Ariel had a bitter taste in her mouth when she awoke.She tried to rinse her mouth out with the strongest mouthwash she could find in her bathroom cabinet, but memories of the previous night came flooding back.She couldn't afford to let herself fall apart when her parents came to visit later in the afternoon.Not after she informed them that she was doing exceptionally well since relocating to her own apartment in the city more than six months ago.
Agatha and Marcus DuPont adored their daughter Ariel, but there were times when she made them hate her even more.Naturally, they bore some responsibility for how she had developed.It was no wonder she was out of control with all of their work and leisure trips abroad!
Ariel's Gammy, Tallulah DuPont, had mostly raised her.A very strict and imposing figurehead, if there ever was one!Hugging a block of ice would produce more heat than hugging Gammy would!However, Ariel didn't completely despise her Gammy.After all, she owed her the brand-new apartment and healthy bank account, both of which she could spend however she pleased.
Agatha arranged the bouquet of the preferred flowers of her mother-in-law on her rather beautiful gravestone.It truly was an exquisite piece of craftsmanship.Obviously, dear Tallulah deserves only the best!Agatha did not waste any time weeping.Tallulah would be extremely missed!Agatha went to Tallulah's grave every Sunday at 2:33 p.m. out of respect for her husband Marcus, who was very sad.the precise duration of her absence.Marcus simply lacked the strength to do it on his own.That woman had been cold to other people, but she loved her only son so much all the time.
Ariel raced through the apartment to make sure everything was clean.She didn't need her mother's obsessive-compulsive disorder to surface today.She had had enough of her thoughts!She hoped that instead of coming back to her place for coffee after their meal at Paulo's, her parents would leave.
"Please try not to be so critical of our Ariel, Agatha, my dear.She really wants to demonstrate to us that she has matured over the past six months.I am aware that your reservations persist.However, I believe she requires our assistance, particularly in light of the loss of her prized Grammy.
"Oh, Marcus, come on!You, of all people, ought to be aware that those two never fell in love!From the beginning, Tallulah made it abundantly clear that she did not want us to get married!I really do appreciate her offer to care for Ariel while we traveled.But that "ice-queens" heart could not be broken even by her own granddaughter!"
Marcus stood there and looked at Agatha like he had been hit in the heart by a fatal blow.His entire face was twisted and contorted.He had never previously voiced his disapproval of his wife's incessant snide remarks and criticism of his mother.That was going to change today!Over the years, she had chipped away at him until he felt like something had snapped in him!
Ariel looked out the window of her living room to see if her parents were there.She noticed that someone was standing in front of her front gate and looking in her direction.Ariel felt a sense of panic invading both her thoughts and her body, eyes widening and mouth open.She could anticipate having an anxiety attack!There was something oddly familiar and strange about that face at the same time!He terrified her, no matter who he was!
Ariel, see you.examining me as if I were a "frighty cat."Yes, you should indeed be terrified!
After being diagnosed with severe depression and insomnia six months prior, Ariel frantically searched through her medicine cabinet for the bottle of antidepressants that had been prescribed to her.She had never even attempted to take her prescribed medications, despite the fact that she had believed she could find natural alternatives to manage her anxiety and lack of sleep.The stranger had brought back memories of when she was a young child and lived with her parents in the grand old Victorian house that her dear "Grand-Pere" Félix DuPont the third had questioned them about.If ever there was such a person, this was it.Nobody knows how he got married to Tallulah, such a cold fish!
When another tenant used their key card to enter Ariel's apartment building, Siegfried struggled to resist the urge to enter through the main entrance.He was only a few centimeters away, so he could have easily put his foot in the doorway to stop the glass door from clicking back into place.However, he had put off making his long-term plans because he had waited far too long.No, not this time; he would finish what he had started all those years ago.
With a strong shot of Glenmorangie whiskey, Ariel took the bitter pill down.The preferred beverage of her Grandfather.
"Ariel, my petite pois, imagine these flavors rolling around on your tongue as I describe them to you.A vanilla, boiled sweets, very creamy, tiramisu, and toffee flavor that is both fresh and well-balanced.And to finish, a malty, fruity, and mild burst for your taste buds!
Ariel adored the way her grandfather's eyes moved and his lips smacked together in appreciation of the amber fluid.When prinzmetal angina, a rare heart condition that had gone unnoticed for years, took his life so suddenly, she was only 12 years old.Ariel's dearest Grand-Pere was without any means of treatment when it was discovered.He died in the safety of his own home, surrounded by everyone he loved, two years after his diagnosis.Yes, Tallulah was included in that.
Throughout their half-hour drive to their daughter's apartment building from the airport, Agatha and Marcus remained silent.To avoid alarming Ariel upon their arrival, they did everything in their power to maintain civility and composure with one another.Their marriage ended, of course.However, after their visit with Ariel was over, they would deal with that issue.
A freshly baked jelly doughnut that Siegfried had purchased earlier that morning was consumed as he sat in his car.When planning a stake out, comfort food is always important to bring.Naturally, it was a box containing six soft, powdered sugary delights.Siegfried wept as he held his last sweet treat in his sausage-like fingers and thought back to the times when "She" used to bake these very treats just for him.He retched, his stomach acid gurgling in protest, and opened the car door just in time to let the flood of undigested doughnuts spill onto the tar-sealed road beside him. That memory suddenly left a sour taste in his mouth.
With their guest key card at the ready, Agatha and Marcus entered the private, covered parking area.They parked in the parking bay that corresponded to the number on the ticket the machine had issued to them upon entry, maintaining their silence.Agatha glanced in her small mirror to see if the tears she had shed earlier had not faded.They still had a little bit of redness to them, but it would be easy to mistake them for "tired eyes," given how far they had traveled this day.As he grabbed the wine and housewarming gifts they had purchased for Ariel before their morning flight, Marcus didn't even look at her.To stop the tears from pricking at the corners of her eyes, Agatha took a deep breath.It was going to be harder than she thought to act brave!
As Ariel raced downstairs to greet her parents, she experienced stomach butterflies.Because they were her parents, she knew there was nothing to worry about!But she just couldn't get rid of something that kept gnawing at the back of her mind, as if it were telling her something bad was going to happen!
Siegfried did his best to clean up after himself.Swishing the inexpensive travel-sized mouthwash around his mouth to mask the bitter taste of bile and ingested sweets.As if he had all the time in the world, he purposefully took his time as he stepped out of his car and toward the boot.He wanted everything to go according to plan with this.Reaching for the brown, worn-out briefcase he had carried with him for so long.a thoughtful present from "her" when he was promoted at the law firm run by his father, where they first met.She served as Scarlett's temporary receptionist while she was on maternity leave.However, she had a significant impact on young Siegfried during her brief tenure at the company.On her final day, he walked her to her car because he was in love with her and he was afraid he would never see her again.
From the moment Ariel opened the door to her apartment, she was enveloped in a bear hug.Her father had always been so affectionate!something that she hadn't had since she left her home.Ariel's mother was a little more reserved in her affections, cradling her in her own hands and leaning in for a gentle peck on the cheek.A large, well-shod foot pressed against the door frame as she was about to close it.Ariel let out a gasp of surprise and nearly threw her mother over, prompting her to step back in surprise!
Agatha turned to investigate her daughter's behavior.When she saw "his" face, her face became pale and white!Marcus became alarmed at the sound of his wife in distress as she let out a strangled scream.
"Marcus, please do not be alarmed,I can assure you that I am not here to cause harm.
"Who the f------ are you?And how are you familiar with my name?”
Agatha bravely came forward to confront the man with whom she had an affair so many years ago.
"It's fine, Marcus, sweetheart.He is known to me.He is Ariel's rea-“ At that exact instant, Ariel let out a tremendous scream as she lunged at Siegfried with a baseball bat she had kept in the coat closet next to the door.
Before Ariel could hurt the stranger, Marcus was able to grab the bat.bringing her back into the embrace of a bear.
"Marcus, Ariel, I sincerely apologize!I ought to have mentioned Siegfried to you both years ago.I just.I just couldn't bear to hurt your feelings.Marcus!As if she were your own flesh and blood, I know how much you love Ariel.
The revelation that he was Ariel's real father and Agatha's revelation of their secret affair shocked Siegfried into silence.When he saw the pleading eyes of his one and only filled with tears, all of the rage he had held over Agatha's sudden decision to leave him and take their unborn child with her vanished.
"Dad, mom?I, I, I d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-
As Agatha and Siegfried sat opposite them, quietly waiting for Ariel to calm down and stop shaking, Marcus gently led Ariel over to the kitchen table.As if it were natural, Marcus stared at Agatha and Siegfried, who were sitting next to each other.When he realized that he had lost both his daughter and wife in one day, all he felt was sadness.
Siegfried decided that it was time for him to speak.
"My daughter, my dear Ariel.What a longing I have had to say those words to you!I was in such a dark and sad place after your mother left me.Experiencing the poison of rage in my thoughts, I wasted so many months.It was too late for me to pursue your mother when I felt strong enough and clear-headed enough to do so.She had vanished completely!
Ariel was unable to look at this man, this stranger, who had the audacity to enter her home and disrupt their joyful family!Okay, so they didn't always get along at all at times.But not everyone does?
It's true, Ariel; I was so impatient when I left that I didn't consider how my actions would affect others.I was young and egotistical, caring only about myself and you, naturally.
Marcus cleared his throat and gave his wife a surrendered expression as he looked at her.
"Agatha, I'm sorry as well!You shouldn't have been forced to keep quiet about Ariel's real father!I'm embarrassed that I did that!If you want me to back down to say, "Sorry, I don't know your name," I will completely understand.As he turned to acknowledge Siegfried, Marcus said.
The man who had taken on the role that Siegfried had always wanted to play caught his eye.As he reached out to grab Marcus's hand, he felt a wave of sympathy wash over him.
“Hi, my name is Siegfried, Marcus.Francois SiegfriedIt is a pleasure to finally meet you.I apologize for coming at you so forcefully!I acted recklessly due to my lack of clarity of thought and desperateness.Please.Pardon me?”
With complete and utter disbelief, Ariel switched her focus from her father's face to her "real" father's!What the hell had transpired recently?
Agatha clung to her own hands once more to reassure her daughter that everything would be fine, sensing her daughter's mixed feelings.Obviously, significant shifts lay ahead.But she was absolutely certain that something would work out for the best in this bizarre circumstance.
Ariel accepted that things were going to change in her life, even though she was exhausted and somewhat defeated.Possibly for the better.Now that she had two dads instead of just one.Her initial feelings of fear toward the stranger sitting next to her quickly gave way to curiosity.Her mind was filled with so many unanswered questions.However, her groaning stomach's rather audible sound took center stage, ignoring her need for clarification.
Therefore, I prepared enough food to sustain an army.Do we want to eat or what?”was the only thing she could say.
Yes, these were indeed strange times.In addition, despite the fact that Agatha and Marcus would continue their separation, they would always ensure that they reunited for their daughter.Naturally, Siegfried would also be a part of her life.And it's possible that the spark that once existed between Agatha and Siegfried will rekindle.