The soft breeze blew across Alec's face softly as he gazed at the grave stone of his beloved, he held his chest tightly...every time he thinks about her his chest tightens and twists, the thought of her gone is the most painful punishment than death it self, at that moment he wished he was the one to die and not her. But would there have been a difference? If she lived she would probably be going through the same pain he's in...or worse, it wouldn't be fair for both of them. As selfish it may sound, he wished they should have just died together...it would have been less painful to both of them.
" I'm sorry." Alec began. " It's my fault you're where you are now, am ashamed to call myself your husband."
A bitter smile full of pain and regret touched his face, ' at this point is apologizing going to change a thing?'
" Ms Anderson, gave me a few letters...she said you wrote them all on the time we got divorced. To be honest I'm afraid to open them, I'm scared to drop tears cause that's me accepting you're truly gone... You've truly left me all alone in this world that you used to linger in...the only thing that keeps me going is our daughter, she's a big girl now... very beautiful and smart, she reminds me of you in many ways my love... From your attitude and personality...to your appearance."
" Daddy!."
A distant voice called out to him. " I have to go for now, I'll visit you soon wife... I love you, always for infinity."
He kissed his fingers and placed them on her grave stone. He turned to rejoin the others.
" Brother."
Both Alec and Zain shared a brotherly hug. " I didn't get to congratulate you both properly."
" We totally understand, it was a tough year for all of us."
Ava said. " Is this your son?." Alec stared at the little boy in Ava's arms.
" We would like you to meet Andrea Woods." Ava smiled holding her little boy, his hair color and facial features resembled Zain... whilst he had inherited Ava's grey eyes and ears, he was a pretty boy.
" How old is he?."
" 4 years old."
" Time does fly huh.... Aside from that, when did you arrive in New York City? You could have called."
" She wanted it to be a surprise."
Zain smiled slightly. " We should go Daddy, I want to show Aunt Ava my toys and everything."
" Yes princess, let's go."
Alec chuckled. Back home, Ava put baby Andrea to sleep before settling down on the couch with Eli.
" Eli, I have something special for you."
" Really!... what is it?."
Eli was filled with excitement. Ava brought out a white photo album and said.
" This is our family's photo album, it has all your mother's photos back when she was a baby... and when she was just your age, and when she was a teenager."
" Really, can I see? Daddy says I look just like her."
" Indeed you resemble her in so many ways, of course you can take a look."
" That's not fair, I want to join in as well."
Alec complained, he's never seen his darling wife's childhood photos before, he thought it would be fun to look back into her past a bit."
Zain was enjoying a glass of red wine as he relaxed by the fireplace with soft tender music playing.
Eli giggles as she went through her mother's past photos, indeed she does resemble little Emma when her mother was little, this way she had an idea of how she'll look like when she herself becomes a teenager... Like a teenage Angelina Jolie.
" I'll be traveling to Texas tomorrow."
Alec suddenly spoke. " Texas... Are you taking me with you daddy?."
" I wish I could princess, but you have school....it will only be for a week."
" I can take a week off."
" You have to study Eli, besides I'm going for work and I'll barely have time for other things."
Sad, Eli dropped her head disappointed.
" It's okay Eli, Uncle Zain and I are here... you won't be alone." Ava coaxed her patting her head.
Mr Greg sent Alec to Texas to survey the oil factory and see how they're working there, he didn't want to go but both his parents begged him to go hoping he'll get to relax a bit and get some air at their family ranch. Alec took this opportunity to spend time with his horse ' Banny ' it was his first gift his father gave him on his 5th birthday. He misses her so much.
" Excuse me, brunch is served."
The servant informed, Eli ran to the dining hall...she was such a foodie yet she doesn't get fat, and maintains her slender average figure.
Alec's thoughts took him back to what his parents told him a week ago.
' while you're there Alec, take this opportunity to visit the ranch and relax a bit... don't let work consume you there too.' Lisa said.
' we know how hard this is for you but... Eli is still a child, a girl like her needs a mother figure to look out for her and who she can look up to....so while you're there try to find someone and connect.'
' Eli doesn't need someone to replace her mother.'
' we're not saying she'll replace Emma, but you don't expect that you'll be single till the day you die Alec. Even Emma wouldn't want that for you, she would want you to move on and be happy... that's if she really loved you."!
' Enough! I have heard enough... mother, this discussion ends here.'
Alec stormed out of the room. ' Alec.'!
' let him go wife, let's give him time.'
' how much time, Greg? It's been five years since Emma's passing and he's still grieving for her... this can't continue.'
****
Present Day....
As the sun slowly began to set, a beautiful color behind the clouds filled the sky with a delicate mixture of orange and red... with a slight pink to it, Eli stared through her bedroom window and her eyes grew so wide with wonder, she found the scenery to be so breathtaking. She hurried to her desk were she keeps her art supplies and drawings, picked up her camera and hurried back to the window to snap a picture before the beautiful light and color disappears. She stared at the picture excited to have gotten a good shot.
" It's beautiful."
Eli looked back startled. " Papa, isn't it lovely?."
" It is... You have quite a talent of many things young lady."
He smiled proudly. Eli proudly lifted her chin and shoulders, she was proud indeed.
" What are you doing here?."
She asked, Alec grabbed her giving her tickles. " Ahh... Hahaha, papa." She laughed and giggled.
Alec paused kissing her hair and said.
" I'll be the one tucking you into bed this evening, but first you know the drill young lady."
" Of course, kind sir."
Alec laid out his hand like a true charming royal prince for the princess. Eli bowed her head slightly taking his hand like a lady of the household, they proceeded to the bathroom were she brushed her teeth... and got into her pajamas. Alec tucked her in...patting her head gently.
" I'll be leaving tomorrow morning for Texas, you'll still be asleep by then." He said.
" Still won't consider taking me with you?."
" Princess -
" Yeah yeah I know, I have school... but come back soon okay. I don't like being apart from you for too long."
" I will princess, it's only for a week...go to sleep now."
He kissed her forehead getting up to leave.
" Daddy," Alec paused in his tracks looking back. " Can you read me a bed time story?."
With a smile...he returned to her bedside taking one of the story books on the bedside drawer.
" Once upon a time...
Once she fell asleep he kissed her goodnight turning off the lights and left the lamp on, he closed the door and returned to his own room. The empty cold room that was once filled with warmth was back to it's cold dark cave like it was before he met her.
Alec, poured a glass of wine taking a sit on the couch in the dim lit up room, he stared at the sealed letters laying on the table. Her name reflecting in his blue eyes, after a lot of hesitation and three glasses of wine. Alec gathered the strength to open the first letter.
Reading the first two of her letters actually felt like she was there in the room with him, he could feel her warm presence surrounding him. It was either that...or he was simply going insane.
Taking the last letter made his heart skip a beat, he saved this one for last cause she said so herself on the bottom of the letter, he slowly opens it as it read....
.... To my dearest husband. Alec
Everyday I count the days we've been separated and it feels like a really long time yet it's only been 6 months, our baby surely kicks a lot. To be honest with you I'm really scared... I'm petrified cause I might not make it, I have a request of you dearest husband. If I don't make it...if I die today, please don't let me stop you from finding love and happiness, find someone to love you...a girl who will make you smile and laugh, a girl who will stand by you no matter what, I know she's out there somewhere waiting for you... and surely you'll find her sooner than you expect. Be happy Alec, I won't be here forever, and if you're reading this it means I'm long gone. I love you so much and I will always be yours, our love is infinity... you told me that remember. I love you, I love you so much."
Alec dropped a tear, they were the first tears he dropped for Emma after her passing. The reason he didn't cry back then was because he would be accepting the fact that she's truly gone for good, and these tears were the proof of it.
****
Hello Bounders, two chapters of Vol 3 has been updated, tell me what you think by dropping a chapter comment below to know your views and thoughts. Thank you for waiting this long and kept on supporting me, I appreciate it.