At dinner Anna oppossed the idea of me going to New York because a: I have no business there, b: I am injured and c: I don't want to. Well, Anna doesn't know that yet. I haven't spoken about the matter to her or Nathan. I haven't even given it a thought. All through dinner Anne and Nathan argue.
"She is hurt, Nathan!" Anne says, "How will she travel such a long distance?"
"So? She's mine and she would also like to stay close to me. Right April? Also ma, we aren't going on foot, it's plane ride, she'll be okay."
"Uh..." I think about it, "Umm, I have to think about it. I do have some conditions, though."
"What?" Venessa asks.
"I think we can discuss those upstairs." Nathan clears his throat.
"Well, okay." I say and quickly finish my food. Silence settles on the table. Then Robin and Nathan talk about some business deal. I'm snapped out of my daze by the ringing of my phone.
"Hello, ow," I say in pain, damn my neck.
"Hey my angel," my daddy's voice says in full enthusiasm, "How are you, baby girl?"
"Hey daddy, I'm better." I reply and excuse myself from the table.
"You want me to pick you up? I'm on my way home."
"Uh, well..." I look back at Nathan, I could really use some space from him, "Yeah, pick me up." I affirm. Deep down I wanted to go when my mom asked me earlier today.
"Alright then, I'll reach in 10" he says and hangs up.
"Who was it?" Nathan asks.
"My dad, he is coming to pick me up." I gulp and say, anticipating his reaction would not be good.
"Okay." came a simple reply. I smile as he returns back to the dinning area.
I go upstairs and pick out a hand bag. I stuff it with some pajamas and t shirts. I'm thinking of staying there for at least 2-3 days. Cool. The door clicks and Nathan enters.
"You look happy." he notices.
"Yep. Free from you for two days." I smile.
"Who said? I'm coming with you." he says.
"Wha--?" my mouth drops open and I drop my dresses on the floor.
"Yes." he says and picks my dresses.
"Why are you doing this to me?!" I grab his hand, "You know too that you hate me then why don't you just go away?? Why don't you just leave me alone?!" I raise my voice. He looks at me with big green eyes, very surprised by my reaction.
"Don't ever touch me again." he says and moves away.
"Arghhh!!" I groan loudly and thump my feet.
"April!" Anna calls me from downstairs, "Your dad's here." I quickly pick my bag and move downstairs. I see my father's smiling face and forget all about that douche. I quickly walk towards him.
"No April, slow down. Don't run, your neck!" he says and grabs me by my shoulders, "How are you feeling?" He gently hugs me.
"I'm under medication right now so I don't feel much pain right now." I hug him back, "Now let's go!" I thump my feet.
"Wait!" I hear Nathan voice from upstairs. After a minute he appears on the stairs.
"He's coming with us?" dad asks me with surprise. I give him a helpless look.
"Yes." Nathan replies on my behalf and shake hands with my dad.
"Alright, then let's move!" my dad cheers and we say our goodbye to Nathan's family.
"See you in office, Robin." he waves and drives away. I stare out of the window the whole ride, thinking why I can't have a minute away from Nathan. I wanted to go to my house on my own so that I don't have to tolerate him and his ego. We pass by an ice cream and I scream for my dad to stop, startling my dad making him take a sharp turn. The tyres screech and we bump into a dustbin.
"What happened, darling? Why did you scream?" my dad asks in panic, "Are you okay?"
"Yes, uh, actually, umm," I turn red from embarrassment, "I saw an ice cream truck."
"What the fuck?!" Nathan yells from behind, "Are you freaking crazy?! You know we could have had a big accident because of-"
"Nathan!" my dad raises his hand to stop him, "You want ice cream?"
"Yes," I look down and reply in a voice.
"I'll get it." he kisses me on the forehead and gets out of the car to get me ice cream. Oh I have the best daddy in the world. Two minutes later he returns with my favorite flavor choco chip.
"Oh daddy I love you!" I lighten up.
"Sweetheart, I love you too!" he smiles and ruffles my hair, "But try 'Daddy I want ice cream' with a cute pout next time." he laughs.
The car is okay except for a dent, so we drive home. I look triumphly at Nathan through the rear view mirror. Even though he came with me, he can't control me in front of my parents. Because I have got the best parent's in this world. When we reach home my mom was waiting for us in the garden.
"Mom!" I pace towards her and give her a tight hug.
"How are feeling?"
"I'm quite numb right now."
"Alright, we'll visit the doctor once again in the morning. Come on its late, go to bed." she says and looks behind me. She is not startled to see Nathan, "Hello Nathan, welcome!" she smiles.
"Hello, Mrs Grey!" he smiles back.
"Okay, kids off to bed now!" my dad orders. We go inside while my dad and mom sit in the garden.
"Uh, the guest room is across my room." I say to Nathan once we are inside.
"Okay... And I need to know that, why?"
"Well, because you will sleep there, right?"
"No. I'll sleep in your room with you of course."
"No you are not." I let out a sarcastic chuckle and enter my room.
"Yes, I am. I leave you alone on the couch and this is what to do to yourself. If I leave you alone in the room then God knows what you will do." he rolls his eyes.
"Hey! I can take care of myself. Come on, Nathan please you have already ruined this for me. There is no media in my house, we can easily pretend to hate each other." I protest.
"Alright, if you want your mom dad to worry about the problems in our marriage, I have no probem with it." Oh shit! I never thought about that. Maybe that's why he insists on keeping me in his room because even though his mother knows about the tensions between us, she will always have an assurance that we'll talk it out, being in the same room.
"Alright." I give up. He enters the room and goes into the closet to change. I take off my collar. Urgh, it's so irritating. I slowly lay on the bed careful not to move my neck. As soon as I close my eyes I drift off to sleep.
I wake up to sunlight brightening my room. It's 8 in the morning. Oh no, my mom and dad must have already left for office. I try to move my neck and it hurts. Of course, its just been a day. I carefully get up and move into the washroom but instead I bump into the door.
"What the hell." I whisper and rub my forehead. The door's locked? How can that be?
"Oh, Nathan is in there." my mom says. Oh right! Nathan! I greet my mom good morning and sit on the bed.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have office?" I ask her.
"No. I took an off for the day."
"Why?"
"To spend time with you, love." she brushes my hair.
"Good morning!" I hear a knock and see David standing at the door.
"David!" I squeal in happiness and pace towards him.
"So you stay one day away from me and you break your neck." he chuckles.
"Excuse me, I didn't break my neck. It's just a hairline fracture."
"Well that's good."
"Who are you?" my mom ask suspiciously.
"I'm David. I work for Mr Walsh." he politely replies.
"Slave!" I yell, moving to the back of the room. David laughs and says, "Whatever you say."
"Okay. Freshen up fast and come downstairs. I am waiting for breakfast." she says to me and leaves.
"Where's Mr Walsh?"
"He's in the bathroom." I say.
"So, you ready for New York?"
"Nope. Not yet. First I have some terms and conditions."
"Whoa! Mr Walsh should be careful then." he laughs, "I'll be waiting for him in the living room." he takes a leave. David is an epitome of gentleness and discipline. Something Nathan and maybe every boss demands from his employee. The door clicks open and he comes out with a towel wrapped around his waist.
"Why don't you wear clothes and come out?!"
"Why you can't control yourself?" he let's out a sarcastic chuckle, "Closets are meant for clothes if you don't know."
"David is waiting for you in the living room." I roll my eyes and enter the washroom. I freshen up and take a refreshing shower. The pain in my neck is now bearable. When I come out I see a breakfast tray on the table and my medicines right next to them. I carry the tray to the kitchen and see my mom working there.
"What are you making?" I surprise her by my sudden presence.
"Lasagna and enchiladas with chocolate souffle in dessert. What do you think?"
"Man mommy, you never even made so many dishes on my birthday. What's the occasion?"
"Every birthday you are always there with me. Now my princess will be away."
"Why? My birthday is almost a month away mom." I say between as I eat my breakfast.
"Yes but you'll be in New York, right? Didn't Nathan tell you about it?"
"What?! A month in New York?! Why?"
"Your dad told me yesterday that there is a big deal that needs to be done and Nathan might have to stay for a month in New York."
"I don't want to stay in New York for a month." I whine.
"Don't be a kid April. Now go get ready. We have a doctor's appointment." she instructs me. I walk to my room thumping my feet.
The doctor gives a brief check up to my neck. According to him the medicines are working just fine and I will be able fit as a fiddle in a couple of days.
"Do you want me to drop you off to office mom?" I say on our way back home.
"No honey, I took the day off to spend time with you. Tell me about you darling. Your new life. How's everything?"
"Mom, we meet almost everyday. How can there be any change everyday. In fact with him I think there never would be any change, ever. And now I have to go to New York with him." I say, suddenly getting irritated by mom's concern.
"So you are not happy with him." she sighs.
"Yes!" I yell, "How hard is that to see!"
"April, calm down please. I know this wasn't one of our best decisions."
"Oh no no please wait," I interrupt her in between, "When has your decision ever been good regarding me? Oh no wait, you were never around to make a decision for me."
"What do to mean? When was I not around?! Okay, I was busy with office but you can't say I didn't give you enough attention."
"Yeah right." I let out a sarcastic chuckle and look out of the window. As soon as we reach home rush into my room. I get surprised finding Nathan working on his laptop. Well, who cares.
"I hope you are ready for New York." he says without even looking at me. What the fuck does he think of himself.
"Just shut up!" I yell and enter the bathroom.
When I come back Nathan stands at the door frame with his arms folded.
"Go apologize to your mom."
"You have no right..." I shuts me up by cornering me.
"It wasn't a request it's an order. Go apologize to your mom and mean it."
"Go away!" I look into his furiously, "You know nothing about me, plus whatever I said is the truth."
"Does it look like I give a shit?" he stares back, "Go! Now!"
What the hell! I'm not going to do what he says to me in a million years. He releases me but I start to fire up my laptop. He fiercely grabs my wrist and drags me to my mom's room. She was sitting on the bed reading a book.
"Apologize!" he whisper yells in my ear.
"Mom," I say and enter the room.
"Yes honey,"
"I'm sorry," I say in a low voice.
"Oh sweetheart it's absolutely fine. I love you." she hugs me and I hug her back. I feel warm inside. I look behind at Nathan and give him a colgate smile.
"Go rest now." she kisses me on the forehead and continue to read.
I follow him back to my room, "Thank you for making me do this." Without a word he leaves.