CHAPTER 7

The smell of old books and fresh brewed coffee tingles people's nose as they open the door to the Town Library where the most beautiful woman works.

"Miss Lav, have you heard about those travellers at the inn? " Her workmate slash assistant—Jackie asked her as they were both organizing the books. "Well, I heard about them from Eve. What of it? " Uninterested, Lavender continued with skimming through the bookshelves and inserting book to the spaces. "I heard they're both handsome. Do you think you'd like them? Oh here, another greek mythology book! "

"What do you mean by that Jack? " She paused to read through the book that Jackie handed her, greek mythology always fascinates her. "You know, you've been single the whole time you're here. Would you read that Miss Lav? " She shrugs and take back the book with her to her desk. "I have someone I like already. Everything else is uninteresting to me. " She then stares at the book cover, it says, 'APOLLO'

Her thoughts broke when the bell rangs and a little boy came in. "Hi, Good Day! " They both greeted him as he roams his eyes around the library and through the books piled up in front. "I didn't know a small library would have interesting books. " Lavender and Jackie stares at each other dumbfounded from what they heard. A mere child probably 8 or 9 years old talking so maturely.

"Well, this is a traveller's library. So, it isn't a surprise to see interesting books here. People come and go leaving behind something to remember their visit. Everything we have here are donations from the travellers all around the world. " Lavender decided to bend down to look at the child closely when it hits her.

The familiarity of his eyes when he looks at her made her heart skipped a beat. "Lady, it's quiet rude to stare. " She blinks and look away for awhile chuckling. "I'm sorry, it's just that ahm.. are you one of the travellers that came earlier? " The child nods "Why do you know? are you stalking me? Or my Dad? "

Jackie chuckles at the background. "No. No, it's just that you're a new face in town. This is a small town and everyone knows each other, it's been quiet awhile since we had visitors. What city did you come from? We might have books from there. " Lavender kept her smile, the amusement in her eyes are visible and she can't help but feel happy because she felt like she's talking to Rafael once again through this child.

"San Francisco. "

Tyler sits in bed with Rafael in silence, trying to think how to find Lavender without scaring the people. "What if we just ask people? " He suggested but Rafael gave him a bored look. "People will think we're bad guys if we do that. This is a small town Parker, it's not San Francisco where you can boldly ask someone and everything will be okay. " Tyler heaves a sigh and nods. "So, what's your plan? Pretend we're here for a vacation while we roam around? "

Tyler chuckles with his ideas but Rafael stood there silently thinking about his plans. "Could be. It's safer that way. Abigail and Franklin went out to try and look for clues too. " Tyler with wide eyes looked at Rafael. "YOU TOLD THEM? " "Shut up Tyler! They're kids nobody will think bad about them—"

"NO! exactly they're kids! You can't just have them roam around an unfamiliar town! " Before Rafael could say something Tyler head out to look for them. "Parker, you always forget how smart those kids are. " Rafael smiled and starts to follow Tyler behind.

—

A few hours of being in the inn, Tyler went to get some food so Rafael is in charge with the kids."Okay, Do you both know why we're in this small town? " Abigail shook her head but Franklin thought about it. "I have this hunch that we're going to look for someone? " Rafael smiles softly and caress Franklin's head, feeling proud. "Your Dad and I decided to look for her but we don't know where to start. This may be a small town but there's still a lot of people living here. We're strangers so we can't just ask them about her. "

"Why wouldn't we just ask Uncle? " Abigail plays with her hand as she scoot over Franklin. "We can't because people may think we're bad people. I told you about it because you're are only hope. We both miss her and we wanted to see her once again. " The kids listened silently to their Uncle and both nodded.

"We will help Uncle. Later, Abby and I will go roam around and try to look for something. Dad hasn't been sleeping lately and I wanted to help him be happy once again. " Abigail looked down on her knees and softly said. "I also want to see daddy be happy. I see it in his eyes when he was telling us about her, I wanna see how beautiful she really is just like how daddy describes her. " Then she smiles at everyone.

—

Tyler uneasiness is growing every second he couldn't see the kids but was stopped with Rafael's hand on his shoulder. "We have a problem. " and handed him the phone.

Back to the Mansion, Kath was locked up in the office while Hazel went to look for them. "I...I need to tell Raf. " She said as soon as she saw Hazel's car zoom away. She texted her husband and knock on the door hoping a maid or a guard would hear her.

She regretted everything she had done, from giving Hazel Franklin up until now.

—

"Please help me, Kath! I helped you when your father died now it's your time to help me with Tyler! " Kath with a bulging stomach was welcome with those words by Hazel. "H-hazel! You shouldn't be here! You know how Rafael feels about us talking to each other. " She looked around and pulled Hazel into a room. "What are you thinking? You coming here is such a stupid move! I don't know how to help you Hazel! "

"YOU HAVE TO HELP ME! I have to get Tyler away from that bitch! She's taking him away from me! " Hazel starts to kneel in front of her cousin and cried her eyes out. "Hazel please stop, I can't help you. I'm just Rafael's wife. " Silence reigns between them but what scared Kath is when Hazel starts to chuckles she is standing up and locking the door behind them.

"Just because you're Rafael's wife you can't do anything? You can't even help the cousin you owe your life with? Ohh, Kath. " Kath starts to back away and felt a sudden pain in her stomach. "Kath, Kath, Kath. Oh.. oh.. I see pain in your eyes. Wait, are you on a labor? " She laughs so loud it sounds horrible in Kath's ears and adding to her suffering.

"H-hazel.. it hurts.. h-hospital.. "

"What? I couldn't hear you. Did you just say you'd promise to help me? Let's see. Give me your child and I'll help once again. "

Pain registered in Kath's eyes as the contraction occurs and her situation that she had no choice.

"..okay.. I'll do..what you want. " Hazel smiled widely and called the hospital.

—

"Please be safe, all of you.. " Before Kath collapsed she said those words.

—•—

Unedited

nozomu_L