Rory let the warm air caress her face as she drove back. Although it rained only last night, there was no sign of that as everything was back to dry and humid like always.
Liam's emotionless face kept popping into her memory. She hardened her heart and kept the tears forming in her eyes at bay.
She has had a trial run of living without him. She survived pregnancy with no support from him. She can handle the rest of her life without him too.
Mia hasn't called her yet and so she was a little relaxed. Ellie should be still sleeping. She stopped along the way and got some winter clothes for Ellie. She grows faster, and the clothes might not fit after a month or two, but in her homeland, it would be still cold. They get snow for almost a hundred days of the year.
Rory sighed. It would be tough for Ellie to adjust to that climate after living here in the sunshine, but she is a baby and she hoped she can adjust well.
Leaving the place she got used to pretty well for a place she once knew… Rory couldn't help but feel dread, but she has no other way. She wanted a change of place.
After getting the cutest outfits for Ellie, Rory drove back to the café. She wondered if Ellie is still asleep as it is a little over four hours and it is her feeding time.
Speaking of feeding time, Rory's started to feel warm and tender. She knew what is going to happen next.
Even thinking about feeding will make that happen—the milk will leak and her shirt will get wet.
Ah…I forgot the nursing pads today… I have to hurry inside…
She parked the car and as she was unloading the shopping bags, she heard the familiar honk of a car.
Her hair stood on edge.
Not him!
Not now!
"Ah, women and shopping!" the voice of the man she dreaded to meet, made Rory sigh. "Need help, Rory? It is not wrong to ask for help, you know?"
Rory grimaced and tried to cross her arms over her chest. She heard that would help. But she cannot do that in front of this man. His eyes would always wander around her body. It would make her uncomfortable.
"No thanks, Mr. Giles!" Rory smiled, "I can handle it." She decided to make a run for it.
Richard Giles- the CEO of the garment factory closest to their café. 39(looks 55), Divorced(twice), has three kids with shared custody(the eldest is in high school), the second wife was a serial cheater(allegedly), lost a two million dollar home(allegedly) during the custody battle with wife no 1, very rich, has political connections and so on and so forth.
That is a lot of details to know about someone unimportant in her life. But she never wanted to know those details. Those were the details that were thrust upon her by the man himself.
He also told her that as a single mother, she should broaden her mind and just accept dates with any man who asks her out because she is not a very viable option for dating.
He was hurt that she rejected going on a date with him and so, he reacted immaturely and said those words. And after she rejected him again, he still bothers her any chance he gets.
Rory hurriedly picked up the bags seeing Mr. Giles walking toward her. She picked up her jacket and covered her chest as she saw the wetness spread on her chest.
Damn! Oh, just leave me alone, Mr. Piles!
But alas! Mr. Giles was not acting upon her wish.
Rory didn't know how she should react in this situation. If led by her emotions, she would slap him hard and tell him once again that she is not interested in him. It's never going to happen! She wanted to scream at him.
But she cannot do that. She needs to maintain a harmonious relationship with the people around her since her business is here. She didn't want to get Mia into trouble.
Once again… Adult-ing is hard!
"You need someone strong to help you, Rory. It's not good for you to try and do everything alone," Mr. Giles reached for her bag. "You don't have to feel shy. I am here to help you."
"No, it's fine," Rory spared her smile and said in a harsh voice, yanking the bag from his hold. "These are not heavy."
Mr. Giles' face stiffened for a moment, but he didn't want to back off. He reached for her bag once again.
"Let me help, Little Red… Don't be shy…"
Rory gritted her teeth.
Should I just kick his balls? Or would that be excessive?
Rory held the bags tightly in her hands to not let him grab them. She was already pissed off and now this guy needs to call her with some pet name.
He is a nobody! Why would he give me any pet name?
This should be a nothingburger and she could just walk away with her soul dead like she always does. But she didn't know why she is feeling the urge to stomp on his disgusting face today.
Guys she does not like are soliciting favors, but that damn Fizzy… he…
How is Allison better than me?
She was so angry, she felt weak. Her eyes stang and she teared up.
How could he?
She regretted visiting him. Seeing him face-to-face has brought out the feelings she hid at the bottom of her heart for a year.
"Who needs a strong one?" Mia's voice from behind her, made her snap.
"I do!" Rory smiled at Mia and passed half of the bags to Rory.
"Hey, Mr. Giles," Mia waved at him. "Rory, Lia woke up. Get to her quick," she told Rory.
"She did?" Rory ran inside the café not caring about anything else.
"Mr. Giles, what coffee do you want to order today?" Mia asked with a bright smile.
"No need," Mr. Giles turned and turned with a slouch of his shoulders.
Mia waited. Mr. Giles walked to his car and then turned back. Seeing Mia there blocking the entrance, he smiled awkwardly and got inside the car. Showing his anger at his car door, he left.
Rory ran upstairs to the crib. Ellie was sleeping peacefully. She realized Mia must have lied to save her from Mr. Giles. Mia is a thoughtful person.
Maybe Ellie recognized her smell or the smell of milk—she woke up, sucking her lips. Rory with a smile picked her up and fed her.
"My little angel…" she kissed the baby after burping her. Ellie smiled widely and when Rory rubbed her face in her chest, she started to laugh.
"I tried, Ellie…" Rory said burying her face in the baby's chest. "I am sorry, but I tried…"
But then she remembered everything that happened in the office. "I did not try my best… I'm useless…. Sorry…Forgive me… I ruined everything for you…And he…he has another woman now."
Rory started to hiccup as tears rolled down her cheeks. The tears she was holding back till then stormed out in the privacy of her room.
But Ellie was not pleased to see her mother crying. Her big beautiful eyes went rounder and her cheeks went red. Her little pink lips pouted and started to tremble.
Ellie started to cry.
"Oh, don't cry… Don't cry, Ellie…"
Rory hugged her baby to her chest and patted her back. She knows her baby imitates her and she will cry seeing her cry. And that's why she refrains from crying in front of Ellie.
She took a good whiff of her baby's scent and slowly her tears dried up.
"See, Ellie, I'll tell you about my homeland, alright?" With a cheerful smile, she looked at the baby. The baby imitated her and started to smile back. Ellie was relieved.
"There are vast stretches of rolling hills and there is a dilapidated castle just on the outskirts of the town. And you can see the Northern lights very often. Do you know what the Northern lights are, Ellie? I was named after them. When I was born, my dad—your grandpa…"
Ellie, trying hard to get her cute little fingers inside her mouth, listened to her mother's story with great interest.