Chapter 60 CHAPTER 60: Mom 1
William
Relief washed over me like a tidal wave. Earlier that morning, I received a call from my dad telling me that my name had been cleared. I had rushed to my email. Lo nd behold, there was an apology email instructing me to return to work. The internal affairs investigation had finally cleared my name after three months, the sex tape had been taken off the internet and Emily’s accusations had been laid to rest.
Hazel and I had been happy even though our relationship had been a bit strained recently due to the case we were handling at hand between her best friend and Ethan, my baby boy.
I was glad to go back to work. I had been out of the office for too long and I missed the workload and the feeling of adding value and contributing something to society.
As I got out of the car, my PA, Ava, was waiting with smiles. She grabbed my briefcase and coat and followed me inside. As I stepped into the reception, I was greeted by congratulatory pats on the back and genuine smiles from the employees. I couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness and gratitude. I returned the smiles as I hurried into the private elevator leading to my office.
As we got off the elevator, Dad was waiting for me at the other side. Once he sighted us, a broad smile creeped up his face.
"Congratulations, son," he said, his voice gruff with emotion as he clasped my shoulder.
"You've been reinstated. The investigation is over."
"Thank you, Dad," I replied, my voice hoarse with emotion. "I couldn't have gotten through this without your support." I moved in for a hug.
Dad's smile widened, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift from my shoulders. But then, just as I was about to leave his office and bask in the newfound sense of freedom, he paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
"There's something else," he said, his tone serious. "I've arranged a little celebration for you. A surprise party, if you will."
My heart skipped a beat at his words, a mixture of excitement and trepidation swirling in my chest. A party? For me? I asked.
"Dad, I don't know," I began, but he cut me off with a wave of his hand.
"Nonsense," he said firmly. "You deserve this, William. We all do. Besides, I've already invited everyone. It's too late to back out now. Besides, I've got a surprise. The word hung in the air, heavy with unspoken meaning. A surprise for him? Or for me?
I furrowed my brows “Surprise?”
“Yes, and bring Hazel, if she is up to it." He added.
“Okay,
I'll ask her,” I said, masking my frown and concern. Since the DNA test, my relationship with Hazel has been on shaky ground. We were only showing a united front because of Ethan, who was innocent but caught up in our mess and, until things were straightened out, we would continue to live as strangers with a past. I jerked from my daydream and looked at my dad.
“I'll see you in the evening, dad. Let me catch up on one or two tasks”
Okay son, I’ll see you later”, he patted me on the back and went back into his office.
Later that evening, as I got home, Hazel was breastfeeding Ethan in the parlor. Everywhere was in disarray, and she looked like she had not been sleeping. The nanny we had hired to assist would be coming in the evening so she could get some sleep. As I contemplated whether to tell her about the party or not. She looked at me and frowned.
“What is going on in your head? You look like you are struggling to tell me something’. Trust Hazel to go straight to the point.
I smiled, trying to mask it. “It's not a big deal really.”
“Then spill it, Will,” she said impatiently.
“Dad is organizing a party to celebrate my reinstatement and asked me to invite you”
“Okay?”
She looked up at me and I could see the dark circles in her eyes.
“You've been through a lot, and I'm sure you could sit this one through if you could, even though he asked you to come. I had already told him that you may likely not be able to make it”, I said.
“Mum is already on her way to watch Ethan, so I think I could take a break for one hour and go with you” I said.
“I'll love that very much Hazel. Besides, dad said something about a surprise.”
"A surprise?" she echoed, furrowing her brows. "He didn't say what it was about?"
I shook my head. “Nope. He just said it was important and to bring you along.”
Hazel hesitated for a moment, then a slow smile, genuine this time, spread across her face. "Maybe he has an announcement to make" she suggested, her eyes sparkling. "You may be getting a stepmother." she said and chuckled.
I laughed “I’m too old to have a stepmother”. Whatever it is, I hope it's good news, "I said.
Hazel
The drive to William’s family house was filled with a comfortable silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic whir of the car and the occasional stolen glance. The nanny we were expecting finally came around, and we left Ethan in her care and that of my mother. I was not supposed to stay out longer than two hours, but the brief escape from my day-to-day chaos felt almost like a breath of fresh air.
I looked over at William sitting at the other side of the car dressed in a gray suit and his hair styled to the back. Then our eyes met, and he gave a half smile before burying his head in his phone. It has been tedious these last few days for all of us. I was sure William only kept me in the house because of the baby and his promise, but I had a plan, and soon he wouldn't have to worry about any of us.
Before I could fully indulge in my thoughts, we were driving into the compound. There were a few cars scattered all over and some guests standing in twos while some were making calls. As we stepped down from the vehicle, the front door swung open and Mr. Thorn, William’s father, stepped on the threshold. He wore a light brown suit, a nervous energy radiating from him as he tucked at his tie. Then he beamed at us before making his way to us, his smile too broad, too practiced.
"William, Hazel! There you are," he exclaimed, a false smile plastered on his face.
“Hey Dad”, William responded, while I only gave a smile.
He looked at me. “I’m so glad you could join us today” he said.
“Yes, thanks, but I won’t be staying for long because of Ethan” I responded.
“I see, let's head inside then” he urged as he began to walk in and we followed behind.
As we entered the large and sparsely furnished living room, a few people from William’s work whom I recognized were there talking in low tones while some made eye contact, smiled and nodded in greetings. The house was beautifully decorated, with twinkling lights and floral arrangements adorning every corner.
We were ushered into the dining room and the food was brought and served. It was an intimate dinner party as very few people were invited. A few new business-inclined people were introduced to William by his father and congratulations filled the air as people walked up to him and congratulated him on his reinstatement and also for the new addition to the family, Ethan.
After dinner, Mr. Thorn turned to William and me. “There is someone I would like you two to meet” he said.
“Another of your business partner's dad? I thought this was supposed to be a party for me”, William chuckled.
Mr. Thorn looked very uncomfortable, and I noticed immediately “Well, not really?” he replied as William turned to me with a frown.
“Wait for me in my study” Mr. Thorn said and stepped out of the room.
The surrounding chatter seemed to fade into the background as we approached Mr. Thorn’s study at the other side of the room.
“Is it just me or does my father look nervous”? William turned to me.
“Yes, he did look very nervous”, I replied.
“Hmm, I hope all is well” he said as he adjusted his tie and sat on the sofa.
“I'm sure it is not nothing to worry about,” I said, trying to reassure him. I had never been to this part of the house before, but as I looked around, a framed photograph on the mantelpiece caught my eye. It depicted a younger version of Mr. Thorn, holding a smiling toddler – William – with a woman with auburn hair wrapped around them in a tight embrace. Recognition jolted through me – this was William's mother. They had a striking resemblance. William, noticing my gaze, cleared his throat a little too loudly. "That's my mother," he said, his voice strained.
Then the door swung open and Mr. Thorn stepped in with a woman. But it wasn't just any woman. This woman, with her auburn hair streaked with silver and eyes holding a well of sadness, bore an uncanny resemblance to the woman in the photograph. It was like looking into a mirror reflecting the passage of time.
My breath hitched in my throat and I heard William gasping. I turned to him, and he looked like he had seen a ghost, then he shook his head as if trying to dislodge a thought. His brows furrowed; his jaw clenched tight. He looked like someone caught in a storm, his eyes flickering with a mix of emotions I couldn't decipher. This had to be William's mother, Mary. The woman he hadn't seen since he was a child.
Then Mr. Thorn cleared his throat and walked closer to William, who had stood up. He took his hand, but he flinched at his touch and backed away.
“William, I am sorry I had to do this today and so abruptly. This is your mother, Sarah” he introduced.
William, as if in a trance, asked “My mother? I don’t have a mother, dad” he said, as if that was a fact, and Mr. Thorn needed to understand.
Sarah flinched and gasped, holding her chest and looking like she was having a heart attack. Her eyes widened in what seemed like shock and a flicker of pain crossed her face before she forced a smile, a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"William," she rasped, her voice thick with emotion, a voice that echoed faintly in the recesses of William's memory.
The air crackled with unspoken words, as William’s gaze darted between Sarah and his father. A storm of emotions seemed to be brewing behind his eyes – confusion, anger, a flicker of longing? Then he looked over at me with pain and betrayal in his eyes. “Let’s get out of here” he said, and held my hand, then he stormed out, dragging me along with him.