THE BILLIONAIRE'S CINDERELLA WIFE

Episode 7

EPISODE 7

”I will go,” I stoutly say as I get ready to hop inside the ambulance but mother grabs my arm and pulls me aside, “don’t be silly, he is my husband, I’m the one who is going to go with him and you are staying behind with your little brother,” she orders. “He is your husband alright but I seem to care about him more than you do and I’m pretty sure I’m the one he will want to see first when he wakes up.” I challenge. Mattie’s eyes flicker between my face and our mother’s as we exchange narrowed eyes and tightened lips. I’m not trying to be disrespectful of her but I truly believe I care more about father than she does; she is only putting up an act and pretending to be a concerned wife. I’m the one who should be going with father to the hospital since I’m the one who has always cared enough to help him with almost everything.

“Ladies, ladies! We do not have time for your drama, one of you must get in and the other will follow behind, you do have buses in this neighbourhood, don’t you?” An annoyed paramedic shouts hoarsely. Upon reading the impatient and irritated expression on the paramedic’s features, I’m forced to allow my mother to go, anyway, it’s not like there is anything I can do for father before he gains back his consciousness. I can take good care of Mattie at the meantime, its best I stay behind with him than to leave him with a negligent mother.

After the ambulance drives away, I take hold of Matt’s hand and lead him back inside the house, I cannot stop worrying and sitting here waiting is not going to cut it for me but I can’t take Matt with me to the hospital not when I have no idea how long we would have to wait until we get news about father and I’m not counting on mother to be thoughtful enough to give me a call as soon as the doctor informs her what’s wrong with our father.

“Do you want me to help you with the dishes?” Matt offers but I’m so lost in my thoughts that I don’t even hear him, “Becca!” He screams so loud that my ears get a vibrating sensation. I do not hesitate to scold him, “damn it Matt! How many times must I warn you about screaming so loudly?” I turn to face him with an annoyed look. “I’m sorry but you have been quiet ever since the ambulance took dad away, why won’t you talk to me? You don’t think it’s my fault that he passed out do you?” His cute little face looks even cuter with worry plastered all over it. I try not to laugh but I end up chuckling softly, “don’t be silly Matt, why on earth would you think it’s your fault?”

“He was angry that I lost my running shoes, what if he got so angry that his heart stopped beating?”

“Are you kidding me right now?” I throw a dish towel at him.

After I’m done with the dishes I take Matt up to his room and I read him a bed time story to get him to fall asleep but it doesn’t work, my guess is he is also worried about his father. I get in bed with him and we snuggle up then I start to sing softly to him while gently stroking his hair and in no time at all he falls asleep, I leave to my own room and I light a candle and get on my knees to say a short prayer for my father, “Dear God...I do not know what is going on with my father but I ask that you do not take him from us. He is my pillar of strength and the only parent that my brother and I can rely on. Please heal him of whatever sickness he has, bring him back home to his children who love and need him...I ask all this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.”

I lie on the bed facing the ceiling, I doubt that I will be falling asleep anytime soon, I keep staring at my phone waiting for it to ring but it doesn’t. How I wish I had friends to turn to at this moment, friends or a special man to cuddle up with me and distract me from my fears but I’m all alone.

I’m about to fall asleep when noise coming from downstairs sends shivers throughout my body, it sounds like someone is trying to break in. I’m filled with dread as I quietly make my way downstairs to try and find out what’s going on. I grab the biggest knife from the kitchen but then I think again, I’m scared of sharp objects I just might accidentally cut myself or worse get the knife used on me by whoever is trying to break in so I go for the pan instead. As I draw nearer to the front door it becomes obvious that there is someone who is trying to pick the lock, I start shaking like a leaf as I wait for the intruder to get in so I can smack his head with the pan. The lights are off and it is very dark I can barely see anything but when the door slides open and someone walks in I’m determined to aim for the head even though It is hard to see anything.

“What do you think you are doing?” mother yells, sounding puzzled and agitated. “Mom!” I gasp after switching on the light, “Are you trying to kill me with that pan?” she gapes at me. “Of course not...I thought you were a burglar or something, what were you doing picking the lock and where did you even learn that from?” I quizzically stare at her, astounded that I’m discovering more things about my mother that I didn’t have a clue about.

She ignores me and swings her hips as she makes her way into the kitchen with me following behind, she pours milk into the mug and heats it up in the microwave. I want to protest because she shouldn’t drink the milk that I left for Matt’s cereal tomorrow but I figured she wouldn’t care to listen. “You ask too many questions it’s so annoying, sometimes I feel like you think I’m your daughter,” she snarls.

I’m not interested in having this pointless conversation with her, what I’m concerned about is how my father is doing and why she is back so soon, does that mean he is awake or dead?

The timer runs out and the microwave beeps before I could say anything, mother takes out the mug and slumps into a chair before taking a sip of the hot milk and shutting her eyes with delight. I take a seat next to her and throw her a bewildered look, “what?” she throws her hands open. “I’m still waiting for you to tell me how my father is,” I blurt.

“He is still unconsciousness but the doctors say he will wake up any minute,”

“So why did you leave the hospital?” I frown at her.

“Do you have any idea how freezing cold it is there or how uncomfortable the hospital chairs are?” She prattles,

“You are unbelievable,” I shake my head, disapproving of her words and actions.

I’m regretting not fighting to go with my father in the ambulance; I wouldn’t have left until he woke up even if it meant sleeping there but now it’s too late for me to do anything, it’s dark outside there is no longer transport and taxis are very expensive. I just have to rush to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning.

“Becca! Come back here, where do you think you are going?” My mother shouts as I disappear out of the kitchen, I head straight to bed and it takes me a long time to finally fall asleep. Is my father going to be able to get back to work immediately or whatever condition he has may keep him at home for a while and if so that means I will have to handle his gardening piece jobs until he is fully recovered.

***

The alarm rings early in the morning and I rush to the bathroom to take a quick shower, I’m about to head out to catch a bus to the hospital when I’m reminded that someone has to get Matt ready for school and I cannot count on my mother to do that. A quick glance at the time confirms that there is still an hour before Matt’s usual wake up time but I can’t wait for that long. I run to my parents’ bedroom hoping to find her up and ready to be of help somehow considering the situation at hand but she seems far from waking up. She is sound asleep like a queen without any worries, well, I guess Matt is going to have to skip school today, it will do no harm for just this once, it is for a good reason after all.

My heart begins racing as I walk through the huge glass doors of the hospital, since it’s early in the morning there isn’t much activity and it is awfully quiet. “Good morning Miss, how can we help you?” the receptionist asks with a tired voice and puffy eyes. I’m guessing she was on night duty and is yet to go home to rest, “morning...I’m here to see David Cruz, he was brought here yesterday evening in an ambulance,” I respond.

She browses through the computer files for a brief moment before looking up at me, “only relatives can see him right now,” she informs. “He is my father,” I quickly state.

She directs me to the ward where he was admitted and I rush there without wasting time, the sight of him laying helplessly on the hospital bed is new to me, “oh father,” I cry softly as I hold his hand that feels cold and stiff.

“You must be David’s daughter,” I’m startled when I hear a male’s voice say, I turn around to see the doctor entering the room. “Yes...how did you know?” I simper. I don’t look anything like my father so I’m curious to know how this doctor figured out that I’m his child. “You look like his beautiful wife who was here yesterday so I’m guessing that makes you their child,” he chuckles.

“Oh...yes...I get that a lot...” I pause to swallow before continuing, “what’s wrong with him...is he going to be fine?” I ask.

“Didn’t your mother tell you?” He gazes at me with astonishment and puzzlement showing in his eyes.