Chapter 1
ONE AND A HALF YEARS LATER
“He’s so cute!”
It’s not the first time Alana is hearing the compliment, but she grins like it is. She picks up the chubby arm, tiny as it is, and peppers it with kisses making the baby giggle.
The last few months have done nothing but confirm to her that there really exist people worth dying for, and to top it off, this particular person came from her.
“Your genes didn’t even show up,” Ben says, and Alana rolls her eyes.
She can’t count the number of times people have said the same thing to her. And those who have no knowledge that she was previously married to a white man always assume she’s looking after someone else’s child.
“He has my smile.”
“Uh…not sure,” Ben continues because that’s what he does, “he looks exactly like his father. It must be hard getting over the man if you’re constantly reminded like that.”
It’s true that the baby looks nothing like her, not even one part of him is Asian. He is Marcus through and through.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m totally over him. I swear.” She makes a sign of the cross over her heart.
“I don’t even think about him. It’s only you who’s bringing him up.”
“Yeah, yeah…no need to convince me, it’s pretty obvious. Is that why you named his son Marc? Because you’re over him?”
Alana rolls her eyes again. “I like the name…”
“It’s two letters short of his father’s name!”
Yes, Alana knows that. She heard all about it from her mother, her cousin, and everyone else. But what was she supposed to do when the time came to name her son, and that was the only name she could think of?
“It’s not about him,” Alana says, and turns her attention back to her baby. Marc giggles at her.
“I’ve always liked the name Marc, ever since I was a little girl.”
When she looks back at Ben, he is nodding in the way he usually does when he doesn’t believe a single word a person is saying. Luckily, he knows when to drop a subject.
“So, I take it you’re still hell-bent on your decision?”
“Ben…I already have a child, a job that is enough for us, and I don’t want to complicate my son’s life.”
“You already know how I feel about this. If I had a son—“
“I know, I know. But you’re not him.”
Ben doesn’t say anything for a while, and Alana busies herself with fussing over her baby. Everyone shares his opinion; she’s the only one who thinks that keeping Marc away from his father is the right decision. But knowing his family’s influence, there is no telling what they might do once they find out about Marc. Just the thought makes her shiver.
And what if Marcus isn’t in her child’s life? She’s here, and that’s all Marc needs. It’s her goal to shower him with so much love he won’t even realize that he’s missing a father in the first place.
“You happy?”
Alana looks up at the screen. Ben’s is watching her. He’s in the office, she recognizes it, and the expression on his face is familiar, one she has been subjected to often. He means well; he has always meant well.
Not wanting to worry her friend anymore, she nods and smiles her widest.
“I’m very happy. This is the life I didn’t even know I wanted and being a single mother is not as hard as people are making it to be.”
Ben nods at this, his face freezing briefly on the screen before the connection fixes itself and his face continues to move normally.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that. So…there’s no coming back?” Alana shakes her head quickly at this.
“Don’t be in such a hurry to forget America.” He chuckles and Alana joins in. That is a question he asks every time he calls as if Alana will have a change of heart.
“It’ll be nice if you came back though because I’ve got this new venture that’s sure to make me really rich and relevant.”
She squints her eyes, leaning closer to the screen, “You’re leaving the cleaning business?”
“Oh no, not that. I have just partnered with someone. We’ve set up an interesting venture, and we’re looking for someone to join the team.”
“Wow, that’s really amazing! I’m happy for you.”
“She just ignores the part where I mentioned that we needed someone to join us,” he murmurs.
Alana laughs at this. “I know what you’re doing, but it won’t work.”
“Yes, yes, I hear you, but there’s no harm in trying. Hey, I have to get back to work now. Talk to you later?”
Alana picks up her son’s hand with his fingers clenched tightly and waves at the screen. “Say goodbye to Uncle Ben.”
“Bye Marc,” he says, waving too. “Don’t give your mother a lot of stress.”
Alana is all smiles when the call ends. She looks down at her son who is yawning up at her, and places a kiss on his forehead.
She never understood what being a mother entails, never once entertained the idea of holding a child, but here is Marc, her very own flesh and blood. Alana is determined to make sure that he won’t suffer the same hardship that she did. He wouldn’t have to travel far to work in order to make life easier for himself. If he were to take a trip, it would either be going to school, or because he wanted to.
The door to the house flies open and her mother stands there, wide eyes and heaving. She looks over at Alana as if she didn’t expect to find her there sitting in the sofa, and then she’s rushing over to her.
“What’s going on?” Alana asks, trying to get to her feet, but her mother is shaking her head, and pulling her back into the seat.
“Your Aunt Lenlen…she’s in the hospital.”
“What?! Is she okay?”
Her mother is sweating, a foot is tapping the floor. Her breathing is labored, and Alana tries to give her mother time to calm herself. In her mother’s left hand, she is still clutching her phone.
“Ma, you need to calm down and tell me what’s going on.”
Her mother nods again, more furiously this time. “Someone called from a hospital, they said…they said your aunt is in coma.”
Alana opens her mouth to speak, but when the words reach her ears, they turn into ringing. Coma? Her aunt was fine when they spoke yesterday. She understands her mother’s panic now.
“Is she…is she…Did they tell you what happened?”
“Lana, listen to me,” her mother whispers, gripping her shoulders. Marc is slowly drifting to sleep. “You have to go to America.”
“What?” She whispers back.
“You’re the only person who can go. The hospital says you’re her next of kin.”
“Next of—“
“You’re the only one who can make decisions for your aunt.”
“I can’t…I can’t go to America! Ma—”
Her mother cuts her off immediately. “Of course you can, you must. Your auntie needs you. There is no one there for her. You have to go.”
--
What do you think?
20 May 2024.
--
IF YOU ARE READING THIS AFTER 15 JUNE 2024, THIS STORY IS NOT COMPLETE, THIS IS AN EXCERPT/SAMPLE ONLY.
20 June 2024
