Chapter 26 - Goodbye My Lover

Chapter 26: Goodbye my lover

"Fine. But she will stay with me in Malawi unless something threatens her safety. If it does, you will have custody but only if, Jason. That is my deal, take it or leave it"

"I will take it. But in the case that I have to go back to Nigeria, she comes there every other school holidays and when she turns thirteen. She will move to Nigeria"

"No. I said no. I can't sign off on that" Naya was adamant she couldn't believe she was negotiating raising her daughter with Jason.

"Well, she has to. In case you don't remember, if she becomes my daughter then automatically she is the heir to the Yagazie Empire and she needs to be prepared for that position".

Naya seemed to give it a long thought. She wanted what was best for Nolani. She always has. Suddenly it occurred to Naya that if Nolani has a surname as powerful as Yagazie then Kane might think twice about hurting her, if or when he finds out he has a daughter. With this adoption, she wouldn't just be giving Nolani what she always wanted but she would give her security and stability. The two things she can't give her. After a minute or two of thinking about it, she agreed.

"Okay, I guess"

"What is her name?" Jason asked out of nowhere again.

"Nolani" Naya muttered.

"Don't give that crap. If you have the sense to change your name, I have a feeling she is going by a fake name too. Think about it and then tell me the truth" Jason was beyond serious.

"I am sorry. I am just used to lying about everything" Naya looked inside the envelop she was holding and pulled out a birth certificate. "Her real name is Kara Hope Whitmore. It's super girl's name"

Naya smiled and ran her name all over the birth certificate. If it wasn't a serious matter, Jason would have teased her about naming her child after a fictional character.

"I have demands too, Naya. If she is going to be mine, I can't call her by a fake name. There will be no hiding for her. She is Kara not Nolani. She won't be hiding anymore but your psycho ex-husband is welcome to try and harm her. Cop or no cop, I will put him down"

Naya thought hard about it. Nolani was young but one day, she will know everything. Naya didn't want her to feel like she was an object to be hidden from anyone.

"Okay. Kane doesn't know she exists anyway. Kara, it will be. But you will have to take out the Whitmore. Let her be just Kara Ekoh-Yagazie" It was difficult for her to take out her surname completely but Naya would do anything to keep Nolani safe.

Seven months later.

Jason stood before Judge Jude and by his side was Naya holding Kara (formerly Nolani) as the judge concludes the last part of what was a tedious adoption process.

Jason could hear Elixir's laughter behind him. She flew in to be with them on that special occasional. Veronica and most of the children were in attendance.

After the whole legal proceedings, Jason took his new daughter and approached his mother.

"So, it's official. I am a grandmother. Can I hold her?" Jason handed over the sleepy kid to his mother. "She is beautiful. I heard you changed her name"

"I did. She is Kara Hope Yagazie"

"Isn't Ekoh supposed to be there somewhere? Your father won't be happy about this development" Elixir queried with a smile. She couldn't help but feel like she won and James lost.

"I don't see Papa dearest here today or do you? Moreover, there is no room for toxicity in Kara's life. I hope you don't mind she is taking your name, Mom"

"I am honored, sweetheart"

Jason was about to say something to Elixir when his phone rang and he excused himself to take it.

"This is Jason. Who am I speaking with?" he asked his caller. Jason decided that if it was his father, he was going to hang up the call.

"Jason, its Luca Spencer. Don't hang up, please. McKenna needs you to come to Toronto. She is in the hospital and will be undergoing a difficult surgery a day after tomorrow. She wants to see you in case she doesn't make it out. In case she dies…she wants to say something to you"

Then the phone went dead before Jason could ask further questions.

"Luca! Luca!" Jason yelled repeatedly but the phone was dead. He had hung up on him. Jason dialed the number he used to contact him but it was disconnected.

Elixir and Naya sensed that something was wrong and moved closer to him. Kara's outstretched hand made Jason instinctively pick her up. She yawned and went right back to sleep.

"What is going on?" Elixir asked.

"It a call from Luca Spencer. Someone I care deeply about is in trouble and I have to go to Toronto" Jason looked apprehensive.

"Go" Naya whispered. "If she needs you then you have to go"

Elixir excused herself for a minute before she came back.

"There is a flight to Toronto in three hours, say the word and you are on it" Elixir told him

"Mom, I can't just up and leave Kara Hope now. I just can't"

"Jason, go. She will be fine. I promise"

Jason nodded and kissed Kara's head before he gave her to Naya.

The plane ride to Toronto was pure torture. Jason could neither sleep nor stay awake; he was caught in between, where he would have horrible dreams of something bad happening to McKenna. He would wake up in cold sweat and panting heart. After dozing off twice and waking up with a startle, Jason decided to stay awake for the rest of the plane ride.

As soon as he got to Toronto, his first stop was the mansion to speak to Luca Spencer, one of Mckenna's best friend in Toronto and the boy who made her send him back to Africa . And the spencers were family friends too. The drive from the airport to the mansion was oddly longer than usual.. Jason kept checking his wristwatch every ten seconds and when he finally got there, he raced inside.