CHAPTER 33

It was supposed to be a quiet ceremony. What he had planned was for the few people invited to come in, say their piece, greet the sad widower standing off the large space where his late wife’s cremated body is, and leave him peacefully. So far, it had been a quiet event aside from the occasional ‘take hearts’, and ‘you’ll be comforted’ here and there. But the cawing birds perched on the big tree providing shade outside the cemetery distracted the serenity of the place. Jason found himself despising every sound coming from them. The birds sounded happy and carefree, and he felt jealous that they do. Deep inside, he was a mess. He couldn’t even trust his voice to respond properly to their similar sympathetic comments. So, he just nodded and grunted no sensible response. But at least, they let him be.

Everyone tapped him on the shoulder, said their peace, and went back to take their stand behind him. He noted the Swiss were all present, except Evangeline. The instant they had walked in and she had been absent may have being the very moment his heart began to sink. He had been counting on seeing her here. She owed him no such visit, but he had hoped. The tears that fell down his face had little to do with the remains of his late wife that he kept staring at. He thought of the life they could have had; a cheerful one with kids. Ellen didn’t get that. He wept for what they couldn’t have. And when he didn’t see Evangeline; he wept for the mistakes he might have made. Ellen wouldn’t want this. She had seen the good in Evan, even when he kept pushing her away.

“She was a good woman.” the preacher they invited for the short ceremony began, “She was always of a bubbling spirit. Her joy flowed from her large heart to everyone”. The preacher was an elderly man from the district church where the Valdez family worshipped and attend Sunday mass. He knew just how generous and cheerful the woman had been. Even when she became ill, she continued to be very kind to people around her. Several times, she had donated to the church and sent clothing, food, and whatever help she could render to the needy. The man wiped his face sadly. “We remember today the passing of a kind and selfless soul” he continued.

“Yes, she was indeed.” Jason said in hushed tones and smiled bitterly. His mother-in-law leaned on his shoulder. She smiled too, amidst her blurred eyes filled with unshed tears. “She gave my life meaning, even after her departure. She was so selfless” he said to her.

Knowing Jason was talking about the surrogate mother and their child, she smiled at her son-in-law, “How’s she?”

Jason nodded. It was the only answer he could give. How’s she? He didn’t know. He looked at Mrs. Suarez and though he tried to smile, he couldn’t hide the pain lurking behind. The woman hugged him, and they stayed holding their hands, looking at their loss as the preacher rounded off his sermon. She patted him on his back lightly when her husband whispered it was time to leave. Mr. Suarez gave his son-in-law a hug that lasted several minutes, then he shook Jason firmly, and walked away slowly with his wife.

Beside the grave was a raised block. Jason sat there as people began to leave. The ones who had something to say to him did with a pat and left. Adriana and the twins, with Noah had said their goodbyes too. While they walked away, he almost asked her about her sister. But it would be unreasonable of him. And he was sure he saw a dark look across the lady’s eyes briefly. He wasn’t sure if that was pity or despise, so he let the question slide. Mrs. Swiss and her husband also said their goodbyes and thanked him again for being a great help to their family.

Finally, Jason had some peaceful moments alone with his late wife. He picked off the old flowers on the block and threw them away. The flowers that had been freshly dropped, he neatly arranged there. “Being a while my love.” he said, staring at the far distance where he watched how he had met Ellen.

He was a young graduate when they met. He had been home schooled as James suggested so he could take care of the family business. Although he would always travel over the weekend to take his examinations, and sometimes he spent a week out Miami. It was a way of giving himself some good treat. Earlier that morning, he had just successfully launched a new device that he had named; BETA and was in a good mood. BETA is an Android designed to improve crime detection using AL technology. At that time, it was in the early development stage and it was later upgraded by his team of world-class developers. But he had been so excited he had gone out with James for a walk on the street. As he strolled, he imagined how BETA could help the investigation unit by picking out the slightest of disorder in forced doors, and key locks.

Those days were the era of forced entry done most smartly that one never suspects anything shady. Many investigations had been closed because the police couldn’t prove that there was any sign of forced entry. And for someone who had always been interested in crimes scenes, and their ruse; it was a disappointment. So, he had looked for a way to help. James had found the idea absurd at first, but like everyone else, he succumbed to the heart of true greatness when he saw what BETA could do. If another key aside from the original key was inserted into a keyhole, BETA would pick an unusual forced sign, even the slightest one. In not up to a year, the device had raked in millions of dollars for the Valdez Tech. company. Eventually, the government had monopolized the device solely for the police and crime unit, raking in even more money.

That evening, as Jason strolled with James, imagining his BETA and the good it could do, he walked past a dreamy Ellen. She was dressed in a simple grey wool skirt, and a white blouse with a white silk scarf fastened around her neck. And she was in a hurry. They bumped into each other; he looks around the city imagining the good his latest baby would do to change the world, she rushing off to meet her client thinking of the possible designs she could come up with for their interiors. Like her mother, she was into figurines, and collections of antiques and interior decoration. An old client had introduced her to a new resident in town, and she was running late for a meeting with the couple.

“Hey, watch it.” Ellen said, pushing him gently off her.

He held her, steadying both of them as he had almost slammed into her. James got down to help her retrieve the files she had dropped. “I’m sorry, ma’am.” Jason said, collecting the files from James, and giving them to her. Before giving her the folder, he had caught a glimpse of interesting pictures. “Do you design?” he asked.

She was busy adjusting her skirt and didn’t look at him, but nodded, “Yes”

“Those are nice” he complimented.

“Thank you.” she said. She was done adjusting her clothes now, so she looked up and was surprised to see the man who had almost knocked her off. He was a tall man with a sweet aura. His blue eyes called out to her, drowning her in the passion that lazed them. For what seemed like an eternity, she stared at the raw beauty. “Have we met before?” she asked when she finally found her voice. She noted also how he didn’t say anything while she gazed at him. He must have been used to seeing ladies gawk at him. Ellen mentally cautions herself to stay away from men like him. They were dangerous.

“A penny for that?”

“What?” she asked, pretending not to notice he had caught her staring. She started to rearrange her scarf while Jason smiled “What?” she asked again, this time smiling.

James had moved aside to give them some space. Jason cast him a brief glance before turning to the delicate woman before him. She was a petite woman, and very beautiful. He caught himself wanting to talk with the woman. Perhaps ask her to design his office? “Do you stay around here?” he found himself asking instead. She smiled, and he noticed her smile was divine. He wondered if their path had crossed before. He was more of an indoor person, and when he did go out, he would be in his car. So, he was sure he had no idea who his neighbours were, and couldn’t be sure he knew this lady either.

“I just got back. Completed my course some months ago, and looking to settle down here. I’m having clients already” she told him excitedly.

“Perhaps, I could sign up as a client then.” he said to her. Her enthusiasm was contagious. “Will you stay if I do?”

“Of course.” she said, then her phone rang and she smiled apologetically. “I have to go, my clients” she held up her phone.

“Sure.” he bade her farewell and went his way. She had barely hailed down a cab when he received a call himself. It was his friend in the criminal unit asking to come for a test run of BETA on a case he just got. And as he hurried back home with James, he completely forgot about the spectacular lady he had just met minutes ago.

That evening, he had spent the whole night with his friend. BETA proved useful, and it was the beginning of much successful use. The case was a cold murder of a widow who was murdered by the handyman whom she always calls to fix her broken pipes and doors. The man had duplicated the key and came in one night to get his hands on her money, and golden pieces of jewellery he had discovered the last time. Unfortunately, his plan had gone south. He pushed the woman down the stairs, and the poor widow died.

The police could not prove that she was pushed, neither was there any sign of forced entry. And though the money and valuables were stolen, the only person to lay claim to them was dead. It was a cold case. But BETA had shed new light on the case by proving the key used to open the door had been a separate key from the original one. The police had had to open the case file again. All suspects were arrested, and the handyman was eventually caught after so many trials and errors. He confessed to his crime.

Smiling at the scene as it gradually faded away, he felt a chill at the irony of his life. “I spent my life helping police detect master minded crimes, and never once did I see anything suspicious about their deaths” he muttered sadly. Then looking back at the grave, he said, “I miss you so much” he rubbed his beard, “We met again in France, didn’t we?” he smiled again, looking into the distance ahead, unbothered that he was the only one at the silent graveyard. Somewhere behind him, he was sure would be James, Sam, and Sloane, all looking out for him.

Some weeks after their first meeting, he had travelled the following week to France to give a lecture and had run into Ellen again. This time, he got her contact, and they had a nice meal. But getting her contact had nothing to do with wanting to ask her out. It had been her way to salvage him from the slum, she called it.

It was Christmas time, and she like everyone around him was in a cheery mood for the season. He didn’t see any difference in the season aside from every other. This had bothered Ellen so much. She had kept disturbing him on why he was indifferent to the festivity surrounding the season, he had been forced to blot out that it was because his parents never celebrated it with him.

“That’s so sad.” she had said, “Now, this is operation save Jase from the slum” she bestowed him her dazzling smile.

“Save me from the slum? How poetic” he laughed, “There’s nothing ‘slummy’ about my beliefs” he replied, downing his drink.

“Trust me, it is” she gave him her determined look and said, “Here take my card, call me next Christmas and we will spend it together having fun.”. She had smiled at him and promised, “I intend to fill your memories with good times every Christmas for everyone you missed since you were born”. He laughed at that determined look on such a sweet face. The next Christmas, out of curiosity he called her, and she made good her promise; making him enjoy so much of the festivity. She had come into his life when he felt no woman worth his time. Most of them were just after his money. Every lady wanted a taste of the sleek man behind the huge wealth. There was always a reason why they wanted him. Even seemingly harmless run-ins turned out to be planned. He became wary of random meetings that looked suspicious; too good to be real.

His last girlfriend had further buttressed that point. They had met, he imagined in a completely harmless circumstance. Bettie had been hit by his car. That couldn’t have been planned, right? Like who would deliberately run into a vehicle at a crossroad? Well, you haven’t met Bettie if the answer is ‘no. His driver had almost run down Bettie as she rode across their path out of nowhere. She was unconscious when he got down, and her laptop which was on her bike with her, was ruined; broken screen. They rushed her to the hospital where she was treated and her bills sorted. She had no serious injury, thankfully.

But Bettie was hysterical when she woke up. Her screams were not for herself but her damaged laptop, she yelled. At first, he had assumed she wanted another one, which he had gladly obliged to get. She could get a MacBook or two if she would just calm down. But she had screamed at him for thinking she was some materialistic lady. “My files.” she wailed, “I have documents there that I haven’t backed up, and I need them.”

Thankfully, it was something he was good at, “I’ll fix it.” he had said to her. “It’s my speciality.” She had eyed him suspiciously from head to toe, got his card, and only when she was satisfied he would do a good job did she relax. She did relax, but her demeanour didn’t. A few minutes later, she began to complain bitterly about her ruined outfit. He offered to buy her another, and she flared up. Then she took her time explaining how much she had in her account, and why she had no interest in his money. He smiled, knowing she probably didn’t know what he was worth. Her network couldn’t even leave a prick in his account if he deducted it. Raising his hands in surrender, he backed off.

Then Bettie started again, about her ruined hands. Her complaint this time was that she would be modelling for a swimsuit company, how was she to show her body when it’ll be covered in spots, thanks to him. He couldn’t offer to fix her hand. Unless she wanted a synthetic hand, which he would gladly pay so she could just stay quiet. Tired of her complaints, he had started to walk away, leaving James to handle the saucy brat. But her scream had stopped him. “You almost killed me and now you’re walking away?” she yelled.

Jason prided himself a gentleman. He had always felt he could someday be award the calmest, and patient with women, considering how nice he could be when he wanted to. As long as the said lady doesn’t work for him, he could hardly lose his patience over a woman. But this lady right here had tested him to his limit. So, he had turned back to her and asked, “What do you want from me?”

“A little show of concern wouldn’t hurt”

“I left my business, and several meetings, to stay here with you. And all the while, you’ve been complaining about every freaking thing.” he gestured angrily, “It’s depressing. I can’t stay here. I’ll have your laptop delivered to you soon” and he stormed out angrily.

A week later, he had been able to fix her laptop and returned it to her in one piece. And even when he returned it, apologizing for the incident, she still wasn’t nice to him. She continued to be saucy, eyeing the laptop suspiciously, and he was only glad to be out of her hair.

Then the next day, she paid him a surprise visit and was all smiles. Though her smile was bright and cheerful, he recoiled from it, wondering what kind of trouble he was in this time. When she offered to take him to dinner, as appreciation for fixing the laptop and helping her recover all those files, he went with her only so she wouldn’t start whining. And she had kept coming, kept pushing herself to him until she eventually became his girlfriend. And just when he was settling into the relationship, he stumbled on the truth. Like most of the other girls, he was a pun. He listened as she and her friends talked about her sickening plan to lure the most eligible bachelor in Miami.

Bettie had deliberately run herself across the road when she saw his car coming. How she did that, beats his imagination. She had googled him, he believed; studied his routine, knew he would be using that road at that hour and had placed herself there, waiting. It was so creepy. He was so shocked the day he heard it. To punish her, he dated her best friend and made sure she caught them and dumped her. So, he stayed off women. He flirted around, of course, enjoyed the ladies for the fun they could provide, and that was it. Was done, he discarded them and moved to the next course. No long term relationship, and definitely no putting name tags on it; such as girlfriend.

But with Ellen, it wasn’t that way. She asked for nothing from him. Not his wealth, not sex, not connection, nothing. Rather, she gave her all. She had extended a hand of friendship that he had never had. And he took it, hanging on to that hand with all he had. Before he realized it, he was looking forward to the next Christmas and the next. Each was something to look forward to. Now, he would be having none of that.

*****

“Christmas wouldn’t be the same again without you.”. He sensed the presence before feeling the touch. Someone touched him, and he froze. He would know that touch anytime. And that fresh smile that makes you think of roses? Definitely. He didn’t need to turn around to know it was Evangeline. he robbed the palm on his shoulder, relishing in the warmth that little touch provided. She went around him, dropped the flowers she had brought.

“Thank you, Ellen.” she said “For allowing me to have a piece of this man right here.” she waited a while, then went to sit beside Jason, “Hey”

“Hey.” Jason said. He was taking in her look. She was showing now. Her tummy was a sight. Catching his fleeting look on her stomach, she took his hand and placed it on her stomach. The boy, excited for some play kicked against the hand. They both giggled. Lately, she found out their son was quite responsive. Whenever she rubbed her stomach, he kicked back. It was becoming their joke now. She would rub, he would kick. Unless when he was napping, and those times she worried if he was doing all right. Once, she had called her sister to ask. Adriana had said to relax, “He’s probably just napping” to this she had been surprised. “Babies nap in the womb?” she asked her sister whose response had been “Yes, what do you suppose they do in there? Read?”

She smiled and placed her hand on his hand too. She then rested her head on his shoulder.

Jason smiled at the kicks. “Is he doing it repeatedly now?” he asked, moving his hand to another spot. The baby rolled towards that spot and kicked him. He was excited at that and kept moving his hand everywhere. When she placed her hand on his, he laughed happily. “He’s playing with us.” She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. The same spot his mother-in-law had just been a while ago. “How have you been? And the baby?”

“We’re okay, I guess”

“There’s something I should tell you.” he told her. “Since Ellen doesn’t know this too, I could just say it here”

She had been waiting for this; to know why he had lost himself in trying to know his past. And she hoped this was it, “Okay” she said, looking up to him with a smile.

“When my parents died.” he swallowed, taking his time to get properly seated before he continued. Evangeline sat up, giving him more room, but he pulled her back and patted his shoulder that she should rest her head there. “I was in boarding school. A school I had repeatedly told them I didn’t like because the seniors bullied me”

Evangeline sighed, “Remind me again that our son wouldn’t go to boarding school” she rubbed her stomach, moving his hand with hers. Their son was resting now. He wasn’t kicking back rapidly.

“No, he wouldn’t. None of my kids will.” He assured her She smiled at that. kids? Was he saying he wanted more? With her? The thought of that gave her butterflies in her stomach. Their son kicked excitedly too. Heard that mini Jase? We will be having more members after you, she told her son without saying a word out.

“They were never home.” he continued, shaking his head at that memory. Several times, he had been left home alone, in the company of maids, who were of little help to him aside from his safety and feeding. They couldn’t relate with him, they had no time to play or chat with a small child missing his parents terribly. They couldn’t even help with his take-home assignments which mostly were beyond him. Resorting to the only help he could get online; Google. It was one of the reasons he became a computer addict. He was always alone. And the only true companion being his computer. “I got into boarding school since my elementary.” he stared blankly into the space, “I think in grade 2. I was what 7 years old?”

“What?” she looked at him, shocked. “You were a baby”

He smiled at her expression, “Yes. They were that busy.” he shrugged, “Most times, I preferred to spend my holidays in school. At least there would be a few ones like me there to play with.” he had been able to forgive his parents for dumping him in school after he met several others like him who’s parents didn’t have time. He had even made some friends among them, and they traded stories back and forth. “Most times, I come home to an empty house. They would even forget when I would be coming home. I would have to call to remind them.” he laughed sadly, remembering some days when he called and they were not home. Those days, there used to be a landline. If they were not home to pick his call, the phone would ring incessantly, and he knew he would be stranded in school till one of them remembered him.

Once he had been so desperate to go home, but his parents had travelled. None of his friends whose parents like him were busy would be staying. Everyone had gone home, leaving just him behind with the school principal. He had suddenly felt scared staying alone and put a call through since his parents like always seemed to have forgotten him in school. There was nobody to pick him up, so he had stayed in school for an extra week until his parents got back. “They were always apologetic when they got back, you know. And they never missed my birthdays.” he paused, “At least the cards, and gift always came on the right date. My mother, I didn’t even recognize her. I had her sister’s picture. They looked so alike. It was how I knew her face. Until I got her picture.” he smiled sadly at Evangeline. She was a good listener, nodding occasionally, and offering comfort when the need came. “I was twelve when they died, and I didn’t mourn them.”

That was the answer! She realized with a shock. It must have been a sad experience. “Oh, boy” she hugged him now.

He looked from her, down to the silent graveyard. It was getting late. He needed to rush through the story so they could leave. But Ellen had to hear it too. “I didn’t see any reason to. I was raised by strangers anyway. In fact, I was relieved they were gone.” he covered his mouth, “How was I to know they were murdered? I didn’t bother to find out if they were killed or not, I was just happy they were gone”

“You were a kid.” she said to him, hugging him, patting his back gently, “There wasn’t much you could have done”

“I could have been less happy that they died”

“It could have ruined your childhood”

He sighed. That was another way to look at it. If he had known then, he wondered the kind of life he would have lived. Knowing how he had acted lately, he was sure he would have been obsessed with getting to know how they died, and why. He might have gotten himself killed in the process too. He smiled brightly now, “It’s why I was so obsessed when I found out they had been murdered.” he said after a long, sad look into what could have been. “Here I was, realizing I had been wrong to have been happy about their early exit from my life. I just needed to know why they had to die”

“You must have been relieved it was for a good cause”

That was the irony. He had thought if he knew why they were murdered, it would justify his anger and obsession with the past. “In the end, it didn’t really matter that they died trying to save someone”. They had failed to save him. He remembered how desperately he had pleaded with his father to change his school because the seniors were picking on him. They would take his Rolex wristwatch, designer clothes and shoes, even his provisions were not spared. But he had waved it away. “They didn’t save me.” he said sadly, “At least they tried saving someone other than themselves.”

“Oh Jase” she hugged him again, “You’re He kissed her forehead. “Yes, and it’s good to finally lay this to rest.” He took one look at the grave again, and stood, pulling Evangeline with him. “May I carry you out of here?” he asked, looking at the big stomach. “I suppose it’s safe”

She nodded and smiled as he picked her up gently. He carried her out of the silent place, and into the car. James curtsied and closed the car behind them. Once settled in the car, he asked, “You’re not going back to LA tonight are you?”

“It’s late. I packed some clothes. I have an appointment with the doctor”

“Can I come? I’ve missed so much”

“Sure.” she told him.

He could sense she had something she wanted to say, so he asked “Is something wrong?.” He tensed, waiting for her answer. He realized they had unspoken business too. He might have been able to close the chapter with his parent, but there was yet an opened page that needed to be completed before they could move to the next one.

“Can I stay at Adriana’s?”

“Tonight?”

“While I’m in Miami”

Did she intend to stay with her sister? What happened to them? Their relationship? Although it had started with no solid acknowledgement, it was there nonetheless. Was she just going to cut them off? just like that without talking to him about it? “Can we talk this over?”

“It’s late”

“The very reason you should come with me tonight. We can stay in different rooms if that’s what you want”

Knowing her sister had a lot on her plate, she figured staying in different rooms could do them a whole good. That way, she could sort through her feelings. And if he wanted her, or a future with her, then he would have to do better than just dropping hints here and there. He would have to ask her directly. “I suppose that could work.” she said.

He nodded tersely. The car drove them home. He got down and helped her down. Without as much as a word, they entered the building. He strolled in long strides into the master suite, got his duvet, and left the room. He was back in a minute. His expression, determined. “I need to take a quick shower.” He stripped, watching her intently. She flinched at the sight of his naked body. Good! He took his time in the shower but didn’t stay too long. When he got back, she was in her towel, obviously waiting for him to come out of the shower so she could take a bath too. How did we get here? he frowned. She would have joined him in the shower. He took some purposeful strides towards her. When she stepped back, he didn’t stop until she was leaning against the wall.

With nowhere to go, she stayed and looked up at him. He noticed her uneven breathing, and how desperately she was trying to control herself. Leaning down, she kissed her on the forehead deliberately lingering there a little too long. “Thank you for coming, Evan.” he said then bent down to kiss her cheek, “I mean it.” she said and was out of the room.

Evangeline released her breath and sigh, “It’s going to be a tough week” she muttered, stepping into the bathroom.