The expensive look of the house continued to amaze Ashley who did more nodding to Dave’s many explanations than responding. The corridors did not only have a great touch of exquisiteness but there was also this homely feel that emanated from the child-like framed drawings and writings on the walls and that warmed Ashley’s heart. The scenery reminded Ashley of the home she grew up in.

“Earth to Ashley.” Dave waved in her face. “What on earth are you thinking of?” he asked amusedly.

Replying to him with a little smile, she said, “I like how comfy and homely this place feels despite being so big.”

Dave gave a light huff, grabbed her hand, and with his face straight ahead, he said quietly, “When I lived here, it was just a house, nothing more.”

Recalling the moment at the hospital where he had shared a huge part of his past, Ashley knew saying some soothing words wouldn’t be the best option at that moment. So, she gave his bigger hand a tiny squeeze to remind him that she was there for him. And that she would continue to be.

Ashley was about to tease herself for sounding slightly cheesy when their steps came to a halt in front of a twin door that was decorated with sculptured, solid arches.

“You can go in now,” Maria said before she quietly walked away.

Ashley watched silently as Dave raised his hand to push open a side of the twin door. But he stopped before his hand could make contact with the polished door.

“Dave?”

The manner with which he let out a very shaky breath got her immediately worried.

“I need a minute,” he replied, his head tilted to the side, his stretched hand clenched.

Carefully, Ashley reached for his fist and dissolved it with a few pats. As she laced her fingers with his, she reached for the side of his face with her other hand and made him face her.

Her voice became as a whisper of a departing lover and she said, “You don’t have to see him today if it is hard for you.”

It really bothered Ashley to see Dave that way. Serious and hurt.

And, she needed no oracle to tell her that his pain ran deep. How he survived the ache in his soul was certainly something she was interested in. When they met, she never thought that he was a man with a painful story. He was so gracious and put together. So, yes, she was bothered.

“No, I am fine.” Dave gave a short nod. “ I have to see him today, I have wasted too much time hating him.”

Nodding, Ashley told him to take his time and open the door whenever he was ready.

A few minutes passed before Dave finally had the strength to push the door open. A few steps in and the hugeness of the room slapped Ashley in the face. While she tried not to show her surprise, she equalled the large and unusually bright room to something one would see in an expensive hotel room or a VIP hospital ward. Her eyes scanning every extensive length and breadth, Ashley realised that, with some sectioning, the room was easily half the size of her company building.

It was that huge.

Ashley then noticed that there were two beds in the centre of the nude-painted room. One was a regular, queen-sized bed. The other, a hospital bed and accompanying the object were some medical setups which included a heart rate monitor that was not functional at that point. As they walked further into the tiled room, Ashley searched the room for the sight of a slightly aged man, and she wondered again why he needed a hospital bed when he already had a regular one.

“Mr. Davies, is that you?” a strong male voice asked from behind them.

From the gentle hold she had on his hand, Ashley felt Dave stiffen and with carefulness in her action, she detached her hand from his. And as Dave turned to face his father, she did the same.

On seeing his son, the silver-haired, brown-eyed, not-so-wrinkly man had his right elbow slipping off the arm of the mechanical wheelchair. When he regained composure seconds later, his perplexed eyes refused to leave the tall figure of the unexpected visitor in front of him.

Ashley who was expecting Dave to say a word or two turned to face him. He too looked dumbfounded and the two men stayed that way, their silence adding more effect to the peaceful room.

Realising that it would be better to leave the room, Ashley made for the door. But she was stopped by a tug on her hand and a familiar low voice telling her, “Stop.”

She stepped back into the spot she had just left and saw that Dave’s father was watching her with more confusion etched on his forehead. But that expression didn’t last because he went back to studying his son. Just that, this time, he talked.

“Dave,” he could as well start crying, with the way his voice trembled, “look at you, you are so grown...”

Dave added to his steps until he was a few inches away from his father.

“You are really here...” His father was starting to sound delighted. The sides of his eyes folded as his lips began to form a smile. Reaching out for his son’s hand - Dave was already crouched in front of him- Dave’s father began to give a hearty chuckle. He patted Dave’s hand, saying, “I thought I would never see you again. Oh, I am so glad. I am so happy.”

Ashley who was unknowingly wearing a smile darted her sight towards Dave who was still very quiet. She wondered if he would be able to say anything. He seemed to be having a harder time.

And... as though he read her mind, Dave’s father said with soberness in his voice, “It must have not been easy to get yourself to come here. I know how much you blame me for your mother’s death.” He ducked his head to the side and lowered it as though ashamed. “I never really got the chance to apologise to you for doing things that snatched your mother from you. From us.”

The atmosphere was becoming ladened with more and more emotions, but Dave was still yet to talk. His father was wearing a sad look in reaction to his son’s silence and that appearance reminded Ashley of the time she had met her mother.

“Father...” The old man’s face lit up in surprise, then happiness on hearing Dave’s voice. “I need you to know that I don’t blame you anymore for anything. True, I used to. But I have grown over the past years and I have come to realise how dangerous it is to nurse anger against you.”

“Oh, my sweet boy.”

“I need you to know that I am looking forward to rebuilding our lost bond.” Dave was speaking so formally, it showed clearly that it was not easy for him at all.

His father patted his hand again.“I am so glad to hear this. I am really happy. But...” He questioned Dave’s slung arm with his eyes. “What happened to you?”

Dave’s eyes flickered to his arm then back to his father and said, “Oh, it was just a little accident. It is nothing serious.”

Even though it looked like he wanted to comment further, the old man just nodded his head understandably and gave a huge grin. “I am really happy to see you.” His gaze fell on Ashley. One of his scanty brows raised, he asked, “Is that your wife? Is she Jas...?”

“She is not my wife but Ashley is the woman in my life.”

“Oh, I see,” the older man raked Ashley with his eyes. “She is pretty. You have good eyes, son.”

Ashley returned his smile with a wider one.

The next thing she knew, Dave was up on his feet and walking towards her. Grabbing her hand, he faced his father and said, “I am afraid we have to leave now.”

His father immediately wore a small frown. “You should stay for dinner.”

“Not today Father, we have to get going.”

“Okay son,” his father sounded so dejected.

“See you some other time.” Dave did not spare him another look as he led both of them out of the room.

When they made it to the reception, Ashley got tired of his silence and angry stride. She snatched her hand from his hold and stared at the back of his head.

Motioning to the exit as he turned, Dave asked, “Why did you stop?”

“Are you going to leave so abruptly? Don’t you wish to spend more time here?” Ashley asked, her brows knitted with the concern she felt in her soul.

Dave sighed. “I am not comfortable here, Ashley. There are a lot of memories here.” He did not need to explain further. Ashley walked to him, held his hand, and led them out of the building.

They had parked the car outside the gate, so they had to walk a bit.

After a nice, quiet, head-clearing, short walk, they made it to the car.

As Ashley made to pull open the door of the driver’s seat, she looked ahead at the houses around and that was when she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my God! Dave!” He ran towards her. Her body shaking a bit, she blurted, “Th-that woman, that woman Dave! She looks almost like me. What if she is my real mother?”

The desperation in her voice revealed how bothered she was about knowing her real parents.

Dave’s line of sight followed hers across the street where a middle-aged woman stood, all dressed in a classy way. Sighing, he faced Ashley who was studying the woman who had no idea she was being scrutinized while she received a call.

“Ashley... she is your mother.”

“Wh-what?” Ashley struggled to tear her eyes from the woman, but Dave’s response forced her to look at him.

Gripping her arm in the way he could best do to keep her stable, he confessed, “I know it wasn’t my place, but I wanted to help you find your biological parents. When the result of the findings came yesterday, I realised it wouldn’t be reasonable to tell you such information suddenly. The file is not with me, but I am sure that woman over there is your mother.”

Ashley gulped, her eyes felt itchy, her throat became heavy and her knees fell weak. “She is...”

“Yes, she is your biological mother.”