Branch One Hundred and Eighty Five
Jessica felt the trembling in her feet. This was the first time. She had to say goodbye to someone. She had just begun to see Dawson as a part of her family. She could not believe he was gone. There was no one to tease her about getting into Xavier’s panties and making a great-grandchild. There was no one to adore her every move and tell off Xavier when he was in the wrong.
Xavier on the other hand was not taking it all that well. Since he had lost his parents at a young age he has had only his grandfather to be there for him. Dawson had given him the whole world at his fingertips and anyone could tell that even if it was from a distance.
“I thought you said he had at least a few more months left?” Xavier asked with a tear in the corner of his eyes.
Of all the things he thought he would be doing after hearing that he had become a father, he had never imagined that he would have to let his grandfather go. He staggered a little as he tried to control himself.
“He ordered that we stop the clinical treatment”
“And you just thought to tell me?” Xavier thundered.
“He asked me not to tell anyone and he is my patient,” Ross said trying to sound as calm as possible.
“And I am his guardian. Should I not be aware of situations like this?”
“The chairman knew how you would react when you heard so he made me keep it a secret” he explained again.
“I should have known all the same,” he said slowly before raising his head quickly to meet his eye level.
It was disheartening and Jessica stood behind Xavier. She could not see his face but she was convinced he was crying. She knew that from his posture. She wanted to take him in her hands and comfort him. She wanted to show him that all would be okay, but she could barely get herself together.
“The chairman wanted his body buried somewhere sunny,” Ross told him and he sighed.
He knew his grandfather to have a unique style and method. Did he want to leave them so badly and fast that he stopped the medication?
“What happened?” Brian asked rushing in. Xavier had called him while he was crazy driving to the hospital.
“How did it happen?” he asked again when Jessica and Xavier turned to face him.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
“He just left us, even after we gave him such great news” Xavier muttered slowly. He wiped the corners of his eyes as his eyes landed on Jessica who had the tears streaming down her face continuously.
He did not want her to cry while she was at a critical stage but the situation was beyond his control.
“I suggest that you get on the preparation for the burial right away as it were his wish”
Xavier looked away, he was to bury his grandfather? How was he going to handle it? His eyes landed on a strange figure as it walked toward them.
“I am here concerning the chairman’s last wishes”
They moved to the private room that Dawson had been in. Jessica’s nose was filled with Dawson’s scent. As she entered his subconscious mind heard the laughter of Dawson and she turned to the bed to meet it empty. She wanted to be strong for Xavier but she could not help the tears as they streamed down her face.
“I never called you here,” Xavier said referring to Marcus who suddenly appeared from nowhere. He was going to call him later after they had settled the burial arrangement.
“The chairman had asked the caregiver to give me a call as soon as it happened. He achieved his will of recent and ordered that it be read before the burial is done” Marcus explained.
When the caregiver sent him that urgent message of Dawson dying he was then convinced that he knew when he would die. He had changed the details of his will just a week before that time and asked that it be read on the day he passed on.
“I do not think that now is the most appropriate time to read anything. My grandfather just died”
“The chairman ordered that the seal be broken on the day of his death,” Marcus said. His eyes landed on Jessica as she tried her best to sniffle quietly in the corner.
It was as if Xavier had known his intentions for her and had cut off all communication between them. He knew the content of the will and had a kind of hope that it might work in his favor even though he might not get to inherit anything from these people.
“Then I guess you can read out the will terms so we can give my papa a befitting burial soon,” Xavier said angrily.
He knew it was what Dawson wanted but should they not first lay him to rest before they start talking about dividing his wealth and how to divide it?
“First things first, anyone who is not a family member should please excuse as we read this,” he said waving the sealed document in the air.
Brian stood up while dusting his trousers. “I will be outside while trying to sort out the burial arrangements as soon as I can,” he said as he walked out of the room.
Jessica stood up and proceeded to go after them. “Where are you going?” Xavier questioned. Before she could open her mouth to respond he said to her “Come back here”
Marcus nodded in affirmative and she came to sit with them. She sat close to Xavier but not too close to him, she did not want him to feel uncomfortable. Who knows how he might be feeling?
“First things first,” Marcus said as he tore off the seal on the envelope. “The chairman only wanted something and if you can have that then I guess we can end the discussion there”
“What is it?” Xavier asked.
“A child” As Marcus said this he hoped within himself that the relationship he knew was still the same between them.
He hoped the pictures he saw on social media posted by others were an attempt to get social media talking and improve their shares.
“I guess that won’t be a problem”