Page 76 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“Yes. Please.”
“Then you’re right. I probably won’t make it out of the hospital alive.” She saw the panic spread over his face and flinched with the pain of knowing she couldn’t lie any longer… couldn’t reassure him that they would be fine, couldn’t do what she’d been doing for weeks now. “Listen. I’ve asked Colin to look after you and Maisie. To be your guardian. He’s talking it over with Jaqueline right now.”
“That’s why you were praying?”
“Yes. That he’ll agree to help us.”
Gisele watched her young boy fight to stop the tears clouding his vision. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat before speaking. “Can I do anything?” Charlie, old for his age, understood their position almost immediately and said the perfect thing to make it easier for her. Rather than crying and fighting the inevitable, he understood that for him and Maisie to stay together, they would need not only a guardian but a guardian angel. “Tell me what to do.”
“Maybe you could assure him that you’ll be a good boy and Maisie will behave. Tell him that you’ve been brought up properly and know right from wrong… that he’ll never have to worry. You are a wonderful son. I taught you how to behave.Both of you. You’ve made me so proud.” She clasped Charlie’s hand and kissed it. “Baby, he has to agree. I don’t know what else we can do.” The tears flowed down her cheeks, a river streaming from both bleary, red-blotched eyes. “You know how much I love you kids. You’re both perfect.” She pushed gently at Charlie. “Go and tell him you’ll—”
Before Gisele could finish her sentence, a look of pain shot over her face and her body stiffened. Machines around her bed began to make a lot of noise, bringing Jaqueline running.
Plucking Maisie from Gisele’s arms, she handed her to Colin and shooed Charlie over so she could get close to the patient. Suddenly, the woman’s eyes shot open, and she whispered a plea. “Take them.”
Unwilling to torture the poor dying woman, Jaqueline put her lips close to Gisele’s ear and whispered.
“We’ll look after them, darling. Don’t fret.”
“Bless you… both. Thank y—” Before she could finish her reply, the nurses arrived but it was too late. Gisele had passed. The peaceful smile on her face – a tribute to the relief Jaqueline’s words had given the poor soul.
Charlie’s mournful shout, “No… Maman?” overrode the other sounds heard in the room. Maisie’s sudden look of terror brought her brother close, putting his arms around her, shielding her while the panicked child clung to him. “Charlie. Is Maman okay?”
Charlie’s tear-filled face looked down at her. “No, Maisie. She’s gone.”
Not understanding, Maisie cried, “Will she come back and take us home soon. I want to go home.” Now she began to cry, wailing her shock and fear loudly. Colin quickly picked her up and held her close, swaying from side to side. “Don’t cry, sunshine. Colin’s here. I’ll take care of you.”
Jaqueline turned from Gisele’s bed, walked to Charlie, and crouched down. “She’d be so proud of you guys, holding it together like this. But, honey, it’s okay to cry.”
Gulping, holding in his grief, Charlie shook his head and looked her in the eyes, his engulfed in pain. “What happens now? Is Colin going to adopt us? If so, I promised Maman that we’ll be good like she taught us and do what he says.”
Chapter Six
Colin had no idea what would happen next. They had thought Gisele would have longer so they could get an attorney to her bedside in order for her to sign documents. Now, the planned arrangements couldn’t go forward.
The doctor in charge of Gisele’s case approached… his hand extended. “I’m Doctor Palen. I’m sorry for your loss. Are you a relative of the deceased?”
Unable to lie, Colin hesitated but finally admitted, “No. Not really. She wanted me to be the guardian for the kids, but we ran out of time to sign the papers. What’ll happen now? Can I just take them back to their house and get a lawyer to begin the proceedings for me to have the children?”
Colin’s reply obviously shocked the doctor, and it took him a minute to reply. “I don’t know what happens in situations like these. I’m afraid we’ll have to contact child services.”
Colin’s heart thudded painfully. “Exactly what Gisele didn’t want. Look, it’s imperative the children stay together. Couldn’tmy friend,” he pointed at Jaqueline, “who by the way is a nurse, keep them at their home? They’re both devasted and being with strangers is the worst possible thing for them right now. Of course, I’d leave the hospital my phone number and the address.”
Suddenly, Charlie appeared. “Please let us go home with Uncle Colin. It’s what Maman said, and what Maisie and I want more than anything.”
“Uncle Colin? I thought you weren’t related.”
Charlie piped up. “Not by blood but he’s like an uncle. Maman wanted us to stay with him. And Maisie needs Jaqueline. She’s pretty and-and nice.”
The doctor’s face blanched. His expression of sympathy changed to confusion. “I suppose it’ll be okay. Leave the address and phone number with the front desk. Also, we’ll need arrangements to be made for Mrs. Tremblay’s body.”
“Yes. I’ll take care of it once the children are home and away from this place. I promise.”
Colin swiftly turned to Jaqueline and watched as Charlie purposely leaned against her and took her hand while staring unwaveringly at the man in the white coat… daring him to argue. The little trooper intended to have his way and was doing everything to make sure they won the battle. Colin hid the smile that threatened and began to walk to the elevator.
Not wanting to give Dr. Palin time to change his mind, he cuddled Maisie, glad when Jaqueline and Charlie followed close behind.
Once the kids were safely in the backseat of his car, he leaned in before Jaqueline shut her door. “I have to go back inside to leave the information like I promised the doctor. I turned on the heater so it should warm up in here soon but in case you need them, here’s the keys. I’ll try and be quick.”
