with Blair flanking her on one side.  Within a few moments, an elderly gentleman, a bit portly, with a kindly face, appeared.  "Thank God in Heaven.  "Orinia, you are safe," he said, opening his arms.


She turned her face.  "Grandfather, I'm here for one thing.  You know what it is."


The man seemed to understand fully what she was requesting.  "I know, my dear.  We will talk."


"Sir, I'm John McBain, detective from the Llanview Police Department in Llanview, Pennsylvania, USA.  I'm here with Todd and Blair Manning, whose son was missing for several days when he met up with your granddaughter and ran off to help her.  We've come to ask your assistance..."


The man interrupted, his eyes not having moved from Orinia's face.  "Orinia, are you all right?"


"Of course I am.  These nice people have offered to help me make you see the light, grandfather."


"What light?  Orinia, what must I see?"


John said, "You have records, here, of the adoption of any children that came this way.  Do you know the whereabouts of Orinia's son?"


The grandfather's face sank.  It was as if he had been punched, very hard, in the center of his body.  Todd didn't take him for a cruel ogre, and lingered on the manner in which he had spoken to Orinia.  He's only concerned for her.  He's not indignant, not angry.  The elderly man spoke, "Yes," he said, with a pained expression, "yes, I know the whereabouts of her son."


Without warning, Orinia raised her voice, "You will lie!  You will lie!"


Startled, Blair, took the girl by her arms and attempted to calm her.  Orinia pushed Blair off her with ferocity.  "He's a liar!  You must not believe him!"


Todd looked to Orinia, and back to the man, and a sickening feeling came over him.   To Thaddeus, he said, "Where is her son?"


Thaddeus ignored Todd, for the moment and put his arms back out to Orinia.  "My little one, do not do this.  No more.  Grandfather will help you."


She cried out, "No!  I won't listen to your lies!"


The grandfather's response was heartbreaking, as he continued to hold out his arms, and his face twisted into a mass of tears and he spoke in Greek.  Then he said, "Excuse me, please, for my emotions are not in control."  Then he wiped his tears with a handkerchief from his pocket, and said, "Orinia, it will be all right."


"Nooo!  Make him stop!  He's lying!  He wants you to believe him, like all the rest!"


Todd, fearing that the outcome suddenly dawned on him, said, in a very calm and patient voice, "Mr. Andracus, where is her son?"  He was positive of the answer.


The older man finally made eye contact with Todd, and when he did, Todd felt his heart might break.  "Her son is dead.  He died before shortly birth, five years ago.  She was a child," the man sobbed, "she carried him full term, and he was stillborn.  It left her unable to have a child of her own."


Orinia let out a piercing cry, "Noooo! Liar!"  Then she backed away from them, toward the door, and to Todd, she screamed, "You promised to help me!  You said you understood!  You're just like all the rest.  My baby's not dead, I heard him crying.  He's alive, he's out there.  Please!"  Then, she began to whisper.  "No, he's not dead.  Hes' not.  He's not."  Orinia suddenly seemed to wobble, as an inanimate object would in a storm.


Blair cupped her hands over her face and began to cry.  John stepped forward urgently and caught the girl as she fell toward the ground.  Thaddeus broke through them and took her in his arms.  She cried, and he muttered to her in Greek.  Todd turned his attention to Blair's face.  She was a mixture of pity and pain, and most likely, from what he could see, reliving the death of Sommer as they all watched the horrific scene unfold.  He went to her and held her.


Thaddeus walked Orinia out of the room, quietly saying, "Please, come with us."  All three of them followed, Todd now protectively shielding Blair with his arm around her, and John, his stolid face drawn and sucked in a bit at the cheeks.  They followed Thaddeus and the almost incoherent Orinia to the garden, where they came upon a small stone and a neatly kept grave.  Thaddeus spoke, "Remember, Orinia?"


"No."  She whispered, "No."


"Yes, you do.  You do.  You were there when he was buried.  You insisted on seeing him and forced us to open his little casket."


"No, no!"  she broke down, "It is not true."


Her grandfather held her, and through her sobbing, he said to the three strangers, "This happens often, but it never ceases to hurt me deeply.  I thank you, so much, for bringing her home to us.  The staff already knows to call her doctor when she comes back.  She's run away over a dozen times.  Always the same.  Always the same."


Blair fell against Todd, and whimpered.  He turned his face over hers, resting his chin on the crown of her head.  He wrapped both strong arms around her.  Catching John's eye over Blair's head, he said, "I've got to get her to the car.  I'll be back, I promise you."


"I'm not going anywhere.  Just want to follow up and be certain everything here is...contained.  Manning?"  Todd looked up without a word, "Take care of her.  Take your time."


Todd walked Blair out to the car.  She was crumpled against him like a leaf and shaking as one in a windstorm.  He sat her into the limousine, and climbed in next to her, where she fell against him again, shattering into shards.  He said, "It's all right  I'm here."


"Sommer's dead, Todd."


"Yes, she is."  He rubbed her shoulders.


"And it's so bad, it's so bad.  It hurts so much, and that little girl lost her baby boy.  What she must be feeling..."  she broke off, crying.


He could only draw in a deep breath and keep strong against her trembling.  "It will be all right, Blair.  I promise.  She will get help," after he said the words, he was not certain about their validity, "and we will be okay."  For the last statement, at least, he felt confident.


She cried against him for a while, and then they heard a knock on the top of the limo.  "Hey, you two?"


Todd pushed the electric window control and there was John, his black sleeve crossing Todd's vision.  "Yeah, John?"


John took one look at the scene and a new picture of Todd Manning came into view.  Blair was in shambles; her hair was tousled about her, her eyes red and swollen from crying, and her composure lost.  And Todd, the man who had endured years of torture, and lost two children himself, and had just, days before, had a flashback of the most horrific scene of his life, was staunchly holding her, calm under pressure.  The man's only focus was Blair because she needed him to be.  Unable to find the words at first, he said, "Are you two all right?"


Todd just nodded yes, and closed his eyes, and Blair pulled herself closer, if that were possible, into the safe space his arms created for her against his broad chest.  John saw Todd's eyes open, and he signaled him to get in.  John obeyed, not asking questions.


Todd began to slowly rock Blair, in his arms, and said, "Shhh, it's all right, Babe.  It's going to be all right."


John watched as she moved her head to her husband's lap, and he stroked and caressed her hair.  She was softly sniffling now, as if the torrent had passed.  Todd said, "We're going home.  We're going to see Ray, and Jack, and Sam."


Blair closed her eyes.  Her breathing slowed, and he continued to nurse her back to solace with his capable, soothing hands.  After a few minutes, he turned to John.  "She'll be all right.  This is happening less and less.  She's strong, she'll be fine."  He looked back to Blair, and back to John, then said, "That girl.  She's..."


"She's not well," John said, matter-of-factly.  "She's delusional.  Has been since she was a child, according to Andracus."


"What do we expect?  Look what she's been through."


"I know.  I am not sure why I didn't see it."  John said, "Professional eye and all."


"I didn't either, if that makes you feel any better, until the very last minute."


"Well, you beat me then, because I never saw it coming for a second."


"What did the old man say?"


"She's been in and out of mental hospitals since her mother's murder.  She's had several breakdowns.  She's on medication, undergoing therapy.  The violence of that event left her, well, not whole.  When she was a young teen, she would run off, party hard.  She ended up pregnant when she was three weeks less than 15.  They planned to keep the baby and raise it here, so she could be part of his life.  Then, she carried him to term, gave birth to him, lifeless.  They get her to accept it, things seem fine, and then she does this again," John relayed.  "She's a fractured young woman."


Todd looked back at John, and said, "There's so much sickness in the world."  John was not sure what to say or make of the statement.  Instead, he looked to Blair, who had now taken Todd's free hand and held it to her heart, as she slept.  "She cried herself sleepy,"  Todd said.


"That she did."


"I love her, John.  So much it . . .  it hurts, sometimes."


"I can see that."  The detective looked out the window.  "She loves you, Manning.  Always has and probably always will."


"Probably.  I have that effect on people.  Once you love me, you love me forever.  Once you hate me, you hate me forever.  It's all black and white."


John said, "Not so sure about that."


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