You More Than Anything In The World

Sensing his stare, Arissa looked away calmly and avoided meeting his gaze.

Benjamin took note of her guilty look. “Get up and wash up now.”

Arissa wanted to laze around.

“If Mdm. Mary is doing well this morning, we can prepare to head back to Dellmoor,” Benjamin told her.

Arissa's eyes lit up at his words. She promptly sat up.

“We're going back to Dellmoor?”

As she seemed eager to head back, Benjamin gave her a firm nod.

“We've wasted enough time here.”

With that said, Benjamin spun on his heels and strode out of the room.

Arissa watched his departing figure silently. She was already busy planning how to send the kids to school.

Scrambling out of bed, she ran to the bathroom. “Sweethearts, hurry. We need to pack our stuff as we're going to head back to Dellmoor today.”

Gavin and the other four were excited, but Tim was slightly nervous.

“Mommy, didn't Mr. Graham say we'll head back after confirming Mdm. Mary is okay?” Oliver reminded.

“Mdm. Mary will be fine. She looked fine yesterday!” Jasper replied cheerfully.

“Yes!” Arissa flashed a grin and nodded. She patted the kids' head affectionately.

“Mdm. Mary can follow us back to Dellmoor today!”

She glanced at the kids and realized Tim had lowered his head. Her heart sank as she squatted before him.

She held Tim's shoulders and asked, “Sweetheart, let's go back to Dellmoor together, all right?'

Tim glanced at her. “Are we bringing Mdm. Mary there so she can get treated there?”

Arissa ruffled his hair. “Yes. We're bringing Mdm. Mary to Dellmoor so she can get treated there. Healthcare is more advanced there. You can go to school with Gavin and the rest.”

Tim gripped his clothes. He was feeling nervous and uneasy about going to a foreign environment. He also felt reluctant to leave this place.

Arissa knew how conflicted his feelings were.

She flung his arms around him and said, “Sweetheart, no matter where you go, Rutaceae Village will always be your home. When you wish to come back, I'll bring you back during the holidays to meet your friends. For the rest of the time, we'll live in Dellmoor. Is that all right?”

Worried that he would be reluctant to leave, Arissa did her best to coax him.

Tim took one look at her.

Arissa explained patiently, “If you follow Daddy and Mommy back, Mdm. Mary will also live with us. You don't have to leave Mdm. Mary, for you'll be with her at all times. You'll be living in a different place, that's all.”

“Tim, come back home with us. That way, Mommy and Daddy won't have to worry about you here. Don't you want Mdm. Mary to get treated by a better doctor?” Gavin chimed in.

“I do!” Tim answered firmly.

“If you feel reluctant to leave, we can ask Mommy to bring us back here during the holidays,” Zachary told Tim gleefully. “We have a house in Rutaceae Village, remember?”