Rivals on Ice

Chapter 7: Still Family

Tyler stood at the balcony enjoying the morning sunrise . Soft golden yellow glow spread across the cool air. The world felt quiet, fresh and calm.

He was interrupted with a phone call . It was his dad.

He told him to go back home immediately.

"Why ,is anything wrong?" He asked.

His father didn't answer but hung up .

He called his mother several times but she did not pick up.

His team had no match to play this week.So he decided to take the chance to go home.

He went back in the house, took his key ,some documents ,packed some clothes and immediately left the house.

He called his coach and asked for some days off.

"What do you mean captain,you can't go anywhere now." Coach told him.

"Please, Family emergency." Tyler pleaded.

"Be back before next week." Coach said.

"Okay" He said and hung up.

He entered his Audi , stressed.

"Please God, let everything be well ." He said and started the engine.

He arrived at the airport and was lucky to find the plane going directly to france.

One hour of waiting for the flight felt like a month.

His phone rung.

A message popped.

Hospital location.

He called his dad.

"What is going on !" He asked.

"Just come where the location shows." His dad said and hung .

The flight arrived.

He sat next to the window.His hands shaking.

"Are you fine." A passenger asked.

He nodded.

The flight took eight hours.He had fallen asleep and was woken up by the guy next to him.

"We have arrived sir."The man said .

" Thank you." He yawned after and stretched.

It had been long since he travelled that long.The hospital location was not new ,he knew exactly where it was located and did not waste time.

He arrived at the hospital and stood there looking around for his father or anyone he knew.

He couldn't see anyone and decided to call his father who did not pick up.

He went and sat on a bench.

"Finally,my son is here." A voice echoed from a distance.

He turned.

"Dad." He called.

"Why did you tell me to come to the hospital?" He asked.

His dad looked at him .

"Your mum had an accident."He uttered.

" How ?"

"When?" He asked hesitantly.

"Today in the morning but I don't know how ." His dad said.

"What do you mean by you don't know ?" Tyler asked.

"I was not home when it happened, I got a call from Judith but she was already taken to the hospital."

Tyler looked at him,angry .

"What ! What's with the look. You want to fight me." His dad said adjusting his sleeves.

Tyler did not respond.He looked down and rubbed his eyes .

A nurse came and greeted Tyler's dad.

"This way." She said.

Tyler followed.

"Go see your mum." His dad ordered.

Tyler walked in the room.

His mum laid on the bed.

He sighed.

Held her hands and sat down on the chair next to the bed.

" Mom," He called silently.

He kissed her hands and rubbed them gently.

****

Zane sat on the coach watching documentaries.His father came and sat next to him.

"What is the topic about?" His Dad asked.

"A girl , found frozen for 500 years." He answered.

" I've heard about that,just been busy to follow up."He said.

" Am proud of you son."His father said.

" Thanks ." He answered.

"You and your brother have become my greatest achievement. My sons are perfect." He said.

"Promise me ,you will continue making me this happy ?" He asked.

Zane nodded.

"Before I forget, what do you think about Wolves." His dad asked.

"They are strong and unpredictable." He answered.

His dad sighed and touched his shoulder.

"Yeah ,you are right ,but my team is better."He said.

" I trust you ,in the end you will defeat them,no team has ever beaten us ,and they will be the first and last ."He uttered.

" Am I right?"He asked.

" Yes."Zane answered.

" That's my son ."He said patting his back.

As they kept watching Zane's phone rung.

He picked it up immediately.

Sighed.

Then hung up.

"You seemed happy to answer it ,why did decline." His father asked.

"Umm, thought it was someone else." He said.

"Girlfriend?" He asked.

"No,just a close friend."

He had texted Tyler hours ago but he had not reply.

" Dad."He called.

His dad looked at him.

" I'll be going back to my house tomorrow."He said.

"Okay." His dad answered.

****

Tyler woke up.

His mum was caressing his hair.

"Mum."He called silently.

"I'm here son." She answered.

Tyler hugged her.

"Not too tight." She said.

"Ooh sorry." He said smiling.

"I missed you so much." She said.

"Sorry,I was not here." Tyler said.

"Don't say that,I'm fine and happy you are here." She said.

"What happened?"He asked.

" Forget it. As long as I'm fine ,it's okay."

" No ,mum ,it's not okay."Tyler said.

" You're coming back with me."He said.

" No ,this is home." She said.

Tyler looked at her.

" Get well first."He said.

After three days ,Tyler's mum was feeling much better and was ready to be discharged.

After paying the bills he helped her to the car.

"I'll take you to an hotel then I'll go back with you." He told his mum.

" You are going nowhere with my wife."His Dad yelled.

"Wife ! You came once and left without knowing her condition.You don't care about her." Tyler said.

"Look , don't raise your voice at me!"His dad yelled.

" Will you two stop,son take me home." His mum said and entered the car.

They arrived at the mansion.

It was vast ,well maintained ground,lush green lawns, colourful flower garden, neatly trimmed hedges.

A long paved driveway framed by towering columns .

At the sides there was a fountain.

"Miss Sophie welcome back." One of the maids said.

All the maids and workers lined up to welcome them.

"Ooh my god,Tyler !" A teenage girl shouted.

Judith,Tyler's sister she was slim,white , wore glasses and had just turned sixteen.

" It's been a long time."She said heading to hug him.

" Come in,we really missed you."

They all sat on the couch.

Judith leaned closer to her brother.

"How long will you stay?" She asked.

He rubbed her hair.

"You talk too much." He said.

Tyler had spent the last three days in a hotel waiting for his mother to get better.He and his father always disagreed and argued, he did not want to be more stressed and angered.

A maid came in.

" Dinner is ready."

They all went to the dining.

The table was silent.

"Dad ,I need some cash." Judith uttered.

"For what." His Dad asked.

Judith looked at her mum desperately.

"Ask your brother he is back ,besides he's rich." His dad said.

"Why won't you,you hardly even give me money." Judith yelled.

"Sorry,I can't give you my money." Her dad uttered.

"All you do is party. I can't waste my money for you to ruin yourself."

"All my friends are enjoying all you do is try to prevent me ,I need to be free ."

"They are not good friends." He said.

Judith stood and left .

After finishing the food Tyler stood up to leave but his father stopped him.

"Resign and take care of your mother ,stop neglecting her ." He said.

"How I'm i neglecting her,I built her a house ,I send money every week ,I do my best to ensure you all are fine.If I resign how will I do that ?"Tyler asked.

" You are educated ,there are jobs here at home ,just quit that hockey thing ."He said.

" I'm not ,that's my dream ." Tyler said and walked out.

" Todavia no he terminado contigo!"His father shouted.

"I'm not done with you yet ." His father shouted.

Tyler entered his room.He sat on the bed and took a photo frame which was on top of the table next to the bed.

A teenage boy carrying a young boy who seemed to be six years old.The small boy held a hockey stick.

He smiled a little.

The house no longer felt like home.

A memory flashed.

Eight years earlier.

" He's your son, one day he'll hate you ."He heard his mother telling his dad as he passed their room."

The memory disappeared when he heard a knock at the door.

His mum entered and sat next to him.

"Mon cheri."She called.

" My darling."She called.

She held his hands , he cares about you and your sister." She said.

"All you do is support him ,I spent almost all my life trying to make him look at me.He doesn't care,he never did ." Tyler said looking directly in her eyes.

"He's still your family. Your father.She said .

Tyler looked at her, broken.

" I don't want my sister to go through the same.No dad treats their children like that."He said.

" Get some rest ," she said and left.

He hated him.

Despised him.

He only wanted his father's love .

And that was his only wish which he knew will never come true.