Chapter 3 Is He the Same Man?

Josephine has been away from Metronine for six years, since that night at the villa. Her father--Thomas Jade didn't seem to care at all and made no effort to look for her.

Thomas has always hated Josephine who closely resembles his ex-wife--Josephine's deceased mother and the influence of his new wife, Melisa and their daughter, Lindsay, is very strong.

It would be even more depressing if they knew that Josephine had a child with a man she didn't even remember and didn't even know who he was.

Josephine is sure that they will make life even more difficult for her and her children. She didn't want that to happen.

However, the call in the morning changed her mind.

She turned off the TV and picked it up. She saw the caller ID: Dr. Wayne from St. Willen Hospital. She felt a surge of hope and fear. She had been waiting for this call for weeks.

She quickly walked to the garden, away from her daughter Flower's hearing range, then pressing the answer button.

Dr. Wayne delivered the bad news that Josephine was not a match for her daughter's bone marrow transplant. Josephine felt a wave of despair wash over her.

She asked the doctor desperately if there was anything else she could do to save her daughter.

Dr. Wayne then suggested her to find a blood relative who could be a match.

She thanked the doctor politely and hung up. She leaned against the glass door and sobbed quietly, felt helpless and hopeless.

Her only blood relatives were her father--Thomas Jade and half-sister--Lindsay Jade. No need to weigh twice to be sure that neither of them will definitely want to help her daughter.

"Mommy, are you sad because I'm sick?"  asked Flower suddenly.

Josephine turned. She looked at her little daughter, the last child she had given birth to after two sons. The distance between Sky and Rain was only six minutes, while the distance between Rain and Flower was about twelve minutes and at the time of birth Flower's condition was smaller and weaker than its two siblings.

Flower was a very beautiful child, with large brown eyes, small nose and lips, buttery skin and fine brown hair.

Overall, Flower looked less like Josephine than her two brothers and Josephine believed her daughter looked just like her father, whoever he was.

"Why do you say that, honey?" asked Josephine with a smile. "Mommy told you that you will get well soon, right? You don't believe Mommy?"

"I believe in you, Mommy, but I'm also sorry for making you worry all the time, yes?" said Flower, smiling showing her side teeth.

Seeing Flower's sweet smile, an idea formed in Josephine's mind. Everything was happening at the same time now.

Flower needs a bone marrow donor as soon as possible and her mother's company owned by Thomas and Melisa is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Josephine did not want and could not remain silent. She must act. She will not rely on her father and half-sister's luck to help Flower, but she will try to find the man who planted the seeds of the triplets that night in her womb and while doing so, Josephine will also reclaim her mother's company as it is her inheritance.

Maybe, now is the right time to return to Metronine, just like she promised herself and the triplets who were still in her womb, six years ago.

***

At the airport of Metronine.

"Owh, they're so cute," said a woman wearing a colorful turban and saree.

"I don't see triplets very often. They look like they came out of a Japanese animation and the mother is so beautiful," said one man, nudging the arm of another man beside him.

They were talking about Josephine and her triplets. The passersby couldn't help but admire Josephine and her triplets. They whispered compliments and praises.

Some of them even approached her and her triplets, asking to take pictures with them or giving them gifts. Josephine was polite and friendly, thanking them for their kindness. The triplets were shy but curious, accepting the attention with grace.

That's when Anna Reding pushed her way between them while apologizing and finally saw what the guys were talking about.

"Joy!" shouted Anna at Josephine, her best friend. She jumped up and down, didn't care about the people who turned their head to her. "Here! Here, Joy!"

Josephine looked at her and smiled broadly.

"Oh, Joy, after all this time, we can finally meet again," Anna said with emotion. She wiped the tears from the corners of Josephine's eyes. "Silly girl, I should beat you hard for leaving without saying goodbye and telling me."

Josephine laughed and tugged at Anna's hanging curls. "I'm sorry, but you already know the situation."

Anna took Josephine's hand and looked at the three children in front of them, who were patiently waiting for the two mature women in front of them to have their reunion.

"Anna, introduce, these are my three children, the triplets. These are Sky Leonard Jade, Rain Damian Jade, and Flower Jasmina Jade. Kidos, say hello to Aunt Anna," said Josephine.

Anna was amazed to see the triplets. She admired them, with their handsome and beautiful appearance, cheerful and polite demeanor, and their compactness, caring for their mother and each other.

"Hi everyone, my name is Anna Rosella Reading. I've been your Mommy's best friend since we were both in junior high school. I'm so happy to finally meet you."

Anna hugged the triplets one by one, then turned to Josephine. "You must be hungry. Come on, I'll take you to lunch before we head to my house."

Anna led them to her car in the parking lot. Rain rushed to open the car door for Anna who was going to drive, then for Josephine and Flower.

"Owh, Joy, you have a gentleman here," Anna said admiringly.

Flower clapped her hands proudly. "Rain is not only a gentleman, Auntie, he is also a genius in art and music, good at informatics and has a strong memory," Flower said proudly.

“Wow,”Anna exclaimed in awe. "Great."

"Yes. He has many science competition awards and trophies. The girls at our school have a crush on him."

"If I were your age, I would also like Rain and want to be close to him," said Anna.

Rain smiled politely and shook his head. "My sister likes to exaggerate, Auntie. It's Sky who has a lot of fans at school."

"Ah, I guess Sky is a bit quieter between you three huh?" Anna said while looking at Sky through the rearview mirror.

"Sky is a bit quieter, but he is good at two types of martial arts, namely black belt karate and will soon be taking the final exam for taekwondo," Flower said quickly. "Sky is also good at swimming, playing basketball and soccer. Sky is our bodyguard and the girls at school envy me because I am her little sister. They also want Sky to be their bodyguard."

Anna laughed loudly. She was very impressed with the triplets.

"Oh, Joy, you must have done great good in your previous life, so now you are given the great fortune, to have children as wonderful as them," said Anna, when they had arrived at the restaurant and were waiting for their food orders to be served.

"Why don't you get married, Joy? You are very beautiful and sexy, there must be a lot of men after you in Canada," said Anna.

Josephine chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not interested. The kids and I live in a quiet suburb and actually I'm quite busy with my private life with them."

Anna took Josephine's hand on the table and squeezed it. "I'm going to introduce someone to you. You can't refuse before meeting him. This is a blind date. I'll take care of everything."

"Anna, you don't have to do anything like that. I don't--"

"Take a look Joy! This is his profile, such a handsome guy!" Josephine was about to say no, Anna reached Josephine her iPad.

When she saw the motif on the man's ring on the screen, the memory of that night six years ago hit her heart in an instant!