Rejected Mate's Redemption (Freda and James) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12
FREDA WHITLOCK
When I returned to the ward twenty minutes later, Francisco was scribbling some things down on a paper that Lyra had gotten him. She knew he liked to draw:
“I didn’t tell him you were coming,” Lyra whispered. We now had some time to bond since Cisco was busy. “Yeah? Why?” I asked.
“Well he’s been way too tired recently and I didn’t want him to spend all of his strength on anticipating your arrival,” she explained. I nodded. “I also wanted to surprise him,” she added.
I bit my lip and looked down at my hand before looking back at her. “You think he’s going to be happy to see me?” I asked with genuine worry.
“Of course, Freeds,” she said with a small smile, calling me my childhood nickname. “When we got the first message from you, we were worried it was someone trying to impersonate you. When you didn’t respond for a while, he was shattered.” She said and I nodded, picking at the loose thread on my jeans.
“Okay,” I nodded. I could breathe properly now. I would not be able to bear it of he saw me and grew agitated or sad.
“So, are you going to do the catching up thing or are you going to remain silent?” Lyra teased me and I gave her a smile. “Of course we’ll catch up. Now is for dad.” I told her.
She nodded with understanding and I was grateful to have her
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by my side. She had been supporting me through everything and I could not be more grateful than already was for all her help and support.
“Georgina?” My father’s soft voice filtered into my ears and I instantly sat erect, looking in his direction. His eyes slowly turned towards us and they widened before he shut them and looked back up at the ceilings.
My heart dropped and I looked over at Lyra. She shook her head and gave me a smile before standing up and heading towards my father who was murmuring something about hallucinations.
“I have a surprise for you, Pops,” Lyra said with a gentle fondness that filled me with joy.
Her father had been a pack warrior and he had died when she was a pup. Her mother died shortly after, from the grief of losing her mate and she was left all alone.
That did not stay for long though. She was instantly welcomed by my family and it had been my biological mother’s idea. Lyra grew up with Safiya and I and she was a part of our family.
That was why it was not weird for her to call my father ‘Pops’.
“Freeds is here,” she said softly. “Cisco come here,” I called softly and he dropped his crayon and waddled over to where I was standing now.
“Freeds?” My father’s voice shook, breaking and melting my heart at the same time. Tears filled my eyes because it had been ages since I had heard him call me that.
“Freda?” He asked again to confirm and Lyra nodded.
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I took Francisdo’s hand and walked towards my father’s bed.
“She’s here with our sweet Cisco too,” Lyra added and I thought I heard my father struggle to hide a sob, breaking my fragile heart further.
I did not realize how much I had been holding back tears over the past few days until this minute. And I could not hold them back now.
“Hey dad,” I smiled, walking round to the other side of the bed that was free. He stared at me for almost a full minute and I wondered if he was struggling to separate his delusions from reality.
“Freda?” He reached up his hand and I instantly grasped it. “Oh goddess, Freda,” tears started to flow down his cheeks.
“I thought I’d never see you again” he said weakly and I bit my bottom lip hard, struggling to hold it together in front of Francisco. I had been expecting to cry on speaking to my father. I had been expecting the rush of emotions. But this was a d**n flood, and I could scarcely do anything against it.
“I know, Dad. I’m sorry,” I started to weep and Lyra discretely walked over to my side, taking Francisco away from me to give me this moment with my father. was grateful, but in my messy state, I could barely form any words.
“I’m so sorry for leaving without telling you.” I cried and he squeezed my hand that was in his. My father was a strong man, but he was not afraid to show his emotions in front of his
family. It was one of the hundred things that made me respect him. He was crying freely too.
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“It’s okay, princess. It’s really okay. I understand you. You don’t have to apologize,” he whispered and I shook my head, crying my heart out silently.
“I want to. It was not fair of me. I was selfish,” I told him tearfully.
He smiled through his tears and I wanted to hug him, squeeze him to myself and give him life.
“If we could go back in time, would you have stayed?” He asked the million dollar question and I could not answer. I did not have the heart to say the truth.
I wouldn’t have stayed. I could not have.
He smiled at me. “Then don’t apologize. It is what you thought was good for you,” he smiled and I nodded.
He slowly sat up in his bed. “Now where is that handsome young man I saw some minutes ago?” He asked causing me to laugh despite the tears on my face and the s**t that was threatening to join too.
“He’s over here,” Lyra said, leading Francisco over to where I was standing. Lyra handed me a face wipe and I stepped aside to blow my nose and get some of my **t together.
“Come here,” my father lifted him into his bed and held him to himself while Lyra and I laughed softly.
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