Abandoned but Not Alone (26 page)

~~~~~~~~~~

Jason
actually arrived home at 6pm which just gave him enough time to offer Aviva a
brief greeting before heading upstairs to freshen up. It had been a hard day of
back-to-back meetings that Steve, who was still M.I.A., would usually have
taken care of. Jason couldn
’
t really be
called a people person so Steve normally took care of that end of the business.
He preferred to work on his own, getting together with his financial team once
a week. Should a matter arise that needed additional attention, his assistant
would set up a video conference. He handled the finances while Steve, ever the
diplomat was the face of the company. He was also a cutting edge architect who
had won them success with his designs almost from the conception of their
company.

By the time
he had showered and dressed it was 6:20, it was at this the realization hit
him; he was once again about to face three strangers with whom he shared the
same blood. Walking into the living room Aviva sat waiting for him. Jason went
to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink, throwing it back in one gulp.
Closing his eyes he allowed the warmth of the malt whiskey to burn a path down
his throat and spread along his insides. Turning to Aviva he raised his glass
to offer her a drink, she shook her head declining and watched as he poured
himself another.  This time he took only a sip.

“
How are you feeling about the meeting?
”
Aviva asked feeling the need to break
the silence that enshrouded them as her apprehension rose at Jason
’
s introspection.

Her
question went unanswered, as the doorbell chimed.
“
It would seem it
’
s time to
get this farce on the road.
”
The door
was opened by an obviously shocked Drake who led Jason
’
s father and brothers into the room.

Aviva was
again struck by the family resemblance; they were definitely a handsome and
extremely masculine group, their expressions speaking of fortitude and
determination. Joshua, by far the best looking brother, had the same aura of
strength fixed on his handsome face. Drake inquired if they needed anything
else and not one of the men appeared to hear his inquiry so fixed were they on
sizing each other up. All except Jackson had taken up a stance of folded arms
and braced legs. Shaking her head Aviva indicated they needed nothing more.
Aviva watched the men as they watched each other and would have laughed if so
much were not at stake.

Jackson
approached her, his hand extended in greeting.
“
My dear Aviva, it
’
s a
pleasure to see you again. They say youth is wasted on the young and by the
display of my foolish sons, I agree; of course you my dear young lady wear your
youth delightfully.
”
Placing a
light kiss on the back of her hand he released his grip and stood back smiling.

Aviva
couldn
’
t have helped her
reaction to save her life, she giggled, she actually giggled like a school
girl, fluttered her hand and blushed. Jackson had it going on, and in that
moment she understood with perfect clarity why some young women preferred older
men.

Hearing her
girlish giggle, Jason turned, looking between Aviva and Jackson he nearly bit
his tongue, was he for real, was he actually flirting with her? Refusing to see
the humor in the situation, he gave the older man an incredulous look while
pulling Aviva to his side, he would be having a talk with her later. Squirming
from her display of girlish fluster, she ventured a quick glance at Jason which
was met with narrow eyed disapproval. Joshua who had caught the whole byplay
snorted and received a jab in his side from Jacob and hard looks from his
father and Jason.

Jason
seated Aviva on the loveseat before inviting his guests to be seated, standing
before the unoccupied section of the loveseat, ensuring he wouldn
’
t have to break any noses. When everyone
was seated he offered drinks which were accepted. Aviva jumped up to fill the
orders before Jason could move from this post as sentinel.

With the
drinks order met, she returned and settled in beside Jason who was twirling his
glass, staring into its depth in deep contemplation. Slowly lifting his gaze he
looked Jackson directly in the eyes and spoke to him for the first time since
his arrival.
“
So
–
what
’
s the name of the bitch that gave birth to me, and why isn
’
t she here?
”

Taken aback
by the venomous nature of the question the other occupants of the room tensed,
eyes rapt on him.

“
What, did I just speak in a language that
you all didn
’
t
understand?
”
Jason
spat, angry that they dared to look at him as though he had said something
untoward.

Jackson
took a deep breath and answered.
“
Her name is
Diana and we don
’
t know
where she is at the moment. In actuality none of us have seen her for a number
of years.

“
Why don
’
t you know the location of your children
’
s mother?
”
Jason
asked confused by this new turn of events. Looking at each man in turn, he
realized that they all wore the same stony expression of distaste, and the
cause appeared to be Diana.

Jackson
settled back in his seat as though weary, and at that moment, reflected on his
face was the look of a man who had endured much heartache during the course of
his life. Jackson sighed and briefly closed his eyes as though in preparation
to divulge a family secret.

“
I suppose the best way to approach this
whole situation is to start at the beginning and you will begin to understand a
little about the type of woman that is your mother
: Diana is a very
beautiful woman, we met in college.  She was a freshman and I was in my last
year completing my master
’
s in
economics and it was kicking my butt, too much partying at the beginning of the
year.
”
Jackson
explained with a reticent look.  Shrugging his shoulders he returned to his
story.

“
All year I had been
hearing about the beauty that was Diana Maloney, and when I finally met her,
her beauty was everything I had been told and more. She seemed pleasant enough,
but I didn
’
t pay too
much attention as I had a girlfriend and we were happy together.  What I failed
to realize was that Diana knew far more about me than I could have ever
imagined.

One day I
bumped into her while leaving the library, and I do mean literally, her books
seemed to fly out of her hands and scatter all over the ground. Being a
gentleman and seeing as it was my inattention that had caused the collision, I
helped her to gather her books.  Well at least at the time I thought I was the
reason for the collision, I later came to realize that she had set me up. You see,
by the latter stage of my course I had become a creature of habit. Needing to
do some catching up on my studies I had taken to spending quite a lot of time
in the library, but like clockwork I would leave by nine, ensuring I was on
time to meet my girlfriend when she got off work.  Distracted, I didn
’
t give the incident
another thought as I had somewhere else to be.

It was only
after I had seen Mary safely home that I realized my house keys were missing. I
thought I had just misplaced them. I looked everywhere for those keys, retraced
my steps, did everything I could think of, but they never showed up. Soon after
that I began to notice certain items in my apartment and bedroom were out of
place.  In the first instance the moved items registered only with my
subconscious, then one day I returned home and had the distinct impression that
someone had been in my home.  I got the locks changed that same day and upped
the integrity of the apartment
’
s security.

It was
around this time that Mary broke things off with me.  One day everything was
fine and the next she refused to even acknowledge my existence. I learned later
that it was Diana that had swiped my keys and had been going through my
belongings; I guess it was during this time that she finally decided that I was
the one she wanted and what Diana wants, Diana thinks she should have.

As I said
before, I was a creature of habit and Mary and I would spend our weekends at my
place.  Somehow Diana had found out that on one particular weekend I would be
home late and she set it up so that Mary found her in my bed when she arrived.
Diana made it appear as though I knew she was waiting for me and that it was
our intention to meet up before Mary arrived.  That was the last time Mary ever
spoke to me. I remember at the time I tried to speak to her friends in an
attempt to find out what I had done that would cause such a drastic reaction,
but if they knew, they wouldn
’
t tell me.

After the
breakup Diana seemed to be everywhere, at the library, at parties, she always
just seemed to be there, and I didn
’
t question it. It was quite close to the end of the academic
year and she didn
’
t make any
demands so we hooked up every now and then, nothing serious, just two
consenting adults keeping each other company. I always used protection even
when she insisted she was taking contraception. As far as I was concerned it
was my responsibility to ensure no unwanted pregnancies. My future was already
mapped out; my parents had died when I was very young, my grandfather was
getting on and needed me to take up some of the slack in the family business.
After my final exams I said my goodbyes, packed up and headed home.

About a
year later Diana turned up at my home with Jake in her arms. There was no doubt
that he was mine as he looked exactly as I had when I was his age, he also had
the Kingdom green-black eyes and dimples. My grandfather was furious, and after
ripping into me and swearing no grandchild of his was going to be labeled a
bastard, he insisted we marry.

The
marriage worked on a certain level for a short while, or maybe I should say we
had an understanding. She more often than not ignored Jake and when she fell
pregnant with Josh matters took a decided turn for the worst. I had to bribe
her with jewelery, gifts and finally money just to ensure she didn
’
t somehow get rid of
the baby.

Jake was
always a quiet baby; Josh on the other hand hated her right from the beginning
and would start the most blood curdling screams if she came anywhere near him.
”
Jackson broke off his narrative and
looked over at Josh smiling in remembrance. Josh returned his smile with a
wink.

The smile
slowly left Jackson
’
s face as
he resumed his story,
“
Before Josh
was two years old Diana ran off with one of my competitors whom she had met on
a shopping trip to Milan. When that didn
’
t work out she attempted to get me to take her back, I refused,
so she sued for custody of the boys, and she won. It was one of the worst
periods of my life. By this time our divorce had become final and she took my
boys and moved them to Italy. She made it so difficult that I didn
’
t see them for three
years. Then one day she just turned up at my office and offered the children to
me for 10 million dollars and a share of the profits of the hotels on an annual
basis, if I agreed she would relinquish all her rights to them. I agreed
immediately, later that month I was made aware she had married a wealthy
Italian banker.
Thank God the paperwork had yet to be signed that would giver her
a share of the annual income of the hotels, and because of her marriage they
never were.  Neither my sons or I have seen her since.

You may be wondering how I know all the little details; I know all the
things I have just told you because Diana took great pleasure informing me of
every single one.
That, Jason
is your mother, and that
’
s why she isn
’
t here, why we have no knowledge of her
location, but God help her when I find her!
”

The
conclusion of Jackson
’
s story was
met with silence, everyone lost in contemplation of all they had heard. At some
time during the tale Aviva had taken hold of Jason
’
s hand and his arm now rested across her shoulder as though to
give each other someone too lean on.

Jason didn
’
t know what to say, nor could he fathom
which of Diana
’
s actions
disgusted him the most. Coming out of his reverie he removed his arm from
around Aviva
’
s shoulder,
leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees with clasped hands.
“
I take it you
’
ve started looking for her?
”
Jason asked Jackson, looking him straight in the eyes that were
so like his own.