Chapter Fourteen
They were lying on the bed and Carol looked at him, feeling his pain as he said those words. How could a mother leave her new born baby behind?
She hugged him to her chest." I'm sorry Max, I didn't know," she said, her heart constricting with his pain.
"I know. I never saw her. I don't know how she looked. I don't have a single photograph of her," he said, closing his eyes. He was glad to take all that out of his chest. He wanted to share with someone the pent up pain of all his growing years and later.
"You don't have a photograph of her? But I saw a picture of your parents in your wallet when it fell out yesterday night. I kept it back," she asked in confusion.
"They're not my parents. It's my dad with his wife," he confessed. Carol didn't know what to say, she simply stroked his soft hair as he rested his head on her chest.
"I'm his illegitimate child. My mom Margaret Jones used to work as a maid at dad's house. Dad had a very bitter marriage, with daily quarrels and upheavals. His wife was infertile and didn't want any children. Dad loved my mom. After my birth, my mom left me with my dad and disappeared from our lives," he paused for a second but Carol kept stroking his soft hair.
"After four years my dad's wife left him and filed for divorce. Dad granted her the divorce and then started searching for my real mom. He didn't like me. I wasn't allowed anywhere near him as I reminded him of my mom. For years he didn't give up his search. When I was sixteen, he received the news of her death. He committed suicide the next day. He jumped from the terrace of his mansion. I saw his body. I've never gone back to that house after that, " he confessed.
"Maybe he has some pictures of your mom," she said and he looked at her.
"Yes, but I can't go there alone," he said, with a painful expression on his face.
"We could go together, Max. I'm always with you, " she said and he simply hugged her to him, wordlessly. It was late already and they went off to sleep.
The next morning Max was in the best mood of his life. He felt so relaxed after having a heart to heart talk with Carol. He showered and came down for breakfast.
They ate the delicious stuffed omelettes that Carol made. Maggie had given them blueberry muffins to take home. Carol served them for breakfast and they hungrily finished up all the food.
"Have you thought about enrolling into a college here?" Asked Max, sipping his coffee, leisurely.
"I'll study online," she answered. "I want to work."
"What are you studying?" He asked her curiously.
"Finance and management," she answered.
"You can join my office as an intern. Learn and then after you graduate we'll see," he said and Carol agreed happily.
"That would be awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you," she gushed, excitedly.
Max smiled at her indulgently. "You can research the whole day and enrol in a college of your choice. Monday onwards you will go to my office with me," he stated and she nodded.
She cleaned up while he went upstairs to get ready for work. He went to work and the whole day, Carol spent searching for online courses. She found the college of her choice in Las Vegas which provided online undergraduate courses in finance and management. After enrolling, she made some sandwiches for herself and ate for lunch.
River had called up to inform her that due to some emergency they needed to return back to Huntsville immediately. They wouldn't be able to meet her again. Julianna had left the day after they had arrived in Vegas due to a family emergency.
She called up Julianna and updated her about herself. After a long conversation finally she went to sit down with a book. She might have dozed off to sleep. When she woke up, Max was sitting beside her, looking into his laptop.
She sat up,"When did you come back?" She asked, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Just five minutes back," he answered, closing his laptop.
"Give me a kiss, wifey," he said, smiling at her. She pulled his face down and kissed him. He deepened the kiss further, trailing kisses to her neck too, leaving love bites everywhere.
"Someone's missed me," she said with a wink.
Max groaned, "What can I do? You're addictive, wifey," he shrugged. "By the way, Maggie and George are coming to dinner." He informed her and Carol panicked.
"I can't cook so well," she wailed.
"Relax, I've taken care of the food. They're bringing the food from their restaurant, " he said with a grin.
"That's not fair. We shouldn't take advantage of their sweetness. I'll make dinner for them," she offered.
"As you wish darling," he said, looking at her indulgently.
Carol made strip steak with lemon mashed potatoes, grilled parmesan broccoli and chocolate pudding. It was a simple menu but at least she could offer them her homemade dishes.
She showered and got ready to welcome her guests. Max too waited with her,"You're the perfect wife, Carol. I'm so proud of you," he appreciated and she flashed him a warm smile.
Maggie and George arrived with wide smiles. They brought their delicious food with them too. Carol led them inside. After serving them wine and chatting for some time they had dinner. They loved the food that Carol cooked. It was worth the effort.
They all gathered in the family room for a drink. "Where are you from Carol?" Asked Maggie.
"I'm from Montgomery, Alabama," she informed her.
"Oh, did you come here for studies?" She asked, curiously.
"Oh no, I was studying at Huntsville. My friends and I came here on a weekend trip," she informed her and Maggie nodded her hear in understanding.
"Your parents know about your marriage?" She asked.
"My parents are no more. They died in a car crash when I was sixteen," she informed.
"I'm sorry dear," said Maggie. "Who took care of you then?"
"My dad's business partner was my legal guardian," she informed her. She suddenly remembered about Stanley. There was no news of him so far. He knew she wasn't back at the college with River and Sera. What would he do?
They chatted some more and Maggie and George left afterwards.
"I didn't know your parents lived in Montgomery. So who lives at their house?" Asked Max.
"My aunt Cecelia lives there with her family. She's my father's sister. After her husband's death, she had nowhere to go to. She has three sons. Two of them are three and four years older than me and the younger one is a year younger than me," she informed.
Max nodded,"Why couldn't she be your legal guardian?" He asked curiously.
"Stanley didn't allow her. He was very adamant that only he be my legal guardian. He didn't let me stay with my aunt. He admitted me to a boarding school in his own hometown of Huntsville where his parents lived," she informed him.
"Interesting. But why do you need a guardian now? You're twenty already, " he said with a frown.
"I don't need but Stanley doesn't listen to a word I say," she wailed.
"What about your dad's business? Who handles that?" He asked.
"Stanley alone handles it," she informed him.
"Does he deposit your dad's share of profits in your bank account?" Asked Max.
"No, he gives me some pocket money which I accumulate," said Carol and Max frowned suspiciously.
"Did your parents leave any will?" He asked.
"Yes, that I would get everything my dad possessed when I turn 21," she informed him.
"Ah, that answers why he wants to marry you so urgently," said Max.
