Adam Chapter 80 Maxieplus Jimmy was up with the kids when I finally emerged, mum and dad were watching them all in the pool. Kasey had left me earlier on and I guess he's in his office again, we have to talk about that. Although he says he's on top of it all I worry he's doing all the work himself, his sleeping pattern has certainly changed for the worse. "How did you all end up?" "Great." Mum grinned. "I see, and you dad?" "Awesome as the young ones say son." He grinned at mum. "Trish and Joe were in the pool later on in the evening, I suppose they needed to cool off a bit. How did your crew go?" "They went clubbing, and Eva and Wilson drove on home and so did June and the boys." "Well everyone looked stunning, I hope they didn't mess up their nice outfits." "I doubt it mum, they were so happy to get something unique to wear They would have shown them off at the club." Jimmy jumped out of the pool, he looked ten years younger, he dried himself as we talked then he put a bathrobe on. "So how is your adventure going?" I asked. "There is so much happening over there. Dieter and I are avoiding the tourist trails and staying in private villas, it can get aggravating sometimes dodging the tourists. I'm going to meet him in Portugal, it's a bit more civilised there." He laughed. "And?" I lifted my eyebrows. "And what? Of course, that hunk of a man is sharing my bed, it's been a long time. Adam, I wasn't dead just lonely, but I am neither of them now." "Good, I'm pleased." "General what did you decide on that merger I mentioned." "Go ahead, it sounds legit to me, but get Kasey's take on it also." "And what merger is that?" I asked. "The bank wants to merge with a big international one, it's bank business that's all." "What's the Banks trust got to do with the bank?" I had to ask, and I have to read those emails I get constantly. "We are the biggest shareholders and we get a say in what the bank wants to do." "Yes, of course, I pretended my understanding of the situation. Joe and Trish came out and they looked so happy, he held her hand as they walked up to get some toast, coffee and eggs. "What a wonderful day it was yesterday, you both have made us so proud," Jimmy said. "It was thanks to Nat and mum over there, I practically did nothing." Trish smiled at mum. Kasey came out and he had more paperwork in his hand, and he looked a little flustered. "We need to have a meeting with Walsham, it's urgent." "Kasey, can we put it off for another day?" Jim said. "It can't wait, set up a conference call for this afternoon, when you ring Walsham make sure the other board members are listening in." "What have you found?" Dad asked. "The International Bank is controlled by the biggest shareholders in the world, they own many banks and societies, and I am convinced they are trying to take over our bank." "I will ring Walsham, and that would be a negative vote from me," Jim said. "And me." Dad joined in. "And me." I put my hand up, and they all laughed. Joe sat there and sulked, he has hit the big time but he isn't on the Banks Trust as yet. "Sam, sing out, I vote no," Kasey yelled. "I vote no papa." He screamed out. "Good." The meeting was set up for after lunch and Kasey addressed the board members, they all knew about his abilities and trusted him, so the merger wouldn't be going through. Jimmy spent the afternoon either on the phone or talking to us about his travels. Two boys hung onto his every word, especially the story about being in India and riding the elephants. It will get even more interesting when they get to Africa they intend to see as much of the wildlife as they can. What a wonderful trip and a great surprise to see him at the wedding. I did miss him, but I knew he had to go. "The office space will be finished at the end of next week, thank God. I will have excess space at long last. Everything will be moved under one roof." Kasey told us. "So you move all the operations there?" "Yes Adam, no more working from desk to desk." Trish got a message and said the photographer wanted her to look through the proofs, so we all congregated in the family room and hooked the phone up to the big TV so we all could see them. Sam Kasey Billy and I laid back on my big new purple grandpa sofa, Joe was trying to snuggle in with us but Trish had other ideas. The photos were wonderful, she couldn't have picked a better photographer apart from Jimmy. He had captured everything, the walk up the aisle, the nuptials, the party, the pool, the gowns, the kissing episode, Kasey kissing Ethan in the background, all that sort of stuff. The room went quiet and uncomfortable as Joe flashed by it. The dancing, the farewells everything that was Trish and Joe's wedding. When the file finished Trish broke the silence. "What do you think Joey will we order the lot, they are all pretty good?" "Do what you want baby, I'm going for a swim." He got up and headed for the pool area. "Come on kids, let's go for a swim." Mum held her hand out, and the boys screamed. Dad winked at me and left with them. Trish looked like she had just heard her best friend had passed away. She quietly stood up and took her phone, then she went into her home. Kasey sat there and I couldn't move I was so stunned. This is not happening, I know Ethan and I know Kasey they wouldn't do that to me, they just wouldn't. "Adam," "Yes Kasey." A tear escaped and I was about to burst a dam. "I don't remember doing that, I didn't deliberately kiss him, I know I didn't." "Then why the tongue down the throat, why not just a friendly kiss." "I don't remember, please you have to believe me." "I believe you, maybe because you had too much to drink, maybe he had too much to drink, but by the surprised look in his eyes, I don't think he initiated it. Kasey tell me truthfully, are you having an affair with Ethan?" He quickly sat up and slowly shook his head from side to side. "I wouldn't do that to the most precious people in the world. Adam, I wouldn't do that to you. I don't know why and I don't remember doing it, that annoys me the most. I just don't remember. I wasn't drunk I don't even fancy him, why is this happening to me?" He panicked and looked so lost. "I don't know what's happening Kasey, but I will find out. Yes, I believe you because I know you love me, it was just a shock to see it. I love you Kasey, and I believe you." I kissed him and wrapped my arms around him to keep him safe. He was shaking, maybe with fear, he didn't know what was happening and I was to find out a few days later this wasn't the only time he had forgotten something important or done something so out of the ordinary. Dad told me he had been picking up a lot of mistakes with Kasey's paperwork, it started all of a sudden and he couldn't work out why. I walked him out to the pool and tried to get him to forget all about it, but he was deep in thought so I sat with him and watched the kids. Trish tapped me on the shoulder and said. "Can I see you for a minute?" "Sure, be back soon baby, would you like a coffee?" "That would be special Adam with an m." I stared at him. We walked into the kitchen and Trish put the coffee on. "I rang Ethan Adam." That surprised me. "What did he say?" If it was good or bad I needed to hear it "He said Kasey grabbed him and kissed him, he's still in shock and very worried that you might think he was chasing your husband. He said he almost punched him he was so aggressive. I talked to him for a long time Adam, he's not lying and he agrees with me that there's something very wrong happening with Kasey." "I have to get to the bottom of it Trish, this can't happen again it puts him in a bad light, not to mention Ethan. I will apologise to him tomorrow he shouldn't have to put up with feeling guilty for something he hasn't done." "You do that, I am going to talk to Joe about cancelling the honeymoon, he needs us, and you need us." "Don't do that Trish, I will get him to see the doctor tomorrow, maybe he's having some sort of breakdown, he's not been sleeping all that well." "We cancel it and stay here, our friends need us, and one of my my best friends isn't himself. Maybe a breakdown, maybe a brain tumour. Whatever it is, we stay here and help him." Joe was standing behind us, he was upset and agreed with us. He had no idea how sick Kasey was. Over the next few days he wouldn't talk to anyone, he became a recluse locking himself in the office all day and most of the night. He was avoiding everyone, and I couldn't work out whether it was because he was sick or embarrassed. I was the last person he would talk to, and I could see pure terror in his eyes as I tried to get him to come with me to see the doctor. I spoke to Ethan and tried to tell him Kasey was ill, but he still felt responsible, even though it wasn't his fault. "He called me by your name, and thanked me for the kiss." His face went white. "He's ill Ethan, please forgive him." "Can you forgive me?" "There's nothing to forgive, my dear friend." I hugged him and he cried. When I got home on the third day there was food outside the office door, but it had been untouched, like the last few days. I spoke to dad about it all and he and Joe had tried on several occasions to get him to open the door, in the end, I couldn't let it go on any longer, I had to do something. Dad rang Evan's and he arrived an hour later with some of his men, they tinkered with the lock and I heard a dull click. "Adam, I think it best if you go in first," Evans said. I steeled myself and walked into the stale room, I didn't see him at first because he was behind the door but when I did, I saw red. "Don't you dare do that to us, don't you ever dare do that Kasey." "I don't remember, I don't remember." He said as he dropped the gun, then his wailing started. Evans poked his head around the door and I had dropped to cradle my Kasey. "General, call an ambulance, please. Adam just hold him until they get here." He kicked the gun away to safety, then picked it up. Can someone get a blanket he's in shock." I looked into Kasey's eyes and said. "It doesn't matter if you remember or not, we all know it wasn't you doing it. Kasey we all know you and love you and we know you don't remember it, and we are going to find out why." I kissed him deeply, his eyes were blank. "I don't remember." He whispered over and over again. The ambulance arrived but before they came through the gates, Evans warned us not to say anything about the gun. Jimmy had taken it and placed it back in the safe, he didn't know what else to do. He helped me to get Kasey on his feet and his eyes had now started darting everywhere. The ambos came in with a gurney, they asked many questions and whether it was the uniforms or their looks it triggered something in Kasey's brain. He pushed the ambos out of the way and dove for Evans. "You don't get him, you will never get him. Samir run." He screamed using Sam's real name. He lashed out with his fists and took all four military men on. I panicked and tried to get him to calm down. "Adam run, run for your life." He tackled some more. Evans went down like a sack of potatoes and that's when I heard dad's roar. "Lieutenant Casey. Attention." Kasey's eyes darted towards dad, something happened at that very moment. Kasey immediately stood to attention and saluted him. He then slumped and looked at me with empty eyes. "What's happening to me? what's happening, I don't remember, I don't remember." "We are getting you some help." While he grabbed and hugged me the ambos gave him a sedative. "Have you any idea what's going on?" I looked at one of them. "It looks like exhaustion, has he seen active service?" "Yes in a sort of way, it's too complicated to talk about it here" I said. "Maybe delayed shell shock, but it could be something else we aren't sure yet." Kasey slumped to the floor and I went down with him, the guys picked him up and placed him on the gurney, and then the ambos strapped him in tightly. "I will go with them just in case Adam," Dad said. "Sam, I have to see Sam before I go." "I will look out for Sam he will only know that his poppa's ill and maybe a sleepover tonight. Adam you ring me if you hear anything, you hear me. As soon as you hear something you ring me." Jimmy made sure I understood him. "Yes, yes I will." They let dad and I ride to the hospital with Kasey. Joe and Trish won't be too far behind us, and thank god for Jimmy and mum, without them I would have more worry than I could cope with. It took hours to even get to talk to a doctor. Dad had called in the military team and they were doing all they could to get Kasey back to normal. "Sleep deprivation, maybe delayed shock. We know Lieutenant Kasey's background, it all points to these two things, he needs to talk to a Psyche and he needs to have complete rest. He is making sense at the moment and is desperate to talk to you, he thinks only you can help him. We understand he's a walking time bomb at the moment, but we can place some men in the room with you both just in case." "That won't be necessary doctor, I will calm him down, and we will talk. Joe can you ring Jimmy, he will be worried." "Sure Adam, give Kasey our love will you?" "I will." I looked at Joe he's not coping with this very well, he loves Kasey just as much as Sam and I do. I opened his private room door and stepped inside, Kasey looked dreadful, he was worn out and rubbing his face when he saw me. "Adam, I don't remember. I am so sorry please forgive me." "I forgive you, but I won't forgive you for one thing." "What baby?" "You forgot to kiss me." I leaned in and that kiss was the breaking point for both of us, we went on for ages and didn't care who saw us. "I love you so desperately." "I love you the same, and I am here with you forever." He held onto me and I whispered in his ear. "Do you remember the night you tracked me down in that hotel?" "Yes Adam, I bought you some champagne, but you didn't drink it." "Well, I was terrified of you back then and didn't know where to turn." "I desperately wanted to hold you, you were so lost" "When I got into bed, I waited because I thought you were going to attack me because I had accused one of your mates of stalking me." "I would never have done that to you." "I didn't know at the time, but when you got into bed with me it all went away. Kasey. I found the courage to do something about it because your arms were around me. I felt so safe." "Like you're doing to me now." "Like I'm doing to you now, and I want you to sleep while I watch you. Nothing bad is going to happen while I am here with you." "Sam, oh my god Sam, what did I do to him?" "Nothing Kasey, you did nothing. He's having a sleepover while his poppa is getting better." "Thank God, I just can't remember." "The doctors said you have had a sort of breakdown, it may be because of your workload it may be something more sinister, but they will get to the bottom of it." "I'm so tired Adam, can you stay with me?' "I'm never going to let you go, and yes I will stay with you for as long as you need me." I heard the door open, then it was gently closed again, I didn't want to move to see who it was, I was too busy watching Kasey's eyelids move while he slept. He shuddered a few times then he was completely relaxed. When his eyes opened again he stared at me, I steeled myself for a second then lifted my hand and stroked his face. "Good morning handsome, did you sleep well?" "Like a log Adam, I was so tired." "Good, now I want you to shower when you're ready, and I am going to take you home." "Yes please, I have so much work to do and many fences to mend, is Ethan okay?" "Yes baby, he knows it wasn't you at the party, but when you're better you can talk to him to make him feel a little better inside too." "I will do that Adam, God I feel so much better after that sleep." "That will be the pills working, they gave you something last night to calm you down and it looks like you're back with us again." "Was it lack of sleep?" "I think so Kase, I also think you have pushed yourself to the very limit, and the first thing I want you to do is step away from the build and start trusting the people you hired." "I can't do that Adam, only I can bring it to life." "That's not true Kase, you have a team of men who would love to do this for us, you also have dad who has been fixing things on the side. You have Joey who would do anything for you, he knows about meetings. I want you to temporarily hand over your board seat to him, then I want you to have complete rest, so we are going to the cabin for a couple of weeks." "I can't do that Adam, there's so much to do." "Is there?" "Yes there's Chloe, the build, the docks." I placed my hand over his mouth. "Trust Steff, he will get the docks finished and you can veto or approve of his designs. Knowing you Kasey with a K, you have already done ninety per cent of the work. Let dad, Joe, and Steff help you, then let me look after you, please?" "I trust you Adam, like no other in my life. I will come on a holiday with you and I will try to get back to normal with your help, thank you." "Now I want you to shower." I threw back the blanket and helped him to the ensuite. He insisted I shower with him, so I did. There was no sex just a lot of touching and kissing. I washed his hair and he smiled at me. "I remember those times Adam with an a, they are my most precious memories." "Mine also Kasey with a k, and I aim to bring those memories back." "There's something else." "What?" He stared at me. "Sam's rescue, you attacked Evans and his men screaming about Sam's rescue. I want you to start talking to a psych about it, clearly you are not over it. The doctors said you may have some shell shock from the incident and they want you to start talking about it to a specialist." "I will do that Adam, I will do anything to get back your love and our friend's respect." "You never lost it Kasey, you are ill, that's all. I don't care if you can't remember as long as you remember us, that's the main thing, the rest is white noise." He kissed me deeply and we dried off. It had been mum that had opened the door to the room, because I found a backpack full of fresh clothes for us inside. We dressed and I called the nurse. It took us three hours to get outside, they weren't going to release Kasey into my care, but in the end, they saw sense. A good rest fixes everything and he will start talking to the military psych as soon as we get back. It was Joe who was suffering the most, his hero was down and he seemed lost without him. "Joe talk to him normally bring yourself back to where you were with Kasey, make him smile and make him love you, that is the best medicine you can give him" "I will try Adam, it was just a big shock that's all." "Well, now you see the effects of working too hard does to a person. I want you to take over all Kaseys board meeting duties, he will still get the last say but you will make the decisions for him for now." "I would be honoured. Is he okay with that?' "He said he should have put you there in the first place, so he wants this to happen." "Can I see him?" "As soon as the doctors are finished with him." I looked at my next port of call, I didn't have to thank her for sleeping in the hospital overnight, thats what we do for each other. "Trish, I'm sorry all this has dampened your wedding." "Don't you even dare to apologise to us Adam, I'm just so grateful he's going to be all right." "I wasn't going to say that Trish, I was going to say the wedding was very dull, and because of Kasey little hiccup it's now spectacular!" I laughed finally. "You shit, what do you mean dull?" "Oh there you are again, I was getting rather sick of looking at your sour face" I took her cheeks in my hands and kissed her full on the lips. "Can I get a photo of that?" Joe said. "Knock yourself out, but I refuse to take my clothes off." We both laughed until we heard. "I guess by the laughing everything is all right in here." Mum's voice was behind us. "Yes mum, and thank you for the fresh clothes." "Your welcome son, Sam insisted I bring them in. He said his daddies will need them to come home in." I hugged her and dad, then Jimmy. "Where is he?" I looked around "School Adam, he said his poppa would want him to go. And he and Billy have a play to rehearse. He also want's me to tell you, he's got this." She laughed as my heart skipped a beat for my beautiful son. "How much do they know?" "Not a lot, only Kasey is a little sick and you are making him better." "Well I think we are over the worst of it, he's talking to the doctors now and we should be home in an hour or two." "Good, Nat's been cooking up a storm." "She's a godsend." "She also has her final design to show him." "I will look at them, and dad you are taking over the build, check everything that Kasey has done in the past month then oversee it with his project managers." "But he will get mad." "No it was his suggestion, and your first job is to talk to Steff and tell him that he's only to give Kasey his final plan and I will make sure he looks them over and approves them. There will be no more running back and forth with different ideas. One idea, one set of plans, job done. I will look at Nat's and if I think the restaurants look fabulous you can approve them, then I will hand them to Kasey and tell him this is it." "What's your plan Adam?" Joe said. "No more dumping every minor hiccup onto Kasey's desk, in fact, he won't have a desk except the one under the pergola, or at the cabin. We are going there for a few weeks rest and there will be a do not disturb, sign on the door." They smiled at me. "My biggest problem is Chloe." "I will fix that Adam, my sister won't be doing anything she doesn't want to do. I know enough about her life nowadays and Georgio will protect her, and will alert me if anything underhanded comes by." Joe is taking over. "Look I don't know if Kasey will be restored to his former self, but I do know he takes on too much work. We all have to shoulder his responsibilities because we all benefit, and I reckon we have the best team to do that. And that's again, thanks to Kasey's hard work." "I agree, and the salon's are mine, so there's no problem there. Eva is opening soon so you can help her if you want." Trish added her contribution. I took her hand and kissed it. "Now what to do about Sam, do we take him or does he stay at grandma's house?" Mum bristled. "He stays at grandma's and she will bring him up on the weekends, that boy of yours is very smart Adam, if he feels neglected I haven't seen it as yet. This play they are rehearsing is consuming them at the moment. If I see a change I will bring him up immediately." I looked at Jimmy, he sat up straight smiling. "Piss off and have a great holiday, there's nothing more you can do here." He saluted me. "You're a very wise man Private Adam Casey." When Kasey walked out of that room he was smiling, another win for my husband. He had pills and I will make sure he takes them, other than that he had a referral to a military psych and that was it. His episode was put down to lack of sleep and overworking himself, plus some unfinished business, he suspected he would crash one day, but how big that crash would be, he hadn't contemplated. We were all very relieved it wasn't something more permanent. On the trip home he made Joe pull over at the salon. Trish, Joe, and I followed him in and he walked up to Ethan and gave him a very meaningful hug, he apologised in the only way Kasey knew, he kissed him on the cheek and said he was sorry. Ethan smiled and patted his back. "Everything is fine Kasey, and thank you." "Hey soldier do I get one of those awesome hugs off you too?" Gloria sang out. I started laughing as Kase went to hug her, then the rest of my staff, there were smiles everywhere. He waved to them as we moved to go home. "You're a shit kisser by the way. I feel sorry for Adam." Ethan said. "Adam seems to like them." Kasey looked at me and laughed. His mood was more a forced one, but I knew he was swallowing his pride to make his friends feel better and he does love Ethan, but he loves me more. "Next is Evans and his crew." "Next is Nat's awesome lunch, then I will tell you what I have decided." "Thank you Adam with an a." "You are welcome Kasey with a k." He gave me one of his awesome shit kisses. Nat had been sitting outside working on something, she had plans and paperwork everywhere. She also hugged Kasey and told us what was for lunch, she didn't have to tell us it was roast beef, we could smell it "Now boss, I think I have it right." She tapped the plans. "If it's a 'think you have it right' then I don't want to hear it. How would you and Cindy like two weeks in New York?" "What?" "Well here are some awesome restaurants over there, top class, but funky. If you think your plans aren't quite good enough then go there and learn. I'm just an ex-military guy what do I know about restaurants, that's why I hired you." "Well, New York is a bit extreme Kasey," "All the best restaurants in the world are there pilfer ideas from successful businesses, go to New York, see some shows eat everywhere you think looks nice and come back and give me a final plan. The company is paying for it so go home, grab Cindy, then go." I think Kasey is improving. Nat's confused face didn't leave until I talked to her, she understood and she did rely on Kasey a little bit too much, she didn't want to make any mistakes. "If you don't want to go, then don't. I will ok these plans and I will know there won't be any mistakes. It's just that Kasey expects super excellence, and that stops now." I smiled. "Thank God he's been driving me crazy, and Cindy won't leave her work for a day, let alone two weeks." "There's always the internet." "Or there is my plan." She tapped her finger on it. "I will look at it tonight." I winked. "I only did it for you and Sam Adam." He was trying to tell me something I already knew. "Sam and I have got this Kasey, no more doing for us. Do for yourself instead, no more exhausting nights and days, live normally again and get plenty of sleep." "But." "There are no buts, do something for yourself, be happy, get better, talk to people. Live the best life you can, you and I have this, and you know that." "I do." He kissed me again and then his hand snaked down my body and he grabbed what he likes the best in his fingers. He insisted we go pick Sam and Billy up, dad wanted to go with him so we let them go alone, I looked at Nat's plans and drawings she had done a wonderful job, the deco theme was perfect, and I will start collecting knick-knacks to showcase in the big display cabinets. My friends in the alleys will be so pleased I'm back to shopping again. I handed the plans to Kasey and he signed off on them, he took my word they were perfect, and an argument has been averted with Cindy. He had realised it wasn't the build that was holding him up, it was his need for perfection. I know there will be a big improvement in him in the coming months. Dad said they had a big talk on the way to school, he thinks he's going to be all right. Sam when he got home, just sat there and smiled at him and me, he winked at one stage and I threw him an air kiss. It was early to bed for us, we made love, he took his pill and nothing disturbed us all night. There was no eyelid flickering no muscle spasms, so I relaxed and closed my eyes to get that much-needed sleep myself. No work today, Trish insisted she go in and help, she will have her honeymoon as soon as things settle down at home again. Dad and Joe had the only keys to the office and Kasey had been banned. he wanted to go and look at the new one so I allowed that, I drove us there. It was a huge space with enormous windows, plenty of sunlight streamed in and the smell of fresh paint had me looking for one to open. I found two that worked to let the fumes out. It was almost finished apart from the furniture. "Don't get used to it Kasey it's here for your teams and a few board meetings." "I get it, and I won't get to love it here, it's business that's all." "Good." "When are we going to the cabin?' "Tomorrow, Jimmy is leaving in the morning and we need to say goodbye to him." "That soon?" "He thinks he is only in the way, and he's a bit keen to get back to Dieter's side." "It's done him the world of good Adam, he's nearly a different man nowadays." "He will be fine, but I can't help but think he won't be back anytime soon." "I hope not, he deserves some love in his life apart from his family." "He does." I kissed him and there was no one around today, we had the whole floor to ourselves. He disabled the lift, then he made love to me on the floor. The sun streamed in over us and we were warm again.
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