A fathers silence

I know this is heartbreaking, I'm so sorry. I hope you are liking this short story. Enjoy!!!

Fernando still couldn't believe what he wrote. Donna Sheridan, her boss was also her daughter. A daughter who had also only months to live. He didn't know if he should be happy that he has a daughter or broken because he was loosing her. It was a lot of emotional thoughts but he was a soldier and he was strong. He continued to clean the boxes but never once the letter left his thoughts. He had it in his pocket thinking of showing it to Donna. Fernando guessed she never finished reading it since she didn't seem to know him when they first met.

His thoughts were interrupted when the mini door opened "Señor, how are we doing up here?" Sophie said

"I'm almost done, I was putting away these boxes" He said, when Fernando looked at her it brought the thought of the letter. His heart skipped a beat for a second, this young woman is her granddaughter. He was happy to know this since he would have the time to get to know her.

"Don't worry, Sky and I can finish up here. You can go back down" Sophie said

"Alright miss Sophie" he said bowing

"Please señor, just Sophie is fine" she said smiling

When Fernando went back to the lobby he found Donna sitting there working on something "Mrs. Carmichael you're supposed to be resting" he said to her, Fernando looked more intently at her. He still couldn't believe Donna was his daughter.

"Nonsense, I want to keep on working as long as I still can. I know Sophie and Sam worry but I don't want them to see me as a weak old dying lady" Donna said "and please call me Donna"

"Please don't say that, what you have is a serious matter. You have to take care of yourself" Fernando said

"I know that but I also know I don't have much time in this world. I don't want to spent time in bed but enjoying what little time I have partying with my loved ones" Donna said

"You're really stubborn aren't you?" Fernando hinted

Donna giggled "it's the only good thing I got from my mother Ruby. That and my love of singing, aside from that we don't actually get along"

"Does she know what's going on with you?" Fernando asked carefully

"I don't even know if she's alive anymore" Donna said, this tore up Fernando's heart a little. For one thing, mother and daughter weren't in good terms. Secondly, he didn't know if the love of his life was still alive.

"I'm sorry to hear that" he said

"It's fine, she's probably fine... she wrote me once or twice when Sophie was growing up but I never got to finish her last letter. I was too angry at her, even though I've forgiven her and myself for what she did" Donna said, then suddenly she plummeted in a chair.

This scared Fernando "Are you ok?" He asked

"Yeah I just had a fainting spell, I'm gonna go get some air" Donna told him

"Want me to go with you? For company" Fernando asked

"Sure, I'll just tell Sophie later I kept you from your duties" she joked, they smiled

Fernando and Donna took a walk together and got to know more of each other. Donna liked hearing his war stories and his adventures. They both started spending a lot of time together. Over time, Fernando started taking care of Donna's needs as she grew weaker. He juggled between his manger duties and her. Sophie was so grateful for this, she and Sam also joined in with them from time to time. Fernando grew to know and love his daughter but it also broke his heart. He kept the letter Ruby wrote for her wondering if he should show it to her. The words in that paper kept bouncing in his head every day. Fernando sometimes didn't know what to do.

There is one thing he was sure of, he was gonna spend every moment they had trying to make her happy. Fernando and Donna had their walks every afternoon since during the day he had manager duties. He also gave her some space to be with Sophie and Sam of course. Some days he would ply the piano for them.

"Truly, this man has it all. He's really talented, handsome and great at what he does for the hotel" Donna told her best friends over the phone, they were on a conference call.

"Is he single?" Tanya asked her

"I think so, he never really talks about his love life" Donna said

"What are you gonna do, fish him up??" Rosie teased Tanya

"No!!! Gross, don't do it he's older than us" Donna said, they all laughed

"You're saying that because you're already married" Tanya said

Donna chuckled "am not" right then she saw Sophie approach "Girls I have to go take my meds"

"We love you" the girls said, then they hung up

"Hey" Sophie said sitting beside her

"Ugh" she replied seeing the tray

Fernando saw mother and daughter from afar. A million thoughts running in his mind. Donna had many traits of him, that warmed his heart. He thought about all the moments they could've had together. If only he knew of her existence, he would've always be there. Fernando also saw a lot of Ruby in Donna. Not only that but in Sophie as well. He wasn't sure if he should say anything about their related status. The family is going through so much stuff right now, it's better to keep quiet.

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