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Chapter 167 - Bound Lives
The following days were filled with tense expectation of changes. Harry's plan turned out to be simple like all the great things were. Though it was a deceptive simpleness. But a week later Mason was glad to admit that they made it. Bernard Wayne disappeared off the map and got in Secret Services' reports as the liquidated individual. And Lengard David, the longtime friend of Waynes who currently staying at Capwells just spring up in his place.
"Why David?" Sophia surprised.
"I do not know," Mason shrugged. "It's his choice of the first name. By the way, of the last name too".
"So it's over? Completely? My father's not in the danger now?"
"Yes, fortunately. But you'd still better call him just "David". Help God to help those who help themselves".
"You're right. Thank you, Mason. You've done so much for me. I really cannot know how to thank you enough."
"Take care of Charlie," Mason asked after a pause. And then he added, seeing her face was flashed a guilty expression: "No, I aware that you do love him but..."
"No, I see," Sophia took Mason's hand and slightly smiled. "You ask me to protect your brother from your father".
"To some extent. But it's not just about that. Charlie... needs a mother. He is not me, he cannot cope alone. Of course, he remembers Pamela and wants to go back to her but it's impossible. And he needs someone who will be there for him".
"He has you", Sophia replied. And then she looked carefully at him: "What happened between you two during the walk?"
Mason looked away, walked around Capwells' living room and awkwardly ran his hand through his hair.
"I tried to save him from illusions about our mother's return. But he did not believe me", Mason heavy sighed. "I almost broke him. I thought it make him to feel better if he'll realizes that he's waiting for no one at all".
"Mason, I do not think you would feel any better if someone convinced you as a child that your mother is not coming back for you".
"Why does everyone think that I totally see myself in Charlie and trying to change my own past?" Mason got angry.
"Because it's true, even if you denying it".
Mason shook his head negatively. "May be this was in the beginning of the story but this'd not for a long time now. Charlie's not me, and I know that I would behave differently in his position. But I just no idea how to stop his obsession. He's very emotional, my youngest brother. And our father is not an authority for him. Unlike you". Mason looked at her stepmother.
"What makes you think that Charlie sees me as an authority?" She was surprised.
"Because he is looking for your protection and trusts you. That means a lot".
"I know," Sophia smiled. "Your request is unnecessary but I promise you, Mason, I won't let your brother to be hurt in any way. And you too". She put her arm around his shoulders and felt that he hugs her back.
A moment later Mason's walking through the French window out the garden. It was the shortest way to his car that he left inside the gate of the estate. But just halfway he heard familiar voices: the gruff male voice of Bernard Wayne and the voice of Mason's youngest brother Charlie.
"... Grandpa David, why you did not want to see Sophia? Do you not really love her?"
Mason stopped nearby, hiding in shadows of some overgrown bush. By some part of his mind he realized that he behaves exactly like Charlie who was engaged in eavesdropping and spying. It seems Capwell had it in their blood.
"Of course, I love Phia," Wayne replied with displeasure. "Just there were circumstances under I could not see her".
"Are they the same that made you wear the different name now? Grandpa, are you were a secret agent?"
"Something like that".
Mason could have sworn that there was laughter in Bernard's voice. He guessed that his youngest brother should jump up with shouts "Wow! Real 007!" But Charlie was silent.
"I wanted to be an agent," the boy said after a pause. "But I did not realize that I'll be alone then. Did you could meet no one? Absolutely?"
"Absolutely," Wayne said. He obviously restrained his irritation.
"But you wanted to, Grandpa... David? And... If you were an agent so you were still able to do it? Agents can do everything!"
"I could but I did not want to risk it. I afraid that Phia may get hurt if I make blunders".
"Agents never make blunders!" Charlie's voice sounded so confident that Mason almost laughed.
"Alas, they make. And those are next to them getting hurt. I could not let that happen".
"No, you just did not want to see Sophia. I can see you're not telling the truth, Grandpa".
"I'm not your grandfather!" Bernard could not resist. "Stop calling me like that".
Mason frowned, wondering whether it is time to intervene. He did not want the understandable irritation of Mr. Wayne fall on the head of his baby brother.
"Luppiter iratus ergo nefas (Jupiter, you are angry, therefore you are wrong)," the latter said suddenly shocking both adults.
Mason was relieved to hear Bernard's chuckle.
"Where are you getting this?" Wayne asked in the more good-naturedly manner.
"In the boarding school," Charlie said. "And I know I'm right. You did not want to see her".
Oh hell. Mason almost reached out to open bushes but just frozen when he heard Wayne's answer.
"Okay. Yes, I did not want to. Are you happy now?"
"No", Charlie said even more persistently. "Why you did not want?"
Pause. Bernard Wayne obviously wondered to dismiss it or say the truth.
"Because it's tough," he said finally. "It looks like that you, kid, something knows about it. Who does not want to come back to you?"
"My mom," Charlie said gloomily. "She could be. Just for five minutes. She stopped her visits back when I was in the boarding school. Why she did it? And why it can be tough? It's feels... like... a beam in the dark when you see the ones you love".
Silence.
"It is tough because then you must leave them, Charlie. Five minutes of light and then months of darkness and aloneness. They're tearing your soul apart".
Another pause.
"I remember... when I was waiting for my mom for long time and she finally came back, later she has been told me that she's cried all past night. Do you think she's... tearing her soul apart then?"
"I do not know, son. Maybe".
"I asked my mom to stay with me when she came here. I kept her asking very, very strongly. But she just got angry at me. She did not want me".
"Probably, she felt hurt, Charlie".
"But I felt hurt too. Why she could not stay with me?"
"I do not know, Charlie. But addition of hurts gets better no one".
"But what I supposed to do now?" Mason had to strain to hear those words. "I cannot live without her. I cannot live without my mother. I... I'll just die if she'll not there".
"Your mother is alive and well..."
"No, my father said that she's ill therefore she cannot pick me up".
"Well, all the more. So your mother cannot take you in because she is sick. You had to admit that this is a good reason. But she'll recover, and you'll see her later".
"My father says I'll not".
"CC Capwell is not God, he can not know this. But it's not that. Just think. For example, if you would know that your mother will recover within a year or two, what would you do?"
"Count down the days, could not wait to see her..."
"I believe that you would be. But how have you been lived all that time? A year or two is a long time. You would spend all your time waiting for. Just looking at the calendar to cross out the days and wait, wait, wait... only. No, boy, you cannot do like that. You'll go mad".
"And what do I do?" Charlie's voice was clearly laced with the tears. "I cannot do anything else..."
"You can, my friend. Now you're living in this hope. And you do see nothing except it. But there's another way. It is not perfect and it will not relieve your pain but it's better than to wait for a miracle indefinitely".
"What's way?"
"Live on".
"What?"
"Yes, just to live. Learning in the school, playing with friends, reading books... Your hope will not go away, it will remain with you but you're not going to get crazy about it. You'll just keep in your mind that one day a miracle can happen".
"I do not think I will able to..." Charlie sniffed; the tears obviously had been fallen.
"Of course, you'll. You're a strong guy. You'll be able to live with your longing. And believe me it gradually becomes not so acute".
"I do not want to forget my mother!" The desperate cry of pain.
"You'll not forget her. Who told you that?"
"But if I'll not miss her so I will forget her? I'll stop to love her?"
"Love and longing is not the same thing. You love your mom and keep longing for her. But your love would not cease if you finally met her and stopped to wait, right?"
Charlie's lost in thought.
"No," he answered confidently.
"Then there is no reason to believe that the decreasing of your longing somehow affect your love for your mother. Do you understand me?"
"Probably," Charlie said with obvious doubt but at least not being skeptic.
"You're too young for such subjects, of course. But just try to think over my words. And try to spend usefully the time that you will be forced to be away from your mother".
"Yes, I'll try, Grandpa David".
Mason heard the sound of departing footsteps. He was about to leave too when he heard: "You can already get out from behind the bushes, counselor. It seems being nosy is in Capwells' blood".
"I consider it as compliment," Mason walked out, trying to maintain his dignity and added after pausing: "Thanks for talking to my young brother. He has a hard time now".
"His mother is really sick?"
"Yes," Mason said, hinting that he does not want to go in details.
"It's a pity. He's a good kid. Though he's too mature for his age".
"The European education. Excuse me but I have to go," Mason turned to leave but he was stopped by Wayne: "Mason?"
"Yes?" he turned around.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me and my daughter. You really didn't have to".
Mason raised his eyebrow. "You're welcome. I'm glad I could help." And he briskly walked to his car; it's shining in the distance.
Bernard Wayne thoughtfully watched after the stepson of his daughter. Mason made a good impression on him in spite of Wayne's instinctive dislike for Capwells. And he felt something common between Mason and this boy. Not just family resemblance but something more kinship in the deep. They both had big hearts but as being child as Charlie was more open-heart, and Mason was hiding himself behind a wall of his sarcasm. Bernard suppressed the sigh. He have been loved his daughter but he always wanted to have a son. But it's too late now.
* * *
As soon Mason come into the house as his hand was immediately grabbed by Mary.
"Finally! Did you take your tuxedo from the cleaners?"
"What? My tuxedo?" stunned Mason looked at her.
"Mason! Have you forgotten that my sister's wedding is tomorrow?"
"Oh". He finally realized what it is. "No, I do remember. The Santa Maria Church, at 12.00".
"Very good. Your tuxedo?"
"I do not know yet, let me catch my breath".
"Mason Capwell, if it turns out that your tuxedo is not ready..."
"I'll buy a new one. Why are you so nervous?" He took Mary's arm. "Is something wrong?"
"No, I just... oh, I do not know. I'm afraid that anything goes wrong".
"Nothing goes wrong, everything will be alright," Mary gasped. "What is wrong with you? You were not so nervous even at our own wedding".
"I had no doubts when we're getting married".
Mason smiled.
"Are you afraid that Jimmy would leave Christy at the altar? Nonsense".
"I don't afraid that but... I just don't know anymore".
"Come on, they love each other. Beside your mother never going to give them any chances to leave".
"Oh, I promised to call her! Sorry, I'll be right back!" Mary rushed to the phone.
Smiling Mason'd watch her dialing her mother's number. God, how much he loves her! He got such a treasure! However, his surprised realizing was tinged a strange feeling of deservedness. He did deserve happiness. They both did deserve it.
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