"Mommy..." Luke uttered from beside her. The little boy continued to shake her arm, trying to wake her up. "Mommy... please wake up. There's a phonecall for you."
Charmaine slowly opened her eyes. Who's gonna call her so early in the morning?
"Alright. Give me the phone." she said in a husky voice. She was still very sleepy, but when she heard the voice from the other end of the line, her eyes instantly widened in surprise. "Dad?" she uttered.
"Yes. It's me. Who was the boy who answered the phone? I heard him call you mommy." her father's displeased voice echoed in her ear. Should she tell him he's Jienna's child? But she's already gone. She didn't want to explain everything over the phone!
"He's Luke. He's my son." she replied.
Silence. There was total silence for a good twenty seconds from the other end that Charmaine became nervous. Will they be asking her about Luke? Scold her from keeping his existence a secret? But none of those happened. She just heard a sigh. "Xiaomin, please come home immediately. Your mom needs you." he stated instead.
"What? What happened to mom?" she exclaimed, her heart racing in fear.
"She had a nervous breakdown after finding out about your sister's death. Don't ask me how we found out. You should have come home to let us know! She's our daughter too, whether biological or not, both of you means the world to us! How could you keep something like this from us!" James shouted. Charmaine was speechless. She knew James was right. She was grieving and was too selfish to think only she was hurting.
"I'm sorry dad..." she mumbled. That was all she can say.
"I didn't call to hear that. Come home and bring Luke with you. Book the earliest flight possible! I won't take no for an answer!" he roared at her before hanging up.
Charmaine closed her eyes. She was scolded so early in the morning. She turned around and caught Luke staring at her. So she forced a smile and ruffled his hair. "That was your grandpa. He wants us to come home." she said.
Luke's face suddenly brightened. "I'm going to meet grandpa? How about grandma?" he asked. Charmaine nodded and that put a smile on his face. "How about dad?" he added.
Charmaine was startled. Yes. She forgot about Leo. Before Jienna died, she asked her to bring Luke home and let him meet his father, but Charmaine was frightened. If Leo finds out he has a son with Jienna, he might take Luke away from her! That was one of the reasons she refused to come home. But she can't use the same argument anymore, and her mom needs her. She can't evade coming home this time.
"Luke... if your dad decides that he wants to take you away..... will you go with him?" she reluctantly asked. "After all, he's your daddy and I'm just your aunt."
Luke thought for a while before shaking his head. "You're not my aunt anymore. You're my mommy! Mama said she won't leave me motherless. So after she's gone, you will be my new real mother.... So now that you're my mother. I'll always stay with you!" he replied.
Moved, Charmaine smiled and took him to her embrace. She can't believe Luke still remembered Jienna's last words to him. She really didn't dote on him for nothing! Luke was right! She's Luke's mother now. Like his father's words, biological or not, Luke means the world to her and she won't just give him up!
***
"What did she say?" Aya asked from behind. The woman was lying on the bed with her head propped up by pillows; her face pale and she looked lethargic.
James turned around and sit on the edge of the bed. "She's coming home. Stop worrying now. She's alright." James held her hand as he coaxed her to stop thinking too much.
Aya lowered her head. "You shouldn't have reprimanded her on the phone like that. Jienna hated us. She must have told Xiaomin not to tell us anything about her..."
James patted the back of her hand and encouraged her to smile. "I told you to stop thinking negative things. You're always so pessimistic. It's a good thing Xiaomin didn't take after you.... I know! I'm going to tell you a secret so you could cheer up." James said with a smile, but then suddenly remembered something and so his smile turned to a frown.
Aya caught her husband's sudden shift of emotion and she shook his hand worriedly. "What happened?"
"Well... at first I thought it's a good news but... I suddenly remembered Leo Ji, and now I'm not sure anymore." James stated. "You see... Xiaomin told me she already have a son. His name is Luke. Do you think Leo Ji would mind?"
Aya gasped. A son? She held her head as a wave of headache assaulted her. She too would love to meet their grandson but how will they explain everything to the Jis? And would Charmaine be coming home with her husband too? Oh, what a pain!
"Call her again. This time, do a video call. I want to see the child." Aya told him.
Sure enough, when they called a second time, it was Luke who answered the phone once more. Aya grabbed the phone from James and covered her mouth in shock when she saw the child's handsome face.
"Are you Luke?" she asked.
"Yes. Mommy is in the shower right now. Do you need anything?" the boy courteously asked.
"Yes, but since she's busy, maybe you can chat with us for a while. By the way I'm Aya. I'm your mommy's mother." she told him. "Can you tell me how old you are, Luke?" she probed.
"I'm four years old. But I'll be turning five on March 22." he replied.
Again, surprise flashed across her face and she turned to James and gestured for him to come over. "Look at him. He's Leo's child!" she blurted.
On the screen, little Luke was staring at the two elders. Did they say Leo?
"Grandma, you mentioned my dad. Can I talk to him too? Is he there with you?" the boy asked with a smile.
"Oh... no, he's at work. But you'll surely meet him after coming home. Tell your mom we called. Good bye, son!" James told him and then abruptly ended the call.
Both James and Aya were shocked by the news. Chairman Ji was right. Their daughters kept so many secrets. Is this the reason why the Jis want Charmaine to quickly come home?