The Rose of De Haas

Chapter 53: The Little Angel, the Lantern of the Heart

Little humming roses with a big smile while gently washing the tiny body of the baby with lukewarm water. With so painstaking, Mawar bathed his little whiz who was a henchman while playing the blond hair of the Rose that was left unraveled.

The singing of the Dutch song sung by Rose made the child smile so widely, as if he understood what the mother was singing.

Like the Papa, Van der Linen's son had hair as dark as the wings of a very charming crow. Her sharp nose is flanked by both cheeks that are very adorable, her lips red blush like fresh apple skin in summer.

Oliver van der Linen was born perfect. Presumably, God was smiling while creating Oliver.

"Oh, my dear Oliver, you are indeed a very handsome son of Mama like your Papa," murmured the Rose who was drying the body of Oliver van der Linen the baby.

Oliver, the name that had been chosen by Cecilion at that time before the death to pick him up if their son.

Meanwhile, if their daughter, they agreed to give the name Olive, both names are very beautiful and full of good meaning.

When thinking back to that time, Rose often smiled, at least she had felt so happy and loved by Cecilion the beloved soul mate.

"Have you finished bathing Oliver, ma'am?" ask Saritem who just came home from the market with hands full of groceries.

"Already, Mom. Now I sit and look after Oliver, let me cook," said Mawar, who was upset to see Saritem who had been busy since morning blind.

"No way, Madam. You just a few days ago gave birth where maybe I let you cook while squatting in front of the furnace," protested Saritem not to be outdone.

Yes, Saritem is indeed very caring and understanding like a mother makes Rose love the middle-aged woman so sincerely and vice versa.

"But, Mother, to be honest lately my feelings have become so agitated," said Mawar then invited Saritem to sit next to him.

"What seems to disturb your mind, madam?" Saritem asked back.

"I thought about the fate of my Mom and Dad in Batavia, Mom. For many years my husband and I never went to Batavia again even though we both missed our parents" said Mawar as it was, considering he and Cecilion had never set foot in Batavia since they decided to go from there to be together.

"Do I need to go there, Mother?" this time the Rose also asked for advice, making Saritem sigh in worry.

"I think that's too risky, ma'am. You could have been shot dead by Japanese soldiers if you were desperate to go to Batavia" Saritem replied trying to explain his concern.

"But, I think it would be safer if the Madam went to see Mr. Goenawan because the distance is also not so far away. I will ask someone to accompany the Lady's trip there" Saritem added.

Grandpa! Right, at that time the troubled Roses and Cecilion even went far away instead of taking refuge in Grandfather's house which should have been safer.

"Mother's right. At least if Grandpa and Grandma have nothing I will still be safer than going to Batavia," said Rose agreed.

"Yes, I think Mom was right. I must pay attention to Oliver's comfort as well during the trip."

...*****...

Heavy rain suddenly flushed the village tonight, keeping the Rose awake from her sleep.

The rose was silent, watching the slick face of Oliver who was sleeping soundly in a blue blanket knitted.

Oliver's dense strands of hair that were still so soft occasionally seemed to be blushing, blown by the wind from outside.

Now it is early morning, but the eyes of the Rose that has already opened it feels so difficult to return closed.

In silence, Rose thought back to herself everything that happened from the happy to the most painful all over again in the Rose memory of that night.

His first meeting with Cecilion while still in school that so make the Roses pounding, the moment of their marriage is very happy despite having to marry without the blessing of their respective parents until their last moments together with Cecilion all recorded clearly in the memory of the Rose to make the woman unconscious shed her tears.

What a pity, the happiness of the Van der Linen small family household could not last longer.

The pain and sadness filled the heart again until it stifled the Rose's chest, making her cry even more unstoppable.

Rose felt so hurt to accept the fact that the household she built with so much love with Cecilion had to end up being too heartbreaking a story even before Oliver was born into this world to feel her Papa's warm embrace.

The rain that should bring calm actually came by bringing back the wounds that had been trying to heal with difficulty. The painful trauma still haunts the rose when the cold of the night re-captures it as it is today.

Full of gentleness, Rose grabbed Oliver's small hand that was still asleep.

Oliver van der Linen, the child is the only purpose of the Rose to stay alive longer in order to keep his love fruit with the Cecilion van der Linen.

"Oliver, Mama's willing to do anything as long as we can keep it together. Don't let you leave Mama like you left Mama, baby. Mama does not know how it would be if the terrible thing happened again," Rose returned to monologue, looking closely at the baby.

The smooth skin of Oliver who was as white as milk made Rose feel the presence of Cecilion in this room, as if her husband was with them at this time. The Roman feathers all over the Rose's body brushed faintly in the midst of her cries, making the Rose hurriedly wipe her tears using the back of her hand.

The rose put Oliver's hand back in his blanket, keeping the child warm and his sleep undisturbed.

"Cecilion, I've managed to survive to this day and give birth to our child safely. Now can I keep my promise to you the other day?" murmured the Roses with a focused look at Cecilion's wedding ring in his grasp.

The roar of rain and the dark night sky were witnesses, that the great love of Cecilion van der Linen and his wife Mawar van der Linen will not fade even though death has separated them so cruelly.