Chapter 29: A Message for the Future
That morning, sunlight filtered softly through the cracks in the wooden window. In their small kitchen, the aroma of warm Manado porridge mingled with the cheerful laughter of Amara.
"Amara, don't get too close to the stove, okay? It's hot," Saraswati said, adjusting the pot's position.
"Yes, Mom!" Amara replied excitedly. "But I want to help stir!"
"You can, but be very careful, sweetheart," Saraswati answered with a gentle smile as Amara began to stir the porridge slowly.
Boase came in from the backyard carrying a bundle of fresh vegetables. "Look at our little chef! Her cooking might beat yours one day!"
Saraswati chuckled. "Oh, you... don't make her too proud," she said, playfully pinching Boase's side. Boase winced in mock pain, making Amara laugh at their antics.
Boase gently patted Amara's head. "It's alright. Her heart is big. Our daughter must grow up brave and independent."
Saraswati looked at her daughter for a long moment before kneeling down in front of her. "Sweetheart, I want you to grow up strong. Life isn't always fair, sometimes it's hard. But if your heart stays strong, you'll always have light to guide your steps."
Amara simply nodded. Her innocent eyes didn't fully grasp her mother's words, but the warmth in them seeped deep into her heart.
Boase smiled from behind, watching the two women he loved most embrace. "You're passing on your light, Sar. Amara will become an extraordinary woman, just like you."
***
In recent days, Saraswati had started feeling different—morning sickness, extreme fatigue, and most oddly, a strong sensitivity to smell.
"Ugh!" she exclaimed one morning after catching a whiff of coffee. "Boase! Goodness, why does the coffee smell so strong today?"
Boase, who was brewing coffee while sitting on the porch, looked confused. "This is your usual favorite—the one we bought at the market last week."
Saraswati covered her nose and rushed to the kitchen. "Please, just take it away! It's making me so nauseous!"
Boase frowned and looked at Amara, who was playing in the living room. "Kiddo, what do you think is going on with Mom? Could it be…?"
Saraswati returned slowly. "I suspect it too, Boase…"
Boase jumped to his feet. "Seriously?" His face lit up like a child receiving a surprise gift.
Saraswati nodded, blushing. "I haven't checked yet, but I have a strong feeling…"
Boase lifted Amara high into the air. "Sweetheart! You're going to have a little sibling!"
Amara squealed with joy. "Really, Mom? I want a baby sister, okay?"
***
That afternoon, a light rain began to fall. Inside their cozy living room, Saraswati leaned back, feeling tired. She watched as Boase massaged his mother's feet.
Suddenly she said, "Boase, I'm craving sapodilla plum."
Boase froze. "Sapodilla plum? Are you serious, Sar?" he asked, unsure if he heard her correctly. Amara, who had been playing with her dolls, paused too.
"Yes… the soft, sweet one. I used to eat it as a child. But I think it's hard to find nowadays."
Boase and Amara exchanged glances. "Mom, what kind of fruit is that?" Amara asked curiously.
"It looks like a sapodilla but turns yellow when ripe and tastes like sweet potato," Boase explained to Amara. "But it's rare these days," he added.
"But I really want it," Saraswati said, hugging a pillow with a pleading, though adorably comical, expression.
Boase straightened up. "Alright! For the sake of my wife and our future baby, I shall go on a quest to the ends of the earth for sapodilla plum!"
Her mother-in-law, witnessing the warmth of her son's new family, smiled with quiet happiness.
***
And the back room, Boase's mother—who had grown frail with age—lay resting. Though her body was no longer strong, her heart was warmed by the presence of her son's loving family.
"Saraswati," she called softly. "Come here, dear."
Saraswati approached and sat by her bedside. She held her mother-in-law's thin, warm hand. "Yes, Mom?"
"I'm happy… you've brought joy to Boase, and you care for me even though I'm not your real mother."
Saraswati smiled. "You are my mother now too. I'm the one who should thank you—for accepting me and Amara."
Boase's mother gently stroked her hair. "Keep fighting for your dreams. The school, the children… they're all blessings. And protect this family."
Boase, who had been standing at the door, came in and joined them. "We promise, Mom. As long as we're breathing, this family will always be a home to those who need it."
The three of them embraced in silence. Outside, the rain still fell softly, like a slow and steady blessing from the sky.
***
That night, after Amara had gone to bed, Boase and Saraswati sat on the porch, wrapped in a warm blanket.
The night sky was clear, sprinkled with shy stars. The porch of their little house felt calm. The breeze carried whispers through the trees. Boase stepped out from the kitchen carrying two cups of warm tea.
"Here's your favorite ginger tea. I found it in the pantry since you can't stand the smell of coffee anymore," he said, handing one to Saraswati.
She took the cup with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Boase. You always know what I need."
Boase sat beside her and sighed deeply. "Sometimes I'm afraid, Sar."
Saraswati turned to him. "Afraid of what?"
"Afraid of failing as a husband. Afraid I won't be strong enough to be a good father—for Amara and... the baby."
Saraswati paused, then reached for his hand. "Every day, you wake up before anyone else. You teach, run the school, do the laundry, care for Mom, and still make me laugh when I'm tired. If that's not love and responsibility, then I don't know what is."
Boase smiled, though his eyes welled up.
"You know," Saraswati continued, "I was scared too. When I became a single mom, I thought my life was over. But God had saved a better chapter for me. And that chapter… is you."
Boase drew a deep breath and looked into his wife's face. "Sar… if one day I leave this world before you, promise me you'll stay strong. Raise Amara and her sibling with the same heart you have now. The world is tough, but a woman like you can soften it."
Saraswati looked down, holding back tears. "I can do it because you've been by my side. We strengthen each other. We complete each other."
Boase nodded, then shifted closer and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "If the baby is a girl, you choose the name. If it's a boy, I'll pick. Deal?"
Saraswati smiled in his embrace. "Deal. But only on one condition."
"What's that?"
"The name must carry hope."
Boase nodded, gazing at the stars. "Because our children are messages for the future. Seeds we're planting tonight, with the purest love."
On that small porch, the two cups of tea slowly cooled, but their hearts grew warmer. The sound of crickets played like a lullaby to the night. And in that meaningful silence, they both knew: what they had was not just ordinary happiness—it was a life built with love, laughter, and the courage to walk forward together.
"Are you happy, Sar?" Boase asked softly.
Saraswati looked up at the sky, then turned to her husband. "Very. But more than that… I feel my life finally has a meaning that will never fade."
Boase held her hand tightly. "Me too. And I'll keep writing this story with you. For Amara, for our next child, for every child who's ever felt small in this world."
Saraswati looked to the night sky. "We are planting messages for the future, Boase. May they one day harvest them with gratitude."
Boase nodded. "With love, everything is possible."