SWNOVELS Acts of Atonement: Chapter 24
THE FAMILY WAITING area is humming with anticipation as we fight over who gets to see my father first. The hospital only allows five visitors in a patient’s room at any given time, so we’re currently trying to figure out the logistics of our visitation schedule.
We decide on family first with Ren, the twins, and me taking first shift along with Cassie, seeing as how she’s practically family; followed by William, Titus, and Hudson taking second. Ashley and Harper are back in Dallas, otherwise we would’ve had to have added a third shift.
Nerves wrack my body as we walk toward my father’s room. A barrage of questions assault me all at once, two of which are playing on constant repeat.
Will he remember us? Will he remember the accident?
Finally at his door, Ren reaches for the handle, glancing back at us and giving us a reassuring smile. “Everything is going to be okay. Just smile, and remember, don’t spring any highly emotional information on him. He’s still recovering.”
We all nod in agreement before Ren pushes the door open, letting us in.
My dad sits up in his bed, staring out the window. As soon as he hears us, he turns his head, his eyes landing on everyone all at once.
“My family,” he murmurs to himself. A slow smile appearing on his lips.
Instantly, my eyes well up with tears. He remembers. “Daddy!” the twins shout as they rush the bed.
“Boys!” my father exclaims. “Come here and let me hug you.”
“Where’s Dr. Ansley?” I ask, wondering where the genius doctor is. I have no doubt his experimental therapy had a great part in my father’s recovery and I feel the sudden urge to hug the man that brought us our father back.
“I spoke with him on the phone earlier today,” Ren answers. “He had to fly back to New York for an emergency but will be back tomorrow morning. Assuming Aiden’s tests go well, he can travel back home as early as tomorrow evening. We will need at-home care for a while, but I’m sure Aiden won’t mind a hot nurse at his beck and call, will you, brother?”
My dad chuckles as I roll my eyes. If I weren’t so damn happy, I would smack Ren for his chauvinistic humor.
“So then this is it? He’s fully recovered?” I look back to Ren for an answer.
“As soon as he clears his tests. This is it.”
The boys cheer, jumping up and down and hugging Dad all over again. “We made you so many cool drawings, Dad. You’re going to love them.”
“That’s amazing boys. I can’t wait to see them… I can’t wait to get out of this bed. My body feels as if it’s been lying here for months. It has, hasn’t it?” Dad’s expression grows somber as he looks between Ren and me for an answer.
“What’s the last thing you remember?” Ren asks my father hesitantly.
My father’s eyes close and after a long pause, he answers, “A job site. I remember a phone… smashing my phone.”
“Yes! That’s good, Daddy!” I exclaim, hoping he can finally answer the question that’s been plaguing me for months. “Do you remember what made you so angry you smashed your phone? William said the loss of communication was the catalyst to your injury.”
“Isabella,” Ren chides. “We’re not supposed to push him like this.”
I turn to look at my father, needing answers but also not wanting to make him regress. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out what would cause you to destroy your phone. That isn’t like you.”
My father’s expression grows dark. Turning to Cassie, he motions toward Matt and Max. “Cassie, would you mind taking the boys out for some fresh air? I’m sure they’re tired of seeing their dad in a hospital bed.”
“Nooooo,” the boys wail. “We want to stay here with you!”
“I have to talk to your uncle and sister about grownup stuff right now, but I promise we’ll be home soon and you can spend as much time with me as you want. So much time, you’re going to get sick of seeing me.” My father strokes their heads in affection.
The boys finally relent and follow Cassie out the door as I mouth a silent thank you.
“I remember,” my father blurts out.
“Don’t push yourself,” Ren urges.
“Stop fussing over me, Ren. I’m fine.” My father waves his hand in the air. “I got an anonymous text. It had very detailed information about trips Lucia had taken when she was alive, as well as photos of her and another man in very compromising positions.”
My jaw drops as the nightmare from three years ago begins to haunt me all over again.
“Fuck,” Ren mutters under his breath.
“And that’s not the worst part. We knew and trusted the other man,” my father adds.
My face pinches trying to recall the memory of my mother and the man. But try and try as I might, I can’t see his face.
Without warning, my father speaks, revealing his identity. “It was William’s father.”
My heart drops and my throat clogs, heavy with emotion. What the fuck did he just say? Surely, I must have heard him wrong.
Shifting my gaze toward my uncle, I see that his face is frozen in horror and I’m pretty sure it’s a mirror of my own expression.
Moments pass and the room remains eerily quiet. If it weren’t for the beeping of machines, I would think we were all stuck in a state of suspended animation. Shocked into stasis by the sudden revelation my father has just shared.
Ren is the first to break the silence. “The photos could be fake. They were clearly sent to knock you off-balance, right?”
“Well besides the damning photos, the mystery text confirmed dates of travel and such. So, yeah. I’m pretty fucking sure.”
“Fuuuuck.” Ren shakes his head, though by the look in his eyes I’m not sure it’s from disbelief. Did he already know?
I begin to question my memory but I really don’t remember seeing the man’s face. Did William know? No… he would have told me.
“Bella?” My father’s worried voice pulls me from my thoughts. “You haven’t said a word. Are you okay? I know you took your mother’s death pretty hard.”
I smile, choking back the angry sob trying to escape me. “Yes, Daddy. Now I think you should rest. That’s a lot of information you just rehashed and I’m sure Dr. Ansley wouldn’t want you stressing yourself out. That can’t be good for your recovery.”
“Sprout is right, Aiden. I think we’ve evoked enough excitement for one day. Besides, it’s time we gave the rest of the team their turn for a visit.”
“The guys are here?” my father asks, a smile reappearing on his face.
“Yes. I’ll go get them on my way out,” I chirp. “I’m heading back to the house so I can get the kids and I packed. We’ll be ready to fly back home tomorrow.”
Kissing my father on the cheek, I walk out of the room as fast as my legs can carry me. I need to tell William about this tidbit of information as soon as possible. I’d hate for him to be blindsided like I was.
William spots me as soon as I approach the waiting area. The whole team stands, waiting for news of my father’s recovery. I plaster the sweetest smile on my face as I walk into a chorus of “How is he?”
“He’s really good. You should go see for yourself.” I motion toward my father’s room, urging the team to go but shooting out my hand and grabbing William’s arm before he moves past me.
Lowering my voice to barely a whisper, I pull him in closer. “Would you mind staying behind for a second. I have something to tell you.”
William nods his head, his face full of worry. “What happened?” he asks as soon as Titus and Hudson have cleared the waiting area.
“My father remembers. He remembers what made him smash his phone,” I blurt out in a hushed tone.
William’s face pales as if he’s seen a ghost.
“He got an anonymous text. It revealed my mother was having an affair with your father.”
William’s eyes begin to dart around the room, settling on a multitude of objects but never on me. I would have expected horror, confusion, or even disgust… but not this.
“You already knew that. Didn’t you?” I ask, arching a brow as I stare at the man who had just declared his love for me a mere hour ago. “Didn’t you, William?”
“Yes. But it’s not what you think.” William’s face turns panicked. “I only kept it from you to protect you. You were going through so much and I didn’t want to add to the stress.”
“You and I have a major communication problem, William. First the thing with Heather, and now this. Is there anything else you’ve been keeping from me? Anything else you’ve been hiding for my own protection?”
William stares at me blankly, his arms hanging at his side, unable or unwilling to say anything.
“This is fucking unbelievable. You say that you love me. That there is nobody else, but this isn’t love, William. You can’t love someone you don’t even trust.” I shake my head incredulously. “I can’t be here right now. Please tell Cassie to bring the boys back to the house. I’ll meet them there later.”
Without a second glance back, I walk away. Unsure of where I’m going, just knowing it needs to be far away from here.