Year of Goodbyes

Chapter 8

Sophie did not leave Liam's arms even after breakfast. She only let go when Liam said he was going back to their house to tell his parents we were coming.

He held Sophie longer and kissed her chubby cheeks numerous times. Finally, Sophie started crying when he tried to pass her to me. We could only console her when I said we would be going to his house for lunch.

Collette also had a hard time getting away. She hugged my daughter tightly and said she would miss her. This situation scared me the most, the moment my daughter gets too attached to their family.

After Liam and Collette left, I helped my mom clear the table and washed the dishes. Sophie is in the living room, watching her favorite cartoons. While cleaning the dishes, mom suddenly asked me.

" What are you going to do, Bella? Are you planning to tell him the truth?" She glanced at me, and I looked at her with misery in my eyes.

" I don't know, mom. I did not think this through. All I wanted was to come home and be with you." I told her in a melancholy voice.

" You cannot hide the truth forever, sweetheart. Sooner or later, you have to come clean. You cannot live your life, always worrying and scared. The truth will set you free." She said, now facing me. I started to tear up.

" How can I do that, mom? How can I tell him that he knocked me up six years ago? He will think I'm crazy and that I am making this up." I cried in anguish.

" And if he does believe me, what if he tries to take Sophie away from me? I cannot bear to be separated from my daughter, mom. She is my life." I sat on the chair and buried my face in my hand.

" I've known Liam since he was a kid, Bella. I don't think he will do that to both of you. Of course, he will demand a chance to get to know his daughter, but I'm sure he will not take her away from you." My mom consoled me and stroked my head.

" I'll think about it, mom. I'll cross the bridge when I get there. But, for now, I want to keep Sophie for myself. I don't want her to get hurt if her dad denies her." I sighed and looked at her with a heavy heart.

" You will know when it is time, honey. Take one step at a time. If my observation is correct, I think Liam is quite smitten with you." My mom said seriously.

" Don't be ridiculous, mom. He has a girlfriend. He sees me as a little kid and just like his younger sister. It has always been like that, and I've learned to accept that a long time ago. Anyway, I had better get ready and bathe Sophie before transferring to the house next door." I stood up and went to the living room, where Sophie is lying on the sofa.

" Come on, sweetheart, time for a bath. We will be going to uncle Liam's house, remember?" I extended my hand to her, and she jumped from the sofa right away. She was so excited about going to the house next door. Unlike me, I'm dreading it.

" Okay, mommy! Can I wear my pink Princess dress, mommy? I want to show uncle Liam my pretty dress." She announced excitedly. Every time she says, uncle Liam, my hurt constricted painfully. She is obviously in love with Liam now. She probably sees him as her father. Or maybe it's the blood that bonds them, and they feel the instant connection between father and child.

" Sure, sweetheart, let's go get ready, okay?" I lifted her to my arms, then carried her to our room for a bath and changed our clothes.

After changing Sophie, I told her to wait for me in the living room while I got ready. I chose a simple white sundress with big pink and yellow flowers. It is a sleeveless dress that reaches right above my knees.

I put on light makeup and curled my hair a little bit to add volume to it. I put on my hoop earrings and wore my white sandals. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and I saw a woman, not a girl. I hope Liam sees that too.

I grabbed my sling bag and put my phone inside. I looked at myself in the mirror one more time before going out of my room. So Sophie was waiting for me impatiently, that she jumped to her feet when she saw me emerging from the room and was at the door waiting.

I shook my head and chuckled; this girl is like her father, so full of life. My mom looked at me and smiled.

" You look lovely, Bella. Liam would be so dense if he couldn't see that." My mom said and kissed my cheek, and hugged me.

" Just be yourself, sweetheart, and enjoy yourself. Let Sophie enjoy their company and worry about tomorrow later." She advised, and I nodded my head slowly. I kissed her cheek, and we were on our way to Liam's house.

The journey to their house is like a death sentence to me. I am dragging my feet painfully slow, but Sophie is pulling me with her, telling me to hurry up. When the house was in view, I saw Collette waiting outside.

When she saw us, she ran towards us and hugged Sophie. Then, she lifted her to her arms and kissed her cheek.

" Oh, my God! What took you so long? I have been waiting for ages. Baby, you look so pretty in your dress." She told Sophie, and my daughter thanked her timidly.

" I needed time to relax, Cols, you know that. This whole thing is not easy for me." I told her, feeling miserable.

" Bels, relax. We are just having lunch. If my parents suspected, then we'd say the father looked like Liam, hence the resemblance. I will not tell them if you don't want me to, Bels, but you will have to sooner or later. They have the right to know, and they've been asking for grandchildren from us for years." She said and started going to the house.

My nerves were on haywire, and my knees were starting to shake every step I made towards the house. I can do this. We are only having lunch. It's not like they are going to interrogate me, right?