Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Letter
Ariel's POV:
I was getting ready to go see Simon. Aunt Karen tried to change my mind a couple of times but I know she meant well. If I were her I would have done the same thing. I'm just thankful that I have a caring aunt that loves me so much.
"Ready?" My aunt asks as walk into the guest room.
"Ready as I'll ever be ." I reply to her as I look at myself in the mirror one more time before leaving.
...
We were almost to the coffee shop and I can feel my heart beating really fast. My palms starts to get all sweaty. I felt so nervous. I don't even know what I'm going to say to him.
"We're here." My aunt says to me.
Breaking away from my thoughts I look outside the window. Right in front of us is the coffee shop.
"You know we can do this another time if you're not comfortable or ready." She says to me. Knowing that she saw my nervous expression.
"No. I want to do this." Looking straight at the coffee shop.
"Okay. Then let's go in." Aunt Karen gets out of the car. I follow right behind her. Here goes nothing.
When we made it inside the coffee shop we both Simon sitting in a booth. He was looking at his watch waiting for us. He looks up and looks straight at me. He gives me a huge smile. I didn't know what to do at this point. My whole body freezes.
"I'm always with you every step of the way sweetie." My aunt whisperers in my ear.
She gives me a little push and I start walking towards Simon with my aunt right behind me. Simon gets up from his seat and gives me a hug. There was part of me that wanted to hug him back but there's this other part of me that is still mad at him. Guessing Simon knew it was still awkward between us, he lets go of me.
"Please sit. " Simon gestures to us.
Aunt Karen gets into the booth first and I follow after her. Simon sits across from us.
"I'm happy that you wanted to see me and talk to me Ariel." Simon tells me with a huge grin on his face.
All I did was give him a small smile.
"Do you guys want anything?" Aunt Karen asks us.
"I want one large hot chocolate and a chocolate croissant please." Giving her a huge smile.
"You with your chocolate." Aunt Karen chuckles.
"How about you Simon?" She asks him.
"Just one black coffee please." My aunt nods, gets up and rushes to get in line to order.
"I got this for you." Simon hands me a small stuffed bear.
"Thanks." I grab the bear from him.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Simon asks me.
"Why did you leave me and mom? Why did you come back all of a sudden? After all these years." I question him. I try to get answers that's been bothering me since last night.
"I want you to know that I really do care about you and your mother so much. The both of you were and still are my world, my everything. I will tell you everything soon. I just don't think right now is a right time." He explains to me.
"If my mom and I were your everything, you would have done anything and everything to stay. It just shows that you're a coward. That you didn't want any responsibilities with me. Any guy can just say that they care but they really don't. You don't know how I felt not knowing who my father was. Kids at school made fun of me...every time for award ceremonies other kids has their whole complete family there, and also every year there was a father and daughter dance at school... of course I had to miss it. You don't know how much I cried." Looking down at my hands trying not to let tears stream down my face.
"I am really sorry that I caused so much pain to you and your mother. I swear to you that I will make it up to you. I missed so much of your life and I don't want to miss anymore." He says with tears running down his face.
To be honest I want to believe him and I almost did. What surprised me is that he is actually crying. Maybe there was a reason on why he left. But still that was no excuse. Aunt Karen came back with our order and I downed my hot chocolate.
"Actually I need to talk to the both of you." Simon says to the both of us.
"I'm just going to say it. Laura has written to me a few months ago about her conditions. The reason why I'm here is because I thought there was a chance that I could help her out. But by the time I came I was too late." Simon says with pain behind his voice.
"I don't believe that my sister wrote to you. How did she know where you lived? She moved on." Aunt Karen says with disbelief.
"I knew you were going to say something like that. That's why I brought the letter with me for proof. The reason why she knew my address was because I wrote to her so many times in the past. But she just returns the letters back to me unopened."Simon explains. Bringing out the letter out of his pocket.
Aunt Karen quickly grabs it out of his hand and starts to read it.
"As you can see in the letter, Laura also wrote that Ariel will be coming home with me back to England."
Just as Simon finished his sentence, I spat out my drink.
"Over my dead body. You will not take my niece away from me." Aunt Karen yells at Simon furiously.
"I do have the right. Laura gave me permission to do so. I have already started working on her paper for her to move to England. I've been actually working on it for awhile and she already got approved." Simon argues back.
While Simon and Aunt Karen were arguing back and forth, I grabbed the letter out of my aunt's hand.
My Dearest Simon,
Everyday I feel myself getting weaker and weaker. I am done taking treatments . The cancer is eating me alive and they are running out of options to treat me. I want you to take Ariel when I die. If you do still have at least feelings for your daughter you would do it. At least you would spend time with her and get to know her. Try to talk to her into going with you. She is a sweet, funny and a remarkable young lady. Knowing Ariel I know she would be going places. You would grow to love her Simon. Her heart is pure as gold and sunshine. She always brightens up my day and I'm sure she will brighten up yours.
Thank you for giving me a wonderful time with you even though it was short . Thank you for all the wonderful memories you have given me . You were the most kindest and most caring guy I have loved. My love for you was and always will be unconditional. I never stopped loving you Simon. There has never been a day that goes by that I haven't thought about you. You were my only love Simon and I am still in love with you. I never understood why you left your daughter and me. I just always thought your not ready for a child; for this type of commitment. Just please remember my promise I told you.
Love and forever yours,
Laura Cowell <3
I read this letter over and over again. This is my mom's handwriting. Tears were rolling down my cheeks.
"I will go with him." Simon and Aunt Karen stopped with their arguing.
"No Ariel you're not going. You can live with me. I can give you a good life here."Aunt Karen says to me.
"Aunt Karen it's not that I don't want to live with you. I want to fulfill my mom's wish. My mom died yesterday and I never went against my mother on anything. To be honest this gives me the opportunity to get to know Simon." I explain to her. Giving Simon a small smile. He smiles back at me.
"Fine I will let you go ... as long as you visit me 5 times a year and you have to spend time with me for Christmas. Also I get to visit you over there and you have to Skype me 3 times a week "Aunt Karen makes a deal with me.
"Deal" I say agreeing to what she tells me.
"So when do I go with you?" I ask Simon.
"In a month. I have to do some business here and also that will give you enough time to pack." Simon explains to me.
"Okay." I simply say.
"Karen is everything set for Laura's funeral ?" Simon asks her.
"Actually yes. We are going to have her service in Forest Lawn Cemetery on Friday at 10:30 a.m and have a little prayer service there." Aunt Karen tells Simon the plan.
"Here. I would like to donate a small contribution." Simon hands my aunt a check from his coat pocket. My aunt grabs the check and her eyes turns huge.
"Small contribution? It's $5,000 Simon. I can't take this money." My aunt tries to give the check back.
"I'm not doing this for you Karen. This is for Laura. I'm doing this so she can have a proper burial. Don't take this the wrong way but I just want to help out too. She was once my wife and I still do love her. So please take the money." Simon pleads handing the check back to her. Aunt Karen grabs the check and gives him a small smile.
"Thank you" Aunt Karen says to Simon.
"Anything for Laura." Simon sadly says.
"Well I got to get goin. I have a meeting in a few hours. It was nice seeing you again Ariel. I will see you soon" Simon gives me a quick hug before leaving the cafe.
I sat back down in the booth with Aunt Karen. "Are you okay Ariel?"
"Yah I'm fine. Everything was just so intense ." I truthfully say to her.
"I know. What do you think of your dad?" My aunt asks me.
"He was surprisingly nice and sweet. But I don't fully trust him though. Not until he tells me why he left me and my mother. And trust me, I will get my answer."
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