It had been a week since Joseph issued the threat of filing for full custody of the twins. Anytime, he’d tried to visit them had proved futile. A whole system had been put in place ensuring the twins were never in contact with him. He knew a custody battle wouldn’t be favourable to him but he needed Kara to think this through. The kids loved having her as their mother. They had come into this big family and they enjoyed it. Jane had always been a loner and so the support system Kara had put in place for the kids though foreign was exactly what they needed.

The surgery had been pushed back and Jason had no idea as to why that happened. Maybe Kara had had a change of mind he thought as he made his way back to his room.

“Poor Mr Jason,” Nurse Joan said as she went through the files at the nurse’s station

“Poor Mr Jason? More like poor Kara and Elena” Nurse Abbie corrected

“Why do you say so?” Nurse Joan asked Abbie

“He left them at a time they needed him the most and then got married to that hussy over at Fortwell”

“You mean Barbara Collins?”

“The same”

“Why would he leave Elena for her? Everyone knows who she is”

“He didn’t. His job sent away a lot, you know. Anyway, he married her and some kids with her but we all knew those were Jake’s kids even though he was locked up”

“When would she let that man go? She’s bad but he is a nut job”

“Girl, I don’t know. So, when he found out the kids weren’t his and couldn’t donate bone marrow. He left her and came looking for Kara.”

“Unbelievable”

“That’s not the worst part. Remember Kara got her kids sometime back?”

“Yeah that story is so absurd and if I hadn’t seen it, I wouldn’t believe it”

“Well, she’s about to lose them again”

“What, why?”

“According to Lauren, she heard Elena telling Dr Wilson that their dad turned up and he threatened to take the kids if Kara did the transplant.”

“Lord, have mercy! But there’s a life at stake”

“He cares about his children. They have lost too many people already. He doesn’t want them to lose her just when they got her. And you honestly can’t be mad at that.”

“Well, true. So that’s why it was pushed back?”

“Yes, my friend”

“He’s going to need a miracle now because I don’t think it’s fair to put Kara in this situation”

“You got that right” Nurse Abbie said

“Oh Mr Jason, let me help you to your room” Nurse Chloe said making Jason’s presence known

“Do you think he heard us?” Nurse Joan asked

“Beats me” Nurse Abbie replied and the two parted ways

Back in his room, Jason was lost in thought when his doctor came in to check on him.

“Hello there Mr Jason” the doctor greeted

“Good morning doctor”

“How are you doing?”

“Not bad”

“Wonderful” he went about checking him and giving out orders to the nurse who accompanied him.

After he was done, “Doc, can I have a word?”

“Yes”

“I’ve thought about it and I don’t want to go ahead with the transplant. It’s too risky for both me and my daughter.”

“But-”

“No buts. I’ve lived a full life. If anything happens to her while she tries to save my life, I would never forgive myself especially considering how I’ve treated her all these years when I split from her mother. It just doesn’t feel right”

“Nothing will happen. It will be successful just like all the other ones”

“My decision is final,” he said ending the conversation

Within an hour, the news had found its way to the Miller household.

“Mom, what is this tantrum dad is throwing now. I don’t have time for this” Kara said after her mom told her the news

“I think he finally grew a conscience”

“A little too late”

“I’ll go talk to him now. Are you okay with the kids?”

“Yeah, I’ll be leaving for work soon with them”

“Great. I’ll call you when I’m done speaking with him” and then she was gone

“Lord, help us”

Joseph was parked two houses across the street. He saw Elena leave in a hurry. Not so long after he saw Kara leaving with the children. This was the first time in a week since he’d seen them outside.

He quickly got out of the car and made his way towards them. Liam saw him first.

“Uncle Joseph,” he said bringing their attention to him and ran to embrace him much to Kara’s displeasure. The two took turns in embracing him.

“Why haven’t you been visiting?” Avery asked

“I’ve been swamped. Looking for a house is a lot of work”

“Oh, did you find one?”

“Not yet but-” “Come on, kids, we’ll be late” Kara interrupted

“Mom, uncle Joseph is here now. Let’s stay with him”

“No,” she said a little more forcefully than she intended therefore alarming her children

“Mom, what’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I’m sorry. Next time, okay” she apologised

“Okay,” they agreed. “Goodbye, uncle Joseph,” they said as they got into the car.

“Kara, we need to talk”

“We don’t have to do anything and stop creating scenes in front of my children” she warned

“They are mine too and I can prove it”

“Well, good for you,” she said and got in her car and drove away.

The children noticed how tense their conversation was however brief it was.

Back at the hospital, “What is this new drama, Jason?” Elena asked her ex-husband as he entered his room

“It’s not drama. I don’t want her to donate anymore”

“Why? Because she hasn’t come to see you?”

“No, definitely not that”

“Then what?” she asked exasperated by the current situation

“I don’t deserve her risking her life for me”

“It’s not about you. It’s about who she is”

“You raised an amazing woman, Nana,” Jason said calling her by the nickname only he called her

“Don’t, just don’t”

“I’m sorry for everything. Tell her for me. I want her to enjoy her life and the two sweet babies she’s got.”

“Water under the bridge.” she assured him “You don’t want her to do the transplant” she realised

“I leave for Cargal tomorrow.”

“Jason”

“It’s okay, Nana” he assured her

“Give this to her for me” he handed over a letter

“Will do. Take care and if it doesn’t work out over at Cargal. We’re always here to help”

“I know. Goodbye, Nana”

“Goodbye, Jason” and she left.

A little while later, Elena went to see Kara at work and told her all that transpired at the hospital and handed over the letter.

“Wow, what changed his mind?”

“Beats me”

“Will he be okay though?”

“I hope so”

“Joseph ambushed us this morning. The kids have been in a mood because of it”

“It’s time to tell them”

“I know. I’m not looking forward to it”

“I’ll invite him over for dinner”

“Knock yourself out”

“Come on kids. Let’s go shopping! Uncle Joseph is coming over for dinner”

They left excitedly.

“What’s all that about?” Paul questioned

“Oh, hey. That is them being excited that their dad is coming for dinner”

“So, you told them?”

“We’ll do it tonight. Together”

“Great. A family event”

“Come on, Paul. Don’t be like that”

“I just can’t help it sometimes.”

“You’re so cute when you act this way”

“What about your dad? Did your mom find out why he had a change of heart?”

She then narrated the whole event to him.

“Wow, so when will you read the letter?”

“Not anytime soon, that’s for sure”

“Okay. When this whole issue started, I put the word out looking for other donors.”

“And?”

“I got a hit today. Luckily for us, he’s in Calgary as well.”

“Wonderful! Thank you. I’ll let the doctors know” she said happily

“You’re welcome. Got to go. See you later” he kissed her

Later that evening after dinner, Joseph and Kara sat the kids down and explained everything to them. They were excited just as her dad had been when the doctors broke the news to him.

Later on, as the kids played with their dad, her mom said, “All’s well that ends well”

“It all worked out just like you said”

“Mama knows best” she chuckled and left her when she saw Joseph making his way towards them.

“Hi, Kara”

“Hello, Joseph,” she said regarding him warily

“I’m sorry. I panicked. I should never have threatened you. Mr Bowman set me straight”

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have”

“I’m sorry. And I’m glad it all worked out for your dad”

“That’s okay, I guess. I probably would’ve done the same, who knows”

“The kids want to meet their grandpa”

“They can’t. I’ll talk to them”

“We’ll do it together. As a team”

“Right, a team”

“About custody”

“I’m not legalising it but you can come around as usual”

“That’s fine by me”

“Thank you”

“Look at us co-parenting even though the roles were thrown at us”

“We’re instant parents”

“Like instant noodles?”

“Yeah” they laughed

THE END