Chapter twelve

In a pair of long black trousers and a grey button shirt, Elana sits in front of her mirror, doing her make-up, getting ready for her job interview. She clips up her hair and froze. Her face turns a little looking at the piece of hair hanging from the clip to her neck. She smiles and gets up, slowly admiring once more before grabbing her things and leaving. "So what do you think is going to happen between our parents?" Liam asks Joe as they walk out of the school building. "Are you good with having a stepbrother?" Joe jokes. Liam laughs and looks at the gate. Jordan is sitting in his vehicle waiting, and Elana's car just pulled up behind him. "So I'll see you tomorrow or hopefully tonight?" "Uhm, my mom and I might have plans," Liam tells him and pulls up his shoulders. "I'll have her phone your dad if it involves you two." "Alright, bye," Joe says. They do their little handshake before he pushes off. Liam slowly goes up to his mother's car and gets in. Elana keeps a close eye on him. Her hair is cut short and blown out nicely. He buckles his safety belt, and as he looks at his mother, his jaw drops. "What do you think?" Elana asks and shakes her hair. "Different, right?" "Woah, mom," he laughs and reaches out, touching her hair. She giggles, waiting for him to compliment her. "You look so beautiful, do you know that?" "Thanks, love," she winks at him and takes a moment of looking at him. He turns shy when her eyes rest on his. "How about we spend the afternoon together. I'll help you with your homework and afterward, we go eat something." "Okay," he smiles happily like a little kid. Elana bites her lip and looks in front of her, driving off. Jordan sits behind his computer, busy typing. His attention goes up to Joe, who knocks gently on his door. The young boy breathes nervously and goes into the office to his father. "Can I have a minute?" He asks. Jordan nods and turns his attention completely to his son. Joe takes a seat at his desk. "I need to know what's going on between you and Liam's mom. We're kind of thrown in the dark." "At this moment, nothing is going on between us," Jordan tells him honestly. "I'm in love with her, but she's still going through some things. I don't want to become a burden to her." "Okay," Joe nods with a little smile. "Liam seems very off lately. He doesn't know that I took notice, but he's been mentally absent. I would talk, and he would be miles away. I thought it had something to do with you and his mom, that maybe he felt upset about his mom being with you." Jordan raises an eyebrow and sits forward. He inhales deeply and smiles at him, trying to find the answers within him. He can easily tell him what he thinks it might be, but some things were meant to be kept secret. "Son, just be his friend. I know men don't cry or hug or show weakness, but I want you to give him a hug, not as a friend, but a brother," Jordan tells him. "He might be needing you more now than before." "So you know about this?" Joe asks his father with an odd look on his face. He seems confused and then upset at the same time. Can you blame him? His best friend doesn't trust him after all, does he? "You know what he's going through, don't you?" "Elana told me," Jordan admits. "She spoke to him about his father. He might still be processing it. Just don't talk to him about it or ask him, okay?" "I can't know?" Joe asks. Jordan sighs and runs his hands over his face. He looks at his son and sits back. "So everyone is allowed to know, but me? Am I even part of this?" "As my son, I can tell you, but as a friend, Liam would tell you if he wants you to know," Jordan tells him. Joe shakes his head slowly and gets up slowly. "Joe, this isn't up to me to tell you, okay?" "What can be so bad about it, dad?" He asks, annoyed. "You know, I never knew my mom, and I'm happy about it, but maybe I would've wanted somebody I can trust and would talk to me as well." "Sit down, Joe," he says. Joe sighs, annoyed, and throws himself back in the chair. Jordan ran his hand over his mouth, taking a moment to himself. "Liam is the end product of a rape." "What?" Joe asks, horrified suddenly regretting for ever asking. Jordan looks away from his son, feeling regret filling him from inside. "Wait...I don't get it. Like, is he adopted by his mom or..." "His father raped his mother," Jordan explains to his son and looks at him. Joe's face grows numb. Jordan appears to be more worried all of a sudden. "Elana just recently opened up about it. Don't ask her or talk to her about it? You don't mention anything to Liam either. When he tells you, act like you never knew, okay? Then you support him, okay? Just because his father messed up doesn't mean he will do the same. Children are meant to do better than their parents. That's why we love and encourage you even if we're so hard on you sometimes." "Liam is my brother," Joe says with a painful look in his eyes. "He's been like a brother for nearly my whole life. So it's time I become one as well." Jordan smiles at his son and nods his head slowly. There's music playing and people dancing around. Elana is seated at the table with Liam both going through the menu. They keep looking at each other like mother and son would talking as much as they can. They eventually gave in their orders and the menus getting back to their conversation. "Oh, I had a job interview today," Elana tells him and sits forward against the table. "They'll let me know if I'm hired. I'm just hoping they don't phone my previous job." Liam laughs and nods his head slowly. Elana blushes, just looking at her son with so much love and passion. She feels so much better now than before. "Are you okay?" Elana asks and reaches forward, taking his hand. Liam inhales deeply with a smile and nods his head. "You wanna talk about it?" "I'm fine," he replies and holds his mother's hand. His smile runs away slowly. "Mom, I love you, and I want you to be happy. I'm not trying to push you off the clift now, but if you want to be with Uncle Jordan, you have my blessing." "Thank you, love," she smiles and bites her lip. "To be honest, I'm only interested in being friends now. I like him, of course, and if we get together, I'm hoping it'll be later in life. Besides, I've still got a few phobias." "Blood or men?" He asks. Elana's smile runs away slowly. She inhales deeply and shakes her head slowly. "I'm not scared of men. Look how I punched your dad..." She stops breathing. Liam raises an eyebrow, looking surprised at his mother. Elana clears her throat, getting her breath back slowly. "That was the man?" He asks. She nods slowly and gives her son a little smile. Liam nods, impressed before laughing. "Gosh, I wish I knew then. I would've helped you." "No, sweetie. Parents are supposed to fight their battles alone, not involve their kids," Elana says and press his hand. "I was so scared that I would know him," Liam says relieved and smiles at his mother. "I hope you never walk into him again, but if you do, that you won't feel the hurt anymore." "Honestly, I don't," she smiles at him. Liam smiles proudly at his mother and looks up at the stage when an elderly man walks up. "Attention, everyone," the man says, getting most people's attention. "Karaoke will be open for everyone, but Jerry." There's a laughter filling the place. "Put your song requests in at the back with Gary, and he'll then call your name. Thank you." Liam looks around then at his mother, who looks at the time. She must be getting hungry being this impatient. "Excuse me," Liam smiles at her and presses her hand before pushing off. Elana is in such deep thoughts with herself that all she does is look down at the table trying to breathe upon the sea of thoughts. Liam returns in a rush and takes a seat. "You're up first." "Up what?" She asks. Clearly, she's lost. Her face turns pale when Liam smiles at her. "No-no-no, Liam, I can't..." "Oh, stop hiding yourself, mom," Liam says, giving her a serious look. "Stop bullying yourself into thinking you can't. You know what you're capable off and sometimes it takes a leap of faith to present it to the world." "Damn," she breathes out, looking scared around then back at her son. Well, if she's going to do it, it's going to be for him. That's clear.