Chapter 23

Chapter 23
The next hour passed by with the both of them getting dressed after finishing breakfast, which Joslyn really graded an A+, before leaving the house. The drive to the hospital was quiet, the concern evident on Joslyn’s features as she worried for her brother's well-being. Her thoughts were so filled with him that when they finally arrived at the hospital, she instantly reached for the door, intending to get out without saying goodbye to Gabriel but he managed to stop her before she could.

“Hey, slow down, sweetheart.” He said, curling his fingers around her wrist in a delicate grasp. “I know you're in a hurry but I wanna ask, how long do you intend to stay for?”

“Perhaps until noon?” Joslyn responded with a frown. “Why do you ask?”

Gabriel's reply came in the form of a secretive smile as he shook his head, squeezing her hand lightly before letting her go. “I’ll see you later then, darling. Your brother's waiting.”

Joslyn appeared to hesitate for a minute before swiftly leaning forward in the passenger seat to place a peck on Gabriel's cheek, catching him off-guard in the process. Afterwards, she shyly muttered her thanks before hurrying out of the car and towards the hospital, leaving the dazed man to stare after her.

❀ ❀ ❀

Joslyn sat by Joshua's bedside, holding his hand tightly when her gaze suddenly shifted towards the door at the sound of approaching footsteps. Anger bubbled up within Joslyn in record time as she watched her father, Timothy, step into the room. His features froze in shock as he noticed Joslyn sitting there.

“Joslyn,” Timothy began, his voice careful and tentative. “I–I didn't expect to see you here.”

Joslyn clenched her jaw until her teeth grinded against one another as she struggled to contain the flood of negative emotions threatening to overwhelm her. “Well, here I am,” she replied tersely, her tone sharper than she had intended. “Just like always, right on time.”

Timothy winced at her words, his expression pained. “Darling, I know you're furious at me. I haven't been there for you like I should be,” he admitted softly. “And I'm sorry for that. I really am.”

“How could you, Dad?” Joslyn cried out, her voice trembling with emotion as tears welled up in her eyes. “You weren't here when Joshua needed you the most, when I needed you the most! You abandoned us, again!"

“Joslyn, I didn't know.” Her father started, his voice ladened with guilt. “I thought you were calling me for something else.”

But Joslyn wasn't having any of his excuses today. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she continued to whisper-yell at Timothy, her anger boiling over. “You didn't know?” She scoffed. “You didn't care enough to find out! Joshua died, Dad. He died and was resuscitated and I called you. I called you over and over again but you ignored me!”

The weight of her words hung heavily in the air, suffocating the room with tension. Her father's shoulders slumped in defeat as he struggled to find the right words to say. “I'm sorry,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

“No,” Joslyn said firmly, wiping the tears away from her face. “Not again, Dad. Not this time. I'm tired of your constant apologies and empty promises. I don't want you here. I can't bear to even look at you right now.”

Joslyn's father stepped forward, attempting to console her, but she aggressively recoiled, her voice thundering with anger. “Go! Just go! I don't want you here right now, Dad!"

Just then, the room doors were pulled open and Joslyn briefly thought it was a nurse coming to chastise her for yelling and disturbing the other patients but she was surprised to see that it was instead Gabriel, whose footsteps faltered as he walked into the tense atmosphere of the room, his brows furrowing in concern as he witnessed the heated look exchanged between Joslyn and her father.

Gabriel walked to Joslyn, placing a reassuring hand around her shoulders, his voice soothing. “Hey, hey, what's wrong?” He asked gently, his eyes filled with worry.

Joslyn sighed, taking deep, steady breaths until she gradually regained her composure, sinking back down into the seat beside Joshua.

Meanwhile, Joslyn's father, sensing the need to change the topic, questioned Gabriel. “Who are you?” He asked, his tone strained yet curious.

Gabriel, though internally grappling with Joslyn's accusations of negligence against her father, maintained a facade of politeness. “I'm Joslyn's friend and neighbor,” he managed to say in a monotonous voice, his grip tightening subtly as they shook hands, all the while aware of Joslyn's presence and not wanting to escalate the situation further.

Gabriel faced Joslyn, paying no further heed to her father as he gestured toward Joshua, asking “How is he?”

Joslyn's shoulders sagged as she responded, "The nurse said he's stable now."

He nodded, his features softening. Then, with a pointed look, he asked, "Have you had lunch?"

Joslyn shook her head almost guiltily. "No, I haven't," she admitted, suddenly feeling a pang of hunger. It was already past lunchtime.

A small smile played on Gabriel's lips as he reached into the polythene bag he was holding. “Just as I thought,” he murmured before pulling out a paper bag with the logo of a famous pastry shop. Immediately, the aroma of baked goods wafted into Joslyn’s nostrils, making her mouth water in anticipation. “Here, I grabbed something for you on my way to the hospital.”

Joslyn's eyes widened, her mouth forming an O in surprise. “Oh, you didn't have to go through the trouble, Gabriel but I'm starving so I won't say no.” She smiled at him, accepting the food. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, baby girl. Be right back.”

As Gabriel excused himself to go and grab some coffee, Joslyn and her father were left alone. Timothy shifted uncomfortably where he stood, watching the interaction between his daughter and the unknown man, the regret still weighing heavily on him.

“I'm really sorry, darling,” Timothy whispered, his voice heavy with remorse.

Joslyn met his gaze, her expression guarded. “I'm tired of giving you more chances if you're not making a conscious effort to actually change,” she said firmly, her tone tinged with frustration.

Her father sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I'm sorry, honey. I promise to do better from now on. Please.” he replied, suddenly looking tired and older than his age.

“Seeing is believing, Dad.” Joslyn murmured, looking directly at her father. “I’ll believe you when I start seeing it.”

After a few moments of tense silence, Timothy spoke up, his shoulders slumped in defeat. “I have to return to work,” he mumbled, his gaze avoiding Joslyn's.

He waited for Joslyn to say something, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor. With a deep sigh, Timothy turned and walked out of the hospital room, his head bowed in shame. Joslyn watched him go, her heart heavy with unresolved emotions.

Gabriel returned to the room, setting down a cup of coffee on the table beside her, a small smirk playing on his lips as he pulled the other chair closer to sit beside Joslyn.

“Hope you don't mind the hospital coffee,” he joked lightly, his eyes twinkling with mirth. “It tastes like shit if you ask me.”

Joslyn chuckled, shaking her head. “I'll take what I can get at this point,” she replied, taking a sip of the lukewarm coffee.

“Seriously, Gabriel, I can't thank you enough for everything you've been doing for me since yesterday. For being here, for the food, the ride and everything in general.” She said to Gabriel softly, her eyes reflecting her appreciation.

The man smiled in return. “If I had a penny for every time you've thanked me since yesterday,” he chuckled, gazing at her tenderly. “You don't have to thank me, sweetheart. I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.”

“I’d do anything for you, Joslyn.” He thought internally.

As they began to eat, the nurse from the previous day entered the room, holding a key in her hand. “Joslyn, I found this on the floor after you left last night,” she explained, offering her lost key to her.

Joslyn's eyes widened in surprise as she stood up to collect the key, realizing it was her room key. “Oh, thank you so much. I've been looking everywhere for it.” She said gratefully, tucking it into her pocket and settling back in her seat, wincing from the pain in her foot as she does.

Gabriel glanced at said foot and raised an eyebrow. “You didn't get that checked yet, did you?” He asked, shooting her a playful glare.

Joslyn shook her head, smiling sheepishly. "No, not yet.”

Gabriel gave her a mock disapproving look. “As expected,” he teased.

He turned to the nurse. “Excuse me, could you please arrange for her foot to be examined after she's done eating?”

The nurse nodded. “Of course, I'll come back for her when she's ready.”

Once the nurse left, Gabriel resumed his meal, satisfied, while Joslyn smiled at him gratefully. “Thank you again, Gabriel,” she said, sincerity lacing her words.

Rolling his eyes playfully, Gabriel replied, “You're welcome, sweetheart. Now, finish your meal so we can get that foot checked.”

With a fond smile, Joslyn conceded, feeling a warmth in her heart at experiencing this side of Gabriel Reid.