More customers came and sat at the bar. Many wanted me to make my special mixers, but I told them to pay me double. Nobody wanted to pay me more when I talked about doubling the price. They didn't want to drink then. One day, I'd have my own business, selling mixed drinks. The same people who wanted me to make them their drinks and add more would be missing out. I just needed them to trust me. Once they did that, I'd be ready to start my business. Even if it was only two people, that was all I needed to test this out. One day soon, it would happen for me.
My eyes fluttered openwhen I heard my cellphone ringing. I groaned and turned over onto my back. Of all the days to wake me up out of my sleep, why in the hell did it have to be a Sunday? I tried to stay in bed as long as I could, especially after getting off work at 3:30 in the morning. Even if I weren't asleep, I'd like to lie in bed and scroll on TikTok for hours. That was my definition of me-time, too.
I reached for my phone on the pillow next to mine. I eyed the number and frowned, wondering why Brenda called me this early in the morning. That wasn’t like her to call me. We didn’t have that type of relationship. Even though she was my father’s wife, we weren’t close to one another.
"Hello?" I answered.
"Good morning, Chy. Your father—” She couldn’t finish what she had to say. An eerie feeling crept up my spine, nearly freezing me to the bed.
I sat up in bed quickly, wondering what was wrong with my father. “Brenda? What’s wrong with my daddy?” Regardless of what we had going on, I didn’t want anything to happen to him.
She sighed deeply and sniffled. “He’s been rushed to the hospital. He’s been in a serious car accident. I’m here now, but I haven’t gotten any news on his condition or what happened.”
I jumped out of bed and went into my bathroom. “I’m about to get dressed now. I’ll be there in a minute.” My minute wasn’t really a minute, but I said it to just about anything. It made me move much faster.
After I hung up the phone with her, I rushed to take a shower.Lord, please cover my daddy with Your blood,I silently prayed as I got ready to head to the hospital.
Thirty minutes later, I power-walked into the hospital entrance. My heart felt like it wanted to fall in my ass, but I wouldn't allow myself to think the worst. Although this man and I didn't see eye to eye, he was still my father, and I'd never want anything to happen to him. When I reached the floor he was on, I came face to face with his wife, Brenda. Her face was wet with her tears. I couldn’t go to her now, not until I found out what happened to my father.
I headed to the front desk and gave my father's name to the receptionist.
"Do you know what's wrong with him? Is he okay?" I questioned her.
"Hello. You have to wait like everyone else," the receptionist responded.
I reared back, not liking the tone she took with me. It took everything not to knock all that shit over. Who the hell did she think she was? I hated getting out of character, but I'd show her.
"Excuse you? Who the fuc?—"
I was cut off by doors opening. A man in a lab coat stepped out with a grim expression on his face. I wondered if he was my father's doctor.
"Family of Tip English!" he called out.
I rushed away from the desk and went to him. "Yes, I'm his daughter."
"And I'm his wife."
Brenda and I stood side by side, ready to get the news about my father. My heart throbbed in my chest, hoping for good news. I could use that right now.
"Can you please tell me what's wrong with my father?" I pleaded with the doctor.
"He's been banged up pretty badly from the bad car accident. He was run off of the road, and he hit a tree. He has a concussion, broken ribs, and a broken leg," the doctor explained to us.
Tears rushed to my eyes, but I couldn't let any fall. I didn’t know what to say about that or how to feel. I could only thank God that my father was alive.
"When can we see him?" Brenda asked.
I nodded, agreeing with her. Even though I didn’t want to see my father like that. If I laid eyes on him to see for myself he was good, I’d be okay. When I got that call from Brenda, my whole world turned upside down.
“At this time, he’s not allowed to have any visitors. Give it another hour or two,” the doctor stated.
We nodded and took a seat to wait it out. Brenda got up and started pacing, while I remained in the seat, shaking my legs. I was a bundle of nerves right now not knowing how my father was doing. The only thing I could do was pray he made a speedy recovery. To know that someone ran him off the road, it had me wondering if the person was caught. Or if they were hurt.
I dropped my head to my chest and sighed deeply, looking down at the floor. Of all the ways to start my day, this wasn’t something I counted on doing. I was happy that Brenda reached out to me about this. I’d forever be grateful for her for doing that.
I was shaken awake by Brenda, letting me know it was time to see my father. With a deep sigh, I jumped up and ran a hand down my face. It had been a while since I saw my father, and I was about to see him laid up in a hospital bed. I wasn’t feeling this at all.
When we walked into the hospital room, I fought hard not to burst into tears. He looked banged up badly like the doctor had mentioned. This messed me up seriously, seeing him like this. The tears that were in my eyes flowed down my face.
