Page 68 of Highway To Destiny

“Mason, Claudia never…” Sylvia tried to speak.

I interrupted her by lifting a raised palm. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not upset. What she revealed just gave me a clearer understanding…if it’s true. To me, it all fits, but I wanted to give you both the chance to explain. Your visit tonight might clear things up for everyone.”

Jack and Sylvia looked at each other, and then Sylvia looked at Connor, who, along with Eli, seemed confused by the conversation.

“Wait, I don’t understand what’s going on,” Connor said with a lost look. He glanced at me, then flicked his gaze between Jack and Sylvia. “Are you saying you had an out-of-body experience?” he asked, looking back at me.

I kept my voice calm, and without hesitation, I said, “Yes, I believe I did, and I saw Claudia.”

Sylvia spoke before Connor could say anything, “Claudia never told you about her teenage years when you were married, did she?” she asked softly. Sylvia always had the knack of knowing what to ask or say. Again, it was her motherly intuition.

“No, but she never dwelled on the past and always looked to the future, especially for the two of us,” I responded. “But I now know what secret she hid from me.”

Sylvia stood up and slowly paced the room, putting her thoughts together before she spoke. Jack lovingly watched her like he had when I’d visited them last year. Connor looked at me and then Eli, who simply shrugged and raised his brow, not knowing what was going on either.

“It was very difficult, Mason, keeping that from you,” she began. “But it was her story to tell, and she decided not to confide in you, which was unfortunate. The decision to have the child and give up the baby was the right one, though, instead of the alternative,” she said as she walked up to me. “I think you know that’s true, Mason, because look what happened in your life once fate played a part, and you chose the path that led you to a life with Connor.” Her eyes spoke of love, caring, and understanding.

Sylvia placed her hand against my jaw before she sat down again. Jack gave me a sympathetic, thin-lipped smile after he took Sylvia’s hand and placed it on his lap. I looked at Connor, and his confusion was evident. I wasn’t sure how he was going to react to what I was about to say, but hoped it wouldn’t freak him out. Everyone remained quiet, and the silence became unsettling.

I spoke directly to Connor to alleviate his confusion. “When I had my near-death experience, Claudia came to me and revealed her past before we even met in college. At fifteen, she was raped by a boy she was on a date with and became pregnant.” I gestured towards Jack and Sylvia. “With the guidance of her parents, she decided to have the baby but felt it best to give the child up for adoption. The adoption agency was in Portland.”

Connor’s brow pinched, and he tilted his head as he continued to listen.

“That baby was adopted by a family that had a young son already. The father was a police officer who was tragically killed in the line of duty shortly after the baby was adopted.” I stared intently into Connor’s eyes, and I saw him visibly start to shake. Eli placed his hand on Connor’s back.

I motioned for Connor to come to me, which he did. I took his hand and tilted his chin up to look into my eyes. “I believe you were that baby, Connor. I had the pleasure of meeting your family, and it all fits, babe. You have the same emerald-green eyes Claudia had, and that’s what drew me to you. As Sylvia stated, fate brought us together, and I chose to act on that chance meeting two summers ago. I believe it was destined for you to be with me and become an incredible blessing in my life.”

Connor let go of my hands, walked to the other side of my bed, and stood behind me. “So, it was my eye color, and because you remembered your deceased wife?”

Although his question was blunt, I didn’t take offense, but I noticed Sylvia looked at the floor. “Yes, Connor, it was your eye color that took my breath away, but…but once we started talking and when we met again, something shifted.” Connor remained quiet as I heard him lightly rustle the bedding. Even though I couldn’t see him behind me, I knew he was in deep thought and possibly in shock.

I knew he was contemplating everything we’d done together, so I continued but didn’t turn to look at him. “Ever since that night at the bonfire, a fire within me sparked. When we kissed that night, I knew, I just knew my life was about to change. You did that, Connor. You had begun to chip away the armor around my heart. My love for you became an obsession. You’re on my mind every hour of every day, and I thank God and the universe for bringing us together.”

I glanced at Eli and watched him track Connor’s movement back around the bed. It was a significant revelation for my boyfriend, and I prayed it wouldn't overwhelm what we had. I gazed in his direction as he came into my line of sight.

As he stood at the foot of my bed, he looked up and said, “This is a lot…a lot to take in, Mason. You know I love you too, but I’m confused about how that could be true. What does that make me to you if I’m Claudia’s son? Am I your stepson, which would be weird? Where…where do we go from here?” I saw unshed tears in his eyes due to the uncertainty.

“Connor, listen to me,” Sylvia began. “You were adopted by another family, which severs all ties between you and Claudia, your birth mother. There is no familial connection between you and Mason, only the love you share.” As she spoke, Jack walked up next to her and placed his hand on Connor’s shoulder. Connor lowered his head and blew out a deep, hitched, somewhat relieved breath.

Sylvia wiped away a stray tear from Connor’s cheek. “I’m sure you noticed how Jack and I reacted when we met you. Not only do you have the exact eye color Claudia had, but we also see expressions you make that remind us of her.” Connor closed his eyes as she spoke. “That makes us so happy, having had the chance to meet you, Connor, but also to have you as part of our family. Mason deserves you. We all do.” She pulled him into a gentle hug and lightly kissed his cheek. “Jack and I have the grandson we’ve never had the opportunity to meet until now.”

Connor let his head fall onto her shoulders as the three of them embraced. His shoulders shook with light sobs. My throat tightened, and Eli looked wistfully at them with a level of emotion I’d not seen from him before.

When Connor released them, I noticed he was deep in thought. I put my hand out to him, and he walked to me. He stood against the bed with his legs between mine as I sat there, and he kissed me tenderly. I wrapped my good arm around his waist. The news I’d revealed wasn’t an end for us but a beginning for him to know he’d gained a bigger family.

“What are you thinking about, babe?” I asked as I pulled him tight. He took a moment but before he could answer, there was a gentle knock at the door.

We all turned to see Sharon and Kyle enter the room.

42

CONNOR

My head was spinning.Would this change things between Mason and me? How would Mom and my brother react to this news?

After I’d listened to what was said, I was convinced Mason and Iweredestined to meet. We fit so well together, and the love I felt for him was just as much an obsession for me as it was for him. He meant the world to me, and it felt like we’d be together no matter what.

I was taken from my thoughts and Mason’s question by the sound of a gentle knock at the door, and then Mom and Kyle strode in with a potted bamboo plant.

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