Mitchell woke up on the hospital bed trying to understand all that was happening. She saw Catherine seated next to her with a smile on her face.
"How did I get here?" Mitchell asked as she tried sitting up.
"Relax, Mitchy."
Catherine patted her on the shoulder and explained to her that everything is going to be fine. It was good news after all.
"You blacked out while we were on the call due to stress."
"Due to stress?" Mitchell couldn't wrap her head around all Catherine was saying.
"Not just that, you are two weeks pregnant."
"What! What did you just say?"
"Yes, you are two weeks gone." Catherine said with so much excitement on her face.
Surprisingly for her she realized Mitchell wasn't on the same page of excitement with her and it was really glaring on her face.
"What's the matter, Mitchy? Ain't you excited?" Catherine asked in concern.
"Not that, it's just….."
"Just what?."
Mitchell took a pause in trying to reply to Catherine's questions but she felt awkward about it. She kept quiet and journeyed deep in thoughts forgetting Catherine was right beside her.
"Mitchy! Mitchy!" Catherine echoed while waving her hand towards Mitchell's face.
"I am really sorry about that, ignore that because I just thought of it. I am super excited." Mitchell lied and gave a fake smile.
Catherine could tell that something was off about Mitchell's reaction but she hoped for the best, probably it was just all in her head and Mitchell was truly happy.
"Can we take our leave now?"
"Yes, sure. Would order a ride now." Catherine answered almost immediately as she left to order a ride.
Mitchell began to think about Tyler's offer and now the child in her womb. She was confused on what exactly to do. She could feel like the whole world was revolving all around her.
"I will go see my dad, he would best know how to advise me."
Catherine gushed in "I have gotten us a cab."
"Plans have changed, going to see my dad. Please get yourself another ride." Mitchell pleaded.
She hurriedly went close to Catherine and hugged her "You are a good friend, thank you for always being there."
Catherine couldn't control herself as she began to blush at the words from Mitchell. It brought about a unique and instant glow on the face of Catherine as she watched Mitchell leave the hospital.
"Wow! She didn't take her test results."
*************
Mitchell stormed into her dad's cluttered office, slamming the door right behind her. Her father, Matthew, looked up from the stack of pending bills and papers on his desk, immediately a sense of concern and frustration etched on his face.
"Mitchell, what's wrong?" he asked in curiosity, setting down his pen.
Mitchell couldn't help but notice the documents, files and stacked bills on her dad's desk.
"What are all these?" Mitchell asked in shock.
Her father stared at her with a cloud of tears forming in his eyes, he didn't know what exactly to say to her or where to start from.
"Dad! You aren't saying a word to me. What are all these?" She asked repeatedly as she went through the files and stacked bills on his desk.
'Have you been lying to me all these while? You have been keeping secrets from me? Dad."
Matthew was lost in words before he finally sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mitchell, I can explain…"
"Did you just say explain?" Mitchell cut him off, with her eyes blazing like fire.
"Oh now you want to explain why our house is being foreclosed on? Why are you being sued by the bank? Or why are you facing jail time for embezzlement?"
"Why am I just seeing all these Matthew? Why didn't you tell me?"
Her dad's face went pale, and he slumped back in his chair. "You don't understand Mitchell, I….."
"Don't dare lie to me, Dad," Mitchell warned, with her voice cracking.
"I've just seen the papers. I know everything. You've been embezzling money from your company, and now we're paying the price."
Her dad looked up at her, with tears in his eyes. "Mitchell, I'm sorry. I was really desperate. Your mother's medical bills were piling up so fast, and I didn't know what else to do. I thought I could pay it all back before anyone could notice, but... but it got out of control."
Mitchell broke down in tears as she felt a pang of guilt and sadness. She had always known that her father also was struggling to make ends meet, but she had no idea it was this bad.
"But why, Dad? why didn't you tell me?" Mitchell asked, her voice softer now. "Why did you choose to keep it a secret?"
Matthew shook his head. "I didn't want to be a burden to you, Mitchell. You were already dealing with so much, even with your mother's illness and your own financial crisis. I didn't want to add to your stress."
Mitchell sighed, feeling a mix of emotions: anger, sadness, frustration, and helplessness. She didn't know what to do or how to fix this mess. The sole reason why she wanted to see her dad was no longer relevant to her with all she had seen.
As she looked around the small office, Mitchell's eyes landed on a piece of paper on the desk far off, quite close to the window. She walked towards the desk, it was a court summon notifying her father of his upcoming trial.
Mitchell's heart sank even more. This was it for her. This was just the end. Her father was going to jail, and she was going to lose everything. Not even sure of her mother's survival at the moment from her long aged sickness.
But then, a spark of determination arose from within her. She wasn't going to give up. She was going to fight for her family, for her father, and for their future.
"Dad," Mitchell said, her voice becoming firm and balanced. "We're going to get through this. We're going to find a way to pay off all these debts and get you out of this mess. I promise."
Matthew looked up at her, a glimmer of hope filled his eyes. "Mitchell, I'm so sorry. I don't really know what I would do without you. You are more than just a daughter to me"
Mitchell smiled at her father's pleasing words, feeling a sense of purpose and determination. "You'll never have to find out, Dad. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. I will always be by your side."
As they hugged, Mitchell knew that she would do whatever it took to save her family at this point in time. She was determined to fight but little did she know, her fight was only just beginning.
A thought of the proposal from Tyler flashed through her mind.
"Could that be the solution to all our problems?"