JANE took the seat by the window in a quiet coffee shop. She placed her handbag on the chair next to her and looked at her surroundings. It was clean, calm and the place smelled of a mixture of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods. She placed the paper cup of hot coffee on the black table in front of her and realised how plain the grey walls were but it didn’t matter. Two weeks ago, she went online and received an email from an unknown stranger. At first she was hesitant to open it.
She took her time to clear out her trash mails before deciding to open it. The subject of that mail stated that it was urgent. When she opened it, a stranger named, Geoff explained that he would like to meet her. In that letter, he informed her that he was her biological father. “I don’t think you’re my father,” Jane snorted when she thought of how she was taunted by other students because she was raised by a single mum.
She hated it, so she changed school. In her new school, she lied to everyone. She told her teachers and friends that her father worked overseas and only came back during the festive seasons. “Are you really my father or is it a scam?” As she said that, she found an attachment in that mail. She clicked and downloaded the files to see her original birth certificate and the DNA test he took when she was a toddler. The evidence looked legit, but she wasn’t so sure. She was in an unsure state for days until she confirmed it with her mother. “Why didn’t you tell me about him?” Jane asked her mother when she visited her during the weekend.
“I did,” her mother stood up for herself. “You wouldn’t stop talking and asking about him. At the time I was already seeing Ted.” “He was still my father. I wouldn’t have such a horrible childhood if he was in my life, mum.”
“I wish Geoff didn’t contact you, Jane,” her mother rubbed her temples as if the issue was giving her a headache. “Why? He is still alive and I am young. We can still have a father daughter relationship, right?” Jane sounded hopeful.
“Not to burst your bubble, but I wouldn’t believe Geoff. Years of being with him taught me not to rely on him. I don’t know why he contacted you after all these years.” “Maybe he realised his mistake?” “No dear, that doesn’t happen. Geoff doesn’t make mistake, that’s why-“her mother stopped abruptly and bit her lower lip. “I am planning to meet this man, a stranger claiming to be my father. Now is not the time to withhold any information. That’s why what?”
“Geoff never wanted you. He said he wasn’t ready to be a father. He claimed that you’re a mistake,” her mother went on, putting her hand on hers. “So that was why I had you because you are no mistake to me. You are a blessing. When I laid eyes on you, I knew I had to protect you from somebody who made half of you. I swore that he will not have any rights when it comes to you because he wasn’t a man enough to step up and be your father.”
Jane listened, but she was going through an emotional roller coaster at what her mother said. They sat in silence in the kitchen while thoughts ran through their minds. The blue kitchen clock continued ticking and that was the only sound for the next few minutes until Ted walked in the kitchen. “Should I still meet up with him?” Jane finally broke the silence. “It is your decision but I wouldn’t have such high hope when it comes to Geoff,” her mother warned her. After the conversation Jane had with her mother she was torn between meeting her father or not. She needed answer, and she was going to give her father a chance to explain.
The thought disappeared when a man walked towards her, and she knew it was her father for sure. She didn’t need to clarify if he was the right person as they had the same wide forehead and button nose. He smiled and took the seat opposite of Jane. “Thank you for coming,” Geoff started. “I won’t take up much of your time. So I’ll get to the point.”
“You are treating this like a business meeting?” “Yes. I have this for you,” Geoff gave her a cheque.
“Why now? Why this?” “I’ve made a lot of mistakes and before I die, I want to have a clear conscience,” Geoff explained. “Mistake like me,” Jane burst out in anger and studied the huge amount of money. “Here I thought you wanted to know me. My mother is right about you.
No money will ever be enough to clear your conscience of abandoning us.” At that said, Jane walked out on that man like how he walked out on her and her mother decades ago. Carina Lim bears different messages through her fiction. These messages could be useful in life. She can be contacted at mermaidgal103@ yahoo.com
