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Chapter 156 - Shadows of Closest Ancestors
Sophia was sitting alone thinking in the living room. Yesterday's conversation with Mason made her think about things which just not come to her mind earlier: her family was too strange. Being a girl and a youth she never wondered why her life divided into two separate halves. After suffering amnesia all seemed covered with a thick haze but now that a fog dissolved and clear pictures of the past were appearing before her eyes: an active school life, parties, boys, the School Drama Theater, schoolmates... Sophia was the very popular girl. So it was even stranger to remember that she had never brought her friends to home. There were no bans, she just did not. It's like a kind of her inside stopper's shielding her homey life from public one.
And she even could not remember that if she ever seen any friends of her parents. Mason asked if she remembers old friends of the family but the truth was that she could not remember ANY family friends at all. Her parents never been grim isolate: she can remember her dad's laugh and mother's smile, her affectionate hugs, and talking with her father about the books she read. A kind of normal family life: his father worked as traveling salesman, her mother was a housewife. They were out in the country on the weekends and spent together Christmas holidays. Together. All of three. Alone only. It's a strange and frightening realization.
Could it be true? The parents lied to her about their ancestors? But why? It's so stupid if the truth can be revealed at any time. Or... it could not? Actually she had never discussed his family out of her home. Although in fact she still could hear something... even just from neighbors. But their house was at a distance from others and all neighbors just never too familiar with her family. Nobody knew that Waynes were pretending to be descendants of the founder family. Nobody can scuttle this lie.
Why should they lie then? Was it really a lie?
"What is it?" She suddenly heard CC's voice and jumped up.
"Not matter," Sophia avoided.
"No, it's important. You're not yourself since yesterday. What's happened?"
"Mason told me something I never suspected. About my own family."
"It's Mason again! I told him not interfere us!"
"I asked him to investigate it. CC, please. It's very important thing for me."
"And you're ready to discuss it with Mason but not with me?"
"Don't tell me that you're jealous to Mason! At least he does not try to force me to give up my search."
"It hurts you."
She shook her head. "May be this is the price of truth. I'm ready to pay it to learn the fate of my father."
"Share with me. Why do you think that parents lied to you?"
* * *
Going to the park with the children accompanied by Mrs. Rold, Mary was not even sure that Augusta actually will come there. Yesterday's solution now she saw as a rather naive. But Augusta makes it. With an arrogant rock-face and suspicion in her eyes in first place. But then without seeing any resistance and pitfalls she pretty quickly relaxed and patiently waited as Mary's explaining Sammy and Chip that Mrs. Lockridge is their Aunt Augusta.
Chip was barely interested in Aunt Augusta and rushed off to the playground but Sam immediately cringed and tried to hide behind Mary's skirt. And muttered "Aunty Liar" in response to mother's asking to say hello.
Mary scolded her bad manners but Sammy said resentfully that that's true. Aunty lied that her Mommy was buried in the ground!
"My Mommy is here!" Sammy defiantly clung to Mary.
"Your aunt was just joking", Mary assured her.
"A silly joke!" The little girl glared up. "Even Chip has no ones!"
"I'm sorry, honey. I never thought you would scare," Augusta said and squatted down in front of her niece. "Come here, let me look at you."
Sammy hesitated and then reluctantly came. Augusta pulled out the stuffed baby deer and handed to her. Sammy's eyes lit up. She grabbed the toy and hugged it.
"Bambi!" She gasped.
"Do you like it?" Augusta's voice sounded like if she had a lump in her throat.
"Very much!" Sammy buried her nose in the deer's fur. "He's so beautiful!"
"And what do you need to say?" Mary reminded.
"Thank you, Aunt Augusta," Sam looked up. "I will love him so much."
"I do not doubt," Augusta finally smiled, and the tension finally disappeared.
Later Sammy easily chatted with her newfound aunt and answered her questions but occasionally she still shuddered and looked back at Mary. And just only after receiving her mother's silent approval she's regained her usual cheerfulness. Getting tired of the talking she playfully grabbed Aunt Augusta's arm and dragged her to the playground. Stunned Mary watching how arrogant refined Augusta enthusiastically spends time with her niece: pushes Sam on the swings, helping her to go down from slides, playing hide and seek... unless paying catch-up. Holding Mickey in her arms Mary tries not to think about Christy's words still echo in her head: "And if I find out that you had a baby..."
Finally dusk began to arrive, and it was time to go home. When Augusta said goodbye to Sammy Mary thought that she would leave immediately, but Augusta took her hand: "Walk me to the car."
Mary shrugged and gestured to the Mrs. Rold. "I won't be long."
She and Augusta leisurely walk through the park to the parking lot. At first they went silently but then Augusta suddenly stopped.
"I want to thank you," she said moderately. "I admit I did not believe that you'll keep your promise."
"But you came."
"I had some hopes. Is Mason knows about our deal?"
"He does."
"Really? And he agreed?" Augusta surprised.
"He did not like it but he did not interfere. What time's your flight?"
"An hour later," Augusta took a deep breath. "What an incredible day!"
They went to the parking lot, and Mary was about to go out into the street to take a taxi, but Augusta stopped her again.
"I wonder why you offered me a deal."
"Because of my sister," Mary said after pausing.
"Are you meaning Christy?" Augusta surprised.
"Of course. I do not have another sister. Christy knows a lot more than you think. She thought that I was dead for whole year."
"And Christy offered this plan?"
"No, just forced me to change direction."
"So maybe I need to change my opinion about this girl," Augusta mused.
They said goodbye, and Augusta once again promised that she'll visit them as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Mary took a taxi and allowed herself to exhale in relief. Everything went perfectly. Now she had to go home and bring this premise to Mason.
* * *
"You never told me about this!" CC Capwell said quite angrily when Sophia finished her story.
"I never looked at my own family from this angle. It hurts. Though now it's easier for me to believe that someone might come to you pretending to be my father."
"Why?"
"Because this way of life can meet only one reason. They were afraid. My parents lived in mortal fear. And most likely that reason explains the disappearance of my father. Probably, he's been dead for a long time." She covered her face with her hands.
CC gently embraced her, held her close.
"You do not know. It's just your assumption."
"It's not unfounded."
She abruptly stood up and decisively headed towards the study. CC silently followed her and watched as she's unlocking the safe and rummaging though old papers.
"What are you looking for?"
"The deed of my family house. I want to find when my parents bought it. Ah, here it is," Sophia pulled the stapled documents and opened the top sheet. She scanned a text, turned the sheet, read it up and went back to the first page. Then she lowered her head.
CC took the deed from her. It indicates in black and white the year of ownership. 1946.
"I was five years old then," Sophia said toneless.
"Maybe they inherited the house. Even very likely."
"Do not try to comfort me. I'm perfectly capable to accept the reality."
"The reality is our family."
"And my past is a part of me, CC. I want to know the truth."
* * *
When Mary returned home, Mason was here.
"How did it go?" He asked kissing her on the cheek.
"Perfectly," Mary kissed him back. "It was Augusta Lockridge who I never been seen. And Sammy accepted her even though initially she was wary."
"Naturally. After a kind of such nightmare."
"I hope that now it will be erased from her memory. Let it would only be a weird joke of her foolish aunt, not an evil kidnapping."
Mason nodded and said after a pause: "I need to talk to you."
"Sure." Mary surprised of his serious tone but she followed him up the study.
She froze when Mason took out one of the portraits which Mary brought home from Capwell's and forgotten in her car a week ago.
"I would like to know how these got in your trunk?" he asked dryly.
"And what you did doing in there?" Mary took the portrait from him and leaned it against the back of a nearby chair.
"The best defense is offense?" Mason raised the eyebrow.
"Do you think that I need to defend myself now?"
"It's up to you. Maybe you still answer where did you get these things work of art?"
"The house of your father as you can image."
"He gave these to you?"
"CC? God, no."
"How else it's possible? Mary, you do not know how to lie. How you got these portraits?"
"I did not say a word of lies, Mason. Why are you so worried about? Believe me, your father will not come here to reclaim them."
"True, but you still trying avoid a straight answer. Why?"
Mary hesitated, but then answered. "Because it is unpleasant to hear that your youthful portraits were planned to be thrown in the trash."
Mason's face froze for a moment, but then he relaxed. "And you decided to save them"
"I was equally frustrating to see them there. Especially because I would love to see them in our house."
"So why did you not show them me at once?"
"I did not have time. It's the day when Augusta kidnapped Sammy. Mason, are you questioning me?"
Mason did not answer but came close to her and took her forearms.
"A bad day?"
"Partially, yes," Mary sighed and pulled back slightly, freeing her hands. "I was sitting on pins and needles while Augusta was there. I was afraid that she goes wrong so I'll urgently manage with consequences."
"But it turned pretty good," Mason tried to take her hand again but Mary turned and stepped away. "What's the matter?"
"It's nothing. I'm just tired."
She went to the door but Mason blocked her way frowning.
"It's not just that. Did I hurt you with something?"
Mary raised her head and looked him straight in the eye.
"It's not easy to get over when the closest person throws words in your face that you love your stepdaughter less than your son and it's why you're ready to risk her life."
Mason winced. "I aware. But I've already apologized. And you also violated our agreement yesterday."
"I do not argue. But it cannot cancel the fact that your words etched in my memory."
"I was only speaking in anger!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course, I do! Mary, are you really... Dammit! No, look at me." He took her hands again despite her resistance and made to look up him. "I do not think anything like that. And the last night would not have happened if I was serious." Mary gave shaky breath. "I'm sorry. I really crossed the line."
Mary just hugged him, pressing her face to his shoulder. The tension of a hard day finally beginning to subside. Mason made a sound - something between growling and moaning.
"Are you alright?" Mary was afraid.
"I think I'm beginning to see a point of our family feud. It's all Augusta Lockridge!"
"Do not be silly. She is not so bad."
"I'd better say nothing." Mason expressively looked at her and dramatically rolled his eyes.
Mary snorted, kissed him on the lips and then pulled away.
"Do you not mind if we hang your portrait here?"
Mason shrugged. "I do not care. Which of them?"
"Perhaps ..." Mary put portraits side by side and took a good look. "That's it," she pointed to one where Mason was portrayed as a young man.
"I would not have chosen it. But be on your way."
Mason looks around, trying to see where the better spot to attach it. Mary touched his sleeve.
"Do you really not mind? I do not want you feel some uncomfortable."
"Well, yes. It's all right, Mary. These portraits do not cause me any feelings. Moreover I'm starting to like your idea," he smiled. "Do not worry."
"I'll try."
When the portrait was finally hang on the most prominent place of the wall Mary goes upstairs and Mason looked at the image of young himself. He feels somehow deliciously frightening to see himself as the new head of the family and the patriarch. He finally stood on a par with CC Capwell. He had been dreaming of this for long time. And the young man with a strained face and cynical smile seemed to him the prototype of his today's success life. He did it. He built his own life without the father. This is his own family, his own home. His own wife and children. He felt proud.
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