Jonathan thought he must have heard wrong again, "Teo, what do you mean he's my son?"
Mateo sighed heavily. He had braced himself for this moment since he had called Jonathan to tell him about Nikki, "Jonathan, when you and Nikki broke up she was pregnant but she didn't know it."
"Then why wouldn't she have contacted me once she found out." Jonathan questioned, "She had to know I would want to do the right thing."
"That's why she didn't tell you. She didn't want you to feel trapped. " Mateo continued, "I know it sounds irrational but after the two of you broke up and you returned to the states she felt like it was best."
Jonathan shook his head, "My God." He muttered, "I have a son."
"I tried to talk to her." Mateo replied, "to convince her to tell you, but after she found out you had gotten married, well she didn't want to cause any problems for you." He glanced at Jennifer who had been standing by quietly
Jonathan looked at Jennifer whose whiskey colored eyes told him two things, they have a lot to talk about and that she would be right there beside him. He looked back to Mateo, "Has he been told anything about…I mean…"
"The only thing he has been told is that his father was far away and couldn't be with him." Mateo replied, "Jonathan, I didn't want you to find out like this. You should have known all along."
Jonathan stood up, "I…I don't know what to say." He paused looking at Jennifer again, "Can we talk again tomorrow?"
Mateo looked from him to Jennifer, understanding completely their need to talk privately, "Of course, call me in the morning if you wish and we can meet."
Jonathan nodded and he and Jennifer left for their hotel, Mateo offering his driver so they wouldn't have to wait for a cab. They had said nothing on the way back to the hotel preferring not to talk about the situation in front of the driver. Jennifer had been so quiet during the entire conversation with Mateo and Jonathan wondered what she could possibly be thinking. Usually they were so in sync they could read each other's thoughts but this was a whole new issue for them to face. He unlocked the door to the suite and let them in.
Jennifer put her purse down and slipped out of her suit jacket. She walked over to the bar, "Would you like a drink?"
He was puzzled by her nonchalance, "Darling, I think we need to talk, don't you?"
"Yes, we do." She agreed, "And I for one could use a drink right now." She opened a bottle of brandy and poured both of them a glass
He crossed the room, joining her, he took his glass, "Jennifer, I promise you I had no idea."
She signed heavily, "I know you didn't." She assured him, "You would never have walked away from her had you known."
He crossed the room back to the sofa and sat down, "I don't even know where to start. How do I tell him? What do we do now?"
"What do we do?" She asked as she joined him and took his hand in hers, "He's your son, we take him home."
THE FOLLOWING DAY
Jonathan called Mateo and arranged to come by the house again to discuss things more fully. He had slept little the night before, again. He was still trying to process the idea that he had a child. His mind flooded with thoughts of his childhood at the Mission Street Orphanage, all those years with no one but the nuns to look after him. He vowed if he ever had a child they would never want for anything, especially love, security and a sense of who they were. He and Jennifer had never expressly discussed children, agreeing that their life really didn't accommodate a child. But it looked like that was all about to change and as he had lain beside his sleeping wife, a million thoughts in his head, he was never more grateful to have her there beside him. They arrived at the estate and waited in the great room for Mateo. After a few minutes he joined them.
"Jonathan." He began, "I really want to apologize for how I sprung this on you yesterday."
Jonathan shook his head, "It's not your fault."
Mateo looked at Jennifer and could only imagine what transpired between them, "I know this had to be a great shock."
Jennifer smiled politely, "To say the least but the one who really matters is that little boy."
"Mateo, Jennifer and I have talked a great deal and we are prepared to take Nikos home with us." Jonathan informed him, uncertain of what his would be, "He's my son and he belongs with me…with us."
"Jonathan, if you are concerned about a fight, don't be." He said sensing his defensiveness, "I didn't tell you about him just to keep you from him."
"I know you didn't but there are other family members that might not see it the way you do." The Stefanos family was powerful and an heir to the fortune might not so easily be given up
"Don't worry about that." Mateo assured him again, "Nikki's will gives me complete guardianship of Nikos. No one else in the family had any authority to decide what's in his best interest and I believe his best interest is to be with his father."
Jonathan sighed heavily, "Alright then." He breathed out, "Where is he?"
"He's in his room." Mateo replied, "I'll let you talk to him alone if you want."
"No, that's not necessary." Jonathan said, "It might help if you're there."
Mateo nodded his agreement and the three ascended the staircase and walked down the hall. Mateo knocked on the door then poked his head in. Nikos was quietly reading a book and looked up and smiled at his uncle.
Mateo sat on the edge of his bed, "Nikos, we need to talk to you for minute." He gently took the book out of his hand and laid it beside him
Jennifer took Jonathan's hand and gave it a loving, supportive squeeze. He approached the boy and looked into his eyes, taken aback by how blue they were, just like his own, "Nikos, I know you may not understand all this but I'm your father."
Mateo blinked his eyes then studied Jonathan's face. He reached out his little hand and touched Jonathan's cheek and smiled, "Daddy." He exclaimed wrapping his arms around Jonathan's neck
A FEW WEEKS LATER
Nikos was beginning to settle in with Jonathan and Jennifer after a somewhat bumpy start. He was a sweet natured, well behaved little boy but this kind of upheaval in his life had undoubtedly caused some anxiety. He had woken up many a night crying for his mother and unsure of his surroundings. Jonathan was able to ease his fears most of the time and get him back to sleep. Max was an instant hit with the little boy, teaching him magic tricks and how to read the racing forms. He could always make the little boy laugh. Jennifer sensed Nikos's uncertainty toward her. She did her best to bond with him, for now she was the only mother he had but he continued to regard her caution and seemed to watch every move she made, studying her intently. A quiet child by nature, he rarely spoke unless spoken too. One morning after Jonathan left for the office and Max was running errands, Jennifer was sitting at the desk in the living room typing up her latest article while keeping an eye on him. Nikos was parked in one of the wingback chairs reading a children's book and every once in a while he would steal a glance at her, thinking she didn't notice. But she caught him once and gave him a smile and wink. After a couple of times, he cautiously got up and walked over to her.
"Jennifer?" He asked softly, hoping he wasn't bothering her
She stopped typing and looked at him, wanting to give him her full attention, "Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can you show me what you're writing?" He asked
She smiled, "Well, this is really grown up stuff but how about we read something together, huh?"
He smiled back, indicating his acceptance of her suggestion, "Okay."
She stood up and took him by the hand and they walked over to the bookshelves behind the desk, "Alright, let's see what we've got here." She scanned the bookshelf, her eyes finally falling on The Giving Tree, "How about this one? It's about a little boy and a tree."
He nodded and they made their way over to the sofa to be more comfortable. She sat down and he cautiously sat next to her. She opened the book and started to read, "Once there was this tree … and she loved a little boy…"
He looked up at her with a puzzled expression, "Trees can love?" he asked bewildered
She smiled gently, "This one can." She told him, "You want to know why?"
"Why?" He asked now wide eyed
"Because it's magic." She told him
"You mean like the tricks Uncle Max does?"
"Not exactly but close." She replied, "You want to finish?"
He nodded then did something quite unexpected. He cuddled close to her and she wrapped an arm around him and kissed the top of his head, "Let's start over…Once there was this tree…and she loved a little boy…"
As she read he relaxed his little body with hers and this was the day Nikos Stefanos not only became Nicolas Jonathan Hart but the day he became Jennifer Hart's son.
TBC