Patrick just stared at them as if they were cracking jokes or they were acting comedy. What is the meaning of the statement they just made? How can they be his parents?
“I don’t understand those lines of words” Patrick stuttered, his face drained of anything that appeared like a smile. He glanced from Luna to Richard and to Luna again.
“He’d always carried this idea of his mother as someone with a questionable character, hence her identity was never unveiled to him. In fact his Foster father, Patrick Connor, who named him after himself, once said no one actually knows the identity of his mother.
Staring at Luna, he doesn’t know what to think. Then Richard, he’d always been an uncle to him. He’s Adrian’s dad, for heaven’s sake. When did his best friend’s dad become his father?
“It’s unfortunate that the three of us are getting to sit together as a family for the first time. It’s not your fault at all , Patrick. If there’s anyone to be blamed, that should be me.
I didn’t fight to the death to protect your mother. I didn’t offer my neck to the slaughter without giving a damn when I was told she doesn’t want to see me. I was complacent, I was ignorant and I turned my back on her too quickly.
I didn’t know there was “you” in our lives. As a matter of fact, I didn’t know about the existence of another son besides Adrian….”Richard explained.
“I’m not getting something straight here, uncle Richard. You are my father, biologically?” Patrick asked, fixing his gaze on him as if he didn’t hear him say it earlier.
He’d always known him as Adrian’s father and he knows how much he loves his son. How did the algorithm go, that he now wakes up one morning and realised that he’d become his father?
“Yes,” Richard replied. He is the father of a grown man. So pathetic of him. Every father realises they’ve father a son from the first day of the child’s life. But for him, after over two decades and a half, he’d just realised he fathered a son, a man-son.
“And you want me to believe and accept it, just because you said it?” Patrick asked, surprised. How are they even certain? He’d been willing to meet his parents someday but that doesn’t mean he would open his arms and accept them that way.
“We feel you should know and please believe us. But you have a right to get it confirmed with a DNA. We weren’t there for you all these years when you needed us. It may seem like you don’t need us anymore.
If you think that way, I won’t blame you at all. But think about Luna. Take a look at her. She’d yearn to see you again, hoping to hold you in her arms again, not as a baby but her son, a grown up.
And she started searching for you immediately she got her freedom. Don’t let her tears go unattended to, don’t let her yearning go unsatisfied. Please think about her only.
As for me, call me a pervert. I don’t deserve having a sensible son like you. I am not fortunate enough to have you as my son and I apologise for my failure.
Everything is my fault. We should have been together but I ruined it. Please forgive me. But think about Luna. Only when she becomes happy having you will a fragment of my guilt be taken away.
If you want DNA, I’ll be ready to have it with you at any time. But if you’re indeed Luna’s son, I don’t need a DNA to know you are mine” Richard stuttered, his words were apologetic, his tone was remorse filled.
Patrick found nothing to say. Words were choked in his throat. How did he come about being Richard’s son? Has Adrian always been his brother, is that the true bond that held them together?
“I’m sorry Luna. For everything you’ve been through because of me, because you loved me, I’m sorry. For being separated from your son, I’m sorry. If you can, please find a place in your heart to forgive me.
But I promise that I will ensure you get justice for all you’ve been through. That’s my promise to you” Richard stood up, uninterested in the lunch anymore.
“Your lunch is on me, have your fill” Richard concluded and excused himself. He got away, he knows he was an unworthy lover, how can he now transcends into a worthy father?
“Please, I’m your mother and you are my son. I’ve longed for a day like this for many years, a day I’ll see my son and tell him how much I loved him…” Luna just stuttered, pausing at intervals to clean the tears clouding her eyes.
“If I am your son, how did I end up being Richard Lester’s illegitimate son?” Patrick asked. He’d known Richard for years, through his son Adrian, but there hadn’t been any reason to doubt his faithfulness to his marital vows, how did he come about being his father.
“No, you were supposed to be the legitimate son. But it’s a story for another day, I just want us to be happy together henceforth” Luna pleaded.
There was a long quietness that followed. Patrick was lost in thought, the dishes were served but none of them seemed interested in the dish. They’re concerned with what the future holds for the both of them as relatives.
Everything seemed blank. Patrick felt there was more to meeting his parents than just words. Many things need to be put in order before there can be a full acceptance.
He needs time. He wants to be alone. He never envisaged it, that one day, he would wake up and find himself as Richard’s son. And this woman Luna, he knows next to nothing about him, yet she claimed to give him life.
“I can’t think straight now, Ms Luna. Give me time to absorb all you’ve said” Patrick requested. He needs time, he cannot absorb yet, his brain has not processed the reality that is before him.
“Alright son. I’ll wait. But please, don’t make me wait for too long..”Luna pleaded. She has waited for many years before meeting him. Waiting seemed like eternity to her. Just a day might appear like a year to her.
“I’ll try,” Patrick replied, his face expressionless. He couldn’t look at Luna’s face. Her teary face makes him feel pity for her. But then, he needs to take his time to ponder on what he’d heard.
As Richard left Luna and Patrick behind, his phone chirped, he glanced at it, it’s the same person who has been calling him tirelessly; Sam Kechi’s lawyer.
He decided to meet up with him. He knows what Sam Kechi wants, a compromise. Now he knows that his game is up, his secrets have been exposed.
He knows he was helping Luna. Sam Kechi is as old as himself and probably older, but he spent so many years deceiving Luna and collecting a large sum of money from Anna, the price for keeping Luna imprisoned.
They meet up but he didn’t expect that Sam Kechi’s lawyer would want to see him for a game of chess.
He placed the condition before him and asked him to “Take my offer and shut my lips or refuse it and let’s go down together!”