2. Leaving The Hayes family home

Amelie buried her face in her knees in the same place where she fall due to Theresia’s cruel actions. While the other workers still surrounded her and continued to encourage the poor girl.

“Amelie, I’m sorry. This is all my fault. If only I hadn’t advised you to…” Katie, who was downcast and reluctant to look Amelie in the eye, was unable to continue her sentence.

“You don’t have to feel guilty for that, Katie.”

Hearing Amelie’s answer, Katie looked at Amelie’s face for a moment, then looked down again. Her feelings of guilt for Amelie were so great. Katie thought the disaster that befell Amelie today was result of her suggestion that Amelie tell Jonathan about her pregnancy.

“Because sooner or later, Jonathan has to know about my pregnancy.”

“Then, what are you going to do after this? Are you going to comply with Madame Theresia’s wish to terminate your pregnancy?” asked Katie cautiously.

‘Of course not.” Amelie answered confidently and managed to keep all eyes on her. “I will take care of my baby and nurture him so that he grows up well.” Amelie’s hand gently rubbed her stomach and she smiled, though she understood that the consequences of her choice to keep the pregnancy, nurture it, and raise the child alone would not be easy.

“Does that mean …” Katie said it again and looked at Amelie with a fierce gaze, as if she knew what answer she would hear from her best friend’s lips.

“It does. I’m leaving this house to keep my baby.”

Katie sighed and tapped her forehead in disarray. Would her days working at the Hayes’ house be the same as when she and Amelie worked together?

“Shouldn’t it be?” Katie, feeling frustrated, immediately pursed her lips to discourage her from giving Amelie advice. What if her advice was as fatal as what had just happened?

“Do you have something to say, Katie? Just say it,” said Amelie while looking at the faces of everyone surrounding her one by one.

“I’m not sure about saying this. But I’ll come back with advice if you want to hear it.” Katie replied with guilt and doubt still lingering in her chest.

Irene, who was gently stroking her s’s back nodded, followed by everyone else, including Amelie.

“There will be two possibilities. First, Young Master will try to persuade the Grand Mistress to accept that are you currently carrying her grandchild. And the second possibility is that she will remain furious and revile you, blame you, and even demean you. You know, she’s very haughty woman who treats us very badly if things don’t go the way she expects.”  Everyone in the room nodded their heads. Justifying what Katie had said.

“Than, what should I do?” Amelie asked Katie.

“You just need to hide for now, Amelie. We’ll let you know once one of the possibilities I mentioned has happened. I will ask you to come back if Theresia can accept the presence of her grandchild that you are currently carrying, or ask you to stay hidden if the worst happens.” Katie concluded while turning to Robert and Irene.

All heads nodded in agreement with Katie’s suggestion. Although all of them knew, the second possibility was the most likely to happen.

“I knew something like this would happen.” Robert muttered as he leaned against the wall with one hand.

When Robert first realized Amelie and Jonathan’s relationship, he warned his daughter many times to keep her distance from the young man. Robert knew exactly what his mistress was like.

Theresia Hayes is a socialite whose name in quite famous in the Auckland region. She has a haughty and arrogant nature. It seemed highly unlikely that she would accept Amelie into the Hayes family. Moreover, Amelie was just a maid. With her arrogant attitude, it is possible that Theresia will have the heart to force Amelie to abort her pregnancy.

What father’s heart doesn’t break seeing the daughter he loves being faced with a difficult situation? Had he known it was going to be like this, Robert would have strictly forbidden his daughter not to be intimate with that young man, even if he had to warn her with a beathing to deter her. But it was too late.

“Honey, calm yourself.” Irene’s soft voice managed to make Robert stop complaining.

“I’m happy to take your advice, Katie.” Amelie spoke confidently as she got up from her sitting position.

“You can stay at my parent’s house, Amelie. It’s not far from Westfield Newmarket. I’ll give you the address.”  Katie pulled out the stationery she always kept in her apron pocket. It was like a safety charm for Katie. To protect her from Theresia’s scolding she was told.

The girl held out a piece of paper with her parents’ home address to Amelie.

“Thanks, Katie. I’ll be leaving this afternoon.” Amelie replied, confirming the time of her departure so as not to arouse the house owner’s suspicion.

“Don’t be afraid; we’ll keep your whereabouts a secret from the rest of the Hayes  family,” said Janne who had been quietly listening to Amelie and Katie’s conversation.

“Go, my child, I know it’s the right decision for you and the baby in your womb.” Irene took her daughter’s body into her arms.

Amelie closed her eyes as the girl inhaled the soothing smell of her mother’s body to fill her lungs. Because her gut feeling told her, soon, she would be living apart from Irene and Robert, the two humans who had brought her into the world.

Amelie released her embrance and said, “Okay. I will leave here soon.”

Everyone in the small room nodded and smiled. For them, the decision to ask Amelie to leave the Hayes family home was the right one.

‘it’s true what you said, Amelie. Tonight is a good time for you to leave. I’ll call my mom to let her know that you’ll be staying there for a few days.” Katie hugged Amelie and kissed both of her best friend’s cheeks in turn, from right to left.

“Take good care yourself, sweetie. Mom and Dad will always miss you.” Pleaded Irene as she took Amelie’s hands and looked into her eyes. The girl just nodded while forcing her lips to stay up.

“Take good care of my grandchild, Amelie. Make sure is born healthy.” Robert chimed in, which made Amelie turn her head quickly.

A big smile was etched on Amelie’s face. The girl wiped away the tears of emotion that were pressing in her eyes. Amelie rushed to hug Robert, who was slightly overweight.

Robert stroked his daughter’s hair and kissed the forehead of the girl he loved so much after Irene.

Amelie’s smile grew when she heard Robert refer to the fetus in her womb as ‘my grandchild’. It meant that there would be another human being who would love the child in her womb besides herself.

A glimmer of hope and enthusiasm slowly broke through Amelie’s once pitch-black heart. Now, she is more confident and enthusiastic about taking care of the child in her womb.

“Tell for this fetus, Amelie. Grandmother is already longing for his birth,” said Irene as she rushed to hug the father and daughter, who were still embracing. The three of them dissolved into sobs.

Katie and the others still stood transfixed, starting with emotion at what she was currently witnessing. Katie couldn’t help but cry too.

***