CHAPTER 12
1221 Words
The days slowly passed by.
Lilianna worked and spent a lot of time with her dad and family. Nicoli was off somewhere and Oliver never came back.
It was midday and the café was full to the brink.
Forest was visiting with River who was with a love-struck Mickey in the bookstore.
Lilianna made words with her hands as she learned to do in order to speak with Forest.
Congrats on the new job, Forest!
He smiled and thanked her.
Thanks! I worked hard and River and Julie were so supportive.
Lilianna smiled and replied to him.
After some time, Forest went to look for River since they were leaving.
"Excuse me." Lilianna turned around at the tap on her shoulder.
She turned around to see a beautiful woman staring at her, waiting.
"Yes, how may I help you?" Lilianna asked politely,
"Are you Lilianna?" The woman asked,
"Yes, I am. How are you?" Lilianna asked,
"I'm Amanda Lloyd. I'm a personal designer. I just wanted to discuss something with you." Amanda said,
"Ok." Lilianna said, nodding her head.
"Can we talk in your office?" Amanda asked,
Lilianna nodded her head and they walked to her office.
Lilianna took a seat in her chair while Amanda sat in front of her and placed her purse on her lap.
"I just want to start off by saying that I don't want to start any trouble. I just want to clear something with you. I would never want to do this to another woman, and I think it's the thing for you to know.
"Nicoli... I didn't meet him until about a year and a half ago. I was working for his mother and I saw a couple of times. We started talking and well we're dating. I'm sorry. He told me about you and how you adopted his daughter and everything and I just wanted to tell you because if it was me, I would never want to be kept in the dark I completely understand if you are upset and want to cuss me out for taking your man." Amanda explained,
Lilianna was speechless as she stared at her in shock.
She blinked multiple times, trying to figure out if this was true.
So, Nicoli wasn't clean as she thought.
"So... you are still dating Nicoli?" She asked, sitting up.
"Well, it's complicated. When you came back Nicoli was confused about his feelings and we decided to put a pause... to our s****l life and are just seeing each other." Amanda clarified,
"Wow." Lilianna sighed and ran her hand through her hair.
"Are you mad?" Amanda asked nervous,
"Surprisingly... no. I mean, I kind of understand." She said,
"You can relax Amanda. I'm not mad at you. It’s good that you told me. If it was probably some other woman then they probably wouldn't have said something." Lilianna said, smiling at her reassuringly at her.
Amanda relaxed and sighed in relief.
"I guess I'll have to talk to Nicoli." Lilianna sighed,
"Yeah." Amanda mumbled,
"I have to go, but it was nice meeting you, Lilianna. If it's any reassurance, Nicoli was still hoping you'd come back." Amanda said,
Lilianna thanked her and she walked out.
~~~~
Lilianna sighed as she entered her house after a long day of work.
She threw her stuff on the table and went straight to her room.
Her meeting with Amanda was reeling through her mind and even as she showered and put on some clothes, other thoughts were blocked.
She groaned in frustration and walked into the kitchen.
She heated up some tea and leaned against the counter.
The door was suddenly opened Nicoli entered.
"Hey." He said, smiling at her.
"Hi." Lilianna meekly said,
"Carina is by Maria so we have the entire night to us." He said, walking over to her.
He was going to hug her, when she shook her head and stepped back.
"We need to talk." She said,
"Ok. What's wrong?" Nicoli asked,
"I know about Amanda." She said,
~~~~~
Nicoli and Lilianna both sat in the living room silently sipping at tea that Nicoli made.
It was silent between the both and neither knew how to start.
Lilianna sighed, deciding to break the silence that was killing her.
"So... Amanda visited me today and kind of told me everything." She said,
Nicoli sighed and it was a while before he spoke.
"Lilianna, believe me, I didn't expect... our relationship to escalate, but as the two years went by, I just wanted someone to there and Amanda was there and understood what I was going through. She lost her husband in a car accident and well... we slept together a handful of times." Nicoli said, coming clean.
Lilianna remained quiet, staring down at her half empty cup.
"I'm sorry." He said, but she shook her head.
"You have nothing to be sorry about, Nico. I understand and don't blame you or Amanda for any of this. I'm not mad at all, Nico. I was gone and no one knew where I was. I'm not bothered at the fact that you slept with someone else. I did after all marry someone else and slept with them. I have no right to be a hypocrite and be mad at you when I did the same thing numerous times and I'm sorry for that." She said,
Nicoli nodded his head and looked down, knowing who she was referring to.
"What happened to us?" He softly asked,
"We used to be so in love with each other... and now... we don't anything for each other." He said, shaking his head in disbelief.
"I guess... we're not the same people we used to be." She said,
Nicoli nodded his head in agreement and in realization.
"So... what does that mean for us?" He asked,
Lilianna shrugged, not knowing either.
"I don't know, but I do know that even though I don't love love you, I still do love you as a really good friend and as the father of my child. I don't want to lose you over this. The love that we used to feel for each other isn't there, but trust and our friendship is still here and going on strong. Carina is our child. Even if I didn't give birth to her." Lilianna said,
"Yeah, we could work something out." Nicoli said, nodding his head.
They both smiled and Nicoli pulled her into a hug.
"I have a question though." Nicoli said as they pulled away.
Lilianna nodded her head and collected their empty cups. She walked into the kitchen and set the cups in the sink.
"Do you have any feelings for Oliver D'Amato?" Nicoli asked,
Lilianna paused and stared at the sink.
"I feel something... but I don't know what it is." She said truthfully,
Nicoli sighed and looked down.
"It’s getting late." He said, looking down at his watch.
Lilianna nodded her head and walked him to the door.
They both hesitated as Nicoli crossed through the door.
He turned around and they stared at each other unsure of what to do or say.
"I loved you. I really did." Nicoli said,
It was a moment before Lilianna spoke.
"So did I." She said,
They smiled at each other and Nicoli turned around and left.
- Writer
