Chapter 5
1070 Words
After her afternoon shift, Ashleigh headed to the hospital. She got there and met her brother and her mum playing cards. Smiling at the scene, she spoke.
“So who’s winning? Mum, you need to beat Ed so he’ll fall off his high horse.”
“Of course. He has stayed up there for too long. His reign would be over soon. I’m the one winning.”
“Mum, that’s not fair. You cheated. Ash, you’re mean. It’s not my fault you can’t beat me. Don’t be jealous”
After a few more rounds of the game, Ashleigh asked Edwin to go to the kids’ ward. She turned to face her mum and began.
“How are feeling today? Do you feel weak?”
Adeline smiled and pulled her in for a hug.
“See? I’m fine. If I wasn’t, I won’t have enough strength to hug you. Don’t worry. How was your day at work?”
“It was alright. Did the doctor come to see you today?”
“Yeah. The normal checkup.”
Ashleigh nodded before going silent. Adeline noticed her silence and took her hand.
“What’s wrong? Did the doctor say something about me?”
“How did you know?”
“When I woke up yesterday, I asked the nurse about you and she said you left after speaking to the doctor. So what did he say?”
Ashleigh’s shoulders tensed up before she spoke up.
“He said the cancer cells had spread to some of your organs and without chemotherapy, your chance of surviving is little.”
Adeline nodded while letting the news sink in. She let a raspy breath before looking at her daughter with a small smile.
“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry. It’s not compulsory I undergo chemotherapy. I can always – ’’
Ashleigh cut her mother off furiously.
“How can you say something like that? You’re just going to give up? Because the treatment is expensive? We should at least try.”
Adeline let out a little sob as she tightened her hold on Ashleigh’s hand.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. You’re busy trying to take care of Edwin and I –’’
“And I’m not complaining, Mum. Just listen to me. I’ll find some money we can use to start your treatment. Don’t worry about the money and just receive the treatment.”
Adeline nodded and wiped the tears that were trailing down her cheeks. She smiled quickly and changed the subject.
“So tell me, what has been going on in your life lately? Any interests?”
Ashleigh laughed at the last sentence.
“Interests? What do you mean?”
“You know, any man that catch your fancy?”
Ashleigh’s mind went back to the male customer. She shook her head immediately as if to get rid of the thought.
“You know I don’t have time for dating now.”
“Why would you say that? Ashleigh, you’re twenty eight and you haven’t dated any guy since your college days. Try going out with someone for a change.”
“I don’t know. Maybe later.”
Edwin came back to the room and stayed with Adeline for some time before going home with Ashleigh.
“I heard you’ll be attending the function with Liam. I spoke to Mr. Kim and he told me about his second daughter is single and luckily, she will be attending the function.
She will be meeting you at the function. Be nice to her and do not stand her up like Miss Natasha. Her father was annoyed and I had to apologize on your behalf.”
Jerome paced in his father’s study in frustration as he heard what his father said.
“I didn’t ask you to do so on my behalf. And I’ve told you to stop setting me up on dates. What is wrong with you? Are you not tired?”
Slamming the table, Grayson rose fuming, pointing his index finger at Jerome.
“You will speak to me with respect because I am your father and you will listen to me when I’m talking to you.”
“And you will respect my decisions because I am your son. Don’t you dare play that father card on me because you lost that right when you let Mum die.”
With that, he stormed out of the study room and headed to his room. Closing the door with a slam, he slumped on the couch angrily.
His dad had been an unfaithful husband when his mum was alive. He left every day and came back with a woman different from the first one on his arm.
He did not even try to hide the women as he brought to his matrimonial home and slept with them on his matrimonial bed. He had his mum moved to his room so he could bring his ladies freely into the room without any disturbances. Gradually, his mother, Eva, became sick. She was admitted in the hospital yet his father never once paid her a visit. The only time he visited was when he brought the divorce papers for her to sign. She was forced to sign the divorce papers and her sickness became worse.
Jerome remembered the day before she died. His father had gone to visit her and had asked him to excuse both of them. He had left the room feeling the tension growing between them. He could hear them arguing even though he couldn’t hear what they were saying and then his father stormed out. He went into the room and met his mother in tears. The next day, when he got back from college, his mum was already dead.
Frowning slightly at the memory, he took his car keys and called Liam out for a drink.
“I can’t believe he set you up again. Why didn’t you tell him you had a date?”
“Who’s the date?”
“Me, of course”
Jerome rolled his eyes and let out a little laugh before he took another swig of his drink.
“I’m not going with you to the function. I don’t want to go on any stupid date.”
“You can’t bail out now. I need a friend there. It’s really important for me to be there.”
Jerome sighed before nodding his head in agreement.
- Writer
