Chapter 15
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I put my phone on silent and return it to my bag,
“I don’t mind you answering it. Albert says. I shake my head, that was not a call I could receive in front of Albert or anyone really.
Madam Tess is not the quietest person around, no matter how low my phone volume is, her voice can still be heard.
She doesn’t talk nicely either, I have had to cover Candace’s ears the many times she has visited my apartment to cause a
ruckus
“I will talk to her later. It’s just somebody from home.” Albert nods, “Okay, I am sorry to have brought up your mum.”“”
I wave my hand at him. “No, it’s totally fine. At first, it was painful for me to talk about her but later I found that I enjoyed it. It helps me keep her memory alive.”
He smiles. “I am happy you are able to see it that way. I heard a youngster say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” I’d rather squeeze the lemons into life’s eyes but I wear a smile and nod in agreement.
“Where was your dad in all of this?” his eyebrows furrows in curiosity.
I snap my fingers. “Now, that is someone I don’t like to talk about he suddenly left when I was nine years old and I haven’t seen him since then. He didn’t even attend any of the funerals.”
I remember going out to play with friends that morning, he made me pancakes and bid me goodbye. My nine-year-old self did not know his goodbye meant he was leaving.
Apart from the fact that my mum normally did the cooking, there was nothing odd about that morning. When I came back later in the day, my mum was on the floor of the living room staring into space.
I was shocked to see her like that, she didn’t say anything until late in the evening when she was putting me to bed.
-Your dad left us Aurora. I will do my best to take care of you, don’t worry.” she had said.I didn’t know what to say so I was silent while she kissed my forehead and left my room.
I was always closer to my mum but it did not make my dad leaving hurt any less.
“Do you have any idea why he left? Maybe he was going through something, addiction?” I chuckle humourlessly, “None that I know of, he was just selfish.
“Did you ever try to find him?” I press my lips in a thin line, “he doesn’t want to be found.”
I had tried when I first entered college but there were no traces of him on the internet.
A sympathetic look crosses his face and he nods, “I understand, there any other thing you think I should know?”
Apart from the fact that I became a single mother through an irresponsible rendezvous with a complete stranger because the two closest people to me betrayed me, no.
“That’s it. I am an only child so it’s just me and Candace now.” isay. Shit, Aurora “with Aaron of course.” I quickly add. He chuckles, “And I, I might not be around for much longer but I am still family. You can count on me if you like.”
I can’t believe Aaron and I are really deceiving this sweet old man, the guilt gnaws at me but I wave it off.
I decide to steer the conversation from myself. “You said earlier that Aaron wasn’t always like this. What did you mean by
tha
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11:25 Wed, Oct 16 G
Chapter 15
“I meant he wasn’t always this cold. I know he is very caring towards you and I love to see it, it feels like I can see a glimpse of his old self. He was a very cheerful kid, I used to try to get him to stop running around the house.” a nostalgic look crosses his face
he used to drag me to collect unique stones with him any time we went to the beach…” he chuckles, he did not seem to realise I was already old. He believed I had all the strength in the world and I indulged him. But, he has changed since…..
The door slides open as Aaron enters the room, Albert sighs and keeps quiet. The room is quiet except for Candace’s cheer when she sees Aaron.
“What did the doctor say?” Albert asks Aaron. He shrugs, “Same old stuff. Nothing new except that you have been flirting up a storm with the nurses. Aaron squints at him, “I don’t want a new grandmother.”
Albert laughs hoarsely, “I just do it sometimes to see if I have still got it. If I were to judge from the way the nurses laugh and blush. I’d say I still got it very much indeed” he remarks with a proud smirk
Aaron shakes his head, “Or the poor women are too uncomfortable with flirtations from a senile old man.”
gape at his poker face, surely that was very insulting. I look at Albert and see him still smiling. “Let’s see how you do at my
1
age son.
I guess they are used to each other’s dark humour. Albert sighs tiredly. “You look tired. The long chat must have exhausted you_”Aaron remarks, he glances at me, we should go now.”
Albert waves his hand, “Nonsense, we were just getting started.”
“What were the both of you chatting about? I don’t imagine you have much in common.” Aaron says.
I don’t miss the condescending jab he threw at me. What could somebody like me possibly have in common with an old billionaire.
Albert doesn’t notice it though, “She is my family now. We have much to discuss.” he says hoarsely.
“You need to rest. Aaron says sternly, she will be back soon.”
I place my hand on Albert’s arm, “He is right Albert, you do look really tired. I am sorry to have taken so much of your energy.”
He smiles weakly, “I enjoyed our conversation. I haven’t had a harmless conversation in so long. My grandson is a man of few words you see.”
I glance at Aaron with a mocking smile, he seems to always have something to say to me. Mostly unpleasant things.
“I will see you soon.” I assure Albert. Candace has fallen asleep so slowly stand up so I don’t wake her. Albert shakily raises his hand to pat her head, I bend a little to make it easier for him.
“Take care of yourselves” he says. I smile at him, “We will. Bye.”
“Bye.” he says. I leave the room and Aaron co
comes out a few minutes later.
I
“Let’s go.” he says, hurriedly walking past me toward the elevator 1 huff as I struggle to keep up with his long strides.
Carrying Candace makes me walk a little slower, I see the displeasure on his face as I walk into the elevator. He doesn’t say anything so I ignore it.
I carefully tuck Candace in her
and
get in to the
passenger seat. Aaron closes my door and walks around the car to
“That went smoothly,” he says as he drives out of the parking lot nod in agreement, “Yep.”
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11:25 Wed, Oct 16 G
pter 15
“What were you guys talking about?” he says it with an air of disinterest but I can tell that he wouldn’t mind knowing. “He asked about my family. He”
“Okay.” Aaron interrupts.
I cast him an offended look, “You don’t want to know?”
“As long as you don’t have any hidden family members that could throw a wrench in my plan, no, I don’t have to know. You already said the girl’s mum won’t be a problem.”
“Her name is Candace, not this girl”
“Whatever. You know what I mean.” I fight the urge to snap at him and get that insolent look off his face.
“I am holding up my end of the deal well. I trust that you can handle yours. I don’t have the time to deal with any sort of drama so you better not be lying to me. I will not tolerate any obstacle in my path.” he adds coldly.
I frown, the only thing I lied about is Candace’s identity. No foster sister is coming from anywhere to claim her so no lies there. I turn to him confidently, “I know how to handle my business.”
“Good” he says, Figuring that the conversation is over, I turn to the window and watch the world outside. We get home to meet Beatrice cleaning the house.
“Welcome sir, ma’am” she says with a warm smile. Aaron nods at her and
“Hey Beatrice.” I say cheerily, I back.” she nods and I go in.
goes to his room.
int to sleeping Candace in my arms, “I am going to put her in the room, I will be right
I put Candace on the bed slowly, she stirs a little but she doesn’t wake up. I sit beside her and watch her sleep, “She reminds me of Aaron’s father.”
Albert’s words from earlier ring in my head.
I wonder what I will tell her when she becomes a teenager and won’t take my flimsy excuse of an answer anymore. S
She deserves to know her father and have him in her life but I sadly can’t give her that.
I sigh and bring out my phone from my bag. I turn it on to see 18 missed calls from Madam Tess.
She left one message, I wince as I read the content. I’m freaking screwed.
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