CHAPTER 95

Lisa's POV

Even before Sabrina could point it out to me, I saw his vehicle pull off. When the doorbell rang and Safina wasn't there to answer it, Grandma and I were talking in the sitting room.

Since I assumed it was Damien, I resisted answering the door until Grandma told me to.

She must have believed the same thing, I'm certain.

But now that I've seen him drive off, I'm unhappy. Despite the fact that the question as to whether or not he is back in America has been resolved.

I am reminded by Sabrina's statement "Look at you, pregnancy looks good on you" that she was a few months along when I left America.

"I'm grateful. How's the baby doing? As I move away from the door, I let her inside. I wish she and the baby were here, but since they aren't, I'll make sure to go see them as soon as I can.

She coming to see me thus late at night is something I truly appreciate. I really appreciate it. And it reminds me how much I've been missing her.

I lock the door after taking one more glance at the route Damien's automobile went and follow her to discover that Grandma has vanished.

Now I'm sure she believed Damien was at the door and that she purposefully left.

She was berating me for escaping rather than confronting my worries. I was anxious for her to bring up the subject so I could politely decline to answer her. I knew she would also bring up Damien or even her desire for me to return to the mansion.

When the doorbell rang, she was still berating me. Even worse, I believed she had phoned to apologize for trying to slap me in Paris or for the sudden packing and move back to the United States.

The question "How are you?" She inquires after calming down. "Careful." I sat next to her while she told me.

I say "thank you" with a little grin and take a seat next to her. She grins as we lock eyes and then leans in to give me a firm embrace.

"I've missed you, Lisa."

I sigh, "Me too," and give her another embrace.

She released the embrace and said, "I was expecting you to show up for my baby's shower." "I tried unsuccessfully to contact you all. I wish you had been there for my baby's special day.

I respond with a grin. I am guilty, therefore I'm not sure what to say. I was reluctant to make contact.

"How's the baby doing? He?" I question.

She faintly chuckles. "She," I said. She goes by Lisa.

"What? I haven't laughed really in months when someone says, "Don't tell me you named your child after me."

Sabrina laughs loudly as well and tilts her head back. I can tell she's merely yanking my strings when this happens.

"Lisa isn't it, is she?"

She adamantly argues, "It is.

"It's not." I continue.

She says with a broad smile, "It is. "What is it, if not that?"

Most likely Anna or Edna.

"Nope. Although Gabriel preferred a different name, I wanted to call her Lisa. Although Lisa is her second name, her true name is Sophia.

I sigh, "You can't be serious," and then start laughing. I can't believe she gave my name to her kid. It's incredible.

Before re-embracing, we hold hands and smile at each other for a time. This time, I'm feeling sensitive. Everything happens quickly. All the difficult and trying times I had to go through alone, away from the people who meant the most to me.

I lacked empathy.

I didn't give a damn about how others might feel without me. Prior to carrying out my plan, I gave it no consideration.

I now think I overreacted, and it was an unreasonable choice.

We back away and chuckle again incoherently. And then it stops.

How is Eunice doing? She must break her quiet, I urge.

She tells me, "She is fine and getting ready for her wedding next month," and I can't help but be shocked.

"Wow, really?" you could exclaim.

"Yes. After you departed, her boyfriend got engaged, and the wedding is already in progress. I'm glad you're here right now because it means we can go there together.

I gladly nod. Given that Eunice was supposed to be in my situation, I nearly believed that she and Damien would get together. She is no longer an option since she is getting married.

I suppose I'm glad for her. She is really fortunate that she decided against entering this as I did.

"Do you already know the baby's gender?" She is staring at my stomach, and I see that it bothers her.

"A boy," I beam with pride.

Wow, don't you think we should arrange to have our children matched?

I chuckle loudly at the humor. Before my child arrived, her baby girl should have been born two to three months earlier. She doesn't seem serious to me.

I affirm, "That's a joke," and she giggles along with me.

"Well, it is, but we have no idea what lies ahead. Do you want to name the child yourself or has Damien informed you what he wants to call him?

"I'll carry it out. He will go by the name Aidan.

She says with a grin, reclining backward on the chair, "That's a wonderful name, you know. "You two need to resolve your issues, you know? There has been a split between you two for far too long.

Has Damien forced you into this? She is interrupted by me as I think back to the letter I was reading just before Grandma arrived.

I should finish reading it.

"Of course not," She speaks sternly while sporting a severe scowl. Why would you consider doing such a thing? Damien, your Grandma, Gabriel, and I have all looked everywhere for you. Up until today, when he came to let us know you were back, he didn't even let us know he was going to Paris. He didn't want me to come, but I had to find out whether this was real and not just a joke. Gabriel should arrive at any moment now, in fact. He had just gotten in from work when Damien informed us, so I decided to accompany him while he went to the bathroom and came to meet you.

I nod. I agree with her. She has no justification to mislead me.

"You two need to resolve your differences. He adores you.

"What?!" I scream, turning to face her. "He said he told you that?"

She takes my two hands and says, "I know that Lisy. "I noticed everything in his eyes. He searched like the devil for you. Damien left his business for Gabriel to manage for six months just because he wanted to locate you and believed you were in Italy. What other interpretation can you provide for it, then? Will a guy who doesn't care about you go through them all in vain?"

"It's just that he feels bad," is all that can be said.

"No," she replies in opposition.

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

She stops speaking.

She removes her hands from mine and turns her head away. Belief or not. He adores you.