Apple Blossoms

Not Really Home Alone

Not Really Home Alone

I stayed at the hospital the entire day. Ethan left after figuring out I wasn’t hurt or anything. Mom and I worked hard to make sure Dad was comfortable and ready for the surgery the next day and also to just keep in company. Nicole brought Nathan and she helped out too. She managed to pull me to the side and ask what had happened.

“How did this happen?” She sounded very worried.

“I was talking on the phone with Dad and he ended up getting in an accident,” I tried to explain quickly.

“Oh wow,” Nicole said in shock.

“Nicole, there’s something I need to tell you.”

She looked at me with one eyebrow raised and I took a deep breath. “Last night I overheard Mom and Dad talking and…” I trailed off wondering if I could keep going.

“What did you hear the talking about?” Nicole looked at me confused.

“Dad’s getting sued.”

Nicole’s jaw dropped. “What?!”

“You heard me.”

“How could this have happened?!” Nicole was in shock.

I sighed and dropped myself in a chair. “Dad messed up during a surgery and accidently killed some guy.” I heard the sharp intake and I sighed again. “I know, I know. It’s so unlike Dad to mess up during a surgery but it doesn’t mean that it can’t happen. Now those people want to sue him because they think he did it on purpose.”

“Why didn’t they tell us?”

“Didn’t want us to worry or anything,” I said sarcastically. “I just don’t see how’s he’s going to be able to win.”

Nicole sat down next to me. “Noelle, he’s our dad. He has to win. It’s just the way he is; probably why he keeps forcing us to be the best and win everything.”

“Yeah well you at least can win everything and be the best. I’m just terrible at everything I do and then Dad gets mad at me. Well I guess I deserve it, I don’t know how to win at anything.”

“Oh come on, Noelle. You’re amazing at other things like art. I would do anything to have drawing skills like yours.”

“Thanks,” I said smiling at her. “But according to Dad, I’ll never get anywhere with art.”

“That’s so not true!” Nicole exclaimed. “Lots of people love to see art and if you made painting and sold them, you’d become rich and famous.”

“You really think so?” I asked thinking about what she had said.

“I know so.”

“But—.”

“No buts. You’ve just got to show Dad what you can do. You have to show him who you are inside.”

Before I could say anything else, she got up and walked away. I sat there for a few minutes thinking about what she had said. I just had to show Dad who I was on the inside. An art loving girl.  

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Around six in the evening, Ethan showed up again.

“Uh, hi, Mr. Fink,” he stuttered sounding a little nervous.

“Ethan, right?”

“Yes, sir. I would be glad to walk Noelle home since everyone else is so busy here at the hospital making sure you’re comfortable.”