"I can't believe you left me." Blake scoffed, shooting Lia glares and she sighed. She was glad the lovely lady at the entrance had found Blake. How was she supposed to explain a missing person? The shops could get quite confusing for a first timer Donna had told her. Lia told herself to stick close to Donna until they were outside. "He is the chaperone? I remember him from the other day. You really have a thing for getting left behind." Donna said referring to the time Lia walked off to greet Adam and left Blake. Lia chuckled and shook her head. "What's the first thing we're doing?" "I was thinking we should get our nails done. I have been meaning to get them done for weeks now but I don't have time between work and Liam." Lia couldn't remember the last time she got a manicure. Her nails were in desperate need of one. "Can I get one too?" Blake asked and the two women turned to him. Donna had an amused expression on her face and Lia's expression was one of shock. "Sure." Donna
Lia walked into the bedroom and groaned, dropping the shopping bags in her hand on the floor. How had Blake managed to carry them for that long? They were so heavy. "Hmmm." She sighed, slumping on the bed. The girls' day out had been a huge success, their pizza lunch was the highlight of the entire day. She couldn't wait to tell Fernando all about her day. But where was he anyway? The door of the bathroom opened and the object of her thoughts walked out, a towel wrapped around his neck. "Hey, did you just get back?" Fernando asked, bending down to place a kiss on her forehead. She sighed again and threw her arm around his neck forcing him to lift her into his arms and stand up. "You're so cool." She muttered burying her face in his neck and he chuckled, throwing his towel on the bed. "Tell me about your day." He eyed the shopping bags on the floor as he sat down on the bed, dropping her in his lap. "I haven't been on a girl's date since Jane, it was sooo much fun!" She used h
"Do we really have to do this?" Lia asked, tossing a lingerie set to the pile of things she wasn't taking. Lydia grabbed the lingerie set and tossed it back at her. "We talked about this Lia, you have to spice up your marriage." Lia rolled her eyes and grabbed a sleeveless dress off the rack, walking towards the mirror to check the fit. "You know what my marriage with Fernando is like. What if he doesn't want this?" "Why won't he?" Lydia came up behind her and touched her shoulder. "No one can resist a woman in Victoria secret, not even Fernando James." "The marriage isn't real." Lia argued and Lydia rolled her eyes. "Not from where I'm standing. That man is head over heels for you right now and you're just too blind to see it. I'm sure he's dying to touch you but he's scared." "Scared of what?" Lydia sighed and walked off, looking through the rack again. "Uhn, you! He's scared that you might push him away or reject him. Your marriage didn't have a good foundation so he's just
Adam opened the door and held it open for Lia. "Lia, there you are. Come on, the staff are waiting in my office." Lia blushed and tucked her hair behind her hair. When Fernando had told her she was going to meet his staff today, she didn't think it was going to be this nerve wrecking. "There's the boss herself." Fernando announced as Lia walked into the office and she flushed, stopping in her step. She recognized some faces from the time they came around the restaurant and the others she couldn't wait to get to know. "Everyone, this is Amelia James, Fernando's wife. She'll be working in the kitchen alongside me as the chef from now on."Lia blushed, shaking her head. "Don't be so formal Adam. You can call Lia." She told them and everyone clapped. "Now that the introductions are over, can I steal my wife away?" Fernando asked and Lia flushed, glaring at him. "Don't you have a video meeting with Donna?" She asked and Adam shook his head. "Everyone please get back to work now. Tha
"You guys don't have to do this." Jane sniffed, blowing her nose as she closed the door for Lydia. As soon as Lia called Lydia, she agreed to come over and now barely thirty minutes later, she arrived with tubs of ice-cream, all in different flavours."Nonsense." Lydia said, swatting her off. "Girls need to look out for each other. Here you go, the spoon." Jane sniffed and used the tissue to soak up some stray tears. Lia couldn't believe she had kept such a big secret from her. "I love you girls so much." "I love you but I'm still mad at you." Lia told her, grabbing a tub of cookies and cream for herself. "I can't believe all this was happening and you kept it away from me." She took one large scoop and stuffed it in her mouth , frowning. "It's simple Lia." Lydia started, grabbing a tub for herself. Lia couldn't tell what flavor it was but it had nuts…it was butter pecan, she realized as Lydia took a scoop and popped it in her mouth. "You and Fernando were just getting to know eac
"Hey Lia." Lia raised her head and nodded, acknowledging the greeting as she stirred the soup. "Hey. Is Adam here yet?" She couldn't remember the girl's name. Since she was still new, names were a bit of a challenge for her. The girl shook her head no and loaded her tray. "You're doing a great job." She said, sending Lia a wink as she walked out of the kitchen. Lia smiled and sighed, dropping the spatula inside the flat plate she had set on the counter. It was 9:45am and the restaurant was packed with hungry customers but Adam wasn't here yet. It was only her second day on the job but she was in charge of the cooking today since Adam was for some unknown reason a no-show. She yelped and turned towards the soup, grabbing the spatula again. She continued stirring, sighing in relief when she noticed it wasn't burnt. There was no way she could serve burnt food to the guests. It'd leave a bitter taste in their mouths. The same girl from before entered the kitchen again and L
"Leave my bags over there." Lia ordered, closing the door behind her. Jane wasn't home so ordinarily she wouldn't have been able to get in. Thank God Jane had given her a spare key to her place some days back. "Is there anything else you'd like me to do for you Mrs. James?" Liam asked and Lia winced at the name. 'I'm not Mrs James!' She yelled inside her head but smiled at him. "No, that would be all. You can go back home now. I don't need the car." He stood still for a moment, studying her and she sighed. "I'm serious Liam, go." "But Mr James.." Lia gritted her teeth and rested her hands on the chair. "Tell Mr James I asked you to come back because I don't need the car." Lia dismissed him with her hand and walked away, heading for the bedroom.She closed the door behind her and slumped to the ground, resting against the door. *You want to know? Well here it is. Janet is dead okay? Janet Lawson is dead.*"Mum is dead. She's dead." Lia whispered to the empty room and burst out l
Lia groaned and sat up in bed, holding her head. Why was the room spinning? Where was Fernando and why would he leave the curtains open? "Mrs. James." Liam said walking into the room and she shot him a glare. "Must you speak so loudly?" She scolded and closed her eyes and rubbed her head as if that would stop the throbbing. Where was Fernando and why was the driver in their bedroom?Liam bit his lip to stop himself from laughing as he walked forward and dropped the tray he was carrying on the bed. "I brought you some painkillers and a cup of coffee." Lia opened one eye and checked the tray. She sighed and reached for the cup of coffee. Liam helped her out because the cup was slipping from her hands. She muttered her thanks as she brought it to her lips and took a sip. Hot! She almost spat out the coffee. Liam collected the cup from her hands and apologized for the burn even though it wasn't his fault. "Where is Fernando?" Liam eyed her with a frown. Why was she looking for the
2 days later. "Are you sure about this?" Jane asked, fixing Lia's hair. "You still have enough time before your due date." Lia shook her head. "No Jane, I can feel that something is going to happen sooner or later. And if I'm going into labor, I want to be married first." Lia had called her friends and Fernando to inform them that she'd love to push the wedding forward after her visit with Dr. Baymont. She didn't want her child born out of wedlock and she didn't want to have contractions while walking down the aisle with her father by her side. "Well, you look beautiful." Lydia announced, walking into the room. "Do you have something borrowed?" Lia rolled her eyes. "Do people still stick with that tradition?" Jane gasped looking offended and Lydia shook her head. "Well of course people still follow it. We want to follow it." Lia opened her mouth to protest but Lydia glared at her. "No ifs or buts, you're doing it." She pulled out a packaged box from her bag and stretched it o
4 months later…."You started without me." Lia remarked, sitting down on the seat looking offended. Sebastian Reynolds smiled and held his hands up. "I'm sorry. It's just a cup of coffee, today has been a long day." Lia sighed. "Tell me about it," as she spoke, she rubbed her belly and Sebastian smiled. "How's the baby?" He asked, taking a sip of his coffee and she smiled, in the big way she always did whenever anyone asked about the baby. "Growing stronger everyday. I think I felt a kick earlier today at the shop but I'm not sure." Lia had opened a little coffee shop, BREW where she sold coffee and finger food. Fernando had been against it because of the baby but with a little push, she had been able to convince him. He sometimes helped her at the shop when he wasn't at the restaurant with Adam. Sebastian nodded. "When is your due date again? Are you sure you should still be working there?" Lia rolled her eyes and signaled to the waiter. "Dad, I'm pregnant not handicapped. I c
"i'll be in the kitchen Lia. It's nice to see you again Ms. James." Lydia greeted and walked off. Lia didn't miss the symphatetic smile she sent her way and she appreciated it. Why did her mother decide to show up at such a time?"Do you want to come in?" Lia asked, looking down at the window. Anything to avoid her mother's judging look. "I asked you a question." Janet shot back and Lia sighed. "Fine then, I'll sit because I'm tired and hungry." She took a seat and crossed her legs, leaning back against the couch. Janet eyed her for a while before walking over to her. She stood in front of her for a split second before she spoke. "So you're not going to answer my question?" Lia opened her eyes and glared at Janet. "I'm trying to decide if I actually owe you an explanation. I haven't seen you since you kicked me out of my husband's home and told me that my said husband is actually my father so no, I'm not going to answer your question." Janet stared at her in silence, the clock h
Fernando leaned back and groaned, pushing the plate away. "I have missed this so much.” Lia raised her eyebrows. “Have you….really?”Fernando nodded. “I didn’t realize how much I had until I ate that.” Lia’s face fell and she nodded. “Oh, it’s the food. I see.” “Yeah, I'm telling you. You are a mean cook.” he smiled and she forced a smile too but he saw through it. “Did I say something wrong?” Lia shook her head. “No, you didn’t. It’s fine. I’m just…never mind.” She struggled to rise to her feet. “I will just clear these up.” she reached for his plate and placed it on hers, “Uhn, no, I’m not letting you leave like that.” He reached for her hand before she could take another step. “What did I do?”She shook her head. “Nothing Fernando, you did nothing.” “Then what did I say?” “Nothing Fer, I told you.” “Are you going to actually not tell me what I said?” he asked and she sighed, tugging for him to let go. He did. Lia sighed. “Look Fer, the fact that I actually have to tell you.
"How have you been?" Fernando asked and Lia eyed him for a while. Was that really his first question? Lia shrugged. "I'm doing okay. Just moody half the time and sometimes, I can't understand why." Fernando's eyes filled with concern and worry and Lia hoped he'd ask the question that was really on his mind. "How's the baby doing?" Lia sighed. "The baby is growing bigger everyday. I thought I felt him kick yesterday but I think it's still too soon to tell." "Him?" He asked with raised eyebrows and Lia took a moment to drink him in. It had been so long since she had gotten the chance to look at him like this. He didn't look different from the last time she saw him, which was a few hours ago in the bathroom. She looked away and her gaze fell on her lap. She had put on some weight. "I can't call the baby an it and I really want a boy." He just smiled and Lia rolled her eyes. "This is the part where you tell me what you want the baby to be." He flushed and she laughed. "Well, I d
"Oh no you don't." Lia scoffed and ran after him. She opened the door expecting to find him but he was long gone. "Coward." She muttered under her breath as she walked back towards the place she knew her friends would be. Surely enough they were right there. Lydia was taking pictures of some cute onesies while Jane was staring into space. Lia sighed and walked up to her. Jane looked up as soon as she got to her and smiled. "Hey, where have you been? I was getting worried." Lia rolled her eyes and laughed. Trust Jane to worry even when Lia had screwed up. "I'm sorry about earlier, I'm not handling any of these changes well. You didn't do anything wrong and I shouldn't have shouted at you." Jane scoffed and tugged Lia's hand until she sat down beside her. She looked into her eyes and shook her head. "You don't owe me any apology. I should have understood that everything that's been going on is a bit too much. Perhaps I shouldn't have pushed for this shopping spree anyway. The only
"Don't tell me she's still in bed?!" Lydia yelled, tossing her bag on the sofa. She kicked off her shoes and crossed the room, stomping towards the bedroom.. Jane scoffed and waved her hands. "Does she ever leave the bed? I swear at this point we need an intervention." "You don't need an intervention, I'm fine." Lia announced her presence, walking out of the room. She almost bumped into Lydia on her way out. "Hey girl, how come you are here so early?" Lydia opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out. Lia chuckled and shook her head, walking away. Her steps were not uneasy this time or unsure, she actually seemed to be in a good mood for a change. "Is that a smile I see?" Lydia asked, running towards Jane and she gasped, glaring at Lydia. "Don't you dare creep up on me like that again. I almost had a heart attack." She scoffed and crossed her arms against her chest as she looked back at Lia's retreating form. "Yes. I think something good is going to happen today. She's been li
"Hey babe.” Lydia called and Adam raised up his head, a big smile on his face. "Yeah?" "Have you seen Lia's sonogram? It's beautiful! I can't wait for her to give birth." Lia rolled her eyes and smiled at Adam. "She's exaggerating, it's not like that at all." Adam eyed her for a while, a smile playing on his lips. "Why do I feel like you're not giving yourself enough credit?" Lia shrugged smiling, although it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I don't know why you'd think that." "Yeah, she's being modest." Lydia said, stretching out something to him. "Lyd—" Lia made a move to grab it but Adam shook his head. "I just want to see, Lia." Lia hesitated for a while and then shook her head. "Fine but it's not all that." "Let me be the judge of that." He said as he examied the picture in his hands. At first he didn't get it but then, it hit him. "Wow, this is really beautiful Lia, I'm so proud of you." Lia flushed and hugged Adam, sniffling. "Thank you, that means alot coming from you.
Adam eyed Janet and Fernando who he had just called out. "I'll leave you two alone." He pated Fernando's shoulder on the way out of the living room. "I'll be in the office if you need me." Fernando nodded and walked into the living room taking a seat. Janet her eyed for a while and sat down too. They settled into the silence around and then Janet sighed. "I came to see how you're doing." Fernando let out a dry laugh. "How do you think I'm doing?" Janet shrugged. "Well, if that's your reply then not so good I guess." "Have you even reached out to your daughter since everything happened?" Fernando asked and Janet shook her head. "I'm still mad about her moving on with you so fast after I left." Fernando scoffed. "That's really what you're upset about right now? in this situation, I honestly thought you'd be siding with your daughter after hearing what actually happened between us. I mean it was my fault she even got married to me in the first place." "Those are just semantics Fe