Suddenly Papa
Madame Max

"Good afternoon. I'm Marry, looking to pick up Madame Max to attend her granddaughter's wedding." Sapa Marry met with the nursing home attendant where Terence's grandmother was.

"Oh, yeah. Please come with me. I guess Mrs Ruth will pick her up herself." Said the nursing home attendant.

The nursing home employee who received Marry was a woman about 45 years old. His body was short and plump, shoulder-haired, which was neatly tied. Wearing a polite suit, and having a friendly face.

Marry glanced around the nursing home. But and it feels comfortable. While crossing a park, Marry saw a grandfather painting there. Then on the terrace overlooking the garden look some grandmothers who sit while knitting.

Marry smiled seeing the calmness of the atmosphere in that place. Marry thought, if Alice had grown up and married, maybe this kind of place would be the place to spend her old age, so as not to trouble Alice.

Since knowing the lies Justin has had fiancee, Mary's heart seemed reluctant to think about romance. She has been heartbroken after learning the truth about Justin.

"This is Mrs Max's room." Said the nursing home attendant while opening the room door.

An old woman was not sure how old she was sitting facing out through the window of the room holding a book.

"Good day, Mrs Max. You've been picked up. Have the necessary items been put in the bag?" Ask the woman in a soft tone.

"It's right there." He said while pointing at the corner of the room.

The officer and Marry turned to the direction that the grandmother pointed.

There was only a bag open, however, nothing was filled.

The officer only took a deep breath, turning to Marry.

Marry approached the grandmother who was sitting facing the outside.

"What's the lady reading?" Marry asked trying to get to know Mrs Max.

Madam Max looked at Marry as if judging himself.

Marry stuck out her neck to look at the book that Madam Max was holding.

Ernest Hemingway's book, Old Man and the Sea.

Mary smiled at the old woman. Although he did not like literature very much, at least he had read the book and discussed literature lessons in school first.

"Mrs, I helped pack your things, huh?" Marry asked politely.

"Alright, whatever!" He said while continuing to read the book.

Marry picks out some clothes, before putting them in the bag, Marry asks for Max's approval. Marry packed the clothes with joy by humming even though his voice fit.

As Marry packed the goods, his phone rang, immediately he picked up the phone that was in his bag.

"From Olivia?" Marry muttered.

Mary answered the call immediately. It turns out Alice was making trouble again at school.

"Sorry Olivia, but I'm out of town right now. Maybe we'll get there by afternoon. Or you can call Sophie or Ben as you normally would. Again forgive me." Marry said before closing her phone call.

"I was expecting my son to come and pick me up, but he might be too busy. I don't expect Ruth to pick you up either, because she must be busy." Said Mrs Max while walking limped closer to Marry who was busy arranging and re-examining the contents of Madam Max's bag.

Marry stopped her activities, swiftly helping Madame Max to sit on a chair by the bed.

"thank you. What's yourname?" Ask Mrs Max

"Me, Marry. I work for Mrs Ruth. I'm also Terence and Claire's best friend. And I was asked to pick you up by Mrs Ruth, because she was busy. There are two events at work." Marry said kindly with a smile looking at Madame Max.

"Hmmm.... Only Ruth had ever noticed me. Even though he's just my nephew, he always treats you like his mama." Madam Max sighed while glaring.

Marry stared with sympathy. He became curious as to who this Madame Max really was.

"So, Madam isn't Terence's real grandmother?" Marry asked subtly, trying not to be like the one who was petrified.

Madam Max shook her head weakly, then looked at Marry. Marry who had finished cleaning Madam Max's luggage, immediately closed the zipper bag, and put it on the bed.

Marry then looked at Madam Max gently while sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Ruth is my sister's son. My sister and her husband died in an accident. Ruth, who was five years old at the time, was a child, I took her and I grew up like my own son. My real children are Morgan and Tracy. Morgan was too hardworking, and ambitious. Tracy chose to expand her business in Europe." Madam Max sighed.

Marry, who initially did not care much about the Mars family, became interested and sympathetic to the old woman in front of him.

"Just Ruth was still watching me. I asked her to put myself in a nursing home. To have many friends. I can't stand living in my own house with so many people, but it's quiet. Morgan and his wife, even his son is too busy. Sometimes there's no time to reprimand or invite me to talk for five minutes. But, Ruth, she always took the time to visit me, and chat. Not infrequently he took me on a walk with his family. Like he's my real son." Madam Max's voice trembled, there was sadness in it.

Marry clasped the old woman's hand, strengthening her.

"You don't have to be sad. Terence is getting married, and there will be a lot of happiness going on in that family. I think Mrs Ruth invited you, to share her happiness." Marry said with a smile.

"Ruth is good at picking the right people. Come on, help me, I'm ready to attend my grandson's wedding."

*

Marry's heart was not calm. She has not received any news from Sophie, nor Olivia about Alice.

Marry stuffed Madam Max's bag into the back seat, and opened the door for the old woman. Then sit behind the wheel.

Just as he slammed his back against the seatback, his phone rang. He picked it up without seeing who contacted him.

"Alice is with me. She's secure. You take it easy, and he's waiting for you in my apartment right now."

Kevin's voice was resolute, yet soft. As if saying every word with a heart, so as not to worry Mary.

"alright. I'll pick up Alice done work."

Marry hung up his cell phone call and put it back in his pocket.

Then smiled towards Madam Max who was paying attention to her.

Marry put on Mrs Max's seatbelt, then passed from the nursing home to Mrs Ruth's residence.