Everybody wanted to forget about the untimely demise of Lucas Colmenero, and to keep their minds occupied with something. They all wanted to try out the new bar's refreshments and its delicious Italian cuisine. I, of course wasn't in the mood for food at the moment, so I excused myself from the booth just to stretch my legs. Feeling a little numb from sitting too long, I decided to keep my mind occupied and without thinking I approached the woman I saw earlier. Obviously, I didn't know what I was thinking, but my curiosity got the better of me. Something about her really got my attention…
"Howdy, I hope I didn't interrupt your 'me-time'…." I said in a dumb way.
The woman who was all alone, immediately turned her gaze towards me, and with a confused look she saw me and began to smile, "Oh, I am sorry I wasn't listening…."
"I am so sorry I didn't mean to barge in on you like that. But seeing you all alone, I am sure you could use some company." I said, while keeping the mood flowing in a positive way.
"Of course, I am not too much of a talkative person. But please…. By all means have a sit," she said in a calm demeanor.
"Don't mind if I do…" I replied with a goofy accent. "How do you do? My name is Max Caulfield, and I just move back into town recently. What's your name?"
The mysterious woman begins to fiddle with what was left of her Martini, and said her full name… "It's… Charlotte Harmon, it's a pleasure to meet you young lady," Charlotte replied while shaking my hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Charlotte, so are you new to this town as well?" I said while trying to keep my conversation to a minimum.
"I am indeed a new resident who just moved in to this town last week," she said, trying to keep a smile.
"Starting fresh on your own?" I replied, while observing the outside view of the bar, knowing how beautiful it is at night.
"Actually, I didn't come alone… I came with my son…" Charlotte said, as she finally finished her Martini, "His name is Ethan Lambert, and the reason for moving into this town was that he finally got recognized for his intriguing artwork, such as the comic books he usually loves to promote back in the other town we lived in before moving here."
"Wow, that's amazing that you came with your son to give him that full support, as a parent." I said looking all amazed.
"It's no big deal, I wanted to start somewhere else a fresh new start and I heard that this town was definitely a place for newcomers to live a comfortable life, and enjoy nature in a different approach…. Even though it is similar to my old hometown where the shop I own, still remains…" Charlotte paused for a moment and was lost in thought.
"Ms. Charlotte…. Are you ok?" I said feeling all worried.
"I'm sorry Max, I always get lost in thought. I tried to forget the past and my reason for moving away from that town…. I thought that by moving to this new town could help me to forget….but….I feel like I could never fall in love again…" Charlotte pauses as she began to cry softly.
Regretting my decision of wanting to start a conversation with Charlotte, I decided to approach her with sympathy and begin to tell her my side of my story and the tragic events of Arcadia Bay. As soon as I finished my story and the tragedy that struck this town, she stopped crying and finally opened up more of that unfaithful event that happened to her in the old town she lived at.
"I am so sorry Max, for I had no idea that this place used to be your old hometown. It must have been major tragedy for you to have experience the loss of everyone that you have loved and adored. Including that terrible storm that destroyed the town completely…" Charlotte said with sympathy in her eyes. "Now, I may not know too much about you, but hopefully in good time I can get this chance to learn more about you…. As for me, I came from an old mining town called 'Haven Springs, Colorado'…"
"Wow, I heard of a town with a similar name like that from an acquaintance of mine…. Who happens to be an old friend of Chloe's" I replied, looking all exciting.
"Really!!! Well if you ever have a chance you should check it out…. It has a nice view of the Lake and its atmosphere is pretty quiet, and quite peaceful…. I mean for newcomers…. As for me, staying there didn't felt the same for me…" said Charlotte while checking the time on her phone…. "After my divorce with my ex-husband, I thought about starting over again, and when Gabe came into the picture, my heart began to ache."
Charlotte finally began to smile after she mentioned Gabe, who sounds promising for her. As she stood there in silent, she then proceeded to tell her quick tale of how she met Gabe…. "Well, Gabe came to Haven Springs for a purpose, and that was to search his father, John Chen. But to no luck, and decided to give up…. That is until he met Mr. Jed Lucan,"
I was puzzled as to why she stopped mid-sentence, especially with this so-called Jed Lucan. As curious as I was, I pressed further to see who he was, and what did he had to do with her meeting this so-called Gabe Chen. "Ok, I have two questions, and number 1…. Who is Jared Lucan? And number 2 who is Gabe Chen? I am sorry for asking too much is that I am just curious that is all…."
Charlotte laughed after hearing my questions, and finally began to open up further where she left off in her story of how she met Gabe Chen. However, before she could proceed with her story, Amanda walked by and interrupted our conversation mid-way just to announce that she was leaving for the night…
"So, there you are Max. You finally made a new friend here in Arcadia Bay,"
"I believe so?" I said with a sarcastic tone, "This is Charlotte Harmon, and she just move in to town last week,"
"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Charlotte…. I'm Amanda Thomas and I will be your new host for this establishment next week. A.K.A the new Manager," Amanda said. "Anyways, Max…. I am going to have to call it a night since I have to go home and check on my sister… She'll start to get worried if I leave her alone too long,"
"Sure thing Amanda, I'll text you tomorrow…. If I need any other help, other than that please stay safe out there," I replied with a worried look.
With that, Amanda gave me a warm smile and waved goodbye as she left the bar for the night. Meanwhile, Charlotte resume with where she left off in her story….
"Gabe Chen was a young man who came from a tough childhood, and when he came to Haven Springs, his purpose was to search for his so-called father…." Charlotte paused as she began to fiddle with her necklace.
She began to close her eyes for a moment and began to smile, "Sadly, he came up empty and was thinking of giving up until Jed Lucan; Owner of 'The Black Lantern' bar…. Convinced him to stay and offered him a job to work as a bartender in his restaurant."
Being astonished by her natural beauty and reminiscing about Gabe, who she was in a relationship with, noticed my curiosity and started laughing…. "Hang-on Max, I'm getting there. So, hold your horses," said Charlotte while laughing hard at my curiosity.
"Now, there was this spring festival a couple of years back and without thinking I let my feelings get to me, and out of nowhere I saw Gabe all alone for his first time enjoying the spring festival. I approached him with a flower at hand and gave it to him…. With that we ended up dating…. For three years together, he was more than just a boyfriend…. He gave me hope to love again, and he also became a father figure for Ethan. Been together with him, he finally opened up and made friends along the way including Jed Lucan's son name Ryan Lucan. Not only that, he also befriended newcomers, and strangers who visited the town…. And yeah he does get scolded by Mr. Lucan, which is kind of funny sometimes. There was one friend he made online, and was a big fan of this band called, 'Drugstore Makeup'. Now I don't know much about the details of what let to the band to breakup right during their mid-tour. What I do know is that she was able to find a place she can call home for once… she goes by the name of Steph Gingrich.…" she said with a smile in her face.
"Wow…. Steph Gingrich, I know her…" I shouted, feeling all exciting of hearing that familiar name I haven't heard for in nearly a couple of years during my Freelancing years with Chloe.
"You know her?" Charlotte said feeling a little excited.
"Well Yeah, she and I became friends, when her friend…. Who I was in a relationship at that time, had introduced us during my freelancing years as a photographer," I replied
"I am amazed to hear that Steph has some unique friends like you and Chloe.... whom you mentioned earlier." Charlotte said with strong enthusiasm.
We laughed as we shared each other's stories related to Steph, until Charlotte brought back her relationship with Gabe and what had led to his sad fate. I indeed was curious to hear about him more, right before Steph was mentioned…. Who was in fact one of Gabe's new friends he met online….
"So, what happened to him?" I said with a worried look.
"One day, Gabe mentioned that he had a little sister…. Name Alex Chen. What I do know was that she was unique and had a rough childhood after their mom passed away, and being sent to different Foster care due to her unstable behavior…. She didn't trust anyone, until she was reunited with her long lost brother….However, after she finally settle downed to Haven Springs for the first time…. She was hesitant until she made friends along the way and Ethan was one of them." She paused for a moment until she looked at me with sadness and regret in her eyes, "Now Max, what I am about to say could be something no mother should hold grudges towards someone, including their own child…."
I didn't say anything and nodded in agreement to her response, and as soon we locked eyes with one another, she reached out and held my hand with sadness in her eyes as she proceeded with her story….
"That same day when Alex came into the picture, Ethan decided to take a tour onto the mining site….which was closed to the public due to the incident that has happened all those years ago. That site was indeed run by 'Typhon Mining' who had intended to eradicate their mistake of the 7 minors who perished in the ruins of the mine. To make matters worse, they had a scheduled plan of setting of the explosives near a new location for another mine they had their eyes set on, and Ethan so happened to have been in the crossfire of their preparation. However, Gabe, Ryan, and Alex all went in hot pursuit to search and rescue Ethan before things got out of hand, but it was too late…." She paused ones again and started to cry quietly, as I slowly held her hand back for support with sympathy in my eyes she proceeded to conclude her story.
"Typhon Mining's disregards the calling of holding off the blast charges that was scheduled that night in order to search for Ethan, and ones they were able to locate Ethan; Gabe was swept away by incoming debris and was gone from my life…. Afterwards, I ended up hating Ethan, and everyone else who were involved in my life for the death of Gabe…. Max, the same thing I said to Alex…. I will say the same to you…. I was a terrible mother to Ethan. I held my grudge against him, and worst of all to Gabe's sister of all places…"
"Don't say that Charlotte…. You are not a bad mom. But, you may have jumped the gun by blaming Ethan for Gabe's untimely demise…. However, is Typhon itself that deserved all of the blame for all those minors they had left to perish, and for Gabe's tragic accident," I replied, showing sympathy to Charlotte.
"I know Max, and thanks to Alex, who didn't gave up on solving her brother's death…. Justice was served and it did indeed put an end to Typhon's corruption and their schemes, which finally came to light. However, it did put a strain in my relationship with Ethan, and it took a year for us to reconcile, and then a few months later, I heard that Arcadia Bay was finally restored and the old Blackwell Academy was starting to provide enrollment opportunities for those with unique talents and abilities." She replied as she started to smile again with joy in her mind.
"So, you decided to move here, to Arcadia Bay in order to start new," I said while wiping my tears and away.
"Yes, but I did it for Ethan, and in doing so I want us to heal. Now Ethan was also in denial of Gabe's death. Overtime he was able to accept the facts and move on from that tragic accident. To move on from his trauma, he chose to enroll himself to The Blackwell Academy in order to improve his art working skills and as well wanting to learn more about the place, Steph mentioned she was from," She replied, feeling all better and with a clear mind. "I also chose to expand my business here in this community…"
"Wow, you own your own business Charlotte? That's so cool…" I said now looking at her with intense joy in my heart.
"Yeah, I own my own business, to which got a lot of recognition on the online community, and it got so popular that I decided to expand my business and set it up here in this renewed town…. You should come by sometimes whenever you have a chance, it's called 'The Silver Dragon' and it is located just around the coroner passing 'Ms. Joyce's Famous Two Whale Diner'…. Which I heard has some descent menu for passersby who are looking for descent meal," She replied while looking at her phone for the time…
"Well certainly, I will be more than happy to stop by, during my early stroll, and hopefully will have a chance to at least take some photos of your establishment. But what kind of business do you run?" I said with an excited look.
Charlotte turned her gaze and gave me her final smile and told me what kind of business she was running… "Well…. The business that I run is a dispensary, and I also sell my very own art designs that I make from all sorts of Clay, potteries, stone sculpturing, and to wood carving art."
"Amazing a place that sells clean joints for once and you are also an artist," I said while laughing at my own joke.
Charlotte too started to laugh hard and began to correct me about the type of business she runs…. "No Max, I am not a drug dealer…. I am licensed to sell clean Marijuana, and not just that I also sell my artwork…. So please stop by, I promise you that you won't feel disappointed at all…."
"I'm sorry for that; I say stuff that comes randomly out of my mouth as always. But I am interested in learning the kind of artwork you make personally…. So yeah I will be more than happy to stop by this week while I am freelancing for the school's art requisites." I replied, showing her my sympathy and with a positive attitude.
As the minute rolled by Charlotte pulled out a 15 dollar bill and laid it on the booth counter, and in doing so she looked at me one last time and gave that warm smile she usually does…. Trying to stay positive as always,
"Well Max, I have to get going. Ethan is probably wondering where I am this late, and I don't want him to worry about me…. It was nice talking to you and thank you for hearing me out…"
"Wait…. Before you go, what did happen to Steph and Alex?" I said with a curious look, regarding Steph herself.
"Well, real quickly before I go…. Steph finally found her soul mate, and that was Alex. It was during the Spring Festival that Alex had confessed her feelings to Steph, and after the Typhon incident…. They both decided to Travel the states as a duo and formed their own band, with Alex leading Vocals, and Steph as usual playing the drums…. We do stay in touch, but whenever they have time to chat online… other than that I don't know much about them to this day at all."
With that Charlotte waved goodbye and left the bar for the night, leaving me with more curious questions as to what on earth is happening to those around me, and how odd it was to hear that another old acquaintance of mine was mentioned.
Now, Steph mentioned to me that back then, her mom disappeared during the outgoing storm of Arcadia Bay, and was presumed dead. Not to mention the death of Lucas Colmenero, the mysterious figure that was mentioned in the article online that caused the accident, and most important of all how this new universe is slowly changing what I remembered…. Most important of all the mysterious young man that I spotted in school walking into the forest this evening. I wonder if all is connected with the collision of two alternative realities into one that was caused by me and…. Safi.
Whatever that issue is I know that sooner or later Chloe and I will have to reconcile our difference, and as well will give Safi my final decision in this matter, that I promised her back at Caledon University. But, for now I will have to do what I usual do and that is to do research and explore this old hometown of mine called Arcadia Bay.