When A Woman Wants.. - Episode 4

 

ROSA Whew! That they got to the hospital safely in one piece was a miracle else instead of just one body in the hospital it sure could have become three bodies with the way Francis was driving like a total maniac! He brought the car to an abrupt halt while applying the break so fast she was sent flying forward, her head almost bumping against the board. He turned to her. "Are you okay...? Linda he asked... "It's Rosa actually. And I'm okay thanks." She tried not to sound angry. Good then. He said, unfastened his seat belt and pushed the door open... She rolled her eyes angrily once he was out of sight and placing a hand on her forehead, she bent closer to the side mirror to see if there was any scratch she sighed as she found none. She was about to open the door when suddenly she remembered she was supposed to call Mrs. Patterson "Holy Crap!" She watched Francis disappear inside the hospital building while she stayed in the car tugging at her phone. Stupid phone refused to come up. She hit it hard against the palm of her right hand and it brought up a faint light on the screen. "That would do." she said to herself and quickly scrolled through her last received calls. It was answered on the first ring. "What took so long Rosa? Are you on your way..?" "We are actually around. He's in the building right n..." "Idiot! Why didn't you call me when I asked you to? fool!" There was a click and the call ended. She wanted to be sure but the phone went off. She gritted her teeth. "Argh! This is the worse phone ever! " She unfastened her seat belt and closed the door. Wasting no more time, she scurried into the building. *********//*** She reached the double doors and pushed it open. The air was a mixture of antiseptic and bleach wafting from beddings. Food smells from different rooms mingled with the scent of perfume and blood. Doors sliding open and shut. Paramedics rushing in with a man on a wheel chair. Screams, moans, gasps, grunts of pain, people talking in low voices, intercom calling out codes, squeaky wheelchairs, and the clack of the keyboard... This reminded her of why she loathed coming to the hospital. It usually was a frenzy. She moved towards the receptionist who was busy staring at her perfectly manicured nails. "Good afternoon, please urm... I believe a Miss Debby Patterson was brought here" She stared at her, underneath her pair of thick eyelashes and glanced through the screen before her. "Room 20A. By your left please, she pointed. "Thanks" Rosa walked towards the direction she had pointed and got into a passageway which was tagged as "Private Ward." On the private ward, the atmosphere was completely different. The air had a perfumed scent and the seats were plush. Every surface was dustless. The nurses were unhurried and they moved with a serene purposefulness from room to room on their rounds. There were vases of flowers and beautiful framed pieces of art on the walls. In the corridor was a water dispenser and in most rooms could be heard the noise of a television. Her eyes scanned around the tags on the door as she walked past each. "19A... 19C..... D... 20A...," she pushed the door open. *****///*******////// Four pairs of eyes met hers as she entered. Mrs. Patterson and Francis were both sitting close to the bed. The doctor was bald and looked in his fifties. The nurse with him was scribbling in the note she held. Rosa wondered what she was scribbling down since the doctor wasn't saying anything. Francis sat by her side, as the mother spoke to him calmly... "You need to forgive her Francis. She almost died. She was devastated. She wanted to kill herself... You are her rock. Both of you have gone this far. Please don't let a stupid ex come in between. You know I personally love you like a son and I know you are the best thing in her life....." All the while, Francis was sitting, leaning against the wall and looking down at his shoes while the older woman talked. There was no expression on his face which could only mean, either he wasn't listening or he pretty much liked his shoes. Rosa glanced towards where Debby was lying. There were light bruises on her left cheek while her head was bandaged and the rest of her body was covered in a white blanket. She seemed to be awake and she was holding Francis hand while her mother kept talking... Rosa was getting bored so her mind drifted to when she had met Francis that day. It was like Dj Vu, probably because she had stared too hard at his picture too many times. He was way taller than he seemed in the picture so she could easily notice the well-defined abs and broad shoulders which were noticeable through the unbuttoned shirt he had on. He must be hitting the gym. She didn't mean to stare and having been caught staring had embarrassed her... She could still feel the heat on her cheeks. They didn't speak throughout the driving to the hospital. Well what did they have to talk about...? Certainly nothing like" oh! Hey! I apologize for checking you out earlier boss. Just so you know... Kindly button up your shirt so it wouldn't happen again. And do you know you have got a hot body... " Certainly not! She glanced up and felt her chest tightened as she caught him staring at her! The curious look on his face was noticeable. She looked down immediately. Slightly embarrassed... What was happening to her...! Lord please doesn't let him be a mind reader... I will give us another chance Mrs. Patterson but after this... I'm done. He said firmly, Making sure both mother and daughter understood him... Rosa felt the whole tension in the room was too much for her. Perhaps...a cup of water would help. Thankfully, a water dispenser was just by the door. She let herself out and closed the door. Then she bent a little to press the button on the machine while she placed a disposable white cup under the tube, then she stood up straight, bringing the filled cup to her lips.. Out of the corner of her eyes. She noticed, through the transparent door as Francis bent to embrace Debby on the bed. It was in such a way that while he embraced Debby... His back was turned to the rest and at the same time, Mrs. Patterson mouthed "thank you" to the doctor and passed to him a roll of money. They both seemed pleased and the doctor with the nurse excused themselves and came out of the room. They seemed not to notice her so she quietly followed them. They both walked to a corner of the room while she stood out of sight... Peeping and listening. She noticed he cut the money and gave the lady some. Then he removed his uniform and handed it to her... "Don't forget to return this before they start looking for it" The lady nodded and they both disappeared into the passageway that led out of the private ward. She frowned, wondering what in God's name was happening here. It was either these people were acting a Nigerian action movie or something fishy was going on. Why would Mrs. Patterson give the doctor money apart from their bills and why did she do it in a hush? What service would require stealing someone's uniform. She thought, leaning her back against the wall. Just then she saw someone a man come out of the room tagged as Gents and who was on the phone. I found my uniform, tell Kathy, I still do not understand how it got there though... The man walked past her and disappeared down the passageway. She gasped as she realized what just happened. But why would the man pretend to be a doctor when he wasn't one...? She stood, sagged against the wall as she tried to make meaning out of all these. You can only pretend to deceive someone...Someone that doesn't know something you know or someone you are trying to manipulate to do what they wouldn't want to do. She said to herself. Didn't she read it somewhere that you would always see manipulation at the end result. She would need to take this step by step- Francis and Debby must have splitted up as deduced from what the mother said. He might not have come back to her if not for the accident that almost claimed her life. Now, Francis didn't know the doctor was fake... That means the whole accident must have been a fake! "Oh my God! They lied to Francis" She gasped as the realization hit her. Of course, she knew something was off.. The way Mrs. Patterson was pleading as if she was reading from a script...A script.. Oh dear! It was all a drama..! Ugh!Poor Francis! She knew she had to get back inside before Mrs. Patterson gets suspicious.With arms clasped around her back... She dawdled along the passageway...She couldn't help but feel how wrong the whole thing was. Please do not be a silent reader, kindly support me by commenting or rating the story, hitting the 'like' button would be very nice too. Thank you