BEHIND THEIR MIEN

EPILOGUE

I come downstairs to everyone seated in the theatre room. I was surprised when June said that everyone were still watching old cassettes and tapes. As long as I remembered, Nathan said everything related to the past was kept in the past because their memories made both Melissa and Oliver sad.

I opened the door quietly to see a very excited Bea looking at the screen as if starstruck. Mason was seated beside Nathan who held Baby Xavier. Melissa and Oliver were seated beside them, happily watching a very exciting Beatrice.

I sat beside Nathan raising my brows.

"Mom wanted to show her some old memories and she was starstruck by Bella. She just wouldn't watch any clip that doesn't have Bella in it. Our girl is a fan of her late aunt.... i just don't want her heart to break when she finds out Bella is no more" Nathan says equally happy and anxious. I nod. That could impact Bea badly. I look over to Melissa and Oliver and see them happily gazing at Bea and Bella's videos.

As soon as the video stopped Bea turned towards Oliver excitedly jumping and pointing to the screen and made Oliver laugh.

"Alright.. next videos. Who knew a day would come that my granddaughter would be obsessed with my daughter '' Oliver said as he looked at me and Beatrice turned to me, a bit more excited than I have ever seen.

"MOM! LOOK AT AUNT ALLY! SHE IS SO ADORABLE AND COOL!" Bea shrieked in excitement as she ran towards me and hugged me... freezing me in the moment. I was pretty sure my heart stopped beating because Beatrice spoke again and called me her mom.

I gently caressed her hair as I looked over to the rest of the family. Everyone was as still as me... as if even they still couldn't believe what they heard.

Melissa through her tears smiled and nodded at me as Nathan came to us.

" Bea...did you just call her mom again?" he said, his voice cracking as he appeared out of breath.

Bea took a step back from me and frowned and looked at me

"I can't?" she asked as if she made some kind of mistake... fear slowly filling them.

I immediately shook my head.

"Obviously not. Don't be silly. Your dad is just jealous you didn't call him yet " I say to her and subtly shake my head at Nathan who nods and a huge smile breaks on his face.

"Let's watch the next video of your Aunt Bella!" Nathan says and asks Oliver to play the next cassette.

Beatrice frowns and mumbles," Ally is better" and goes back to admire a clip which looks like a 4th of July celebration of when they were maybe seven.

It was a clip of Bella aiming a water color balloon at Nathan, Mason and hiding away, escaping almost everyone's aims. Bea jumps in excitement as she giggles. She was making everyone's day today by not only being happy but also speaking and laughing

"Mom looked at how Aunt Ally escaped the balloon! She is so cool! Is she cool to you too!?'' she asks in all excitement and turns back once I nod... as suddenly my stomach drops.

"I wonder where she heard her middle name? She keeps calling Bella by her middle name, '' Melissa says and watches the videos as I freeze cold. I slowly stand up as I deeply frown and stare at the screen. I was pretty sure I was pale and Nathan was saying something to me but everything blurred out as I stared at the videos..... at Bella.

Her laugh, her smile... her eyes and her damn hair color. It was like someone had drowned me alive in cold water and slapped me several times to punish me for being such a stupid person ever.