Jane called out softly, “Mom? Dad?”
The two elderly people by the window turned around, looking at Jane with surprise, seeming somewhat unfamiliar with her. “Who are you?”
Upon hearing this, tears streamed down Jane’s face uncontrollably, as if a dam had burst. She thought about herself struggling alone outside while her parents, out of spite, had gone abroad. In the past decade or so, there hadn’t been any communication between them.
Jane felt terribly unfilial, as if she hadn’t fulfilled her duties and obligations as a daughter.
“I’m your daughter.”
The two elderly people, upon hearing this, carefully recalled their daughter’s appearance. Then the mother went to a drawer and took out a family photo from Jane’s childhood, comparing it with Jane’s current appearance. She called out nervously, “Are you really our daughter? Didn’t she abandon us a long time ago?”
The father reached out as if to pull Jane close but hesitated midway, feeling everything was too pale.
“I am really your daughter, and I’ve come back. Do you remember me?” With this call, as if after a long wait, Jane collapsed into their arms, and the three of them cried together.
Jane had never thought of meeting them again, especially not in this manner, nor had she imagined her parents becoming so aged.
In her memory, her parents had always been full of vigor, as if they would never grow old.
After crying for quite a while, Jane finally pulled herself out of her mother’s embrace, sniffling.
“Do you remember sending me an email to come here?” Jane suddenly remembered the anonymous email she had received, supposedly from her parents’ address, which had prompted her urgent journey.
The two elderly people looked at each other and shook their heads. “We never sent such an email.”
Jane didn’t care about the authenticity of the email; she was just grateful to see her parents.
“Dad, are you sick?” Jane looked at the IV tube on her father’s hand and the wrinkles on his face.
Her mother waved her hand dismissively. “Your father has uremia. When it was diagnosed, it was already in the advanced stage. Now we’re just waiting here for the inevitable.”
Her mother spoke as if she had seen through life and death.
Each piece of news was like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Jane’s mind. She had never imagined that the reunion would be like this.
“Is it confirmed? Are the doctors here reliable? Let’s go back to our country for treatment.” Jane wanted to take them back, to let them enjoy family happiness in their final days.
But her father sighed deeply. “I’m already on my last legs. Don’t bother with this effort. I’m happy spending my last days here.”
The more Jane thought about it, the worse she felt. Tears continued to flow uncontrollably. She hated her past selfishness, walking away from responsibilities. Now, it was too late to turn back.
Jane took out her phone and showed them pictures of her children. “These are my children, all very healthy.”
The two elderly people looked at the sleeping children in the photos, feeling relieved and a smile crept onto their lips, warm and content.
Jane quietly left the room and went to the office of the duty doctor.
She wanted to personally inquire about her parents’ condition, wanting to know the most accurate result.
The doctor brought out all the medical records of Jane’s father and placed them in front of her. “These are all the documents regarding your father. When he arrived here, he was already in the late stage of uremia, relying on material treatment. Now, after three months, we’ve found his condition worsening, so we tried to contact his family.”
At that moment, Jane realized that it was a stranger who had sent her the email.
“Is there no better way to treat it? Do we just watch him deteriorate?” Jane couldn’t bear the thought of watching her father die before her eyes.
The doctor shook his head with regret. “I’ve looked at your records. As a doctor, you should know that surviving for three months with this condition is already fortunate. Currently, the best solution is to let him spend his last days peacefully.”
Jane breathed a sigh of relief; she had already anticipated the worst outcome. “If I want to take them back now, is that possible?”
She feared that the long journey might worsen her father’s condition.
“This situation is not unheard of. We need to consider his opinion. The solution we proposed here is feasible.”
Jane thanked the doctor and returned to the room. Standing at the door, she saw the smiles on her parents’ faces. Her determination grew stronger.
Back in the country:
Patrick was busy with work and naturally couldn’t be with the children all the time, especially since they were still infants and needed a nanny.
“Why don’t I take care of one of the children myself? That way, I can help you share the burden and reassure my cousin.” Melissa said sympathetically.
She had only been here for two days but had already developed a good relationship with the four nannies.
Finley, although not involved in taking care of the children, didn’t allow Melissa to stay here so casually.
“How can an unmarried woman like you take care of children? Let the experienced ones handle it.” Finley countered immediately.
She took the child back from Melissa’s hands and handed it over to the nanny.
“I may not have a family, but I have plenty of experience in taking care of children. Besides, having family members take care of them would make my cousin feel more at ease, wouldn’t it?” Melissa was determined to do this and didn’t back down.
Finley grew impatient. “Stop calling him your cousin. Do you think you can still stay here after Jane comes back in a few days?”
Instead of beating around the bush, it was better to be straightforward; they didn’t like each other anyway.
Finley despised such indirect people the most.
“What are you talking about? How could my sister-in-law not like me?” Melissa started to feel aggrieved again, as if she was being bullied by Finley.
“Enough, enough. Patrick isn’t here right now. Who are you putting on this act for? I’m not buying it.” Finley couldn’t stand it anymore. With a wave of her hand, she left the room and sat on the sofa, quietly listening to the commotion upstairs.