Just like Lori had told them on their way to Kelly's ward, the patient did not seem to recognize them. There was no way yet to tell, as the patient was obviously still trying to gather herself, her senses, and maybe recall whatever had happened to her. Her voice hadn't surfaced yet, her eyes blinked, and Kate was already overjoyed to watch her mom fight with all her might to regain her consciousness."Mom, it's me, Kate," the daughter pitifully sobbed while holding her mom's hand. Nick was right behind Kate, ready to rub her shoulders and back as his silent expression of support."Mom, we missed you," Nick did not make his joy hidden. A tear silently fell and landed on Kate's shoulder, but as the latter was too preoccupied with her mom's latest progress, she couldn't care for anything else. Kelly's tears streamed down from the side of her eyes to below her temples and rolled to the back of her head. Due to the injury needing surgery, her head was clean-shaved, and to
Kate's sobs had subsided at the words Nick had said. She realized he was right. Her mom had just recovered from months, unconscious in a hospital bed, but she had a blunt force trauma that got her head injured, causing her to undergo brain surgery. The only good thing to consider about it is that the injury left the patient no choice but to remove the tumor—also a life-threatening matter. Kate realized she might give her mom distress if she let her emotions flood out in one go like a dam just broke. But she stayed there in her mom's embrace. With Nick next to her.The whole place became quiet. Calmness, peace, and tranquility filled the entire ambiance. Tears flowed silently. But they were tears of joy."I am so sorry I cannot remember so many things," Kelly uttered softly.Her voice was too low, but the two, Kate and Nick, could hear her clearly every word she said. They did not say anything. They missed listening to her voice that the
A thick silence filled the whole room.A very tensed, awkward, or uncomfortable silence seemed to have cloaked the three of them.And each one has different interpretations to it.They had their heart hanging in a deep and bottom-deadly cliff-like state of feelings. One was scared of how others may react to it. Someone was also clueless on how to express or state its mind about the revelations that popped out surprisingly. The topic must have been in their minds for quite a while now, but it still came like a guest unannounced.Leaving every one of them lost for words to say in response right away.Kate has her heart pounding like crazy. She was scared at how her mom would take Nick's confessions. She was also hoping deep within her for a positive reaction from her mom, whom she had known to be strict with her regarding relationships with a man romantically or sensually.Nick felt like,
"What?!" Kelly asked in surprise.She almost choked on her food when she heard Nick's words."A double date," Nick answered with a clean and clear-sounding voice.Kelly stared at her stepson with wide wide-bulging eyes. Is he her stepson or what?!"Don't you think your dad will wake from his grave to scold you for such despicable silly thoughts?" Kelly coughed.Her words and food felt like choking her to death. She pounded her chest lightly."Kate, are you sure he is Elijah's son and my stepson? Can he go suggesting blind dates and double at that? I don't even know what that means for sure," Kelly turned to Kate.Kate just bit her lips, but they still cracked in her suppressed smile. She knew what Nick was talking about. They have been thinking about it, but they couldn't bring the topic out until today. They were planning for a weekend getaway. They were going to visit a place to enjoy the lo
It was only midweek. But as they told Kelly they were to spend the whole weekend somewhere else, she had started to pack. She packed warm clothes when she found out they were going to a place surrounded by mountains, and she gathered the temperature there would be colder than in the city areas. Besides, she is still considered a patient in the recovery stage. And they cannot be too reckless and compromise her health in the process. Being careful and more careful is always better than regrets.Friday came.Nick and Kelly got off work a little early today. They decided to meet Kate at home around three in the afternoon. A time when she would be home as well from the Uni. Kelly could not help asking Nick about her supposed to be a date along the way home."Are you sure he hasn't canceled?" Kelly asked with a non-Duchenne smile in face.She wanted to make sure she wasn't going to be the third wheel for this young couple. They are of le
Nick walked forward to welcome the newly arrived man."Doctor Gremitt, I'm glad you made it," Nick shook hands with Ismael."Come on, please drop the title. Just call me Ismael," he gently appealed as he shook hands with Nick. Kelly was still standing where she was when Ismael arrived, and she did not know what to do. She silently watched the two men shaking hands in front of her. Kelly could not help checking the other man in front of her stepson. He has a clean-cut hairstyle with a slight pepper and salt complexion. His beard and mustache were neatly trimmed as well. His body was lean, and from his shirt, Kelly could tell he was a health-conscious man. He was wearing a navy blue shirt, sleeves half-folded, and a few buttons open on his chest. The man looked tall but a few inches shorter than Nick. The two men were still exchanging pleasantries when Kate arrived riding a car driven by Paul Courtney. Nick assigned him to be Kate's driver instead of working for
Ismael was overwhelmed with Nick's every word. He spoke like he was Kelly's flesh and blood for a son. The respect, honor, and love were beyond an ordinary mother and son. The emotions of happiness of her being happy with a man as well as the fear of her being hurt by a man were evident and too potent to be ignored. It made Ismael think, "What kind of a woman could Kelly be to be loved not only as a wife but also as a stepmother, not to mention as a mother to her daughter? Could she be the one he had been waiting for all his life? Would he ever get the chance to feel and treasure her love somewhere in their future?""I hope I could be a part of such an extraordinary family," Ismael also felt emotional. He had been so lonely all his life, devoting his time and abilities to helping others. "I have my shortcomings, but I am willing to give my best shot to deserve Kelly. And with your help, I am sure I can win her heart. Please guide me what she likes and dislikes, or at le
Just as Nick and Kate have planned for this weekend's getaway, everything went through accordingly. The two couples shared a good dinner at a local cuisine restaurant. They were all like pair of young lovers as Kelly and Ismael would still feel hesitant and shy about a few things that concerned personal likes and dislikes. They basically do not know anything about each other other than their names and a few they were able to get to know through asking twenty questions about each other."What do you think about mom's date?" asked Nick as they got back in their car to leave the restaurant."He's sweet like someone I know," Kate winked at Nick. "Did you see how he pampers mom during dinner?" Nick laughed at the excitement in Kate's eyes. He saw how Ismael would ask what would Kelly want to try among the dishes on the table and he would carefully ladle or spoon them for the lady with the use of serving spoons, of course. But what made his heart flutter was the word that