Daylight. Craig sat on the counter chair. The twins are still in bed even though the time is almost reaching noon. Belle going out. He pours orange juice on his glass then drinks it with tired eyes as he thinks about getting rid of Hannah Montana.
Hannah Carter, actually.
Finally, He made up his mind. He broke his engagement and she can't find him here. What if she did?
Fuck it!
A small footstep hear behind. His eyes follow as the strong figure walks past him. Vincent drag the chair and sit on it.
Swollen face after waking up. It Is funny to see. His hair is messed up. Remind Craig of Gibson. Of course, Vincent follows his father figure.
"Hungry?" ask Craig to Vincent. The boy nodded yes. "You two are playing games until late at night". He pointed at the wall clock. "It's about noon".
Vincent reaches the plate as Craig pushes the plate to him. Scoping, then shoveling the food inside his mouth. Eating breakfast without taking shower or brushing his teeth.
"Your mom is out. She'll be back".
"Heard you broke your own engagement because of my mom. Why do you do that?" Scoping again. "What is so special about my mom, that every man is crazy about her".
Craig snickering, said. "Everything". He smiled. "Little that you must know, she's a brave teenage girl who survived from your dad. Until she suddenly falls in love with him".
"Are you jealous?"
"Sometimes yes. I Am". Sighing. "I love your mom since we've met, your dad love her too. He took his love towards your mom seriously that could hurt her. I was there when he hurt her, I don't said your dad a terrible dad you thought. He'd just? Your dad can't control his obsession. That's all".
Vincent drags the glass, pouring some orange juice Craig had before. He sip it. "You kinda remind me of him".
"Because I look like him?"
Craig shake head. "You have both your parent figure, but you look more like him".
"I thought I looked like my mom. The end I wasn't. How long did you know him, Doctor?"
"Call me Uncle Craig if you want. I've known him since we're boys. We grew up together. Different jobs, still. We're brothers".
"Does he always have an obsession towards someone before my mom?"
Craig shake head again. "Just your mom. You ask me why she is so special, well. Your dad proves to her that she is a very very special girl. If she is not? Why I love your mom".
"He doesn't know mom is pregnant before he kills himself. Poppy thought Mr. Herman was her dad".
"I hear about that too. I like to meet him". Craig sip his orange juice again. "Face to face".
New York Times square. Belle walks through the crowds, on call with her patient. The roads are busy, the people, the tourists. Until she ends up bumped into someone. She stumbles on the ground, her phone tighten in her hand.
She screams. "I will call you back. I'd just fall on the ground. I'll see you on Wednesday".
End the call.
"Watch your GOING!" Pairs of strong arms trying to help her, she shove refused. She rose up dusting her jeans without bothering to see who bumped into her. "Damn it!"
"I'm sorry. Are you alright?"
She looked up. "Watch you going will you? This place is crazy and you bumped into me!"
"I'd said I'm sorry". A man just bumped into hers. She grunt. "I'm sorry _ Belle".
She was stunned. "How do you know my name?" She looked closer. "Jake? Jake Harley". He snickering with a nod. "Oh my GOD! Jake. It's been so long since _".
That moment Jake stumbles on the ground as Belle punches his face in anger. He was shocked trying to back up, his hand on his cheek where she punched him.
The crowds stare. "Belle?"
"I'm not Belle you know back when we were sixteen, Jake! You left me!" Grit her teeth. "You left me and never tried to look for me. All I know from my parents is you and your family moving back to New York without saying goodbye!"
Good heaven her heart beating fast. "Fancy life you have, you forget about me". She walked past him. Trying to disappear from his sight, he quickly chasing her. "Stay away from ME, Jake!"
"You need to listen to me, Belle. I have that excuse. STOP!"
Later in noon. A fancy restaurant belongs to Jake's friend. Both Belle and Jake sit in silence. Jake orders her favorite dessert that he never forgot what she likes to eat.
A cold dessert that soothes her down. Her favorite food on the side. She barely touches anything. All she touches is a glass of water.
She studies her own laps. Doesn't want to look up at him as she betrayed their love by having Gibson's baby. Is not Jake's fault. It was hers.
"Belle, look at me please?" He spoke softly. Belle shakes her head no. He continued. "How we should start this conversation if you keep staring at your laps".
Silent.
"Belle? You know how much I miss you. I've been trying to look for you. We were sixteen back then, and I have nothing. I'm not rich Belle. My parents are. What am I supposed to do? My mom never let me do anything stupid to find you. With my condition".
He sighs, continuing. "After your parents left our house. We've never heard any news from them. We don't know where you've been until now, Belle. We are trying to keep in touch with your family but they don't".
"Because I ask them too". said Belle in a low voice. She looked up from her laps. "I did contact my parents because he allowed me with conditions. My parents didn't tell me that you were looking. I don't blame them because _ he did hurt you badly".
She studies him. "How's your life?"
"Belle?" He reached her hand. "I know you are in pain. I have no right to ask or say that you should forget all this. Because I'm not standing on your foot. I don't know how you survive through this hell. And I'm only asking you once, Belle".
Both stare at each other's eyes. Jake smiles sadly. "We start all over again like we used to. You and me _ together".
"I've betrayed you, Jake". She cried. "I betrayed our love".
"Doesn't matter, Belle. What is past is past. We should begin a new life and never bring our dark past to present. You never betrayed our love. It's just you had to".
He soothes her with a smile. "Tell me about your life with him".
Monday morning. Craig borrows Belle's car and sends the twins to school. She takes public transit to work. Both Vincent, Poppy and Craig arrive at school.
Parking Belle's car side the road, slowly he pulled down his glasses to crooked nose. His eyes searched for someone in school.
"Are you looking for him?" ask Vincent. Knowing what Craig intends to do. "Somewhere back of the building. He is always there".
"Really?"
"Who are you two looking at?!" said Poppy at the back seat. She is curious to know what the boys talk about. "Is this a secret mission that I'm interested in?".
Vincent looked over his shoulder, said. "There is no mission to be involved". He opened the door. "Come on. School bell almost rang. Or you rather Mrs. Roderick drag you out from the car".
Quickly Poppy jumped out of the car and ran inside the building. She forgot she left her twin behind. Craig chuckles about her funny behavior that reminds him about Belle. Chaotic girl. His eyes on Vincent's back.
"I'll pick up your mom first then both of you. She said she hates to cook our dinner".
Vincent slammed the door. "She always hates cooking. And she had too for us". He turned his feet. "I'll see you in the evening".
He ran inside the building as the school bell rang. Craig's eyes focus around the building in case he misses it.
Where's Lee Herman anyway?
"Come out. Come out wherever you at".
His finger tapped on the steering wheel. Exact moment, he caught the figure of Lee Herman walking out of nowhere.
Shocked.
What Belle and the twins said about Lee Herman are right. He looks exactly like Gibson. No wonder Poppy thinks Lee Herman is her dad. The two men look the same.
He slammed the door, slowly approaching. He walked toward him.
"Hi?"
He said with greet. Lee Herman turned to look at his back where Craig was standing.
"Lee Herman?"
"I'am. Who are you?"
Craig eyes to study him. He's the doctor, so he needs to find something to prove that Lee Herman is the real Victor Gibson.
Perhaps scars? Anything. Something. Give him a sign so he knows this man who is standing right in front of him is Victor Gibson.
"I'm sorry, do we know each other?" ask Lee Herman in a smile. "Are you kids in school here, what's their name? Perhaps I could help to find their classroom".
Craig shakes his head. "Don't bother. I know where my kids' classrooms are. Just one thing I need to be sure about something that I've been wondering about, asking myself for the past years. That I want my answers".
"You seem tense. Look if you need anything _ I could help". Lee Herman stares into Craig's eyes. "Ask me anything that I can help or answer, depending on what questions you ask".
Craig smirks, oh he really likes this game. The game is ON. "First question". His smirk wider.
"Are you really Victor Gibson?"