Chapter 34 - The Three Musketeers

During their brunch Rachel told them everything, the running away, the attack, her coma, Daniel saving her and so on, she skipped the second attack on them as she didn't want to worry her grandpa further. Daniel understood she didn't want to reveal the second attack and kept calm.

"Woah you were almost killed Rachel, I am so sorry to know what happened." Jimmy felt really bad knowing what she faced and he understood how scary it could be. Anthony too got worried knowing it all in more detail, he felt proud of his grandson for saving her.

"Don't worry dear, we will use all our contacts and will put those criminals behind the bars. Don't you worry." Grandpa Anthony assured.

"Thank you grandpa" Rachel smiled.

"Also Rachel, don't you worry since the day you ran away me and James decided to drop the idea of getting you two married, I did not tell anyone in my family yet about calling off the wedding, even Danny didn't know. But now Danny and Jimmy know, soon I'll tell their parents about it, Harry will understand but Catherine will be heartbroken."

"Catherine?" Rachel asked.

"Did you forget your aunt Catherine?" James asked Rachel

Rachel got confused as she had faded memories of aunt Catherine but she couldn't recollect.

"Even though I wanted to ask this, you two are so close grandpa but why are we not close? I met Rachel in one of the meetings, Danny and Rachel never even met each other before, forget meeting each other, she didn't even know about his existence." Jimmy asked curiously.

"Around 20 years back, I sent your parents to Italy as there were some problems in one of our Industries. Serious issues were going on between workers and management so your parents moved there for a short period. Due to unavoidable circumstances they had to stay for a long period along with you and Danny. It was at that time the unfateful accident happened with James' family, Catherine and Harry were devastated and Catherine used to visit Rachel frequently. Rachel was close to Catherine as Rachel's mom and Catherine were best friends, so were Harry and Rachel's father but Harry stayed back to take care of Danny." "Rachel was devastated at the time of the accident, she was very quiet and was not eating food. James was totally lost and shocked as he lost his entire family."

"Catherine used to spend time with her, as Jimmy was small she used to bring Jimmy with her. Caterine used to visit her till she left for the USA for further studies."

Grandpa Anthony asked "Rachel, don't you remember Catherine?"

Rachel hesitated, "I can only somewhat recollect, the memories are vague"

Anthony said "It's been long since so don't feel guilty, it's obvious as after you left Catherine didn't keep much in touch with you as your grandpa was worried and asked us to keep as minimum contact with you as possible."

It was true Grandpa was worried so he too rarely kept in touch with her, the only set of people grandpa couldn't control were Patrick and his friends gang, no matter what they didn't give up on Rachel and were in constant touch, they all even went to visit her in the US once, only James knows how he managed that group.

Rachel then asked "I have not seen aunt Catherine when there was a party at our place when I just returned from USA"

"Catherine and my son went on a business trip at that time, if you remember I came with Jimmy" Anthony said.

"Yes" Rachel nodded.

Daniel then said, "Now I recollect a few things, mom used to take Jimmy with her to visit you. Nanny used to take care of me, I used to miss mom so much that my dad couldn't take my nagging and admitted me in painting classes to engage me. That's how I developed interest in painting."

"What! Daniel, do you paint?" Rachel was surprised to know that he can paint too.

James was triggered with Rachel's words and said "you don't have any hobbies and think all people are like you without any hobby and passion towards life.

Rachel was annoyed with grandpa's words and wanted to give a reply but Daniel understood Rachel's feelings and interrupted them.

"Hobbies are just for weak people grandpa, it is also good to not have any hobbies."

"What nonsense are you speaking? There is no logic to what you are saying" Grandpa Michael laughed at Daniel's naive explanation.

"Anyway I am glad to know you paint Daniel. I would like to see your paintings."

Daniel said, "Sure grandpa, I am planning an exhibition to sell my paintings, you should definitely visit and have a look"

James got excited by Daniel words said "Danny that's great, you should also see my art gallery"

Daniel was astonished, "grandpa James do you paint?"

Michael replied "he is a great artist, at the young days many girls were crazy about his paintings and used to come to our house as they want their portraits to be drawn"

Jimmy was excited by hearing about James and said, "you guys had a blast when you were young it seems."

"Yes we were called the three musketeers" Anthony told

Anthony continued "we were popular among girls, as I am a guitarist, James is a painter and Michael is the best cook. When we were in college we three stayed in a house as we wanted our privacy. Girls used to come to our house on weekends. Michael used to cook food for us, girls enjoyed eating his food, hearing my music and James used to paint them" then he suddenly stopped this story with a sad tone.

Jimmy asked "what happened grandpa, your story was very exciting and interesting, why have you stopped and why do you look sad?"