A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE THIRTY THREE

THEME: Anything aside football

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

HARTFORD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL

Going out on a shopping spree with a man was something totally new to Raven, especially since it was an expensive one.

Raven carried the paper bags filled with clothes gently like they were eggs. When Christopher dropped her off at the hospital, he didn’t even bother to step out of the car to help her with the paper bags. All he did was sat at the steering wheel and watched her pull all the paper bag out of the car with a struggle. And Raven could have sworn that he was having a good laugh in his eyes behind the dark shades he wore.

“I will call you on Sunday.” That was all Christopher Crawford said before driving off.

Raven bit hard on her tongue to avoid cursing loudly at her cold hearted soon to be fake husband. She hoped dearly that he wouldn’t die by her hands during the six months that they would be spending under the same roof.

And as a result of Christopher snobbish attitude, she doesn’t like his vibe at all. Raven has never been a fan of snobs that’s why she wasn’t one.

Raven sighed. She picked up her loads of paper bags and she made her ways towards the car. Thankfully, Christopher had listened to drop her just about a few feet at where her car was parked.

The last thing she wanted was to get stared at by the people in the hospital when they see her walk in with so much paper bags in her hand. The stares she was getting in the park alone was embarrassing enough.

Raven secured the paper bags in the booth of the car and she double checked the lock properly to be sure it was tightly locked. She needed to sure because she didn’t want the rest of the contract money to be deducted as a result of stolen dresses.

Christopher Crawford seemed like someone who would hate for anyone to be careless.

Raven tried catching her breath as she walked towards the ward and eager to see her son. She has been away from him all morning and she was sure he would have lots of question to ask about her whereabouts.

Raven opened the door to the ward and she found her son sitting up on the bed and being spoon fed by his grandmother.

“I am back! How is my handsome Prince Charming doing?” Raven cooed over her son. She ran her hand through his free hair lightly before kissing his forehead.

Rowan didn’t respond cheerfully as expected. He almost didn’t acknowledge her presence in the room.

“Are you okay, baby?” She asked.

Rowan only gave her a solemn look while returning his gaze back at his grandmother. Perhaps was he throwing tantrums because she was out all morning? She thought.

“What is the matter mom?” Raven asked again with worry laced in her voice as she directed the question at her mother.

Eva stared back at her and shook her head lightly. The gesture was like a warning to not say a word yet and to let her finish with feeding him.

Raven waited impatiently for her son to get spoon fed with the porridge that the hospital had prepared and insisted he ate till he healed up properly.

Eva took time to spoon feed and make him lay in bed properly. And then she beckoned to her daughter to meet her outside.

“What happened to him? Perhaps is he mad at me for not being around all morning?” Raven queried with her eyes darting back and forth.

Eva pulled her down on the lone bench in the hallway before settling down next to her.

“Raven, you know how Rowan can be whenever he wants something.” Eva said.

Raven nodded. “So he got chatty today and kept pestering Doctor Benson on when he can get back on the field to play football. And when the doctor couldn’t evade the questions so I gave him the go ahead to tell Rowan the truth that he can’t be able to play football again.”

“What?!” Raven exploded like a ticking time bomb.

“Raven-”

She stood up from the bench. “Why would you let the doctor tell him the truth? It was my place as his mother to tell my son the things he can’t do anymore. My place! Not anyone else! And not even your place mom!”

The gasp that escaped Eva’s lips made her eyes bleary immediately. She didn’t expect her daughter’s sudden outburst. And the fact that Raven had just thrown a diss at her hurt so much.

Raven breathed out heavily after losing total control of herself. She had tried relentlessly to ignore the feeling of Rowan becoming affected by the news of his early retirement from the game he loved the most in the world.

However, she knew there was no other way to it. Rowan needs to know he can’t play football again. And she had been working up her brain nerves on how to bring it up to him.

“Mom?” Raven called out softly after realizing how harsh she had reacted. “I am so sorry mom. I didn’t mean it that way.” She sat back on the bench. “I am just so scared of all of this… that I do not know what else to do.” She cried.

Eva watched her daughter sob for a moment before reaching out to hold her hand gently. “I am sorry, Raven. Please forgive me. I know that I should be blamed for Rowan’s condition and-”

Raven interrupted her. “No mom. I have never blamed you for what happened to Rowan.”

Eva shook her head slowly. “If only I had paid closer attention to his health then it wouldn’t have happened. Each time he complained about headache all I did was administer pain killer when I should have brought him to the hospital to have him checked. Maybe we would have detected the tumor earlier and-”

Raven cuts in again. “Either ways, surgical removal would still be needed. Please mom don’t ever blame yourself for what happened to my son.” She embraced her mother.

Eva patted her daughter’s back gently and they both consoled each other.

“I am sorry for raising my voice at you and being unreasonable.” Raven apologized sincerely.

“It’s okay, Raven.”

“I am sorry.” She kept on repeating apologizes until her mother pulled out of the embrace.

“I understand how hard this has been for you. And I am sorry for not considering how you might feel about the whole issue.”

Raven sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her palm. “Thanks for standing by me mom. I couldn’t have held on this far if it weren’t for you.”

Eva cupped her daughter’s face in her palm. “I want you to know that mama loves you and that’s all that matters right?”

Raven nodded and hugged her mother tightly again. “Yes mom.” They both held onto each other in silence for about a minute.

“You should go in and talk to Rowan. I know he isn’t asleep but might pretend to be just to avoid the conversation.” Eva said.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Raven shook her head. “Alright mom.” She stood up and went back into the room.

“Rowan.” She called out to him but no response.

And judging by Rowan’s rigid back, it was obvious that he was widely awake so she walked farther into the room.

“Hey champ.”

He still didn’t turn towards her. Raven settled next to him on the bed and began to rub his upper arm gently.

“Rowan, do you remember when you were five? That time you had taken so much interest in drawing the characters in every cartoons you watched and you told me that you would love to become an animator some day.” Raven chuckled lightly at the memory.

Rowan has always been a joyful kid. When he clocked five, he began to take interest in colors and pencils. All of his drawing books and boards were filled with doodles of cartoon characters that he loved so much.

Rowan had asked her what he could become out of drawing so many things and she told him that he could either be an artist or an animator. He had picked the latter and with a promise that he would make an animation story later in the future.

Some months later, Rowan became obsessed with football after watching a match in school. And becoming a footballer became his next line of profession.

Even though her son didn’t pay attention to her words, she continued. “To be honest, I was amazed by how well you could draw things effortlessly and how brilliant you were at sketching those characters. You always do whatever you put your mind in with perfection. Everyone who sees you knows that you would make history when you grow older. And that’s all I want for you. Rowan, I want you to know that your chances and abilities are limitless and you can do whatever it is you want. You don’t have to be stuck on football playing only and moreover there are different angles to it. You could be a coach, a referee, a commentator… anything aside running so hard on the field.” She paused. Still no response came from him.

“Your grandmother and I have gone through hell to save you and bring you back to life in the past few days. It has been tough, Rowan.” She couldn’t help the tears that strayed down her cheeks.

“I thought I was going to lose you. But I am glad you made it. Please Rowan, see yourself as a basketball that bounces back every time it is being tossed into a net. Please baby, I love you. Grandma loves you too. And all we want is for you to be fine. Please don’t give up on yourself. You can be anything aside football. Please, Rowan. Please talk to… me.” Her shaky voice pleaded with him.

The tears flowed freely and uncontrollably down her face. Since Rowan’s admission at the hospital, she had played strong all through and didn’t realize how stressed and tired she was from the whole situation. It was like a trauma. Having her son angry and moody only made her more emotional. And her greatest fear was him slipping into depression at this young age.

Rowan shifted on the bed and turned to face his mother. He hated seeing his mother cry. She was the best mother and he always admit it to her every time. He sat up and moved closer to hug her.

“I love you too mom. Please don’t cry. I know how hard you are working and I really appreciate it.” Raven sniffed and patted his hair lightly.

“The doctor said I can’t play football again. That’s saddens me. But don’t worry, I will get another interest soon that won’t require me running around.” Rowan pulled out of the embrace.

“I will find one soon. Pinky promise?” He said, holding out his little finger.

Raven let out a small smile as she threw kisses all over his face. “I love you my baby. Thank you for being such a sweet boy. Promise me you won’t get moody or sad over this issue.” She also held out her little finger.

“Promise!” Rowan smiled, crossing his finger with that of his mom.

“That’s my boy!”

They both smiled at each other as he wiped the traces of tears off his mother’s face with his small hands.

“Did I miss the hug party?” Eva said as she stood at the door.

“Yes. But we could do more!” Rowan grinned widely as he patted the space next to him on the bed.

Eva walked hurriedly and sat next to him. “Now let us have a very big hug party!” He hugged his grandmother with his mother joining in too.

“I love you both so much!” He said.

“We love you too.” Eva and Raven chorused in unison.