Chief continued. "You were supposed to see a psychiatrist as well, but it'd be too extreme on my emotions. Mother and son seeing a psychiatrist. No, my family isn't that mentally deranged. After all, I saw a therapist myself and I was fine. But your mother's issue was different."
They all looked at her. "She experienced a trauma when she gave birth to your third sibling, the one that never lived. It affected her quite much that she started hallucinating. We had to take her away from both of you, for your safety. There were some behaviors she exhibited that I can't start narrating. She's still not completely fine now. I was told her case is among the rarest case due to the prolonged mental illness. We couldn't stay with you both at home and I couldn't leave her alone here. All those frequent travelings were for her sessions with her psychiatrist. Again, only Ella knows about it."
They turned to her again.
"Ella, I'd never forget everything you did. Right from the first time we met, when my dad brought you over from Nigeria, all because of me. You stood with me like your friend, you took care of my children like they're yours, you looked after my wife like she's your sister. You dedicated your entire life to my family. I can't thank you enough. You filled the void of myself and my wife in my children's lives. Ella, how do I thank you? Just tell me."
Ella smiled, "Chief, Dave and Tina are not just like my children, they are my children. I love them with all my heart. I found comfort in taking care of them, they made me feel like a mother. I found joy and happiness in being with your family, Chief. I don't need anything, I just want them to be happy. Also, I pitied them when the issue happened to their mother. I wondered who would take care of them like their mother, I couldn't imagine a nanny taking care of them, most of them don't do the caring. I had to stay behind with them because..." She looked at both Dave and Tina, "I love them both dearly."
Tina, being beside her, leant into her for a hug. Dave's expression didn't change; it was still straight.
"Dad, will Mom ever be normal?"
"Sometimes, she is normal. She'd speak normally, recognize everyone, behave normally. But those are seldom moments. Oftentimes, she'd fold her hands like she was carrying a baby and begin to sing to the empty folded hands."
"It's her third child not first. Why did it affect her that much?"
"I have no idea. Even the doctor said her case is one of the rarest. I had to sweep the matter under the carpet because of those writers and reporters. I'm not protecting my name or reputation, I'm doing it for my wife. I believe she'd be better someday, as her psychiatrist said, I'd not want her to start reading and hearing stories about when she wasn't fine online. I love her so much." He held her hand gently. In return, she rested her head on his shoulder. "At least, she recognizes me as her husband."
Dave stood up and approached his mother. He knelt by her side, held her right palm and stroked it gently. He remembered one of the songs she sang when he was very young and before Tina came into picture. During those times, she was normal and her presence was well known in his life. It was a song from 'Frozen', the second part where Elsa and Anna listened to their mother sang to them after their father had just finished narrating a story. Dave sang gently, like his strokes on her hand.
"...sleep my darling, safe and sound. For in this river, all is found."
He would finish and start the song again. Gradually, Dr. Wilson began to hum alongside Dave. She started seeming alive bit by bit. The song rang several bells in her memory. She tightened her grip on Dave's palm as she changed from humming to voicing the lyrics. She started smiling while looking at Dave and singing with him. When they finished the song, she rose to her feet, Dave rose along with her. Others stare in astonishment. She cupped Dave's cheek into her palm, tears glistened in her eyes. She kissed his forehead, beaming brightly. Her naturally arranged set of teeth shone under the bright chandelier.
"My son." She said as she pulled him into a hug. "Where's your sister?"
Tina sprang up. Her mother remembered her, for the first time in several years. Tina couldn't remember if the song was sang for her or not, but she was in love with moments like this. Her mother hugged her tightly like never before. She loved it. She wished it could be like this forever. Ella and Chief were already on their feet now, they watched with their hearts skipping with joy. They both knew this moment wouldn't last because Mrs. Wilson might not recognize them next minute. But they should enjoy this moment while it lasts.
At that moment, Chief remembered what his wife's therapist once told him: he was told to reunite his wife with her children, it'd help her realize that she had children, the baby that died wasn't her only child. His fear of his wife hurting the children made him pull his wife away from Dave and Nancy more. Now, while watching the three in a tight hug, he wished he had done it before. He was happy he didn't procrastinate his confession. If he died now, he'd be more than happy in his grave.
Dave realized he had grown for real. He took a drastic step by closing the decade old distance between himself and his mother. He missed her also. He seemed to have forgotten how enormously he loved it when his mother sang the song when he was young. Perhaps the distance between them made him forget the song. Now, he could remember. As he was in his mother embrace, he thought of how to explain his predicament to Nancy, including how his heart beat for her. If she declined, what would be do? Won't the refusal affect his mental health negatively. He decided to prepare himself for the worst. He just couldn't endure the tingle in his heart. However, for now, he'd like to enjoy his mother's arms.
Chief and Ella joined the family hug. After some minutes, they sat down and gisted each other their happy memories. Mrs. Wilson included.