LIKE A REUNION (II)

LIKE A REUNION (II)

"Dad two" I saluted with my arms up like a child.

"Child two" Nathan's father teased in turn. He walked to me and gave me a light hug on my good side.

Lily and Marcus had very astonished looks on their faces. It was very amusing to see them look shocked.

Gabriel Martin is a great man of reverence within The Heart but he is equally that to the public. He is known for his philanthropic acts for children and adults alike. Creation of free education for the less privileged and helping out with some infrastructures in rural areas in Naylatan and most importantly one of the few men that can challenge the government and make them change their ruling on a case. Most people don't know why he can but I do - The Heart.

"What are you doing here?" I asked out of courtesy rather than surprise.

"Obviously checking up on you. Now, I want to hear everything that happened in that library. Each and everything you can remember, if you are up to the task though?" he asked looking at me with worry.

"I am always up for any task commander" I said and placed a hand on the side of my head for a salute like someone in the force.

"You never seem to amaze me Martha" he said with a smile on his face that deepened the mild wrinkles on his face.

He reminds me so much of Nathan!

"One would think you could never be hurt. Never knew mean persons get hurt?!" Seth suddenly said, turning the attention of everyone in the room to him.

He walked to me and gave me a full hug, on my injured side and on my good side.

"Are you cr…" I wanted to ask if he was crying because he was snivelling behind me.

"Don't you say the word" he said in between sniffles.

"I was so scared Marth, I… I thought you…"

"Don't say that Seth, nothing would happen to me I promise" I said and looked at my dad who had sadness in his eyes.

Before my dad adopted Seth, he had read through his file in the orphanage home. Seth's mother was killed by thugs when he was fourteen. He had hidden and had not come out to help her because he was very scared. Since then, he had occasional traumas that led to panic attacks. When James adopted him, James had introduced him to the organisation and Seth, through training and operations had been able to boost his confidence level and can protect himself and others well. A part of me was stupefied that he was being this way with me because he rarely showed his emotions but a larger part of me was excited. He is my brother after all.

Michael pulled him out of our embrace and replaced himself with Seth.

"Don't ever scare us like that Martha"

Giggling and patting his back with happy tears at the corner of my eyes, I told him, "I'm sorry"

Looking at Seth and then to my dad, I mouthed the words again, "I'm sorry"

My dad just gave me a slight smile and a nod of his head in understanding. We are four people from different households but we have somehow come to find the spirit of family in each other. I love them so much!

When my dad wanted to adopt them, it was plainly so I would not feel lonely though I felt weird that they would be of the male gender but whatever my dad's reasons were, he adopted them all the same and I am so grateful for that.

It was my dad's turn to pull Michael away from me.

"You guys are trying to delay her recovery I guess" my dad said.

"Anything to see her longer on the hospital bed" Setb teased and Michael jabbed his side and I scowled at his words. The meanie!

Nathan's dad gave a knowing look to my dad and my dad communicated with his eyes to my brothers. I could only look between them as the voiceless communication ensued.

With a nod of their heads, Michael and Seth responded and approached Lily and Marcus.

I saw understanding flash in Lily and Marcus' eyes. They were not needed in the room.

"Can we go for a little chat?" Michael asked both of them.

"Uhmmm, we actually still want…" Michael started witlessly but a look from my dad put his words right.

"We sure can always come back some other time, right Martha?" he asked looking at me.

"Sure Marcus" I said with a tight smile, I almost laughed at how tense he looked from just one eye contact with my dad.

Lily gave me a hug before saying, "I'll come back some time later"

"Make sure you do," I said.

Seth was already at the door and had opened the door.

"Boys, make sure to take care of my friends"

"I sure would" said Seth with a wink of an eye and I understood what message he was trying to pass across. He still hasn't gotten over his crush for Lily. The baby!

"At ease sis" Micha said and they left my room, leaving me with my dad and Nathan's dad.

I understood that I had somehow come to mean something to Nathan's dad which explains the reason for his presence in my hospital room, but the look on his face was telling my ever present instinct that there was more to his visit. My dad brought a seat to Nathan's dad and Nathan's dad thanked him as he sat on it.

My dad came to sit beside me at the side of my bed. It was not inconveniencing in any way.

"Your dad told me what he could but I want to hear everything from you."

"Alright. So as you might know, my exams are coming up so my friend, Lily and I were in the library and…" I recounted ninety nine percent of what happened in the library to Nathan's dad and his face held no expression. It was literally stoic from the beginning of the recount till the end.

"Thanks Martha"

"Sure Sir but can I ask a question?" I asked.

"Sure you can," he encouraged.

Looking from my dad to him, I asked the question that has been lingering in my mind for a while, "do you guys probably…like by chance, know who attacked my friend and I?"

"No we do not" my dad answered.

"I feel like you guys do. Dads, if there is anything wrong or if someone is out there trying to kill me, I did like to know because you guys are making me feel like there is something I'm missing here honestly"

"No worries little one, we have got this covered. There really is nothing. One more thing, you said the person was trying to attack your friend right?" he asked as he stretched a hand to pat my head lovingly.

These weird men and their ways of showing affection.

"Yes he was," I answered.

"What's her name, in full?"

"You want to run a background check on her?" I asked shocked.

"Something like that" he answered with a shrug.

"Lily is clean, trust me guys" I said like a lawyer trying to convince the judge that her client is innocent.

"No one said she isn't Martha. According to your narration, she was the person the attacker was trying to attack before your timely intervention, right?" my dad asked.

"Yes she is" I said not still reading meaning to my dad's words

"It means there is a possibility she has something, directly or indirectly, to do with the attacker," Nathan's dad finished.

Understanding dawned on me and I rested my back to the bed in surrender realisation of their point.

"But she is clean dad, this I know"

"You should rest little one, I did take my leave now"

"Thanks dad"

"You are ever welcome"

My dad walked Nathan's dad out and I was left on my own.

I saw how scared Lily was? She looked really frightened of who that guy was and one other thing I had indirectly observed was… Lily knew the attacker.

She whimpered and didn't scream for help when he cut her.

I shouldn't be reading meaning into what is not. My dad and Nathan's have indirectly placed thoughts in my head and I was acting like a brainwashed person. Oh GOD!

My dad returned a few minutes later with some fruits and I knew that they were the ones my friends had brought for me.

"You didn't let them bring this in when they were coming" I confronted.

"The guards didn't let them"

"You gave the authorization old man"

"Whatever you say young lady, those things had to be searched. You can never be too sure"

With a huff, I resigned.

"I want to invite them over for Christmas break dad"

"No Martha. They can't come to our home"

"Why not dad? You were the one that was saying I wasn't sociable enough, remember?"

"I very well do but…but, stop making that face Martha" he argued.

"What face?" I asked pretentiously.

"That victimised face. You know I'm doing all this for your good Martha. I don't trust anybody"

"What could go wrong in our own house? They did be under our supervision and if they are related to anyone against us, how would we know if we don't have them close…" I said with a wink and a smile.

"What do you mean Martha?" he asked, not following my lead.

"You for starters, are so suspicious of my friends, Gabriel is suspicious of Lily, what other better way than to have them around and you discover for yourself the amazing persons that they are. It's a win - win either ways"

"It kind of has meaning. I did look into it?"

"Look?" I teased with a wiggle of my brows.

"Whatever" my dad said before a full smile cut across his face.