Amelia couldn’t remember a time in her life that she’d ever felt so positive and at peace with herself, and the direction her life was taking. These new feelings of inner happiness and glow had her feeling like she was living every day of her life on cloud nine, with no worries of the future constantly nagging at her. Choosing to have James in her life was truly the best decision she’s made in a while.
As usual, it was a Friday afternoon and they’d closed early from work, as was the norm. James had driven home with Amelia, intending to spend the rest of the day with her and Dora. While Dora was still in school, they decided to have some quiet time to themselves before the toddler arrived.
“What do you wanna do?” James asked, wrapping his arms around Amelia’s waist, and gently pulling her against him. They’d just stepped into her home.
“You have something in mind?” she questioned, glancing up at him, but he reached for a stray strand of her luscious brown hair and tucked it behind her ear, while staring into her eyes lovingly.
“I’m contempt with just holding you. As long as I have you here with me, I’m fine, love,”
He leaned in and gently brushed his lips against her head, making her blush.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, cradling her face in his palm and kissing her forehead again.
Amelia blushed harder, at a loss for words, their conversation lost to her.
“So tell me, sweetheart, what would you like to do?” James inquired, bringing her mind back to the conversation.
“How good of a cook are you?” she wiggled her brows, a smirk curving her lips.
“Well, I wouldn’t say I’m an excellent chef but I could put up a simple dish,”
“So… how about we make lunch together?”
“I’d like that,”
“But I’ll have to change into comfortable clothes,”
“Suit yourself, my lady,” he released her from his comfortable hold, bowing at her.
A giggle escaped from Amelia’s lips, filling his ears with a musical ring as she moved towards her bedroom to change.
A few minutes later, she returned to see James with his suit jacket draped over one of the dining chairs, with the sleeves of his dress shirt rolled up, ready to hit the kitchen.
“Ooh…” she drawled, and he responded with a wink.
Grabbing his arm, she led him into the kitchen and threw an apron at him, also getting one for herself. As soon as they decided on what to make for lunch, they began, with Amelia asking him to help with the veggies.
“You fit so well into my kitchen,” she complimented him, giggling.
“Yeah?” he quirked a brow in question, chuckling at the way she bobbed her head in response, her musical laughter still ringing in the kitchen. “Teach me to be your personal chef then,” he winked at her, leaning over and quickly kissing her forehead.
Amelia hadn’t expected it and for a moment, her eyes locked on his, radiating so much affection that she felt her heart leaping inside her.
“Come on love, we still have lunch to prepare,” he spoke after a while, breaking their trance.
“Yeah?” she asked with an innocent expression etched on her face, before proceeding to throw an egg at him that broke on his chest, the slimy liquid running down his white dress shirt. “Oops!” she blurted out, grinning, and turning on her heels to escape James but she wasn’t fast enough as he immediately caught her, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist and pinning her to the nearest wall. He grabbed a few eggs from the crate and returned the favor, breaking them on her face, while she let out a string of giggles, as she struggled to get free of his grasp.
“Now how’s that?” he asked, his eyes glinting and a smile on his face, but Amelia raised her hands in surrender.
James grabbed her hands, pinning them above her, just to stare into her honey-brown orbs that were shining with so much happiness, and radiating joy. The more they stared at each other, the more they subconsciously leaned into each other with Amelia’s heart racing wildly. Deep down, she knew what was coming but wasn’t ready to stop it. She’s been so scared of truly going all-in with James but now, she didn’t want to hold back anymore.
Leaning into her, James rested his forehead against hers, still staring into her eyes, with his warm breath fanning her nicely shaped lips. Just when she expected him to kiss her, he voiced out the words,
“Can I kiss you?”
His words were barely above a whisper but she heard them and instead of responding, she closed the little distance between them by sealing her lips to his in a soft passionate kiss. As quickly as their lips had met, they parted, with Amelia heaving. It felt as though she’d just crossed a hurdle.
“You still want to cook?” she asked quickly, not wanting things to become awkward as a result of her abruptly ending the kiss. But James wouldn’t let her go. He enveloped her in a hug, rubbing her back soothingly before whispering into her ear;
“We don’t have to rush things, love. We’ll get there,”
“Thank you,” she murmured, her appreciation dripping from her words.
“Come on, let’s get on with lunch preparation. We still have to pick Dora up from school soon,”
Amelia couldn’t help but smile at the fact that he still recalled Dora’s closing hour. Putting the kiss behind them, they worked together to make lunch and in about an hour's time, they were done.
“Oh my God, we’re a bit late. I just hope she isn’t worried already,” Amelia lamented the moment they stepped into the living room and her eyes landed on the fancy wall clock.
“Come on, the faster we get out of here, the quicker we’ll get to her.”
“Let me get my pause then we can leave,” Amelia said, but the moment she turned on her heels, the doorbell rang. A frown of displeasure took over her face, wondering who it was that had come to waste the time they didn’t have.
“Are you expecting anyone at this time?”
“No…”
The words left her mouth as she reached for the door handle but when she pulled it open, she wasn’t ready for the sight that greeted her.
Her eyes landed on very familiar cold gray eyes that had her legs freezing on the spot, mouth parting in shock.
“Mommy, daddy is home. He brought me from school.”
Dora’s excited voice broke through her trance, causing her eyes to drift to where the toddler and her worst nightmare were joined, arm in arm.
Amelia’s initial shock and horror wore off the moment the man standing in front of her spoke. “Hello, Princess,” he smirked. But his words only ignited the fury that had been brewing in her, her face turning a darker shade with her heart thudding loudly. “Babe, we have to leave early…” James popped out from behind Amelia, his words dying on his lips when his eyes landed on Dora and the strange man holding her. Before Amelia could quickly rectify the situation, Dora’s eyes lit up the moment she saw James. “This is my dad. He’s back,” the toddler innocently informed James in a cheerful voice. Amelia saw the sudden change in Ryan’s facial expression, an amusing glint flashing in his eyes as they raked over James, before returning to rest on her. For some reason, she could read the mockery in his look and that only infuriated her more. Apart from having the nerves to show up at her apartment like they were old friends, he had the guts to show himself to a child he had no claims to, e
The next morning was a Saturday and Amelia’s plans of sleeping in were destroyed by the loud ringing of the doorbell. She tried ignoring the visitor but they only kept disrupting her sleep by continuously ringing the bell. Annoyed by whoever it was, she marched out of her room towards the living room with a deep scowl etched on her face. But her anger only increased when she threw the door open to see Ryan standing there, impeccably dressed in a suit even at that ungodly hour of the morning. A hiss of annoyance slipped out of her lips. Coupled with the sudden rage that descended upon her at his sight, she resorted to slamming the door against him but Ryan was quick to grab onto it, successfully wielding his arm between the door and its frame while forcefully shoving it open, despite Amelia’s hold on it.She was so shocked by his sudden intrusion that she stood still, staring at her with wide eyes and an open mouth.“Good morning, Princess,” he said in a voice too cheerful for Amelia’
Amelia stirred the eggs in the pan while often glancing at Ryan and Dora, seated at the kitchen island, both playing a game on Ryan’s phone. As much as she was livid at the man, the sight of her daughter so relaxed and happy in his arms had her heart-melting. Quickly, she returned her attention to the eggs, needing to prepare breakfast quickly so she could leave for work. She was still busy cooking when she felt the heat of his body beside hers.“You need a hand?”Amelia rolled her eyes at his act of kindness.“Whatever you’re up to will not change anything, Ryan. At the end of the day, you’ll walk out of our lives and get back to whatever you’ve been doing for the last five years,”“I don't ever want to go back there,” he murmured quietly, staring at her with remorse in his eyes. Amelia was quiet for a while, staring into his usually dark brooding eyes that now held a vulnerable expression, and for a moment, she forgot how much he’d hurt her and wondered what must have happened to
The weekend was finally over and it was the beginning of a new week. Amelia couldn’t be more thankful to begin another week, after all of the drama that Ryan’s return had caused. She could still vividly recall the look of betrayal in James’ face the moment Ryan spewed those lies from his mouth about them getting back together. That morning, they’d driven to work in silence with James ignoring her for the rest of the day. All her attempts to speak to him were in vain and she’d given up. But luckily for her, he called her that evening, demanding to know the truth and she’d vehemently denied Ryan’s word, filling him in on everything the man had said before his arrival, but not daring to mention the marriage certificate.She knew she’d lose James if he ever found out about it, and you may call her selfish, but he was the only light in her world apart from Dora and she wasn’t about to let Ryan Davidson steal that from her. Ryan could go to hell for all she cared, and he’d have to kill her
Amelia and James had successfully settled their differences, putting the weekend issue behind them. That afternoon, they had lunch together as usual and spent the rest of the day in harmony. After closing from work, James had offered to drive her home when he found out she didn't drive her car.“Why did you drive?” he asked Amelia, on their way to Dora’s school. Not that he didn't like being her chauffeur but he was just concerned.“It's a bit faulty. I had to board an Uber to drop Dora off at school and to get here,”She quickly lied, not wanting James to know the truth. Honestly, she hated lying to him but it was the woman Ryan Davidson had made her. As much as she hated it, she couldn't tell James that Ryan dropped her off_not after settling their misunderstanding. She couldn’t stand another week of him ignoring her.A comfortable silence descended upon them for the rest of the drive until they arrived at Dora’s school. As soon as the little girl sighted them, she ran towards them
Amelia stared at her reflection in the mirror, smiling to herself before doing a little twirl. Dressed in a navy bodycon dress that was knee length and her usually pin-straight brown hair falling to her shoulders in glossy waves, she was ready for her date with James.It was a Friday evening and James had mentioned taking her on a date just to enjoy the evening after having a hectic week at work. Amelia was excited to be spending some alone time with James. She couldn’t remember a time she’d ever gone out with him without having Dora as a company. Although her daughter wouldn’t be pleased with the arrangement, she had no doubt that James would find a means to pacify her. And just like she’d expected, the man arrived a few minutes later, with flowers in his hands and chocolate for the little girl.“Hello, little lady,” James greeted Dora, leaning to her level and handing her the banquet of roses and a box of chocolate.“You spoil her so much,” Amelia tried complaining but she couldn't
Amelia couldn't control her next actions as she landed a hot slap on Ryan’s face from the fury of his words.“How dare you?” she barked at him, surprising the man who was still reeling from the sting of Amelia’s slap across his face. He stood still, staring at her in shock. It was the first time he was seeing her so angry. Knowing he must have hit the wrong nerve with his words made him recoil in remorse, his lips opening to speak but she wouldn’t even let him breathe out a word.“How dare you speak against my motherly roles and care for my child, you hypocrite. Where were you when this child was conceived and born, huh? Or do you think you can just show up after five years and take on the role of the caring father? You have better think twice, Ryan.”He tried speaking again but she wasn't done as she quickly cut him off with her next words, striking his heart deeply as though he’d been stabbed with a knife. But truly, he couldn’t fault her as he deserved every insult she threw at hi
Ryan sat in his extravagantly furnished office, trying hard to focus on the documents he was reading through, but his mind kept on wandering to his last visit to Amelia, and Dora. He couldn’t get her backlash from his head, and as much as her words had hurt him, he had no right to be annoyed, not when he’d been the one to accuse her of being a terrible mom, out of pure jealousy.That evening, he’d been in Texas for a social event that ended quite early. Thereafter, he’d decided to stop by Amelia’s home just to see the kid and Amelia. But his plans of spending the evening with them was destroyed when he arrived to see Dora in the arms of a younger woman who claimed to be her nanny. Considering Dora seemed comfortable with her, he wasn’t alarmed. But his mood swiftly moved from cheerful to furious when he’d inquired of Amelia and he was informed she’d gone out on a date. Without second thoughts, he knew it was with her new boyfriend. He couldn’t hold back on the uncontrollable wave of j