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“Why?”
“You’re angry with me, too.”
Sophia expelled a breath. “Gee, am I? Why would that be? I mean, you’ve stuffed my mom around for ten years and now you’ve got my sister knocked up and broken her heart. Why the hell would I be angry with you?”
“It is more complex than that,” he said, his frustration obvious. “May I speak to Bella?”
“May you… are you crazy? No, you may not speak to her! You don’t get to call up like you’re loaded with concern when you caused all of this.”
“With respect, you know nothing about it.”
“I know everything,” Sophia said. “I know you lied every single day you spent with Bells and didn’t tell her about mom. I know you lied and you knew you were lying and you hurt her. I’ve never seen her like she was when she got here. You broke her heart and you don’t get a second chance. You ruined it – and while that might not sit very well with you, it’s something you’re going to have to accept.”
“Please.” The word was a groan, like a dying man might make. Sophia closed her eyes, her tender heart heavy despite her anger.
“No,” she insisted, then more firmly, “No. Don’t call again. Bella doesn’t want to hear from you.”
“I need to… please.”
“If you care about her even a little bit, you’ll let her move on.” She ran her fingertip over the bench top. “Don’t call again.” She disconnected the call and replaced the phone, glaring at it for a long minute before nodding, relieved he wasn’t calling straight back.
She whisked the eggnog, then poured it into two mugs and carried them into the lounge. By the time Bella had finished showering and changed into stretchy black pants and a pale pink sweater, Sophia had made her peace with what she’d done, telling herself intercepting the call and telling the jerk to respect Bella’s wishes was best for Bella.
There was no need to mention the phone call.
He shouldn’t have rung. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.
*
Bella stared at the sonogram screen, tears squeezing out of the corners of her eyes. In the distance, she could hear the faint strains of carols, but they did nothing to cheer her.
“Is the baby okay?” She asked, her voice flat.
“Fine,” the obstetrician assured with a smile. “Did you want to know what you’re having? A boy or a girl?”
Bella blinked, her expression unchanging. Did she? Did she care whether it was a surprise or not? A pervasive emptiness had overtaken her since Sophia had left. She’d thought she wanted to be alone, but being alone was… lonely. With only her own thoughts for company, she was losing herself down a dark rabbit hole, filled with damp and fear.
“Miss?”
“Mrs Katrakis,” she supplied, swallowing. “Sure. What is it?” Maybe knowing would cheer her up? Would bring her back to the present and to some kind of excitement about the baby inside of her?
The obstetrician moved the wand about some more and then smiled. “A girl. You’re having a little girl.”
Bella’s eyes swept shut, and tears fell harder now. She couldn’t say if that meant anything to her, only that she didn’t feel happier for knowing.
“Great,” she faked it, smiling brightly because it was obviously expected. “But so long as she’s healthy…”
“Everything looks really great.” The obstetrician moved the wand away. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. Regular meals, good sleep habits, take care of yourself to take care of the baby.”
Bella nodded, feeling like a fraud because she had taken practically no care of her herself since coming to Aspen.
“Thank you,” she said, pulling her shirt down, covering her bump.
“You’re well?” The obstetrician pushed. “Your moods are okay?”
“Fine,” Bella lied. “I’m great.”
The hospital was in the town and Bella stopped in a shop and picked up a hot chocolate, and listened to the sounds of other people talking for a while, allowing herself to feel less alone, less isolated, before heading home.
