Where the Streets Have No Name(50)

The two embraced for a few minutes and it was obvious how close they were. At least Amelia had someone to look after her, he thought, disliking the woman and respecting her in the same breath.

Gabby eyed Daniel again, then grabbed her handbag and jacket from the hooks near the front door, and exited the cottage. While the kettle finished boiling, Gabby got in the car and drove away, though he swore he felt her eyes on him until she couldn’t see him any longer.

“Would you like a cup of tea?” Amelia asked, her voice breaking his thoughts and returning him to the present.

Amelia.

A baby.

His baby.

No, their baby.

“Eh, aye,” he said, mostly for something to do. “If you tell me where everything is, I can fetch it myself.”

She let out a breath heavy with the sounds of exhaustion. “Sure. Mugs and tea are both in here.” She pointed to a cupboard above her. “Milk in the fridge. Spoons for stirring here.” Her hand touched the stainless steel canister with small silver spoons, sitting next to the kettle.”

“Can…can I help you to…eh…somewhere to um…” Damn it, his brain died. “Sit,” Daniel said, feeling a little triumphant for coming out with a correct word.

“I’m fine, thanks.” Amelia walked around him, putting an unnecessary amount of space between them. She sat down on an oversized armchair next to the fireplace and propped her legs up on the matching ottoman. “So. Why are you here, Daniel?”

He thought carefully about what to say next while assembling his tea. Amelia hadn’t told him if she wanted one. He didn’t see any instant coffee – or a coffee maker, for that matter. She said she wasn’t a fan of tea.

“If you’re wondering about the coffee, there’s none in the house. Not good for the baby.”

“Ah.” Daniel didn’t turn around to look at her for fear he’d drop to his knees and crawl towards her, begging…for what, he didn’t know.

“I wouldn’t say no to a peppermint tea though. If you wouldn’t mind making me one.”

“Of course.” He spotted the peppermint teabags and put one in a large mug.

A few minutes later he sat across from her in the matching armchair. She avoided his eyes, but she was watching him. Finally, he asked, “So what was Gabby on about? Stress and the baby? What’s the matter?”

Amelia took a deep, long sip of her tea, staring off at the wall. “It’s called Pre-eclampsia and the doctors figure mine is because my body wasn’t used to your um…stuff.” She bit her lip and hid behind her mug, but Daniel noticed the flush in her cheeks. She was nervous.

What did she mean, his ‘stuff?’

“Oh,” he said, realisation dawning. “Ah, aye…”

“Yeah. It’s not as bad as some women get though. So anyways, I just have to take it easy. Really easy. It’s a good thing Gabby could give up her life back in Vancouver and come stay with me.”

There was that. He might not have hit it off with the lass, but he would thank her for being there for Amelia.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Ah, no.” He chugged down his tea. The brew was still too hot and it scalded his throat on the way down.

“I don’t…I hope you know I don’t expect anything from you. I have my own money, and once the baby is born, I can start working again. Just from home, some software programming, easy stuff.”

“I want to help though.”

She didn’t respond. Didn’t move. Not even a blink.

Time to change tactics.

“I got your letter.” Daniel patted his pocket. “I got it yesterday, when I was released from hospital.”

“Oh.” Her eyes fell to the flames in the grate, flickering in a dance of oranges and yellows. “Well, that’s good at least.”

“I came here to…say thank you. They told me you hired the investigator to look into the charges.”

She was silent for a moment. Then, “Mm-hmm.”

“And, well, to tell you how sorry I am.” Damn why couldn’t he say what he really wanted to say? “F-for what I did.”

I fecked up, love. I wronged you, and I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you like I did. If I had the power to turn back time I’d have kept myself from being a bloody fool, and told you how much I love you. But I can’t change the past.

See? That sounded fine. Just fine. But he opened his mouth to speak and nonsense came out.

“You had your reasons, I’m sure.” Amelia shifted in the chair, hiding more of her face from him.

“Aye, I might have, but they were the wrong ones.” He sighed. “I know I hurt you, and you might never forgive me, but…”