04

Sean Peterson

“It’s about my great-grandson, Ryan.”

“Your brother’s son. Your nephew.”

I got so busy in my own life that I forgot I had someone to take care of. I cursed myself for forgetting about the only remembrance of my only brother, Shane Peterson, who died in a car accident five years ago when his son was only six months old. He was two years younger than me and honestly, we weren’t that close as I had never actually lived in this house, with him. Though we had hardly played with each other, hardly spent time together, we were siblings, he was a part of me. Including Grandma, who was there to listen to my worries and fears. Though he was younger, he was mature enough to give me motivation. And when he passed away I lost that part, and the pain forced me to detach myself from the members of this family who pulled us apart.

“Wh…what about him?” I couldn’t help but stutter. I couldn’t meet her eyes because of the guilt that flowed through my veins.

“He needs you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Sean. I’m getting weaker day by day I can’t anymore take care of him. He’s lonely. Except for me, there is no one to take care of him. Your parents don’t have time for him. I don’t want him to grow as a lonely, depressed child. My concern towards him has heightened as now shares and properties of his father have been transferred to his name and there are people after him. Your uncle and your cousin have their eyes on his shares.”

My hands curled into a fist. These greedy people can’t even spare a kid!

I gritted my teeth as my anger rose. I was angry at the people of this house, my family. I was angry at myself for neglecting my nephew. He was all alone. Even Ryan’s mother had left him. That bitch! She married my brother for money and ran away from her responsibilities, taking the money and property Shane had named after her.

“Nobody. Nobody will ever harm Ryan. I’ll make sure of it. Shane left his property for his son and no one else will have a claim on it. I won’t let it happen.”

Giving a soft smile she nodded her head. “I trust you with this Sean but there’s one more thing.”

“What is it?” I asked as I held her hand.

“Sean I…I tried to oppose the decision but I guess I don’t have a say in the family matters anymore. I..” She took a deep breath, blinking back her tears. I felt like whatever she wanted to tell me was not going to be good.

“Your parents can’t give their time to their grandson so they want to send him to boarding school.”

“No way in hell!” I seethed as I stood up from the couch in rage. “I’m not going to let that happen. They pushed me away from themselves. They pushed me into loneliness. I know how it feels like to be alone. I can’t let Ryan feel this way. I can’t let him suffer what I have suffered.”

“That’s why I called you, Sean. It’s only you who has the power and will to change their decision. Your nephew needs you, dear. He has the right to live a normal life which he isn’t getting here.”

I sat on the couch and held her hand. “I’m sorry grandma. Sorry for being late, sorry for being negligent but I’m here now. I’ll take care of everything, alright?”

I wiped the tears that ran out of her eyes. “Where is he? Can I meet him?” I asked.

“He must be in my room. He doesn’t like to stay in his room as he loves to spend time with me.” She chuckled.

As always, she was taking care of him like the way she took care of me.

“Let’s go.”

We went to her room and found Ryan busy coloring his book. His back was towards us. I didn’t know why but my heart was drumming at an alarming rate maybe because I was going to meet him after ages? Grandma called his name to which he looked up and my heart almost stopped. He looked like a replica of my brother.

“Grandma, see how nicely I filled the colors in the car.” He ran up to her, waving his masterpiece in the air. He hadn’t noticed me yet.

“That’s my boy.” Grandma smiled. “Ryan, see who has come to meet you.”

And that’s when he looked up. He studied my face for a few seconds and then hid behind Grandma, peeking through the side. Smiling at him, I kneeled and waved at him.

“Hi, Ryan.”

Grandma tried to usher him to me but he didn’t budge from his position so I softly held his arm and pulled him to me.

“Are you afraid of me?” I asked him softly and he shook his head in no. “Then why are you hiding from me?” He didn’t answer me, instead, he gazed at Grandma who smiled at him.

I held his chin and made him face me. “Do you know me?” I asked softly.

Nodding his head he replied, “I have seen your picture. Grandma says you are my uncle.”

My heart fluttered, and moisture started to develop in my eyes. He knows me! I rose my eyes to Grandma and mouthed thank you to her. She was truly a perfect guardian.

“So Ryan tell me how are you? Do you go to school?” I asked to start a conversation.

“I’m good and yes, I go to school. I’m in elementary school.” He replied a bit hesitantly. I didn’t complain as I understood his reason for hesitation.

“Who do you play with? With whom you spend your time at the house?” I asked as I needed to hear his honest opinion about the conditions in the house. He again faced grandma and again faced me. I saw the reluctance in his eyes.

“You can share anything with me. I’m your uncle, right?” I patted his cheek.

“It’s only grandma who plays with me. Others are busy. I don’t even have friends to play with.”

I nodded my head. “Do you like it here? In this house?”

“No.” This time he didn’t hesitate to answer. “I get bored here.”

There was a reason to ask him that as I was going to ask him something he might not agree with but I needed to know what and how he felt here.

“So, if you get a chance to go out of this house for some time, will you accept?” I asked with full hope.

“Sean, what are you saying?” Grandma interrupted. I looked at her and gave her an assuring nod. I knew what I was doing.

“I’ve never been out of this house except for school.” He mumbled lowly, his lips curling downwards.

“That’s why I’m asking… would you like a surrounding change?”

“Like a trip?” His innocent question had me grinning.

“Not exactly a trip but a different house.”

“But you are a stranger and grandma says not to go anywhere with strangers.”

I laughed. “Didn’t grandma tell you that I’m your uncle?” He nodded. “Then how am I a stranger?”

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out so he scratched his head to think about what I had said. Cute!

He again glanced at grandma maybe for permission. “Can I grandma?” I was contented that he agreed. He was just unsure if it was okay to go with me or not.

“Ryan, can you please go out and play in the living room? I have something to discuss with your uncle.” She said to him to which he nodded and dashed out of the room.

“He’s obedient. You’ve taught him good lessons.” I mumbled as I watched his disappearing figure.

“What are you trying to do?” She asked firmly. Sighing, I stood up on my feet.

“Grandma, until I figure out something about the problems related to him I want him to live with me. I want him to have a surrounding change. He has been living in this house like forever, he needs fresh air to breathe. Please allow him to stay with me at least for a week.” I reasoned out.

“I understand your concern but you are a busy man, Sean. How will you look after him when you’re out for work?” She said as she walked to her bed sat on the edge.

“Grandma, there are a few people who work at my house, I’ll have them look after him and if needed I’ll appoint a babysit—“

“What is the need of taking him there when you’re going to hand him over to a babysitter? And let me remind you, Sean, I’ve never given him under anyone else’s care. I have been looking after him by myself and I will not let you hand him over to strangers just for the sake of surrounding change.” She rebuked as if I had said something terrible.

“But grandma…” I met her eyes but the intensity of disagreement in her eyes made me avert my eyes. I sighed. “I’ll take off for a week if that’s okay with you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “And you think you know how to look after a child?”

Goodness, why is she being so tough?

“Grandma, I’ve friends who know how to take care of a child. I’ll ask them for guidance.”

“Hmm, that makes sense.” She nodded her head.

Phew! Finally, she understood.

“But your friends won’t be with you 24/7 to guide you which means you’ll be alone with Ryan. What if something goes wrong? What if there’s important work you have to attend to? What will you do, leave Ryan alone?”

“Goodness, grandma why are being so difficult?” I groaned.

“I’m just listing the certainties.”

I couldn’t understand what was wrong with her? I needed Ryan to be out of this house, I needed to keep him under my watch so no one could harm him or send him to boarding school. I had already been ignorant enough, I didn’t want it anymore. I knew I would get busy with work and won’t come up with a solution if he stayed away from me. That’s why I needed him in front of my eyes. I had to make grandma understand but she wasn’t agreeing to any of my suggestions.

I kept staring at her, thinking of ideas and suddenly an idea popped into my mind. She won’t come live with me then why not lie to her? A small lie wouldn’t hurt, right?

“I don’t live alone, grandma. I have someone living with me all the time.”

She crossed her arms across her chest giving me an intimidating look. “Who? Another man? Housemate? Do you think he’ll be able to do what you can’t? All men are the same, Sean, they tend to create one or the other problem. And a child needs a womanly touch to be comfortable.”

“You didn’t hear me completely grandma. It’s a woman who lives with me.”

I cursed myself for my desperate need to keep the kid with me when I heard a loud gasp that came from grandma. She stood up from the bed and rushed to me with excitement in her eyes.

“You have a woman living with you and you never told me? Who is she? What’s her name? What is she to you? For how long has she been living with you? Is she your girlfriend? Is she good with kids?”

The interrogation! Ugh! Now, what new lie should I come up with? What should I tell her about the woman living with me who actually isn’t living with me?

So much for playing safe, Sean.

What have I gotten myself into?

I was going to spill out another lie but before I could answer I received a phone call from Miss Hart.

“Hello,” I said as I picked up the call.

“Sir, I have done proofreading the document you asked me to and have mailed it to you. Please review it so that I can convert it into the hard copy for you to sign.”

“Okay, I’ll check it when I’ll get back home.” I hadn’t even hung the call when grandma bombarded me with questions.

“Home? Was she on the call? You still haven’t told me who is she?”

“Yes, it was her. And P.A. she’s my P.A,” I said absent-mindedly as I cut the call.

Shit! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Why Miss Hart? Why did you call me?

“Your P.A? Are you in a relationship with your P.A?”

“No! I’m not in a relationship with my P.A. She is not my girlfriend.” I said in a heartbeat. I didn’t want misunderstandings.

“Then why is she living with you?” Her doubtful eyes held me nervous.

Well done, Sean. Clear the coast now.

I was almost on the verge of telling the truth when an idea struck me. I could use Miss Hart’s name to lie to grandma. Miss Hart won’t know about it and grandma would be happy to handover Ryan to me.

“Ahem, she…she umm, she needed a place to live. Yeah, that’s the reason, she needed a place to live for some time as she had no home so I gave her a room in my house to live in. And before you conclude anything, we only share a professional relationship and yes, she is good with kids.”

What the actual fuck did I spurt out?

She looked at me skeptically which forced me to avert my eyes. Please accept the lie. Please, please, please.

“Why did she chose your house? There are tons of houses to live in. Hotels?” Another logical question. Damn! Why didn’t I think of it?

“Ahem. I…I…She wasn’t getting any place to live. She shared her concern with me and even said she wanted to resign just because she couldn’t find a house and I couldn’t let that happen as she is an efficient employee. So I let her live at my house till she finds a good place for herself.”

Fuck! I had no idea what was slipping off my tongue. Those were not my words. I swear. It was someone else speaking for me.

“Very well then.” She said in a clipped tone and gaped at her. Did she believe in my lie? My skeptical gaze remained on her for a while but when she didn’t give me a reason to blurt more lie I sighed in relief and wiped the invisible sweat from my forehead. Finally!

“I’ll have someone pack my and Ryan’s clothes. We’ll come live with you for a week. And the week starts from tomorrow.”

Her reply had me shocked to the core.

Say what?

“W…we?” My head tilted automatically in confusion. My eyes had turned wide.

“Yes, we. What did you think I’ll leave Ryan alone with you? No, my dear, I’ll be staying with you too. Adding to that I’ll get to know the woman living with you. And will see how much of professional relationship you share.” Her smirk told me that she had it all planned. She intentionally roped me into her trap.

“But Grandma this wasn’t the deal.”

“This situation is not some kind of business deal, Sean. This is about a kid’s future. And if you intend to help him in your ways then you have to include me as well.”

And with that, she walked out of the room, leaving me stunned. How could I let that happen? A man like me who always has everything planned how could I pull myself into trouble? How could I create such a blunder?

This is called diving into a high current sea without knowing how to swim.

I ran my hands through my hair and banged my foot in the bed, cursing myself for my sudden and stupid act.

I needed to do something. To find a solution, I ran out of the room into the hallway but abruptly stopped when I saw the door of my brother’s room. Hesitantly, I twisted the doorknob and stepped in. A sudden rush of emotion hit me with full force when I saw a huge portrait of my brother hanging on the wall. I locked the door and made my way to the picture.

“I’m sorry for being late, brother. But I’m here now, I’ve understood what I have been doing wrong. I’ll give your son what he needs, I’ll be there for him like his shadow, protecting him from danger.”

I felt something warm on my cheeks. I couldn’t stay there more so I rushed out of the room before my tears start to flow like a waterfall. I missed him.

As soon as I stepped out of the room I bumped into someone. “Oh, sorry.”

“Whoa, Sean?” I mentally groaned when I saw the face of my cousin, Levi Peterson.

“It’s been so long I saw you. How have you been, brother?” He grinned and embraced me into a forceful hug. I softly pushed him away and gave him a tight-lipped smile.

“I’m doing good. How are you?” I had to ask out of manners.

“Well, now that I hold the fifty percent shares in the family business I’m more than fine, in fact, jubilant.” He smirked as he put his hands in his pant pockets.

He had to bring this up. Oliver Peterson, my uncle had transferred his shares to his son’s name because he was engaged with my father, helping him in the election process. My father had divided his shares between me and my brother that now had been entrusted to Ryan, which would be his when he turned eighteen.

“Doesn’t your sister want shares in the company?” I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Oh, she is still studying and she doesn’t want shares in the company as she wants to be a professor. You know her very well, Sean. And why? Are you affected that I have half of the shares in my name?” He said as he dared to step closer to me.

He was messing with the wrong person. I smirked. “Why would I be affected? Don’t you know I’m the CEO of the most prominent company in the USA? Do you really think I’ll be affected by you being a major shareholder of the company I have nothing to do with?”

My reply aggravated him as he gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. “Sean, don’t mess with me.”

“You don’t mess with me, Levi.” I too narrowed my eyes at him and took a step closer to him. “I know your intentions. I know you want this company all by yourself and you have your eyes on Ryan’s shares as you can’t get mine. Dare to mess with the kid, you’ll find losing your fifty percent too.”

“Hey, Sean.” He tried to charge on me but before he could I walked out from there not listening to his shouts.

That greedy and selfish douche was a matter of concern but not for the time being. The most important matter for me to tackle and need of the time was …the woman!

Without thinking of the consequences I told my grandma that I had a woman living with me but where will I bring her from?

I blurted out that the woman was my P.A but how will I explain it to Miss Hart and most importantly how will I make her stay with me? Will she help me?

If yes, then how? If not, then what? How will I ask her to help me?

Many questions were swirling in my mind because I knew my stupidity had pushed me into huge trouble.