The Unexpected Lover

Chapter 5: Naomi

Naomi

I sat in the office and talked to my mother about my options for hours since I didn't really know anything about them. I mean I've never really cared to pay attention to such things before now. But she went on, telling me about how the unity of our two families would bring our dynasty into a whole new era and blah blah blah. I really wanted to pay attention but I couldn't, I wasn't too sure about them. Something kept telling me not to trust them. As I studied the folder closely, I noticed that something was off. According to the files, there were only two brothers, Anthony and Thomas, and they had only one sister Jessica. However, there was a snippet from an article that mentioned four siblings.

"I wonder what happened to the fourth?" I thought to myself. "I need to find out more about this family before I decide on anything."

In a moment of bravery, I asked my mother to give me three months to think about my options before making my final decision, which to my surprise she agreed.

"Three months and not a moment later," she said, "You understand me?"

"Si mama, I know, not a moment later," I replied.

I decided to leave and take the folder with me. There was something not right and I needed to find out what it was. I know my mother is only looking at one side of things but I need the whole story.

As I was leaving the lobby, I could see Mike waiting outside. Suddenly a thought came across my mind, "Maybe I could ask Mike about them?"

Mike is very knowledgeable, knowing everything happening in New York. Plus, it helps that he loves his gossip. Sometimes he reminds me of some fifteen-year-old girl who's the high school drama queen.

He opened the door for me as I began asking, "Hey Mike, you know just about everyone here. What can you tell me about the infamous Caster family?"

"Oh dear, let me tell you! And please forgive me for saying but, it's the saddest story you'll ever hear next to your own," he said.

"Really? It's that bad?" I asked as I got into the car.

"Oh yes indeed! It has all the components of a great story!" he said enthusiastically.

"It's full of sadness, hope, happiness, love, tragedy, betrayal and then more sadness," He exclaimed again, driving through the city.

"So, tell me! I want to know what you know or heard," I said impatiently.

"Okay, okay hold your horse's missy, I'll tell you." He said feeling rushed.

He began to tell me the story of the Casters. How they had three children, two sons, and a daughter. They wanted to have another baby, but during her last labor, Mrs. Caster started having some complications that almost killed her.

Still, they wanted a child, so the next step was to adopt. Unfortunately, they were met with one failed attempt after the other, it started to become too much but they kept hope. Eventually, they found themselves searching orphanages and small poor villages in Mexico. Even that seemed like another failed attempt, until one day while searching, they came across a frail-looking man with his sickly wife and baby boy. Mr. Caster looked at the poor family in their condition and knew that if he didn't act then the innocent baby would not make it through his next few months.

So he did the only thing that made sense at the time. He offered the man and woman money for their child so that they could get the medical treatment they needed. At first, they were insulted and very reluctant. It wasn't until he showed his general concern and offered that the boy would grow up in a loving home, have a great education, and would never have to worry about anything for as long as he lived that made them reconsider. They finally agreed.

That would be the last time they would ever see their son again, they both died shortly after due to their sickness.

"Jesus!" I said, "That's so terrible!"

"Oh, but there's more," Mike hinted, as he continued driving.

He then went on to tell me about how the boy grew up, being raised in America by his new loving family. He told me about how the boy excelled in school, and sports and how he even liked to dance. He owed it all to Mr. Caster for taking a chance on his life, and he was forever grateful. Fortunately for the boy, everything was going well for him, he even grew into a very handsome and talented young man with a promising future. That is, until one day while visiting his father at work, he found him laying in a pool of his own blood in his office.

Almost in an instant, everyone that he had ever loved turned on him and blamed him for the death of his father. After he was arrested, the trials went by quickly, almost the quickest in the state. He was given a life sentence and was locked away.

"To this day no one really knows why he did it, and unfortunately no one ever will." He said finishing the story as we arrived at my building.

"Holy shit!" I said shockingly.

"Yep, well at least that's what I heard anyways. You know how these things get twisted and turned around, especially at the bingo joint down by South Blvd," he said jokingly.

"I mean, wow, like wow that was a lot," I said still stunned by everything he had just mentioned. "I'm not even sure what to think right now."

Just then I received a phone call. "Strange timing, right?" I thought before answering.

"Hey, what's up? What? Who?! Okay, okay just give me a sec. Just fill me in with the details when I get to the apartment in the morning," I said before hanging up.

"Everything okay?" Mike asked.

"I think I'm going to find out what really happened to the rest of that story, Mike," I said after taking a quick second to process what I had just heard.

Mike looked puzzled but intrigued.

"Actually, Mike, I think I need a drink. Take me to my spot please." I said still surprised.

"Yes ma'am," Mike said as we drove off into the night.