7. Amelia
CHAPTER 7
AMELIA
A melia had always lived minimally, so she didn’t have a lot to pack. She swept a few changes of clothes and her toiletries into a carry-on-sized suitcase, added her laptop and a box of her favorite tea, and was ready to go. She would come back later to get more things, after she saw what was available at Liam’s house and what was needed.
At the last minute, she grabbed a small stuffed polar bear that she’d purchased as a gift for one of her nieces. It would be a good ice breaker with Grace. Since her suitcase was already full, she tucked the bear under her arm.
On her way out, she caught sight of herself in the mirror. She was dressed in the same professional attire she’d chosen for the lunch she’d thought was a date. It didn’t feel right anymore. So, she left the suitcase by the door, hurried back to her bedroom, and changed into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt — her childcare-appropriate clothes.
Liam’s address was a bus ride away from Amelia’s redbrick apartment building. She rode into the city, watching the buildings change from cute apartments and row houses to giant steel and glass behemoths. It seemed like Liam lived in the heart of the downtown business district. The bus chugged up a large hill, then came to Amelia’s stop. She disembarked, carrying her suitcase with her.
Following the directions on her phone, she headed down the block, took a left, and stopped in front of a large, modern skyscraper. She checked the address, then checked it again. It didn’t seem possible that Liam really lived here, but the address told a different story.
Amelia stepped into the lobby, where a doorman smiled at her.
“Good afternoon. Can I help you?”
“Um, yes. Thank you. I’m here to see Liam Bradshaw?”
“Wonderful. I’ll just call him so he’ll send the elevator.”
Send the elevator? That didn’t sound right. Did he have a private elevator?
“Okay. Thank you.”
The doorman dialed a number on his cell phone. A moment later, she heard Liam’s faint voice on the other end. Then the doorman nodded and hung up.
“Thank you for your patience. Follow me.” The doorman led Amelia to the bank of elevators at the back of the building. They didn’t enter one of the elevators in the long row, but instead walked to the end, to a slightly smaller elevator. The doorman swiped a keycard, and the doors opened. “Step right in.”
Amelia entered the elevator, then turned back to the doorman.
“Thank you. Which floor?”
“There’s only the one.” The doorman smiled kindly, and the doors whooshed shut. Sure enough, there was only one button inside the elevator, for the thirty-eighth floor. Amelia felt the elevator shift and begin to climb. It seemed that Liam did have a private elevator.
Moments later, the elevator came to a stop, and the doors whooshed open once again. Amelia stepped out, expecting to see a hallway, and instead came face-to-face with Liam.
“Oh! Hi!”
“Hello, Amelia. Thank you again for coming.” Liam stepped aside and gestured for her to exit the elevator. Amelia stepped out, right into an entryway. It was neatly lined with a shoe rack and a few jackets on a hook. Amidst a sea of black and brown loafers and black jackets, Amelia spotted one pair of tiny pink sneakers. Those must belong to little Grace.
She removed her shoes and set down her bag.
“I’ll just take you on a quick tour, if that’s all right.”
“Yes, of course.”
Amelia followed Liam out of the entryway. There were in a large, light-filled hallway, illuminated by a series of skylights. This must be the top floor of the building. As they walked, Liam pointed out other rooms — the kitchen, the living room, the dining room, the study, his office, and a bathroom. When they turned a corner, he pointed out a series of bedrooms, including his own and Grace’s, before leading Amelia to another bedroom.
“And this one will be yours.”
Amelia stepped inside. The room was well-lit, but it was also starkly bare. The walls were gray concrete, as was the floor. The bed, which stood in the center of the room, was neatly made with a set of white sheets. There were no curtains, but Liam showed her how to press a button to bring down the blinds.
“And that’s the tour.” Liam stepped back and smiled at her. “What do you think?”
Amelia took a moment to gather her thoughts. What she really thought was that this place was opulent, elaborate, and a little sad. If she hadn’t known that Liam lived here, she would have thought this whole place was just a set on a TV show about rich bachelors. There were no homey touches at all — not a single colorful pillow or curtain or rug. The few pieces of art she’d seen on the walls were just abstract gray shapes.
“It’s nice.”
Liam chuckled. “All right. Well, since you’ll be living here, feel free to decorate your room as you see fit.”
“Thanks.”
Amelia left her suitcase in the room, and they stepped back into the hallway. Liam led her into the kitchen.
“Let’s see, what else do you need to know… June comes on Tuesdays and Fridays to keep the place tidy. I also have a chef, but only on the weekends — since I’m mostly at work through the week, it doesn’t make sense to have her in every day. Would you like me to have her come in more often now that you’re here?”
Amelia quickly shook her head. “That’s all right. I can handle some cooking.” Just how rich was this man? When he’d offered her a huge sum for the fake marriage she’d had a clue, but seeing this penthouse and hearing about his range of household staff really brought his wealth into focus. Amelia glanced down at her jeans and T-shirt. Maybe she should have stayed in her professional clothes, after all.
“Of course, I also have our rings.” Liam reached into his pocket and withdrew a small velvet ring box, which he handed to Amelia. Amelia took it, feeling a little strange. Men didn’t often buy her jewelry. Inside the box was a gold band, set with a series of small diamonds that sparkled in the kitchen light. It was ornate and beautiful, exactly the kind of thing Amelia would have picked for herself.
“Wow, Liam. This is gorgeous.”
“I can’t take all the credit. The jeweler suggested which ring to buy.” Liam lifted his left hand to show a matching golden band, though a little wider and without the diamonds, on his own finger. “I have one, too.”
Amelia bit her lip as she slid the ring onto her finger. “So, we’re married, then.”
“Yes. There’s also some paperwork to sign, but I’ll bring in my lawyer tomorrow to handle all that.”
“Okay.” Amelia couldn’t stop staring at the ring on her finger. Her words failed her for what felt like the hundredth time that day. But then, with a deep breath, she remembered what she’d decided on the walk to her apartment. She couldn’t let herself be personally affected by anything that was happening — not the beautiful ring, not the rush of warmth she felt when Liam was near her. None of it. What mattered was the child.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, where’s Grace?”
As if on cue, Amelia heard a sound from down the hall.
“She was napping, but it sounds like she’s awake now.” Liam turned to Amelia. “Is she supposed to nap at this age?”
“Yes, definitely yes.” Amelia stepped into the hallway. At the other end stood a little girl, impossibly small. She was wearing what looked like an overlarge man’s T-shirt and her hair was mussed.
“Yes, the clothes,” Liam said from behind Amelia. “The social worker promised she’d send over some of Grace’s things, and they arrived this morning. But she refused to wear any of them, apart from the outfit she came in and these ‘pajamas.’ I’ll get you set up with a credit card, and you can pick out some new things for her.”
“Hmm.” Amelia was barely listening to Liam. Her attention was focused on the little girl at the end of the hallway, who was clutching a washcloth to her chest. The little girl looked back at her warily, and Amelia’s heart broke for the child. How confusing it must be to lose your mother and move in with a stranger, in a bare house, all within a few days. Amelia sank down to her knees, so that she’d be closer to Grace’s height. Then she smiled at the little girl.