We were like that for sometime and I even started feeling sleepy again but he tapped me awake and placed a pillow behind me so I could rest into it.
"You have never been this sick before. You scared me Princess." He whispered in a repremanding voice that I haven't heard for a very long time. It reminded me of when I was just a little girl, hopping around the farm with him. What spoiled the picture was Riley. He was always there. Wherever I wanted to go, Riley must come along.
"Sorry Dad." I signed with regret but he rubbed my shoulder again, reassuring me that everything would be fine.
"You should eat something before sleeping off again."
"Yes dad. I replied softly.
"I will tell Liam to warm up your food." He walked over to the table, picked up the tray of food and went out. Once he was gone, I entered the bathroom to take my bath and by the time I came out, Uncle Liam was changing my bedsheets. I ignored him and walked into my wardrobe where I picked out a short dress to wear. My closet was too cold so I dressed up pretty fast and came out again. I carried the now warm food and started eating. It was seafood risotto.
By the time I finished eating, Uncle Liam was done and gone. I took my medication, went back to bed and slept off. Didn't wake up until evening. And to my surprise, Daniel was back on my couch playing with his phone. I spent some time giving him a good look. I couldn't remember the last time I actually saw my brother. He had grown in ways I never acknowledged before. His face had long lost its childish flare. There was a time that the flare was dark and gloomy but that was also gone. There was a confidence in the way he was sitting, like he owned the room. I can't remember a time when Daniel wasn't confident but the version seated in my room seemed more refined. He used to have a sinister aura but I couldn't feel it at all. Either he had mastered how to hide it like Dad or he had lost it. Whichever it was, the result was good. Having him sit in my room, strolling through his phone gave me a feeling of not being alone. Like I belong. The only thing I have ever wanted from him was his attention and now I have it. Even if it will be for just a short period of time, it was okay. The Daniel sitting in my room at this moment was here with me and for me.
"I think Dad killed Uncle Ron." I suddenly voiced my thoughts, surprising both of us.
After indulging in Daniel's présence, my thoughts had roamed until it centered on Riley and his father. I had the urge to ask if Daniel knew any update but my mouth was faster than my brain.
He looked up and broke into a beautiful smile that caught me off guard. "You are awake… What did you just say?!" He sprang up in shock. I sat up and rested my body on the headboard.
"Dad was here earlier."
"And he told you that?"
"Not exactly."
"What did he say?"
"He said I shouldn't worry that he had taken care of everything." I raised my eyebrows. what do you think he meant by 'take care of everything…?"
"That's true. He took care of all the news channels. There are no news headlines about us again." He shrugged and sat down again.
"He also said that no one can bully me and get away with it. I don't think he was referring to the news." I whispered.
Daniel paused his fingers over his phone and took a serious look at me. "He said that?"
I nodded in response.
"Can you help me find out what has happened to Dakota and Sylvester?"
"You didn't tell him they were innocent?"
That was when it occurred to me that Dad didn't even ask me about anything. Especially that night. Why didn't he ask? What if he really did hurt Uncle Ron and Riley? Would he let Dakota and Sylvester off? I wasn't really worried about Dakota. It was Sylvester who had no backing whatsoever that I was worried about.
"I see…" Daniel nodded, thinking hard. "I will help you check on Sylvester."
"When are you returning to New York?" I asked.
"You want me gone?" He sneered
"Not really." I rolled my eyes at him, making him chuckle under his breath.
"Eat up. You will need the strength to face mummy. She is arriving today." He chuckled louder.
"She traveled?"
I was confused. With everything going on, why would she travel? What was more important than the family's face? She was the only one yet to come see me but I just thought it was because she didn't know how to face me. Not knowing she wasn't even in the state.
Daniel strolled out elegantly and I decided to follow his advice. It was time I stopped being weak. Like Dad stated, I have never been too sick before and if I have anything to say about it, it would be the last time I let anything break me.
I am a Woods for fuck sake!
After eating the already cold food, I took another bath and went out of the house to look for Uncle Liam. It was about time I got my phone back. I checked the room and it wasn't there. The only person that could have it was him.
But I searched the whole house. Uncle Liam was nowhere to be found. Apart from the nurse, whom I walked by in the kitchen, I was the only one at home.
Liking the feel of cool, natural breeze on my skin, I decided to sit on the patio for some time. This was where Mum found me, dozing off, some hours later. She had arrived as Daniel warned and was out to take a deep in the pool since the sun had receded for the day. Her splashes woke me from my light slumber. When I found out she was the one, I was going to stay put till she finished and left but she came out of the pool and entered the patio. All means of escape were instantly cut off.