So this here is a continuation of chapter 2. It picks up right where it left off with Mutt realizing what he had just done. So please sit back, relax, and get some popcorn, maybe a stuffed animal, and enjoy our featured presentation.
I felt like a creep; a terrible, heart breaking one at that.
My daughter, the most sweet and wonderful thing in my life, had just ran out of my office crying like I just told her the world was to end in a few days.
I softly closed the door to my office and pulled out my secret joy. It was a photo album of Henri and Belinda, Henri's mother; a secret portal to her life.
I sat down at my desk; my fingers gently feeling the soft, worn-out leather cover of the book. I opened it to the first page and there was a family photo, taken a few weeks after Henri was born. I looked at Belinda.
She was a petite girl, with brown hair and a smile that could light up the whole room. She withheld chocolate brown eyes with such depth you could almost swim in them. I called her my Belle, the French word for beautiful. And every time I did, a sweet giggle escaped her lips.
I flipped the page to see a picture of just Belle and me. I could almost reach out and touch us laughing together, holding our newly born daughter. She loved holding her, which made both of my girls laugh.
The opposing page held Henri's second school photo. She had lost her two front teeth so she looked like she had just been in been in a fight. I smiled in spite of the thought. I hoped she would never have to through a punch. She didn't need the guilt of knowing she had just hurt someone. It was a feeling I had never been able to shake after all these years.
Another turn of the page brought me to the picture taken three days before Belle left. It was just the three of us. I almost ripped it up but my father thankfully stopped me. I took my finger and touched her face. I never told either one those simple words, I love you.
I flipped the next page and there was a picture of my father and mother taken just after their wedding. Not surprisingly, he had his hat on; which gave me another reason to smile.
"Whatcha' got there?" Speaking of the Devil, my father stood in the doorway.
"Nothing," I exclaimed closing my secret joy.
"Well it's obviously something," but he just shook his head and moved on. "Henri is really upset about the dig, ya know?"
"Yes I do. How did you find out?" I suddenly became afraid of him.
"The girl was crying like you just told her she was going to die! That's how I know!" My father was known for his temper. He walked into my office and stood in front of my desk.
"I didn't know it would upset her that much. We go on them so often…"
"See that's why she is so upset! You are always going off to some place on a dig and if you're not finding some ancient artifact you're at school with your students." I stood up for now it was time for my temper to show.
"Like you did with me?" His face dropped; I had struck a nerve.
"That's different," he tried to explain.
"How?" I couldn't believe we were having this argument.
"I didn't even know you existed. Of course if I did, I wouldn't do what you're doing. I'm more of a father to her then you are. And you better get your act together 'cause if you don't I will personally do something I'll regret later." He gave me a stern look before angrily stomping out.
I fell back into my chair sighing. I was glad looks couldn't kill because I would be dead a thousand times over.
I'm soooooooooo sorry that it took me so long to update. I really need to get better at that. Anyway, I hope your having a Happy Thanksgiving! Gobble Gobble! lol
P.S. The action is coming up in about 2-3 chapters so keep reading and I promise it will get better.