"Michael."
Tonight, Michael, who was busy with his office work as usual, turned his head when he heard a woman's voice calling his name.
"Are you busy?" Sarah asked quietly, trying to peek into Michael's laptop screen.
After getting the kids' approval, Sarah wanted to immediately ask Michael what they should do with the kids when she returned to work.
The sooner she discussed it with Michael, the sooner they would come up with a solution, and the sooner she could submit her application and hopefully she would get the job soon.
Even though Sarah had her kids's approval to return to work, she didn't want to rush to submit applications to the existing hospital. She had to make sure in advance what would happen to her kids when they got home from school? Who will look after them?
Michael's brow furrowed when he heard Sarah's question which could be said to be unusual.
After putting the kids to bed, Sarah would go straight to her room to go to bed, or at least take in the view outside. They rarely spoke. Maybe because Sarah didn't want to disturb him while he was working.
"Not really. I have time," replied Michael who was clearly lying.
It was now fall and Michael was very busy, either looking at the summer report, or getting things ready for the fall.
"We can talk!" continued Michael with a smile then immediately stood up and approached Sarah. He then grabbed her by the shoulder, and led Sarah to the dining table, so Sarah couldn't see his laptop screen, which at this time clearly showed that she was very busy.
Sarah just nodded and walked over to the table, although Michael seemed busy, he didn't want to delay this conversation any longer, and they had to talk when the kids weren't around.
"So? What do you want to talk about?" asked Michael excitedly. "Ah, right, do you want a can of beer? I think we still have it," Michael continued and stood up for the beer.
"What are you talking about? You're still sick!" Sarah said in a stern voice and glared at Michael. "Before going to bed you still have to take your medicine," she continued.
Even though Michael had gone to the office this morning, the man's temperature was still warm, indicating that he wasn't completely healed.
Michael immediately put on a sullen facial expression when he heard that and immediately returned to his seat. He might just say that he's fine, or that he's well enough to drink beer.
However, Sarah was once a doctor, and she even has her equipment. Michael wasn't sure he would win if he argued with Sarah about his health because to be honest he still felt that he was sick. Just not as bad as yesterday.
"Stop pouting like that!" said Sarah sighed when she saw Michael was still pouting his lips. "You are old! Don't act like a child!" she continued fiercely.
Michael scowled even more at this. He admitted that he might not be young anymore, but Sarah didn't need to make that clear.
Even so, Michael is still confident with his appearance that still looks handsome. At least he didn't become a potbellied old man!
"So I decided to go back to work," Sarah said, ignoring Michael who was still sulking.
Michael snorted when Sarah made no attempt to comfort him. Why is it that when the kids pout, Sarah comforts them, but she never comforts him?
"Good! You should have done that! I fully support you!" Michael replied with a smile.
Did Sarah talk to him to ask his opinion on it?
"I know!" Sarah replied, smiling.
Actually, Sarah didn't ask Michael's permission for her to go back to work because Michael would definitely allow it. Even if Michael forbids it, Sarah will still return to work because she has already obtained permission from her kids.
Michael is not her husband, and she doesn't need his permission to go back to work or not!
"But…" Sarah then shared her worries about kids.
Michael's expression immediately changed when he heard that, his face was serious. He didn't think that way at all.
"What do you think?" Sarah asked when she had finished sharing her worries.
"When do they come home from school?" Michael asked back before answering Sarah's question.
"Oh, right! You don't know about that yet!" said Sarah. "The teacher said they finished at 3.30 pm and last afternoon they got here around 3.45."
Michael fell silent when he heard that. He usually comes home at 5, or 4:30 at the earliest. Their times do not coincide.
He could have come home at 4, or 3.30. However, he was sure that James would nag him again and his work would be neglected because it meant that he would have to go home early every day.
"Looks like they can come to my office first. We could have hired a Nanny, but I don't like the idea," Michael replied after a moment of silence.
Sarah nodded at that. She actually thought hiring Nanny would be more practical for both of them, but she would respect Michael's opinion.
"But…" Michael said suddenly, his tone sounding doubtful.
"Will they come to my office?" he continued with a sad smile.
Gabriel might not have a problem with that because the last time his youngest child was fine when he brought them to his office. However, it seems that it will be difficult with the eldest son who is always looking for his Mommy.
Sarah's eyes lit up when she heard what Michael said.
"Actually, this is also what I wanted to discuss with you," Sarah said excitedly. "When are you going to tell the kids about you?" she continued.
Michael's expression changed to one of surprise when he heard the question.
"I mean, if they know you're their Daddy, and not just an old man or uncle they live with, I think they'd be fine playing in your office."
Sarah knows her kids. Even though Michael lived with them, in their eyes Michael was still a stranger.
Those who had been sad because they thought they were going to part with Michael, immediately became happy when they thought they were going to meet their Daddy.
So Sarah was sure they would have absolutely no problem staying with Michael for a few hours if they found out he was actually their Daddy.
"Ah, that…" Michael didn't answer right away.
He was already sure of his closeness with Raphael and Gabriel. They were already very close, and both of them didn't mind when he hugged them.
It's just… There was a bit of fear inside Michael. After all, he had been missing for five years of their lives.
What if they… hate him? Or worst of all, don't want to meet him?
Sarah sighed when she saw Michael did not continue his words.
"Let's tell them this weekend," Sarah decided.
She doesn't know when she will be able to return to work because she hasn't submitted her resume yet, but before returning to work, Sarah wants her kids to know about Michael.
"This week?" Michael's eyes widened when he heard Sarah's words.
Sarah nodded.
"I will be with you. Don't worry," Sarah said with a reassuring smile.
She was also involved in putting Michael in this position, so Sarah thought she should be with Michael answering questions from her kids.
Michael was still silent and didn't say anything. This weekend… That means he has about five or six days.
"Okay, let's do that," Michael replied, nodding his head.
***
Today as usual Sarah is busy in front of the laptop while looking for contact persons at a nearby hospital to send her resume. Yesterday she did send her resume at her old hospital and if she had told Steve about it, Steve could have helped her get a job.
However, for now Sarah wanted to try it on her own first to see her value as a surgeon. Is she no longer worthy?
But if no one was going to call her for an interview, Sarah would use her connections with Steve. Well… his wife used her to get a job at Collins, so why didn't she do the same?
Sarah's gaze, which was focused on the laptop screen, immediately turned to her vibrating cellphone on the table. There's an incoming call.
Sarah's brow furrowed when she saw the name calling her. It was the teacher at the Twins' school.
"Hello," Sarah said as she picked up the call.
"Yeah, I'm Raphael's mom," Sarah replied, still looking confused. Why did the teacher only mention Raphael, and not Gabriel?
"What did you say?" Sarah asked with wide eyes when she heard what the woman had just said. The expression on her face looked like she couldn't believe what she just heard
"Can you come to school? Raphael got into a fight with his friend."
Sarah opened her mouth in disbelief when she heard that. It's only her kids' third day at school, and she's already been called by the teacher to come over because her child is fighting?!