chapter 3

The hospital was really silent. Too silent. 

And it only enhanced our tension.

Mum's cry echoed throughout the hall. Dad sat beside her offering every form of comfort he possibly could. Leaving the corner where I stood, I took huge steps towards them. I stopped in front of Father and looked into his eyes.

"What happened?"

He sighed and brushed his hair to the back. I could see the worry in his eyes. Oh Dad.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have shouted on her like that"

"Well..." I couldn't say anything, because I wanted to confirm his statement. I blamed him too. He was always shouting at Jolie, blaming her for making her life become this bad and bringing shame on him. "Mom said something about the royal family"

"Yes, the rotation had gone round, and it's now at our family. The prince is about to get married. They requested a bride from the family. And they were specific, they want your sister"

Lord of gracious mercy!

"So what did you tell her?"

"I told her the news and how I was disappointed in her. I didn't expect her to take the news that bad"

"Dad! She in a trauma for Christ's sake! How could you?" I said not minding that I was shouting on my father. He was speechless too

"That our accounts are very weak and we need a away out is no reason to place pressure on her, Dad. Imagine how she would have felt"

I got Dad, he was angry, worried and paranoid. Jolie was supposed to be working to support the family's finances, but she wasn't, and to make it worse, she was bringing another baby into the family. Our accounts were not going red, they were already red!

And I tried to get a job every single day, but those donkey heads kept turning me down. What could I do? Dad had every right to be frustrated, but taking it out on Jolie was the wrongest step to take.

"Well, it's not time to place blames. Things have gone wrong already...." I calmed down "Let's just pray she's fine" I held my father's shoulder. Mother was silent all along. I sighed and walked back to my spot.

                                                                       ***

After sitting on a cold metal chair for 5 hours, a man finally walked towards my parents. I sprang up and jogged towards them.

"What's the condition Doc?" Father asked

"Your daughter...she is fine"

We all took in gasps of relief.

"Thank you, Jesus!" My mother said looking upwards waving her hands high in the air.

"And the baby" I asked

The doctor's look was not too good. He bent his head left and right

"The baby... is fine" The doctor said, but reader, 'but' followed me all the way here

"But, the baby is not totally out of critical state. She still has to remain here for a while so we can give her intensive care in order to maintain the stability of the child. She's very lucky to still have the baby"

"For how long Doc?" Father asked

He looked from me to my Mom. Obviously he was a little hesitant to speak scared Mum or I could give a funny exclamation.

"Don't worry, you can speak, neither of us is hypertensive" I told him unable to hold my patience.

"She will need to be hospitalized till she gives birth to the child. That's the best way to keep the baby safe, else we risk a miscarriage, or even her life"

That news was a hard for us to swallow. My heart had reduced its fast pace. I could now manage to breathe comfortably, but a new and heavier type of worry grabbed hold of my heart.

The bills.

I looked at Mom and Dad and smiled warmly. The doctor walked away leaving us to chew on the plate full of news he had given us. The royal news still lingered on my mind. I couldn't bring it up now, but it was definitely the issue I would bring up once we got home.

                                                                   ***

"What are we to do now?" I asked pacing up and down.

"The officials will be here any time from now" Father said

"Well just tell them their bride is sick, and is on a three-month vacation to the hospital"

"Really" Father raised his eyebrow and I couldn't meet his eyes. I looked away, I had no better advice than that.

"Okay... That's actually the only thing we can do"

A knock came on the door. I nodded, speak of the devil.

"Let's get this over and done with" I said walking towards the door.

Opening the door, I was struck with surprise. Before me was our kind and generous Landlord frowning hideously.

"Good evening, Patrick" 

He stood silently looking at me. I expected him to shout at me and demand to see Dad, but he just looked away. He brought out an envelope and handed it over to me

"One more month's all I've got, Gwen. Tell your Father." He said sadly and walked away.

I closed the door slowly, taking tortoise steps into the house.

"Who was it?" Father asked

Looking from Dad to Mom, their faces were plastered with worry and anxiety. I couldn't add this to the misery. I hid the envelope in my back pocket and smiled

"It was the mail man. There's a letter for me" I lied

"Oh-okay. Who's it from?"

"Um- Nina" I responded very quickly.

A knock sounded on the door again and I sighed. Thank God, I didn't have to think of anymore lies. I walked towards the door, hoping it wasn't the Landlord again.

I was met by an an handsome man, and a woman whose make up told me she was trying so hard to be beautiful.

"The Maltons?" The man asked

"Yes, are you...?"

"From the palace? Yes we are. We're hear to meet with your father"

"Oh yes, please come in" I smiled and stepped aside for them to walk in, and as they did, I heard the woman whisper,

"She must be the one, she's so beautiful"

Oh yes, I'm beautiful, but I'm so not your bride!

Father walked up to them and welcomed them in the warmest way he could. There was no breakfast yet. The family had just arrived from the verge of an heart attack, no one thought about food. They'd just have to hold their meeting with tea.

Dad went into the study with them, depriving me of every juicy detail I would like to get. I sat in the living room, patiently waiting for them to come outside.

I imagined what conversation they would be having in the room. Dad would be telling them about Jolie's case, rejecting to give his child's hand in marriage. But wait, all this was happening for a reason. I was jobless, Jolie was in the hospital where we would need to pay bags of money into, and the rent was more than due. We were at a cliff and at any minute, we could fall off. We needed a miracle. 

Sooner than I imagined, the visitors stepped out with a smile a little colder than the smile they came with.

"We'll take our leave now" The lady announced

"Yes, thank you so much for coming, it's a pleasure having you" Mom replied.

"Of course" The man replied and walked along side the woman outside the house.

"So?" I rose up to Dad.

"The queen and King are aware of Jolie's condition. That's why they sent the officials here"

"Problem solved" I shrugged

"What else did they say, Philip?" Mum said

Dad looked at me. Four seconds passed and he was still staring at me

"Wh-wh-why's Dad looking at me?" I asked with narrowed eyes.

"They asked...never mind. I'll just call them on the phone that we can't"

"Dad!" I exclaimed, I hated when I was placed on a hot pan, and he was so good at it. He sighed and finally decided to speak.

"They asked that you take on your Sister's cross"

Bam. I froze.

"What?!" I exclaimed

"Philip" Mum said "And you didn't give them a response immediately? I don't even need to ask Gwenevere before I know her response."

"I couldn't turn them down just like that. It's the royal family we're speaking of here. It's either they wait for Jolie to heal, or Gwenevere takes it on" Father retorted

Wait for Jolie to heal? Are you kidding me? Jolie? After all the trauma she has been through?

"Where's the phone? Call them now and give them the response"

Yeah, Mom was speaking for me, little did she know what I was thinking.

In the midst of their little argument, I cleared my throat and spoke.

"It's fine"

They turned to look at me

I blinked my eyes, sat upright, placed my arm on the arm rest and I said

"I'll do it"