Fragments of Memories 2: Beautiful Stranger

Chapter 47: EPILOGUE

One and a half year later

Tan just finished bathing, although he was in his sleeping clothes, his towel was still on his head to dry

his hair after he emerged from the bathroom. He looked at the clock. Eight in the evening. He went

home on time as usual. He arrived to Elaine playing with Sean and Thera’s twins a while back. They

ate dinner together with the couple.

After eating, Jassy Mikaela started throwing tantrums but turned quiet when Elaine carried and

entertained her. They decided to bring her to their room while Lucah Gabrielle was brought to the guest

room by Thera and Sean to be put to sleep. It was the second time Sean’s family visited them and stay

overnight.

Sean has an important meeting and didn’t want to leave his family at the villa.Until now, the two is

making up for the time they were apart. Tan was genuinely happy for them. They deserve to be happy

after all they’ve been through.

He went near the bed, sweetly gazed at Elaine. He knew she was ready to be a good mother. And he

will do everything to be a good model in the eyes of their future children. He raised his hand to push

away the strand of hair on his wife’s face.

Elaine slightly moaned and opened her eye after a while.

“You fell asleep—”

“Sshh…” Signaled to be quiet and he nodded. “Do you think we could put her back in Thera’s room

without waking her?” he whispered.

“She’s a heavy sleeper, I heard,” Elaine whispered back.

Afraid he might really wake the baby up. Tan gently and carefully scooped Jassy Mikaela up in his arms

while Elaine carefully got off the bed. Warmth rush through him when the baby slightly opened its eyes,

stared at him before going back to sleep. He looked to Elaine who smiled at him.She held on his arm

and they walked together towards Sean and Thera’s room.

Lucah Gabrielle was asleep when they arrived. Sean was putting a blanket on him in his customized

crib. After carefully laying Jassy on the bed, they said their goodnight. Thera with a smile, whispered

“Thanks” before they pulled the door close and leave them.

They went back to their room holding hands. Elaine yawned when she entered.

“You tire yourself…”

“I only played with them for a while—” Elaine gazed at Tan’s planner. “I remember,Tomorrow Is

mother’s birthday, can we visit her tomorrow before dropping by Sandra’s?”

“Let’s do that. We haven’t visited for a year.”

“Don’t you have anywhere you need to be? We might be out the whole morning tomorrow.”

“I’ll make time.” He smiled and held her hand.

Last year, for the third time, she was married Tan again. More full of love, more organized- no more

hiding of real feelings, no more pretenses.

Weeks before the wedding, she brought Tan to her mother’s grave to formally introduce him.She has

long forgiven Bettina for her shortcomings to her.

Elaine realized there is no perfect child nor a perfect parent because of all she had been through in

over three years that passed. There is only a parent who can do anything to raise their children in the

way they know .

Bettina might have been wrong in her choice of path, but in the end, she has proven to her that no

mother can resist her own child. It’s a cliché but now more than ever, she believes it’s true.

The pain she felt during those down times, Bettina also carried double that weight. She hid her own

pain and grief so well she didn’t notice it before. When she started to appreciate her mother, it was too

late for her. But all is well that ends well. Her mother is resting in peace now wherever she might be.

Finally, everything is getting back as it was before. The Palace Mall and Hotel and Ainsdale continue to

flourish.Drew temporarily manages Ainsdale with Anne.DM Textile is stable again and Elaine is sure it

will continue to soar domestically and in internationally since almost the whole clan of Daniel De Marco

is helping out to manage iton.

Mr. Crisostomo has resigned as the hospital directo.He flew to another country with his wife and Janine

to get treatment there. While Marco asked to be assigned in a far province according to Gigi. She

hasn’t heard news from him since he left more than a year ago.

Mang Chito, finally softened his heart for her. She is welcome to stay in his house anytime- but the

bistro no longer operates. He already closed it. Macon and Drew are about to get married and just like

Thera and Sean, they have a child-Menchu.

Elaine’s sessions with her therapist have been over. She no longer gets attacks. The last time she

remembered experiencing it, Tan was still there for her. There’s just one reason why she is in the

hospital often-that’s to pay Sandra a visit.

Elaine has finally forgiven herself. She has learned to accept that she can’t change her wrong

decisions from before. She learned to trust more and be open with people who are important and loves

her-especially Tan who never tires of listening to her. Her husband never fails to make her feel loved

and important.

“Why are you looking at me that way? Is there something on my face?” she asked when she noticed he

kept staring at her. She touched her cheek but Tan held her hand.

“You’re beautiful.”

She hears that praise from her husband everyday. Elaine can’t help but smile.

“And I’ve missed you,” he added.

“Would you resign from being a doctor so we can just always be together?” she teased.

“If you want me to,” he sincerely said.

Elaine wrinkled her nose. “Nah. I know you are happy to be finally practicing your profession again.

Anyway, I can come and visit you in the hospital and get to eat lunch whenever we miss each other.”

Tan took a deep breath. He pushed away the stray hair on her face. “Thank you. I love you very much,

Elaine. Until the next life, I’d thank the Lord for giving you to me.”

She bit her lip. The sincerity of Tan’s voice suddenly made her feel teary. What good did she ever do to

deserve a man like him? He made her believe she was worthy. He chose to give her love and respect

even during those times she herself knew, that she was difficult to understand and so not lovable.

She was imperfect. She was flawed. She had scars beneath her expensive clothes but Tan chose to

see the beauty in her despite it all.

“I love you, too, Tan. You’d be the only one I’ll love now and in the next lifetimes.”

He took her in his arms. “I know,” he whispered.

“Tan, would you also want to have have a baby?” she suddenly asked.

He released her and looked at her. “I’d love to. But if the Lord would have us wait…” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“What if we worked hard on it starting now?”

His forehead creased. “work hard?On what?”

“making a baby!. ‘Then let’s go to mass tomorrow to make it more effective.”

Tan laughed. She gasped when he laid her on the bed. Excitement rushed through her when he put his

hands on each of her sides. His intense gaze hypnotic beyond reason.

“Do you think He’ll hear us?” he asked.

“He will never fail us,” she answered softly.

“No doubt,” he whispered. Her nose was filled with the gentle scent of Tan’s body wash and aftershave.

She felt hot. Before she realize it, her hands had already slid under Tan’s white shirt. Tan groaned

aloud.

“Tease…”

Elaine closed her eyes when Tan’s lips descended on hers. His arms were like the four walls of a home

she wanted to live in for a long time. She is contented with her life. Her only wish is for them to be

blessed with a child one day.

Seven years later

From the fast, noisy and countless footsteps, every stride ceased near the stop light. Almost all the

pedestrian, impatiently wanted to cross to the other side of the road. It was still a stop andElaine and

Tan was tightly holding their six year old child, Hailey, on each hand.

“It’s a red!” Hailey exclaimed. She removed her hand from her father and pointed to the traffic light.

“Yeah. It is. Give me your hand, Hailey,” Tan said sweetly with a smile.

The child looked up to him. Smiled and reached out to her father. “Here…”

Tan smiled at his daughter. They all crossed the road at the same time along with the other

pedestrians. They were almost in the middle when Tan bumped shoulders with someone. They stopped

walking. The guy stood straight.

“Sorry…” Tan said looking up.

Elaine was shocked. Tan was also dumbstruck.

The corner of this guy’s mouth lifted. He was holding a bouquet of flowers on one hand and his other

hand was tightly holding a boy’s hand- who was staring at their daughter.

End