All through the ride to the hospital, all she did was pray. She just got her children. They were delightful and they were finally settling into their new life dynamic. She hoped with all her heart that nothing had happened to either of them.

“We’re here,” Kitty said

“Thank you,” Kara said and dashed out of the car into the emergency room.

When the call came through, she had freaked out and Kitty not wanting any more casualties offered to drive her to the hospital.

She would’ve run right by her mother but her mom was waiting for her so she grabbed onto her as she tried to speed past.

“Mom, what happened? Are they okay?”

“Calm down, they are fine. They are with Joseph right now.”

“Joseph? When did he get back? But that’s beside the point. Can I see them now?”

“No, honey because they are not here.”

“Then where are they and why did you say I should come now?”

“They are at home with Joseph. There’s nothing wrong with them”

“Thank God. Okay, then why are we here? Are you unwell?”

“God, no”

“Mom, you scared me a lot. Why are we here?”

“It’s your dad. He’s dying”

“Oh my God, what?!”

“Yeah, Joseph came over in a frenzy saying his PI said someone was watching us”

“Once again, what?! A PI? Joseph is a dead man”

“Easy tiger, we’re in a hospital. Stop shouting”

“Okay, continue”

“Turns out your dad moved into the house across the street and the only way he found us was because he hired a PI some months back.”

“Wow, now we know how he found me at work. But what has that got to do with me?”

“He needs a bone marrow transplant and apparently none of his kids with the other woman are his and so they can’t donate”

“Wait a minute, mom. Let me get this straight. The kids that he chose over me time and time again are not his?”

“Yep”

“Wow, unbelievable. And now he needs me his forgotten daughter to be a bone marrow donor?”

“That’s right”

“Yeah, not going to happen. Hard pass” she said and began to walk away.

“Kara Eileen Miller, you will not walk away while I’m still talking”

That halted her movement. She turned to face her mother.

“I taught you better than that.”

“I’m sorry mom but what exactly do you want me to do?”

“I want you to be the good Christian woman you are”

“Mom!”

“You can’t pick and choose when you get to be a Christian, Mija”

“I know but-”

“But nothing. He needs your help.”

“That is the only reason why he reached out to me after that last conversation, mama. Why can’t you see that?”

“I see it, my child but it is not about who he is. It is about who you are, Mija”

That statement was a lot to bear and so she sat in the nearest seat.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Joseph and the kids were having lunch at what has become their favourite restaurant.

“So, kids, how has life been with your mom?”

“Maravilloso!”Avery said excitedly

“What? When did you start speaking Spanish?” Joseph asked

“Grandma Elena speaks Spanish when she’s overcome with emotion” Liam replied

“You don’t say” Joseph laughed

“Does your mother do that as well?”

“No, Mama finds it muy ridiculous just like Liam over here”

“Because it is. ” Liam defended “You guys should really listen to yourselves when you talk like that”

“Okay, so you guys are adjusting quite well?”

“Yes,” they said in unison

“So, would it be bad if I move here?”

“No, that would be great!” they said happily

“Joseph? Joseph Morrison?” a woman in her mid-thirties interrupted

“Yes, this is he. And who might you be?” he said

Taking off the dark shades that had her face hidden, “It’s me, Maya. Ma-”

“Oh my goodness, Maya Flores!” he said recognising her

“Yes, one and the same” she smiled

“It’s been what ten years since I last saw you.”

“Yeah” Noticing the children, “Your kids? She seems to take after her mom and he takes after you.”

“No, she looks like her mom but they are not mine. Remember Jane and Ernest? These are their children”

“Yes, I do but these kids are a little darker than those two.”

“And you are right. I can’t go into the details but these are their kids”

“Well, alright then. Do you live here? Because I come here a lot and I’ve never seen you”

“I’m now moving here”

“That’s great. We should catch up sometime. I have to be going now.”

“Here’s my card and how’s your sister, Maria”

“I’ll hit you up. Thanks, she’s good. Ciao”

“Ciao”

“Uncle Joseph, who was that?”

“An old friend”

“Okay”

********************************************************************

“Why did you take so long?” Maria asked angrily

“I met Joseph”

“Joseph? Which Joseph?”

“The guy you started messing with because Ernest told you to”

“Oh, yeah”

“He was with two kids at the restaurant”

“He’s married now? Good for him”

“He’s not. He said those are Ernest and Jane’s kids”

“That’s impossible because those two couldn’t have kids that’s why Ernest and I never bothered with protection anytime we slept together.”

“I know that. Maria, you need to tell him that those are his kids”

“No, ma’am. I don’t have to do anything”

“Didn’t you say that you wanted to do some good since you were dying soon?”

“Yes, I did but-”

“But nothing. Jane and Ernest are already dead. Those kids need a parent”

“Ugh, Fine. You are such a pain. So, did you take his number?”

“I know and yes, I did. Here you go” she said handing over the card to her

“Ooh fancy”

“You are so silly” she laughed and the two sisters drove off.