Chapter 2 Please save him!

MATEO

I followed the porter up to the 6th floor where it read vip.

He led me down the corridor until I got to a big room.

I was scared, what were my expectations, how do I face Papa?

I'm a failure.

I opened the door and hurriedly stepped in, I saw my father lying in bed looking weak and helpless.

"Papa" I called, no movement.

I sat close to him and held his frail hand.

Then it hit me, I had not seen my papa in 8 months.

I've been away partying.

And my papa, my poor father was dying.

I held his hand closer to my cheek and rubbed it gently.

I was sad, but I had cried the last tears when my mother walked out.

"Papa" I called softly.

His hand squeezed mine gently.

"You can't get rid of me that easily mio figlio," my father said softly.

I smiled.

"Oh Papa, what has happened, why didn't you tell me you were sick?" I inquired helping him sit up in his bed.

"My boy, forgive your old man, I could not burden you with my mistakes, I have the most expensive doctors in America taking care of me," my father said weakly.

"I would have come home in a heartbeat, you are very precious to me papa," I said taking his hand.

"I know my boy" my father said kissing me on my head.

"But now that I'm unable, you must carry on my son," my father said.

"Papa I'm not ready for any of it. I still have a lot to learn" I replied, the seat was starting to feel uncomfortable.

Why is my father speaking to me like this?

Like he was dying.

My father laughed heartily but was just as weak.

"Life is the teacher, son, it's full of surprises as you will soon find out," he said taking my second hand in his.

" Mio figlio" he started "life is full of people, but especially untrustworthy people, trust no one," he advised.

"Papa, what are you saying" I asked worried.

"I remember when your mama left, you closed off on everyone, you need to open up yourself again my son," he said before starting to cough lightly.

I spent a few hours with my father reminiscing about our shared life, he started to cough again and I handed him a glass of water.

"Son go down to the vending machine and get me something," my father said.

I got up," yes papa" I said walking out of the room quietly.

Unsure why he would ask me and not the assistant just outside the door.

JENNA

I panicked and I started to look for my young charge, frantically, "Teetee" I kept calling out.

No answer, usually he would have come running out by now.

I was really worried.

What if he had been kidnapped?

I saw the doctor inform the nurses who quickly alarmed everyone to look out for a little boy.

Did I just lose tee-tee?

The one job I promised my best friend Amelia and I was already messing it up.

I started to pray in my heart.

"Dear God I've never asked you for anything, but wherever Tee has wandered to, let him meet someone who would protect him and bring him safely back to me"

MATEO

I didn't know where the vending machine was, but I had asked for directions from the nurse at her station and she was kind enough to give them.

I walked steadily, the image of my sick father running through my head.

Why didn't Papa or Gio say anything?

An older man approached me and introduced himself as the doctor in charge of my father's case.

"Doctor, what's going on?" I asked him as he gestured me to the side.

"I'm afraid your father suffered a serious stroke," the doctor said.

A stroke. How did it never occur to me that my father could be sick?

"My God, is my father going to be okay?" I asked him with a trembling voice.

The doctor looked at me intently.

"We have made your father as comfortable as we can, we must now observe him from now on" he replied.

What did this mean?

"What can we do doctor" I asked again with my raspy voice breaking.

"All you can do for your father now is be by his side" the doctor said giving me a light tap on my shoulders before moving on towards the elevator.

Cold went through my spine, I started to feel instantly nauseous.

The doctor was right!

I had to be with Papa now.

I started for the vending machine.

I finally got there, I said hello to the elderly lady sitting opposite and I turned to the machine and looked at it.

What would Papa like?

Something caught my eye in the glass.

Is that a baby? I turned my back.

A baby? Whose baby?

Why is it playing out here away from anyone?

I watched to see if anyone would come for him

No one did.

I could tell it was a boy, he was pushing the flower vase, and it started to look unstable.

I saw the vase lose its balance as it was about to fall on the little boy I quickly caught it with my leg and balanced it.

I bent down to straighten the little boy up.

"Hi" I waved at the little boy, and he chuckled heartily.

"Im mateo what's your name?" I asked him taking his little hands in mine and shaking it.

"Chtee-tchee" the baby replied to him in squabbles his mouth full of what seems to be candy.

"Hi tee, I assume that's what you are saying" I replied to him with a smile.

I looked around again, it seemed to be just me, the older lady and the little tee.

"Where is Mommy?" I asked.

"Ennnaaaaaa!!!!!!" the baby gave a loud yelp heartily as he pointed towards the elevator.

Ena? His mother? Poor boy must be lost with a mother worried sick somewhere.

I picked up and raised the boy up

"Why don't we help you find Enna," I said putting the boy on my shoulder.

"Ennnnnnnnnnaa" he exclaimed again.

I started walking back to the elevator when I heard the sound.

"Code Blue code blue in the VIP suite"

Vip suite? That's where Papa is, fear gripped my entire body and the little boy on my shoulder started crying.

I saw a nurse coming towards me and I heard a woman shouting on the horizon.

"Ena!!" the boy exclaimed

I set the boy down, turned to him and said "Go back to Ena"

I ran straight for the elevator before I could see Mom and Baby reunite.

I needed to see my papa.

JENNA

I saw him, my beautiful bright-eyed baby running towards me, "Ennnna" he cried, I scoped him into my arms and held him tightly.

Thankful to God that I finally found him.

I had seen someone with him, he looked like a man.

He was tall.

I wondered if it was the tall driver from earlier.

"Who was that? Is that tee tee's new imaginary friend" I teased.

He shook his head, " no !" he exclaimed

"teeeeoooo" he laughed warmly.

I didn't care.

I had my child safe with me.

MATEO

When I got to Papa's floor there was an entire team in his room, suddenly I felt like fire was burning my feet, I instantly became hot inside.

I adjusted my shirt even though there was fully functional air conditioning.

"Papa" I called loudly as I moved towards his room where a nurse had come to stop me from entering.

I pushed past her with my big hands and into the room.

I saw my papa looking lifeless and connected to machines.

The doctors were charging their machine to give him another bolt.

"CLEAR" he yelled.

"Papa" I screamed, the doctors looked at me, and one of them who was just as big as me led me out.

"Mr Romano, you must wait out here," he said before hurriedly going back in.

What's going on?

I had just seen Papa.

I paced the entire floor fidgetting, my muscles were tense, and I felt nauseous every time.

"I'm not ready for any of it, you must fight Papa"

I heard the monitor beep, I recognised this sound.

I hear it in movies when there is no more heartbeat.

The doctors came out, and one of them came to me.

" Mr Romano" he started

"I'm sorry, we did all we could for your father, but the damage to his heart was very extensive" he finished.

He Tapped my shoulder again

My father is dead.

I cannot believe this.

I slumped on the couch just outside his room.

My hands in my face.

For the first time in 22 years, tears streamed down my face.

Then I heard footsteps coming towards me.

I looked up. Gio Mancini, my father's right-hand man.

"Get up Matteo" he started pulling me up and dusting off invisible dirt from my shirt.

"You must now continue your father's legacy, there is so much to be done" he said.

My world had come crashing down, I knew for certain that my life as I knew it had changed.

" I pray for the better"