CHAPTER 32

        It wasn't until later when Carly returned home that she remembered she hadn't warned her father about her son's condition and the activities he was limited to.Combined with the tiredness from the previous day's flight, if he got overexcited and overworked his body,it could be much worse than the first two times he had been hospitalized.It had been concluded that his was a genetic condition especially when she said she had gone through almost the same thing. The only difference was that Teddy developed breathing problems which had started only some time back. It had not managed to be treated yet and she hoped she would take him for check up soon and hopefully he would be treated.Several phone numbers had been listed on a notebook by the main telephone in the sitting room.She decided to try calling her father's number but it went straight to voice mail.Just as she was about to try another one, she heard them talking across the hallway on their way inside. She left the phone and went to meet them.

    As soon as she appeared before them,Teddy ran forward and embraced her excitedly. Carly sighed with relief when she saw there was no signs of strain on his face and he was still full of energy.

        "Hey baby!" she greeted as she lifted him in her arms. 

         "Mommy, we built sand houses on the beach with grandpa. He taught me how to and it was so exciting!"

         "Really?" she asked and made a quick glance at her father who stood a few paces away with a smile on his face. "Funny he never did that with uncle Carl and I," she added in a teasing tone.

         "Maybe I am his favorite," Teddy said and they both laughed.

    Her father shrugged, "You were busy running around with your own grandpa. Perhaps this is meant to be a grandpa,grandkids thing."

          "Maybe," she nodded,"Or maybe you just didn't like spending time with us."

   Her father squinted his eyes,"Hmm,let's see.First of all,you were so rebellious and up to every kind of mischief. How was I supposed to keep up with that?"

   Carly laughed, "I missed you dad." The words came to her easily. They might not have been close as some parents were with their kids but he had always been a part of her life.Though observing everything from a distance and making little to no comments,she was sure he'd had a hand in the issue about her being attracted to girls.She knew he had been a part of her mother accepting and embracing it.She had sat down to think on so many lonely nights when Gavin stopped being as interested in her as he had been when they first got married. The image of her father never left her mind.It came without a saying that she regretted going against both of her parents and that was why she had been so afraid of facing them again. But standing here now,she was glad she had come back.

          "I missed you a lot too sweetheart. Your mom and I both did."

  She smiled, "Lunch will be ready in a few minutes."

 Her father grinned, "There came a time that I lost all hope of ever hearing you say that.I actually thought you would have problems cooking for your husband. You had absolutely no experience in the kitchen."

         "I was a wild one,wasn't I?" Her father nodded. "Living independently has taught me a lot and also having this handsome man who is the greatest gift I have had in all my life."

    He was silent for a while before he spoke again. "After everything that happened when you finished college, we thought we had lost you but we loved you regardless. I have to admit that none of it was okay but then you got us this gift too.We are so proud to be grandparents."

         "Does mom think so too?" she asked.

          "Yeah.We have loved you all along and prayed everyday that you would come back to us."

         "I divorced him.Did Carl tell you?"

        "Yeah even though he didn't tell us what happened."

         "That's because I didn't tell him.It is a part of my life that I don't like talking about.Not many people know about it." she answered truthfully and looked away.Teddy was standing by the photograph stand in the corner of the living room looking at some photos.She was sure he wasn't listening but didn't want to go on with the conversation there.

         "What happened?" he asked.

           "Could we talk about it some other time?" she said motioning towards her son.

          "Sure," he said then walked past her and parted her arm lightly. "I'm just glad you and your son are okay."

    Carly nodded and gave him a half smile.She hoped that the day to talk about everything that had happened with Gavin wouldn't come up again but she knew it was inevitable. She would have to talk about it sooner or later.

            "Dad?"

              "Yeah." He stopped and turned around.

               "Why didn't Carl tell me about Dylan's mother?"

       Her father frowned, "He didn't? I asked him and he said he would tell you."

   She shook her head,"I just received the news when it is already too late.What's the use of knowing that right now?"

         "Who told you, have you seen her already?"

          "Not yet.It was Emily at the grocery store. I was shocked and didn't even know what to say."

          "Maybe he forgot or probably had a reason for not telling you. It's unlike him to just dismiss something like that especially since he knew how close you two used to be e," he paused. "It's not too late to check up on her though. If she took it to heart when she didn't see you then,she might take it even much harder if she knows that you came back and didn't look her up.She probably already knows  you are here because she has been spending much time with him for a long while now."

    Her father had just dropped another bombshell on her without realizing it.Her brother was now close friends with her ex.Could things get more complicated than they already were?

          "Seems like he forgot to mention a whole lot of things," she stated then added,"I will look for her."

      Of course that was easier said in words,taking the action would be a lot harder because she didn't know how she would approach her or even what she would say to her.Not looking for her though would make her feel worse than she was feeling now.True,their relationship had ended years ago and true they hadn't kept in touch through out those years.But it was she who had ended it.What kind of person would she be if she didn't at least give  her condolences even if she was two years late.

       The next few hours passed by quickly. She spent the afternoon arranging her clothes in the wardrobe while the others from seven years before were folded into boxes and taken into the attic. Thoughts about Dylan and her mother had occupied the forefront of her mind,trying to figure out how she would possibly face Dylan and not mention her mother. Would it be a good idea to bring up something that must have taken her much time to get over.And had she even gotten over it?The note she thought about it,the more she didn't think it would be a good idea. Perhaps she could just ignore it,act like she didn't know. But how? If she saw her,Dylan would probably expect her to say something.

         "What are you thinking about?" It was her mother. They were both in the kitchen preparing dinner together. "You have been cutting the same slice of onion for a while now."

        "It's nothing," Carly said as she came back to the present.

        "Okay but be careful with the knife.The distraction definitely doesn't seem like nothing."

  Carly sighed, "It's about Dylan's mother. I just learnt what happened to her earlier today and I feel like I should say something to her but I don't know how to."

         "She will understand if you didn't know when it happened," her mother replied.She stopped what she was doing and observed her for a while. "Why did you break up with Dylan?You never told us."

      Carly hadn't been expecting the question so it caught her unawares.She didn't even have time to think why her mother had asked her that.Years back,she had posed the exact same question and she hadn't answered even then.She had ended up calling her mother a hypocrite because of the same.When she had been with Dylan,at first she had been so against it,wanted her to get a boyfriend, be married and have kids.And then Gavin had come along. She had expected her to be over the moon but instead, it had been the complete opposite of it.They almost fought physically even and that's when she made a final decision to go with him to Australia.The second worst mistake after she broke up with Dylan. Looking at her mother now,she knew she had hurt her and she should have listened to her instead of following Gavin blindly to another country.

        "I was young and stupid. It's all I can say right now," she replied. "I'm so sorry for not listening to you."

        "It's okay. Perhaps it was what you needed then.I don't know what happened between you and Gavin and it's definitely not what I mean by my statement," she explained quickly. "I mean being so young, perhaps you needed the independence to discover yourself."

   Carly nodded, "It was what I needed mom.I wouldn't have learnt responsibility if I hadn't.Even though I should have at least stuck with my first decision to stay in the country when he asked me to move away with him.Especially since I was pregnant."

         "I'm not mad at you Carly. Maybe then I was disappointed in you and the words you used.It might not have seemed like it but I was so afraid of losing you.When you said that you were coming back,I was beyond myself with joy and now that I have seen you and Teddy,all that happened back then is all in the past."

            "Thanks for accepting us back mom," she smiled.

          "Of course, you are both my blood," her mother replied. "You are back permanently,right?"

         "Yeah.I'm going to start looking for a teaching job and look for a house for Teddy and I."

       "What are you talking about? This house is big enough for all of us.We can turn Carly's former bedroom into Teddy's and you could stay with us."

         "But then I would be intruding. I'm old enough to move out."

          "Fuck customs and beliefs.You are my child and I want to have you close by.I wanna be close to my grandson too," she replied. "Is that too much to ask?"

     Carly laughed, "Please don't let him hear you say that word again or he will hate you."

            "Sorry it just came out.Habits," she said and glanced back to see if he was within hearing range.She then turned to Carly, "At least stay for a while?"

           "Okay," Carly agreed with a smile.

             ★★★

    Her brother didn't get time to get there in time for dinner.He called to say that he wouldn't make it and so they ate the first family meal without him. He however said he would be there very early in the morning for breakfast before going back.Carly decided to wait until then to confront him about  keeping the death of Dylan's mother from her.

       Later that night,Carly awoke to the soft whimpering of her son in his sleep. It was barely audible and if she hadn't just woken up from a bad dream, she was sire she couldn't have heard him.She quickly got out of her bed,switched on the lights and got in the bed beside him.

          "Are you okay baby?" she asked. She at first thought he was having a bad dream until she touched his forehead. It was as hot as coal in a furnace. Beads of sweat ran down his sides but he had his eyes closed.She panicked. "Open your eyes baby,what's wrong?"

          "I ...I don't feel so good mommy," he said slowly and the words seemed to affect him even more.His breath caught and he writhed as if in pain.

Carly shot up and ran out of the room.She banged at her parents bedroom loudly.Her father was the first one to get out.

          "What is it?" he asked sharply.

           "It's Teddy. He is sick again," she replied in a shaky voice.

         "Go start the car!" Her mother ordered then shot past Carly towards the bedroom. Her father went to the opposite direction.Carly stood stranded for a moment in confusion before she went after her mother.Seconds later, they both followed her father outside where he already had the car waiting to take them to the hospital. Her mother cradled Teddy on her lap in the back seat.It wasn't the first time this had happened but she was the most terrified of all.She would never get used it.