CHAPTER FOUR — ONE FAMILY.

Chapter Four.

ONE FAMILY.

Nora's POV.

“I will be waiting here.” Adrian said, looking at me through the rearview mirror. “As soon as you're done, come out so that we'll head to the penthouse immediately.”

“I understand. Thank you.” I opened the door, and got down from the car.

Standing on the sidewalk, I sighed, as I stared at the hospital building in front of me. Then I began to walk towards the entrance. Before long, I got in, and proceeded towards the doctor's office.

As I got to his office, I opened the door, and walked in.

“You are back?” he asked, raising a brow. “If you're here to beg me, then you're wrong. You should be out there looking for a way to raise the money for her surgery.”

“I–I am not here to beg you to give me some time.” I said, closing the door.

“Why then are you here?” he shrugged a shoulder.

“I actually came to pay for the surgery.” I sighed, nodding my head softly. “Actually, to make a deposit of $50k.”

“Are you kidding me?” he narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean you're here to pay for her surgery? You barely left my office half an hour ago, and you're back telling me you want to pay for the surgery, really?”

“I know it sounds weird, but I have the money with me now, and that's all that matters.” I replied, trying to steady my voice. “So, I want to pay for my daughter's surgery so that you can schedule a date for her.”

“You have $50k with you right now?” he asked, raising a brow. “Is that what you're trying to say?”

“Can we not do this, please?” I asked, trying to quell the sob rising in my throat. “You asked for the money, and I'm here with it. It doesn't matter how I got it. I just want you to proceed with the surgery.”

“Right. All that matters is that you're here with the money. Please, sit.” he gestured with a hand.

“Thank you.” I settled on the chair in front of his desk. “So, how do I go about the payment? What account do I pay into?”

“Just a minute, please.” he opened a book, took out a piece of paper, and pushed it across the table to me. “You can pay into that account.”

“Alright.” I copied the account number into my phone and the wired the money to him. “Done. Now, can we get a date please. Besides, can I go home with my daughter?”

“Look, I, uh, I didn't mean to take out my anger on you earlier.” he said, shaking his head. “You know quite well that Daniel was my good friend. So I was only concerned about your daughter. I don't want you to lose her the same way you lost his husband.”

“I am not losing her.” I shook my head. “That isn't going to happen.”

“Right. It won't.” he clicked his tongue. “Meanwhile, you're free to go home with her. She's fine for now, just make sure she takes her medications as prescribed. Should she feel weird, then bring her back for check up.”

“The surgery date, please.” I reminded.

“Allow me a moment,” he turned over the pages of a book on his desk, and sighed. “Alright. Her surgery will be on the 10th of January. I'll start making preparations.”

“Thank you.” I got up from the chair, and turned to leave his office.

“Mrs Callaghan.” he called as I got to the door.

I stopped, and looked back.

“Yes?”

“I have no idea how you got the money, but I'm glad you did.” he said in a soft voice. “Now we have a real chance at saving her life Thank you.”

I didn't say a word. Instead, I smiled, and exited his office. I walked down the hallway, heading to Lily's room. Before long, I got to her room. I opened the door, and walked in.

“Mom,” she smiled, and tried to get down from the hospital cot.

“No, just stay where you are.” I said, returning the smile. “I will come to you.”

She sat on the hospital cot, and waited for me to get to her.

“How was the meal?” I asked, stroking her hair as I settled right next to her on the hospital cot. “Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes, I did.” she replied, nodding her head.

“Did you leave any for me?” I raised a brow.

“No, I didn't.”

“Why not?” I made a face. “You forgot about me. You were supposed to leave some for me.”

“I will do so next time.” she smiled.

“Of course, you will.” I kissed her on the forehead.

“I have to leave now.” the nurse said with a brief smile.

For a moment, I'd forgotten that she was right in the room.

“Oh, thank you so much for keeping an eye on her for me.” I said, returning the smile. “I really don't know how to thank you.”

“You don't have to.” she replied, shaking her head. “I have a daughter her age too, so I know what it means. I'm glad I was able to spend some time with her.”

“Thank you.” I said in a soft voice.

“In that case, I'll leave you two alone. Bye Lily.” she waved at Lily.

“Bye.” Lily replied, waving back at her.

She turned around, and exited the ward. I sighed, and turned to face Lily.

“Uh, listen to me sweetheart, there's something I need to tell you.” I said, touching her face with a hand. “A friend of mine has agreed that we can stay with him for the next few weeks.”

“Really?” her eyes lightened with excitement. “Do we get to spend Christmas with him?”

“Uh, no. Not really.” I shook my head.

“Why not?” she scowled.

“Uh, here's the thing sweetheart: we are just going to stay with him for a few weeks like I said.” I explained, framing her face with my hands, while looking into her eyes. “But I need you to listen to me. Don't call him dad, I know how much you love drawing, but no decorations sweetheart, and don't touch his office.”

“Why?”

“It is just like that.” I shrugged. “Meanwhile, we can leave now. A date has been chosen for your surgery; we'll return when it's time. Okay?”

“Where are we going to now?” she asked in a curious tone.

“Like I said, we're going to stay with my friend for the next couple of weeks.” I said, with a smile. “So, get up, and put this on so that we can be on our way.”

She got down from the hospital cot, took off the patient gown. After she'd taken it off, I gave her a black dress to put on.

“How do I look?” she asked, spreading out her arms with a smile.

“You look perfect sweetheart.” I replied. “Come, let's go.”

I grabbed the bags. Just then, I noticed a paper on the wall. She'd drawn two figures, the bigger one was obviously me, while the smaller one happened to be her. Staring at the drawings, a smile curled up my lips. I took the drawing off the wall, and proceeded towards the exit with her.

As we left her room, we walked towards the main exit. Before long, we exited the hospital. Holding her hand, we walked towards the black car Adrian had brought me in. As I approached the car, Adrian came out of it.

“Allow me,” he received the bags from me, and put them in the trunk.

“Get in.” I opened the door for her.

She got in, and I did the same too, then Adrian joined us in the car.

“I am sorry. I must have kept you waiting for so long.” I apologized.

“No, not really.” he turned on the engine, and began to drive. “My boss has asked me to get you some new clothes, shoes, and any other thing that you might need. I'll do so as soon as I drop you off at his penthouse.”

“Thank you.” I said, stroking Lily's arm. “I will let you know if there's anything I need.”

I sighed as I looked into the street through the window. Before long, he stopped the car, and turned off the engine.

“We are here.” he said, unlocking the doors. “You can go right in, while I bring your bags.”

“Thank you.” I opened the door, got down from the car, and waited for Lily to get down too before closing the door.

“Mom, is this our new house?” Lily asked, staring at the penthouse.

“It seems so.” I smiled at her, and sighed as I looked at the penthouse. “Want to go in?”

I couldn't say exactly if I was making the right decision, but anything that would save my daughter's life, for me, was the right decision. Thinking that barely two hours ago, it seemed like my life was about to fall apart. And then two hours later, I'd pay for Lily's surgery, and was about to step foot in one of the biggest houses in the city. The feeling made my heart race so fast.

“Come on in.” Adrian said, leading the way while also carrying the bags.

I held Lily's hand, and followed behind him. We got on the elevator, and after a few minutes, the doors slid open. Then he walked forward, hit some keys on the passlock, and the device beeped.

“Go on in.” he said, gesturing with a hand.

I sighed, and walked in with Lily. As we got in, my skin crawled. I'd never see anything like the penthouse my whole life.

“Welcome home.” Julian said, taking some steps towards me.

“Where is the Christmas tree?” Lily asked.

I swallowed hard as Julian looked at me.

“We don't celebrate.”