Chapter 249: Rosie's Mr. Fluffy

LEITANA

I smiled as I brought the spoon full of warm pumpkin soup to Rosie’s lips.

“Open wide, mi baby,” I said gently, blowing on it first so it wouldn’t burn her.

Rosie was propped up on the large hospital bed, looking so much better after two full days of proper treatment. Her cheeks had regained a little color, her eyes were brighter, and she was finally eating on her own with my help. The doctors said the antibiotics were working well and the fluids had helped her tremendously. She was still weak, but she was way better.

She opened her mouth obediently and ate the soup, then grinned at me with that familiar bright smile I had missed so much.

“It’s sweet,” she said happily in bislama. “Much better than the plain hospital food they give mi.”

I laughed softly, wiping the corner of her mouth with a napkin.

“I made it with honey and coconut milk. Just how yu like it.”

We talked and laughed quietly as I fed her, about the other children at the orphanage, about how the little ones kept asking when “Big Sister Leitana” would come back, about how much everything had changed since I left. Rosie’s eyes sparkled when she told me about the new mango tree they planted and how one of the younger boys had named it after me.

There was a soft knock at the door.

It opened, and Ravial stepped in.

He was holding a huge, fluffy white teddy bear almost as tall as Rosie herself. It had a big red bow around its neck and looked incredibly soft and expensive.

Rosie’s eyes went wide with pure wonder. She sat up straighter, mouth open in awe.

Ravial walked over to the side of the bed, crouching down so he was at her eye level, and gently placed the giant teddy bear beside her on the bed.

“For you,” he said in a gentle voice. “To keep you company when you’re feeling sick or scared.”

Rosie stared at the bear for a long second, then threw her small arms around it, hugging it tightly. The bear was bigger than her, it practically swallowed her tiny frame.

“What do you say, Rosie?” I prompted gently, rubbing the little girl’s back

“Tank yu so much, Mister!” she said, voice full of pure joy. “It’s so big! So soft! Mi never have anything like dis before!”

I smiled warmly, tears pricking my eyes.

Rosie looked up at Ravial again, still hugging the bear like her life depended on it.

Ravial’s expression softened in that rare way I loved so much. He reached out and gently patted her head.

“You’re welcome, little one,” he said quietly. “Get strong soon.”

Rosie nodded eagerly, then looked at me with shining eyes.

“Leitana… yu husband is very nice.”

I laughed through my tears, leaning over to kiss Rosie’s forehead.

“Yes, he is,” I whispered.

Ravial stood up but stayed close, one hand resting on my shoulder as I continued feeding Rosie. She kept glancing at the giant teddy bear with pure happiness, hugging it between bites and already naming it “Mr. Fluffy.”

For the first time in days, my heart felt truly lighter.

A few days later

Rosie was finally allowed to be discharged.

I stood in the hospital room, carefully helping her into the pretty light blue dress and white shoes I had bought for her. The dress had little flowers on it and a soft skirt that twirled when she moved. Normally, Rosie would have been spinning around the room, laughing and showing off how beautiful she looked to anyone and everyone.

But today she was quiet.

I knelt down in front of her, adjusting the hem of the dress, and looked up at her small face.

“What’s wrong, mi Rosie?” I asked gently, brushing her hair back. “Yu no happy with the new dress?”

Rosie looked down at her shoes, biting her lip. Her voice was small and sad.

“Yu will drop mi back at the orphanage now… and then yu will leave again, right?”

My heart cracked.

“No, no, mi baby,” I said quickly, pulling her into my arms and hugging her tightly. “You're not going back to the orphanage. Yu is coming to live with mi and Mr. Ravial from now on. You are coming home with us.”

Rosie pulled back, eyes wide with disbelief.

“Really?” she whispered, voice trembling. “Mi can stay with yu? Forever?”

I nodded, tears filling my eyes as I smiled.

“Yes. Forever. Yu are my family. Mi no leaving yu behind again.”

Rosie let out a happy sob and threw her small arms around my neck, hugging me as tight as she could. I held her close, rocking her gently, both of us crying happy tears.

After a moment, I stood up, picked up her giant white teddy bear “Mr. Fluffy,” and took her hand.

“Come. Let’s go home.”

We walked out of the hospital together. Rosie’s eyes went huge when she saw the big black car waiting for us. She kept touching the shiny leather seats and looking out the windows in wonder as we drove away.

“Dis car is so big!” she whispered excitedly. “And so clean! Mi never sit in something like dis before.”

I smiled and kissed the top of her head.

Then she turned to me, a little frown on her face.

“What about the other children? And Mother Superior? And the nuns? Will they be okay without mi?”

I squeezed her hand gently.

"They'll be okay, mi love. Mr. Ravial already moved everyone to a new place while they rebuild the orphanage. They have proper beds, good food, a playground, and even a clinic with a doctor."

Rosie gasped. "Really?"

"Really."

Her shoulders relaxed instantly.

What Rosie didn't know was that Ravial had done far more than that.

The older children who were ready to leave the orphanage hadn't been forgotten. Some had chosen to stay and help at the new home. Some decided to stay and join the convent as they had always dreamed. Others who wanted an education or trade training had been given scholarships, housing, and support.

It had probably cost Ravial a fortune but he hadn't hesitated for a second.

"Mi happy," Rosie whispered. "Now everyone can be safe like mi."

I pulled her into my side and kissed the top of her head.

Ravial sat on my other side, one hand resting on my thigh, quietly watching us with that soft look he only showed when no one else was looking.

For the first time in a long while, I felt like things were finally falling into place.