Lifting her gaze, Estelle focused on the wall clock. Only then did she become aware that she had slept for approximately seventeen hours, nearly noon on the second day.
“I’m alright. I just have a cold. Maybe it’s because I have been staying abroad for a long time that I can’t adapt to the climate of Hadale now.”
Rebecca nodded. Then she came straight to the point, “Estelle, how about you let Christina live with me? It’s for my sake that you agreed to take care of her. Now I don’t want you to worry about her anymore.”
“It wasn’t because of you that I agreed to care for her,” Estelle asserted. “Rebecca, Christina is my daughter.”
She emphasized the last statement.
Observing Estelle’s stance, Rebecca couldn’t help but feel sympathy. She said, “Estelle, it’s been three years. Do you intend to remain trapped in your painful memories forever? Your relationship with Mr. Mysterious lasted merely a few months. I understand your deep affection for him, but it’s time to move forward. If Christina lives with you, each time you see her, it will always remind you of the sorrowful history you shared with Mr. Mysterious. I don’t want to witness you leading an unhappy life.”
Estelle responded, “Rebecca, if you truly wish for my happiness, kindly refrain from uttering such words again.”
Realizing she couldn’t persuade Estelle, Rebecca sighed, appearing disappointed, and ended the topic.
Then she took out a ticket for the concert from her handbag and handed it to Estelle.
“Howard will begin his concert tour at the end of this month. The first stop is Hadale. He will celebrate the new year with his fans. Do you want…”
“Yes. Give it to me,” Estelle quickly agreed.
“Howard is very popular now, and the tickets for his concert are hard to obtain. It took me a lot of effort, and I only bought one ticket from a ticket scalper at a high price.”
Estelle took the ticket from Rebecca’s hand and said, “Okay. I’ll go to the concert.”
“I’ve asked the ticket scalper to keep me in the loop. If there is an extra ticket, I’ll buy one and go with you.”
Estelle smiled and responded with a hint of helplessness, “Will Justin grant you permission to attend the concert?”
Rebecca found herself at a loss for words.
“Don’t worry about me. It’s fine with me to go to the concert alone,” Estelle assured. “Following the concert, I have a prior engagement to attend.”
Rebecca exhibited mild astonishment upon hearing this. She inquired, “You have an appointment? With whom?”
“Mr. Mysterious.”
“What?”
“His birthday is on December 31st. I want to spend the night with him.”
****
Estelle had a bad cold and didn’t get better until she rested in the hotel for a few days.
She took the two children to the cemetery on her father’s death anniversary.
As for Aurora, she hesitated for a long time and finally decided not to go with them.
George had been dead for over nine years, but she was still unwilling to face the reality.
“Grandpa, I’ve brought you some yummy candies!” Yvonne, who was still young and oblivious to the significance of the cemetery, cheerfully announced. She emptied her pockets, placing the candies before George’s gravestone.
“I wasn’t sure which flavor you’d like, so I got a variety for you. They’re right here. Oh, and remember not to eat too many. Mom says too many candies will make your teeth ache!”
Yohan, older and more aware, understood the purpose of their visit. He positioned his cherished Iron Man model in front of the gravestone and shared, “Grandpa, though I never had the chance to meet you, I’ve heard you were a very kind person. Don’t fret. I’ll take good care of Mom. And I’ve got Iron Man here to watch over you.”
With her wide eyes blinking, Yvonne inquired, “Mom, why doesn’t Grandpa talk to us?”
Estelle gently held Yvonne’s hand and softly explained, “Grandpa isn’t here on Earth anymore. He’s gone to… another planet, but he can hear everything you say.”
Yvonne nodded in understanding and inquired further, “Will he like the candies I left for him?”
“Absolutely. Grandpa will appreciate anything you give him.”
“Will he also like the Iron Man that Yohan brought?”
“Yes, he will.”
Yvonne extended her plump hand and gently touched the photograph of George on the gravestone.
“Grandpa, remember to have the candies, or they might not be as tasty if you wait too long,” she addressed him with tenderness.
The photograph captured George at the age of fifty, his hair neatly groomed and a gentle smile showing his face.
“Mom,” Yohan called out to Estelle.
Estelle shifted her gaze toward him and inquired, “Yes?”
“Grandpa is on a different planet. Does that mean he can really hear what we say to him?”
“… Yes.”
“Then… What about Dad?”
Estelle’s heart skipped a beat.
“Mom, Dad went to another planet to fight the bad guys a long time ago. Every morning, when I wake up, I tell him that I miss him a lot and wish for him to return soon. Can he hear what I say to him?”
Estelle found herself at a loss for words.
At that moment, Yvonne, holding hands with both Estelle and Yohan, came up with a plan. She tugged at Yohan’s sleeve and suggested, “Yohan, let’s shout what we want to tell Dad so he can hear us.”
Yohan agreed with a nod. “Sure.”
Yvonne continued, “I’ll count to three, and then we’ll shout together!”
“Sounds good.”
“One, two, three! Dad, I miss you so much!”
“Dad, I miss you so much!”
They almost used all their strength and shouted toward the sky.
Yohan’s neck bore prominent blue veins, while Yvonne’s face turned red as she shouted herself hoarse. Their voices reverberated through the cemetery.
“Mom, was that loud enough?” Yohan inquired, tilting his head. “What if Dad is busy battling the bad guys and doesn’t hear us?”
Yvonne pouted and voiced, “We can shout the words once every day. Sooner or later, he’ll hear us. Dad loves us so much that he’ll return to us when he hears us.”
Gazing at the overcast sky, Yohan questioned, “Mom, will Dad return?”
Estelle hesitated momentarily, “He…”
“Mom, I’m scared,” Yohan confessed, his voice quivering. “Will Dad stay on that planet forever, like Grandpa?”
“He won’t!” Yvonne said firmly.
Then Yvonne asked Estelle, “Mom, Dad will come back, right?”
Estelle didn’t know how to answer the question.
Before she could say anything, Yohan said, “Yvonne, how about you sing a song for Dad? Maybe he’ll come back when he hears it.”
Without hesitation, Yvonne immediately began to sing in a sweet voice.
“How long will I love you?”
“As long as stars are above you.”
“And longer if I can.”
“How long will I need you?”
“As long as the seasons need to.”
“Follow their plan.”
“How long will I be with you?”
“As long as the sea is bound to.”
“Wish upon the star.”