Chapter 16

Whitney

"Daddy!" I cried, practically leaping toward the bed with tears in my eyes. His scars were sealed with bandages and his more serious injuries were wrapped up safely. The gleaming smile on his face was what I centered my focus on. My dad was okay.

With the many people I've lost in my 18 years of living, I was scared to lose him too. It ate my guts to no end and there was nothing I feared more. He was the only family member I was close to.

"After this, I don't think I'll be driving by myself again in a long time." he joked, a chuckle rumbling from his chest. I let out a noise somewhere between a laugh and a cry, shaking my head at my father's inappropriate time to make a joke.

Blair's mother, and still shockingly my father's new girlfriend, stood by the door with a blank expression. Like her daughter, she was an unreadable woman. You never knew when she would strike her tongue.

I shared a minute with my father just rejoicing with the fact that he was alive. We shortly caught up on recent events and he asked how I had been doing with my studies. I told him I thought I was doing fine, when in reality I already knew my grades had spiralled downwards.

His eyes landed on the middle aged, brunette woman with a small smile now hanging on her lips. A surprised look morphed on his features and he cleared his throat.

"Whitney, I see you've met Stephanie Westwood," he mentioned, sending shivers down my spine at the reminder that she was Blair's mother, "I didn't know you'd be here."

"You think that I wouldn't come to see you after receiving a call from my assistant that you were in an accident?"

"Well, with your busy schedule and all, I didn't think that you had the time in your hands to come and visit me. I'm sorry."

I felt tension rise in the air, and I was itchy to get away from the awkwardness that surrounded us. Seconds later, the doctor walked in to save me from being stuck in the middle.

At quarter to seven that evening my father was released. Stephanie was kind enough to drop us off at home with some assistance from her staff. To be nice, I invited her in for some tea, after all she did help us when we needed it.

"You have a lovely place here." she commented, setting her designer purse down on the old couch that belonged to my nana. I had just gotten out of my dad's room, finished with setting him in bed so it was just her and I alone in the living room. It reminded me of that day with Blair and I in the choir room when I played for her.

"Thank you." I nodded, walking toward the kitchen to grab a kettle. Once I was done preparing some earl grey tea for her, I nervously took a seat next to where she was.

She thanked me and gracefully picked up the china my dad and I barely used unless there was an important occasion that took place in our home.

Silence filled the room as she sipped her tea and I fiddled with the hem of my shirt. I noticed her gaze over the few picture frames we had on display, most of them including my mom.

"I assume you know my daughter Blair," she begun, placing down the empty tea cup, "Do you have any classes together?"

"No," I mumbled, shaking my head and I heard her hum in confusion, "We don't share any classes together. I-I do know Blair though, yes."

"Of course you do."

It got quiet again after that. I offered her some more tea which she accepted even though inside I was pleading her not to. Uncomfortable would be an understatement to describe how it felt like to share a space with her.

Even with her age, I had to admit she still looked attractive to me. I understood why my father was drawn to her in the first place. She held an aura of professionalism and poise around her. She was a classic beauty and I momentarily wondered if Blair would grow old to be the same...

"I know your father is in a delicate position right now, but when he's fully recovered, I would like for you and him to have dinner with my daughter and I. It would be nice for you and Blair to get acquainted quickly."

I'm sorry- what? I forgot how to breathe for a second, and I concealed my reaction the best that I could so as not to offend her.

"That- that would be wonderful." I replied, scratching the side of my thigh anxiously.

She glanced at the clock and set the cup down. "It's getting late, I believe I must go. Thank you for the tea, Whitney. Once your father's awake, tell him to give me a call."

"No problem, Mrs. Westwood. I'll tell him." I shook her hand that she held out for me to shake and I led her to the door.

"Oh and Whitney," she called and stopped me, "It's back to Ms. Harrington now."

I cleared my throat and nodded, forcing my lips into a smile. A white Aston Martin pulled up in front of our house and a man in a suit got out to open the door for her.

Dinner with her and Blair? Did she even know that her mother and my father were seeing each other? How would she take the news?