5 Lighthouse

The silence in the house was strangely different from other days even though the television was still turned on without an audience. Little Charlie was left alone again and now he created a new art style on the wall that Caleb painted fully white the month before. Perhaps, Charlie saw it was too plain so he filled new patterns on it. The picture looked like a giraffe with snake legs. And on the dining table had six quarts of Poppy Gelato’s Ice cream left melting. Caleb checked them and saw that the sherbet quart was empty while the other four quarts of chocolate mint and a quart of chocolate with macadamia were full but gradually melting. In the kitchen

It was an animal that might be a giraffe with four legs that looked like snakes. On the dining table, six quarts of Poppy Gelato’s Ice-cream were left melting. No, he looked closer; the sherbet flavor quart was empty. Four quarts of chocolate mint gradually melted, also the quart of chocolate with caramel and Macadamia. In the kitchen, the cooking pot on the stove was almost burnt. Charlie ran to them while Bianna closed the door. There were traces of sherbet ice cream on his rosy cheeks and lips.

“Why do they leave Charlie alone again?” He spoke to himself. Charlie, unaware of anything, ran around his father’s legs jovially.

“They’re melting, love.” Bianna collected the ice creams in the fridge and turned off the heat on the stove in her signature air--calm manner. They still smelled a burnt pot.

Charlie still played with his father and talked, “Jesse and Alex took me to the mall. We ate Pizza at Mr. Binochino and they took me to the park. I met Olly and Kaysey. We were playing together.” His voice said that it was a really good day. “Alex brought us the ice cream. It will be the best day if she doesn’t look so sad.”

Charlie continued and pointed his index finger to his eyes. “Alex’s eyes got red and she barely talked.”

Caleb and Bianna looked at each other. They could perceive that something smelled fishy.

“Where's your brother and sisters, Monkey?”

The little one smiled and pointed to his sisters’ room. “After we arrived home, Alex keeps herself in her room. I heard Jesse and Bryce say it was strange she turned quiet. Before this, Alex said there was dust in her eyes. I think it’s still in her eyes. That’s why Jesse and Bryce have to help her.”

“Honey” Bianna touched his shoulder. “I’ll go see her. There must be something wrong. You take care of Little Monkey.” She said.

Caleb nodded even though he died to know what had happened to Alexis but let her mother do her job first. However, before his wife reached the door. It opened. Jesse and Bryce walked out.

“What happened?” asked Bianna.

“They break up. I mean our Alex and the dickhead Davy...sorry mom. Well, she found him fu…I mean with June,” the big brother gave them a very short summary. Jesse also added, “Alex needs sometimes…alone. Mom, don’t look at me like that! She asked for it. Not me!”

“What did Davy do to Alex?” Little Charlie asked. “I don’t understand what Jesse said.”

Caleb eyed Jesse. The oldest son sighed and took the little one away. “It’s something you don’t have to understand yet, shorty monkey.”

“But I want to knoooow” Charlie’s voice echoed from the stairs before it disappeared.

Caleb turned to Bryce and she gave them a shrug then walked to the kitchen.

“This is not how I raise you!”

They could not allow themselves to leave Alexis alone. At this time, the girl needed encouragement and good recharging more than ever.

Bianna did not wait for long so she entered the daughter’s room. Caleb followed in haste. He wondered why these kids hurt his child, especially June. He saw this girl when she was little. Not very talkative but June got along with Alexis well. They looked resemble, like adorable twins. Hanging out together, talking to each other, and being good together for many years, June became one of their family members for a long time, he saw them like the gracious rose and the lovely white jasmine. She would be a bigger star like her mother someday if the girl followed her mother’s path.

So, why?

And the damn Davy, Caleb recognized him as a shy and well-mannered boy. As a man, Caleb could see his feeling for Alexis was sincere. How could he be so blind? He was the adult and the father. He should have the ability to protect from him!

Caleb did not think he would see Alexis wailing dramatically and he was right. The girl sat alone in the corner behind her bed. As they approached, the girl was looking at the photos of herself and June from childhood to these days. Alexis sat in despair but was still amazingly tranquil.

His daughter did not cry or mourn for the loss of love and friendship but they could see her watery eyes. Bianna sat on her left and he sat in front. The last time they comforted the little one might be five years ago when they lost Blacky, the husky dog aged twelve.

“You look sad. Cry, my love. Release all your tears and tomorrow everything will be better. Don’t hold it,” Bianna told the girl.

“I’m alright. I cry enough, mom. Look at my eyes. You don’t have to worry about me. Just…a few days, I need just a few days for…and I will be the same girl you know,” she smiled but it was a very sad smile. Not her nature for being sad. Caleb loved her smile. It was so beautiful and bright as if she was the happiness bringer. But now the bringer was drowning in the sea of despair.

It seemed like everything went well for the girl, education, friends, lover, and career. But life is life. The storm takes a visit when everything goes on peacefully. Before people are aware of the danger, the heavy rain brutally flooded the home.

“My daughter is always strong. He’s not the right one and that’s okay to cry and talk to us, my dear.” His hair caressed the girl’s hair gently. He tried his best to comfort her. Even though they were entertainers, Alexis had some different traits from Jesse. His third child shared some characteristics of her father. Caleb usually concealed his emotion, to keep everything inside. Alexis was the same. So, he knew well that it was not good to keep the pain within herself.

Alexis listened to his words so she started talking. “I don’t understand. Why did they do this to me? I don’t understand June at all; I thought we were best friends. How could she hate me so much? She blamed me that I left her. Blame us that our family prefers Elodie. I’ve never left her. And Davy, he said he loved me…so much.”

Young lovers, a few could make it to the finish line.

Caleb felt like Davy and June also stabbed him in his back. Alexis’s pain was also his. Davy was a good kid as he knew earlier. It was normal for humans to face the change. There were two things: first, time changes people through experience; and second, they just reveal their true color. Bianna looked at him, demanding him to speak something because the girl was quietly crying. His wife was too sensitive when it was about her children. To see her child in this state and situation, the mother could not even break out a word but shared the girl’s pain.

“Because my girl is good, you deserve a better friend and better guy. I cannot answer why they did it to you, to hurt my daughter. But all I know is you will move on. Some love may die but my love for you; the love of our family will never die. I don’t want you to cry all the time or lament their betrayal but just cry for this moment. This cry will remove all your sadness, I promise. I want you to understand this isn’t the end of your life. One day happiness consumes you from head to toes. And later, some people, anything, even a fly will make you cry. Think that it’s your luck to know them earlier. You’ve found many true friends like Elodie and the others. And we love you so much. We care for you so much and will support you always.”

After the end of her father’s speech, Alexis raised her head and they saw the tears dropping.

“Dad,” the girl leaned her head on his chest and cried eventually. He and Bianna sighed in relief.

“My child, my sweet child,” Bianna softly kissed the girl’s cheeks.

“My face is ruined. My mascara…”

Caleb and Bianna smiled at each other. Alexis still had the mind for a joke. “Nothing hurts your face, my dear. Your mascara is waterproof.”

The girl laughed with tears. Caleb hoped his love would send it to her and all the agony would vanish.

“Do you think I’ve done anything wrong that makes her feel like I prefer Elodie?”

Caleb fanned his head from side to side. “It’s not your fault. To be honest, Alex, recently, you stay with Elodie more often than with June. She might feel bad about it but I don’t say the way she did to you is right. You two are friends. You should talk.”

“That’s what I thought. I love them so much and they’re so mean to me.”

They talked, discussed, and gave comfort until she fell asleep. Rarely people will find that their first love will become true love. Well, at least his daughter was lucky to know how Davy was before they continued the relationship to the serious level and with the wrong person, or got married, or had children. It was the first time they saw how fragile she was. She tried not to be dramatic but witnessing that scene built the bad trauma for sure. So, when they looked at her sleeping face, they knew she still dreamed of them. Caleb and Bianna kissed the girl’s head, left the room, and let the night heal this broken heart.

Jesse, Bryce, and Charlie were waiting for them at the table with the easy dinner meal Bryce had made, sandwiches. The burning smell still diffused around the room but no one mentioned it or claimed to take the responsibility for nearly causing the house on fire.

“How is she?” asked Jesse eagerly.

“Sleeping,” Bianna replied.

“But she doesn’t eat anything.”

“You want me to wake her up?”

The young man frowned. “I didn’t mean that!”

“Let her rest, dear.”

“Is she okay?” Little Charlie asked. He might not really understand why his sister was so sad because of the damn dust and what Davy had done but he wanted to join the conservation.

Caleb nodded. She will.

It was eight and a half. The dinner passed slowly and they had to listen to Jesse complain and curse Davy and June during the meal (Bianna would reproach him when he spread any rude words). If the boy was here, his son might kill him certainly. Jesse was hot-tempered. Caleb remembered how his friends were entirely surprised when Jesse decided to go to the law school. They had thought he would join the sports club or enroll in a computer program course. He had a good grade but was not a good person who could focus on books for hours as Bryce did. What amazed Caleb and Bianna was he graduated with honors. At least, his parents admired his hard-working.

To everyone’s surprise, Davy did come.

The bell rang while the clock ticked to eleven. Caleb saw Davy standing in front of the door. He caught Jesse’s collar and pushed him out of the way in time before his son committed any harm to his sister’s ex. “I’ll talk to him. Jesse, you're studying law, are you? Calm down. Go back to your room right now!” He took the role of the dictator-like dad.

Headstrong, Jesse scowled and stomped away with his firm legs. Caleb opened the door, facing the boy’s guilty face. Davy seemed to consider his ex’s father more than any other time. With an athletic body, broad shoulders, thick eyebrows, dirty blonde hair, and handsome like hell, it was not surprising that he could win girls’ hearts. Alexis was totally crazy about him as he observed the way she spoke about Davy. The boy had been so nice but Boy is Boy and Male is Male. Davy grew up stronger and more attractive than the last year when he and Alexis, holding hands, told them they were in a romantic relationship. And June, she was far from ugliness. The older understood that some men can change their hearts within one sight they shot their eyes at the other woman but some men are exceptional. He had thought Davy was one of the exceptions or would be. Caleb blamed himself again.

“How is Alex?” the boy asked cowardly.

“Fine,” Caleb coldly replied.

Obviously, the boy could catch the distant tone. Davy’s voice sounded whispering. Perhaps, the boy feared him.

“I’m sorry. I—I—I know it’s late but…can I t—talk to her?” he stammered.

“No, you can’t. She’s sleeping. Go home, Davy. I don’t think it’s the proper time.”

Davy tried to focus on his speaking. And this time, the awkwardness was fixed. “I’m sorry, I really mean it. Can you forgive me? Can she forgive me? I love her, truly…Dr. Davis. Please forgive me. Please tell her, I’m really sorry. I’m sorry I disappoint you but…I need your chance…her chance.”

The boy did not move but waited for his answer or forgiveness. Caleb began to have sympathy for the boy. Davy did feel apologetic and cared for his daughter. It was his braveness to come to Alexis’s home—well as he could see. And Bianna would say that everyone could make a mistake. People deserved a second chance, forgiveness.

But he cheated on my daughter. He makes her cry. His anger rose again and the heart to forgive him melted down.

“It’s my daughter who will answer that. Go back to your home Davy. Your parents will worry about you.” He spoke to the boy in a softer tone and did not know that Davy’s parents were not home today. Davy obeyed and walked back to his bicycle with his chin dropping down to his chest. He was sad and regretful, apparently.

Caleb sighed. This day was not as bright as it ought to be. It was Alexis’s unfortunate love life but the next day, the storms would weaken and she would be stronger than the other days.