Second

As soon as Robert left the room Linna faced her son, holding his chin. The little boy looked at her dying to ask who it was, but he didn't dare to do that because he was used to meeting his mother at work. Matthew loved getting to know the company, he was very keen to be there, and has even dared to call friends from school to visit the place where his mother works. Even though he was so small and without any knowledge about the adult world and its achievements, he knew that this was a huge accomplishment for her.

- What do you say we go to Grandma's house? Matthew jumped for joy, his grandparents spoil him and of course he loves going there. But in Linna's case, she only decided to go at the last minute because she needed to talk to her mother urgently. As her confidant, she was the one she ran to when she needed to talk.

- Come on, Mom. Let's go! - Matthew pulled her hand away, as she ran to get her purse and keys. She held her son's hand back, smiling; just his presence brought her enormous peace. From the moment she held him in her arms for the first time she knew she would give her life for him, it was an indescribable feeling. She didn't want to have children so soon, as most people don't either, but it happened and he was her greatest joy. The best thing that could have happened in such a tragic year.

Linna is fortunately the kind of mother who gives everything to her child, that is, who can give everything to her child. She does put limits to this, though. One of the things she totally forbade when Matt was three years old was candy, in fact she was never one to give him candy. And people in his family, especially, judge him a lot for that. Calling him the poor little guy for denying himself candy at his cousins birthday party, even though he knows he can eat it.

Fortunately, she taught him not to like sweets and to appreciate fruit sweets much more, decreasing the risk of diabetes and several other diseases. This just shows how cruel the world is, to judge your child for not eating sugar, when sugar brings absolutely nothing good to the body.

Mr. Lorent handed his boss the keys and waved to the happy boy, then Linna opened the car door, Matthew got in and put on his seatbelt. His mother never lets him ride in a car without a safety harness. Going to the driver's side Linna started the car and pulled off the highway. His parents' house was close to the company as well, but in a simpler neighborhood. Trees surrounded the streets of San Francisco and she loved this, it gave her a peace, the city air is even cooler, the climate that sometimes should be more tense is humid. Trees are the salvation of human beings.

It didn't take more than fifteen minutes to park in front of the orange two-story house. His mother was cleaning the garden and as soon as she spotted her grandson she opened the smaller gate. Matt didn't wait for his mother's orders, undid his belt and ran out to hug his grandmother, who smiled broadly. That child had come to brighten up the lives of the family that had been so destabilized for so long.

- How are you, dear? - He kissed her straight hair countless times, feeling the baby smell that his mother insisted on giving him.

- I just came from Mandarin Kurdish, I learned to say I love you today! - Great, that he hadn't told his mother. Linna laughed and crossed her arms slightly jealously.

- And we played catch!

- This looks like so much fun! - Matthew began to look around, Daise knew what it meant. - Her grandfather is in the office, he took the day to go over last months finances, we didn't know they were coming. - Before the grandmother finished speaking her grandson ran into the house. - How are you, daughter? You look tense. - She stroked Linna's shoulders.

- Robert showed up at the company. - She swallowed dryly. - And saw our son.

Daise froze, throwing aside the vase she was holding.

- What? - she stammered.

- I don't know. He came to the company to make me the same proposal our family made to him ten years ago, and obviously I said no and told him to go away. - She stammered.

- Daughter, right, I didn't expect that even in twenty years. However, given the circumstances, I think I should say that Matt is his son.

- What? Mom, do you think he would believe that? - She tried hard not to change her tone of voice. - He made up things he didn't know about me that day, humiliated me in the worst way, and you think he would believe that from the one time we had sex I got pregnant?

- Daughter, what I mean is that he has the right to know and if he doesn't believe me, tell him to do a DNA test. - Diana understood very well what her daughter was thinking, however as a grandmother she knew that such news could be difficult for the other family.

- Yes, but before that I won't put up with any more ignorance from this person. - she huffed. - He had the audacity to propose a partnership agreement and a marriage to me! A marriage after what he did! I almost told him to go fuck himself.

- That was not the education I gave you, Linna. -The daughter snorted once again at her mother's shameless statement.

- And this person deserves an education? Please, Mom.

- Look, why don't you show him that you are different? - She held both of Linna's hands and stroked the top of both hands with her thumb. - Treating him like this only shows that you are just like him. I saw how you suffered, how much it affected you. However, I think you should make an appointment with him and his parents, and tell them about your son. You don't have to live with him, or force sympathy. Just tell him that he has a son, his parents are grandparents. After that, if they want distance don't introduce Matt to them and live your life normally, but if they want to meet the boy, let them. They can put you in court for that!

- All right. You win. - She sighed deeply, feeling a great inner anger. The thought of seeing them again made her want to vomit. It had been so long without leaving the house because of the murmurs that circulated in San Francisco, because it was she herself who was blamed for being left at the altar. Even videos were circulated of all that humiliation. And now it was all going to come back to the surface. - I will only talk to my son after I talk to them. Matt was never one to ask about his father because I was always enough to play both roles and I taught him not to care about that.

- Do it daughter. - Daise pulled her into a hug, Linna laid her head on her mother's shoulder lower than her feeling like crying because she was in a situation out of her control. If she had read the name of who was going there, she wouldn't have even allowed him into the building. But only once she didn't check such a thing, that catastrophe happened.

- I don't want the past to come back again, Mom. It's too much for me.

- Look at me! Ten years ago you promised me that you would get us out of the chaos, that you would get the company back on its feet, and look at you today. You are an incredible, determined, intelligent woman. Incredible. Everyone wants you, either as a friend or as a companion. It is because you are hardheaded and reject most men. Give yourself a chance, maybe now is the time to go out more, enjoy yourself, and who knows, maybe you'll find someone.

- Mom, Grandpa gave me another book!

Matthew came running up with a book in hand, none of the three of them had ever known a child to enjoy reading so much. Linna took the book from her son, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. She had doubts whether the book would be ideal for her ten-year-old son, however Matt is too smart to read too many children's books.

- You'll love it, son. - He caught sight of his father. He looked beautiful, he and his mother had adopted gray hair, they looked beautiful. Conan had gotten rid of his beard, he looked much younger than usual, and by some miracle his wife liked it a lot.

- Dad, can I talk to you for a second? - Conan approached his daughter, hugging her by the shoulder and walking her to his office without even answering, as they crossed the large hallway, Linna entered the office all dressed up and her father closed the doors.

- You look tense. - Linna stood face to face with her father, arms crossed as those blue eyes stared back at her.

- I am. Robert showed up at the company today. - He sighed, rolling his eyes.

- What? What was this son of a bitch doing there?

- He came to do the same thing our family did ten years ago. But that's not the worst of it. - Conan began to pace from side to side, scratching his chin, feeling his nerves on edge.

- He saw my grandson. - he said, even before his daughter confirmed it. - This was not supposed to happen!

- I completely agree. If I had known it was him I would never have allowed him into the building. I talked to the mother, she said I should have a meeting with the Scully family to talk about Matt.

- Is Daise crazy to even consider this? - This was the reason for the conversation, Linna knew that her father would agree with you.

- That's what I asked myself. But she said they had a right to know and blah blah blah. She even said that they could sue me for the time away from Matt.

- And they can take away your custody! - Conan held his daughter by the shoulders and shook her. - We can't take any chances, daughter, if you think about it your mother is right. If they find out from someone else it will be much worse and you and my grandchild could be in danger!

- So I will have no choice but to be reunited with that family? -she asked in a disgusted whisper.

- It's the best thing to do. I know you can handle it, but the boy also needs to know that he has a father. He can't hide it forever.

- I always played the role of mother and father and there were never any projections. - Linna was upset, it was rare that her son asked about his father. All she said was that he was too busy and she never had time for him. But she also had an idea that it wasn't the best excuse.

- You are a great mother my child, I have never seen anyone who loved their child as much as you do, but there is no way to take the place of a father. Even if you did it all by yourself. Matthew may not question you, but to me and Daise he always asks, asks where his father truly is. Because he knows you will say the same old answer. - Linna let her shoulders tense as she bit her lips feeling sensitive. - I can imagine it's hard, because it's hard for all of us. But it's the best thing to do. If you want I can send them an e-mail, formal of course, with an appointment for a day and time.

- No. That's fine, I'll take care of it myself.

Linna gave up any objections, after all, what her father had said was quite serious. No matter how hard she tries, how much she teaches him and gives him the attention he deserves, she doesn't play the role a father used to play. Starting with the distinction between a son with his mother and a son with a father. Just imagining how Matthew could learn that his own mother knew the whole truth and didn't tell him, she feels totally hurt. Through her own fault. Her son seemed quite excited at his grandparents house so she ended up leaving him there, his mother loves to drop him off at school so it was no different.

She got back to her company around ten o'clock, going straight to her office and ignoring the nods of some people. He needed to resolve this matter quickly before he went completely mad. He threw his bag on the yellow couch and sat down in his chair, opening his notebook, which was saved with his personal e-mail. He tried to write it correctly several times until he realized that if he didn't do something about it, he would never send it. So he sent the same e-mail to both accounts after checking the form that Robert himself made when he requested the meeting.

Now it was just a matter of waiting for an answer and showing up on the day. And also put up with his anxiety until then.