Taint Me More ☑️

Chapter Thirty Two

Aaron was seething, pacing the grounds of his studio.

I tried to calm him down, assuring him that I would never submit to Ronald's request. He was more worried about the danger Ronald was to me that any other thing. I told him that I could take care of myself, although, I felt at ease, knowing he was willing to protect me.

I even explained what had happened with Victoria and how much it had affected me. Although, it was beyond what he thought. I was affected by the whole thing because of my history. Oriana's death and my abusive step father, but I left out that part.

I was able to calm him down, so we put all that behind us as he swore he had cut off all ties he had with Andrea. I was going to ask him what he had in plan for the museum, but I refrained, deciding to bring it up later.

I told him about my father and his sickness. I even asked him to accompany me to the hospital to visit.

He agreed and drove me. His expression was almost hard to read when I told him I wanted him to meet my father. He did a really good job trying to mask it, but I knew he was nervous.

When we got into the hospital, I was somehow hoping my mother wouldn't be there. So I was relieved to find my father alone.

"Hi papa." I greeted as I entered, examining him.

He blinked his eyes open and gave a very tired smile. He looked weaker and more fragile than he did the previous day.

"I'm glad you're here. Your mother just left to settle her things at the apartment. I think she's going to be staying here for the time being." He spoke slowly in a raspy voice.

"Oh." I breathed, trying to hide my disappointment.

"You'll be fine." He said, squeezing my hand.

He knew my mother and I were at a really tough spot in our nonexistent relationship, I think that was his way of saying we'd both come around.

"Who's your friend?" He asked, shifting his gaze to Aaron.

I introduced Aaron to him, and even though my father didn't say much, the two men went along just fine.

I was in awe by how good Aaron was handling meeting with him for the first time. He did mention losing his mother to cancer too, so he knew just how much effect a parent in this condition could have on their child.

A short while later, my father had fallen asleep, so Aaron decided to leave for work. He still owed his presence at the paint bar.

Being in the silence of my father's hospital room made me reflect on the previous night and where Aaron and I stood now. I had the feeling so overwhelming that I didn't ever want him to leave me. He was my peace and the new beginning I'd been searching for.

Although he still didn't know much about my past, except what I'd laid out for him, but I'd decided to reveal all to him at my own pace.

I just hoped that when I finally did reveal myself to him, he would accept me and my baggage.

***
*

My father's violent coughing and wheezing jolted me awake and I rushed to his bedside and hit the button to call in the doctor.

The coughing was so violent, it shook his entire body.

I stayed beside him all through it till the doctor came in and told me to leave the room as they did what they could to get him to stop.

I stood outside his room defeated and despondent at how much closer it felt to the end.

My mother rounded the corner of the hallway and approached me sitting on the waiting chair.

"How's he? What's wrong?" She asked and I realized those were the first words she'd spoken to me in five years.

I shook my head. "He just started coughing, so the doctors came." I said, sounding downcast even to my own ears.

She moved to peep through the small window, standing there and fiddling with her fingers. I'd never seen her act nervous and confused before. I'd always known her to be confident and assertive, handling chaos like a boss. But now, she looked like she was unraveling and breaking.

The doctor came out of the room and turned to look at us. "I'm really sorry to tell you this, but he doesn't have much time left. I think you should prepare yourselves and just make him feel as comfortable as possible, because he may not hold on much longer."

She walked away and I wondered how shitty being a doctor was. How you would have to break terrible news to patients' loved ones all the time. I wondered how they did it that they didn't break down while saying things like "I'm sorry, but they didn't make it" or "we did all we could, we couldn't save the patient". Because even with years and years of practice, one could never get used to bad news.

My father had reached a stage that he could no longer hold a conversation. He was barely awake, growing weaker by the minute. I hated to see him suffer. His skin pale and cold like ice.

My mother and I didn't leave his side and at a point, I was thankful she was here, because I wasn't sure I could do this on my own.

Aaron, Gabby and Heather came at some point and we all watched and waited.

I stood by his bed and spoke to him about when we still lived as a family, I spoke about Oriana, I didn't know if he could hear me, but I still spoke to him. I promised to take care of Bambi and I told him he would now get to see Oriana again. It broke my heart, but I needed to say these things, incase he was hearing me.

Someone sniffled behind me and I didn't bother to know who. My mother came up behind me and wrapped her arm around my shoulder, giving me the comfort I very much needed.

My father never opened his eyes again. And when he flatlined, I never faltered. I watched him as he took his last breath.

I was too exhausted from all the crying. I didn't even realize when I turned and hugged my mother, and she held me tight, crying into my hair.

I didn't get to spend much time with my Papa, because of how young I was when he left all those years ago, and how quickly he left again after coming back to me, but the memories I had of the times we did spend together was enough if it meant he was in a better place.