Mrs. Blake hesitated briefly before meeting Grace Foster's clear, round eyes. She didn't want to explain the complexities of adult relationships to Grace, nor did she want to lie to her. After a few seconds, she responded, "Perhaps, I'm not sure."
Grace didn't press further but continued to glance expectantly at the elevator, eagerly waiting for the rest of her family to arrive. Mrs. Blake hid her emotions and suggested they go inside. Grace immediately focused on the elevator, unable to see the door due to her height.
Mrs. Blake reassured her with a gentle smile and a pat on her head before opening the door to the room. The special room they entered was spacious, like a small home, with a disinfection area at the entrance, a living room with a sofa, TV, and office space, and a wide hallway that could accommodate two moving beds.
Grace scanned the room and then looked at the partially open door of the patient's room. Mrs. Blake placed Grace's pig-shaped backpack on the sofa and asked her to put Snowy down. Grace carefully laid Snowy on the sofa and reassured it as it woke briefly.
Mrs. Blake wiped Grace's hands with a tissue and then led her to the patient's room. The large room had a bright floor-to-ceiling window and was quiet except for the beeps of medical equipment. Grace's hand tightened in Mrs. Blake's as they approached the bed.
Mrs. Blake reassured Grace that her mother was asleep. Grace cautiously approached the bed, stopping at its edge to look at the woman lying there. She resembled Grace, with similar brows and closed eyes, lying still except for the rise and fall of her chest.
Grace whispered "Mommy," feeling a mix of familiarity and strangeness. Mrs. Blake, standing behind Grace, spoke softly to the woman in the bed, hoping for a miracle. But there was no reaction from the woman or the medical equipment.
Mrs. Blake excused herself to the bathroom, trying to compose her emotions. Grace stayed by the bed, holding her mother's hand and wishing she could hear her voice. She imagined what her mother might look like awake and smiling, based on the photos she had seen.
Grace wished her mother could talk to her, even if just for a moment. She expressed her longing quietly, hoping that someday she could hear her mother's voice.
Grace Foster was glad that her grandparents wouldn't mind Snowy.
She remembered how Aunt Cynthia had loudly declared Snowy was dirty when she went to the Shaw house for some small apples, and she had overheard it.
But Snowy wasn't dirty, it was clean and white all over!
Grace Foster asked Snowy, "Snowy, are you hungry?"
"Quack! Not hungry."
It was a little hungry, but since it hadn't brought its food out, it was a bit troublesome to eat something different from humans.
But it was okay, they would be back at Ocean Villa soon, so it wasn't a big deal.
Snowy wanted to remind Grace Foster that they had been away from Ocean Villa for several hours and should go back.
However, seeing Grace Foster so happy, it didn't want to spoil her mood, so it decided to let her enjoy herself a little longer.
Mr. Blake had an unusually good appetite today, eating all the leftovers from lunch and even finishing the half a loaf of bread that Grace Foster had left.
He was so full that he couldn't sit still and started walking around the living room.
Mrs. Blake laughed at him and said, "If you can't eat it, don't force yourself. Now you're uncomfortable."
She then sent a message to Lucy to bring some digestive medicine.
Despite feeling bloated, Mr. Blake was in a good mood, with a smile on his face.
Grace Foster, who had just woken up from a nap, wasn't sleepy and followed her grandfather around the room, taking small steps.
Mr. Blake's smile grew even more upon seeing this.
When Lucy returned with the digestive medicine, she saw the warm scene of Mr. Blake walking around with Grace Foster while Mrs. Blake watched them with a smile.
Such a warm, light-hearted, and happy atmosphere had not been seen in the Blake family for many years.
Lucy held back her tears and placed the medicine and water on the table, then quietly left the room.
Mrs. Blake said to Mr. Blake, "Take your medicine now."
Mr. Blake reluctantly stopped walking with Grace Foster and sat down on the sofa to take the digestive medicine.
As he took the medicine, Mrs. Blake also took her vitamins.
Grace Foster curiously looked at her grandparents and asked, "Are you both sick too?"
Mrs. Blake calmly explained, "Your grandfather ate too much and needs to take some digestive medicine. As for me, I'm just taking some vitamins to supplement my body as I get older."
Mr. Blake paused before agreeing with her.
Grace Foster suddenly remembered something and quickly grabbed her pig-shaped backpack, rummaging through it.
"Oh no..." She put down the backpack. "I forgot to bring the medicine that my second brother opened for Grace."
Her second brother, Ethan Foster, was a skilled doctor.
Both Mrs. Blake and Mr. Blake immediately became concerned and asked simultaneously, "Is Grace sick?"
After asking, Mrs. Blake quickly approached Grace Foster, examining her worriedly.
Mr. Blake also stood up and headed towards the door to call a doctor for Grace Foster.
"Grace isn't sick, don't worry," Grace Foster shook her head and explained, "It's like Grandma, just vitamins and calcium."
Mrs. Blake sighed with relief and smiled, "Oh, I see."
Mr. Blake stopped in his tracks and asked, "Should we still have a doctor come over to check on Grace and prescribe some vitamins and calcium?"
Mrs. Blake thought for a moment before agreeing.
Since Grace Foster already had the medicine prescribed by Ethan Foster, they didn't need to repeat the prescription to avoid any conflicts.
They decided to call Professor Yin, a renowned pediatrician, to give Grace Foster a simple check-up.
Mr. Blake called for Hans to bring Professor Yin over.
Hans quickly returned with Professor Yin, who greeted Mr. Blake and Mrs. Blake warmly before turning her attention to Grace Foster.
Professor Yin asked, "What's your name, little one?"
Grace Foster replied sweetly, "Doctor Grandma, Po Po hopes Grace is safe every year, so my name is Grace Foster."
Her answer surprised everyone present, and Mr. Blake and Mrs. Blake couldn't help but tear up at the sentimental meaning behind Grace Foster's name.
Mrs. Blake excused herself to the bathroom to compose herself, while Mr. Blake watched her with concern.
Grace Foster, sensing the adults' emotions, asked Mr. Blake, "Did Grace say something wrong?"
"No, you said it very well. Your parents really do hope you are safe every year. Your grandmother just has a stomachache and went to the bathroom," Mr. Blake reassured her.
Professor Yin engaged Grace Foster in conversation to distract her while waiting for Mrs. Blake to return.
"Grace, how much milk do you drink in a day?" Professor Yin asked.
"Five bottles!" Grace Foster answered without hesitation. "My second brother gave me many, many cows, so I can drink lots and lots of milk every day!"
Mr. Blake was surprised by the mention of cows but remembered hearing about the Fosters buying many cows to produce milk for Grace Foster.
Professor Yin observed Grace Foster's small hands and noted that while she was chubby, she wasn't overly so given her daily intake of milk and regular meals.