C200 There's No Alicia Mooney

The taxi quietly pulled into the parking area of City Hospital. Mary paid the driver, thanked him politely, and hurried toward the entrance without wasting another second. Although it was already late into the night, the emergency department remained brightly lit. Nurses and doctors walked briskly through the corridors, while the reception desk was still attended.

A young nurse smiled professionally as Mary approached. "Good evening, ma'am. How may I help you?" Mary returned the smile, though the worry on her face was impossible to hide. "I'm here to visit Alicia Mooney. She was admitted earlier today, but I don't know which room she's in." The nurse immediately began typing into the hospital system. A few seconds later, she frowned slightly. "I'm sorry, ma'am." "There isn't any patient registered under the name Alicia Mooney."

Mary blinked in confusion. "That can't be right..." Then she suddenly remembered. Valeria had been the one who informed her over the phone. Since Valeria worked at the hospital... She would certainly know. Mary smiled again. "In that case, may I ask where I can find Head Nurse Chambers?" The nurse pointed toward a nearby corridor. "She's currently on her night shift." "You'll find her in the staff resting room." "Thank you." Mary hurried in that direction.

Meanwhile... Inside the nurses' lounge... Valeria had finally managed to sit down for a short break after hours of rushing between patients. She had barely picked up her cup of tea when she heard someone call her name. "Valeria!" She turned around in surprise. "Mary?" Mary quickly walked over. "How is Alicia?" "Is she alright?" "And which room is she in?"

Seeing the anxiety written all over Mary's face, Valeria smiled reassuringly. "Calm down." "She's stable." "The doctors have already finished examining her." Mary let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness..." Without another word, Valeria stood. "Come." "I'll take you to her." The two women walked through the quiet VIP corridor together. Room after room passed by until they finally stopped outside a door marked, VIP Room 512. Valeria gently pushed the door open.

The soft sound of the opening door disturbed the peaceful silence inside. Alicia slowly opened her eyes. She turned toward the entrance... Only to freeze. Standing there was Mary and Valeria. Valeria smiled at Alicia before quietly excusing herself. "I'll leave you two to talk." The door closed softly behind her. For several seconds... Neither woman spoke. Mary hurried toward the bedside. The closer she got... The more her heart ached. Alicia looked unusually pale. Even her lips had lost their usual rosy colour.

Mary gently touched her forehead. "My child..." "What happened?" "Why are you so pale?" "Are you feeling worse?" Alicia forced a faint smile. "Aunt Mary..." "I'm alright." Mary frowned immediately. "If you're alright..." "Then why were you admitted?" "What happened?" "I've been worried this whole evening." Alicia looked genuinely surprised. "You..." "...don't know?" Mary shook her head. "How would I know?" "Nobody told me anything."

Then she suddenly noticed something else. She looked at Alicia carefully before asking with mock seriousness, "And another thing..." "Why are you suddenly calling me 'Aunt Mary' so cautiously?" "Did Mike bully you?" Despite everything that had happened... Alicia couldn't help smiling. "No..." "He didn't." She lowered her eyes for a moment. Ever since recovering those memories... The word Mother carried a different weight. The image of Gabriella... Her smile... The old photographs... Everything remained fresh in her mind.

For a brief second... Sadness flashed across her face. But she quickly hid it. This moment... Should be a happy one. She gently held Mary's hand. Then smiled softly. "Mother-in-law..." "I'm pregnant." Silence. Mary blinked. "...What?" Alicia smiled a little wider. "I'm carrying Mike's child." For a moment... Mary simply stared at her. Then... Tears instantly filled her eyes. "My child..." "Are you serious?" Alicia nodded shyly. "Yes."

Mary covered her mouth. "Oh my goodness..." "I'm..." "I'm going to be a grandmother..." Her worried expression completely disappeared. Instead... Pure joy filled her face. She carefully hugged Alicia, making sure not to hurt her. "My precious daughter..." "You've given our family such wonderful news." Alicia smiled as she returned the hug.

The warmth in Mary's embrace felt so natural... So comforting... That tears almost escaped her own eyes. This happiness... Felt different. Her own family had celebrated. But Mary's excitement... Came purely from love. After a long hug, Mary finally let go. She immediately began asking question after question. "Are you hungry?" "Did you eat dinner?" "Do you feel dizzy?" "Do you want soup?" "Fruit?" "Warm milk?"

Alicia laughed helplessly. "I'm really fine." Mary folded her arms. "I don't believe you." "You young people always say you're fine." "Then collapse five minutes later." Before Alicia could protest again... Mary had already picked up her handbag. "I'll be right back." Alicia blinked. "Aunt..." "Where are you going?" "To buy fruit." "You need vitamins." Without waiting for another answer... Mary hurried out.

Less than twenty minutes later... She returned carrying several bags. Fresh apples. Oranges. Pears. Grapes. Bananas. Even strawberries. Alicia stared in disbelief. "Mother-in-law..." "How many people are you feeding?" Mary smiled proudly. "My pregnant daughter." She pulled a chair closer to the bed before carefully washing the fruit one by one. She peeled each with remarkable patience. Every slice was cut into neat bite-sized pieces. She removed every seed. Placed everything carefully onto a small plate.

Only then did she hand Alicia a fork. "Open your mouth." Alicia laughed softly. "I can feed myself." Mary shook her head. "Not tonight." "Tonight..." "You let your mother take care of you." Unable to refuse any longer... Alicia obediently opened her mouth. One piece after another... Mary patiently fed her. The sweetness of the fruit wasn't what warmed Alicia's heart. It was the tenderness behind every small gesture. No one spoke much after that. The room became peaceful again.

After eating a little more... The medicine finally began making Alicia sleepy. She yawned quietly. Mary immediately adjusted her blanket. "Sleep." "I'll stay right here." Alicia looked at her gratefully. "You don't have to..." Mary smiled gently. "I know." "But I want to." Alicia slowly closed her eyes. Within minutes... She had fallen asleep. Mary remained seated beside the bed. Watching her daughter-in-law breathe peacefully. Only after convincing herself that Alicia was truly resting comfortably... Did Mary finally lean back in the chair. Still smiling... She quietly closed her own eyes.

She never once left Alicia's side. A short while later, Valeria quietly returned for her routine check on Alicia. She smiled when she found both women asleep, Alicia resting peacefully on the bed, while Mary had dozed off in the chair beside her. Without making a sound, Valeria fetched a warm blanket, gently draped it over Mary's shoulders, switched off the brighter lights, and quietly slipped back out of the room.