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“Shhh.” He reaches out putting his finger over my lips, but I slap his hand away.
“Don’t shush me. And then you don’t even stick up for me...,” I utter angrily. I step closer, and he looks down at me, he must think I’ve softened, like hell. Planting my hands against his chest I shove him as hard as I can, watching victoriously as he stumbles backwards. I use that as my getaway. “I fucking hate you.” I sneer and leave that as my parting comment. I hope to God, he doesn’t follow me out.Picking up my case and pulling out the handle, I drag it behind me to find the cab is already idling outside. I go back in to grab the rest. As I bring the rest of my things out, the driver has begun packing the car up.I leave it on the drive and get in the back of the car, wiping away the tears that have already slipped from my eyes. Looking back at my life, my crappy secret relationship with Troy and my dad. As much as I love him, he is not a good person and the way he treats me proves it. I shoot a text off to Kellie to tell her I’m on my way. I look toward the front door as the driver gets in his seat and as he slowly pulls away. I see Troy, standing just outside the front door, leaning against the wall with his hands tucked into his pockets, he almost looks sad to see me go.
Too bad, it’s time to live my own life.
CHAPTERFIVE
EMILY
Present day
Afaint ringing from somewhere pulls me out of sleep. The bloody thing has been going for a while now. As I’m dragged from my sleepy state a little further, it’s then I realise it’s my phone ringing. My eyelids crack open just enough so I can see through my narrowed vision and reach out, tapping the hard surface of the bedside table for the defending article. Just as I put my hand on it, it stops ringing. “Fuck.” I sigh, my voice broken from sleep, my hand going limp and drops. Just as my eyes close again, the ringing immediately starts again. Putting my hand straight on it this time, I grip it in my hand and hit accept, lifting it to my ear. “Ms Lancaster?”
My eyes swiftly pop open, blinking furiously at the unfamiliar voice on the other end of the line. Sitting up I reach across and find the switch to turn on the lamp at the side of the bed.
“Hello?” I answer sleepily.
“Ms Lancaster, it’s Forrest Green General hospital. We have a Mitch Lancaster here…,” a gasp escapes through my open lips before she’s even finished her sentence. “We found a business card with your name on in his wallet.”
“He’s… He’s my dad.” I stutter through my answer as my voice shakes.
“Oh, I… I’m sorry to have to tell you this but your father had a heart attack earlier this evening.” I almost don’t register the nurses’ words right away, but something tells me I should wake up now. “Is there any way you could get here tonight?”
“Yes.” I answer immediately. I have no idea of the time. All I do know is that I need to be at his side. My father and I have been working on our relationship recently, we are trying to get past our issues from when I was younger. He never mentions Troy, and neither do I. I have no reason to mention Troy Parker to my dad. Although, I know he still works with him. But after all the arguing between us, he finally understands why my work is so important to me and he realises why I had to go my own way. It’s like he understands me more now than he ever did. I scramble out of the sheets still with the phone to my ear. “Erm… what ward is he on?”
“Okay, if you just make your way to A&E, tell the receptionist on the desk that you’re here and someone will come out to get you.” The kind nurse tells me.
“Th…thank you so much.” Tears prick my eyes as I stumble over my words, “He, he is okay, right. I mean, I know it’s a stupid question, but he will be okay…won’t he?” My eyes roll as I say it, why do we that?
“I’m afraid he’s critical at the moment, Ms Lancaster, but we’re trying to stabilise him.”
Hot tears spill from my eyes and down my cheeks as I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I’m o… on my way.” My chin trembles as I take the phone from my ear and throw it down on the bed. I have a bad feeling swarming around in the pit of my stomach, it aches, my breathing quickens causing a pain in my chest. I drop to the mattress and cover my heart with my hand, trying to breathe through my own feelings and emotions One in and one out until finally I’m calm enough to get dressed. I pull on a pair of jeans, slip on my converse then rummage through a drawer to grab a t-shirt.
Once that’s on, I pull a hoodie over the top, slip my phone into my back pocket then take the stairs as quickly as I can and grab my car keys from the table by the door. I’m out and locked up in seconds.
The whole journey to the hospital is a blur. From leaving my house to finding a spot on the car park, but that was easy enough, since it was only 3:30 a.m. Quickly, I get out of the car, press my fob waiting for the locking sound then sprint across the car park. I push through the doors of the Accident and Emergency department, heading for the desk. There’s a queue as I step inside, I wish for them to just disappear so I can get to the front. I think about asking the people in front of me if I could jump ahead of them. Surely this is more important?
My toe taps on the tiles as the queue moves along at snail's pace and I start to get annoyed.Why the hell is there a queue at three-thirty in the morning, for fuck’s sake?There’s a receptionist booking in patients and one just looking at her nails, while tapping a mouse and every now and then she looks up at the monitor. “Excuse me?” I call through the glass, but she doesn’t hear me. I try again, but this time I’m a little bit louder, “Excuse me.'' The woman that is booking in patients looks up at me but the other one is totally oblivious.
“I’m sorry hon, but you’ll have to wait your turn. We’re very busy.” I don’t think she realises how much I want to bang my fist on the glass and shout at the other woman and tell her to get off her lazy arse and help her colleague. I look around the people in front and see the other desk which is set up for Urgent Care and go over to that one instead.
The young woman, about the same age as me, sits up straighter and smiles, “Can I help you?”
“Yes. My dad was brought in earlier. I don't know what time or even if he’s still alive…,” My voice catches in the back of my throat as I attempt to get the words out, swiping at the tears that are streaming down my face. I’d managed to curb them on the way here but now I’m here they’re just free falling. Before I know it, I’m full-on sobbing again. An arm comes around me, I hadn't realised she’d even left her chair and come out to comfort me. “It’s okay. Tell me your father’s name.”
Sniffing back my emotions I try to compose myself, taking a few deep breaths and wiping my eyes. “Mitch… Lancaster.” I sob and shudder tears through me.
“Okay my lovely, you sit here for me…,” She passes me a tissue from the box on the counter and I thank her as I take it. “...and I’ll go and see what I can find out.”
Looking up, I try to smile through my tears but it’s no use. “Thank you so much.”
“I’ll be as quick as I can.”She smiles, full of compassion and warmth.
Watching her scuttle away, I wipe my eyes and nose. I didn’t realise it would hit me this hard, but he’s still my father, and despite everything that’s happened between us, I love him. He is the only family I have. We’ve made up over the years and have buried some of the hatchet. We are finally working through our issues. To have him taken from me now would be just cruel. If only he didn’t love his work more than me. The business took priority every time. It's taken a long time to see we are both at blame for our relationship. I smile inwardly remembering our afternoon lunches, he’s even been to some of the big art showcases I’ve held at the gallery. My heart belongs to art. It’s all I ever wanted to do. I think secretly he’s glad I didn’t take over. He has Troy, he doesn’t need me. I shake my head and try to divert the path I’m taking. I refuse to let my mind wander off to Troy Parker. I haven’t seen him for years and I like it that way.
Pushing my body forward, I lean down resting my elbows on my knees and drop my head into my cupped hands to cover my face. Silently, I cry in my seat, the prominent ache still there in my tummy. Folding my arms around my middle I hug myself.
A soft tap on my shoulder has me springing up, it was the same girl as earlier. “Follow me, Ms Lancaster.”
