Hannah’s hesitant footsteps echoed down the corridor leading to the morgue. The air was piercingly cold, and Hannah felt like she was in a dream. Her heart refused to accept that John was really gone.
Moments earlier, John had passed the critical stage of surgery, and the doctors had assured Hannah that he would recover. There was no indication that John would suddenly pass away like this.
Was fate playing a trick on Hannah? Just when she felt that everything was under control and that all she had to do was live out her days with Alden, even if she had to be subservient to him.
Hannah’s chest tightened as she saw Francesca leaning against the wall next to the morgue door. So everything that had happened hadn’t been a dream.
As Hannah approached, Francesca wiped away tears. “What took you so long?” Francesca grumbled.
“I tried to come as soon as I could.”
“Go inside.” Francesca nodded toward the morgue door.
Hannah took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She didn’t want to step forward and enter because reality awaited her inside. With cautious steps, Hannah opened the morgue door and felt a cool breeze.
A gurney had been pulled out of the row of morgue cabinets. On it lay a body covered with a white sheet.
Hannah approached and slowly removed the sheet, revealing John’s slightly bluish face with closed eyes.
“Dad?”
Tears streamed down Hannah’s cheeks as a sudden pain gripped her chest. Just this morning, she had been chatting and laughing with John. But now John lay lifeless.
“Why, Dad?”
Hannah sobbed and laid her head on John’s chest, hoping to feel a heartbeat. Maybe John was just sound asleep, maybe he could still be saved. Or if Hannah left the room, John would wake up and say it was all a joke.
“Please, Dad. Don’t leave me like this, please…”
Hannah cried uncontrollably.
…
Francesca was nowhere to be seen when Hannah emerged from the morgue. Hannah walked down the corridor, looking for Francesca’s whereabouts. Francesca was in the patient administration area and just then Hannah’s phone rang.
Hannah answered immediately, her voice hoarse. “Yes, sir?”
Silence. There was no answer. Hannah furrowed her brow.
“Sir?”
“Is everything okay?”
“No.” Hannah’s answer was short.
Francesca turned to Hannah and hurriedly approached her, holding a piece of paper in her hand. From the foyer came Aspen and Jeffrey.
Hannah sighed softly. Why did everything always seem to go against her?
“What is it, Hannah?” Alden asked.
“Just a moment, sir. Would you mind hanging up the phone for a minute? I need to talk to Mom and Aspen.”
“Okay.”
Hannah didn’t look at the phone screen again and concentrated on Francesca and Aspen’s arrival. Unbeknownst to Hannah, Alden hadn’t ended the call. He was listening to the Sears family’s conversation.
“Hannah, hurry up and tell your husband to pay John’s ICU bill. It’s quite expensive,” Francesca urged.
“Mom, I can’t burden Mr. Alden any more,” Hannah explained.
“Oh, my goodness!” Aspen exclaimed. “In matters like this, we’re the ones who are burdened. Dad was supposed to have insurance after the surgery.”
“I have no money and no time to deal with this. My time is taken up with taking care of John,” Francesca seemed offended.
Hannah sighed quietly. “I’ll pay for it, Mom.”
“You’re his daughter, it’s your duty,” Aspen muttered.
Francesca looked a little confused and handed Hannah a breakdown of the expenses. “I have to inform the church; to arrange John’s ceremony there.”
“That would cost a lot, Mom. Just have the ceremony at home,” Aspen protested.
“I don’t want people to think that our family is poor! You two will find a way to make sure John has a lavish funeral,” Francesca snapped.
Aspen nudged Francesca’s arm. “You’re the one who should figure it out, Hannah.”
And then Hannah was left alone with all the expenses. It was like that again.
But Hannah accepted the consequences. Even if she didn’t know where to get the money. It would be disrespectful to ask Alden for help again.
Hannah dragged her feet into the administration area and sat down. “Excuse me, this is about the expenses for my father, John Sears. Can I have a moment? I need to contact someone and I’ll be back,” Hannah said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hannah’s mind was in turmoil. She walked to the cafeteria and sat down, lost in thought. If Hannah asked Alden for help, what else could she offer in return? Even her body and soul belonged to Alden now.
Or should Hannah simply sell the house? The house was an inheritance from her parents. Hannah didn’t need it; she could live anywhere. After she sold the house, she could pay back the expenses Alden had covered.
Then she would be free.
But what about Francesca? Perhaps Francesca could live with Aspen and Jeffrey.
Get on with their lives after all.
Hannah’s phone rang again and she was startled to see Alden’s name on the screen. Their conversation had been cut short earlier.
“Hannah,” Alden greeted immediately.
“Yes, sir?”
“I’ve taken care of everything; you have nothing to worry about.”
“What have you taken care of, sir?”
“The hospital bills and Mr. Sears’ funeral.”
Hannah was taken aback. “But, sir…”
“He’s my father-in-law, and this is just a small gesture of respect.”
Hannah cried softly and nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
“You have to be strong, Hannah.”
“I know.” Hannah wiped away the tears that had started to fall again. “Is it okay if I come home, sir? I need to get Dad’s photo. For the funeral arrangements and other things.”
“Take your time.”
“Thank you again, sir.”
There was a moment of silence as Alden made no further reply. Hannah immediately felt uncomfortable. Should she say goodbye and hang up? Or let the atmosphere between them remain silent until Alden decided to end the call himself.
“Hannah?” Alden called.
“Yes, sir?”
“I know this is a difficult day for you, and my request may sound selfish. But I don’t want you to stay with your parents. I want you to come back home, do you understand?”
“Your home, sir?”
“Yes, I want you to come back and live with me.”