Mates 71

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

FREDA WHITLOCK

During lunch, the atmosphere was still a bit tense so I decided to lighten up the mood. “Why don’t we go visit grandpa in the evening Cisco?” And Cisco who had been picking lazily at his salad brightened up immediately and even Lyra smiled a little.

“Really?” he asked with big doe eyes. “Yes honey, really. We would go in the evening. You, me and aunty Lyra would spend some time with grandpa. How’d you like that?”

“I love it mummy, I’ve missed grandpa soo much. I have to go and choose my outfit” he yelled as he scrambled out of his chair and ran to his room, making me chuckle at his antics.

“You’re a good mother” Lyra who sat at the other end of the table said to me with eyes filled with emotion. It’s a pity, that blockhead doesn’t see it.

“Lyra” I warned. “Fine, fine, fine” she said as she raised her hands in surrender. *I won’t speak of him again only because he gives me a headache too”.

“I better go get Cisco ready for the evening”. She stated and I hummed in response and watched her head for Cisco’s room.

Heaving a deep sigh, I cleared the plates on the table and headed for the kitchen. My dad liked apples and strawberries, so I washed a few and packed them along with some porridge I had made earlier.

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I thought about how my father’s sickness was the reason I came back. If he had not fallen ill I probably would never have réturned back here. But he would have been so lonely. I had run away and left him behind. The thought of that brought tears to my eyes but I willed it back.

I shook my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts and went to get ready for the evening. We arrived at the hospital just in time to see father eating dinner.

“Grandpa” Cisco yelled, unable to hide his excitement and

rushed forward to hug him. Father hugged him back, obviously pleased to see him.

It was only when he released Cisco that I realized how much father had aged over the past few months, he had lost a lot of weight and he looked so tired.

Tears sprung to my eyes once again at the sight of seeing my father in such a helpless condition.

He always had his hands busy doing one thing or the other. But now he was just stuck to his bed.

“Freda” my father called weakly drawing me from my thoughts and I quickly masked my expression with a bright smile and walked over to him.

“I see you’re already eating father but I brought your favorite fruits and some porridge you can have as a midnight snack”. I stated and dropped the box of food at a table nearby, looking at everything but my father’s face.

I was afraid of what ‘d see there. I was afraid I wouldn’t be strong enough for him or even myself.

Just as I was about to break down, I felt a warm assuring hand grip mine.

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288 (Vouchers

“Freda” he uttered softly and that single word broke every resolve I had and I rushed into his arms as I hugged him gently, careful not to crush him.

“Father” I croaked out. “I missed you so much” I sobbed into his chest. He rubbed my hair gently and maybe it was all my pent up emotions about the last few days and with my humiliation at the council,l hugged him a little more tightly and we stayed like that for a few more minutes before I reluctantly pulled away.

I looked to my side to see if Cisco had seen my outburst but he was engaged in a serious conversation with Lyra. She must be telling him something absurd again I thought as a little smile crept towards my lips.

passed a grateful smile to Lyra who nodded in acknowledgement. I could always count on her to have my back. “How are you doing dear?” My father asked, drawing me away from Lyra and Cisco’s banter.

“I’m fine, father” I replied and squeezed his hand. I filled him in on all the recent happenings. I didn’t tell him about Cisco’s accident with Harper or how I was publicly humiliated at the council as I was brought to my knees, he didn’t need to know all of that.

Instead, I engaged him in small talks, recent gossip in town that he had missed out on. Along the line, Cisco and Lyra had come to join us and Cisco did most of the talking. He talked animatedly about the things he had seen, what he had heard and my father listened on with a smile on his face.

He looked more relaxed with us around as we cracked jokes, Lyra and Cisco mostly cracking us up while I and my father laughed. This moment was one of my cherished moments, it

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was bliss.

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An hour had gone by prior to our notice, and just then. Georgina, my step mother walked in. She looked surprised that we had come to visit but she quickly masked it up.

“My, my, isn’t it a lovely evening for a family reunion?” She asked in a sarcastic tone and my father narrowed his eyes while Lyra tucked Cisco closer to herself and watched her warily. “You have no shame, Freda and it’s disgusting”.

She clicked her tongue and walked into the room invading and destroying the amiable atmosphere.

She walked directly in front of me and she was a bit taller due to the heels she wore but I wasn’t intimidated.

Every ounce of fear had been killed when I was brought to my knees at the council. I wasn’t going to let anyone walk over me again. Just as I was occupied by my thoughts she began to speak

“Well, Freda are you here to kill your own father just like your vile son tried to kill your sister’s daughter?” She asked and I saw red.