Chapter 39
Sky
Three weeks later
With tears streaming down my face and completely out of breath, I raced down this hospital corridor exactly three weeks ago.
Your father has awakened , June's voice repeated over and over in broken Swedish in my head.
So this is your true face , Kjell whispered in disappointment in between.
Even today, he's with me. Everywhere in my thoughts and in my heart, even though he no longer belongs there.
Kjell was a huge mistake. It's not my true face that matters here, but his!
He lied to me. After Kahlo gave me the tip, it was easy to figure out that he, along with his partner, not only owns Sanningens ?gonblick but also that dreadful Ryktesspegeln .
With clenched lips, I lift my head and continue marching down the corridor to my father's room. Just like back then, I don't have control over my emotions. There are too many questions, foremost among them whether this will ever end well.
Right after waking up, Father was barely responsive. Too confused and disoriented to even recognize me. But for the past week, he's been clear enough in his mind that we can have conversations.
He knows I'm in Stockholm because of him, and I insisted on not leaving his side until he's fully recovered.
I haven't told him about what happened in the past few months. He knows nothing about Kjell, Milan, the idea of the competition, or Kahlo's resignation. And certainly not about my visit to Mother.
It was necessary.
June's instructions were clear. Father must not get upset. His health should be the priority.
The day will come when I confess all of this to him. But that day is not today.
Fiddling incessantly with the vinyl records I brought for him, I enter the room—and freeze.
Kahlo is here. With his back to me, he sits on the edge of the bed.
"So this is how it looks," he says with a prolonged sigh.
A barely audible hum escapes Father's mouth, followed by a heavy breath, and I immediately know that Kahlo's visit is tiring him.
Resolutely, I step behind Kahlo and place my hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, I'll take it from here," I whisper to him even though I would like to ask him how he got the idea to jeopardize Father's recovery. But that wouldn't be good for Father either, so I refrain.
Kahlo tries to shake off my hand. "Not necessary."
I dig my fingers deeper into his bony shoulder. "I. Will. Take. Over." Whether you like it or not , I convey to him with my expression and nod my head toward the door.
"Fine." A sardonic grin flits across his face. "I was done anyway." And we both know what that means , he adds silently.
What? Did he tell Father about what happened at Touch av lyx? Is he insane?
Nausea washes over me, my legs tremble, and an uncontrollable craving for a high crawls inside me. For a moment, forget everything, just be. That would be...
Stop.
I control my actions.
With my last strength, I nod toward the door, and thankfully, Kahlo disappears a few seconds later. Then with a pounding heart, I turn to Father.
"Hej," I say, trying to breathe evenly. I fail. "How are you today?"
He doesn't respond, just looks at me thoughtfully.
"I brought some records for you." I place them on the nightstand. "Should I put one on for you? Maybe the Commodores, you like them..."
"No." His voice is quiet, yet it makes me stop immediately. He turns his head toward me, his gaze piercing. "What have you done?"
My shoulders feel heavy. "I wanted to..."
Yes, what did I want?
A chance to be a part of his life again.
And what did I get?
Another nightmare that I can only blame myself for.
I should have never trusted Kjell. That was stupid. I was stupid. Again.
"Why did you even come?" he asks me now, his voice weak. "You promised me you'd never return."
We already talked about that last week. Did he forget?
"I know. But how could I leave you alone?" I ask again, hoping to elicit the wistful smile he gave me the first time.
Today, he doesn't smile. On the contrary, his mouth turns down. "At least you wouldn't have ruined everything." He presses his lips together. "A gossip reporter?"
I nod, knowing there's no excuse I can offer.
"The drug addict was bad enough. But this... I don't know what to say."
Yes, I understand. "I'm sorry," I quickly reply, hoping that's all he knows about Kahlo. "I'll make it right."
Yes, I will. No, I've been working on it for three weeks already, and there's hope. The design team finally delivered some drafts for the Oscar gown. Even though they're not perfect, the submission deadline is not until next week. We still have time. We can do it. The employees are standing by me even though Kahlo quit because of me.
Unfortunately, I still haven't found a way to defuse the bomb that could explode any day now: the publication of my story.
Father's brows narrow. "Let me handle this; it's better this way."
In an instant, I slump down in my chair. "Okay," I whisper because it's what he wants to hear. And I would do anything to make him not be angry with me anymore. "Thank you."
He flexes his fingers as if he wants to make a fist but can't. "We'll force that gossip reporter to sign a nondisclosure agreement."
"I've already tried," I admit remorsefully. Kjell refuses to sign because he intends to publish my story. I have to pay for what he's done
How could I not have realized earlier that he's completely twisted? He probably twisted the story with his parents just the way he wanted it to be. Who knows what really happened.
"And you have failed." It's not a question but a disillusioned statement.
Silently, I nod. At the same time, I can feel everything in me resisting the idea of seeing myself as a failure. Am I still the same little, stupid Sky as back then? The one who's good for nothing? The one who's too easily guided by her emotions?
"I'm tired." With these words, Father turns his head to the wall.
The image of the back of his head blurs before my eyes. The whole room becomes fuzzy. My nose swells up, and I can't breathe.
"Give me a chance, Father," I say firmly because I know I deserve it. "I successfully managed the fall collection, and in the past few months, I've gained new customers, and the employees have become a real team."
But none of that matters. Because Kjell will destroy everything.
He will publish my story and erase the things I've done well forever.
No scandals at Touch av lyx .
That's the top priority, even if everything else falls apart. That was the case with my drug addiction, with Mother's depression, and with Father's accident as well.
His silence speaks louder than a thousand words.
My temples throb painfully. "I understand." Thick tears roll down my cheeks and drop from my jaw directly onto my fingers, which are trembling as they clutch each other. "If this is really what you want," I whisper into the silence between us, "then I will go."