Chapter 33 Father
Lily's POV
I ran outside refusing to listen to whatever she had to say.
What else would she tell me if not that Mr Gambino was the man who had impregnated her and denied the pregnancy for seventeen years? That Wade was my stepbrother?
Hot tears flowed down my eyes as I walked frantically down the hall of the hospital.
"Lily! Lily!" I heard a familiar voice call my name. It sounded like Wade but I didn't slow down. Instead I increased my pace.
This one thing I knew about myself. I get impulsive whenever my mind gets an attack.
"Lily, you have to calm down. It's not what you think," Wade shouted and I noticed he was panting.
Then I stopped abruptly and wiped my tears.
I turned back and looked at him.
"What else is it?" I asked, trying so hard to hide my emotions.
"They're just childhood friends. Nothing to worry about," he said and my heartbeat returned to normal.
"Are you being serious?" I said, finding my voice.
"Of course. You just acted impulsively without wanting to hear what she had to say."
"You wouldn't blame me Wade. I don't want Mr Gambino to be the man I hated with all my soul," I said, lowering my head.
"Well, he is somewhat related to that story," Wade said.
"What?!"
"Your father was his best friend."
"Don't tell me—"
"It's a long story Lily. You have to come inside and listen to your mother," Wade said and took me by the hand, heading back to the ward.
When we reached her ward, the doctor called for me.
My legs trembled as I entered his office. What news would I receive? Would it break me or heal me?
"Wait," I heard Mr Gambino's voice as I was about to enter the doctor's office.
"I'll join you," he said and walked up to me.
His fatherly presence gave me a feeling of confidence and all the shivering stopped.
He held my hands as we entered together.
"You can sit," the doctor said politely.
I nodded and we took a seat facing the doctor with the table as the only barrier between us.
"Good day sir. I haven't seen you before. Are you part of the Johnson family?" the doctor asked, looking at Mr Gambino.
Mr Gambino nodded and replied.
"I am her father," he said and the words landed somewhere fragile in my heart.
A feeling of warmth overwhelmed me alongside confusion.
Doctor Alex nodded, looking at Mr Gambino suspiciously.
I bent my head immediately. Doctor Alex knew our story. He knew everything about us being abandoned by my so called father.
Then he turned to me.
"Lily," he called and I shook with nerves.
"Yes?" I answered.
"Are you comfortable with me speaking in his presence?"
"Yes, sure." The words escaped before I knew it.
"Okay," the doctor replied and flipped through the pages of the folder in front of him.
"Lily, I'm afraid that your mother would have to remain blind for the rest of her life. We have tried our best but—" he was still talking when Mr Gambino cut him short.
"But your best is not enough," he said confidently.
"Excuse me sir?" the doctor said and I noticed annoyance in his voice.
"I said your best is not enough."
"No hospital in this country is capable of treating her. The equipment needed for the surgery would have to be imported from abroad or better still she should be sent abroad for treatment."
"So why haven't you imported the equipment?" Mr Gambino replied with a question that threw both me and the doctor off balance.
What did he mean import the equipment? Where would I find such money?
I just sat helplessly watching their exchange.
"They can't afford it. Besides, they already owe this hospital a lot of money. How else are they supposed to pay?"
"How much do they owe?"
"I can't even calculate it offhand."
"Then calculate it," Mr Gambino ordered and Doctor Alex shook his head then brought out his laptop. After a few minutes he turned the screen toward us and the figure I saw was out of this world.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw the debt we owed.
Mr Gambino glanced at the screen then reached for his phone.
"I told you, the amount they owe is impossible to pay considering their condition. I have been providing my services on charity for them and you show up years later blaming me for not doing my best?" Doctor Alex tried to control the rage fuming within him but it was evident in his voice.
"Done," Mr Gambino said and showed us the transaction receipt.
Doctor Alex opened it then closed it, his eyes widened with disbelief.
I couldn't believe my eyes. I blinked twice to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
The receipt was real.
"Sir—" I tried speaking but tears choked my throat.
"It's okay Lily," Mr Gambino said and patted my head gently.
Doctor Alex was obviously speechless. He couldn't utter a word.
"I would like to send Martha abroad to continue her treatment. Your hospital is in a pitiable state and this would only worsen her situation," Mr Gambino continued and Doctor Alex just kept quiet.
"I would need you to arrange for the best hospital and have her admitted. Send the bills to me and I will sort them out," Mr Gambino said and dropped his card on the table.
"With immediate effect," he concluded and walked out of the office.
Doctor Alex rubbed his forehead then looked at me as I sobbed silently.
"Is he really your father?" he asked, almost in a whisper.
"I don't know," I stammered, but my response was honest.
I truly did not know if he was my father.
My legs shook as I stood and walked out of the office to Mum's room.
"Mum—" my voice broke as I knelt beside her.
"Mum, you're going to be okay. You're going to see me again and—" I sobbed.
"It's okay Lily, don't cry," Mum replied slowly.
I sniffled and tried to control my tears.
Mia walked up to me and held my hands.
"Don't cry. Your mum is going to be okay," she said softly.