Elizabeth visibly contemplated the truth and a lie.
She settled for the truth. "Yes," her head bowed, embarrassed. "Jake is Jason's son."
Jeff perceived her defensiveness and sympathised. He paused for what seemed like eternity to Elizabeth before he steadily inhaled and exhaled. "Lizzie, I don't need to ask why you chose to pretend Jake is Lucky's son. He was your first love, he's an incredible father and his line of work doesn't put you or the boys at risk." She nodded, uneasily. Jason's unconditional and eternal loyalty to Sonny was the only fraction of him she had to try to love. "As parents, we do what we think best for our children. The caveat is that those decisions are often the hardest and require the most sacrifice." Elizabeth wiped the tears from her eyes and Jeff softened his voice, "All I want for you is your happiness," he earnestly insisted. "When all is said and done, ten or twenty years from now, will you be happy? Or will you be stuck on what could have been?"
The repercussions of her confession hit Elizabeth the next day at the hospital. "You told your father?"
"I'm sorry," she buckled under the heaviness of Jason's unavoidable disappointment as he rubbed his forehead in an effort to soothe the pound between his temples. His day seemed to spiral from bad to worse with Carly admitted to the hospital, likely to miscarry as a result of an explosion at the warehouse, and Michael determined to follow in Sonny's footsteps. "I had to. It was as if he already knew. I didn't think he would believe a lie." She intentionally lowered her voice, wary that walls seemed to have ears at General Hospital.
"No, it's okay," Jason swallowed the acidic taste of resentment. The number of people who knew about Jake's paternity steadily increased, yet his role in his son's life remained minimal. "He's your father. It makes sense," he paused, mindfully. "That you would want him to know the truth." It posed the question why he didn't desire the same for his own family. "But there can only be so many people who know before Jake's life is put at risk."
Elizabeth bowed her head, "I know." They seemed stuck in this circle, no escape from the path her lie had set them onto. "But maybe it's time to realise that we can't protect him forever," she bravely ventured and an alien expression fell over Jason's features, disturbed by the drastic U-turn in her attitude.
"Excuse me," Jeff rounded the corner and stumbled upon their conversation outside Carly's hospital room. There was a momentary silence as he bypassed their intimate conversation in favour of his patient. Perturbed by her father's interruption, Elizabeth duly withdrew to her duties on the ward as Jason watched Jeff enter Carly's hospital room with visible trepidation. The pain etched onto her face as Jeff delivered solemn news; her unborn baby the latest casualty of Sonny's violent world. There was a brief interlude as Jeff followed mandatory guidance with which he advised the patient on how to access emotional support for the bereavement. Finally, he reappeared from Carly's hospital room to find Jason standing alone. It required all the self-control with Jeff to refrain from judgement and he granted Jason a reserved smile. "She'll need to be kept in for observation until tomorrow but she's okay."
"Thank you," Jason accepted the update with a hint of relief.
"I don't ever want Lizzie to be a victim of what's happened here today."
"Neither do I," Jason replied, sincerely.
"Contrary to what my absence from her life may suggest, I love my daughter very much," Jeff confessed, unashamedly. "I can say from experience, as a father, you never regret the time you spend with your children - only the time you didn't." What his unsolicited advice alluded to was far from subtle and Jason found it almost impossible to meet his eye. "Mr. Morgan, just about anyone I speak to in this town seems to have nothing but glowing references for you - with the exception of your mother, of course." In the weeks he had become reacquainted with his ex-wife, Monica had never explicitly discussed Jason with him and that told Jeff all he needed to know. Jason stilled himself, wounded by the apparent irreparable rift in their relationship. "You may be many things but I get the impression that 'deadbeat father' isn't one of them." Bobbie was one of the voices Jeff trusted, and she had endlessly praised him for being one of the few stabilising influences in her daughter's life, as well as a paternal influence on her two boys.
"Elizabeth and I made the decision -"
" - to keep Jake's paternity a secret to protect him, yes, I'm aware of the deal you have. I'm also aware it doesn't stop you from seeing my daughter whenever you please." There was a concoction of disapproval, respect and sympathy in his voice that Jason couldn't quite separate. "As far as I can tell, she cares about you very much which means that whatever concerns I may have about you, you have my word that Jake's identity remains protected and you are a welcome part of his life."
Jason speechlessly accepted the firm shake of the hand Elizabeth's father stretched out as a mark of respect.