A SECOND CHANCE TO YOUR HEART - CHAPTER 49&50

[ Unity ]

“He’s my dad?”Jesse asked slowly. No one said a thing, father and son stared at each other while mother took turns in staring at them.

“Why did you take this long to show up?”Jesse asked again slowly, his eyes already filled with tears which thr_@tened to fall.

“I’m sorry is all I could say”Jeffrey said, finally taking a step forward but stopped few metres away.

“We met more than twice but you still didn’t tell me”Jesse said, finally letting the tears fall.

“I was stupid, dad was and he’s sorry for everything”he muttered, squatting to reach his level.

“You’re too slow, I need a hug right now, you should have noticed”Jesse said, closing his eyes instantly, more tears fell and a smile appeared on Jeffrey’s face as he slowly took him in a tight embrace. His eyes also closed on their own will as Jesse’s hands encircled him with affection.

Same Jesse who Joelle said doesn’t want to meet his dad but right now, he’s more than wanting to meet him. Maybe he was just hiding his emotions and trying to please everyone with being happy. Though who wouldn’t wanna know who their dad is even if he’s that bad. Curiosity is real.

It took close to five minutes before Jesse broke the hug. He stared deeply into his eyes.

“What’s your best colour?”he asked.

“Green, why?”Jeffrey replied.

“Mine is yellow, you’ve got to change it”he said.

“Noted, any other thing?”Jeffrey asked, trying not to smile since he isn’t smiling. Him thinking he’d get angry once he sees him and walk away but here he is, acting all different. But he likes it.

“You love reading novels?”he asked and Jeffrey contemplated on answering. Maybe if he says the truth and it becomes what he’s against.

“A lot”

“I do also, one more question”he said and Jeffrey nodded.

“Winter or summer?”he asked. How smart is he? Jeffrey thought.

“Winter”Jeffrey said and a smile appeared on Jesse’s face. “You passed the first test, you should get up, your legs must hurt”he said and Jeffrey finally let his smile out as he stood. All along, Joelle watched them with keen interest. Glad it wasn’t as she thought.

“Mom!”Jesse called, bringing her to reality.

“I’m speechless”she muttered with a little smile.

“Do you accept father?”he asked and she blinked thrice. Okay, that’s too much for him to ask. He’s just eight and not twelve. Her eyes trailed to Jeffrey, he’s also staring at her.

“I won’t accept him if you don’t”Jesse spoke again and she sighed.

“Why don’t we eat and talk later”she said, trying to skip the question to seems like Jesse is adamant on knowing her reply.

“I know you wanna dodge it but I want to know your reply first, do you still want Dad?”he asked.

“I don’t know”she said, her gaze moved to his face.

“Then he should leave, I want you to be happy”he said and moved away from Jeffrey to stand next to her with a bright smile. Her gaze moved to Jeffrey then to Jesse.

Jeffrey is indeed smart but not this way, she’s not near to his smartness neither her father. Remembering her mom, she smiled but waved it off, her mom surely wasn’t that smart. Maybe he got it from Granny even if they aren’t family by blood. She chuckled at her own thoughts before facing Jesse.

“Why don’t we give him a second chance, you know everyone should be giving that”she smiled.

“Thanks mom”he pecked her check since she bent a little then he walked to Jeffrey. “We have a lot to talk about but would you spend the remaining holiday with me?”he asked and without thinking, Jeffrey said yes. Anything that’d make him happy, Jeffrey is obviously ready to do it.

They finally sat down, Jesse next to him while Joelle opposite them. Chatting and giggling between them as Joelle seem invisible. He indeed wants his dad all along.

**

ISLAND, MATTY’S ROOM.

“I still don’t like her”Clara said, looking at Rosie who’s opposite her on the bed. Matty smiled and knelt in front of her, taking her hand.

“Mom struggled to be alive for you, the little you should do is be grateful and appreciate her”Matty said.

“You sound like I’m being the bad one here”she sniffs.

“You aren’t, I am, I’m the bad one”he said.

“I want mom instead, you both can live together but I’ll be with mom”she stood up, taking her hands from his hold.

“Clara!”

“That’s what I want Dad”she sniffs and walked away. Matty was about going with her when Rosie held her.

“She’s still a kid, she’d come around”she said.

“You’re fine with it?”he muttered.

“I’m more glad she’s alright”she smiled and he returned it.

**

NIGHT.

“You left me here all day, are you gonna abandon me?”Clara asked immediately Joelle and Jesse walked in.

“No….”Joelle carried her as she walked to the dinning.

“I cried a lot thinking about you”she sniffs, her eyes all red.

“I’m sorry”Joelle said, dropping her on the table and walked to the kitchen, then Jesse appeared.

“I talked to my dad”he said. Joelle stopped walking as she heard that. She’s with a chocolate box.

“Was he nice?”she asked.

“Yes”

“You’re surely happy then”she said.

“Yes but I’m sad we won’t be siblings anymore”he said.

“You never wanted to be my brother so you’re lying”she scoffed.

“Would you come live with us then? I, mom and my Dad, I can act as a brother then”he said.

“I can?”she smiled.

“Off course, I stayed here with you so you can do same”he said.

“Thanks brother”she said.

“You’re welcome sis”he smiled. Joelle walked out like she heard nothing. Handing the box to Clara.

“Mom”Clara muttered.

“Baby”she said.

“Bro said I could live with you if I want to, can I?”

“Why not, I would love if you do”she said and Clara hugged her. Rosie stood by the stairs, staring at them. A drop of tear dropped. Joelle sighted her and excused herself.

“Want a drink?”she asked.

“Thanks for everything”Rosie said instead.

“I’m more grateful”Joelle said and the both walked away.

“Matty helped me a lot”she said.

“And you took care of my daughter like she’s yours”Rosie said.

“It’s my duty and you shouldn’t be sad about it, she’d come around but it’d take a while, Clara is too adamant”she said.

“I’ll wait as long as it will take”

**

TWO DAYS LATER, JEFFERY’S PLACE.

Joelle, Jesse and Clara moved in last night and as expected, Granny said she’s visiting, along side with Veronica, Kingston and Anna. It’s like a dinner or so.

She has a separate room as Jeffrey since it’d take a while for a real reconciliation. She can’t say she doesn’t feel anything for him but she doesn’t wanna accept it too soon. Playing hard would help a little.

It’s five on dot and she’s expecting them by six. Setting the table while the kids play.

“I could do that”Jeffrey appeared.

“Why don’t you get prepared for my Granny, she’s a bit of a lot”she said.

“I’ll handle it”he said.

“Okay”

“About….”

“If it’s about Matty showing up Rosie, it was all a plan, I knew about her but it’s a plan for me to act surprised cause he said he’d take the fall of the kids hating him so you’ve got nothing to worry about”she replied, heading upstairs and he followed.

“Not that”he said.

“Then what?”she asked.

“I wanna hear the story of everything, how you went through everything”he said.

“It’s all in the past”

“I wanna fill in it someone”he said.

“Tonight, let’s drink over it”she said, stopping in front of her room. She smiled shortly before walking in.

*

“Granny!”Jesse and Clara screamed as she walked in.

“Look at you both!”she laughed as they hug her.

“You look more beautiful though”Clara said.

“No no, you’re more beautiful”she said.

“Nephew and niece!”Veronica shouted and they left Granny to her. She came along with Kingston.

“Hi Mr King!”they both chorused and laughed at it.

Jeffrey came down, meeting Granny first. Their first encounter came like a flash as he looked at her.

“Good evening Granny”she said awkwardly.

“You shouldn’t act all shy due to a mere slap”she snapped and he blinked. She also remember.

“Please come sit”he led her to the dinning.

“You have a nice place, you should come around for a tea”she sat down.

“King hasn’t even come for the tea yet”she said as Veronica joined them. The kids are having a conversation with Kingston.

“Oh Granny”Veronica groaned.

“See that, how rude and where’s my sweet daughter?”she stood up, just then, Joelle came down.

“Granny! You’re here early”

“You’re chasing me?”Granny snapped.

“She’s getting younger daily”Veronica scoffed.

“She even wants me dead”Granny said.

“Do I? See twin, we need to check her brain”Veronica said.

“Nica!”Granny shouted and they continued arguing. Kingston joined them, exchanging pleasantries with Jeffery.

Some minutes later, the dinning was filled as Anna joined, Raymond came also.

“I love the table”Jesse said.

“How sweet”Granny smiled as they began eating until Joelle talked.

“I invited Matty over”

“Oh…..”

“He’ll be here soon”she said and just then, the door bell rang. A maid did the opening as they walked in. He and Rosie.

“Dad!”Jesse and Clara stood up as they both hugged him.

“Those kids are a blessing”Granny smiled. She’s elated being part of this great family. Being good is good. If Veronica hadn’t helped Joelle that night, she surely wouldn’t be part or if she hadn’t accepted Joelle. She smiled as Matty and Rosie joined the table. As if planned, Jesse pecked Jeffrey’s cheek and Clara Rosie’s cheek, though she ignored eye contact. Everyone laughed at the sight of it and then, they did it for both Joelle and Matty, pecking them each on the cheek, Jesse did for the both and Clara same.

Dinner continued after that as they all engaged in talking as they got to know each other.

TBC