Love On Canvas

Canvas 36 - The Beauty of Blue Moon

"Are you sure?" Tanong ko kay Jared.

"I am sure." Ngiti nito bago ako halikan at haplusin ang lumalaking tiyan ko. Nayakap ko siya ng mahigpit.

Kinuha ko na ang telepono niya at dinial ang numero ni Daddy. Nanginginig ang kamay ko sa pagdial at mabilis ang pintig ng puso ko habang hinihintay ang pagsagot ni Daddy.

"Hello? Who's this?" Nakagat ko ang labi ko sa muling pagkarinig ko ng boses ng Daddy ko. Hindi ko gustong umiyak pero tumulo na unti-unti ang luha ko. I think our baby has something to do with me being too emotional. But then I also missed my parents so much.

"Da-daddy!" Wala na talaga. Bumagsak na ang pinipigil kong iyak ng binigkas ko ang tawag ko sa ama ko.

"Leah...baby." Kahit sa telepono ay rinig ko ang panginginig ng boses ng Daddy ko. "Ikaw ba talaga ito?"

"Ye-yes Daddy." Hikbi ko.

"I miss you baby. I miss you. Mommy also misses you." Wala na akong matugon kundi ang pagluha ko. Pinaupo ako ni Jared at binigyan ng tubig. Matapos ay naupo ito sa tabi ko at pinahid pa ang luha ko. Ngumiti ako sa kanya matapos ay hinawakan ko ang kamay niya ng mahigpit. "Babalik ka na ba? Your case is progressing and your annulment will have a result in a few months time."

"Thank you Daddy. Thank you so much for your help. For you and Mommy's help. Thank you po."

"No need to thank us, baby. We are doing it because we love you." Hikbi pa ni Daddy. I am so loved. I am so loved by my parents. I am so loved by this man holding my hand. And I can feel the love from our baby in my tummy. "Babalik ka na ba?" My father's voice sounded hopeful. Tumingin ako kay Jared at tumango ito at ngumiti sa akin.

"Ye-yes Daddy. We are coming back."

"We?"

"Yes Daddy, we." Jared smiled at me so lovingly and I pressed his hand harder for support.

"What do you mean?"

"I think you already know about him." Alam kong nainformed na siya ni Beth about kay Jared. "I'm sure you are informed by Beth."

"Baby..."

"It is okay Daddy. I know you are doing this for my safety. Thank you for doing all these."

"I just want you safe, anak. I am really scared for your safety."

"I know Daddy. I know." Ngiti ko. "His name is Jared. Jared Wilson. I think you are familiar with his surname. He is also from Manila."

"Wilson? Anak ni Ezekiel at Danielle Wilson?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Daddy.

"Opo." I smiled at Jared and he smiled at me. Now he is caressing my big tummy. "I think you know them well. They are good people."

"I know them." Daddy said. "Asawa ng Ate Gracie mo ang kapatid niya na si Joshua."

"Talaga po?" Small world.

"Yes, baby. Bakit nandiyan siya? What I heard from Zeke was he was in Australia. Nagkakwentuhan kasi kami tungkol sa inyo...sa mga anak namin."

"It's a long story, Daddy but right now he is with me and he is one of the good people here in this place. And most of all, he is one of God's instrument to help me move on and to learn to trust and love again."

"Oh baby..." I heard Daddy sobbed. "I-i am so relieved to hear that from you. We-we are so worried crazy about you baby when you did leave us out of sudden. We thought we were going to lose you again. And then you...talking to me like this and-and you picked up all the pieces of your life...Thank God."