“I know, and I have lived with that guilt for the past twelve years. Your father was very angry that day, I thought he was just trying to scare you into changing, I never really thought he would abandon you there. When I found out that meant it, I pleaded on your behalf but he would not hear me out, he threatened to throw me out if I dared to bring you back, I was terrified and knowing your father, you know I had reasons to be scared.”
“Wow! So you care more about your husband’s wrath than your son’s life? I could expect such a monstrous act from father, but not from you.”
“Please hear me out, Dave. I…”
“Don’t call me that! Dave is dead, he died in Los Angeles, I am Maxwell, Maxwell Blackwood!!” he corrected her in a rage.
“I know you are angry, but please listen to me. I am sorry for doing nothing, I thought your father would be calm in an hour or two and acting up right there was not only going to get me thrown out with you, it isn’t worth it. I love you, Dave but what happens to your siblings if I get thrown out along with you? who is going to care for them. It was a difficult choice for me.”
“But you made that choice, so why not live with it? Why are you back now? Why did it take you this long? What do you want?” Mr. Blackwood fired the questions at her.
“You don’t know the full story. After three weeks of trying to convince your father, I made up my mind to defy his orders. I sent John to find you in Los Angeles but you were nowhere to be found, there was no record of travel in all the states of America.”
“Maybe that is because I was dying out in the middle of the sea, frozen by the cold wind while sailing to Europe with pirates and smugglers. Do you know how many times I faced death after you abandoned me? Do you know the things I had to do to survive? I lived a miserable life from one hood to the other, I went through all kinds of torment and torture. You don’t want to know the shit I have been through, all because you couldn’t speak up for your son!”
There was silence between them and then Maria Forbes burst into tears, she couldn’t bear the pain in her son’s voice as he described what he had been through.
“I am so sorry, Dave. I know apologies cannot change what you have passed through but believe me that I have lived with the guilt and the pain. When I finally found out that you were back in America, I did everything I could to see you. I know you ensured that I did not succeed but I didn’t give up. Please forgive me for my cowardice, my only crime was fearing your father. I loved you, Dave, I always loved you and I never stopped, please give me a chance to make it up to you.” she pleaded in tears.
Maxwell turned away from her, scared that she would melt his stone heart with her tears, but Maria fell to his feet and kept pleading. “I am very sorry, son. Please forgive me, I cannot live with this pain, forgive me for whatever offense I have committed, give me another chance to make things right with the few years I have left at home.” she said amidst tears.
Maxwell couldn’t deal with it anymore, he felt the tears pooling up in his eyes, ready to overflow at any time now. He looked at his mother and he felt sorry for her, he still had a soft spot for her after all these years, which is why he had held onto the only thing that reminded him of her, just in case he never met her again.
“Mom… Stand up,” he said softly and he tried to help her up.
“No, I won’t stand up unless you assure me that you have forgiven me or at least you are ready to give it a thought, promise me, Dave.”
“It is alright mom, I have heard you.” he muttered.
“That is not very reassuring, please say you forgive me,” she pleaded in tears, holding on to his leg.
At this point, Maxwell was beginning to reconsider where he got the stubborn genes from. Perhaps it was his mother after all.
“Alright, fine! I forgive you mom, and I would try to forget the past, now please stand up.” He said and then she let him help her up.
“Thank you Dave, now even if I die, I will die a happy woman.” She said with genuine happiness written over her face as she dried her tears.
“You are not dying anytime soon mom,” he grumbled, still holding up his frown, and then he took out the handkerchief from his breast pocket and casually handed it to her.
“So are you going to come back home?” she asked curiously. “We have missed you around the house”
“Baby steps, Mom. First of all, I have a life here now, I can't abandon my new identity. Secondly, I only forgave you, I can't say the same for your husband, I might never forgive him for what he did to me.”
Maria nodded sadly, she guessed she had to be content with her reconciliation with her son.
“But…” Maxwell muttered and her face lit up. “You are welcome to come over here or the office whenever you want, you can even live here if you wish, I guess we have a lot of catching up to do.” He said.
Maria Forbes nodded again, a smile on her face. “Sure… I will give it a thought, thank you son.” She replied and hugged him. “I am proud of what you have become,” she said once again with sincerity.
** **
The stage was set for a romantic dance, the floor was open to all. Hired dancers were the first to engage and slowly, other couples began to join. Valse à Deux; a gentle dance from the old world French charm, it was beautiful to watch.
Jimmy looked like he was about to ask Anna but out of nowhere, Mr. Blackwood approached them. “Miss Ann, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?” he invited with a graceful bow as culture demands.
Annabel froze, her jaws dropped. She slowly turned to Jimmy and back to Maxwell with questioning eyes. Why would he do this? What should she do now? If she said yes, she would be disrespecting Jimmy but if she said no, she would be hurting Maxwell’s feelings. What choice should she make at this point?
!