chapter 5

"Family is the biggest part of the glue that holds you from breaking."

~Shannon

Have you ever witnessed a miracle? Personally, I never believed they really existed but at that particular moment, I was given reason beyond doubt that miracles were as real as life itself. My Dad was a living proof, he took seven bullets to the stomach and still survived.

"Toby, honey, can you hear me?" Mom was overjoyed as she spoke to him. He just stared at her and wasn't responding but that couldn't stop her from smiling her teeth out.

Ashlie had gone to call for a doctor, so I strode to the opposite direction, to the waiting room. "Are you okay?" Lionel sprung from his seat and caressed my cheeks.

"He woke up Leo, he's going to survive." I tilted my head back and let out a joyful laugh.

"Really? Goodness, that is the greatest news I've heard in years." He roared and pumped his fist in the air.

"Me too, I haven't been this happy in a long time." I confessed. He suddenly lifted me up and spun me around like I weighed nothing, my giggles filling the quiet room. Thankfully, there was no one around to scold us because of the echoing laughter.

"Let's go see him." He put me down and held my hand as we walked to the ICU unit.

The doctor was already there, checking up on Dad's progress. He wasn't moving anything apart from his eyes, it was like his body was suddenly paralyzed and I hoped it wasn't so.

The doctor's eyes moved to each one of us as he spoke, "he seems to be in good condition but I'd prefer you leave him here for a day or two so we could check up on him. Only problem is, he's not showing any body movements which is normal in such a case but it's nothing that can't be fixed with physical therapy. He'll have to learn to walk and talk again, it will take months but he'll be alright."

We were elated after learning everything that we could do to help hasten his recovery. It was sad that he was starting all over again, but the fact that he was out of danger was more than enough to keep us going. We later learnt that we could communicate with him using his eyes and he could actually hear us. Blinking twice meant yes and once meant no.

"His wounds have to heal before he can start therapy sessions right?" Lionel queried.

"Yes, it will take a few weeks for them to completely heal and subside the pain."

"Alright, we can handle that. Right honey?" Mom's eyes danced with joy. He blinked twice, earning excited giggles from us.

* * *

{A few months later.}

I sat up on the bed and stretched, my smile was as bright as the light peeking in through the tiny gap between the curtains. Life couldn't get any better than it was then. Nothing could beat my happiness.

"Did you dream of me."

I should have been startled but I knew that voice anywhere. I fancied waking had up to it more than I loved to admit. Lionel and I had grown closer over the past few months, we had a platonic kind of bond.

"Look who sneaked in like a thief." I chuckled, turning to face him.

"Just admit it." He smirked.

"Admit what?" I knew what he was talking about but decided to play dumb.

"That you like waking up to my sweet voice and cute face." He winked, supporting his head with his hand.

"Oh please! I don't even like you." I joked, copying his position.

"Ouch! I'm heartbroken, really. I'm no longer your friend." He held his hand to his chest and frowned.

"That's a big threat but you can't do without me can you?"

"Come to think of it, you're stuck with me forever." He tickled me and I struggled to swat his hands away.

"Okay, okay, you win." I was breathless when he let go of me.

"You love me, you love me not, you love me, you love me not, you loooove me." Humour danced in his eyes as he counted with his fingers, it was a game I had grown fond of.

"Ah-ah! I love you not."

"You wish!" He pinched my cheek and made a funny face at me.

Ever heard of too good to be true? That's exactly how I felt around him, I couldn't believe our life was so smooth and peaceful because of him. I didn't want to imagine being away from him at all.

Did I love him? I was not so sure but I had a huge crush on him. Meh, I knew how that sounded but dang, who wouldn't dote on such a kindhearted, generous man? Definitely not me.

"Can I ask you something?" His face formed into a serious one.

"Of course you can." I sat up and stared at him.

"Promise me you won't say no."

"Haha! Now that's manipulation." I pointed a finger at him.

"Well, I was wondering if you could . . . if you could stay a little longer when your parents move to South Carolina." He scratched the back of his head and failed to make eye contact with me.

My parents were moving in with my grandparents and since no one knew about them, they were safe to stay there till Dad could recover and Mom had gotten a job offer from an old friend of hers. 

"No, I can't do that." I teased, his shoulders dropped and was looking anywhere but me.

"I understand." He said after a while, "we'll talk later, yeah?" He stood and began walking away.

"Wait!" I called after him, he turned around and forced a smile on his gloomy face.

"I would love to stay back a little longer but, I'd love it if you came with us to meet my grandparents, I'm sure they're dying to meet you. Then, we could come back and stay a week or two. How does that sound?"

"Perfect, " his eyes brightened up, "thank you." He joined me on the bed and crushed me in a hug that had us falling back on the bed. We laughed it out and pulled away from eachother, to say it was awkward would be an understatement.

* * *

"Look at you girls, you've grown so much and abandoned your old wrinkled grandma." She still stood strong at 63, I kept wondering what she used to look as young as she did.

"Stop bothering the poor girls and let them in, they're tired." Grandpa pulled her aside and a killer smile filled his lips, "oh my girls." He exclaimed and wrapped Ashlie and I in a warm embrace. We had really missed him, it had been ages since we last visited.

"How have you been, Pa?" I whispered.

"As energetic as ever. You on the other hand have been to hell and back, you guys gave me a near heart attack." His voice sounded pained.

"We're okay now, Pa." I said as we pulled out from the hug.

"Where did your loud mouth go to?" He held Ashlie's chin and we doubled over in laughter.

"She grew up, Charlie. Now move aside." Ma slightly shoved him out of the way and gave us a bone crushing hug. These two were a handful and being around them always proved to be more than fun.

"And who is that hot young man?" She asked after letting go of us. Lionel and Mom were helping Dad from the car to his wheelchair. He had just began the therapy sessions and could only speak a few words but slowly.

"Eva, are you lusting at another man?" Pa huffed out air.

"Ma, Pa, stop that." I chuckled, my face resembling a red tomato.

"No, she's just cheated on me. Unbelievable!"

"What are you guys fighting about this time?" Mom asked with her hands akimbo. Lionel was behind her, pushing Dad up the ascending sidewalk.

"Who do we have here?" Ma hugged Mom and whispered something in her ear before winking at her and bending over to hug her son. Pa sighed in relief, he thought she was going for Lionel. Their mischief was on a whole new level, they made you want to have a crazy significant other.

"You will be alright, son. We're glad to have you back." Pa patted Dad's back as he hugged him and you could tell how strong their bond was.

We sat and did catch up as we ate dinner. Laughter, jokes and good old memories filled the room. It was like a family reunion. As usual, everyone fell for Lionel. He was too charming but I wondered if he had flaws or problems. If he did, he was too good at hiding it and I vowed to find out.

* * *

"From the first day I met you, I knew there was something special about you. I've grown so fond of you that I want more than just a friendship. I've tried to control what I'm feeling for you but failed. I need you in my life, Shannon. I'd love to court you." Lionel's compassionate words gave me goosebumps but I was scared, what if things suddenly went south? 

I knew the day would come, where he would confess his feelings towards me, but I didn't think it would be so soon. He wore his feelings on his sleeves and it was easy to tell how he felt about us.

"I like you, Lionel but I don't want to ruin what we have now. What if the relationship doesn't work out? We will never be able to regain what we once had." I wrapped my arms around myself and moved to sit on the bed. We were in the room Ashlie and I shared whenever we visited our grandparents. It wasn't too big nor too small and had nothing but a bed, a wardrobe and a dressing table.

He knelt before me and took my hands in his, "I promise, that you will never find a reason to part ways with me. And whenever we quarrel, we will give each other a listening ear so we could meet in the middle. Give me a chance, to spoil you with my love, to show you that love is beautiful." Not once did he break eye-contact as his words sunk into my brain.

"Can I atleast think about it?"

"Certainly, take as long as you want." He cupped my cheek and leaned in to peck the other one. I turned my face just as his lips neared my cheek and they landed on my lips. We stayed like that for a moment, his head on mine and his breath fanning my face, it was magical.

* * *

It was around 9pm when we arrived at his house, a few days later. I still hadn't said yes and he was patient enough not to mention anything about it.

"Your Dad and grandpa didn't like the idea of us staying together, unsupervised. You should have seen their faces." Lionel laughed as we drove into his compound.

"Oh please! I'm an adult at 24years old, I don't need to be supervised." I rolled my eyes as I undid my seatbelt and got off the car.

"You're too quick, you don't even give me the chance to be a gentleman." He stepped out as well and supported his body on the car.

"Oops! My bad." I chuckled as I made my way to the door.

"Please, allow me." He jogged after me and opened the door, "After you." He bowed. I meant to laugh out loud but it died in my throat as my eyes came to land on two strangers seated comfortably, as if they belonged there.

"Daddy." The girl sprung to her feet and jumped on Lionel as soon as she saw him.

Daddy? What the heck!!

"Hey darling, missed us?" The woman, who seemed to be the mother to the girl chirped, making her way towards him.

Darling? What the actual fuck!!