The Agony Of Fatherhood

As Kelly was about to step outside to return the missed calls, George called him back. "Hold on a sec. Before you leave, I have a question for you. I demand an honest answer because I know you too well. You might wanna beat around the bush. Have you spoken to Ciara since she left last night?"

"Really? This was the question you wanted to ask me? And you made me wait? Are we gonna do this now? Where's that coming from?" Kelly dodged the question. He was infuriated that George had to ask such a question in the presence of everyone. Kelly would have preferred if the question was asked when the two of them were alone. 

"Just answer the damn question. I see no reason you are getting yourself worked up. It's no really no big deal. A yes or no would do,"

George spoke again. 

Not even Kelly's refusal to speak would stop him from trying to satisfy his curiosity.

"Sorry to disappoint you, I can't answer that." Kelly hissed and walked away without providing the answers that George seek

"Oops. 

I guess I got my answer already," George laughed. That was the only time I joked in a while. His pathetic situation has suddenly made him become a sadist. 

"Back to you, Olivia.

What noises were you talking about? 

I guess you wanted to tell us about it before Kelly's call ruined everything," doctor Escobar asked. 

Olivia's moment of relief was short lived. She thought the disturbing incoming call from Kelly had settled her case. Unknown to her, it just got worse

"Wait a minute, you thought I had forgotten about this? You must be a dreamer," Doctor Escobar laughed disdainfully to mock Olivia. With his gesture, he made her understand that she had more problems ahead of her. 

"What I am about to say has got everything to do with Mr Cooper and it's gonna hurt him. I don't know how to go about it," Olivia said and paused. She was done playing hide and seek. She figured out that speaking up was gonna get her out of the mess real quick since her resilience wasn't helping. .

"Me?

How?" George tossed off the bed the moment he realized that he had become the centre of attraction.

"Yes, you sir,"

Olivia nodded in the affirmative. 

"Then spill it already.

If you don't wanna speak about it, then shut the fuck up. You wasting my time," George cried. He took the situation more personally when he discovered the real truth. 

"You might need to calm down, George. You are getting discharged in a few days. I wouldn't want to complicate things by yelling," Doctor Escobar warned George. It was quite unfortunate that the Doctor didn't pay attention. He acted as though no one was speaking to him.

"I am listening 

How do I get into this? You barely even know me," George continued with his question. He was damn prepared. It didn't seem like he was ready to quit asking. 

"You are right. 

I don't know you

 But I know your son, Dexter," Like an atomic bomb, Olivia unleashed the bombshell.

"What? 

I knew it," George facepalms. He was lucky not to have another heart attack.

At the mention of Dexter, Doctor Escobar was forced to chip in. He knew for sure that there's always chaos anywhere Dexter is being mentioned. For that reason, it may likely affect George's health.

"Same reason I was reluctant to tell you about it. Now see what just happened. I guess I should better leave," Olivia pleaded. 

The situation had overwhelmed her. She desperately needed an escape route before she further complicates things. 

"No, stay back. 

You not going anywhere,"

George stopped Olivia and blocked her exit.

"Are you really certain about this? 

I could just forget about it and everyone goes home happy," Olivia sent the warning ahead. She also reminded George about his health and how the shocking revelation was gonna affect it negatively.

Despite the huge warning, George was strong headed and insisted that Olivia proceed. He also bragged that he was capable of withstanding whatever Olivia had to say.

"Mr. Cooper, I think you need to listen to my Nurse. She just told you how bad the news is. Why are you so bothered to find out about it? Aren't you worried about your health?" Escobar advised. His top priority was George's health. He knew the stress he went through trying to get George back to shape. He would rather not encounter such a phase again.

"Damn the health, Doctor.

What difference does it make? 

You act like I forced her to speak up in the first place. She started it all. Let her end it. I can't deal with this suspense for too long. It's even killing my heart faster than expected,' George protested. His reluctance to let go stunned everyone including Olivia. She hasn't seen anyone like that before.

"Whatever happens, just know that I did my best to warn you about what you are getting yourself into. Too bad you refused to take advice from me," 

Doctor retreated and exempted himself from George's situation. He couldn't deal with George's obstinacy.

"Your son, Dexter, got arrested barely an hour ago for hitting one of the nurses at the reception," Olivia said without looking back. She spoke as though she had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to do that a long time ago.

"Dexter was arrested and you had to wait this long before you could tell me about it? I thought it was something serious. Are you fucking kidding me now? Do I look like a joke to you?" George laughed it off to the surprise of everyone. 

However, his tone of voice didn't correlate with his facial expressions. It's as though he was faking to stay strong and prove to Olivia that he could handle any difficult situation that comes his way. 

 Neither Olivia nor Doctor Escobar saw this coming. They thought he would scream his lungs out. Now they aren't certain the laughter came from a place of pain or he actually meant it.