CHAPTER 4

"It's Mom! It's Mom!" Mavis happily uttered as he heard a car parked.

Deanna didn't say anything. How could she if Mavis is just five years old? He's too young to understand what death is. Whenever Mavis asked for Theresa, Deanna would just say that she is now in heaven watching over him. The young boy doesn't have the full grasped of what was happening but he always cry afterwards. Part of him just gets emotional that tears start to fall from his eyes.

When they reached the porch, Mavis saw that it was Landon stepping out of the car as he just arrived from downtown.

"Dad! Dad!" Mavis shouted as he ran towards Landon. "I want to ride an airplane. Please!" he begged.

Landon was familiar with what Mavis was asking. He was referring to one of the rides at Family Kingdom Amusement Park. It's one of the many friendly amusement parks by the sea in Myrtle. It offers tons of thrilling rides and games that many would surely enjoy just like the steel roller coaster which they call Twist n' Shout and the Swamp Fox wooden roller coaster, landmark ride of Family Kingdom since it opened. There are also many fun rides for the pleasure of Mavis and other kids just like Bumble bee, Berry-go-round, and Mavis' beloved Flight School, where he can fulfill his imagination of being a pilot of an airplane.

Landon glanced at Deanna and back at Mavis while holding bags of groceries, "Sure! We'll go tomorrow. Okay?"

"Now! Let's go now!"

"But…"

"Aw, c'mon, Dad!"

"He saw one of the commercials of Family Kingdom." Deanna smiled at Landon. "Go and have fun for a change," she added.

"Okay! Okay! Let me just put these bags," Landon gave in and walked toward the front door.

It's been months since Landon and Mavis went out together. They haven't had the luxury of enjoying their day since the time Theresa was admitted to the hospital until her passing away. Landon and Mavis had no energy to go out and see the picturesque beauty of Myrtle Beach and do fun things that father and son usually do like going to one of the many amusement parks or water parks scattered in Myrtle.

"You're coming along too right?" Landon asked, as he got closer to Deanna.

She gave a little beam and gently tapped Landon on his shoulder. "I'm too old for those things."

Landon didn't push it as he noticed the tiredness in Deanna's eyes as it was noticeable in her every line despite trying to make it invisible to the whole world especially to Mavis and Landon. He understood what Deanna needed. Her exhaustion and her not so young age were taking the energy out of her. Lately, she has been restlessly taking care of Mavis as he was being tortured at night with bad dreams and long wakeful sessions as he was missing Theresa. She needed rest rather than walking and being among the crowd at Family Kingdom.

After some minutes, Landon and Mavis drove not to Family Kingdom but to Ocean woods Memorial Cemetery where Theresa laid to rest. It's one of the oldest cemeteries in Myrtle. It's actually owned and being operated by the city of Myrtle Beach. Given her humility, Theresa was the one who chose to be buried at Ocean woods. She wanted the place of her eternal slumber would be plain. Moreover, Ocean woods was near to Theresa's heart. Not only where her ancestors rest but she was among the pioneers that Ocean woods dedicate a place for a pet cemetery for locals who treasure their pets.

Since Theresa's passing, Landon has been visiting Theresa's tomb regularly. Before Mavis asked them to go to Family Kingdom, Landon has already planned to visit her. As always, he stopped by House of Flowers to buy some stargazers, which Theresa greatly loved.

Stargazer wasn't really the flower, which Theresa was fond of at first. It was actually roses but since she was receiving a lot of roses, red roses from different suitors, she grew tired of them. Then Landon gave her a bouquet of stargazers for a change. It wasn't inadvertent that he had given her stargazers. Rather, it was a heeded advice coming from his good friend, Enrico. Aside from the fact that many of Enrico's clients of Ecuadorian red roses were suitors of Theresa, there was a deeper meaning why Enrico suggested stargazers.

"In courtship, red rose has been the common flower to give for it symbolizes love. However, many do not know that there are other flowers that have the same intention and greater impact in the eyes of the ladies. Among them is stargazer. It represents purity and heaven on earth. It is considered as a potent flower due to its intense color and attractive blossom shape," Enrico explained.

From then on, Landon has been giving her stargazers ever since he saw Theresa's unprecedented smile when he gave her a bouquet of stargazers for the first time. It has been one of the many flowers they have used in many of their occasions in life, among them was their wedding where the church and the reception hall where filled and fragranced mostly with stargazers. Landon even secured a small table stand for vase of stargazers when Theresa was still tending her illness at the hospital.

"I've brought Mavis this time," Landon said, while both Mavis and him where standing in front of Theresa's tomb. "Say your greetings to your mom, Mavis," he added while he placed his hand on Mavis' shoulder.

It was first time for Mavis seeing the tomb of his mother after the funeral. Whenever Mavis was asked to accompany his father, he would rather stay and watch cartoons. It was understandable. Mavis was just five years old then. He was not yet aware of the importance of things.

"Hey Mom!" Mavis forced a smile. "I've been a good boy just like what you asked me to," he added.

Mavis turned his attention to his Landon, "Dad, do you think mom is listening to us now?"

Landon sat on the ground and touched Theresa's tomb. "Your mom is always listening to you. In fact, she's always with you. Watching you grow into a good boy and guiding you," he explained.

"So, she is my guardian angel?"

"No. She is more than your guardian angel. She is your mother. She's someone watching over you, praying for you, and would surely ask the heaven to bless you."

"She's really a great mom!"

"She is and being her son…"

"I know. I have to be a good boy," Mavis interrupted.

Landon just smiled knowing that Mavis didn't forget what Theresa reminded him to be.

"Hey, Dad. Do you miss Mom?"

Landon brushed Mavis' head. "Of course."

"When you were dating Mom, do you know about her illness?"

"Why the sudden interest?" Landon smiled. He knew that Mavis wasn't an ordinary kid. His way of thinking is exceptional as guests of the hotel noticed before.

"Just answer it, Dad."

"I knew all about it."

"You knew?" He paused in confusion. "You knew and still stayed with her? Didn't you think how much sadder you would be after losing her? Look at you now!"

Landon gave a small beam. "The weight of love isn't about how much sad you would be after losing them or how scary the world would be without them. But how happy they would be having you even for a short moment." He gently placed his hands on both his shoulders. "I wasn't ready to face this moment of living a life without her but I knew that someday, I would be without her. Your mother and I have you to look forward in the future," Landon explained.

Landon could see the confusion on Mavis' faced. He knew that he couldn't yet grasp what he just said. "Someday, you would understand," he remarked.

"When that day be?" Mavis innocently asked.

"Love chooses no time or place for it to be felt. Someday may be today or tomorrow. Either or, when that time comes, you would just feel it without question on whatever situation you are in."

After few minutes later, Landon and Mavis were back on the road on their way to Family kingdom.