Chapter 6: Isabel

Amelia spun around to see the last person she wanted to see. Isabel stood in the partly opened door, holding onto the knob as if it were a lifeline. A pained expression crossed her face and she grimaced as if the pain manifested itself physically.

"Honey?" Alex said.

Isabel's relation to Alex was brought home to Amelia with painful clarity. She knew at some point she'd have to broach this subject with Isabel, but she'd hoped it would be later. Amelia needed to time wrap her brain around the idea that she was pregnant. She assumed Alex would need the same adjustment period.

He'd been a father once, so it might not be such a jolt, even if this was all unexpected.

"Why would Amelia have to move in with us?"

Great. Isabel lived with her father. That didn't complicate things at all. Amelia had no plans on moving in with Alex and Isabel. She was sure she would lose her new friend over this pregnancy as it was. She didn't expect Isabel to take this situation lightly.

Amelia looked back at Alex, who seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "Let's talk about this later."

"No, Daddy. I want to talk about it now. I find my new friend here and you're inviting her to stay with us. I find that odd. You don't like strangers in your house."

"It's complicated, honey," Alex said.

Alex gave Amelia a look as if they had more to talk about. At that moment, she realized that he thought she was lying about knowing who he was. They'd just gotten to a place of trust, and now it was broken. Amelia didn't care except that she didn't lie to people. It was a point of pride that she took responsibility and dealt with things head-on. There had been no deception on her part.

"Explain it to me."

Alex sighed.

Amelia didn't make eye contact with Isabel. She understood how this all looked to Isabel. Amelia would be that many people had become friendly with Isabel to get to her father. It must get tiring not knowing who to trust. Her heart went out to Isabel.

"Can we discuss this later? I'd like to finish this meeting first, Izzy."

Isabel cocked her head. "I don't think so. This affects me and I should have a say in it."

"I'd rather have this conversation in private with you," Alex said.

Amelia felt caught between the two of them.

"I'd rather have this conversation now," Isabel said, closing the door behind her.

She crossed her arms and stood there, her gaze ricocheting from Amelia to her father and back.

"Well?" she asked. "Who is going to explain why Amelia, my supposed friend, is moving in with us."

"I didn't know she was your friend," Alex said.

"I didn't know Isabel at the conference. We met later. Online," Amelia said.

It might not make a difference, but she needed Isabel to know that she hadn't been used. Amelia wasn't like that.

"Why is the conference significant?" Isabel said. "We didn't know each other then. Why is that important?"

"Because I don't want you to think that I used you," Amelia said. "And I don't want your father to think I knew who he was."

Isabel's gaze bounced around again. "You're saying that you went to that conference having no idea who my father was?"

"I had no idea who he was when I met him in the bar."

Isabel put up her hand. "I don't need to know anything more." A shudder went through her. "Are you in love or something?"

The disdain dripping off of her voice cut a wedge through Amelia. She liked Isabel and had hoped they would have a great friendship. One night had ruined that.

Alex cleared his throat his gaze taking in Amelia. He was asking permission and she nodded back at him.

"Amelia is pregnant."

"Yeah, I know that. I was there when she took the pregnancy test."

And then Isabel's mouth fell open. The dots connected. The light went on in her brain. Amelia watched the emotions cross her face.

The last one was horror. "You slept with Amelia?"

"Who I sleep with is none of your business, Isabel Grace," Alex said.

"When it's someone my age and I know that person it is."

"We've established you didn't know her then," Alex said.

Amelia kept her mouth shut. She doubted anything she could say would help the situation. She'd already lost Isabel as a friend. That couldn't be changed or saved.

Isabel waved her hands. "It's still gross."

Alex folded his hands on his desk. He looked as if he was going to explain something to a toddler. "Isabel. This isn't up for discussion. It happened, and now there are consequences."

"You knocked her up."

"That's vulgar, Isabel."

"Now you're letting her move in?"

"That's where the discussion was going. I'd take responsibility for things, Isabel. This baby is mine, and I'm going to make sure it comes into this life as healthy as possible."

Amelia wanted the same thing. She could take care of herself, but she decided now was not the time to argue that point. She hadn't agreed to move in.

Isabel threw up her hands. "I can't believe this."

She stormed out and slammed the door behind her. Amelia flinched, but let the silence afterward perk for a moment. She didn't know what to say now. Things had gotten out of control.

Alex let out a long breath. "Well, that went about as well as expected."

"You think that went well?"

Alex shrugged. "She'll calm down."

Amelia wasn't convinced and the whole encounter had left her shaking. She rose. It was time to go. She'd left enough of a trail of destruction with her announcement. There was work waiting for her at her apartment.

"Where are you going? We have more to talk about."

Amelia spun back to him. "I'm not moving in with you."