NEW BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN

"Hey, I am so sorry. I slept off yesterday while you were talking. Hope you have a nice night's rest. I am on my way to work. I would probably call you back later in the day. Have a nice day ahead"

She typed then she hit the send button. She got up and got ready for work. When she arrived at work, she noticed another table at the other end of her office. She didn't know she was going to be sharing her office with someone else now. She also noticed a bag and a laptop on the table. She looked at the bag and went to her table. Who could this be? She wondered. Her phone beeped. It was her Mom

"You should come and say goodbye. Your dad is dying"

She grabbed her bag and went down to the reception. She met Nicole there

"I have to go"
"Go where? You just got in. What do you want me to tell Mr. Phil when he gets here?"
"Tell him my father is dying and I have to be there! If he still grumbles or complains, tell him I quit!"
"You can't quit Wanda! This organization is nothing without you!"
"Then tell him I had to leave. He's an understanding person. He would understand that I needed to go be with my father"

She said as she pulled the door and went straight to her car. She got in and sped to St Louis hospital. She knew that he was going to be there. That was the only hospital she knew that her father used for his medical issues. She pulled up in front of it

"Good morning, I am looking for Phillip. Phillip Arnold"
"Oh, good morning. How are you related to the patient? We don't allow visitors by this time except they are family and the patient is in a very critical condition"
"I am his last child. His daughter. How critical is the condition?"
"Very, he might not make it. He has at most a couple of days to live, maybe a week. He is in room 16 on the second floor"
"Thank you"

She said as she walked away. She stopped and turned back

"Sorry to be a bother. I just need to know one more thing"
"What's that ma'am?"
"How long has he been here?"
"Since Friday morning"

She knew it. They didn't tell her anything again. She got into the room and saw her Mom there. It was obvious that she had been crying. Her eyes were swollen and she looked really tired and stressed. She looked at her father, he was asleep. She walked up to her mom and hugged her

"How is he doing? I left the office immediately after I saw your text"
"He's better. He asked for you to be here but he's asleep now. I didn't mean to alarm you or anything. I just needed company"
"I know Mom. It's fine. The nurses said he has a week or so. I should probably call Helen and Richard"
"Don't! Let them live their lives. When the time is right for your father to go, they would be here. I also didn't tell Ken. We don't want to ruin his wedding. It is just this Saturday. I also don't want him postponing it for any reason. He has postponed it long enough and now, everything is ready"
"Mom! The wedding can be postponed for all I care! Dad can't"
"Your dad is going to die, either way, Wanda. Life would still have to go on for everybody. That might as well start now"
"I can't believe you just said that"

Wanda said as her phone rang. She looked at it, it was her boss. She might as well have lost her job

"Everything alright at work?" Her mom asked
"Yeah, I might just have gotten fired"
"Fired? Why?"
"I left work immediately I got there because of your text Mom"
"You should head back and explain things to your boss. He ought to understand"
"Head back to where?"
"Your office, of course!"
"Are you sure mom?"
"I am princess. I would tell your father that you dropped by when he was asleep. Drive carefully and call me when you get there and let me know how things go down between you and your boss"
"Alright, mom. Are you sure though? I can stay a little longer if you want me to"
"No Wanda, I am fine. I can handle things here. Besides, we still have a week or so. You can see him some other time when it wouldn't get you fired"

Her mom teased. She hugged her daughter. Wanda felt like her mom was keeping something from her but she did not even have the strength or the energy to force it out of her mother. She grabbed her bag and headed back out. Today was going to be a horrible day. She could feel it already. It was just morning and the day brought about bad news. She wasn't expecting anything better. She got back to the office and went straight to Mr. Phil's office. She knocked on the door and she heard a come in

"Wanda, you're back. How is your father doing?"

He asked. That was not the reaction she was expecting. There was something not right she concluded

"He's okay, I guess"
"Are you sure you don't want to go be with him or something?"
"No, I would rather be here"
"If you say so. Arthur dropped by today. He said he wanted to apologize in person"
"Did you tell him to shove his apology up his ass?"
"I did not tell him that. I told him you were out and he should come back another time"
"Seriously? I don't ever want to see his face in my life"
"You might have to. Vogue sent you an email that you should check out. They want to work with you on an exclusive article concerning the president"

Her boss said