Chapter 6:

CARLTON’S POV

Few moments ago, my entire world damn near came to a stop as my eyes came in contact with the little kid I just helped get a draw-book.

She has beautiful cyan eyes that twinkled brightly as she stared at me with a gleeful smile. Her lips are plump and pink. Her short curly hair, raven black. In fact everything about her, immediately reminded me of a memory that had been hunting me through the past 5 years.

“Thank you Mista!” Her tiny but loud voice made me jolts out of my daze. Hearing her voice and having her stare up at me, filled me with something I haven’t felt for a long time - Warmth and Pure bliss. And I don’t know why but felt this strong connection towards her.

Which immediately dissolves as it dawns on me that I might be hallucinating.... Again.

It’s not the first time I’m mistaking a random Female for Dahlia. ever since she disappeared after her release, I’ll be damned if I say I never regretted my action at some point. I don’t know if it’s guilt but I kept seeing her face in every lady, only that I hadn’t really mistaken a kid for her until now.

“Uh—“

“Is it alright If I have your babydoll? It’s pretty!” The little girl cut me off before I could say a word. She was all high spirited, her smile endearing as she stared mesmerized at the toy, which I forgot I was holding.

She’s like a painful reminder of how kids are supposed to be like. Happy and full of life!

“oh, this? I’m really sorry dear, It’s for my kid but I could get you another one?!”

“Yay! There are a lot over there. Look...” She shrill enthusiastically before I could finish, her gaze swiftly averting to another direction.

She’ve got quite an energy I must say which made me smile helplessly and followed her gaze to see what she was showing to me.

But then something quite weird took my Attention. I saw the frame of a woman, I swear I did but in just a flash, she disappeared. Not actual disappearing, she turn away immediately and swerve to the back of a counter.

With my Curiosity piqued, I contemplated moving forward to find the woman. Why did she ran? Or maybe I’m the one who got everything wrong. It might had just been a co-incident that she went to the back counter, the split second I looked that direction.

However, my moments of wandering is cut short when my phone droned in my pocket startling me. I immediately reached for it.

My heart nearly stop as my eyes lands on the caller ID. Our family Doctor, Marcus. In curiosity, I hastily picked the call.

“Mista? Are you leaving?” The little kid from earlier asked the moment, I placed the phone on my ear about to walk away.

Oh, she’s still here. I had totally forgot.

I turn to her and she’s staring up at me with a puppy face. I frown, and then it dawns on me. The toy.

I just look at the one in my hand and Decide to gift it. “You can have it...”

“Wow!!! Thank you so much sir!!!” She screamed enthusiastically after taking the toy and dived me me for a hug. My nerves Automatically relaxes the moment her tiny soft hands wrapped around my legs.

She made me feel what it’s like to have a child.

And Despite my agitation at the moment, I don’t know how a smile breaks through my cheeks. watching her jubilates over the toy is something I would give my life up for to watch Andre do the same.

But I’ve to leave as soon as Marcus voice protrudes from the other end of the phone.

“Carlton, are you free?”

Tension goes through my spine.

“What, Did something happen?” I panick, while making my way out of the mall.

****

It took just three hours for me to Fly all the way down from L.A to Texas. And Finally, I’m at Marcus’ Hospital. It’s a miracle that I didn’t run into an Accident as I’d drove at an insane speed. I park my car at any convenient space and Frantically dash out heading into the hospital.

The hospital is bubbling as usual. Nurses, Patients and patients relative breezing around. And thankfully, I walked right into Marcus who seem to be walking towards my direction. Clad in his lab coat, wearing his signature glasses and a Stethoscope of course.

He breaks into surprise the moment he sees me, “Carlton, you could make it.”

“Of course, it’s my son we are talking about here?” I Scoffs.

“Well, calm down, Andre Is in perfect condition now.” Marcus says with a smile and I heaves a mild sigh of releif.

“Take me to him.”

“Sure.”

I follow Marcus as he leads the way to the Andre’s ward.

When Marcus called and told me Andre that had a seizure, I swear I felt a restriction to breath. My heart tugged painfully and I felt like I would pass out. It’s not like it’s the first time this is happening but What if my mother didn’t pay visit to my house? What would have happened? My mother was the one who found him and rushed him down. Marigold wasn’t around as usual.

And when Andre had woken up, he began fighting with the nurses and demanding to leave. They had to call Mari-gold but she took none of her calls. Marcus had to call me when the racus was still going on. After that call, I tried calling mari-gold but she didn’t answer. It wasn’t surprising, that’s how much negligent marigold could be. All she cares about is hanging out with friends, partying, and drinking. I had to cancel my appointments in L.A and travel back to Texas.

Shortly After, we entered into spacious and sparkling room. My son’s VIP ward and I felt my heart sink the moment my eyes came in contact with Andre. There he is, lying peacefully on the bed. His eyes closed as an oxygen tube is fixed to his nostril. There’s no amount of pain that can match the pain I feel whenever I see him this way and Knowinf it’s as a result of my mistake, makes it even unbearable. I and Mari-gold are AS genotype and now we’ve to make an innocent child suffer for our fault. Andre was born ss and He’s been suffering since 5 years now.

He’s Fucking just 5! He’s too young for this.

“He’s just asleep...” Marcus said as if that’s supposed to pacify me. I just sigh and nodded.

He pats my back before making his way out of the ward.

I saunter towards Andre’s bed and Daintily sits beside him, taking his tiny fingers into mine and begin to caress them. “I’m so sorry my little guy, this is all my fault.” My voice comes out husky. “But Trust me, Daddy will do everything to see that you are okay.”

I began to stroke his hair and suddenly the door flew open, with someone walking in.

“Oh my goodness Carlton…”

Mari-gold.

Suddenly undiluted rage pulse through my veins as she approached me with a confused frown.

“I thought you had business in LA?”

“Well, What do you think?” Is my cold response to her.

She sighs and takes a glance at Audre on the bed. Not an inch sober or remorseful for her negligence.

“C’mon, it’s not the first time Andre is having a seizure. It always happens and as usual he would revive. Not enough reason to cancel your schedule. Although it’s none of my business though.” She said casually rolling her eyes.

“Really Mari-gold? That’s all of you’ve got to say?” I blast at a full bleep such that she even statured. “You are not even worried what could have happened if my mother hadn’t come to the house? You Abaddoned a little boy at home and go off to God knows where! When you fully know his condition! And you didn’t even have the decency to pick your calls!”

“Oh please Carlton, you don’t expect me to sit at home all day playing the role of a house wife! And Andre’s case is beyond our capacity. I’m fucking tired of taking care of a sick son every moment of my life! I never signed up for this Carlton.” Mari-gold yelled, matching my energy.

Yelling at each other has become a regular routine for us. Almost like a part of this marriage.

“So we just leave him to his fate, Is that what you’re insinuating?!”

We’ve had this conversation a million times and in all of it, Mari-gold clearly makes it clear that she doesn’t care about our son. She had always hated him. And her bitterness towards him had shaped our son into being a cold hearted person. He hated Mari-gold. He hates me. He hates everyone! All thanks to his mother!

At some points, I had to get him a nurse maid but he gave bee a hard time till she resigned.And it’s been same with his other nemerous nurses.

I’m so Fucking tired! All I ever wanted is a complete happy family and an heir! Not this. Not this mess.

Sometimes, I can’t help but think that I’m paying for my past sins.

“If you really care about him that much, then get him a nurses maid and if he makes her leave, then continue hiring because I’m not going to sit around nursing a sick son!”

The ‘son’ sounded like excrement in Mari-gold’s mouth which both punctured my heart and infuriated me at the same time.

Mari-gold had called our son worst names and made him feel unwanted but I’ll get used to her insensitivity towards him.

My jaw clenched and I’m about to yell at Mari-gold once again when my eyes came in contact with Andre’. His blue eyes which he inherited from Mari-gold, are staring directly at us. He’s wide awake. A sharp pain rippled through my chest as I recognize a very familiar glow in his eyes. Hatred and disgust. He always hate to see us especially when we are always arguing.

“Andre—“I immediately lean to Andre’s level, my voice extremely voice. “How are you my little guy?” I bring my hand to touch his hair but he abruptly yank his face away.

Mari-gold scoffs behind me.

Before I could say any more word, my phone blast in my pocket. I stands up to take the call but when I discover the Caller is Mum, I takes a pause and sigh.

I’m seriously not ready for Mum’s tantrums about Mari-Gold right now. I know I’ll certainly deal with that but really not now.

So after letting the phone ring till it goes off, I decided the keep the phone but a test pops in from mom.

And as I reads the content, my heart beat froze.