Chapter Ten
1124 Words
Attica showed up at her parents' house within 30 minutes. She sat in her car for a little bit trying to gain herself. She wasn't sure what she was going to walk into. She also knew she didn't need to get stressed out for the baby. She finally gained her composure to walk into her parents' home. She knocked on the door. Her mother answered with tears in her eyes. Ms. Baker grabbed Attica and hugged her. She then took her into the living room and sat her down. She looked at Attica and sighed. "Attica, your father has been doing Chemo now for a few weeks. He's looking rough. The doctors are worried about him. I thought that maybe if you came over and visit with him, you might be able to give him the strength to keep going. If not, the doctors feel he's not going to make it another few months." Attica looked at her mother in shock. She was surprised that her father's health was going downhill that fast. She hugged her mother and told her, "Okay, let me go see him."
Attica walked up the stairs to her father's room. She stood outside his door for a few minutes gaining her composure. She did not want her father to see her emotions. She took a deep breath and walked in his room with a smile on her face. Her father looked up and saw Attica. "Honey, what are you doing here on a workday? Shouldn't you be at work?" Attica smiled, "Yes father I should but I was actually in the hospital this morning, so Jasper told me to take the day off to relax. But mom called me to come see you, so I came to see how you were." Her father looked at her with worry in his eyes, "In the hospital? Are you sick? Are you okay?" "Yes father, I am fine. I just fainted at the gym and so they wanted me to go make sure everything was okay and everything is fine."
Attica walked over to her father. Her mother was right, he looked bad. He had dark circles under his eyes, and he was lying in bed. This was not her father. He would have been up and working on things around the house or whatever he could to keep working. He never stays in bed this long. Attica sat next to his bed and held his hand. "So, father, how are you doing?" He laughed. "Obviously not well. What has your mother told you?" "She told me that you were not doing well that you were wanting to give up? This is not the father I was raised by to just give up. So, what is really going on with you?" Her father looked at her with sadness in his eyes. "I'm sorry Attica but it is just too hard. I'm always sick and this is just not me. I don't want to give up, but I feel like I am not going to make it through this." Attica looked at her father sternly. "Give up? This is not my father talking. This is the cancer and sickness. You are strong and you will make it through but in order to do this you half to keep fighting. If you don't want to fight for me, maybe you should fight for your grandchild."
"Grandchild? What are you talking about Attica?" Attica looked at her father with a smile on her face. "Father, I am a month pregnant. I just found out today and you are the first one to know. But I thought that the news would brighten your day and give you the reason to fight. But, you half to keep it a secret for now because Jasper doesn't even know. I want to surprise everyone with the news later." Her father smiled. She has never seen his face light up since her and Jasper told him that they were engaged. He was excited that he tried to get up out of bed immediately. "Wait father, what are you doing? You need to save your strength." "But I half to give my daughter a hug. This is the best news that you could give me. I promise you that I will fight for you and for my grandchild. I want to see you be a mother. I want to be able to meet my grandchild." Attica laughed. "Father, save your strength and then you can give me a hug in a few months when we tell everyone. But you must promise me that you are not going to give up. Fight this cancer but not for me... for yourself and so that you can have the strength to play for with your grandchild and to walk your daughter down the aisle in 5 months. Do you promise?"
Mr. Baker looked at his daughter with tears in his eyes. They were not tears of sadness but tears of joy. "Yes Attica, I promise that I will fight this. You will see me at your wedding to give you away and you will see me at the hospital when you give birth to my grandchild. I promise you that I will fight this and stay strong. I will listen to the doctor and do whatever I can for you and my grandchild." Attica had tears in her eyes. She leaned over and kissed her father on the forehead. "I love you daddy now please get some rest." She then turned and walked out of the room. She walked downstairs to the living room where her mother was sitting there in tears. She walked over to her mother and hugged her. " Father is going to make it out of this. He will get through this and so will you. It is a tough fight, but he will make it through. He is not giving up. He will continue to fight. His life is not over yet. It is just beginning. Please mom, do not worry." Ms. Baker looked at her daughter in shock. Whatever she told her father did change his mind. She was relieved that Attica was there to help her father. Attica kissed her mother on the forehead and said, "I love you mom now go be with your husband and don't worry. I am here for you if you need me but I half to go for now." Her mother nodded. Attica turned and walked out of the house. She got in her car and drove home. She was happy. She knew everything was going to be okay. Now to go home to make dinner before Jasper gets home so she can see his face when he opens her gift.
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