Amelia

 

“Are you ready to go?” Landen asked as he stood in the doorway of their bedroom, watching Amelia as she finished her make-up. Tonight was her bachelorette party, so Landen wanted her to have a night that she deserved. It was just a week until their wedding, and Nikki insisted that Amelia had to have a girl’s night, even though Amelia wasn’t that keen.  “I promised Mom that I would have you there at eight sharp.”

“Yep,” she said as she stood up, giving him a twirl. “How do I look?”

“Stunning, as always,” Landen said as he walked across the room and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I don’t suppose there is any way I can talk you into staying home tonight?”

“And upset my future mother-in-law?” Amelia laughed. “Not a chance.”

“Damn!” Landen pouted, making Amelia laugh harder.

Before Amelia could reply, the buzzer sounded from the hallway, and Landen gave her a smile.

“That will probably be Nikki,” he said with a smile before he took Amelia’s hand, leading her out of their room and down the hallway. As they walked into the living room, their housekeeper, Carla came into the room, followed closely by Nikki.

When Amelia moved in, Landen asked Carla if she would work a few extra hours each day, as much as Amelia insisted they didn’t need her. She had argued that she could take care of their evening meals, and any extra work, but Landen was adamant that he didn’t want her turning into the little wife. He didn’t see her as anything other than his equal.

“Are you ready to party?” Nikki asked as she hurried past Carla, hugging Amelia.

“I think so,” Amelia said as she returned her friend’s hug.

“Well you look amazing,” Nikki said as she held her at arm’s length. “And tonight you are going to have a fabulous night. Your maid of honour is going to make sure of it.”

“Then I am putting myself into your capable hands,” Amelia replied, before she turned to Landen, giving him a warm smile, then leaned in to give him a kiss. “Have fun with your dad and your brothers. But tell Liam if he shaves anything, or gets you drunk and tattoos you, I will kill him myself.”

“I will give him the message,” Landen laughed. He had decided he was just going to have a quiet night in with his brother’s and his father. They were going to play poker and have a few beers. “Just go and have a good night.”

“I will,” she replied as he kissed her once more.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Nikki said as she turned, heading back towards the hallway, and down to the elevator. Landen followed them down the hallway, then stood and watched them as they stepped into the elevator. Amelia turned back towards him and gave him one last smile before the doors closed.

“Tonight is going to be awesome,” Nikki said. “Quiet, but fun. I promise.”

Amelia gave Nikki a smile, but she didn’t reply. The truth was, she had been dreading tonight all week long, but she had no idea why.

If she was honest, she was still unsettled by the whole picture in the newspaper thing, even though it had been almost three weeks since the article appeared. At first, she had promised herself that she wasn’t going to dwell on it too much. It was a local newspaper, so someone living in Chicago actually seeing the article was very unlikely.

Also, Landen called the hospital where Pete Reynolds was, and he was still locked up, so she knew everything, for now, was okay.

She had no idea why, but something changed in her in the last week. Suddenly she became more anxious about the whole thing. Amelia couldn’t shake the feeling she was being watched. She could see Pete Reynolds everywhere she went, and it was becoming exhausting.

Landen assured her that it was most likely anxiety about the wedding, that once it was over, she would learn to relax once more.

She hoped that Landen was right, that it was just a little pre-wedding nerves. After all, she had known Landen for such a short time; just over four months; marrying him in some ways was a huge leap of fate for her.

Amelia decided that she was just going to try to relax and enjoy her evening as best she could.

There wasn’t going to be a lot of ladies there, just Amelia, Nikki, Eloise and of course, Nell. Nell had also invited a couple of her closest friends. Harriet and Jill had been Nell’s best friends since her time in college. Nell promised Amelia that she would love them when she met them.

When Amelia and Nikki reached the restaurant, everyone else was already there and seated. Nell stood, greeting Amelia the moment she saw her.

“Sweetheart!” She exclaimed, hugging her tightly. “You look lovely, so beautiful.”

“Thank you, Nell,” Amelia said as Nell released her from her embrace. “So do you.”

Amelia greeted Eloise with a hug too, before Nell introduce her to Harriet and Jill.

“We have heard so much about you, Sweetie,” Harriet said as she kissed Amelia on both cheeks before Jill did the same. Amelia wondered how much Nell had actually told them about her.

Officially, she was still living as Amelia Coleman, the only people that knew her true identity were Landen’s family, Nikki and now Eloise.

Amelia had told her the truth the morning after the newspaper article. It was Eloise who had spotted the article in the paper. Amelia knew she had surprised her that morning with her reaction to it. She knew that she owed the girl an explanation, so she decided that since Eloise and she had become good friends, she owed her the truth too.

Eloise was amazing about everything. She promised Amelia that she would take her secret to the grave, and Amelia knew she meant it. She couldn’t believe that she had found not just one, but two best friends that would have her back no matter what.

And then she had of course Landen. Amelia knew that no matter what else happened, as long as she had him, she could face anything, even Pete Reynolds.

She decided she was not going to let him get to her anymore, nor was she going to let him ruin her night. This was her night, her future and she was not letting him steal one more moment of it.

Nell ordered champagne, and once everyone had a glass, she stood up, as all eyes turned to her. The small group of ladies fell quiet.

“Being the mother of five boys has always been one of my proudest achievements,” Nell said as she smiled down at Amelia. “It hasn’t been easy, believe me. But I love my boys, I never felt like I was missing out on anything. At least not until I met Amelia. Now I feel like the missing piece to our puzzle has finally been found. If I could have picked a daughter for myself, she is exactly what I would have chosen. Sean and I are so happy to be welcoming her into our family, as are the rest of the boys. We hope that both Amelia and Landen are as happy as Sean and I have been as they start this journey together.”

She smiled at Amelia before she raised her glass into the air.

“So please raise your glasses, and join me in a toast,” Nell said as she looked around the table before her gaze fell back on Amelia. “To Amelia and Landen!”

“Amelia and Landen!” Everyone echoed.

When they finished dinner, Nell insisted on picking up the tab, much to Amelia’s discomfort. She wanted to pay for dinner, but Nell was not having it.

“It’s the least I can do,” Nell assured her as gave her hand a squeeze. “I never imagined that I could ever see my boy so happy, and that is in no small part to you.”

She handed the waitress her credit card, and she quickly swiped it through the hand-held credit card machine before she handed it back to Nell.

As Amelia sat there, she suddenly got an uneasy feeling that someone was watching her; almost like she could feel a pair of eyes burning into her.

She sat up in her seat and tried to appear as casual as she could as she glanced around the restaurant. Amelia knew in her heart that she was most likely being paranoid, but there was something in the pit of her stomach that told her something was off.

Her heart hammered, as she glanced around the restaurant, but when there she didn’t see what she knew in her heart she was looking for, she returned her focus back to the ladies at the table, and tried to push her fears from her mind.

“We should go to a club,” Nikki exclaimed as they all stood up to leave the restaurant. Amelia was about to make her excuses, but before she could, Harriett spoke up.

“I can’t remember the last time I was in a club,” she said with an air of excitement in her voice. “I think that’s a marvellous idea.”

“Great!” Nikki exclaimed before she looked at Amelia, giving her a questioning look. “What do you say, Sweetie?”

“The thing is,” Amelia said, knowing that no matter what she said, Nikki was never going to take no for an answer. “Landen is expecting me home early and…”

“I will take care of Landen,” Nikki cut in with a wave of her hand, as she pulled her phone from her bag. “He has you for the rest of his life; we just want you for tonight.”

Before Amelia could argue, Nikki was tapping in Landen’s number, calling him.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Eloise asked, and Amelia knew her friend was reading the uncertainty on her face.

“I guess,” Amelia replied with a shrug.

“If you would rather go home…” Eloise continued, giving her a questioning look.

“I guess we could go for an hour,” Amelia replied, grateful for having Eloise in her corner.

Twenty minutes, and two cabs later, the six ladies headed to a noisy bar, where Nikki insisted she bought them all a round of shots.

“Here’s to a great night,” Nikki shouted over the thumping music as she held up her glass, laughing. “And Amelia’s last night of freedom.”

They all downed the shot in one go, and Amelia coughed when the warm liquid hit the back of her throat.

“Jesus!” Amelia gasped. “How do you drink that stuff?”

“It takes years of practice, Kitten,” Nikki replied, giving Amelia a wink, and Amelia couldn’t help but smile back at her.

Little by little Amelia began to feel herself relax. She couldn’t remember the last time she laughed as much as she did.

She loved Harriett and Jill too. Harriett was just like an older version of Nikki; she was full of fun and mischief. Jill, on the other hand, was more like Amelia. She was quieter, more reserved, and happy to let her friend take centre stage.

Nell was a mixture of them both. She had a fun side that surprised Amelia, but she completely loved, and she also had a wicked sense of humour. But she knew when to sit back and let Harriett take the lead.

“Are you having fun, Sweetheart?” Nell asked Amelia after they had been in the club a little over an hour.

“I am,” Amelia replied with a smile. “More than I actually thought I would.”

“Landen mentioned you were a little worried about tonight,” Nell replied as she returned Amelia’s smile. “He said you’ve been a little anxious this week.”

“I guess I have,” Amelia shrugged as she lowered her voice. “I think it’s just that everything is going so well, I have this feeling…”

“That it’s too good to be true!” Nell finished her thought.

“Exactly,” Amelia confirmed with a nod.

“It’s okay to be worried, Sweetie,” Nell said, surprising Amelia. “You have been through so much, it’s natural for you to be anxious. But you can’t let what happened in the past take away your happiness now.”

“I’ll try,” Amelia promised, as she gave Nell a grateful smile.

“You’ll be fine, Lovely Girl,” Nell added as she gave Amelia’s hands a squeezed. “I know you will.”

Amelia smiled once more, grateful for Nell’s support.

Just then her phone beeped on the table in front of her. Amelia smiled when she saw Landen’s name flashing on the screen. She picked up her phone opening the text message that Landen had just sent.

Hope you’re having fun, I miss you. Lx

Amelia smiled as she tapped in her reply.

I’m having a great time, but I miss you too. Ax

She hit send and set her phone down on the table.

She looked over at Nikki and her friend gave her a knowing smile, Amelia couldn’t help but smile back.

A few moments later, her phone beeped once more. Amelia smiled once again. She reached out, picking the phone up from the table, then opened the message, laughing while she read it.

Liam said that you had to come home and take me to bed, I have won all his money, lol.

She was just about to reply when she looked up and froze as her eyes meet a pair of eyes that haunted her dreams for the briefest of moments. Then as quickly as they appeared, they were gone.

Amelia’s heart hammered in her chest. She knew most likely her mind was playing tricks with her, but still, she felt completely unnerved. What if he had found her? What if he had come to finish what he had started?

She scanned the club and the many nameless faces, but she couldn’t find him again.

“Sweetheart,” Nell said, pulling Amelia from her thought. “Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I…I…yeah, I’m okay,” she replied as she pulled her eyes away from the crowd, looking at Nell. To her horror, tears pooled in her eyes. Amelia thought she was going to cry.

“Amelia,” Nell said, this time taking her hand. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I’m just being stupid,” Amelia insisted, as she shook her head, trying her best to smile, but the tears that were now spilling down her face told a different story. The last thing she wanted to do was cry in front of everyone and ruin their night. She quickly stood up, grabbed her phone from the table. “I um… I need to use the restroom.”

“Amelia!” Nikki exclaimed, giving her a worried look. “Wait, I’ll come with you.”

“I’m okay, honestly,” Amelia insisted, as she turned to Nikki, holding up her hand. “I won’t be long.”

Without even waiting for a reply, she turned, pushing her way through the crowd, heading towards the ladies toilets. Once she reached the restroom, Amelia headed straight towards a cubicle and locked the door behind her.

She stood there for a moment, taking slow, steady breaths, trying her hardest to slow her heart rate down.

She closed her eyes, forcing the tears that were burning her eyes back down inside. She was not going to cry, not because of Pete Reynolds, not again.

This is not happening! She scolded herself in her mind. That wasn’t him; it’s just your stupid mind playing tricks.

She didn’t know how long she was even standing there, when her phone began to ring in her hand, making her jump with fright.

Amelia looked down at the phone and saw Landen’s name flashing on the screen. She took a deep breath, before she hit answer, then brought the phone to her ear.

“Hello,” she said, closing her eyes once more as hot tears stung her eyes.

“Amelia,” Landen said, and Amelia could hear the concern in his voice. “What’s happened?”

“Nothing,” she replied, trying to sound happier than she was actually feeling. “Why would you think that?”

“Mom called,” Landen said. Amelia cringed knowing that they were all probably talking about her now. “She said you’re upset.”

“I’m okay,” Amelia lied, trying her hardest to keep her voice even and calm. “I think I’ve had a little too much to drink, I’m ready to come home.”

“Are you sure?” Landen said, sounding far from convinced. “I could come and get you.”

“It’s okay,” Amelia said as she wiped the tears from her cheek. “I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay,” Landen replied, but Amelia knew he was worried. She could hear it in his voice. “I’ll be waiting for you.”

“I’ll see you soon,” she replied, swallowing back a lump that was almost choking her. “I love you.”

“Love you, too,” Landen whispered.

Amelia hung up the phone, wiping the tears from her face. She needed to pull herself together just long enough to get her through the end of the evening.

Blowing out a deep breath, Amelia reached for the latch on the door. When she opened it, she was surprised to find Nikki standing there.

“Are you okay?” She asked her friend, giving her a knowing look.

“I will be,” Amelia smiled. She knew she was being stupid. She was seeing things that weren’t even there now. She needed to relax. In one week’s time, she would become Mrs. Landen Murphy. She just needed to stop being afraid of what could go wrong, but start thinking about everything that is right. “I think I’m just partied out.”

“How about one more drink for the road?” Nikki asked as she gave her friend a grin.

“One more for the road,” Amelia agreed as Nikki wrapped her arm around her, as they headed back out to the rest of the ladies.