CHAPTER 19
Mrs. Swiss walked them all to Doctor's Tom office and asked that the good doctor excuse them. "If you don't mind, I'll like to see these two first before having that conversation." She told the doctor who had been about to put in a word.
"Your role in all these doesn't go unnoticed." She added as the man took his leave. She sat down and asked both Evan and Jason to do the same. The ease with which she became accustomed to the office made Evan snicker. Her mother had always been one to take control of every situation. And her father had let her. Though strong and fierce as a lawyer, as a father, he let her mother do whatever she liked.
Mrs. Swiss had assumed the role of God in their lives. She dictated what they wear, who they visit, what case her father shouldn't handle, what course the kids study in school. It was exhausting. Growing up, she had been intrigued by it. Especially when other kids talk about their home, it was usually in reverse.
They would complain about how their dad ruined dinner, how he wouldn't let them visit whom. And each time she asked where their mother was, the response was usually interesting.
"Oh, mother has no say in all these." Was usually the response. But most of their moms were stay home moms.
They did nothing. Hers was sophisticated and a lawyer. So, she had concluded her mother being a lawyer too made the difference. Then the divorce happened, and for all its worth, she knew it was mother's fault. And so, she began to rebel. While her dad and Adriana did their mother's bidding, she did the very opposite, which was why even now, she stood fuming while her mother sat down and commanded her to take a seat.
Swiss looked at the defiant look on her youngest face and shook her head. Whatever she did to this one, she wouldn't give her a breathing space. She was a woman who was feared and respected everywhere. Her family name alone commanded respect. But all that amounted to nothing with Evan. The only being she couldn't control was her youngest daughter, who at every chance tried to make sure she notices she couldn't be toiled with. Even now, she wouldn't sit when she offered them a seat. Jason Valdez also seems to loot around her.
Regardless, she accessed both of them through hooded eyes and decided to say what she had in mind. The idea of becoming a baby mama was preposterous. She had raised her kids better than this.
"So, Mr. Valdez. What on earth did you think you mean to force this on my daughter. When Logan told me about this outrageous idea, he never mentioned the man. I had assumed it was some strange, irresponsible brute..."
"Mother." Evan cautioned, then added, "He didn't force anything on me."
Ignoring her, she continued, "Imagine my surprise to find out yesterday that it was you. My family has been in business with yours for ages back. One would think you'd extend the courtesy by running this through the proper channel. You can't just walk around with plans to impregnate my daughter because...."
"Mother!" Evan said, hitting the table. "Look, this isn't the 19th century. I wanted to do this. And he's not impregnating me. Not in that sense."
"But you will be carrying his child. How is that not impregnating?" She stood up too, too angry to care that her feet were hurting from standing all day at work, waiting for the information she had requested about her daughter.
"If you wanted a child, why didn't you go through the proper channel? Why this?" She rubbed her head stiffly. "I forbid you."
Evan blushed at the way her mother was handling it. It was embarrassing. She better gets her facts right then. "Before you forbid anything, mother." She added the last piece slowly, "You should know that I am carrying the child already."
Mrs. Swiss looked taken aback momentarily. The look on her face, it looked like she was going to faint after all. As she stumbled back, Jason was beside her in a quick stride. He helped her back to her seat. "Is she right?" Mrs. Swiss asked, looking at the man holding her. His nod provoked her. She pushed his hands off her.
"Yes, ma'am. It's been done." Standing a few feet away from her, Jason confirmed, "And if it's any consolation, I'm deeply sorry about everything. If I had known you felt this strongly about it, I would have backed out. I don't want you having issues with your daughter over my family's affair." He looked at Evan. "Doing this was a great gift bestowed on me." He smiled sadly before turning back to Mrs. Swiss, "If you will excuse me."
Evan ran after him, "Jason?" When he stopped, she told him, "Look, my mother and I have never seen eye to eye over anything. This..." She spreads her hands. "It's not what is eating at her."
"I still wish you'd told me her reservations. I'd have tried getting her blessing or so."
"Her what?"
"Look, I need to go. Okay. I'll see you." And he was gone. She watched him leave sadly. Something about his stride told her he was upset.
