Chapter 14
…we are not getting anywhere with this.” Daniel sighs exasperatelly, “Can’t you just be reasonable?” he adds.
We have been having a lot of back and forth arguments on what our story would be and neither of us are willing to compromise for the other.
I glare at him, “You are the unreasonable one, what’s wrong with saying we bumped into each other on the street?”
–
“Because I don’t bump into people on the street, Aurora.” he says with a condescending look, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be on a street you were walking on. Do you have any idea who you are married to or you are just trying to pi*** me off?” he adds coldly.
I scoff. “I can walk on any street Aaron, you don’t need money to f***ng walk, okay? So, we actually could have been walking on the same street and bumped into each other.”
“Well, I don’t walk on just any street. That’s final.”
I lean back in my seat. “So, what’s your genius plan then? Because it will soon be time to meet with Albert.”“”
“My first suggestion, the charity ev…”
“Absolutely not!” I interrupt.
“Can you hear me out first? I am not even trying to insult you right now,”
“Oh really?” I mutter sarcastically. He sighs, “We met at a charity event you were volunteering at.”
I scratch my temple as I consider his idea, “I guess it’s not so bad. What charity event?”
“One that took place at an orphanage.”
“Why is it an orphanage?”
He raises an eyebrow at my question, “Why not?”
I look away,
“Whatever.”
He taps the table, “That’s settled then. Go and get dressed and meet me in 20 minutes.”
“Okay boss” I mock and leave the study. I go into the living room to see Candace, “Hey baby, we need to go get dressed.” I say.
She stretches her hands towards me excitedly and I carry her. She loves going out and I can’t blame her. All she had ever known before this was that cramped apartment.
The drive to the hospital is silent except
roccasional giggles from Candace as she watches a cartoon on my phone.
We soon arrive at the hospital. Daniel turns the ignition off and faces me, “Wait” he says before getting out of the car and walking around it to my side.
He opens my door and I slowly get out of the car enjoying the at even though it is all a charade.
“As part of your gentleman act, you wanna try carrying Candace too?” I squeeze my face in faux pain and touch my back gingerly, “My back is sore.”
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Chapter 14
His cold stare is enough to make me shut up and carry Candace myself.
Aaron starts giving the instructions as soon as we get to the floor of Albert’s room
…remember we are married, play the lovey dovey bride as good as you can. Let him see how in love we are.” he says as we walk side by side to Albert’s room.
We stop door.
in front of Albert’s door and I turn to Aaron, “Can you relax? I’ve got this. Worry about yourself.” I say and
open the
We go in and see that a nurse is attending to Albert. His face brightens as soon as he sees us. “Welcome,” he says weakly but his eyes are bright with happiness.
I felt a stab of guilt at how happy he looks for a made-up situation. I plaster a smile on my face, “Hello Albert.” I say cheerily.
“Good afternoon Sir, ma’am.” the nurse says to Aaron and me.
“This is my granddaughter-in-law, the baby, her name is Candace is my great-granddaughter.” Albert tells the nurse proudly.
“You have a beautiful family Mr. Scott” the nurse remarks with a warm smile. Candace reaches for his face and he chuckles. A proud smile plays on his lips. “Very beautiful indeed.”
Aaron comes closer and stands beside me, “How are you doing?
“Even better now that you are here. Albert says, he raises his eyebrows with an amused expression on his face, “but Aaron?”
“Yes?
“I asked to see just Aurora and Candace? Why are you here?” he asks, amused. Aaron clears his throat and put his hand around my shoulder.
Albert chuckles weakly with an understanding look on his face, “My mistake, I shouldn’t have asked to see a newly wedded. bride during what should be her honeymoon.”
I lean against Aaron’s arm, “Honestly Albert, It was hard to get out of bed this morning.” Aaron subtly nudges me and I look up at him, his eyes subtly widen at my words.
“Too much?” I mouth to him and he blinks in response. Albert laughs heartily and ends up in a coughing fit. After the coughing fit dies down, he looks at me.
“That’s what I like about you Aurora. From what I can tell you are very honest.”
“No I am not, I am lying about a number of things right now, my mind screams but I wear a shy smile and tuck my hair behind my ear, “Sorry about that Albert. I got too comfortable.”
He waves me off, “Nonsense, get as comfortable with me as you wish. I like it…” he glances at Aaron, “With a grandson-like that, I need all the cheerful people I can get. You know he wasn’t always like this, it wasn’t until after…”
“Grandpa” Aaron says sternly, “This isn’t about me.” he adds.
“True, excuse Aurora and I, the doctor wants to see you later anyway. Leave Candace here please.”
I snort, and cover it up with a cough. He did not plan on taking Candace with him anyway. Aaron nods, “I will be back after seeing the doctor
“Take your time.” Albert replies. Aaron drops an air kiss on my hair and leaves the room.
Although, his tipa did not meet iny hair, I am still momentarily unned by the action. I guess we are pulling out all the stops
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“Grab a chair and seat Aurora. This might take a while.” I grab a chair from a corner of the room and place it beside Albert’s bed
I sit with Candace on my legs, she reaches for Albert again and he holds her hand with a smile. She finds his hand palm interesting and starts playing with it.
I shake my head fondly at her simplicity. Albert stares at her for a while before looking up at me.
“Beautiful child.” he remarks, I smile, “Yes she is.”
“She reminds me of Aaron’s father in a way, I am not sure how but I guess it’s just the genetics.”
I swallow thickly before answering, “Yeah, just the genetics.” I say with a nervous chuckle.
“So. I asked to see you because I don’t know much about you. Instead of finding out about you from Aaron and other sources, I decided it will be better to have you tell me instead.
So, this is a question that is a bit late already considering you are already married to my grandson…” he chuckles. “…but tell me about yourself.”
I can hear my heart beating loudly. I try to calm myself, he only asked me about myself and not how Aaron and I met. What he wants right now is the truth. I can do that.
“Where do you want me to start? What part do you want to know?”
“I am not trying to pry but we are family now. So, tell me about your family.”
“I grew up in the East side, spent most of my life there, i was mostly raised by my grandparents, they died within months of each other, shortly after my college graduation.”
“Sorry about that.”
I smile grimly, “It’s fine, they had my mum late so they were quite old. my grandmother died first after a short illness, I guess my grandfather could not handle the heartbreak, he died in his sleep barely two months after.”
“What about your mum?”
“She died in my sophomore year of highschool.” I watch the pity in Aaron’s eyes grow larger, “Don’t feel bad for me, at least she was there when I had my first period.” i
I remember my mum laughing and assuring me, when I got scared about getting stained in school. It was a source of nightmare for me when I first got my period.
It happened once when my period came early while I was in class, because of what my mum told me, I wasn’t ashamed of
AL.
I boldly told the teacher I needed to go to the bathroom to get changed. The sniggering from my classmates did not have much effect on me as I walked out of class.
His face scrunches up in confusion, “That makes it better?”
I nod, “On some level, yes. When I got to college and coincidentally met other women who had lost their mums, one thing a large percentage of them mentioned was that they were sad aboar the fact that it wasn’t their mum that was there for them when they got their first period
He smiles, “I guess you were lucky then”
“1” the shrill sound of my ringtone interrupts me. I should change it, it’s quite annoying. From the way Albert winces, I can tell he doesn’t like the sound either.
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Chapter 14
I wince, “Sorry”
I continue holding Candace with one hand, she is now staring at the machines Albert is hooked to with awe on her face. I use my other hand to fish out my phone from my bag. It’s Madam Tess, my landlady.
Shit I forgot about her.
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