Eunice looked at granny Mila to see if she can decipher what she is planning. It is rare for her to request a time off from her children and grandchildren since she understood how busy they are with their work and private life.
"I hate to intrude granny, the kids can be troublesome sometimes and we don't want to disturb the quite and relaxing atmosphere at the farm." I also don't you to figure out something. The last sentence was said in her mind only.
Granny Mila is very inquisitive and she was sure that it wont take a week for her to find the truth.
A truth that is better remain secret to avoid life's complication.
"We like to go to a farm mommy. We haven't visited one." Andrei said, aside from the aforementioned reason, it will be an opportunity to them to gain his father's attention.
"We did! Remember last summer we visited Apa farm and watched the cow."
"Yes, papa steve brought us, but its been a long time. We forgot about it." Eddy said with his mouth full of food.
"Eddy, what did mommy told you about eating and speaking. Finish your food first" Eunice reprimand Eddy, she is trying to do her best to teach her children proper behaviour.
"Don't talk when mouth is full. Minus handsome points for me. But mommy I'm super handsome." Eddy reasoned out, while chewing his food
"Hahaha, who told you that." Eunice cleaned Eddy's messy face with tissue. "You wont be handsome if you have bad table manner."
He swallow first then open his mouth "Ahh , Grandma told me." He smile and continue to eat his food.
"The family will take some time off as well, we can help you with the kids. Its been a while since we visit mother in the farm." Aunt Sol said excitedly, her mind is thinking of kids activities that they can do while they are at the Miller Farms.
"It will be your family vacation and the kids and I are not really.... She cant find the right word to say without sounding awkward since they are really treating her like a family. But the truth is, no matter how nice they are, they are really not related by blood. As far as she knows they didn't know the truth.
"Don't go there Euni, you know very well that we are family official or not. I don't want to hear you say otherwise." Granny Mila like Euni so much, she is kind and has good personality. With Eunice, what you see is what you get. She's the type of person that will do anything to get what she wants, a go getter. Other people misunderstood her as a spoiled princess but to her she is honest and though she has a go getter personality, she is very considerate of other people's feeling. Granny Mila is confused why Sheldon can't see what a true gem she is. Probably because they both have strong personality and Sheldon like's to be in controlled. He like's to always play prince charming and Bernice is always the damsel in distress.
If she's someone who want to practice superiority, she will have Sheldon marry Eunice instead of Bernice.
Bernice is nice but she can tell that there is something off with her personality. Well she's not doing anything wrong and Sheldon chose her so she cant do anything but to accept her in the family.
"I'll have someone pick you and the kids tomorrow. Be ready at noon." She needs to figure out what to do with this new turn of event. It is not as simple a letting someone knows as it will affects everyone.
Decision should be for the benefits of all.
******
"Mommy, are we going to stay in the farm with daddy." Eddy excitedly ask her mother. They are at the kids room, Eunice is preparing the kids clothes, for a week of vacation.
"I hope not. He might be busy with work." She is praying that this vacation will go well. It is getting harder to minimize her children interaction with the Miller. Its okay that they spend time with the grandparents but her sons also wants to spend time with their father. She can see the longing in their eyes.
"And guys, can you please stop calling him daddy, someone might hear you and we can't explain it to them. Remember he has a wife and they are planning to have their own baby. We do not want to make it hard for daddy to chose over you guys and his family. He can only be your uncle." Once again she explained it to her sons to stick to their plan and be contented with what they can get from both side of the family.
She doesn't want her sons to get used to their father and be sad when the time comes that he has his own family. To feel ignored is not a good feeling and she don't want them to feel it, when it happens.
Eunice felt bad for her sons, looking at their sad faces. "You can hug and kiss him and play with him since he can be your uncle, but minimize it." That's the only concession that she can allow since it is unavoidable. "Not too much, mommy will get jealous."
"Mommy, you're our number one love and no one can take your place." Devin hugged his mother tightly
"Promise." Eunice smile happily, her sons affections is what's making her alive. Her heart is full with the kids affection that it can burst from too much happiness.
"Yeah mommy, even if I crush Vicky, you'll be my number one love forever and ever." Said Eddy on high notes
"Hahaha, Vicky has a crush on me but I like Betty more. So you can have Vicky." Andrei said
"Then Devin can crush on Sophie."
"No, no, no, I don't crush her. Sophie has a bigger butt and she sat on my potato (turtle) that he almost die because she farted." Devin laughed and the two joined the merriment and continued with their stories from school.
******
"Mom, Dad are you sure that you don't want to go with us." They are now waiting for the driver that will bring them to the Miller Farm.
"Yes, you're dad will be tired from a long drive. Not advisable as per his doctor. When he gets better, we'll have our family own vacation. Just be back as soon as possible. I going to miss this three munchins. Come here! Give grandma a huge hug, good enough for one week." Her mother spread her arms wide to receive three adorable kids.
"Take good care of your mommy and don't make trouble for her."
"Yes, grandma." The triplets said
"Euni, its raining and it will be cold in the farm, did you prepare thick jacket for all." her mother
said, worries is evident in her voice. "We haven't shop for new clothes, for you and the boys.
"Hahaha, no worries mom, these boys are used to cold weather but we have jacket." Eunice tried to ease her mother's worries. Its been so long since she felt her mother's affection. Now that she's also a mother, she understand her worries.
"Hello! Are you all ready." Sheldon entered the living room and greeted everyone
"Da--Uncle are you here to pick us." Eddy immediately stand and go to Sheldon and hugged his legs.
"Yes, buddy! Sheldon pick up Eddy and kissed him.
"Dad!" Eddy shouted and touched his cheeks with both hands, his eyes grow bigger when he realized what he called his fake uncle.
"Duh...duh...duh" Eddy said instead of his usual Yuck or Ew expression. He also wiped his face repeatedly to show his dislike of the kiss and to cover up for his mistake.
"Uncle! He exaggerate his title "we're big boy now, we only kiss girls like mommy, we hug boys."
The two boys, just look at Sheldon and Eddy with worries and longing. With the triplets, Eddy is the most open and the sweetest. He can easily trust and befriend people.
Andrei is the serious type and more cautious. It takes several meet up before he trust someone.
Devin is more observant, if he saw that his brother is okay with someone, he can loosen up right away.
"Girls has cooties, how can I kiss them." Sheldon said to play around with Eddy.
"No, not all." Eddy said seriously "mommy doesn't have so you can kiss her. We always kiss her and we're good. No cooties." Eddy said it innocently but it makes Eunice and Sheldon stare at each other awkwardly.
"You can kiss her, so you will find out." He tried to encourage his daddy to kiss his mommy. Maybe father will love mommy again.
"We're ready." Eunice cut in, before Eddy can make their journey more awkward than how it is.
"Mina, can you help me bring the car seat to Sheldon's car." Eunice asked Mina for assistance and went to pick up one car seat.
"No need!" Sheldon stopped Eunice and Mina to bring another car seat in his car.
Eunice looked at Sheldon, she raised her eye brows for questions.
"Mother already prepared the car seat for the kids. No let me correct, she bought a new family car for the kids." Park outside is an 8 seater SUV, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban.
"Oh, I think she went overboard with buying a new car. We can use our service van." Eunice said, she don't know what to feel, Aunt Sol always go overboard.
"I guess, she is only using the kids to shop. Anyway, if you're all ready, we can go ahead." Sheldon put down Eddy and hold his hand to guide the kid outside. They need to hurry, its 6 hours drive and the weather is not good.
"You're driving?" Eunice asked when she didn't see any driver and Sheldon go to the driver's seat after he help the kids settled in their car seat.
"Bert will drive the other car and Pat call in sick." Explained Sheldon.
It is somehow suspicious but she didn't comment. This is the first time since she arrives that they converse amicably.
"I can drive, halfway." She offered, 6 hours drive is very tiring, she can relieve him for few hours so he can rest.
"Just fasten your seatbelt and seat comfortably." Sheldon started the car to start their journey. He looked at the back to check the kids, if they are comfortable. They seems okay.
"Mommy, I sing our school bus song please." Eddy requested.
Eunice look at Sheldon, to ask permission. She didn't know if he can tolerate a children song and her kids singing voice.
"Can I play it?"
"Go ahead." It will be good to play a song instead of silence. He cant think of anything to start a conversation with Eunice.
Eunice paired her phone to the car's radio then she scroll her playlist for the Cocomelon song's The wheel on the bus go round and round.
She looked at the back and smile at her boys. "Don't sing too loud, okay. Uncle Sheldon might get distracted while driving, if you sing too loud"
Eddy like to sing but singing doesn't suit him. He just know how to charm his audience.
Devin can sing nicely and can play piano a little. He is still learning. He knows how to play few songs.
Andrei, I guess inherit his fathers mind. He is studious and good at decision making. But around his siblings he can be playful too.
I guess I'll a business man, musician and an actor.
"Okay, I'll sing first mommy." Eddy said "Then Devin and Andrei and mommy and uncle.
"This song is for you mommy." Eunice smile sweetly at Eddy
The wheels on the bus go round and round.
Round and round
Round and Round
The wheels on the bus go round and round.
All through the town
Go Devin! Eddy prompted
The doors on the bus go open and shut
Open and shut
Open and shut
The doors on the bus go open and shut
All through the town
"Andrei" Devin shouted
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish
Swish swish swish
Swish swish swish
The wipers on the bus go swish swish swish
All through the town
"Mommy your turn!" Andrei said, she love to sing with her kids so she sing with the music with gusto.
The signal on the bus go blink blink blink
blink blink blink
blink blink blink
The signal on the bus go blink blink blink
All through the town
Uncle your turn, Eddy happily told his father
"I don't know the song" Sheldon said but he looked at the small TV screen for the lyrics and just read it loud
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep
beep beep beep
beep beep beep
The horn on the bus goes beep beep beep
All through the town
"Uncle you need to practice more, you're out of tune." Eddy said when they finished the song
Mommy is very good, Devin is very good, Andrei is very good and I is super very good.
"Hahaha, copy, I'll practice more." Sheldon smile and look at Eddy in the mirror. I think this what family do on vacation. And he like it very much.
Eunice look at everyone in the car, a warm feeling flooded her heart. This is her family, father, mother and the kids, if only he believed her 5 years ago.
She shake her head, to remove the family picture that's forming in her mind. They are not family.
Halfway to the farm, the rain poured heavily, its hard to see the way. Sheldon try to drive slowly.
Ring...Ring...Ring...Eunice looked at her phone. "Its Auntie" she hit yes to accept the call and turn on the speaker so Sheldon can hear the caller. "Yes, Auntie." Eunice greeted and asked at the same time.
"Where are you guys?" Eunice looked outside to check some sign, to know where they are but its dark outside and its mostly rice field. With no luck, she asked Sheldon.
"Where at Sta. Barbara, less than 1 hour away from the farm." Sheldon answered while slowly driving.
"Good, good. I booked a room for you guys at Trans-farm. Stay there for a night." Sol said without explaining
"Mom, where almost there and its still early. I can reach home before dinner." Though he is driving slowly, Sheldon is positive that they can reach home in time.
"No you cant, A tree broke and blocked the way."
"Then have someone clear it."
"Son its raining heavily, have mercy with our workers. Aside from rain, what if, while they are working, another tree fell and accidentally fell down on them." Sol dramatically reason out with her son.
"I already reserve the room for you guys and I'll have someone fix it tomorrow once the weather permits.
"Rain or Shine tomorrow, have someone clear the way early in the morning." Sheldon told his mother, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Got it. Have fun with the children and practice more singing." Before Sheldon can say something, his mother hung up the phone.
"You heard it, we'll stay at Trans-Farm tonight"
Eunice looked at the kids, they are comfortably sleeping. They look so happy that they are able to bond with their father.
It is still their nap time. She thought while looking at her wristwatch.
"10 more minutes, and we'll be at the resort." Sheldon informed Eunice when he saw her looking at time. "I can already see their signboard"
"Okay." Eunice responded. It was very awkward to sit in the car with Sheldon, they tried to create conversation while ago when the kids fell asleep. The usual "How are you" question but it didn't goes beyond the "I'm good and you" response.
Gone are those days that, she'll do anything to get Sheldon's attention. Now her focus and all her love is on her kids."
"You look different." Sheldon look sideways to Eunice then back at the road. He tried to open up a conversation. He wanted to know what happened to Eunice, in 5 years that she live in america. He didn't want to accept but he sometimes missed her. Her present in the office create chaos on his stuff whenever she visits, that they didn't how to deal with her. Since she leave the country, the office became silent. Gone are the excitement for the drama that she always cooked. The only noise that they hear now is his occasional outburst whenever he is not satisfied with their job.
"Hhhmmm" Eunice cough to clear her voice. She looked at Sheldon's face that are waiting for her response. Do I tell him the truth. Eunice thought to herself.
"This change is a must to live peacefully. To give way and let go." And not to be in a shadow of someone else. The last sentence was said to herself only. Eunice gave her response in a nonchalant voice. He is one of the reason that she did the little surgery but she doesn't want to blame him. What happened in the past should stay in the past. She only want to look ahead.
Sheldon didn't like the indifference in Eunice. He is not used to this type of behavior from her. He wanted the old Eunice and it frustrate him that he can't do about it. What right does he have to demand.
He pushed her too far that when she came back she is like a different person. Both in looks and personality.
"You can check in and I'll carry the children one by one." Sheldon said when he don't know how to respond to Eunice. Then parked the car in front of the resort lobby.
"No need, I'll wake them up, nap time is over otherwise they will be up until dawn. They will be terror in the morning, if they don't have enough sleep." Eunice informed Sheldon "Just like you." She added inwardly. Another bits of Sheldon in her kids.
Eunice remove her seatbelt and prepare to go out.
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I love you till it hurts. 
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