"But I am not really your son," Alex said but regretted the moment these words left his mouth.
Martha, on the other hand, hearing Alex, was left stunned. The towel in Martha's hand fell down. She looked at Alex for some time as her eyes turned watery. All the love and care they showered him with for the last one year, was it for nothing?
"Mom, I didn't mean that. I am sorry. You know how much I love you and dad" Alex tried to get up and wipe her tears.
"Don't get up. You are not well" Martha pushed him back to the bed, "But I have to admit, you finally poured your heart out."
"Mom, I didn't mean it that way..." Alex tried to explain, but Martha shut him up.
"I just hope you won't ever say that again. I am the one who gave you your name. You take up the surname Rutherford. You are as much my son as your brother, even if you don't want to take me as your mother," Martha said. Because Alex was a bit under the weather, Martha chose not to drag the matter.
"So you are not mad anymore, right?" Alex asked, trying to test Martha.
"Don't say a word more, Alex. I am angry, very angry. You can't imagine how I am holding myself back. If you were not sick, you would have thrashed you in the ground by now," Martha said, sniffing and wiping her tears, "I never thought..."
At this moment, George came in, "Woo... ahho... Am I hearing it right? You, the all-loving Martha, are going to thrash your beloved son? What did he do that you lost it?" George made fun of Martha as soon as he walked in.
Martha looked towards Alex, and the latter shook his head quickly.
Martha had a smirk on her face as she looked at Alex. She quickly wiped her face clean, "It's nothing that concerns you. Just something between me and my son." Martha said as she looked at George. Though Martha wiped her tears clean, she hoped that George would notice she was upset, but the latter didn't.
'Maybe it's because of that,' Martha tried to justify his ignorance.
"Why are you back?" Martha asked as she left Alex's side and walked beside George.
"Uhh... It's nothing. I forgot my phone, so I had to come back. And since I was back anyway, I decided to check up on Alex before leaving," George said and looked at his son, "So champ? Feeling better?"
"Well... I suppose so. But I don't mind being in bed. After all, only the lucky one gets to be pampered by a beautiful doctor," Alex said as he complimented Martha in hopes of her forgiveness.
George smiled hearing Alex. "There is definitely something cooking between you guys. Not fair, you guys always leave me guessing. I hope Damien is back soon. After that, we will be on equal terms," George said, grumping over the fact that they left him out.
"We will see about that. I am sure Damien will be on his mother's side as well," Martha said with a look of ascendancy on her face.
"Humph... You and your sons. Maybe only my daughters-in-law will be with some brain?" George said as he looked at Alex with meaningful eyes.
"Dad, I am kind of feeling okay now. Aren't you getting late?" Alex chose to simply ignore his father's words.
"Good. Should I call your office and let them know that you won't be coming today?" George asked. Since Alex has conveniently diverted the topic, he could do nothing.
"No need for that. I am already on a few days off because of the injury," Alex shook his head. And Karen was more than willing to let him skip the work for a week.
"If that's the case," George nodded. Then he looked at Martha, "Then I will be leaving now," George said and made his way out of Alex's room.
"I will see you out," Martha said as she also followed behind George. Alex thought about discussing the dream with his parents, but he could not bring himself to do it even more so after what he said to Martha.
George gave Alex one last look before both of them left the room. After they left, Alex grabbed his phone and started playing a game on it.
After seeing George, Martha also got herself busy with work downstairs. Because Mrs Flores was not going to come today, it was up to her to do the cleaning and dusting. Done with her chores Martha decided to check on Alex. With a tray in her hand, she brought him soup and fruits, only to find him playing games on his phone.
When she saw him playing on the phone, she scolded him, "Alex, are you a teenager that I need to check on you whether you are resting or not? Give me your phone and have this," Martha placed the tray beside him and snatched away his phone.
"Mom, I don't feel like eating anything," Alex said, making faces.
"Shut your mouth and drink the soup," Martha had a stern look on her face as she ordered.
"Make up your mind, mom. How can I eat with my mouth shut?" Alex tried to be funny.
Martha shrugged, "I don't know. It's first for me as well. You show me," Martha didn't feel like laughing and rebuked him mercilessly.
Alex knew from her response that she was not over the previous episode yet. 'Best not rub her the wrong way,' Alex thought and drank the hot soup in large gulps.
Martha nodded, "You can have these fruits later. I am downstairs. If you need anything, just call out for me," Martha said as she waved his phone and turned around to leave.
"What?" Alex cried out in surprise, "Are you not going to the hospital?" Alex asked.
"No," Martha shook her head, "I need to take care of a klutz."
"Klutz? Me?" Alex gave a taunting smirk as he heard his mother, "I won't bicker with you, but Mrs Flores can take care of me," Alex did not want to be under the surveillance of his mother. He can easily enjoy his time at home if it were Mrs Flores, but his mother surely won't let him leave his room.
"Mrs Flores won't be coming today. She called me yesterday," Martha poured water on his expectations.
"Why?" Alex felt betrayed by Mrs Flores.
"What, Why? Her grandson got injured, so she is taking care of him like I am taking care of you," Martha said, getting irritated by all his questions.
"Even if that's the case. You can also go to work. I can take care of myself" Alex tried to send her away.
"No need, I have already called to let them know that I am not coming. Now you go back to sleep. I will be checking on you later," Margaret picked up his clothes that needed washing.
"But..." Alex tried to open his mouth to say something.
"Now, no more discussion, get a shut-eye," Martha said, glaring at him.
Alex could only shrink his head in the blanket.
After Martha left, Alex could do nothing but close his eyes and try to sleep.
* * * * *
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