Friends & Paradise 2: Forever Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter 9: Talking With The Doctor (Christine's POV)

As I was chatting with my mom about Natasha's state, Jason suddenly comes out of the hospital room. I stand up.

"Is she okay?" I asked.

"Good news. She remembers her name." He said smiling.

"What? How'd you do that?"

"A simple game called hangman."

"Do you mind if I go in?" Dr. Jacobs asked Jason.

He shook his head. "Go in. She's waiting for you guys."

I go along with Dr. Jacobs inside Nash's room. She's there waiting in her bed sitting up. Dr. Jacobs approached my daughter, and sat down in the chair near her bed.

"So, you remember your name?" He asked her.

She nodded. "My name is Natasha Evers."

"Very good." He smiled at her and turned to us. "I think she's progressing. Either way, I want to keep her in the hospital for one more night just for observation and to know that she's good to go home."

I nodded. "Okay. Can she recieve any visits?"

"Yes, she can. Visiting hours end in an hour. But, you can visit her again tomorrow starting eight in the morning up to five in the afternoon. But, it's possible that by tomorrow afternoon she can leave." He assured me.

"Perfect. Thank you, doctor."

"You're welcome. Mrs. Evers, can I talk to you?"

He pulled me away from the hospital room where Natasha was asking her friends what happened a week ago. We were in the corner by the window outside her room.

"I think you should notify her father about what happened." He said.

"I did. But he isn't going to show up. So, it's useless to ask him to show up."

"Is everything okay in your marriage?"

"No, we divorced a while ago."

"How long, if I may ask?"

"You can ask. It was about thirteen years ago, when my son was just about a year old. Why did you ask?"

"I really think the reason why Natasha fell down the stairs and hit her head was because she saw her father and became paralyzed with fear because of him coming near her. Does she have any bad memories about her father?"

"Not exactly memories, but knowledge about her father. I told her a while back that her father had been having sexual relations with a man on television and that it got out on the news. I also told her that the reason we divorced was because he started going crazy and hit me occasionally. If I hadn't gotten help, I would've lost my son and possibly my life as well."

"At what age did you tell her this?"

"When she was about thirteen years old."

"Miss--"

"Call me Christine."

"Christine, I am no one to tell you how to run your life, but I can assure you that telling a daughter as young as thirteen that kind of truth, would've somehow affect her development more than knowing the truth when being the right age to know this and be mature enough to accept this."

"Are you saying it was my fault that my daughter fell from the stairs? Because of something that she had to know?"

"No. I agree with you, she had to know about her father. It's not your fault; fear is something that can only be caused by seeing something the person is afraid of. I think Natasha is afraid of her father."

"Most of my kids don't even want anything to do with that man."

"Is that why you keep pushing him away?"

"I asked them if they wanted anything to do with him, but all three of them told me they wanted nothing to do with him. I called him a few days ago to tell him about Natasha's accident, but the only answer I got was 'how was I so dumb as to spend money in a trip that could've been avoided by simply going to the beach in California?'. Instead of him worrying about his daughter, he only cared about money."

"You want a man that can love your children as much as you do, right?"

"I want a man who can be the father to my children that my ex-husband never was. But it's hard to find a man who not only treats me right, but cares about my family enough as to take care of them and support them emotionally."

"I can sense your desperation."

"Doctor, you have no idea how hard it is to find a man that believes money is secondary to family."

"I do. It's just as hard as to find a woman who wants to be with you, but not because of how much money in the bank you own."

"I assume you are in that position."

He nodded. "I am."

"I thought you were married."

"No, I've been divorced for five years. My ex-wife cheated on me with my driver."

"Ouch. I'm guessing that must've been a horrible scene to watch?"

"I never caught them. Actually, I wouldn't have known about it, but my brother told me about the incidents that happened every day while I was at work."

"You're pretty lucky then. I can only imagine what it would be like if you would've seen your ex-wife together with the driver."

"Yeah, it must've been a horrible scene."

"So, anyways, doctor, my daughter will be able to leave tomorrow, right?"

"Yes, she will."

"Perfect. I want her back home already."

"You know, Christine, you give an aura of a mother bear taking care of her cubs; you let nothing harm your kids."

"I think that's the way it should be. I want my children to grow up with a sense of family and that money is never bigger than family. I want them to know what really matters in this life."

"I think you're giving them an excellent example."

"Thank you, doctor."

"Call me Richard."

I nodded. "Okay, thank you, Richard."

The hospital room opened, and my mom went out.

"What is it?" I asked her curiously.

"Your daughter says she wants you. She wants you to tell her what happened." She said.

I nodded and turned to Richard. "I have to go."

"Okay, we'll talk later then." He said.

I walked away and towards my daughter's room. I closed the door behind me and walked over to her bed. She was sitting and laughing at something Amelia said and had Jason by her bedside.

"Hey honey." I said.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Mom! What happened that night?"

"Didn't they tell you?"

"Well, they told me what happened, but I want to know what my dad said because he's not here."

I sighed. "Natasha, do you really want him here?"

She shrugged. "I mean, I'm not like dying to see him, but I would've liked to see him care more about me."

"Sweetheart, you don't need him in your life. You have me. You have Amelia and Danielle. You have your brother and sister. You have Jason. You have his friends, Ralph and Aaron. You have your grandma. Your family... Honey, your father is nobody compared to the huge amount of people who care a lot about you." I said as I snuck inside her bed and wrapped her in a hug.

"Maybe. But, just maybe, I would've liked to have him care a bit more about us."

I kissed her forehead. "I know, dear."