Second chances

Chapter Twenty Nine: Truth

As I watched him pace around I battled with so many emotions and thoughts. He had walked to the drawer by the time I sat on the bed. The beat his fingers were making on the wooden surface of the drawer made my heart beat increase in tempo. He seemed distracted with his fingers and I chose that moment to relieve my feet of the ache the shoes were giving me.

I shot my head backwards stretching my feet to circulate blood flow which had been cut off by those shoes.
My eyes flew shut and for a split second I forgot what was going on. The movement my feet were making were so relaxing that I just fell asleep.

The distorted voice in the room pulled me out of my momentary bliss.
"You've got to be kidding me Victoria, of all the times to fall asleep".

"I am a pregnant woman Charles"
My eyes managed to stay open this time and Charles was no longer pacing. "were you ever going to tell me?". I tried to wiggle out of the conversation but I saw that there was no way to.

"How long have you known?" the question left my lips with my eyes fixed on the bed.

"For a while now, there were things you'd do and I'd wonder of it you had remembered or not, then I'd wave it off because you said you weren't remembering. Why the heck would you lie to me?"

"I started remembering months ago, remember the day we went out to that restaurant, that was the day my memories became a bit clearer. They usually come as nightmares some momentary flashes. I can't remember everything but I can remember some things. Sometimes a particular thing triggers my memories, something similar to past occurrence "

He sat down on the bed then rubbed his head." You believe I would kill you, why? "

"What the hell am I supposed to believe Charles! Basically every thing you told me has been a lie. Then I find out that you have a gun. Oh and I remember you hitting me. Our family was a mess and I could remember your infidelity"

"I had a reason for not telling you Vicky!

This time I was enraged
"Don't try to justify your actions Charles, you had no reason at all. I know the doctor didn't tell you to shield me from any danger. I have a therapist for God's sake, isn't that his job? To help me remember without being traumatized. Whatever you did was for your own selfish reasons and you know it. "

"Was that why you met them today? I told you not to and you just decided to do it anyways. Saw you with them when I was looking all over for you at the mall."

"I am not going to apologize for that, I needed to see them, they were my friends!"

He scoffed resumed tapping on the bed. "You don't even know the truth, you don't know what they are Victoria"

"Oh Charles, I know what they were to you atleast, so tell me which one of them did you truly love? A man must love one of his mistresses you know. His wife's friends who seem to have this weird resemblance with her would be a perfect choice. Was it Esther ? She seems to really care about you and you probably slept with her too on your stupid sleep walking escapade. "

Lines of irritation were etched to his face and I could tell he was becoming upset.

"What about Grace, you know she told me how she loves you and how I don't deserve you. So you probably spent a lot of time sexually satisfying her for her to come to that conclusion"

"Victoria shut your mouth!"

"Why should I? I am speaking the truth. Do you know how much you hurt me? I could have been happier, would have appreciated it if you slept with anyone else with the exception of that slut you work with of course. Anyone else but not my friends."

"How about sweet Nasa, was she the loved mistress?"

"Listen Victoria you have no right to judge me, you were also whoring about with their husbands. I'm no Saint but at least I'm not a hypocrite, a liar and a slut!."

Some how my hands seemed to connect with his face. His face hardened and he got up from the bed.

" Jude seemed very taken by you, did you enjoy Chris too? "

"How would I know, when I never slept with any of them. Maybe that's what I should have done. You don't even seem to be sorry for what you did." this time I fought the tears that were beginning to form.

"Nasa showed me a text sent from your phone to her husband. I took a shot of it, which is still on my phone. This accident was horrible but I thought it would help us get through this thing. Clearly I was wrong, no matter how deep the truth is buried, it'll always seem to surface. I wanted you to vent for so many years, I wanted you to ask me why I did the things I did. But instead you start sleeping around too. Do you know how I felt when you started working for Jude again? I knew you had started remembering then, It made me doubt... "

" The paternity of this pregnancy" I finished the sentence.

"We tried years before our issues to get another child, I found out it was my fault. I couldn't tell you of course, I felt it would crush you."

" Well now I know and I want you to get out of my sight Charles!. I hate you!"

Victoria I didn't make any attempt on your life.

Get out!"

He left the room and all I could do was just cry. I glanced over at the phone that he left and saw the text which was sent from my number. I never cheated on Charles, I didn't even remember whoever this Chris was. Why didn't Nasa ever confront me with this?

I managed to rest my head on the bed for a few minutes before Charles walked back in. He had this concerned look on his face and I didn't even bother to speak to him. He was a liar and a horrible person.

"Vicky".

What! I don't want to talk to you right now.

"it's not about me, it's, it's your father"

I jerked up and prayed he wasn't going to mention death.

He had a heart attack, your mom just called Christy. He's really bad and he might not make it. He's asking to see you.

Charles barely finished his statement before I picked up his phone and dialed my mom.

We booked a flight and left to see my father. I was so worried that my hands were shaking, Christy seemed to be quite strong and Charles was quiet. I wanted him to hold my hand and console but at the same time I was repulsed by the thought of him holding me.

We made it to St Peter's memorial hospital where father was admitted. Mother threw her hands around me and I could tell she had been crying for long. Christian was on his way to the hospital.

I walked into the room where father was kept and rushed straight to his hands.

His eyes fluttered open and he looked at me then gave me a weak smile.

"where are the others?"

Mother is outside with Charles and Christy, Christian is on his way. How are you feeling dad?

He shook his head and spoke weakly again. Not your mother, where are your sisters?

Father was delirious from the medication they had given him, that I was sure of. I am his only daughter, so I didn't quite understand his enquiry.

"dad, I don't have other sisters, I don't have any sister.

No, bring your sisters I want to see them.

I was about to respond till I heard voices behind me.

" we are here father "

I turned to look at them then felt the whole world freeze.

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A/N: I'm really grateful to all of you for reading so far.

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