I woke up on Die opening the curtain. A ray of sunlight stunk my eyes. "Morning," I said, even I was not sure whether it's morning or noon.
"Morning, Lish. How're you today?" She came over, sitting on the bed, close to me.
"I guess I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I tried to sit, and I could do it by myself. It's an indicator of how fine I was. Thank God.
"Water?" She handed me a glass full which I took then sipping it up. The water was so fresh. "Care for lunch downstairs?" She proposed that I answered with nods.
______
"So. You'll stay here as long as the treatments going, am I right?" Bu Dhe asked me while we're on the dinning table.
"Yes, Bu Dhe. I hope you wouldn't be bothered by me."
"Oh, ofcourse not, Sweety. It's been your home from long ago." She smiled at me reassuringly. But the smile faded a little.
"What's wrong, Ma? You've always excited every time you see Lish. Anything you'd like to say, Ma?" Dipta pushed down the food he was chewing with few gulps of water. Then, a seriousness painted his face.
"It's really nothing, dear." She paused her hand from scooping her soup. "My only concern is both of you and your trauma with this place might become an obstacle."
"That.."
"It won't, Ma," Dipta cut me out. He glanced at me, "It won't."
"Then, you can stay as long as you like." Smile came to Bu Dhe's mouth again. She knew better to not argue with Dipta, his only son. All of us knew.
"And, Mrs. Dubois. I will be with them. You can count on me." Die chimed in.
"Oh, Ashley. You really are their baby sitter." Bu Dhe chuckled.
"They are my huge babies." Die's grin lifted up the mood. Then the rest of the lunch time went so smoothly. We just exchange stories and laughs.
______
On the evening, Bu Dhe had to come back to the main house. She should catch a plane to Italy the next morning. So the three of us were standing on the porch, seeing her off.
"I hope I can help you more, Sweetheart." She hugged me, patting my back.
"Allowing me to stay here is more than enough, Bu Dhe." I hugged her back.
"My prayers will be with you in your journey to be cured. Health will be yours soon." She squeezed my hands, sending in her prayer to me.
"Amen and thank you, Bu Dhe. I really appreciate it." A warm feeling fulfilled my heart. She is my second mom, after all.
Bu Dhe faced Die, her hands still on mine.
"Rest assured, Mrs. Dubois. I will give you updates." Die's word elicited another chuckle from Bu Dhe.
"Oh. Why now I feel like I want to have two daughters? Do you want to be my daughter too, Ashley?" Bu Dhe caressed Die's hair.
"Ma. It's time," Dipta came over and placed his hand on Bu Dhe's shoulder.
"Hey. I'm saying good bye to my daughters," She joked then laughed when Dipta rolled his eyes. "I'm counting on you." Die got a wink from her.
______
Inside the moving car, Mrs. Dubois was massaging her temple. The old driver noticed it and took a glance from the rear view mirror.
"Something happened, Madam?" His tone was between a question and a statement.
"No, Yono. Not really." Mrs. Dubois looked over the window. The swerving road showed the entire farm land her husband own. She could see every places where her late daughter had spent a great amount of times in a short life span.
