Chapter 30 - [Bonus Chapter]What Should I Call Her?

Chapter 30: What should I call her?

McKenna smiled too "I told you he was going to find you, didn't I?" McKenna whispered to the little girl.

"He found me. You were right, stepmother" Kara said loud enough for her father to hear.

"You can't call her that either" Jason told her. He was closer now "What in God's name, were you thinking disappearing like that on me and your mama? Do you have any knowledge whatsoever the hell you've put me through, Kara Hope Yagazie!"

McKenna knew it now. Jason has gone mad.

"Jason!" She yelled at her. And suddenly, he was back to his senses. He stopped yelling. He took a deep breath and moved closer to sit by Kara.

"Are you okay, Bean?" He asked in a mellowed voice.

"Daddy, I am sorry" Kara was beginning to get the sniffles again.

"No. What matters is that you are okay, right Jason?" McKenna asked her husband as she stared at him to prevent him from saying otherwise.

Jason stared at her. His little blue eyed daughter. He saw so much of himself in her and it wasn't possible yet it was.

He touched her cheeks and she flew into his arms.

"Oh baby, don't you ever scare me like that again. Your mother is right, what matters is that you are okay" 

Kara pulled out of the hug to reply his statement.

"She is not my mother! She is your wife but she is not mama!" Kara had her angry look.

McKenna felt her body tense up just a little bit. She was afraid something like that would happen and now she had to say something.

"And you are right, Kara. I am not your mother. And Jason, she can call me my name" McKenna was quick to add.

"I know, she can but she won't...right Bean?" Jason asked the little girl. He knew he had to be firm with her. Kara was just like him, stubborn and opinionated. If he wanted three of them to be a family, he was going to be firm with both of them.

"I am not calling her, Mama. I've got a mama!" Kara was insistent.

"Kara?" Jason wanted to say more but McKenna interrupted them. She couldn't let it continue. It was like watching two reflection of same person fight.

"Jason, stop! She doesn't have to call me that" McKenna suggested.

"Technically, she does" Jason said.

"I am not gonna" Kara insisted.

Jason turned sharply to the stubborn six years old.

"How about you call me, Umma? It's Korean for Mom and it almost sounds like your nickname for me, Oma. What do you think Kara?" McKenna wondered whether this was her life now…Playing peacemaker between two stubborn people.

"Umma, I like it" Kara accepted easily.

"Fine. She can call you that. Why did you run away, Kara?" Jason asked her.

"You promised and you failed" Kara wiped her face.

"I am sorry, baby...it is my-" Jason was interrupted by McKenna.

"It's my fault, Kara. I was terrified of meeting you and I made your father late. Will you forgive me?" McKenna asked the little girl.

"Okay" she whispered.

Jason hugged Kara. His heart would take another minute to stop pounding. He had thought the worst when he couldn't find her. And every bad thought led to Kane.

"I should let Naya and grandma, know you are safe but you know I have to punish you now, right?" Jason asked the little girl.

Kara gave him a look. He knew that look well. It screamed unfairness and abuse of parental powers. 

"I know what you are thinking, Kara? You are thinking I should be punished too for failing to show up for your presentation. But guess what, little girl... you've punished me already. A hour without knowing where my daughter is, I would say is enough punishment!"

McKenna saw the little girl stop giving Jason the look with her face. 

Oh God, this was her life now. She was a stepmom to the world's most annoying kid. That's unfair, Kara was adorable. McKenna shut her brain down; she really should stop looking for excuses to hate Kara.

"How long am I grounded for?" 

"Left to me, at least till you are fifty but your mother and I will talk about it later" as an afterthought, Jason added "with your Umma too"

McKenna saw what he did there. He wanted to include her in their parenting schedule. She didn't know how she felt about that.

"Let's go. Mom and Naya would be worried" McKenna stood up and urged them to do the same.

"Mama is going to kill me!" Kara had a look as Jason carried her outside.

Naya was almost blue in the face. She did her best not to cry but somehow, she had failed miserably. Her face was puffy and red. She kept wiping the snort from her nose. Elixir was there with her. She was a source of strength.

"Naya, she is alright. I found her" Jason's voice got Naya racing towards them.

"Nolani! Nolani!" She hugged her daughter and kissed her cheek. "Where did you find her?"

"In my old room. She is alright...just hungry" Jason reassured her.

"Good thing I cooked" Naya picked her up and took her inside.

Jason saw his mother watching them. She was holding her chest and her posture showed how relieved she felt.

Jason grabbed McKenna's hand instinctively.

"How long has it been?" McKenna asked him.

"You mean since she spoke to me last or since we left her a note telling her, she was now family with Jackson Donna, the only person she hates more than the devil himself?" Jason asked his wife.

"There is an irony since I think my biological father might be the devil himself but yes, how long now" McKenna asked her husband.

"About a week? This is unsettling. There was a time I hoped even prayed she would stop meddling in my life and allowed me some breathing space but right now, I wish she would meddle or pick my calls. Oh my God! I thought I would say never this out loud.. I want my mother to bug me" Jason had an exasperated face.