Fragments of Memories 2: Beautiful Stranger novel Chapter 47

One and a half year later

Tan just finished bathing, although he was in his sleeping clothes, his towel was still on his head to dry his hair after he emerged from the bathroom. He looked at the clock. Eight in the evening. He went home on time as usual. He arrived to Elaine playing with Sean and Thera’s twins a while back. They ate dinner together with the couple.

After eating, Jassy Mikaela started throwing tantrums but turned quiet when Elaine carried and entertained her. They decided to bring her to their room while Lucah Gabrielle was brought to the guest room by Thera and Sean to be put to sleep. It was the second time Sean’s family visited them and stay overnight.

Sean has an important meeting and didn’t want to leave his family at the villa.Until now, the two is making up for the time they were apart. Tan was genuinely happy for them. They deserve to be happy after all they’ve been through.

He went near the bed, sweetly gazed at Elaine. He knew she was ready to be a good mother. And he will do everything to be a good model in the eyes of their future children. He raised his hand to push away the strand of hair on his wife’s face.

Elaine slightly moaned and opened her eye after a while.

“You fell asleep—”

“Sshh…” Signaled to be quiet and he nodded. “Do you think we could put her back in Thera’s room without waking her?” he whispered.

“She’s a heavy sleeper, I heard,” Elaine whispered back.

Afraid he might really wake the baby up. Tan gently and carefully scooped Jassy Mikaela up in his arms while Elaine carefully got off the bed. Warmth rush through him when the baby slightly opened its eyes, stared at him before going back to sleep. He looked to Elaine who smiled at him.She held on his arm and they walked together towards Sean and Thera’s room.

Lucah Gabrielle was asleep when they arrived. Sean was putting a blanket on him in his customized crib. After carefully laying Jassy on the bed, they said their goodnight. Thera with a smile, whispered “Thanks” before they pulled the door close and leave them.

They went back to their room holding hands. Elaine yawned when she entered.

“You tire yourself…”

“I only played with them for a while—” Elaine gazed at Tan’s planner. “I remember,Tomorrow Is mother’s birthday, can we visit her tomorrow before dropping by Sandra’s?”

“Let’s do that. We haven’t visited for a year.”

“Don’t you have anywhere you need to be? We might be out the whole morning tomorrow.”

“I’ll make time.” He smiled and held her hand.

Last year, for the third time, she was married Tan again. More full of love, more organized- no more hiding of real feelings, no more pretenses.

Weeks before the wedding, she brought Tan to her mother’s grave to formally introduce him.She has long forgiven Bettina for her shortcomings to her.

Elaine realized there is no perfect child nor a perfect parent because of all she had been through in over three years that passed. There is only a parent who can do anything to raise their children in the way they know .

Bettina might have been wrong in her choice of path, but in the end, she has proven to her that no mother can resist her own child. It’s a cliché but now more than ever, she believes it’s true.

The pain she felt during those down times, Bettina also carried double that weight. She hid her own pain and grief so well she didn’t notice it before. When she started to appreciate her mother, it was too late for her. But all is well that ends well. Her mother is resting in peace now wherever she might be.

Finally, everything is getting back as it was before. The Palace Mall and Hotel and Ainsdale continue to flourish.Drew temporarily manages Ainsdale with Anne.DM Textile is stable again and Elaine is sure it will continue to soar domestically and in internationally since almost the whole clan of Daniel De Marco is helping out to manage iton.

Mr. Crisostomo has resigned as the hospital directo.He flew to another country with his wife and Janine to get treatment there. While Marco asked to be assigned in a far province according to Gigi. She hasn’t heard news from him since he left more than a year ago.

Mang Chito, finally softened his heart for her. She is welcome to stay in his house anytime- but the bistro no longer operates. He already closed it. Macon and Drew are about to get married and just like Thera and Sean, they have a child-Menchu.

Elaine’s sessions with her therapist have been over. She no longer gets attacks. The last time she remembered experiencing it, Tan was still there for her. There’s just one reason why she is in the hospital often-that’s to pay Sandra a visit.

Elaine has finally forgiven herself. She has learned to accept that she can’t change her wrong decisions from before. She learned to trust more and be open with people who are important and loves her-especially Tan who never tires of listening to her. Her husband never fails to make her feel loved and important.

“Why are you looking at me that way? Is there something on my face?” she asked when she noticed he kept staring at her. She touched her cheek but Tan held her hand.

“You’re beautiful.”

She hears that praise from her husband everyday. Elaine can’t help but smile.