More reasons to stay

Chapter eleven

Everyone had gathered around the foyer with my family basically in the middle of all as the center of attraction.

"I just wanna thank you all for taking your time and making it here for this. My parents, they died fifteen years ago and I was only a boy, not yet a man. I wish they'd have been alive, alive to see this beautiful family I have made for myself..." he said staring at us three just few feet's away from him.

"I want to thank the mother of my kids, Avey, for this great opportunity. She opened my eyes to so many possibilities, one which is being a father. Many of you here know our story, yes, we're not official, and yet, she spends every moment of her life since Ellie stuck with me. She did put up with it all, the arrogance, the irresponsibility, but her in my life with the baby did push me. I needed to be a better father for my girl and later, the best father for my boy..." he said with a smile.

"So, as a token of appreciation..." he said reaching out to his suit jacket bringing out a jewellery box.

That was it, I instantly went wild in my head. I exploded, but facially, I tried to keep cool.

He walked over to where I stood and for a moment, I kept my eyes shut as he stood in front of me and by the time I opened it, he was no longer in front of me.

I had felt it, his hands on my neck. He had fastened a necklace on it. I could see the pendant dangling in front of my neck.

I gave a pause as I stopped staring at him. Before words could come out of my mouth, he had said:
"Do you like it?"

And before I could reply, he had claimed my lips. It was intense, but I wasn't replying his kiss with that same intensity.
I was hurt, he had made me feel like a complete fool. No gift at all was better than raising my hopes high.

He hugged me as he whispered out loud:
"Thanks for everything. For giving me more than a family"

I had forced a smile through it all. It wasn't time yet, even if it was, not in front of them all.

I walked away immediately he released me. Josi had trailed behind me.

"Avey..." she quietly called as I stared at her.
I had gotten to the sitting room and I collapsed on the chair sobbing.

"Hey..." she called.
"There's absolutely no need to let that tear flow"

I stared at her. Like she knew how long I had held it in. I was hurt, hurt I was different from them all. All other women with their husbands and kids. I know, in fact I could tell, Mason was the best. But why didn't he want a better life for us all?

"I'll go get the kids, make sure they're fine" she told me getting up the chair.

I could tell, she was going to leave me to think.