CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

NEXT MORNING

"So, how are you feeling this morning?" Jack asked Martha.

Martha shrugged. "Same as all the other times you've asked me," she replied, not even bothering to look at him.

"Okay," Jack trailed off. He was trying his hardest to have a proper conversation with her, but she never seemed to try. She'd just sit there staring off into space or picking at her nails until they bled.

"Didn't Racheal tell you that you could go home tomorrow arvo? That must cheer you up a bit," Jack said.

"I guess," was all she could say.

Jack let out a loud sigh. He'd just have to sit there until she decided to speak. But he was soon saved when Alf and Macca arrived.

"Oh, Macca," Martha started as soon as he entered. "Racheal said I can go home tomorrow, so you'll be able to book our tickets for the trip home for dad's funeral," she told him.

Macca started to shuffle on his feet, and Martha could tell that he was feeling uncomfortable. "What is it?" she asked him.

"I've spoken to Racheal and Flynn, and even Dr Morgan, and they don't think it's a good idea for you to be traveling at the moment," Macca answered.

"What?" Martha said through clenched teeth.

"I'm sorry bug, but you can't come," Macca told her.

Martha could feel her temper starting to flare. "Wait, are you telling me that I can't even go to my own father's funeral? Are you nuts? Of course I'm going," she snapped.

"Martha, I know how much you want to go, but it's not safe," Macca tried to reason with her. "You have a baby to worry about, and you had an awful scare the other day. It's not a good idea for you to fly in the state that you're in at the moment".

"But it's only a couple of hours," Martha started to cry.

"I know, but you can't," Macca said softly.

"Just imagine what everyone back home will think when his own daughter doesn't even show up for his funeral," Martha sobbed.

"Look, everybody back home knows what's going on," Macca started. "They know that you're pregnant, and Greg and Davie think that it would be safer for you to stay here aswell. Please Martha, just do as I say".

"When are you going?" Martha asked him.

"The funeral has been organized for tomorrow morning, so my flight is for this afternoon. I've already arranged for dad's body to be transported from here to the airport," Macca explained to her.

"This is so unfair," Martha continued to cry.

"What if I go?" Alf suddenly popped into the conversation.

"What?" Martha looked at him through her tears.

"Since you can't go, I'll go in your place," Alf suggested. "Ray and his family were kind enough to take you in as a baby and raise you as their own, when my family couldn't. And I'll always be grateful for that. The least I could do is go and pay my respects properly," he said.

"I think it's a great idea," Macca smiled at Alf. "Don't you bug?" he looked back Martha.

Martha nodded. "That would be nice. Thanks grandad," she exclaimed.

"Well, if that's settled, I'd better head home and ring the airlines, and see if I can get on the same flight," Alf told Macca.

"I'll come with you. I need to get my stuff packed again. But I promise that I'll stop in before I leave, okay?" Macca said to Martha.

Martha nodded. She put on a fake smile, and kept it there until they left. Jack was still there of course. He'd been quiet all through the conversation.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I can't go to my dad's funeral," she snapped. "How do you think I feel?"

"Look, I'm going to go and get something to eat," Jack sighed. "Do you want anything?" he offered.

Martha shook her head, and rolled over to face the wall. She waited until Jack had left and finally let the tears fall.

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A few hours later Macca and Alf returned to the hospital to say goodbye to Martha. Jack was also still there, but Martha still hadn't spoken much.

"We should probably head off soon mate," Alf said to Macca. "We don't want to miss our flight".

"I still wish I was going," Martha told them. She was still very upset that she couldn't go. It was her father's funeral and she wouldn't even be there. It hurt.

"So do I," Macca told her. "But you need to look out for the baby, so it's best you stay".

"Yeah, I know, you've told me ten times already," Martha sighed.

"So, how long will you be gone?" Jack asked Alf.

"I'll be back in four days," Alf replied. "So Martha, I want someone to stay with you at the apartment while I'm gone. I don't like the idea of you being left alone there," he then told Martha.

"I'll stay with her," Jack offered.

"No, I don't ne……..," Martha started to protest, but was cut off by Alf.

"Thanks Jack. I appreciate it," Alf ignored Martha's protests.

"Well we better go," Macca looked at Martha.

Alf leaned down and gave Martha a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you when I get back," he said. He then walked out; leaving Macca and Jack.

Macca moved towards the bed and sat down next to Martha; pulling her into a hug. "Can you do me a favor?" Martha asked him.

"Sure, what is it?" he replied.

Martha reached under her pillow and pulled out a white envelope. "Can you put this in dad's coffin? It's a letter," she told him. "I never got the chance to thank him or mum for raising me as their own child, and this is the only way I could do it," Martha explained.

"Of course I will," Macca assured her. He then picked up her hand and squeezed it. "Now, I'm coming back okay. It probably won't be for about a week or so, but I'll be back. I promise. And then that way I can take care of you, and the baby. Dad would have wanted me too," he explained.

"Okay," Martha started to cry.

"I'll see you when I get back," Macca gave her a kiss on the forehead and stood up. He then turned to Jack. "Take care of her," he told him.

Jack nodded. "Of course," he said.

Macca gave one more goodbye before walking out; leaving Jack and Martha alone.

"You don't have to stay at the apartment with me. I can take care of myself," Martha told Jack.

"Don't even bother trying to talk me out of it," Jack scoffed. "I'm staying with you and that's final," he insisted.

"Whatever," Martha glared at him.

Jack sighed for what he thought must have been the hundredth time that day. What was wrong with her? He hadn't done anything to upset her, so why did she keep giving him the vibe?

"If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone," Martha then said.

"Alright," Jack said hesitantly. "I'll go home for a while, and then come back a bit later," he told her as he moved towards the door.

"Fine," Martha exclaimed.

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