CHAPTER 2: DAY OF THE SURGERY
2055 Words
It was closing time already,I had already packed,I was so eager to go see my dad.I looked at myself one more time on my phone and I smiled,my face was not so swollen,dad would not realise that I cried almost all day. i brushes my hair again and picked up my bag and ran outside. i mistakenly hit someone and once again,there I was on the floor "damn it" I looked up and it was my boss "sorry sir" I immediately picked up his things from the floor and gave it to him
" I did not....sir....when did you leave the office?" I was confused
" When the only thing you did today was thinking about only you knows what,how would you know? Get into the car"he said and walked to the garage.
I stood there in confusion,I thought I heard wrongly until he asked"are you deaf?"
"Ooohh" I said and ran towards him,I opened the door and got into the car, he drove to the hospital with my direction,I wondered why he gave me a lift,we got to the hospital and I got down. he drove off before I even appreciated,I rolled my eyes and got in,I walked to dad's room,Zoey was there, sitting beside him,she was holding his hand tightly,they both lost in their emotional conversation.
I walked in and smiled,tears dropped from my eyes"heyy you what did I tell you about crying in front of dad?" I asked and Zoey cleaned her face
"Dad" I called and hugged him then I sat beside him"how are you feeling dad?"
"Well...hopeful,I hope God shows me mercy"
"He will" I assured him
" I can't wait to have you back home dad"
"That house is really boring without you"
"Very soon princesses "
"Dad I got you fruits" I said and brought them out of my bag,I got them on the way for you
" You are such a darling "he said,Zoey took them and washed then he began to eat"I love you my girls"
"Dad don't start an emotional talk, you're not leaving us, we'll talk when you get better "
"Yes Paula is right dad"
" You both are so stubborn like your mom"
" Hell no dad you're the stubborn one"Zoey said and I laughed uncontrollably"
" She's laughing cause she knows I'm right" dad defended himself
" No no no don't do that" I said "you know you're the stubborn one"
" Both of you are very mean" he said and we all laughed.
***********************
It was night already,Zoey slept in the hospital with dad,I stared blindly at the stars,I was hoping mom would not allow her husband to leave us.I prayed she would not want him to come to her,I knew she would be very disappointed in the decision I made,she did not raise me up that way,we were meant to be decent and contended with the little we had, but the little we had was not enough for dad's treatment and I could not just sit and watch him die because we did not have the money.
I recalled how mom died,the memories were still fresh in my memory and the pain in my heart,I was not ready to go through the same thing I went through when mom died.I rejected Mrs Donald's offer at first but when I could not get any other means I had to go back and accept,I wonder how a mother would ask such thing but it was not my problem but I had to save my dad,I layed down on my bed and the next thing I heard was my alarm " ohhh nooo I just slept now" I complained, throwing my legs on the bed,,Zoey was not here to make me stand up and she warned me not to be late
I stood up angrily and got ready for work
*********
It was already lunch time,I was not hungry but I stood up to take a walk,I admired nature but I could not smile, I felt like I was only using the admirations to bribe God to save my dad, I chuckle I really do admire nature but am not into them. I walked around the office not aware of anything around me because the only thing on
my head was my dad. I hit my leg against something and was about to fall when someone caught me. I looked up and it was ........ I guess I forgot his name
"ohh my God ! I said happily and hugged him tightly
" paula" he called, what are u doing here?
"A lot"
"Let's talk in my office"
" Sure"
********
" When did you come back?"I asked
" Last night,I would really love to see your dad before the surgery"
" Ohh you're so sweet" I said feeling really emotional,he was Nicholas' elder brother,I looked at the name plate on his table and I recalled his name
"Ethan"
" He's such a nice man,he deserves all our encouragement and support"
" Thank you"
" How did you come up with the money?"
" Your mom"
" My mom?" He seemed very surprised " in return?....my mom would never help for free"
" I'll work for the money... that's why I'm here,I'm working for it" I lied
" You're not getting paid?!"
I shook my head negatively "I'll keep working until the money is complete or if dad fully recover he can work until the debt is cleared,don't worry,for our bills we have the restaurant we can manage"
"Paula that's not nice at all,your dad has worked here from almost twenty years,he's so loyal and devoted she could have just let this pass".
"Well.....at least she helped how else was I going to get the money?uhm I guess we'll talk later my lunch time is over"
" Okay so you're my mom's secretary?"
"Nope Nicholas' "
" Hell no that's crazy Paula she's so mean she knows very well that no one can work with him for so long "
" Ethan calm down I'll be fine,I'll pull up with him for dad's sake don't worry "
" I'll be here always for you "
" Thanks bye" I said and left,Ethan was so mad,I wondered what would happen if he found out the real deal I had with his mom...
************
Ethan POV
I was not comfortable with the deal mom had with Paula,I was so pissed,her father had worked with mom for a long time and he was so devoted she deserved to pay his bills or at least pay half,and let Paula get salary even though it was not as much as the other workers,and she would have given Paula a better boss,not Nicholas, I would have really paid for Paula's dad treatment but mom cut off my allowance because I changed the course she chose for me in college and she did not realise until I was done,she did so because my younger brother Nicholas asked her to,I felt so uncomfortable and I went angrily to her office
"Sorry sir she's in a meeting" her secretary tried to stop me
" Out of my way" I gently pulled her away and barged into mom's office
"Mom" I called angrily,she was really in a meeting
"Excuse me please"she said to them and they all left leaving the both of us alone
"How could you be soo evil?" I asked
"I'm confused"
" How would you give Paula such a condition before paying for her dad's surgery don't you have a conscience?he worked for you all these years and this is how you pay him?"
She seemed angry" she has such a big mouth,I should have known, could have refused,she signed up for it"
" Of course she will,she needs her dad to be well,she had no other choice but mom how could you? Or you thought she wouldn't tell me?"
" You won't mention a word to Nicholas about this, everything I do is for our own good okay?"
" Our own good? How is it for our good,she's working for the money you paid,and you're not paying her until the debt is cleared,and when her dad recovers he'll join her until they've paid you,how would they survive?"
" She's so ungrateful"
" No you are just wicked,I wondered what I did to deserve a mom like you" I said and walked away angrily
***********Paula pov
I walked into Mrs Donald's office,her secretary had told me earlier that she wanted to see me,I wondered why, probably to remind me of our agreement or ask about dad's health,I walked in and greeted her
"Paula" she called
" Yes ma"
" You're so smart,when Ethan came in here yelling at me I thought you told him the truth but then I was so surprised,the story you gave him was so perfect"
" Uhm ma'am the contract said I couldn't tell anyone,I won't dare to break it,my dad is more important than anything else"
" I love the spirit,good job,the way Ethan is so worried about you I hope soon Nicholas would walk in here yelling at me for the same thing and even more" she said,she talked in a very calm tone and anyone would think she was an angel but she was the direct opposite
"Yes ma very soon"
"Good you can go now"
" Thank you ma" I said and walked out,Ethan was such a darling, nothing like his mother or brother probably he took after his dad,I never got to meet his dad anyways,I had never even heard them talk about him I wondered why
I got to my office and Nicholas was there waiting for me
" Where the hell were you?"
" Uhm your...I mean Mrs.."
" Would you just stop stuttering and answer me?"
"You won't speak to her in that tone,watch it young man" Ethan warned
"Oh look who's here,so now you're what? Her hero?"
" Whatever it is just know that I'm back and you won't be speaking to her in that manner,she's a lady respect her,be responsible for once in your f*****g miserable life"
"Look who's talking about responsibility and who's living a miserable life?"
" Ethan thank you,I'm just coming from your mom's office " I said,I was trying to dissolve the fight cause I knew how bad Ethan's anger was,I never experienced Nicholas own and I was not willing to, besides I won't feel good if two brothers fought because of me in the office
" It's nothing Paula,I just had to tell her the right thing to do if the ass hole you're working for can't,I just came to check if you're alright and I noticed you didn't have lunch during your break so I got this for you "
" Thank you so much Ethan"
"It's work time Paula,get to work immediately" Nicholas ordered,his gaze was angrily fixed on Ethan
"Bye Ethan"
"Bye" he said and left, Nicholas left too
**********
It was the day for Dad surgery already, Nicholas rejected my application probably to annoy Ethan but I was not going to miss the surgery for anything,dad would not be happy even if he won't say so ,he would understand that I have to work but he will feel sad deep down,his happiness mattered more to me than whatever issues Nicholas had with his brother
"Thank you for being here" dad said "I'll be fine Zoey don't cry too much"
"Dad"Zoey said holding his hand her eyes were already filled with tears" please be strong, remember you're all Paula and I have left"
" I will"he said nodding
"Just know that mom won't be happy if you leave us all alone in this world"
" I promised her to always be here for you girls and I'm not going anywhere "
" sir always remember that we love" Ethan said
" thank you ... Ethan .... I am really grateful ... Nicolas ... "
" sir please don't think about him, we're here and that's what matters. I know you are not happy with him, but we just have to accept the fact that he's changed and he's no longer the little Nicolas that we knew".
Dad breath's out "I was not expecting this, but it's fine,you all I promise to be strong for you guys".
- Writer
