Chapter 8

Charles’ left leg was swollen due to the bite. The excruciating pain made him bite the pillow on his bed when the doctor attended to him. Initially, the doctor had wanted to administer anaesthetics to kill the pain, but he opposed it. 

Thus, the doctor warned that he could not scream since that could increase the stress levels of other patients. 

Hours passed and he was feeling much better. And that got him thinking he was fit to walk again. But before he could put his right foot ahead of the left, he was down on the floor.

“Charles!” Fiona screamed. She had been sitting in the visitor's area for hours. And so when the doctor announced that she could see him, she wasted no time in going to his ward. 

“What were you trying to do?” she asked while helping him get back onto his bed. “You are not fit just yet,” she added. And finally helped him to lie back on his bed.

Charles gazed at her for a moment and forgot about his pain. But when his father walked in, his senses were realigned and that was when he felt the pain from trying to walk.

“Ssshh, hmmm” he gnawed. 

“Son, how do you feel?” Mr Parker asked. “But why did you leave without a trace and switch off your phone? Jean told me you left in a terrible state two nights ago. Only to see you like this.” he added, hinting at what Jean had told him days ago.

“Look, I know things have been messy these past days, But do not scare us like that ever again. Do you hear me?” As Charles was about to respond to his Dad, Fiona cut in. It was at this point that Mr Parker noticed her presence. “Your father is right.”  

“And what is she doing here?” he asked rhetorically.

“Young lady, is it not obvious that your affiliation with my son has brought him nothing but bad luck?” he quizzed.

“First, his marriage collapsed because you came into the picture. Then he suffers a dog bite and as usual, you were there. What more signs do you need before you back off?”  he lamented. 

“I mean just do the analysis. Everybody knows my son loves dogs. And he’s had to share his space with them for so many years. Within all these years, never has there been a moment that a single dog dared to scratch him. But as soon as he was in your company, the worst happened.” he fumed.

As he was about to release more salvos on Fiona, Charles cut in in a pained voice, “Dad please stop this.”

Fiona stood on one side of Charles’ bed as tears began to roll down her face. As she was about to step out of the room due to the confrontation with Mr Parker, Leonardo entered. 

“Good day sir.” he greeted Mr Parker and turned to his friend. ‘Charles, how are you doing? I am so sorry I could not be there. By the time I got Fiona’s voice message, it was already late.” 

“Wait, what are you talking about? What voice message?” Mr Parker asked. Then Leonardo saw the tears on Fiona’s face and he started to fumble.

“I - I. erm, Fiona had s-e-n-t me a vo…”

“What is wrong with you? You can't talk all of a sudden?” Mr Parker asked. 

“I mean Fiona sent me a voice message on the day of the accident, but I could not respond in time” he finally said.

“Well, My son is getting better now and that is all that matters.” He said as the doctor walked in and announced that they cannot be in the room any longer. 

“I was just about exiting anyways. Son, I can't stand on my feet any longer so talk to you soon” he announced and walked out of the room as Leonardo and Fiona followed suit. 

Charles was still in pain so he watched on while they walked out and gave Fiona a look which suggested that she should not pay attention to his father’s antics.

***

Chris and Albert visited Tracy. They both bumped into Louisa who had gone to the supermarket to get some food items. So when she mentioned that Tracy had been at her end, they insisted on going to her house.

Upon arrival, the two claimed they were okay when Louisa offered to get them something to drink. They were so eager to engage Tracy. Besides, they had not seen her in recent times.

“Oh Tracy, we heard all that happened and could not believe our ears, we are so sorry about everything,” Chris said as Louisa excused them to drop the food items she had bought in the kitchen. Mrs Briggs walked past into the kitchen to prepare something for them to eat. 

“We are truly sorry.” Albert seconded Chris’ remark. 

“I know you are broken by all that has happened, but will you go back to Charles if he asked you to?” Albert queried. 

For a minute the room was dead silent. Tracy was caught off guard by that question. Of course, she loved Charles and still loves him. But the humiliation she had suffered at the hands of her ex-husband had her second-guessing her response to Albert.

“Listen, Tracy,” Chris cut in. “I know you still love Charles and I believe you two can make things work. I mean do you remember the time you joined us for that drink-up session? And you said he is the most loving and caring man any woman would wish for. You even said you could not have asked for a better husband and concluded that he is the best.” he reminded Tracy of her exact words during the drink-up session where she was asked to say any truth about her husband in a game of Truth or Dare.

Tracy never wanted out. It was Charles who filed for a divorce. 

So she carefully pondered over the words of Charles’ friends. 

As she was about to respond to Chris and Albert, Mrs Briggs came in and announced that she was making something for them to eat. “My children, I hope you stay up a little longer. Food will be ready in no time”

Chris and Albert looked on and did not know what to say. They both felt awkward. 

They had come to convince Tracy to get back with their friend and not to eat food. 

It was at this point that they both realized that a positive response from Tracy could make a difference and make them leave soon enough before the food was served. 

But Tracy was not saying anything.

“So Tracy, what do you think about my question?” Albert probed. “We have spoken to him and his demeanour clearly showed that he had regretted his actions. This means that with the slightest effort, you two can get back together,” he revealed. 

“I still love him,” Tracy confessed. It was as though Chris and Albert had won a lottery. As soon as they heard Tracy confess her love for Charles they both glittered with joy.

“Of course you do,” Chris said in a soft voice in agreement with her remarks. “And that is why you should fight for your love. Don’t lose it,” he added.  

“Chris is right Tracy, you should not lose it. Fight for it.” Albert added his bit.

Then Chris’ eyes fell on her bandaged right hand. 

“Oh, I am so sorry. We should have asked about your health first. In all honesty, that was the primary reason we insisted on coming here with Louisa. Charles’ issue was secondary.” Chris told her. “We heard all that happened with the back and forth from the hospital. How do you feel now? Does your hand hurt?” he further asked.

“I appreciate your concern. But I am recuperating quite well. And this will not be possible without Louisa and Mrs Briggs.” she said, pointing her left hand at Louisa who walked past into the kitchen. “I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow,” she added.

“That is great to hear. I hope you get fully recovered in no time.” Albert said. 

They could hear the gushing sound of a running tap and the echoing sounds of utensils from the kitchen. Albert thought that signalled the food was ready or was almost ready and so he was looking for an excuse to leave.

Then a call came through. “What!” Albert exclaimed. “How did that happen? Where is he?” he asked over the phone.

At this point, Both Chris and Tracy were left wondering. Albert’s gestures and tone got them a little worried. They both could not wait for him to get off the phone and say something to them. 

“It is Charles!” Albert finally said. “He had an accident,” he added.

This vague information made Tracy’s heart jump out of her chest. 

“He had an accident?” She asked in a worried tone as she shielded her right hand from hitting any object.

“Yes, Leonardo just told me over the phone that he was bitten by a German Shepherd while he was at the beach.” he finally gave a piece of detailed information. 

The look on Tracy's face reassured Chris that Tracy still cared about Charles. And thought that She could get back with their friend. The two left in a hurry to go see their friend at the hospital.

Mrs Briggs came to announce that food was ready but found the chairs of their guests empty. In a bid to ask for their whereabouts, she saw Tracy crying.

“Tracy, is everything okay?” Mrs Briggs asked.