Chapter 4 — The Father Awakens Too Late

The live broadcast at the company was a play she had already written. What she wanted from beginning to end was not help, but Mrs. Bui's position. Dad placed documents in front of grandmother's door. He didn't knock on the door, just sent his mother a text message.
“I will handle it.”
Mom only answered four words.
“Leave it to the lawyer.”
I lay by the window and saw my father standing downstairs. He raised his head and smiled slightly at me. Just like when he used to put me to sleep before. Very handsome. I pulled back the curtains. Because I know, that handsome father will also make others heartbroken. That night, Dad sat in the car until morning. On the passenger seat is a painting Chu Chu once gave him, and on the back seat is a moon pin I no longer need. He suddenly realized that all these years he had always thought he was saving a poor child. But the person he really pushed into the abyss was his own daughter.
7
Before the court date, my father signed a divorce agreement. The house belongs to mother. The right to raise me also belongs to my mother. He will reimburse Ly Uyen Nguyet for unreasonable expenses in the couple's common property. After the lawyer finished speaking, mother only asked:
“Does he have any other conditions?”
"Mr. Bui wants to keep the right to visit his child."
Mom was silent for a moment.
“Follow the law.”
On the day of court, Dad wore a dark suit. He lost a lot of weight. Seeing his mother, he stood up and pulled out a chair for her. Mom sat on the other side. Dad's hand paused, then retracted. The mediator asked me:
“Little friend, who do you want to live with?”
Dad looked at me. He didn't use the big house or the toy room to comfort me. Just call softly:
“Tri Tri.”
That call made me want to cry even more than the threat. I grabbed my mother's sleeve tightly.
“I followed mom.”
Dad closed his eyes.
"Okay."
He answered too quickly, making me dumbfounded. He added in a low voice:
“Dad doesn't take me away.”
“Dad always threatened me before, it was my fault.”
“It won't be like that anymore.”
I looked at him.
“Are you still married to Ms. Ly?”
"Are not."
“Would you still let someone else be your mother?”
Dad shook his head.
“Tri Tri only has one mother.”
Mother bowed her head, her fingertips shaking slightly. After completing the procedure, dad walked us to the courthouse door. The wind outside is very strong. He took off his scarf, wanting to put it on his mother. Mom took a step back. Dad's hand stiffened in mid-air. A few seconds later, he put the towel on my shoulders.
“Don't get cold.”
I don't refuse. There was a bit of cautious joy in his eyes. He squatted down and tied the scarf for me. The movements are still very proficient. Before, every time I ran around, he would scold me that I was crazy, scolding him and running after me to fix my clothes. At that time, he also loved me, but his love was too light. It only takes one cry for someone to blow it away. Dad patted my head.
“Can dad come visit me later?”
I looked at my mother, she did not make the decision for me. I thought for a long time.
"Maybe."
Dad's eyes lit up. I added:
“But don't scare me.”
“Don't scold mom.”
“Don't take Ms. Ly with you.”
“Don't force me to help dad comfort mom.”
Dad's face immediately turned pale. Before, his favorite thing was to carry me in front of my mother.
“Tri Tri kiss mommy.”
“Tri Tri told mom that dad didn't mean it.”
“Tri Tri is the best, don't make mom angry anymore.”
I was only five years old, but time and time again he pushed me in front of my mother's wound, turning it into a cloth to stop the bleeding. Dad's voice lowered. “I remember.”
8
After the divorce, my mother moved to a small house very close to the hospital. The house is not big, but the sunlight is very beautiful. Every day, her grandmother supervised her eating, drinking medicine, and had follow-up check-ups. When the test results came back, the doctor said that if detected early, recovery could still be possible. Mom held the report and didn't say anything for a long time. I leaned into her arms, silently breathing a sigh of relief. The mother who died of illness in the rented house in her previous life was finally reclaimed by me. Mom started painting again. Previously, she studied illustration, but after getting married, she stopped studying for many years. Now she draws bunnies, foxes and little houses for children's picture books. She painted until late at night, so I immediately got up and turned off the light.
“Mom, you have to go to bed.”
Mom laughed.
“Why does Tri Tri take care of her mother like she takes care of a child?”
I seriously say:
“Because my mother didn't listen before.”
Her pen stopped. She didn't ask any more questions, just hugged me.
“Okay, mom, listen to Tri Tri.”
The first time Dad came to the new house was on a spring picnic day. He texted three days in advance. Ask if the time is convenient. Ask if your mother is healthy enough to go. Asked me if I wanted him to come with me. He never asked before. He just appears, or disappears. On the picnic day, he arrived very early. He brought all the water bottles, sun hats, bandages, baby wet wipes, and even his mother's stomach medicine. Mom saw the medicine box and was stunned. Dad brought me over.
"The doctor said you shouldn't be hungry for too long. There's porridge in the car."
Mom took out an identical box of medicine from her bag.
“No need, I brought it.”
Dad's hand stopped in midair. He bowed his head and looked at my small backpack. My water bottle, sun hat, and band-aids are also neatly stacked inside. Mom didn't miss anything.