Chapter 102: Chapter 102
JUNE
I blinked at them, confused and desperately trying to grasp what they were talking about. Like, I just told them my mother's name and boom, they were speaking of another.
“What are you talking about? Who the hell is Mary?”
“Oh, give me a minute,” the man said before he started searching his pocket once more only to bring his wallet out.
Hah, this must be a joke or something like that. Why….
“Phew, I thought I'd lost it,” he mumbled as he brought a picture out of his wallet and gazed at it.
“You still have her picture in your wallet?!” Favour shrieked. “Gosh, I can't believe you, Henry.”
“Jealous of a dead woman, are you?” He leaned down to peck her on her left cheek. “She was my past, Favour. And you are my present, and future. You don't have to think that way."
“Then, why is she still in your wallet? My picture is supposed to be there!” Favour folded her arms, scowling darkly.
“I was guilty, okay? Seems it's time to let go of the past,” he confessed and pecked her once more before he turned to me. “Here, this is the only photo I have of Mary.” He passed the little photograph to me.
The woman in the picture looked stunning and familiar. Her red wavy natural curls looked so beautiful. It perfectly complemented her honey-brown eyes. However, that wasn't what caught my eye. It was the small mole on her left cheekbone.
“Who is this?” I touched the mole, which is as inconspicuous as the one on my left cheekbone.
“Mary. She was the woman I dated in college,” Henry replied, looking at me with rapt attention.
“And… Martha?”
I was even scared to ask that question. Should Mary turn out to be Martha's friend, it could only mean that my mother cheated with her best friend's boyfriend.
Just thinking of it made me lightly bite my bottom lips. Seems like we are naturally sluts.
“...Was Mary's best friend.”
“So…. You two… You did… "
“No,” he frantically shook his head. “I never slept with Martha. Mary was the one I slept with.” He sat on my bed, but kept a distance between us, scared to come close.
Favour stood behind him with both hands on his shoulders, pressing lightly, silently giving her support to him.
“This doesn't even make sense. If Mary was the girl you dated, then… You are not my father,” I sighed, saying those words out aloud to clear whatever doubts might be in the air.
Our resemblance is merely a coincidence. So much for having my hopes up at the thought of finally meeting my father.
“No, I think you might have misunderstood. When I dated Mary, Martha had no boyfriend. She was single throughout college.”
I sighed once more, running my left finger through my hair. “So, what happened to you and Mary? You know, how the hell did you break up with her?"
Somehow, I've gotten tired of this conversation.
He bowed his head with his shoulders drooped, “I left her.”
“What?!”
He slowly glanced up, “During our last year in college, she got pregnant. Back then, the stress of writing a thesis and defending my project took a toll on me. So......” He trailed off, looking guiltier than he was when he started the story. “I denied the pregnancy,” he muttered.
“You what?!”
“I'm sorry. Back then, the stress from my family coupled with school work and trying to secure a job, led me to do that. I know I was stupid for my actions, but it was all I could think of.
When I finally got things under control and returned to apologize, I discovered she had long left the city.” A tear slid down his eyes as he continued staring at me.
“You broke her heart…" That was all I could mutter. Knowing how I felt when I thought Kristen would ask me to terminate the pregnancy, I wondered if it was the same with the woman, Mary.
“I know I shouldn't say this, but she never loved me. I was the only one madly in love with her. She was in love with Martha's brother, Kristen.”
“What?!” I gasped. “My uncle?”
Henry slowly nodded, “They dated in high school, but she broke his heart. You can say I was the substitute. She made me dye my hair blonde. And most times, I wear green contacts to please her.”
I don't even know what I was feeling at the moment. Somehow, I was jealous of the woman I never met.
“So…. Where is she now?” I asked, trying to act like I was concerned about her when all I wanted was to make sure she was as far from this state as possible.
“Dead.”
“Huh?”
“She died in childbirth. Before I got to the hospital, it was too late. She was already dead.”
Phew.
Thanks to the heavens. I won't need to go on a killing spree.
“I was told the daughter she gave birth to, died with her,” Henry sobbed. “But….” He locked his teary eyes with mine, “I doubt that's true any more.”
“What?!”
“I now know why Martha changed states when I finally located her to apologize for all I put Mary through,” he smiled, but it looked forced.
“My mother? What's she got to do with all these?”
“What's your birthdate?” He asked instead of answering my question, looking intently at me as if he were afraid he might miss something if he removed his focus from me.
“June 16 2003,” I answered, with my brows raised, wondering what my birthdate had got to do with all this.
Henry gasped, rose from the bed and took a step back, gaping at me in shock.
“What's wrong, honey?” Favour held his right hand in hers.
“She's the one. She's the daughter I was told I lost years ago.” Tears freely gushed down his eyes. “She's the little darling I was told died with her mother.”
“Okay, I don't understand what the hell is going on here. What do you mean by that?” I asked, bringing their attention back to me.
“Mary was your mother, not Martha. She must have asked Martha to take you as her daughter,” Favour explained, while Henry kept on gazing at me as tears freely streamed down his face.
Snots and all, he looked exactly like I do whenever I cry. The similarity was quite alarming…