CHAPTER 27: DEFY THE RULES

The Board meeting had just ended and it’s way past lunch. Being with highly dignified board members and knowing them, their business stature and functions at the company, was indeed intimidating. They were so sturdy and so intellectual that being in the same room with them was quite daunting. I was too enthralled and overawed with their achievements and their contributions, which gained them deep respect from me.


After the said meeting, all three of us headed out for a late lunch. I made a mental note to always prepare hefty mid-morning snacks for my father every time he goes to work. Witnessing the length and how rapt he was at work, which often ended with him having late meals, wasn’t something I would want him to get used to. Now that I’m here and with him, I would see to it that he would be properly cared for and would personally supervise his health.


The late lunch was light and flimsy, undemanding and untax. No topics about the company nor any business related subjects were discussed during the duration of our meal. I was somewhat relieved when my father decided to call it a day and we should head home.


“It was your first day after all, so I would be lenient with you for the time being. Tomorrow, I have a scheduled appointment at the hospital for my monthly check up. I have high hopes in you, Penelope, so there’s no need for me to babysit you anymore. You have a great team, they will help you around.”


“I wish to accompany you tomorrow at the hospital, Dad. I want to have a much deeper insight into your health, so I won’t be coming to work tomorrow.”


“Are you sure? It will take a while and it might bore you at some point.”


“I’ll be fine, Dad,” I smiled at him assuringly.


I was about to lie down on my bed after arriving home when my phone suddenly rang. It was a call from Carol, which I hastily answered.


“Hi, Penelope! Michelle wanted to talk to you, she’s right here next to me.”


At the mention of her name, my lips swiftly curved with extreme happiness. “Put her on the line, Carol.”


“Mommy!” Her shrieking cute voice made my eyes filled with longing tears for her. It’s just been days that I haven’t seen her, yet it seems like years of being departed with her. I miss her so much and there’s nothing in this world I ever wish for than to be with her, feel warm embrace and kisses.


“Hi, Baby! How are you? How’s school?”


“School’s fun! I got lots of stars today. I did well!”


“That’s great! Where are you now? Are you home with your Dad?”


“I’m at home, but Daddy’s not around again. He’s at Grandma’s house. He always goes there, Mom.”


A part of my heart slightly got pinched with her news. I should get used to it already, since Pamela’s back in town, she and Michael would have been seizing their moment together to alleviate those years of separation.


“I see. Have you been good lately? Do you not give Carol a hard time taking care of you?”


“I am, Mom. You know I’m a good girl, right?”


“So what made you call? Is there something that you wish to say to me that I must know?”


“Nah! I simply miss you, Mommy! I wish I could go there with you, so I could meet my Grandpa there too and we could be together.”


I couldn’t help but to be saddened at what she said. Her voice was evidently filled with longing, which stirred my motherly emotions and slowly pricked my eyes to moisten.


If only it’s that easy. If only I could, without creating a warfare with her father, God knows I would take her with me in a jiffy. But there would definitely be war if ever I planned to bring Michelle here. Michael wouldn’t agree with me the slightest, I know he would disagree.


I tried to make my voice enthusiastic even though I am crumbling inside with intense longing for her. “Don’t worry, Baby, Mommy will figure out a way out so I can bring you here. You’ll love it here, for sure. Your Grandpa’s home here was immensely huge, like those in fairytale stories we read.”


“Mommy, take me there with you please. I want to be with you the most. I barely see Daddy home for the past couple of days. He was usually at Grandma’s house. Take me there with you, Mommy. I promise to behave and not to create any difficulty for you and Grandpa. I want to spend my birthday there with you” Her little voice was trembling, obviously on the verge of tearing up, which made me weep in silence as my heart aches for her.


“Give Mommy a little more time, Baby. I promise, I will take you here and you will live here with me and Grandpa.”


“Pinky promise, Mommy?”


“Yes, Michelle, pinky promise.”


The short call from my daughter saddened my mood for the rest of the day. It was so evident in me even during dinner, which didn’t get away from my father and Lewis’ observing eyes.


“Was there any problem, princess? You seem to look so out of yourself now. What’s wrong?” Dad swiftly cut the silence after placing his silverwares aside.


“Michelle called earlier.”


“And?”


A solitary tear trickles down my cheek, which I quickly sweep away. “She wished to come here and be with me.”


“That could be arranged, Penelope,” He concernedly uttered before patting my hand with gentleness.


“But Michael wouldn’t let me solely have her, Dad. It was stated in the agreement we both signed at. I need his permission in every decision I have to make when it comes to our daughter.”


“I’ll talk to Attorney Natasha regarding this matter. We could sort things out for sure. Just let me deal with this and free yourself from worries. Let me handle this matter for you, princess.”


A sad smile curved at the corners of my lips knowing that there’s nothing my father could do if my ex-husband would never agree. Lewis's eyes were fixed on me, I could vividly see deep concern in him as well. I know he wanted to say something, but he didn’t voice it out with respect to my father.


My father’s assuring words didn’t uplight my grieving heart. I was in deep pain and shedding tears on my own in the back garden when I sensed some presence from behind. When I looked back, Lewis was standing with both hands securely tucked inside his short’s pockets. I knew he would talk to me, so I swiftly brushed off the fluids on my cheeks and took several heavy breaths.


“Mind if I sit?” I simply nodded without gazing up at him. He sat in front of me and took a few seconds of watching me before speaking up. “Care to share?”


Even before I could open up my lips to say something, a flood of tears rolled down from my eyes as I uncontrollably wailed in tormented cries. He swiftly stood and sat beside me, wrapped me in his arms and gently soothe my back while consoling me.


“I don’t know what to do anymore. Hearing her sadness and her longingness to be with me triples the pain I am feeling. It really pained me a lot that I can’t do anything to stop her from feeling that way nor to even alleviate our situation. I feel so helpless right now. I feel like a worthless mother who doesn’t have a bone to stand for her only child.”


“Hey, you are not worthless. Don’t say that to yourself, because you’re not even an inch close to that word. Free your mind from worries, your father will seal the deal for you.”


His last words made me gazed up at him with curiosity. There was assurance that bores in his eyes, as if he knew that everything will be settled by my father in no time.


“Could he? But it was all documented and signed legally. No one can bend the law and there’s no chance I could take Michelle away from Michael without causing an enormous war against him. He will never let me have our daughter in my care alone.”


“Don’t you trust your father? Believe me, when he says he will take care of it, he will. He might be on the line now talking to Attorney Sparks and asking her legal advice on how to solve your problem with your ex-husband.”


“That’s next to impossible, Lewis. I don’t know how Dad will do it, but no one could help me be with my daughter, except if Michael pardons me” I shook my head with utmost disbelief while he smiled at me reassuringly.


“Trust your father’s words, Penelope. Don’t underestimate his power over things. You still don't know how mighty your father is, he will make a way for you even when you see it as next to impossible. Just trust the process and let him do the rest. Watch and wait, you will be with your daughter soon enough.”


The determination laced in every word that Lewis uttered birthed a new hope inside my heart. If he was so certain that my father could definitely make a way and make unexpected things happen, then I must take heed of his words with faith. I got nothing to lose if I put my faith in him. I am not certain how my father would do it, but I would be forever grateful to him if he could defy the rules for the sake of her grandchild.