It was one of the resort's supervisors who calmly informed them about what happened to John Howard. Ingrid almost dropped on the floor when she heard the news. Fortunately he rescued her on time. Clark, on the other hand, suddenly wailed.

"Bring me to my daddy, NOW!" Ingrid demanded.

Despite of her weakened body, Ingrid is still determined, while Clifford remained composed and his mind's been busy planning what to do first considering that they couldn't bring Clark along with them.

He decided to call Griffith to take Clark and amuse him again. Griffith immediately obeyed because he knew exactly what to do to divert the child's attention.

On the other hand, Clint called Clifford informing him that Rose fainted. Ingrid suddenly had a headache hearing the successive unpleasant news.

"Mommy, what's happening? I'm so afraid mom… daddy, please don't go." Clark's eyes are filled with tears. His lips pouted, holding his sobs and tears.

She couldn't answer her son, because she knew she'll breakdown.

Clark's parents are torn in between their son and Rose.

But it was Clifford who came over to console their child. He kneeled to level his eyes to his son.

"Clark, how old are you now?" Cliff asked as he reached to wipe his son's tears that are readying to fall.

"I'm six."

"Oh, wow! You're six? It means, you're a big boy now and I could already entrust a big man's task, couldn't I?" the child nodded and smiled when he heard the word big boy.

"Great! Listen buddy, mommy and I needed to go to hospital to check Grandpa John's condition. Unfortunately, there's no one who will help your granddad Clint to watch over the resort and your grandmothers. Since you're a big boy now, I need you to take care of your grandparents. Would you do that for us?"

"Oh, yes daddy! I promise I'll watch over them." Clifford rumples his son's hair.

"You're the greatest blessing son." He then kissed his son on his head.

"I know right." Clark grinned.

When Griffith arrived, Clifford instructed him to distract Clark for a while and bring him to his grandma Rose when she's awake. After that, they went to Rose's spot straight away. She's laid down on the bed and her face showed distress.

Ingrid just silently sobbing near her mother's side and couldn't speak. Clifford was behind her, soothingly touching her back. She then looked at her in-laws and pleaded,

"Father, mother, can you please watch over my mom? I needed to go and check my dad…" she asked with a hoa.r.s.e and quaked voice.

Helen went to Ingrid and hugged her.

"Of course yes, dear, that's what family do: looking after one another. Go your way and be safe. We'll be fine here. Clifford, don't drive. Your wife needs you." Helen remained calm despite that her eyes are in red.

"Yes, mom."

When they arrived at the hospital, Lance was walking back and forth restlessly.

"Lance, how's my daddy?"

"Ingrid… I-I don't know yet, they've just transferred him from the ER to the OR. One of the nurses who a.s.sisted uncle John told me to just wait and she didn't specify for how long."

Ingrid sat helplessly to one of the chairs outside the OR and covered her face with her hands. There are no tears left her now, they run dry and she looked like a mess.

Clifford went to the nurse station to look for wet tissues to wipe his wife's face. They've given him a lot of it and even tried to impress him, but when they saw his wedding band, they shrink back.

He sat down beside Ingrid and called her attention.

"Wife, let me wipe your face. I know your face feels hot, so I asked for some wet wipes to cool you down."

Looking at her husband's thoughtfulness lightens the heaviness in her heart.

"Oh, Clifford, what should I do, if you're not here with me?"

He answered Ingrid with just a charming smile and reached out to wipe his wife's face.

The coolness it brings and the acts of love Clifford showed comforted her. Ingrid's eyes becomes heavy, but she fight to fall asleep because she wanted to be the first one to see her father's condition and be the first one to check on him.

Couple of hours have pa.s.sed and the OR opened. All of them stood up to meet the patient.

Tears started to flow once again from Ingrid's eyes as looked at the state of her father. His face grows pale and some wires attached to his body. Still, unconscious.

"Ddaddy…" her throats dry and even uttering any word hurts so she closed her mouth again.

Her hands are quivering when she stretched out her hands to touch him, while Clifford and Lance could only clench their hands and jaw at the sight of John.