A Masquerade Affair

by Elin Magdelene

  “Since he is in recovery I will suggest at most two visitors at a time. So since Richard is coming along, I will suggest one more person.”

  Brenda turned to Vivi, “You can go Vivi. I’ll go with Ben.”

  “If you don’t mind, can I go alone this time? It will be my first time meeting him.” Richard told Vivi.

  Since receiving the information, it would be his first time seeing the son he did not know existed. He wasn’t quite sure how he would handle the encounter considering that he was still shaky after learning the fact.

  She didn’t want to make a fuss of it so Vivi nodded. It wasn’t fair of him to ask that but she would let him go alone.

  “This way,” Dr. Morris directed, glad to finally be alone with his cousin.

  “How bad is it, Larry?

  “The images we took don’t show trauma to the brain so he should be going home in about two days.”

  He didn’t want Richard being alarmed so he continued, “Don’t be alarmed by the bandage, it’s not as bad as it looks. We need to keep the wound clean so to prevent the bandage from coming off we had to run the bandage around the head. He might still be under sedation.”

  Richard nodded. They had reached the recovery room. He noticed that there were only four kids in the room but there were medical equipment almost everywhere.

  Dr. Morris led him to a bed near a window. Richard felt anxiety sweat forming on his forehead and the hair rising on his skin as he drew closer to the bed.

  He stared at the child lying asleep on the bed, head bandaged as Larry had said. The child appeared pale but looked restful.

  My son, he thought. He wasn’t surprised to see that Brian was the little boy he and his mother had seen. He couldn’t resist reaching for the child’s hand. It was folded into a fist but he covered it with his own. Was he trying to be brave? Is that why his hand was curled into a fist? He sighed when he realized that was what he had done as a kid.

  “You will be alright, son. Did you know that your doctor is also your uncle,” he choked on his words.

  What if anything happens to his son? What would he do? He was worried and frightened.

  He did not feel the tear rolled down his cheek until he saw the tear drop on his son’s cheek. He brushed it away and wiped his face. Then for the second time that day he prayed that Brian would be alright.

  “Don’t worry, son. When this is over, you will be coming home with me,” he whispered.

  “Umm…, I think I should bring the Elliots and Elvira in to see him also,” Dr. Morris suggested, hoping to distract Richard.

  As they left the recovery room, the doctor’s phone beeped. It was his aunt calling.

  “Is Richard okay? Because the last time I spoke with him he was on his way to see you and now he is not taking my call.”

  “He is here with me Aunt Abigail,” Larry told her passing the phone on to Richard.

  “I think Aunt Abigail deserves to know that she has a grandson. She needs to hear it from you so don’t make me be the one to tell her.”

  Richard nodded and took the phone, “Mom, you were right all along.”

  “About what,” his mother asked on the other line.

  “I have a son, mom. The kid we saw at the restaurant is mine. He’s here at the hospital.”

  It was bitter-sweet news. She was very glad to learn that she had a grandchild but worried that he was in the hospital.

  “How is he? Is he going to be alright?” she asked anxiously.

  “Larry said he should be able to leave here within couple of days.”

  His mother said to his father, “Al, we have a grandson who is in the hospital.”

  Then she said to Richard, “We will be flying over right now” and she hung up.

  Her husband nodded. They were on their way to the airport but Vegas would have to wait, being with their grandchild was more.

  Vivi sat quietly with the Elliots at one end of the waiting room while Richard stood on the other end, pacing the floor.

  He’d barely said two words to her since he came from seeing Brian in the recovery room. It seemed he couldn’t even bare to look at her. When he came out from seeing their son, she had gone to him as the Elliots went in to see Brian.

  “How is he doing,” she had asked.

  Without looking at her he had answered, “Holding on.” Then he had walked away to make a call.

  What was he thinking? What was he planning with respect to Brian? She wanted to go over to ask him but he seemed so cold, so withdrawn.

  He went to talk with the Elliots when they returned from visiting with the child.

  “I want to thank you for what you’ve done for my son. I am willing to compensate you for everything. But I must let you know that I am filing for custody.”

  Ben frowned at him and replied, “We don’t want your money, Mcgallan. Brian is our son and you will not take him away from us.”

  “I am his biological father and I will take over custody of him now.”

  “No, you won’t,” Vivi spoke up. “How cruel can you be? Are you even thinking about Brian? What do you think it’s going to do to him if you snatched him away from Ben and Brenda, the parents who have cared for him these years?”

  “Elvira, my son is my responsibility not someone else’s.”

  “We’ll see about that. Don’t forget I’m also his biological mother and I entrusted him to their care. They have been wonderful parents to him. For all your wealth and influence, you will not take him away from them―not if I can help it,” she responded.

  “See you in court, then,” he responded and went back to pacing at the other end of the room.

  The entire Mcgallan clan arrived in style at the hospital, complete with their team of security which added to the size of the group.

  “How is he, Richard? Where are his adopted parents?” his mom asked.

  “He is still in recovery but Larry said he will be moved to his room soon.”

  His family had all gathered around him and didn’t seem to have noticed the other visitors on the other end of the room.

  “His adopted parents are Ben and Brenda Elliot,” he said pointing to the couple.

  It was then that his family turned to see the couple. His mother was already reaching out to them.

  “Vivi, I did not see you when we entered. Brenda and Ben must be your friends, I take it?” she asked as she shook hands with the couple then reached out to give Vivi a warm hug.

  His sister also turned and walked over to Vivi, giving her a hug.

  “Yes, they are,” Vivi replied.

  “How are you holding on, son? Albert asked, sensing the tension emanating from his son.

  “It hasn’t been easy trying to process all the information coming at me at once. But I have to be strong for my son, dad.”

  His brother Terry who had also come along with the group stared at Vivi. He sensed something was off. Why was she on that end? Shouldn’t she be standing next to Richard?

  “Do they know who his biological mother is?” he asked.

  “Yes, she has been in contact with them. It was an open adoption.”

  “So where is she in all this, Richard?”

  “Right there, standing next to Megan.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Terry asked in astonishment as his eyes went to the only other woman standing next to his sister.

  “It’s her alright.”

  Terry could not keep the skepticism out of his voice when he asked, “Was she trying to blackmail you? Is that why she has been trying to come around?”

  “Judging by her reaction when she realized I was his dad, I’d say she didn’t know either. She seemed genuinely surprised to know I was his father.”

  “Okay, I’m confused. Why would she not know and why were you not told about the kid?”

  He briefly explained where he’d met Vivi and what had transpired before his family arrived.

  “I’m sure there is a very reasonable explanation for which Vivi gave
him up for adoption,” his father injected.

  “I still have to hear that, dad,” Richard responded still convinced that she had selfishly given up their kid for adoption.

  “I’ll be right back, son,” Albert told Richard as he walked over to the family on the other end of the room.

  Larry came out to talk to the group and saw the rest of the family. He eagerly greeted them, glad to see them all. He was as professional as he could be, making sure to talk to Brian’s adopted parents but also including the rest of the family as he updated them on the child’s status.

  When Larry finished talking, Albert greeted the Elliot’s then he put his arm lightly on Vivi’s shoulders and spoke to his wife, “Abby, Vivi needs you.”

  It was a caring statement which reminded her of the many times she’d heard her father speak those words to her mother. As a child and until she left the security of her parents’ home, those words had reminded her that she could always count on her family during difficult times. She felt tears welled up in her eyes. She had been holding on well but she knew she had to get away before she gave in to the emotions overwhelming her.

  Abigail took one look at Vivi and said, “Larry, where is a room for privacy?”

  “This way,” he replied.

  Abigail held Vivi’s hand as they followed Larry. The doctor had barely closed the door when Vivi began to sob.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Abigail sat with Vivi soothing her with gentle words as the tears flowed. Vivi’s shoulders shook with sobs and she didn’t hold back the emotions she’d kept hidden for nine years. Gradually, the sobs became sniffles and she felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

  When she was sobbing, she did not hear Richard come into the room under the pretense of delivering coffee to them. Neither did she see the exchange between both mother and son as Abigail silently mouthed, “Thank you” to her son.

  Vivi accepted the tissue the older woman passed onto her. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose then she sighed, “Sorry, that was a beautiful top; you shouldn’t have let me ruin it.”

  “Don’t worry about it. My shoulders are available to you anytime if you need them to cry on.”

  Abigail motioned to the cup of coffee closest to Vivi, “You should drink that while it is still hot.”

  She reached for her own coffee also but watched as Vivi took a sip of the hot liquid. It was obvious that it was to her liking.

  Vivi realized someone had to have brought the coffee into the room and seen her in a vulnerable state. She hoped it was Megan because she didn’t want Richard to have seen her.

  “Richard brought them,” Abigail offered, sensing the question she wanted to ask.

  Vivi winced, “Did he see me… in tears.”

  His mother nodded, “Don’t take his bark seriously. He is concerned about you even though it may appear as if he isn’t. Besides, he is still recovering from the shock of the past hours so I’m sure he understands your reaction.

  She groaned, “He seems angry with me and I don’t get it because all the decisions I’ve made were made to ensure Brian’s wellbeing.”

  “Why do you think he’s angry with you?”

  “He seems to think I give up Brian to protect my parents and me from scorn by acquaintances.”

  “So is he right for thinking that?”

  “No, I kept Brian for three months. I couldn’t tell my parents because I’d failed them. I wanted to keep him but it was so financially difficult. I knew it would be selfish of me to keep him. I wanted what was best for him.”

  “I understand.”

  “How can you understand when you have never been in that situation before?”

  “Oh, I had similar experience when I had my son and we lost his dad.”

  Vivi raised her heard sharply, “Richard?”

  “Yes, Richard is Albert’s adopted son.”

  She knew Vivi was very interested so she continued, “Richard was a baby when we lost his dad. It was very difficult for a while. I met Albert on a bus when I was on my way to an adoption agency. I sat next to Albert and I was crying the entire bus ride. Albert was on his way to work. He was working at a grocery store then. He did not say a word to me on the bus but when I got off the bus he also got off. He stopped me and asked why I was so sad. Wanting someone to talk to I explained my problem. He said I didn’t need to give my baby up. He took us in and we were roommates for about a year before we started dating.”

  “That was very noble and generous of him.”

  “Yes, my Albert is a gentleman and our boys had a very good teacher.”

  “Richard wants to file for custody but I feel we need to think about Brian in all of this. I’m worried about how the decisions we make will affect him?”

  “I think Richard needs some time to process all of this then you can talk to him about doing what’s best for Brian. If you try to talk to him now you will only enhance his resolve to file for custody.”

  Vivi nodded realizing that Richard’s mom was right. She would give him time but if he carried out his threat, she would meet him in the court.

  Vivi had called Emmy when she arrived at the hospital; shortly before Dr. Morris called Richard. Emmy arrived at the surgical waiting room and was surprised to see the Mcgallan family fully present at the hospital. So Vivi has finally confided in Richard, she thought. She was glad to know that he was still around and hadn’t walked away from Vivi.

  She looked around the room. She saw a couple whom she did not recognize but Vivi was not in the room.

  Avoiding direct contact with Terry, she walked over to Richard who appeared to be agitated, “Richard where is Vivi? Is Brian going to be alright?”

  Richard brows furrowed, “You knew about Brian?”

  “Of course I know about Brian. Vivi told me about him couple of years ago.”

  Richard seemed more irritated by her response. Why did he seem mad that she knew about Brian? What was wrong with Vivi informing her about the little boy?

  She was there to provide moral support to Vivi so she did not asked the questions puzzling her, like why wasn’t he with Vivi anyway?

  Instead she asked, “Where is she, Richard?”

  He told her then walked away and began pacing the room again. Frowning at his strange behavior, she walked away to find Vivi. Perhaps he is finding it difficult to accept that she’d kept it a secret from him until now?

  Abigail had stepped away to an adjourning room to take a call when Emmy entered the room.

  She went over to Vivi and gave her a hug. She could see how worried Vivi was so she said to her, “Brian will be fine. I’m sure he has your strong will since he has your genes.”

  Vivi smiled. Neither of them was aware of the woman who had come out of the adjourning room and stood quietly watching them. She was glad that Emmy had come because it was the first smile she had seen on Vivi’s face since she’d arrived at the hospital.

  To cheer up Vivi even more Emmy said, “By the way I was surprised to see the Mcgallan clan camping out in the waiting room.”

  Vivi’s smile widened and she looked up to see Abigail standing in the doorway of the adjourning room. Abigail shook her head, signaling to Vivi that she should not disclose her presence.

  Vivi hesitated to comply. What if Emmy made another comment about Abigail’s family when she was earshot away?

  But before she could say something Emmy went on to ask, “And why does Richard seem so irritated, anyway? Is he mad at the jerk that happens to be Brian’s biological father or is he mad at you for not telling him until now?”

  “Emmy, there’s something you should know; something I just found out about an hour ago,” she said.

  “What is it?” Emmy asked.

  “Emmy, Richard is Brian’s biological dad.”

  Emmy was shocked but it explained Richard’s previous question and behavior, “You mean he is …”

  A voice from behind her replied, “The jerk who fathered Brian? Yes.”

>   Emmy turned around and came face to face with Abigail Mcgallan. She was overcome with embarrassment that Richard’s mom had heard her remark.

  Abigail walked over to her and hugged her, “You must be Emmy, I’ve heard a lot about you. It’s good to finally meet you.”

  Emmy was astonished by the hug especially since she had just referred to Abigail’s son as a jerk.

  “Hello, Mrs. Mcgallan. I’m afraid I haven’t heard much about you so hopefully what you’ve heard about me has not included an embarrassing moment like this one?

  Abigail chuckled, “Not really. I’ve heard only nice comments, here and there from Richard or Terry.”

  Emmy blushed at the mention of Terry’s name and replied, “Contrary to what you heard, Richard is not a jerk but I’d have to say this is an interesting turn of events in this masquerade.”

  “It definitely is and I will leave you two to talk about that while I go to check on my family.”

  She hugged Vivi and Emmy again, “I’m very glad to have met you, Emmy. Thanks for coming to be with Vivi.

  As Abigail was leaving the room, Terry walked in carrying a drink. She smiled and walked past him.

  Terry walked over to Emmy, “Do you want something to drink?”

  “Thanks but I don’t drink coffee,” she replied.

  “I know you don’t. That is why I brought cappuccino.”

  “Thanks,” she replied accepting the cup.

  “You are welcome,” he replied and left the room.

  When she sipped the cappuccino, she couldn’t help thinking that he had remembered not only that she didn’t drink coffee but also just how she liked her cappuccino. She stared at his retreating form as he gently closed the door behind him.

  “Men…” Vivi said, seeing the confusion all over Emmy’s face, “Why are we always attracted to the ones that could cause us the most heartaches?”

  “Because they make our hearts beat faster which makes us feel more alive.”

  Richard stood in the room looking down at his son. Brian had been moved from the recovery room but was still drifting in and out of sedation. He had not left the hospital since he learned he was the father of the child. Vivi had insisted that the Elliots go to get some rest and she had stayed but she had stepped out of the room briefly. His family had also gone but his mom had suggested that she and his dad would return so that Richard could get some rest also.