Chapter 19 #2
The attempt had been made; Sorinah had tried, but it didn’t change the fact that she carried the guilt of Mars growing up without a father.
And now, here he was, standing in front of her after all this time.
Her first instinct was to send him away—he’d rejected her beautiful boy.
But as she looked at him, she felt something new: not just anger, but a steady resolve to do right by Mars, no matter the cost to herself.
“Hey Mom, why are you so quiet?” Mars asked Sorinah, his voice low yet insistent, cutting through the fog of her thoughts like a gentle nudge.
She blinked, realising he’d slid into the seat beside her with the quiet grace of someone used to reading her silences. His presence was a warm, grounding force, pulling her back to the cabin’s muted hum.
Mars, Sorinah, Dinah, Vic, and their kids were all headed to Trinidad for a week for a long-awaited family reunion to spend time with Nakinah, Ambrose, and their baby Anaya.
They were aboard Ambrose’s sleek private plane, its interior a haven of polished wood and cream leather seats, the soft murmur of conversation blending with the steady hum of the engines. The atmosphere was one of quiet luxury, but Sorinah’s mind was anywhere but here.
She’d been looking forward to this trip, her thoughts once filled with sun-soaked excitement.
Aldrich would be in the country too, and she’d packed the perfect two-piece swimsuit, a vivid turquoise that would contrast beautifully against her skin, designed to make his eyes linger.
They’d planned a one-night getaway during the visit, and after three weeks apart, she’d ached for his touch, for the way he could make her laugh and forget everything else.
Except now, all she could think about was Albert’s visit, the weight of his words still hanging heavy in her mind like an uninvited shadow.
She glanced at Mars, her child, and tried to ignore the echo of Albert in his features, but it was impossible not to see.
Their dark chestnut complexion, rich and even, perfectly complemented their bright smiles, showing off their perfect teeth.
Though Mars shared her amber coloured eyes, they were shaped just like Albert’s.
Mars was a part of Albert, and although he hadn’t asked about his father in years, she knew he must still have questions, ones he’d learned to bury beneath his amiable smiles.
She thought back to their last conversation, when he was seven, her heart twisting at the memory of his small, confused face.
“Some dads make choices not to be a part of their children’s lives, but it has nothing to do with those kids. Those kids are special and amazing,” she’d explained.
“Why does my daddy not want to be with me?” His little brow had furrowed, his voice so small and uncertain it had made her want to pull him into her arms and shield him from the truth.
“He wanted to concentrate on his job.”
“You have a job and you are here.” His observation had been so simple and logical, it had stung like a paper cut.
“Yes, because you are my number one.”
“And I’ll stay your number one?”
“Always, Baby,” she answered with steady firmness, willing her voice not to waver.
After that, he stopped asking about his father, as if he’d accepted her words as enough.
She’d tried not to let him feel that loss, and the men in her life — Vickram, Vickram’s dad, Ambrose, and most recently Aldrich — had stepped up, being outstanding role models for her son.
“What’s wrong, Mom? You’re doing the sad smile.” Mars’ voice pulled her back, his too-perceptive eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her face. He was far too observant for his own good, and she felt a flicker of guilt for letting her thoughts show.
“Sorry, Kiddo. You know I’m always thinking.”
“Yeah, but you should be thinking about the beach and sand.” He smiled at her hopefully, his dimples deepening, and she felt a surge of love for this boy who could still find joy in the simplest things.
He was such a sweet, grounded kid, and she knew she was going to miss him terribly when he went off to college, even if that was still a year away.
Dinah’s daughter, Asha, called out to her cousin with the excited energy of a child who thrived on attention.
“Mars, would you play with me?”
No doubt the family would be dragged into heated competitions during the vacation because Asha was obsessed with the game Uno.
“Sure,” Mars answered, but before he left, he gave his mom a light bump of the shoulder, a small, reassuring gesture that felt like a silent I’ve got you.
Sorinah was left alone with her thoughts, uncertainty gnawing at her stomach. For Mars’ sake, she’d heard Albert out, even though it had been like swallowing broken glass. It wasn’t about her.
“I would like to get to know my son, and for him to get to know me,” Albert had assured her.
She’d asked herself whose fault it was that they didn’t have a relationship, and it had been hard not to snap at Albert, to remind him of all the years he’d chosen silence.
“I know I can’t make it right by being absent for all of his life, but I’ll admit my shortcomings had nothing to do with him.”
All she could think about was what this could mean for Mars if Albert truly meant what he was saying.
In the end, she told Albert she needed time to think things over.
She’d been so caught off guard she couldn’t think of the questions she needed to ask about his intentions, about how this would work, about what it would mean for Mars’ future.
Now, all she had were questions. The most persistent of them was why now? After all this time, why had Albert decided to reach out?
She’d purposely avoided looking into Albert or his family after Mars was born, but back then, she’d scoured the internet, her heart aching with every new discovery.
Memories of Albert’s wife surfaced. She was a beautiful woman with high cheekbones and deep, soulful eyes, her features suggesting Ethiopian heritage.
She was tall and slender. Every photo made her look as if she’d just stepped off a runway.
For the life of her, Sorinah couldn’t understand why Albert had strayed.
His betrayal hadn’t ended there. Albert had two small, adorable toddlers.
He had a family, one that looked perfect and polished in every picture.
Sorinah winced, her stomach tightening as she thought of the beautiful woman’s fury. Fury, she knew, was justified.
She could still hear the woman’s voice from the calls, sharp and venomous: “You homewrecking bitch! Stay away from my husband. How do we even know it’s his baby?” Her hands shook, and she pressed them against her thighs to steady them, the sting of the accusation lingering like a fresh wound.
Sorinah had said nothing when the woman had hurled those hateful words at her, her fists clenched so tightly her nails had left marks on her palms. But later, she’d composed an email and sent it to Albert’s wife.
It had started with an apology, letting her know she hadn’t known Albert was married.
She’d never be involved with a married man, and whatever they’d had was over.
It was his baby, but she wouldn’t impose on their life.
There had been no response to her email, but the calls had stopped, and she’d taken that as a small victory.
Sorinah wondered if his wife knew Albert wanted to get in touch with her son.
How would those family dynamics impact Mars?
The last thing she wanted was to open a Pandora’s box.
Mars was preparing for the next stage of his life, his post-secondary education, and she wouldn’t allow Albert to disrupt that.
Asha kept Mars and her brother occupied with a card game, their laughter filling the cabin, while Dinah and Vickram were off in their own little love bubble, their affectionate gestures making Sorinah think of Aldrich.
Things between them were good, and she liked how they fit into each other’s lives like two pieces of a puzzle finally clicking into place.
She hadn’t told Aldrich about the encounter with Albert or even about the flowers he’d sent.
It wasn’t like she needed to—her ex was her situation to deal with—but she wanted to.
Somewhere along the line, Aldrich had become her sounding board, the one person she could turn to and run things by without fear of judgment.
She knew Aldrich wasn’t a fan of Albert, and she wondered what his reaction would be.
Maybe it was best to wait to discuss it with him until she had more information.
Besides, she could think of better ways to spend their time than rehashing the past.
When they landed, her heart fell a little when Aldrich wasn’t at the airport to greet her. His flight should have landed hours before hers.
Nakinah wrapped her arm around her, her warm, familiar embrace offering comfort.
“Don’t worry, little Sis. Aldrich’s flight was delayed—he should be here in an hour or so.”
“Um, thanks,” Sorinah answered sheepishly, still feeling a bit awkward at even the hint of them being a couple, even after all this time.