"What a lovely morning!" One of the wooden windows Belle opens, before she opens the other one, letting the sun enter the house. "Such a lovely day".
The twins still in bed, Doctor Craig gently reached downstairs with his sleepy baggy eyes and went to the kitchen.
He sees Belle standing in front of the open fridge. He gently pushes her away as he pulls a bottle of milk and drains it.
He then takes a seat on the counter chair. Yawning. "Oh, you're always so grumpy before your morning coffee". said Belle.
"I wouldn't want my favorite doctor to choke". She walked to the sink then turned to him. "So, how's last night?"
He snorted. "I called her last night, and she didn't answer my calls nor did she reply to my text. I think we accidently broke our engagement because of her misunderstanding".
"Nice try. Drink this you feel better after this". Belle pushed a hot cup of herb drink to him. "It helps flush your blood circulation, spare the toxin. I don't know what to say that was but is good for your health. It also help for the tension mood like you".
He nodded, "I know what you mean. I'm a doctor. Thanks". He drinks the herb and suddenly feels cleansed all over his body. He said, "Tea, lemonade, mint and honey. Good combination".
"Better?" She asks Doctor Craig to take another drink again. "You were about to lose your mind because of that woman".
"You think so? How I wish something would liven up this already tedious day". He looked up at her then smiled. "Thanks for trying, Belle".
She sighs, "She will understand that".
"Amy wasn't a person who could understand what happened around her. I don't know why I am wasting my whole life for her".
"Because you chose her, brother the same way my husband chose me to be his life partner".
Belle walks to the fridge, she reaches the maple syrup then walks back to the counter.
"Correct me if I was wrong about you, you are not obsessed with this woman am I right?" Doctor Craig shakes his head no. "So, we both know who caused the problem. She is. Can I kill her?"
Doctor Craig choked, "If you wish I let you". He leans on the chair. They hear footsteps walking above their head. He looked up at the ceiling. "Did you hear that last night".
"Of course". Belle is waiting for someone to stand at the kitchen frame. The footsteps then ran downstairs to the kitchen. Mia stood there rubbing both of her eyes. "Morning".
The little girl smiled, "Morning, mom. Morning, Uncle Craig". She took a seat beside him. Doctor Craig studied her cute pajamas. "I'm hungry. What's for breakfast?"
"Is your brother up yet?" ask Belle. Mia shakes no. "What did you two do inside your room last night? I told you to go to sleep didn't I".
"We wrestled in bed. I won that fight". Doctor Craig turns to Belle. "He will try to cheat and I won't let him win".
Doctor Craig nods for himself. Belle rolled her eyes. "Of course you do. You will never defeat your brother". Mia reaches for the pancake and eats it.
"I hope she understands what you are trying to do". as she spoke to him back again.
"I hope so. I barely touched her, if I tried she pushed me. Just a light kiss on her cheek was all I could do for her. She may be a perfect woman which every man desires to have, but she is built differently. I couldn't take it anymore if she starts to get jealous about something".
Gently his forehead touches the table. Close his eyes, taking a quick nap for a bit. This is all Amy's fault because he couldn't have enough sleep last night just thinking about her.
This is all her fault. "That bitch. Never appreciate what people around her had done for her. Tell her I said that".
"What fuss about it?" Arman rubs his eyes. "I could hear from upstairs". He then dragged the chair and seat. "What day is this?"
Belle smiles, "It's still morning. And we are going to visit your dad".
"At the graves?"
"Arman, don't be ridiculous. We're going to Hell to see him. Of course it's graves. Eat your breakfast with the three of you. Brother? Don't give up!"
Doctor Craig looked up at her with tired eyes. "Jeez, you look terrible!"
"Was I?"
As the car entered the cemetery entrance. Arman and Mia who sat at the back of the car, mouth hanging open as the car passed through an old graveyard, probably from the thirteenth centuries, or before or after centuries who knows.
They hadn't been born yet. Kinda creepy. Arman held Mia hand knowing that she was afraid of her surroundings, especially in here. They don't like it. Until the car stopped.
Doctor Craig turns on his back with a smile. "Are you two okay?"
"Okay? It's creepy in here!" said Arman.
Belle sighs, "Of course it's creepy. This is a graveyard, not a park where people gather or have fun. Neither an ice cream you could eat. Come on out".
"Can't we just stay in the car, please?"
Belle turned and looked back, "This is your dad who has been staying for the rest of his life. God bless his soul. No. Come out!"
"Your mother is right, just... I'll hold your hand if you get scared".
"Can you hold my hand, Uncle Craig?" ask Mia. He nodded a smile.
The family is out of the car and looking for Gibson graves. "I swear it's around here. How long have I never been here?"
"More than years. You left this place when you were sixteen. Of course you never return and forget".
Belle breathed heavily. She can't believe that she will not remember her own husband's graves.
It takes a moment to find Gibson graves, then they find Mia standing exactly in front of the tombstone with the name of Victor Gibson.
Belle slapped her own forehead, what kind of wife who forgets her own husband's grave. She bends down both of her knees on the ground.
"This is him". Belle suddenly cried. "Who knows, I've been married to a monster who gave me miracles".
Arman stood beside, "He abducts you, mom!" He laid a white rose on top of his father's grave.
"Where did you-?"
"Is right there". He points. "I'm kinda good at it. We walked past those roses which you guys didn't notice. My hand picked that one".
Doctor Craig wanted to laugh but it seems Belle wasn't happy about it. "You do not steal someone's flowers just because we are visiting a dead person!"
"You the one who didn't buy anything to appreciate someone who had died, especially your husband who laid down here alone".
Arman was right. Why didn't she? "Okay! I'm sorry I forgot. Alright. If we visit ten more graves will you steal someone's dead flower?"
"If I had to. Why are you so angry about it? It just a flowers, they don't have a nose to smell a flowers because they dead. They probably appreciated that we needed to share the flowers".
"Enough". Doctor Craig stops the argument between the mother and son. "We don't fight just because of the flowers. Next time we buy, don't steal".
His eyes drop to Arman then to Belle. Arman spoke back. "I'm not angry about the flowers. I'm just upset when I remember what mom had said about him and what he did".
"What past is past, Arman, you were never there when it happened. You think your mother had a choice back then? No".
He studied Arman's face, continue. "I know you're upset. Your anger, your rage toward your own father. I understand that. He is still who he is to you and Mia.
"Unless you try to cleanse your blood by drinking bleach liquid. That will be more terrifying if that happens".
Arman mocking the doctor. "I'm not the kind of idiot to drink that, Uncle Craig I'm not a loser".
"I didn't say you are the loser here. You are brilliant, Arman and you try to protect your mom and your sister. That's cool. Same way your dad did to protect you both".
"Whatever!"
Doctor Craig gives Arman a small fist bump on his arm. "One day when you become a man, you will know why your dad is doing that. I expect you will know that he's better than you, you thought about him".
"He's dead! I will not turn like him".
"Well, maybe who knew he was still alive out there, surviving from that crash and who knew he suddenly showed up and claimed who he was. Who knows right? Anything possible can happens".
Belle stares at him. What did Doctor Craig mean by that? "He died with dignity".
"I'm hungry. Can we get a pizza after this". Mia spoke. "I'm bored!"
School break ended. It's time to get back to school with a joyful memory to share with friends. Belle is driving off to school and still on her off duty.
Since the twins had spoken about the gardener, Belle became curious about that man. Was it true he looks like her dead husband or just the feeling.
Coincidence? Ethan James. Victor Gibson. Same man. Different places. Maybe. Not until she sees this man right in front of eyes. That will bring her a satisfaction feeling for meeting him in person.
"What happens in Kansas, stay in Kansas alright?" The twins nodded their heads. "Don't be so proud that your dad is a murderer and he abducts your mom".
Belle put on lipstick. "This is our family secret. If your friends ask where you have been, just say it. Go f*ck yourself!"
"Are we allowed to say that?"
"NO! Don't say that. Just say anything, you went to Marrakech, Morocco, Russian whatever. Egypt. Oh, I love Egypt''.
Belle looks at the twins. "We should go there. Gosh! Why didn't I think about that first on my mind".
"Because you were busy and we were taken to know about our dad".
Belle nodded. "Okay. Now, get out!" Arman and Mia give a kiss on their mother's cheek with the word 'I love you' as the car door shuts.
"I'll pick you guys at three!"
"Bye, mom!"
She watches her kids walk through the path if she even caught other kids trying to bully the twins again. She prepared for that to happen.
"Okay. Everything is clear and safe. How about a spa? Massage? Movie? Flirting. Which one should I do first? "
Later. The women Belle, Natasha, Rose and Virginia inside the diner are having breakfast. Natasha mocking Rose that her fiance, Marc Anthony is a scaredy cat man. Rose burst up.
"I'm serious. He screamed like a woman because the body we found was shredded, didn't he tell you he was having nightmares?"
Rose nodded her head. "He even got his fever after he came back home". She looks at Belle. "We hear you going back to that house. Weird huh?"
"Not at all. Well, the twins know about their dad. We visit his graves and everything is back to normal".
Belle sighs, "Just wondering how life could change when you get older. Imagine that you cannot enjoy your food as much as you do right now. What would you guys do?"
"I'll suck through the straw". said Natasha with pride. "Don't judge me. If I were older enough and had no teeth to chew. Life is simple, Belle who's gonna stop me from eating".
The woman agreed. Belle spoke back. "Curious about our life after death. Heaven and Hell. You wanna know something? My friend Emma sort of told me our ballet teacher Ms. Veronica Bilson stayed in Hell''.
"Seriously!" They scream, everyone in the diner eyes them. "Are you serious? She told you that she really saw Ms. Bilson in Hell?"
Belle nods, "The demon holds her down there for what she did on earth. But she didn't say she saw my husband".
"Probably in Heaven". said Rose. "He sacrifices himself to protect his loved one. I'm sure about it God knows that".
"No he isn't. Heaven or Hell he wasn't there".
Exactly three. Belle parked her car on the side of the road waiting for Arman and Mia coming out from that door.
She didn't notice the gardener just walking past her car to the back of the building school. She focused on her cell phone as she received a text from the nurse about one of the violent patients attacking the hospital.
Belle looked up and caught the gardener appearing from the back of the building then walking toward the shrubs. She took a look closer at him.
The gardener begins to trim the shrubs with pruning shears. He feels someone is watching, slowly he turns directly where Belle had been watching him from the inside of the car.
As soon as she saw his face, Belle learned that the gardener was her husband, Victor Gibson. She was about to slacken the door open but suddenly others doors were open.
She stopped. Arman and Mia climbing inside the car, they smile. "Let's go. We're kinda hungry!" Arman studied her face. "Mom? Did you hear what I said? Let's go!"
The gardener turned and looked away resuming his work. "Yes, of course I hear. Hungry huh? What do you guys wanna eat?"
Mia spoke at the back. "Anything. I'm starving!"
Belle smiles, driving the car back on the road. The gardener turns once again and takes a last look at Belle's car over his shoulder.
His eyes were watching, until the car disappeared around the corner.