Chapter 20: Now or never
"I don't know Jason, maybe because the Orphanage was on fire. Maybe you and Nolani were unconscious, I had no idea whether both of you were going to make it. So, forgive me I couldn't stop Veronica from making a phone when my whole world was falling apart!" Naya yelled. She didn't know she had so much tension and pent up pressure inside her. She was so relieved but now she was feeling last night's trauma in full force.
Jason looked at her and he could see the pool of tears in her eyes.
"Yesterday must have been difficult for you Naya?"
"Yeah, it was. Watching as the whole room collapse with you and that sweet little girl inside was my worst nightmare playing out in front of me. Thank you for saving her life"
"There is no need to thank me, she is-"
"Dada?"
Jason turned around quickly to face Nolani. She was just waking up from her sleep and she must have recognized his voice. He moved closer to her and made sure the hair that fell over her was safely tucked behind her ear.
"Sweetheart, I am here. How are you doing?" Jason asked and as a reply the child gestured for him to carry her.
"Can I pick her up?" Jason asked Dr. Alyssa.
"Wouldn't it be too painful for Jason?" Naya asked Alyssa.
"If he can, I don't see why not? And I have a feeling Miss Nolani won't take no for an answer" Dr Alyssa's answer satisfied Jason.
He didn't know whether he was strong enough to pick her up, so he went with the less painful option and simply sat on her bed and pulled her to himself.
"Come on, go back to sleep. I already told you I won't leave you behind again. Go to sleep, now"
The child yawned and went back to sleep like she understood exactly what he was saying. Jason was highly doubtful. Nolani was only three years old.
"Naya, you should go home and get some rest while you can. Nolani and I are just fine" Jason urged the woman beside him that looked like she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep for days.
"Someone needs to take care of you too Jason"
"If I know my mother, she will be in this clinic very soon to boss the doctors and the nurses around. She is going to make their lives a living hell" Jason smiled warmly at her to convince her.
"I will keep an eye on them, you should get some sleep like he said" Dr. Alyssa chipped in.
"Okay. I will be right back as soon as possible"
As soon as Naya left the room, Alyssa made herself comfortable on the armchair.
"How is your father doing, Dr. Alyssa?"
"He is fine. He still hasn't given up hope that you are the one for me" Alyssa smiled at her attempt at a joke.
"Just tell him you are too good for me. It's the truth, anyway" Jason replied.
"When are you going to start the paperwork?" Alyssa asked.
"What paperwork?" Jason asked.
"Adoption paperwork"
"What are you talking about?" Jason looked like he had being caught with his hand inside the cookie jar. He looked at the child that had somehow clawed her way to rest on the part of his chest that was bandage free. He could feel her chest rise and fall gently as she breath. And the warm spot just below his neck due to her constant exhaling, she might be running a fever or maybe. The truth was that Jason knew he had no knowledge whatsoever about children. He couldn't even think about having one. Actually, when he eventually marries, he plans to put off bringing children into this world as long as humanly possible. Alyssa must be out of her mind if she thought for one moment, he could be a father to this little girl. Even a blind man was capable of seeing it was really impossible.
The child stirred and Jason whispered something to her ears, something Alyssa couldn't hear, Something that was enough to put her right back to sleep. Alyssa watched with the curiosity of someone who likes puzzles. She could see the struggle in Jason. Alyssa was sure that Jason had no idea that he was very transparent, at least his thoughts were.
"You are not going to act clueless with me, are you Jason? I mean even a blind man can see" Alyssa relaxed further in the armchair and crossed her legs. She did not want to give off a vibe that might make Jason feel like she was interrogating him. If she appears relaxed and nonchalant, psychology dictates Jason would open up faster than when she looks threatening.
She gave him a warm smile; it was one of her rarest. The type of smile she reserved for her favorite people in the world.
"What can a blind man see, Dr. Alyssa?" Jason wanted her to drop the matter.
The discussion didn't just make him uncomfortable but it made him think of the future. The future was something Jason rarely thinks about. Apart from his business where it was his job to think about future investments and contracts that would yield maximum pay out and keep his company growing, Jason rarely thinks about the future in regards to every other thing in his life.
Thinking about the future leads to expectations and expectation almost definitely leads to disappointment.
Alyssa watched him for a second. She wasn't sure if she should press the matter or simply mind her business. After another second, she decided to pry further. It was in her nature to stick her nose into other people's business.
"You know, I was there when you were pulled out of that collapsed building. My first thought when I got to the scene of that fire was that there was no way a little girl would survive that type of accident without an angel looking over her. Imagine my surprise when the debris was pulled away from the spot you were lying on and there was my own personal miracle. Jason, you used your body as shield to protect her and I don't know many people who can do that" Alyssa was just a little bit hero struck.