School day. Library. Poppy without Vincent on her side. She sit at the end of the room, the balcony window, she read a book called ππ‘π ππ±π¨π«ππ’π¬π.
A nine years old like Poppy Decker loves to read mystery thrills novels compared to romantic novels. She may be twins to Vincent, but she is a bit different than her twin brother.
As she read, her corner eyes saw the gardener mowing the lawn. He wears blue jeans and a gray singlet. She noticed him wearing a silver necklace around his neck. He must be new in school as the gardener.
Mr. Quito quit his job back to Mexico running his family business. So the new one replaced him.
"Hye".
Millie is Poppy's classmate, she notices Poppy's eyes stare at the ground. She looked down at the ground and saw the gardener.
"He's cute right?"
"We are nine years old, Millie. How can you say that like an adult".
"My mom did. I mean every mom does". Millie takes a seat on the balcony. "He replaced Me. Quito jobs. Just yesterday he came".
Snort, said Poppy. "Why didn't I notice?"
"Because you are busy reading just like your mother. Where is Vincent anyway?"
Poppy shrugged. "I feel his presence on the field kicking the ball. Soccer with his friends".
Her eyes still looked down at the gardener. She felt strange as she looked at him, like she knew him somewhere. Maybe before she was born or after she was born. Or she saw him in heaven before her mother Belle gave birth to them.
Who knows? He looked familiar. Some kind of electric connection as she sees him.
She feels safe.
"That Mr. Lee Herman. He'd just moved in here. Before he became a gardener in our school, he worked at a restaurant in New mexico, quit his job _ he moved here".
Grinning, Millie spoke back. "He can cook, beside the gardener he cooks our food in the cafeteria".
Lee Herman is portrayed externally as an incredibly masculine, rough, blue-collared, kind of man whilst possessing a warm, charismatic persona internally.
With his charming demeanor and reputation as a handyman, he quickly becomes the object of interest for many, having the ability to attract almost anyone around the neighborhood.
"I saw him before, around the neighborhood. Little do any of them realize, however, the dark secrets that this man is hot and handsome".
Snorts. "His nice man, maybe".
"I'm gonna introduce myself to him".
"You like him don't you?"
Poppy shook her head no, she said.
"I'm nine. It's just a proper introduction and welcoming". She closes her book, pushing it aside. She got up from the balcony window, walk toward the door. "See you, Mrs. Alice".
"See you too, Miss Decker. Don't forget your coats darling. It's cold outside".
"Okay, thanks".
She left the library, walking downstairs. From the window she saw Vincent still playing soccer with his friends outside the building. Shake her head with a smile, she loved her twins.
Vincent is 15mins older than her.
Continuing running downstairs, she meets the gardener who is now at the back of the school building.
"Hello?" Lee Herman looked over his shoulder, as his eyes met her. He turned to face her with a smile. "We're not strangers. I'm Poppy. What's yours?"
"Lee Herman. Hello Poppy". She notices he never stops smiling at her. "What grade are you, Poppy?" He ask,
"3rd grade".
He nodded. "Can I help you with something, Poppy? Is that why you are here".
She shrugged. Before she could say any word. Vincent stalked behind his twin sister by touching her shoulder.
She jolted around. "What are you doing here?"
"He's our new gardener".
"So?" Vincent studies Lee Herman. "Nice to meet you, Lee Herman". He bowed politely. "You meet my twin sister".
"Oh, you're both twins. I'd just know now. Nice to see you twins, well? You two better get back inside the class because I'm afraid they will accuse me of molesting the students on purpose. I don't want to hear that from someone's lips".
Vincent reaches his twin's hand. "You're right. Let's go Poppy. He's not gonna die today, you will see him tomorrow".
"Have we met?" ask Poppy to Lee Herman.
"Poppy come on! Don't waste your time. Let's get inside the class or I tell mom for this' '.
She bows her head but then she looks up at Lee Herman. "We see you again, Lee Herman". He nodded his head and smiled. Both twins turn their feet then walk away. "I felt weird when I saw him, Vincent".
"You always feel weird around people. His gardener is not a famous celebrity". He let go of Poppy's hand. Then he stopped turning to her. "Don't do that again, Poppy. Remember what mom told us. That we don't speak to stranger".
"He said his name".
"Just because he'd said his real name doesn't mean we have to trust him, Poppy. We don't know where he came from and why he suddenly replaced Mr. Quito's previous jobs here. Stay away from him, if you really want to talk with him, at least talk to me first. I will accompany you there and meet him".
Silent, he spoke back. "Do you understand, Poppy?" She nodded her head. "Good. Now let's get inside. Don't you have history class after this' '.
"You guys are so sweet, thank you". Said Belle.
Betty, Rosie, Tony and Sebastian are here in new york. After graduating from high school, they studied abroad, got their degree and now they have all moved to New york and have perfect jobs.
Rosie and Tony are engaged. Rosie works in the Olympics as a volleyball coach and has her own team.
Tony works in labs, forensics specialist assist in many homicide cases in new york.
Sebastian works with the tabloid, journalism about celebrities and the last Betty O'hare _ she works with the FBI.
Why did Betty O'hare choose to be an FBI? Because Belle reminds her about Emma.
Before Emma died, she wanted to work with the FBI agent when she grew up. But she died before she could see herself grow as a successful beautiful woman.
Betty O'hare made Emma's dream come true and become an FBI agent as she wanted in her life before. Belle cried when she found out.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything that I did when we were teenagers. I didn't know Ms Bilson was obsessed with my husband. I didn't know until he died".
Betty patted her back. "And everything went chaos after that bitch died. You went up on the stage as Xavier's asked you too. Telling us the truth about who you are and he returned you to your family you deserve before he died".
They nod their heads and agree, Betty continues.
"You are Andriana Belle Decker not Verena Danvers we've known. We are being foolish by you and your husband, and at the same time we can't just hate you because you are the victims. You had to listen or else _ that we cannot blame you. You're a nice girl Belle. That's why I never doubt you".
"You made my eyes tear, Betty. Fuck you!"
They laugh. "Fuck you too. Enough this sad bullshit story. We're so happy to find out that you are pregnant after he died. Twins, can you imagine? And you prove the world, pregnancy wasn't a reason to be unsuccessful and you did".
"I must move on. For the sake of my baby I had too".
Tony reached Belle's hand, smile. He said. "Like we all said. We are here for you, Belle. No matter what _ we always support you, protect you and the twins".
"Thanks, Tony. So, when you two get married. I can't wait to see a new generation of yours".
"Urgh, I don't know. I'm busy with the dead". Rosie rolled her eyes. "Last night I received ten dead bodies, all of them died in mysterious ways. This evening the mayor wanted to see this dead body and the FBI took this case, which means I have to work with Betty starting this evening".
Betty nodded her head, she leaned on the chair. Her eyes look up at him, smirking.
"Devastating to hear that huh, Tony. You work under my foot". She laughs maniacally.
"You choose me, Bitch! And I can't reject it. They will fire me if I do". He sighs. "I love this job. And I love Rosie".
"If you love her you should marry her in the first place". Betty looked up at Rosie who was annoyed.
Rosie loves Xavier, her former principal in high school. When Xavier rejected her, considered her as a student and daughter to him. A depression took Rosie for months to forget Xavier out of her life but she can't.
She loved him so much. It's like an obsession. As Xavier pushed her, Tony made his move to give her new love she never had. Take a year to convince her.
And Rosie accepts her new love with Tony.
"I can't blame Tony. He gave me a new life". She smiles sweetly, she turns to Belle. "I miss the twins".
"You had no idea what we were going through".
"Really, what is that?"
Belle snorted, she drank up. "Bullied".
"Who? They bullied the twins?" ask Betty. "Want me to kill them?"
"Betty, come on!" Both Tony and Sebastian scream. "You can't just kill them".
"I hate being bullied. How many times I had to face the victim as they were trying to kill themselves. Every parent's worst nightmare".
Betty giggled. "Lucky I ask you to send the twins to learn to protect themselves. Black belt. So proud".
"The twins broke their bones".
"I cannot blame the twins. I'm proud".
Late at night. Belle enter Poppy room, she want to ask her why she didn't touch her food. Belle brought late night snack with warm milk to her daughter, afraid she felt hungry.
She laid the tray on a small table. Poppy doing her homework.
"Poppy?" She called. "I brought you hot noodles that I bought at a convenience store today. You barely touch your food. Why?"
Vincent leans on the side of his twin sister's frame door. Belle looks over her shoulder, feeling his presence behind her.
"Something happened today, Vince?"
He shrugged, said. "It's just the gardener".
"The gardener? Who is he anyway, what did he do to my baby girl".
"He'll do nothing. But Poppy is". He enters and sits on the bed. "She acts weird after we meet him. Poppy keeps telling me there is an electric connection she feels through her body, I admit I feel it too. No joke! I feel it too".
Belle frowns. "Electric connection? What are you talking about?"
"I'm not gonna say it, neither does Poppy. We're twins. She feels me and I feel her".
"You're both nine _". She was sighing out loud. "At least ask your twin sister to eat her food please. She will listen to you, Vince".
She smiled. Kiss Poppy back head. Then out of the room. Vincent spoke after his mom left the room.
"Eat, Poppy. Don't make me".
She obeyed her twins. Up from the study chair, she reached the tray where Belle left it. She eats without a word.
Belle takes a peep, watching her twins doing. Then she smiled.
My baby.