Chapter 38 Andrew
As I enter the maternity wing, I clutch a bouquet of soft pink roses and a box of chocolates. I know Sarah has a sweet tooth, and she deserves all the treats today.
Jack’s already by her side when I step into the room, and Sarah’s face lights up when she sees the flowers.
“For you,” I say, handing them to her along with the chocolates.
She beams, holding the bouquet up to her nose. “Thank you, Andrew. These are beautiful.”
Jack chuckles, taking the chocolates from me with a grin. “You know her too well. She’ll probably go through half of these before we leave the hospital.”
Sarah laughs, giving Jack a playful nudge. “And I’ll enjoy every bite.”
I smile, settling in as I watch them share a look that’s both familiar and full of excitement. Then Sarah glances down at the little bundle in her arms and looks back at me, her expression soft.
“Do you want to hold him?” she asks gently, and my heart skips a beat. “You’re his godfather. Might as well get used to it,” she teases.
“I don’t know, Sarah,” I mumble, hesitating. “He’s so small.”
Jack chuckles, nudging me. “C’mon, Andrew. It’s not as terrifying as it looks. You won’t break him.”
I take a deep breath, then nod. Sarah carefully hands the baby over, and I sit down, cradling him as I try to settle into this unexpected moment.
Liam’s eyes are tightly shut, his little face peaceful. The world outside fades away as I look at him.
“He’s so tiny,” I whisper, almost to myself. There’s an awe in my voice that I can’t disguise, and Jack chuckles softly.
Sarah watches us. “Isn’t he? But he’s a fighter. You’ll see. ”
A pang hits my chest, and I can’t stop my mind from drifting back to Emily. We’d talked about this, about someday having a child of our own. But now…
I brush away the thought, trying to focus on the here and now, the miracle I’m holding.
Jack breaks the silence, beaming as he says, “We’ve named him Liam. After my grandfather.”
“It’s a strong name,” I say, glancing up with a small smile. “Your grandfather would be proud.”
Jack gives me a nod, pride filling his expression. After a few more moments, I carefully hand Liam back to Sarah, feeling an unexpected emptiness as I let him go.
When it’s time to leave, Jack walks me out. He’s grinning, his eyes still glowing with the excitement of fatherhood. But then his expression softens, and he glances over at me.
“How’s Emily?” he asks quietly.
I shake my head. “I don’t know, Jack. We haven’t spoken in over six weeks.”
Jack frowns, giving me a searching look. “You know, people make mistakes, Andrew. That doesn’t make them bad people.”
The words hit me hard, but I don’t know how to respond. I swallow, looking away. “It’s all in the past,” I say finally, not wanting to dig into the raw ache that’s still there.
Jack sighs, nodding slowly. “Alright. I won’t push.” He hesitates, then gives me a small, hopeful smile. “You know, Sarah really liked Emily. She’s been talking about asking her to be Liam’s godmother.”
The suggestion stuns me. “Emily? As Liam’s godmother?”
Jack nods, his eyes full of understanding. “Yeah. She felt a connection with Emily. She wants someone who feels like family.”
I take a deep breath, feeling emotions I’ve been trying to bury for weeks rise to the surface. Emily as Liam’s godmother. I picture her holding Liam, smiling down at him with that gentle look in her eyes, and it’s almost too much to bear .
Jack’s gaze softens. “I know it’s complicated, Andrew. But you both shared something real. Just think about it.”
I nod, not trusting myself to speak. Jack gives my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he heads back to Sarah, and I walk away, Liam’s tiny face still etched in my mind.
As I exit the hospital, I can’t shake the thought of what might have been, of the life I thought Emily and I would build together.
Sundays are turning out to be my worst days.
It’s the day that used to feel like a reset. Making love with Emily in the morning, playing with the dogs in the backyard, then lunch at my parents’ with Emily.
Now, it’s just another reminder of what I don’t have. The house is too quiet. It feels like an abandoned home. Every room reminds me of Emily. The only reason I go home at the end of each day is because of Bruno and Bear.
I haven’t moved back into the master bedroom. It’s too painful. Too stark of a reminder of Emily.
I head to my parents’ house for lunch. I’ve missed the last two Sunday lunches, using work as my excuse, but now Mom’s insistence finally wore me down.
As soon as I step inside, the familiar scent of food fills the air. My stomach growls, reminding me that I skipped breakfast this morning. I’m not eating properly, I barely slept. I lied to Jack when I said it’s all in the past.
Emily is with me day in and day out. The only time I get a respite from aching for her is the few hours of sleep that I catch at night.
My mother’s face lights up as she sees me, though her eyes have a hint of that worried look she’s been giving me lately. Her and Daniel are in the living room and they stand up when I enter.
“I’ve called you twice and you haven’t returned my calls,” Daniel says.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I’ve been busy. Renovations at the Lakeside Riviera are all-consuming right now. ”
He raises an eyebrow, looking unconvinced. “Sure. Because that’s definitely what’s been keeping you occupied.”
It’s only been a minute, and he’s already calling me out. I force a tight smile, realizing he sees right through me. Honestly, I’ve barely been functioning, if I’m being real with myself. Work is just an excuse.
Mom gestures towards the couch. “Sit down. We haven’t seen much of you.”
I sink into my favorite armchair. “Where’s Dad?”
“Finishing up some work,” Mom says, rolling her eyes. “On a Sunday. I can’t wait for him to retire.”
“Good luck with that,” I retort and she merely smiles back, as if she knows something that I don’t.
Her features grow solemn, glancing at Daniel before looking back at me. “You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately, Andrew. About how your father and I almost didn’t get married.”
“What do you mean?” I ask, wondering where that came from.
She chuckles softly, though her eyes are serious. “We had a misunderstanding. A big one. I was so convinced he didn’t care about what I wanted. But, well, things were complicated, and I almost left. It took us a while to really talk it out. Almost didn’t happen, you know.”
I nod, understanding dawning. She’s referring to me and Emily. “It’s different for us. Emily lied to me. You don’t lie about something so monumental.” My words don’t have as much conviction as they did in the weeks following a separation.
She nods. “Maybe. But sometimes, when emotions are high, it’s hard to see the bigger picture. I just don’t want you to give up on something that might be worth holding onto.”
Her words settle in and stir up emotions I thought I had a handle on.
Just then, my father enters the room, breaking the tension. “Alright, enough lingering in here. Let’s get to the dining room before the food gets cold. ”
We troop out and settle around the dining table. Just as we’re about to start, Dad clears his throat, a serious expression on his face.
“I wanted to talk to you both,” he begins, his gaze moving between Daniel and me. “Your mother and I have made a decision.”
Mom looks at him, and I catch the slightest nod of encouragement from her.
“It’s time I start stepping back,” he continues, his tone steady. “Your mother’s been more than patient all these years, with all my long hours and missed dinners. She deserves more of my time now, and I’m ready to give it to her. So, I’ll be retiring at the end of the year.”
I stare at him, processing his words, while my mother’s face glows with pride. After all these years, I’d always seen him as someone who’d never step down.
“Andrew,” he says, turning to me. “I want you to take over. To be the CEO of Bennett Developers. You’ve earned it. I know the company will be in good hands with you.”
A flood of emotions surges through me. I’ve wanted this but never thought it would actually happen.
Daniel claps me on the back with a grin. “Congrats, man. You’re going to do great.”
Mom reaches across the table, squeezing my hand with a proud smile. “We’re so happy for you, Andrew. You deserve this.”
I find myself smiling back, trying to express the gratitude I know they expect. “Thank you. It means a lot to me.”
Mom stands, her eyes shining. “Well, I think this calls for some champagne.”
“Shouldn’t we eat first?” Daniel says. “What’s happening to my family?”
We all laugh and Mom heads to the kitchen, returning with a bottle and glasses. She pours for each of us, and we clink glasses, and everyone around me is grinning, laughing, celebrating.
But as I take a sip, the fleeting joy I felt evaporates .
I should be ecstatic. This is what I’ve worked so hard for, the dream I’ve chased for as long as I can remember. I’ve finally proven myself, shown my family that I’m capable of leadership, of taking on this role.
Yet, all I feel is a dull ache, a hollow emptiness that I can’t shake.
I raise my glass again, taking another sip as everyone continues talking around me, but my mind drifts elsewhere. The taste of victory is bitter, tainted by the lingering absence of the one person I wish could share this moment with me.
Emily.
Even after everything, after the lies and betrayal, she’s the one I ache for. She’s the missing piece, the one who makes everything make sense. Without her, all of this—the title, the success—it feels incomplete.
I realize with a pang that I’ve been lying to myself. Telling myself that I could just move on, build this life without her, fill the void with work and titles and ambition.
But it’s her I want, her I miss. She’s the one who made me feel grounded, whole.