Nadia
Father fluffed my pillow again like I would be staying longer than the twenty minutes it would take mother to get my drugs. Watching as he fussed over me had me feeling so special and loved. Back when my real mother had been alive, I never had a father figure. All I had that was close to it was a man who would always show up to visit my mother. If mother had been sad or sick, the man visiting seemed to be the antidote for all her woes.
I remembered he had a kind smile and he loved to laugh.
I never could forget the sound of his voice from the numerous times he took us to a theme park close to our house. He would hold both my hand and my mother's as we strolled the park, like one little family. "Nadia, do you want to climb that horse?"
My head would bob excitedly whenever he would ask.
Too bad I couldn't have that reality anymore. Still, I was grateful for what I had presently because as sweet as the past was, it had an aura of danger and secrets that made even the air heavy with its weight. If I had the opportunity to turn back time, I might not have wanted to go back to that life. Even for mother. And that was sad.
"Penny for your thoughts, dear," Father asked, taking my hand as he sat on the bed. The wrinkles on his face had nothing on him as he was still as handsome as the first day he and my Godmother came to the orphanage to make me their own.
"I was just thinking of mother," I said nonchalantly, trying my best to make it seem like it was a passing thought.
"She must be looking down from heaven, shaking her head ruefully as she watches you get into trouble."
His comment stopped me short. What did he mean by getting into trouble?
"What do you mean by watching me get into trouble? I don't understand." I asked because I was troubled by his statement. He looked into my eyes, his brown eyes fixed on me as if they wanted to see deep into my soul. I shifted on the bed uncomfortably, mindful of my wounded side.
"I followed you to work one night some few months back because I wanted to see where you worked. And I saw you. Your face was covered with a black net mask but I knew it was you. The proud way you carried yourself even though you served drinks in nothing but your underthings made me trust that you could handle yourself..." He said quietly.
The shock made me keep quiet. I mean what could I have said when he saw everything? Lying that I wasn't the one or that I went there to see someone would mean I was calling him stupid. The fact that he kept silent on the issue brought tears to my eyes. This man was one of a kind.
"So, I guess you can imagine how I feel now that this has happened." He fell silent again, and we listened to life happening around us in the large room filled with patients. "I am not stupid, Nadia. I only keep quiet because I feel it's a better way for me to have peace. But that is if I am sure there is no need for me to react violently. I agreed not to go to the precinct yet not because you won me over with your argument but because I knew it would bring more problems to you. And I need you strong enough to face it when it comes."
"Did you tell-" I stopped midsentence when he shook his head. "Why didn't you?"
"You're talking like you don't know your mother." He gave a small smile. I imagined her barging into the bar and yelling my name, demanding I come out or else. The thought brought a smile to my face.
"Thank you," I told him, hugging him despite the pain. He hugged me back, breathing in the scent of my hair as he did.
"I love you, Bob Ross." I drew back and told him the words I found hard to say to anyone but him and my mother.
"And I love you my little firecracker meant for greater things."
And tears rolled down my face as I thanked God for the family he gave me to replace the one I lost.
~
Eric
"I wonder who this girl is because Justin seems attached to her," Jake said as we sat down at the cafeteria, eating what Damon got for us from the restaurant across the hospital.
"I don't like it. It could be someone not good for him. The doctor's advice to get her around him to calm him down is not okay with me." Amelia fumed, picking the lettuce like she wanted to stab it.
"Well, we wouldn't know unless we get her around Justin. Besides, it wouldn't hurt. If we see that she is bad for him then we take her out." Jake responded, slashing his fork through the air like a little kid. Amelia frowned at him while shaking her head.
"Eric! What do you think?" She asked me, but I was so lost in thought I didn't respond. When I still hadn't responded the second time, she took her fork and poked my arm through my shirt.
"Really!" I said, unamused when she finally got my attention. She told me 'I gave her no other choice' with a shrug.
"I was trying to hear where you stood concerning this lady that our brother seems to need like he needs air. " She and Jake watched me as I thought about my answer.
I didn't know how much to say because revealing even a little of what I felt would have them pondering things I didn't want them to ponder.
"She's aite." I said, then knowing that would keep my sister curious, I finished with, "I only met her once, can't tell much about a person from just one meeting." Jake nodded acquiescence, seeing the sense In what I said.
"Why do I feel like there's something more?" Amelia sniffed the air, scrunching her face like she smelled something foul. I hadn't tried to fool her in a long time because she always believed everything I said as long as there were no loopholes in my story.
"Stop sniffing things that aren't there!" I said a bit forcefully, ruining the credibility I had established before because even Jake was watching me now....suspiciously.
"Look, I met this lady but I don't even know her name. I know nothing except that she called the ambulance and came to the hospital with our brother. I don't know if she is a...girlfriend." I paused before saying the word like I found it distasteful. "I can't say why Justin is so attached to her. All I can say is I met her and she didn't look like a person whose intention was to hurt our brother. Kapish!" I ended with enough finality to show that I won't answer any more questions about her.
"Fine, I won't ask again."
~
Meanwhile
Adam drew close to Damon, his eyes unflinching and hard as he gave him a disc.
"Find this Nadia and get all you can about her. I need to know who she is, what she does, and how she is involved with my son. Every. Damn. Thing. Damon." He whispered.
Damon, ever silent, nodded as he took the disc. He pocketed it and walked away, his mind already whirling with ideas on how to fulfil his mission.