Touching the Heart of Ace novel Chapter 59

??Boys...??

Uncle Fred called for us and Jason tightened his hold on my calf.

He hid face on my lap and his tears soaked my pants again.

??Jace...?? I sniffled and shook his back.

??I can??t... I can??t...?? He was shaking so bad.

??Mom is happy, now... Slave... Let us say our good bye...?? Tears dripped of my chin and fell on his head. I looked pleadingly at Robbie who was standing behind Uncle Fred, seemingly calm and collected.

??Come on, bud...?? Robbie gently lifted Jason off my lap and I stood up clutching him to my body. He handed some tissues to Jason and me. ??I will arrange for your entrance.??

I noticed Jason was not moving. ??Slave...??

??They are waiting for you, not me.??

??Nonsense.?? Uncle Fred hugged Jason. ??You are her son. Now hold my hand. Let us go.??

We stood on the either sides of Uncle Fred and walked to the altar. People nodded at us on compassion and some whispered heart felt obituaries.

Our beautiful mom.

Jason and I hugged each other as Uncle Fred walked first to say his parting words. My eyes searched for my man and child.

??Dav...?? I heard a tiny shout and saw Robbie covering Lia??s mouth making Jason and I chuckle. Robbie whispered something to Lia, making her pout and I waved until she smiled.

??I want to sit.?? Jason told me in a shaking voice and we knelt down on the grass, his head on my chest. ??I can??t... Goose... I can??t...??

It had been three days since mom left us to join the love of her life. We were expecting it, but nothing really seemed real until today.

Jason was not coping well. He had so little time to feel her love and he was still a baby to her in every sense. I had known my dad, I had seen how their love was, I understood how mom

But Jason...

The first two days were hectic and I was thankful for Robbie??s ever loving commanding presence.

I had known nothing nor had Jason.

Robbie... he took all the matters to his own hands. From securities to V.V.I.P??s to food and accommodation... it was all Robbie.

My eyes searched for him again and saw him standing next to Uncle Jack with Lia. He nodded his head and gave me a small understanding smile.

What would I do without him?

The people who gathered to see her one last time were in hundreds of thousands and it was overwhelming. Important people needed important welcomes; and I was too shaken and numb to do anything other than sit on the places Robbie made me sit.

The President could not make it, he was not in station but he had called in video conference, extending his deepest condolences. But Vice President did come, mom was an active participant during their election campaign, so someone had to come. The security protocol was out of proportions but Robbie handled it well.

Then there were several ministers, some dignitaries from other countries and... it was so not real.

Everyone hugged me and asked me to stay strong but no one knew how.

I was thankful Robbie watched over me like a hawk and took me to short breaks so I could cry without making a scene. Robbie took care of Jason too, and my heart soared seeing them behave like real brothers.

Mom had to go. I knew it, but...

I would never see...

No.

This was what she wanted.

The third day, was only for families and close friends... I had no idea how I could ever tell Robbie how thankful and deeply touched I was.

I was not listening to anyone or anything. I could not.

I knew the words spoken were filled with love, respect and care for my mama but all I could do was remember my childhood and I could not pull myself out of that.

I was dragging Jason with me, his knees were literally shaking and one of us had to be strong and I had to... for my brother.

??Tell your best friend I am still mad.?? I whispered to mama, who was smiling and looking in her late twenties. That glow... that beauty... Of course she was glowing, her lover had asked her to join him and they flew away together... She looked picture perfect. Mom looked as beautiful as she was in her wedding photos.

Little Lia ran to me with a handmade bouquet with was not properly tied and had all the beautiful leaves and flowers she had found.

??Davey... Daddy say baby geev Gamma...??

I tried very hard to smile with my wobbly lips but I finally clutched her to my chest when the pressure in my heart became too much. ??Grandma... loves... bouquets.??

She did.

Especially handmade ones by me and Lia.

We had fallen in the tradition of making bouquets together to give Lia??s Gamma whenever we visited. The first time she saw a tiny Daisy surrounded by some leaves- the bouquet Lia made with her small hands- mom had laughed and cried together, making my Little Baby so confused.

The one on my mom??s coffin was the one I had made. I took her hand and helped Lia place hers on top of mine.

She ran back to her daddy, all giggles and happy.

Dear God!

What I would not give to keep my baby that innocent and happy all the time!

Jason and I watched the whole ceremony in trance. When Father Gregor asked us if we had anything to ??tell?? we just whispered ??I love you, Momma??... that was all we could bring ourselves to speak.

Robbie made us sit on a bench and we just...

It was over.

Everything was over.

How?

When?

When it was time to leave, we both followed Uncle Fred who was calling our mom names and cussing at her for not waiting for him, but then he said to himself that he could leave Uncle Jack, yet. That was the only reason why he was not that angry.

Old people were weird.

But then Jason felt so heavy in my arms enough to make me stumble... ??JACE!!!??

He was shaking and he would have dropped face first if I had not kneeled and slowed down his fall.

??ROBBIE!!! ROBBIE... Jace... Jace... what is going on? Jace... Open your eyes. What??? His eyes were rolling inside his eyelids and I screamed for Robbie again.

I saw Uncle Jack taking Lia inside as Robbie came to us running. ??He... he...??

??Everything is fine baby... Let us take him inside... It is okay... He is fine.?? Robbie gently pushed me away and picked up Jason.

I was fretting but I could not help it.

??He is fine... Why don??t you sit down with his head on your lap??? I nodded trusting Robbie with all my heart.

??Jace...?? He was sweating so bad and his chest was spasming... small hums left his mouth and I was scared out of my mind.

Please...

I could not bear this.

Frankie came running with a big jug of water and a glass. Robbie poured some water on his hand and kind of threw it on Jace??s face. I wiped his face as soon as he was drenched in water.

??Jace... Slave... can you hear me? Jace... please open your eyes...?? I rubbed his chest and Robbie splashed water on his face again. ??Jason please...??

His eyes slowly but he shut it fast again. ??m... k... Im k...??

He was taking breaths like he had run a marathon. ??Jace... can you hear me??? I patted his cheek and he nodded weakly.

??What do you want, Jace? Are you feeling okay???

??Sleep... I am fine... tired...??

??Okay... okay... sleep now... I got you... I got you... Robbie, Jason wants to sleep.??

Robbie nodded but he asked Jason. ??Can you sit up now? Come on sit up.??

??I guess... So tired...?? But Jason sat up from my lap and Robbie kept a firm hand on his shoulders.

??Breath.??

Jason nodded and his upper body swayed though he was sitting and I hugged him again.

??That is it... You are all good.?? He slapped Jason cheeks twice before helping him stand up. I hovered over him because I was still worried. What if he fell again?

Jason threw his arm on Robbie??s shoulder and they slowly walked to a guest bedroom before Jason fell on the bed with a sigh.

I took of his shoes and undressed him from his suit.

??Stay with him Angel, I will bring something for him to drink. It is just shock and he fainted. It is okay now... Stop crying, baby.??

??Is he really okay, Robbie? I am scared... Maybe we should call a doctor.??

I had never seen Jason like this. No wonder he got scared when I had panic attacks, this was scary and he only fainted.

??I promise, love. He is all okay now. No need for a doctor. Wait here.??

Jason started crying again and I took of my suit before hugging him close. ??Jace...??

??She left me alone, Goose. What do I do? I have no mom now. I have nobody. My mom... Dave... My mom.??

Liz came in running. ??Is he okay? Tell me he is okay...??

I cried as she climbed on our bed throwing her heels somewhere to the door.

??Who do I have now? Mamaa...?? Jason??s whole frame shook as he cried to the pillow and Liz yanked him to her.

??You have us, fucking asshole.?? Her words were mean but it was laced with concern love, and care.

??You have everyone Jason. You have me... Liz... Robbie... and Lia loves her JJ... You have everyone. She had to go, Slave... She went happily because she knew you have us... We have each other. Please... Jace... Look at us.?? He did not but his fist tightened on my wrist.

Robbie came back with a concoction in his hand. ??Jack Kennedy is looking after our kids.?? He told Liz.

Frankie came in with a serving trolley. ??Please eat.?? He whispered before leaving us all alone again. That man still worked, even when his heart was breaking just like rest of us.

Robbie handed the drink to Liz knowing Jason needed her firm hand to drink or eat anything.

??Robbie... can you please check on Frankie? And make sure he is not over exerting himself... I...??

??Shh... anything for you love. I have arranged caterers. But Frank is adamant in serving them. I will see what I can do.?? He kissed my forehead before leaving.

The whole home felt so lonely and silent as the night came along. We all picked on our foods as the kids laughed, shrieked, giggled and ran around.

I had told Robbie to look after all the kids and no one was to scold for having fun. My mom would want them to laugh. Their laughter had so much love unlike these people who was sitting in their expensive new black costumes and whispered in fake sadness.

Many of these people were obligated to attend my Aunt Marie??s funeral, they did not. They blamed their busy life. They could at least attend the service I had arranged with Father Gregor.

Nobody cared.

It was again just us. Mom, Jace, Robbie, Lia and I.

And I was not a fool to think this people loved my mom. They loved my mom??s money, power and all the favours that came with being mom??s acquaintances.

Now they wanted me to know that mom was more inclined to them than anyone else. And they were ??reminiscing the good times?? my mom and they shared.

??You know what Clair said? As long as she sees me, her all worries fade away... because she trusted my intuitions. She knew I loved her and that is all I need.??

I gritted my teeth.

??That is nothing. She found out I asked my Uncle??s best friend??s nephew to invest in her husband??s first business venture. I remember her crying and being grateful. I begged her not to tell anyone you know. I did not do it for anything but my love for her.??

I felt a firm hand on my thigh and saw Jason poking on his peas. ??Not worth it.??

I sighed and took a deep breath. He was right. I was getting riled up for nothing.

??David...?? Mrs. Wetherby wiped her mouth gracefully... ??We need to discuss something serious and private. This needs to stay in family.??

??Go on. There are no strangers here.??

I saw her eyes slipping to Jason but I did not follow her eyes and reveal myself that I knew what she meant.

??Real family...?? She smiled so compassionately.

I hated people like her. She was the one who whispered to my mom that I was a disappointment. She told my mom that she was willing to give up one of her three sons for my mom to raise as a Truscott or her empire would be in shambles.

She was once married to my mom??s third cousin before he left her for a younger Russian model, but she had birthed him three sons and his family still considered her as his wife.

And she wanted real family in this conversation.

I covered the hand on my thigh and squeezed. Jason was not going anywhere.

??Is there anyone in this company that is making you not speak up your mind??? Jason slowly rolled one pea from the left side of his plate to right one and dragged a piece of carrot from right to left. Mrs. Wetherby was drilling holes on Jason??s head, telepathically asking him to take the hint and leave.

??Jason, mom hated when you colour codes your veggies. Sorry, ladies, out of her sons, I was my mom??s favourite child.?? I pointedly looked at everyone and I noticed how their face had a glint of green.

??In your dreams, Goose, she said as long as I eat them at the end, I was a good boy.?? He stuck his tongue out.

??Gross! Mom would have poked it with her fork.??

??Yeah, she would have.??

We fell silent, thinking of the times we drove our mom crazy with our antiques.

Jason chuckled. ??Then she would stick her tongue out when we pout. We have a very mean momma.??

I nodded smiling. ??That we have. Very mean indeed. Oh, that time she pulled you by your ear for standing on that antique chair and then she stood on it to take down that file? God, your face!!! I never have seen a betrayed look on your face ever again.?? I cracked up.

??You are telling me? She told me I could stand on it after I had gone crazy of rising two hellhounds as sons.??

He started laughing too.

We fell silent lost in our memory lane.

I heard a sniffle. Then he started colour coding his veggies again. ??Ignore my brother. He is special... Stop kicking me, you are so special. I said it with love. You are so special. Mom always says so. Anyways, what do you want to discuss about Mrs. Wetherby.??

She cleared her throat. ??I hoped I could keep this in real family but... you are so young and naive... there are people who would want to... exploit this current situation you are in... You need help... people you can trust and... genuinely care about your wellbeing...??

I nodded.

??Since you are not acquainted in anything business related, you might want to ignore your mom??s wishes for a short period of time... may I say for a decade perhaps... before involving other people in your family business... Our family business...?? She blinked so lovingly at me.

??Mrs. Wetherby is right, Son. And you have very close family members that are willing to die for you. You do realise the closer the blood relationship is... closer the love bond. Blood is thicker than water.?? Mr. Doyle said pointedly looking at Mrs. Wetherby and I noticed how red her face was.

He made her eat her own words. She was not an immediate family and he called her out on that.

How pathetic these people could get?

I heavily depended on Jason??s hand on my thigh that I was hold on to, to give me strength not to snap. Jason and I had only lowered our mom to her grave only a few hours ago. I noticed how whispers were steadily rising on claiming who loved me more and who was more related to Truscotts.

I cleared my throat and got ignored. Some had already started on the discussion of how the name of the company was going to be changed to accommodate their family names.

??My brother has something to announce.?? Jason said in a firm voice and everything went silent for a few moments.

??You are no brother of young Davidson.?? Mr. Hogan, who, I had no idea what the real familial connection was, roared.

Jason snorted. ??Still a better brother to Dave than someone who sold his ??real?? sister for a few bucks.??

Mr. Hogan gulped. It was a taboo topic in the family. No one acknowledged that wrong doing, no one discussed it, it was swept under a rug and no one had the guts to say that on his face.

Except my Jason.

It was no secret that the Hogans went bankrupt about a decade ago, and to save their face and escape from prison time the youngest of the siblings who was barely eighteen was married off to a sixty-year-old multi-millionaire.

No one knew about the marriage until after the news spread like a wild fire when she gave birth to a son before her nineteenth birthday. The whole situation had blown out of proportions. She had exhibited mental instability and many women came forward claiming her husband was a sexual predator and his bedroom behaviours were... not humane, that no even animals could... do many of his inclination on their mates.

But the Hogans stood with that... that... sad excuse of a... son of a bitch and this brother dragged his own sister kicking and screaming to her ??beloved?? husband.

No one heard of her ever since, but her son became the sole heir of multi millions her old husband had left, when he died of heart attack while doing a sexual act on a prostitute.

The court could not find enough evidences to pin anyone on account to the mishap of the missing lady- a girl actually.

Hogans regretted their decisions later; they really did. But not at the time where they could do anything about it. Even this brother... had begged to anyone who would listen to help him find her sister.

But too late.

The son had grown up to a nice young man, we had met on several occasions and we had a healthy relationship enough to call him over to all family functions and he attended. He had come during the ceremony but left after the formalities were done.

Someway all his uncles and aunts dotted on him for the mistake; no the crime, they committed to his mother.

I ignored the stunned Hogan.

??If anyone wants Jason out of here, you can always leave. This is his seat. Our mom, Jason and I spend our dinner together like this. I can??t break our tradition. Unlike what many of you think mom never kept any secrets from me. Especially incidents related to family. She is not one to show a dark face who visits her home, but... does not mean she was a fool.??

I noticed many of them gulping and observing their dinner plates with utmost care.

Yeah! I know how many of you tried to trap her in a marriage, tried to drift my parents apart, tried to take over our company by unfair deeds.

Many times, they had succeeded. Failures were indeed inevitable but Truscotts never stayed in the ground for long.

I stood up dragging Jason with me.

??Mom??s will is to be read tomorrow at ten. I would not ask you to stay if you are to ignore her wishes. I am her son; there will be nothing I would not do if she had asked me. Oh, and about business, I never told anyone that I was not interested. I was rather... afraid. But now I have no reason to.??

I pulled Jason as I left the dining room.

He sighed and slumped tiredly on my shoulders. ??Vultures.??

I nodded. Not all of them but nobody would raise their voice against them if they tried to suck my blood dry.

??How did it go??? Robbie was waiting worriedly for us.

??Terribly.??

??Did they say something to hurt you two? I will...?? His vein on the forehead throbbed and I gently caressed his forehead and he leaned to my touch.

??Nothing we could not handle. Did you eat???

??Lia did. I was waiting for you. Jason, Frank made your favourite. Chicken Alfredo.??

??I am not hungry.?? Jason pushed off from me, hugged Robbie and went to his room.