Chapter Eighty eight
I woke up at my usual time and found Damien awake but was checking stocks on his phone like a typical businessman.
"Good morning." I bade and sat up.
"Morning babe. How was your sleep?"
"It was good." I answered groggily and glanced at my father who seemed to be sleeping peacefully before I went to the bathroom.
Minutes into doing my business, I heard a ruckus and I rushed out to see what was going on.
Medical personnel had crowded the once empty room, surrounding my father and even when I asked what was going on, no one answered me.
They usherred me outside to meet with Damien who mirrored the concerned look on my face.
"What's going on? Damien, what happened?" I asked frantically looking back and forth between him and whatever was going on in the room via the window.
"I don't know a lot about medicine but I think his heart failed." He said slowly.
I clasped my hand over my mouth trying to hold myself together.
'He's fine. Everything's fine.' I told myself over and over while I was unable to form words in my mouth.
"Let's sit down, okay?" He said ushering me to a seat close to the lobby.
I managed a nod even as I continued reciting the mantra in my head. I rocked back and forth on my seat, trying to steady my emotions.
Damien stood opposite me, watching me with a more concerned look etched on his face.
After several minutes of waiting, a doctor finally came to us.
I stood up abruptly and rushed to him.
"Doctor, how's my father? What happened? Is he okay?" I bombarded him with series of questions.
"Ma'am please calm down." The man said slowly.
I looked up at Damien.
"What's the situation of things, Doc?" He stepped in with all his manliness.
The doctor swallowed, nervously glancing at me before shifting his gaze back to Damien.
"Can we go to my office sir?"
"No! He's my father, say whatever it is that you have to say right here!" I said strongly.
The doctor sighed and awkwardly cleared his throat.
"All efforts to revive him after his heart's failure, proved abortive. I'm sorry we tried our best but he couldn't make it." He said somberly.
***
Damien's POV;
Her legs gave way and she dropped to the ground with her knees. I went down with her.
She struggled to say something but however could not manage to form words but I saw the shock in her eyes.
Tears streaked down her face and I gave a relieved sigh. At least she hadn't gone numb, that would have been worse.
She wailed so loudly even as I held on to her. Her breathing had quickened and she was soon hyperventilating.
Her crying would not stop nearly two hours later and I felt it was unhealthy for her so I had to make sure she was put to sleep via anesthesia. She needed a momentary reprieve from all that grieving.
I made sure Harold's body was taken to the morgue while I took Ariana's unconscious self back to my hotel suite.
My phone rang and I saw that Aiden was calling. I picked up.
"Hey bro."
"Hey Aiden. What's up man?" I mumbled, rubbing my palm over my face.
"I'm good. I heard what happened, how's Ariana holding up?" He said somberly.
"I had them inject her to induce anesthesia because she was crying so much and was hyperventilating. I don't know what it's going to be like when she wakes up." I said, staring down at her sleeping form. I adjusted the blanket on her and rubbed softly on her tear streaked face.
"Send my condolences. Take care of her, alright?"
"I will. Thanks bro." I said and ended the call.
I braced myself for all that was to come. I had to be there for Ariana because this was a really trying time for her. No one should have to be left all alone without any family in this day and time.
But at least, she has me and whether she wants me or not, I'll always be here for her.
***
Hours later, after taking several phone calls, I came into the bedroom and found her awake and crouched on the bed with a forlorn look on her face.
"Babe?" I whispered, fighting the bubbling feeling of sadness that welled up in me when I saw the lost look in her eyes.
I held her palm in mine and there was no response. I sat next to her and brought her close to me, placing her head on my chest even as I dropped a kiss on it.
My wife looked miserable and it hurt my heart to see her like this. I wished I could have done something to take the pain away but there was practically nothing that could be done.
It took a lot of convincing, but she eventually went to take a shower and changed out of the pajamas she had been wearing all day.
She had not said anything since she came awake and when she finally did, I was relieved.
"Why did you bring me here? Let's go back to the house." Her voice had gone hoarse and I could swear that her throat was hurting badly and she was forcing herself to speak.
"I didn't want you to be disturbed immediately after..." I swallowed, unable to complete my statement.
"After you had me put to sleep."
"I'm fine. I want to go back to the house." She repeated.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I am."
"Babe I really think we should stay here for now. The condolence visits would only overwhelm you." I suggested tentatively fully aware of how on edge the situation of things were.
"I had six long weeks to prepare for this. I'm fine." She gritted out.
"I'm leaving. Are you coming or not?"
"Of course I am." I said, appalled that she would ask but not wanting to push things over the edge, I decided to not pursue it further.
***
The ride back to her dad's place was silent. She stared out the window all through.
When we arrived. She quickly walked into the house.
I followed closely as she drew nearer to the framed photo of a smiling Harold wearing a baseball hat and jersey. It looked like he just went to see a big game and was all smiles most probably because his team had won.
There, she broke down all over again. She pulled the medium sized frame and hugged it close to her as she sobbed.
"Papa. Tell me it's a dream." I managed to hear her whisper.
I walked away. I had to let her grieve. I just hoped she would not drown in sorrow just like I did.
I moved over to the kitchen and sat at the counter. I was fighting to not drop a tear. I needed to be strong her but what she was going through only seemed to remind me of the fact that I had lost my father too.
I gulped down a bottle of water in the blink of an eye and just then, Mm phone rang. I picked up without checking the caller ID.
"Damien Kingston speaking." I said and cleared my throat because of how weak I sounded.
"Damy..."
I paused for several seconds after hearing the one cringey nickname that I hadn't heard in years.
"Are you there?" I heard the sweet voice of my mother call me back to the present.
"Mom?"
"It's me. How are you? How is she?"
"She's still crying in the living room." I swallowed the heavy lump that had formed in my throat.
"Oh sweetie..." She uttered sadly.
"What about you?"
"What about me?" I questioned.
"How are you, really?" She asked.
"I don't know mom." I said honestly.
"I'm trying to be strong for her but memories of dad keep getting in the way. It's like I'm reliving the experience all over again." I hoarsely said.
I guess grief makes you do the craziest things because who would have thought that I would ever open up to my mother on anything?
"I wish I was there to hold both of you right now." She said barely above a whisper. I knew she was crying.
"I'm so sorry." She managed to let out.
"What are you sorry for?"
"For everything, baby. I've never been there when you needed me to."
"Now's not the time mom." I reminded.
"Yeah sorry."
She cleared her throat before speaking again.
"We've decided to come down to New York." She announced.
"Who's we?"
"Your siblings and I, as well as Aiden." She said.
"I'll have one of the jets bring you here." I said without delay.
"Don't bother about that. We're coming with Aiden's jet. Everything's set, we just want to know if you approve..."
I sighed. I had to admit that Ariana and I could not handle it all on our own, we needed family.
"I guess it's settled then."
"Take care of yourself and more so Ariana. She needs you more than ever now."
I nodded.
"Sure thing mom."
"See you tomorrow. I love you."
"Good night." I said and hung up.
I exhaled before exiting the kitchen once again.
I had my woman to take care of, I couldn't afford to mope around when she needed me more than ever.
