The Name

Aurelia didn’t react immediately but her expression stayed fixed for a second too long, as if her mind had briefly gone elsewhere.

Liota noticed almost instantly. She had been speaking, but stopped mid-sentence when she saw her sister’s attention drifting away.

“Aurelia?”

There was no response.

Liota followed her gaze down and realized Aurelia was staring at the necklace on her chest. A small smile appeared on Liota’s face as she instinctively held it lightly between her fingers.

“Oh,” she said softly, almost proudly. “You’re looking at this.”

Aurelia blinked and finally seemed to return to the present. Liota continued before she could speak.

“It’s custom made.”

She lifted it slightly. “For me and my fiancé.”

She paused then looked at her sister. “And his name is Rhys.”

That was when Aurelia’s expression shifted and she looked up properly now.

“Oh really,” she said, her voice controlled.

Her face had gone noticeably dull, though she tried to mask it. She blinked a few times in quick succession, as if resetting her thoughts.

“That’s nice,” she added after a second.

Liota tilted her head slightly.

“What's wrong? You literally went pale.”

Aurelia shook her head. 

"It's nothing." 

"I don't think so. C'mon tell me." Liotta urged. Aurelia looked at her sister who wouldn't take no for an answer.

“I just…” Aurelia exhaled and forced a small smile. “The name caught me off guard.”

Liota frowned a bit.

“That name?”

Aurelia shrugged lightly.

“Yes.”

Liota studied her face for a second longer than necessary before asking carefully.

“You know someone called Rhys?”

Aurelia hesitated. For a moment, she considered not answering at all but then, she gave a short, dry laugh.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

That word of affirmation changed the tone in the room slightly. Liota’s eyes widened a little, but she quickly smiled again.

“Oh? Then you should meet him.”

Aurelia shook her head immediately.

“No. Thanks”

Liota frowned.

“Why not?You will actually like him.”

Aurelia let out a quiet breath.

“Okay. We'll see about that.”

Liota wasn’t discouraged. “I'm serious. He’s really not like anyone you've met before.”

Aurelia gave a small, dismissive nod.

“That’s what everyone says about someone they like.”

Liota laughed softly, then leaned in, still excited.

“You’ll understand when you meet him.”

Aurelia didn’t respond. Instead, after a brief pause, she asked calmly.

“What’s his surname?”

Liota didn’t think twice.

“Calder.”

The moment she said it, the change in Aurelia was immediate, but subtle.

Her shoulders eased a bit and her expression softened in a way that almost looked like relief.

Of course. It wasn’t him. It couldn’t be him.

Her own was Rhys Wilson Not Rhys Calder. It couldn't have been that only her baby father bore that name.

She felt foolish for the thought that had crossed her mind earlier.

What was she even thinking?

Liota was still talking, but Aurelia barely heard her now. 

“He’s really important to me, you know.”

Aurelia nodded absentmindedly.

“Good for you.”

Liota smiled, unaware of what had just passed through her sister’s mind.

“Right? You’ll meet him at dinner.”

“I’ll just focus on you and the engagement.” Aurelia responded, dryly.

Before anyone could say another thing, a loud crash echoed through the house.

“Milo!”

Aurelia’s head turned instantly. Milo came running in, holding his arm.

“I fell!”

Liota gasped immediately.

“Oh no...”

She crouched down before he could get to his mother.

“Are you okay?”

Milo sniffed.

“It hurt.”

Aurelia was already on her feet.

“Come here.”

Milo ran to her. She checked his arm quickly. It was nothing serious, just a scrape.

"I'm sorry, baby." Aurelia brushed his hair and carried him.

Liota sighed in relief.

“I’ll get the first aid kit.”

Before she could move, their mother's voice called her name from downstairs.

“Liota! The planner is here!”

Liota groaned.

“Right now?”

No answer. Liota stood up reluctantly.

“I’ll be right back.”

Aurelia gave a small nod and Liota hurried out.

“Mommy.” Milo called, still in his mother's arms.

“Yes?”

“I’m thirsty.”

Aurelia immediately softened.

“Okay. Baby.”

She put him gently on the bed, poured him a glass of water from the dispenser and handed it to him carefully.

Milo drank it quickly. Aurelia collected the cup and looked at him lovingly.

“You’re okay now?”

He nodded.

“Good.”

She stayed with him in the room and calmed him down. Milo placed his head on her chest and she patted his back. 

Her thoughts drifted again towards her sister's coincidental fiancee name , despite her effort not to. She could have asked for his picture but then she convinced herself that it wasn't necessary. He wasn't the one.

Downstairs, voices began to increase as guests arrived. The engagement dinner was getting closer. A few minutes later, Milo's breathing became steady.

Aurelia looked down and smiled.

The little troublemaker had fallen asleep.

Carefully, she laid him on the bed and pulled the blanket over him before quietly leaving the room.

By evening, the house was full. Music played softly and people filled the dining area. Laughter and conversation echoed around the room as guests moved from one table to another.

Aurelia was exhausted. Ever since she arrived downstairs, her mother had been introducing her to relatives, family friends and people she hadn't seen in years.

Eventually, she escaped to one of the chairs near the dining area and gratefully sat down while holding a glass of champagne.

Across the room, Liota moved excitedly from guest to guest. Almost everyone had arrived but there was only one person everyone seemed to be waiting for.

Liota's fiancé. Aurelia had heard at least three different people mention that he was on his way.

For some reason, a strange discomfort tugged at her chest. She told herself maybe it was because she was tired or the champagne was having an effect on her.

Whatever it was, she didn't like it. Aurelia scoffed at herself and just as she lifted the glass toward her lips, Liota suddenly appeared beside her.

"Aurelia."

She looked up.

Liota was smiling so hard she looked seconds away from bursting.

"He's here!!."

Before Aurelia could respond, the atmosphere inside the room shifted. Conversations paused and heads turned toward the entrance. Aurelia frowned and followed everyone's gaze.

Then she saw him and the glass sl

ipped from her fingers. It hit the floor and shattered but she barely heard it as she stood up on autopilot.

A short distance away, stood someone who was supposedly her sister's fiance but looked exactly like the man who had disappeared from her life four years ago.

Her own Rhys Wilson and the father of her son.