Time seemed to stand still. Cody and Thea could feel the tension in the air.
And then, Cody’s phone started to buzz. Cody took out his phone from his pocket and saw his dad’s phone number.
He had no choice but to pick it up. He tried to contain his tone, but he still sounded raw, “Yes, Dad?”
“It’s Pop… Pop’s in the hospital right now. You guys need to come back immediately.”
Linford sounded horrified on the other side of the line. Cody had never heard his voice like this. His phone dropped to the floor as Linford hung up the call. Cody suddenly felt extremely scared as he thought about what had probably just happened to his grandpa.
Thea heard the sound and finally opened the door, “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Cody turned to look at her as if he was still in shock, his voice was a bit shaky, “It’s Pop… Dad said his life is in danger. We need to go back immediately.”
Thea’s mouth fell open. And then, without any hesitation, she instantly said, “Let’s go back then. We need to go back immediately.”
They left the house and went in the car. Drew and Fritzi had left the house earlier this morning. When Thea made her phone call, they were on their way to the hospital.
Cody just called his parents every five minutes, asking about the condition of his great-grandpa.
Thea could feel the anxiety on Cody’s part. She was also extremely worried and anxious. All her newly-attained memories just flooded in to haunt her. She remembered she used to play in Pop’s garden a lot when she was a little girl.
She used to climb on the rack and try to pick grapes from it.
She remembered Pop held her and helped her to get those grapes. Great-grandpa was standing behind them, saying Pop was spoiling her.
Those warm memories brought Thea to tears.
She covered her face with both of her hands, refusing to let Cody see her tears.
Cody, however, pulled her in and held her tightly against his side, “Come on, Thea. He will be okay.”
But Thea couldn’t hold back. The thought of losing Pop was beyond her. She finally came home, but she didn’t even get to spend more time with the kind old man.
Pop’s condition was getting worse. The doctor said they had done their best, but there was nothing they could do anymore.
Pop mumbled weakly about going back to his house.
They thus sent the old man back to the place he lived, the old house of the Bradley family.
Pop had been mumbling about seeing Cody and Thea when he was drifting in and out of his consciousness.
When he was finally sane again, Thea and Cody were immediately summoned to his room.
Cristelle and Candace were crying their eyes out. Grace and Thea’s granny also made it here. Their eyes were red as well, but they just tried to give everyone hugs and made sure everyone was not feeling too devastated.
Pop had been hanging on his last breath for a couple of hours so he could finally see Cody and Thea.
Mr. Weston was also there. He suddenly looked a lot older than a couple of days ago. He said before the bed, looking at his old friend with tears in his eyes.
“Cody… Come over here.” Pop wanted to beckon his great-grandson to come closer, but he didn’t have any strength left in his arm. He couldn’t even move his fingers anymore.
Cody went to bed immediately, trying to suppress the pain in his voice, “Pop… I’m back.”
Pop wanted to say something more, but he didn’t even have any strength to spit out a word. He only looked at his great-grandson as if he was the person he loved the most in the whole world.
Pop was glad that Cody made it here on time. He still wanted to take a look at Cody before he left.
Pop’s eyes slowly turned to Thea. Thea walked forth instantly, “Pop… I… I’m Demi. I… I actually have some good news to tell you today. Cody and I… we got married.”
Cody turned to look at Thea, his eyes widening in surprise.
Pop was smiling. His eyes were filled with light.
They were finally married. They were perfect for each other, and nothing in this world pleased Pop more than knowing his great-grandson had found the love of his life.
Thea took out those files and showed them to Pop, “See? Pop… We are a legally married couple now. We just got registered yesterday. We will live a happy life together. You don’t need to worry about us anymore.”
Pop extended a wrinkled hand and put it on Thea’s head, the laughter in his eyes bright and warm.
Grandpa Weston approached the bed and held Pop’s hand, “Alright, Franco. Now you’ve seen what you wanted to see. You shall rest in peace, and I shall watch over the kids. Don’t strain yourself anymore. Just go if you’re too tired to hold on. And you don’t need to worry about the kids anymore. When I go to the other side and get to see you, I will tell you everything about them. Just wait for me. I’m afraid I will go there to see you very soon.”
Tears streamed down Thea’s face as she heard what great-grandpa said. She sobbed and covered her mouth with her hand, but she still couldn’t stop sobbing.
Jack also grabbed Pop’s hand, “Mr. Bradley, have a nice journey. I will see you on the other side one day.”
Pop looked at Cody and then at Thea. And then, he looked out of the window.
Cody knew what the old man was trying to say. He instantly went to bring Candace into the room. Candace was crying so badly that both of her eyes were puffy.
Pop smiled at Candace warmly. And then, he shut his eyes with a deeply satisfied look on his face.
He knew life had treated him kindly, and he couldn’t ask for more.