Margot
I feel like standing up and running after him, but I stay where I am. With my little girl still sobbing, I can’t do what I want to do.
Becoming a parent is about sacrifices. Gone are the days when I could just do as I please. Now I’ve got to mind my daughter.
I’m not complaining, not at all. Except right now, it’s hard not to run after Boone.
I sigh and lean my head back against the couch.
My gaze roams the room.
It’s not a huge living room compared to the one in our family mansion. But it looks more lived in. There are photographs on the wall and books in a shelf. It has a warm and homey kind of feel to it.
Why was Boone here? Was this his weekender?
I take my hand off Amelia’s leg and rub my eyes. Tears are welling up in them. I can’t afford to cry. If I do, my little girl will see and ask questions.
Which is the last thing I need right now.
“Mommy.”
I look down and stroke her blonde hair.
“Yes, darling?” I try to sound as cheerful as I can muster right now. Crying, yelling, or screaming will have to wait till later.
“I’m sorry, Mommy.” She looks at me with those big brown eyes; eyes like a teddy bear’s.
“What for, sweetie?” Her words bring more tears to the surface, and I bite my bottom lip.
“You said to stay away from the edge. And I didn’t.” She sobs harder.
“Hey, sweetie.” I wrap my arms around her and cradle her, the way I used to when she was a little baby. “You have nothing to be sorry for. And you’ll be fine.”
For a few minutes, we sit in silence.
When she was a baby, she did not like being put down. I had to carry her everywhere. She was happiest when I held her. It made life tough, but it was definitely worth it.
I can’t imagine life without her now.
When I’d seen her go tumbling down the mountain, my heart had leaped into my throat and I had feared the worst.
It’s hard to put into words how you feel as a parent when you see your child’s life in danger. Words just can’t describe the emotions accurately.
“Mommy,” she pipes up again.
“Yes, my little princess?”
“The man who saved me. Who is he?”
My heart skips a beat before it starts galloping madly in my chest. It’s so loud, I fear Amelia might hear. I swallow hard and take a deep breath before I answer.
“Looks like he lives here, darling. He’s one of those kind people who came by at the right time.”
With bated breath, I wait for the next question. Luckily it doesn’t come.
“He seems nice,” she mumbles, and snuggles deeper into me.
I let out the breath I’d been holding and mumble a silent thank you.
Amelia loves to ask questions. Usually one question leads to another, and another, and another.
Sometimes I have to tell her that if she asks me one more question, I might dissolve in a puddle of water on the floor.
For a while, I watch her.
Her chest rises and falls. Her breathing is regular and I wonder if she’s going to sleep. It’s been a huge ordeal for her.
My mind is still trying to come to terms with all that has happened.
I swallow.
Briefly, my thoughts stray to what might have happened if Boone hadn’t come to our rescue. I know they’re useless thoughts, but I can’t seem to be able to help it right now.
Over and over, I see myself and Amelia getting crushed by rocks and debris. It’s not a pretty sight, and my chest feels as if it’s being squashed by a heavy weight. Sooner or later, I must get some time to myself and let it all out.
On top of that, I’m now being riddled by guilt of not having told Boone about Amelia. Self-doubt creeps through me, and grabs hold like ivy does to old stone walls.
He has a right to know. I should have told him. Maybe I should have stayed.
It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life.
Of course, it wasn’t really a decision I made of my own free will. It wasn’t a decision at all, more a reaction to a demand made by my father.
Family.
My thoughts stray to my family and Boone’s. Sometimes I can’t believe I belong to my family. They’re all so different to me.
Dad’s so protective of the family business and fortune. If I told him I wanted to be with Boone, he would have hit the roof.
If I hadn’t left college and Boone voluntarily, I swear I think he would have had me kidnapped and forcefully removed.
“Mommy,” Amelia’s voice rouses me out of my daydreaming.
“Yes, sweetie?” I pick up a strand of her hair and let it run through my fingers.
“I’m thirsty.”
Crap.
I look around.
Boone stormed out a while ago and has not returned.
“Can I have some water please?”
With a nod of my head, I unpeel myself from Amelia and stand up.
“I’ll see what I can find.” Before I walk away from her, I bend back over her little face and kiss the top of her nose.
She’s still a little pale around the nose and eyes.
“You okay?”
She nods and smiles.
“Still sore?”
Another nod.
“Well, let’s get you something to drink.”
I walk to the other side of the room where I see an opening into what looks like the kitchen.
To make sure Amelia doesn’t worry, I turn back to her.
“I’ll just be going into the kitchen. If you get worried just call out to me, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, Mommy.”
She’s such an amazing little person, my Amelia. Tough, and loveable, and amazing.
I look around as I walk into the kitchen.
Of course, I can see the sink straight away, but I can’t bring my daughter water in my hands. I need to find a glass, or a mug.
I start opening random drawers and cupboard doors.
At first, I only find plates, bowls and pots and pans.
Okay, so if I’m really desperate, I can use one of those for water.
But it would be better to get a glass.
Besides, my curiosity is aroused now, and I keep looking around.
The pantry does not contain much. What is there seems to be home made.
I see flour in a jar, honey in a glass, with a handwritten note on it. I pick it up and read that it was harvested last year.
Wow.
So, Boone, or someone, must harvest his or her own honey. Maybe he’d become a beekeeper.
There’s smoked meat hanging off the roof, and I also spot a hunting knife and arrows.
Curious place to keep your weapons, I decide, and keep searching.
Everything is very neat and oozes manliness.
Whilst I’m not sure I think Boone must be up here on his own. There’s nothing feminine about the kitchen. I can’t say what it is, but somehow the feminine touch is missing.
My eyes wander.
It’s a great kitchen.
There’s a large window over by the sink with a view to the outside. Massive mountain peaks can be seen.
Mesmerized by the view, I scream loudly when something heavy lands on my shoulders.
It’s as if someone’s grabbing me roughly and trying to unbalance me.
Quickly, I bring my hand to my mouth to muffle my own scream. I don’t want Amelia to hear.
Amelia?
Had someone broken into the cabin while Boone had gone out? Where was Boone anyway?
My heart is racing so fast in my chest I fear I might pass out any second.
I wait for the threat of a knife on my throat or the attacker to say something, but nothing.
And then slowly, a face appears in front of me. I see two black eyes.
So as not to collapse with my knees having turned to jelly, I reach for something to stabilize myself, and find the edge of the kitchen bench.
“Mommy?” I hear Amelia call out. “Mommy, are you alright?”
“I’m fine, darling,” I call back and turn my head to get a proper look at the creature who frightened the living daylights out of me.
“How did you get in here?” I ask the raccoon sitting on my shoulder.
All it does is twitch its nose.
“What happened, Mommy?”
Without a glass of water, I return to the living room.
“Look what I found,” I say to Amelia and point at my new friend.
I watch her eyes widen and then clap her hands together.
“Can I pat it?”
I shrug and walk back to where she’s sitting.
“I think so.”
As soon as I get near the couch, the raccoon jumps off my shoulder and leaps onto Amelia’s lap.
My daughter squeals with delight and starts patting the little animal who instantly curls up in her lap.
I, on the hand, am still recovering from the shock, and wish I could have a stiff drink.
But there’s one more question that needs answering…where’s Boone?