The next few days were hard. In between work and going to the hospital it’s been hard to find time for myself and getting Nick to relax was an impossible task.
I walked into the hospital with Olly as we grabbed some snacks from the shop. We had all gotten here shortly after getting a call from the doctor. Nick’s father was still out and the doctors were getting increasingly worried every passing day.
” please tell me, my brother isn’t shouting right now” Olly says as soon as we turn the corner. I look up and see Nick standing at the desk leading into the ward. His voice could be heard from the hallway which wasn’t good at all.
I pushed through the doors and quickly walked up to the desk.
” Nick what’s going on” Olly says stepping up to his brother. Nick turns to us with a annoyed look in his eyes. I could tell that the nurse wanted nothing more than to get out of the way, the way of Nick’s wrath.
” I just need to set up a desk in the room, I can’t keep coming over from work it’s just exhausting” Nick says somewhat more calmly.
I noticed that the nurse had called over an older nurse who looked more experienced especially with dealing with angry visitors. And right now, Nick was that angry visitor.
” Sir, we can’t just do that for you there are rules we must adhere to” The nurse says taking over. I watch Nick’s eyes snap over to her.
This is not going to go well.
” I am not asking for a full office, I simply just want a table so that when my father wakes up I’m not in my office 1 hour away” he snaps at her. To my surprise she didn’t even flinch.
” and besides, i am paying for half of your equipment in this hospital the least you could do was provide me with what I asked” both mine and Olly’s heads snapped over to Nick.
I had never seen Nick this way. He never used his name, his money or investments against someone. Let alone a hospital.
” we understand sir but we have stopped receiving your payments and it wouldn’t be fair to allow your demands and ignore other visitors requirements. The food court has plenty of workspace that you could use” she cuts him off.
I watched Nick turn from annoyed to furious as he registers what she just said. I knew that he had been contributing to hospitals and small clinics for a few years. After all this is how he met my mother when she was here for her treatment.
” are you joking? I give more than enough money, is this a scheme to get more from me” he questioned, his tone rising in anger. This time the nurse seemed to become nervous. She knew what Nick could do, what the consequences of making one of the hospitals biggest investors angry could do.
I decided that now was the time to step in, I even had Olly pushing me towards Nick. Urging me to do something.
” Maybe we should all calm down. Can you at least give us evidence of the payments from him I am sure there has been a mistake” I pushed myself between the nurse and my very angry boyfriend.
But as I settled in between them Nick reached out and pushed me out of the way.
At this rate we have developed some sort of an audience. Doctors and other nurses were looking on at us and I felt over exposed.
” I don’t need you to do that Selene. This is my family so please just leave it” he snapped at me. I sealed my lips shut and watched as Nick turned around dismissing me completely.
“Nick!” Olly exclaimed as he looked at his brother with widened eyes. I placed my hand on his chest and shook my head. This wasn’t coming from the normal Nick. The kind, respectful Nick I knew but rather a place of stress and fear for what could happen to the only parent he has left. But even though I understood that but I wasn’t prepared to be disrespected in front of hospital staff and doctors who are all looking on and judging us completely.
” it’s fine, I should go I have a lot of work to get done. I personally know that Nick has been giving money to this hospital. The least you could do is chase it up and provide some relief to two stressed sons” I said to the nurse as I passed her. I don’t think it’s even that hard to move a desk into their dads room which was big enough to hold 4 individual patients.
As I passed Olly I squeezed his hand. ” call me if you need anything and say strong” I said to the younger brother. I didn’t know what changed but Olly seemed to look to me as an older sister and I didn’t want him feeling alone.
I moved my eyes up to Nick but he refused to acknowledge me and simply turned to the nurse ignoring me completely.
I nodded my head slightly and started my way down the hall towards the exit. I wasn’t 100 percent sure but I swear I could sense Nick’s eyes on my back.
I needed to create some space. I want to be there for both of them and especially Nick but I also must protect myself. I don’t like being disrespected in public like that and Nick won’t be the one to make it a habit.
I managed to find myself an uber back to my place. As soon as I walked in I headed for my room and grabbed an overnight bag. I had been planning a night with my parents for a while now but now seems the best time to go spend time with them.
On my way out to my car I checked my phone again. I had expected even a text message from him but all I had were messages from work. I knew that I would have to give him time and I hoped that he would come to me when he was ready.
I arrived at the house in around an hour. I had missed the turning and that delayed my arrival by 30 minutes but we had no scheduled plans so I wasn’t concerned about being late. Later than I had originally planned.
Every second that went by, more information was going public about Nick’s family. The world couldn’t get enough about the public man with an extremely private family. Nick hadn’t shared with me much about his family. I didn’t like bringing it up after knowing about his mother’s passing.
I had no idea he even had a brother. Olly was younger and a lot different to the Nick I know.
Him and his father didn’t seem close but I could be wrong, judging by the way Nick has reacted to his fathers condition I’m more than sure I am wrong.
The minute the door opened and revealed my beautiful mother I pushed back my thoughts on Nick and focused on her. She wore a white frilly top that reached the waist of her favourite blue jeans.
” Hey darling come in, your father is just setting up the table” She says as she hurries me into the house. I felt her take the bag from my hands and disappear with it. Leaving me to meet my dad in the large dining room. He placed a oven dish in the centre of the table.
” hey honey, you okay you were supposed to be here an hour ago” Dad says, his hand snakes out to wrap around my shoulder, delivering a light kiss to the side of my head.
I relished in the feeling. It felt a little too good to be home.
” I know, I got caught in things but I didn’t want to speak about it right now” I said to him, setting the mood. To let him know what mood I was in tonight and whether I wanted to speak about the elephant in the room.
I knew that my parents would have heard about it. I already explained to them that I was with Nick at the hospital. They had send flowers to the hospital out of respect but I doubt Nick had even acknowledged it.
” I understand honey, just know that me and your mother are here if you do want to talk but as always no pressure” he reminds me. I glanced up at him with softened eyes. I heard the light footsteps of my mum stepping into the kitchen.
I grabbed hold of dads arm and kissed his cheek. ” thanks dad, I promise I will but lets just relax tonight” I said as we pulled apart.
I haven’t had the time to spend this much time with him. Ever since he came back and surprised us all I haven’t had the time to regain those years I’ve endured without him.
When he left I was so strong, I needed to be for mum to not make her worry too much about dads line of work. I knew that what he was doing, no matter how scary it was. I knew that he was doing good, he was fighting for our country and making me so proud to call him my father.
Even with the reminder of Nick raising his voice at me in front of all those doctors. I had to put myself in his shoes. To think if my father was laying on that death bed with the possibility that he wouldn’t wake up. I don’t think I would be as calm as I was right now.
” I just can’t imagine you cooking something this delicious father” I said sarcastically as I started eating the meal that both of my parents swore that my father cooked all by himself. I still had my doubts.
He tightened his hold on his fork and glanced at me. ” I really don’t appreciate your tone young lady, I may not have cooked in a kitchen in a long time but I still know how to cook” he defends himself, clearly not enjoying my criticism of his cooking.
Mum giggled at dads words and placed her hand on his arm, soothing him. Of course he wasn’t actually mad at me but I cant rule his ego being hurt out of the equation.
” why don’t you tell us about your little trip with Hannah, the pictures looked lovely didn’t they honey”
Mum says breaking away from the unnecessary tension me and dad had created.
I clocked on instantly. I am sure that in the back of her mind she really did want to know more about the trip but easing the tension was more of a priority.
” they did. The pictures with those elderly men are getting a lot of attention” dads says seeming to cheer up and push out little squabble to the side.
Oh yes, i had forgotten about that. The picture was circulating social media and my own post was getting thousands of likes and comments each day.
“It was adorable” mum cooed.
I smiled. “It really was, I never knew old men could be so ” i paused. ” adorable “.
I dared to glance at my father who stared at me. He turned his head clenching his jaw.
“Honey, you’re really testing my patience tonight ” he said w9th a light tone. Ofcourse he didn’t mean it but this was how we always were.
I reached over with a tissue and wiped at the corner of his mouth. “Love you right back dad ”
Dad offered me a kind smile. ” you know i love you too honey. I love you both so much even if you drive me insane ” he casts a sly look over to mum who just grins back at him.
It created a warm feeling in my body. My family were just amazing even if it is just the three of us.
” I know that you and Nick had a fight honey. I can see it on your face. He must be under so much stress and whatever he may have done to make you leave him at such a fragile time. I am sure he has a reason and he will come around ” my mums head nodded in agreement.
” Nick is so strong on the outside. Its not surprising that inside he’s a a nervous wreck and probably struggling to keep it together for him and his brother”
I knew that they were both right. Ofcourse I knew that but space is what we both needed.
I’ll think about it more in the morning. Hopefully when the both of us have gotten sleep and calmed down.