Hidden Melodies

Chapter Twenty-One

Copyright by Joelle Blue ©

Ozzie

It took me a while to figure out what to do.

I feel guilty as fuck for it.

My dad was in an accident. He was in surgery, and it sounded serious. I should go. Right?

Why was I the person of contact?
Where is my mother?

I should go.

"I don't think there's a wrong or right decision here, Oz. You do what feels right," Scarlet offered after Charlie called her.

"I feel like I should go," I whisper. "If I'm the person they're calling, he has nobody, right? And I wouldn't want him to be alone."
"You're better than me, babe," Scarlet scoffs.

"Well, I'm still here, so..."

"You could always go but not see him. We could go and walk right back out. You're the driver here," Charlie says.

"You said you've seen him but not mom?" I ask him.

"Yeah, I don't remember the last time I saw her."

"Huh..."

Scarlet stands and grabs my arms and looks at me intently. "Okay, I'm going to get you and Charlie on a flight as soon as possible, you'll go, maybe you'll see him, maybe you won't. I'll see you at the end of the week for the next show and that's that. That way you went, so there's no regrets but you still have the choice to see him or not. Okay?"

I nod, thankful someone made the decision for me.

So, now here we are, flying back home. To go see my dad. Who I haven't seen in almost two years. Who was an asshole my entire life. Who I doubt would have come to see me in the hospital if I was hurt.

Well, I wouldn't have listed their name anyway.

When we get to the waiting room at the emergency room, it's dead silent. Even though it's really early in the morning, I thought it would still be busy. I walk up to the receptionist who greets me with a warm but tired smile.

"How can I help you, miss?"
"Hi, um, my dad was brought in, John Black, for surgery. We just got here..." I don't really know what questions to be asking here.

She types and clicks away for a minute or so before answering. "He is out of surgery and in the ICU. It's on the third floor, so they can help you to his room."

I nod and thank her before Charlie leads me to the elevator. "Thanks for coming with me, Charlie," I tell him softly.

He hugs me tight and kisses me on the head and holds me. He's like the outlet and I'm the plug. My arms wrap around him, and I already feel so much better. I'm nervous more than anything, nervous to see him, nervous to find out what's wrong, nervous to find out why I am the one who was called. Then I get confused and then I get a smidge angry.

The audacity to make me feel the need to be here for a man who was barely a father.

We get to the third floor and find the nurses desk that has four nurses, chatting quietly.

An older woman, who looks stern and scary, turns and walks our way.

"Hi there, can I help you?" I can't tell if she's annoyed or not.