Carlos epilogue

I miss her voice, her excited run into the kitchen, her eager and bright smile, the sound of her footsteps coming around the corner, her messes and disasters, her beautiful blonde hair, the bright purple orbs in her eyes, her cute laugh and her victories.

But most of all. I just miss her. I miss my Charlotte so much.

20 years ago, my marriage and business hit a rough patch, I was intending to divorce my wife Lucy after the party at Freddy's, we just needed to sign one last document, then we'd remove our rings and go our own ways.

That day when she ran in and told me confused me, she came in, panting from running with her handbag over her shoulders, she told me in between breathes;

"Carlos! It's Charlotte! She's gone missing! I can't find her anywhere! I haven't seen her for hours! The police have been called! Hurry! Please!"

I wanted to believe it was a sick joke at the time. But I ran over to that death trap and there was police tape, other parents whose children had also gone missing, police were everywhere. I was confused, I felt lost and isolated, like the world had stopped and it had gone very cold all of a sudden.

A day passed and when no news arose, we went to search for her, Cornelius took the day of school to help. It was so humble of him to help us, he cared for his sister. Meanwhile my other daughter Amy went to school.

Our priorities had been scrambled since the day, we even forgot to take the kids to school a few times. I felt so ashamed as a father. I would recklessly drink and try to hide it by drinking at night. Then one night Lucy came downstairs in her night gown, I was terrified in my half sober state. But she got herself a glass and said.

"Fill me up. I need to drown my sorrows too."

We drunk about three glasses of whiskey. Cornelius had to wake us up and told us he was late for school, of course since I still felt drowsy, I gave him bus money. I felt so guilty so instead of going to a bottle all the time I went back to work. But the world just seemed to stop being sweet anymore, even my sweet cakes were bitterly sour and dry.

One day I was in the kitchen making a special order cake and I accidentally added in cinnamon and it was written on the order that the customer's daughter was allergic. But by the time I realised, It was already baked. So I decided not to waste it and took a small wedge out of it to sample it.

The taste. Was unbelievably delicious. It was mouth watering. The world got a lot sweeter all of a sudden. Then I realised that cinnamon was my daughter's favourite ingredient to add in a cake because it balanced the favours. I gave a piece to my wife and she loved it.

I got a loan approved from the bank and updated my bakery. Bringing it out of the 60s and placing it bang into the year 2000. There was so much colour and life now. I then brought Cornelius out of his college courses when he was on holidays and Amy on school holidays and asked them to just create a new menu of sweet treats.

Naturally Cornelius had to help Amy along the way, she shamefully admitted to me while I placed her burnt hand under cold water that she was a clumsy woman. She said she wished she was like Charlotte.

Cornelius naturally broke down and yelled at her; "you want to be like her?! Just like her?! She's dead you know! You want to be dead too?!"

He then apologised sheepishly. I understood. He was under pressure in college to perform well and he wasn't thinking clearly because he missed his little sister and he was now protective of Amy; fearing she'd go too.

I recreate that cake in the form of cupcakes and dubbed them "Charlotte's Cakes." I added her favourite colours on top; yellow icing with purple and white sprinkles.

They won the people over and with the extra money I decided to donate to a charity. When they noticed what I was doing they offered a partnership. I was proud.

I was even more proud when I was gifted with my first grandchild. Elliot. Cornelius's first son. I cried when I held the infant for the first time. I embraced him and cuddled him. I was given the best job in the world; a second chance to redeem myself.

Elliot grew up and soon Cornelius and his wife Josie had two other kids; Jessica and little Carmen.

Then Amy came to me saying she was pregnant. Her and her new fianceé Lucifier soon had two sons. Damian and Xavier.

Charlotte died in 1993. It's been two decades since I last saw her and her smiling face. So much has been cramped in since then. Everything replays in my mind as I sell another loaf of bread.

Charlotte's smile. Her goodbye. Lucy's panic. The police's investigation. The guilty captured. The court cases. The sea of flowers on our door. Behind bars. Our remorse. Our tears. My drinking problem. Lance's hand of support. My coldness towards loyal customers. Letting the balloons free on the beach. Cornelius and Amy's surprise. My accidental discovery. Cornelius' college years. Amy's graduation. Our makeover. The grand re-opening. Our new success. My first grandchild. Me and Lucy celebrate our wedding anniversary by recreating it with our friends. Freddy's closes down. Visits to Fredrick. Cornelius' depression and his confusion. Amy's first horse painting sold. Cornelius' first novel written. Charity help.

Now came another anniversary. Later today I planned to meet with Fredrick,Stella, Jason and Lillian. We were tightly knit since the accident. Besides my wife told us.

"We can hurt William more and make him suffer deeper by staying together. Standing as one like a group. Sticking together will be his downfall. I just know it."

That was true. But I knew so. Because my wife had always been right