Chapter 8

Tasha concluded she wasn’t hearing right, but it would be great if it were true. She has been calling back Adele, but the number wasn’t reachable. She wished she could jump out of the car and fly to the hospital.

After an hour's drive, the car stopped in front of Lux’s hospital. Tasha forgot to pay and ran into the hospital with sonic energy.

She ran into her mother’s ward, but her mother wasn’t there. She ran to Noelle’s ward, and she was also not in her ward. She checked the neighboring ward with the possibility of seeing them there, but they were not there.

She scratched her head with her hands till her hair untied, and she stood in a single spot, thinking of what to do.

Sofia, the nurse that gave her the receipt, came out of the elevator with a smile on her face. She walked towards Tasha and called to her halfway. “Ms. Tasha.”

Tasha looked at her side and ran to her. “Nurse, where are my mum and sister?”

“I didn’t see them in the wards.”

Sofia smiled and congratulated her. “Congratulation, Tasha.”

Tasha ignorantly accepted the handshake, and nodded. “What happened? Please.”

“I am not sure, but I guess it’s a miracle. The doctor on duty called earlier that someone has paid for your mum and sister’s bill. So, he ordered us to move them to the operating theatre.”

Tasha bent her mouth to the left in confusion, she slightly looked at the left side, and wondered, “who is that person?”

She looked at Sofia and investigated. “Do you know who paid the bill?”

Sofia shook her head. “No, but you can ask the doctor. I think he knows the person because the order came from him.”

“Okay, thank you so much.” Tasha appreciated.

“Where is Adele, my other sister?” Tasha inquired.

“I don’t know. You can check around for her.” Sofia said.

“Thank you.” Tasha bowed her head to walk out of Sofia, but Sofia stopped her.

“Ms. Tasha, please sign this document.” Sofia put a document forward.

Tasha collected it and brushed her eyes through the first page. Seeing it was the legal guardian approval document, she didn’t bother to read the remaining page. She collected a pen and signed it.

“Thank you.” Sofia bowed her head and walked away.

Out of curiosity, Tasha got to Doctor Mayor's office in a mixture of walk and run. She knocked on the door.

“Yes, come in.” Doctor Harvey responded. She opened the door and entered.

She stood in front of him and bowed her head. “Good day, sir.” She greeted.

He was working on a file before her arrival, and he stopped to respond to her. "Good day, ma," he curtsied his head with a welcoming smile.

"How has your day been going?" He asked in a friendly tone like he has known her before.

"Guess it has been great."

"Yes, thank you." She responded. She tried to feign a smile, but she couldn't do it and the little she displayed was sour.

"Why are you lying? You look beautiful, but I can easily tell something is troubling you. What happened?" He spoke.

"Tell me if I can help and I will gladly help a beautiful lady." He said.

"Thank you sir," she appreciated his kindness towards her.

She felt disgraced and rubbed her right hand. She sighed and tried to speak. "Actually, sir…"

"Don't worry, maybe I asked you in a wrong way. I am sorry, I have trouble with wording," he beamed lightly.

"Let me put it like this. Why are you here?"

"My mum and sister…" she wanted to explain, but before she could land her statement, he quickly figured out. "Ms. Tasha, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Oh! I am sorry, and please pardon my manner. Please have your seat." He offered.

She sat down, and she felt free to say her worry. "Sir, the nurse told me someone settle the bills, please who is it?"

He breathed down, thinking of where to start his explanation, and he found a proper line. "First, I will apologize to you we moved your mother without your consent. I am very sorry."

“It’s okay.” She said. That wasn’t her main concern. She was interested in who paid the bills.

“About who settles the bills, I am not sure. The other came from the above, and he ordered me to perform the surgery as soon as possible. That’s why I have no option than to move her to the operating theatre without your consent.” He analyzed.

She frowned her face at him in confusion and requested for a clarification. “What do you mean by an order from the above?”

"And please, who is the person?"

“About that, I am not sure, but since what we need is fund, and the person who called has settled us, we have no option than to proceed.” He said.

“But…” her voice stammered.

He easily read her expression, and how confused she was, and he wore a smile. “I know how you feel, but you shouldn’t be like this now. You should be happy because someone paid.”

“Yes, but sir…” she wanted said her mind, but Sofia interrupted, knocking on the door.

"Come in." Doctor Harvey permitted.

Sofia entered and announced. “Sir, everything is ready.”

"Okay, I will join you in the next minute." He said. Sofia bowed her head and walked out.

Doctor Harvey stood up and packed all the files to the left side while Tasha watched her did things. After packing things well, he picked his lab from the hanger, and wore it before shifting his attention back to Tasha.

“Hum, Tasha, guess I will leave now. Everything is ready, so I will leave for the operating theatre now.” He announced.

She shook her head in a comprehending manner, and in a low tone, she let out. “Okay, sir.”

She stood up and fixed her eyes on him till she noticed and queried. “Is everything all right?”

She didn’t answer, and he raised another question. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and wore a smile. “Nothing, sir.”

“Okay, I will leave now.” He bowed his head and walked forward to the other side of the desk, where Tasha was siting.

Tasha turned to leave at the same he left, but because he was in a hurry, he walked a little faster than her. As he laid her hand on the door, she called him. “Doctor Harvey.” 

 He looked back at her, answering, “yes.”

She walked closer to her and grabbed his hand. She burst into tears and pleaded. “Please, save my mum and sister. They are all I have. Please.”

Harvey took his hand off her hand and hugged her. “Don’t worry, Tasha. We doctor try our best, but god heals. I believe god already has done your mother and sister’s surgery. We will try our possible best and I believe God will do it…”

“So, don’t be sad, but be prayerful.”

He separated her body from his body and put his hand on her shoulder. He patted her, and looked straight into her eyes, shaking his head up and down in a motivating manner.

He took his hand off her and walked out. While she watched, he went out. 

A few seconds later, she wiped her tears and sighed. “Everything will be fine, right?”

She took a step, and her former worry paved the way back into her skull. “Who paid the bills?” She wondered.

“No one else apart from Malachi knows about it? I didn’t tell any other person. Can it be he took a loan to pay?”

“Even if he took the loan, it can’t be this fast…”

She scratched her head and rounded her hands around her waist. She bite her lower lip, and continued. 

“Wait!” She ordered the present of no one. “Could it be Talon?”

************

Tasha took her mind off every thought, concluding that her mother and sister’s condition should be her priority. She stood in front of the operating theatre with her heart pounding fast. She walked front and back fifteen times. She stood at a single spot and looked at the operating theatre door for minutes.

She took her eyes away from the door and looked at the main entrance door, wondering how Noelle’s surgery was also going. Adele was with Noelle, but Tasha's mind was unrest. She wished she could become two and separated herself from the two places.

She inhaled deeply and walked to the chair before releasing the breath. “Oh, god.” She sighed and sat down.

She took her phone out of the pocket and saw many missed calls from Malachi. She presses the ‘call back’ option, and Doctor Harvey opened the OP theatre, and walked out with a bitter look and his walking manner wasn't speaking joy.

She returned the phone to her pocket and walked hurriedly to meet Harvey half way.

“How is the surgery?” She asked.

Harvey sighed and looked down in disappointment, coupled with worry.

“Talk to me doctor,” she held his hands and shook him. Her heart was escaping breath because she was guessing the possibility of what might have happened.

“Calm down, Tasha…” he tried to calm her, but she didn’t allow him.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” She mistakenly raised her voice. She took a deep breath and rubbed her chest down, trying to calm herself.

“I am sorry, but please, tell me what happened.” She pleaded.

“Tasha, in this life…” he tried to use an appropriate line, but she wasn’t interested. “Don’t do sermon for me. I don’t need it. Please tell me exactly what happened.”

“That’s what I am doing, Tasha, listen to me. Unfortunately…” He spoke slowly at the end.

She widened her eyes and looked straight into his eyes. She breath loudly, and he could hear the beat of her heart.

“The operation was successful! We saved your mother!” He shouted and jumped, excited.

She closed her eyes and shook her head. She believed she heard him wrong and confirmed. "What did you say?"

"Your mum's surgery is successful."

She looked at him with her eyes half opened. She walked to the chair without turning to it, and she sat down. She positioned her elbows on her lap, rubbing her forehead with her hands.

He walked to her and sat down beside her. "What happened? You should be happy."

She raised her head and looked at him. "Of course, I am. But you scared me."

"I am sorry if that makes you sad, I just like whining people," he said and she shook her head, comprehending.

"Are they done with Noelle?" He inquired.

"No, maybe I should go there to check. Can I check on my mum before going?" She said. She stood up, and he also stood up.

"Not yet. The nurse is still cleaning her up. Wait till they move her back to the ward." He answered.

"Okay," she smiled and stretched her hands out for a handshake, showing gratitude. "Thank you so much."

He happily accepted her hand. "You are welcome."

They separated their hands, and she turned to the door to walk out, but he called her.

"Tasha."

She looked back at him, answering, "yes."

He walked closer to her; he dug his hand into his pocket and took a note out. He stretched it out to her, and she collected it. He didn't want her to read it in his presence, so he bowed his head and walked out.

"What's this?" She wondered. She was afraid to open it, thinking it was another bill.

She slowly opened it and read. "I am sorry. I have to do things this way. This is a small gift from someone that your smile glittered in his life. This is from someone that love you deeply, but wasn't sure about…"

The sender didn't complete the last, and she was left to figure out who it could be. 

"Malachi didn't have money to settle the bill. Besides, when did we know each other that he would have fall in love?"

"Also, Tasha doesn't look like someone that will do this. He doesn't help anonymously…"

"Who can it be?"

"Can it be doctor Harvey himself?!" 

She widened her eyes and quickly cover her mouth, hoping no one heard her.