Patrick

“Her father said they caught her on time.” William had lost his appetite. “Please excuse me, I need to go by the office to get some things done.”

“Do you think we should go and visit her this afternoon?” Linda called after him. He hesitated and then turned to face her.

“I will find out from Luke.”

“You are silent, what are you thinking?” Carrie asked her husband as she sliced into her pancakes.

“Sophia is not the type to take a knife to her wrists. She is too vain,” Patrick said with a shrug.

“What are you saying?” his mother asked him.

“Whatever made her do it must have been something huge.”

*****

“Take me to the hospital, Frank,” William instructed the driver as soon as he entered the car. He could hardly wait for the car to get there, and he sat staring out at the passing scenery his mind blank. What the hell had she done? He had left her curled up on the carpet and thought that he had gotten through to her. She made him do things he had never done before and was aware that she was leading him into a path of self destruction.

“We are here, sir,” Frank said, sliding down the glass partition to tell him. He had been so caught up in his thoughts that he had not realized that they had reached their destination.

“Thank you. I will let you know when to pick me up.”

Sara-Lyn and Luke McBride were there inside a private lounge holding hands. They looked up as soon as he came into the room, and he felt a sense of guilt at the look on their faces. “How is she?” he asked as the man stood up and came towards him. His daughter had gotten her looks from him, a veritable blonde giant with a genial personality and an astute brain for business. His wife was a mousey woman who always looked as if she was cowering in fear.

“She is sleeping now.” He clasped William’s hands briefly. “I have no idea what made her do such a thing, William, and the press is going to have a field day about it.”

William felt the trap closing around him tighter. “Do you think I could go and look in on her?”

Luke nodded. “We spoke to her briefly before she went back to sleep, so I don’t know if she is awake.”

“I will check.”

She opened her eyes as soon as he came inside the room. “You came,” she whispered. Her wrists were bandaged up, and he could see the faint blood stains on the whiteness of the material.

He made sure the door was closed before he came over to her. “What the hell have you done?” he hissed at her as he pulled up a chair.

“I told you I would do anything to make you stay with me,” she said with a small smile as she eased up on her pillows. “If I cannot be with you, I would rather be dead.”

“You crazy bi*ch!” he swore. “Do you think this is going to force me to be with you?”

“I might just tell Daddy why I was led to commit suicide,” she said softly as she plucked at the sheet.

“Are you threatening me, little girl?” His tone was ominous.

“Can you imagine the scandal? Your poor wife.”

He stared at her in horror and knew that he was under her thumb. “I don’t take kindly to threats, Sophia.”

“It’s not a threat, darling. I am just ensuring you stay with me. Your son left me for a waitress, and I have no intention of it happening where you are concerned.”

“I have to go,” he muttered, backing out of the room.