Chapter 181 - Confession to my father-in-law — Mddos
Roland
"This morning I called Dr. Jones, she said she would arrive at the ranch around five, so I told her I'd send someone to pick her up and show her the way. She agreed for today. I tasked Jacinto with that. On the balcony of our room, which was quite large, I started setting up a small temporary living room and a dining area with four seats.
I wanted to make my Beautiful's stay more pleasant. The arrangements wouldn't take more than two days, so after breakfast, we moved to one of the guest rooms. After lunch, I locked myself in the office with my friends. They had come to spend the afternoon, my Freckled One, Diana, my nephews, my mother, and Inés were with my wife in the room.
We had been talking about the businesses for two hours, looking at the financial statements Gustavo sent us, and recognizing the excellent work each of them had done. Daniel was in charge of transportation, Aníbal of the farms, Raúl with the new canned goods and preservatives company, the chain of hair salons headed by Manolo, Gladys with the foundations, Shirly with real estate, and Marlon with the construction company.
Verónica mentioned her idea of forming a business group, and we were also arranging that. It was crucial; everyone had to report to Gustavo and Arnold, who then reported to us, though each one had divided the supervision in their respective areas... but I oversaw everything. Creating the consortium required a lot of qualified, loyal personnel, within the people we already had in our secret school, and we would start promoting them, like Rino and Lobo. I liked having a new project. I looked at my watch; there was still time before the doctor arrived with the results.
"Everything will be fine," said Rata.
"I'm anxious about it and because Verónica doesn't want Mr. Fausto to know that the cancer was caused by me."
"What do you plan to do?" Cebolla approached the bar, took out three beers, and handed one to each of us.
"Tell him the truth, that's what I'll do."
I took my phone and called my father-in-law. They started talking about the wedding and the family convention.
"Roland, good afternoon." As always, a gentleman. I remained silent. "Has something happened? Were you discovered?"
"No, Mr. Fausto, my call isn't about that. There's... something you need to hear from me."
"Roland..."
"Listen to me, there's a good chance of a solution. What I want and what Verónica needs is to have you by her side. Even if you don't say it, I can feel it."
"Now I'm really worried. What's wrong with my daughter?"
"Because of the mistake I made with Beatriz, I contracted the human papillomavirus and infected Verónica." I heard a sigh on the other end of the line. "Due to her genetics, she's prone to cancer." A scream was heard. "My wife has stage four cervical cancer, and it might be in other places."
"Is there a solution? Are we in time?" This man had every reason to hate me.
"Yes, we are in time. Verónica didn't want to tell you that she got the disease because of me, but I can't face you without you knowing the truth. I told my wife I'd follow your advice to avoid worrying her, it was the only way to keep her calm.
"I ask you to go along with it, she needs all the peace for the babies to develop in a harmonious environment. The priority now is to wait until the pregnancy reaches seven months and then deliver them. After that, we will treat the cancer."
"Go on," he said.
"They will remove her entire reproductive system and cut out wherever it's infected, then use iodine therapy to eliminate any trace."
"I can imagine where the other two places where my daughter might have cancer are."
"Exactly. Today the doctor will bring us the tests and the treatment plan."
"Verónica can't leave?"
"She was ordered complete bed rest, her cervix is very weak, the babies could detach."
"I'll take the first flight I can find."
"Is that all you're going to say to me?" This would indeed be a miracle.
"Roland, my daughter loves you in a way that's incomprehensible to me, and I love her madly. I realized that when I saw her in the sanatorium for a month and a half. Understanding her absurd level of love for you, and despite my feelings, I also know the love you have for her. There's nothing more I can do or say.
"She forgave you for that slip-up with that young woman; you had nothing at the time, so there was no infidelity. And forgiveness means forgetting the offense and not holding grudges." My chest rose and fell; I had never had a father, and this man was the closest thing. "You've done things for my daughter that only rub in my face how much you love her, maybe with the same madness as my angel.
"Your remorse is enough for me. I appreciate your honesty; that's another point in your favor." I smiled. "If my Vero needs peace, I'll go along with the lie she'll tell me tomorrow. As punishment, you'll have to put up with me until my grandchildren are born and her treatment is over." I laughed again.
"It will be a complicated pleasure to have you around, Mr. Fausto. Thank you."
"Don't worry, young man. When I was about to lose her, I understood so many things. The important thing is that my daughter has a chance to live, and my grandchildren too. Look at the greatness, there will be three at once, since she will be left without a uterus."
"They saved her; if she hadn't gotten pregnant, we wouldn't have detected her cancer in time."
"Thank you for being honest, Roland. I value frankness a lot. See you tomorrow, I'm leaving for Bogotá right now to catch the first flight."
"Let me know the time of your flight when you have it, I'll send someone to pick you up in San Antonio."
"Alright. See you." I ended the call and looked at my friends, who had expressions of astonishment.
"I think the same," I said. "A miracle just happened."
The doctor arrived, and I accompanied her to the room. My friends had left after the snack, and my mother was talking to Verónica when we entered the room. After the introductions, my lovely lady's discretion was admirable; she left with the excuse of getting something to drink. We were left alone.
"Hello, Mrs. Sandoval, you have a beautiful ranch. I see you're doing some renovations."
"That weren't necessary, but here my favorite architect is going to install an elevator, and our room will have a living room and a dining area." The doctor's smile was evident.
"He only worries about your well-being."
"See," I said.
"Don't give him wings because he's very capable of buying a robot to bathe me in bed."
"Well, I come with good news regarding yesterday's exams." The doctor began taking her blood pressure. I crossed my arms. No more blows, please.
"There's no cancer in the rectum, which means Mr. Sandoval no longer has the virus. Anyway, with his exams, I'll refer him to a good urologist, and whatever can be done will be done. As for your throat... you're infected." I closed my eyes, and my heart raced.
"Roland... look at me." I clenched my jaw and fists. "What's the next step we should take?"
"It hasn't progressed beyond grade one in the throat, which means it could be cured with iodine. But you must undergo check-ups every six months for life."
"See, everything will be fine," she said, looking at me.
"Will everything be fine, doctor?"
"If nothing changes, we hope to come out of this successfully. In three months, you'll need to take her to the clinic for ultrasounds and to monitor the cancer's progress. Then for the delivery. Those will be the only two trips from the ranch, as we agreed. I'll come monthly to check on you, but keep me informed of anything unusual. If you have any bleeding or a slight brown spot, I'll expect you at the clinic, and you won't be able to leave."
"Tell him all the warnings. I'll have the most annoying nurse in the world."
"I love you too, Verónica."
"I love you more, caveman." The doctor smiled. "See you in four weeks, doctor."
"In two weeks, I'll send a nurse to take urine samples."
"Perfect."
Let's hope things go as we wish. Mr. Fausto will arrive tomorrow. I'll also call Raúl to see if he can come more often; my wife needed them. It was my duty to trust in the Lord. I promise to do my part, to bend my knee, as penance... because I learned to trust you in a very personal way.