||Hello Neighbour: A Better Timeline||

||Chapter 136: Painful Closure||

"It was great, Dad! We had pizza, played games and even watched some movies!"
Nicky was talking a lot about his time with Saul, Jimmy and Stella while himself and Luanne were away on their anniversary.
Jay smiled, patting his head,"I'm glad you had a lot of fun, Narf.", Jay smiled at Saul, Jimmy and Stella.
Luanne nods,"Good to see the house hasn't been burnt down.", "We kept him out of the kitchen.", Saul rolled his eyes,"Fair.", Stella nods,"I'm still surprised you managed to set a bowel of cereal on fire.", Saul groaned, no one was ever gonna let him live that down.

=

Keith picked up the phone,"Hello?", "Hey, remember how you wanted to have cases double checked? Gale confessed to something, this was during another panic moment of him freaking out that he was next on Crowface's kill list.", Keith sighed,"Wouldn't surprise me. . . But he's needed for information, keep him safe; What did he confess to?", "A murder of a young woman: Uh, Natalie was her name. Said he covered it up, lied about her scarf being caught in a machine.", Keith froze, standing,"Natalie?", "Yeah, Natalie. E.", Keith stood there a moment, before he nods to himself,"Okay. . . I'll call you back.", he put the phone down, sighing into his hands.
This was never easy. . .

=

Knock
Knock
Miguel stood,"I'll get that.", Jay nods, was someone else coming over?
"Keith?"
Keith was here?
"Miguel uh. . . Could I be let in, for a moment. . . I have some news. . ."
Keith looked nervous, sad and took his hat off, Miguel's stomach twisted.
"Of. . . Yes, come in. . . Uh, kids?"
They turned from the TV, pausing their game,"Uhm, could I and the adults speak to Keith in private?", Enzo immediately got a bad feeling, nods and stands,"Yeah, uh; Maritza: How about go outside and try those rollerskates.", Maritza lit up, Nicky glanced at his dad and mom who looked worried.
"Okay."

~

Keith cleared his throat,"Uhm. . . I understand you all knew Natalie?", Natalie?
Saul nods,"Yes. . . Jay, Luanne and Miguel, she also came for dinner at times back in when they were college, uh. . . Why?", Keith looked at his hat, looking at Miguel,"We've been reviewing old cases since some information has been found and. . . Gale has confessed to something.", Miguel felt his heart beginning to speed up.
"What. . . Did Gale confess to?"
Miguel's voice was low, Jay taking his shoulder in worry.
Keith lowered his head.
"To covering up Natalie's Murder."
. . .
The house rang in silence.
Murder.
Keith continued,"Gale. . . Confessed that Natalie was one the sight, they were. . . Digging for something and, a Cultist came up behind her and strangled her with her scarf. . . And staged it as an accident.", the room was still silent.
Miguel's body shook, his face in his hands the reality hit him; His wife was murdered for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Jay rubbed his back, Luanne processed the information herself and Saul, Jimmy; They stood in shock.
"I'm so sorry. . . I'll be sure you get the scarf back."

=

Miguel looked at his hands, he took his glasses off that were now clouded from his tears.
"I'm so sorry, Miguel. . ."
"What do I even tell them. . ."
Jimmy looked out the window, Enzo watching Nicky and Maritza on skates, Maritza couching Nicky.
. . .
"Maybe. . . You don't have to, not now at least. . ."
They looked at Jimmy,"Rich. . . A coworker of mine, uh. . . He told me once how he found out a family secret that really hit him hard, it was. . . Pretty bad, and he told me it was better he found out now, rather than finding out when he was younger; Cause if he had, he said he would have made a lot of mistakes.", Jimmy looked at Miguel,"Maybe now isn't the time. . . And they do deserve to know, but maybe process it yourself. . . They'll understand.", Miguel nods, Jay and Luanne pulling him into a hug.

=

Miguel got the scarf back, her favourite scarf; A light orange and silk.
. . .
"I'll figure it out. . . I have this far in life. . ."

Maritza and Enzo came in, finding their dad asleep on the sofa.
Enzo pulled a blanket over him and they went upstairs.
"Night Dad. . ."