Chapter 17 LOA 17

Brenda arrived home at half-past six in the evening, she parked her car in front of the house instead of the garage. She took some minutes sitting in the car to gather herself.

The day had gone well. She was happy that she saw daughter who's now pregnant and her ex-husband Malcolm. She was thankful they'd moved on with their lives. She sighs and got out of her car, she was beginning to feel pains from every part of her body.

She managed to unlock the door without the key falling off and having to use the doorbell.

Asher had run to hug his mother the minute she stepped in, Brenda quickly composed herself so he wouldn't suspect something was wrong with her. She quickly placed one hand on the wall to support herself, she cringed painfully as his head met with her stomach. Beads of sweats formed on her forehead. She shut her eyes, taking a deep breath, she blew air through her mouth.

"Hi mum, how are you?" Asher asked smiling he was exceptionally happy today and Brenda wondered why.

Forcing a smile "I'm fine my baby, how are you too?" She replied quickly adding "you look happy today what's going on"

Asher smiled and told her to close her eyes, making her promise she wouldn't open them, he held her and walked her across to the living room, settling her on a chair.

He told her not to open her eyes yet until she tells her to do so. Brenda was grateful she was sitting down, she relaxed her back on the sofa and prayed silently for the pain to sunrise and her soon to get done with whatever he's crying.

"Open your eyes mom," Asher said holding the paintings he had made while she, was out. He had drawn his mom and himself, the painting was a beautiful one, Brenda blinked her eyes profusely to stop herself from crying.

"This is beautiful Asher " she commented with a smile perched at the side of her mouth.

"Thank you, mom," he said. "I'm glad you like ittttt" he said slurring on his words.

"Stop doing that" frowning her face she told him sternly.

He replied gesticulating with his hands "stop doing what"

"Slurring" she purses her lips.

Asher ignored her, this was her cue to leave.

"I'll see you later boy, make sure you go to your room soon if you need anything call, Eva, she will attend to you, and be sure to keep your painting and colorings in the art room," she said to him and took the stairs leading to her room.

"I love you mum"

"I love you much more" she replied to him and entered her room.

Immediately reaching for the drugs, especially pain relief. She took some bites from the food she told Eva to leave in her room before she gets back, she had called her ten minutes before getting home.

After Brenda had taken a shower, she laid down to rest, almost drifting off to sleep. Something popped up in her mind. She hastily stood up and reached for the files in the top drawer of her closet.

She had forgotten that when Tyson's lawyer gave her his will, he included Adrianna's name.

Tyson had told her a few times, that Adrianna was his stepdaughter, those times he had seen her, they didn't have anything against each other. Adrianna always called him "Papi".

She opened the documents that Adrianna's name was written on. He had given her half of his property. His house in Florida, that was a whole lot of money, she remembered he had bought the house for forty-five million dollars.

Tyson had wealth which made life easier for her. She sighed. Apart from the house, he had given her some amount of money and the rest goes to Asher.

She returned the folder to where it was and went back to lay on the bed.

If not that she has an appointment tomorrow she would have tried to go and give the file to Adrianna.

Her mind was weary by now, especially for Asher. She decided to take her mind off everything she was thinking at the moment and closed her eyes to sleep.

The next morning, Brenda woke up earlier than usual, she was in pains, her internal organs feel like they were on fire, it was hurting bad, sweats were forming on her head, this pancreatic issues she has been dealing with for months, she didn't even know she had until years ago and she has been on constant medication.

Brenda tightened her eyes shut, the headache was beginning to get worse so was the pain she's feeling inside her body.Her breathing was sounding harsh, she reached over her bed and dialed 911.

********

"Take care of yourself Adrianna and do not stress yourself because of the baby," The doctor said to her and went away to do his usual activities of checking on patients.

Adrianna was happy she was finally leaving the hospital. She hated the white walls and the smell of drugs and the smell of the hospital itself. She drew in the scent of finally being free and out of sickbed, even though she's not fully healed, she still has a bandage wrapped around her arm. Elijah helped her sit in front of the passenger seat, while their parents sat at the passenger backseat.

Adrianna was thinking about her mother, she didn't like how they'd said goodbye, she didn't even want it at all. After all these years she was apart from her mother and then she resurfaced, it was for a goodbye. And now she has limited time to live. Who knows, what if its days remaining or months for her mother to live.

She was feeling something was wrong, but she couldn't pinpoint where the feeling was coming from, she sighed.

Elijah saw she was deep in thought and placed a hand on her own, he entwined their hands together and kissed the back of her hand. She gave him a small smile.

Malcolm has been on his phone for an hour, sending a series of texts to Brenda but she replied none. He already told her yesterday, he was going to call her and they would talk over the phone. He has been calling for like forever and since she didn't pick her phone. He sent texts. He tried to calm his mind down, that everything was fine.

On getting home, Malcolm came down from the car after everyone did, he stayed back with Reina at the garage. He wanted to go to Brenda's house, his mind kept telling me something was wrong, even if something isn't wrong.

He was curious to know why she didn't pick his calls nor respond to his texts but he knows that Brenda would never do that to him nor anyone else.

He rummages his pocket for his own car key. Thank God he had collected the address from her yesterday.

"Where are you going, Daddy?" Adrianna was taken aback, she was wondering where her father must be hurrying too.

"I want to check on Brenda, we were supposed to talk about something though, and she's not picking my calls nor replying my texts"

"Maybe she doesn't want to talk to you" Darmon quickly answered him

"That's unlike her, she would never act out that way" Malcolm defended and Darmon ignored him.

"You know what, babes go inside with my parents, Rachel and your siblings are awaiting you, let me go along with Malcolm," Elijah told her withdrawing his hand from her waist. Adrianna frowned her face, she just couldn't tell them she wants to tag along too, they won't allow her so she kept her mouth shut.

"You don't have to worry yourself, I'm going along with him already", Reina said.

"No, I'm coming too, I'm driving", Elijah smirked while Malcolm handed him the key and telling him the address of Brenda's house in Norwich.