Rise To Stardom

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach at the voice. I knew who it was, but it wasn't who I was hoping it would be. It was my father's caretaker. I excused myself into the other room where no one could eavesdrop on our conversation. The words I dreaded to hear were coming. A painful lump was forming in my throat and my stomach twisted into a knot.

"It's your father."

-

Death was a bitch. I tried to avoid using foul language, but there was no other way to put it. When we were kids, we thought our parents were going to be around forever. They would always be around to take care of us.

Even when we're old and gray and should already know the rules of the world. When my father fell into remission, I thought that was where life was headed. Until I found myself packing my bags to go back home for the week.

The producers were kind enough to allow me this time off when I informed them of the situation as long as I made it back in time for the next day of shooting. That day hadn't come yet, but I was already dreading it.

Pretending to be fine while my whole world was crumbling around me seemed like a nightmare. I could barely see what I was packing with hot tears pooling at the corner of my eyes. I already had a sob fest when I got off the phone only ten minutes ago. I wasn't about to have another one now.

Zipping up the suitcase, I dragged it off the bed and rolled it out the door. Everyone was still settled in the living room watching the documentary that I didn't care to watch with them anymore. I briefly entered the room to say goodbye to everyone, hugging Kayla and giving Brooke an awkward wave.

I opened the front door to see Aubrey's BMW in the sheen of the moonlight. She must have already been on her way before Debra had a chance to call me because it was about a half hour drive.

As soon as she saw me, she crawled out of the car and her eyes were glistening with tears. She wasn't going to wait until I got in the car before crying in my arms.

Somewhere, in the midst of the tears, we forgot the concept of time. It felt like we were there for hours when it was only a few minutes. All our thoughts were centered around my father who would cease to exist by the end of the week.

One of us would call him to seek comfort, but then remember that wasn't an option anymore. We finally managed to make it inside the car and were on our way to my house. A sense of relief washed over me when we pulled into the driveway.

I didn't realize how homesick I was until I reunited with the familiar rose bushes that surrounded the house, the black door that I always walked in and out of going and coming home from work and the white trim bordering the roof.

Watching the headlights disappear from the garage doors reminded me of the cruel reality; I wasn't returning home under the happiest of circumstances. It was simply wishful thinking that dad would make it through the end of the show, but it would've been a hundred times better coming home to see dad popping open a bottle of champagne and organizing a celebration dinner.

Aubrey unlocked the door with the spare key dad gave her in case of emergencies and mom was waiting for my arrival on the couch. She tried to force a smile, but the puffiness that lined her eyes and the bloodshot hue that surrounded her irises exposed her true feelings.

"Welcome home, love." Her voice was barely above a whisper. She wasn't the only one who was visibly upset. Debra came over everyday to check up on him, to make him comfortable.

Somewhere during the process, her and dad had become the best of friends because tears remained in the corner of her eyes. Even the potted flowers on the window sill that brought more color into the kitchen wilted away. They couldn't bare to witness the emotional tension floating in the room. "Your father is in our room."