(NEXT MORNING: CLARK MANSION)
Ace Clark’s mouth dropped slightly when he stepped into his mom’s room. “Mom what’s wrong this time?” He asked his mom who was lying on the bed as she just finished receiving treatment. “I received a call from Mr Steve yesternight but I couldn’t make it down here because I had to a see through some business files that needed immediate attention. I didn’t know it’s this serious, Doctor is she okay?” He asked.
“Mrs Clark is fine, she is suffering from mild shock.” The doctor smiled at Ace, and just that gesture gave him the assurance that his mom was truly fine.
Ace forehead creased. “Shock? Shock of what?” He asked.
“I guess at this point I will have to leave you two to talk. But don’t worry she will be fine. She just needs enough rest to get better.” The doctor packed up his things to leave
“Alright, and thank you doctor.” Ace thanked him.
“I’ll go ahead now. Mrs Clark, take good care of yourself.” Mrs Clark managed to smile at the doctor as he exited the room.
Ace Clark moved to the other side of his bed to see his mom’s face but she turned to the other side of the bed. “Mom, what’s wrong mom? Did you have a fight with dad again?” He asked.
Mrs Clark didn’t give any response.
“Talk to me mom, you know I get worried whenever you are keeping things to yourself. So just tell me what really happened between you and dad.” Ace demanded in the calmest tone he could muster.
She sighed. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Mrs Clark muttered.
Ace Clark was confused. “Tell you what mom?” He asked.
Mrs Clark looked straight at him. “What you have been hiding… your son.” She said.
Ace Clark furrowed his eyebrows. “Mo… Mom.. how.. how did you find out about my son?” He stuttered.
“The news is everywhere!” Mrs Clark blurted out.
Ace eyes widened in sheer surprise. “What? What news?” About my son?” Ace blabbed. He hasn’t checked the news this morning.
Mrs Clark reached for her cellphone under the pillow and she showed him the headline news. Ace jaw dropped immediately as he saw pictures of him and Leroy’s at the movies, and at the restaurant where they went to get hamburger. Ace ought to be angry at whoever had taken the pictures but somehow he felt a relieved smile on his face. He didn’t have to hide anymore.
Mrs Clark frowned at the sudden change on her son’s facial expression. “Don’t try to look surprised, it’s like you wanted us to know but you didn’t know how to tell us about it.” She knew her son better than she ever knew herself.
“Well I won’t deny that I’m surprised about my so being in the news. But deep in my heart I know one way or the other you will find out but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.” Ace admitted.
Mrs Clark heaved a sigh of relief. “What’s his name?” She lisped after a minute of momentary pause.
“My son’s name is Leroy and he is 9.” Ace smiled.
“You look happy about this whole thing even though you know you are getting married soon. How long have you known about Leroy?” She demanded.
“Not very long -” Ace answered.
“How long is not very long?” Mrs Clark emphasized.
“I found out about him few days ago. Come on mom, I know you are upset that you got to know about him through the news. I am sorry.” Ace apologized.
“The moment you got to know about him, you should have told me I have a grandchild before I found out on the news. I couldn’t believe it at first and -”
Ace cut her off mid-sentence. “Mom it’s not like I knew he existed either. I haven’t been keeping him a secret for nine years. I only found out few days ago mom… and ever since.. I have been trying to wrap my head around the fact that I am a father.” He explained.
Mrs Clark was silent before she spoke again. “Have you forgotten you are getting married soon? Your dad is really mad at you right now and he is insisting that he doesn’t want to see you.” She said.
“I will talk him.” Ace sighed.
“So have you figured things out with the mother of your child? Is she someone you use to date? Do I know her?” Mrs Clark questioned frantically.
Ace itched the bridge of his mom. “Her name is Ivy.” He replied.
Mrs Clark furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. “Which Ivy?”
Ace held her hand in his large ones. “Ivy Rivera, the photographer you met few days ago.”
Mrs Clark’s eyes grew bigger at the revelation. “Oh my God! So… was it that day you found out too?!” She gasped out.
“Yes mom, but we never really dated when we met. It’s kind of complicated.” Ace nodded his head.
“How did you meet her? Where? And what’s your connection with her? Tell me everything my son.” Mrs Clark demanded.
“I met Ivy ten years ago when dad sent me to Winslow, Arizona.” Ace recounted everything that happened to his mom.
“So she is the reason why you changed for the better?” Mrs Clark asked.
Ace nodded in agreement. “Ivy played a huge part in it. I wanted to be a better man if I ever found her again. She has a place in my heart that no woman can ever fill.” He stated with admiration in his eyes.
No doubt about it, Ace Clark loves Ivy Rivera.
Mrs Clark sighed. “So have you figured out what you are going to do about this situation?” She asked.
Ace Clark frowned at his mom. “Leroy is not a situation, he is my son.” He ran his hands through his hair as he stood up from the bed.
“And how sure are you that he is your biological son?” Mrs Clark asked.
“Mom, you can tell by just looking at that boy. Leroy is my son, my blood runs through his veins.” Ace Clark asserted.
“Oh come on! because he looks like you doesn’t mean he is your son. I mean its happens like that too, he might look like you and he may not have you blood in him.” Mrs Clark countered.
“No mom… you don’t understand but all I know is that Leroy is my son and I am sure of it.” Ace replied.
“Have you done a DNA test to find out if he is truly your son?” Mrs Clark asked with a scrunched up face.
“There is no need to run any test on that boy. The thing is -” Ace pursed to say his next words in the right way. He had left out the important detail of the night he spent with Ivy.
“Mom, Leroy is my son.” He breathed out.
“You can’t be so sure. That boy can be anyone child.” Mrs Clark interjected.
“I was Ivy’s first.” Ace blurted out.
Mrs Ace frowned.
“She hasn’t been with any man when we got intimate so I hope you get my point now. Leroy cannot be for anyone else but me. And what I am trying to do is getting to know my son. I want to be with him.” Ace said with a serious face.
“But what about your plans with Camilla? Your wedding? You can’t give that up.” Mrs Clark mumbled.
Ace ran his hands in his hair. “About Camilla.. the truth is I don’t love her. I never loved her even though I tried to love her but I couldn’t. All these years it has been Ivy on my mind. I was only playing the good son because I know how much you and dad love Camilla.” He said sincerely.
“Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you tell me you were in love with someone else? You could have just explained things to me. Ace, I will never force to get married a woman you don’t love. Sincerely, I didn’t know.. I thought you loved Camilla.” Mrs Clark has a sour expression on her face.
“I was scared mom. I was scared of what dad would to me and you again. I was worried of how bad you and dad would feel because of my decision of not marrying Camilla.” Ace let out a shaky breathe.
It hasn’t been easy for him pretending to love Camilla. He had tried to make his dad understand that he didn’t want the marriage when he got back from Winslow but it didn’t help solve anything. It was as if there was no way out of this marriage. But the moment he found his son and Ivy again, Ace knew he had to be the to break free. And of course it wouldn’t happen without him taking a step, and the first step was calling off the wedding before he moves on to his next plan. In all, Ace was prepared for the worst things to come.
“Now what are you still going to do? Ace, you know I have always supported you in everything. If you had explained things to me I wouldn’t have agreed to you marrying someone you don’t love. I will never force you to spend the rest of your life with someone you don’t love. I thought you loved her that’s why I agreed to your marriage.” This time Mrs Clark had tears streaming down her wriggled face. “I am.. so sorry son.. I feel like a bad mother to you for not knowing my son’s feelings. I should have known you didn’t want this marriage the moment you tried to dodge the wedding plans with works.”‘ She sobbed.
Ace Clark went to his mom. “Don’t be too emotional mom, it’s okay. You are not a bad mother to me. You are the best!” He embraced her.
“Forgive me.. son.. you must have suffered a lot during these past years trying to keep up with our decisions. We never gave you the chance to make your own decisions.” Mrs Clark apologized.
“It’s alright.” Ace mumbled as mrs Clark pulled away from the embrace.
“Your grandson is really handsome and smart just like his dad. He asked about you and I told him a lot of things. I am sure he can’t wait to see you.” Ace said just to put a smile on his mom’s face.
She smiled happily. “I have been anxious about him since I read the news.” Mrs Clark sniffed and wiped her tears. “So what’s next? Ace, what do you plan to do about your wedding?” She asked with a worried look on her face.
“The last time I spoke to dad, I mentioned calling off the wedding. So I am doing it for real this time. I am going to call off my wedding to Camilla.” Ace Clark asserted with a determined look on his face.
A terrified look crossed Mrs Clark’s face. “You know how mad your dad will get if you tell him that. Let’s do it like this.. you won’t show up on your wedding. You can go somewhere far with Ivy and Leroy.” Mrs Clark suggested.
Ace laughed. “That makes me a coward. I will talk to dad and I hope that he will understand now that his grand child is involved.”
Mrs Clark shook her head in disapproval. “No.. no son, your dad won’t understand. He is a stubborn man who always gets what he wants.”
“I have a plan. I will talk to dad and apologize to Anderson.” Ace stood up from the bed. “I don’t mind paying the expenses they have spent on this wedding. But I can’t bare the thought of being away from my son and Ivy anymore. I want to be a good father to him and be there in everything he wants to do.”
Mrs Ace smiled. “You have my support son.”
Ace bent over and kissed her softly on the cheek. “Thank you mom.” He whispered before walking out of the room.