Henry, who had been looking at his friend who was lost in his thought interrupted with a question,
” So what are you going to do now because it is obvious she does not want your help”.
“I will find a way to help her without her even knowing that I am the person behind it”, Duke explained with an enthusiasm that his friend had but seen for such a long time.
Their conversation was cut short by a phone call that came in through Duke’s phone and it was his mother.
On seeing the call, that was when he remembered that his family had a family dinner that evening at his mansion.
Duke had to excuse himself but before leaving, he asked his friend to leave his eyes and ears to the ground in case anything else happened.
Henry nodded in confirmation and he separated with his friend walking back into the hospital to go check on his mother who will be discharged early that morning.
Henry met Eva and they both sat at the reception discussing for a while and Bryan had joined his sister in their mother’s ward as they cheer her up with sweet memories of them but Bethany’s mother had a feeling that something was wrong with her daughter but she did not want to ask her in front of Bryan as it might make him Panic.
Duke had finally gotten up and he was late for the family Diner, so he apologized and joined everyone at the table and the evening went on smoothly.
The night had gone by so fast that the morning was already coming up slowly.
Bethany was already awake and she had asked the nurse in charge of her mother to let her be the one to clean up her mother before going to see the doctor for the discharge.
Eva had returned home to be with her innings not know whether she was going to make it to the hospital that morning before Henry’s and Bethany’s mothers could get discharged as she had to get to Henry’s company to drop the files when was asked to leave with the secretary.
Duke on the other hand called his friend and said he could not make it to the hospital either that morning as he has an important meeting that morning but promised to come to pay his mother a visit when he closes from the office.
Henry’s mother with the help of Ms. Maria Henry’s nanny took a warm bath and had a change of clothes as Henry settled all the medical expenses and finally got the prescriptions the doctor had written from the Clinic’s pharmacy as well as the nurse that was assigned to follow them at home to take care of his mother till she fully recovers.
Henry was presented to Nurse Caloy as she was going to be the one to take care of his mother at home.
The nurse had to stay with them for the time being and all expenses were covered while she will be paid in installments depending on how serious she takes her work.
Bethany was done cleaning her mother so she left her with Bryan while she went to the reception desk and settled all the bills as well as buying the drugs that were prescribed from a drugstore in her neighborhood as it will be less expensive than the hospital drugstore.
She had asked her brother Bryan to go catch a taxi so that they could transport their mother home though she was not comfortable in taking her back home.
Bethany went back inside and with a pitiful look, she helped the nurse take her mom up while she was made to sit carefully in the wheelchair taking her out of the hospital to put her in the taxi that Bryan must have hired.
Bryan finally got to them with a taxi and he came down of it extending a helping hand as they put their mother into it.
Bethany thanked the nurse that had helped them and sitting behind with her mother, the cab driver drove off.
Bethany’s mother could not help but worry so she asked her daughter,
” Where did you get the money to settle the bills at the hospital and how will you buy my drugs?”, she inquired with tears in her eyes, and Bethany holding her hands with a smile responded,
“I had some money saved up and also our neighbors had sent some money that they had contributed through Bryan when he went home to take a shower yesterday.
On hearing that, she felt relieved but still knew that there was something not going on well with her daughter and that was something that she still had to ask.
The cab driver drove as gently as possible considering the fact he was carrying a patient.
He was already in their neighborhood and Bryan told him exactly where to drop them.
The car was parked in front of their home at the entrance and they came out helping their mother out of the car.
Bethany paid the cab driver his fare money and while she and Bryan directed their mother inside the house.
Her mother was taken into her room and She went into the kitchen to make something for her mother and Bryan to eat before using the remaining money to take off to the pharmacy.
Bethany went into the kitchen and realized that there were only a few potatoes and veggies that were left in the hospital.
With a deep sigh and tears in her eyes as she had to quickly get a job before things escalated, she made use of the things that were in the kitchen and made a delicious soup for her mother and brother.
The aroma from the cooking pot attracted her kid brother who rushed to the kitchen touching her head and licking his lips, asking what was on the menu for them
Bethany, threatening to hit his head with the cooking spoon she was holding in her right hand, said that she was making soup with Irish so that they could have it while she goes down the road to get more groceries for the house.
Bryan walking out of the kitchen smiling shouted at the top of his voice that he was hungry wanting his sister to hear him.
Crystal chucked alone in the kitchen as her brother was her only sibling and she was already familiar with his baby’s attitude.
The soup was ready so she turned off the cooker and served it as it was hot. Serving it in two dishes, she took them to the dining table and placed them on the table nap so as not to break the glass table with the heat from the hot soup.
She went over to help her mother stand and walk to the table where she could feed her before giving her the available drugs.
” Sit down here mother”, she said as she pulled out the chair with her right hand while supporting her mother with the other hand and her body leaned to hers.
Crystal could not help but feel as to cry, but she had to act strong so as not to get her mother to worry too much most especially Bryan who was already eating with his head into his dish.
With so much joy, she fed her mother with the soup till she could not eat anymore.
She wiped her mouth with a napkin and gave her some water to drink. When Crystal was done taking care of her mother, she gave her the drugs and took her to her room to lay down and have some rest.
She walked through the corridor of their home heading to her mother’s room and they entered while she sat her down on her bed.
Arranging her mom to a comfortable position on her bed, and with a pillow beneath her head, she covered up her body with a blanket that was on the side of her bed.
“I can see that my bed was already well arranged”, she whispered caressing her daughter’s hair as she stabilized her position.
A hint of a smile parted Bethany’s lips when her eyes met with her mother’s and she kissed her mother’s forehead saying that she was going down the street to get some groceries and also her medications.
Although her mother was happy having a daughter like her, she saw the need to discuss what she had on her chest.
Pushing herself to get up to sit down while looking at Bethany in the face as she had that conversation with her, Bethany tried stopping her from moving but she held her hands and with a serious look she let out,
” I need us to have a heart-to-heart talk right now, away from your brother”.
Crystal’s heart was already beating so fast that she could feel her whole being shaking out of fear as she had no clue about what her mother wanted them to discuss, but she had a feeling that it was something very important.
Taking her courage into her both hands, she sat down on the bed facing her mother and waiting for what she had to say.
“I want you to tell me the truth and nothing but the truth Betty”, her mother spoke calmly.
Bethany, could not understand what truth her mother was talking about so with a confused tone she inquired,
” What truth are you asking from me mother, have I ever kept anything from you before?”, she was still lost and cared for to know what her mother was mumbling about.
“I know that I do not have much time to live”, her mother broke out the news to her and her face went pale.
Bethany could not control her tears from flowing as she did not have enough time to gather up herself before breaking up the news to her mother.
” How did you know?”, she raised a question as she was confused about how her mother got to find out.
Bethany had instructed the nurses not to tell her mother anything as it was going to destroy her completely and she said she will want to be the one to break the news to her.
Asking her daughter not to worry her head about how she got to find out, she had just one request to make from her which was for her to take care of her little brother and for them, both to always have each other’s back.
“No mother do not talk in that manner because you are found nowhere. I am going to trudge the earth till I find the money and the donor I promise you this mother”, Bethany said crying out bitterly.
Her mother could feel her pain so as her huge urge in wanting to save her but there was nothing anyone could do as she was aware of the money that was to be said before the surgery could be carried out and the time that she has been given had already elapsed as her heart had gotten worst since the past few months.
” All hope is lost Betty, dear, I just want you to stop spending the little cash that you have left, instead you can make something meaningful out of your life and that of Bryan”, her mother spoke with tears in her eyes.
Bethany could not continue listening to all the negative things that her mother was saying so she got up and with a kiss on her mother’s forehead, she left her room running out to go to the grocery store.
She wiped off her eyes before passing through the living room in order not to attract Bryan to her.
“I am going out to get some grocery and mama’s drugs”, she spoke as she walked out faster.
” Get me some chocolate bars please”, Bryan said from the house, and Bethany responded from outside.
As she was about to take a cab she heard someone call her from behind and it was Eva her friend.
“Bethany, where are you going to, I have been calling your phone”, Eva said as she approached her friend smiling like a child.
Bethany’s phone had been off as she did not get the time to put it on charge.
“My cell phone has been switched off since last night Eva”, she said using her left hand to shade her face from the scorching sun.
Eva sighed and said that she had been calling since she got to the hospital but it was not reachable and when she asked from. the nurse at the reception was told that your mom had already checked out.
” Yes, we left earlier than expected as I had other things to come take care of at home”, Betty answered.
With a curious stare, Bethany noticed that her friend was extremely happy so she was forced to ask why she was so delighted.
“Is there something I should know Eva, she asked passing her right hand on Evas’ shoulder moving her brows while staring at her in the eyes”.
Eva who did not want to believe that her friend had forgotten about her going to drop the files at Henry’s company shook her head in amusement and muttered,
” Have you forgotten about the job hunt I told you about at sir Henrys enterprise?”, she asked along away from Bethany.
Bethany remembering that Eva had talked about it at some point when she was lost in her movements trying to sort things out for her mother’s hospital bills, she screamed out in disappointment as she had forgotten to give her friend her documents.
“Eva, what am I supposed to do now, I did not hang you the copies of my documents”, she said in pain as she thought that she will not have a chance again.
Eva walking towards her again with a smile like that of an angel related how she had everything under control.
Bethany was lost as she could not understand what she was talking about, but her friend clarified to her that she had called Henry to explain how occupied Bethany was with her mother’s condition so he said that he was going to place a call to his secretary and give your name.
The HR department will call us soon for an interview so get ready.
On hearing this, Bethany jumped on her friend with tears in her eyes crying profusely with joy as she thanked her friend for always having her back anytime.
” it is not compared to what you and your family have done for me and my siblings Bethany”, she said compelling her friend on the road.
Bethany held on tightly to her friend so much that Eva found it difficult to breathe, so she had to make one of those silly comments she always did to get her friend off her.
“I am not your boyfriend Betty, please your weight will slay me”, from hearing this, they both burst out laughing.
Eva gave Bethany a dazzling smile and asked where she was headed to before she called her back.
” I was going to the grocery store that is down the road and later I will go to the apothecary to get some drugs for my mama”, she related showing her friend the ordinance.
Eva decided to accompany Betty as she was coming to be with her all the same.
They both walked to the grocery mart as it was not too far from Bethany’s house.
“Welcome ma’am, welcome Sir Henry, welcome nurse, the maid saluted them as they made their way into the house.
” Thank you Martha”, Henry mumbled as they walked inside the house.
“Hope you are better now ma’am”, Martha raised a question taking the nurse’s bag and showing her where Ms. Brighton’s room was upstairs.
” Martha, this is nurse Caloy and she will be in charge of taking care of my mother till she fully recovers”, Henry did a general introduction as he showed Martha to Nurse Caloy to avoid a strenuous work environment.
Turning to Nurse Caloy, Henry told her that she has already met his nanny at the hospital as they both helped his mother back home.
Henry told the nurse not to bother and said that he was going to take his mom upstairs to her room while She is shown around the house.
“Feel at home and do not hesitate to ask us anything as long as you are here”, Martha said in a happy voice.
Maria too had felt comfortable with Caloy as she seems to be a nice person with a good heart.
” Thank you both for your kind words and hospitality and I hope that we will get along well during my short stay here”, She said softly.
Henry had brought his mother inside her room and he carried her to her bed asking if she wanted Martha to make some soup for her to eat.
She looked around her room and nothing had changed. Everything was in its place and she had missed the fragrance and comfort of her room so badly.
The curtains, lights, sofa, and picture of the frame of her darling husband whom she thought that she was going to meet immediately she hit that airbag on her steering wheel.
“How could an airbag give me one such a sore?”, she mumbled in her spirit as her eyes met her sons and with a sad expression, she shook her head in denial and said that all she wanted at that time was to get her painkillers and sleep off.
Henry kissed her forehead and told her not to hesitate to call him if she needed anything as he will be in his room.
“Thank you my son for being so caring to me”, Ms. Brighton said in a small voice.