Catherine’s POV
Doctor
Santiago gave me a cold glare as if to say ‘Yup, she heard everything’
He
pulled me out of the room and Harold followed. “That was very irresponsible of
the two of you.” He scolded. “From now
on, the only thing that Jade has to be hearing is not arguing.” He continued
giving us multiple eye rolls.
“But
doc, didn’t Jade do that because we were arguing?” Harold cut in. I hate to
admit this, but he is right. Jade wanted to grab our attention because we were
fighting.
She
used that as motivation to try to move and she was successful.
“So
you’re saying you two should keep fighting in front of her?” But as they say,
the Doctor is always right. If Jade is completely conscious we shouldn’t be
arguing where she can hear us.
“If
you want to take her home, please observe positivity.” Doctor Santiago said and
left me and Harold alone. “He’s right.” I finally found my voice.
Harold
nodded and led me back into the room where Jade stayed on the bed, of course. I
went to Jade’s side and whispered to her ear, “Let’s go home.”
|===At
Harold’s House===|
The
three finally reached Harold’s house which looked more like a castle. A butler
assisted Catherine with Jade’s wheelchair and showed them to her room. “This is
Ms. Jade’s room, yours, Madame, is right next to this one.” He said to
Catherine who felt flattered with her label as he opened the door behind him.
Inside,
there was a four-poster canopy bed with silk pink fabric draper over it. The
bed itself was pink and there were a few pillows at the headboard. There was a window
seat at the right wall and a door which she assumed was the bathroom.
The
bed was in the middle of the room and to the left of it was some shelving and
two cushioned chair separated by a round coffee table. There was also a flat
screen TV.
Next
to that was a built-in closet which was filled with a bunch of clothes for
Jade. The wall was coated with paint and there were a few hand painted designs
around.
Harold
really did put an effort in making this room and he wasn’t even sure if
Catherine would’ve agreed to his deal.
The
butler breezily placed Jade down on the bed and covered her with the blanket.
He then gestured for Catherine to follow him and he then led her to the room
right next to Jade’s.
Her
room was twice as big as Jade’s. There was king sized bed right in the middle
of the room and on top of it was a portrait of Catherine.
There
was a flat screen TV right in front of the bed and bedside tables next to it.
Catherine strolled around the room and saw that she has a walk-in closet filled
with elegant dresses and fancy sleepwear.
She
then went inside the bathroom which has a sauna and a bathtub. Catherine saw
tube of shampoo which was in her favorite scent, strawberries.
Harold
really is trying. He even remembered Catherine’s favorite shampoo. But
Catherine has no intention of getting back with him. Well, technically, staying
in a relationship with him.
Catherine
shook her head and began to examine the room a little more. She saw glass
double doors that lead to a paved balcony complete with a mini-garden.
The
walls had built-in shelves filled with books and knick knacks. Catherine
plopped herself on the bed wanting to rest a little but she got carried away
into a deep sleep.
Jade’s POV
The
door shut and I was left alone in my new room. Mom’s room will be next to mine
but I don’t think she’ll be visiting any time soon. She might get some sleep.
I have no intention of sleeping, I want to
stay awake and I don’t think I can even sleep.
Just
then, the door clicked open. Mom wanted to come after all. “Hi Jade.” Dad’s
voice came instead of Mom’s. What now? Is he here to tell me that there are
some fancy gowns I should wear?
“I
just wanted to say I’m sorry.” He said his voice screaming agony. “I know this
is hard for you, but I’ll try to make it up. Here,” He laid down some weight on
my lap. Its edges say it’s a box.
“Remember
those records you used to send me? I have them all here.” He said. I froze. I
forgot about them.
Ten
years ago, when dad left us, I was
clueless. Mom told me that I could send records to Dad and he’d respond. I sent
a hundred and waited every single day for his voice tapes but they never came.
Eventually,
I gave up on this and stopped sending my records to Dad.
I
heard him open the box and took out some records. “I labeled them. This one’s
your first ever record.” He played the record and I almost cried, well, I don’t
know if I cried.
“Hi
Daddy! Mommy made apple pie, please come so you could try one. They’re
delicious.” My six year old voice filled the air and Dad played the next one.
“Daddy,
I lost my favorite pair of socks so Mommy bought me another one with cat faces.
It’s my new favorite.” My records were so random probably because I had a six
year old’s mind back then.
He
played some more until he reached the last record that I sent. “Daddy, I didn’t
see you in my graduation. I sent you a reminder, were you sick? Daddy, my
friends had their fathers with them in the graduation. Daddy, why aren’t you
coming home?”
Then
I remembered how all my kinder friends teased me when Dad didn’t come to the
graduation. I sent him records weeks before it, talking about how excited I was
to see him in my graduation day.
I
cried and cried. Mom could do nothing to comfort me and I threw my medal on the
floor.
When
I thought he was about to leave he played another one. This time it wasn’t my
voice that came out of the record player, it was his.
“Hi
there Princess, I wish I could come there and taste your mommy’s pie. But, I
have a lot of work so maybe next time. I love you.” It took me a moment to
realize that it was replying to my first record.
He
played another one. “Oh! Was it the heart socks that you lost? Well, I guess
your mommy bought you a new one. I’ll send you some socks of your favorite
design. Can you tell me? I love you, honey.” This one was replying to my second
one.
“These
are the copies of the records I sent you.”
WHAT!!?!
He didn’t send me any records. Mom always checked the mailbox and saw nothing.
Or, he could’ve sent me records but mom didn’t tell me.
My heart ached as I came into a shocking discovery. She lied.
My mother lied…
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