Help and crying

"I was told that I gave everything I had to Celeste. But how could that be?" Adelard asked the first thing that came to mind.

Unable to move, Nicholas simply nodded his head.

"Tell me everything that happened during this time."

The rain stopped and instead of the coldness came warm sunshine that covered the beautiful streets with flowers in orange. Little birds flew from one tree to another and the sea waves tried to touch the seagulls that were playfully flying up. It was as if the whole world had returned to its former state. The fairy tale was back. Everything seemed to be just a scary dream. And Adelard, believing it, sat on the bench in front of the sea which dazzled along with the sun. But Nicholas's story brought him back to reality.

"When you left, Celeste became very different. She changed right in front of my eyes. No longer the gentle and fragile girl who always smiled. She became rude, mean, and sly. We all knew at once that she was not the person we knew. We understood all her motives. And the moment she said that now, this house belonged to her, we all wanted to stop her. But it was too late. She showed me all the papers you signed. It had your signature all over it. Like you wanted to give her everything you had. Do you understand? Everything! The legacy, the factory, everything your family worked for. You gave her everything. How could you do that?"

"I don't remember signing any papers. Nicholas, I didn't," Adelard said, trying to remember something.

"But then how could she do it all? How?"

"I don't know." Adelard tried his best to remember. But all he managed was to remember all the times he felt bad. Namely the dizziness, the strange dreams.

"What? Did you remember something?"

"I just remembered that ever since I met her, I've had headaches and I couldn't understand anything. Is it possible that she was doing this? Could it be magic?"

"Magic? Adelard open your eyes! This world is not a fairy tale!"

"I don't know Nicholas. I don't know what else to think about. I don't remember signing all the papers. And when did she have time to have a baby? Why didn't she tell me she was pregnant?"

Nicholas looked at the baby, who continued to sleep, clutching Adelard's scarf.

"She was pregnant. When you left, we all started to notice it. Except that she didn't want to tell you. For some reason, she wanted to keep it a secret. And then in the seventh month, she gave birth to this baby. He was very weak."

Adelard touched the baby's soft cheek and smiled happily for the first time. "That's my son," he whispered, forgetting all the bad things.

"She only left you a baby. She took everything from you. And you don't even know how. Adelard, you still don't understand anything. Your kindness has brought you to this state."

Adelard was silent. He felt too bad. So bad that his mind began to construct the illusion of happiness. He tried to pretend like everything was fine. But what could be worse when instead of tears a man keeps smiling?

"Where are Mathilda and Mary?" he asked after a long silence.

"They went home."

"Where are you going?" Adelard asked, catching his arm. "Don't go. Don't leave me."

"I need to check on something. Adelard, I will never leave you. But right now, I need to understand something," Nicholas said and added, "I'll meet you here tonight. For now, go eat and buy milk for the baby." Leaving a few bills on the bench, Nicholas took quick steps and disappeared behind a row of trees.

Adelard had given his last money to a stranger when he first arrived. And now, in his hands was the last thing he had left of his factory.

He felt hungry and when his gaze fell on the café, he got up and headed there. For the money that fit in one palm of his hand there was only enough for one meal and tea. The potatoes and black tea stood in front of him, reminiscent of all the dishes Andre had prepared. But there was no time to think, to feel sorry for himself, or to remember. So, with a feeling of intense hunger, he quickly began to eat.