Two of a Kind

Ella is looking for answers

"Jay?", Ella stood in the doorway to the living room. Her father was sitting on the couch, legs on the coffee table, watching some series. Jay looked at her in surprise. Ella took a deep breath and sat down next to her father, "I want to know more about my mother. What was she like?"

Her father leaned forward, turned off the television and looked at her sadly, "Jakob, there isn't much to tell about her. She left us. The job had always been more important to her."

"Did you love her?"

"Well, yeah It was a kind of love."

"What happened back then? Why did you separate?"

"I think you'd better go back to bed," Jay said, looking at the clock - just before midnight.

"You never tell me anything about her! I have a right to know who my mom is!"

"Jakob! There is nothing to tell!"

"You are preventing me from developing into a free individual! It is important for a child to know where they come from, to know who the mother and father are!"

Jay raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at the child sitting in front of him. He can't blame his son for wanting to know more about his mother. Deep inside, Jay knew that one day the day will come when Jake will ask questions about her. Only he hadn't expected that day today. Jay sighed. Actually, he doesn't want to talk to his son about this, but lately they got on well. He can't just let the new relationship break.

"Your mother preferred to help her mom, your grandmother, Bunny. She had great talent in getting involved in illegal activities. She knew exactly how to manipulate your mother. The FBI has been investigating Bunny. Your mother didn't want her to go to jail. She made a decision against us and made a deal with the FBI," said Jay.

Ella thought about the new knowledge for a long time. She knew Bunny. She doesn't necessarily like her grandmother. When her mom had to go abroad because of her job, she lived with Bunny for two weeks. Bunny forgot about her at a rest stop. She drove on. Ella was left alone. It was only when she arrived in New York to hand Ella back to her mom that the woman only realized that she was driving on without Ella. Her mom was freaking out back then, but less than 4 months later Bunny celebrated Christmas with them. Though her mom said she never wanted to see Bunny again.

"Do you still love her?" Ella asked curiously.

However, Jay immediately shook his head, "I'm happier with Hailey. You like Hailey, don't you?"

"Yes, of course! Hailey is great!" Ella smiled. She was a little sad. Her plan to bring her parents back together broke up. On the other hand, she could understand her dad.

"Would you like to have another child?"

She noticed that her dad was looking at her in surprise. Ultimately, he nodded, "Yeah. A daughter would be nice," he smiled.

"A little sister? You know I would teach her a lot of nonsense," she winked.

"Nah, big sister," Jay grinned.

Ella looked at him speechless. Big sister? Does it mean that she is the older one? So far, she thought that Jake might be the firstborn twin.

"Big sister is no longer possible now," stated Ella. After all, Jake doesn't know anything about the existence of his twin. She noticed how her father nodded sadly. It immediately became clear to her that her father might be thinking of her - Mariella Lindsay. Whose appearance and character her father did not know. Although she was sitting next to him.

The attempt to find a solution with the twins failed. Jay wants to actively participate in the lives of his children, including Erin, who still lived in New York with the infants. It was a coincidence that Jay even found out about the existence of his children. Hank Voight felt it necessary to inform Jay of the fact that Erin was pregnant. Against Erin's will. Now they were on trial - an unsightly custody battle. No matter if he has doubts about raising children and ever becoming a suitable father, Jay would at least try. The case was quickly clear to the judge. Two children, a mother, a father. You can just separate the babies and you're done. The decision of which child to live with which parent had to be made by Erin and Jay. Erin didn't hesitate long. She was already holding Baby Ella in her arms. It was the last time Jay saw both his former partner and daughter.

"Does my mom live in New York?" Ella knew from her brother that he only knows that he was born in New York while on vacation.

"I don't know."

"Has she never contacted you all these years to inquire about me?"

Jay shook his head and smiled sadly at his son, "She has never been interested in us."

"That isn't true, is it?" Ella cannot imagine her mom destroying her own family only because of Bunny. She is becoming more and more aware that her father was telling the truth. Her mom lied to her all these years - her father would be unable to live his own life, would be overwhelmed with children if she had been mistreated, cheated on. But Ella cannot imagine all of this. Something was bothering her father, but he's a loving man.

"Yes," said Jay.

"You put all the blame on my mom? You could have stayed with her in New York? Why did you go? You are just as guilty!", Ella could no longer pull herself together. Her mom is not alone to blame for the whole thing - she never got in touch because something happened between them. Her mom is not a mother who neglects her child so much.

"Jakob, I know you don't want to hear that, but your mom just can't take care of a child. Your mom had a big problem with alcohol and drugs. She was clean, but Bunny kept dragging her into the abyss."

"You're lying!" Ella shouted. The first tears rolled down her cheek. Her mom never took a sip of alcohol or drugs. Her father started telling a lie. Maybe everything was a lie too - maybe he didn't miss his daughter at all. He probably thought of her for the first time in 10 years.

"I don't lie. Unfortunately. Jakob, you know I'm always honest with you and you with me," said Jay, "Why are you asking so many questions about your mom? She left us!"

Ella didn't answer. She was too busy trying to control her tears.

"Jake? Are you crying?", Jay looked at his child perplexed, "You never cry!"

It was all too much for her. Ella no longer tried to hold back her tears. She ran straight to her room. She put on her shoes, packed a backpack with all the essentials, put on her jacket and disappeared. She climbed out of the window. They lived on the fourth floor, but a fire escape led directly past her window onto the street. She just wants to go home - to New York!