She nodded as tears ran down her eyes, as she felt dizzy again.
” Are you okay Bethany?”, Duke clenched her from falling to the ground as he sat her down on the seat.
Sinking into the chair, Bethany was breathing slowly as her chest was beginning to hurt and her eyes became dim.
Henry too had started worrying over Bethany’s sudden dizziness as it might be as a result of fatigue.
The nurse let out that she was going to explain the situation to the doctor present and get back to them.
Henry nodded while waiting for the feedback.
Little Glenn had gotten up from her sleep and she began crying in Henry’s arms and Henry, haven’t had to take care of a can’t before, tried his best to know what her problem is but he could not as Glenn could not stop crying.
“Shuuu calm down little princess I am here okay, what do you want?”, Henry asked aiming to be understanding as he could.
The sound of her crying had awakened Rachel who opened her eyes in fear thinking that the worst had happened.
Bethany holding her from injuring herself with the tremendous speed that she jumped out of her slumber with, Rachel realized that they were still in the hospital.
Catching a glimpse of her Glenn who was crying, she rose to her feet as she walked closer to her inquiring what the issue was, and Bethany who was feeling very weak responded that she might be feeling hungry and needed some food.
Bethany stretching her hands to hold up Glenn turned to Duke and said,
” Can we go to the hospital’s eatery to get something to eat now, I am feeling dizzy Sid Duke”.
Rachel’s face lit up a little as she too had been hungry but did not say anything.
Thinking of food, her mind abruptly narrowed to her elder sister Eva who was however in there and she raised a question whether anything had been said about her situation.
Bethany, with a soothing sigh, lifted her left arm and upholding it behind Rachel’s shoulders, she affirmed with a smile,
“Eva is going to be fine, the nurse just left from here saying that she is stable now”.
On listening to these words come out of Bethany’s mouth, Rachel took in a deep breath of relief that was so obvious to everyone.
Duke unexpectedly interrupted that moment of peace which was going on, as he asked them if they were not hungry because he has hungered.
” Come on let’s go Sir Henry and have some food”, Rachel mumbled while Bethany and Duke burst out laughing as Henry had become a father suddenly.
Glenn, looking at Bethany, said in a sweet voice,
“Can go to the sir Bethany, please?”, she asked as her white round eyes like a lamp looked at Bethany with so much joy in them and she replied with a yes veering around to Duke as Glenn opened her arms to be taken as quickly as possible.
Now it was Henry’s turn to laugh at his friend as he said,
” Daddy Duke I want you to carry me”, and they all burst out laughing heading to the bistro to get something to eat.
The night had been a very tedious one and they all have had their pound of stress as they were all involved in that heartbreaking incident.
Bethany was glad to catch a glimpse of how lovely Duke was with Glenn and how happy she was too.
Thinking in her mind, she had come to understand that, not everyone is bad from their appearances and the first contact with them, some days are not just as good as others.
Glenn was vibrant as though she was not from sleep and narrating all her stories to Duke, we all laughed so hard and Rachel said something that made Duke more attached to Glenn which was,
“Glenn must really love you sir Duke because he runs away from people that is why Eva has a had time working willingly when I am at school as she can not leave her with anyone else except me”, Rachel narrated while they shuffled intl the clinic’s cafe that was operative 24/7 each day.
Without being able to close her eyes, Mrs. Marvin wondered why something like that will have to happen to Eva and her little sisters.
” What a cruel world in this hardship”, she thought on her bed as she turned from side to side, unable to sleep.
Mrs. Marving got down of her bed and took the direction of the kitchen where she thought of making a hot mug of tea so that she could drink it while watching television awaiting sleep.
Walking through the corridor, she passed by her daughter’s room and coming back to check ok her like she always does each time she will wake up at night, an emptiness felt in her heart as Bethany was bot in her room.
“I pray that God guides you wherever you are as you take care of your friend my little angel”, she murmured as she closed up her daughter’s room and left for the kitchen.
With a sigh of despair, Henry’s mother as well could not sleep as it was already the early hours of the mounting and he had not called to say whether he was returning home or not.
As she felt restless, she decline slowly to the other side of her bed, stretching her hand to the little shelf at the side of her bed which served as a lamp stand and also where she had a picture frame of herself, husband, and son Henry.
Picking up her phone from there, she got a glimpse of the frame and taking it into her arms, she could not hold back her tears from running down like an opened tap.
” Why do I feel so restless like this, what is going on with you my son?”, she felt a strong feeling of fear as a mother but she could not tell what that was.
She dialed Henry’s number waiting for him to pick up the call as she kept on looking at his picture.
They were in the restaurant and it looked classy and clean.
One could not help but notice the flamboyant setup and the colors of the curtains and table napkins as they were all giving an absolute brightness to the room.
Rachel was stunned at how fancy the place was and she said,
“I am certain that they make good meals here Bethany”, and she nodded to confirmation to what Rachel had just said.
Thinking to herself, she was aware that the eatery was too classy to be attached to the hospital as it could be super expensive, but at the same time, she also thought about the possibility of people walking in to nourish and also to buy food for their loved ones who were automatically patients in Hilton Medical center.
” Shall we have our seat ladies?”, Duke asked as he noticed that Rachel and I gave birth to a feeling of shyness and we had been glancing through the room like people who were not familiar with such a place.
“Yes, we weren’t actually”, she murmured within herself as they walked to a table.
Duke being a gentleman, pulled a chair for Bethany to seat down on while the others helped themselves out.
On the table was were some cards that served as a guide to knowing what the menu is and so they all picked up their cards to decide on what they were to eat.
There was a moment of concentration as Bethany took a close look at all their faces and catching a glimpse of the tiredness they all were feeling especially Henry, she asked,
“What are you guys going to take?”, Bethany asked as though she was the person to take their orders.
Rachel thinking of what she will take finally made up her mind between ordering for a plate of white rice with boiled shrimp sauce and a plate of cooked noodles with a touch of soy sauce.
Bethany catching sight of the service lady coming to the table where they were seating, looked at little Glenn who was sitting on her own seat, and asked her what she was going to eat.
Glenn did not know what to take and Rachel too was kind of confused so Bethany told her not to worry as she was going to figure out something.
” Thank you Bethany”, Rachel murdered with a smile.
Duke was taking note of every little thing that was happening on the table and asserting from what he had been witnessing from the moment he had met Bethany till then, he could not stop but think about the possibilities of making her the mother to his heir.
“Hi everyone and welcome to the Bright restaurant”, the lady said with topnotch hospitality energy.
They all responded to her welcome and without any further hesitation, they gave their orders and Bethany, added that an extra plat of mashed potatoes and tomato sauce with no chilly be added to for the little baby girl.
The attendant took their orders and left for the kitchen to get their orders done.
Bethany, extending her hands to Glenn, so as to get her on her thighs before the meal come in, told Duke to help her but Glenn was beginning to run away from Bethany as she had seen someone who was nicer for her.
Henry was not himself as he had been quiet and his head lowered on the table as he just listened to what the others were chatting about that he did not hear his phone ring severally in his pocket.
When he was touched by Rachel who had heard his ringtone for some time, telling him that his phone was ringing, Henry took out his phone and realizing it was his mom, that was when he glanced at the time and saw that it was was was super late.
” Hello, mommy I am so sorry that I did not call you back”, he apologized the moment she picked up his call, excusing himself to go outside and have a calm talk with his mother.
Duke who was sitting just next to Bethany, asking what was going to be the situation of Eva’s sisters while she is still in the hospital, Bethany lowered her head in pain as she did not know what to say.
But looking at Rachel and Glenn, she answered Duke’s worries by saying that they were going to live with her in her home while Eva recovers and joins them as they had become family.
Rachel was already nodding off but the hunger she was feeling was enough to keep her awake as she endured for her food to reach.
Little Glenn, had noticed that Eva was not around so she asked Rachel where she was and why she was not with them.
Her question stirred a big hurt in Rachel’s heart and trying not to make Glenn feel bad, Bethany, diverted her attention to the platter of for that was approaching.
Glenn was still a baby, and she was not able to make out some things as she was just 5years old.
That was the last baby Eva’s mom had before she died with her husband so Glenn was still small and she mostly considered Eva as her mother.
The attendant brought the goods and served them while Henry was still outside talking to his mother.
The table began throbbing as Duke’s phone rang out and as his phone was on the table beside Bethany’s hand, she threw a glance at the caller and catching a glimpse of the caller and the caller picture that appeared on it, made her to quiet down in regrets to why she had not minded her business.
Duke looking at the call and noticing that Bethany had seen it, rejected it, and swallowing the lump that had already formed in his throat resulting in the swallowing of saliva painful, Duke could are that Bethany’s countenance had already changed.
Henry had finished talking with his mother, so he returned to the table to join the others as the food was already served.
Bethany’s silence was alarming so Henry looking at his friend as they communicate with their eyes, Duke could not say what was happening but he knew that Bethany’s mood had altered.
Rachel was enjoying the food and Bethany had to feed Glenn while she ate up too so that her food will not get cold.
“It is delicious”, Rachel said licking her spoon and Duke made a funny comment but with so much sincerity as he said,
” Bethany’s food tastes better”, chuckling and Rachel nodded in agreement with what she had said.
Henry was lost so he asked his friend when he had eaten Bethany’s food as they just met and Duke responded with a blinking eye that made them both laugh.
Bethany continued with her food and Glenn while she stared elsewhere hoping to get done from the table faster.
When they had finished eating, Duke called for the attendant while asking how much their expense is taking out his wallet from his pocket.
The attendant asked him to give her a minute to clear the table before going to get their bill and Duke smiled at her.
Bethany with an upset face asked Rachel if she was done eating and she said yes, she cleaned Glenn’s mouth with the napkin, giving her some water and rising to her feet as she excused herself.
“Hey Bethany, why the sudden change in attitude did anything happen?”, Henry with a confused tone raised a question.
” No it is nothing, I am just tired and I think that you both should go home it is so late and you have work to do”, she spoke out before she could remember that Eva and she were to start working that morning but she was in a difficult situation now.
Turning her gaze to Henry, she pleaded for him to understand the situation as she will not be able to come to the office to commence work,
“Eva needs me now sir Henry”, she let out.
Henry, impressed by how strong their friendship is, responded to her worries as he told her not to be bothered and she could take as long as she wants at home as she also needed some rest.
Letting out a smile, she appreciated Henry for his understanding and she said that she was taking the girls back inside while hoping that, her friend will be in a better condition tomorrow.
Having said that, she rose to her feet and told Rachel to follow her and the attendant came in and handed the fee to Duke while he came to terms with the payment.
Glenn did not want to go as she kept turning to Duke bringing her eyes together as they were forming some watery substance that could be seen as tears.
” Glenn you can come to me okay?”, Duke spoke out and before he could finish his sentence Glen had already come down from Bethany’s arms and ran to him.
Bethany left for the reception with Rachel and Henry could not hold his troubling spirit as he was forced to ask his friend what had happened in just some minutes of call that he had to move aside to answer.
Breathing in so hard, Duke told him about the incident that had happened but Henry that had been listening to him keenly, could not understand why she had to be mad at something like that.
“No bro, I do not think that she got angry because of that you know, Bethany is naturally a calm girl and I do not think that she will be making faces because she saw your call with a girls name on it as Ass baby”, Henry related laughing out loud while drinking some water.
Duke lowered his head in total confusion as his friend not knowing what to say, but Henry, calling out on his friend asked,
” What if she has feelings for you and that is why she got angry over such a minor thing?”.
His question had made Duke glow in just some seconds and his friend told him to calm down as it might just be what he is thinking and he could be completely wrong to think in that manner.
“You may be right Henry, because I will not know how to explain the fact that she suddenly got angry after catching a glimpse of the person who was calling me, moreover, I did not get to pick the call”, Duke asserted with a smile.
The whole thing was becoming interesting as Duke could not help but think of a possibility of him having a chance with her, but he was again interrupted by Henry’s giggle, and this time, he was lost as to what was giving rise to his ally to chuckle.
Henry was seriously thinking that his friend was bluffing when he noticed that he and started to develop feelings for Bethany, but seeing how happy he was just at the hearing of the possibility of Bethany being in love with him, he was beginning to look like those high school teenagers.
” Chill man stop acting like this was your first experience, the Almighty Duke smith happy over a woman liking him”, Henry went on.
Duke did not let him go free with what Henry just said as he told him to keep ok laughing at him while some hours ago, he was the person who was engulfed with flames as he tried to save the woman he is in love with.
Henry stopped laughing as it was not funny in his turn. Pouting out a glass of water in his again, he drank it up while giving his friend a long stare.