Alexander’s phone buzzed with an incoming call from his mom and the magical moment was lost immediately. He groaned but couldn’t avoid the call. Nodding at her, he got up and walked away towards the balcony to take the call.
“Yes, mom.”
“Where are you, Alexander? Daniel isn’t well and we need to return immediately,” said his mom, her tone strained and worried. It immediately alerted Alexander, bringing him back to reality.
“What happened to dad?” he asked with worry.
“He has been coughing up phlegm for the last three months. He doesn’t have any appetite and his weight has reduced considerably. Recently he has been suffering from shortness of breath too. I think we need to go for a proper check-up when we reach home. We’re at the airport now. Our flight is in an hour. When are you coming home?”
“I’ll be there in a day or two. Will you wait for me or take him to Columbia Superspeciality Hospital?” asked Alexander, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew he had to cut short the road trip, just visit his grandparents and head home.
“I’ll take him to Columbia tomorrow. I’ll keep you updated.” After his mom disconnected the call, Alexander was in deep thought as he returned to the room.
Eva looked at the stressed expression on his face and instantly realized that something was wrong. “What happened?”
“Mon called from the airport to say that they’re rushing home. Dad’s unwell. Although she mentioned chronic cough and cold symptoms, I’m getting the feeling that there’s more to this than just that.”
“Oh, then shouldn’t we go back as well?”
“Yes, we will go back to Phoenix, then to San Jose to meet my grandparents, and return home the next day.” Eva nodded and lay down to sleep while Alexander called Alyssa to update her about his change of plan. After a while, the bed dipped and Alexander lay down beside her, the tension he felt clearly emanating from his body. The magic they shared for the last few days was lost, and it was back to what it was before.
“Wake up early. We’ll leave by 6 o’clock.” His tense voice and his restlessness, made her want to reach out and comfort him, but she didn’t have the courage to, fearing a rebuff. What if he didn’t need comforting? What if he rejected her advances? He might misunderstand her gesture for something else. She lay still on her side, unable to sleep, missing what they shared for the last few days. It would have been so much better if they hadn’t grown close to one another at all! At least she wouldn’t miss him as she did now.
The next morning, Alexander woke her up early and they set out for Phoenix. The whole drive, Alexander was grim, and she wondered what was up with him. She could understand his concern for his father, but that shouldn’t mean he would ignore her this way. Was he considering her responsible for everything that happened?
“Alyssa has no idea about what happened to dad. I’m really surprised at her lack of emotions. I just hope this isn’t anything serious. Even if it is, why would mom hide it from me? I’m feeling so guilty for neglecting him for the last few weeks. Mom told me many times about his persistent cough and fever, but I just didn’t take her seriously.”
“You can get him checked up properly and start his treatment immediately the moment we get back,” she said, frowning at what he just said. She knew why he neglected them in the last few days. It was because of her. She couldn’t say more to comfort him, since his parents had blocked her out of their lives since the moment they came to know about her friendship with Alyssa. She couldn’t intervene in their lives.
“Yes, I have to. Can you put some sense in Lisa’s head and ask her to take an interest in dad’s business? She’s wasting her life doing nothing when she seriously should handle VE Global Finance.”
“I’ll try,” she said, knowing what an impossible task it was. Alyssa had no interest in VE Global Finance since it was a multinational finance company while she was just a finance graduate, fresh out of college. She didn’t have the confidence to handle such a huge empire!
In three hours, they reached Phoenix after a brief stop for coffee and breakfast. Alexander called the hotel people who had arranged for the car. After two hours, they boarded a flight to take them to San Jose. Eva closed her eyes to catch up on some sleep since Alexander hardly spoke to her, apart from the bare minimum. She realized he was guilty and held himself responsible for his dad’s sickness. There wasn’t a way she could comfort him and erase the guilt from his mind. They grabbed lunch on the flight itself and by the time they reached San Jose; it was already 1:30 in the afternoon.
“Hi, Eva!” squealed Alyssa, coming forward to greet her the moment they emerged from the terminal. “Welcome to San Jose. How was your trip so far?” Considering Alexander’s brooding mood, Eva just smiled, unable to return her enthusiasm.
“Good. So, how is your grandpa now?” she asked to divert the topic. She didn’t want to discuss the trip in front of Alexander. Maybe he was repenting it already.
“Better, but I have to stay here longer than I thought, maybe for the next six months or more. They’re helpless without me.” Eva nodded, deciding immediately to move out of Alexander’s apartment when they returned. She couldn’t stay there for the next six months. Alyssa led them to her car, giving her brother a pointed look since he hardly acknowledged her presence. What was wrong with him? Eva loaded her suitcase into her car while Alexander loaded his, avoiding all interaction with the two of them.
He climbed into the passenger seat and called his mom. Eva sat at the back quietly while Alyssa drove them to her grandparents’ house.
“Yes, mom. Did you take dad to the hospital? Did you get the tests done?” asked Alexander.
“Yes, but they admitted your dad. We’ll be getting the reports in the evening,” said his mom.
“Is it that serious? Do you want me to come over right away?” asked Alexander worriedly.
“Yes, if you can.”
“Who’s at the hospital with you now?” asked Alexander worriedly.
“No one. Desmond will get his heart transplant done next week, so Beatrix has taken him for a check-up.”
“I’ll ask Stefan or Ashton to be there for you till I’m able to come. Don’t panic. I’m just a phone call away,” said Alexander, disconnecting the call. He remembered Stefan was in New Jersey for his gran, so he called Ashton to help his mom. Ashton immediately agreed and rushed over to the hospital while Alexander heaved a sigh of relief.
“Dad is admitted to Columbia. How is it that you know nothing about what happened to him? I’m really upset with you, Alyssa,” he said to his sister.
“They don’t interact with me much. How will I know if they don’t tell me? You’re their only child, remember?” said Alyssa bitterly.
“Shut up and do something worthwhile with your life, Lisa,” he growled with annoyance.
“Like what? Handle Rotterdams and have an affair with the heir to the business?” she threw at her brother, making Alexander clench his jaws with fury.
“Mind your language, Lisa. I just meant managing VE Global Finance,” he gritted out while Eva turned a deaf ear to their bickering. It was nothing new and she usually never intervened.
“Why don’t you leave Rotterdams and handle it instead? You’re so bright, so I’m sure you can do justice to the business more than I can,” she said bitterly.
“You know I hate finance. Rotterdams is what I love,” said Alexander, looking upset about the whole thing.
“And I hate VE Global Finance. Don’t dump it on me, Alex,” said Alyssa stubbornly. She drove into a two-storied house on a quiet residential street. “Please be nice to granny and grandpa, Alexander. It’s not their fault that dad is unwell,” said Alyssa, parking the car in the garage. Alexander scoffed and, unloading his luggage, stormed into the house, leaving them alone.
“I don’t know why he overreacts whenever mom and dad come into the picture. No one is responsible for dad’s condition other than dad himself. If he wasn’t well, he could have gone to a doctor long back. He’s not a child who needs to be taken to the doctor,” muttered Alyssa. Eva unloaded her luggage in silence. She totally agreed with her friend, but didn’t say it out loud. Alexander’s behavior hurt her a little, and she had the feeling that he was repenting of the time they shared. Maybe if he hadn’t given her any attention, he would have taken care of his dad better. So maybe that’s why he considered her responsible for this.
She pulled the luggage along as she followed her friend inside, all the enthusiasm and happiness leaving her body. Would Alyssa’s grandparents hate her too, as their parents did?