NEW BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

He was on his way to see Helen when his phone rang. It was his Mom

"Hey mama"
"Where are you? You need to come over now"
"Why Mom? What's wrong?"
"It's your father. He has collapsed again. I don't think he's breathing anymore"

His mom said as she burst out into tears. He stopped the car and made a turn even though he knew that wasn't the right place to. He didn't care. He drove like somebody was chasing him. He picked up his phone and dialed his elder sister's number but it kept going to voicemail. She must be busy or asleep. He thought about calling Wanda but she would be at work and he wasn't ready to tell her that her dad was sick and dying. He got home and found out that his mom already called an ambulance and his dad was on his way to the hospital already. He drove there and the doctor said it was a mild heart attack and he was going to be fine after adequate rest but the cancer had grown and he would have all but a few months to live. For a few months, those words rang in his head. He wasn't ready to lose his dad yet but life was giving him no choice. His dad always wanted to see him get married and he was going to do just that. He was going to get married while his father was still here. From the hospital, he drove straight home and headed to bed. He didn't care about dinner anymore. He didn't call his sister back to tell her what happened. He didn't think it was necessary to start a commotion and throw everybody off balance. He was going to keep it to himself till he saw Helen physically and they were both going to tell Wanda together. It wasn't his responsibility alone. It was theirs. He wanted to tell her tight from the very beginning but she was just starting her life over. Helen decided that it was best she didn't know anything about him since she was already on bad terms with him. Things got better for her and she started to earn more than the rest of them. She could have willingly paid for his chemotherapy but it was already too late for that. When he and Helen even found out, he was already long gone into the disease. The doctors already told him that there was no way out for him and the best thing he could do was put his house back in order and maybe expect some sort of miracle. Kenneth slept with a heavy heart that night and maybe all he needed was somebody to hug to sleep

*****

"Tuesday morning came again and she drove to vogue. This time, she met him there. After the long meeting, They finally ended. She was glad to be out of the same room with Dylan and she couldn't explain why. Being in the same time with him brought back memories that she would rather forget. She rushed to her car and got in. He caught up with her

"Hey! Hold up a little bit"
"I can't. I have to get to work. I've got a lot to do"
"Can we just talk?"
"Talk? About what?"
"Wanda, you can't possibly be upset with me for something that happened years ago"
"Who said I was upset? I'm not upset. Why the heck would I be? I just have so many things to do Dylan"
"Okay, can I get your number then?"
"You definitely can not"
"I just want dinner with you, that's all. Nothing more. I think we have so much to catch up on and dinner would be good for the both of us and I might even let you pay"
"I know you wouldn't let me pay bit I would definitely think about it"
"Thank you"

Dylan said as he reached out for his pocket. He brought out a complimentary card and handed it to her

"When you eventually change your mind, just give me a call and we can plan towards the dinner"

He said. She collected the card, thanked him, and got into her car. She sped off. He wondered why she was so quick to dismiss him. Why was she in a hurry? He wanted to buy the work excuse but he knew better. He decided to let it be. He got into his own car and headed off. Wanda got back to Helen's place. From the car park, she could tell that Ken was around. His car was parked right in front of the house. She grabbed her laptop and headed into the house. She met both of them on the sofa. They became quiet immediately after they saw her

"Whatever you guys are talking about would soon be out so you can either keep it or let me know about it"
"There is something we have to tell you"
"And what's that?"
"Dad is sick"

Kenneth said. He wasn't hiding it anymore. He was going to say it the way it was

"Dad is sick? What's wrong with him?"

Wanda asked

"He's got cancer. He's dying. He has just a few months to live Wanda" Ken said
"And how long have you known?"
"A couple of years" he answered
"A couple of years? A couple of years?! Can you hear yourself? Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't anybody tell me?"
"
What could you have possibly done to help him? Pay for his meds and make sure he lives just a while longer?" Helen said. She continued immediately. "There was nothing else you could have done just like there's nothing you can do now. All you need to do is mend bridges. He's not going to be around much longer. You should see him before it's too late*
"How much time does he have left?"

Wanda asked, tears flowing down her face

"A couple of months. After that, he would be gone" Ken replied