Chapter 84 Bronson
We take a tour of the entire floor, stopping for a while at the kitchen as mother gives me her expression. I show them the bedrooms, my office, where I hear my father scoff, and of course the pool, something Anderson and Clara equally laugh at. My family has always known me to swim, but only my mother knows what it truly did for me back then. It was my escape, and when I catch her eye twinkle then give me a wink, I know she understands my need to have one.
We stop once again back at the study where the tree is and that’s when I spot Nikki standing beside the fireplace looking deeply into the lit flames dancing and flickering.
I march over and place my arm around her, only to have her teary gaze look up at me.
“Nikki? What’s going on?” I whisper as my family fills in the space. She shakes her head, but I reuse to let it go.
“I’ll tell you later.” She whispers back and although it takes a moment, I nod my head in understanding. After my family leaves, she will tell me.
“So, this must be the woman that has gotten my son to reach out and call his family for Christmas Eve? It’s strange that someone that looks like you would have his ear so solemnly.” Father barks out causing my anger to grow. Father has always been overprotective when it comes to our family, but I will not let him disrespect Nikki this way.
Just before I respond to his repertoire, Nikki beats me to it and speaks in her usual condescending tone. “And you must be the asshole that abandoned him the moment you assumed the worst.” Her arms cross over her chest and I snicker when Anderson and Clara laugh.
My father could be a brooding jerk on a good day, it’s nice to see Nikki can stand toe to toe with the man. My father looks angry at first then changes his tune and cracks a smile.
“Steven, I do believe she has one point over you,” My mother states as she walks by and take Nikki’s hand in hers. I can feel Nikki’s tension slip away, as well as the rooms. My mother has always had that affect. “I’m Liliana Fortworth, but you dear, may call my Lily.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Lily. I’m Nikki. Bronson’s girlfriend.”
“I thought you said you were engaged?” Clara comes forward.
“It’s a bit of a long story.” I say while looking down at Nikki. Her smile returns as she meets my gaze.
“Then tell us Bronson. Tell us everything.”
I nod at my mother and that is how we spend the rest of the day. We enjoy an amazing lunch that Nadia had planned for us, with the occasional laughs and jokes, memories are brought forward, and embarrassing stories are told to Nikki from each one of my family members. We are all having an amazing time that I get completely ambushed when Clara stands and tells us she has news.
“The cancer is back.” She states bringing the room into an uproar.
Everyone asks questions, everyone stands and comments, my father demands to know how long she has known, but I remain quiet. Her eyes study me as she gives me a single nod, one I can remember all too well when she was younger and was only strong for everyone else. She had this planned, she created this day so that we could all be together when she unveiled the shocking news that would once again haunt us for our remaining years. Only I could tell she is not done yet, there is something more she wishes to tell us, something that would cause her to bring us all together despite the fact that we haven’t seen each other in years.
“Clara, what aren’t you telling us?” I ask after she refuses to answer everyone’s questions. Everyone becomes quiet as they await her words. I can still remember the first time my mother explained why my thirteen-year-old sister is not only sick but would have to be in the hospital for weeks, if not months.
This feeling trumps that one.
“I’m not doing chemotherapy this time.”
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
