NEW MOM

Ozora hugged Jacob. "Sorry Daddy, I don't know about this. There is no signal there. The signal is very difficult. I am really-really sorry." The woman who was a year older than Geona was crying in her adoptive father's arms. She was very sad and felt guilty because she didn't know about Aster's dying.

"It's okay, girl. Aster is very happy that you want to be her daughter."

Ozora let go of the hug and wiped her own tears. "Where are the three brats? I can't wait to pull their ears. Are they still bothering you?" Ozora asked about Geona, Daven, and Daphnee.

Jacob invited Ozora to sit on the bed. He also explained several important events that have occurred over the last three years. "Daven and Daphnee are in college. Just entered the first semester. Geona is married and is pregnant. You're going to be an aunt."

Ozora was surprised. Three years seemed too short to receive all that news. "Geona and Marko married?" Ozora looked at Jacob's face with a serious face. Before she left for Africa, her younger sister who doubles as her best friend was already dating a man named Marco.

"Not with Marko, sweety. She married Othniel, the owner of this hospital."

Ozora was getting more and more surprised. She had always idolized Othniel because Othniel often brought food and drink to the orphanage. Of course along with his two annoying friends, Nicko and the man who had misunderstood because he left immediately and never came back after his pants were torn from the glue sticking to the chair. It had been years but Ozora had no chance to clear up all those misunderstandings. For Ozora, Othniel was like a big brother, friend, and guardian angel. That's all. She had no more feelings because she thought Othniel was much older than her.

"Is it true that Geona married Othniel? Geona doesn't like old men, right?" Ozora's question made Jacob tug her nose.

"Othniel is not an old man. He's only 35 years old. I want to get my bag first. You follow me home."

"Before going home, can we stop by Geona's house first? I want to surprise her. I want to make that woman jealous because now I'm living with you." Again Jacob laughed at his adopted daughter's chatter.

***

Ozora didn't want to eat because the dishes on the table were all healthy food. She asked the maid to order fried chicken covered in flour from a fast food restaurant. Before the food arrived home, Ozora didn't mind if father, Geona, and Othniel ate first.

"After finishing your meal, we should return to our bedroom. I don't want you to be tempted by the deep-fried chicken." Geona heard her husband's words and she pursed her lips.

"Geona, fast food is not good for pregnant women." Jacob also supported his son-in-law's words.

"Okay. This time you won because Daddy defended you." Geona spoke to her husband. Othniel would not like it if she asked for unhealthy food during pregnancy.

"Dad, does her husband always act like that?" Ozora asked when her sister and brother-in-law were no longer at the dinner table.

"Yah. Otniel loves Geona very much and your sister's pregnancy is weak. That's why Othniel was so protective of Geona. Do you know? Your sister is pregnant with twins?"

"Twins, Dad?" Ozora turned her body to the left so that she could see the face of her guardian angel.

"Yes. So you will have two nephews at once."

Of course Ozora was happy with the news. Yet again and again she tried not to feel sorry for herself, she still often thought of comparing herself to her sister. How lucky Geona. Geona had a complete family and a husband who loved her very much. But because Ozora had a kind heart, whenever the thought came up she would brush it off and replace the bad thought with something else.

"What are you thinking about, Ozora?" Jacob woke Ozora from the battle of thoughts she just had.

"It's nothing, Dad. I'm just nervous because we are going home. I never thought that Mommy Aster was gone. I don't think I'm ready to meet a new mommy yet."

"Initially me and your three younger siblings were like that too. Mommy Aster will never be replaced in our hearts. But Rachel is Aster's best friend. Before Aster died she left the children with her. Rachel cares and loves us. Your new mom is so great because she can melt the hearts of your three siblings. You will definitely like her."

"Has the new mommy been married?"

"Yes, sweety. She married the man who had impregnated her. But after their child was born the man divorced her. But Rachel got through it on her own. Now her daughter is married and lives with her husband in Indonesia.

"It turns out that I'm not the only one who had a bad experience, huh, Dad?"

"Of course. We have to open our eyes and see that there are many others who are suffering more than us. That way we can give thanks."

***

Rachel was busy making the bed while the twins were focused on studying because they wanted to get a scholarship. Daven and Daphnee were in a fight for a scholarship. It wasn't that Jacob couldn't afford their college, but that the twins were sure that with their intelligence, the scholarship would be theirs.

"Honey, look who's coming!" Jacob's voice made Rachel, who was wrapping the pillow in a clean cover turn around. Rachel's eyes focused on the face of the woman standing next to her husband.

"Hi, Ma'am." Ozora greeted awkwardly.

"Is she…?" Rachel's question hung and she saw her husband's face.

"She's Ozora, honey. Our twins have told you about her a lot." Jacob knew right away what was on Rachel's mind. After they got married, the twins didn't stop talking about Ozora. In addition to loving Geona, the twins were also proud of Ozora. For them Ozora was a strong woman who could survive even though her life was not easy.

"Oh Lord! Finally I can meet you. Aster left something for you."