"If Mommy ever comes back, will you love and protect her?" Randy asked again.
"Of course I will, " Zayn replied without hesitation. Then he asked curiously, "Why do you suddenly ask?"
"It's nothing, " Randy said shortly. He didn't want to tell Zayn anything without confirming it for himself first.
"All right. Wash your face and go down to see Great-grandpa. We'll eat together, " Zayn concluded, patting Randy's little head.
"OK, " Randy nodded obediently.
Zayn returned to his own room and changed his clothes, preparing to join his family for dinner. Just then, Benard appeared with the report: "Mr. Giblo, the hospital just notified us that Ms. Benday has woken up."
"OK, " Zayn acknowledged. "We'll visit her later tonight."
When Randy came to Jombo's room, he found Jombo sitting in a wheelchair, staring blankly out at the storm. He looked utterly forlorn.
"Mr. Randuwell, be a good boy and bring this cup of hot tea over to your Great-grandpa, " Thompson whispered placing a steaming cup in Randy's hands.
"OK, " Randy said. He walked over to Jombo, calling softly, "Great-grandpa!"
The old man remained motionless.
Randy crossed over to his front, then repeated in a louder voice, "Great-grandpa!"
Jombo finally came to his senses. His eyes fixed on Randy, bewildered for a moment. Then Jombo cried elatedly, embracing Randy, "Randy, why are you here?"
"To visit you, " Randy replied, handing Jombo the cup of tea. "Drink this, Great-grandpa."
"Sure, sure." Jombo was delighted. He took a big swig from the cup and exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful!"
"Great-grandpa, I was working on my mechanical dove today. It was rather urgent, so I may have been impolite to you. Don't be angry, " Randy apologized meekly.
"No…" Jombo patted Randy's head, looking at him fondly. "Randy, you can tell me anything. If you're unhappy, let it out. You can argue or debate with Great-grandpa, no problem at all. Just don't keep it to yourself, OK?"
"Got it, " Randy replied gratefully. Great-grandpa's really so good to me. What more could I ask for?
"Let's have dinner together. Daddy's back. We can all eat together as a family, " Randy declared, tugging at Jombo's frail hand.
"Sure, sure." Jombo nodded.
"Great-grandpa!" A shout suddenly came from outside the room. Josh and Venus ran in right after.
The room suddenly grew vibrant from Josh and Venus's excited squabbling over who would get to talk to Great-grandpa first.
"It's time to eat! Mrs. Bolistin prepared lots of delicious things for us today."
"Daddy's even squeezed juice for us!"
"Ha, how hard is squeezing juice?" Jombo replied, chuckling.
"Great-grandpa, let me give you a hand, " Randy announced, taking over the handles of the wheelchair.
"And I'll hold the cup for you!" Josh added, grabbing the said item.
"I'll get your blanket!" Determined not to be outdone, Venus fetched the blanket and covered Jombo's legs with it.
The three children surrounded Jombo, a perfect picture of a happy family. Time seemed to fall away, and the house reverberated with the warmth and good cheer of old.
"You're still so hungry for attention even at this age?" Zayn demanded. Even as he spoke, however, Zayn had already stepped forward and pulled out a chair. Jombo was smoothly wheeled into his place.
"What nonsense are you saying?" Jombo said reproachfully with a twinkle in his eye.
As Josh moved to take his seat, Zayn instinctively lifted Josh up into his chair. Bemused, Josh remarked, "Daddy, I've grown up! I'm not a little boy anymore."
"You'll always be Daddy's little boy, " Zayn said, patting the top of his little head. He moved on to Randy.
"No need, Daddy! I can handle myself, " Randy said, hurriedly clambering onto his seat.
Zayn froze. Venus, however, shimmied over and cried, "Daddy, pick me up! No matter how old I am, I'll always be your baby!"
"What a good child you are, Venus!" Zayn turned to her, beaming.
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