Chapter 34
I AM SORRY.
Jason:
When I walked, the sight of my grandma sleeping peacefully was the most beautiful thing in the world to me. She was finally getting better and beginning to look vibrant again. There was no sign of the woman I had dismissed or her replacement, and I began to worry that Elijah had been taking care of my grandma all by himself. That would have been incredibly strenuous for a young man!
“Elijah? Where’s the replacement I asked for? Don’t tell me you’ve been doing this all alone.”
“Believe me, Mr. Jason, I’ve tried; there have been three girls in four hours, and two of them were in tears when they left, and the last was enraged and spitting blood-curling invectives.”
What’s wrong with women these days? I wondered. They lacked patience and were always quick to judge. They had an incurable scorn for older women, forgetting that they would also be in the same state in a matter of years. I was lost in thought, thinking of suitable women within my pack to whom I could assign the duty of taking care of my grandma. She deserved the best care anyone could offer, and I was not settling for less.
“Mr. Jason?” Elijah’s voice intruded on my thoughts,
“What is it, Elijah?”
“If you’ll follow me to Grandma Carter’s apartment, I have something to show you.” Elijah said.
“Is there a problem, Elijah?” Was there something he was hiding from me about the condition of my Grandma?
“It’s just something I believe will help us resolve the issue at hand.” Elijah said, and I conceded. We walked to his car, and he drove us towards my grandma’s apartment.
Jason:
Elijah and I returned to my grandma’s apartment, and he showed me the footage from the cameras around the house. I was dumbfounded and enraged as I witnessed the maltreatment Clarissa had endured. The guilt weighed heavily on me; she had been right, and I was blinded by the love I had for her, so much so that I could not get my mind off the fact that everyone else was wrong and my grandma was right.
“Clarissa doesn’t deserve this. I can’t believe my grandma treated her this way,” I said, trying to control my anger.
Elijah nodded. “I agree, Jason. This isn’t acceptable, and we need to make things right. Clarissa really needs this job to sustain her and her child.”
I can’t believe I had a woman and her child badly treated right under my nose. I felt so stupid, selfish, and arrogant. I needed to find Clarissa and apologize on behalf of my grandma and also for my misjudgment. Misjudgment. After the encounter, I made Elijah direct me to Clarissa’s house;; I was going to pay her a visit and apologize for all the wrong done against her.
Clarissa was a woman who had almost given her all to take care of my grandma, I thought of my actions, and the manner with which I dismissed her and I was disgusted by my own self.
Clarissa:
A few days later, I received an unexpected visit from Jason. I was still hurt by what had happened, but when he stood there looking genuinely sorry, something softened inside me. Maybe he was not as arrogant and self-centered as I had judged. Jason had brought a bouquet of sweet—smelling flowers that made me blush like a little girl, but that didn’t mean I was going to concede too easily.
“Clarissa, I’m so sorry for everything. I can’t excuse my grandma’s behavior, but I want to make things right. Please, would you consider coming back to take care of her?” Jason asked, remorse evident in his eyes.
I hesitated for a moment, remembering the pain I had experienced before. But there was something different about Jason now. He seemed sincere in his desire to change things. I was hurt, but I needed the money enough to give it a second try.
“I’ll come back, Jason, but only if you promise to keep your grandma in check. I won’t tolerate mistreatment again,” I said firmly, wanting to protect myself from any potential harm..
I needed the money, but it did not mean I was going to be trampled on, I was also a little relieved that Jason himself cane, I had been having a ha d time scouting for jobs and the way things were going, Cisca an I were bound to go hungry by the end of the month. I was going to go back, but I was also hoping to preserve my dignity as much as I could.
Jason:
“I promise, Clarissa. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that you’re treated with respect and dignity,” I assured her earnestly. “And to show you how serious I am, I’m increasing your pay to reflect your dedication and hard work.”
Clarissa’s eyes softened, and I could see a glimmer of hope flicker in them. “Thank you, Jason. I appreciate your willingness to change things.”
I was going to have a good talk with my Grandma when she was discharged and back home. I would not have her torment other people just for the fun of it; it was totally unacceptable.
Clarissa:
I could not help notice the sweet smell of vanilla on Jason or how beautiful he looked when he was not angry. His smile was like a stream, and I almost flowed in it, but I caught a hold on myself. As he walked out of our living room, his hands brushed slightly against mine, and by the goddess, I felt an incredible tingling and wildness. Something that wanted to drag him backwards and plant a kiss on his pretty lips.
I had to keep a check on myself; my hormones were in complete disarray. It must have been because of the loneliness I had suffered to live with for years—without the touch or caress of a mate, Nolle, we’re both cases of women in full bloom who had still not had a mate. My body still remembered Clyde’s passionate love making, only that it had been starved and did not mind getting it from anyone else.
Anyway, I could not make the stupid mistake of letting my body take the lead; my heart had been damaged, and it was impossible to forget the extent or the feel of the ache. I was not healed yet; I could not throw myself off another cliff. I had to think of my daughter and do what would not harm her future.
I was not a school girl anymore, I needed to think before I acted or everything would come crumbling on me.