This whole thing hit Josephine out of nowhere. She was totally unprepared.
Gerald, who usually wasn't much of a talker, went on and on. He reminisced about the past, especially when Josephine was just a baby.
He talked about the family's joy and how they doted on her. He touched on the heartbreak of her disappearance and the relentless years of searching, hoping, and facing disappointment. He also mentioned Nicole's declining health, his marriage, and his children.
Josephine remained silent throughout, but when he spoke of Nicole's deteriorating health, she couldn't hold back her tears.
Laura held her, and she cried on Laura's shoulder.
Gerald clenched his fists on his knees, his voice thick with emotion.
Now that the test results were in, the next step was for Josephine to reunite with her family. But Nicole's health couldn't handle too much excitement. Gerald planned to break the news to her slowly, to give her some time to prepare. They'd meet at Serenity Cove Resort over the weekend.
Witnessing Josephine's tears pained Gerald deeply. "Josephine, please don't cry. You're part of our family now, with many relatives who care for you."
Overwhelmed, he paused. Steven handed him a tissue, and he quickly wiped his tears.
After a while, Josephine calmed down.
Laura sensed her elation, not only from reconnecting with her family but also from the trials she had endured over the years.
Todd and Esther hadn't really been there for her. The elderly couple who raised her were good to her, but they passed away too soon. For so many years, Josephine had no family by her side.
Now, she suddenly found out there was a family that had been looking for her for over twenty years.
For over twenty years, they never gave up, not even a little bit. Their persistence was enough to move anyone.
"Josephine, how about meeting the family over the weekend? If you don't like crowds, you can just meet Mom first. It's been so hard for her all these years," Gerald said carefully.
Josephine could tell he really respected her. Even now, he was thinking about her feelings.
She quickly said, "Okay, I'll follow your arrangements."
Gerald got excited again, his eyes turning red. "Okay, okay."
Laura said, "Should we bring Jeffery then?"
"Jeffery?" Gerald asked, confused.
Laura explained, "He's Josephine's son, your nephew!"
Hearing this, Gerald was eager to meet Jeffery.
but Josephine refused, "Let's not bring Jeffery for now."
Gerald respected Josephine's wishes. "Alright, we'll figure out a time to meet Jeffery later."
"What about Stuart?" Laura asked, "Is he coming?"
Gerald was aware that Stuart and Josephine had divorced, and Jeffery was born after their separation.
Given the situation, Jeffery must be Stuart's child.
Although Stuart had some good qualities, thinking about how Josephine was divorced and raised Jeffery alone for several years made Gerald feel heartache.
Not just heartache, but also anger towards Stuart.
How could a responsible man do such a thing?Before, he don't konw Josephine was his sister, so Gerald couldn't really step in. But now, knowing she's his biological sister, what Stuart did just seemed unforgivable. Even beating him up wouldn't ease his anger!
But Gerald knew he couldn't say any of this out loud. He needed to see how Josephine felt about Stuart first.
Anyway, with The Clarence Family backing her, no man would dare mess with her! If not Stuart, there would be plenty of other suitors. They could even organize a public husband selection for her if needed!
The Clarence Family was rich and powerful, and with Josephine as their only sister, they could spoil her as much as they wanted!
Josephine had no clue Gerald was even thinking about a "public husband selection" for her.
She said, "Whether Stuart comes or not, it's up to him. If he wants to come, he can. Also, I want to go home and talk to my parents... Todd and the others."
"Of course, you should," Gerald said. "Josephine, want me to tag along? Just remember, The Clarence Family is your home now."
Josephine replied, "I know. But I can handle it myself. There are some things I need to resolve on my own."
"Alright. Josephine, there are things you can handle on your own, but just know, I've got your back no matter what. If you can't solve it, don't worry, I'll take care of it for you, okay?"
Laura gave him a thumbs-up. "Great! With a brother like you, Josephine can be as bold as she wants!"
Gerald looked at Josephine warmly. "Yes. Whatever you want to do, just go ahead and do it."
Laura said enviously, "I wish I were your sister too."
Gerald smiled. "You and Josephine are like sisters, so naturally, you're my sister too."
Laura clapped her hands. "Great, I can be bold because of Josephine too."
Josephine glared at her. "Idiot."
Laura said, "Whatever you say is right. From now on, you're the best, and I won't dare to argue."
Everyone knew her personality and couldn't help but laugh. Seeing the positive atmosphere, Laura said, "You and Gerald chat. I have some things to take care of with Steven."
In reality, she had nothing to do; she just wanted to give Josephine and Gerald some space to talk alone.
After they left, the room became quiet.
Gerald broke the silence. "Laura's a great friend."
Josephine said, "Yeah, we practically grew up together. She's always had my back, especially when we were kids and I was getting picked on."
"I can tell you two are close," Gerald remarked. "Josephine, do you mind sharing what went down between you and Stuart?"
Josephine smiled. "Sure thing. I'm an open book. We split due to some misunderstandings. Now, I haven't decided whether to start a new relationship."
"Right, relationships shouldn't be rushed. You need to be sure."
"I understand, Gerald."
Gerald smiled happily and asked, "Jeffery is his child, right?"
There was nothing to hide from family. Josephine said, "Yes. When we divorced, he didn't know I was pregnant."
Gerald said, "You don't need to speak for him. A guy who doesn't even know his wife is pregnant isn't stepping up as a husband!"