by Kitt Lee
He had that uneasy feeling. Looking at Janice she was safe but Caleb was worried.
He buried his head further into Preston' chest and felt his grip get tighter. Man, he really loves Preston. He just hoped his mother in law would be better by the time she wakes up.
****
"Where...where am I?"
Preston quickly opened his eyes. He had heard a weak voice but he didn't know where it came from. He tried to move and felt someone pressed on his chest. He looked and saw Caleb. He smiled brightly and gave him a short kiss on his forehead. He was sleeping peacefully on his chest.
Preston looked aloud and took a glance at the clock on the wall. It was already 7. Am and he was really hoping for his mother to wake up.
"Where...am I?" Preston heard that voice again.
He looked at the bed and saw his mother's eyes wide open. His heart was immediately filled with happiness. He was really happy and had no idea how to express it.
"Mom," Preston gushed as he slowly moved his body. "You are awake."
Preston had his hands on Caleb's face, slowly shaking him to wake him up.
"Caleb, baby,"
Caleb quickly opened his eyes and Preston smiled brightly.
"Mom is awake," Preston said quickly.
Caleb quickly moved his head from Preston' chest and he yawned and stood up. He followed Preston to the bed and saw his mother in law slightly opening her eyes. She was looking kind of pitiful and a tear was running from her eyes.
"Mom," Preston smiled, reaching for her hand.
"Preston," Janice said in a low weak voice. "How..."
"No, mom," Preston said excitedly. "Don't talk. You're not well. I'll call the doctor."
Preston left as soon as he said that. Caleb looked at his mother in law and she was lying weak and helpless on that bed. His heart went out to her but he couldn't help but wonder who had poisoned her. All that was making him feel uneasy and he had a bad feeling about something. He just didn't know why he was feeling like that.
Maybe it was probably because he had prepared the soup. William was blaming him and he had no idea about the others. It was just too confusing to take all in.
He heard her whimper and groan weakly.
Caleb tried to say something but his mouth just opened and no word came out. It was like his voice was gone. He couldn't just utter a word.
"Mother," Caleb heard Suzanne gasp.
She quickly came near the bed and held her mother's hand close to her face and cried. Caleb moved away from the bed and watched as Suzanne cried holding her mother's hand tightly. It was emotional to see Suzanne crying but there was nothing he could do but watch.
By the time Preston came back all the other family members had already woken up and they rounded the bed.
Preston held him tightly and brought him closer to the bed. He was feeling really uneasy. His instincts were trying to tell him something but he couldn't put his finger on it. He breathed softly and he felt a bit calm.
He looked at Preston and he was smiling. There was nothing as beautiful as that smile. It warmed his heart and made him feel over the top. The previous night had been bad for his husband so seeing him in that situation was making him overjoyed.
Preston watched as the doctor examined his mother carefully. He had a huge smile on his face but deep down he was worried. His mother had just been poisoned and he was gonna find out who did it. Whoever would be guilty...well Preston was gonna figure it out once he gets back home.
"How is she now?" Caroline asked, hoping and praying for her sister to be fine.
"Well," the doctor said as he removed the stethoscope from his ears. "Her pulse is normal and her vitals are normal." He smiled. "She's responding to treatment but we have to keep her under observation for at least...48 hours."
"There'll be no need for that." Preston heard a voice holler from the door way.
He looked behind and saw his brother rushing in the room. He was looking worried and he was sweating. Guess he was as worried as everyone else.
Johnny rushed to his mother and held her hand tightly. Seeing her lying in that bed made him feel so much anger. Someone had tried to kill his mother and he was gonna find out who and then...that person would rot in jail.
"I need my mother out of this hospital today." Johnny commanded. He was wearing a serious face and his eyes were red. He had probably not slept since the previous night.
"I'm sorry," the doctor apologized. "I can't do that. I need to keep her under observation for..."
"I'll do that," Johnny said, his eyes fixed on his mother.
"You don't understand," the doctor said. "She seems fine but in the next 48 hours anything can happen?"
Johnny raised his head and looked at the doctor. He went back to look at his mother and said, "Nothing like that is going to happen. I'll take care of her and I'll also get to the bottom of this."
Preston could hear from his brother's voice that he was mad. The way he answered the doctor was kind of rude. Preston was mad, worried and scared but his brother was furious. He could hear it from the tone of his voice.
"Its fine," Preston said softly. "He's a doctor. He'll take care of her."
Preston saw his brother and sister holding their mother and he got emotional. She hadn't uttered a word since she woke up and a tear was running down her eye. He just wanted her to be alright.
Preston moved to Caleb and gave him a quick kiss on the forehead before extending his hand to his brother's shoulder. His brother looked up to him and gave him a faint smile. He smiled back and tapped on his brother's back. He knew it was affecting his brother a lot.
"Mother," Suzanne cried.
"I'm fine," Janice said weakly as she tried to move her body.
"I'll take care of you." Johnny said, slowly rubbing her hand. He looked at the doctor with a serious face. "I need her out of here."
The doctor sighed deeply. "Well, since you've said you are a doctor I'm good with it." He smiled. "I'll have her released in just an hour."
"Thank you!"
"But may I suggest something if you don't mind?" the doctor said, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Sure," Johnny said as he stared at his mother.
"I don't think what happened was an accident. It was done deliberately."
"We know that," Caroline sighed.
"That's why I..." The doctor paused and gave a gloomy sigh. "...I think it'll be better if you report this to the police. You still don't know whether..."
"No," Caroline hollered, slightly moving her head. "I don't think that's necessary. This is kind of confusing but it's also our family here. We'll be..."
"No, aunt," Johnny said softly. "I'm sure someone saw something. I don't want to point fingers. As the eldest child I'll question everyone once we go back home."
Caroline nodded in agreement. She really wanted to know who exactly had tried to have her sister killed. She could be stubborn at times but she was still her sister.
Caleb hadn't uttered a word. The mood Johnny was in just didn't seem right. He was furious and Caleb could see that. He understood him. He was also curious to find out whom exactly had Janice poisoned.
Caleb caught William looking at him and vibrating. He knew that the guy was almost sure that he had poisoned the food. It didn't matter to Caleb because he knew he was very much innocent. William's suspicions were not right at all.
***
"Come out," Preston said to his mother as he extended his hand to hold her.
It was already afternoon, around 5.pm and his mother's condition had improved. She had gained some energy and was able to speak clearly. What was left was to completely heal.
"I'm fine," Janice said softly.
"No, mom," Preston said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. "The doctor said you don't have your complete energy."
Victoria smiled softly and she held on to her son's shoulder as he carefully led her into the house.
Caleb saw his husband slowly and carefully tak
ing his mother in. He had not driven with him because he didn't want to upset Janice in her current situation. He had driven with Suzanne and Juanita. They both seemed quiet the rest of the way home. He understood them because he knew what was on their minds.
"Careful," Preston said, holding him mother tightly.
He led her to the living room and made her sit on the couch slowly. He was really happy she was recovering. The poison hadn't done any damage to her vitals. It was a really good miracle.
"What happened?" Granny rushed into the living room. "What did the doctor say? I hope she's fine."
"Food poisoning," Johnny said hoarsely. "Someone poisoned my mother."
"Food poisoning," Granny gasped. "But why...how...how did that happen?"
"I don't know," Johnny said as he quickly moved his face towards everyone. "But I'm going to ask everyone and I want everyone to tell me what happened."
Caleb's hands suddenly shook. He had no idea why he was shaking but he hid it by shoving those hands in his pockets. He felt them get warm and he somehow felt calm. He was standing there alone and staring at Janice who looked ordinary without any makeup on.
"Can someone tell me what happened?" Johnny said as he stared at everyone's faces.
William crossed his arms on his chest and sighed. "I think Caleb might know the answer to that question. He was the one who made the soup after all."
Caleb felt a cold wind hit his face. That cold wind travelled to the rest of his body and it made him quiver. He felt like he'd been hit by something hard. William kept on insisting that he did it and that hurt a lot.
"Yes," Caleb said softly. "I made the soup...but..." he sighed softly. "...I'd never poison her. What would be my reason for doing that?"
"I don't know." William said angrily. "Maybe you hate her for not approving your relationship with Preston. What other reason would you have? You wanted..."
"Enough!" Preston yelled angrily. "Stop all this. Caleb can never do that. I trust him a lot."
Caleb almost cried from those words. It was all so clear. It felt so good knowing you have a man who'd stand by your side the rest of the way.
"Of course," William said angrily. "You trust him but this is not a matter of trust. We are talking about your mother's life."
Preston was speechless. He couldn't say anything anymore. He was right. It was his mother's life and that was the reason why he couldn't say a thing. He still believed Caleb was innocent though.
Johnny sighed. "Not that I agree with William but..." He paused and took a deep breath. "Did anyone see you cook the soup? Were you with anyone at that time?"
Caleb nodded. "No, I was not with anyone."
"Did you give mother the soup yourself?"
Caleb nodded and said, "No, I actually gave it to one of the maids to take it to her."
"Really," Johnny said as he got closer to Caleb.
Caleb nodded in agreement.
"Then, maybe it's time to ask the maids."
Johnny rushed out of the living room and in a few minutes he came back with all the maids that worked in the house. They stood there with their heads dropped and were probably shaking.
Johnny rounded them up and stared at them for a long time. Caleb knew Johnny was probably hell bound on finding the one who had tried to kill Janice but he was scaring them.
After that, Johnny came back to Caleb and stood right in front of him. Caleb stared deep in his grey eyes and saw nothing but anger. He had no idea who that anger would be directed at. He really hoped all this was just a mistake or it would lead to a very bad situation.
"Who among them did you send to bring the soup to mother."
Caleb stared at Johnny and then at the maids. He raised his hands and pointed on a blonde girl who he had given the soup to serve to his mother.
"Stella!"
Caleb saw the maid's body shaking as Johnny went to her. He felt sorry for her but it was kind of an interrogation.
Johnny went to the maid and stood right in front of her. He was staring at her and she was scared.
"Tell me," Johnny said hoarsely. "Did you poison my mother's soup?"
The maid raised her face as tears ran down her face. Her eyes were watery, her body was shaking and she simply fell to the floor and knelt down holding her hands together.
"No," The maid said as more tears covered her face. "I'd never do that to a woman who has been so good to me."
"Really," Johnny as he leaned down to look at the maid. "Do you perhaps have any idea who might have done it?"
The maid sobbed and nodded. "I only did what I was instructed to do." She cried. "I've been serving her for a long time. Why would I poison her?"
"Perhaps, one of the members of this family paid you to do so."
"No," the maid nodded. "Even if they did, I'd never agree to it. I'd rather lose my job than poison the woman who has been nothing but great to me."
Staring at her, Johnny knew she was right. She had been servicing them for a long time. Why would she bother to poison her employer? But he was going insane. He needed something done before someone attempted to kill his mother again.
"Then who," Johnny yelled throughout the house. "Who had tried to kill my mother?"
"Please, calm down," granny said. "It might just be..."
"It's nothing granny," Johnny bellowed, furiously touching his head. "Someone tried to kill my mother and I want to know who it is. At this point my mother's life might still be in danger. I have to find out who the fuck tried to have her killed. I'll not rest till I find out."
"Please,"
"No, aunt, Caroline," Johnny yelled. "I know that this is a peaceful family but it was from this house that my mother almost died. You heard what the doctor said."
"I know that, but..."
"Who the fuck tried to poison my mother," Johnny yelled. "Does anyone know anything?"
It was quiet. Johnny looked all around him and it was fucking quiet. He was burning with anger and all he wanted to do was find out who did it so that he could have that person locked behind bars. He swore that person was gonna spend the rest of his life in jail.
"You are all quiet?" Johnny yelled. "Well, guess I have no choice but to call the police. The police inspector will come here and..." he paused and looked all around. "...I'm sorry to say this but every one of you will be arrested."
"What?" Caroline shouted. Her voice sounded surprised.
"Yes, aunt," Johnny said. "I won't just sit down and watch while a killer is trying his best to kill my mother. Who knows if my mother is the only target?"
William furiously walked to the front and looked at Johnny. "Why should we all be arrested? I think only Caleb and that maid should be arrested."
"What?" Caleb shouted. "I've told you several times that I didn't poison mother. Yes, I'll admit that I made the soup..."
"And then you poisoned it," William said as he furiously went near him. "I'm sure you did it. I even wonder if mother is the only target in this house,"
"For the last time," Preston yelled, getting closer to Caleb. "Will you stop accusing Caleb?" He was furious.
"What?" William snapped. "Mother never accepts anything he cooks. Now that she did, she ended up being poisoned. How would you explain that?"
"Stop it," Johnny shouted, raising his arms furiously. "Arguing will not help. I'll call the police and all of us will go to the police station."
Johnny furiously got his phone from his pocket and began dialing the number. He put it on his ear and was waiting for it to ring.
"Wait!" Johnny heard someone stop him.
He quickly turned around and saw a brunette maid who'd been serving them for a long time. She was one of the most loyal housemaids in the house.
Johnny removed the phone from his ear, cut the call and went near her. He stood straight, staring at her. She seemed terrified and she was shaking.
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything." She apologized, bowing down. "No one else should be dragged to the police."
"W
hy?" Johnny said angrily, folding his arms. "Did you happen to poison the soup?"
She gasped terribly. "No!" She exclaimed, shaking. "I'd never do that to her. I just happened to see...something. I'm not sure it's even the truth but I've..."
"Just say it," Johnny snapped, breathing heavily.
"I don't want to put anyone in trouble." She said softly. "I'm not even..."
"Say it!" Johnny said angrily. He was trembling really badly. He needed to know and put the person behind bars. "It's either you tell me or I drag you to the police so that they could get it out of you."
