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For the next three weeks after that night, Maya and I were inseparable. Until I went back to face the life I’d been trying so hard to forget. Seeing Abbey brings back a lot of memories, both good and bad.
Abbey steps forward to hug me, her movements awkward and forced. I hug her back and then step away, shaking my head. I still can’t believe it’s her. I want to ask her about Maya, but I can’t force the words out.
“How did you find me?” I ask. “How did you know I worked here?”
“Trust me, that took a lot of effort,” she says with a laugh.
I glance briefly at the little girl sitting on the examination bed. She smiles shyly at me as I crouch down next to her.
“Hello. What’s your name?” I ask, smiling at her.
“Allie,” she says quietly.
I glance at Abby and smile. “She looks just like you.”
She smiles and then hunches forward. I frown and stand up, stepping forward to help balance her.
“Are you okay?” I frown at her. She lets go of my hands and nods. “I assumed Allie was the patient because she’s lying down, but you look like the one who’s about to pass out.”
“Well, that’s funny, because I feel like it.” She forces a laugh and rubs the back of her neck, looking queasy. “Can we, uh, talk outside for a moment?”
“Sure. If you’re sure you’re okay.”
“I think the fresh air will help,” she says.
I lead her out through the side door, into the small sitting area near the garden. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on, but I’m determined to find out. I start to say something, but she stops me.
“Please. Let me get this out.” She takes a deep breath, not looking at me. “There’s no easy way to say this,” she mumbles.
She runs a hand through her long, blond curls, which remind me so much of Maya’s. When she looks up at me the tears in her eyes make me nervous. I’m sure this is bad news about Maya. My heart pounds as I wait for her to speak
“Maya died.”
Maya is dead?
My romance with Maya was a short and wild whirlwind that lasted all of a few weeks, but it still meant a lot to me. I was at a point in my life where everything felt helpless. I’d left college and gone overseas, because I couldn’t get over the death of my father. Maya was what saved me. I knew our relationship wasn’t based on love, but those few weeks with her were the turning point in my life.
“Wow.” I shake my head, in shock. “How? When?”
“Six months ago.” She pauses and stares down at her hands. “I’ve been trying to find you for the last four months. I thought you’d want to know, and I…” She shakes her head and wipes away tears.
“What happened?” I ask, still trying to get my head around the fact that Maya is gone.
“Car accident. She was killed instantly. A drunk driver veered onto the wrong side of the road and smashed into her car.”
“I’m so sorry. That must’ve been terrible for you.” I don’t know what else to say. I shake my head.
“There’s more.” She breathes out and seems to gather her strength, sitting forward to rest her arms against her thighs. I frown because sometime is really bothering her.
“What is it, Abbey?”
She looks up and meets my eyes, my heart pounding when I see the fear hiding in them.
“Allie is your daughter.”
For a brief moment, my whole world stops.
I shake my head in shock, convinced I heard her wrong. I glance at her, half expecting her to break into a smile and tell me she’s joking, but she doesn’t. Holy fuck. No way. That can’t be right. How could I have a child that I had no idea existed?
I shake my head. I just can’t believe it.
Maya would’ve told me. Wouldn’t she? I think.
“What do you mean she’s my daughter?”
My voice is low and doesn’t sound like my own. I frown at her, waiting for her to say something—anything, at this point because none of this is making any fucking sense.
“How is it even possible?” I add, my voice rising. I stand up and shake my head, the shock slowly giving way to anger. “How long has it been? Nine years and someone finally decides to tell me I have a child? How could she not have told me something so important?” I growl. I shake my head and glare at Abbey. I know this isn’t her fault, but she’s here, and I need to take this out on someone. “How did this happen?” I ask. “We were only together for three weeks, for God’s sake.”
“It doesn’t take three weeks to make a baby,” Abby points out.
“Thanks for pointing out the obvious,” I snap. I take a deep breath. It’s Maya I’m really angry at. “She had my e-mail,” I say calmly. “She should have told me. If she wanted to, she could have told me. You know that as well as I do.”
