Chapter 24

"Can I go see him?" Mom ask unable to contain her happiness

"Yes you may. He asks for Catherine to accompany you. Please, who is Miss Catherine?" The doctor asks, a middle aged man as he looks between Patricia, Amanda and I trying to figure out who it could be among us.

Raising my right hand I identified myself "I I am Catherine"

"Good you may go in with her"

"I will be coming along too" Adam said as he was reluctant to let go of my hand

The doctor had no choice but to agree as Adam's presence is quite intimidating. In fact, everyone one working in this hospital is afraid of him.

Although the female nurses were glancing at him shyly, admiring him they still looked scared of him. I wonder why.

Holding my hand in his, we entered dad's room. Seeing him lying helpless with a tube passed across his nose to enable breathing shatters my heart.

I thought the doctor said dad is fine so why does he need a tube to enable him to breathe? I feel so hurt seeing him like this.

"Nicky, are you okay?" Mom asks immediately she enters inside. "Don't do this to me again" She said in tears, holding dad's hand without realizing a needle was inserted in it to receive a drip.

"Ouch!" Dad flinched in pain

"I am sorry sweetheart, I didn't see it. Does it hurt much, are you in so much pain?"

"I am fine, you can stop worrying now" Dad said as mom kept on soothing his hand, blowing on it.

"Nick, what happened?"

"Sweetheart we will talk about this when we get home, in the meantime when will I be discharged? I want to leave this place"

"I will ask the doctor, but I am sure you will be discharge today"

"That is good news, I can't wait to leave from here" Dad said looking so irritated although this is a VIP room and the designs are top notch.

"Catherine, won't you come to me. Come and give your dad a hug" Dad said as he opened his hands to me for a hug.

Whenever I am down emotional dad always gives me a big hug and it works like magic in soothing my pain.

"Dad" I said as fresh tears were evident in my eyes "I am so sorry you had to go through this pain, it is all my fault" I broke down in tears, as I embraced him but made sure not to hurt him in any way.

"Don't say that pumpkin is not your fault but an unforeseen occurrence. I am the one who should be sorry for ruining your date.."

"No dad, forget about the date you are all that matters" I said interrupting him before he could finish his sentence. I can't believe he is worried about the stupid date.

"No pumpkin, you can't cancel your date because of me, I will feel very sad if that happens." Turning to Adam he said "Please take my daughter and go ahead with your date"

"I said no, you don't expect me to leave you in this condition. You need me" I said trying to reasons with him

"Your mother is here, and she will take care of me. So please, go with him"

Why does dad still keep insisting when I obviously don't want to! He almost died today and all he cares about is my date with Adam that isn't even real.

"But of course no one knows that" I said to myself.

"Pumpkin, listen to me, I will be fine," Dad assured when he saw how displeased I was with his decision.

"But dad.." I started but couldn't finish as dad interrupted me

"You want me to be happy right?"

"Of course. Why would you even ask that?" I asked in bewilderment as I sat beside him on the bed. "Mom, please say something!" I said upon turning to mom. She has been sitting quietly listening to our conversation without saying a word.

"Honey you need to listen to your dad, if he wants you to go ahead with your date then do it okay?"

What, She too? I can't believe this. Mom ought to be on my side, how does she expect me to listen to dad leave him? I know Mom is here and all but, I just can't leave dad.

I still feel guilty for what happened to him earlier and somehow I want to help.

"Pumpkin if you want me to be happy then listen to me" Dad said in finality, leaving no room for argument.

"Cherry must you always be stourborn, why don't you listen to your parents for once?" Adam said in exasperation.

"Hey this is between a daughter and father, so don't get involved" I warned.

"Why won't I, when you will soon be my wife?" Adam blurted out without thinking.

From his face I can see he is as shocked as me upon hearing what he said. I thought we were planning to end this, so what is he saying now? Frustratingly I tap my head lightly with my hand.

"Catherine, please listen to your fiancé and go with him. Do it for my sake" Dad said in a voice so frail as he pleaded with his eyes. I couldn't help but say yes.

"Alright, I will go with him"

"That is my girl. Adam please take good care of my daughter and return her safely"

"You don't need to ask that, I will protect her with my life" Adam assured as his green eyes bore into mine making my heart skip a bit.

"After you" he said before we left the room.

As we left the hospital, I turned to Adam. Ever since last night I have been curious as to where he plans to take me to.

"Where are we going?"

"Anywhere you want to go, just name it"

Huh, that isn't the answer I was hoping to get. So he doesn't have something planned and he is covering it with this lame pick up line? Not impressed..at all.

"Adam, where did you have in mind to take me before?" I couldn't help but ask

"I was thinking Italian or Chinese but again I don't know what you like. So tell me Cherry, which do you prefer?"

"To be honest, I have lost my appetite for food. I am still in shock with the incident that took place" I said feeling so sad, not because of a lack of appetite but because he had nothing special planned.

Urgh! I feel like strangling his neck.

Can't believe he made me doll myself for nothing, what a waste of time. Anyway I shouldn't be surprised, after all it is not like we are dating?

So why does it hurt so much?

"There is a place we can go if you don't mind" He said before pulling off the parking lot to the road

"Okay" was all I could say as I sat in silence listening to the cool music being played in the car. At least this will lighten my mood.

…...……

"Don't worry Mandy, I am fine now, okay?"

"You had everyone worried, I thought I had lost you" Amanda said with tears in her eyes.

"It is alright." Nicholas said as he pat Amanda gently at her back consolingly before calling out to John.

"John, please get me my files from my study. I will be in my room"

"Dad, are you serious right now? You want to work in your state?"

"Please don't start again Patty, you have been nagging me on our way here. I am already having a headache"

"Nicky, Patty is right. You need to rest"

"Of course that is why I will be going through it in my room honey" Nicholas said as a matter of fact as he pecked his wife playfully on her cheeks.

"Stop that, it won't work for me this time," Jane said, chuckling.

"Can we go to our room already, my legs are aching"

"Alright, let go" She held his hand and helped him to their bedroom.

Alone in their room, Jane could no longer hold it back anymore. She wonders what it is that gave her husband such a freight.

"So tell me Nicholas, enough of the pretense, what happened?" She ask with a serious expression evident on her face

"Won't you let me rest first before you start with your questions"

"Don't give me that, what happened?"

"It is Catherine, who else"

"What about her Nick? She is finally in a relationship and we don't have to worry anymore about any stupid prophesy coming to past"

"Sweetheart don't you get it? If things don't go well as planned everything can go wrong and what we fear the most will happen!" Nicholas said, a little tense.

"Why do you think something might go wrong?"

"I don't know honey, but I just can't place my hand on it"

"Tell me"

"Something in my gut tells me our Cathy's relationship and Adam isn't a normal one"

"What?" Jane gasp in shock "Please don't say that"

"I don't want to but I can't help it"

"Nick I didn't want to say this before but I had a dream that scared the shit out of me"

"What? And you didn't see the need to tell me before?" Nicholas asks, feeling hurt for his wife keeping something from him.

"I am sorry sweetheart, ever since Adam announced their relationship I felt relieved and didn't want to pronounce any doom to their relationship by telling you about the dream."

"Really, is that your justification? I am disappointed in you honey" he said as he took his seat on the bed with all his attention focused directly on his wife.

"Nick, I said I am sorry" She squeezed her face, feeling hurt by his words.

"Alright, please tell me" Nicholas said with a heart beating so fast for the fear of the unknown.

"In my dream, Catherine found out the truth about herself and our poor baby was taken away from us," Jane said with horror in her face. "Nick, you have to do something. I can't lose Catherine again.

Oh no this is bad, he won't let that happen. Catherines can't learn the truth, it will consume her and we might lose her forever.

……….