𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝘿𝙪𝙤 ; 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙨 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙗𝙮 [ BOOK 2 ]

TWENTY SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX; ICE STORM

Like the wind that swept through the town, Caroline stormed. With her children holding each of her hands, she guided them in the direction of a place she hadn't imagined visiting again. She didn't reconsider tracing to the murky streets of Watery Lane after having a fresh start in the secrecy of the hills, but life was full of surprises, so perhaps the change in events led her up to a moment of recognition.

She remembered fondly the day she first met him all those many years ago, during better times and even greater cash, and though the company was a major downfall, John Shelby's tooth-picked smile surely made up for the emptiness she felt within.

He was handsome from the depth of his eyes to the gentle expressions of his voice. He was handsome from his generous opinions to the touch of his hand upon her own. She loved the way his voice quickened when he sparkled with a new idea, or was so enjoying one of hers that he lost himself for a moment and quite forgot the mask he wore for others. So she gave him  piece of her heart and kept his safe, that's the way it was, even until the day he took apart of her with him to wherever his soul wandered. Meanwhile, Caroline was the empty shell of a woman who still desperately grieved for her former flame.

In a way, she pondered as to what would be like if she hadn't been introduced to Thomas, because from the get go, she was quite keen on John. He was easy on the eye, that much she knew, but his personality was something she adorned all the more. 

Caroline was happy he found a woman to love, to whom he eventually shared more children with, but in the end, what was the point? For Esme fled, taking the remainders she ever felt familiar of John; his own children. She could only hope and pray they were being taken great care of.

"Mummy." Charles tugged on his mother's hand. "Was uncle John a good man?"

She suppressed a tear with a sharp sigh. "No, sweetheart. He was not, but he was a family man and he loved us endlessly."

Rose interjected from Caroline's other side. "Uncle Arthur told me he is always watching us."

"How can he, Rose?" Charles snapped. "He's dead!"

The child retorted with equal angst. "He's in heaven!"

"He's underneath that grave!"

Caroline turned to both her children, disgusted. "Do not cause a commotion at your uncle's grave. Pay your respects, because by God, he needed them."

***

"You need to stop taking those."

"It's the only way I can see you." Caroline leaned her head against the bathroom sink. "I just can't stop."

Oscar watched with dismay as his sister began to tremble in misery. "It's not your fault, Caroline. You must stop blaming yourself."

"How is this not my fault, brother?" She gasped, covering her face with her hands as the drugs took their toll. "You were about to leave, but no. You were convinced to do one last task before moving on with your life and look what happened!"

"There was no way you knew this was going to happen."

"It still doesn't change the fact that you're gone and I'm still here."

Oscar sighed as he crouched beside his older sister. "I am at peace knowing that my daughter is being taken care of by you. The only reason I am still here is because you haven't moved on. It's been years, Caroline. Just let me go."