Chapter 296
Oliver was engrossed in his comic book, his face frozen for a moment before he casually replied, "Sure."
"You'll be under anesthesia, so you won't feel a thing."
"Mommy, I'm a little superhero. Superheroes don't feel pain, right? It's just a small surgery, right? I'll be fine after a nap, won't I?"
Susan's eyes welled up with tears. "Yes. It's a small surgery. You'll be fine."
The surgery would go smoothly, and Oliver would be healthy again. It had to.
"Mommy, did you knit this hat for me?"
Oliver tried it on.
"Isn't it a bit small?" Susan chuckled through her tears. "I haven't finished it yet, only halfway done."
Oliver knew that, but he wanted to distract his mother, to ease her worries and pain.
He knew his condition was not as simple as his mother thought. He could sense it from the concerned looks of the doctors and nurses, but he believed he could get through it because he had to take care of his mother for a lifetime.
"You've been knitting all day, Mom. Take a break. Don't overwork yourself."
"I'm just not good at it. I wanted to give it to you as a Christmas gift, but now it'll have to be a New Year's gift."
"Then you'll have to work hard for the New Year's gift, Mom. As long as it's something you made, I'll wear it forever."
"Oliver." Susan couldn't help but embrace her thoughtful son. "I'm sorry... I love you so much."
Only a mother could understand this feeling. No words could fully describe it.
"I love you too, Mommy." Oliver gave her a big kiss.
"It's already ten o'clock. You should get ready for bed," Susan said as she got up to close the window, only to find it snowing again.
She gazed out at the garden, empty and lonely in the dim light. Her eyes darkened. Then she chuckled self-deprecatingly.
What was she expecting? Was she expecting Caleb to come through the snow and spend Christmas Eve with them?
Christmas Eve was for family, and he already had his own. She shouldn't have had such expectations. She should never have had any hopes for him...
However, her emotions were inexplicably low. "Uncle!" Oliver exclaimed in surprise. Susan turned around.
Caleb was standing at the door, his tall, slender figure towering, his black coat dusted with snow, and his hands full of gifts.
Susan's heart skipped a beat, racing and seemingly stopping, her body trembling. How did he come? Her pupils dilated as she looked at him in astonishment.
"Merry Christmas," Caleb said, his frozen face beaming with a smile.
"Uncle!" Oliver exclaimed in delight, jumping out of bed.
Caleb took off his coat and walked over to hug him. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Uncle," Oliver said, not asking why he had come, as happy as a jumping penguin.
"I bought a cake. Let's eat it together." Caleb turned to Susan with a smile. Susan's heart clenched even tighter, and she suddenly didn't know how to respond, her whole body numb. Should she ask him to leave? But she couldn't bear to disappoint Oliver. Should she spend Christmas with him? What did that mean? What were they to each other? She would feel ashamed as if she were stealing someone else's husband and father.
"Come on."
Susan felt helpless, unable to think, and she instinctively walked over.
"How did you come?" her voice trembled.
"Santa Claus came to bring gifts," Caleb said, his smile warm, just like it was four years ago, no, even gentler than four years ago. Becoming a father had made him more tender than before.
"Thank you, Uncle," Oliver said happily, then couldn't wait to open it. "Wow, it's Iron Man, so cool!" Susan was taken aback. Iron Man was Oliver's favorite hero, and he often said that Iron Man was his dad. Was this what they called a... father-son bond?
"As long as you like it."
"This is your gift," Caleb said, handing it to her. Susan hesitated for a moment before whispering her thanks and taking it.
"Mommy, open it quickly," Oliver urged, holding onto Iron Man.
Susan hadn't received a gift in years, and her heart was beating faster, her cheeks uncontrollably heating up.
A red scarf, not too thin or thick, with an exquisite texture that warmed her whole hand.
"Mommy, this scarf is so beautiful. Put it on quickly."
"Not now."
"Please, Mommy. You'll look so pretty in this scarf."
"Try it on," Caleb said, gently gazing at her. Susan moved her lips.
"Let me help you." Caleb took the scarf and tied it for her.
"Wow! It's so beautiful, and it has a Christmas vibe.
"My mommy is the most beautiful in the world," Oliver exclaimed.
Caleb stood behind Susan, brushing her hair out of the scarf, and letting it fall gently on her cheeks. With her hair down, she exuded a gentle femininity, and she looked younger and more serene.
Caleb couldn't help but be captivated. He was willing to spend his whole life looking at this face.
There was an air of ambiguity...
Susan blushed with a charming shade of pink, and her ears felt warm.
"Thank you."
"Let's have some cake," Susan said, in a hurry to cut the cake and create some distance from Caleb.
His presence was intoxicating, clouding her thoughts. Just as Susan moved away and took a deep breath, Caleb walked back to her side.
"Let's light the candles first."
The cake was a Christmas-themed red and green. Caleb placed the Santa Claus candles on the cake. Susan cooperatively turned off the wall lamp, leaving only the shimmering and flickering candlelight.
"Make a wish."
Oliver put his hands together and silently whispered. He opened his eyes and blew out the candles.
"Merry Christmas!" The ward was filled with the joyful laughter of Oliver, dispelling the previous silence and creating a cheerful atmosphere.
Oliver wrapped his arms around Susan and then around Caleb, giving his mother a big kiss on the cheek before turning to Caleb.
"Uncle, you're so tall. I'll be tall too, right?"
"Yes, you will." Caleb looked into his son's eyes from up close, feeling a magical connection.
Although he and his son had been separated for four years before just recently getting in touch, they seemed to have been together for a long time, without needing any time to accept and adapt.
Oliver was his son, his precious one for a lifetime. The three of them finished the cake. That night, Oliver laughed and laughed, and Susan laughed along. Watching the father and son having so much fun, she suddenly felt a tinge of sadness. She owed her son too much...
"It's late, Oliver. Time for bed," Susan said, putting down the hat. "You've had a great time today."
"I'm happy, and Mommy is happy too, right?" Oliver's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Yes. If Oliver is happy, Mommy is happy." Caleb gazed at Susan, thinking, 'I'm happy when you're happy.'
Only when he was with her, his heart became soft and gentle. Only when he was with her, he was completely relaxed and happy. Oliver obediently lay down under the covers, his big eyes looking expectantly at Caleb. "Uncle, will you stay with me tonight?"