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“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, hewould 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 toldme 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.
CHAPTER 22
Mason
“Hey, watch what you're doing with that. It’s my mother’s physical therapy equipment,” I barked at the movers.
“Sorry sir. We will be more careful,” one of the guys said.
Crystal walked over and put a hand on my shoulder. “Why are you so stressed today? I would think that you would be thrilled to be into our new home?”
I was. After learning that my mother had been a prisoner in that house, I didn’t care how nice it was. It had to go. She needed to be out of there and into a place that she could make happy memories in. We sold the old place for less than we could’ve gotten but she wasn’t hurting for money. The only thing my father had done right was leave his estate to my mother.
