PHILIP'S POV
"I know I haven't been a good brother in the last couple of days, but give me a chance. I'll be better from now,"
My words were in vain, and I couldn't get a single reaction or word out of her. She just stared at her phone and nothing else.
"If you're being like this, go to college and finish your degree," I told her.
But this time, she did react and snapped back at me, "You can't force me to go back."
"If you can't be productive in any way, I'll cancel your admission and marry you to someone eligible," I said calmly.
"What type of monster does this to his siblings?" She said now her focus was on me.
"You're the only one in a room while Alex is studying and helping William around the estate," I told her.
"You don't know what I'm feeling and don't care about it," said Sarah.
"We are all sad and heartbroken and doing everything we can to cope. If you think your sorrows are bigger than all of us, I suggest you go to therapy, but shutting yourself from the world is not going to work," I said to her.
She stared at me blankly, and I got up to leave; before I left her room, I told her, "You have 24 hours to get your act together. After that, imagine the worst-case scenario. If you want to talk and help, I'm here for you."
I left her room and made my downstairs, and low and behold, William was right people were coming to our house. I could count to at least 50 of them standing in the driveway, and William was alone managing them all.
I tapped on William's shoulder and asked, "Why are they coming?"
"These are all of your father's friends," he said.
"Shut the door. I'll talk to them outside," I said to William.
"Wouldn't that be rude?" William asked me.
"No, sweetheart, it'll be the opposite of rude," I told him and asked the guards to close the door.
"We used to have a mic or something. Get me that," I told a worker that was shadowing William.
"Yes sir," he said and left.
"Where is Uncle Boris?" I asked William.
"He's in traffic, but he should be here in 10 minutes," William replied.
"What about Alex?" I asked William.
"He's studying; he has midterms coming up. I told him to study. I'll take care of everything," William said.
"What would we do without you?" I said to my wife, kissing his head.
"If you handle them, I'll see if the lunch is ready. We all will eat once Uncle Boris arrives," William said. "And Philip, Mrs. Harrison called. She said that drains are blocked around the area; we'll need someone to take care of it,"
"I'll take care of it, sweetheart, don't worry," I told William, and he left to see the lunch preparations.
The worker returned with a mic and speaker, saying, "Here it is, sir."
"Is it charged?" I asked him.
"Yes, it's fully charged, sir," he replied.
I told the guards to open the gates and saw people standing; most were old senior employees and friends around the estate, and some were tenants.
I held up the mic and said, "We are all thank full for your concern and love for my father, but please give up privacy in these hard times."
Everyone stared at each other, but I wasn't finished, "you'll be informed whatever happens, so please do not come to our house."
I said my piece, gave the mic back to the worker, and told the guards to close the gates. I told them to let Boris in when he arrived, and all the people left in a couple of minutes.
I turned around to see Alex coming down; he saw me and asked, "What's all the commotion?"
"Ah, there were some people I shooed away. What are you doing here? William told me you were studying?" I said to Alex.
"I just finished and was checking if my sister-in-law needs help," Alex replied.
"When are your midterms?" I asked him.
"They are next month," he said.
"Do you need anything for the university?" I asked him.
"Not really, sister-in-law already took care of everything," said Alex.
"Freshen up; the lunch is about to get ready," I told Alex. He nodded and turned back.
I looked around the house to see if everything was alright and good. I saw William standing beside the window gazing through the garden.
"What are you doing here?" I asked him.
"Nothing, I'm just seeing the garden," said William.
He smiled when I came near him and started dusting my sweater.
"You look cute," I said to him.
"You look handsome," He replied.
"I can't imagine my life without you," I said.
"Me too, darling," said William.
We stared at each other, and I kissed his forehead. A servant came running and halted when he saw us.
"Speak," William told him.
"Ma'am, your uncle is here," he said.
"Let's go, Philip," said William, and we both walked together to greet him.
We arrived at the front door where Boris was standing.
"Ah, there's my nephew; how are you?" Boris positively said to William and hugged him.
"I'm fine, and what about you?" Asked William.
He let go of William and said, "I'm fine, nephew."
He turned his attention to me, and we shook hands and nodded at each other.
"Well, you must be hungry. The lunch is ready; why don't you freshen up meanwhile I set the table," William said to Boris.
"Yes, I'm hungry; let's go eat. Where can I freshen up?" Boris asked.
I gestured at a servant to take Boris, and he said to Boris.
"Here, sir," the servant pointed at Boris at where to go, and they left.
William also left to finish everything, and I told Alex and Sarah the dinner was ready.
I arrived at Alex's room, but he was just leaving for lunch.
"Is everything alright?" Alex asked.
"Yes, it's alright. I was coming to tell you and Sarah that lunch is ready," I told him.
"I'm going downstairs. You should go and tell Sarah," Alex said and left.
I made my way to Sarah's room and knocked, "lunch is ready; if you want to eat, come downstairs,"
There was no reply, so I left. I visited my father's room to see him.
It's always difficult to see him hooked up to a ventilator. I stood beside him and gave a quick prayer to God to stop his suffering.
I walked downstairs to see everyone seated. I was placed at the front of the table between lanes. William sat across Boris and me in Infront of him.
Alex was sitting beside William.
"We should start now," I said.
Everyone started eating, and William made my plate because I thought he liked it. I should ask him about it later when we get along.
"Everything looks good, William," said Boris.
William smiled at him, and all continued to eat.
...
WILLIAM'S POV
Philip and Boris left to sit inside the study, and Alex also left for his room as usual; Sarah didn't come down to eat.
I told the maid to make a plate for her, and she replied, "Master Philip said not to bring her any food to her room."
"Nonsense, do as I told you," I told the maid.
She made a plate, and I took it to Sarah's room. I knocked and said, "Sarah, food is here."
She opened the door, and I was surprised to see her clean.
"I was taking a shower. Did you all eat already?" She asked me.
"Yes, I thought you weren't coming down, so I made you a plate," I told her.
"I'm going to see my friends. I'll eat with them. I'm just gonna say bye to Dad," she said.
"Okay, then take care of yourself," I told her, leaving her as it was.
I was happy to see her outside the room, all cleaned up and happy.
I was left alone; everyone was busy with something. If this goes on, I might start to micromanage everything.
I called Elly to take my mind off things and see how she was doing. The last time I met her was after I arrived from my honeymoon.
I sat on a couch and dialed her number on a landline. After ringing for a few seconds, she answered and asked, "Hello, who's this?"
"It's me, William," I said.
"Hey William, how are you?" She said.
"I'm fine. Just checking in; how are you doing?" I asked her.
"I'm doing alright. Did you hear that our university class is organizing a get-together?" She said.
"I know they sent me an invite last night," I told her.
"Are you planning to go?" She asked.
"I don't. I haven't decided yet with everything going on. I just don't think it's appropriate to go," I said
"Yeah, you're right," she said.
"What about you? Are you going?" I asked her.
"Well, you should know I won't go unless you go," Elly replied.
"You just got up. Enjoy your life, don't sit around and wait for me," I said.
"No, it's alright. I never seriously talk to anyone besides you," said Elly.
We talked about university and life, and I told her how everything was going on there.
After talking to her for a while, I said goodbye and hung up.
To be continued...