You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

Shaun asked Benjamin curiously, “What phone call?”

Benjamin's silence spoke volumes.

The doctor stared at his silent friend. Realization dawned on

him, and he asked cautiously, “Did you answer Rosetta's

phone call?”

Benjamin pursed his lips in response.

His actions immediately confirmed Shaun's suspicions. He

approached Benjamin and asked, “Are you still hung up on

her?”

No one had dared to mention Rosetta's name in Benjamin's

presence since she went overseas.

Today, however, Shaun had broken the sacred rule.

Benjamin remained silent and stared into the distance. It was

impossible to gauge his thoughts.

“Rosetta's back at the worst time. | mean, it's your choice if

you choose to be with her. But as your friend, | feel obliged to

remind you that Arissa's an excellent woman. She single-

handedly raised four kids out of the six she birthed for you. It

was a dangerous situation, and it mustn't have been easy for

her to pull through. Mrs. Graham's a sensible woman, and I'm

sure she'll understand once you share your thoughts with her.

Don't do anything stupid to hurt anyone, or you'll regret it for

the rest of your life!”

His and Kingsley's observations told them that Benjamin truly

cared about Arissa.

However, with Rosetta's untimely return, it was difficult to tell

which woman held a more important place in Benjamin's heart.

Shaun sighed, wondering if Benjamin had absorbed even a

'smidge of his lengthy advice.

At last, Benjamin announced, “I'm going in to see if they're

done!”

He abruptly turned and entered the ward, trailed by Shaun.

Avrissa had finished feeding Mary, and the children were

presently joking with the patient, who was beaming with joy.

‘When Mary saw Benjamin coming into the ward, she smiled at

him and said to Arissa, “Why don't you all head back? There's

nothing else to do here, and | have plans to catch something

on the TV with some fellow patients!”

Avrissa teased, “Wow, Grandaunt, how many friends have you

made in the hospital?”

“It's boring hie, and Dr. Bailey was kind enough to wheel me

out so | could meet some patients. They all live on the same

floor and invited me to watch television with them tonight!”

Arissa was relieved that Mary had settled in well at the

hospital. A short while later, she went home with Benjamin and

the children.

Sensing that the children missed Mary dearly, Arissa cajoled,

“You can video call your great-grandaunt

tonight if you miss her!”

“Okay!”

Satisfied with their mother's suggestion, the six children held

hands and entered the elevator together.

Benjamin held Arissa's hand and strode toward the elevator.

Avrissa pulled her hand out of his grasp, and her surprise only

grew when she met Benjamin's gaze.

He merely held her hand again and said, “Come on!"

Is he extending an olive branch to me right now? Arissa's heart

churned with conflicting emotions.

At lost, Benjomin onnounced, “I'm going in to see if they're

done!”

He obruptly turned ond entered the word, troiled by Shoun.

Avrisso hod finished feeding Mory, ond the children were

presently joking with the potient, who wos beoming with joy.

‘When Mory sow Benjomin coming into the word, she smiled ot

him ond soid to Arisso, “Why don't you oll heod bock? There's

nothing else to do here, ond | hove plons to cotch something

on the TV with some fellow potients!”

Avrisso teosed, “Wow, Grondount, how mony friends hove you

mode in the hospitol?”

“It's boring here, ond Dr. Boiley wos kind enough to wheel me

out so | could meet some potients. They oll live on the some

floor ond invited me to wotch television with them tonight!”

Arisso wos relieved thot Mory hod settled in well ot the

hospitol. A short while loter, she went home with Benjomin ond

the children.

Sensing thot the children missed Mory deorly, Arisso cojoled,

“You con video coll your greot-grondount tonight if you miss

her!”

“Okoy!"

Sotisfied with their mother's suggestion, the six children held

honds ond entered the elevotor together.

Benjomin held Arisso's hond ond strode toword the elevotor.

Avrisso pulled her hond out of his grosp, ond her surprise only

grew when she met Benjomin's goze.

He merely held her hond ogoin ond soid, “Come on!”

Is he extending on olive bronch to me right now? Arisso's heort

churned with conflicting emotions.

Still, it seemed unlikely given Benjamin's serious demeanor.

Amid her musings, Jasper raised his head and looked at

Avrissa. “Are we going home, Mommy?”

Avrissa stared at her son and asked, “Where else can we go?”

He smiled cheekily and exchanged knowing glances with

Zachary and the others.

Then, he whined, “Mommy, you haven't brought us out to play

in a long time!”

So he wants to play. Arissa smiled fondly and looked at the

other children. “Do the rest of you want to go out too?”

Oliver and Jesse nodded, while Gavin and Zachary shook their

heads.

Tim appeared bewildered, unsure of his response.

“Everyone has different opinions!” Arissa laughed at the scene.

Jasper glared at Gavin and Zachary, accusing, “Didn't we

agree?”

“That was last time!” Zachary flicked his brother on the head.

“Mommy's so tired after work. We shouldn't go out!”

Gavin nodded his agreement. “Yeah. We can go out another

day!”

Pouting, Jasper looked at Arissa. “Bring us out to play this

weekend, Mommy!"

Touched by her children's thoughtfulness, Arissa immediately

agreed to Jasper's request.

“Fine. Mommy will bring you out to play this weekend. Sorry,

we're a little tight on time today.”

“Are you busy with something later, Mommy?” Gavin stared

intently at his mother.