*Andrea*
I placed my hand on my chest as I walked past him.
How did he know about the necklace? I looked behind me and then pulled out the necklace from my shirt.
Maybe I should have thrown it away that day. He would not have seen it if I had thrown it away.
I resumed walking.
I excused myself before the end of the event. I went to Austin’s school to pick him up personally.
When we got home, Alison was behind her laptop, her hair tied in a messy bum and held with a pen.
“I didn’t think you’d be here,” I told her. She had said she had somewhere to be, which was why I had to pick Austin myself.
“I didn’t go.” Austin hugged her.
“There’s lunch in your room,” Alison said as Austin leaped to his room. He didn’t allow anyone to help him take off his school clothes. In his words, he was a big boy, and he could take care of himself.
After he left, I threw my bag on the couch.
“I’ve seen the news; your design is amazing; who would have known you have this talent?’ Alison asked. “I’m so happy; you’ll get higher before you know it. You already have fans. I’m super proud of you,” she stood.
“You know what? This calls for a celebration. I’ll call Dave to take Austin out, and we’ll have some fun tonight; what do you say?’ she asked
I just nodded.
Noticing that I was not as enthusiastic as she had expected, she turned to me and said, “What’s wrong? You did so well; you should be happy.” I sighed at her words.
“I’m happy.” I took in a scent of breath.
She raised a brow, “then what’s wrong?” She inquired. How do I put it in words for her?
Another sigh.
I brought out the necklace, “he saw the necklace.” She squinted her eyes, walking to take a closer look.
Her face contours in surprise.
“This, I thought I…”
“Yes, you did. I found it in your room while I was arranging it,” I said.
She sat on the sofa close to me.
“Since when did you begin wearing it? I’ve never seen it on you.” She spoke softly.
“I’ve been wearing it for a while. I don’t know why. It just reminded me of him and of the time we spent together. I guess I didn’t want to forget about those wonderful times.” My voice grew calm with each word, but my heart was on fire.
I was trying hard to stop myself from crying.
“I swear I always kept it tucked in. No one has seen it, so I don’t even know how he saw it.”
“Was he at the event?” She asked.
“Yes. We’re partnering with his company.” I replied. I don’t think I’ve ever given her that information, and if I have, she must have probably forgotten about it since she asked again.
“I wonder how he found out.” She said, leaning her head to the side in thought.
“I had to play the fool when he asked me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to play the fool if he asks again.”
“Even if you still have the necklace, it’s none of his business. I don’t see him as the type of man who would want to take all the gifts he gave to his woman back.” Alison placed one hand on mine, trying to comfort me.
“You know how he is. I’m afraid he will try to get back into my life through this.” I had not told her about the night I had gone to see him. I didn’t think she would want to know.
“So what are you going to do? I suggest you throw the necklace away and replace it with a similar one.” Alison advised.
I didn’t respond to this. I was reluctant to throw this away; it would mean throwing away all our memories together.
I wasn’t prepared for that.
Seeing that I was hesitant, she went ahead to try and convince me, “Now that he has found the necklace, what if he finds out Austin is his son? You have to get rid of the necklace ’cause…”
The door was pushed open immediately. I turned to see who would do such a thing, and my entire body stiffened when I saw his face. I must have left the door open.
“Austin is my son?” His eyes demanded an explanation, but I was too stunned to speak.
Alison stood, covering her mouth with her hands.
“What do you mean Austin is my son? Tell me Andrea, what is she talking about?” He enquired. I just stared at him; my body trembled as he stared at me, judging me with his eyes.
“Start speaking, Andrea. Whose son is Austin? Why are you not speaking?” His eyes almost began to water.
What was he here for? Why did he come?
“You must have misheard.” Alison nodded, supporting my words.
“I know what I heard,” he said. His eyes stopped on my neck. I had the necklace on.
“And I knew I wasn’t wrong about the necklace too. You still have it. I wasn’t wrong.” His voice almost broke.
“Momma, what’s going on?” Austin walked into the sitting room at the worst moment. When his eyes landed on Alejandro, he stepped forward and stood in front of him.
Excitement glistened in his eyes as he stared at Alejandro. “Did you come looking for me?” he asked, and I wondered why he would think that.
“Well, I…” Alejandro struggled, probably looking for the right words to say.
Austin turned to me, “Mom, this is my friend. Isn’t he nice?”
Ignoring him, I said to Alejandro, “Please leave.”
“Leave this instant,” I commanded, not minding the fact that Austin was there.
“Momma, he is a friend.” Alejandro tried to touch his face. That was when I stood.
I pulled Austin away.
“Go to your room, Austin. You have no business here.” I yelled.
“Be a good boy and Listen to your mother; I promise I will see you again,” Alejandro said.
Austin put his head down disappointingly and left right away.
“Now, you better start explaining. I am not leaving until you clarify what I heard.”
“Fine. Austin is not your son. Are you satisfied now?” I paused, “Or wait, you still need something.” I pulled the necklace out of my neck forcefully. “Here, take this and get out. I don’t want to see you.” My voice broke as I said the tears I had been trying to hold on spilling across my cheeks.
“Fine, since you insist he is not my son in contradiction to what I had heard, I demand a DNA test. We can get it done in hours.” He said.
My mind heaved up and down at this statement.
I can’t allow that.
I can’t lose Austin; I’d rather lose my life.
Alejandro has a wife and a son. He has wealth, power, and connection. If he finds out Austin is his son, he would want to keep him, and I can’t stand a chance against him.
I dropped down on the floor, “Can’t you just leave? Can’t you just go away? Why are you doing this to me? Do you want to take away my only reason for living?” I asked various questions all at once.
“I am not taking anyone away from you. If he is my son, I have the right to know. I have the right to be aware of whatever is happening in his life. You can’t deprive the boy of his fatherly love. You can’t keep us away from each other.” Alejandro said.
I hated to admit how right he was.
I was aware of how selfish my intentions were. I knew it was selfish to keep them away from each other, but that was all I could do.
Alejandro offered me his hand, “Let’s talk about it. No one is taking anyone away from you.” He said.
I placed my hands on his.
Fine.
Maybe I can’t run away from this forever. I have been lucky until now, but I had always known I’d have to face the truth one day.
He helped me get on my feet. He was about to lead me to the couch, but I stopped him.
“Let’s go somewhere else to discuss this. We can’t talk about it here.” I was afraid Austin would listen.
I was scared he would hate me if he found out I had kept him away from his father and had made him an object of ridicule in school. They had called him fatherless when he had a dad.
Alejandro agreed, and together, we stepped out of the house.
He led me to his car and opened the door. He was still a gentleman.
“I don’t want a public place,” I said as he drove into the busy streets.
He took a few turns, and I don’t know how long it was.
I had my face thrown to the side, and my tears weren’t stopping.
It was the most awful ride I have ever had with him.
The car pulled up in front of the penthouse I had visited a few weeks ago.
He opened the door and began walking over. But I opened the door and stepped out before he could.
He entwined his hand on my, his warmth spreading through me like wildfire. He led me into the penthouse.
When we got to the same study, he closed the door.
He placed his hand on his tie and tugged on it.
“It’s secluded enough, right?” He asked, and I nodded.
His table was flooded with various files. There may not be any sign here but I was sure he has been spending some nights here.
“Is Austin my son?” He asked.
I closed my eyes, allowing new drops of hot tears to roll down my cheeks. I nodded, “Yes. Austin is your son. He is your blood.” I said.
His face contours into a cocktail of emotions, ‘pain, happiness, grief, anger and then to disappointment.”
“How is that possible? I didn’t… we didn’t,” he shook his head, “no, you weren’t…” Then he paused and slanted his head. His eyes widened as the realization hit him.
“You were pregnant?” He asked, and I nodded.
He passed his hand over his hair, “When we broke up, you…” a choked on his word, “you were carrying my son?” He asked, his eyes red, tears filled them to their brim, and I could tell he was stopping himself from crying.
“Yes,” I affirmed what he said.
“And you didn’t think it was necessary to tell me?” He asked. This almost made me laugh.
“You didn’t think I’d want to know you were pregnant? How could you do this to me and Austin? How could you keep him out of my life?” His tone was accusatory.
“I wanted to tell you. I went to you, but what did you do? You didn’t even want to see me. You said…” I closed my eyes as the bitter memory spread across my mind.
He had said he was glad I wasn’t pregnant, and if I had, it would be better to abort the baby.
“You didn’t care; you didn’t even want to see me; I was left with no other choice.”
“I didn’t know.” He placed one hand over his face, bent down, and stood. He was trying hard not to break, “If I had known. I had even the slightest idea, I would not have allowed you out of my life. I would have fought for us. I would have stood up for us,” maybe he would have.
“But you didn’t, that’s the truth. You could have, but you did not.” It broke my heart that I had to do this, but it was the only thing I could do.
It was hard for me, too.
“I want to be in Austin’s life.”
“Then you have to promise you won’t take him away,” he raised his hand immediately, “I promise. Just let me be part of his life.”