Chapter 48 Tough Timings
Arden's POV
"You have reached the voicemail-" I almost threw my phone against the wall in my study room. I let out a huge breath, trying to calm myself down. I have been trying to call Lana even more after my father told me about Mark's death. His death is all over the media. I want to know how Lana is doing and I want to be with her, hug her and tell her that I love her. But her f^cking phone just keeps on ringing.
I sat down on the chair behind the desk and I opened up my laptop. I typed in the search bar for flights to Seattle. I have to take this chance, even if it's for a day or two, because I need to know if she is okay. I dialed Cynthia's phone number as I browsed through the flights.
"Hello," Cynthia answered.
"Hi, this is Professor Moses. I hope that I didn't disturb you-"
"Professor Moses? For you, anytime," Cynthia replied with excitement.
"I need Lana's address. Something happened to her father and I wanted to pay my respects. I do not have her home address. Do you perhaps know it?" I asked.
"Um, I am sorry to say that I do not know that detail of Lana's life. Gosh, I hope that she is okay. I have been trying to call her, but no answer. This is actually worrying me right now. Mr Stern was a huge part of her life. She loved him and now seeing the news about him in the media is making me worry. Perhaps her boyfriend, Daniel, knows her home address. I could call him and ask," she suggested. I clenched my jaw. I didn't like the fact that Daniel knows where she lives, but I will take whatever I can get to make sure that she is okay.
"I will appreciate it, I need it as soon as possible," I said.
"Chat soon," she replied, and I hung up.
Soon after that, my phone rang...Lucinda. I let out a heavy breath before answering. "Lucinda," I answered with irritation.
"Arden..." her breathing is heavy on the phone. "I can't breathe," she said with panic in her voice.
I sat up straight, "Lucinda, just breathe, deeply," I tried to say calmly and to help her. I heard Charl crying in the background. "I can't," she said with a plea.
"Are you alone with Charl?" I asked and I got up from my chair. I hurried out of the study room.
"Yes," she said, which was barely a whisper.
"I'm coming over, just continue to breathe like old times that I have guided you through. I will be driving now, will you be okay?" I asked. I was worried...worried about her and my son. This was like old times when we were married and she was pregnant with our first baby. I can remember the panic she had when she got her panic attack. I was always by her side, but my son needs a mother and I don't want anything to happen to her or to wish anything bad on her.
The line cuts, "F^ck," I muttered under my breath and I grabbed my car keys from the kitchen counter and I hurried.
I got to Lucinda's house and I could hear Charl crying. I opened the front door. "Lucinda!" I called out. I checked the kitchen and Charl was in his high chair, crying. Lucinda was sitting on the ground, her back against the kitchen cupboard, her head was to the back as she breathed. I hurried to her side, crouching in front of her.
"Lucinda?" I asked as I placed my hand gently on her leg. "Are you breathing okay?" I asked.
"I'm scared," she said as she opened her eyes, tears welled up in them.
"I'm here, just breathe," I cupped her face with both of my hands and I made eye contact with her as I breathed together with her. "Just breathe."
Charl is still crying and I need to get to him. I gently pull away from her, but she grips my arm so tightly that I am reminded of Lana. "Please, don't go," she said with panic in her eyes.
"I need to get Charl," I said, and she loosened her grip. I got up and hurried over to Charl. I took him out of his high chair and held him in my arms. Immediately, he stopped crying. I held him very closely to me as I walked over to Lucinda. "Are you okay?" I asked.
She nodded, "Yes."
"What triggered this?" I asked as I pulled a chair out from the dinner table and I took a seat, trying to get Charl to sleep.
"I cannot cope, I cannot do this alone. I thought that I could, but I couldn't. I am working again and having Charl in my care makes it harder and I don't trust any nanny. I need you to be here," she pleads with me, the desperation in her eyes. I feel sad for her.
"I cannot live here, and this doesn't change how I feel about our situation. If it means that Charl lives with me, then I will gladly take him with me. I do have a bit of a situation. I need to go to Seattle, because something came up and if I have to take Charl with me, also because of your panic attacks, then I will take him with me." I said.
"No, I will not allow you to take him with you. I need you here," she demanded.
"I am sorry, but I cannot always be here for you. I have moved on and so should you. Try to see someone for your panic attacks because you cannot always call me for it. I do not trust you to have Charl because you left him crying. I will also get a nanny, whether you like it or not, but I am going to Seattle tonight and he is going with me. I would suggest that you stay at one of your friends to take care of you," I stated.
She got up from the ground and she snatched Charl out of my arms. Charl cries again. This just angers me. "You will not take him anywhere, and you won't go anywhere," she hissed at me.
I scoffed as I stood up. "I guess that you just used your panic attack to get me here. Well, if this is one of your games, then I will not entertain it even if it happens for real. I won't allow my son to be in your care, this is even better to get custody."
"The panic attacks are real. You won't dare do that," she said to me.
"Well, watch me. If you don't give him to me right now, then you will have social services on your doorstep soon. I will have a nanny ready for him." I said, and I walked out of the house.
I cannot leave for Seattle, not with my son still in her care. She is unstable and in need of help. I cannot help her, she needs a professional. As soon as my son has the best care, then I will go and see Lana. Hopefully, Cynthia will have an address for me. I hate to be stuck between two situations and it is pulling me in both directions.