From chaos to happiness

CHAPTER3:SUDDENCOMEBACK

“I’m sorry for inviting myself.” He said while dropping the flowers on the table beside the bed. “By the way, you look stunning, madam.”

Each word he pronounced made Rachael more anxious. She could not take the risk of disappointing her mother, not now. She had to intervene, she had to stop Mr. James from talking.

She was still talking when Mr. James turned and looked at her, eye to eye. Her anxiety reached the c****x. ‘What is he about to say?’ She kept questioning herself. Seconds passed as hours to her.

He took her, kissed her palms softly before talking with a charming voice, “I’m sorry for what happened in the office honey. I couldn’t stay concentrated at work knowing you were angry. Please forgive your baby.” His words left Rachael in shock.

He then turned to Lisa and said, “madam, I’m sorry I started a relationship with your daughter without your approval. I guess she gave you our reasons already, but I had to meet you personally.”

Those words left Rachael stunned. She did not understand what was going on. How could he be aware of the fact she changed the plan? But that was not the end.

“Madam, I want you to recover fully and be prepared for our wedding. Having you with us that day is the best gift you can give us. Don’t worry about the rest everything is handled, just take care of yourself, ok?

Rachael wondered how Mr. James could be this romantic, she had never seen him like this. But seeing the smile and the expression of relief on her mother’s face is all that she needed.

Mr. James was still talking when a man entered the room without being invited. He looked old, entering his 60s but was dressed up like a 30 years old man. His body was covered with tattoos and his face with piercings.

Rachael seemed confused when she saw him. She could swear she knew him but could not remember from where or how. Lisa on the other hand seemed shocked, as if she just saw a ghost. Her face went pale, her hands wet and her body shivering. For seconds, she was unable to shake and even talk.

“Excuse me. Do you need something?”

Mr. James finally asked, seeing that both mother and daughter were confused. He knew Rachael had no relatives apart from her mother and he had never seen this man before. How could he just boldly enter the room without permission.

“Lisa, Lisa, Lisa… Will you not tell them who I am?” The stranger answered looking directly at Lisa with an arrogant expression. His tone was rough, like someone who’s constantly smoking and drinking.

“Nathan… What are you doing here ? After all these years?”

Lisa asked softly, as she tried to gather herself together. But this stranger, Nathan, was having a negative impact on Lisa’s health. Rachael could feel it.

“I am back and I’ll stay forever. Why don’t you tell Rachael the truth now. She deserves it and I think the timing is perfect since we are holding a small family meeting.” He said, laughing maniacally.

Those words sliced through Lisa’s heart like a knife, shattering her in an instant, accelerating her heartbeat and making her tension escalate. Rachael could not stand it anymore.

“Who are you? Why are you talking about family and where do you know my mother from?” Rachael asked, trying to maintain her composure since they were in a hospital and Mr. James was present.

The nurse entered immediately as Nathan was about to reply. She could sense the atmosphere was tense. She was also surprised many people visited Rachael. But her surprise grew negatively as she saw Lisa’s condition.

“What happened? Why is she so stressed?I left this room some time ago and her vitales were constant.”

She asked worriedly as she made her way towards her, trying to calm her tension down.

“She’s soooooo dramatic. I can even bet she’s not seriously sick. All of this is to gain attention. Can we just focus on what is most important?”

Nathan replied, still laughing, as he pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and slipped it into his mouth.

“Cigarettes are not tolerated in a hospital, and how dare you disrespect my mother this much? Who are you?”

She shouted in anger and could not stand it again. She was furious. Even Mr. James was surprised to see her in that state. But it was too late. For Lisa, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. She started coughing loudly, then her body started shaking uncontrollably. At that instant, the doctor entered the room.

“Oh no…Mom! What’s happening?” Rachael shouted in tears while rushing closer to her mother, she could only see the whites of her eyes.

“Doctor, please say something. What’s going on?”

She shouted again while holding her mother’s hands. Lisa suddenly stopped shaking, and her heart stopped beating.

One… Two…Three… The doctor was performing chest compressions on Lisa. After seconds which seemed hours for Rachael, Lisa was back but in a very bad state.

“Prépare the operating room, we need to operate now!”

The doctor instructed the nurse. Immediately after, 3 other medical personnel entered the room and placed Lisa on a stretcher, heading to the OR. Rachael did not allow her mother’s hand for a second. She was filled with guilt for shouting in her mother’s presence and hatred towards that stranger- Nathan. But all she could think of was the well-being of her mother.

IN THE HOSPITAL’S CORRIDORS

“Rachael, you can’t go further. You have to wait here for her.”

The doctor instructed her. But she couldn’t let go. She needed to be close to her mother. Mr. James suddenly held her hand, stopping her from going forward. She could only watch her mother entering the OR effortlessly.

“Doctor, please do your best to save her. Let me know if anything is needed financially.”

Mr. James told the doctor before she left.

“Rachael, don’t bother, she'll be fine. She’s in good hands.”

Rachael nodded in affirmation. She could never believe Mr. James could be this sweet and gentle, especially after this performance in the room earlier before.

“Sir, if I may ask, how did you know I changed plans concerning my mom?” She asked curiously.

“I came to apologize for the way I replied before you left the office when I overheard your conversation and decided to play along. Though I want to keep my reasons personal, my reaction was rude, I’m sorry.”

He replied in a soft but yet serious tone.

“It’s fine sir I understand and you don’t need to apologize. All I want is that my mom gets better. I feel responsible for what happened. I never had to shout in her presence.”

“It’s fine sweetheart, it’s not your fault. Your mother has always been so dramatic. She’ll recover very soon.”

Nathan replied, still smoking, why facing Rachael back. Rachael turned in anger. Why was this stranger having fun seeing Lisa hurt? How did he know about her or her mother and why did he mention family gathering? She needed answers now.

“Why are you so rude? Where do you know my mother from and who are you? Is it normal for you to enter people's lives and create chaos?” She then asked angrily.