Chapter 6
Home sweet home.
I couldn't help the nostalgic feeling that swept through me upon arriving at the residence I've known all my life.
Three to four maids including the chief maid herself instantly pulled up at the lobby to welcome me back home as well as proffer their services just Incase I'd want one- and I do.
"Where is my father? Take me to him." I didn't specifically direct my order to one of them, but swiftly followed suit as one of them volunteered to lead the way.
I came back just as I left. Without a single dime or material.
"Thank you," I told the lady who brought me up to my father's bedroom.
I sipped in a deep breath before I pushed on the door's knob to grant myself an entry into the room.
Here goes nothing. I stepped into the room. Exactly like how I left it, not a single furniture replaced or out of place.
"Dad!" I called out alarmed upon sighting his sprawled body on the bed.
I rushed over to his side. He looks unconscious, and alive at the same time.
"Dad! Dad are you okay?" I leaned my head over on his body so I could hear if his heart was still beating, and I felt a slight rush of relief when I could hear the faint thump.
"Rahne…" his voice was croaked, as well as hoarse. I pulled away from his chest so I could look him in the face, his eyes were no longer closed and rather struggling to stay open.
"Yes dad. What happened to you? I was told you were sick, this doesn't look like a mere fever." I spoke within my anxiousness.
My father wasn't looking so good, and that is scaring me. How could I have abandoned him for so long? Because of a man who never deserved it!!!
"I-" his voice strained, an effort for him to compose a coherent sentence. "I'll be…." He drew in a sharp breath. "I'll be fine.."
"Yes you'll be. I'm here now, and you won't be sick under my watch." I told him as I fully stepped away from him.
I brought out my phone as I dialed a call across to Gale, my brother, the eldest. He was the one who told me dad was kind of sick, and failed to mention how fatal dad's condition is.
He picked right after I stepped out of dad's room.
"I'm home and it looks like dad's on his deathbed!" My tone doesn't sound anything nice or soft.
I was pissed. At myself and them! How could they have kept this away from me? How could I prioritize a man over my life, my family, my loved ones!
"Huh? I was told he has a fever. Have you seen dad's new chick yet? She's the one who informed us about dad's decision to retire, and about his sickness. She told us it's nothing serious for us to worry about."
"You-" I let my response hang so my eyes could leech on to the figure approaching.
She was dressed in a corporate gown, her hair packed and gelled in a neat ponytail. She looked absolutely radiant and stunning.
"Hello?"
"I'll call you back," I said to Gale as I ended the call.
Her attention quickly drew to me as she paused on her tracks. She gave me a dirty gaze, eyeing me from the edge of my head to the tip of my toes.
"And who are you?" She asked, her tone condescending.
"I should be the one asking that, but then I just got the news about my father's new chick so safe to assume the bitch is you. Care to explain why it looks like my father is on his deathbed and you've been telling his kids that it's a minor fever? Nothing serious to worry about?"
Shock instantly chewed at her features, chasing away the disdain that was previously marred by her countenance.
"You're dead. He told me you were dead!" Her brows furrowed in awe.
"That's not an answer to my question." I glared at her.
"Your father is sick, and that's all I know. He was the one who instructed me to say to his kids what I said to them," she finally answered.
"What is the nature of his sickness?"
"I don't think he'd want me to tell you. He lied to me that you were dead, and you're not. I don't know what relationship existed between you guys, but I'd fix it sooner if I were you. Excuse me." She said as she resumed motion and walked past me.
'I don't know what relationship existed between you guys, but I'd fix it sooner if I were you…' that part of her statement replayed in my head.
What's going on?
I already know the answer but a part of me doesn't want to believe it. No!
No this cannot be happening. It can't. I'm not going to lose my father. I don't care, he's going to heal. I'll make sure he does. He won't die now that I'm here.
A tear slid down my face as I typed in the number.
"911, what's your emergency?" The custom fixed response rang out from the phone placed above my left ear.
"My name is Rahne Leticia Addams, daughter of Hiram Addams. It's my dad….." I proceed to brief them on the situation as well as state out my address for them.
My head banged as my surroundings grew shallow. I ran back into the room where he was, to go assure him that he's going to live.
He's going to heal for us to fix our relationship!
I barged in, my emotions spiraled out all over my face. I halted at the scene in front of me.
It was the new chick standing beside my father's sick body with a pillow in her hand. She stood there with a vicious stare in her eyes as she looked up at me who just interrupted whatever she was about to do.
"The fuck!" I yelled out, totally gobsmacked.