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“If so, then it should have been planned, and Aurora should have been informed. This would only just upset her even further.”
“Um…” I wondered then why they didn't just tell Aurora that her mother was ill. Perhaps they didn't want to disturb her at all? I understood that bit, but I also knew that if I was in her shoes right now, it would kill me not to know.
“Funeral, then,” I replied, “It was sudden, you have to hurry over, but you’ll be back before nightfall..”
“This sounds plausible,” he said. “Alright, I'll go with this, and I'll keep in touch. Try to stay with her and distract her from the absence. I know she'll feel bad a bit; it is a pretty important photoshoot today, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, since her fiancé is around they were really looking forward to it. And I heard she suggested it as well because he likes golf.”
”Yeah,” Drake replied. “It can't be helped. Anyway, be reachable at all times. I'll talk to you later.”
“Alright,” I replied. I wanted to head out immediately; however, I also needed a few minutes alone to calm my heart, so I stayed in place. About five minutes later, I walked out, and it unfortunately seemed that Aurora had her phone to her ears and a very deep brow. A frown was forming on her face. I assumed then that she was talking to Drake; however, for some reason, and as her eyes settled on me, she seemed to frown even more, if that’s even possible. She didn't say a word, even though I knew that she was listening attentively to whatever Drake was saying.
Eventually, and still without saying a further word, she ended the call, and then she turned to look out the window.
I understood how upset she felt, and so when she stood up from her chair and went out to the balcony, I truly wondered what to do. I wanted to go with her, but I wasn’t sure now if she felt as safe and comfortable with me as she used to be, and this made me quite unhappy. Eventually, though, and when I saw that she wasn't coming back into the room, I looked out to the balcony and took a few steps towards it.
“What have you found out to worry you?” Victoria asked, but I ignored her. Lindsey got up from her seat then, clearly irritated, and then she stormed out of the room.
I hesitated but eventually I opened the glass balcony doors and headed out. I didn't go directly up to her, but I did stand behind her in case she needed me or had any questions.
“He’s already called you and informed you, hasn’t he?” she asked, and I nodded before realizing she couldn’t see me.
“Yes,” I spoke up, and she sighed.
“A friend’s grandchild's funeral. For businesspersons, they had to be there. It's sudden.”
She turned to me. “Does that make any fucking sense?”
I stared at her and without thinking instantly shook my head.
She seemed to become even more upset and truly I wanted to hit myself. But what else could I have said. The business always seems to come first, even today. She couldn’t tell the partner that her daughter had a photoshoot today? That her wedding is tomorrow? And that she couldn’t step away. Why is?—”
I paused in my tracks, that gnawing feeling once again coming to my heart. I was cautious, so I simply put my hand on her back and rubbed. I knew that I couldn't say anything because whatever I did would sound like I was defending Drake, and I wasn’t exactly wanting to make her even more annoyed.
“Let's just fucking cancel the whole day,” she said, and shrugged my touch away. I instantly panicked because this was definitely not what Drake wanted. However, for a moment, I did push him aside and considered if this was something that Aurora needed. I eventually decided that it was necessary. They wanted out of love not to bother her, and all parties involved would feel extremely unhappy if this misunderstanding interrupted the wedding festivities in this way.
It made me wonder once again why Drake was complicating this? I mean, it was normal for someone to fall sick during events like this, right? He could have just told her, and even though she was worried, she would be consoled by the fact that she would at least see her mother later that night. But the way he made it sound was as though it was?—
I paused then in my tracks, that gnawing feeling once again coming to my heart. He hadn’t sounded worried at all about the illness. It was as though it was something old that had flared up, and they were going to the hospital to manage it.
“Oh,” I said underneath my breath, and Aurora turned around.
“Oh what?” she said, and I managed to form a smile at her.
“Nothing. Also, I know you might want to take a break, and I support whatever you want to do to make you feel better, but your fiancé is around, and I think he might deeply appreciate the activities continuing. Plus, today is Victoria's day. She brought in the photographers and flowers and all. It will really cause a dent in the entire ceremony if it’s just simply cancelled.”
She considered my words quietly for a moment and then she pulled out her phone.
“I'll call David,” she said, and I nodded in response.
Chapter Forty-Three
Drake
This was indeed more intense than I thought it had been flying on the helicopter this week. I was glad that I had it prepared and had it on standby for emergencies such as this. For one, I was happy that she seemed a bit more relaxed and had her eyes shut, but I knew she was in pain and knew her well enough to know that as usual, she was trying to bear it all and hide it for our sake. It hurt me. I really wished she wouldn’t do that. Right from the very beginning, she had been nothing but calm, gracious, and it always annoyed me. I wished she would have a furious reaction because what was happening to her was the absolute worst. However, I had to be even stronger as well, and so I kept my expression as calm as possible and headed toward the helicopter with her.
“I want to come along,” my dad said for the umpteenth time, and I stopped momentarily to speak to him.
