Chapter 7

A Joyous Reintegration

That unforgettable evening, the door bell rang. It suggested none other than Adeline. This had turned a recurring order that became constant with time.

On this fateful Friday, the regular norm was altered. Adeline had stopped over at the grocery to get some food items for the family after work. Kerry was fast asleep, lying on the sofa with his head on grandma's lap.

(Grandma placed Kerry's head on the sofa to check who it was)

Incredibly, it turned out to be her son. Her mouth agape in utter disbelief as joyful emotions welled down.

"Ben, is this my son? How are you? What a surprise arrival you have thrown at us. Please, come on in."

Her joy could not be quantified.

'Mum, I decided to take you unaware.' (Kevin had jumped over his dad who flung him up in the air as a gesture in admiration, and embraced him)

"Thanks for your constant cares, mum." (Ben took his seat while mum still stood by him, gazing surreptitiously)

"Mum, I cannot thank you enough. Have been able to progress on this cause, as a result of your love and efforts."

That evening, Ben had decided to give his family a surprise visit having gotten a four months break, due to a ceasefire, recently announced to the Ireland troops on war mission. He was full of joy as this meant a huge opportunity to join his family again.

 At about 6:30pm, a taxi pitched to a halt right in front of the Charlotte's Condominium. The beautifully structured four bedroom detached duplex apartments, have been carefully erected for the military family. It turned a special area which was now labelled a mini barracks.

Adeline handed over some notes to the driver as she got her things down from the car, heading towards their house. Kevin was close to the door. He heard the bell, and decided to check who it was. Grandma was in the kitchen to boil some water for coffee.

'Welcome mum, dad is back', Kevin exclaimed gleefully.

'Is this meant to be a joke or what, Kevin?'

Not at all, mum. Am serious. Kevin took some bags from his mum. They both dropped them in the store to confirm Kevin's assertion.

(Kevin tip toeing up the stairs to call out his dad)

Adeline was startled as Ben responded. 'What! You are truly back.' Grandma approached the scene to share in the amazement and joy.

'It's a special night for us. What an august arrival', grandma added.

The dinner that night was quite special, and reflective after. Ben had a lot to share. His family wasn't left behind. They got lots of eventful issues to discuss as well.

Adeline talked about her success stories at the law court.

"I had the most disturbing case lately. The client was almost loosing it. Just as the dark night was approaching, came a glimpse of hope from the moonlight."

Am happy to hear that, Adeline. Kevin shared his various encounters in school; from academic work, to peer relationships. It was a night of reunion and reintegration.

Ben with his wife were later left alone. They had their conversation well into the night.

'Adeline, have really missed you.'

'Same here, Ben.'

"I know it's not been easy. My passion for this mission had kept me in the military service. Thanks for your constant perseverance", he added. 

Wrapped in each other's arms in their room that night, emotional tears ran down their cheeks. They made some romantic moves deep into the night. The joy was palpable, reuniting with each other again.

Ben's family came brightened up with life and vigour, during his reintegration. Kevin and Kerry felt their dad's presence, as he showed some commitment towards school matters and duties.

He visited school within his transient homecoming, to check up on Kevin's performance. He did the daily transportation routine for his kids. The school bus had got a recess period. They needed the bonding, and had to get as much as they could for the time being.

Adeline was not left out. She got relieved of most burden she would have borne alone. Grandma was much elated. She enjoyed her dear son's companion for that period. She radiated overwhelming joy. Her joyful expression, was always written all over her.

"Your sisters have expanded their businesses", grandma chipped in, engaging in a family conversation with her son.

"Yes, Tilda mentioned she wanted to open another branch to accommodate footwear collections, and other accessories. We did speak whenever I was free, mum."

"Pauline did call twice in a week. She would always drop a message, should I be unavailable to respond to her calls."

Ben would listen. At times, he dosed off when the conversation became so protracted (his mum would wake him up with another subject)

(The Tapestry's Home)

The wind motion had suddenly relocated grandma from Ben's house to the Tapestry's family, Ben's eldest sister, Tilda.

 Grandma had some time to share with her daughter, who had just delivered a baby boy.

The journey was a smooth ride from Dame to Connell where the Tapestry reside. Ben conveyed his family for the baby's christening.

"The baby shall be called Bright Tapestry", the priest declared.

It was an evening of cheering up, rejoicing and bonding for the Charlotte's larger family. Grandma stayed back to take care of her daughter's new born.

One of Ben's worries at this time was how his wife, Adeline, would cope with the family, given the current baby addition to the bigger family. This would invariably distance grandma, at least, tentatively from his own family.

Ben had enjoyed the privilege of having his mum around his own family the most. It would be unfair at such a crucial time, not putting into consideration, his sister who had just put to bed.

"Adeline, don't you think it's high time we employed a nanny."

"You are right, just my scepticism around it, though."

"The most important factor is looking out for competence."

Ben started nursing plans to take a nanny to assist his wife in the children's care. Adeline had always been aversed to the idea of taking a nanny, based on lack of total confidence. Her husband made her see reasons for it, at such a time.

Adeline's mum was very helpful to the family when she was very healthy. She had battled health challenges, thereby precluding her from showing up like before. The major available option this time around, was considering a nanny for the children.

(At the Law Court)

The court case ended at about 1:00pm. Adeline had felt some dizziness, and discomfort. She rarely felt ill. She had somewhat attributed the symptoms to stress and office workload. She decided to go home, after the court case. She needed to ease off what she tagged a hectic week.

Thankfully, she won the court case in favour of her client. This had been a usual scenario she was accustomed to in her legal practice, as a well respected and competent lawyer.

"Am grateful for your exceptional inputs on this matter", Mr Cliff appreciated.

'It was a pleasure', Mr Cliff.

 Returning home, she exuded some joy and fulfilment. Adeline had been a sort after in the legal profession. She earned a lot of respect from her clients. Her husband loved her for this.

It was exactly two months into her husband's departure, following the four months break expiration. Adeline had missed her husband's companion. She got back home, meeting the children in the care of Nanny Celica, as she was fondly called.

Celica, how do you do? Hope you had a great day?

Yes, we did. I need to rest now. I had quite a busy day. (She went straight under the showers, had her bath, and was aiming for her bed after the dinner)

She bade the nanny farewell for that day. Fortunately, the children had been catered for, prior to her arrival. They all went to bed early.

(At Midnight)

Kerry had been making some painful sounds in the midnight. Adeline was tired and fast asleep. She could not perceive the groaning sound, coming from the child. Kevin's attention was later drawn to his brother around 1:30am. She tapped his mum who was not responding.

Later, he doubled his efforts by calling out mum audibly, and tapping at the same time. Kevin was now nine years, and his brother, Kerry was close to being 3 years old.

Their mum meandered from sleep as Kevin drew her attention to Kerry.

Mum, Kerry woke up and was showing some signs of discomfort.

'Kerry, are you fine?' Mum who was still not fully awake, asked.

Kerry wasn't responding. That was the moment their mum's eyes became more lucid. She reached out to the child, checking if everything was alright. She discovered the child had been running serious temperature. She got up to get a drenched towel placed around Kerry's body.

As she wondered what could be the cause of the child's sudden fever, Kevin narrated to her, what transpired the day before. Kerry was cycling on the dining, and eventually fell on his head.

What! Where was Celica at the time?

'She was preparing our lunch.'

'Why didn't she explain to me when I got back', Adeline protested.

"Paracetamol syrup was administered by Celica, after Kerry had cried profusely. She rubbed that part of the head which was now swollen", Kevin expatiated.

Adeline's prior weakness fizzled out at the appearance of her son's health condition. The boy's head injury already triggered a concussion. The boy slept back much later, following series of first aid attention by his mum.

Adeline was fully awake, waiting for the night's transitioning to dawn. She called the hospital's emergency line initially, and was advised appropriately on what to be done to keep the boy stable that night.

Early that morning, they left for the hospital with the nanny. Adeline didn't make any fuss about the scenario that led to the situation yet. Her immediate goal was to ensure the child's health was fully restored back to his normal condition or state.

Adeline drove down to St Patrick Dun's hospital that morning. Two nurses were later sighted with a stretcher to help Kerry into the ward.

The child was taken to the Paediatric care for necessary attention and care. He was checked for subdural hematoma, through CT scan. The boy was diagnosed with acute hematoma.

Treatment commenced immediately, placing him on bed rest to fast-track his recuperation. The neurosurgeon advised on placing him on steroid medications as the blood build-up was minimal.

'Thank you, Doctor Isabella.'

"It was a pleasure. In a few days time, your son will be fine. We shall be observing him. Am certain, he will respond rapidly to treatment. We have taken him through necessary treatment procedures."

"Am grateful, doctor. See you some other time, madam." (the doctor exited the ward).

Adeline was not feeling any better. His son being hospitalised, with lack of enough rest had worsened her condition.

"Madam, I shall be running some tests on you to ascertain the cause of your illness. This will guide us with administering requisite treatment."

'No problem. Thank you, Dr Fox.'

(15 minutes later)

'Congratulations, madam. You're two months pregnant', the doctor declared. 

She was later placed on bed rest at the hospital, after Dr Fox's positive confirmation of the pregnancy test result. 

She and her kids, were left in nanny's care.

Ben was later informed about his family's condition. He contacted his immediate elder sister and mum. They all agreed to allow grandma pay them a visit.

Grandma's return was timely, as both mother and son's convalescence, was right under her nose.

Dr Isabella: Kerry boy. Good to see you back on your feet again. You have to be careful next time.

(Kerry nodded in affirmation)

That's my boy.

Two weeks after, they all returned home, following the doctor's certification of their stable health conditions.

(Adorable's Arrival)

Seven months down the line, Adeline was at the hospital. Her three trimesters had been successfully completed. Family members were represented at the hospital. They were waiting eagerly for the arrival of the Charlotte's newborn. 

Would you like to take some warm milk?, Pauline, Ben's immediate elder sister asked.

Adeline nodded with a smile on her face. The doctors were hauling her on a stretcher to the delivery room. 

The prone stretcher was halted right at the delivery room. Adeline sipped some warm milk from the bottle. 

(30 minutes after)

The baby's vagitus, announced her final arrival. The infant was a bouncing baby girl. 

Family members came together to christen the baby.

Fortunately, Ben was home three months into the birth of their baby girl, named Adorable.