"I'm leaving tonight for my place and I will not be able to take him with me."
he said sadly.
" So?" she replied with a raised eyebrow and confused gaze.
With swallowing the gulp he said in a low voice, " I cannot trust anyone else but you. Fiona's recovery is slow and unpredictable is the time when will she be awake. In the meantime I cannot be here without any work and money. For how long should I be dependant on you for the treatment and care of my family. I have to go back, I have a greater responsibility as a father now."
She stood up and walking towards him she said,
" I don't understand what you want to say."
handing over the baby back to him, carefully.
Looking at Anna with eyes full of hope, which she quickly avoided by turning back and returning to get chair, while he said,
" I want you to be my child's Godmother."
She sat down with her left leg on her right one, a smirk and a raised eyebrow. With a cold gaze she glared at him, hard enough to make him uncomfortable, to which he finally responded, "What's with this look? Did I said something weird or unacceptable?" he asked in a very innocent manner which make him more irritating.
With a slight head nod taking a deep breath, looking at the kid she said, "What if I kill him? Or threw him away or send him to an orphanage or just left him outside my front door to freeze to death?" as she spoke these words, the chill in her tone was clearly felt.
"I believe you would never do such a thing." He replied with confidence.
" How come your opinion changed? How can you trust me to such lengths?"
" Anna I am already very embarrassed about my behavior that day. What do you want to hear from me in order to believe me?" he said.
Looking at him with angry eyes she can't find right words to do justice to her feelings at that moment, hence she just remained silent.
Marcel continues, " I know I wonder you at every moment and in every phase of life. I left you for Fiona because I cannot bear the burden of your dreams of being a self independent woman. I wanted a girl with whom I would start my family, not a career oriented girl so I chose Fiona over you. "
" Will you stop blabbering rubbish which I already know?" she says clenching her teeth.
" No, Anna today let me speak. I am deeply sorry for all those times when you cried because of me. I'm sorry for everything that I did wrong." he said with a heavy throat.
" You want to leave your son here therefore you are doing this apologizing programme otherwise I never existed for you in the first place. Where were your all these apologies since last 7 years? Just get your face off from here right now." she said angrily.
Seeing her losing her temper Marcel thought that he might not be able to accomplish his agenda here if this kind of aura is maintained. Hence he decided to play charming to her, just like the old times. He laid down the baby on the couch and secured him from falling by putting up cushions. He knows that she can't ignore his eyes so he stood up and started walking near her, sat on his knees in front of her. She kept her stern gaze on him when he sat down. Looking in her eyes with his soft mesmerizing blue oceanic he said, "You love her as much as his own mother. You can never harm him and I don't need any clarifications for this. I believe in you and your love. You can hate me and Fiona but you can't hate him. See your eyes are full of love for him. And no matter how hard you try you can't hide your love for him."
Her gaze softened down with his words and tears rolled down her cheeks, she turned her face away from him. He sat on the chair beside hers and said, "Had it not been you there that day, he would not have been alive. You already did this much for us, kindly accept my request for him too."
He sounds genuine but Marcel cannot be trusted, Anna knows this very well.
" Are you running away from your child and half dead wife? Because it's who you are. When things goes west you very neatly just wrap up things and run away like you didn't have any relation to it." She said in a slow shaky voice, wiping her tears.
"Do you think I'm that irresponsible about my family?" he asked.
"Yes. I think you can be."
"Then I can't help but accept what you think. Because right now I have no option except to surrender to you." he said lowering his head and continued, " I need your help this time and I am not running away from anyone. If I wanted to get rid of all this I would have ran away from hospital itself. I would never have shown at your place like this."
This made Anna think over again about the situation and they sat their in silence and the only sound was the clocks ticking. Anna was in a state where she wanted to help him but her mind was not ready after what he did even after helping him to that extent. And at the same time her heart was going with the child and his love. She felt like the love and anger she had for Marcel has been taking over by the affection and love she has for Daniel. Minutes passed and she was in her thoughts, when Marcel got up and picked up the baby and without saying anything he moved towards the door.
"Wait Marcel. Did I asked you to leave?"
"You didn't said anything yet that's why I am leaving, Anna." He replied slowly and turned towards her.
She stood up and went to him took the child from his arms, bringing him closer to her heart she kissed his forehead and smiled. She lifted her eyes towards him and the affection for Daniel can be clearly seen in her eyes. With a soft smile she said,
"With all love and affection for him I refuse to keep him with me." and handed over the child back to Marcel.
Marcel sighed deeply understanding that his games are not going to work on her now and it would be better to leave.
Nodding his head he left the house.
Anna came to the living room lost in her thoughts, dragging her feet and thinking whether she did the right thing or not.
Isabelle was looking at her
and just before she stumbles over the stair she called her on, "Anna be careful!"
Her voice popped the thought baloon of Anna and she stopped. Liz ran to her and held her hand in hers and said, " Are you all right? "
Looking at Lisa she nodded her head in yes and went with her to sit on the couch. Isabelle is standing in front of them and continuously looking at Anna but she is not concerned about it at all.
Finally Isabelle cannot bear it more so ahe spoke up, " Is he gone for good now? " Her way of saying it clearly shows her care for Anna and hatred towards Marcel.
Looking at her she sighed and said, " Yes".
Lisa looked puzzled as she is not aware as to what happened, so to quench her curiosity she asked, " Who came and who went? Am I missing something here? "
They looked at her then at each other and smiled at her sheepishly way of saying it.
Isabelle told her the entire incident and Anna told them the rest of the conversation which took place in the room. They all were silent for a moment then Liz said in a proud way, " You did the correct thing Sis. I'm happy that you have chosen wisely. " and hugged her.
Anna smiled and hugged her back while Isabelle kept her hand on Anna's head and smiled. She needed no words to express her content at the decision that Anna made today, because it was clearly visible in her eyes and smile. Anna too smiled childishly and then the trio sat down to sort out the gifts, decorations and other things which was mixed up by Lisa's clumsy work.
Later on after the dinner Anna lying on her bed facing the roof ponder over the life she had lived 7 years before. She was just a regular college girl with a bunch of friends and the image of a rich yet intelligent, studious girl. Her temper was always the talk of the town because one or the other student becomes the prey of her wrath either because of their own mistakes or if they ended up in front of her at the wrong time. Everything was good until Marcel got transfer to her college and things turned upside down. He was the most wanted boy at that time because of his fit body of 175 cm , tanned body chiseled face with long straight hair falling on his forehead from time to time and his deep eyes rooting from behind them. His appearance was more than enough to make the heart of any girl flutter. And Anna was one of those girls but not the one to roam behind him from here to there just to get a lame chance to talk to him. Rather than she waited for the correct time to talk. They became friends when he lost to get by 5 points in economics academia organised yearly by the college. Anna won it every single year so how could she lose it this time. This defeat started a new story in lives of Marcel and Anna.