"What's the matter?"
Seeing that Nicole seemed frightened, Edwin hurriedly grabbed the phone.
"I'm okay."
Nicole smiled embarrassedly.
At this time, to be honest, no one wanted pick up the phone. However, Edwin could not pretend not to
hear the phone ringing. He took a deep breath before answering the phone.
Nicole didn't know who called, but she noticed a sudden change in Edwin's expression.
"Grandfather, what happened?"
Nicole hurriedly asked.
Edwin's expression turned serious, and he whispered, "Morgan just now said that she had got your
mother's physiological analysis. She didn't have cancer."
"What?"
Nicole became anxious.
"Why? Didn’t my mom have stage four stomach cancer? What is it now?"
Edwin shook his head, "I'm not sure. She said that if time permitted, we'd better check it ourselves.
However, I am not in good health these days. Why don't you and Samuel go and take a look after
lunch? No matter what, although your mother passed away, we still have to figure out her illness."
"Alright, Samuel and I will pay Morgan a visit."
Nicole immediately promised to go.
When Samuel came out, he saw that Nicole and Edwin looked gloomy. He thought that they were still
in grief. He quickly said, "Grandfather, Nicole, what happened can't be changed, and we have to look
forward, right? Besides, I believe that mother also doesn't want to see you like this."
Nicole nodded.
Edwin kept silent, but his look showed that he agreed with Samuel.
Samuel hurriedly filled a bowl of soup for Edwin.
"Grandfather, you haven't been eating much these past few days. The warm soup will be good for your
stomach."
"Alright."
Edwin nodded and picked up chopsticks.
Before Nicole started, Samuel had brought up the special meal for pregnant women.
"I've searched the website to get the recipe. If it tastes not good, just go with it. I'll practice more."
His words made Nicole feel warm.
"It's fine. I think it tastes good."
She forced a smile and ate up all the food in front of her. She failed to enjoy the meal, but she still ate
everything to encourage Samuel.
Seeing her like this, Samuel felt heartbroken even if he didn't say anything.
He wished that his wife could be happy every day, instead of being faced with danger and sorrow.
After Nicole stopped eating, Edwin also dropped the chopsticks.
Looking at Nicole and Samuel, he said in a low voice, "You guys go. I want to be alone."
"Grandfather..."
Nicole was afraid that Edwin would do something silly, but Samuel pulled her arm.
"Leave Grandfather alone for a while."
Then, he brought Nicole out of Edwin's.
Nicole kept silent ever since she left the house.
Knowing that she was grieved, Samuel didn't know what to say. When they passed a store, he
whispered, "I heard that eating and shopping could fix a woman's bad mood. Why don't you go
shopping? Think about our baby in your belly. We haven't prepared anything for it. Why don't we go to
the store and buy something for the baby?"
Nicole was slightly stunned by Samuel's words. She nodded.
"That sounds good. I really didn't start preparing anything. I don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl."
"We can prepare both kinds. At least some will be useful, right?"
"That's right."
Nicole nodded and walked into the store with Samuel.
There were plentiful goods here. After seeing the cute baby clothes, Nicole calmed down a little bit.
She fixed her eyes on a halter top she picked up. She couldn't help but grin.
"So small? Will it fit a baby?"
Samuel asked doubtfully.
Nicole smiled and said, "The newborn baby is small."
"Really? I haven't seen any before."
When Nicole heard what Samuel said, she felt a little melancholy.
"When Lucas and Zoe were born, they were as tiny as kittens. Since they were twins, they couldn't get
much nutrition in my belly. They weren't nourished enough so that they were just this big."
Nicole gesticulated as she spoke.
Samuel's eyes were filled with poignancy.
"I didn't take good care of you and our children."
"Zoe was who I worried about most. She stayed in an incubator for more than half a month, and I've
received the critically ill notification more than once. I was really about to give up at that time."
Talking about everything she had endured, Nicole felt like crying.
"I really learned how hard it was to be a mother. I think mom was in the same mood when she was
pregnant with me. She left me because she wanted to protect me. There are fathers in this world who
do not love their children, but there are absolutely no such mothers. The hardship of conceiving and
giving birth is truly not something an ordinary person can bear, and you will live with this experience for
the rest of your life."
Nicole thought of Audrey again.
Audrey loved her. At this moment, she had no complaint at all.
Samuel held her hand tightly and whispered, "It must have been hard. Nothing I say now can make up
for you. Let me take care of you for the rest of your lives, as an atonement."
"Don't call it atonement. This is all a mistake. I hope we can love and support each other and we won't
end up being separated forever like my parents."
"My silly girl, of course we won't!"
Samuel hugged Nicole tightly in his arms.
Nicole felt that his melancholy would depress people around her.
She picked up the halter top and smiled, "I'll go with this one. We'll need it when the baby is born. We
also need a blanket and a cape for the baby. Then some cotton clothes. The onesie would be the best."
Nicole carefully picked out her favorite ones. For Samuel, the goods were just dazzling.
"How do you pick? Isn't it the more expensive the better?"
"Of course not. Don't worry about it. Help me pick up my things. I'll select myself."
Nicole couldn't stop when she started picking. She wanted to own anything she saw.
Samuel fully supported her choice. He picked up anything Nicole was attracted to.
Nicole bought two versions for everything. She explained that she would send Petty's baby gifts.
Samuel naturally agreed with her.
They spent a long time in the store. With all the bags, Samuel finally looked like a common husband.
Nicole laughed out loud.
"Is it okay if we continue? Enough for the unborn. Those bigger kids should get new clothes too, right?"
"Alright! It's all up to you."
Samuel put everything they bought into the car and then walked with Nicole into the store again.
Nicole bought some clothes for Joseph and Zoe, and even some for Lucas who was not at home so
that he'd have new clothes when coming back.
They strolled in the shopping mall until the night fell.
Nicole's feet hurt a little.
She stopped from time to time. Although she didn't complain, Samuel could still tell from her limping.
"Tired?"
"I'm fine."
Nicole smiled.
Samuel whispered, "Come on, I'll give you a piggyback."
Nicole was stunned for a moment, and then happily climbed onto Samuel's back.
Samuel carried her on his back and walked into the car step by step. Then, he took off her shoes,
placed one knee on the seat, and gently rubbed the sole of Nicole's feet.
"Are you feeling better?"
"I'm alright."
Rather tired, Nicole leaned back on her chair. Samuel's voice felt so comfortable that she almost fell
asleep.
By the time Samuel heard the sound of breathing, Nicole had fallen asleep on the seat.
He shook his head. Nicole must have been exhausted, but he really appreciated the chance to go
shopping with Nicole.
Samuel held Nicole in his arms and lay with her on the back seat in the car. He asked for a designated
driver to drive them home.
After arriving the Green's, Samuel carried Nicole in his arms and walked inside.
Lillian hurriedly came out of the kitchen when she heard the door open.
"Dinner is ready. Join in us now?"
Samuel glanced at everyone who was obviously waiting for them.
He smiled and said, "No need. Nicole is asleep and exhausted. When she wakes up, I'll cook for her.
You can have dinner first. There's no need to wait for us."
"How can we start dinner without you? A family always eats together."
Samuel was touched by what Lilian just said.
"Alright, we'll try our best. Today we won't be joining you. Well, Nicole bought some necessities for
Petty's baby. I'll ask Zac to bring them up from the garage. I'm not sure whether you like them. It's
Nicole's thought that counts."
Hearing Samuel's words, Petty was instantly moved.
"Thank you so much. But I should have done this for her. How can I bother her with preparing things for
me?"
"It's fine. She's in a bad mood these days. Shopping helps her relax and relieve pressure. We'll go
upstairs now."
Then Samuel carried Nicole into the bedroom.
Lillian looked at their back and whispered, "They are really nice people."
"They have always treated us well."
Petty supported Lillian to the kitchen.
Samuel put Nicole on the bed and smiled gently when seeing her asleep. Then he got a basin of warm
water for her from the bathroom. He put her feet in the basin and gently washed them.
Nicole grunted but she quickly fell fast asleep again.
After washing her feet and pouring out the water, Samuel gently covered her in a quilt.
At this moment, the car engine noise suddenly came from outside.
Samuel frowned slightly.
The engine sounded familiar. However, who came over this late? Was there something urgent?
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