Chapter Four - Facing My Doom

Anacá

My dad was still in his room, and I trudged over to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Even after an hour, when Dad didn’t emerge, I was worried. Was everything fine? He never slept so much when his favorite match was going on.

I went up to his room and peered in. Thankfully, he was still lying on his bed. I walked over to his side to see him breathing hard with beads of perspiration on his forehead.

“What’s wrong, Dad? Are you feeling unwell?” My heart constricted with panic to see him in this condition. It seemed my worst fear was coming true.

“I can’t breathe, Anacá.” His choked whisper brought me out of my daze, and I picked up the phone to call 166 for an ambulance.

“I’ll take you to the hospital, Dad. Please hold on. Nothing will happen to you.” Tears of helplessness stung my eyes. It was the same situation I had faced before. No, I couldn’t break down. In five minutes, I was ready when the doorbell buzzed.

I rushed forward to open the door. The pre-meds had arrived, and I led them to Dad’s room. “The patient is suffering from pre-heart attack symptoms. It’s a good sign you’ve acted fast. Shortness of breath, discomfort, chest pain, and fatigue are the first symptoms that occur weeks before an attack. We’ll transport the patient to the hospital of your choice, Ms. DuVernay.”

I nodded. “He’s consulting Dr. Athan Doukas, Chief Cardiologist at Athens Medical Center. We can admit him there. I have insurance to cover the cost.”

On the way to the hospital, I called Uncle Jeremy to update him. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m reaching the hospital right away.”

It was a mad rush at the hospital to get Dad admitted to the ICU right away. Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Dana arrived to support me. After two hours, Dad opened his eyes and responded to the treatment.

“Are you feeling better, Dad?” I sat by his bedside, waiting to speak to the doctor.

He nodded and grabbed my hand to comfort me. “Go home, Anacá. I’m fine.”

The doctor arrived a few minutes later. “We’ll observe him for the next twenty-four hours, Ms. DuVernay. If the patient is stable, we’ll discharge him the day after. But you must take utmost care to not trigger the symptoms, or the patient’s condition might deteriorate.”

“Yes, Doctor. I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you so much for reviving my dad.”

There wasn’t much to do as they refused to allow me in the ICU afterward. Dad slept soundly, and Uncle Jeremy dropped me home. “I’ll see you at the hospital tomorrow morning. Take care, Anacá.”

I trudged up the porch to an empty house. It didn’t feel like home without my dad. Yet I knew I had to put up a brave front and face reality. The only solace was that I could save my dad’s life. I could prevent the attack, but for how long?

I sat down at a lonely dinner when the realization hit me hard. My dad’s health was in my hands. I had to keep him happy. It only meant I had to abide by his wish if that was the only way to keep him happy. A deep, shattering sigh escaped my lips, knowing I could never talk to him about Josh and his betrayal. I couldn’t give him any more stress.

But accepting Josh was like committing suicide. I hated him with a vengeance. It was the strangest situation I had ever faced.

The next day, I stayed at the hospital all morning, only to visit home briefly to freshen up. Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Dana stayed by me in the evening, but Dr. Douglas didn’t discharge Dad. “We’re waiting for his latest ECG report. If all goes well, you can take the patient home tomorrow.”

The doctor allowed us to visit Dad for five minutes. He smiled on seeing us, and it eased my mind a little. “Hey, Dad! The doctor said you can go home tomorrow.”

He patted his bedside for me to sit. “Come here, Anacá. Sit with me. I hate staying here, and you know it. Why did you bring me here? I would have recovered at home after a few days.”

“Stop complaining, Charlie. You’re alive because Anacá didn’t waste time waiting. You should be thankful to God for blessing you with such a daughter,” scolded Uncle Jeremy.

Dad clasped my hand in his frail one. “I know, Jerry. I am thankful, but I wanted to be discharged today. It’s Anacá and Josh’s engagement tomorrow, and there’s so much to do. I wouldn’t want to miss it at all.”

My heart sank as I gave Aunt Dana a helpless look. “The engagement can wait, Dad. Please, can we focus on your health now?”

He shook his head vehemently, already getting worked up. “No, this is the most important thing for me right now. Dana, please don’t postpone the engagement. I have very little time left. I want to see her happily wedded. Jerry, can you ensure my daughter gets engaged tomorrow? I can rest in peace if she weds into your family. I know both of you will take care of her like your own.”

Dad was breathing hard again. His grip on my hand was too tight, and I panicked.

Uncle Jeremy rose in a similar state of panic while Aunt Dana went to summon the nurse in charge.

I stood frozen, watching Uncle Jeremy console my dad. “Yes, Charlie. Please calm down. I give you my word. The engagement will happen tomorrow just as you want it.”

The doctor arrived, and we were bundled out of the ICU. After ten minutes, the doctor emerged to inform us about Dad’s stable condition. “I won’t allow any more visits until his condition improves.”

Uncle Jeremy dropped me home.

“We’ll go shopping for the rings and dress, Anacá. I’ll arrange a small engagement gathering in the evening with our close relatives and friends. You can invite Jess and the others. Let’s see how we can fit the shopping trip in tomorrow.”

I nodded at Aunt Dana with a sigh. “Yes, Aunt Dana. Thank you for everything you’re doing for us.”

It didn’t seem like I could avoid it, anyway. Strangely, not once had Josh come over to see my dad’s condition. What did my dad ever see in the *ssh*l*? Or was it only a way to have his parents care for me in my dad’s absence? I didn’t need looking after. Marrying Josh knowingly would be the biggest mistake of my life. I would be far from happy. Didn’t Dad realize that?

After a lonely dinner, I was about to hit the bed when my phone buzzed with a call from Josh. I ignored it and dozed off to sleep. If he had to say something, he could seek me out.

The next day, Dad was in brighter spirits, as if he hadn’t been hospitalized for the last two days. Dr. Doukas discharged him with lots of restrictions that looked like death sentences to me. Everything pointed to one thing.

No stress at all for the patient.

“When is the engagement, Jerry?” It was the first thing my dad asked once we reached home.

“Evening, 6 o’clock. I don’t want you to travel, so we’ve planned it here, in your house, Charlie. Don’t worry, Dana will take care of everything.”

“Fine. I’m so happy things are happening the way Ana and I wanted.” He smiled as I helped him to his room. My heart was in a turmoil now. I wasn’t prepared to host anything at home. The house was in a mess, and there wasn’t much food to feed a gathering. But I couldn’t voice my opinions in front of Dad. Once I had tucked him in, I walked out to face the situation.

“Aunt Dana, what will we feed them? How many guests have you invited? Does Josh know about this?” I was bursting with questions, wondering how they could be so calm about it.

Aunt Dana smiled as she sorted through some shopping bags. I hadn’t found time all morning to go shopping with her. Thankfully, she didn’t need me and brought home a humongous pile of stuff.

“Don’t worry so much. I’ve got this, Anacá. I’ve ordered enough food for around thirty guests. I think it should suffice. Here, check out the rings. Aren’t they beautiful?” She picked up two diamond rings, but I hardly looked at them as realization set in. I was getting engaged to the man I hated the most.

“Yes. Nice,” I said absent-mindedly.

“Here’s the dress I want you to change into.” She handed me a shopping bag and walked out to the kitchen. I noticed the way she avoided answering me about Josh. What was going on? Wasn’t Josh coming over? How would the engagement happen without him?

I changed into the ivory white dress Aunt Dana had bought for me and brushed my hair. Clipping on a pair of sparkling diamond earrings, I applied some makeup and walked out of my room. I could hear the guests in the living room, and my heart raced with apprehension. I wished I could escape the trauma tonight.

I saw Jess rushing towards me, pulling me into a bear hug. “You look so beautiful, Anacá. What’s going on? Where’s the sapphire ring you bought?”

I gaped at her, remembering the ring I had placed on Eros’ finger. I had completely forgotten about him. Did that make me already an engaged woman?

Just then, the doorbell rang, and Aunt Dana sprang to her feet. “That should be my Josh.”