64| NEW RESPONSIBILITIES
Monday arrived, three days later and Frema ran around the house again, trying to set everything up for her now ‘three children’. She checked her watch minutes later, while the twins and Halsey ate breakfast quietly. She sat with then too, but she had no appetite to eat.
Her phone beeped while she was twirling the contents of the plate around and it made her sigh in relief as she picked up, without bothering to check who it was. She could not have her children know that a woman had called her fat to describe her the other day at the grocery store and a handful of people agreed with her indirectly. She couldn't tell them that. So, she answered with a cheerful voice,
"Frema Michelson."
"Dad's lawyer called." Arsen's voice resounded from the other end. She sat straighter.
"What? Why?" She queried, curiosity eating her up already.
"He refused to tell, but he said it's something very important. You know he stopped talking to dad, right? I'm surprised." Arsen said, sounding as confused as she felt.
"Same here. But I have a feeling it's good news. You?" She asked. He sighed, then replied,
"Me? I'm hoping for the best."
She looked back at the table, only to see Halsey staring straight at her with a plea in her doe eyes. Frema allowed a small smile to grace her lips as she handed the phone to the little girl who hurriedly placed the device beside her ear,
"Hello, daddy!" She exclaimed immediately. Since it was in speaker, everyone at the table could listen in on their conversation; which they did. Arsen replied,
"Angel. How are you?"
"I miss you." She responded, her face moulding in a sad pout. Frema felt her heart squeeze for her bestfriend's child.
"Miss you, too," Arsen's voice was lower this time. "Want to speak to mummy?" He asked. Halsey's eyes lit up again.
"Yes! Yes, I want to speak to mummy." She told him and there was a ruffling noise before Frema heard Riley's unmistakable voice,
"Hello? Am I speaking to the most beautiful girl in the entire world?" Riley started, in her normal bubbly tone. If she was forcing it, then it was working. She sounded fine. Anyone would think she was okay now. Just like Fremantle did; relief washed over her and she released a breath. At least, her friend was recuperating.
"Yes, you are." Halsey replied, her face an adorable shade of red from excitement. "I miss you, mummy. I miss the strongest woman in the world. I want you to get well soon and carry me in your arms again, I miss that so much." Frema saw the tears the little girl held back and she wanted to lean forward and gather the child in her arms. Tell her it's okay and that she was here for her. Instead of doing that at the moment, she took the girl's right palm in hers and squeezed softly, reassuringly. Halsey squeezed back gratefully.
"Mommy is getting better, beautiful. I'll be back before you know it and I'll give you the best piggyback rides again, just how you like it." Riley assured her, inserting an empty note of laughter at the end. When the call finally came to an end, Halsey wore a smile until they all headed for school and work.
—————
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy please don't go. Daddy, I miss you so much already. No!"
"... Josh!" Frema shook the sweating boy awake finally. It took a while for him to realize where he was and after he did, he broke down in tears, hugging his mother tightly. She held him against her, whilst her heart kept thrumming against her chest.
"You're okay. I promise, you're fine." She assured him, amidst back rubs. He sniffed and finally started talking,
"Daddy died. Mom, I saw dad dying." He sobbed like it was a painful experience he never wanted to bring up ever again. Her fingers froze at his back but after a while she resumed rubbing. "He told me he didn't have us anymore and he wanted to leave. He shoved me back because I wanted to follow him down the dark road. He went alone in there and suddenly..." Josh trailed off and pulled away from his mother's embrace. She allowed him, only to place her hands on either sides of his cheeks to tell him,
"If it's too hard for you to say, you can just tell me tomorrow or whenever you're ready. You can go back to sleep." Josh shook his head no.
"I'll tell you." He said with determination and Frema rubbed his cheeks once and finally let go of him, allowing him space to talk as they entwined their fingers instead. He continued, "... he was alone in there and suddenly.. s-suddenly someone just came out of nowhere and snapped him in half. There was blood everywhere, mummy. He told me goodbye, his eyes were filled with so much tears." He explained. Frema wiped the under of her eyes frantically. Why was she crying? She questioned herself, not wanting to make peace with the true answer to her question.
"Oh, Joshie, it was just a dream." She assured him, rubbing her thumbs over his palms as a way to comfort him. He shrugged.
"I guess. But it looked so real, mommy. Is daddy okay?" Josh asked curiously. Frema just nodded absentmindedly. "Can we see him?" The young boy prodded further.
"Yeah mommy, can we?" Drake asked from the side of his bed. She snapped her head to his direction.
"And why are you not asleep, young man?" Frema's motherly instincts kicked in immediately. He pouted, but did not close his eyes. They both waited for her answer. But how could she relay it to them that according to the news, the doctors confirmed that Eron had barely fifteen percent chance of living—surviving the burns? How would she tell them that they had a new sibling, and it was not from her—again? How could she tell her children the truth of who their father truly was? Instead of answering them, she finally said,
"We'll play a game tomorrow to see who if you two can go see him. For the meantime, goodnight my babies." She kissed their foreheads.
"G'night, mommy." They recited reluctantly and Frema waited in their room until they were fast asleep.