Amelia's POV
A week later. . .
I linked my arm around Desmond's shoulder and looked over at his face, which was holding a trace of anxiety. Smiling, I poked his chest and he lowered his head to look at my face,
“Don't tell me you're scared” my voice was bone-chilling with ridicule and his face flushed instantly, “Oh my,” I sneered relentlessly, and he clasped my cheek suddenly, “What kind of baby are you? Can't you be at least encouraging at this crucial moment?” his voice inevitably trembled without him noticing.
I wrapped my hands around his neck, stood on my tiptoed, and kissed him without hesitation. It was fleeting, it felt like when a dragonfly flee by the water and touched it for a second. I'm sure my initiative would definitely take him by surprise. I could feel my heart burning up and pounding furiously for him.
I stood appropriately again, but my hands were still encircled around his neck. Our eyes met, and it felt like tiny gymnasts were dancing in my stomach, my heart responded to the familiarity of his beautiful eyes.
“Amelia,” he called in a voice barely more than a whisper. “I'm sure with that would serve as an encouragement, Mr. Desmond,” I told him with a broad wink, and he suddenly swept me off my feet, carrying me in his arms.
“Come on, Desmond, put me down,” I said with a laugh in my voice as I continued to hit his arms. “I won't, baby, you being close to me like this replenish my motive more” he conceded, and I just stayed in his arms quietly.
He put me down of his own accord after we reached the front door villa and adjusted the creases of my dress. I smiled sweetly and also dusted his collar, trying to clean the dust that didn't exist. He wrapped his arms around my waist tightly, as if trying to become one with me,
“Kiss me once again, and we shall go in afterward” he whispered huskily, and I swat his chest, trying to break free from his embrace, but his hands around my waist were too strong.
“Stop it, Desmond, someone might open the door anytime,” I told him, looking at the door from time to time, “Then do it, babe. I love the feeling of your lips clung to mine,” he said profoundly, removing a strand of my hair from my forehead and his lips gradually approached mine but waiting for me to do it.
However, just as I was about to take his lips for a kiss, the sound of the door opening halted my action, and before I could release myself from his grasp, the door swung open, revealing Mr. Alexander.
I guess Desmond was too shocked to regain the presence of mind because I had to free myself before he could let go,
“What are you guys doing? Making out outside?” he asked quietly with his eyes wide open in surprise. “No, that's not…”
“Kiara, everyone, Amelia, and his fiancé are making out here” he interrupted my words mid-sentence, and I exclaimed in shock while Desmond and I swapped glances.
Merry laughter from inside wafted to where we were standing and in a split of seconds, Kiara was standing next to Mr. Alexander, with a deep sneer embedded at the corners of her mouth.
“It's not what you're thinking, Kiara, don't mind him,” I defended, casting a reproachful glance at Mr. Alexander.
“Sure, I understand. Come on in both of you, everyone has been waiting for you” Kiara said with a beam, but I could only clench my hands, knowing what awaits me inside, especially now that Uncle Samuel has arrived.
They both moved aside for us to come in. I entered first, and Desmond followed behind me. Granny, Uncle Samuel, who was carrying Aiden on his thighs, and Mack were all seated with a broad smile on their faces. Miss. Marian, was the only one standing at one side, also having a satisfied smile on her face.
“You both shouldn't try that again outside, is that clear?” Granny reprimanded playfully as soon as we got nearer. I shifted my gaze to Desmond, who in turn looked at me apologetically.
“Hi, Granny. Hello, Uncle Sam” he greeted warmly, avoiding eye contact with everyone as we both sat down on a long settee.
“Here comes our son-in-law. How are you? And would you introduce yourself to me already? It occurred to me that I'm the only person who isn't familiar with you” Granny said amiably, unable to wipe her smile from her face.
“Me too, Granny” Mack put in, wearing an annoyed expression, and we all laughed quietly.
“My name is Desmond, Desmond Wright. I'm a lawyer and…” “We know all that, Mr. Desmond, please tell us what we don't know” Mr. Alexander chipped in, cutting him short sentence.
“Don't be silly, Alexander, and let him talk” Granny scolded while Kiara slapped his chest. However, he continued, “Tell us how you met Amelia and how she managed to steal your heart?”
“I didn't do such,” I quickly asserted, lowering my head so that I wouldn't have to look at anyone. “I didn't do such,” Mr. Alexander mimicked my voice, “Then explain to us what he's doing in our house now if you haven't stolen his heart?”
Everyone burst into a burst of contagious laughter, except me, I felt humiliated, and I slightly raised my eyes to glare at him, and he stuck his tongue at me.
“Come on now, Alexander, do you want Amelia to cry on a day like this?” Mack spoke up in a mockery tone. “Then it's a tear of joy, isn't it, Amelia?” he said with a broad wink. I fumed inwardly, couldn't take it anymore, I leaped to my feet suddenly and rushed toward him and slapped his arm repeatedly.
“Ouch! Kiara, save me, she's going to kill me” he cried out as if he were in pain. “Serves you right, you naughty man” Kiara said and then pulled his ear. This whole time, everyone was still laughing out of their control and I didn't stop either.
“But Amelia, if you slapped him to death now, am I permitted to share Desmond with you?” my heart seized the moment those words came out of Kiara's mouth.
“Over my dead body!” I exclaimed in panic and stopped beating him at once. Again, the whole place vibrated with laughter and I couldn't help but chuckle as well as I found my way back to my previous seat beside Desmond, who was also laughing wholeheartedly.
“This lover girl jealousy is extremely bad” Uncle Sam spoke up this time and I playfully sent him a glare.
The ambiance was spirited and lovely. The happiness written on everyone's faces was evident and bold. I couldn't remember the last time I was this happy before in my entire life. Although, I encountered so many challenges but in return, I've gotten a better life. Since I left my foster parents, my life had been a whole better with these amazing people who surrounded me.
“Granny?” I called tentatively immediately after the atmosphere had quieted down. This time, Miss. Marian had walked into the kitchen with Aiden in her hands, probably to give him some chocolates.
“I would like to use this medium to thank you for everything”
“First of all, for taking me away from my ill-mannered foster parents, for sponsoring my education all through, for granting me a beautiful new life. You did all these things without hesitation, Granny” I could feel my tears trickling down my cheeks now.
Everywhere was silent, and my soft sobs could only be heard. I was sure they were all staring at me at that moment.
The next moment, Desmond stood up beside me and someone else replaced him, “Let this be the last time you would thank me, Amelia,” I heard Granny's voice and I slowly looked up at her. She extended her hand and patted the back of my hand, “I'm glad I could give you the new life that you deserve” her smile became radiant, and her wrinkles deepened as she smiled.
Desmond stayed until lunch, and after we had it, we both evacuated the place, without mentioning the precise place we were heading.
The car rolled to a stop in front of the building and I couldn't help but stared out in a daze as memories began to reel in my head, “Shall we?” Desmond uttered, I nodded directly, keeping my tears from falling at all cost, and then pushed the passenger side door open.
Desmond wore his coolers and slowly held my hand as we both amounted our steps toward the brown gate. Reaching there, I heaved a deep sigh, persuading myself in my heart. After all, I'm here only because of Callie, only Callie.
“Come on, babe, you've nothing to worried about” Desmond coaxed, caressing my cheek briefly. I breathed out again and nodded with a slight smile. With that, Desmond knocked on the gate twice. We waited, waiting for a response, but got none. We exchanged glances, and I was beginning to think perhaps they were out of the country.
However, Desmond subconsciously pushed the gate, and it opened widely. He held my hand tightly as I entered after him. In gentle strides, we arrived at the front door of villa and Desmond pressed the doorbell.
The nervousness and uncertainty in me at this moment couldn't be hidden any longer, and for some reason, I prayed inwardly that no one should be at home.
Desmond attempted to press the bell once again when the entrance door unexpectedly swung open, disclosing Clare. Immediately, she shut the door, but opened it again almost immediately.
Her eyes widened very much in surprise and could fall off their socket anytime.
“Amelia?” she called in a low, hoarse voice and paused for a long while as if she were fighting with herself in her head.
I nodded, giving her a half-smile while I scrutinized her from up to bottom, bit by bit. She was wearing a smile flowery white dress that stopped right on her knees. Her hair was put in a tight bun, but the distressed expression on her face couldn't go unnoticed by anyone.
“Hmm… Hi, Clare, please can I see Callie for a moment?” I asked politely, more like I was talking to a complete stranger.
To my surprise, she opened the door wider for us to enter, “Come in, please” she urged, her voice having a crying tone.
I opened my mouth to refuse, but nothing could come out. “Sure, thanks” Desmond responded and gently pulled me inside with him.
“Please sit down, I'll get you a glass of water”
“There's no need for that, Clare,” I told her before she could take a step. “Just tell Callie that I'm here, I would like to see her”
“You're still angry at us, Amelia” she began cautiously, staring right back at my face, “You are angry to the length that you don't even want to know whether mom is still alive or not,”
A scaring thunderstruck across my heart as I stood frozen in place.
“What do you mean, Clare? Where's mom?” I roared hysterically as tears clouded my vision, “She's upstairs in her room”
After her words, I ran toward the stairs with reflex movement, knowing I could beat the Usain Bolt at that moment.
Clatter, I pushed the door open and her figure was the only thing I behold on the bed. Her eyes were shut, and it seemed she was having deep beauty sleep.
“Is she sleeping?” I asked after I noticed she was now standing behind me.
“No, Amelia, she has been unconscious for the past six months,” Clare said, and my feet wobbled uncontrollably but managed to stagger to the bed and crouched before her.
“What happened? What happened to, mom?”
The knot in my throat rolled up and down and my mouth became try at once.