Chapter 23 — The Promise of a Demobilized Soldier

Since the day the company gradually stabilized and the threats from the Diep brothers were completely resolved, the pace of life of Thanh Phong, Bao Chau and baby Bao An also gradually entered a calmer, warmer orbit than in the past turbulent days. Thanh Phong no longer kept his distance like before, often stopping by Bao Chau's house every evening after work, sometimes just to have a simple meal with mother and daughter, sometimes to help little An review her lessons, and tutor her in doing difficult math problems that Bao Chau was not very good at explaining.

Baby An, day by day, becomes more and more attached to Thanh Phong. She started calling him by a much more intimate name than before, sometimes accidentally blurting out "Daddy Phong" before realizing it and shyly correcting it to "Uncle Phong", making both Thanh Phong and Bao Chau confused and indescribably happy every time that happened.

One weekend afternoon, when Thanh Phong took mother and child for a walk in the city's central park, where the company's first meaningful agricultural market took place, baby An ran and played with the neighborhood children, leaving Thanh Phong and Bao Chau sitting next to each other on a stone bench, watching her from afar.

"Mr. Phong, I've noticed that An is very attached to you lately." Bao Chau said, his voice was gentle but contained a delicate inquiry.

"I noticed that too." Thanh Phong replied, a warm smile blooming on his lips as he looked at her small figure playing in the afternoon sunlight. "Honestly, I also love An very much, like my own child. There are times when I wonder if I'm abusing her feelings or not, when my sister and I haven't really clearly defined our relationship yet."

Bao Chau was silent for a moment, his eyes following his daughter, then turned to look at Thanh Phong, his voice sincere. "I have thought a lot about this, Mr. Phong. Since the day Mr. Khang passed away, I have always told myself to live very strongly and independently for An's child, but I also realize that a child growing up in a family full of love, even if not in the traditional way, is still much better than a family where I alone bear the burden of everything."

"What are you trying to say?" Thanh Phong asked, his heart beating faster at those meaningful words.

Bao Chau smiled, her gentle eyes looking straight at him. "I want to say, I'm ready, Mr. Phong. Ready to open my heart to receive something new, more complete, not only for An, but also for myself. I believe, Mr. Khang, somewhere, will also smile and bless us."

Thanh Phong looked at her, his emotions so overwhelming that he was speechless for a moment. He took Bao Chau's hand and squeezed it respectfully. "Thank you, Bao Chau. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, but I always respect your time and feelings, and don't want to force anything."

The good news about Thanh Phong and Bao Chau's official relationship quickly spread throughout the company, and was received by all veterans with sincere joy. Ben was the first to congratulate, patting Thanh Phong on the shoulder and laughing loudly. "You've finally opened up, we're so happy for you. Ms. Chau deserves to be happy, and so do you, after so many years of only worrying about your brothers and forgetting about yourself."

Toan also contributed with his familiar humorous voice. "So from now on we have a sister-in-law who also has two roles as a financial boss. We have to be careful not to dare to ask for salary advances indiscriminately anymore." The whole group laughed, a warm, friendly atmosphere permeated the company's office.

Suong, Bao Chau's closest friend, when she heard the news, she also rushed to hug her friend, her eyes red with emotion. "I told you, you deserve to be happy, Chau. Seeing you and An smiling happily like now, I'm very happy."

One weekend, all three of them, Thanh Phong, Bao Chau and baby An, visited Dinh Khang's grave together, bringing flowers and fresh fruit. Standing in front of the simple grave of her deceased husband and father, Bao Chau gently told Khang about the positive changes in the lives of mother and child, about the decision to open their hearts to receive Thanh Phong, and about the happiness that the whole family is gradually rebuilding.

"Mr. Khang, I believe you will be happy to see us happy like now." Bao Chau whispered, his voice gentle. "Thank you, for leaving me a good friend like Mr. Phong, who has kept his promise to me, and is now building a new home for our daughter with me."

Baby An placed a small bouquet of flowers on her father's grave, her voice innocent but full of sincerity. "Dad, I now have Daddy Phong. Daddy Phong is very good, I know you would like Daddy Phong if you were still here."

Thanh Phong stood silently in front of the grave of his closest friend, with an indescribable feeling in his heart, both touching and relieved, as if the burden of the old promise had now been completely lifted, replaced by a complete happiness that he believed Khang himself was smilingly witnessing from somewhere far away.

"Kang, I kept my promise to you." He whispered, his voice choked. "Your wife and children are now safe and happy. I will continue to take care of them and love them like my own family, forever."

From that afternoon, the relationship between the two officially turned a new page, without the hesitation and shyness like before. Thanh Phong began to publicize his role in the lives of mother and daughter, taking baby An to school every day, joining Bao Chau in parent-teacher meetings at school, and gradually becoming an indispensable part in every important moment of that small family.

One evening, when Thanh Phong helped little An do her homework with the topic "the person I admire the most", she did not hesitate to write about Thanh Phong, telling the story of how he protected her and her mother from bad guys, about the team spirit he always had for other veterans, and about how he always kept his promise to her father despite many difficulties.

"Uncle Phong is not my biological father, but he has done everything a good father would do for me." Baby An read aloud the passage she wrote to Thanh Phong, her eyes clear and full of pride. "I think, you deserve to be called my dad, if you agree."

Thanh Phong choked and hugged the baby, tears of happiness could not be contained rolling down the cheeks of a man who had gone through many hardships on the battlefield but had never shed tears because of physical pain. "I agree, I agree right now, An. From now on, you just call me dad, I will always be with you and mom, forever."

Bao Chau stood at the door of the room, witnessing that warm moment, unable to hold back his tears of happiness. She walked in, hugged the two most important people in her life, clearly feeling that a perfect family was gradually forming, not to replace what was lost, but to continue, to heal, and to write a new chapter full of love for all three people.

That night, after baby An fell asleep, Thanh Phong and Bao Chau sat together in the small living room, looking out at the yard where the ten o'clock flower pots were still blooming as ever. The two didn't say much, just quietly enjoying that rare peace, a peace that they both had to go through many hardships and losses to reach, and now, they know for sure that they will cherish and preserve it together for the rest of their lives.

"Thank you, for giving me a family." Thanh Phong spoke softly, breaking the warm silence between the two, squeezing Bao Chau's hand tightly.

She leaned her head on his shoulder, her voice whispering with satisfaction. "Thank you, for never giving up, no matter how many times I pushed you away. From now on, we will continue to build unfinished things together, for you, for An, and even for your teammates."

Outside, the late night moonlight gently falls down the small alley, illuminating the yard with ten o'clock flower pots closing their petals to rest, waiting for a new dawn, brighter and fuller of hope than ever for the whole small family that has just been completely healed, just like the name Binh Minh that Thanh Phong chose to give to his company from the most difficult early days, a name that now carries a new, warmer and more complete meaning than ever for all three people.