As the school breaks started. Belle and the twins are going to their grandparent house in Colorado. The birthplace of Andriana Belle Decker, a place where she grew and a place she will never forget.
A happiness and darkness embedded in her memory.
Arman sat beside the driver as Mia at the backseat. Both are asleep. Any moment they will arrive at Decker's home. Belle couldn't wait to see them.
Flashback. The same day, Belle was still in her sixteen and after Victor Gibson's funeral.
Belle reads the letters downstairs while Doctor Craig is upstairs as she is crying there, there is a knock on that door making her stop crying over Gibson's death.
Sobbing. Eyes swollen and red, she gets up then walks to the door.
Gently she twisted the door knob, swung the door open and it revealed both of her parents, Marianne and Roger Decker standing there with tears and happiness that the family had reunited again.
It was Gibson who asked Doctor Craig to fulfill his last wishes. Belle finally returns to her family where she belongs.
A week after Victor Gibson died. Belle moved back to Colorado and continued her school there. Her relationship with the group is still on through the call and texting.
Doctor Craig asked Belle to sell the house as she had already returned but she refused because the only thing she had a memory of with her husband was the house.
Throughout that period, the house is under Doctor Craig's watch until Belle's reach at the age of twenty, he is pleased to return the house back to her.
In Victor Gibson's letter to Doctor Craig, he is the one who asked Belle to sell that house after he was no longer there.
Doctor Craig only conveyed the wishes of the deceased. All the furniture was covered with the dust sheets before she left for Colorado. Until now she had no time to go back to that house. Maybe one day she will.
Doctor Craig has sacrificed everything in his life for Belle and the twins. Because this is what Gibson wants him to do on his behalf.
"Kids. Get up! We are here". Mia rubs her eyes, Arman still sleeping. "Arman!" she shook his body. Belle gets out of the car when someone touches her shoulder from behind. "God, Bart!"
He smiled and nodded his head. "Hi, Belle, I can't believe to see you here. I'm not trying to remind you but sorry for what happened. The rumor, the news about you, Mr. Gibson and Emma shocked me".
His eyes at the twins. "Beautiful kids you had. Clearly I see his face from your boy".
"Thank you, Bart ho-how are you doing?"
"I'm doing great. I own the bakery". He smiled.
"You did? I'm happy for you no wonder I saw your name on that bakery store in town. Are you really? I'm a psycho doctor".
He nodded. "I know. What past is past, Belle we ain't no blame you here, both of you suddenly disappearing and everything is changed".
Arman and Mia stood beside Belle. He looked down at them with a smile. "I am your mom's old classmate".
"You own that bakery store?" ask Mia. He nodded his head. "Great. We will ask our mom to buy bread from your bakery then".
"How about I send that bread to your family as an old friend's gift". He smiled.
After meeting with Bart. Those heavy bags, bread and other things were dropped on the floor. The twins ran to the living room.
Belle is looking for her parents. "Mom! Dad!"
"In the kitchen".
Belle sighs, "Oi, guys come on please... kitchen". said Belle. The twins jumped off the couch, bursting inside the kitchen. "Here the bread. I just met Bart Woodstock outside the house, he gave me this".
"Oh that boy". Marianne grabs the bread. "He broke his own engagement. Did he tell you that?" Belle shook no. "That bitch is cheating".
"Oh my God! Is he okay after he broke the engagement". ask Belle.
She reach the glass and have a drink. The twins did the same. "I know him well, he probably did his own revenge on that bitch".
Marianne nod yes. "He posted a video of her having an 18+ with that man online. That bitch got her own karma". Arman and Mia looked up.
"What is 18+?" They ask. "Is that commercial or just a Disney plus".
Belle's eyes caught the house next door from the kitchen window she stood in, the house previously owned by Victor Gibson when she was sixteen.
She remembers clearly that night, the first she got back from late night work at the diner and he makes some noise renovating something like that inside the house.
And the next day, she knew she was f*ck up as they both meet in class and start that everything is changed.
"18+ means kids like you two are not allowed to hear when the adults are talking".
Marianne smiles at both of her grandchildren. "It's not specific for the kids, just for the adults". Her eyes are on Belle whom she stares at the house next door. "Belle?"
Belle turns to Marianne with a small smile.
"I'm fine. You do not say 18+ toward others?" Belle pointed at the twins, they nodded. "Because other parents will think I am the one who teaches you two that number of eighteen plus".
"Then you stare at the house next door which every year you do that. Same spots, same place what you are looking at really, Mom".
Arman dragged the chair and seat. "Somehow that house gives you an odd memory. Wonder when you would like to tell us?"
Belle eyes up to Marianne whom she nodded her head to and it's time to tell the twins.
"Let's go upstairs". Belle swings her bedroom door. "As you know this was my room when I was a kid. I am a grown up woman and mother to you two".
"Skip that part please what just happened between you and that house next door. We kinda hurried for the story behind this that you have kept from us all these years".
Belle nodded head then walked to the window bedroom. Slide the curtains open.
"There is something I would like to do first". She turned toward the twins. "In the evening, I'm gonna show you two things, the thing that is most important to my life and why it happens".
"Should we bring a gift basket?"
Belle smile, said yes. "Perhaps flowers". As evening reaches, Belle's hands are shaking to knock on that door.
The house she was standing in belonged to Evigan's family. Emma house. The last time she ever stood there was the day after Emma's funeral.
She was in Emma's room, the diary she had found inside the drawers and with blink everything was gone.
She breathes heavily as the twins stare up at her. "What don't you knock, Mom?"
"It took time alright!" She yelped. "Don't you pressure your own mother".
"We've been standing on this porch for about five minutes. If you are so scared to knock on that door why we ever stood here in the first place".
Belle sighs harder, she begins to feel sweaty under her armpit. She breathes, inhales and exhales. In and out. Again. In and Out.
"Because I had too. It's been several years since that happened and the owner of this house won't forgive us. Our family".
Arman snorted. "What kind of bad things ever happened to your life back then".
"Lots''. Still she couldn't knock on that door. Arman took a step forward and banging the door. "Arman!" She screams.
"What! You need it. Open up! Hello". Bang bang bang. Arman couldn't stop banging on that door, joining Mia on his side.
Seems fun for the twins doing that but she needs to face her fear. It's been so long since she hadn't seen Emma's mom. She then hears the voice behind this door.
"What on earth is banging on my door!" Belle recognised the voice, "I swear to God stop banging on my door!"
Belle quickly stops Arman and Mia from continuing banging the door, the knob turns from the inside and swings it open. Reveal older Mrs. Evigan without a smile staring right on Belle's eyes.
Both women study with each other. "You!"
Without a comfort word, Mrs. Evigan tried to slam the door and Belle held on by her own feet.
Mrs. Evigan could hear ouch! reaction from Belle's, she pushes Belle feet out of the way. "GET YOUR FEET OUT OF MY DOOR!"
Belle pushed the door. "NO! I will not back up unless you listen to me. The whole truth".
"I don't need to hear anything from you or your family. All of you murdered my daughter!"
Arman and Mia take a step back while watching these women struggling between this door. Not bothering to help.
"Should we help mom?" whispers Mia to Arman. He shakes no. "Okay".
Belle keeps pushing the door. Mrs. Evigan shouted to her again. "You killed my daughter. I'm calling a cop on you for trespassing".
"You won't call the cop if you listen to me first. I'm sorry if I killed your daughter and I'm sorry for everything. The truce I don't kill, Emma! How could I kill someone I love like your daughter".
Mrs. Evigan growled, "You ruined my life, you ruined my daughter's life! By marrying that psycho and you two had a child together. MURDERED! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE. GET OFF YOUR FEET OF MY PORCH AND LEAVE!"
This time harder than ever Belle thought, she pushed the door and shouted.
"I will not leave this porch!"
Belle groans for the final push, Mrs. Evigan stumbled back on the carpet. She looked down at her.
"YOU listen! I respect you like my own mother. Your daughter is my sister I never had, you think I let that happen? NO! I don't".
She breathes, Mia and Arman standing behind Belle. "Stay my kids out of this, they don't know anything".
Mrs. Evigan breathes heavily as her eyes drop to the twins behind Belle. Belle was right, she can't blame the child's. They're innocent.
Even though the twins doesn't know who their father was before. Mrs. Evigan knew Gibson was dead. Surely she heard from the neighborhood how happy she was after hearing that men no longer exist in this world.
But nothing has changed. Even after Gibson died, still she cannot bring her daughter back to life.
A hatred toward the Decker's family, nothing possible could bring Emma back.
"Are we okay now, mom?" ask Mia.
Mrs. Evigan eyes suddenly in tears. "We're fine now, Mia, just me and this old lady are playing, that's all".
"Are you sure?" Arman sounds sarcastic. "Pushing and shouting wasn't playing. You both really got an issues".
Belle smiles, "It won't last longer I dare say".
"Please, do come in". Mrs. Evigan suddenly lets Belle and the twins inside the house. "I am sorry that I act so childish in front of your kids... Belle".
Has they taken a seat on the sofa. Belle's face lightened up. She missed her calling that name.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Evigan. I don't know where I should start first. I cannot force you to forgive me neither you can't judge me as I was the victim too".
"I just realized that. Even though I put the blame on your family, there's still no way I could bring my daughter back".
Her eyes are sad. "Everyday, Belle I never stop thinking of her". Mrs. Evigan eyes the twins. "Neither I cannot hate your kids, they got your features and... him".
Belle turns to Arman and Mia. Belle sighs. "It happened so quickly. We made plans but not so quick like this after his dead".
"When I lose my Emma, my life is completely dark, there is no light for me to walk through the path I wanted to. Whether I could live anymore. I tried to take my own life after her. When I tried, she came to me in my dream about how sad and disappointed she was toward me when I did that".
Mrs. Evigan wiping out her tears remembering her daughter.
"My daughter's room is the only way I could say how much I missed her". Belle cries. "When I hold her picture it is like she was there with me".
Mrs. Evigan burst into tears. "If God allows me to hold my daughter once again. I wanted to hear her calling me 'mom' for the last time".
Belle hugs Mrs. Evigan, Arman and Mia both watched the adult crying and sobbing so hard. For the twins, who is Emma? What it had to do with this old lady, their mom and another psycho they heard from Mrs. Evigan as she get anger.
What the heck is going on really.
"I have a dream for her too". said Belle. "She is happy for me. I swear I was not happy back then. She did say to me once that she was upset about you for not trying to move on without her. I know it is hard for you to take, if I lose both of my kids I feel the same way you did".
Belle eyes Arman and Mia whom they sit silently without a word. Just eye contact. "Like I say it happens".
"I can't imagine how bad I was toward your family". said Mrs. Evigan. "I pushed everyone, even my friends. Now I know my daughter will hate me if I continue to be against your family. You think I shut myself out of the world? I didn't know anything happened around me?"
Her eyes are on Belle then she smiles. "Of course I do know that. They spoke. I heard".
"When I wasn't happy with him, Emma came to me knowing I needed her the most and then suddenly I am happy with him... she's gone".
Belle bites her lips. "Recently I did see her again. She is still the same, never aging like me". Mrs. Evigan nodded. "We both are his victims, Mrs. Evigan".
"We all do". Mrs. Evigan eyes back the twins. She smiled, "Would you like some cookies, children?"
Later. Belle and the twins visiting the graves. Gently she bends down her knee on the ground as her hand touches the tombstone with the name of Emma and beloved daughter.
Too young to die. Arman and Mia are kneeling between Belle. "Who is she?" ask Mia. "I remember you told me about her. This is her isn't she?" Belle nodded her head, with a small smile at the corner of her lips.
"Yes she is. My friend. My dear sister, Emma. The old lady we visited earlier is her mom. She became our family enemies after her daughter died because of your dad".
Arman looked up at his mom. "You need to tell us what is going on? Why did she turn into our enemies and what did dad do to her daughter!"
He demanded the answer. "I'm sick of this, you give me a headache everytime you try to hide something".
"Look at my kids, Emma, how they look like me and their dad's features".
Belle spoke to Emma graves. "This is my second visit I stepped in here to see you after several years your mother forbade us. Today I visited your mom and she looked great but old and lonely. She tried to crush my foot with the door".
Belle laughed then sobbing. Hoping Emma heard her. "I know it's hard for her to lose the only daughter she had and I took it from her as you laid down here alone. I will not forgive myself even if you asked me too. I just can't. I am the reason you are here".
Mia reaches Belle's hand. She spoke, "Seems unfair to see her down there alone, Mom".
"Yes. Because I enjoyed my life while she's not". She sees Arman put a rose on Emma's grave. "Where did you get that rose?"
Arman looked around. "I just stole it from one of the graves. It looked fresh to me so I took it".
"You silly boy!"
Chuckles. "A rose symbolizes love and adoration. Represent your undying love for your friend, Emma".
Belle smiled, patted the back of him with thank you even though it was a stolen rose from someone's grave. She appreciated that.
"We will see you again, Emma please come to me when I need you there and we should talk some more than that".
Crying. "I love you. I always has and I miss you so so much". Belle smile, looked down to Arman and Mia. "Say goodbye to your Aunt Emma".