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My breath seizes in my chest.
Somehow, without being told, I know this is my father. Too many coincidences are happening right now for it not to be. That means either Mr. Delroy, Mr. Carter, or Mr. Atwater are dead.
Blinding light flooding the room startles me. Looking toward the front of the house, the yard is littered with reporters and camera crews. Every single set of eyes and lenses aimed at me.
Scrambling to my feet, I escape into the kitchen, where I sink to the floor, using the refrigerator for support as my control over the restrained tears breaks.
CHAPTERFIVE
With a lack of sleep and surviving solely on caffeine, my nerves are shot. Concern for my father and mourning the loss of a man I hardly know, all while confined to the house, is weighing heavily on me.
The house is the cleanest it has ever been. In an effort to keep my mind busy, each room has been cleaned floor to ceiling.
The media attention has subsided due to the homeowners association and local police. Every phone has been unplugged, giving me a slight respite. Unfortunately, my cell phone has picked up some of the slack.
People who haven’t bothered with me in years are suddenly checking in to see how I am holding up. They are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites. Every time a notification sounds, it pisses me off all over again. If it wasn’t necessary to leave on, it would also get shut off.
Late last night, police announced that Mr. Carter was the one who perished in the accident. Dr. Delroy’s hands were crushed as well. While little time was spent with both men, tears have been shed in remembrance and sympathy.
The media reported that while they were to stay at a local Bed and Breakfast, the men decided to head back to Pittsburgh after stopping for dinner.
My father tried to avoid hitting a deer, losing control of the car. In doing so, he veered off the road, landing sideways in a ravine. This was only after the vehicle rolled multiple times.
According to reports, Dr. Delroy will never be able to perform surgery again. Mr. Laughlin did sustain minor injuries, but not more than some bruises.
It was also reported that the delay in rescue added to the severity of the men’s injuries due to lack of cell reception.
My father walked away unscathed after he not only failed a breathalyzer but also a blood test. Two of the major charges he is currently facing include reckless driving and aggravated assault by vehicle.
More tears escape as I continue cleaning an already clean house.
* * *
July passes at a snail’s pace, and sleep continues to elude me. The chef and cleaning staff give me sidelong looks of sympathy. My appetite has fled as well. Most of the food the chef prepares is tossed out. I have lost a bunch of weight, my clothes hang loose on my body.
The media has given up on me for the moment. However, as soon as the story dies down, something happens to bring it back to life.
The story of the accident ended up making national news. I’m not sure who seemed more important, any of the three prominent businessmen, including father, the top surgeon whose career was cut short, or the prominent financier whose life was tragically cut short.
Yesterday was Mr. Carter’s funeral. The coroner wouldn’t release his body right away, causing the delay. Pictures from outside the church showed people everywhere. Fancy cars and limousines lined the street.
Shots of Mr. Atwater and Dr. Delroy were shown as they exited the church. An unknown older male and four guys about my age accompanied them. The clip was brief and taken at a distance, making their faces difficult to see.
The narration, once again, told of the fatal crash outside of Pittsburgh, including any details made available to the public.
More tears fill my eyes in sorrow. While morbid, my mind wanders to what-ifs.
What if it was my father who had died, sparing Mr. Carter?
What if they had stayed at the B&B, like originally planned?
Questions flip through my head, mulling over what happened versus what could have been.
School is supposed to start soon, so my focus has been on that, hoping for the necessary distraction.
Mr. Robinson called to make sure that I am enrolled in classes. My father expressed that undernocircumstances are my classesto be canceled. Not surprisingly, my father also gave his approval for me to add statistics.
John has been given power of attorney. He will be overseeing the house, finances, and my father’s business affairs.
