Detective Moore called his colleagues in Vancouver and asked them to send him the details of this case. Jerry was not part of the “Teenagers Sting” investigative team in Vancouver. Thus the boys did not recognize him when he interviewed them. But since he had a photographic memory, he couldn’t forget their faces even though he saw them only once on the day they were arrested.
A few days later he reviewed the case details from Vancouver. He looked at the pictures that were attached to the report and there they were, Luke and Ed who looked 12 years old at the time, were actually 15. The third one named Mickey was almost 18 years old and also looked much younger than he really was. Anyway, all three worked in a restaurant that was owned by one of the biggest tycoons in Vancouver. But the one that managed it was his younger son Jason.
Jason, who was a party guy, had a short relationship with Mickey. Nevertheless, when he wanted to move on, Mickey didn’t like it. He began to threaten him that he would go to his father and tell him he was molested by his son unless Jason paid him. Mickey extorted money from Jason for a long time. At some point, Jason stopped paying him so he recruited his buddies Ed and Luke.
The three of them tried to blackmail Jason to pay them what they wanted or they would go to the police. Jason had nothing to do with the other two and refused to be blackmailed. To teach him a lesson, they filed a complaint against him with the police for sexual abuse, and Jason was arrested the same day. Jason argued all along he had no sexual activity with Ed or Luke. He added he wouldn’t know who they were if they hadn’t threatened him. With Mickey, however, he did not deny they had a short consensual relationship.
He claimed that Mickey showed him an ID that he was 19 years old. In addition, Jason presented the police with recordings in which it was clear that all three threatened him. It also proved he didn’t really know Ed or Luke. Jason was released and the boys were charged with extortion and uttering threats. Jason’s father was afraid the rumors about his son would spread faster. He was well known not only in the city but across the province as well. Therefore, he put a lot of pressure on the chief of police to reach a plea bargain with the teenagers’ attorney.
He was worried that any publicity would damage his reputation and wanted the case closed as soon as possible. Luckily for the boys, they spent a short time in juvenile detention and were then released on probation. After Detective Moore finished reading the “Teenagers Sting” report he received from Vancouver, he decided to check the records of the three in the police database. Jerry had a lot of experience as a detective and was able to quickly identify fraud.
The “Teenagers Sting” events took place approximately five years ago, meaning the defendants were lying about their age. Jerry had a strong feeling that after their activities in Vancouver, the appetites of the three had only grown and they continued to prey on innocent people. The information he found in the database didn’t surprise him. All three were involved in blackmail several times but somehow they managed to avoid jail.
Det. Moore even had a chance to interview a couple of their victims. They were willing to give a statement after they were told an innocent person might go to jail because of a false accusation. Furthermore, he received audio recordings of Mickey threatening Tim from an anonymous source. After Jerry and his team put pieces of the puzzle together, he called Ed and Luke for another interview. But this time he was determined to get the truth from them. He confronted them with the information he uncovered during his investigation.
Jerry told them they are facing charges such as extortion and intimidation, making a false complaint, using fake documents, etc. He said they could receive long sentences. He also told them that this time they would be sentenced as adults. They would go to a real prison along with prisoners who committed murder and rape which won’t be a walk in the park for them. They will be charged with multiple offences and he made it clear to them he wouldn’t give them any breaks. Detective Moore left the room after he put his cards on the table and let them stew in their own juices.
He was tough on them and it paid off. Shortly after that in a plea bargain deal they made with the prosecution, they agreed to testify against Mickey. In addition, they were willing to provide information on their modus operandi. Det. Moore scared the hell out of them, and they were even prepared to give him more information than he asked for………..
In return they would receive a reduction in their sentences and better prison conditions………………..
Despite the difficulties she had ever since she learned about the allegations against Tim, Lianne couldn’t afford to fall apart. She had two small kids and a baby who depended on her. In addition, Marian needed her more than ever. It was hard for her to see her mother-in-law’s sorrow. Lianne would often take the children to Marian’s room hoping it would cheer her up and make her smile.
Although Marian adored her grandchildren and loved being around them, she couldn’t hide her sadness even when they were around. It looked as though something was dead inside of her. She felt desperate and didn’t believe she would see her son again. Marian also felt guilty. She kept asking Lianne for forgiveness for pushing her and Tim into each other’s arms.
However, an experienced detective was appointed to lead the investigation into possible wrongdoing by Tim. Detective Jerry Moore returned from Vancouver after working for the Vancouver Police Department for five years. He moved back to London, the city where he was born and grew up. Anyway, Det. Moore decided they should interview the teenagers and the staff working in the shelter to gather more evidence.
To his surprise, none of the interviewees had anything bad to say about Tim. On the contrary, everyone liked him. But when Grace was interviewed, the officer could tell that Tim wasn’t her cup of tea. Grace mentioned the two teenagers she saw in Tim’s apartment and even expressed her concern about the reason they were there.
Jerry immediately summoned the two boys for questioning as he was sure he was onto something significant. But he soon learned that the breakthrough he hoped for would not come from the two boys. They told him Tim was their guardian angel. He gave them a place to stay when they were living on the street and made sure they had everything they needed.
In addition, he convinced them to go back to school and get a good education. He listened to them whenever they needed someone to talk to. Without Tim, they would probably drop out of school and would still be on the street. The boys said he never asked for anything in return or touched them in an improper way.
Jerry decided to interview the teenagers who filed the complaint again. He thought maybe the officer who took the complaint wasn’t as thorough as he should have been and missed some information. He also summoned Robby who came this time with his lawyer Martin. Before Robby and Martin went to the police station, Robby confessed to Martin for the first time that he was in love with Tim when they were teenagers.
Martin was uncomfortable with the confession and that wasn’t all Robby had to say. Robby knew he would never realize his love. He was also very much aware of the rumors of him and Tim being a couple which upset his family. Furthermore, he never reconciled with his sexual orientation and felt he must atone for it. This was the reason he became a priest.
Mind you, Robby never stopped admiring Tim for his kindness and wisdom. He told Martin that the shelter wouldn’t have been established without Tim’s help. However, when Tim lived in Toronto he was involved for a short time with some guy named Mickey who he met in a gym. Mickey was originally from Vancouver and worked as a receptionist at the gym.
Shortly after they met, Tim realized that Mickey was obsessed with him and decided to end the relationship. But Mickey wouldn’t except it. He used to stalk him wherever he went. He would frequently come to the hospital where Tim worked and harass him. Tim was almost fired because of his behavior but still, he never filed a complaint with the police against him as he felt sorry for him.
Eventually, circumstances forced Tim to quit his job in Toronto and move back to London. Tim didn’t hear from Mickey for a while. Then a few months after Tim and Lianne got married, Mickey again showed up out of nowhere. Tim was fed up with him and threatened to take him to court for stalking him. Mickey, who wouldn’t take no for an answer, promised Tim that his revenge would come soon. As a result, Tim decided to join Doctors Without Borders.
Robby said to the officer that he remembers the day Luke and Ed came to the shelter. They were asking about Tim shortly after arriving. When Robby asked them if they knew Tim, they said no, but they heard wonderful things about him and couldn’t wait to meet him. Robby was positive Tim was set up and mentioned it to the detective who was leading the investigation.
When Luke and Ed came for an interview at the police station, Jerry was convinced he had seen them before but wasn’t sure where. Jerry couldn’t fall asleep that night as he was unable to remember where he knew those adolescents from. Early in the morning, the light went on in his head. A similar case occurred just as he began working at the Vancouver Police Department approximately five years ago. There were three adolescents involved at that time and now there were two…….
Approximately a month after Lianne gave birth to her daughter, Tim told her he had a dream to join Doctors Without Borders. He said he wanted to do something meaningful with his life. Therefore, he sent an application to Human Resources Recruitment several months ago and had an interview online. After doing a thorough background check on him, he was invited to attend an induction program for a few days in New York.
Although the session was to start in two days, he said he would be leaving the next morning after his night shift. He wanted to visit his friends who lived in N.Y. and had not seen for a long time. Tim said that after completing the course he must commit to at least a nine month long assignment. Lianne was furious after hearing the news and couldn’t restrain herself anymore. She gave him a piece of her mind.
She said he was selfish, irresponsible, and didn’t give a damn about her and their children. Lianne was shouting at him which was completely out of character for her. When Marian heard the shouting she couldn’t ignore it and ran to their bedroom. Before she was able to knock on the door, Lianne came out of the room crying. After learning what the argument was about, Marian tried to talk her son out of being away from his family for such a long period of time.
She drew his attention to the fact that his children were too young to be left without a father. She also pointed out that his actions could lead to the breakdown of his marriage. Tim was silent while his mother was talking. He looked as though he was miles away. Then he said he never wished to get married in the first place but he did it just to please her.
Marian saw the sadness in his eyes. She could tell something was definitely bothering him. She said softly that he was the most precious thing in her life and all she wanted was for him to be happy. Then she left the room and let him pack. Before Tim left he went to his mother’s room and said he appreciated all that she and his father did for him. He also said he knew she wanted the best for him. Then he hugged her like he never did before.
Marian felt her son was in distress or in some kind of trouble but didn’t know why. Tim assured her it was only her imagination. Two days later two police officers came to the house and asked about Tim. Lianne said he was out of town and expected to return in a few days. The officers left their contact details and asked for him to call when he was back in town. They refused to give Lianne any information before speaking with Tim first.
Lianne tried to reach Tim but he didn’t answer that evening and not in the following days either. A few days later the police came back but this time with an arrest warrant. It turned out Tim was accused of sexual exploitation of minors under 16 years old which occurred in a relationship of trust.
Luke and Ed, the two minors who were from the shelter, filed a complaint against Tim. They claimed he took advantage of their distress and their trust in him to have sex with them. They also said he offered them money to keep them quiet. Lianne and Marian froze when they heard the accusations. Marian was in shock and looked like she was about to pass out. She rejected outright what the officers claimed.
She said she knew her son very well and there was no way he would exploit any helpless person. It did not align with the values he believed in and grew up on. Anyway, Tim couldn’t be reached since he left and the police suspected he was warned by someone from his family or one of his acquaintances about him being wanted. Therefore, they eavesdropped on his family’s and some of his friends’ phone calls.
They also interrogated Robby several times. When he asked if he needed a lawyer, their answer was he did not need one as he wasn’t under suspicion. Besides, they just wanted to ask a few questions. At some point, Robby called Martin and asked him to represent him. Martin, who felt very uncomfortable with the whole situation, offered to refer him to one of his colleagues. But Robby insisted he didn’t want anybody else and so it was.
Since the investigation began, Robby would frequently visit Lianne and Marian. Robby, who didn’t believe even for a moment that Tim was guilty, would encourage them and said the truth will come out soon. But Marian was already in a deep depression. She stopped going out and was in bed most of the time. She barely ate at all and couldn’t stop crying. The rumors about her son rapidly spread and most of her family and friends kept a distance from her…….
Lianne wasn’t happy when she found out about her pregnancy as her twins just turned two and it was too soon for another child. Besides, the marriage was already on the rocks. She had all the responsibility on her shoulders while Tim was free as a bird. For all intents and purposes, she was a single mother.
Lianne kept her pregnancy a secret for a while from Tim because she wasn’t sure she would keep the baby. The only one who noticed it almost immediately was her mother Abby. Lianne told her she wasn’t ready for another baby yet and abortion was being considered. Abby was worried about her daughter.
Although she never complained about Tim, Abby knew that Lianne was unhappy with her marriage. Yet she couldn’t let her go through with the abortion and talked her out of it. Abby was about to retire by the time Lianne was due to give birth. Therefore, she promised she would help more with her grandchildren.
Abby worked as a nurse in the same hospital where Tim worked. One day her car broke down and she had to leave it for a few days in the repair shop. Her daughter Grace, who was on summer break from school, offered to drive her around until her vehicle was repaired. Grace’s sister-in-law lived near the hospital and after Grace dropped off her mother, she would visit her.
Once early in the morning she saw Tim coming out from an apartment building not far from her sister-in-law’s condo. She also saw his car in the condo parking lot a few times. Grace was curious as she knew Tim was living there when he was single…. For that reason, she decided to check what he was doing there. She went to the building and searched for his name on the occupants list.
When she didn’t find his name, she searched for his car in the parking lot but it wasn’t there either. Grace walked into the building and knocked on several doors, but no one answered. Just before giving up, she saw an old lady coming down the stairs. Grace asked her if she knew where the young doctor’s apartment was.
The lady smiled and said “oh, are you talking about the handsome doctor Smith who lives on the third floor?” Grace thanked her and went up to the third floor. She hesitatingly knocked on the door……afraid she would have to face Tim. But there was no sound coming from inside. She waited for a few moments and knocked on the door again.
This time a shirtless boy who looked no more than fifteen years old opened the door. Grace immediately recognized him as he was one of her ex-students. She remembered he was an orphan and had a very tough childhood. He and his siblings were raised by their grandparents who were poor and could barely support themselves. The boy had learning disabilities and missed school all the time. He was embarrassed when he saw her and couldn’t look her in the eye.
Grace regained her composure and asked what he was doing there. The boy didn’t answer her and looked away. She added that she heard the apartment was for sale and asked if the doctor was at home. The boy said he was at the hospital. She was relieved and said it was too bad as she hoped she could take a look at the apartment. While she was talking with the shirtless boy, she realized he wasn’t by himself. Another boy wearing one of Tim’s football jerseys which Grace recognized right away, approached the front door.
He was more assertive and suggested she come back another time as they had no clue about his “Uncle” selling his condo. While heading to her car, Grace felt confused. She wasn’t sure if checking up on her brother-in-law was such a good idea. Besides, what could she do with the information she had!? Her sister made it clear a long time ago she didn’t want anything to do with her. On the other hand, she felt something was wrong and was afraid to say out loud what she thought was going on in the condo.
She decided to call her brother Martin and ask his opinion. Martin believed Tim was harmless. He said one of the boys she saw in the apartment could definitely be Tim’s relative as both his parents had large families. He also mentioned to Grace that Tim has invested quite a bit of time and money to help youth at risk.
Martin eventually suggested she avoid drawing the wrong conclusion as it would hurt their sister who was expecting her third child. The conversation with Martin didn’t change her mind. In fact, she was so preoccupied that she forgot her sister-in-law was waiting for her. In addition, she almost caused an accident on her way home…….
Marian loved Lianne and always remembered she was beside her during her difficult times. On the other hand, she had her own agenda and was determined to achieve her goal. She told Lianne that she was the daughter she and Andrew never had. They hoped she would at least be their daughter-in-law. She said they were eagerly waiting for their grandchildren to be born……
What Marian said greatly excited Lianne. She admired Andrew and wanted to fulfill his wishes. But she also knew deep inside her heart that Tim was not in love with her. She did not want to offend Marian and tell her that her family was totally opposed to this match. Furthermore, she had her own doubts about their relationship. So she said Tim wasn’t ready for a commitment yet and she wasn’t sure he would be ready any time soon.
Marian was quiet for a few moments. Then she said Tim was like his father, he doesn’t show emotions so quickly. Marian and Andrew got married approximately three months after they met at a mutual friend’s wedding. Marian said that Andrew wasn’t comfortable with courtship in general. Many times she had to guess how he felt as it wasn’t so obvious.
Marian was surprised when Andrew proposed because she thought he didn’t want to get married. She couldn’t sleep several nights afterwards and struggled with her answer for over a week. Then her mother said to her that quite a few men are clueless when it comes to relationships. They have difficulties expressing how they feel. Over time Andrew slowly became more open and a much warmer person. He let his love for her show and there wasn’t a day that went by without him telling her how much he loved her.
Marian was sure that Lianne and Tim were meant to be together. Despite Marian’s attempt to influence her decision, Lianne asked Tim for more time. But then something unexpected happened. She found out she was pregnant. Abortion was out of the question. As well, she didn’t feel she was cut out to be a single mother.
Therefore, Lianne decided to follow her heart and accept Tim’s proposal. Her parents supported her decision and assured her they would be there for her. Marian was excited beyond words on the day of the wedding. She was wearing a huge smile all day, as though she won the lottery. The couple agreed to move in with Marian after the wedding and to buy a bigger house later on.
A few months later, Lianne gave birth to twin boys. Life with Tim wasn’t what she expected. In fact, it was a big disappointment. No matter how much effort she made to bring him closer, he kept his distance from her. Over time, she stopped trying and her love for him diminished, especially after the birth of the twins.
Tim wasn’t at home most of the time and when Lianne asked him to babysit their children, he always found an excuse why he couldn’t do it. However, Marian was more than happy to babysit her grandchildren. She even encouraged Lianne to go back to work. When the twins were six months old, Lianne went back to work in the pharmacy part time and would often play with the local symphony.
She was very busy and tried hard not to think about her unhappy marriage. After the twins were born, the family moved to a larger house. Tim would occasionally invite some teenagers from the shelter over for dinner. Tim, who wasn’t warm and outgoing with his family, showed a different personality when he hosted these teenagers. It turned out he was funny and had a great sense of humour. He was also much more communicative and softened his voice when he spoke to them.
After dinner he would disappear with them for a couple of hours, claiming they needed somebody to talk to. Lianne was heartbroken when she saw how attentive and patient he was with the youth, while at home he was cold and unapproachable. It was beyond her comprehension why her husband dedicated most of his free time to the teenagers from the shelter, instead of her and their children.
Marian finally realized she was wrong in pushing them into each other’s arms. She felt she was the one to blame and it kept her up at night. She also understood that Tim wasn’t like his father at all. She remembered the day Tim was born and how much joy he brought to their lives. He immediately became the center of their lives. Furthermore, she saw how Tim ignored his precious kids and did not appreciate his wife which was hard for her to digest.
The frustration on Lianne’s face was obvious while Tim looked indifferent. Marian knew it was only a matter of time before her daughter-in-law decided to break up their marriage. It was clear to Marian who she would support despite her love for her son. But it turned out that Marian was too quick to eulogize the marriage as Lianne and Tim were expecting their third child, a baby girl…….
Despite her parents pleading for her to immediately cease, Grace went on and on while her tone of voice got louder. Then Grace said something very insightful. Lianne was obsessed with Tim and if she marries him she’ll end up taking care of Marian the rest of her life. This was the only reason he proposed to her. In fact, she thought women were not Tim’s priority. What Grace said was taboo, something which nobody dared say out loud.
This was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Lianne. She was in shock and deeply hurt, she couldn’t believe what came out of her beloved sister’s mouth. At that point, she had enough. She yelled at Grace and told her to back off. She said it wasn’t her damn business who she marries, and if she decides to marry Tim or anyone else, Grace would not be invited. She added she would never talk to her again.
If what Grace said wasn’t enough, Abby recruited her son Martin to have a heart to heart with Lianne to change her daughter’s mind. Martin invited Lianne to visit him in Toronto. She gladly accepted as she knew Martin liked Tim and was certain he would support her. In addition, Lianne always respected her older brother. But unfortunately, Martin wouldn’t tell her what she desperately wanted to hear.
He said that under different circumstances, he would be more than happy to have Tim as his brother-in-law. After a long silence, he continued and explained what he meant. There were rumors since they were teenagers that Tim preferred men as opposed to women. Tim was a great person, very smart, a devoted friend and Martin didn’t care about his private life. But if he desired to marry his younger sister, Martin wouldn’t tolerate his misleading her.
Martin remembered the gossip that spread in high school about Tim and Robby being a couple. He thought he should keep it to himself and not mention it. Suddenly Lianne said, “maybe I should go to see Robby and ask his opinion.” Martin, who was caught by surprise, turned pale and almost fell out of his chair. Martin said that although Robby was a priest, he was a human being as well. Therefore, she shouldn’t put him in an awkward situation and talk with him about his best friend. Lianne agreed with him.
Anyway, Lianne was sure if Tim was gay, he wouldn’t hide it. Martin disagreed and said Tim wouldn’t come out of the closet because he thought his parents couldn’t handle it. He probably wouldn’t do it as long as Marian was alive. Martin believed Marian knew or at least had a suspicion about her son’s sexual orientation.
The day Lianne was leaving, Martin escorted her to the car. He apologized for letting her down. He told her he couldn’t sleep all night as he was thinking about their conversation. Martin said he came to the conclusion that neither of them would be happy if they got married unless the cards would be placed on the table. Tim had to stop living a lie and should live the life he wanted to live. On the other hand, Lianne needs to know what she is dealing with. Lianne was crying while he was talking.
In the end, Martin hugged his sister and told her how much he loved her. He said he would support her no matter what she chose to do. Lianne returned home with mixed feelings. The information she received about Tim was very disturbing and couldn’t be ignored. At once she felt afraid and insecure. In addition, she was reluctant to take a reckless step. However, she loved Tim more than words could say.
She dreamt of being his wife for too many years. She wished she could discuss her deliberations with someone objective. Lianne then decided to ask Tim for more time to evaluate their relationship. But before she had a chance to speak with him, Marian called and asked her to come over. Marion was in Florida for two weeks with her friend from the church. It was the first time she traveled out of the country without Andrew.
Marian gave Lianne a big hug when she entered her house. She was in a good mood and told Lianne all about her trip. Later on, Marian gave her a small box that contained a pair of beautiful earrings that looked expensive as well. She said they were her mother’s and she wanted her to have them. Lianne was speechless and didn’t know what to say. Then Marian added that she wanted her to know how much she appreciated all that she does for her. Besides, she was delighted to hear Tim finally proposed.
Lianne was feeling very emotional that day and it showed on her face. Marion could tell she was distressed and asked her if she needed to talk. Lianne thought how ironic it was as Marian was the last person she should talk to but also the only one available for her. As though she read her mind, Marian said Tim was looking forward to her answer. But Lianne didn’t have one yet………….
Tim moved in with his mother after his father died. At the same time, he was searching for a live-in support worker for her. Tim wished to move on with his life as soon as possible. Lianne, who visited them on a daily basis, offered her help. She was willing to spend the nights with Marian until a solution was found. She even told Philip she couldn’t join him on his trip to the UK. Lianne explained to her boyfriend that Tim and Marian were like family to her and they needed her help.
Lianne’s mother Abby was furious after learning her daughter canceled her trip. She begged her to go and enjoy herself. Abby promised Lianne she would be there for Marian and Tim whenever they needed her. She also reminded her daughter that an entire community stands behind them. But it was like talking to a wall.
Lianne wasn’t interested in hearing what her mother had to say. She had her own agenda to see Tim as much as possible. She told her mother that she was old enough to make her own decisions and asked to be left alone. Although Philip didn’t like Lianne’s last minute decision not to join him, he respected it. He wanted to give her the space she needed. After Philip left for the UK, Lianne spent more time at Marian’s. She frequently saw Tim like she wanted.
Tim wasn’t in any rush to look for a live-in support worker as Lianne did an excellent job and Marian was pleased. Tim and Lianne became closer. He would call her every day even after Philip returned from England. He told her how much he appreciated what she does for his mother and how important she was to him. Tim would make small gestures such as leaving chocolates and flowers for her at his mother’s house.
Although her hands were full with two jobs, Lianne spent most of her free time with Marian. She knew she was on the right track to achieve her goal. However, Philip didn’t like this at all as he felt she neglected their relationship. Between Lianne’s two jobs and looking after Marian, he almost never saw her. Philip didn’t want to be taken for granted and decided to put his cards on the table. He went to see her at work, something he never did and told her they needed to talk and clear the air.
Shortly after that she left their apartment and moved in with her parents. When Marian heard that Lianne and her boyfriend separated, she put pressure on her son to make a move on Lianne. She played on his conscience and used every argument she could think of. It took some time for him to react but it paid off in the end.
To Marian’s delight and the displeasure of Lianne’s family, Tim and Lianne became a couple. Although the relationship between them changed, they didn’t move in together. Tim kept his apartment which was located close to the hospital. To Lianne’s surprise, he never took her there……. When she asked him why he said he shares the apartment with a couple of young doctors. Besides, he only uses it when he works night shifts. He also said that after a long shift he was so tired that all he wanted to do was take a shower and go to sleep.
Tim proposed to Lianne a short time after they became a couple. As much as she wished for that moment, he caught her by surprise. Lianne was in love with Tim for years. She admired him and didn’t see any of his drawbacks. However, there were two important matters that bothered her. The first, Tim never said he loved her, and the second was his lack of passion.
Tim was frequently too exhausted for intimacy but never too tired to help out at the shelter. Since Lianne was an optimist by nature, she believed his love and passion for her would grow over time. Anyway, Lianne didn’t want to look too anxious so she told Tim she would like to think about his proposal. Needless to say, no one in Lianne’s family was enthusiastic when they heard the news. In fact, they thought Tim was the last man she should be with.
Her parents, who didn’t want to hurt her feelings or to lose her for that matter, gently tried to dissuade her from marrying Tim. Nevertheless, Grace wasn’t so diplomatic with her sister and gave her a piece of her mind. She said she didn’t understand how such a smart woman like her couldn’t see the reality staring her in the face.
Grace thought her sister was taken advantage of by Tim and Marian as well. She drew Lianne’s attention to the fact that Tim never brought anyone to take care of his mother as he should have. Instead, he went back to his regular routine while Lianne put her life on hold. Lianne was the one who took days off whenever Marian needed assistance.
Grace mentioned that in her opinion, Marian was no better than her son. Marian didn’t want any strangers in her house. Therefore, Lianne who was in love with Tim was the perfect solution for her. Lianne kept silent the whole time and let her sister blow off some steam…….
Tim complimented Lianne many times throughout the dinner. He told her she was very talented and that she looked lovely. That evening they had a great time together and the atmosphere was intoxicating. Lianne was pleased as Tim finally paid attention to her. She hoped this was the beginning of a relationship.
Anyway, since Tim returned to London he and Robby became closer like it used to be when they were younger. Tim would confide in Robby on a regular basis and almost never missed Sunday Mass at his church. Robby was a very giving person. He was willing to help anyone who needed his assistance. Due to this, he was highly valued by his congregation.
Robby was the youngest of four boys. His family lived a modest life. His father Gary was an electrician and his mother Elena was a housewife. His family was very proud of him when he became a priest. Their faces beamed every time they spoke about his achievement. Robby definitely fulfilled his parents’ dreams. He often helped teenagers who ran away from home and dropped out of school.
Quite a few teenagers who were sexually harassed by their relatives or someone they trusted would come to him for help. When the number of cases increased, he realized he couldn’t handle it by himself. As well, he needed additional facilities and qualified professionals as staff. Robby asked for donations and volunteers during Sunday services.
The response was incredible. Many people wanted to help including his friend Tim, who worked countless hours in the hospital. His father Gary was willing to do any electrical work needed for free. His mother Elana volunteered to help in the kitchen. Several of his friends and acquaintances offered their support as well.
The first step was for Robby to find a location for the shelter. After a short negotiation with the city, the municipality agreed to lease an abandoned building that was close to the church on very good terms. Shortly afterward, a shelter for youth at risk was established.
Anyway, to Lianne’s disappointment, her relationship with Tim did not go beyond friendship. She often took the initiative and invited him to dinner at her place or to see a movie. But most of the time he said he couldn’t make it as he was too busy at work. However, when they would finally meet he spoke mostly about his work. To her dismay, he rarely asked her anything about her life…
Grace, Lianne’s older sister, who was a teacher, also volunteered at the shelter. She told Lianne despite Tim’s claim he had a busy work schedule, he frequently volunteered at the shelter. He taught the boys how to play basketball. Grace said he looked as though he had a very close relationship with the boys. Tim, who wasn’t a warm person, would often hug them which looked unusual to her.
Although she couldn’t put her finger on anything specific, Grace always thought there was something odd about Tim. He often surrounded himself with women but never dated any of them which looked pretty weird to Grace. She couldn’t accept that her beloved sister was wasting her time waiting for a man who doesn’t deserve her.
Many times Grace and her husband introduced Lianne to nice single guys. But it never went beyond the first date. Lianne couldn’t let go of Tim. She always believed he was the one. Anyhow, Lianne’s favorite band arrived in London one day, but the concert sold out before she could buy tickets. To her delight, she received two tickets from her employers. She called and invited Tim to join her at the concert, but he said he had other plans. So she went with one of her colleagues.
Lianne and her girlfriend stood next to two British guys during the concert that later on turned out to be musicians. The two men invited Lianne and her friend to join them for a drink after the concert ended. The four of them had a lovely time together. Apparently, they had a lot in common. Shortly after that, Lianne started dating Philip, one of the musicians.
Her family was very pleased as it was the first time Lianne was in a relationship. She finally looked happy and stopped chasing after Tim. She even stopped visiting his parents so often. After a few months of dating, Lianne and Philip decided to move in together. Lianne was excited about the changes that had taken place in her life in such a short period of time. It looked like she finally left Tim behind.
However, Philip’s sister was to be married in England and he planned to take Lianne to the wedding. He wanted her to meet his family and thought this was a good opportunity. A few days later, before their departure, Tim’s father unexpectedly died. Lianne went to see Marian immediately after she heard the news. Marian was very upset and Tim, who was hugging her, looked desolate. Her heart went out to both of them and all of the feelings she had for Tim suddenly came back to the surface……….
Lianne and Tim grew up in the same neighborhood in London Ontario. Their parents were friends and both were very active in their church. Lianne had 4 siblings, one sister and 3 brothers, while Tim was an only child. His parents tried to have children for almost 20 years. His mother Marian underwent countless fertility treatments until her doctor told her she had no chance of conceiving.
The couple was very disappointed as they were almost 40 years old and it was too late to go through the adoption process. Marian and her husband Andrew always dreamt of having a large family like they had when they were growing up. However, they realized that their dream had been shattered. Family events and holidays were particularly difficult for them as all the married couples would bring their children with them. Regardless, as hard as it was for them, they accepted it as the will of God.
Nevertheless, one day Marian found out that against all odds she was pregnant. It was impossible to describe the happiness of the couple who had lost any hope of being parents. The day Tim was born was the happiest day of their lives. Tim was raised with much love and showered with a lot of attention. He was a good student and an excellent athlete. He played basketball and hockey in the high school league. In addition, he was very handsome. In short every girl’s dream.
Tim had a lot of friends, but two bests friends Martin and Robby. They were the three musketeers who did almost everything together. They attended the same catholic school since they were in kindergarten. They were even in the same class. Martin was Lianne’s older brother and Tim and Robby used to visit their house fairly often. Lianne had a crush on Tim for as long as she could remember. He was approximately 6 years older than her and did not pay attention to her.
Lianne was a gifted student and a talented pianist but was never a good looking girl. She was chubby and was always on a diet. Likewise, she had a bad case of acne which lowered her self – esteem. Anyway, the boys each went their separate ways after they finished high school but still stayed in touch. Martin went to law school at the University of Toronto. Tim went to the University of Toronto medical school, which made his parents very proud. Robby who had very strong religious beliefs went to Catholic Seminary in London Ontario.
Although Lianne did not see Tim too often anymore, she never stopped thinking about him. She hoped that one day her dream would come true and Tim would notice her not only as Martin’s little sister but as a woman as well. Over the years Lianne changed a lot. She lost weight and grew taller. There was no sign of the acne she had when she was a teenager. In general, she looked really good.
Lianne study chemistry at University and went to the faculty of pharmacy. At the same time, she gave private piano lessons. A short time after she finished University she found a job as a pharmacist. She also received an offer from the local symphony that she couldn’t refuse.
In the meantime, her brother Martin became a lawyer, he got married and lived in Toronto. Robby became a priest in the local church. After he finished medical school, Tim did his internship at Mount Sinai hospital in Toronto. Then he moved back to London to be close to his parents who weren’t young anymore.
His parents were worried as he wasn’t married and he didn’t have a serious girlfriend. They encouraged him to socialize more. They would gently hint that they would love to have grandchildren…….. after all, they wouldn’t live forever. They also mentioned Lianne’s name pretty often. Marian and Andrew had a very special place in their hearts for Lianne as she used to frequently visit them since Tim left London. She always offered her help and was there for them when they needed her.
In addition, she would give them free passes to all her concerts in the city. In fact, she treated them as though they were her parents. Marian and Andrew said to Lianne’s parents more than once that they would be delighted if she would be their daughter-in-law one day. This gave Lianne some hope, as she knew Tim respected his parents’ opinion. Anyhow, when Tim moved back to London, he lived in his parent’s house for a while until he rented an apartment.
Marian thought this would be an excellent opportunity to bring Tim and Lianne closer together. Therefore she suggested Lianne invite Tim to one of her concerts. Marian knew her son adored classical music and wouldn’t turn down the invitation. Besides, she was sure he would be impressed with her talent. She also wanted Tim to see the incredible change in Lianne’s appearance.
Lianne trembled when she saw Tim and Robby sitting in the front row. She gave one of her best performances that evening. Tim looked at her with admiration for the first time…… Shortly after the concert, Tim invited her to dinner. She couldn’t believe her dream came true……
Many times young people think the sky is the limit. They don’t think about the future and they’re sure they’ll stay young forever. Well…. the truth is I didn’t think I’d stay young forever or that the sky is the limit. But I didn’t think about the future either. I had a dream to travel in Europe before I made any decisions about my future. I looked for an easy way to earn some money. Therefore, I worked as a waitress.
I made good money as a waitress and fulfilled my dream. I travelled in Europe for a while. I enjoyed myself and spent all the money I had. When I returned home I had to immediately look for a job as I desperately needed money. I had a friend at that time who lived in a city that catered to tourists. She told me I could probably find a job in one of the hotels in the city in no time since employees were always required. She also offered me a place to stay as long as I needed it.
The employee turnover in that city was high because most of the job seekers were young. They would come to the city for a short period of time to earn some money for university or to travel around the world. As well, quite a few of the applicants were tourists who worked in the hotels to continue their journey.
However, I went to my first interview the day after I arrived in the city. I was hired on the spot. I was offered meals and accommodation in addition to my salary. I thought it was a great opportunity to save some money for the future. I started working the day after I was hired, and a couple of days later, I moved into an apartment with three roommates who were also hotel staff.
My roommates were approximately my age and we had a lot in common. During my time working in the hotel, I met people from all over the world, both staff members and guests. I met a variety of people who I probably wouldn’t have met under different circumstances. I was in touch with some of them for a long time until at some point we lost touch with each other. Anyway, I worked as a cashier, mainly on the night shift. After my shift, I usually went out with my new friends to a nightclub to dance or to some pub. We frequently went home at 4 or 5 o’clock in the morning. We woke up at noon, ate something, and went to the beach for a couple of hours until it was time to get ready for work.
We were a big group of friends who hung out together all the time. Anyhow, the apartment they assigned me was quite far from the hotel I worked at. Even though I had a hotel shuttle that picked me up for my shifts, I asked to be transferred to another accommodation that was nearby the hotel. The new place was once a hotel before it became a staff residence. Therefore it contained a swimming pool and a nightclub. There was a lot of activity in the area and this is why I wanted to be there.
They gave me a room which I shared with one roommate. The atmosphere was intoxicating, and I loved it. Although my employee benefits included meals, I spent a lot of money on restaurants, as I am extremely picky with food. Also, most of the time I didn’t like what was served at the hotel. My friend and I felt like we were on an endless vacation, and behaved accordingly. It’s as though we were out of touch with reality… 🙂
My typical schedule was to work 21 days and then get 5 days off. I stayed there on and off for nearly two years, with a short break in between. I wanted to start a new life elsewhere. But I went back because it was hard for me to manage financially. The fact that the housing was provided by the employer made it harder to leave the job, without even mentioning the terrific working environment and way of life. You would be surprised how long you can live in La-La land…. 🙂 , it is addictive.
Nevertheless, eventually the show must go on. I had to leave, as I was ready for a change. I did not save any money…… again. Obviously, I did not learn anything from my previous experience. Yet I had a wonderful time. Even today, I look at this period as an amazing adventure. Mind you, I had to start from scratch all over again but I cherished every moment. I slowly came back to reality. I found an apartment and started a new job……
With Experience Comes Wisdom 