Chapter 54

Rudolf's POV
Daniel nodded in agreement, “Yes! We want Mommy, not anyone else!”
The pain in my heart deepened. Facing rejection from my children was like stabbing my heart. I could understand why they felt that way. They loved Mikayla so much, and the fear of losing her made them look for ways to protect their hearts.
“Listen, honey,” I began to speak lovingly, trying to calm them down. “Hannah came to help, not to replace Mommy. Dad wants Mommy back too. We all want your mommy to be safe, and we need to support each other right now.”
Even though I spoke softly, I could see they were still skeptical. “But we only want Mommy!” Emma insisted, and it broke my heart even deeper.
“Dad knows, and you want the same thing too. But sometimes we need help from others to get through hard times,” I said, trying to explain with maximum patience.
Hannah stepped forward, “Emma, Daniel, I’m here to help and support you too. I want you to feel comfortable. If you need anything or want to talk, I’ll listen.”
The tension between us was palpable. Although Hannah meant well, I knew it would take time for the kids to come to terms with this. I hoped I could find a way to make them feel safe and valued while still looking out for Mikayla.
With a heavy heart, I took a deep breath. “Let’s go home. We can make dinner together and wait for good news about your mom,” I said, trying to distract them from their mixed feelings.
As we walked to the car, I held the hands of my two most beloved children in the world. We would get through this together. I would not give up—I would find Mikayla and make sure our family was whole again.
When I arrived home, I was surprised to see the dining room table covered with delivery food. The delicious aromas filled my nostrils, and I felt a little relieved to see that dinner was being prepared.
“I ordered,” Hannah said with a friendly smile when she saw my reaction.
“Thank you, Hannah. That really helps,” I replied, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. As he set the food on the dining table, hunger began to gnaw at my stomach.
“Daddy, can we have spaghetti?” Emma asked excitedly, her eyes sparkling at the sight of the dishes being served.
“Yes, we can. Daniel, how about you? Is there anything you want to try?” I asked as I rushed to the bathroom to clean myself after a full day of activities.
After showering and freshening up, I felt more prepared to face the kids and this situation. When I came out of the bathroom, the kids were clean and ready to eat.
We all gathered around the dining table, sitting together with the food that had been prepared. I felt happy to be able to share this moment with them, especially during difficult times like now.
“Okay, before we start, let’s pray that Mommy will come back soon and we can be together again,” I said, holding the kids’ hands. They nodded, and we said a simple prayer.
After praying, we began to enjoy our meal. The atmosphere at the dining table felt warmer, although there was a shadow of worry about Mikayla’s whereabouts. We talked about the day, discussed lessons from school, and shared a few laughs.
“I want to draw a picture for Mom!” Daniel suddenly exclaimed. “So she knows we miss her,” he added, excited about the idea.
“That’s a great idea! I’ll come too!” Emma responded, looking pleased with her sister’s idea.
“Okay, after dinner, we can draw a picture for Mom. You can draw anything you want,” I replied, trying to support their idea and create a fun moment amidst the uncertainty.
This tiring day gave us a chance to come together as a family. Even though there was no news of Mikayla, I knew that we had to stay strong by supporting each other. We would keep going, whether she was here or not.
It was also beautiful to see the children excited, trying to create fun memories even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
After dinner and seeing the children sleeping soundly in their rooms, a sense of relief flowed through me. Even though there were still worries that haunted me, seeing the children in peace was a joy that I had to perfect.
“I think I should go home,” Hannah said, looking around. But I felt it too. We were all tired after a long day.
“I see it’s getting late, so you should stay here. You can use the guest room,” I said, wanting to make Hannah feel comfortable after helping us all day.
“Oh, I don’t want to bother you,” she said, looking hesitant.
“Hannah, this isn’t about being a bother. You’ve helped us so much, and I want you to feel comfortable. Besides, it might not be safe for you to walk around alone at night,” I reassured her.
Hannah seemed to think for a moment. “Okay, if you think that’s a good idea. I can stay the night,” she finally said, her smile growing wider.
“I really appreciate it. Let’s clean up the guest room, and you can get some rest,” I replied, feeling a little relieved to have provided her with a comfortable place.
We headed to the guest room, and I showed her to her bed. “This will be your place for tonight. If you need anything, just let me know,” I said, making sure everything was ready.
“Thank you, Rudolf. Again, I am glad I could help. Also, thank you for your trust in letting me stay here,” she replied, looking calmer.
After making sure of everything, I went back to the living room. The night felt more peaceful with Hannah's presence. Although the children were still asleep, I knew they would feel better knowing that their father's friend was here.
In a mix of hopes and worries, I prayed that tomorrow would bring good news, about Mikayla. And when I saw Hannah resting in the guest room, I realized that we were all fighting together.