Woohoo! So happy you guys loved the first chapter. This chapter mainly focuses of Kiana, but I've decided I'm going to take turns on the main character focus so Sawyer will have his time. Just so they get more depth and developement, because I don't plan on making this a long series. And before you read, let me say; I have a hair fetish and I'm certain it comes out in my writing but I don't care! I love men with long hair!
Anyway, Enjoy!
"Daddy?" Kiana called, shutting her childhood home's door. She ventured inside just a few feet where the couch was positioned. The classic smell of peppermint twirled around her nose and nostalgic moments almost seemed to swarm into her head at once. Kiana put her heavy canvas bag, full of books on the center of the chestnut sofa and searched for her father. She checked her watch and noticed it was half past 4. She scowled to herself as she walked in the direction of his bedroom door. She knocked twice and then cracked it just a little.
Her dad sat up in bed and stared blankly at the CNN playing on the TV. He had always loved keeping up with his current events. Only after taking a few steps toward him did he move his eyes in her path. She took the plaid, plush seat beside him and reached for his warm hand. She held it in hers while they both paid the TV a good amount of attention. But good in Kiana's standards was little to none. She had so many other things on her mind, the fact she had taken the time to read the words on the screen was an accomplishment. Her finances were becoming a bigger problem each day, and they clouded her thoughts vastly. Her college education came second, but her father's health topped it all.
Her dad, Eugene Freeman, had a stroke just a few months ago. His incident had nearly cost him his life, but he paid his personality in full. The brain damage was pretty severed; most of his speech was gone and the doctors guessed even his comprehension decreased. So Kiana had no idea whether or not her daddy knew what CNN was trying to communicate to him. The entire left side of his body was lifeless, and no longer in his control.
But despite the casualty, she tried to keep things as normal as possible. She'd visit him a few times a week, checking on his finances, making sure everything was being paid, reading him a few verses from the bible and just keeping him company. Although she admitted to herself, it was hard to not hear his broadening laugh, sly jokes and appraisal when she could use it most.
"Bath..." He whispered so weakly, slicing her thoughts in half. Kiana looked into his eyes and nodded. She wrapped his good, functioning arm around her and he limped to the bathroom. Kiana had taken her father to the bathroom plenty of times and each time was equally startling. But she never showed her emotions.
When she helped get his sweats back over his body and washed his hands, she sat him back in bed. He was drooling a little on the left side of his lip, where his muscles weren't functional, so she used the back of her sleeve to clean him up before she sat back in the chair and took his hand again.
"I just finished my tutor session. My classes are going well. Dance is still fun and I really love working at the library. So things are pretty alright for me." She sighed, leaning a little further back into her chair. Even before his stroke, she could never reveal to her dad she was a Hooters girl. Sometimes Kiana didn't even want to admit to herself she wore the degrading outfit daily. She hated lying to him, but she felt compelled to do it. She didn't want to disappoint him.
The bible was resting right beside his bed in a state that seemed like a message from God. As if He was trying to save her from her own lies.
"Do you want me to read to you?" She asked him. His eyes were looking right into hers. She squeezed his hand gently to give him some encouragement to try harder and react. After 10 seconds of waiting, he did a small nod. It was one of the most minimal movements she had ever witnessed, but it still gave her life. To see him understanding her, and communicating responses was uplifting. She opened the bible and flipped its thin pages to the bookmark she placed there to remember where she had left off on her last visit.
Kiana was right in the middle of reading about Joseph's life as a slave when she heard the front door open. She checked her watch once more and grew hot as she stared at the time. She finished her sentence and then put the bookmark back inside the bible.
"Daddy I'll be right back." She stated, standing and pecking him on his temple. She closed the door behind herself and walked down the hall. Nicolette was removing her jacket and hanging it in the closet. Kiana stood on the other side, hidden by the door. Nicolette's deep voice hummed a song blaring on her IPod that even Kiana could hear. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest and her temper rising.
When Nicolette closed the door she jumped and placed a manicured hand right above her breasts in relief. She took her earphones out and gave Kiana a nervous smile. She had every reason to be nervous.
"Ms. Freeman—" Kiana's menacing voice cut her off. She sounded mean, even in her own opinion.
"What's the bullshit excuse?" She questioned, squinting as if it would do anything to help ease her tension. The Chinese woman heaved a sigh and ran a hand through her thin black hair. Kiana's patience was wearing thin, so she should start talking soon.
"I had to work late at my second—" She began, Kiana stopped her short again.
"Are you fucking joking? I—I can't even explain my thoughts right now." She laughed. Nicolette knew it wasn't her time to speak as much as she doubted her time would ever come. Kiana looked at the ceiling, a silent plea to her mother to reign down some of her kindness and acceptance from heaven.
"Do you see how this looks?" Kiana asked. Nicolette didn't know if that was a rhetorical question or not. But the deathly glare in her eyes gave some indication it was.
"You're
two hours
late. I pick
one
day and
one
time to randomly come by and check on the nurses and you come late." Kiana put her hands on her hips and looked at the grandfather clock nestled down the hallway.
"The major thing I'm concerned about is the lack of communication. You just snuck in here, without a word. I didn't get any sort of phone call from you. How long have you been doing this?" She whispered, taking a step closer to her. Kiana read her eyes and saw the uncertainty she held there. It was comical to watch the woman in such a panicky state.
"This is the first time." She said quietly. Kiana smirked, it was an attempt to mask her smile and muffle a laugh. She knew better than to take her word for it, the fact she had even asked was for pure amusement.
