Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Crystal

I hated the fact that we didn't have more time together, but it was getting late and I needed to get back to Anya.

Showered and dressed again, I tried one last time. "Mayson, are you sure you don't want to see your mother tonight? I know how much she would love to see you." To see us together.

"Crystal, I don't want to take away from our day together," he said.

"Is that what you're worried about? That I will feel less special if you see her too?" I asked.

"No. I think you know better than that. It's just that...I'm not sure what's going to happen when I see her. I honestly don't even remember what she looks like," he said.

This made more sense. "Well even if you did, I'm sure she had changed a lot. First of all, her hair is a mix of white and gray. Even though she is still on the younger side, you can tell that her life wasn't easy, and that she isn't well. But she has not given up hope that one day you will come. You doing so is going to be so uplifting to her. It's what she needs."

Her being happy too is what I need as well.

"Okay. I'll go."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and said, "Thank you. I know you won't regret it."

"I am more worried that you will," he replied.

"I won't. I know that when you and I are together, we can get through anything. Not saying life will be perfect, but we will get through it."

"Together. I like that. Just promise me one thing," he said.

"Anything my love. What is it?"

"Promise me that you'll never leave me. Even if I do something stupid. Or disappoint you. Or make you angry. Please, don't just leave. Promise me that we will always fight for us."

This wasn't the man Mayson talking. It was the boy who grew up without his mother. He needed me to reassure him that there is someone who will always be there for him as he opens his heart to her once again. He wanted to see her, but he didn't trust her.

Thank you for trusting me.

" I promise, Mayson. I'll always fight for you. For us."

I gave him a quick kiss before we left to see his mother. Once I arrived, the nurse updated me on how Anya's day was, which sounded as though she had a bad one. I knew why. She hated Sunday's because I was gone all day, and she said the other nurses were totally incompetent. They weren't. She as just being difficult. If she had it her way, I would be there 24/7. But even though I loved her, I needed my space too. And today, I needed it more than ever.

"This place is huge. She lives here?" he asked.

"Yes. But she doesn't go upstairs any longer. She had a room on this floor now." I could tell him how she came to live in this place. That she was forced to marry that rich bastard of a husband who abused her for most of her life. But what he learned was going to come from Anya. I know she would eventually tell him. On her terms and when she was ready.

I took his hand in mine. His hand was trembling. Looking down at me he asked, "Why am I nervous?"

"Because you don't know what to expect. But just so you know, she has no idea what to expect from you either. Or that you're even here for that matter," I said. "Just go in with an open mind. No expectations. Just let things go as they do. And I will be right here with you if you want me too. And if you want your privacy, then you know our code word."

"Did we ever settle on a word?" he asked.

"I thought it was jetlag. Then again, maybe it was yawning and the word jetlag? Oh, I can't remember. Maybe we need a new one," I suggested.

"Maybe you just stay with me the entire time," he replied.

"And if you change your mind?" I asked.

"Then I will just ask for a few minutes alone with my mother. Very simple," he said. Then he lifted my hand to his lips. "Since you're a chatter box, I have a feeling that I'm not the only nervous one."

"You're right. I got you. You got me. Now let's do this," I said leading him to her room.

I knocked on the open door and popped my head inside. "Are you up for a little company?" I asked.

She smiled. "You know I am always glad to see you. Unless you're bring me medication, then you can come back later."

"I kind of am. But hopefully this one makes you feel better quickly."

Anya huffed. "More medicine. I don't need more. I need....well, it doesn't matter what I need, now does it."

I tugged Mayson's hand and together we stepped into the room. I watched Anya's eyes widen. She was too stunned to say anything. And then I knew I better get her oxygen ready. She was going to need it.

I let go of his hand and put the mask on Anya. All she could do was stare at him. I pulled the chair out and put it beside her bed where I usually sat. Then nodded for him to take it.

Once seated he said, "Hello, Mother. It's Mayson."

It was awkward, but I knew it would get easier. "I figured I'd bring back a sweet treat from my outing today. What do you think?" I asked her.

She looked at me, and then grabbed my hand and smiled. "Thank you, Crystal." Then she turned back to Mayson and said, "I have so much to tell you, but all I can think of now is telling you I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry."

Tears flowed down her cheeks. It was the first time she ever cried in front of me. And she had told me things that had me crying. This was evidence of what this moment meant to her.

Mayson reached out and held Anya's other hand. "I'm sorry too."

Anya looked at him puzzled. "You did nothing wrong. You were a child.:

"I haven't been a child for many years. But I never looked for you. I should've. "

"Mayson, I know you're not going to understand, but I'm glad you didn't," she said.

He pulled his hand away from her as though he was being rejected. That wasn't the case. She needed to tell him about his father. The cruelty she had experienced at his hands. If not, she might lose Mayson, and I don't know if even I can get him to return.

I was overstepping and sharing what I shouldn't. But I needed to do this for them. She could hate me later. And hopefully, like Mayson, she'd forgive me too.

"Anya, I think it's time to tell him the truth about why you left," I said. She shook her head. I pushed again. "If you don't, I know he is going to leave, and you might not ever have the chance to tell him again."

Mayson looked at me and then back at him mother. "I told you. I'm not child anymore. I want to know why you left. Why you never came back." He looked around the room and said, "It obviously wasn't because you couldn't afford the flight."

I knew Anya was stung by his sarcasm. She needed to ignore it like I was doing.

Please. For me. Tell him.

"I will tell you, but I don't want your grandmother to ever know. This...this would kill her," she said.

"Depends on what it is," he said.

"Trust me, just telling you now almost rips my heart in two. But I will do it, only because I'm afraid to lose you," she said.

"Do you want me to leave?" I asked.

The said in unison, "No!"

"Okay. I'll go and sit." I took a seat not as close to the bed as Mayson's. I wanted this to be a conversation that didn't include me. But I would remain for emotional support.

"You know the history of Tabiq. What happened to the women when they turn eighteen. Sold to the highest bidder by the corrupt government and police. I was a victim of that. But for many others it was a one-time ordeal and they man was through with them. Not that it was any better, because they were as innocent as I was." She closed her eyes for a second before continuing. "Some of the woman found themselves with a child. One that as conceive through violence."

"Orion," he said.

"Yes. But know that didn't make me love him any the less. He was precious. And I adored being a mother. Yes, there was a lot of shame involved, but I kept to myself and no but your grandparents."

"I've heard how it was. I'm a little younger than Orion, so I didn't grow up with all the same experiences. Actually, by the time I was eighteen, things had changed. Tabiq went through some sort of revolution or something because the human trafficking had stopped. The people in power seemed to have disappeared or were jailed. Maybe even killed. And the police were now prisoners. I'm not saying it all happened overnight, but within a few years, women could walk the streets without living in fear."

It wasn't any easier hearing it from Mayson's side than from Anya's. That poor country.

" Orion's father came back each year. He insisted on...seeing me. I'd be brought to him, and only let go once he left. That went on for almost ten years."

I could see Mayson doing the math. "You mean, Orion and I share the same father?" She nodded. "That bastard. I'd love to get my hands on him," he snarled.

"He's dead. Four years now," Anya replied.

"You mean you were still in contact with him?" Mayson said, shocked.

"I guess I should back up a bit before I answer that. Yes, you share the same father. And I needed to hide two children instead of just one. But after your birth, he stared to come to Tabiq more frequently, and...and I don't need to go into details, but you can imagine what that meant for me. Mentally and physically, it was taking a toll on me. I couldn't bring myself out of the deep depression I was in. I thought about taking my life so the pain would end. But I couldn't do it. I had the two of you to think about. But I also knew that if he learned of your existence, he would take his anger out on the two of you. I couldn't let that happen."

"So, you ran away and left us?" he asked.

"Run? No. He took me with him back to the States. I was forced to marry him and live in this house. The only time I saw others was when they came to clean, cook or for a social event that he was hosting and needed me to dress the part of a loving wife. I was anything but that. The abuse that started in Tabiq continued until the day he died. And this so-called mansion was my prison. If I tried to leave, he would've killed me. If he learned of you, he'd have killed you. All I could do was...try to exist long enough for the day when I was free," she said, her voice shaking.

"Do you need your oxygen?" I asked.

She shook her head. "It doesn't make what happened to any less painful but know that I never would've left you if I felt as though I had a choice. I choose to protect you both," she said.

And offer herself to a life of hell to keep them safe.

I knew it wasn't hot in here, but a bead of sweat rolled down the side of Mayson's face. He was boiling with anger. Couldn't blame him. He just learned that his father was a rapist and a woman beater. But he also knew that his mother loved him and his brother.

"I wish I knew this before he died. I would've loved to meet him," Mayson said.

"Why?" Anya asked.

"So, I could see the look of fear in his eyes as I made him pay for everything, he had done to you," he growled.

"I am glad you didn't. What I wanted for my children was a better life than I had. One without fear and abuse. And from what you said, you were spared it. I didn't want you to grow up violent. And I knew your grandparents would bring you up as they did me. Loving and kind. And from what Crystal has told me about you, that is exactly who my boys are. For that alone, I would've walked through hot coals each day," she said.

Mayson let go of her hand, got up and leaned over hugging his mother.

"I love you, Mother."

"I love you too, Mayson," she replied as I watched tears roll down both of their faces.

I put my hand up and held onto that heart pendant. Mayson was definitely someone who was capable of 24-karat kind of love, and not just with me.

I hadn't even noticed until the tears fell onto my hands that I was crying along with them. This day was one that I would never forget. The universe was working over-time and mended a lot of wounds. Now it was up to us to all move forward, as a family.

Thank you, universe for fixing all our mistakes.