THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE
Part 5's. Are You Okay 2
We have to get through dinner. After the last meeting finished at 5 p.m. Tomorrow's price deal meeting, I hope I can get through it quickly, my mind's fucked up now.
I order a standby heli tomorrow, which will fly me to the border of Sarnia, and I can reach Toronto faster.
I met Gillian who was observing me with a probing gaze. And I try so hard to look okay.
"Good night, Mr. Gillian, thank you for dinner." I forced myself to smile as I walked out of the banquet, I managed to keep myself looking fine during the banquet and chatted with many people.
"Night Miss Dugard. You okay?" He stopped walking making other guests walk in front of us and away.
"Yes I'm good. It seems that the team members have already completed the technical agreement, we can advance to the initial negotiation of the price deal tomorrow." It has to be finished tomorrow, I can't wait anymore.
"You're in a hurry?"
"No, just I thought faster would be better."
"If there's something you have to finish you can ask for a delayed negotiation." I don't know why he's always been nice to me, but all this time it's been going on, like he's a friend who's known me a long time.
"It's okay. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Do you really think you're okay after noon." He looked at me with his sharp gaze now.
What am I supposed to tell him? My dad's dying and I have to go home now, why doesn't he make this go as fast as he can. He complicates all this. I took a long breath.
"Mr Gillian, I don't know what to tell you?"
"I used to give you a chance to tell the truth, but you chose not to trust anyone else." I'm quiet now.
If he hears this, it's likely that this negotiation will be void. If I go home I'll probably be in mourning. If I don't go home, I don't know if I can get there in time. Maybe when I get back Dad's gone...
My tongue thinks about it.
"Elizabeth... What's wrong with you?" This time he called my name and I lost my resolve.
"My father is critical, already wearing a breathing apparatus. Maybe he ... " I couldn't continue it just my tears dripping down and my shoulders shaking holding back the cry in front of her.
He was breathing hearing me talk.
"Go home, why are you still here. You'll regret a lifetime if you don't come home now."
"But..."
"We can finalize the deal next week. Heli's taking you to Sarnia right now, there's a standby unit at the airport along with the pilot there. I'll call Sir David asking for talks on delay." He called someone to arrange what he said.
"Tomorrow morning I'll call Sir David. Now home. The driver who's driving you is ready downstairs, find Sergeant Johnson in the reception downstairs..." He patted my shoulder.
"Mr Gillian." He sees me still with his calm eyes.
"Hm... "
"Thank you." I can only say thank you.
"Go now."
I'm goin.
Return home to Toronto, until home 4 hours later. Still given a chance to meet one last time with Dad. Quickly remove it for the last time. And it all came back because Mr. Gillian gave me a chance to come back sooner.
I know we'll take it off, but who's ready for farewell. I, Mom, Albert and Monica still took it off in tears. He used to be there even though he couldn't remember us, but now he's really gone.
"Maybe it's better this way, your father has rested in peace." Mom touched Dad for the last time, in these two years she has been faithfully taking care of him.
We hoped he would recover but it turned out that our hope was not granted. With his condition continuing to deteriorate we feel this is best for everyone.
"Dad has done our best, having Mom and Dad is the most beautiful gift we have." My brother and I are lucky we have parents we are so proud of.
Finally the funeral is over. Albert is now the leader of this family to replace Dad completely, he was already holding all the company arrangements.
We are all trying to live with a new chapter.
"Gillian asked you to go to Michigan next week for the deal. Why don't you call Uncle that your father's critical. How could Uncle require you to stay there. Uncle wasn't that cruel to you."
Uncle David who came to the funeral, my father's best friend from the army training period. She hugged me as a sign of grief, other than Dad, I was the one who was already considered her own daughter.
"Papa once said the task should be completed Uncle. I just remembered his words. We actually already know from doctors, many times saying his condition will decline immediately in the near future. When I left her her her condition was still stable. I think I can finish this."
"Gillian said he's already got the Brazilian government, the project won't go through, just the funds we're going to put in. He's already got his offer, but he says he wants to talk to you about a condition, I don't know what that means, but he says it's related to a branch of your company."
"Ohh... I don't know what company he's referring to. We haven't spoken at all."
"What are we thinking about next week. You've made funeral plans, Miko will arrange a military funeral. You just have to say when you want to."
"Yes Uncle, thank you."