With this segment of Chapter Thirteen of Repairing the Legacy, we continue the serialization of Repairing the Legacy. This is a rough draft work in progress and may not reflect the final form. Time period: set after the ending of The Martiniere Legacy main trilogy. I’m breaking longer chapters into sections for readability. This is the third part of Chapter Thirteen. There will be four parts to this chapter.

New to the series? Chapter order:

Chapter One, Section One

Return of the Prodigal Son (2 parts)

Conversations and a Dinner (2 parts)

Dancing into Change (2 parts)

Sisterly Compromises (3 parts)

Conspiracies at the Rodeo (3 parts)

Passing the Baton (4 parts)

Research Complications (3 parts)

Chasing After Shadows (3 parts)

Fifth Anniversary Present (3 parts)

Mariah (5 parts)

Shadows, Redux (3 parts)

Accidents Happen (4 parts)

MATERNAL MEMORIES

June, 2068

RUBY

Angelica’s moods swung from anticipation to apprehension, clearly tied to the amount of time she spent around Saul. Mentions of Saul seemed to bring out the most rage in Philip’s reactions, sometimes to the degree that Ruby couldn’t read what Angelica had originally written because Philip had overwritten her words several times.

All the same, she gained a deeper appreciation for Angelica and Saul. Definitely a love match—Gabe had alluded to that on the rare occasions when he talked about his family. Saul seemed to share his wife’s concern about what this child would be, and went out of his way to cheer Angelica.

Gifts of flowers. Jewelry.

Ruby recognized that aspect of Gabe—something he must have learned from those twelve short years spent with Saul. Even when they were first married and broke, Gabe would bring her some small gift, almost daily. A flower he had picked or a pretty rock that caught his eye out on the ranch. A small food treat she had been craving during pregnancy. A book—often used, because they had no money, but one of her favorite authors.

Now? Flowers. Jewelry. The cliff house. Books—ebooks and real books alike. The lab of her dreams. And more.

#

Gabe kept his word and didn’t pester Ruby.

The diary transcription became easier as Angelica’s pregnancy progressed. Apprehension faded, possibly because of Saul’s attention and concern. Philip’s comments slowed—perhaps because he couldn’t stand Angelica’s praise for Saul.

Saul talks to the baby every night. He tells the boy about his day, about how he’s looking forward to seeing him. About how he can be so much more than his biological father. For what it’s worth, the baby responds to his voice.

All the same, Family Christmas in Paris is rough. No one knows about the IVF. They think it’s an interesting coincidence that Renate and I are both pregnant with boys, due dates so close to each other. What sort of nightmare have we created for these children’s future?

Philip continues to be an ass to both me and Renate. Saul is speculating about taking his child away from Philip and Renate shortly after birth, and raising the boys together. The only problem is that means I might have to give up this child if Philip insists. Philip’s son—but mine as well. They will take this boy from me over my dead body. If only there could be an accident—I could happily cooperate with Renate in raising the boys.

Not with Philip. Never with Philip.

#

A few days later Ruby was done with the transcription. Angelica fell madly in love with her son after his birth, marveling at his beauty and his big brown eyes.

Gabriel Marcus Martiniere. Definitely well-loved, by both parents.

Ruby printed out the transcript, proof-read it, then hobbled to Gabe’s office.

“Here it is.” She dropped it on his desk and sat in a chair.

Gabe’s nostrils flared as he eyed the stack of paper. “So—how scary is it?”

“She was ambivalent at first, as would be expected. Then apprehensive and anticipatory. Saul did a lot to ease her fears.”

Gabe still eyed the paper nervously, as if it were a snake that might choose to strike at him. “I’m kind of afraid to touch it.”

Ruby pushed herself up and limped behind the desk to lean against him. “Gabe. You may have been forced on her, due to that damn arrangement—but you were loved.” She ran her fingers through his hair, then kissed his forehead. “Don’t doubt it.”

“I guess I just have those moments of wondering, you know? How much did you have to edit out?”

“This is the whole thing—except for what I couldn’t read due to Philip’s scribbling.”

Gabe exhaled and pulled her onto his lap. “Thank you for doing this.”

“You’ve done a lot for me over the years. It’s the least I could do. You don’t need that toxin from your biofather in your head.”

“But you have it in yours.”

“Not really.”

She kissed Gabe, to keep him from prying further and forcing further confessions from her.

Truth was, she had learned a lot about how Philip Martiniere had thought.

The depth of Philip’s hatred toward his biological son was terrifying. Because the notes and reactions also laid out potential paths for Gabe’s destruction—all written in the years immediately after Angelica’s death. The years while Gabe was in Philip’s custody.

How and why Philip kept from killing Gabe when Gabe was a teen, I’ll never know. But I’m glad Gabe survived.

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