Get Well, Dad!

Mandy watched the heart monitor as she sat by her father's bed. He had suffered a mild stroke according to the doctor. Though he was out of danger, he still needed to rest. Mandy was grateful that his father was all right. She couldn't possibly bear it if she lost her father.

His father stirred and woke up. He blinked a couple of times before he noticed Mandy.

"Mandy?" Donald Enriquez looked around him. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital, Dad," said Mandy, pulling her chair closer to her dad. "Do you remember what happened to you?"

"I remember sitting at the garden, watching some birds fly by. The next thing I know, I am here." Donald cleared his throat. "What happened to me?"

Mandy held her father's hand.

"You had a mild stroke. The doctor said there are no permanent damages to your brain but you're gonna have to take it easy." Mandy stroked his father's hair. "You had me worried there."

Her father smiled. He took her hand and patted it.

"How did you know I was here? Did William call you?"

"No, Dad. I went to visit you at the house today. But I found you unconscious in the garden."

"Well, will you look at that. Just when you decide to visit your father…" Donald didn't finish his sentence.

"Please don't do that again, Dad."

"I didn't plan to do it in the first place, honey."

Mandy smiled. Tears were forming at the corner of her eyes. Donald touched her cheek gently.

"I will make sure I'll be the one to walk you down the aisle, Princess."

"Then you're gonna have to live for many years because I don't have any plans of getting married."

Donald laughed. "And waste that beautiful genes of ours?"

Mandy smiled.

"You rest now. I'm gonna take care of some things. William is here so if you need anything just let him know. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Donald nodded.

"William," Mandy said, "you let me know if he's being stubborn. Keep him lying down. You call me if he gets up from this bed, do you understand?"

"Yes, Miss."

Mandy kissed her father on the forehead and then she went out and made arrangements for her father's stay in the hospital.

Meanwhile, Donald called William to come near him.

"Yes, Sir, do you need anything?" William asked and then bowed low enough for him to hear what President Enriquez had to say.

"I want you to call Jenny. Have her come here immediately."

"Sir, may I remind you that the doctor advised that you get a complete rest so that you can quickly recover. I believe calling your secretary might not be good idea for now. I think even Miss Mandy will disapprove." William had been working so long for the Enriquez family that he could freely speak his opinion to Donald Enriquez without fear of getting fired. William has earned Donald's trust through decades of service to the family.

"Believe me, William, this is not just about work. This is about Mandy, too. Now call my secretary."

"Of course, Sir. But please do rest while Miss Mandy is out and while you are waiting for Jenny. I don't want to get in trouble with Miss Mandy," begged William.

"It's funny how you don't want to get in trouble with my daughter, yet you have no problem contradicting me," Donald said teasingly.

"It's because you are more stubborn than your daughter, Sir. And I say that with love and respect, Sir. I shall now go and call your secretary."

"Use my phone to call her so that she is sure to answer."

"Yes, Sir, I will."

William went out and closed the door behind him, leaving Donald alone with his thoughts.

Donald looked at the sky outside the window. The sky was beginning to get dark. He resented having a stroke on the day his daughter chose to visit him. What a waste of time lying in a hospital bed when he could be having dinner with his daughter.

He missed having her at their home. If only he could persuade her to stay with him again. But she is no longer a child. He could no longer influence her decisions. He could only hope that she considers moving back in.

Donald looked around the room he was in. The room was spacious enough, he thought. He had never been hospitalized before. Now, here, in this room, he felt more alone than ever.

The room was quiet. The only sound that could be heard is the steady hum of the air conditioning. He looked at the pulse monitor attached to his finger. He pressed it and then released it from his finger. The heart monitor alarm went off, signaling the nurses to come running to his room.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to startle anyone," Donald said as he handed the monitor back to the nurse.

"Please do not remove anything attached to you, Sir," the nurse said as she clipped the monitor back to Donald's finger.

"Actually, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I don't want anything attached to any part of my body. Please remove all of them."

"I'm sorry, Sir," said the nurse. "We can't remove anything unless the doctor ordered it."

"Then please call my doctor and tell him to order you to remove these devices from me."

The nurse smiled at the old man. He was being polite and insistent at the same time.

"I'll see what I can do."

"And while you are here, could you prop me up so I can see outside the window?"

"Sure," said the nurse.

The nurse adjusted the bed so that Donald's upper body was raised to an almost sitting position.

"Is that better?" Asked the nurse after she was done adjusting the bed and propping some pillows under Donald.

"Yes, thank you. That is so much better."

"Okay, you better rest, Sir. Or you will have to stay here longer."

At that, Donald closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

. . .

"Sir, Sir, Jenny is here."

Donald awoke to find Jenny, his secretary, and William standing at the foot of his bed.

"Is Mandy back?" He asked William.

"No, Sir."

"Leave us, please."

"Yes, Sir. I will just be outside the door in case you need me." William nodded at Jenny before he went out of the room.

"How are you, Sir?" Jenny asked as she pulled out a small notebook from her purse. She was going to have dinner with her family that night after they watch a movie but William called her and told her what had happened and that President Enriquez called for her. It has always been like that, whenever President Enriquez called her, she dropped whatever she was doing to go to him. She's lucky to have a very understanding husband and children. She had been working with President Enriquez for so long that she didn't mind the "emergencies". She looked down at her clothes. She was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a green windbreaker over a pink blouse. Her white sneakers were slightly dirty.

"I apologize for my clothes, Sir. I was out with my family to catch a movie tonight."

Donald straightened up.

"Don't apologize. Actually, I should be the one who should apologize for pulling you out from your plans with your family tonight."

"Don't worry about it, Sir. My family completely understands. You have helped us in so many ways that we can never complain." That was true. Donald Enriquez was the one who pays for Jenny's children's education. It is something that they will forever be grateful to him.

Donald nodded his head slightly. He looked out the window for a couple of seconds as if in deep thought. Jenny waited patiently.

"Jenny, I want you to take care of a few things for me while I am here."

Jenny held her pen, ready to the notes.

"First of all, call my lawyer. I need to talk to him tomorrow morning. There are some things I need him to arrange."

Jenny finished writing almost the same time as Donald finished his sentence. Donald smiled to himself. That is one of the many reasons why he liked Jenny for a secretary. She can take down notes very well.

"Next, I want you to make sure that nobody knows I am confined here right now. Tell the board that I am out on a business trip."

Jenny looked up from her notebook, surprised at what President Enriquez said.

"And what will I tell them, Sir, in case they ask when you will be back?"

"Tell them that I did not tell you when I will be back. Tell them that somebody will take over the company while I am away."

Jenny wrote on her notebook and then realized something.

"And who, may I ask, will take over for you, Sir?"

Donald Enriquez looked out the window again. He squinted his eyes.

"Mandy. Tell them Mandy will take over the company while I am away."