My Best Friend's Brother

Chapter 6

I had dreamt of my father last night. I had come into Father's room with fresh water and a towel. He'd been bedridden since he saved my mother. Asgard's healers weren't optimistic that he'd make a full recovery and of course, we that he didn't. Over the course of three weeks, he had a nurse come to see him twice a day. But when it was after school, Alder and I were his primary caretakers in between their visits.

"Hello, my dear," Father said weakly. Even after this time, I was still shocked at my father's state. He was pretty much bedridden, now taking up residency in the master bedroom. My mother was still in hospital but I heard on the grapevine that she was coming home in a few days. My father was propped up against the back of his headboard with a mountain of pillows. I handed him a glass of water and sat down on my little stool at his bedside.
"Drink your water. All of it," was my instruction. Despite protest of him being a grown man, Father did as he was told. He emptied his cup and then set it down, grinning at me.
"Thanks, my sapling. You take such good care of me." I also smiled, patting his lower arm with my hand. His grin slowly faded as his eyes moved downward. His hand reached over to cover mine "Listen, honey. I think it's time we talked about your future."
"Oh! Well, as you know, I want to study to be a doctor. I really want to go into Masters and then move on to--"
"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about marriage," Father's head shook. I blinked, a bit startled by the topic change.
"Marriage? It's not on the cards right now... maybe... someday when I fall in love--"
"Who said marriage has anything to do with love?" All I could do was stare at my father who was completely serious. He met my gaze straight on "Look, my dear... I hate to tell you this but forget about love. People like us don't have the luxury of falling in love. You have to understand that marriage is a transaction, and you've got to maximize your profit."
"Father..." My smile fell "But, father; I don't want a title and I definitely don't want to marry for one," my hand lifted to my chest. father smiled warmly.
"Sweetheart, Because of your great-grandmother, our family has climbed the social ranks for centuries. You think the men of our family would ever forgive me if I didn't carry on the tradition?"
"But why does it have to be me? Why can't Sage?" His grin deepened.
"Because frankly my dear, you are miles above the rest in my books. If any of my kids get to land a better title, I want it to be you. The only way to do that is through marriage. Besides, marriage is good for women! You won't have to worry about anything; your husband will take care of everything for you."
"Honestly, I am a little shocked that you think that of your own daughter. Sage would be fantastic if you gave her a chance," I sighed "I do not understand why I can't just be free to make my own decisions in life?" Father looked at me, his hand reaching up to brush some stray hairs off my cheek. His eyes lowered onto mine.
"There are just some things a man can do better, honey. Sure, it may be a little suffocating, but that's what marriage is. That's what women have dealt with forever. You at least get prestige out of the deal." My bottom lip quivered uncontrollably.
"But father, I don't want prestige. I want to be like other girls," I sat on the edge of my father's be and pulled my knees up.
"you want to be like other girls?" His eyebrow raised.
"I want to be free to choose for myself. We're not living in the stone age anymore. I want to enjoy what the current world has to offer me." My half-lit hopes began to fade when my father merely shook his head. His hand drifted back down to take mine in his.
"Sorry, sweetheart, but I can't let you become like me with your condition. Once I pass on to the great beyond, It'll be your husband's job to look after you. If it wasn't that Thor had been promised to another, I am almost sure that he would marry you,"
"I do not want to get married,"
"Willow, you have to understand that you have to forgo some freedom in order to retain security. Take it from me, this is what's best for you. I should know. I always did whatever I wanted and look where it got me." Knowing that it was pointless arguing with him, I let the subject drop for now.
"yes, father,"