The Admission

DEDICATION

To My Angel

Ruben ‘Angelo’ Riguero-Brito

November 1, 1985-September 30, 2012

I will always miss you my friend, forever.

Prologue

J ust one more push, Mrs. Sanderson, just one more! the doctor shouted as Austin held his wife’s hand for support.

Austin, I’m so tired, I can’t do it anymore, Brooke told her husband while he softly kissed her hand.

Sweetheart, you must, it’s just one more push then our baby will be here, Austin assured her smoothing down her black hair.

But the alarms on the machines went off signaling something was wrong. Looking down upon his wife’s face once more, he noticed her eyes glaze over slowly.

Then the nurse pushed him aside. Heart rate is going down, something is wrong. Mrs. Sanderson, Mrs. Sanderson!

Austin stared at his wife in shock to see her eyes slowly start to close.

Mr. Sanderson, you need to leave now, the nurse said as he tried his best to stay.

I’m not leaving my wife!

Austin, we have to work on Brooke something is wrong with her! the doctor warned while the others started doing CPR on her.

The nurse took Austin out of the room. As he gazed at the closed door, he’d never been so scared before in his life. What was going on with his beloved Brooke?

When he got into the waiting room, his sister Lavinia got up from her chair walking toward him. He found himself slumping against the wall crying.

What’s wrong, Austin?

Staring at his sister, Austin hugged her crying hysterically as he kept hearing her asking him what was wrong.

It was only when he’d finally calmed down Lavinia seemed to realize what was going on. We’ve got to pray, Austin, pray that they’ll both be fine, Lavinia assured him while holding his hand.

Austin knew at that point—prayer was all he had.

It was over an hour before the doctor and one of the nurses came into the waiting room.

Austin and Lavinia stood up quickly walking toward them, but they saw their faces and Austin stopped in his tracks.

How is she? asked Lavinia.

The nurse looked so upset that she ended up walking away from the group.

I’m sorry, Austin, but we lost her, the doctor stated quietly.

All Austin could hear right then was Lavinia wailing while he fell to the floor in a crying heap. The doctor helped him to his feet as both he and Lavinia walked him over to a chair. She held her brother close as they continued to cry.

We did an emergency C-section to save the baby then worked on your wife. We tried to revive her, doing all that we could but it wasn’t enough, her heart just gave out, I’m sorry Austin.

How is the baby? Austin asked with his head still in his hands.

She’s doing fine, we have her under observation but she seems to be doing just fine, the doctor told them to Lavinia’s great joy.

Can we see her then? she asked as the doctor nodded showing them both the way toward the delivery room.

As Austin looked into the room full of babies, the doctor knocked on the window for the nurse, the same one who’d left them earlier. She went and picked up the pink bundle pulling back the blanket to see the baby fully.

She started to cry while her little arms and legs moved about her.

Look at her, Austin, isn’t she beautiful? Lavinia asked

Austin stared sadly at his only child. Yes beautiful, if she would be anything like her mother, she would indeed be even more beautiful than her.

CHAPTER ONE

28 years later

Lavinia was on the patio reading one of the many books that she couldn’t put down. Once she saw a book that interested her, she had to read it even though she probably was already reading two more.

Auntie,

Lavinia looked around to see who was calling her. Cathy, is that you, hon?

Where are you?

I’m out on the patio, dear.

Sitting up in her chair, she looked toward the gate to see her walking through it. Lavinia had taken care of Cathy like she was her own daughter throughout the years of her growing up. She turned out to be a very well-bred lady who went to some of the best schools, learned several different languages, and traveled the world. But despite her upbringing, she still seemed to be a timid and shy woman only comfortable around her, her cousin Frank, and sometimes her father. She always had a time trying to get her around others. Even though her closets were filled with clothes that were feminine and cute, Cathy always seemed to wear the exact opposite, clothes that would draw attention away from her.

How was your doctor’s appointment, dear? Lavinia gave her a hug as Cathy sat down in the chair next to her.

It went just fine. I am the picture of health even though he said I need to lose some weight. I told him it’s hard for me to stay on a diet, but he told me to think about it and I told him I would. Cathy said with a smile.

I thought you would have at least worn something different, dear, you wear those long skirts all the time, hiding your legs and you have some nice legs, my dear, just like your momma. Lavinia winked as Cathy giggled. Plus you know we are going to your cousin’s party tomorrow and I’ve got a simple dress for you to wear since it’s going to be outside.

Cathy started getting that uncomfortable feeling again which seemed to go through her body causing her to do the one thing that became a bad habit of hers, wring her hands together. Do I honestly have to go, Auntie? You know I hate dealing with all of those people.

But it’s mainly family, dear, plus Vanessa wanted to see you. It will be good to be around family, and Frank will be there too.

Good old Frank, the only person besides her aunt she felt comfortable being around. He would call her every couple of months from New York telling her of his vacations around the world whenever he got the chance to visit friends he’d met over the years. Frank was more like a brother than a cousin to her, it was this closeness she treasured the most. But the thought of being around other people made her nervous.

Lavinia touched her hand while she pulled back some of her dark brown hair.

When did you last get your hair done?

I know I need a touch up bad, I’ll call Lisa to see if she can squeeze me in today. Cathy looked in her purse for her phone and pressed the button that went to Lisa. Once she made the appointment she hung up and said, Well I’ve got to go, I’ll see you when I get back. Maybe Dad will be home and he can see my hair, bye, Auntie.

I WILL MAKE SURE SAMANTHA calls in your prescription Mr. Walker, and if you have any other problems please give me a call, alright, goodbye. Hanging up the phone, Austin put his papers in a folder in his briefcase as he got up to leave his office.

Have a good weekend, Mr. Sanderson, Laura his secretary said.

Austin gave her a smile and said, Same to you, Laura.

Austin gave the young valet his ticket and waited out front while he ran to get his car. Being a successful plastic surgeon was something he’d given most of his life to. Being in his office daily and dealing with clients was his only solace. The car pulled up and as Austin came around to the driver’s side of his BMW the valet said, Here you go Mr. Sanderson, have a great weekend.

Getting into his car, Austin pulled out of the parking garage onto the street toward the highway home, a place he knew he’d find some comfort.

When he arrived home, he noticed Cathy’s car wasn’t there which, in a way, was good for him. He couldn’t understand at times why he dreaded dealing with his only child. When she became a teenager, she was a dreaded disappointment in his eyes, becoming the complete opposite of his beloved wife. Instead of being a statuesque beauty queen, she was nothing more than some frump of a girl whose basic wardrobe of choice was to cover up her entire body all year long with skirts and long-sleeved shirts. The constant weight gain over the years only infuriated him to no bounds. He’d basically given up on even dealing with her except for an occasional hello and goodbye or to belittle her due to his disappointment in her. Yes, he despised his only child because of the fact he felt she took his beloved away from him. If his beloved had lived then his daughter would have passed on. Then the grief of losing a child would have only stayed with him for a while because he believed another child could replace the one who’d died, easing the pain. Despite this, he put up a front toward her making her think at times, he truly loved her. When deep down, he knew there was no love lost for the child.

Grabbing the mail from the basket on the table in the foyer he looked through it hearing his sister say, Austin, is that you?

Yeah, I just made it in, Sis! he shouted walking into the kitchen to find her there fixing something to eat.

How was your day? Lavinia asked.

He gave her a kiss on the cheek. Let’s just say I am happy to be home. Where’s Cathy?

Gone to get her hair done for the party tomorrow, you are going to be there, Austin. Paul said he had a big announcement and wanted everybody there.

Yeah, I’ll be there. There’s no telling what Paul is up to now. I’m going to change for dinner.

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT, Cathy? asked Lisa when she turned her around in the chair to face the mirror.

Cathy smiled a bit as she saw her new hairdo. She’d been meaning to change it from the regular way she always worn it. Tomorrow’s party was a special occasion, so why not a special new do.

I love it, Lisa, I know Dad will too. Both women smiled.

You sure you don’t want to go to this party my friend is having? I’ve been trying for years to get you to go out with me. I know you’ll have loads of fun, hon.

You know I would love to but I honestly can’t, I don’t do so well with people. Maybe when I get the nerve to go with you, you’ll be the first to know about it. Again I love what you did to my hair, Cathy told her while handing her some money along with a tip.

Listen, here is my number, Lisa said as she handed her a card. Give me a call sometime.

Cathy looked at the card and gave her a smile before she walked toward the front door.

Traffic had been crazy due to a three car pileup, but Cathy made it home just in time to see her father’s car in the driveway. She was excited because she wanted him to see her new hairdo. Heading toward the door, she stopped to straightening her clothes and took a deep breath before walking inside.

I’m home! she shouted

In the kitchen, dear! shouted Lavinia.

Walking into the kitchen, Cathy smiled twirling around to show her auntie her hair. Do you think Dad will like it?

Lavinia smiled and told her, I think he’ll love it, dear, now help me with the rest of the food.

Cathy looked up to see her father and quickly walked over toward him to give him a hug but when she noticed his unimpressive gaze fall upon her, she knew something was wrong. Quickly the smile she gave him slowly diminished.

I see you changed your hair. The tone of his voice was stern and hard.

Yes Father, I thought I could use a change for the party.

I like it the way it was Cathy. I would appreciate it if you wore it the way it used to be for the party. Now let’s go and eat dinner I have things to do.

Cathy sighed for a moment trying not to get upset over her father’s words. She’d been used to it over the years, the hateful words about everything she’d done. She only wished she knew why he said such cruel things to her.

Later on that night in her room, Cathy was fixing her hair back to the way she normally wore it, when her aunt came in. Cathy, what are you doing to your hair?

Cathy didn’t say a word. She kept her eyes in the mirror brushing her hair back to how it’d always been.

But of course, her aunt came over taking the brush from her hand and asked again, What are you doing to your hair, it looked so lovely when you came home.

Dad didn’t like it. He took one look at it and said I should change it. Why does he hate me so much?

What makes you say that darling? Your daddy loves you more than you’ll ever know.

Cathy didn’t say another word while putting her silk cap on her head and quickly wiping the tears so her aunt wouldn’t see them even though she knew she more than likely did.

Listen, darling, your daddy has a lot of demons within him, some of them I don’t even understand and I’m his sister. But I know deep down, he doesn’t hate you at all, he probably has been stressed out with something at work. Don’t let it worry you, get some sleep, Lavinia told her niece, giving her a hug before Cathy got into bed. Before she left the room Cathy heard her aunt say, Things will be better, you’ll see.

THE FOLLOWING DAY AT the family get together, Cathy sat with some of her cousins not really listening to them while they talked. Even with family, Cathy felt alone for some strange reason, like she just didn’t belong.

So do you know what this big announcement is? Cousin Larry asked Cousin Monica.

I heard it has to deal with Vanessa, so we won’t know until we hear from Paul. How have you been doing, Cathy, you’re just sitting there like a bump on a log not saying a word, girl. Monica giggled as Larry and the rest of them did the same.

Cathy walked away not saying a word, walking straight for the one place she felt solace—at the buffet table to grab a bite to eat and drink.

May I have your attention everybody, say everybody listen up! Paul shouted over the crowd of relatives.

Cathy turned around to see her