Chapter 3

Five years later,

OLEANDER'S POV

I woke up with a start. My head banged hard and I was sweating profusely. I took a deep breath and grabbed my medications from the table.

Someone was grabbing my legs and i could hear muffled voices in the dark. I quickly switched on the light and i exhaled when i noticed my children in my room. They were all dressed up so I guessed that they had taken their bath.

It's funny how fast they grow but, they will always be my babies irrespective of their ages. They are my everything. All i have left. Without them, i don't think i will be able to keep on living. Each time i wake up and see the smile on their beautiful faces, I get more than motivated to go through any stress that the day will bring so that, I can be able to provide for them.

They are my babies, my everything.

"Mommy!" she beamed happily and jumped on me.

"You woke up late today, mommy." Daisy said and I sat up and patted her head. I stared at the table clock. I was thirty minutes late from my normal wake up time.

"I know baby. Mommy is so sorry. It won't happen again." I apologized as I got off the bed. My head was banging hard but I need to get to work.

"It's okay momma. You were tired. I pepared us." Jason said smiling and I cooed. He always loved taking care of his sister. I knew that he was going to grow up being protective about her.

"Thank you." I smiled at him. I laughed at their dressing. None of them was dressed appropriately.

I slowly redressed them while they chatted happily.

Time was far gone when I was done because Jason kept asking me to brush his hair again. He was just a neat freak and Daisy kept asking me to change her hair style because she want to be unique.

I prepared cornflakes because I didn't have the time to prepare breakfast for them before taking them to school in my car. They kept talking on the way.

"Okay, we are here. Do not get into a fight with anyone. Walk away from every potential fight." I drummed in their ears as I patted their heads.

"Momma…you're embarrassing me." Jason said and pulled my hands away. I stared at him and his sibling laughed.

"He doesn't want Maddie to think he is a baby." Daisy explained.

"And who is this Maddie?" I asked him but he blushed.

"She is his crush." Daisy said and I laughed. How old are they again? Are they growing too fast? Do I need to have ''the talk' with them earlier than I planned. I forced a smile on my face and pushed those thoughts at the back of my mind.

"Is my baby boy growing already?" I rubbed his head and he pushed my hand away and tried to rearrange his hair using his hand as a comb. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"I am not a baby anymore." He drew and I rolled my eyes.

I watched them run off to their classes. I smiled at the retreating figures. I couldn't believe they were grown already. Wasn't it just yesterday when they were so tiny in my hands that I thought that I would choke them too tight if I held them too close or they would fall from my hand at any moment?

My phone rang taking away my attention from them. I stared at the unknown caller and shoved it back into my purse. The same number kept calling for the past few days. I should tag it a scam. I climbed my car again and my phone rang again. It was the same unknown caller. I picked the call with the aim of threatening the caller but the person spoke first.

"Is this Oleander Thayer?" The caller asked with an agitated voice to make me sit up.

"Yes. Who are you?"

"This is doctor Sheldon." My heart stopped beating for a while. Dr. Sheldon was my grandfather's doctor. Several thoughts ran through my mind and I forgot how to breathe.

"Your grandfather is in a critical condition. His heart condition has worsened. He barely has a week left. He kept requesting to see you. I've been trying to reach you…"

"Where is he?" I cut him short not interested in the long details. My grandfather was the only one in my family who had my back.

"Your family hospital at San Francisco." I stared at my phone screen for a while when the call ended. I turned my car around at full speed making a screeching sound. I made a call to the school first. I have to ensure the safety of my kids. Their class teacher wasn't picking up. I had to turn the car around. The flight to San Francisco is five hours. There is no way I am leaving my children for a day with a stranger.

I stepped on the brake and jumped off the car when I got back to their school and marched to their class. I saw the security marching towards me from the corner of my eyes. I don't have time for this. Their class teacher walked towards me in a fast pace. I waited impatiently for her not liking the attention I was getting.

"I need my kids."

"School is still in session ma'am…"

"I don't have time to waste Raina. My grandfather is in a critical condition. We need to see him now." She stared at me worriedly for a while before heading back to the class. I wish she would increase her steps. I forced a smile on my face when I saw my children. They looked confused. This was the first time I was picking them from school before school was over.

I opened my arms and they ran to me. Jason looked at me worriedly. Always able to see through my facade.

"We have to see great-grandfather now." I said and he relaxed his facial expressions. I ruffled his head and took their hands. They looked so happy. They had asked me several times of my family but I continuously dodged the question. I mouthed 'thank you' to Raina.

I stared at the door leading to my grandfather's room. I was anxious. Did he really ask of me or was Emma the one he wanted. The door to his room opened and Dr. Sheldon stepped out. He smiled sadly when he saw me.

"How is he?" I watched as his eyes darted back to the room and to me.

"You should see him. We can talk about the details later" He said and patted my shoulder.

I turned to my children and beckoned on them to stand up from where they sat quietly. They were probably wondering why we were in the hospital when I told them we were going to see my grandfather.

"Are they yours?" Dr. Sheldon asked.

"My bad. I should have introduced you to them."

"It's okay. Some other time." He smiled and patted Jason's cheek. Then he turned to me and nodded towards the door. He understood my hesitation. I took in a deep breath and pushed the door open.

I stared at my pale grandfather laying helplessly on the hospital bed. He was the most agile person I know on earth. I wiped my tears and led my children to him.

"Olie…" He called out and I placed my palm in his.

"I'm here now." He smiled at me.