Chapter 2

Everyone gathered for Heather’s seventh birthday party. Everybody has a smile plastered on their faces while they sing Heather a happy birthday song. But among all of them, Stanley had the most precious one. He seemed unable to believe how fast the days and years went by. His baby, Heather, was now seven years old, and she turned out to be a real pretty girl. He knew that even if she didn’t have the guidance of her birth mother upon growing up, they managed to raise her well—not just a girl with a beautiful face, but also a girl with a kind heart.

“Make a wish before blowing the candles, Heather,” Lisa said after they finished singing the song. Everyone was clapping as they waited for Heather to tell her birthday wishes.

“I wish for my dad and Abuela’s good health. I hope they stay with me forever. I also wish to see my mom,” Heather said as she blew the candles on her cake. Upon hearing what his daughter had said, Stanley couldn’t help but feel sad.

While the rest were enjoying the party, Stanley approached his mother. “Last night, I could not tell Heather that the girl in the picture wasn’t her mom. I tried to, but seeing how she sincerely talked to the picture made it hard to do. Mom, you know we got to tell her the truth.” He then said.

“We got to tell her the truth. Heather was a smart girl, I’m sure it will hurt, but I know she will understand.” Lisa said while looking at her granddaughter, who was a bit far away from where they were—enjoying her birthday party. “If only I knew that it would lead to this… I should’ve never let her have that picture in the first place. I’m sorry,” she continued.

“It was no one’s fault. Don’t blame yourself, mom. Your intention of giving her that picture wasn’t bad, after all. We just got to tell her everything,” Stanley stated.

“After the party, we will bring her to the park where we met that girl and got her picture from years ago. There, we will explain everything to Heather—I will explain everything that happened, then you will say that she isn’t her mom, she was just too young back then, and she will never understand.” Lisa suggested.

“Okay…” Stanley sighed.

“She will get over it,” Lisa gave her son assurance.

That was what they did. After the party, Stanley immediately drove to the town park with his mom and daughter. They were now very determined to tell Heather everything she needed to know about that girl in the picture.

“I really miss going back to that park, Abuela! And I know it will be more fun because we’re with daddy! This is my best birthday ever!” Heather said in excitement, making Lisa and Stanley fake a smile. They didn’t want to ruin her mood—at least until now.

Upon arriving, Stanley immediately parked his car somewhere nearby. They let Heather run for a while, of course, while keeping their eyes on her.

“You don’t have to worry, Stanley. Everything is going to be fine….” Lisa reminded him again as she noticed sudden uneasiness in her son.

After a while, they called Heather, who immediately ran toward them. “I really love that swing, dad! I feel like I’m flying!” She said, while acting as if she was a bird. It gave Stanley a smile—a smile that eventually faded away.

He then held Heather tight in her hand. They walked a few steps before he managed to utter a word. “Listen, baby. Your Abuela and I need to tell you something…” he started.

“What was it, dad? Abuela?” She innocently questioned.

Stanley looked at his mom, signaling her to start everything. They took a few more steps, then sat on one of the park benches before Lisa spoke. “Do you remember that this was the place where we found the picture?” She started.

“Mom’s picture?” Heather asked, and for a while, she thought. “I’m not quite sure, Abuela. I don’t clearly remember…” she then said.

“It’s okay. You were just three years old back then, it was normal for you not to remember. But here, let me tell you…” Lisa said as she held Heather’s hand. “You were crying so badly that day because you lost your balloon, then, suddenly, a young lady approached you. She bought a new balloon for you, and you stopped crying.” She continued.

“You mean, mom?” Again, she asked. Lisa then looked at Stanley, signaling him to just tell everything to his daughter.

He then moved closer to Heather and took a deep breath before speaking. “Heather, listen carefully, okay? That picture in your room was—” And just when he was about, to tell the truth, fate decided to play a little more on them.

“Mommy?!” Heather cut Stanley off as she stood from the bench and ran towards the lady standing not so far away from them. Heather hugged her with a pure genuine smile all over her angel face. She was the only one who was smiling, though. Lisa, Stanley, and even the woman Heather was hugging had the same expression—shock.

Stanley, as well as Lisa, couldn’t believe their eyes.

She was the girl in the picture.

Heather, who was still hugging the lady, looked at them. “Thank you, Daddy! Thank you, Abuela! Thank you for bringing my mommy back! This was the best gift I have received today.” She then said.

Stanley knew he should take his daughter away from the lady and tell her what he was supposed to do earlier. But seeing how happy she was and seeing how he could completely hurt her feelings when he let her know the truth at that exact time tore him apart. So instead of doing that, he came up with another plan—a plan that could definitely and absolutely complicate things even more.

“Heather, you and Abuela should take a stroll for now. I just need to talk to your mom,” he then said as he looked to the lady who also didn’t manage to utter a single word since Heather hugged her.

“Okay, daddy! Abuela, let’s go!” Heather happily said as they walked away.

“Stanley,” he offered her his hand.

The lady just looked at it. Without seeing the plan of taking his hand, Stanley just took it away. “That was Heather, my- my daughter, and it was her birthday tod—” she cut him off.

“First of all, I do not know all of you. Second, why was the kid calling me mommy? Third, what were all these about? I’m sorry, Sir, but I don’t understand a single thing.” She said out of confusion.

“Please let me explain in a nearby restaurant. Please, just let me.” The lady could see such sincerity in Stanley’s eyes, so she agreed.

The first few minutes in the restaurant were completely awkward. The two were basically… strangers.

“You can start your talk, Sir.” She then said.

Stanley cleared his throat, “I’m sorry.” He started. “So, like what I have said, she was Heather, and it was her seventh birthday now—”

“Please get to the point.”

“Years ago, they went to the same park, and according to my mom, you made her stop crying, and you bought her a new balloon.”

The lady seemed to be enlightened upon hearing those words, “she was that girl? Where did the time go?” She muttered.

“So, you remember?” Stanley confirmed.

“I will never forget. She was as lovely as before, and she’s a big girl now. Unfortunately, that was also when I lost my favorite book…” she stated.

“We have the book.”

“You, what?”

“We have the book,” Stanley repeated. “And your picture,” he continued.

“What? But why would you wanna keep that?” Confused, she asked.

He sighed, “it unexplainably calmed my daughter every time she cried back then. We actually just wanted to use your picture for that, but things went a little too far and a little too wrong…”

“Why?”

“She thought that you were her mother,” Stanley revealed. “Until now, that was what she believed in.”

“Shit. Why didn’t you tell her the truth?” The lady asked.

“We tried to. Actually, we were about to when she unexpectedly saw you.” He said. “Did you see how happy she was while hugging you earlier? I love her smile, but she never smiled that way before. She was the happiest. And I know that we should tell her the truth, but I just can’t do it now. Not now when she already saw you. Not on her birthday. I don’t want to break my child’s heart.” He continued his explanation.

“I understand… what are you planning to do then?”

“Please let me know your name first.”

“Maxine,” she finally stated.

“Maxine…” Stanley breathed out as he put his gaze outside the window. He then looked at her. “I want to hire you as my daughter’s mother.”