Amanda and Andrew got back from school at night. Amanda sat beside Jayden’s bed and folded a paper crane with a piece of colour paper, “Our art teacher taught us this.”
“Yeah?” Jayden stroked Amanda’s hair, “Did you master it?”
“Not yet. Our teacher’s is nicer,” Amanda looked concentrated in folding her paper crane.
“I believe you’re going to master it.”
Amanda looked up and said, “Grandpa, I’m going to fold a lot of these.”
“Why?” asked Jayden.
Jayden was leaning on the bedside. He looked pale and weak.
“Legend has it that if we fold a thousand paper cranes with all our heart, it will bring blessing and good luck for the person we love. I wanted to give you a thousand paper cranes so that you’d recover faster.” Amanda said earnestly.
Jayden felt warm. Amanda had been getting better at making people happy, “Where did you hear it from? Don’t learn all these nonsenses.”
“Our art teacher told us when she taught us how to fold paper cranes. Is she teaching nonsense? Then, I won’t listen to her, and I’m not going to do my homework anymore.” Amanda was smart. Jayden said in a loving tone, “No, I was wrong. It’s not nonsenses.”
Amanda blinked her eyes and looked at Jayden earnestly, “Grandpa, I’ll pray hard for your fast recovery.”
Jayden had nothing that he couldn’t let go of. Three of his grandsons were his only concern. Victoria wanted to see them going to school and Victoria giving birth when she was alive, but she didn’t get to see all of these events.
“I’ll go hand hang it up,” Amanda used a thin thread to hang the paper cranes onto the curtain.
Dolores walked in with Joshua in her arms. She quickly came to help Amanda when she saw her stepping on the chair to hang the paper cranes onto the curtain, “Be careful.”
“I’m fine. I’m all grown up,” Amanda got down and asked Dolores, “Mommy, did you bring Joshua to come and see grandpa?”
Dolores nodded, “Yes, your little brother misses his grandpa.”
“Hey,” Amanda pinched Joshua’s cheek, “His cheeks are soft.”
Dolores patted away Amanda’s hand, “Don’t pinch his cheek. He’ll drool all over.”
Amanda pouted and left the room.
Amanda saw Matthew when she walked out of the room and was about to shut the door. She called Matthew in a sweet tone, “Daddy.”
Matthew answered her and said, “Go play with your brother in the living hall.”
“I don’t want to play with him. He’s a bore,” Amanda then headed back into her room.
Andrew was a clever child. There were only two people in the house who didn’t know what was going on with Jayden- Amanda and Joshua. Andrew felt sad. He used to be a quiet person, and now he didn’t even want to speak at all.
Amanda said Andrew was acting to be mature.
Andrew ignored Amanda’s comment.
Matthew shut the door and walked towards Jayden’s bed. He pulled a chair over and sat beside Dolores.
Jayden didn’t like to carry Joshua after he got sick. Jayden’s illness wasn’t contagious, but he still felt worried that the bacteria on him would affect Joshua’s health.
Joshua was so tiny, and he had weak immunity.
“Why did you bring him here. Stay away from me,” Jayden stopped Dolores.
Dolores said, “Matthew and I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
Jayden looked at Matthew.
“Matthew and I have decided to send Joshua to Armand and Theresa. They’ll adopt him,” said Dolores.
Jayden looked down for a while. Then, he looked at Joshua. Jayden said, “He’s your child. You should make the decision. I’ve no comment.”
Jayden reached out his hand, and Joshua caught his finger immediately. Then, Joshua laughed.
“It’s for the best.”
Jayden was ill, but he knew better. He understood why Matthew and Dolores made that decision.
“You’re their only daughter. Joshua took your father’s surname, and he’s going to take over your family business. It’s a good thing. I didn’t get to meet them when they were alive, but I could help you to give them a message if I meet them in the afterlife.”
Jayden sounded soft and weak.
Gloominess filled the air in the room, especial when Matthew and Dolores heard the last sentence Jayden said. They chatted for a while until Jayden told them that he felt tired. Dolores and Matthew then left the room for Jayden to rest.
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