Chapter 337 - A Year to Live — mdfour
Roland
“Roland.”
“Tell me.”
“I would have liked to have a dad like you. I don't think it makes them want to misbehave more.”
“They can misbehave, but they need to understand that if they do and there are consequences, they'll have to face them. I'll be here as their father. But I will never intervene to get them out of the mess.”
“Is that the moral?”
“What?”
“If they do something wrong and go to jail, you'll visit them but won't get them out.”
“Exactly. If they're guilty, they pay. If they're innocent, I defend them with everything I've got.”
“I’ll send you the names of the medications.”
“Daddy! Is it clean yet?”
I saw so much exhaustion in his little eyes. Enrique was spent, Dante was waiting for my approval. When he got there, he missed a spot. I pointed it out. His broken gaze pained me a bit, but I couldn't show anything. The younger one closed his eyes, and the older one finished.
“Rest, I'll do it.”
He picked up the cloth again, wrung it out with weak arms, and cleaned the remaining spot. When he finished, he looked at me with pleading, watery eyes.
“The windows are done. Let's clean up the mess and go apologize to the principal.”
After we did that, with the cleaning supplies in hand, we approached, but it wasn't necessary to go in. Several teachers, who knows for how long, had been watching what happened.
“Kids…”
“I’m sorry for marking the windows,” Dante said.
“We won't do it again,” Enrique added.
“Did you understand the moral?” the principal asked them.
“I don’t understand, principal.”
“What did you learn from all this?”
“Oh! I will never stain a window again.”
Dante spoke. Enrique had come closer a few seconds ago and leaned against my leg, already asleep.
“This champ is out.”
I spoke, putting the cleaning supplies aside to carry Enrique. I extended an invitation to Dante, and he ran to my shoulder.
“I’ll be back for the supplies.”
“I wish all parents did what you did.”
I nodded and lifted these two giants who were out for the count. When we got to the car, I saw Veronica's car. She got out to help me open the car.
“Hi, love. Have you been waiting long?”
“Just five minutes. Since you texted, I figured you’d finish soon. How did it go?”
“I need to stop by a pharmacy to get some ointments and syrup. They’re tired.”
“Didn’t you go too far?”
“Veronica,” I said, making a gesture with my mouth. “If I don't stop their vandalism, then what? Do you think the kids I taught in Father Gabriel's classes weren't analyzed? Many were there because their parents didn't stop them in time. The next one is…”
“I get it, and yes, you're right. They look so tired.”
“Love, they’re exhausted. Let's get the medicines, apply the creams, and give them the syrup. Did you buy Gregorio's gift?” she smiled.
“Just the ribbon. Lancelot is his gift.”
“Did you name the new pup Lancelot?” she nodded. I hugged her. “I'll get the cleaning supplies, and we’ll head home.”
......
Shirly
I slipped into my prince's bedroom. I can't help but have mixed feelings. I woke up early to go to the creek area where the tree is growing. I want to talk to my love.
Grego sleeps peacefully. How can all the girls tell me to find another man? When I see my son, I see my love's smile. The only one who said it was up to me was Veronica, and she stopped the motivational talk from everyone else yesterday afternoon while finishing the kids' surprises.
“Girls, what would you do if your husbands came back dead, now that they’ll be child defenders?” They fell silent. “I went through what Shirly is going through. The difference is that Anibal did die, and the blessing is that he left a piece of him behind.”
"I’m just saying, don’t close yourself off to giving yourself another chance," said Inés.
"That’s a different matter," Vero spoke again. "But don’t pressure her, it has to come from her, for her own good and for the man who’s interested in her. No one will judge her. When she feels she wouldn’t be betraying her heart, she’s free to love again."
"Happy birthdaaaay," I started singing to my baby. How would it be if Aníbal were here? "We wish you..."
I covered my baby’s face with kisses. He didn’t even stir. I left his crib. When I got to the kitchen, Karen handed me a cup of coffee.
"Crying again? Today is Grego’s birthday party."
"I know, but the date doesn’t let..."
I began to cry, and my sister-in-law’s arms wrapped around me. They live in Blanco, Karen was Claudia’s right hand at the bakery. They arrived last night to spend the weekend. I live with Matías, her eldest son, who loves the countryside and is passionate about it. So we agreed that he studies, does his homework, and once he’s done, he can do what he wants on the ranch.
"Do you feel better?" I nodded.
"I’m going to take a shower, visit the tree we planted for Aníbal, and come back refreshed to celebrate my baby’s first birthday."
"I’ll handle breakfast. Don’t take too long, we have a lot to do."
"Don’t worry! The cavalry will be here soon."
I smiled. Everyone had agreed to help. The grandmothers were in charge of the food: Inés, Consuelo, and Mrs. Josefina.
"Grego fell asleep."
After getting ready, I grabbed the keys and went to get the truck, heading to the creek. This time, I didn’t bring flowers; I started cleaning the area. As I did, tears kept flowing. He was already grown. I sat down beside the tree.
"People might call me crazy. But when I’m here, I feel like he listens to me." I couldn’t hold back the urge to cry. "Today is our son’s birthday," I said, starting to caress the leaves.
"He looks so much like you, Aníbal. He has that same smile that could melt anyone. I’ll bring him here tomorrow. Everyone at home is doing well, your sister, nephew, and son. You know, Aníbal, you would have loved being part of what Roland and your brothers are doing now. You’d be happy.
"Next month, I’m going to resume my trips to Colombia, to catch up on work and manage things from here. I couldn’t focus on anything this year. Classes are going well, but I won’t continue. I’ve already submitted my resignation letter.
"I listened to Miguel. He’s right. He said it’s better to stick to our own and that your part now belongs to Grego. He told me I should look out for the child’s interests. So I quit the university classes."
Dawn began to break, the sun welcomed a new day, and once again, the feeling of nostalgia overwhelmed me, and I couldn’t hold back the tears. I clung to myself as the urge to scream intensified from the depths of my soul.
"ANÍBAAAL!" How I wish you would appear like you said you would in your letter. "I miss you, love! You have no idea how much I miss you. I confess I envy my friends. They’re all with their husbands, with the family you and I dreamed of so much.
"You left too soon. HOW I WISH YOU WERE HERE, ANÍBAL!"
I clung to my legs while still sitting on the ground, crying. I don’t know how much time passed when I heard a car.
"Shirly!" Looking up, it was Simón. "Why are you like this?" I stood up and hugged him. "It’s okay, you’ll see that all this will become just a bad memory."
"Don’t come at me with those out-of-context phrases. And don’t be like Luisa, trying to get me to go out with Cristian."
"Wait. What are you talking about?"
"Nothing. I have to go back; a celebration awaits me."