Very unusual, very very unsual. Everything was so quiet even the television had been turned on but it was like the time was dead. Little Charlie was left alone again and he was silently drawing the new art on the wall which Caleb had painted white a month ago. He might think it was too plain so he decided to add the new patterns on. It was an animal that might be a giraffe with the four legs that looked like snakes. On the dining table, six quarts of Poppy Gelato’s Ice-cream was left melting. No, he looked closer; the sherbet flavor quart was empty. Four quarts of chocolate mint gradually melted, also the quart of chocolate with caramel and Macadamia. In the kitchen, the cooking pot on the stove was almost burnt. Charlie ran to them while Bianna closed the door. There were the traces of sherbet ice-cream on his rosy cheeks and lips.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDsN3tpLpW 維尼
“Why do they leave Charlie alone again?” He spoke to himself struggling to free from Little Charlie who ran around him jovially.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡTINxH64nfY 維尼
“They’re melting, love” Bianna collected the ice-creams in the fridge and turned off the heat on the stove in her signature—calm manner. They still smelled the pot burning.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eFOUA3CCp 維尼
Charlie still played with his father saying “Jesse and Alex took me to the mall. We ate Pizza at Mr. Binochino and they took me to the park. I met Olly and Kaysey. We were playing together.” His voice did not conceal the jolly. “Alex brought us the ice-cream. It will be the best day if she doesn’t look so sad. I can’t wait so I eat my part.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6c6TnJHYo 維尼
“Wait? Is your sister sad? Why?”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxQX0C9cBi 維尼
“I don’t know.” Charlie pointed his tiny index finger to his eyes, “her eyes were red and she barely spoke.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJNoOWB0bD 維尼
Caleb and Bianna looked at each other. They could perceive that something smelled fishy.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdPH5WU22T 維尼
“Where’re your brother and sisters, Monkey?”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67faEOi2NR 維尼
The little one smiled and pointed to his sisters’ room. “After we arrived home, Alex keeps herself in her room. Jesse and Bryce thought she turns strange so they went inside. Alex said the dust was in her eyes. I think it’s still in her eyes so Jesse and Bryce have to help her.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOTQ8B7n4T 維尼
“Oh my dear,” Bianna touched his shoulder. “I’ll go see her. There must be something wrong with her. You take care of Little Monkey.” She said. Caleb nodded even though he died to know what had happened to his daughter. However, before his wife reached the door. It opened. Jesse and Bryce walked out.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrRWBPxSxZ 維尼
“What happened?” asked Bianna.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡONaAMGlWUB 維尼
“They break up. I mean our Alex and the dickhead Davy...sorry mom. Well, she found him fu…I mean with June,” the big brother told his parents in a good short summary. Jesse also added, “Alex needs sometimes…alone. Mom, don’t look at me like that! She asked for it. Not me!”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BPviLBvqd 維尼
“What did Davy do to Alex?” Little Charlie asked. “I don’t understand what Jesse said.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyRCnHFjVR 維尼
Caleb eyed at Jesse. The big boy sighed and took the little brother away. “It’s something you don’t have to understand yet, shorty monkey.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbs0CJ4ezv 維尼
“But I want to knoooow” 8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVJWpeBPlG 維尼
Caleb turned to Bryce and she gave them a shrug then walked to the kitchen.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡa96kUXd5RO 維尼
“This is not how I raise you!”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBpeCgO4bZ 維尼
They could not allow themselves leaving Alexis alone. At this time, the girl needed the encouragement and the good recharging more than ever.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡCohvapqaL9 維尼
Bianna did not wait for long so she entered the daughter’s room. Caleb followed. He wondered why these kids hurt his child, especially June. He saw this girl since she was little. Not very talkative but she got along with Alexis well. They looked resemble, like adorable twins. Hanging out together, talking to each other, and be good together for many years, June became one of their family members for a long time, he saw them like the gracious rose and the lovely white jasmine. She would be a bigger star like her mother someday if the girl followed her mother’s path. So why?8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAfdH2WxVQ 維尼
And the damn Davy, he was shy and polite as Caleb recognize. As a man, Caleb could see his feeling for Alexis was sincere. How could he be so blind? He was the adult and the father. He should have protected his daughter from this boy. Shame on me.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQcwinvIHW 維尼
Caleb did not think he would saw Alexis wailing dramatically and he was right. The girl sat alone in the corner behind her bed. As they approached, they see the girl was looking at the photos of herself and June from childhood to these days. Alexis sat in despair but still in the amazing calmness.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPfNRbz39g 維尼
She did not cry or mourn for the loss of love and friendship but they could see her watery eyes. Bianna sat on her left and he sat in front of her. The last time they comforted the little one might be five years ago when they lost Blacky, the husky dog aged twelve.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgJnp4D80t 維尼
“You’re not ok. Cry, my love. Release all your tears and tomorrow everything will be better. Don’t keep it,” Bianna told the girl.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc9Jx6DvBE 維尼
“I’m alright. I cry enough, mom. Look at my eyes. You don’t have to worry about me. Just…a few days, I need just a few days for…and I will be the same girl you know,” she smiled but it was a very sad smile. Not her nature for being sad. Caleb loved her smile. It was so beautiful and bright as if she was the happiness bringer. But now the bringer was drowning in the sea of despair.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKkG7JH1kC 維尼
It seemed like everything went well for the girl, education, friends, lover, and career. But life is life. The storm takes a visit when everything goes on peacefully. Before people are aware of the danger, the heavy rain cruelly flooded the home.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRXSM0Dsoe 維尼
“My daughter is always strong. He’s not the right one and that’s okay to cry and talk to us, my dear.” His hair caressed the girl’s hair gently. He tried his best to comfort his daughter. Even though they were the entertainers, Alexis had some different traits from Jesse. This third daughter shared some characteristics of him, her father. Caleb usually concealed his emotion, to keep everything inside. Alexis was the same. So he knew well that it was not good to keep the pain within herself.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZtMSJItUK 維尼
Alexis listened to his words so she started talking. “I don’t understand. Why did they do this to me? I don’t understand June at all; I thought we were best friends. How could she hate me so much? She blamed me that I left her. Blame us that our family preferred Elodie. I’ve never left her. And Davy, he said he loved me…so much.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA1xnu3bqN 維尼
Young lovers, a few could make it to the finish line.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPNWXOuC2y 維尼
Caleb felt like these two youngsters also stabbed him in his back as well. Alexis’s pain was also his. Davy was a good kid as he knew earlier. Anyway, there were two things: first, time changes people through experience and second, they just reveal their true color. Bianna looked at him urging to speak something because the girl was quietly crying. His wife was too sensitive when it was about her children. To see her child in this state and situation, the mother could not even speak but shared the girl’s pain.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ6EWDf4jc 維尼
“Because my girl is good, you deserve better friend and better guy. I cannot answer why they did it to you, to hurt my daughter. But all I know is you will move on. Some love may die but my love for you; the love of our family will never die. I don’t want you to cry all the time or lament for their betrayal but just cry for this moment. This cry will remove all your sadness, I promise. I want you to understand this isn’t the end of your life. One day the happiness consumes you from head to toes and then people, things, even a fly can make you cry. Think that it’s your luck that you know them earlier. You’ve found many true friends like Elodie and the others. And we love you too. We care for you so much and will support you in every way.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8EGkepTQt 維尼
After he finished the speech, Alexis raised her head and they saw the tears dropping.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJjLlBbYHp 維尼
“Dad,” the girl leaned her head on his chest and cried eventually. He and Bianna sighed in relief.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4lDzLdSZX 維尼
“My child, my sweet child,” Bianna softly kissed on the girl’s cheeks.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYAdFKHZVE 維尼
“My face is ruined. My mascara…”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b0zEydVes 維尼
Caleb and Bianna smiled at each other. The girl still had the mind for a joke. “Nothing hurts your face, my dear. Your mascara is apparently waterproof.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1hvnK0BKK 維尼
The girl laughed with tears. Caleb hoped his love would send it to her and all the agony would perish.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrfIEyciO9 維尼
“Do you think I’ve done anything wrong that make her feel I prefer Elodie?”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡEikxXyQPTq 維尼
Caleb fanned his head from side to side. “It’s not your fault. To be honest, Alex, you stay with Elodie more frequently than with June. She might feel bad about it but I don’t say the way she did to you is right. You are friends. You should talk.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDwmmJP4Rt 維尼
She bobbed her head in agreement. “That’s what I thought. I love them so much and they’re so mean to me.” 8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVbBJRKsRE 維尼
They talked and talked and comforted the girl until she fell asleep. Rarely people will find that their first love will become true love. Well, at least his daughter was lucky to know how Davy was before they continued the relationship to the serious level and with the wrong person or got married or having children. It was the first time they saw how fragile she was. She tried not to be dramatic about it but witnessing that scene built the bad trauma for sure. So when they looked at her peaceful sleeping face, they knew she still dreamed of them. Caleb and Bianna kissed the girl’s head, left the room, and let the night healed the broken heart.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQhtE8Iow9 維尼
Jesse, Bryce, and Charlie were waiting for them on the table with the easy dinner meal Bryce had made, sandwiches. The burning smell still diffused all over the room but no one mentioned it or claimed to take the responsibility for nearly causing the house on fire.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4aIPoFmwR 維尼
“How is she?” asked Jesse, eagerly.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdw1gFk2rK 維尼
“She’s sleeping now,” Bianna replied.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqFthTVfWP 維尼
“But she doesn’t eat anything.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQK5SINddl 維尼
“So you want me to wake her up?”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XMNt5HMTS 維尼
The big boy frowned. “I didn’t mean that!”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6XzRwaWku 維尼
“Let her rest.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9kGEhGjaS 維尼
“Is she okay?” Little Charlie asked. He might not really understand why his sister was so sad because of the damn dust and what Davy had done but he wanted to join the conservation.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2QNuCsZWV 維尼
Caleb nodded. She will.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡDs439pv1gC 維尼
It was eight and a half. The dinner passed slowly and they had to listen to Jesse who complained and cursed Davy and June during the meal (and Bianna would reproach him when he spread any rude words). If the boy was here, his son might kill him certainly. Jesse was hot-tempered. Caleb remembered how his friends had turned entirely surprised when Jesse decided to go to the law school. They had thought he would join the sports club or entered a computer program school. He had a good grade but not a good person who could focus on books for hours like Bryce did. It amazed Caleb and Bianna as well when he graduated with honors. At least, the parents admired his hard-working.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjNKyaCxfC 維尼
In everyone’s amazement, Davy did come.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqPEcQEOKu 維尼
The bell rang while the clock ticked to eleven. Caleb saw Davy standing in front of the door. He pulled Jesse’s shirt in time before his son committed any harm to his sister’s ex. “I’ll talk to him. Jesse, you're studying law, are you? Calm down. Go back to your room right now!” He preferred the fierce dad look. 8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNaU0dMSLK 維尼
Headstrong, Jesse scowled and stomped away with his firm legs. Caleb opened the door, facing the boy’s guilty face. Davy seemed to considerate his ex’s father more than any other time. With athletic body, broad shoulders, thick eyebrows, dirty blonde, and handsome like hell, it was not surprising that he could win girls’ hearts. Alexis was totally crazy about him as he observed the way she spoke about Davy. The boy had been so nice but boy is boy and male is male. Davy grew up stronger and more attractive than the last year when he and Alexis, holding hands, told them they were in the romantic relationship. And June, she was far from ugliness. The older understood that some men can change their hearts within one sight they look at the other woman but some men are exceptional. He had thought Davy was one of the exceptions or would be. Caleb blamed himself again.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw4WVbctSY 維尼
“How is Alex?” the boy asked cowardly.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFRBiV2R0j 維尼
“Fine,” Caleb coldly replied.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡUu32pwfAU3 維尼
Obviously, the boy could catch the distant tone, his voice volume lowered due to fear and it was like Davy was whispering.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡoR7DZ9c335 維尼
“I’m sorry. I—I—I know it’s late but…can I t—talk to her?” he stammered.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRajr0R1Yx 維尼
“No, you can’t. She’s sleeping. Go home, Davy. I don’t think it’s the proper time.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nuhKg35oA 維尼
Davy tried to focus on his speaking. And this time, the awkwardness was fixed. “I’m sorry, I really mean it. Can you forgive me? Can she forgive me? I love her, truly…Dr. Davis. Please forgive me. Please tell her, I’m really sorry. I’m sorry I disappoint you but…I need your chance…her chance.”8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQdkmGAih4 維尼
The boy did not move waiting for his answer or forgiveness. Caleb began to have the sympathy for the boy. Davy did feel apologetic and care his daughter. It was his braveness to come to Alexis’s home—well as he could see. And Bianna would say that everyone could have done wrong, people deserved the second chance, the forgiveness.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IJXEnqtVn 維尼
But he cheated on my daughter. He makes her cry. His anger rose again and the heart to forgive him melted down.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSAMH2SBQf 維尼
“It’s my daughter who will answer that. Go back to your home Davy. Your parents will worry about you.” He spoke to the boy with the softer voice, did not know that Davy’s parents were not home today. Davy obeyed and walked back to his bicycle with his chin dropping down on his chest. He was sad and regretful.8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2TdrKLWA3 維尼
Caleb sighed. This day was not as bright as it ought to be. It was Alexis’s unfortunate love life but the next day, the storms would weaken and she would be stronger than the other days.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoX0xLOXqf3
8964 copyright protection231ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VSOPHYvfQ 維尼
