In Between April

CHAPTER 3

I tried to compose myself and not furrow my brows at him. He was indeed a handful. I was already imagining myself living with a man as unbearable as Ryan Wilson.

It happened that Ryan's family house wasn't so far as we got there in a short while. I didn't say much in the car but when we got outside the big mansion, Ryan asked me to wait and then ran to the other side and opened the door for me.

"Oh we are pretending now?" April was shocked but managed to pull a smile.

"Follow my lead." He whispered into my ears as he held my hands and we walked into the house. It had beautiful interiors with shining tiles on the floor and walls. It was simply amazing what money can do.

April had never been to a house owned by someone that was as beautiful as this. She only saw and experienced those kind of things in movies.

"Grandpa, you're still awake?"

"Of course I need to make sure you're okay."

"You shouldn't have stay up late because of me, grandpa." Ryan said.

"Why? I only wanted to make sure you're okay."

As his grandpa spoke, Ryan shoved me closer.

"You should.. who's that lovely girl beside you?" Mr. Wilson asked and I was shocked. The fact that he could see me so well showed that he was very healthy. Immediately he asked, he smiled at April who returned his smile.

It seemed he had already figured out what was going on.

"Grandpa, meet the love of my life, em.. Tracy."

"April." April coughed out my name so he could remember what it was.

"I mean April, Grandpa. I sometimes confuse both names." Ryan lied but April could see that there was no deceiving Mr. Wilson.

"Hmm." He stared at Ryan and then shifted his attention to April. "Young lady, how are you?"

"I'm doing well, Sir."

"You look so unsure. I hope everything is okay." He asked and I noticed that I was shivering. Ryan was already giving April the eye asking her not to mess it up. She put on my acting shoes on immediately.

"Grandpa, I hope he has been taking care of you? I know how stubborn my sweetheart can be." She grabbed Mr. Wilson's hands.

"Ryan? That grandson of mine is a pain in the ass." He said and they shared a laugh.

"Tell me about it." April laughed, trying to spite Ryan in his grandfather's presence.

"I wondered how you've captured him because I have been waiting for a day like this, when I'll finally meet the woman in his life.

"Grandpa!" Ryan made a fuss.

"That's the truth." Mrs. Wilson agreed

"I believe you." April responded. The house was quiet.

"I like you already, have dinner with us." Mr. Wilson responded.

"No Grandpa, she'll be leaving. It's late already, okay." Ryan said but Mr. Wilson wasn't happy about that.

"I promise to have dinner and sleep over, if you want when next I come over." April promised, determined to keep her promise at least for the sake of the old man.

"Thank you, April. You don't know what you have done for me."

"Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Take care of yourself." April waved him goodbye as she left.

"Your grandpa is such a nice man." April complimented expecting a thank you from Ryan but he was silent.

"Did you really have to say all that you said?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you literally talked bad about me."

"Didn't you see that I was trying to relate with him? Well, we succeeded tonight and that is all that matters. You should be appreciative and not here whining with your big mouth."

"Don't dare say that to me." Ryan responded and April was shocked at the turn of his behavior. It was like he was another man when he talked to Mr. Wilson and a totally different person now.

"I have to go now." April replied. She had not forgotten that she had to visit her sick father at the hospital and to buy him the required drug he needed.

"I will send you an email containing everything you should know about me and my grandfather. You should send me one too, about your family. We need to get acquainted with each other as soon as possible.

"I thought it's better finding out about that instead of just reading about each other."

Ryan gave her a stare which gave her a stir. "I don't have time for all that frivolities."

"OK, if you says so." April agreed. I mean what other choice did she have? She had made up her mind to do this and she was doing it for the money, anyway.

"I will get the contract the next time we meet. I hope you don't bail on me." He tried to smile but he couldn't. He brought out a cheque book, after writing down something on the paper, tore it and handed it over to me.

"This is for just a night alone. I will draft your paycheck with the contract too."

April refused to look at the paper handed to her because she didn't want to lose her composure at least not in front of Ryan. "Thank you." She said and made her way to the hospital to visit her father.

She decided to take a look at the cheque before taking a cab. 2400 dollars right in her hand. She was simply dumbfounded and felt like shouting, crying and jumping up.. It was all so emotional for her.

The money she was holding would take care of her father's hospital bills, finally pay for his surgery and she'll still have some change for upkeep. It felt good because this was the first time she was making such an amount of money.

The cab April boarded stopped her in front of the general hospital where her father was admitted since the accident. He had been hit over by a car who escaped after he had lost consciousness. This was the only hospital they could afford.

"Maybe I will transfer him to another hospital for his leg surgery." April thought. It was becoming unbearable for her to watch as he went through pain because of lack of money to pay his surgery bill.

As April went into the hospital, the smell of antibiotics and drugs filled the air. It reminded her of the days she used to visit the hospital frequently when her mother was sick, now she was doing the same for her father. She only prayed nothing happens to her father.

She first of all cashed the cheque at the hospital and made every payment they owned.

She went to see her father after that. He was still in the same condition she had met him three days ago, his feet, all bandaged and hanging.

"Good evening, Dad." She greeted me but got no response.

She wondered if he was in deep thought or he didn't want to answer. "Dad?" She called again, touching him this time.

"Dad!"

"April, you came to visit me?"

"Yes, Dad. How are you doing today."

"I'm just here."

"Dad, I have told you to stop thinking so much. It'll affect your health."

"How can I not think when I'm simply just a burden to you and your sister."

"No, Dad. Don't say that. You're not a burden."

"I am. I wish I didn't have that accident, at least I would be out there fending for you and your sister."

"Dad, this isn't your fault. None of this is, so please calm down okay? Don't worry, I have already settled the hospital bills and very soon, you'll be transferred to another hospital so you can finally get your surgery done."

"How did you do that?" He asked, slightly sitting up.

April expected that question, she didn't want to tell him about it but he had to stop thinking so much. "I work, remember?"

"I know but you can't afford my hospital bills and the surgery too, you know. So tell me."

"Well, I have been saving to go to school but since you need the money already, I decided to use it and Lily helped me too." April lied to her father.

He stared at me, not believing a word I say.

"School? how come I don't know? We are talking about money getting of 21, 000 dollars including the surgery, how did you get that amount of money?"

"You don't have to worry Dad, everything will be okay. Everything will be alright."

Mr. Gary Dona took his daughter's hand in his, bringing her closer, kissed her forehead. "Thank you sweetheart for this." .

"Anything for you, Dad."

"I trust that this money is from a good source, I trust my granddaughter." Mrs. Gary said and smiled. "I'm so lucky to have you and your sister.

"We're lucky to have you too."

"Grandma you need to Rest, maybe you should go and come back tomorrow morning, April said Facing her grand mother."

"I'm Fine, I will just stay back and watch over him now, at lease the Hospitals bill is sorted out I feel free, happy and can sleep well now Mrs Gary Replied"

Before she left, she discussed with the doctor and he plans to transfer her father to a better hospital so he could have his surgery.

Her phone beeped. It was a message from Lily. "Can you come over?"

April was tired but reasoned that she needed to visit her friend and inform her of the outcome of her date with the arrogant billionaire she tossed to her.

It was still funny to April that she would be getting married, to a man who she had only met for only a day and soon too.. This was like those scenes that happen in the movies where the Prince charming falls in love with the woman and goes after her and they live happily ever after but this time it was different.

Her supposed Prince charming was a grumpy arrogant fellow who did everything for fame and money and she was sure there was no happily ever after in this story.