Chapter 2 My childhood crush

Gwen drove into Beverley's apartment just a few minutes later and hurried up to Beverley's room. Before then, Beverley had quickly bathed and changed to a black shirt and black trousers. She sat on the sofa chair beside her bed with her pillow hugging her arms when Gwen walked in.

You were pretty fast,

Beverley said softly as Gwen walked into her room.

Gwen threw her arms around her, Yea, I drove as fast as I could.

My dear friend, what's really happening to you, Beverley started sobbing profusely.

Gwen, my life is in shambles, nobody loves me, no one wants to be with me, I'm not good enough for anyone.

Look at me, tell me what happened,Gwen asked anxiously.

He said it's over, tears flowed freely from her eyes, five years of my life,dreams, fantasies all gone in the mud.

Jake broke up with you?

Gwen hugged Beverley more tightly this time and brushed her hair backwards.

I know I have never liked him but I know how much you love him,

He has really hurt you badly this time, I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Will I ever find a good man?

A man who would cherish me the way Daniel loves you. Gwen sighed.

How can Jake do this to me? How can he leave me for Olivia?

Gwen gave a surprising look,

Wait a sec, that lowlife left you for a girl you picked up?

I'm not gonna apportion blames now but Beverley, they are not worth your tears,

I am still in awe that you didn't see the signs, the signs were glaring.

Those two,

Please stop, Beverley intercepts,she couldn't bear more pain, just don't talk about it, I know you warned me.

But Gwen, I am really tired now, I can't love again, I won't ever love any man again.

I'm so sorry,my friend, You don't deserve all these.

Silence filled the room for a while as Beverly slipped into her bed to lay her head.

Are you sure you still wanna go to the hospital to see your dad? Gwen asked Beverley a few minutes later.

Yeah, I will, Beverley replied as she sat up.

Gwen held her right hand tight and said,"I promise you that you will be fine, you are such a strong woman, and I love you.

Thank you so much Gwen, thank you, Beverley replied gratefully.

Amelia, Your husband needs lots of rest, he doesn't need to get involved with work anymore because it will endanger his life, he survived the heart attack because he was brought in on time, I'm sorry, he might not next time, the doctor said calmly but professionally.

Amelia replied with her voice filled with fear and deep concern.

Ok doctor, when can I see him?

Give me some time, we will get back to you very soon. He said kindly and picked up his phone and called one of the attending nurses.

Amelia phone rang aloud just while the doctor was on the call,

Hey mom, I'm in the hospital. Beverley's voice came softly.

Ok dear, I'm still with the doctor, we will be seeing your dad soon, okay mom, Beverley answered and hung up the call.

Amelia's mind raced on the conversation she had with her husband a few minutes before the nurses placed him on drip..He was frail but was still very intentional about the family's progress." Christopher's words kept on repeating in her mind," Arnold will save the company and he also agreed to marry our daughter, Beverley.

Her daughter would definitely have to break up her relationship with Jake to be with Arnold, the only man who would save her father's legacy, that was her father's wish.

Will Beverley ever agree to this? she pondered, fully aware of how resilient her daughter was. Just immediately, Arnold's message came in..she hurriedly opened the message and read through.

Doctor Arnold is here.

The doctor nodded in affirmation, Okay now we can go in to see your husband, but just you and Arnold.

Yea doctor, Amelia replied, knowing it wasn't also the best time to let Beverley in..

Arnold walked through the hallway of the hospital, his steps were fast but very composed,he looked like he just rushed out of a meeting, but still looked effortlessly handsome, heads turned as he walked, The aura from his embodied physique filled the room, but he wasn't alone, two others accompanied him, a young lady with a wavy hair and a guy holding his bag.

Beverley sat in one of the waiting chairs with Gwen, she was lost in thoughts and so anxious to see her Mom and dad, she pondered on what could have caused her dad's heart attack, she knew things had really gone really bad in the company but they were fixing it, they were also working on getting new investors, what could have triggered dad's health? She questioned.

Just that moment, the corner of her eyes caught some figures walking by, she looked up to see who they were, and she he noticed this tall striking figure..

She gazed in shock, at Arnold's presence as he walked in, she lowered her face ensuring he didn't see her.

What's he doing here?

She whispered to herself without thinking,but Gwen who was engrossed with her phone heard her,

Who is he? Gwen asked curiously, staring at Arnold ,who was now engaged in a quiet conversation with the hospital staff at the reception desk.

He is friends with the family, perhaps he came to see a relative or a friend too.. Beverley replied not wanting to say more.

Okay, Where is your mom now? Gwen asked?

She is still at the doctor's.

Do you think I should tell him? Gwen, I need Jake with me, I miss him really Beverley said with her voice filled with sadness.

You will do no such thing, snap out of your feelings,

Gwen said,and she collected Beverley's phone, she searched through the screen for Jake's number, immediately she found it, she quickly deleted the number.

Beverley didn't notice what happened, she sighed softly and laid her head back to the cushion seat the same way she sat before Arnold walked by.

Her eyes were fixed up as she stared at the fluorescent lights sparkling.

She reminisced on her past relationship with Jake , he used to love her deeply, they were both inseparable until he started withdrawing, even when she tried all she could to spark up their relationship,her love wasn't reciprocated, Jake stopped the special dates, the long calls and the romantic voice messages, She

pondered on her dad's failing health and the company's future.

Gwen spoke softly to her and massaged the tip of her fingers, reassuring her.

Hey, Beverley,You are not alone,

I'm right here with you,we are in this together,

Thank you so much, Beverley murmured.

Gwen held her friend's hand and they both walked through the hall leading to the ward her dad was admitted to, after a nurse had called them to go in.

The moment Beverley and Gwen walked into the room, Amelia was sobbing as she held Mr Christopher's hands. As soon as she saw Beverley and Gwen walking in,she moved slowly to the seat beside the bed.

Arnold was also in the room speaking softly with the doctor and stared as Beverley immediately as they walked in.

Beverley went straight to her dad's bed, threw her arms around him.

My baby, Christopher, spoke softly, staring at his beautiful daughter who looked pale.

Why have you been crying?

He asked, his voice gentle with concern.

Dad, don't worry about me, she quickly replied, and held his hands with her mom who was now sitting beside him.

She turned and that moment, she noticed Arnold again,her heart skipped, this time she looked at him like she wanted to say something to him.

Hi Beverley, that familiar voice that was once boyish now sounded manly.

Hi Arnold, she replied as he stretched his right hand to give her a handshake.

The last time she heard about him was when he lost his father, Jonathan, but she didn't make it to the funeral because she had to stay back with Jake that period,

Her mind just flashed back to the memory of when they first kissed as teenagers, it was in their high school days, one of those days, he came with his parents to visit the lakes family,the both families often exchanged visitations, she really liked him then, but she didn't admit it back then and they were really quite young, She heard about his engagement to his rich girlfriend Priscilla.

He's turned into a more charming personality.

It's been a long time, Berverley said frowning,

Yeah quite a while, he said, smiling faintly exposing his ever charming looks which made Beverley remember a whole lot about him.

Nice seeing you again.

Beverley hurriedly removed her hand and faced her dad, avoiding more conversation with Arnold.

Christopher who had been watching them smiled weakly, he really looked so frail but he could still muster words, he turned to Arnold as he spoke,

You both will surely need to catch up on old times..

Beverley looked at her dad and Arnold who nodded in affirmation,she smiled uninterested, catching up on old times was the last thing on her mind.

Gwen, who was just standing quietly beside the doctor, walked slowly to where Beverley was seated, and massaged her shoulders. She could feel the tension and heaviness in her friend's voice.

Gwen thank you for coming, Amelia said smiling gratefully at Gwen.

Thank you ma'am, Gwen responded politely.

I will see you soon sir, Arnold cleared his throat and spoke staring at Christopher and Amelia, his wife and then Beverley.

Thank you for coming Arnold, Amelia said and stood up from the seat,she looked at her husband for a moment and walked out with the doctor and Arnold towards the door.