Chapter 2

“Thank you—Hope to see you again” I flashed a smile as I waved our last customer of the day goodbye. It was finally closing hours.

"Finally” Lucy sighed, flipping the open sign closed.

“Are you heading home now?” She took off her apron as she make her way towards me.

"Yeah, I told my mom I'd return early to help her out with my dad”

"Oh, I see” she picks up her purse “don't you think you should take a break tomorrow?”

 A frown suddenly settled on my face “why?”

“I don't know, with this whole thing with your dad and the bakery, you've been overworking yourself…I don't want you to break down or something”

Always so worried about me

 I give her a faint smile, placing both my hands on her shoulders “I'll be fine, Lucia, Don't worry about me…okay?”

She nodded her head slowly breaking into a smile which caused one to form on my face. It wasn't hard to admit how beautiful Lucia was, even though she never believed it. Her smile was so contagious with her bright brown eyes and freckle filled cheeks.

It was impossible not to smile when she did. Our friendship was going to 7 years now and everyday, I was more grateful for having her around because she made life so much easier for me. It became way easier when she even decided to help open the bakery, but that story is really for another time.

"Alright hurry, go get your things” I placed my work apron down and picked up my bag. I waited for Lucy to get her phone so we could walk to the bus station together but suddenly, my phone started buzzing.

"Who could that be at this hour?” Lucy approached me, ready to leave. I just shrugged and took out my phone.

"Oh, it's my mom” I immediately picked it up “mom, what's up? Is everything okay?”

"No Tori, it's not. Your father just had another attack and we're at the hospital again”

I felt chills pass through my spin “the same hospital?”

“Yes, the one not too far from your bakery”

"On my way” I hung up and head towards the door.

"Where are you going? What on earth happened?” Lucy rushed after me.

"My father had another attack, I have to go”

“I'm coming with you”

 I turned around to face her “Lucy, it's 8pm, we have work tomorrow”

"So? I'm still coming with you” she flagged down a taxi and immediately proceeded to get in “Are you coming?”

 I had no other choice then to let her come along, so I got in.

…….

We arrived at the hospital which always seemed more occupied at night. We immediately made our way to the nurse in front.

"Hi, please I'm looking for my Dad's room, Martin Hills”

She looked down, going through a file on her table “He’s in the emergency ward, bed 6”

I didn't even wait to say thank you before dashing in there with Lucy trailing behind me. We arrived at the ward and found our way to his space.

"Doctor Wilfred” I said, acknowledging the doctor's presence.

"Miss Hills” 

I turned to my mom, placing my hand on her shoulder “he'll be fine” I turned to my sleeping Father.

"Miss Hills, I need to speak with you”

I couldn't explain, but that brought a prickling feeling, sending a wave of chills up my spin

“Of course. Lucy, please stay with her” I walked out the ward with the doctor, my heart pounding with every step, afraid of what news he could have.

“Miss Hills, your father's condition is getting worse everyday. He needs a transplant as soon as possible, his heart isn't strong enough.”

A lump suddenly formed in my throat

 “You've barely been able to afford constant treatment which he should be receiving at the hospital and not at home. At this point, his medications won't be enough to sustain him, I'm sorry”

 I felt a sting in my chest with every word the doctor altered. I was really trying my best, but at this point, my best wasn't good enough. How was I supposed to keep my bakery from crashing to the ground and at the same time provide full time treatment for my Dad? 

“Doc, the pre and post heart transplant costs over 1 million dollars….where in God's name do I get such money?”

 He takes off his glasses and lets out a sigh “I really don't know, Tori, but I advise you to seek help. Your father can only survive a month maximum if we don't increase and stabilize his medications, and a maximum of 3 months if he doesn't get his transplant”

 I was beyond short of words. I could manage to afford the money for the stable treatment, only if I work my ass off…but the money for the transplant, it was way out of something I could afford, where do I even start? I didn't even realize I had tears rolling down my eyes.

  I wiped it off “Alright, thank you, Doc”.

 He tried to give me a reassuring smile with a slight pat on my shoulder before walking off. I couldn't allow my mom see me like this. I knew she was stronger than me in this situation, but I still had to be strong for her because I knew she was broken inside, so rather than going inside the ward, I went outside to get some air.

~°~

“Duncan, you know your Father only wants what's best for you”

"Sure doesn't look light it” he took a sip from his glass of scotch, his back faced to his mother as she stood a few feet away observing his figure.

"Duncan….”

He finally turned to her“Getting married is a horrible idea, Mom.”

"You make it sound like you have a problem” she sighed

“Don't I though?”

"That's enough, Duncan.” Her voice became form “No son of mine has a problem which would stop him from getting married”

He let out a sigh “Mother….”

“No. Maybe your father's right, maybe getting married is a good idea”

He scoffed, gulping down the content of his glass before placing it on the table and walking to the couch. 

How does a guy with a series of failed relationships get married?

Marriage has never been something he looked forward to, the only thing he ever thought of was work, work and work. He used work to distract himself from everything going on around him, and most of the time…women. He hadn't gone past a relationship with women and he wasn't ever planning to. His series of failed relationships were all because he ended things with them as soon as they started talking about marriage, but now, the same marriage was what he needed.

“Mother, this is a bad idea” he looked up at her

She took a seat beside him, placing her arm round him “it isn’t Duncan. Don't you want the company? You know Stones Industry is rightfully yours”

"Why do I have to work for it then?"

She took in a deep breath, pushing some strands of his ink black hair away from his face “Try this marriage thing out. Who knows what it could yield”

"Nothing Mother, it will yield absolutely nothing. I'm not a love kind of guy, you know that”

"Then be one Duncan. Open your heart to someone other than your Dad, Michael and I. Make room for a woman” she stood to her feet and picked up her bag

“We'll talk tomorrow, Go get some rest”