Chapter 6
Willow, I hoisted Angela up and winced inwardly when my entire middle spasmed. Walking was hurting me. Imagine holding a big girl like Angela while doing it as well. But when I saw and heard her pitiful wailing, I couldn’t stop myself. I just couldn’t leave her, even for the moments I might take to speak with my boss. And I think I did the right thing too, because even though he was about to bite my head off, Elijah now relaxed a little as he followed my limping self. I walked slowly, following who I’m guessing was his secretary, and we went outside and he was right. Joseph was standing by the foyer, fuming. His eyes lit the moment he saw me, but then a snarl took over his handsome face and I sighed softly as kept stroking Angela’s back after she settled down a little. “Willow,….I told yo…..” He started to say, but I gave him one of my don’t you dare stare silently and he bit off the rest of his words and clenched his jaws, averting his gaze. “You can go, I will talk to him and I will be back inside so Angela can finish her dinner. You all can see that I can’t just let her go at the moment.” I said tensely without looking beside me because this time if I saw Elijah’s angry, arrogant face, I might snap at him as well. I have been trying to be considerate even though I don’t have to do shit for him, but I did it because of this shaking little girl in my arms, but now I felt like exploding. “I won’t leave my daughter with you both while you fight. She had been through a lot and even though my hands are tied and I don’t know how to handle this, I just can’t leave her with any of you.” The man said through gritted teeth, barely holding back his anger and I closed my eyes, breathing harshly because he was seriously getting on my nerves. I didn’t choose to be here. I just did what any decent person might do, but still, this was the way karma repaid me. “What are you doing here, Joseph? You know that I was fine and I will just spend a couple of days here and be back.” I said in frustration and his eyes widened in surprise, then he just took a couple of steps toward me and I felt the huge man standing beside me bristle. He thought that he might hurt me, us. I can take care of myself. Thank you very much. “Will, you can’t stay here with those strangers. I came to take you back home. I just went back to get you something to change and then found out that you actually left with him! Just let us go back ok. You can get some rest and I will be there to check on you. You can stay at my apartment if you like. It would be even better this way.” My boss and friend started to say and with each word, his face brightened as if he liked what he was saying and I felt ashamed. Not because he looked desperate, which was actually the truth, but because I had to turn him down. “I can’t, Joseph. I already gave my word. I will stay here for a couple of days and I will be back soon.” I said, giving him one of those persuasive smiles that he always said wins him over, but I guess today he wasn’t in the mood because his face darkened quickly. “NO. I won’t allow you to do that. She is not another charity case for you to take care of. You did something good, and that was it. You are not obligated to do anything else to her or him at that. I will never let you stay, Willow.” He growled as he stomped to where I was standing and I started to panic because everyone around us became alert. Suddenly some people barged in and I stared shocked because it seemed that they had been there for a while and I didn’t even notice. Personal guards surrounded us and I stared in horror at Elijah as he advanced on Joseph with his huge tense body and I felt lightheaded. They are going to fight. For what? Because of me. This ……this…….. “You fucking dare stand here in front of me, in my own fucking house, and threaten her?!” Elijah hissed in a threatening voice and I swallowed harshly, feeling my mouth get dry and my chest began to rise and fall, struggling to breathe. I might know how to protect myself and yes, I learned a self defense sport, but still, I hate fights and seeing blood for whatever reason. “You don’t want to mess me, Mr Lance. I might look like a simple restaurant owner, but trust me, there is nothing simple about me. But be my guest if you are up for a challenge. Let us see how this will end.” Joseph said in a cold voice, and this was the first time I saw him talk or look like that. I have known him for years and he was so sweet and kind to everyone, not just me, so seeing this made me question judgment. Elijah raised his fist, and I saw the hit coming, so I just ran to stand between them with the now silent girl clutching at me. “Please stop it. Both of you.” I said in a hoarse voice and they kept glaring at each other, not even seeing me, but unfortunately, there was no punching or hitting. At least for now. “This is about me, and neither of you has the right to decide for me. I will stay with Angela for a couple of days and then I will leave. Joseph, thank you for being a good friend and checking on me, but as you can see, I’m here on my own accord. Mr. Lance, you can’t fix everything with your fists, you have a little girl who you are scaring right now, so back off.” I said and my voice grew stronger with each word and finally, they both looked down at me. And I know that my face looked pale and my chest was rising and falling irregularly. But thankfully they took me and my words seriously and just backed off both of them and I felt like breathing a little better. “Will, I think this isn’t the right choice. I’m afraid something might happen to you. I’m concerned. Please understand.” Joseph said and his right hand touched my forehead, then my cheek, and stroked it softly, making me close my eyes and sigh. This is the Joseph I know. He is sweet, caring, and kind, not the man who goes as cold as ice in one second and his eyes look dead. “I know, and thank you for everything, really. You have been taking care of me for years now and it makes me feel safe, but please respect my decision, OK? I will be fine, I promise, besides you now know where I am, so if anything happens you will just get me, right?” I said, smiling after touching his hand that was still on my cheek. and he shook his head in frustration, but I felt his tense body ease and relax. “Don’t touch my mama. Papa is the only one allowed to do that. Hands off.” Suddenly Angela’s angry voice boomed in the silent place and I almost flinched away because this small girl sounded fierce. At this moment, she looked like a mini Elijah. It was uncanny. Joseph took a couple of steps back when she pushed his hand away, then pushed at his chest while she hissed at him like an angry kitten. And I couldn’t suppress the laugh that escaped me. She looked so angry, fierce, and darn cute. I wanted to kiss her, and I did it. “See what I’m talking about? Some things are better snuffed out in the bud like this. You are not helping her, Will, you are just feeding her illusions and giving her hope for things that will never happen.” My friend said tightly, and I stared down at my feet because he was right, but still my heart and mind refused to acknowledge any of this. It is not just about Angela which I was ashamed to admit. This felt personal as well. Like I need to….. no, I must do this for myself too. “And who told you that it is something that will never happen?” But then Elijah stated and my breath hitched because doesn’t he understand what he just said?! The man must have lost his mind.But when I looked at him and even though I couldn’t see the rest of his face, I knew that he was smirking beneath it. He said those words purposely, just to agitate Joseph. “Oh, I’m sure that it will never happen, Mr. Lance, because who would after seeing the real you behind this mask of yours?” Joseph spat out, then he focused on me while I kept staring at Elijah in confusion because the arrogant, confident man now seemed shaken. “Here is your stuff. I will come some other day with the rest of the things you might need while staying here and check on you. Oh, and your phone is charged now after I had someone change the screen because it was cracked.” He said after putting a small duffle bag beside me and I opened my mouth to thank him, but then Elijah spoke again. “You are not welcome at my house anymore, Joesph, and next time I will call the cops. As for Willow’s things, I will take her myself and get the rest because she will be staying here for a while.” The man said in a cold voice, then nodded at his secretary and my friend was pushed back and out of the foyer, then he disappeared. I stood there watching his retreating figure, and then I looked back at Elijah and found him watching me carefully as if he were trying to read my thoughts. I wanted to ask him about what my friend meant by those hurtful words, but I didn’t. Because just now, along with the cold and detachment atmosphere surrounding him, there was a feeling of insecurity coming off of him, which I didn’t like at all. This man was meant to walk strong with his head held high, but at this moment he seemed broken and just like Angela he wanted someone to cling to for comfort.Chapter 7Elijah,I stood in the middle of my office looking through the wall length window; I saw the busy streets and felt the urgency and the need for people to reach their destination.I saw how frustrated and depressed they were and how some of them were about to give up. I saw it all even though I was so many stories above them.It might be because I was feeling the same or maybe because I was feeling miserable and wanted the rest of the people to be the same.It has been a week since Willow came to stay with us and right in front of my eyes, my daughter blossomed.It was as if she was a wilting flower and this woman was this divine rain that nourished her back to health.The house was filled with voices and cries of happiness and the bleak cloud that always threatened to rain above our heads turned into a comforting drizzle.I pinched the bridge of my nose tiredly. Sleep was still evading me and even though I should feel better watching Angela get back to her old self, I was mo
Chapter 8Willow,“MAMA…….MAMA.”I heard a little voice shout frantically, and I opened my eyes slowly, then shut them again. This little action made my head throb, and I frowned slowly, trying to remember what happened to cause this.Yesterday I kept tossing and turning from the pain, so I just left the bed and thought about making a sandwich. Maybe eating will take my mind off of this nasty pain.But then I found Elijah bent over the fridge searching for something to eat and his stomach was rumbling like an angry sky.A small smile stretched on my face when I remembered how startled he was to see me standing behind him, grumpy and ready to snap his neck.I haven’t slept for days, and it was getting into my head. I can tolerate pain, hunger, thirst, anything really but not sleep and lack of caffeine in my system. God, I felt miserable.But then I winced silently when I remembered what had happened soon after. Me on the damn floor holding my middle and hissing in pain.But honestly, y
Chapter 9Elijah,I kept clicking my fingers on my knee as I listened to the chitchat between Angela and Willow. These two looked like good buddies at the moment. If I were someone else, I would have thought that they knew each other long ago. Even a daughter mother relationship binds them too.It was eerie and made me mildly uncomfortable because, at moments like this, I always dreaded what would happen next.I know that my daughter will lose her shit and she will be worse than before, but what can I do? It felt like choosing between drowning or dying from the lack of oxygen. Different, but still the same.Robb, Alan, and even the always silent Henry talked about it, and I knew. God, I really knew that they were right, but I couldn’t bring myself to shatter this fake world Angela created.She was so young when it happened and she saw it all. She saw the pain and anguish on her mother’s face when she took her last breath.She saw the light fading away from her eyes and her shivering,
Chapter 10Willow,“Mama, mama wake up.”Angel said and suddenly the entire bed began to shake and I groaned turning around, covering my face and my ears, trying to block all the noise.But then she giggled, and I felt a weight drop above me and I omphed, then groaned loudly because that freaking hurt.I used the billow covering my face to hit her softly, making her giggles rise in volume, and the girl finally dropped from above me.“Just give me a couple more minutes, and I promise I will be all yours and we will do whatever you want today.”I said hoarsely and all the noise and movement seized and I sighed softly, smiling as I felt myself drift back to sleep.“NO. I want you to wake up right now. It is morning and we have the entire house for us. We can do whatever we want, mama. The big, strong dragon isn’t guarding the castle today.”She said excitedly and even though I was still groggy from sleep, I giggled, joining her, and pulled her to my arms, hugging her, making her scream h
Chapter 11Elijah,My phone kept vibrating while I was listening to something my peer said and I frowned and then flipped it over trying to focus on what the man was saying.This was a very important meeting and I need to close this deal. This will help me expand the company and make me spread worldwide.My company wasn’t small, but it wasn’t international yet and even though I work in international trade, my company didn’t reach that far.I have worked with companies in the Middle East and North America and now I want to have a foot in Asia and China is the perfect place to lay out the foundation for such a step.The man stopped, and he gave me a nod and I nodded back because this was going great. I opened my mouth to comment on what he just said, but then my phone buzzed again. Robb held my phone and checked it while I answered some of the questions that were addressed to me and asked about my company policy.But then Robb showed me the phone, and I saw Angela’s name on the caller
Chapter 12Willow,I tucked Angela in and watched her sleep soundly.She had been clinging to me for almost a week now, and it was becoming tiring. I know that she was still shocked by what had happened in Walmart, but still, it was too much.God, now I pity all the mammies I saw look tired and just gave up on life. I have one girl and I can’t handle her. She is too much.I thought, smiling, then I shook my head because look at me, should I go to a park now and sit with all the mammies and complain like them?I laughed softly again as I got out of the room and went downstairs to the kitchen to find something to eat. All of those meds make me hungry.And yeah, I have put on a couple of pounds and I wasn’t mad about it. They always told me that I needed to eat more and now I’m doing it.But I stopped in my tracks when I found Elijah there staring at an empty glass in hand, lost in thought that he didn’t even notice me.Since I woke up and found him sleeping on a couch in the hospital an
Chapter 13Elijah,I watched the sunrise from where I was standing on my balcony and shivered from how cold it was right now.I watched the sun grow and the colors change and after a moment I closed my eyes and pulled my mask down to feel the cold breeze and the warmth tickle my face.It has been a while since I came outside here and did this. It had been our thing before, and after Diana left us, I stopped watching the start of the day and felt the light chase away the darkness.It always brought peace to my mind and soul, but after the accident, it reminded me of my loss and how it happened, and who was the reason behind it.It reminded me of how shitty I was as a person and how I was a waste of air. It should have been me who died that night.My wife and daughter deserve better. Their only fault was accepting me into their life and letting me taint it with my darkness.I opened my eyes when it became warmer and I gripped the balcony railing tightly that my knuckles turned white.Th
Chapter 14Willow,I got out of the shower feeling refreshed and happy.It had been two weeks and my body was getting stronger. This time was better. I guess I was getting used to all the pain and discomfort.I thought, chuckling as I walked back to the room and leaned down to kiss Angela’s forehead, then tucked her in before standing in front of the mirror and trying to dry my hair.I want to use the hair dryer but it will be so loud and I might wake up the sleeping girl so I just used a towel and when it felt like taking forever, I just put it up in a messy bun and called it a night.I slept beside Angela making her stir a little, but then my stomach protested, so I just went downstairs to make me one of those delicious late peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.Honestly, I wasn’t that hungry, but when I thought about going to the kitchen; I thought about Elijah and remembered what happened the last time we bumped into each other there.Each time I saw him, I was reminded of his words