Chapter 47

Jason's eyes were red and it was evident he had been crying, Anna had her hand on his which showed she had been comforting him, her eyes were teary too, Samuel beckoned Veronica to come to him and he pulled her into his arms, no one knows how much she hate to talk about Jason's fate like him, that day she had lost a sister and a friend, so he understands very well.
"Did they really...died...the day...I was born?" Jason asked, veronica released herself from Samuel's hold and walked to him, she cupped his face in her hands and wiped his tears away with her thumps.
"I'm sorry, I never wanted to tell you this news because I know how it will affect you. I'm really sorry but I want you to know, it's not your fault and they don't blame you. Wherever they are now, I'm sure they are very happy and proud of you. They love you so much, I was there, I know how much they were expecting you, Eunice just can't stop talking of what to do when you arrive and Gerald said he will teach you how to play basketball. It was his favourite game, that was why when you showed interest in it, I had Sam let you learn it, they really love you and I'm sure they didn't mean to leave you alone.
They loved you so much honey, no one planned for this to happen, but you just can't tell nature what to do. They wanted the best for you, we all do. My parents didn't object in me adopting you, they all loved you and they were happy to be your grandparents, they loved your mother, I do too. You know your Nana Edna loves you don't you? And your grandpa Oscar, right?"
Jason nodded when he thought of his grandparents, not once did they make him feel adopted, if he hadn't been told, he will never have known with how they all treated him, but he just didn't know that his real parents died on his birthday and every year he celebrates his birthday happily when he should be mourning his parents "I know, I know they love me and I love them too but it's just that, my birthdays will never be the same anymore."
Veronica felt her heart missed a beat, this had been her fear, the reason she never wanted to tell him about them "you don't have to talk like that, they wouldn't want you to, they love you. They wouldn't want you sacrificing your birthday to mourn them, don't make them sad, okay?"
Jason sniffed and grabbed her hands that was cupping his face, slowly he lowered them from his face "I need some time alone" he turned and walked up the stairs to his room.
Veronica stared after him before looking at Samuel who was by her side already and placing his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, she looked at Anna who looked lost and smiled before walking closer to her "you know you shouldn't be thinking too much right?"
"I'm sorry I just...I just can't believe it. I thought he was just adopted from the orphanage home, I didn't know..."
"It's okay. It's nobody's fault."
"It is aunt Sharon's, if she hadn't blabbered her mouth and told a woman who just gave birth that her husband was dead, perhaps his mother would still be alive."
"There is no day she doesn't blame herself for that. And she is really sorry."
"Well sorry is not going to bring Eunice back, neither is it going to give Jason a mother."
"Hey, can't I be a mother to him?"
Anna was silent and looked at her mother "you are but, knowing, it will never be the same."
Veronica nodded in agreement "I know. That's why I'm going to try harder."
Anna nodded "I will go talk to him. He doesn't deserve to be alone now."
Veronica nodded and Anna walked up the stairs to Jason's room. By afternoon, the news was already everywhere, the reporters dug the news from twenty two years ago, and the orphanage home that Eunice ran away from me was also gotten. It was also revealed that Gerald also escaped from an orphanage home in Chicago and ran to Los Angeles so that he won't be found which means, neither he nor Eunice has a relative, it was a sad news to some who had wanted Jason to reconcile with his lost family.
Before evening, the house was full, every family member came to stay with Jason but he had been in his room since morning with Anna. They all stayed downstairs with Veronica and Samuel while waiting for Jason and Anna to come down. Another shocking news hit the headlines in the evening. Margaret Lawson, daughter of Simon Lawson was just revealed to not be his daughter but actually a daughter of his wife Anita Lawson and her ex lover, the source that exposed the news was unknown and it became the trending news with the next thirty minutes.
"A shocking news, Anita Marsha Lawson, a director in Legal Rights, just had a scandal released on her. Her nineteen year old daughter, Margaret Babe Lawson, was just revealed from an unknown but trustworthy source that she is the daughter of her one night stand with her ex lover.?
It is a shame and heartbreaking to know that Simon Lawson had just been taking care of his cheating wife's daughter with her ex.
Parents are left to wonder what kind of a woman she is, that she had to sleep with her ex and pin the daughter on her husband, satisfying two men at the same time, her case is really unexpected from such a graceful woman like her."
"My goodness, what is this?" Nana Edna switched off the television and looked at her daughter "isn't she your colleague? Why such news about her?"
"I don't know mom" Veronica said as her phone started ringing, she excused herself and walked into the kitchen before picking the call "what?"
"You promised not to tell" a woman's voice was heard from the other side.
"Oh, did I?"
"We are friends Veronica, how dare you do this to me?"
"Oh, so now you know we are friends? When you gave the press news about my family, did you remember we are friends? Or you think I don't know it was you?"
"I just wanted to teach you a lesson. I warned you about them but you didn't listen, I figured if you had that coming maybe you will start looking into your family" Anita said.
"Well, thank you. I have start looking into my family and I assure you everything is now under control but what about yours? Can you get it under control?"
"Veronica..."
"Don't, this is just a lesson to you. I accepted yours and I handled it well, let's see how well you will play your card, by my understanding of Simon, I'm sure he is asking for a divorce now."
"Since you know, why did you let this to be known? You told me you will keep it a secret."
"I told you I will when I thought you are my friend but since you can't wait to see the downfall of my family, I will like to see how you will save yours. Next time, don't mess with the Macaulay's" she hung up.
"So that's what you had up your sleeves" Jason stated behind her and she jumped before turning to see him leaning against the wall like he did in the morning.
"Is this a new habit for you, eavesdropping when I'm taking a call?"
Jason smiled and walked up to her, he hugged her and place his head on her shoulder "thank you, for being there for me, always. I can't thank you enough. I guess I'm the luckiest orphan on earth because I had you to take care of me. I'm sure I would have been sent to the orphanage like my parents if it wasn't for you, I will forever be grateful to you in my life" he released her from his hug and looked deep into her eyes "you are the best mom ever and I'm happy to be your son."
Veronica caressed his face with affection "and I'm happy I got the chance to be a mother to you."
"You will always be, always. I have a baby on the way now, you don't how happy I am you are going to be his grandmother."
"Talk about that" Veronica laughed "I'm I not too young to be a grandmother?"
Jason looked at her thoughtfully "hmm, I think you are. I don't want my baby thinking you are the mother when you are the grandmother."
Veronica slapped his chest "you are making it sound like I'm old."
Jason smiled "I have a request."
"What's that?"
"Do you...have her picture?"
Veronica smiled "of course, come, I will show you."
They both walked to the sitting room and passed everyone before walking up the stairs, Anna followed them because she already know of Jason's request. They went inside Veronica's room and she brought out an old box, she opened it and brought out two photos, one was of a blonde woman and the other of the blonde woman and a dark haired man, she showed the pictures to Jason and Anna and they both became dumbstruck, if you think Jason looked like Veronica, wait till you see his mom.
She had a shiny blonde hair like him, their smiles were identical, the same shape of face, the same nose, the same mouth, the only thing Jason took after his father was his crystal blues eyes which was shinning in the sun in the photo, just like how Jason's own shines when he is standing under the sun. The man and woman who was in the photo looked so happy and you can see the love for each other in their eyes. Jason caressed their faces in the photo and a sad smile spread on his lips, his eyes revealed a tinge of sorrow "it would have been amazing to know them."
Veronica and Anna both held a side of his shoulder and squeezed "they are happy for you wherever they are."
"I know" he nodded "because they know I'm in good hands" he smiled to them and they returned the smile.
They went back to the sitting room where everyone each shared their sympathy with Jason and also urged him to look at the bright side, before midnight, every where was covered in harmony and the talk in everybody's lips was about Jason's and Anna's wedding before the baby arrives.