Chapter 14

I woke up to an empty bed. My daughter Sophie is out of sight. I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my robe, and went outside quickly. As I descended the stairs, I can hear her giggles and screams. I followed the voice, and I saw her by the backyard playing with Liam and Collette.

I watched them on the screen door. Liam had Sophie on his back while Collette pretended to catch them. Mr. and Mrs. Jones and Todd are watching them with smiles on their faces. I don't see Taylor anywhere. She's probably still sleeping.

I open the screened door and stepped outside. Aunt Carmen saw me and waved at me to come and join them. I greeted them good morning and sat on an empty chair.

" Good morning, dear. How was your sleep? I'm sorry if we woke you up. Collete went to your room and saw that Sophie is awake, so she took her downstairs to have breakfast." Aunt Carmen explained, and I nodded shyly.

" I'm sorry if I overslept. I had the best sleep after many years," I told her. " Good morning, uncle Dem. Good morning, Todd." I added.

" Good morning, hon. Go on, eat your breakfast, don't worry about Sophie. She already ate with Liam and Collete a while ago." Uncle Demitri smiled brightly at me and asked me to eat. Todd just smiled and drank his coffee.

Sophie saw me and screamed for me. I waved my hand at her and smiled. Liam was looking at me and smiled. I smiled shyly, then averted my eyes, pretended to eat.  I want to kick myself for acting like a schoolgirl.

For Pete's sake, I am a mother and a teacher. Why can't I act like one around Liam? It's like grade school and high school all over again. I was busy cutting my pancakes into small pieces when a shadow towered above me, shielding me from the sun.

" Good morning, Bella. Had a goodnight's sleep?" Liam is looking down at me with a smile as bright as the sun; it's blinding.

" Hi, good morning. Yeah, I never slept that well for a long time." I answered softly, not looking directly at his eyes.

" Good. Must be the place or the weather then." He said. " Do you want to join us after your breakfast?" he added.

" Where's Taylor?" I changed the topic to remind him that he has a girlfriend and stop giving me attention that might confuse his girlfriend. Or me.

" I don't know. I think she went back to New York." He answered and sounded disinterested. Did something happen last night? I looked up at him, surprised. He seems not to care that she left a week before Collette's wedding.

" I would love to play with you guys, but I really have to go to school. I have a meeting with the Principal and get some materials for my class. I will be starting as soon as the school starts next month." I explained to him, apologizing.

" Oh, yeah, sorry, I forgot. Do you need help with Sophie? You can leave her here while you go and do your thing." He offered, and my heart skipped. I averted my eyes and stole a glance at aunt Carmen. She had a secret smile on her lips and winked at me discreetly.

" Oh. Thank you, that is so sweet of you, Liam, but mom can watch over Sophie later. I won't be long anyway, or maybe I'll bring her to show her around since she will be going to school there this year.

" Who will send you there? Do you need a ride?" He asked again. He grabbed the seat near me and sat beside me, watching me eat. Great, how do you think I can eat with you watching me, Liam?

I took small bites and chewed slowly. I kept my eyes down and watched my very interesting bacon fighting with my scrambled eggs.

" Bella?" I heard Liam call my name and I looked up startled.

" I was asking you how you will go to school? Do you need a ride? I can send you and wait for you until you're done." He said, and I shook my head.

" I'll borrow my mom's car. Thank you, though, for your offer." Just then, my very sweaty daughter came running towards me and slammed her small body to me, hugging me.

" Mommy! Good morning, mommy. You wake up late, and I got hungry, so auntie Coyet took me and gave me food." She said, looking up at me with a pout. My heart swelled every time I see her face, how I love that beautiful face.

" I'm sorry, sweetheart. Mommy must be very tired yesterday. Did you thank aunt Collette for breakfast?" I asked her, kissing her nose and head.

" Ahhhh... Thank you, aunt Coyet and uncle Liam and grandma and grandpa." She announced and buried her face in my stomach, suddenly feeling shy.

" You're welcome, baby. Call me any time you're hungry." Collette said, smiling and sitting on Todd's lap.

" Any time, Princess. Come here. let mommy finish her food first." Liam grabbed her and placed her on his lap, and started tickling her. Laughter filled the whole place, and everyone watched the two with smiles on their faces.

I smiled too, but my heart is bleeding. We look like a happy family, but that would be impossible. Liam will never forgive me once he found out the truth.

Suddenly my food is not that appetizing anymore, and the lump in my throat won't go away. Collette and aunt Carmen is watching me. I can feel their eyes. I did not dare look up and continued staring at my food, listening to my daughter's laughter.

How my heart ached every time, she asked for her father. Now that she is in her father's arms, I couldn't even tell her. Liam would be a great dad for sure. I mean, he is a pediatrician, which explains his love for kids.

Will he love and accept Sophie when he finds out the truth? Will he forgive me for hiding the truth? The wheels in my head are working non-stop, so many questions.

So many fears, what if he will take away my daughter from me? I cannot live without my daughter. I would rather die than not be with her. She is the only thing that keeps me sane. The heartaches of my past were erased the moment she came into my life.

The possibility of losing her breaks my heart all over again. The same way it broke when I lost her father.