THE BLACK MARRIAGE
© Ralph Angel
EPISODE 41
Andy had never been more grateful to God that he had listened to his father and hired some bodyguards. He only used them at work because having bodyguards seemed more of a burden to him and made him look older than he actually was, but as he stormed the hospital, he was so grateful for their help.
Journalists were all over the hospital, trying to get what was going on. The three bodyguards warded them off, allowing him to have easy passage into the hospital. It was during times like this that he wished that he wasn’t as famous as he was; the fame always drew unnecessary attention.
Andy only dwelt on this for what seemed like a second and then his thoughts were switched back to Jessica, making him quicken his steps. He was inside the hospital after what seemed like an eternity to him, whereas, it was only seconds and immediately he entered the hospital, the nurses seemed to stand at attention. They looked uncomfortable and shy as they took in his imposing and exceptionally intriguing body but Andy did not even notice. He towered over them, his eyes penetrating their senses.
“Where is my wife?” He growled; his intense fear showing vividly despite his attempt to cover it and be brave.
“Calm down Andy” Tunji admonished, placing a hand on Andy’s shoulder but Andy was not ready to be in a calm mood and Tunji knew that Andy would not be until Jessica was certified hale and hearty.
The nurses did not need to ask who his wife was; they had identified him immediately he entered. “She is in the A and E department sir, some doctors are attending to her” One of the nurses replied shakily.
“I want to see her now” Andy was glaring now, looking like he would not mind tearing the nurse apart if she denied him. The nurse squirmed. A much older nurse, seeing what was going on quickly went to salvage the situation.
“I am sorry sir, you can’t see her now. Her condition is critical and she is being attended to by our best specialists. Interfering and disturbing the doctors can put your wife at more risk. Please, I advise you to be calm sir, if you could wait in the waiting room over there” she pointed in a direction, “The doctor would see you immediately he gets out.”
Andy clenched his jaw painfully and folded his palms into fists until his knuckles were as white as his spotless teeth.
The thought of putting Jessica in danger by his actions was more than enough to make him back down. His arrogance oozed off a bit, making his fear more evident. He marched to the waiting room and Tunji followed closely behind murmuring something that Andy could not hear. His mind was far away. His mind was in the emergency room with Jessica. Andy roamed the waiting room aimlessly, unable to settle down.
Tunji’s desperate attempts to make him calm down became futile and Tunji also became almost as agitated as Andy.
Back at the hospital’s reception, one nurse that joined at the middle of the scene stared at the closed door of the waiting room and fanned herself with her fingers. “Jeez, that guy is smoking hot. Who is he?”
The other nurses stared at her like she was an alien from another planet. “You don’t know Andy Williams?”.
Her eyes widened. “That is the Andy? The owner of… Oh My God! He is as hot as they say he is, with a good looking bank account too, I bet; in fact, an overflowing account to be precise”.
The older nurse turned irritated eyes at the lady. “I bet you also heard that he is married” she hissed. “Put your cards together and stop eyeing another woman’s husband”.
The younger nurse frowned and turned away, chastised.
The door of the waiting room burst open and Lizzy and Paulina bounced in with teary faces. “Where is Jessie? Oh my God!” Paulina gasped out and seeing Andy, looking like a shadow of himself, made her know that the accident was real. Lizzy was just standing motionless at the entrance of the waiting room, staring into space as tears fell freely.
Seeing the women in tears made Andy much more frightened.
It was like Jessica was already… already… ‘NO’. He refused to think about it. ‘My Jessica would not leave me’ he told himself repeatedly. He ran his hands through his hair and decided it best to comfort the women; that would at least get his mind off this waiting.
Tunji moved forward and held Paulina in his arms and she cried the more. Andy saw Lizzy standing stupefied at the entrance and instantly knew what she was thinking about.
He hurriedly went to her. He touched her hand and she seemed to suddenly realize where she was. She raised her teary eyes to Andy and Andy felt like his world had shattered.
There was something about women’s tears which always seemed to make situations much worse. Seeing the very strong Lizzy crying scared him more than anything. Seeing Jessica cry during the disastrous party that led to her disappearance had been more than he could bear. He had felt stabbed, devastated and shaken but seeing Lizzy’s tears felt totally different. In that instant, he was transported back in time to the time he lost his fiancée……..
To be continued.
