Well.. I didn't plan this before.. But this just slipped in my mind
Big thanks to Kates who'd helped me so far :)
So this is it! Another chapter for Life Without Her
Oh and if u noticed i've changed things in the story (like the summary etc)
Hope u enjoy this! (Please leave some reviews, I really want to know what u think about my story.
the first chapter got many visitors but there's only 1 review. I don't bite u know)
It was a relaxing and exciting weekend for both Don and Angel after the Mother's Day "incident". Don got a day off and had picked Angel from school again at Friday, and they went straight to the cinema. They watched a film that Angel chose and shared a box of popcorn. It was already night when they got home, and Don quickly ordered for pizza, as it was their favorite, then talked a bit before going to sleep.
Today, however, they had planned to spend time together again. It was 6.30 when Angel woke up, and she bounced out of the room to reach for her Dad.
"Dad wake up! We have plans today." she shook Don's shoulder. But he just rolled and escaped himself from the disturbance, not bothering to wake up. Angel groaned and started beating and shaking her Dad's shoulder even more and smiled widely when he finally woke up. "God, Angel! Can't you just go gently?" he frowned. Angel laughed slightly. "No, Dad. If i did that, you won't ever wake up." She giggled.
"Well that, Angelline, is impossible. I'll wake up you know, it's just the matter of time." He smiled. Angel rolled her eyes, "Yeah, and at that time you wake up we will be able to do nothing." She then pulled Don's hands. "Come on Dad, Let's make breakfast for the picnic."
"Alright, but not until I wash my face." He got out of the bed. "You can go on first." Angel just shook her head. "If I do, You sure will sleep again." Don just rolled his eyes and went to the bathroom.
After a few argument over what should they bring or how do they like to get there, Don and Angel finally arrived at the park. They found a perfect spot for picnic, and then sat down. Angel started to take out all their picnic things, and then let Don set them. They both picked out their sandwiches and then ate it while relaxing their feet.
"This is so good. We should do this often, Dad." Angel took a bite of her sandwich, then breathed the air deeply.
"It is, but I don't think we can do this too often." Don smiled, pouring some juice. "You want some?" He offered. "Yes, Orange please." Angel hold up her glass. Don poured the orange juice to the glass. They both chattering and enjoying the fresh air at the park together. After putting back the things, they took a walk around. Don smiled when Angel played with a dog who approached her. She even talked a bit with the owner. This reminded Don with Jess. Angel was sometimes too much look like her. The way she smiled or acted, both of them were too sweet. And Don miss her really much at times like that. It's hard to look at Angel. Her brunette hair, her smile, everything just reminded him of Jess. He wished Jess was there, seeing their daughter grow into a sweet beautiful girl.
"Dad?" Angel called, bringing Don back to reality. He looked at Angel. "Hey, have you finished playing?" He smiled.
"Well, the dog left already." she shrugged. "Should we walk again?" she asked.
"Dunno, we can feed the ducks if you want." Don looked at the pond.
"Dad, ducks are boring." Angel rolled her eyes, Don chuckled. "You used to like it back then. You changed your mind now?" He frowned.
"No, i never like that. We just fed them because you wanted it." She giggled, then jogged ahead. "Come on,Dad. Let's walk again." Don smiled, then followed her. The next few minutes were filled by them chasing around. A lot of giggles and laughter surrounded the park. They lay down on the grass, relaxing a bit after having fun. Blue sky spreading above them, decorated with clouds.
"Dad?" Angel called, looking at her father who was closing his eyes. Don opened his eyes and faced her. "Yes baby?" He answered.
"There's a florist shop near here right?" She asked. "Well, yes, I think." He tried to remember. "Why?"
"Can we go there?" She asked, making Don frowned. He searched for a hint of joke in her face, but it was serious.
"What.. Wait you're not going to buy a flower and give it to a boy right?" Angel's serious face cracked into laughter at Don's overprotective statement.
"No, of course no, Dad. You're so funny." She continued laughing. "Well, then what for?" Don asked. Angel stopped laughing and looked up, playing with her fingers. "I was thinking maybe we can buy some nice flowers and visit Mom." She stated. "I really enjoyed this weekend, Dad, and I think we should include Mom here." Don smiled softly at her.
"Well then, little Angel, let's do your plan."
Don and Angel arrived at the grave. They walked through and searched for Jess' gravestone. Angel knelt down and put the flowers they bought earlier. Don followed her and brushed away some dust. "Hi Jess, it's me, and Angel too." He said, fixing his gaze at the gravestone. Angel grinned, "Hi mommy. Yes it's me." Don smiled at her cheerful tone. He hold back the tears from his eyes. He had to be strong, for her. Angel looked at her father. She knew he almost cried, that he was holding back his tears. She felt like going to cry, but if she did, she knew it would take so long and she won't be able to say a word to her mother. So she held the flowers, pretending like her mother was in front of her. "We bought this for you, it's beautiful, isn't it?" Angel then put it down. Don looked at her, touched by her action. "So, Jess, we're having this exciting weekend. We went to cinema, sharing a box of popcorn, and ordered a pizza for dinner. Before you get mad, I want to say I know it's not healthy, but we don't get it too often though. And today we had a picnic. Angel loved it, and suggested to do that often. Well, you know I can't Jess, you know how busy our work right? I wish you're here, so maybe we can switch on having a picnic with her." He laughed slightly after that. "Jess, we miss you so much here. Especially I.. Angel, you will not say something?" Angel looked up at the mention of her name. She was confused why her father suddenly stop to talk, but seeing the hint of sadness in his eyes, Angel stepped forward without saying anything.
"Hi Mom. Yes, we miss you so much. Did you see my present for you on Mother's Day? Actually I wish you're here, so I can give it to you and we'll take photos of three of us, not just me and Dad. Sometimes I cried, screaming inside for you to comeback to us. I'm jealous of my friends at school who get the love from both parents. I miss you, mommy, both of us do. We know life goes on, but we can't just forget someone so easily right? So, sometimes we are still lost in thoughts, we cry, and fight too. But don't worry, we're both fine, aren't we Dad?" Angel turned up to her father, smiling. Don nodded, fighting as much as he could to hold back the tears that started to fall down. Angel was about to talk again, but suddenly she cried loudly. Don didn't try to stop her. He let the tears falling down from his eyes. She put her arms around Don's waist, letting her feelings out.
"I'm sorry Dad, I can't.." She sobbed. Don stroke her hair and kissed the top of her head. "It's alright, sweetheart. Want me to talk first?" He offered, but Angel shook her head. "No, let me finish." She released herself from her father. "Sorry for being silly, Mom." She wiped her tears. "I want to say one last thing. Although our lives go on, we will not forget you, Mom. You're the greatest mother for me, and will always be the only one. I love you so much Mom, and Dad too. You're both the best parents for me. Thank you for your love all those years, Mom. Love you always." She smiled softly, then stepped back, giving her Dad a closer space. "Your turn Dad, I'm going to wait near our car." She ran before Don could say anything. He stepped closer and knelt again.
"Well, we're alone now. Actually, I just want to say thank you. Thanks for giving birth to such a beautiful daughter. Like you always said, she's like a little angel. I don't know how I could survive without her. Losing you was like losing half part of me, Jess. It was hard at first. She became really quiet. There were no stories after school. And I often lost in thoughts. I know after a while we kept going on, but there were times when we were still taken by our feelings. It's never the same without you, Jess. But I believe you want us to be happy, with or without you. That's why she bought the frames, and that's why I cooked the Family Menu again. We're both fighting back our depression. And I promise we'll visit you more often." He smiled. "I love you Jess, and like she said, we will never ever forget about you. You are the most beautiful and greatest woman in my life. Thank you for everything." He kissed his fingers and placed it on Jess' gravestone. Then he walked away, approaching Angel who waited outside.
"Hey." He tapped on her shoulder. Angel was slightly surprised, but smiled when she saw her father. "Are we finished now?" She grinned.
"As you can see. Should we go now?" Angel nodded. He let her go into the car, and then he went to the driver's seat, started to drive.
They went quiet the whole way. Angel looking outside and Don tried to focus on driving. He looked at Angel, then decided to start talking. "Well, where should we go now?" He asked, but Angel just shrugged. Don sighed, "Angel, will you talk?"
"Sorry Dad.. I'm just being silly." She said. "Why don't we go to the market? We ran out of supplies." Don nodded at her suggestion. "You're right, let's go." He turned the car around and drove to the nearest market. They spent the afternoon at the market, buying everything they needed for the month, then stopped at a coffee shop on the way home. Don ordered a cup of coffee for himself and hot chocolate for Angel. They sat down and quietly sipping their drink. Don stopped and put down the coffee on the table. He looked at Angel, "So, how do you feel after visiting Mom?" Angel looked up and met with her father's blue eyes similarly like hers. Actually she didn't want to talk about it but she knew she needed to. So they spent their time there talking about what they said earlier at the cemetery. About their feelings, on why they cried, or when will they visit Jess again. Don felt a little bit relief that Angel wanted to open up. Don loved times liket that, when he got to talk to his daughter. He was thankful that Angel was such an understanding and sweet girl. He knew many teenagers out there didn't get along with their father. And Jess' death almost made them unconnected.
"Dad look! You are on television." Angel pointed at the television on the wall. Don came back from his thoughts and looked up. There showed him and the team arresting James Robert, the serial killer that had ruined his whole week. "Yeah, that was from a few days ago." He sipped the coffee again, not wanting to look at the news. But Angel kept looking at it with suspicious look. "He looks scary." She said, making Don stopped. It broke his heart to see his daughter scared.
"Don't worry he's in jail now." He said with a smile, then stood up. "What do you think we go somewhere not scary? Home?" Angel just giggled and then stood up, then followed her father to the car. They drove back home happily, not knowing what might come after them years later.