STRAIN BOND 1

CHAPTER EIGHT

"A mother's heart bleeds for her straying child, her faith and love soothe her crying temples."

2 YEARS LATER.

Lance sits with Josh as they travel to Ireland for a business conference on Lance's newest jet. Josh is not pleased with the way Lance is handling his daughter. He has over-pampered her with everything she only always wants him around.

He gives her any materials things he wants, and he believes she's quite happy. Sheila keeps talking about the impending doom she feels.

Sheila had a meeting with him and his sister Natasha; she explained everything her husband was doing wrong with the daughter. He initially thought Sheila was jealous about the relationship between Lance and his daughter, but he realized as time passed that Lance was not doing things right and this might have a lot of negative consequences later.

Emily is becoming hostile and withdrawn. She's consoled by all the luxury at her disposal and she's so cheesy with her maids and bodyguards. Not only that, but she's also becoming snobbish, she never gives in to common reason.

Her father had to fire her bodyguards and tutors continually because he felt it was their fault.

Lance complains they are not doing their job so well and he has to let them go.

He's paying them to watch and teach his daughter, so why do they have to be so incompetent?

But Lance does not understand his daughter does not need a bodyguard, nor does she like to attend those business parties of the crème de la crème or the boring lessons she had to learn.

She wants to be herself; she wants to go camping with her friends and do the things kids of her age do.

She's saddled with so much responsibility she does not understand, and her father expects so much from her and she wants to please him at all costs.

Lance does not see the harm done to Emily, but he feels she's happy doing what she's doing.

All that Sheila has told him bothered Josh and wishes to talk to Lance, even though Lance might not pay attention to what he has to say..

Josh feels the best thing to do right now is to concentrate on the meeting they are going for. When everything is over, he can now talk to his brother.

A BLIND MAN

2-day later, Lance rests after the business conference has ended. He sits in the bohemian chair on the balcony, and he stares into the air holding a glass of red wine in his hands.

Lance sits deep in thoughts, reminiscing over past events.

He re-married because he's in love again, but each time he looks at Emily, he can't help but see Cynthia in her. She is growing to be like her mother each day and this brings so many memories back to his mind.

He tries as much to show love to Emily, but he can't deny the fact what he and Cynthia shared is so special and it hurts to see Emily reminds him of his late wife.

He's sorry he can't express his true feelings and fears towards Emily. He can't explain to Emily his continuous absence from home; because her presence reminds him of his late wife, and this leaves a hole in his heart. Although Sheila has been a supportive partner, he can't bear the pain of losing Cynthia, and it still hurts sometimes.

Nothing can change what he and Cynthia had, and he knows Sheila understands him and she tries her best to make him happy at all times.

He knows she's happy with him and he knows Emily too is happy.

That is why he made sure Emily gets the best education. He is doing everything to make sure Emily takes after him in all ways.

He sips his wine slowly and his heart gets flooded with good and sad memories.

He drowns in his happiness and sorrows, wondering how life can be so unfair and also blissful.

"That's the way it is," he says aloud. He sips his wine slowly and enjoys the euphoria of the moment.

A WAY OUT

Meanwhile, Josh is in his hotel suite and wonders how he will talk to Lance. It is not the first time he said this to Lance, but he refuses to see things in the right way.

He believes they are all making it up because Emily acts like she's happy and tough. He knows she's going through a lot in her mind, and he understands her hostility and exuberance sometimes, but Lance has got to stop this for her well-being.

Josh fidgets about what to do as he lies in bed. Suddenly, his eyes light up and he smiles.

He picks up the phone and calls his younger sister, Natasha.

The phone rings, and Josh sits up to talk to her.

Natasha's voice rings from the other end of the phone and josh says, "hello sis, how are you doing my dear?"

"Am fine, bro, and you. Hope you are fine." She says.

"Yeah, I'm so fine." He replies.

"Sis, there's something I want to discuss with you that is disturbing my mind."

"I hope you are not busy to listen to me." He asks.

Natasha replies, "Not at all."

Josh explains to Natasha how he finds it difficult to talk to Lance about his insensitivity towards his daughter, and this kills him.

Natasha says, "I have an idea."

"What is it sis," Josh asks

"Why don't you let me talk to him? I will not tell him about our conversation, but I will tell him I want Emily to be with me in India for the holidays. After that, I will pressurize him in making Emily stay here."

"How about that" Natasha asks.

"That's a brilliant idea, but I hope it works," Josh says.

"You are about to erupt a volcano." Josh chuckles.

"I know, but am ready to give it a shot," Natasha says.

"You know how protective Lance can get when it comes to Emily, but let's try it out, and I believe everything will be fine," Josh says.

"Got to go, bro. I will talk to you later and thank you for telling me this." Natasha replies.

Josh hangs up the call with a tremendous sigh and he says, "I hope this works."

2 WEEKS LATER.

Natasha's suggestion infuriates Lance; this is the second time she is bringing this up.

Lance can't understand why Natasha insists on having Emily in India and this disturbs him a lot.

He loves her too much, and he believes their relationship is great.

"Emily is doing very great with me; she gets good grades in school and has a lot of friends."

"she's becoming just like me as she grows."

"I don't want her changing or becoming someone else; I see myself in her," he says.

she's celebrated by her friends and his business associate.

He hopes Emily will be the successor of his business even though she's a female. He believes so much in her and he's happy she is becoming what he wants.

"So why are they suggesting this now?" he asks himself.

Sheila is making the issue worse, supporting Natasha in her suggestions.

"I can't just believe how she could turn against me." He says.

To make it worse, his dad and mum support Natasha

"What the heck is wrong with all of them?" He says.

"Can't they see Emily is happy with me?" He says.

Lance loves his father and will always listen to him, but this is something he can't comply with.

He lay still in his bed, staring into the darkness. He turns to look at his wife that is sleeping beside him, and thought, "I have always allowed you to have your way, but I don't understand this now."

"Is there something she is not telling me?" he says silently.

So disturbed that he left his room and goes into his daughter's bedroom. He opens the door and finds his daughter is not sleeping, but she is on the bed staring at the stars.

"Hey, princess," he says

"Why are you not sleeping?" he asks.

"I can't sleep, dad," she replies

"Why my princess," he says as he moves closer toward her.

"Nothing, Dad, I just can't sleep. Emily says.

"Why are you awake at this hour?" she asks her father

"I guess I can't sleep either." He replies.

"Can I sit next to you so we can both watch the stars?" He asks.

"Yes, dad," Emily replies

Lance jumps on her bed and they both face the window, staring into the sky.

After a long moment of silence, Emily speaks

"Dad, I miss her."

Lance can't understand what his daughter was saying. So, he looks at her and raised his eyebrow

"I miss mum," Emily says.

"Do you miss her too?" she asks, turning her face to look at her dad.

"Yes sweetie, I do, but I have to be strong for you and everyone else and pretend for everyone's sake I do not miss her." He replies.

"Tell me about her, tell me about mum."

"I want to know; you never have time to tell me about her except she lives in heaven."

"I watch the stars at night, so that I can see her."

"Maybe I will see her amongst the stars," she says

She rests her head on her father's shoulder

"You say she is in the sky, watching over us, shining like a star."

"So why does she not appear amongst the stars?"Emily ask

Lance puts his hands on his daughter's back and says, "your mum is up there with God, and they are both stars watching over us, there are so far away so you can't see their faces, but they see you."

"Just imagine the star that shines brightest is your mum. She sees you and she is saying hello."

"Really! dad, then that means the star over there is my mum," she says as she points towards the sky.

"Yeah, my princess, that's your mum and she will always watch over you."

"Thanks, dad," she says with calmness

They both stayed in the dark for some time when Emily asks," why are you arguing with grandpa"

"What do you mean, child?" Lance asks.

"I heard you arguing with grandpa and aunt Natasha about me." She says, her heart pounding so fast."

Lance, sensing her agitation, says, "I love you and I want what's best for you."

"It's just a holiday, dad," Emily replies.

"How did you know that?" he asks

"I told you I heard you arguing with them," she mumbles.

"Oh my God!" Lance thinks to himself

It surprises Lance that his daughter knew so much.

Emily is eager to be away from home, and says, "Dad, I will love to stay with my aunt for some time, but I promise I will come back after the holiday." She says.

"Please, dad" she pleads.

Lance sits frozen at his daughter's request. She never pleads with him, but this is her first time.

He's so confused, not knowing what to say.

He's afraid. His heart keeps beating so fast. He dreads this moment, and he's not ready to deal with this. His heart sinks like a deep dirge.

Many thoughts flashed through his mind. His mind wanders and imagines his daughter's personality changing rapidly to Cynthia's

It is something he fears so much and that is why he is doing all this for her good.

Lance, saddened by his daughter's request, looks at his daughter and says, "Do you want to go?"

"Yes, dad," she says with a nod

Lance goes silent again, and he looks up into the brightest shining star and he felt a jolt in his heart.

His hand goes to his heart, and he stays still. He knows Emily is fast becoming a woman, and he is afraid of losing her, but this jolt in his heart means something.

Emily looks her in the eyes and says, "Dad, please trust me."

Lance breathes in and out slowly as his daughter's words ring in his ears and he says, "just this once I will grant your request."

Emily wraps her arms around her father and kisses him on the cheek. They lay in each other arms, staring into the dark sky with the shining stars.