“She’s told me that everything I’d need to know about Charlie and Maisie has been written down and saved in an envelope in her purse. She kept it with her just in case she collapsed and didn’t recover.” Colin took Jaqueline’s hands in his, and she didn’t pull back but rather clung to him. “Have you ever felt as if you’ve dreamed what’s happening in real life? Like you always knew it would take place… that it felt right somehow? I know it sounds crazy, but even in my dreams, I’ve known I’d be a dad. When I look at Charlie and Maisie, those two loving hearts that care so much about their mom, it seems perfectly natural for me to be the one they turn to. Do I sound like a lunatic?”
Jaqueline lifted their clutched hands and squeezed. “Nope. Know what? It sounds perfect… perfectly logical. I think our being there at just the right time to save them was meant to be. And I want to do whatever I can to help.”
Colin’s stare became heated with a wonderful kind of gentleness, and Jaqueline felt her heart swell. She meant every word she said.
“Even in Vancouver when we get home?”
“Of course, I’ll be there for you and the kids as much as I can be.” Obliging herself to their shared commitment, she felt absolutely justified until she remembered her mother… the sad, lonely hypochondriac who insisted she spend most of her free time at home.
Chapter Five
Gisele sensed her fight to live was ending… fading along with her strength. Over these last few hours, her energy had all but drained away. Obviously, the episode earlier had weakened her severely and could be a factor for her present condition, but if the truth were known, these last few days she’d sensed the sickness invading her body had become a greater issue.
Ugly symptoms showed up when she least expected them. Thankfully, she’d been able to make it to the bathroom in time, shielding the kids from seeing her so pitifully nauseated. Fact is the sudden need to be sick had taken her away from them when the accident had happened. There hadn’t been time to make them come with her. Yet who would have thought that such a freak disaster could happen in those few minutes?
The thought of her kids being trapped and dying under a huge pile of suffocating snow couldn’t be borne. If it hadn’t been for Jaqueline and Colin, they’d be dead, and she’d be responsible.That would surely have drained away her final breath. Without them, she’d have nothing left to fight for.
But things were different now. The need to find them a home had become essential. No more procrastinating. Her final hours had all but sifted through the hourglass. Pleas to the Almighty for Colin to come through as their savior made her hands clasp in a prayerlike way.
“Mom. What’s wrong?” Charlie, who always knew her moods, and eerily, often read her mind, questioned her. “You need to be honest. You’re really sick, aren’t you?” Gisele guided Maisie to cuddle closer, and she turned to Charlie pleadingly. “Truth?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Then you’re right. I probably won’t make it out of the hospital alive.” She saw the panic spread over his face and flinched with the pain of knowing she couldn’t lie any longer… couldn’t reassure him that they would be fine, couldn’t do what she’d been doing for weeks now. “Listen. I’ve asked Colin to look after you and Maisie. To be your guardian. He’s talking it over with Jaqueline right now.”
“That’s why you were praying?”
“Yes. That he’ll agree to help us.”
Gisele watched her young boy fight to stop the tears clouding his vision. He took a deep breath and cleared his throat before speaking. “Can I do anything?” Charlie, old for his age, understood their position almost immediately and said the perfect thing to make it easier for her. Rather than crying and fighting the inevitable, he understood that for him and Maisie to stay together, they would need not only a guardian but a guardian angel. “Tell me what to do.”
“Maybe you could assure him that you’ll be a good boy and Maisie will behave. Tell him that you’ve been brought up properly and know right from wrong… that he’ll never have to worry. You are a wonderful son. I taught you how to behave.Both of you. You’ve made me so proud.” She clasped Charlie’s hand and kissed it. “Baby, he has to agree. I don’t know what else we can do.” The tears flowed down her cheeks, a river streaming from both bleary, red-blotched eyes. “You know how much I love you kids. You’re both perfect.” She pushed gently at Charlie. “Go and tell him you’ll—”
Before Gisele could finish her sentence, a look of pain shot over her face and her body stiffened. Machines around her bed began to make a lot of noise, bringing Jaqueline running.
Plucking Maisie from Gisele’s arms, she handed her to Colin and shooed Charlie over so she could get close to the patient. Suddenly, the woman’s eyes shot open, and she whispered a plea. “Take them.”
Unwilling to torture the poor dying woman, Jaqueline put her lips close to Gisele’s ear and whispered.
“We’ll look after them, darling. Don’t fret.”
“Bless you… both. Thank y—” Before she could finish her reply, the nurses arrived but it was too late. Gisele had passed. The peaceful smile on her face – a tribute to the relief Jaqueline’s words had given the poor soul.
Charlie’s mournful shout, “No… Maman?” overrode the other sounds heard in the room. Maisie’s sudden look of terror brought her brother close, putting his arms around her, shielding her while the panicked child clung to him. “Charlie. Is Maman okay?”
Charlie’s tear-filled face looked down at her. “No, Maisie. She’s gone.”
Not understanding, Maisie cried, “Will she come back and take us home soon. I want to go home.” Now she began to cry, wailing her shock and fear loudly. Colin quickly picked her up and held her close, swaying from side to side. “Don’t cry, sunshine. Colin’s here. I’ll take care of you.”
Jaqueline turned from Gisele’s bed, walked to Charlie, and crouched down. “She’d be so proud of you guys, holding it together like this. But, honey, it’s okay to cry.”
Gulping, holding in his grief, Charlie shook his head and looked her in the eyes, his engulfed in pain. “What happens now? Is Colin going to adopt us? If so, I promised Maman that we’ll be good like she taught us and do what he says.”
Chapter Six
Colin had no idea what would happen next. They had thought Gisele would have longer so they could get an attorney to her bedside in order for her to sign documents. Now, the planned arrangements couldn’t go forward.
The doctor in charge of Gisele’s case approached… his hand extended. “I’m Doctor Palen. I’m sorry for your loss. Are you a relative of the deceased?”
