Chapter 5 The divorce

Chapter Five

Jason

The divorce.

As soon as I was done taking care of the damages I caused as a result of carelessness.

I couldn't concentrate while driving after speaking to my mom that I mistakenly ran into Whitney.

I sighed deeply. I was glad she wasn't badly injured as I continued my ride home.

The drive from home to my school took a few hours. I arrived to find my mom in a very sober state.

l leaned closer to her and hugged her deeply.

"Where is dad, isn't he supposed to be home already?", I asked.

"He comes home late and doesn't eat my food anymore, I don't know what to do anymore", she cried out.

My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. I had known him as my mentor. I looked up to him so much.

I didn't for once imagine that he would act out of character especially after everything both of them have been together.

It didn't take long. My dad arrived. He fixed his gaze at me.

"Why aren't you in school?"he asked me.

My brows furrowed in annoyance. Didn't he see how much he was hurting my mom. What he cared about was me being in school.

"I came because mom needed me," I replied.

"I need you to give us some time", he informed me.

I never wanted to leave. But had to as my mom gestured on me to obey him. I did as she instructed but stayed closely listening to their conversation.

"I don't think this marriage can work anymore", he said. "I am in love with someone else", he said the word hitting like a bombshell.

What does he mean by the marriage couldn't work. Has my dad been pretending for nineteen years?

Why did he suddenly grow out of love?

Who was this mystery woman he has been sleeping with?

I tightened my fist into a ball. He must be joking right now.

"It's best if we both go our separate ways", he added

I watched my mom's tears flow like a river.

"We can make it work", she begged.

"I tried Lisa, but I couldn't it's not working can't you see if we continue we are only going to be hurting ourselves",

"What about Jason!", she asked.

I saw desperation seeping through her eyes. She was more concerned about me having a complete family.

"He would understand", my dad said.

I rolled my eyes in confusion. How does he expect me to understand?

I was only a teenager finding my way through life, school and sport.

This was a lot take in.

That night changed me. I wasn't the same person anymore. I ended up drinking, smoking and womanising to forget that horrific experience.

Nothing matters to me anymore except hockey. Playing hockey was the time I get to relieve the trauma of that experience.

Then I met her. She was different. Everything about her. The way she smiled. The way she talked. I wanted more from her but she seemed distant.

She seemed to be out of my reach.

.............

Whitney Point of view.

The day my mom informed me that I was going to be having a step dad. I thought it was a joke. My parents hadn't always been happy with each other, especially my mom.

She always said that if she knew what she knows now. She wouldn't have married my dad.

The divorce still came as a shocking news o me but what surprised me the most was that she had already found a replacement for him.

I was stunned, typical of my mom to be faster than her shadow.

I walked into the house as she called me from school to meet up with my step-dad during mid-semester break in school.

"How long have you known this man?" I asked her.

"For three months", she replied.

"Don't you think you are taking things too fast",

"No honey, when you meet the one you would know and nothing is too fast", she said seeming so sure of herself.

"I dated your dad for two years and married him for eighteen years honey, I didn't feel this way I felt around this man with him", she added.

"Then why did you marry him", I asked with disbelief evident in my voice.

She paused for a while. "When you get older...you..Will understand Whitney", she replied.

I moved around helplessly.

"Mom..mom..tell me your joking right now", I yelled.

She picked up the glass of champagne and sipped it gently. "I am not joking honey, I love this man and if you want my happiness you should be supportive"

"He is going to be here any minute, I want you to meet him and be of very good behaviour, do you hear me", she instructed me.

I felt for my dad. How could she? She discarded him like a piece of trash.

She wasn't sure how he was feeling.

"Does dad know about this?", I asked.

"Ofcourse he knows, we are finalising our divorce paper already", she replied.

"Divorce!!...divorce", I screamed.

"You have been seeing this man behind our back I guess", I voiced out.

My mom seemed so relaxed. I wondered why she gave birth to me. I was nothing like her.

The looks, aura and attitude. None of it I inherited. I took everything from my dad.

A knock at the door disrupted our conversation.

"He is here", she whispered like I care.

"Come in", she voiced out.

A man in his mid-fifties walked in. My gaze fixed on him. I was trying my best to maintain my composure.

She ushered him to the dining table.

"We were just about to have dinner, you can join us", she said smiling.

Irritation practically seeped through me.

What was in my mom thinking, divorcing my dad and telling me the same day she planned to introduce me to my future step-dad.

I looked at his face. I can't believe he was reminding me of someone I couldn't practically place a face to.

I struggled to but couldn't as my mom snapped me out of my thoughts.

"He was asking you a question?",

"What's your name?",

"Whitney," I said coldly.

"That's a great name?", he voiced out as my mom and him were smiling at each other.

"I have a son about your age as well, he goes to Essex college", he replied.

I nodded totally absent from the conversation.

Did he just said his son goes to Essex?

My eyes widened in shock. Why does his son have to go to the same school as mine?