Patience Heart

Mathias's Plan

Three months had passed since Luna came into my life, and every day with her was a reminder of how much had changed. I watched her tiny chest rise and fall as she slept, her peaceful little face framed by soft tufts of dark hair. She was a beautiful, perfect little girl, and I could barely wrap my mind around the fact that I was her father. My heart swelled with a warmth I hadn't known I could feel. It was a feeling I had never quite experienced before—a feeling of deep responsibility, but also immense love.

So this is what it feels like to have a daughter in my life.

Viola had given me a gift beyond anything I ever imagined—a family. Timmy, with his boundless energy and curious questions, had already grown so close to me. And now Luna, so tiny and fragile, had completed that circle. I loved them both fiercely. I loved Viola too, more than I could express. And now, there was something I needed to do to make it official.

I glanced over at Viola, sitting beside me on the couch, her eyes fixed on Luna. She looked tired but content, the soft glow of motherhood radiating from her. There were shadows under her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights spent nursing Luna or comforting Timmy when he had one of his bad dreams. But still, she smiled softly as she watched her daughter.

The decision I'd made was clear to me. I wanted to marry her, to be there for both her and Luna as much as I had been from the start. We had built a life together, even if we hadn't done everything in the traditional order. We had the children, we had a home, and we had each other. But before I could ask her, I had to return to South Korea, to see my family.

I had spent weeks planning my proposal, going over every detail of how I would ask her, imagining the look on her face when I finally said out loud what I had been feeling for months. But as much as I wanted to make Viola my wife, I knew that my parents needed to know first. In Korean culture, family held an enormous weight, and I had always been close to mine. My family traditions were important, and before I could move forward, I needed their blessing. That meant traveling back to Seoul.

I had been avoiding this conversation for a while now, knowing it wasn't going to be easy. Viola and I had talked about the possibility of marriage before, but I hadn't mentioned anything about my family. It wasn't that I didn't want them involved—it was just that things were complicated. My family didn't even know I had two children now. I hadn't told them yet, not because I was ashamed, but because I wanted to do it in person. This wasn't something I could explain over the phone.

Viola looked up at me, her warm brown eyes filled with curiosity. She had noticed my silence, the way I had been distracted lately. "What's on your mind, Mathias?" she asked, her voice gentle but tinged with concern.

I hesitated, running a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. It's time.

"Viola, there's something I need to talk to you about."

Her expression shifted, a flicker of worry crossing her face. "What is it? Is everything okay?"

I reached for her hand, taking it in mine, feeling the familiar warmth of her skin. "Everything's fine, I promise. But... I need to go back to Korea for a bit. There's some urgent family business I need to take care of."

"Korea?" she repeated, her brow furrowing. "For how long?"

"I'm not sure yet," I admitted, feeling a pang of guilt as I saw the uncertainty in her eyes. "Maybe a week. I need to speak with my parents about something important."

She nodded slowly, processing the information. I could see the gears turning in her head, trying to understand what I wasn't saying. "Family business?" she asked softly, but there was an underlying hint of something more in her voice—something like fear. "It's not something bad, is it?"

"No, no," I said quickly, squeezing her hand. "It's nothing like that. I just... need to talk to them about us."

She didn't say anything for a moment, and I could see the realization dawning on her. "You're going to tell them about me and the children?"

I nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes. I want them to meet you both, eventually. But first, I need to explain everything to them. And... I want their blessing before I ask you to marry me."

Viola's eyes widened in surprise, her hand flying to her mouth. "Mathias, are you...?"

"I love you, Viola," I interrupted gently, watching as her expression softened, her eyes glistening with emotion. "I want to be with you and the children forever. But before I can take that step, I need to make sure I have my family's approval. I owe them that."

A smile crept onto her face, though her eyes were still shimmering with unshed tears. "I understand. But, Mathias... You don't have to do this for them. You've already done so much for me and the children."

"I know," I said softly, cupping her cheek in my hand, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath my palm. "But this is important to me. My family will love you, I know it. I just need to make things right with them first."

She leaned into my touch, closing her eyes for a brief moment. "Okay," she whispered. "Go. We'll be fine here. Just promise you'll come back soon."

"I promise," I said, my voice firm and steady. "I'll be back before you know it."

The days leading up to my departure felt surreal. The closer I got to leaving, the more I realized how hard it was going to be to say goodbye. I had gotten so used to being with Viola and the children every day that the thought of being apart from them, even for a short time, filled me with an ache I hadn't anticipated.

The day of my flight came faster than I expected. I hated the idea of leaving Viola and the children, even if it was just for a week. I knew they would be fine without me, but it still felt wrong to leave them behind. At the airport, I held Luna in my arms, her tiny fingers grasping at my shirt as she stared up at me with her big, innocent eyes. She didn't understand that I was leaving, and in a way, that made it harder.

Viola stood beside me, Timmy clinging to her leg. He was old enough to understand that I was going somewhere far away, and his little face was scrunched up in sadness. "Are you really leaving, Appa?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

I knelt down to his level, placing my hands on his small shoulders. "Yes, buddy, I have to go for a little while. But I'll be back soon. I promise."

He looked at me with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Promise?"

I nodded, trying to hold back the lump in my throat. "I swear. And when I come back, we'll do something fun, okay? Just you, me, and Luna."

He sniffed, wiping his nose with the back of his hand, then nodded reluctantly. "Okay."

I stood up, shifting Luna in my arms before leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. She made a soft cooing sound, and I felt my heart squeeze in my chest. "Appa will be back," I whispered, though it felt like I was saying it more to myself than to her.

Handing Luna back to Viola, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. Her body fit perfectly against mine, and for a moment, I didn't want to let go. "Take care of them while I'm gone, okay?"

"You know I will," she whispered into my shoulder, her voice thick with emotion. "I love you, Mathias."

"I love you too," I said, kissing the top of her head. "I'll call you as soon as I land."

With one last look at my family, I turned and walked toward the departure gate. Each step felt heavy, my heart pulling me back to them with each passing second. But I kept walking, knowing that this was the right thing to do. I had to do this—for Viola, for the children, and for myself.

As I boarded the plane, I thought about the life we were building together, about the future I wanted for us. I didn't just want to be a father to Luna or a protector to Timmy. I wanted to be Viola's partner, her husband, for the rest of my life.

This trip to South Korea was the final piece of the puzzle. Once I had my family's blessing, nothing would stand in the way of making that future a reality.