6
Clinton
The question hung heavily in the room as Cecilia smoothed her thumb over my skin. I didn't know what day it was. What time it was. I felt disoriented. Drugged. And all I wanted to do was sleep.
Cecilia squeezed my hand. “Keep those eyes open.”
“Then tell me where Dad is.”
She sighed. “He stepped out for a little bit. Just… needed some air.”
I snickered. “You’re a terrible liar.”
She giggled. “That obvious?”
I lobbed my eyes over to take her in. Even though I couldn't move my neck.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard you laugh.”
She sighed. “To be honest, I don’t do much of it nowadays, unless I’m with friends.”
“Then why stay?”
“Hmmm?”
“If you aren’t laughing, then you aren’t happy. And if you aren’t happy, then why are you still here?”
She shrugged. “I guess because it’s familiar. Because I do love your father. And because I do love you.”
“You don’t have to tell me what I want to hear, Cecilia. Just tell me the truth.”
“Why is that so hard for you to accept as truth?”
My eyes gravitated back toward the ceiling. The rush of warmth was gone, leaving me shivering, even though I was covered in blankets. Cecilia stood up, tucking the blankets along my legs as she spoke with the nurses. My eyes finally slid closed as their voices wafted around me. I felt Cecilia patting my leg, forcing me to stay awake through it all this time. Part of it was endearing, and part of it was annoying as fuck.
Then, once the nurses left the room, she sighed.
“Just tell me where Dad is. Because all you’re really doing is confirming what I already know.”
She sighed. “He’s stepped out to make a few business calls.”
I snickered. “Of course he has.”
“Your father works hard. He’s got four different businesses under his belt. Three of which are booming right now. He’s got a lot on his—”
“I know, I know. His businesses are important. It’s to provide the life I’ve got now. That’s why he travels so much, because he loves me enough to provide for me. His love equates to money, and all that bullshit. You can spare me the lecture. I already know it.”
“He does love you, Clint.”
“Well, he’s got a shit way of showing it.”
My flat tone blanketed the room as Cecilia sat back down. I chewed on the inside of my lip as I lay there, practically trapped in this damn hospital bed. I didn’t know when the hell I was getting out of here, but I had a feeling Dad wouldn't even be around to help me with it. At this point, I was more prone to the idea of my stepmother staying behind and helping rather than my own father.
Who I hated even calling ‘Dad’ at this point.
I sighed. “That man is a basket case.”
Cecilia snickered. “I know.”