Page 11

Sophie looked at me for aid since her mother was behind her. I shook my head because I didn’t know what to say.
If I tell my mum that she’s my girlfriend, she’ll know I’m lying.
I took a step back, already thinking about how to get away. I grabbed for the door’s doorknob with my hand.
But my mother’s inquiry was enough to keep me there. “Who is she to you, Liam?”
I checked the time on my watch. “Mom, I’m going to be late for a meeting. I’ll see you later. Why don’t you go stay with Alley until then?”
“Get your a*s here right now and sit down. Answer my questions!”
She responded, “You too,” and Sophie nodded and sat down on the couch. I did the same and sat next to her but at a distance. Mom sat down across from us.
I sent Nat a brief text. Mom is here. Help!
Nat was online and answered right away. What? Why?
I don’t have a clue! She is asking us questions! Quickly help! I wrote back.
“Put down your phone, Liam,” Mom said, and I did it right away. “Who’s she again?” Mom stared back and forth between us. “Alley’s friend, Sophie,” I answered with as little guilt as possible and a stiff grin.
Mother’s lips were tiny and tight. “That I know. Why is she here? What does she have to do with you?”
“Would you believe me if I said she’s my girlfriend?” “No,” Mother said.
“Well, I can’t lie about that…”
“Why are you lying to me?” Mother shouted.
I noticed Nat’s name displayed on the caller ID when my phone rang.
“Mom, this is a very important business call. Please give me two minutes, and then I will answer all of your questions.”
Mom rolled her eyes. “Okay. Hurry up.”
I got up and went to the kitchen so she wouldn’t hear me. “Brother!” I exclaimed as I answered the phone.
“What’s going on, Liam?”
“I don’t know! She just showed up out of the blue, and now she won’t stop asking who Sophie is to me.” I said in a worried voice. “I can’t tell her that she’s going to have my baby.”
He murmured, “I don’t know what to do.”
“I have an idea, brother.” “What do you mean?”
“Okay, listen,” I told him my proposal, and even though he felt it was stupid, he agreed.
I went back to the living room and sat next to Sophie.
I told my mom, “Okay, I’m ready to tell you everything.” “But while I’m talking, no one, not even you, Sophie, will interrupt me. There will be time for questions later.”
Mother nodded warmly, but Sophie just stared at me blankly.
I leaned forward and put my elbows on my thighs, then I crossed my fingers. My voice got low. “Sophie was engaged to a man. They were happy, of course. Everything was going well until Sophie got pregnant with his child. When she told him, he said he didn’t want it, so the engagement ended.”
Mother gasped gently, and her face softened with sorrow for Sophie. She looked down at her tummy. And Sophie looked at me with a grimace that screamed, “What the hell are you talking about?”
Thank goodness she doesn’t say anything.
I kept going. “So…Sophie was having money problems. The landlord of the flat she was living in kept bothering her for rent. She could have asked Alley for help, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to worry her, so she didn’t tell her anything and decided to deal with it herself.”
I looked for any trace of suspicion on my mother’s face, but there wasn’t any.
Thank God.
I spoke when it was time for the main section of my perfectly planned deception. “Eventually, her landlord pushes her out, and she has nowhere to go. That night, I
I saw her sitting on the street outside her flat. I had seen her a few times before, so I knew her. I asked her what was wrong, and being the gentleman I am, I offered to assist. When I said “gentleman,” Sophie sneered, and I glared at her.
And went on anyhow. “So, to sum up, I took her to my house, and she asked me not to tell Alley anything, which I did. But for some reason, Alley now knows everything and could come here at any moment to take her away.”
I smiled and felt good about my story when I was done.
Mother went to Sophie and enquired in a quiet voice. Sophie looked down as she heard, “What about your family?” “I have been an orphan since I was born.” What?! Why didn’t I know that? Is she a child without parents? “Oh, dear,” Mother said with sympathy. “I’m so sorry,” Sophie said with a little grin. “It’s okay.” The front door sprang open, and Alley, Nat, and Saffron, Alley’s 12-year-old adopted daughter, all walked in.
Alley walked over to Sophie and said, “There you are!” Saffron was behind her while Nat stood at the door. “How could you not tell me about your problem? You lied to me.”
I got up and went to see Nat. “Thanks, brother,” I said quietly. “Mother probably believed what you said.”
“Yes, she did. I’m clearly a better liar than you.”
He rolled his eyes. “Lying is not something to be proud of.”
“I could either lie or die, and I still have a lot to do in my life.”
“She’ll find out someday. She always does.” I groaned. “I know…” I looked up and saw Alley pulling Sophie towards us by the hand.
“Thank you, Liam, for keeping her with you.” She spoke loudly enough for her mother to hear.
I grinned. “Not a problem, sister.”
“Yes, thank you, uncle,” Saffron said with a smile, glanced at me, and I winked back.
“From now on, you will stay with me, Sophie,” Alley said as she pulled her out. Saffron and Nat followed.
I looked at my mom and sighed with relief. “Mother, I’m going to work now. I’ll see you later.”
“No. I’m going.” “Why?”
“Why? I don’t want to stay here.”
“Because your house doesn’t feel like home.”
I scowled sadly. “Don’t say that, Mom. I worked really hard on the design.”
“I’m not talking about the design; I’m talking about how homely it is. Nathan has a wife and a child, and another one is on the way. That’s what makes his house feel like home.”
I grumbled in frustration and said something to myself. “I am having a child too.” I don’t know how Mother heard it.
She turned her head to me and said, “What?”
“What?” I said back in a naive way. “You said something?”
“What? Me? No.” I laughed uncomfortably. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Anyway, I’m going home. You can go to work now.” She kissed me on the forehead and told me to stoop down because I was much taller than her.
Sophie’s point of view:
Saffron came over and sat down next to me on the couch. “Are you okay, Sophie?” “Yes, I’m fine, Saffron.” Her eyes sparkled with delight. “Isn’t it great that you’ll be my aunt?”
“What?”
“My aunt…when will you marry Uncle Liam?” she said. “Who the hell said I was going to marry that stupid jerk?” She was really upset to hear that. “Umm…you won’t marry him? But you are having his baby, right?”
“I don’t have to marry him just because he said that.”
She frowned unhappily. “But he is so nice. He is smart, cute, and a little annoying, but…”
“He’s an arsehole, and I’m not going to marry him, Saffron. Don’t get your hopes up,” I said firmly, rolling my eyes.
Saffron fiercely crossed her arms. “You have no idea what you’ll lose if you lose him.”
I said playfully, “How old are you again, Saffron?” “You have no idea how this world works,” I said. “Twelve, right?”
“But I do know how a typical romance story goes. You two will fall in love and then get married.”
“You’re only twelve, Saffron…” I said in a frustrated voice.
She said with a little pride, “Age doesn’t make you mature; experience does.”
I rolled my eyes. “And what experience do you have with romance?” I questioned, stressing the term “experience.”
“I don’t. But what I said about Mom and Dad came true. Look how much they love each other.” She pointed to the kitchen door, where Nathan and Alley were standing. Nathan softly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and then kissed her forehead for a long time.
“Whatever,” I said quietly.
“Also, I never really liked your ex-fiance. I never said it, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t work out between you two.”
“But you were so happy when I told you I was getting married.”