RACHEL'S POV


Aunt Maggie picked me up from the airport, we drove home in silence. Once we got to their house, I was assigned my room for the time being. I put all my bags in and went straight to bed, the day had really taken it out of me. I wonder what Tony's doing, I thought. Suddenly, I remembered that I was suppose to call him. I rolled over and snatched my phone from the antique bedside table to my left. I unlocked it then pressed on his name, lying my head back on the pillow as it began to ring.

'Rachel! I thought you forgot...'

'No! Just been a long day. What are you doing?'

'I am currently trying to make myself some popcorn. You?'

'I'm in bed.'

There was a small silence only interrupted by the crackling of the line. 'Are you going to see him tomorrow?'

'Yeah,' I said, and without warning I was in tears yet again.

'Hey, hey. Don't cry. It's okay.' He cooed, I could hear the ping of the microwave in the background.

'I'm fine, it's just hard. I'll let you go eat your popcorn.'

'Are you sure? I don't care about it that much in all honestly.'

'Shut up,' I laughed through the sobs. 'I know you love popcorn.'

'Yeah, but I love you more.'

'I love you too. Now go and eat! I'll talk to you later.' He groaned. 'Tony, go!' He moaned once again like a child who wasn't getting what he wanted. 'Fine, I'll hang up. Goodbye. I love you.' With that, I pressed end call.

I placed my phone back on the bedside table and buried my face in the pillow to muffle my cries. I hadn't put up my dream catcher either, so that night wasn't pleasant in the slightest.

---

Taking a pancake, I glanced up at Aunt Maggie as she stared longingly into the bottom of the coffee mug.

'What time are we leaving?' I asked.

'When you're finished,' she said rather coldly.

I began to devour the pancake with great speed, not caring if I looked like a hungry pig. Once done, I took to my feet and placed my plate in the sink. I grabbed my cup and drank the last of the orange juice before placing it in there too. 'Ready.'

I followed her out of the house and into her family sized silver car. I moved the booster seat off and planted my bum down, not daring to make eye contact with her. She wasn't half as nice as she use to be, or as she was in that text. Perhaps Jen (my cousin) sent the text, that would make sense considering it doesn't look like Aunt's one to use a phone that often.

We parked in the hospital lot and walked in, I went behind Aunt so she could guide me to his room. I hadn't been in that hospital since I broke my ankle. I followed Aunt through a maze of corridors, braved the elevator, and then continued behind her for the last leg of the journey. She stopped abruptly outside of a door.

'He's in here. I'll let you go in alone.'

'Thanks,' I said. Opening the door, I quietly stepped into the room. Lying on a large bed with wires dangling from all directions was my Dad. He looked up at me and smiled, the kind of smile that says 'I'm terrified, but I don't want you to know'.

'Hey Dad,' I smiled, sitting down next to his bed.

'Rachel,' he said with a coarse voice. 'How have you been? Any boys on your radar?'

I laughed, 'only one. I've been good though, how are you?'

'Well,' he said, gesturing to the machines that were beeping away, 'I'm apparently alright too. So, tell me about this boy.'

'Um, he's my boyfriend. We met in college but he left to go on tour with his band. Oli, you remember him, right?' My Dad nodded. 'Yeah, well he invited me out on the same tour as his bands photographer. As it's what I want to be (a photographer), I happily took the offer. I ended up meeting Tony on the tour and he asked me out again, I accepted. Then, days later, I told it all to my wonderful Dad as he lay in bed and smiled at my little story.'

'That's great,' he said, coughing. 'So are you still together then?'

'Yeah,' I said, grinning as I remembered how truly lovely my boyfriend was.

'That's good to hear,' he said. 'I tell you what, these bloody tubes are a pain in the ass!'

'Dad,' I laughed, taking hold of his hand and rubbing it with my thumb. He always resorted to humor when there was something wrong. 'Don't be scared,' I said softly.

'I'm not, I just feel guilty. I haven't left you enough, have I? I should've stopped smoking when your Mother told me to. Will you be okay? Who will look after you? I'm not sure, Rachel. This is like your first day of school, but now the school is very big and there is no teacher.'

'Aw Dad,' I sighed, 'I'm going to be fine. I really am, I promise you that.' I took my phone out and placed it on the table as it was digging into my leg. 'You're so brave y'know, you really are.'

'Thank you poppet,' he said softly, shutting his eyes momentarily.

'I'm going to go to the cafeteria and get some food, would you like anything?'

'No, no. I'm fine.'

DAD'S POV

Once Rachel was out of the room, I grabbed her phone. I figured out how to unlock it then found her contacts, scrolling until I found 'Tony Turtle' who, as he was the only Tony, I assumed was her boyfriend.

'Hello?' said a familiar voice.

'Cesar?' I breathed out. 'Is that you?'

'It is, call me Tony now though. Wait, are you Rachel's father?'

'I am, small world eh boy!'

'It is,' I could hear the shock in his voice. Tony use to work for me at the garage when he was a teenager he was always saving up to buy new music equipment. 'I'm sorry to hear the news.'

'Ah, it's alright. I'm just worried that Rachel's going to struggle.'

'She's a strong girl. I cannot believe you are her Dad, this is insane!'

'It is,' I smiled. 'Listen Tony, I was just calling to- I just wanted to see who she was dating, okay? I'm nosy. I was scared that she'd met some idiot and she was just describing him nicely so I wouldn't worry.'

'So I'm not an idiot?' he laughed.

'No, you are most certainly not. I better go, I'll see you la-' I paused. Who am I kidding? I'm not going to see little Cesar again. 'Live your life to the fullest, Tony. Oh, and don't smoke. Goodbye.'

'Bye, sir.'

RACHEL'S POV

Coming back through with a chocolate bar in one hand and a piece in my mouth, I sat back down and smiled at my Dad. He was staring up at the wall - his chest was moving up and down at great speed as though he'd just done something terribly strenuous and his eyes were fixed on the ceiling fan.

'You alright?'

'I am,' he smiled, a genuine look of happiness on his eyes. 'I am.'

Notes

thank you for reading!<3