Pushing out of the chair, I don’t care to say goodbye. I don’t care when, if ever, I see her again. I didn’t even want to tell her in the first place.
I leave the restaurant and wait by dad’s car. It’s not long before dad follows me out with her tagging along.
“Amelia, I should apologise…”
“I don’t care to hear it. You should go, me and dad do just fine without you. I hate that you think we sit around waiting for you to grace us with your presence.”
Turning around, I face the door and dad gets the hint and unlocks the car. I’m so done with her. She’s unbelievable.
Dad talks with her for a couple of minutes and then says nothing on the drive home. I guess there’s nothing to say.
17
Darius
Putting the cigarette to my mouth, I inhale long and hard as I people watch. The energy around this hospital compared to Bolton General is a lot more relaxed. Amelia’s appointment is in ten minutes for her next scan, and she still hasn’t arrived. I know she’s left the house because Frankie let me know the second she drove away.
It’s been a month since the dinner with her father and there’s been little contact. She doesn’t reach out to me unless it’s to tell me a time for a doctor’s appointment. During these routine appointments she doesn’t speak to me. I text her every morning asking how she’s feeling and each time I receive a one worded answer. Fine.
Taking one last puff on the cigarette, I flick it across the neatly trimmed stretch of lawn.
Her car pulls into the parking lot and I stand from the bench. Shoving my hands deep in my pockets, I keep a close eye on her as she climbs out of her car and walks toward me. She wears a pale-yellow summer dress, showcasing her small bump and her wedges make her taller than she is. Even pregnant, she’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.
The moment she sees me, her shoulders tense, and she slows her step.
“You’re cutting it close,” I say.
“We’re not late, so it doesn’t matter.”
She doesn’t stop to talk, and I walk beside her as she heads inside. She books herself in and we take a seat in the waiting area.
“What’s with the mood?” I ask quietly.
“I would kill to be able to go pee right now. Forgive me if I’m focusing on not peeing myself.”
I keep my mouth shut until another woman sits opposite us and her stomach is much more rounded than Amelia’s. Her partner puts his arm around her protectively and places his hand on her stomach lovingly. The woman smiles at Amelia and drops her eyes before looking at me again. I get it. She sees the differences in us and she’s being judgemental like every other rich fuck in this city.
Under different circumstances I’d hold her hand, murmur positive shit to her and we’d share this moment together. But I keep my hands to myself, my mouth shut, and she does the same.
“Amelia Haynes.”
Thank fuck.
I walk beside Amelia and take the chair while she changes into a gown. I help her onto the bed, and I soak in the moment having her skin on mine. She takes her hand back once she’s settled and I miss her touch immediately.
I watch everything the nurse does and move the chair closer to the bed when she runs the white stick thing over Amelia’s stomach.
I try to work out what the sonographer is seeing on the screen but it’s all blurry to me. Though I hear the heartbeat just fine. That’s my kid and it sounds strong.
“Would you like to know the sex?”
I hadn’t given much thought about finding out what we’re having but Amelia doesn’t hesitate to answer, “Yes.”
Her excitement makes me smile. I’ve grown used to her guarded walls when she’s around me, I forgot how much I’ve missed her smile.
“You’re going to have a girl.”
Amelia’s chest caves as she sobs a silent cry of joy and I swallow thickly. A daughter.
