CHAPTER 53

That night Bill was more than convinced that he needed to sit down and have a serious talk with Charlotte. Seeing the way Tom described his day with Elizabeth, hearing her emotional account of the way she told her own story, her pain and how she ended up leading the children to see for themselves that everyone needs a second chance, was incredible . According to Tom, at no point did she tell them what they should do or how to act, she simply, during her story, encouraged each child in that room to look at themselves and recognize that each one had already made their mistake and received their second chance...

Bill always loved these Thorton boys, knowing that Tom was getting a chance and that he was determined to take it tooth and nail made Bill very happy.

He was riding his horse towards his home, where the woman he had always loved was waiting for him. She was a terrible cook and had a habit of putting lard in everything. To this day Bill didn't know how those children had managed to grow up with that food, they must have fed on love, Bill smiled as he thought. But he went home happily, it was as if he was going to his family... His family.

... It was what he wanted most in this life.

Today, when he saw that look in Jack's eyes, the same look of helplessness that he had seen many times when he was a boy wearing short pants, it was instinct to grab him and pull him into his arms. Bill would do anything for Tom, Charlotte and Jack and of course for his beautiful daughter Elizabeth. And that's how he made a decision and when he got home he would talk to Charlotte about our children...

In another townhouse, something similar was happening... a serious conversation on the couch where Elizabeth told Jack everything that had happened during her class period. She wanted him to know it from her mouth; She didn't want him to think that she wanted to humiliate or degrade her brother, but just wanted to show him what life is really like. Jack did not say that he already knew the story, as he was realizing his wife's great character, feeling that he needed to give her a report on his brother. She gave a lot of value and respect to "her brother".

Jack got to know a new piece of Elizabeth with each passing day and fell deeply in love with each moment.

— Jack, do you think Rose and Lee got back together soon? I miss them...

— I think so, love, now that Lee has made peace with his sister, their vacation will soon come to an end. But after all the fear we all went through with their kidnapping, they and we all need a vacation. Besides, it's only been three days since they left.

She put her hands on her head and did a dramatic scene, just like Rosemary, making Jack laugh.

— Jack, I think we have another problem to solve, since Rose isn't here.

— What happened, Bella!

— It's Frank. He is leaving for another community, where a pastor vacancy has arisen. He's a little lost in his feelings...

- Feelings? What are you talking about, my dear.

—Jack! It's not possible that you haven't noticed that he's in love with Abigail.

- What? When was that?

Elizabeth laughed...

—Jack! How can you be such a good mountie and not notice these things? He fell in love with her as soon as he got here. And she is also in love with him. But the story of him being part of the gang and their fear of sharing love and losing their friendship came and they couldn't take a step forward.

— Why is he leaving? Jack still didn't believe it...

"How did he not notice this love?" "If he was honest with himself, they really always looked out for each other, they were there for each other through thick and thin during this past year, and thinking about it, Jack now remembered the little touches stolen between them."

— What are you thinking, Bella!

— Since Rose isn't here, we need to bring them together, Jack; Frank is leaving tomorrow because he doesn't think he'll ever have a chance with Abigail. On the other hand, she is afraid, because being a widow with two adopted children, she could be a burden and hinder his life as a pastor and his reputation. I already know...

Jack saw that look that he knew so well, she was going to do something, her eyes had a different shine. Jack laughed softly, he needed to fix his suit, because if it were up to Elizabeth, they would have a wedding soon...

Bill, after a nice shower, felt like new. It had been many years since he took care of himself as he had lately; now would be the best time of your day; Since Charlotte had arrived in Hope Valle, they began to take this time at night, sitting on the chairs on the porch, looking at the stars and there they talked about everything. For Bill, these moments with her were eagerly awaited.

— Hi Charlotte!

— Hi Bill! She smiled and his whole world brightened.

They talked about Tom, Elizabeth and he reported on the weight Jack was carrying on his shoulders. Charlote never imagined herself talking about her children with Bill, she made plans to do so with her Tomas, but he was gone and all these years, she had to fight alone for her children. And today she was delighted to see Bill, talking about his children and making plans for them. After a long time alone, Charlotte felt like family again. It was as if she wasn't alone anymore. Tom saw those two talking, he always stayed away, and today once again he noticed something there. "Was he imagining something, or did Bill like his mother?"

Everything went through his mind at that moment, but he was interrupted when he heard Bill, speaking to his mother in a sentimental voice;

—Charlote, I love your children, since the day they were born. It was the best thing that happened to me, when Tomas placed them in my arms; He asked me to love these boys, but he didn't even need to ask, because they are irresistible. They have their own charm and power.

— Thank you Bill!

— But Charlotte, you are also part of all this. Today I need to tell you some things. When Tomas died, we were all friends, I had participated in your lives, since our youth when we were studying, and I saw the quick courtship and your marriage, after a month of dating, but I knew it was pure love between you. I saw the boys being born and followed your entire life until the transfer. You became my family. But my punishment came, that transfer before Tomas' death; When I found out about your death, I was devastated, but I needed to come home to you, and seeing how lost the boys and you were, it broke my heart. I wish I could take away that pain in your eyes, but I didn't know how. And my anger was enormous, when I arrived and saw Tomas's old partner, that Hargraves, insinuating and trying to force a relationship with you; That made me turn into a beast.

— Bill, and if it hadn't been for you to save me that day, when he grabbed me, I can't even imagine what would have happened. I was so scared, I was alone this time; At least, when Tomas's brother tried to attack and rape me, I knew that Tomas was alive and that he would save me. But when Hargraves started trying to tear my clothes, terror overcame me, I knew I had no one in the world. But you showed up, and saved me... Charlotte had been crying for years, she kept that fact all to herself. There was Bill, promising never to tell his children. It was humiliating.

Bill hugged Charlotte, he knew the pain it had caused her. And that was one of the reasons he never revealed his love. He didn't want to be another one of Tomas's partners who let her down.

Tom, who heard everything, behind the porch pillar, turned pale and his blood froze. He never liked that officer Hargraves, but he never thought that man was capable of such an atrocity to his mother. And he was sure Jack didn't know about it. His stomach was spinning, he was sick with everything he had just heard.

— But Charlotte! There's something you don't know and today I came home determined to tell you. I walked away from you because I fell in love with you. At first I condemned myself for loving the wife of a friend in uniform and at that time Nora's father came to me and explained that she was pregnant and that the child's father did not want to take responsibility for it. Our families have always been friends, and he asked me to marry her. My father was very pleased, he wanted to see me married and that was how Nora and I took our friendship to something more that became marriage. Besides, I needed to get away from you, I didn't want you to consider me another Hargraves in your life.

— Did you love me? But Bill...

- Charlote; I discovered that we cannot command our hearts. Yes… I got married to escape that love, I thought that over time Nora and I would end up falling in love. Yes, Charlotte, we lived as husband and wife, as a couple, our son was born and died four years after polio. While Peter was alive, our marriage still went on, but it was for him. After six months of marriage, we started sleeping in a separate room, and we never had anything else, and after Peter's death, days after she left, I spent years without seeing her, as she went back to Peter's real father. When I arrived in Hope Valle, I had an immediate interest in Abigail, besides you, she was someone who caught my attention, we started going out, but suddenly, Nora appeared in town, she had ended her relationship with the man and she wanted someone to support her, as soon as she arrived she told everyone in town that we were married, but she forgot to say that years ago, she had abandoned me for another man and that's why the divorce hadn't been signed yet. Abigail and I had a fight, it took us a long time to return to our friendship, because you can imagine what happened in a small town, when a widow is accused of dating a married man.

— I imagine what she went through. And do you still like her?

— Yes, I love her very much Charlotte... She is a sister to me, besides, she is in love with Frank and he with her, but they are two empty heads, and cannot solve their problems. Laugh Bill.

Charlotte was happy that he didn't love Abigail, but she didn't understand why that made her so happy. She looked at him embarrassedly with red cheeks, and Bill, seeing her reaction, got up and said:

—Charlote, nothing must change between us. But I needed to tell you about my marriage and my love for you. It has been kept in my heart all these years and will remain so. But my daughter is with her son and I consider all three of them as my children, so I couldn't lie or omit something from their mother. And so, he said good night and left Charlotte thinking about it all.

Tom had a lot on his mind, he didn't know what to do or how to talk to Jack, he went to sleep asking God to show him the right path. And so he fell asleep and dreamed of Elizabeth, she was picking flowers in the field and a beam of light fell on her.

Charlotte, in turn, had difficulty sleeping. His head was buzzing with so much information. She didn't know how to act or what to do in a situation like that. Her dreams were disturbing, first her brother-in-law trying to rape her, and Tomas saving her. Then the evil laugh of Hargraves running after her and tearing her clothes and Bill saving her. She has seen Tomas and Bill side by side her entire life. How could he love her and...

- "Of course he had to love you. You are a beautiful and very special woman Charlotte."

— Tomas...

- Hello!

— Hi... He was beautiful. But there was a different light in Tomas. Today he was all in white and he never wore clothes like that.

— Why are you wearing that white outfit?

— Because now, I changed my plan... let's say I was promoted by the Lord of Heaven. Remember, when we slept together... that day I warned you that it would be the last time, because now I am a protector. But they gave me the mission to protect their family.

— Our family, here!

— Yes, my dear, but on the earthly plane it is your family. The mass of protecting Bill, you, Jack, Tom, Elizabeth and baby Thorton at the right time.

— Bill? Baby Thornton? She is pregnant?

— Bill is your family. He always was and always will be; Yes, the baby will come, when no one expects it.

— Tomas, Bill told me... And she lowered her head in shame.

— That he loves you? That he loves our children as if they were his own?

- Yes.

—Charlote, while I was alive, he was only friends with you, never think that he disrespected me with that; It was after I left that he started to harbor this love for you. I watched everything, I saw everything he abandoned when he thought he was wrong in loving his friend's widow. But Charlotte, you are an irresistible woman, any man would be crazy to love you and be loved by you.

—But Tomas...

— Tea... I can't tell you what to do; but I want you to give your heart a chance to open to love. Reflect on your feelings, how you feel in your presence and only then can you decide what to do.

—But the boys...

— No Charlotte! No one will think anything wrong, no one will judge you. Now is your time to live and be happy. Your heart is too big to be left without anyone in there.

Charlotte looked deep into his eyes and then saw nothing else, falling completely asleep... When she realized it, the sun was up. "I think I had a dream", he thought as he stood up. "But the smell of perfume was still in the air... Tomas..."