"No mummy. I prefer the Creel to the Copper Canyon. Didn't you see all those..." Amanda argued as we walked back to the hotel.
"Keep quiet Mandy. The copper canyon is better than the Creel by far. In fact it isn't even comparable" Alex retorted.
"You guys are talking nonsense. Have you forgotten about the museum? Mum what do you think?" Andrew joined in, chewing his drumsticks.
"Well, I feel everywhere in Chihuahua is beautiful in its own way. This is my home country. I grew up here so I love everywhere equally"
"Except your home" Alex chipped in, throwing a glare my way. I stopped walking.
"What do you mean?"
"You still haven't taken us to your home" Andrew said.
"Okay fine. Let's go" I turned back, but Amanda stopped me holding my hands firmly.
"We don't have to go if you don't want to go" My heart melted with affection immediately and I hugged her.
"I want to go"
The house still looked the same, although it was old and the paints on the walls were starting to peel off. The door was locked and I hoped that the key was kept in the same place it used to be. Surprisingly I checked and it was still there. I opened the door easily, with my heart pounding and pushed it open. The kids peered inside, wondering if it was safe to enter. I entered first and opened all the windows. The house looked very clean. I went to the kitchen and everywhere was all cleaned up too. I decided to ask Aunty Terry later about it.
The kids decided that instead of staying in the hotel, we should stay here. I objected. This house held many memories that I wasn't sure if I was ready to relive yet. But the ever persuasive Alexandra decided that we are staying here and it's final, and her siblings supported the idea.
"Well, majority carries the votes" Andrew declared and the kids shouted in victory. After we cleaned up the place, we went back to the hotel and checked out. It was very late in the night when we came back and everyone just went to sleep. Amanda and I slept in my mum's room, while the twins slept in my old bedroom.
"If it isn't the only Laura Anderson"
I looked up from the shelf and came in contact with Diego, my High school sweetheart, as Aunty Laura would say. I dropped the books I was holding and hugged him tight.
"Diego!!" I whispered, for the fear of being chased out of the library by the librarian who had been throwing shady glares at me, ever since I walked in. The kids went out with Aunty Terry's grandchildren.
"My God... You look so good" I said to him. He looked actually quite handsome, with a few beards. He was wearing a blue t-shirt that outlined his abs.
"You're looking great as well. How have you been?" he asked.
"As you can see, I've been great" I responded beaming with smiles. He brought out his phone, perhaps to check the time, and then looked at me.
"Are you free now? I'd like us to see and discuss and catch up on old times. I don't know if that'll be..."
"I'm free now" I acknowledged and he smiled and led me outside. He pointed to a blue Aston Martin DB11.
"That's my car over there"
"Oh wow!!"
We got in the car and chattered on excitedly till we got to a small restaurant.
"So what brings you to Chihuahua?" He started, after we'd placed our orders.
"Well, my kids are on vacation and we've been through a lot. We wanted a fresh start and something to clear our heads" I replied.
"Nice. I never left Chihuahua. I initially planned to leave, but then my dad fell sick and my mum needed me back here. I decided to stay back. I took online courses in art. To cut the long story short, I'm a movie producer now"
"Oh my God!!!" I exclaimed delightedly. "That's amazing"
"Yeah. My wife encouraged me though" He said, with an adoring glint in his eyes. I don't know why, but that made me sad.
"Oh really?"
"Oh yeah. She's an American actress - a talented one. She introduced me to Hollywood, and well I found passion in it. Although it was actually quite difficult to keep up with travelling, when we started having kids. Well, we're moving on. What do you do?" He asked.
"Well, I'm an FBI agent"
"Oh shit!!! Really?!! You really did it. I'm proud of you. You kept on talking about how you wanted to join the Force. Well, I thought you would have joined the military, but the FBI is super cool"
I smiled. "You think so?"
"Of course. How do you manage to work as an FBI agent and manage a family? I'm sure your husband doesn't mind, right?"
"Well, my kids are grown up. My twins are 16 year old and my little daughter, Amanda, would be 7 by next week. So we do not have issues. My husband... Well, he's out of the question"
"Oh that's alright. I have 5 children though"
I didn't know when I chuckled. "5!!"
He nodded and laughed. "Yeah 5 children. three boys and my little princesses"
I smiled. Diego had a perfect family. He was obviously making it from his movie producer business and he had an amazing wife, from what he'd described.
He brought out his phone to show me pictures. The pictures of him and his wife were so loving. They were like the perfect couple. His children looked lovely as well. I showed him pictures of my children too and we chattered on. After we'd talked about our lives and everything, he then brought up the discussing I'd been dreading.
"Why did you leave?"
"It's a long story, Diego"
"Cut it short, Laura. Because I went to your house that fateful day and found two people, lying down almost-dead on the ground. I was arrested, because I was a suspect"
I covered my mouth in horror.
"You were arrested? Oh my God!! Diego, I didn't know. I'm so sorry"
He frowned.
"What happened that day?"
I decided to trust him and tell him the truth about what happened.
"Only they didn't die"
"Yes I know. My mum didn't die. She's alive and well and..."
"Your dad is alive too" He stated.
"No. He's dead. I mean... I stabbed him and watched him die that day so there's no way, he'd be..."
"Well, he was badly injured and if I didn't get there and call the police, at the time I did, he'd have died. The police were looking for you; they needed someone to arrest..."
"And you took the fall for me" I was shocked at that revelation. He nodded in affirmation.
"So where is my dad now?" I asked, in fear.
"Well, he was in the hospital for over two months, before he was finally discharged. He stayed around for a few weeks and then left. He comes back once in a while to clean the house and then disappears again. No one knows where exactly he stays"
I stood up frightened.
"How often does he come back?" I asked Diego.
"Once every month"
"When was the last time he came back?"
"Last month. There's a high possibility that he'd come back today" Diego said.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because today is the last day of April. Don't worry. I'll go back home with you, just to make sure you're safe"
"No. This is my cross, and I should carry it alone"
"Who says you have to carry it alone? Jesus didn't carry his cross alone. Simon of Cyrene assisted him at one point to carry his cross. Do not be overly independent, Laura Dolores Anderson. I'm taking you home, and I'll leave, only when I'm sure that you're safe. No arguments about it. Let's go" He declared, with an air of authority. I went to him and hugged him tight.
"Thank you very much"
He paid the bills and drove me back home.
As we got near the entrance, I saw that the door was slightly opened. On instinct, I brought out my Derringer from my purse and pointed it at the door.
"You had that with you since morning?"
I shrugged and kicked the door open.
"Hello Dolores"
I put down the gun immediately. My dad was really alive. How did he not die? Why is he alive?
"What are you doing here?" I asked him. The hatred I had for him was really unfathomable.
"Well, technically this is my house. It's so good to see you again" He said with a dazzling smile that annoyed me to the teeth.
"Cut the crap!! I mean... Why are you alive?"
"C'mon that's not a nice way to talk to your dad, Laura" Diego interrupted. I looked at him sharply. "It's time for you to go, Diego" and before he could reply, I yelled. "Now!!"
He got into his car and drove off immediately.
"You stabbed me with a scissors, and you expected me to die? I could call the police now and get you arrested"
"I'm an FBI agent" I interrupted sharply.
"Oh I see. And that gives you some kind of leverage, right?" He stood up. "Well, seeing as this place is occupied. I'm going to leave, but... I'm glad you're back" He said sarcastically, with an evil glint in his eyes. He got on a bike that I hadn't noticed earlier and rode off, leaving a trail of dust behind.
I knew what I was going to do.
I just knew.
And i needed to do it fast.