"Wait, what did the bastard mean? He doesn't have the nerves to come home or he wants us to sit and wait until he gets home?""The traffic is usually at its peak at this hour, I suppose he is still stuck in a jam," Charlie's mother replied."Let me go make a call to Sir." Penny then went to get the phone.When the call was answered, the expression on Penny's face started to change before she could even say a word. After a while, she stuttered, "What…what…what did you say? Sir…he was in an accident?"Even though Penny was stuttering, everyone heard her loud and clear.Josiah had a car accident!Meredith who was walking down the stairs with Nia heard the news. She froze in her steps, nearly tripping over the staircase.With one hand holding Nia, Meredith quickly put the other hand on the railing.It was inappropriate for her to rush to the phone to ask the person on the call whether it was true that Josiah was in a crash, nor could she show that she was too worried. All she could
Meredith hurriedly added, "Grandma, don't take it to heart about what Charlie said. I'm sure Josiah will be fine."Josiah's grandmother nodded but she grabbed Meredith's hands and said, "Edith, I understand what you guys are trying to say but I still want to go see him. Would you please come to the hospital with me?""Grandma…""Stop. I will not change my mind." Josiah's grandmother started crying.At the sight of her tears, Meredith nodded. "Okay, I will go with you."Was Meredith reluctant to go deep down?No. She did want to go visit Josiah.Even though Josiah and she were already divorced and Josiah did let her down many times, he was after all Nia's father and he had been of great help to her lately.She was a human with feelings after all. Right now, Meredith prayed that Josiah would be okay and she too wanted to check on him.Meredith looked at Nia, wanting to explain the situation to her when she realized that Nia was staring at her with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yeah, you're right that we are cousins. But we didn't grow up together nor were we ever in touch," Charlie smiled and went on, "and this is why when I got into the accident back then, Josiah didn't even blink an eye, and neither did he once visit me.""Oh wait, he did, just that one time. I remember he came when you were around." Charlie paused then added, "We'll go see him once he is moved out from the ICU."Meredith was rendered speechless.Charlie was right that Josiah did not go to see him right away after he got into the accident. And it was because of this that Meredith suspected that it was Josiah who was behind the accident.But Josiah did ask about Charlie's condition. He just thought that it was inconvenient for him to visit Charlie."Edith, do you want to eat something?" Charlie asked.Meredith replied, "It's alright. I'll go upstairs to check on Nia.""Okay. I hope she'll feel better soon." Charlie then put away the dessert.Meredith walked upstairs.Nia was cryin
There was a flicker across his face. He then called out to her, "Edith.""Hmm?" Meredith came back to her senses and put her phone back into her pocket. "What's wrong?"Charlie replied gently, "Dinner is ready. Let's eat first.""I don't think that it's a good idea," Meredith pointed toward the door and said, "Grandma and your mom are not back yet.""Don't worry. Josiah is admitted to Crest Care Hospital. I'm sure they'll be taken good care of and dinner will be prepared for them." Charlie patted Nia's head and said, "Besides, it's already getting late. Nia and you must be hungry."Meredith did not feel hungry at all. She did not even have the appetite to eat because she was too worried.But she was worried that Charlie was hungry, so she listened to him and started setting the table.The dining table used to be lively but it was just the three of them tonight.After putting some food on Nia's plate, Meredith started eating without tasting or enjoying the food.Charlie placed
The lights of the surgery room were finally turned off and Josiah's grandmother got onto her feet immediately.Seeing how Josiah's grandmother was anxious, the surgeon walked over to them and said, "Don't worry, Ma'am. Mister Josiah's condition is stable now.""Are you sure he's stable now? His life is not in danger anymore?""Yes. Even though he injured his head quite badly, he was sent to the hospital just in time and his condition is stable now.""It's the head again," Heartbroken, Josiah's grandmother sobbed, "Josiah that child had hurt his head so many times now that I'm worried that his head won't be able to function properly next time."She then asked, "Are there any other injuries?""And his legs…""What about his legs?" Josiah's grandmother was utterly anxious."Don't worry, Ma'am. Mister Josiah's legs were scratched by glass but his bones are fine."Josiah's grandmother was finally able to sigh in relief. She then asked, "Is there anything else?""No more, Ma'am."
Meredith looked distraught the entire night and Charlie started feeling uncomfortable with the fact that Meredith looked distraught and absentminded throughout the entire evening.Meredith understood what Charlie was implying but still, she insisted, "Charlie, let's head home now."Nia suddenly grabbed Meredith's hand and said, "Mommy, Papa Charlie, can we stay here instead?""Why?""I want to spend time with my great-grandma. She looks exhausted after a long day. And I want to visit Daddy at the hospital with my great-grandma tomorrow.""But who is going to look after you?""Mommy, I can take good care of myself."Seeing how Nia was eager to stay, Meredith could not bring herself to reject her. But she thought that Josiah's grandmother might not be in the mood to have Nia around."Nia, darling, your great-grandma has had a long day and I'm afraid that you might cause her inconvenience if you stay with her. Why not…""Don't worry, Mommy, I promise that I'll be good," Nia said,
But she did not want to start getting suspicious of Charlie just like how she did toward Josiah.Hence, before Josiah's grandmother said anything further, Meredith smiled and reassured her, "Don't worry, Grandma. Charlie only resented Josiah because of me. But now that I'm married to him, I don't think there's any other reason for Charlie to not like Josiah.""You haven't been in contact with Joe recently, have you?" Josiah's grandmother asked."Rarely." Meredith felt slightly guilty.Even though she had not been in contact with Josiah, Josiah was the one who was concerned about her and he was also the one who stayed with her at the hospital whenever she got ill.But Charlie knew nothing about these.Leaving the house, Meredith and Charlie sat side by side at the back of the car.Because it was New Year's Eve, the roads were crowded and lively. The colorful street lights would occasionally be reflected into the car.Charlie looked as if he was tired with his back leaned against
While he had to be bound to the wheelchair and had to cut himself to relieve the pain in him, Josiah's legs were only scratched and cut by the glass shards.Josiah had always been luckier than him ever since when they were young.Charlie ran his wound under the hot water to numb the pain. After some time when he could not feel the pain anymore, he turned off the showerhead.After struggling to put on his clothes, he heard Meredith's concerned voice again, "Charlie, are you done? Can I come in now?""I'm done." Charlie opened the door."Are you okay, Charlie?" Meredith helped to push him out of the shower and said, "Let me dry your hair."Meredith stopped his wheelchair in front of the vanity table and started blow drying his hair.When his hair was dried, she then moved him onto the bed and adjusted the blanket over him."Thank you, Edith," Charlie said while staring at her.Meredith shook her head. "We agreed to skip all these formalities between us, right? We're husband and