The Sitter (18+)

Chapter 7. Much Needed Break

"Let's stay quiet," Maria whispered walking into the hospital room with the girls trailing behind her, "It looks like they're still asleep."

Raf and I, already awake after a morning nurse check, had faked being asleep once hearing the voices of his daughters down the hall. I had disclosed to him how worried the girls were when seeing him in the bed yesterday so he decided to cheer them up with a harmless scare.

Hearing the swish of a plastic bag on the table, I listen as the girls hop onto the couch sitting beside Maria. Maria shushes them pulling out a styrofoam container filled with pancakes for the girls.

"Save some for daddy," Nazanin whispered to her sister as Maria cut up the chocolate chip pancakes.

"There is enough for everyone," Maria hushed, cutting into the soft pancakes before pointing over to her bag with the plastic fork, "Azita, take out the camera and get a picture of Liz with your Dad for me."

My finger poked harshly into his side as her small footsteps moved to the other side of the bed. My eyelids lifted lowly watching as she pulled the camera up to her eye, the camera flashed with a click on the disposable. Raf's arm was quick to reach his daughter pulling me toward her with a roar. Azita screamed as Maria and Naz jumped in place at the sudden loud sound.

"Daddy, you scared me!" Azita giggled holding onto her father as he pulled her into his arms kissing her head.

"Me too!" Naz yelled out.

"Well, Morning to you two!" Maria shook her head taking a bite of her omelet.

I sat up in the small bed with a smile watching the two of them as Nazanin stands moving onto my lap. She leans over kissing her fathers cheek before laying her head on Raf's chest. He mumbles something to his girls as they listen, raptured in all his words. Maria's eyebrows wiggled as she caught my eye before nodding her head beside her.

I stand moving Nazanin's body in my spot before sitting beside Maria. Picking up a container, she passed over some berry pancakes and utensils.

"Thank you, how'd you know?"

"A reliable source," Maria eyed Raf while placing the girls cut pancakes on separate plates, "Girls come eat. Raf, I got you pancakes and an omelet too."

The girls moved off the bed, grabbing their plates from the table and sitting on the chairs across from the bed. Maria passed Raf his container with food before digging into her own. The room was quiet, peaceful as we sat and ate our food with no unwanted interruptions.

The only sound echoed in the room was the air conditioning kicking in, beeping of the machines, and the voices in the hallway. The girls talked amongst themselves, eating their chocolate chip pancakes as Maria finished half of her food pushing it aside.

"I spoke to the nurse before coming in, It looks like they have to run one more test to see if all is okay then you can go home," Maria stated looking over at Raf before the girls, "Consider taking some time off work, maybe go away for a while."

"I can't just-."

"We will," I cut off, giving him a pointed look.

"Elizabeth..."

"With all that's going on right now, not just you know who, but the business and the accident you need a vacation. The girls' break is coming up and I can afford to miss a couple of classes, let's go somewhere."

Raf looked unsure moving his food around on the plate, Maria's eyes softened as she watched her brother. A million things must be running through his head right now and the trauma he just faced doesn't help with that. He would need a break, something to get his mind off everything and just relax. She couldn't push him.

But she knew someone who could.

***

Raf Sr. sat silently in the waiting room of the hospital, patiently awaiting for his son's discharge. Hours prior he received a phone call from his youngest daughter about Raf and needing his father's help to get him to relax. Raf was like his father in many ways, constantly needing control in all things to do with the business and consistency in life. However, as things seem to be becoming more chaotic all Raf wants to do is work to fix everything.

His father understood that more than anyone so agreed to take him home and talk with him on the ride there. His head lifted from against the wall watching his patched up son walking down the hall, rising from his seat he walked over putting an arm around his shoulder bringing him into a side hug.

"Feeling better?"

"A little sore but the doctor says I'm good to go," Raf walks to the clipboard finishing up the paperwork before setting it down grabbing the small slip, "But we need to pick up my prescription before going home."

His father nodded, walking alongside him to the double doors where the security awaited. Surrounding the father and son, the four guards walked outside pushing aside the reporters and paparazzi. The flashes of cameras and screaming from the sides created a dull headache for Raf. Reaching the truck, they quickly make it inside before peeling off onto the road.

Raf's finger circled his forehead leaning against the window as he closed his eyes briefly. His father watched sitting across him and he crossed his ankles then arms. He didn't like seeing any of his children in any kind of pain, if he could take any of it he would.

"Remember when you were little," Raf Sr. started looking at the trees passing them by on the highway, "We would take trips to Italy almost every summer, staying at your grandmother's villa half the time before venturing on our own. You were always the happiest there and every time I mentioned traveling somewhere new, you had always chosen Italy."

Raf opened his eyes looking at his father.

"The family hasn't- You haven't been back since you were 16. I think it's something you should experience with your family now. And before you say anything, we're here to help you and stand by you son. I used to be the same way yet your mother opened my eyes to all I missed while working constantly."

"Angelica and I are going to take over the workload, Maria and your mother are going to speak with the lawyer before anything happens, and Elizabeth, well, she's just going to have to take care of you."

"I can't expect you guys to handle my problems. Amal is unpredictable. I don't know what she's planning on doing and she's already violated the contract. The company is acquiring a partner of sorts company, the CEO is the same, volatile. I can't-." Raf started but was cut off.

"Trust us, okay? Trust that we can take care of this for you, just promise you'll take care of yourself. Have a good time with your daughters and Elizabeth. I expect my daughter in law to come back in one piece."

Raf laughed before cursing, clutching his pounding head, "That's presumptuous of you."

"Well you both love each other, so it's bound to happen," Raf Sr. rubs both hands together before laying it on his thighs, "You have more pressing matters to think about. Like how you'll be able to do anything on vacation when your grandmother will want to baby you."

Raf let out a groan just thinking about it but a small smile lifted to his face. He was so grateful for his family and this time away would do him good. He would draw closer to Elizabeth, his daughters, and take the long needed break away from work that he craved. He would receive the relaxation he needed thanks to them.

***

Hello Everyone! Thank you so much for the patience and love on the story!

It took a while to figure some more chapters. The story was initial suppose to be super short, shorts so it was difficult writing more chapters. However, I think I've figure out which way the story is going to go so bear with me.

What do you think of the story so far and the characters? What do you think will happen next? Comment below!