2022 WATTYS SHORTLISTED || After being forced into a marriage by her devoutly religious parents, Aspen's husband is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, and she must find her purpose as well as fight feelings for her husband's nurse. || Aspen Wat...
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"He clearly doesn't care like he said he did, Nick. What the... what kind of father does that?" I demand. I pace the length of the lounge; fifty-two steps there and fifty-two steps back. Nick sits in the chair, huffing every time I take a pause.
"My daisy—"
"I mean, let's not forget that this is my fault, right? I pushed him into meeting Gabriel when he clearly shouldn't. Maybe I shouldn't have messaged him? Maybe I shouldn't have invited one of them to the wedding. Maybe I shouldn't have pushed him. I don't know. Maybe I should've kept my legs closed with Joel as he said—"
"Aspen, stop," Nick cuts me off. "Do not talk about yourself like that."
I stop pacing when he appears in front of me.
"He doesn't care like he said he did." I huff. "He hasn't even replied to my message! It's clear he doesn't care!"
"Don't think that, Aspen." His eyes turn dark and hard. I know I've hit a nerve somehow.
"Then why isn't he here? Why hasn't he contacted me?"
"Because he has a lot to take in, Aspen. Do you remember when I first told you about Gabriel? You almost retreated into yourself—"
"My husband went into a coma straight after that—"
"Before that, Aspen. Don't start with this. Your father needs time to get his head around it all. He won't give up on your relationship after everything that's happened."
I groan in annoyance. He's not listening.
"Maybe he's realised just how selfish I am! I mean, I technically cheated on my husband, Nick. I abandoned him and had an emotional affair with you. Then, not even a year later, I'm getting married again! Maybe my dad's seen me for what I am. What my mum always said I was—"
"Don't finish that sentence."
"Why? It's true—"
"No, it's not. It's far from the fucking truth, and you know it."
"Nick, he—"
"Aspen, stop!" Nick interrupts me. I frown at him just as the buzzer goes off. "I'll go. Just calm down."
"Telling me to calm down will not make it better, Nicholas!" I warn as he walks off. I listen to him answer the buzzer and his voice becomes lighter. "Aspen, it's your dad!"
I stay silent. The idiot was right, and we both know it.
"Aspen," Dad greets when he walks in. He looks the same as usual, just with a small, wistful look on his face.
