The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1026 The Amusement Park

"Actually it's not as difficult as you are thinking," Sheryl said with a smile on her face. "Motherly qualities, as well as instincts, come naturally to all women when they become mothers. When you become a mother like me, you will understand it. You will become stronger than you can ever imagine if at all such a situation happens when a threat is posed to your baby's safety or well being," Sheryl assured as an experienced mother.

Sheryl kept Sue company and talked to her for a long time. Finally, Sue got slightly reassured and felt relaxed. She glanced at Sheryl and said in a calm voice, "You are right. The most important thing for me now is to keep my baby safe and sound. I should put everything else aside."

"That's right." Sheryl took a deep sigh of relief after hearing what Sue said.

In the evening, Laura asked her to stay longer and invited her to have dinner with them. But Sheryl declined it politely saying, "No, thanks. Auntie, I have promised my kids that I will have dinner with them tonight. So thank you for your invitation, but I have to go."

After hearing this, Laura could not force Sheryl to stay and agreed to let her go. Laura found Sheryl's occasional visits to Sue to be very welcoming. At least, like that Sue had someone she could talk to openly and get rid of many apprehensions that might occur in an expecting mother's mind. After all who could be better than a friend of Sue as well as a young mother herself when it came to give company to Sue at this time? Sheryl bid goodbye to Sue and Laura and drove back home.

As Sheryl entered the house, Shirley came running to her with open arms asking for a hug. Sheryl brushed her cheeks against Shirley's soft cheeks and nudged her slightly. She asked her tenderly, "So, how's my baby doing today?" Hearing this Shirley pouted her lips and began to complain, "Mom, why do you come back so late? I even thought that you won't come back tonight."

"How come?" Sheryl put her down on the floor and crouched down until their eyes were at the same level and replied with eyes fixed on Shirley's face.

Sheryl was aware that ever since she joined back to her company, she had not been able to get enough time for her kids. The thought of it made her feel guilty.

Sheryl had been hands-on with Shirley ever since she was born. And when it came to Clark, Sheryl felt that she owed him much more. However, her growing responsibilities at the company allowed her much less time in her hands that she could utilize for her kids.

"You can't imagine, Sheryl, how eagerly Shirley was waiting for you. She remained glued to the window all evening just to see you coming back home. She really missed you." Nancy came out of the kitchen and spoke to Sheryl as she served the dishes on the table.

"Oh, really?" Sheryl felt sorry and looked at Shirley. Once again, she touched Shirley's chin tenderly.

Charles was away on a business trip, so Sheryl took both the kids to her bedroom. She read them bedtime stories until both of them were fast asleep cuddling up to her from both sides. In a while, even she dozed off into a deep slumber.

Next morning as she opened her eyes she was taken aback to see that the kids were not there in the bed. Instead of them, it was Charles who was sleeping beside her. At first, she could not believe her eyes. She rubbed her eyes to clear her vision and looked again only to see Charles staring back at her. She couldn't help but ask, "When did you come back?"

"I came back in midnight," Charles replied bleary-eyed as he put an arm around her.

Sheryl nestled her head on his shoulder. "Do you still need to leave for business then?" Sheryl comforted herself in his embrace.

"No, I don't need to. I have dealt with all the major affairs. And for the trivial issues that are left, I have asked David to solve them. How about I take you and kids out to play?" Charles pulled her closer into a deep embrace and whispered in her ear.

It had been a long time that they'd had a family outing. After all, he was working hard only to see his wife and kids happy. What was the point if he couldn't get some quality time with them?

"That's great," Sheryl giggled and her face lit up as she heard that. Charles looked at her face lovingly and stroked her cheeks tenderly. Sheryl's smile and the sound of her giggle as he held her in his arms softened his heart. How much darkness had been fallen on his entire life when she had been away for the last three years! She could hardly hold back her excitement. She shared her earlier plan with Charles. "I had planned to take the kids out today. Now that you have come back, we can all go together."

Shirley was overjoyed when she came to know that they were going out with both mom and dad. Clark was his usual reserved self but happy to learn that they were going to have an entire day with Charles and Sheryl. Later in the day, Charles and Sheryl took the two kids to an amusement park. Shirley loved to visit amusement park the most. Every time she went to a city, she would ask for going to the amusement park. But unlike Shirley, Clark didn't show too much interest in it. Given a choice, he would rather read more books in the library than waste time on the rides in the amusement park.

But seeing Shirley's excitement, Clark couldn't refuse it at all. So as an indulging and protective brother, he accompanied her in all the rides and played all kinds of the game so that she could enjoy everything to her heart's content.

Sheryl and Charles followed the kids with their hands held together, whispering sweet nothings to each other once in a while. Even passersby could not help noticing the peaceful harmony and bonding that the family shared with each other.

The whole family played in the park from the morning to the evening. At the end of it, Sheryl became tired after walking through the amusement park all day long but Shirley was completely charged up. Sheryl was so tired that she sat on a bench to relax her aching feel. She shook her hand and said to Shirley, "I have no energy left in me to run after you anymore. Shirley, how about we go back today? Next time when we visit this place, we will stay as long as you want, okay?"

"Come on, it's not easy for us to find time to play with them outside. As far as I'm concerned, we should just be with them as long as they want to have fun in the amusement park. Just see how happy they are. What do you think about it?" Charles put on a big smile and suggested to Sheryl.

"But..." Sheryl just felt too tired to take part in their revelry any longer. She furrowed her brows and sounded absolutely spent and exhausted as she said, "Please pardon me. I really have no energy left. I can't walk any longer." Saying this she arched her body backward and stretched her feet to and fro to make them feel relaxed.

Charles looked at Sheryl's face and said, "Okay, then you sit here for a while. I will buy a bottle of water for you and, by that time, I will also take the two kids to play other activities, okay?" Charles offered with a soft smile on his face.

"That's all right," Sheryl finally nodded her head slightly. Seeing Shirley was in high spirits, even Sheryl didn't have the heart to take her home right away. However, she still reminded in a stern voice, "But you can't be here for too long. The park is closed at 9 o'clock."

"I know it," Charles nodded his head as he replied. Then he picked both the kids and went ahead.

Sheryl watched the receding figure of Charles as he took the kids away and her face broke into a soothing smile reflecting the state of her mind. She then leaned against the back of the bench and closed her eyes for a while. The very next moment when she opened her eyes, the park lights started to become dim making the place dark and gloomy. A chill ran through her spine and she sat up immediately straightening her back.

"What's the matter?" Sheryl looked around to find herself absolutely alone in the deserted amusement park. She felt her heart in her throat as she looked around desperately to find the trace of some human activity but in vain. All the game facilities came to a halt. Suddenly, she became worried about her kids. Was the park about to close down? What if the kids were in the middle of a ride or a game? What if they were not aware that the park is about to close down?

She hastily stood up in a jiffy and rushed toward the direction where Charles had gone with the kids.

"Charles! Shirley! Clark! Where are you?" Sheryl yelled anxiously. She could feel drops of sweat trickling down from her hairline, passing through her earlobes and moving down her throat.

With the darkness of the dusk taking over and lights going off, the visibility was getting increasingly blurred. Sheryl was literally on the verge of crying as she looked through the darkness to find a trace of her kids and Charles.

Right at that moment, suddenly, a beam of silver light appeared. Following right behind the light, was Charles holding the two kids' in his hands. Sheryl could not stop her tears as she saw them approaching towards her.

"Mom..." Shirley kept waving her hands to draw Sheryl's attention. Letting out her tears to flow down her cheeks and a big sigh of relief, Sheryl put her hand on her chest and thanked God. The next moments both her kids were in front of her holding her hands from either side. They pulled her hand and took her to Charles who stood at a little distance from them.

"You... What are you doing?" Sheryl sensed something was about to happen which she was not aware of. Initially, the park was crowded and there was so much of hustle and bustle. Then suddenly there was a limbo and everything just vanished into the darkness. Even Charles looked a little different. The kids were chirpy as ever. Feeling curious and intrigued, she stood in front of Charles.

All of a sudden, her eyes fell on the bunch of roses in Charles' hand. But before she could react Charles spoke.

"Sher..." Charles addressed her lovingly. He stared at her affectionately and got down on one knee. "We have known each other for nearly five years now. So many things have happened in these five years. We have been through both joys and tears. What's more, we have these two beautiful kids with us. I really feel lucky to have met you."

"You...What are you doing?" Sheryl felt a lump in her throat as she spoke. She was both surprised and overwhelmed by this gesture. Although there were no others except the two kids, Sheryl also felt a little embarrassed in the public area. She looked at Charles and said, "Just stand up. The kids are looking at us. Don't you think it is slightly awkward?"

Sheryl stooped down and tried to pull Charles up. But he held his pose and took her hand in his own hand.

He fixed his eyes on Sheryl and continued, "Sher, back when you went missing for the last three years, I nearly got mad and searched for you everywhere. And it was at that time that I realized how important you are for me. I can never explain to you in words how ecstatic I was when I found you after three years."