The Steel-Cared Rose

The Memories

After school, Callista finds a chocolate cake in the fridge.

His father took it out and put it on the dining table for them to enjoy together.

Callista suddenly cried. Her tears flowed hard.

His father hugged his body tightly, "Why is big brother crying? Today is my brother's sixteenth birthday? Brother is already big. Can't be whiny!" Wipe her father stroking her daughter's hair gently.

"The cake is like a mother's." Callista's cry broke again.

"Sister, many can make chocolate cake like this."

"But it looks a lot like this, pa! I miss my mom very much. When is Mom with us again? Has Grandma not healed yet? Why didn't grandma stay with us and take care of us together? Or move the hospital near us so that mom can go back and forth to the hospital. Don't have to leave us like this."

Dylan's eyes are heating up. She also misses Sinta as much as her children. Probably more than all of them. But he can't do anything. Dean asks Sinta to come back with him. They also have a son.

There was no way Sinta could return to her and her children. Unbeknownst to his children. Every now and then Dylan to Indonesia sees Sinta from afar. Let go of his longing and also monitor his current life.

Which amused Dylan. Dean takes good care of Sinta but Sinta's face does not radiate happiness.

Is Sinta still thinking about it and their children?

Love a kind, gentle and loving woman. Dylan fell in love without realizing it. A strong feeling of wanting to protect her from anything gave birth to such a strong feeling of love.

He didn't mean to take it from Dean. It was very difficult and that was the only way he could do it.

Who would have thought Dean could find them by accident?

"Sister, don't be sad. Papa is sad. We can't just move Grandma's hospital. If it doesn't fit how? It can be fatal for grandma. You're patient, aren't you?"

Callista nodded his head. Her tears are back. He was crying in his father's arms.

"Sister miss mama."

"We all miss Mama. But we have to be patient. Mom is taking care of Grandma."

Callista nodded his head.

"So, I don't want to eat the cake." Callista Sahut.

"We pray together, brother?"

Callista nodded his head.

Callista celebrates his birthday with his family. They sang birthday songs, blew out candles and prayed.

His father and his brothers will give gifts. Since her mother left. He never received a gift from his mother again. All birthday gifts from his mother are kept neat as a memento.

Shappire gave her a letter, "I knew you'd love it. Your favorite color and picture are so beautiful."

"Yeah!" Callista hugged and kissed Sapphire's cheek, "Thanks!"

Keanu offered a gift. Callista. Framed photo of Callista.

"Congratulations, Kean. That's great."

Keanu laughed, "I'm glad you like it."

"Yeah! A lot!"

His father's turn gave him a gift in the form of a small box.

"Is this pa?"

"Just open it."

Callista opened it and his face was wide.

"Thanks, mom! Motorcycle lock?"

"In a minute you can have a sim. I thought I'd buy you from now on. You can practice using it."

Callista hugged her father. 

Another prize was given to Callista. Every year they get an extra gift.

"Additional gifts?"

"Yeah! Because you're a good boy, you're diligent in your studies and you always obey your parents and teachers."

Callista smiled happily. Open the wrapped gift in a very large box. It's a beautiful dress.

"You're an adult. It is time to wear fashionable and girly clothes. You can wear it if you get a birthday party invitation from your friend. Or on your seventeenth birthday. I meant to celebrate for you."

Callista slid in his father's arms. His father's full attention to them all made him touched.

His father also dedicated his life to him, his younger siblings and his food business.

Many were after his father but his father did not care about him. Even one of the mothers of her widowed schoolmates divorced her friend's father. Brightly showing his love for his father but being pushed aside.

Start greeting. Giving food. Inviting her father to spend time together.

Callista himself certainly did not want to have another mother but saw his father alone take care of them all. His heart is often heartless and will not blame if his father remarries. 

She felt her mother would be able to understand and would not blame her father if she remarried. In her shadow, her mother was a very understanding woman. His memory of his mother is excellent.  Not only very attentive but also understanding.

Their days are filled with happiness. They miss those moments.

"Pa, Sharifah's mother asked you. Me and Sharifah were good friends. He's my good friend. His mother was very good too. His parents divorced because his father wanted to be polygamous and his mother rejected him."

"What does this have to do with me?" His father was indifferent.

"If you marry again. I'm sure Mama won't mind. You can have two wives."

"Your friend's mother refuses to be polygamous but can accept that I am polygamist?" Her father laughed.

"The polygamy is different, pa.".

"How different?"

"Mom should take care of grandma."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"I think it's different and you can tell Sharifah's mother first, if she comes back. Mom is still papa's wife. How's it?"

"My mind has been consumed taking care of you and your sisters. I haven't done it."

"The mother of Sharifah invited us to their family event. Meet with his grandparents and cousins and uncles and aunts."

"I'm not thinking about getting married again. Moreover, your friend's mother divorced because she refused polygamy."

"If only, don't mind how?"

"I don't want to add to my mind's burden. I've been comfortable and happy like this."

"I feel sorry to see you alone."

"I'm not alone. It's you, your brothers and my employees."

"Whatever papa. But if papa wants to marry again. I don't mind."

"All right! Sweet child. My mind is still full of memories of your mother. I don't think it'll be fair if I get married again."

"I don't think anyone can forget the good times with mom."

"Yeah!"

"Can my sisters and I meet my mother and grandmother?"

"Sadly, I can't. I'm sorry!"

"It's okay. I'm just asking."

"I know you miss your mother a lot. But your mother really can't be bothered at all."

"Did mom miss us all?"

"of course. He'll never forget us for a second."

Callista hugged his father and cried in his father's arms.

Their family life is so beautiful. Full of love and comfort. 

The moments they spent together. Study and work with their mother and father, alternately.

His mother's busy kitchen cooking food for all of them. Gardening even florist shops and the crops and livestock they have.

His mother's face and voice were still deeply embedded in his mind.