“You know that your mum travelled right? She’s back.” Joel said, smiling.
“…” Little Pumpkin stared somberly at his uncle.
His mother was back? After abandoning him all these while.
“Yah… do you want to see her?” Joel asked.
Little Pumpkin thought for a while and ended up with a “Yes.”
Joel smiled at him and nodded his head. “After you are done eating, go get dressed up so I can take you to meet her.”
“Nde.” Little Pumpkin replied silently.
Emily stared back and forth at the duo. She was confused.
She stared at Joel with an I THINK I NEED AN EXPLANATION written on her face.
Joel simply smiled at her and nodded his head.
That morning, he had received a call from Michael and he had told him to bring Little Pumpkin to the hospital.
Before Emily finished up her food, the doctor was already waiting for her in the lounge.
“So, can’t you give her drugs to stop nightmares?” Joel asked as soon as the doctor was done with Emily.
Doctor Clinton furrowed his brows, pouting at the same time. He rummaged through his briefcase and took out a sachet of medicine.
“Here Sir.” He said, handing it over to Joel.
“One of that for three days will help.” He added.
“Ah.” Joel nodded his head.
“You may take your leave.” He stated after a short while.
Doctor Clinton bobbed his head. “Thank you sir.”
“Thank you very much doctor.” Emily said, smiling.
“You’re welcome ma’am.” Doctor Clinton replied, grinning.
Emily watched the Doctor until he was out of the lounge. And immediately, she turned to face Joel for the explanation she wanted.
Catching Emily’s knowing gaze, Joel groaned and dragged her by her hand up the stairs. Immediately they stepped into Joel’s room, Joel sat Emily down and explained everything about Evelyn to her.
Only leaving out the part that he used Emily as a bait. He lied to her that he had used Stephanie as the bait to catch Anderson.
“Awww. Poor Little Pumpkin.” was the first thing Emily said as soon as Joel was done explaining.
Joel nodded his head in affirmation. “Nde.”
“Poor Little Pumpkin.” He added.
“You should dress up. I’ll go check on Little Pumpkin. We are going to the hospital together.” Emily said and walked out of her husband’s room.
Joel rolled his eyes and groaned. Why exactly was the she-devil going with them?
Emily helped Little Pumpkin get dressed and in no time, the trio were in a Rolls Royce car, heading to Empire World Hospital.
***
Although Emily was very weak, Evelyn was even more weaker.
She didn’t open her eyes until the third day. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she had smiled at Michael and asked of her son.
“He’ll be here soon. I told Joel to bring him.” Michael replied caressing her face.
“I’m sure he’ll hate me for not being around.” Evelyn sobbed silently.
“Anyeon. I’m sure he misses you just as much as I missed you. You mean everything to us Evelyn, we were and are incomplete without you.” Micheal muttered softly.
“It’s just that…” Evelyn let out in between sobs.
“Shhhh, you need to stop crying.” Michael cut in.
Evelyn smiled and nodded her head.
“I missed you so much Michael.” She murmured.
“I missed you too, baby. I really missed you. I’m really sorry I was not there for you. I’m sorry for not protecting you when I needed to. I was always busy with work.” Michael blurted out soberly.
“Heyyy, it wasn’t your fault.” Evelyn said, sniffing.
“It was. I know it was.” Michael said, swallowing the lump in his throat.
“I don’t…” Evelyn hadn’t completed her sentence when the door flung open and Joel stepped in.
“Annyeon.” He said, waving at Evelyn.
“Ann-yeon” Evelyn replied, letting out a deep grin.
She had missed her brother-in-law a lot. Surprisingly, she missed his arrogance too. She missed everything about him.
A few seconds later, Emily walked slowly into the room.
She smiled.
Bowing her head quickly for a second, she greeted; “Annyeonghaseyooo.”
“Ahh. Annyeonghaseyo.” Evelyn replied her greeting, looking Emily all over.
She picked she was definitely the lady that Joel fell in love with. She was beautiful.
Emily fidgeted shyly and stood next to Joel.
Silently, Little Pumpkin who had been standing at the doorway walked into the room.
The first person he stared at was his father, Michael. And slowly but steadily, he shifted his gaze to the woman that was lying on the bed.
For a moment there, it felt like time stopped working, everyone fell silent. Evelyn froze, holding her breath for a few seconds.
The mother and son locked gazes and Evelyn slowly sat upright on the bed, her gaze still on her son.
She gradually stood up on her feet and walked towards her son, Andrew. But as soon as she was about to touch him, Little Pumpkin ran out of the ward.
Evelyn’s heart shattered and her hope faded.
Emily opened her mouth slightly, Joel looked down at the floor and Michael clasped his right hand on his face.
Slowly, Evelyn’s body begun lowering to the floor and hastily, Michael got hold of her before she could crash on to the floor.
Although she had not a single child of her own, seeing Evelyn in Michael’s arms, weeping seriously, she knew how it feels to have your child turn his back on you.
And instantly, she walked out of the ward, in search of Little Pumpkin.
Behold, the little boy was standing at the end of the passage, crying his heart out.
Emily stopped in her tracks and watched the crying little boy for a while. Indeed, he was heartbroken-just like his mother.
Emily let out a sad gusty sigh and resumed walking.
When she got to where the boy was standing, she squatted and drew him closer to herself for a hug.
She made her shoulder a place of comfort for the little boy to cry on.
“Little Pumpkin, I want you to know your mum didn’t abandon you. She misses you just like you miss her and you should give her the love she deserves. I know you love her a lot and she loves you too. Even much more than you love her.
She didn’t leave you because she wanted to, she left because she was forced to. And now, she’s back.
She came back because of you. She came back mainly for you. And for all of us too. Of she doesn’t love you, she wouldn’t come back.”
“Your mum is a warrior. She’s a great fighter.” Emily stared soothingly, patting Little Pumpkin on his back as she spoke.
“Now,” She said, pulling Little Pumpkin away from the hug to face her.
“You need to go back and show her the love she deserves. Okay?” She added, wiping Little Pumpkin’s tears with her thumbs.
She smiled. “Please my darling. Huh, huh? Arasso?”
After a while, Little Pumpkin replied with a nod.
Emily grinned. “That’s my darling.”
She stood up on her feet, took Little Pumpkin by his hand and led him back to the ward.
Evelyn had her face buried in Michael’s chest, weeping bitterly when Little Pumpkin and Emily walked into the ward.
Little Pumpkin stared at his mum for a while. Noona was right. His mum loved him.
If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be there right now and she wouldn’t be crying like she was right now.
So, slowly, Joel muttered “Omma.”
Even though she was sobbing really loudly, her sobs didn’t stop her from hearing the sweet small voice she had missed for ages. That cute voice of her son.
Plus, did she just hear him call her Omma? Did that mean her son has forgiven her?
Thoughts ran through Evelyn’s mind, her sobs coming to an abrubtly end.
Slowly, she turned her head in the direction of the door and took a peek at her son who was staring directly at her.
“Omma.” Little Pumpkin blurted out the same word for the second word.
And with that, Evelyn stood up on her feet and taking precise steps, she walked closer to Little Pumpkin who had a year rolling down a part of his face.
Little Pumpkin stretched out his little hands and taking the hint, Evelyn knelt down and captured her son in a hug.
The hug lasted for a while, the mother and son crying their hearts out. Michael couldn’t help the joyful tears as he watched his family. He walked towards the duo and wrapped his hands around them.
Two things were for sure. Evelyn made up her mind to never ever leave her son again. Never.
And Michael vowed to always protect his family.