In that moment, he admitted to himself that his anger stemmed from fear of losing the most important thing in the world- his daughter. She was the only thing keeping him alive, without her, he would have withered away long ago. He had nothing to live for.
“What is this nonsense Baxter is telling me? You’re leaving tomorrow with Darrell, why wasn’t I informed of the decision earlier?” He asked gruffly. “What about Jade? You’re going to leave her here, while you rush off to parts unknown?”
“Nothing matters anymore,” Danny said softly. “You never care about me, anyway. What do you care whether I leave tomorrow or never?” She asked almost absently.
“I care, Danette, I care,” Cato whispered tiredly, disheartedly. He turned about to leave, but Danny’s statement stopped him.
“You never cared about me or Mom, don’t lie to me. I was young then, but I wasn’t deaf or dumb or blind. I saw the way you made her cry, the way you broke her heart and you didn’t even care. I saw all that, so don’t pretend that you care about me now.” She informed him coldly. “She loved you with all her heart, but you don’t care, do you?”
Cato turned his profile towards his daughter, giving her a weary smile. “Why do you ask? You already have an answer you think is right. You obviously are prepared to challenge everything I tell you, so what’s the point of asking me that question?” He rolled himself of the room, leaving a confused Danny staring at his retreating back.
Cato watched his daughter bidding his butler a tearful goodbye. A sour taste rose in his throat as he watched them. She was on much closer terms with Baxter than her own father, that shouldn’t be right.
Darrell followed Cato’s sad gaze. “I’ll tell her soon, Cato, don’t worry. Once she settled in, I’ll tell her and clear up the misunderstanding, I promise.”
Cato sighed, “Even if she believes you, that is not going to help much. The chasm between us can’t be bridged that easily. It’s going to take the rest of our lives to get use to each other.”
Darrell clapped Cato on his shoulder, “We just have to take things slowly, one small step at a time and think that it’s a big leap forward. She’s young, we have all the time in the world.”
“She might have a lot of time, but I don’t Dar, I’m not young anymore, I may die-“
“Think positive, Cato,” Darrell frowned. “I don’t like hearing such negative things from you. You still have a number of years ahead of you, you’re healthy and strong, probably outlive us all.”
“I hope,” was all Cato was willingly to concede to. He took a glance at his daughter who was currently boarding the private jet. “Take good care of her for me. She’s all I ever had.”
“I will.” Darrell promised solemnly. “You take care of yourself, when we come back, she’s going to know everything that we didn’t tell her before, you’re going to receive her in good health then, all right?”
Cato laughed and nudged him forward with his cane. “Go now, my daughter’s waiting.”
Darrell shook Cato’s hand before striding to his jet to a waiting Danny.
Danny was silent throughout the flight. She was aware of the worried glances Darrell shot her; she was aware of his curiosity and relieved that he didn’t prod her to satisfy his curiosity. She just didn’t want to talk now. She was leaving a life she was familiar with to embark on a less trodden path. It was intimidating to say the ease. She was all alone, so alone- again.
She missed Jade already. She felt so bad at leaving just like that, she felt guilty for taking the coward’s way out. She promised herself that one day, she’ll tell Jade the truth about why she left just like that, that is, if Nick didn’t tell her.
Nick- she missed him most of all. It was a physical ache, a throbbing centered in her heart, a constant reminder of her stupidity and vulnerability. She was a fool, but she knew that she would love Nick forever. He wasn’t someone whom once that you’ve love, you can forget. No, you can never forget him, not in this lifetime, probably not the next.
The jet bumpy landing jarred her out of her reflections.
“We’re here,” Darrell got up and offered Danny a hand. Danny stared at it for a long while. Darrell’s hand was strong, brown and large. There were calluses, but to Danny, this hand was the only familiar thing in this unfamiliar place. This was her lifeline.
Danny placed her hand- so small and delicate, in Darrell’s, and smiled up at him. “Let’s go.”
“She’s gone.”
Nick stared at Brian disbelievingly.
“What are you talking about? Who’s gone?” Everything seemed so surreal, like a nightmare to Nick. He just wanted to wake up and find that everything was all right, that Jade was fine and that Danny was his. That was all he wanted.
“Danny.” Brian avoided Nick’s glazed eyes. “She’s gone.”
It took a minute for that to sink in. “No,” Nick shook his head, “no! She can’t be gone, she can’t be! You’re lying, Brian! Tell me you’re lying!” He grabbed Brian by his shoulders and shook him hard.
Brian shoved away from Nick. “I’m sorry. But she is.”
Brian watched helplessly as Nick stumbled away with a lost look on his face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered after his best friend.
Epilogue
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