Abandoned but Not Alone

by Theresa L. Henry

  Please set up a meeting for today, here at the house, if the others are free. I should be home by five so any time after six will be fine.

  As you can see, I have also enclosed my cell number as I would hate a repeat performance of yesterday. Call me when you get a moment.

  Jason

  P.S I had a wonderful dream about you last night; remind me to tell you all about it tonight – better yet I think I’ll show you.

  Seeing that it was already 9am Aviva got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Once dressed and breakfast eaten, she decided to give Jackson a call to set up the meeting. She also wanted to give them enough time to change any plans they may have already made if necessary. Aviva felt sure that if they already had commitments they would be willing to cancel them as Jackson had sounded keen to meet with Jason as soon as possible.

  Going into Jason’s office, Aviva sat down at his desk, and dialed Jackson’s number. Jackson answered after four rings and greeted Aviva, surprise evident in his voice.

  “Aviva, my dear, it’s good to hear from you, and so soon. I hope you have good news.”

  “I do have good news, Jason has agreed to a meeting, today if you are all available?”

  “We’ll make ourselves available, just tell me where and when and we will be there.” Jackson replied without hesitation.

  Giving Jackson the necessary details Aviva disconnected and immediately dialed Jason to fill him in on the arrangements. He was in a meeting when Aviva called and therefore kept the conversation short, assuring her he would be home in plenty of time. Aviva didn't miss the slight hesitation that came immediately before his assurance, he obviously still had doubts about the meeting, and although he tried, he couldn't quite hide them.

  ~~~~~~~~~~

  Jason actually arrived home at 6pm which just gave him enough time to offer Aviva a brief greeting before heading upstairs to freshen up. It had been a hard day of back-to-back meetings that Steve, who was still M.I.A., would usually have taken care of. Jason couldn’t really be called a people person so Steve normally took care of that end of the business. He preferred to work on his own, getting together with his financial team once a week. Should a matter arise that needed additional attention, his assistant would set up a video conference. He handled the finances while Steve, ever the diplomat was the face of the company. He was also a cutting edge architect who had won them success with his designs almost from the conception of their company.

  By the time he had showered and dressed it was 6:20, it was at this the realization hit him; he was once again about to face three strangers with whom he shared the same blood. Walking into the living room Aviva sat waiting for him. Jason went to the bar and poured himself a stiff drink, throwing it back in one gulp. Closing his eyes he allowed the warmth of the malt whiskey to burn a path down his throat and spread along his insides. Turning to Aviva he raised his glass to offer her a drink, she shook her head declining and watched as he poured himself another. This time he took only a sip.

  “How are you feeling about the meeting?” Aviva asked feeling the need to break the silence that enshrouded them as her apprehension rose at Jason’s introspection.

  Her question went unanswered, as the doorbell chimed. “It would seem it’s time to get this farce on the road.” The door was opened by an obviously shocked Drake who led Jason’s father and brothers into the room.

  Aviva was again struck by the family resemblance; they were definitely a handsome and extremely masculine group, their expressions speaking of fortitude and determination. Joshua, by far the best looking brother, had the same aura of strength fixed on his handsome face. Drake inquired if they needed anything else and not one of the men appeared to hear his inquiry so fixed were they on sizing each other up. All except Jackson had taken up a stance of folded arms and braced legs. Shaking her head Aviva indicated they needed nothing more. Aviva watched the men as they watched each other and would have laughed if so much were not at stake.

  Jackson approached her, his hand extended in greeting. “My dear Aviva, it’s a pleasure to see you again. They say youth is wasted on the young and by the display of my foolish sons, I agree; of course you my dear young lady wear your youth delightfully.” Placing a light kiss on the back of her hand he released his grip and stood back smiling.

  Aviva couldn’t have helped her reaction to save her life, she giggled, she actually giggled like a school girl, fluttered her hand and blushed. Jackson had it going on, and in that moment she understood with perfect clarity why some young women preferred older men.

  Hearing her girlish giggle, Jason turned, looking between Aviva and Jackson he nearly bit his tongue, was he for real, was he actually flirting with her? Refusing to see the humor in the situation, he gave the older man an incredulous look while pulling Aviva to his side, he would be having a talk with her later. Squirming from her display of girlish fluster, she ventured a quick glance at Jason which was met with narrow eyed disapproval. Joshua who had caught the whole byplay snorted and received a jab in his side from Jacob and hard looks from his father and Jason.

  Jason seated Aviva on the loveseat before inviting his guests to be seated, standing before the unoccupied section of the loveseat, ensuring he wouldn’t have to break any noses. When everyone was seated he offered drinks which were accepted. Aviva jumped up to fill the orders before Jason could move from this post as sentinel.

  With the drinks order met, she returned and settled in beside Jason who was twirling his glass, staring into its depth in deep contemplation. Slowly lifting his gaze he looked Jackson directly in the eyes and spoke to him for the first time since his arrival. “So – what’s the name of the bitch that gave birth to me, and why isn’t she here?”

  Taken aback by the venomous nature of the question the other occupants of the room tensed, eyes rapt on him.

  “What, did I just speak in a language that you all didn’t understand?” Jason spat, angry that they dared to look at him as though he had said something untoward.

  Jackson took a deep breath and answered. “Her name is Diana and we don’t know where she is at the moment. In actuality none of us have seen her for a number of years.

  “Why don’t you know the location of your children’s mother?” Jason asked confused by this new turn of events. Looking at each man in turn, he realized that they all wore the same stony expression of distaste, and the cause appeared to be Diana.

  Jackson settled back in his seat as though weary, and at that moment, reflected on his face was the look of a man who had endured much heartache during the course of his life. Jackson sighed and briefly closed his eyes as though in preparation to divulge a family secret.

  “I suppose the best way to approach this whole situation is to start at the beginning and you will begin to understand a little about the type of woman that is your mother: Diana is a very beautiful woman, we met in college. She was a freshman and I was in my last year completing my master’s in economics and it was kicking my butt, too much partying at the beginning of the year.” Jackson explained with a reticent look. Shrugging his shoulders he returned to his story.

  “All year I had been hearing about the beauty that was Diana Maloney, and when I finally met her, her beauty was everything I had been told and more. She seemed pleasant enough, but I didn’t pay too much attention as I had a girlfriend and we were happy together. What I failed to realize was that Diana knew far more about me than I could have ever imagined.

  One day I bumped into her while leaving the library, and I do mean literally, her books seemed to fly out of her hands and scatter all over the ground. Being a gentleman and seeing as it was my inattention that had caused the collision, I helped her to gather her books. Well at least at the time I thought I was the reason for the collision, I later came to realize that she had set me up. You see, by the latter stage of my course I had become a creature of habit. Needing to do some catching up on my studies I had taken to spending quite a lot of time in the library, but like clockwork
I would leave by nine, ensuring I was on time to meet my girlfriend when she got off work. Distracted, I didn’t give the incident another thought as I had somewhere else to be.

  It was only after I had seen Mary safely home that I realized my house keys were missing. I thought I had just misplaced them. I looked everywhere for those keys, retraced my steps, did everything I could think of, but they never showed up. Soon after that I began to notice certain items in my apartment and bedroom were out of place. In the first instance the moved items registered only with my subconscious, then one day I returned home and had the distinct impression that someone had been in my home. I got the locks changed that same day and upped the integrity of the apartment’s security.

  It was around this time that Mary broke things off with me. One day everything was fine and the next she refused to even acknowledge my existence. I learned later that it was Diana that had swiped my keys and had been going through my belongings; I guess it was during this time that she finally decided that I was the one she wanted and what Diana wants, Diana thinks she should have.

  As I said before, I was a creature of habit and Mary and I would spend our weekends at my place. Somehow Diana had found out that on one particular weekend I would be home late and she set it up so that Mary found her in my bed when she arrived. Diana made it appear as though I knew she was waiting for me and that it was our intention to meet up before Mary arrived. That was the last time Mary ever spoke to me. I remember at the time I tried to speak to her friends in an attempt to find out what I had done that would cause such a drastic reaction, but if they knew, they wouldn’t tell me.

  After the breakup Diana seemed to be everywhere, at the library, at parties, she always just seemed to be there, and I didn’t question it. It was quite close to the end of the academic year and she didn’t make any demands so we hooked up every now and then, nothing serious, just two consenting adults keeping each other company. I always used protection even when she insisted she was taking contraception. As far as I was concerned it was my responsibility to ensure no unwanted pregnancies. My future was already mapped out; my parents had died when I was very young, my grandfather was getting on and needed me to take up some of the slack in the family business. After my final exams I said my goodbyes, packed up and headed home.

  About a year later Diana turned up at my home with Jake in her arms. There was no doubt that he was mine as he looked exactly as I had when I was his age, he also had the Kingdom green-black eyes and dimples. My grandfather was furious, and after ripping into me and swearing no grandchild of his was going to be labeled a bastard, he insisted we marry.

  The marriage worked on a certain level for a short while, or maybe I should say we had an understanding. She more often than not ignored Jake and when she fell pregnant with Josh matters took a decided turn for the worst. I had to bribe her with jewelery, gifts and finally money just to ensure she didn’t somehow get rid of the baby.

  Jake was always a quiet baby; Josh on the other hand hated her right from the beginning and would start the most blood curdling screams if she came anywhere near him.” Jackson broke off his narrative and looked over at Josh smiling in remembrance. Josh returned his smile with a wink.

  The smile slowly left Jackson’s face as he resumed his story, “Before Josh was two years old Diana ran off with one of my competitors whom she had met on a shopping trip to Milan. When that didn’t work out she attempted to get me to take her back, I refused, so she sued for custody of the boys, and she won. It was one of the worst periods of my life. By this time our divorce had become final and she took my boys and moved them to Italy. She made it so difficult that I didn’t see them for three years. Then one day she just turned up at my office and offered the children to me for 10 million dollars and a share of the profits of the hotels on an annual basis, if I agreed she would relinquish all her rights to them. I agreed immediately, later that month I was made aware she had married a wealthy Italian banker. Thank God the paperwork had yet to be signed that would giver her a share of the annual income of the hotels, and because of her marriage they never were. Neither my sons or I have seen her since.

  You may be wondering how I know all the little details; I know all the things I have just told you because Diana took great pleasure informing me of every single one. That, Jason is your mother, and that’s why she isn’t here, why we have no knowledge of her location, but God help her when I find her!”

  The conclusion of Jackson’s story was met with silence, everyone lost in contemplation of all they had heard. At some time during the tale Aviva had taken hold of Jason’s hand and his arm now rested across her shoulder as though to give each other someone too lean on.

  Jason didn’t know what to say, nor could he fathom which of Diana’s actions disgusted him the most. Coming out of his reverie he removed his arm from around Aviva’s shoulder, leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees with clasped hands. “I take it you’ve started looking for her?” Jason asked Jackson, looking him straight in the eyes that were so like his own.

  Smiling Jackson drawled, “Now what do you think?” as they shared a sinister smile.

  Aviva observed each man as they sat in their respective pose of contemplation, Jackson the elder statesman, with his legs crossed, leaning back reposed, his back comfortably supported by the couch, hands folded on this knees. Josh the wise cracking devil-may-care younger brother, his arms splayed across the back of the couch as though he were an open book, his ankle resting across his knee. Jake in contrast sat alone, gripping the armrests of his solitary chair as though he were holding on for dear life, so tight was his hold his knuckles showed white at the strength of his grip. He too was a big man, taking up all the space the winged-back chair had to offer. Although he was leaning back with knees extended from corner to corner in what should have been relaxation, however, his death grip and set features denoted the polar opposite. Jake looked drawn as tight as a bow that was ready to snap with too much tension; his stare fixed on Jason – which Aviva could tell was getting to him. Jason retained the same forward position, having sensed Jake’s stare he was currently eyeballing him back, chin jutted forward as though awaiting a sudden movement from a tense Jake.

  Deciding to leave them to their own devices to check on dinner, she left the room in search of Drake. Passing the dining room she spotted the Drakes’ putting the finishing touches to the evening meal she had asked them to prepare. Assuring her that all was ready, Aviva withdrew to round up the men for dinner. By the time she got back, she saw that nothing had changed, they were all still sitting in silence, one relaxed, one reposed and two still glowering at each other. She didn’t want to know what, if anything had been said in her absence, from the look on their faces it would probably contain lots of bleeps. Plastering a parody of a smile on her face she breezed into the room announcing that dinner was ready. Not waiting to see if they followed, she turned and exited the room once again.

  It would seem that good manners had prevailed and they were all now seated around the dining table. Aviva looked around the table offering Josh and Jackson a small smile. Jason and Jake on the other hand she gave looks of warning that silently conveyed her message, ‘don’t start anything at this table – or else’. That accomplished, Aviva bowed her head, and if ever a meal needed to be blessed it was this one. “Please bow your heads.” Aviva said looking around the table; Jackson did so immediately while the others looked at her as though she had just grown another head. Aviva repeated her request through gritted teeth, enunciating each word clearly, “I said bow your heads.” Staring each man down until they complied with her wishes, that task accomplished, she also bent her head and closed her eyes. “Dear Lord, bless the food that has been so beautifully prepared, may it nourish our bodies.” Thinking she had completed the blessing the men began to move around. She didn’t bother to look up, continuing as though their movement hadn’t distracted her. “Lord, I also pray that you will bless all those gathered at this table, so they m
ay come to know the blessing you have bestowed upon them by bringing them together. Amen.”

  Silence – “I said amen!”

  Four hurried amens’ were quickly said from around the table. Her right temple began pounding, which only ever happened when she was extremely stressed and these men seemed to have the knack of stressing her to her limit. If they knew what was good for them, they had better make nice and not push her. She didn’t much care how big they were, she would take them down – hard. Giving them hard stares she smiled, “well what are you all waiting for, eat.” Picking up their napkins the men laid them across their laps and began passing around serving dishes making their selections in silence.

  Jake wasn’t hungry, hadn’t been since Jason’s discovery. He pushed his food around his plate lost in thought. By nature he was a protector, realizing this fact about himself long ago and accepting it. When Josh was born he remembered an almost overwhelming need to ensure he always knew where he was, that he was okay. It started with him sneaking into Josh’s room late at night to sit curled up in a chair he had pulled close to his cot so he would be on hand should his brother need him. His father had found him in this position on numerous occasions. No assurances of Josh’s well-being could convince Jake to leave him by himself. In the end his father had moved them in together to ensure Jake would stay in his bed.

  As they got older, Josh would tag along behind Jake at all times – he didn’t mind, in fact he preferred it that way; at least he knew his brother was safe. Now at thirty-four he had another brother, a twin brother, that had probably needed him and he had never known about him. Jake had bad feelings about the life Jason had led. Impatient, Josh had wanted to hire investigators to find out about Jason’s life. He and his father had refused to allow him to go forward with the idea. Their first meeting with Jason had been difficult enough, if he ever got an inkling they had instructed investigators to delve into his life, they may lose him before they even had a chance to get to know each other, and he did want to get to know this angry man that sat before him. He wanted to know every last detail about his life. Without realizing, Jake had started staring at Jason again. He was brought out of his reverie by Jason’s angry words and a fork pointing in his direction.