Fernando sighed as soon as he said that and closed his eyes."Fer," Lia started but he shook his head. "You guys are acting like children. And why are you so concerned if she magically disappeared and is back, Lia? Shouldn't you be happy to have your mother back?" Lia blinked repeatedly, her eyes watering. Fernando had never shouted at her before—well not since they became a real couple he hadn't. She leaned back in her chair and just stared."You owe us an explanation," Fernando said, eyeing Janet and she gulped.She nodded. "Yes I admit I disappeared on the wedding day but I swear it wasn't my fault." She paused and eyed her daughter then Fernando. Both of them were quietly watching her. "I got into an accident and I was in a coma for a very long time. I just recently woke up. I was surprised to hear you talk about a funeral or a tombstone. I have no idea about that." Lia blinked back tears and just stared. It was Fernando that asked the question she was desperate to ask. "Why
The door opened just as Janet slid off the bed and Fernando walked in. Lia itched to run to him but she stopped herself and instead took her time getting off the bed. "Fernando," Janet rose to her feet before Lia could and walked towards him, taking his hand. Lia looked away, unable to admire the picture they made standing together like that. This was what should have been but then her mother had an accident while coming for the wedding. She had been forced to replace her and now she was being forced to hide her relationship. Why was life so cruel? Her husband was standing less than 5 ft away and she couldn’t grab him and kiss him senseless. Until they were sure that her mother was okay and that she could handle the news, they would pretend. "Lia," she felt a hand on her shoulder and she shook, sighing in relief when she saw it was Fernando. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck but she held herself. “Why are you still up?” she asked as if she didn’t understand that they b
Fernando sat up on the bed and took of his shirt. He placed it beside him on the bed and rested his head against the pillow again. He eyed the spot where his shirt was, the same spot where Lia used to sleep when Janet wasn’t around. He wants nothing more than to have her in his arms, like it used to be. He still didn’t understand why they had to deny themselves for a woman who left him at the altar.Lia was really the only reason why he hadn’t acted out to Janet because she was having all these ideas in her head about them getting back together. So much time had passed, did she really think he would wait? Was he supposed to?If he had met and married some other woman, would he also have to pretend? Couldn’t Janet see Lia as some other woman and not her daughter? He couldn’t sleep anymore because Lia wasn’t in bed with him. Before, just knowing she was lying beside him gave him peace but now that she was downstairs in that guestroom with Janet, he was restless.As he closed his eyes t
"Thank you," Fernando rubbed his hands in glee as Lia placed a plate of pancakes in front of him. She had been up since the crack of dawn and with no hope of sleep in sight, she had decided to get cooking. It had taken about 30 minutes for her to come to a decision. Pancakes had been the only favorable choice in the end. After the second round in the shower, she had slipped back to her room and slept beside Janet. For the first time since Janet showed up, Lia had slept easily and well. She couldn't wait until they could tell Janet everything. "It looks so great Lia, nicely done." Janet praised as she poured syrup all over hers. Fernando made a face and Lia bit her lip, fighting back a chuckle. Fernando hated syrup and preferred to eat his pancakes with olive oil instead of using syrup. He wouldn't actually do it but that was how much he hated syrup. "Thanks mum," Lia patted her mother's lap as she took her seat again. "I learnt it all from you." "Well, I guess I'm a good teacher
"Get my keys in the room." After saying that, Fernando bent down to pick up Lia from the ground. Janet watched as he lifted her daughter in his arms, his face incredibly sullen and she took off, running towards the bedroom. The master's bedroom where she would be moving back into as soon as Lia left. She opened the door to the bedroom and snatched his keys from the table, also picking up his phone. Wouldn't it be faster to get a doctor to them, rather than have him drive all the way? As she left the room, she dialed the doctor's number on his phone and informed him of their emergency. By the time she reached the two again, Fernando had laid Lia on the bed and was leaning over her, his whole body shaking. She eyed him for a while and touched his shoulders as she leaned down to drop his keys and his phone. She walked out of the room and bumped into Lia's bag that was on the floor. The contents spilled out of the bag and Janet sighed, kneeling to pick them out. "This girl. How coul
“I came as soon as you called, where is she?” Lydia asked, gasping for air. Jane sighed and closed the door, leaning against it.She lifted her head and Lydia frowned as she took in the unshed tears on her face. “She’s in there. She hasn’t said a word. All I got were tears.”Lydia wrapped her arms around Jane’s shoulder and led her towards the bedroom where Lia was. As they got to the door, Lydia stopped and they both stared at their friend. Lia had never been one to show her emotions except when the situation was way out of her control. Right now, her hands were wrapped around her stomach protectively and her eyes were staring at nothing.The duo exchanged a look. Jane sighed and moved away, giving Lydia the honor of going first. Lydia took one unsure step forward and paused again, eyeing Lia who was motionless. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to say it? She didn’t even know what happened. Fernando was at Adam’s place; her place and he was in the same state excep
“I must warn you; the gel is pretty cold at first,” Lia nodded and moaned in discomfort as the doctor rubbed the gel on her belly. It had been two weeks since she had moved out of Fernando’s house and in those two weeks, she hadn’t seen Fernando at all. She didn’t know if she still had the right to call him after all he was her father. Their relationship was a forbidden one. Her mother also had been distant. She hadn’t even reached out to check on her daughter and grandchild. Was it because she was mad about her daughter and her lover having something together? Lia didn’t know. Every day was harder than the previous one but she kept fighting and pushing. Thankfully, her friends were by her side. Fernando was still staying at Adam’s place. Well, she didn’t know for sure since she hadn’t been there since, but Adam had mentioned it and Lydia stylishly added it in conversation once in a while. What good could come out of her seeing Fernando anyway? What good would it do? It wouldn’t
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
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