WestFiction- "If You Love Something" by Mary

stories

readers

authors zone

character call form

authors

www

home

If You Love Something...> chapters 21-22

“Finally,” said Shane as he set his luggage on the conveyer belt, “we get to go home.”

“Yeah,” agreed Kian unloading his luggage bags, “It’s been so long.”

“Four months. Four grueling months. I thought by now our schedule should be more relaxed.” Said Shane, then he added, “Ya, know what I wanna do once we go home?”

“Wild guess here,” said Kian as he, Nicky and Mark looked at each other, smiled, then turned to Shane and said simultaneously, “Ride horses?” Shane laughed in response, “Movies. Watch movies for the whole day. It’s like a forgotten pleasure to me. Plus, I’ve yet to watch Ashley’s movie,” then he chuckled, “and ride horses too.”

“You haven’t watched it yet?” Mark asked.

“Neither have I,” added Kian, “though I had the DVD with me for months now.”

“Watch it at Shane’s,” advised Nicky, “with his home-theater system, you’re in for a treat,” giving his two-thumbs up, “pity it wasn’t in English though.”

The band and their crew were checking in at the airport. Their excitement of going home erased all signs of fatigue. There were some problems with their private jet, and they really wanted to go home, so they decided to fly commercial instead of waiting for the technicians to troubleshoot the problem. Nicky, Bryan and Walsh’s flight to Dublin was an hour later than the rest to Sligo. So they will part to different departure gates once they checked in. Bryan was unsuccessfully trying to carry on a conversation with Ashley on his cell. Mark was about to turn off his cell phone when he noticed a few messages was blinking on the display.

“Hey Ash, I can’t hear you,” said Bryan as he covered his right ear with is finger, “What did you say…it’s a bad line, I’ll call you from the plane…Sam?…What about Sam?…hun, you’re breaking up…NO, NO, I am NOT breaking up with you!” The cell gave out a long beep. Bryan looked at his cell phone and cursed, “Which idiot invented the mobile?”

“That idiot knew better than use his cell where there’s a lot of interference,” said Kian as he tried not to laugh. Bryan glared at Kian in response as began fishing for his credit card and walking towards a phone which was nearby.

“Alright mates, see you in two months,” said Nicky as he gave Shane a pat in the back.

“Hey Feehily,” called out Kian from the other side of the check-in, “ya coming or are you planning to study the patterns on the tiles all day?” Mark completely ignored him. He was engrossed in a message from Rowen. He shook the cell a little, hoping the words would rejumble and display another message. But it remained the same. It can’t be true. He glanced at Bryan who was at the phone booth, that moment Bryan turned around with a worried look at his face. That look was the only confirmation he needed. They both understood.

Wordlessly he handed the clerk his ticket and passport and then they both joined the rest at the other side.

“Well?” Shane asked Bryan, when he saw the frown in his face. Bryan gave an uncertain look at Mark. Mark filled them in, “Well, its…about Sam’s dad…he passed away.” They were stunned, Bryan continued, “last night…just now…I mean in Ireland few hours ago.”

“How?” asked Nicky.

“Heart attack,” Bryan said still dazed, “by the time they got him to a hospital, it was a little too late to do anything.”

“But that can’t be…” began Kian. It can’t be because he was a healthy man. It can’t be because he jogged five miles everyday. It can’t be because he ate only healthy food. It can’t be because he only drinks on occasions. It can’t be because he lived a healthy lifestyle. It can’t be because he was only in his late 40’s. But that’s how it is, his heart collapsed. “Sam and Josh?”

“They’re there,” Mark said shortly.

“Ok, you guys would have to go now if you don’t want to miss your flight,” Walsh said to Kian, Shane and Mark as he strode up to the group, “and stop looking so glum. You’ll be back together before you know it,” walking past them he shook his head and muttered, “Thought you’ll look forward to time apart.” Nicky grabbed his bag from the floor and told them, “We’ll call you once we touch ground.”

“I’ll even come there as soon as I can,” said Bryan as he followed Nicky who tailed Walsh, “relay to her our deepest sympathy.” Nicky nodded in agreement.

They made their way to their respective departure gates, lost in thought.

~ ~ ~

How could you daddy? She silently screamed her dad who lay in the open casket. Someone who came to pay their last respects was reciting the Hail Mary in the background, she wanted to shake him to life. How could you leave me?

When dad’s PA called her, it didn’t sink in. It didn’t seem real. She had no idea how she got onto a plane to Sligo and to home. She couldn’t remember if she called Joshua or the other way around. When she saw him laying there, it hit her from every direction.

You should have stayed on longer so I could have made it up to you, fix it between us. That we would be okay again, like when I was a kid. I took it for granted that you’ll always be here, silently looking at him. Daddy you were supposed to sit in front row on opening night of your daughters first play, watch your son design buildings which everyone would look in awe. You are supposed to make your future son and daughter in laws squirm in their seats when they asked us to marry them because no one was good enough for your prince and princess. You were supposed to watch your grandkids grow up, running around you, not giving you the time to sit and enjoy a book. Tell them stories about their parents when they were kids. And watch them grow up. And do it all over again with your great-grandkids. A lot of things Daddy. Why Daddy? Why now?

She saw Joshua, in one corner of the room, shedding sorrow. Weird. Samantha wanted to cry, but she couldn’t. Mrs. Lee, came over to her, holding her in embrace, “We are really sorry honey. If you ever need anything, anything at all, I’ll be here for you.” The closest Samantha ever had for a mother. She managed a nod and a small smile. One by one they came, some family friends, some colleagues and some who she had never seen before and offered their condolences. Samantha began to get irritated by this. Leave me alone she screamed silently at them.

It felt hot and stuffy inside, Samantha made her way to the backyard, where her dad spent his time gardening. She used to pluck flowers, much to her father’s displeasure, when they just moved here. She couldn’t help it, it was just so beautiful. She got into a lot of trouble for that. She began trimming one of the bonsai her dad last worked on. It gave her a sense of serenity.

“Hey.” Samantha looked up and saw Rowen there, then concentrated on the bonsai. She wondered how he got there, but decided she didn’t care the least.

“Sam, are you okay?” he prodded gently. Do I look okay to you? My father died Rowen. I will never see him again. Do you think I’ll ever be okay? but she continued trimming the plant silently.

“Come on,” he said, taking her hand, “you need to rest.” She followed him without objection when she realized he was right, she felt tired.

“I’ll be downstairs if you need anything” he said, after tucking her into bed. Hold me Rowen, please hold me, I’m scared’ she pleaded silently, he kissed her lightly on the forehead and began massaging her left palm. Samantha closed her eyes, hoping to get the much-needed sleep.

~ ~ ~

CHAPTER 22

Mark tried to concentrate on the magazine he was reading, but it was futile. He was really worried about Samantha. He knew a lot of things about her that remained secret from the rest of their friends. One of it was that Samantha and her dad didn’t get along very well for the past few years. And if he recalled correctly only he, her brother and Lauren her closest friend from school knew about it. And possibly, so did Ashley.

“Can’t this plane go any faster?”

“Huh?” Shane, who was beside him, asked sleepily, “Did you say something?”

“No,” Mark replied. He continued reading, staring actually, at the magazine.

She was crushed when her dad didn’t pay much attention to her when with Joshua there seemed to be no problems, he knew she silently blamed herself for staying away from her dad too long. Joshua tried to talk to him about it but ended up with a stern warning never to bring it up again, which was surprising and not to mention odd, but he heeded his warning anyway. And he remembered the numerous times she admitted to him about all the unpleasant things that happened between them. So what should he do now?

Mark had high respects for Mr. Micah. He was a very strong man. And had the kindest smile. Mark, Rowen, Barry and Samantha used to camp at their backyard once in a while, when they were kids. Mr. Micah would try and scare them with a ghost story before they turned in. But it always turned out funny rather than scary. What he perceived of him and what Samantha told him always clashed.

“Hey Mark?” Shane looked over at him. He just raised his eyes in response. “You’re reading it upside down.” He realized Shane was right and then he just dropped it on the floor and stared out of the window. Through the reflection, he saw Shane got up and left. A few moments later felt a hand on his shoulder. Kian sat beside him.

“Makes you think doesn’t it?” Kian asked.

“Yeah,” Mark replied, “And makes me feel guilty too.”

“Guilty that we are thankful it’s not our fathers?” he guessed. Mark nodded, he made a mental note to call home more often whenever he’s away. Mark let out a heavy sigh.

“We were practically family. They were just next door,” Mark said, “I’m gonna miss him…If it hadn’t been for his Maths coaching, I would have kept on flunking the paper, he made it fun that I looked forward to Maths.”

Silence hit them. Mark slumped back and closed his eyes, God, please give Sam and Josh strength and keep them safe he prayed silently.

“Look, we all feel bad for Sam. I know how much she means to you. And I also know much you mean to her too,” he said seriously, “Remember one thing Mark, she was first and foremost your best-friend, before all those hormones kicked in. And now more than ever, she’ll need a friend.” Mark shook his head in disbelief, trying to find his tongue. Kian grinned, “Hey, I do have my moments, ya know,” Kian got up as Shane came out of the wash room.

She never stopped hoping that one-day things would blow over and return back to ‘normal’. Like when they were kids. But now that’s not possible. Chances that Ashley knew were slim, Lauren was somewhere in Europe at the moment, Joshua would be busy grieving, Rowen had no clue about it and that left Mark. He knows and he’s her friend. Samantha always said there was some degree of truth in the saying ‘friends are supposed to walk in when the whole world walks out’. They are friends…right? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

~ ~ ~

When Samantha woke up, moonlight flooded her room. She felt disoriented, the room looked the same but felt different. And Rowen wasn’t beside her, as he was when she fell asleep.

She got out of bed and walked towards Joshua’s room. He lay asleep on his bed, fully dressed, just as he arrived. She studied him for a moment, in her life she have never seen Joshua shed a tear, and that made her admire his strength. Now she realized he was just as human as she was. They would need each other now, to get through this. She tucked his blanket under his chin before she left.

She wanted to go for a walk, but it was too dark outside, three in the morning, she glanced at the clock. She felt restless and wanted something to do, but what? She peeked into her dad’s library. It was his also his office whenever he worked from home. She half-expected him to sit on his chair and frowning over a piece of paper in his hands. She traced the edge of the mahogany table lightly with her fingers and sat on his chair.

For once in her life she didn’t know what to do. Suddenly everything was different. She can’t see the future, it just seemed too bleak, and she felt alone. The world she knew was shattered into a million pieces, in a second, just like that.

She gave a hard push and swiveled in the chair. When it slowed to a stop, her eyes rested on a chair in front of her, just beyond the table. She remembered the times she sat there, when she was small, talking to him and at the same time watching him work. Whenever he needed a break, he would look at her above the rim of his glasses and smile at her. She knew then she was in for a treat. Usually he would take her and Joshua for a milkshake in town, even Rowen and Mark, if they were around, he used to treat them like his own sons.

Then everything changed when she came back from KL. She didn’t realize she was holding the armrest tightly until she unclenched her fingers. Their last meeting hadn’t been anywhere near pleasant. It was odd, how she remembered the little things now. The little things that brought a smile to her face.

<< previous chapters next chapters >>

If You Love Something- main page