by Amy Field
Was he out? Jared was tempted to leave the file and go but it was the start of a weekend. If he didn’t have it signed, they would have to wait until Monday and the waiting was completely unnecessary. He decided on a whim to knock on 10D, maybe his neighbor would deliver the papers to him and have it sent over the next day.
He stepped towards it and knocked. Noises came from inside and the door opened. He saw Nick standing there, looking surprised but the person behind Nick caught his attention.
Camellia’s mouth dropped open and guiltily, her eyes went to the bundle she held in her arms. Jared’s eyes were on the bundle as well and he felt as if the ground had given away. He knew without needing to ask that it was his child. Camellia had left a year ago, the perfect time to have a baby. She had left him without telling him she was pregnant.
Rage came first, how could she have done that? The baby was his as well; he deserved the right to know.
“What are you doing here?” Nick was asking.
Jared looked at Nick and his lip curled. Camellia was with Nick, how had that happened? From the look on Nick’s face, Jared deduced that he had no idea that Jared was the father. That didn’t make him feel any better.
“I came to give you these files but I had a surprise waiting for me didn’t I?” Jared said, looking at Camellia who averted her eyes.
“I don’t understand,” Nick frowned.
“Nick, Jared is Amelia’s father,” Camellia said quietly.
“What?” Nick said aghast.
Jared pushed past him to see the baby. Camellia had called her Amelia and as he got closer, he got a better view of her. She was exquisite and Jared found a lump forming in his throat. His eyes alight with fresh betrayal, he stared at Camellia.
“How could you do this to me?” he demanded.
Camellia’s eyes blazed into his. “To you? You were cheating on me!”
“So you took my child away from me? Wasn’t that unfair of you?” Jared said.
“You deserved it,” Camellia said but she didn’t truly believe that. Jared was right, she had behaved like a coward by taking away Amelia from him but she wasn’t going to let him say that.
“I can’t believe you would be so callous,” Jared said. “I admit I did something wrong but that doesn’t merit this kind of behavior.”
Nick wanted to butt in but he couldn’t help but sympathize with Jared. Jared looked rightfully angry and, as someone who had grown to love Amelia, he could say that he would have been mad as well if Amelia had been taken away from him. He moved away, letting them fix it among themselves.
“What do you want Jared?” Camellia said in exasperation.
“I want to hold her,” Jared said.
Camellia hugged her child protectively and Jared glared at her.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Jared warned.
“What do you mean?” Camellia said, the blood draining from her face.
“I mean, I can fight you for custody,” Jared threatened.
Nick did a double take and looked at Camellia. He knew this would break her, Camellia loved Amelia too much. She couldn’t have her taken away.
“Jared, you can’t be serious. You can’t take my child away from me!”
“I won’t have to if you agree to joint custody.”
“I don’t trust you,” Camellia said.
“Neither do I.”
Camellia looked at her child and swallowed. She knew there was no other option left. She couldn’t put Amelia through a court battle and maybe it was better for Amelia to have both her parents in her life. At the moment, Jared looked very sincere so she decided that it was better to give him a chance.
“Alright, I’ll let you have her one day a week,” Camellia said slowly.
“We’ll take it slow,” Jared agreed.
He looked at Nick and Camellia before saying,
“Can you tell me what Nick is doing here?”
Camellia blushed. “Nick and I are seeing each other. He helps take care of Amelia while I am at work.”
Jared looked at Nick jealously. It wasn’t because he was dating Camellia but as he took care of his daughter.
“I see. I want you to bring Amelia to my house tomorrow,” Jared said.
He left without another word, leaving Camellia drained. Nick put his hands on her shoulders to support her and Camellia leaned on him.
“That was certainly dramatic,” Nick said.
“I don’t know Nick. I hope everything turns out okay,”
“It will,” Nick said but he wasn’t very sure himself.
Chapter Seven
True to her words, Camellia took Amelia with her to Jared’s house.
She knew exactly where his house was, and the look of it brought up painful memories. It was a two-storey cottage with a well maintained garden and marble path leading to the door. Camellia rang the doorbell and waited for Jared to answer the door. Amelia was in her arms and she had brought over her toys and clothes so that Jared could take care of her.
Camellia hadn’t slept, thinking of how Jared would take care of Amelia. Nick had stayed over and tried to comfort her but it hadn’t worked. Camellia was completely on edge.
Amelia smiled at her and the calm washed over her. At least she knew how to comfort her.
The door opened and Jared stood there, dressed in jeans and a t shirt. He ushered her in and Camellia looked around. Everything was spic and span. The interior of Jared’s house was done in white and she could see her face reflected back through the tiles.
“You are on time,” Jared said.
“Aren’t I always?” Camellia said stiffly. She couldn’t bring herself to talk normally to him. Her lingering resentment made it impossible for her to do so.
“You don’t have to be so…” Jared didn’t finish that sentence as Camellia handed off Amelia to him.
Jared held her awkwardly as Camellia put down the bag.
“I got her formula and clothes. I have written down instructions and my cell number for emergencies. I’ll come to pick her up at six.” Camellia said in one breath and bit her lip.
Jared nodded and Camellia reached forward to kiss Amelia.
“I’ll see you later honey,” Camellia said and without a backward glance she left the house.
Left alone with Amelia, Jared was at a loss over what to do.
Amelia was giggling and he couldn’t help but smile. There was a tentative feeling of tenderness blooming in him that he had no idea how to process. She was a beautiful child but at the moment she felt foreign, as if she was someone else’s child and not his. Jared stood and rocked her gently which she seemed to like.
He was tempted to call Alicia for help but that was stupid. No one knew about Amelia and he wanted to keep it that way for now. He decided to look through the bag that Camellia had left behind.
Inside the bag, there were several toys which he took out. He handed a rattle to Amelia who shook it vigorously before giggling. It was working; he was doing something to help her.
It went normally for an hour but then she began to cry. At the sound of her cry, Jared froze. He had no idea what to do. Was she hungry or had she soiled herself?
The smell alerted him that it was the latter. He set her down on his sofa gingerly and rooted through the bag for anything to change her into. He came up with a bottle of powder, diapers and wipes. He would have to do it himself.
Jared was queasy at the thought of it but he steeled himself. Amelia was his daughter and he should learn right? He peeled away the diaper, cringing at the smell of it and tried to clean everything up. He did everything well until it was time for the diaper which he botched up. All the while, Amelia watched him with a smile on her face as if mocking him. Even the child knew about his incompetence.
He was emotionally drained after crossing the first hurdle but the second hurdle came soon after. After noon, Amelia began to cry again and this time Jared was sure that she was hungry. He took out the formula and bottle bu
t took a while searching for the instructions that Camellia had claimed to leave for him.
1) Sterilize the bottle.
How was he supposed to sterilize the bottle? Did that mean that he was supposed to wash it? Would normal water do? These instructions weren’t easy at all.
2) Wash hands with soap.
3) Mix formula as instructed on the tin.
4) Make sure it is blood temperature.
Blood temperature? How was he going to do that? Jared found himself dialing Camellia’s number.
“What’s wrong? Is she okay?” Camellia’s panicked voice came through.
“What does blood temperature mean?” he asked.
“You don’t know what blood temperature means?” Camellia’s voice was incredulous.
“Just tell me.”
“Test it against your arm, if it’s the same temperature, its fine.” Camellia explained.
“Thanks.” Jared said and hung up.
He picked up Amelia from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. Looking around for a place to keep her, he picked the counter. He set down a blanket for her, placing two pillows on each side so that she didn’t end up falling and examined the tin of formula. It said that the water had to be lukewarm so he set about heating the water. As he poured the water in the kettle, Amelia gurgled, startling him and making him spill the water on the counter. He groaned and picked up the paper towels to wipe it.
Amelia cried, distracting him and he left his towels to attend to her. When the smell of smoke reached him, he turned to see the towels were on fire. A second later his alarm began to beep.
Jared didn’t think of setting out the fire, he ran outside with the baby in his arms, completely out of his mind about what to do.
This wasn’t what he signed up for.
Camellia couldn’t have reached the house quicker.
The second she got the call from Jared and heard the sirens, she was getting a taxi to rush over to his house. Nick went with her and the two arrived to see Jared sitting in the front steps of his house, Amelia squirming in his grasp. The fire men were gone and when Jared looked at her, Camellia saw the hollow look in his eyes.
“Nick, could you take Amelia?” Camellia requested.
Nick nodded and pick up the toddler, walking off into the distance. Camellia sat down beside Jared.
“I didn’t think it would be this hard,” Jared said.
“You never can tell,” Camellia said.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Jared said in awe.
“It’s hard at first but you get used to it.”
“I don’t think I apologized for before. I really am sorry about everything.”
“Can you tell me what happened?”
“I was making her formula but I spilled water. I used the paper towels to clean it up but I must have left it too close to the stove so the towels caught on fire. I panicked,” Jared said simply.
Camellia didn’t say it but she was thankful that Amelia was okay.
“I don’t think I am cut out of this,” Jared admitted.
Camellia let him go on.
“I thought I could but I think it’s better if I stay at arm’s length. I want to be a part of her life but maybe when she is older. For now, I would like to visit her and pay child support,” Jared looked at her pleadingly.
“I guess you can do that.”
“Thank you Cam.”
She stood up, looking at Nick playing with Amelia.
“You made a good choice with him,” Jared said.
“I know I did.”
Camellia didn’t look at Jared as she walked to her family. She was leaving her past behind for the future. The Camellia that had been with Jared didn’t exist anymore. That Camellia had grown up into the mature, strong person that she was today and Camellia didn’t regret that transition one bit.
“What did he say?” Nick asked as Camellia took Amelia from him.
“He said that he wanted to see her but he wouldn’t sue for support,” Camellia said.
“That’s good,” Nick said approvingly.
“I think taking care of Amelia alone really freaked him out.” Camellia laughed.
“I don’t doubt it. I was scared too at first but I couldn’t resist her charm.”
“I don’t think anyone can.”
In the midst of her worry for Amelia, the sky had turned dark and Camellia looked at the starry night with a smile on her face. It was the first time in a while that she had gotten to see the stars and admire them.
“I was an astrologer once,” Nick said.
“You are lying.”
“I am not. I used to read the palm of my friends in college.”
“Did any of their wishes come true?”
“No but it was fun to do it.”
Camellia laughed and entwined her fingers with his.
“I was thinking, we should move out of that apartment.” Nick said.
“We should?”
“In case you didn’t know, I do have a bit of money and that place is really far away from town.”
“Why is that a big deal?”
“Amelia isn’t going to stay small forever and it’s cramped in your apartment. How about we buy a bigger place so that there’s a room for her and us? You could decorate it and bring your furniture out of your storage locker.”
“That does sound like a good plan.”
“Also, I was thinking that it would be easier to be in town so that she could attend school in the future,” Nick added.
“You are talking as if you are planning to stick around,” Camellia controlled her voice, trying not to give anything away. If what he was saying was true, then he really was planning to stay with her and the thought gave her joy.
“If you’ll have me, I knew you were the one for me the second I saw you. I have no doubts in my mind that I want to be with you,” Nick gripped her hand tightly.
“Oh Nick...”
“So tell me you’ll have me,” he said.
“Of course I will Nick,” Camellia said tearfully.
“You, me and Amelia. We are a family.” Nick stressed and Amelia titered in approval.
Camellia rest her head on Nick’s shoulder, content with the knowledge that he was going to stay. She didn’t have to say it to him; she loved him and knew he did too. Together, they would take care of Amelia and live happily.
It was amazing to think of it like this but this truly was her happily ever after.
The End
Book II
Love Child Surprise
Chapter One
Maria Adams was heartbroken.
Everything she believed in had changed and she was no longer sure what reality was. She tried to keep her hold on the scenario in front of her but like a wild butterfly, it slipped through the cracks of her fingers. Her back ached but Maria hardly felt it. The pain in her mind was greater.
She knew they wanted an answer from her but Maria was unable to give one. They were waiting, patiently, to know what was wrong with her. To know why she wasn’t on her way down the aisle, why she was on the chair motionless.
She should be getting up. She should have her bridesmaids around her, fussing over her dress and asking her if she was nervous. They would have held up the train of her dress, an extravagance, and reminded her to put down her veil.
Those were the things that would have happened.
But they were the things of a lost future, a future that could no longer be fulfilled.
If someone had asked her if this was going to happen to her, Maria would have laughed at them.
Until last night, she had been a happy soon-to-be bride.
Last night…
It was stifling inside the hall but Maria hardly noticed it as she laughed at Jaime’s joke.
Her best friend Jaime, red curls bouncing on her shoulders with the freckles highlighted on her pale face, was laughing with her. Jaime had been the one to crack the joke but like always, she couldn’t keep a straight f
ace.
“You have the craziest experiences at work.” Maria wiped a tear from her eye.
“That’s why I love it,” Jaime said, grinning.
Jaime was the manager of a shop but she liked to walk around the floor, pretending to be a sales clerk. That way, she was aware of any problems caused by customers. Maria used to work at the same store until she graduated to the main office.
“I almost wish I was back there.”
“Says the person who has her own office.” Jaime rolled her eyes.
Maria put her arm around Jaime’s shoulder, pulling her closer. Jaime rolled her eyes again but didn’t push her hand away. The two sat down on empty chairs and Jaime looked around the hall.
“Where’s Prince Charming?”
“He is somewhere,” Maria answered.
“I have no idea why you guys have so many guests.”
“Matt had to invite his co-workers and friends.”
“But three hundred people?” Jaime exclaimed.
“Some of them are mine too,” Maria defended her fiancé.
“Yeah, like thirty of them,” Jaime retorted. “You’ll have a busy social life, that’s confirmed.”
“I don’t mind,” Maria said softly.
She tried to search for Matt but he wasn’t visible through the hordes of people. Though they had booked a large hall, it was filled to the edges with people. Jaime hadn’t been wrong, a lot of the guests were from Matt’s side but Maria had understood when he had told her that he needed to invite people. He worked in a network as their production director so he had a lot of people to take care of. Maria was used to it but now, seeing all the people, she felt slightly sick.
Jaime was chatting about the wedding and Maria nodded, distracted. She almost stood up when she saw Matt walking over to them. As always, he struck her dumb. Maria had always thought that he was good enough to be an actor but Matt had laughed at her when she had told him that. He had dark hair with chocolate brown eyes. He was tall, towering over Maria and as he stood over them, he had to peer down at her.