chapter 5

 

 

AMELIA

I hear my triplet boys making an unusual sound at the door. I have warned them, especially Jerry, the oldest, not to open the door for strangers. I left the food I had on fire, lowered the gas valve, and rushed to the entrance. I met them with a tall, handsome man whom I had never seen before.

 

My kids were all over him, calling him dad, and being clingy to him.

 

"Sorry if you had any problem with my kids," I apologized to the man, and then signaled Jerry to take his other two brothers inside. He quickly dragged them both to their room.

 

"Amelia Jackson?" the man asked. I am still surprised that a man wearing a refined handmaid suit would be here to see me. The man searched my face like he was trying to recall where he had met me before, but I am sure I have never met him.

 

"Yes, that is me... and you are?"

 

"It would be nicer if you’d offer me a seat." "Don't you think so?" he said. I hate his vibe. I won’t want that kind of person around my kids, but before I could reject his offer, he had already walked inside and offered himself a seat.

 

"You have not said your name yet?" Or you want me to call the cops on you before you get your rude self out of my house?

 

"The cops?" "Why... not like I really want to be here, by the way," he muttered the last sentence. He looked more calm than the way he spoke; could he possibly be a mafia sent to get rid of me by my jealous co-actors?

 

I have gotten this many scary threatening letters on most of my signing ceremonies; I have gotten used to them maybe because I knew the set of people it was coming from.

 

"I am Mr. Quinn from the Hansel Group, and I am here to ask for your hand in marriage." I was rude earlier, right? Sorry…  "I was in a bit of a mood."

 

My eyes lifted in surprise and furrowed in annoyance. I know that name. I understand why he is here now; I am quite close to him. He visits the hospital many times for his cancer treatment, and I am the doctor assigned to him. He had seen my kids many times, and each time they called him grandpa. I don’t understand why he sent his son to get married to me. Definitively, Quinn isn’t here out of his own will.

 

"I am sorry. but I am afraid that I can’t marry you. A man is definitely the last thing I need in my life now.

"Now?" That means I could try again later."

 

"... and EVER," I finalized. After what I have been through and surviving on my own all these years, I would never get myself involved with a man again.

 

"I am also afraid..." my family…  We are obsessed with getting everything we want. no matter what it costs. Too bad, my father wants us to get married, and. I do get back to work, dear; take care of yourself and the kids as well. They look so much alike and somehow bear a striking resemblance to my old self. We will see again. Definetely"

 

"I hope we don’t see each other again."

 

I slammed the door behind him. It looks more like a movie to me. How could a person be so unbelievable? a nice way to ruin my mood.

 

Oh, my food! I rushed to the kitchen, and unexpectedly, my boys were there. They were already off the gas completely; I only had to ditch out the food for them to eat. I know it was frustrating at first, but now I can’t imagine my life without my boys.

 

"Jerry. Jeff. Jack. I called out to my three boys to have their lunch after I had ditched The trio came rushing to the dining table.

 

We ate silently; I had warned them to observe table manners by not talking while they ate; however, Jeff chose to interrupt the silence.

 

" Mommy…  "That man earlier, is he... daddy?"

 

" What?"  I couldn’t help but exclaim. It was always heartbreaking to me that they still missed their father, even with all the affection I showered on them. I can’t bring myself to tell them they have no father like every other kid, so I sometimes tell them that their dad is away and will return someday.

 

"Mommy, did you get a divorce with daddy?" "He doesn’t seem so glad to see you and us.. too." Jack, my last twin baby, said

 

"Were you eavesdropping on your elder’ conversion? I told you never to do that. "And beside you all, listen, that man is not your father and would never be.. okay," my voice echoed, I was almost screaming.

 

The three muttered "yes." They looked like they were going to tear up any minute, and somehow I feel bad for shouting at them.

 

We continued with our meal silently, and they ate as quietly as ever. It shouldn’t be their fault that they grew up without a father. I tried so much to fill that space for them, but then it seems there is a leap hole somewhere. Just as I was about to apologize to my boys after taking the last food on my plate, my phone buzzed. I looked at my sons, but none of them were making any move to help me pick up my phone, something they normally rush to get for me. They must be really angry with their mother.

 

I went to pick up my phone myself. It was an unknown number. I picked it up and shoved my phone to my ear, waiting for the caller to say something.

 

" I suppose this is AMELIA JACKSON"

 

"Yes. How may I help you?" I responded, not sure who it was this time.

"Your father wants you back home. Amelia," the voice said.

 

It was a lady, probably my dad’s secretary. This is the first time he has reached out to me since I left New York for Italy. Back then, I watched my phone every minute, hoping that he would probably put a call across to his once-loving first daughter.

When it seemed like a wasted effort, I gave up, thinking that he might really not know where I was. I had to become an actress at least to appear on television, yet he didn't reach me all this while. 

 

Six freaking years and he wants me back; he definitely knew I was in Italy all this time, suffering... I blink my eyes repeatedly, not letting any single tear drop for my past. Not anymore.