The Magical Wedge chapter 3

After the older woman had the wooden heart installed, her expression immediately became calm. She stopped covering her chest with her hand and suddenly looked much younger. She thanked Mr. Johnson repeatedly. “Thank you, sir.” Those words were like a thunderclap in Mr. Johnson’s ears. The voice was so familiar!

It was very late, and the mother – daughter pair asked to stay the night. Mr. Johnson agreed.

That night, Mr. Johnson couldn’t sleep, thinking about the strange things that had happened. Just as he was starting to doze off, he saw someone enter the room. It was a woman. On closer look, she resembled the older woman he had seen earlier, but she looked much younger. Since she had been supported by her daughter before, Mr. Johnson hadn’t seen her face clearly.

The woman walked to Mr. Johnson’s bedside and sat down. Then she began to cry softly. “It’s been more than twenty years. Do you still remember me?” she said in a sad voice. By the light from the window, Mr. Johnson stared at her face, his eyes wide in disbelief. She was clearly his wife who had been missing for over twenty years!

Mr. Johnson sat up abruptly, hugged his wife, and cried, “Where have you been all these years?”

Looking at Mr. Johnson’s graying hair, his wife stroked it with her hand, tears streaming down her face. “That year, after I went to the church to give thanks, I was deceived by a woman. She said there was something wrong with the baby in my belly and took me for a check – up. I followed her and ended up in a far – away place. Eventually, I was sold to a man in the mountains as his wife. I’ve been wanting to come back for so many years, but that man watched me closely, and I didn’t know the way back. I’ve missed you so much. Look at my heart. It’s like this because of missing you…”

His wife was holding the distorted heart in her hand. Mr. Johnson looked at it, sighed, and wiped away his tears. “It’s all my fault. I should have gone with you to give thanks that year.”

His wife continued to cry. “I managed to get out this time when that man in the mountains relaxed his guard. I told him I wanted to go out for a walk, but actually, I just wanted to come back and see you.” She was crying like a child. Mr. Johnson hugged her tightly. “Don’t go back. Stay here with me.”

“I can’t. I’ve lived with that man in the mountains for over twenty years and have two children with him. I can’t leave them. Also, I gave birth to a daughter for you. I brought her here this time for you to meet.” Mr. Johnson then realized that the young woman was his daughter!