Chapter 400: I Can't
After having his dinner, Harry kept himself busy by watching some shows on the television so he wouldn't worry about his father or be tempted to go pick up his phone and find out who that Sara lady was and what she wanted from his father.
Trying to distract himself from that line of thought, his thoughts drifted to Jade and he glanced at the wall clock. The time was past nine already, so he knew that she must have met Aurora by now, and Aurora would have delivered his message to her, so why hadn't she called yet?
Or did Aurora forget to deliver his message? He wondered as he glanced at his phone with a frown contemplating whether or not to call her or Aurora to find out the outcome of their discussion.
If he called her what would he say was his reason for calling? Perhaps he could say he wanted to find out how the case was going and if Jero had led them to the cartel yet. Harry shook his head. That would be too early. He needed to wait some more.
Seeing as he was unable to focus on the television show because he was restless, Harry stood up and walked over to the dining. The best way to distract himself was to get engrossed in work.
He opened his laptop and started going through the minute of Tom's meeting with the hotel and resort managers which his secretary had emailed to him.
Harry tried to give the documents on his screen his full attention even though his gaze drifted to his phone from time to time. After working for about an hour, Harry raised his head when his phone started ringing, and he quickly grabbed it when he saw that it was Aurora. He waited for a second and took a deep breath before receiving the call.
"Hey!" He greeted casually, not wanting to sound too excited.
"I'm sorry I'm calling again. I hope I'm not disturbing your sleep or work?" Aurora asked apologetically.
"Not at all. It's fine. Is there a problem?" Harry asked, eager to know what she had called to say.
"Not at all. Jade left here a while ago. Remember I told you I was expecting Jade?" Aurora asked, and Harry grinned.
"Yeah, I think I vaguely remember you mentioned something like that. Why?" Harry asked innocently.
"Well, I told her about the t-shirt you wanted me to get from the suite, but she said she didn't see any. She said she had them clean the suite when she moved in, and the closet was empty," Aurora said, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"She said the closet was empty?" Harry asked, wondering what Jade was up to. They both knew that she had seen the shirt since she had told him she was wearing his shirt without any undies, so why did she lie?
"Yes. If you show me a picture of the t-shirt I could get you a new one," Aurora suggested.
"That won't be necessary. I can arrange for it myself, so please don't bother about it and just show up as planned," Harry rushed to assure her.
"Alright then. I can't wait to see you," Aurora said, and Harry smiled.
"Do you have a place in mind you'd want us to go?" Harry asked, and Aurora narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"I'll think about it and let you know tomorrow," Aurora said, and Harry nodded..
"That's fine. By the way, did you tell her about our date?" Harry asked, and Aurora's brows pulled together.
"Jade? I did. Why? Was I not supposed to? I figured I could tell her about it since you asked me to get your t-shirt from her," Aurora explained.
"It's not a problem. I was just asking to know. She must have been excited to know that the two people she set up together are going on a date," Harry said, as Aurora giggled.
"She seemed more surprised than excited. It almost seemed like she didn't believe you were capable of being involved with a lady," Aurora said with a grin.
"Really?" Harry asked with a chuckle.
"Yeah. Well, I'm glad you're doing this with me..."
Doing what with her? Harry mused, hoping she wasn't thinking they were in a relationship because he asked her to accompany him to the anniversary dinner.
"Aurora?" Harry cut in before she could finish.
"Yeah?"
"Don't get your hopes up. I'd hate to disappoint you..."
Aurora cut in with a giggle, "You can't disappoint me even if you tried" she assured him.
"I hope so. Why don't we continue tomorrow? I need to get busy now," Harry said as he stood up when he noticed his father standing in the living room looking at him.
"Alright. Talk to you tomorrow, goodnight," Aurora said before hanging up.
"You're up. How do you feel?" Harry asked as he went to meet his father.
"Very drowsy. I feel weak. It took a while before I could get off the bed," Aaron complained.
"It's because of the sleeping pills. Lucy and Tom were here earlier to see you. They said they will visit again," Harry said, and Aaron gave him a nod.
He half expected Harry to quiz him about Sara and ask him why he had overreacted earlier, but it seemed like Harry didn't want to talk about. Or maybe not yet.
"Who were you speaking with just now?" Aaron asked curiously.
"That was the lady I told you about. She's visiting next week and we are going on a date," Harry said as looked his father over, "Why don't you have a seat, so I can get you something to eat?" Harry suggested, and Aaron did as he was told.
"Do you love her?" Aaron asked as Harry walked over to the kitchen.
"No. But she's decent and fun," Harry called back, while Aaron watched him move around the kitchen.
"What about Jade?" Aaron asked curiously.
"Dad, I already told you to forget about what I told you in the past," Harry said calmly. He was too relieved and thankful that his father was feeling better to be upset by his question.
"But I think she is interested in you as you are in her," Aaron said, and as expected Harry walked out of the kitchen to face his father.
"Why do you think so? Have you met or spoken with her?" Harry asked, and Aaron gave him a nod.
"Yeah. I was here when she came to get her stuff. I asked her not to let you know she saw me since I wanted it to be a surprise," Aaron said, and Harry raised a brow.
"What did you both talk about?"
"I can't tell you that. It's between her and me. Don't waste your time with someone else when you're in love with another," Aaron advised.
"Dad, what do you want? Do you want me to be in a relationship or is it Jade you want?" Harry asked dryly.
"I want you to be happy. I want you to have a happy family. I didn't have that, I want that for you. And I think Jade will make you happy. Having Jade, you have a whole new family. The Hanks, Lucy, and everyone else," Aaron said with a shrug.
"They are family to me already. I don't need to be involved with Jade to get them. If I get together with Aurora I get an even bigger family. I have the Hanks, and Aurora's family. I could establish my own community," Harry said with a grin, and Aaron chuckled.
"I'm serious," Aaron said, and Harry gave him a nod.
"I'm still trying to figure out whatever is between me and Jade. I'm not in a hurry, you shouldn't be too if my happiness is what you truly want. Don't worry about anything and just trust me, dad," Harry said as he looked into Aaron's eyes, and Aaron sighed before giving him a nod.
"Take all the time you need," Aaron said, and Harry smiled at him.
Harry's happiness was more important to him than anything else in the world. He was going to find a way to tell Harry the truth, but not now. He needed Harry to be settled in a relationship first.
Until then he was going to find a way to meet with Sara and find out exactly what she wanted from Harry. If it was money for her treatment, he would give her any amount she needed so she would disappear or at least give him some more time before telling Harry the truth.
**********
"What are you doing here?" Rebekah asked when she walked into her house and saw her eldest daughter, Bernice, seated in the living room watching television while sipping from a glass of juice.
Bernice stood up immediately she heard her mother's voice, "Where are you coming from by this time of the night? I've been waiting all evening. I called but it wasn't connecting," Bernice said, and Rebekah eyed her with disapproval.
She was in a foul mood, and this wasn't the way she had planned on spending the rest of her night. She had been out with Tiffany's father-in-law and had turned off her phone because Adam had kept calling and disturbing her. And Tiffany's father-in-law had left her unsatisfied after he rushed off to attend to family business, so she had been planning on coming home to finish the work with her vibrator or inviting one of her young lovers.
"Why are you waiting for me by this time in MY house when you should be in yours?" Rebekah asked trying to control her temper.
"I moved out. I got into a fight with Adam and he hit me. I can't stay married to him anymore. I would have brought the kids with me but he insisted that I don't take them with me so..."
"You can't," Rebekah cut in before Bernice could finish, and she looked at her mother with a confused frown.
"I can't leave the kids with him?" Bernice asked, and Rebekah glared at her.
"You can't stay here. Go back home to your husband now!" Rebekah snapped at her.
"Did you hear a word of what I said? Adam hit me! He put his hands on me. I can't remain married to him! I can't do it!" Bernice yelled back at her mother in frustration.
"You probably did something that made him do that to you. I told you before, you nag a lot and men don't like that. Also, you are always snooping around and interfering in his business, no man wants that. The young man takes care of you and the kids, what more do you need? If you want peace in your home, you need to learn to behave yourself. Now go get your stuff and go back home this minute. You will apologize to Adam until he accepts you back. I will give him a call," Rebekah said as she walked past Bernice and headed for the stairs.
"I'm not leaving. My marriage with Adam is over! It's not all about money, mom!"
"Mother!" Rebekah corrected icily as she turned to glare at her calcitrant daughter, "And you're wrong about that. It is all about Money! Without money you're nobody! Without money you're nothing. You can live without love, but you can never live without money!"
"What's the point of having it when I'm depressed? I'm not happy! I'm feeling less confident about myself with each passing day! I don't want to continue with this marriage anymore. He doesn't love me. He never has, and he obviously never will. I need to be loved," Bernice cried, while Rebekah just looked at her with disapproval.
"Love? You want love? Fine. Go for it. But I won't let you do that from under my roof. Go get your stuff and get out of my house before I get back here," Rebekah spat out as she started walking up the stairs.
"Why are you doing this? Why can't you be more understanding? Adam took my car and cards. I have no where else to go. Why can't I stay here with you?" Bernice asked as she followed her mother.
Rebekah paused and turned to her once again, her eyes blazing with rage, "I'm so disappointed in you, Bernice. You are my eldest daughter and unfortunately the most foolish amongst your sisters. I don't associate myself with failures. Don't delude yourself into thinking I will open my arms to welcome you here. Like I cut off your father, I will cut you off too, and you will be an example to any of your sisters that dares to go against me. Don't make me ask the staff to throw you out. Leave!" Rebekah ordered quietly before walking away to her bedroom, while Bernice stood by the stairs and tears of disbelief dropped from her eyes as she watched her mother disappear from her sight.
Knowing her mother, Bernice had no doubt that she would ask the staff to throw out her stuff if she didn't leave herself, so she went to her bedroom and picked up her luggage bags. As she left the house, she dialed Tiffany's number.
"Hey, Benny!" Tiffany greeted immediately after she received the call.
"Can I come over to your house tonight?" Bernice asked with a sniffle.
Hearing her sniffle, Tiffany who had a facial mask on her face sat up immediately, "Are you alright? Is everything okay?" She asked with concern.
"Not exactly. I just need a place to sleep and someone to talk to," Bernice said in a shaky voice.
"Sure. You can come over."
"I don't have any money on me. Can you pay the cab when I get there?" Bernice asked, surprising Tiffany even more.
"You don't have any money on you? You know what? Come over. I'll ask one of the housekeepers to wait outside with some money for the cab. I'll be waiting," Tiffany said, and Bernice thanked her before hanging up.
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