Liam snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Rory. The baby was not screaming anymore as Rory was feeding the baby. The baby with her hands fisted to a ball was holding her and Rory had a beautiful smile on her face.
He never has seen that smile on her before. She looked truly happy and at peace.
Looking at her like that, he felt distant from her. He was away from her for some months and she is entirely different. Maybe it's because he is the one looking at her differently.
Or it could be motherhood that changed her…
If she was the Rory he knows, by now she would have snapped at him at least a couple of times, deservedly. And she is sick. When she is sick, she gets more irritable.
He was surprised when she almost begged him in the office. She never begs. And when she returned the ring, it made him livid. She provoked him further by saying that she would return the one gift he gave her.
It was his mother's ring and no woman is worthy to have it other than Rory. She shouldn't have returned it. And the necklace… he earned it with his own hands and chose the key locket himself. How dare she say she will return it?
She said some more words which he didn't listen to. When she left with an odd smile, it made him lose control.
His mood got a little better only when he saw her punching Allison. Only after seeing that bit of familiarity from her was he able to relax.
But she is silent with him. She is doing what he asks of her without even saying anything even though she doesn't like it.
He does not like her silence. He'd rather she would punch him in the face than go all silent on him or look at him with a fake smile.
During their final semester, she used to go silent too. She even stopped talking to him about everything like she usually does. He, in his arrogance, thought she has finally learned her lesson.
But that is not her. She is not someone who could bottle her feelings in her heart. If she does that, she will get into trouble. But he pushed her to it, damaging her.
He didn't realize anything and he hurt her continuously. He didn't realize the amount of damage he had inflicted on her heart then.
He learned that late. And now, he is scared for her. It would be better if she is truly alright. Because if she resorts to her old habits then…
Thinking of… The body that was found… Was that Laura Brown? If it is she, what will happen next..?
Liam rubbed his forehead with both his hands. He wondered if he should talk to his friends about it. They need to keep their story straight after all.
Ah! If only I left with my wife that day! If only I didn't go with Allison to… If only I…
Liam could only sigh.
Rory sighed in relief. Ellie fell asleep as she was fed. The seatbelt sign was off. She looked at Liam. Her heart squeezed seeing him holding his head. She wondered if he is having a headache. But he could be thinking. She didn't want to disturb him. He could fall asleep just like that.
Ah, shit!
Liam looked up at Rory once more. The baby was now asleep in her arms and Rory was leaning on the seat with her eyes closed.
He once again realized how useless he is. She had to single-handedly handle the crying baby while he was wallowing in self-pity and thinking about himself.
Do I even deserve her? What is my worth? She does not need me. She is okay on her own!
Rory didn't know why, but she started feeling a little dizzy. Leaning on the seat, she felt like the entire world around her is spinning. She feared that she would drop the baby. She opened her eyes with difficulty to see Liam staring at her.
"Are you okay, Fizzy?" Rory asked. His eyes were red and he looked a bit pale. She worried for him and started feeling guilty. She was busy taking care of Ellie, she didn't even care a little for him.
Liam choked as he was lost for words. He didn't know how she is asking for his inconvenience when she should be complaining.
But… isn't she always this way with me? I was able to marry her because of this too… She hasn't changed.
His lips curved up slightly remembering the incident that made their wedding possible.
His family lived in their grandparents' home for some reason he didn't bother to learn. Rory's grandparents are his grandparent's neighbors. That's how they were introduced.
He still remembers the day he met the twelve-year-old redhead.
Although they were neighbors, they had big properties and so their houses were miles apart. He met that girl with the same surname as his, in his school. She joined late and all the boys would talk about her as if she is special because of her hair and eyes. They teased him and called her his "wife" because they had the same surname and they had the same bus stop.
He didn't like that and naturally hated the girl. When he learned about her from Derick(For some unknown reason, Derick would be living with them most of the time although he was in University at that time), for some reason, he hated her more.
But she—his Cherry—with her bright smile and chirpy attitude, somehow managed to enter his heart.
During the winter break during their senior year of high school, he had the biggest fight of his life with his father. He wanted to kill himself. In the middle of the night, he, with plans to end his wretched life, ran away from his home.
He was planning on getting to the woods that is behind their house. There were many stories about that woods. None of them was good. It is said that those who enter the woods won't return. The number of missing persons who got lost in those woods was alarming. So he thought he should get added to the statistics so that no one will forget him.
Just as he got over the fence, he could see Rory's house in the distance. He knew he won't be able to see the one person he loved with all his heart, ever again.
Before he knew it, he was standing by her window in the middle of the night. He just wanted to have a good look at her face for the final time and maybe sneak his first kiss from her. He didn't want to die without having his first kiss.