CHAPTER 6: BYE NEW YORK

Jason's mind wouldn't leave little Mason, the words his father said stuck to him like glue.

He rolled around in his wheelchair, not trying to stress himself. He dug his childhood pictures out, comparing his face and Mason's face.

His mind suddenly wandered to Cara, how was she doing? Where was she? He desperately needed to make amends, his disturbed soul begged for it.

The last time her number went through, he felt like a second chance had been dished out to him on a platter of gold. Not until the line was disconnected and it never went through again. Ever since, he kept trying.

He cursed and blamed himself for what happened, only if he hadn't behaved the way he behaved. Maybe, just maybe, he might be united with his little kid.

 "What are you thinking about son," he had no idea when his father entered.

"You know…just thinking about my life," he shrugged, making his wheelchair face his father.

"Uhmmm son, we need to talk about who shot you. You've been changing the topic anytime I wanted to talk about it."

He looked at his old man. "I can't remember dad, I swear."

His burning hate for Nathan was enough to melt sand. He needed to be the one to kill Nathan, not his dad interfering into it, just him.

"There's something else we need to talk about," his dad focused his gaze on him.

"What's that?"

"You are getting married in a week."

He wheeled his chair around with a smirk on his, facing the window this time around .

"Joking old man?"

Not a single word came out from Jackson's mouth and he turned around facing him fully.

"Dad, you are joking, right?"

"No I'm not."

"See dad, I don't know what you are playing at but hope you know that I got married to Cara," his mind never went to realizing that it was a contract marriage and it has ended.

"Jason, don't fool me. You and I both clearly know that whatever you both clearly had for each other is over."

"Oh, I get it," his thoughts clicked. "Well not from my end, I'm still very much in love with her asides the contract marriage coming to an end. Can you take away my feelings for her?"

"Who cares son? It's been 3 fucking years anyone saw her last, 3 years. She might be dead for all we know or even hooked up with someone else," his voice slightly going up.

Jason felt disappointed about whatever his father was doing or saying. He wanted to question him if he truly saw Alexander as his friend or just a mere business partner.

For a moment, his father's words seemed to have some effect on him. With how he treated her, she might as well have settled down with someone else.

Cara was so fragile, she could be compared to an egg.

He sighed, refusing to let his father's words influence him. "Well for your information, I don't care and I'm not marrying anyone else except Cara. I'm going to find her and bring her back home."

"You will do my bidding young man," Jackson said between gritted teeth, suddenly towering over him.

"Else?" His father's attitude dissuaded him from telling him Cara was having his child, besides only he and one other person knew.

"I hate it when it comes to this," he rubbed his palm over his head. "You are a self made man and I know how much your company needs my help to flourish again ever since your unfortunate event. Marry who I want or else I withdraw every ounce of my help and also remove you as the beneficiary from my properties."

Jason's feet helped himself up gradually.

"Dad, please, don't do this," he begged. "I don't even know the lady you are pushing me into marriage with. What if she's here to harm me or you or both of us? Think about it well dad."

"I don't care, you will do what I asked you to do," Jackson stormed out, leaving Jason in a pool of his own thoughts.

*****

Cara helped her little boy clean up. She cleaned his teeth and wiped his body with a new towel and water and soap.

He stared at his mother and caressed her cheeks with his small soft hands.

"I'm so sorry for making mama cry. Little Mason will not do it again," he wore a sad look and his small voice registered itself deep inside Cara's head.

"It's okay my baby, mummy is not angry at you. Mummy is just happy that baby is now fine," she wore her biggest smile, trying to convince him and it worked.

"I love you so much mummy," he threw his tiny hands over her neck. "When are we going home?"

"Today baby, I've packed our bags."

"Yaaaay," he screamed happily.

"Not so fast, little Mason will have to eat first and voooooom," she gestured to a sign of the plane and made a car noise, making Mason giggle cutely.

She watched her little bundle of joy and was so glad to see him finally up and happy and strong, she wouldn't have known what to do if things didn't go the way she wanted.

She saw her son eat and her heart melted.

Everyday, after she missed the donor, she'd always say a prayer or two for him anytime she prayed.

She at first thought she was going to run into Jason or Jackson or her dad, Alexander or anyone who knew her status. She heaved a deep sigh and continued arranging their loads. Her son was eager to go home, so was she. The city was no longer her thing.

Jason walked into the hospital, talking on phone with his best friend, a brother and also a business partner, Evans.

He had always wanted to come see the little boy ever since he donated his blood but he felt so reluctant to leave the house. The little stunt his father played gave him the boost he needed.

"Can you believe what dad is saying? I should marry a stranger, he's not even giving me a good reason," he lamented to Evans.

"That's really crazy," he replied.

"I tell you man. I have no idea on what to do," he peeped through the transparent window and saw Mason's room empty. 

"Let me call you back," he dropped the call before Evans could answer.

He rushed into the doctor's office and helped himself to a seat even before the doctor could offer him one.

"Mr Jason, what an impromptu visit," the doctor alarmed at his state.

"Pardon my rude manners, doctor but what about the little boy? I saw it's empty."

"Oh yeah, he and his mother checked out today. Not quite long, I'm sure they will be on their way to the airport if they are not there already."

"Oh," he said in a low tone, all his pent up energy drained. "Thank you so much," he said and excused himself, feeling dejected.

The connection he felt towards Mason was one he had never felt before and that was his one and only chance of saying hi to the boy and his mother. Who knows if they will ever meet again?