The Happy Lights in your Window

Chapter 38

Kas

He stands under the shade of the tree looking at the big house. It's the same tree that he has stood under as the boy badly beaten up by Zander, it's the same tree he has stood under as the sickly young man whose Ma had been taken away by Ryan Bernard. But today, the scales have tilted. He watches a driver putting a couple of suitcases into a car, with Alice standing at the pavement holding the little girl. He sees that though Zander is talking urgently to Alice, his full attention is on the little girl who is crying for her Papa. Alice guides the little girl into the car, brushing Zander's hand away. He sees the car being driven away and he sees Zander staring distraught at the now empty street. He sees it all. He sees what he has dreamt of for years. A dream to see Zander as helpless and as weak as he always had been. As he looks at the scene, he sees Jackson. 

Like Kas, Jackson is also more than just a curious bystander. He realizes that the more Zander breaks, the better the chance Jackson has of becoming the crown prince. He gazes at the seemingly serene magnificent house which houses evil minds and dirty secrets. Zander looks pathetic and lonely standing there. He needs to put the final nail in the coffin for Zander to break down enough to admit as to where he took Kaya. Ash's voice whispers in his ears "This is where I first saw you, Kas. In revenge, no side remains unscathed. It takes a toll both on the receiver and giver. Why don't you stop now"? Kas stills at Ash's strange advice. He whispers furiously, "Stop? Stop now? I haven't even reached halfway! Until I find Kaya, stopping is not an option." Ash's breath touches his ear "I thought you might say that. Brace yourself for the pain, Kas. It's coming your way".

Kas

"Did I hear you right"? He looks at Alice incredulously. She sits there with folded hands and a stubborn expression. "I said I don't want a dirty divorce trial. I want Zander to agree willingly. I don't want to slander him publicly. I also want to give him visiting rights to Megan. Let's just show his team all the evidence we have. They will have to agree." Kas gets up and slams his hands on the desk. She cowers a bit but then straightens her posture and stares at him defiantly. "Why the sudden change of mind"? He grits out. She eyes him carefully but her tone remains strong, "Well, the only reason is he loves Megan and has always been wonderful with her. I think Megan is the only person in the world other than Kevin that he really cared for. I adopted her as a baby and Zander has always been a good father to her. I want her growing up thinking well of him and I want them to continue having a good relationship. Yes, we can give him the bare minimum permitted visiting time or whatever but otherwise I don't want an ugly divorce marring her childhood."

 Having said her long piece in a continuous flow, she sits back and daintily sips on her tea. Kas closes his eyes and there is complete silence in the room for a few moments. Then he opens his eyes and leans forward casually "Give her a new father legally. Do that and I can agree to your terms. I just don't want Zander as her father even on paper." He watches the conflicting emotions on her face. "And where am I going conjure up this new father for Megan"? Kas shrugs. "We'll figure out someone for a contractual marriage." She stands up. " I don't agree. There will be no contractual marriage of any kind. This is my life and no one gets to manipulate it." She turns and walks away angrily. At the door, she stops and tells him firmly, "Be careful. You're turning into another Ryan Bernard". She closes the door quietly behind her leaving him staring at the closed door.

Dor

She watches him laughing with some of the other guys at the garage, greasy and messy in his overalls. She feels the tightness in her chest and her eyes are beginning to feel blurry. She quickly wipes her eyes with her hands, fumbling in her sling bag for a tissue. Lately, she has begun daring to dream. A dream in which she has a future with Chess. A dream in which he is with the one whom she wants to be with, someone whom she wants to touch. She has lived with a man whose touch she tolerates since she was a young teen. Her heart which had hardened years ago seems to be softening and beating easier again lately. Her black and white life has suddenly become bearable as she is now tempted by the bouquet of beautiful colors that Chess keeps offering her. She knows he has been watching her for years. She has pretended not to see him sneaking around in the Café near her bakery. She has pretended not to see the yearning in his eyes. She has pretended to hate him all these years and put up a wall against him. She doesn't hate him as much as she hates herself for wanting the life that every young woman wants. Shaking herself back to reality, she looks to see Chess quietly watching her. He remains where he is, not making any movement to come to her. He watches her gently and carefully as one would watch a little frightened animal. Feeling embarrassed at being caught near his garage without any reason, she quickly turns and walks away. Her phone pings. There is a message from Chess, "Take as long as you need. I can wait." She feels a smile tugging on her lips and as she strolls down the street, she hums her Mom's favorite song.