Holiday Humiliation

She hung up, and the ER's doors swung open. The doctor pulled his mask down, and the look on his face told me things were not going well. Then, he handed me a notice. Critical illness.

My heart sank.

The nurse approached me and gently reminded me to pay for George's bill. Of course. Zack Gosling pushed him down. Now George was in a ward. I took my wallet out. Just when I was going to pay the bill, they told me my balance was insufficient.

I tried all my other cards, but they were all frozen. Wendy. Who else but her could do this? Furious, I called her again, but it took me three tries just for it to get through.

"Are you out of your mind? Why'd you freeze my cards? Your parents are in the hospital, and they need the money! Their lives are on the line!"

Wendy's answer came colder than winter winds. "This is a lesson, Felix Shaw. We had a deal. Never bring your poor fishermen parents to my house. You broke the agreement."

"This is your own mother we're talking about! Unfreeze the cards! Lives depend on them!" I roared. The fury in my soul was erupting like a volcano threatening to devour an island whole."

She sneered. "I knew it. You married me for my money. You'd make up stories just to get my money. Don't even think about it. Count yourself lucky I'm even supporting you."

"You're unbelievable! Your mother's critical! The doctor's given us the notice! Get over here and see for yourself. It's probably going to be the last time you'll see your mom."

A moment of silence ensued. When she spoke again, Wendy's voice carried hesitation in it. Just when I thought she would change her mind, I heard Zack's voice.

"No way they're your parents, Wendy. I mean, they were wearing tatters. Also, you told me they went vacationing in Altya, remember? Even if it's true that they're your parents, one of them isn't ill. How about you talk to him? You'll see if he's your dad."

That gave her blind confidence. She said, "I'm not going to the hospital. If they're really my parents, get my dad to talk to me."

I massaged my forehead. This was hopeless. I was starting to feel helpless. George fainted the moment the doctor showed us the notice. He was still in bed and unconscious. So I was supposed to wake him up and prove that he was his daughter's dad?

Well, I had no choice. "Give me a minute. He fainted from shock. I'll wake him up."

I approached the bed. George was pale, and his lips were trembling. All he could make out were vague, indistinct sounds.

The doctor came up to me. "Excessive shock. He's down with a mild stroke, but he'll be fine. Just give it a few days."

Well, nothing I could do. I said, "Your dad can't even talk. He had a stroke."