Rory's grandmother caught them together on her bed the next day. It was his fault. He was caring only about himself while she was worrying. Rory was too stunned to say anything.
When the truth was out, Rory was so terrified of her grandmother that she collapsed. Come to think of it, it could be the stress he put her through by making her lie to everyone.
He thought her grandmother would shout at her and call her names. He put himself between Rory and her grandmother. He lied that he was the one who threatened her to hide him in her room. She didn't want to but he threatened to hurt her and so she had to comply.
Of course, no one believed that he had to threaten Rory. They knew Rory would do anything for him.
Her grandfather who was alive at that time almost slapped him for hiding in his granddaughter's room when the whole town was searching for him. He rebuked him for not caring about his family and let them worry.
His family was informed and his father looked like he was not pleased to see him. Even Derick sighed and left the room. Only his grandparents were happy to see him unhurt; his grandparents and "that" woman his father married after his mother died.
What he didn't know at that time was that his family had involved the FBI in his search. Rory had lied to the federal officer that she does not know his whereabouts. She didn't tell him about her false statement to the FBI.
His family was more worried for Rory than being mad at her for lying. After all, she had lied to the federal officers. And they would convict her of making a false statement. The FBI had wasted a lot of resources in their search and they needed someone to take accountability.
His family was not pleased with him and brought him back home. He didn't want to leave Rory with her grandmother, but no one was willing to hear him speak. He was forbidden to meet Rory and grounded in his home.
The next morning, when they informed others that they found him, more than feeling happy, the townsfolk were mad. They had spent the past week doing everything in their ability to find him. They always had a little bitterness towards the Roberts family. And when Rory's involvement was revealed, the family of the girl whose hair Rory set fire to, tried to rile up the townsfolk against them further.
The situation got out of hand. News channels started to report this incident. When he learned of the involvement of FBI from Derick and their plans on convicting Rory at all cost, he confessed to the FBI that he was the one who threatened her.
He didn't know whether they believed him or if they just needed to close the case by convicting whoever, but Rory was let off the hook.
He was relieved.
And naturally, his family was not pleased he did this behind their backs when they are making other arrangements.
For the next ten days, the situation got out of hand. He was locked in his room and no one told him the condition of Rory even when he begged them. But he was told that his family was on the verge of getting shunned by the society and that people in their town wanted them to leave their little peaceful town.
It was then his father did the unthinkable thing—he came to his room for a talk. He was still angry at his father and he didn't want to talk to him. But he wanted to know how Rory is doing.
And so he listened to his father.
But his father just wanted to know what he was thinking. His father carefully avoided talking about Rory. It only made him terrified. He thought something bad happened to Rory. He even thought that her grandmother might have killed her, or worse, sent her to the mental institution behind the woods.
His father wanted to know why he did what he did. And just to end the conversation, he told him that he wanted to marry Rory and that's why he pulled that stunt. He made sure to add that Rory is innocent in all this and that she doesn't even know about his feelings toward her.
Although it was the truth, he knew his father won't do what he asks of him. He begged them to let him meet Rory at least once.
But his father left the room without promising anything. He was kept locked in the room again.
He didn't know what happened next. No one told him anything. Rory didn't know anything either. But from what he gathered, it was Rory's grandmother who interfered.
The FBI backed off and the case was closed with no charges filed on anyone. His family along with Rory's grandparents apologized to the townsfolk and told them that the kids did what they did because they couldn't get the blessings of their family for their marriage.
Somehow the townsfolk were pacified when they were all invited to their wedding in spring.
As for him, he could only meet Rory after the winter break, in school. It was awkward for them to meet after a long separation and suddenly as an engaged couple.
When they met again, the first thing Rory told him was…
"Fizzy?"
Rory's voice cut short Liam's trip to the memory lane.
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine," he stood up unbuckling his seatbelt. A smile bloomed on his face. "Come on, put the baby to sleep in the bedroom." He helped her in holding the baby.
Rory didn't refuse. Rather than the seat or the carrycot, the bed should be more comfortable for Ellie to sleep in. It would be better if she sleeps till the descent.
"There's a crib!" Rory was surprised to see the crib in the bedroom. She carefully laid Ellie down.
"Yes, uncle had it installed for Skyla," he said and arranged the pillow on the bed. "You can take a rest here."
"Here?" Rory looked at him and their eyes met. He pressed his lips clearing his throat.
She averted her eyes and looked at the bed scratching her neck. Suddenly she felt hot and her chest felt tight. She could smell him from here and his scent made her feel weird. It was awkward for her to stand inside this room with Liam as she started to feel something she hadn't felt for a very long time.
The biggest weight in her heart was lifted. He accepted their baby as theirs. And that gave her relief so great that she felt normal again.
His face and being in this constrained place with him after a long while made her remember the past.
The last time they were on this bed, they did some wild stuff. Uncle Lenny lent them this jet to celebrate Liam's twenty-first birthday, and they made good use of it on their trip to the tropics.
Liam saw her blushing and his lips curved up. She should be thinking the same as him. "Scared to be alone?" he asked holding back his smile. "Should I join you?"
"Will you?" Rory asked.
Oh, f*ck! I really said that! Am I sick?