Sorry for the wait. Thanks for the reviews…on with the chapter
New York
July 1912
It was supposed to be a onetime thing, or at least until she was convinced she was with child, but even after she realized she was already pregnant with Evan Russell's baby, Ariel continued to see him. Evan was fun, he took her out to nice places, not the kinds of places she was used to, like the opera or something like that, he took her pubs and clubs with dance floors. At first Ariel was very angry he would think to bring her to such places, but she had ended up having fun. Of course Jim knew nothing about her little affair; perhaps he had suspected something since Ariel had stopped caring about his whereabouts or if he was ready to consummate their marriage or not. She will never know because he never said anything.
Once Jim had resumed working at sea again, Ariel would bring Evan home and they would have nice dinners and read together, and at the end of the night cuddle up and sleep.
She was enjoying these days, but she really did not know where it was going. Evan had told her he loved her the other night and she responded by saying "thank you". Yes, it was not the best of replies, but she honestly did not know what to think about the situation. She was pregnant with his baby, she enjoyed spending time with him and he loved her.
What was she still doing her pretending the baby was Jim's?
Why was she still bearing the name Mrs. Ariel Moody?
Why did Jim not Love her?
That question would forever ponder in the back of her head. After all this time, after the announcement of their child, After she had tried to stop nagging him, He still could not love her.
This was the reason why Jim Moody fascinated Ariel.
K
Philadelphia
After staring at her feet for a while, Lizzie decided to take a walk. She had been sitting in the house all day after her gardening and she thought a walk would be very pleasing. After time had passed, she did not know when her feet took her to the Collins.
Her first instinct was to turn around immediately, but it was too late as they had already seen her coming through the huge living room window
"I am so very glad you came Lizzie" Matthew said when he opened the door. Lizzie smiled lightly. What was she doing her?
Matthew introduced her to his younger sister and Lizzie liked her immediately.
The Collins were a simple family. They set their table for themselves and it seemed Matthews's sister, Amanda, did the cooking. When Lizzie had asked them about that, Matthew told her, it was how they liked it
"I hate feeling so useless, you know" Matthew said and Lizzie smiled brightly. She then told them about how she had lived her whole life working and doing things for herself until she met her long lost father and things changed. She told them how many times she got into an argument with Mrs. Norris, because she wanted to do her own laundry.
That got everyone laughing and Lizzie realized that for the first time in months, she was actually having fun.
She made a habit of it. Going over to the Collins, she formed a good friendship with Amanda and she could always talk easily to Matthew. Her siblings Alex and Emma had to go back to New York because school was starting soon and has much as Lizzie missed them, she was glad she had the Collins to rely on for company.
On one of her idle days Lizzie watched Amanda as she played the piano. This was a thing many girls in the higher society learned at young ages. Lizzie remembered her mother playing a few times when they had the opportunity of being near one, but she never had the chance to teach Lizzie. As Lizzie watched Amanda she was looking closely at the way her fingers moved, she tried to remember everything Amanda had taught her about the scale.
Just then Matthew came back from one of his meetings and Amanda ran to give her brother a hug. Lizzie smiled at the two of them.
Their parents were travelers, so they had dumped Amanda at some boarding school somewhere in Boston, but Matthew did not want his sister growing up without any family close by, so he put her under his care. He tutored her personally and he cared for her like he was her father instead.
"How did the meeting go" Lizzie asked Matthew and he sighed. He had gone to talk to some Steal and oil tycoons to invest in his company. It was going to be tough and he had been worrying about it all week. As he said, getting these men to sign up with him would make everything perfect in his business.
"I….got them" He yelled and the girls screamed with joy and Amanda hugged him again
"I going to go write to papa" She yelled as she ran up the stairs leaving Lizzie and Matthew alone in the living room.
"I'm happy for you, congratulations" Lizzie said and Matthew smiled at her, just then Lizzie saw that he was moving closer to her.
"I couldn't have done it without you" He said. He was now standing right in front of her and Lizzie was not sure if she should step back. Her mind told her to, but she was not moving.
Matthew's hand slowly made its way to her chin
"All that rehashing came through" He whispered this time as he leaned down a bit kiss her, but just as his lips were about to touch hers, Lizzie moved her head away
"You can't" She whispered
"Why?" Matthew asked quietly "Don't tell me it's because of Jim"
"It is and it's not" Lizzie said finally walking away from him. Matthew quickly caught her arm, but not in a harsh way
"I'm sorry, I just thought we had something between us" He said feeling embarrassed
"Matthew you are a great guy and any girl would be lucky to have you, I'm sorry it's not me. I'm not..I gave my heart away to someone else a long time ago…I just don't think I can move on…..especially since.." She stopped and looked up at him. Tears filling her eyes
"Since what lizzie?" He asked her edging her to continue
"Since I'm pregnant with his child" Lizzie fell on the couch behind her and continued to sob.
Matthew was stunned to hear this and he took a closer look at Lizzie's stomach. He could not tell she was with child, but that would explain her moving her to Philadelphia.
He sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her trying to get her to stop crying.
"It's alright, don't cry" He said "No matter what, you still have me; I can be your friend if that's what you need. I'll be whatever you want me to be" he said quietly and Lizzie continued to cry. She was very lucky to have found Matthew
Southampton, England
Jim had been promoted to fourth officer and he worked on the Adriatic now. Two weeks ago he had left America for England and he was very glad to be back in his home country. Today he was eating lunch with his longest friend Harold Lowe, who had just recently become engaged to the love of his life.
"I'm very happy for you Harry" Jim said "very happy" Harry looked at his friend and shook his head. He was sad things had gotten so bad for him
"You have no idea where she is?" He asked Jim
"No, her father just says, she's gone away… Harry, I feel like someone has taken a saw and brutally cut my heart into two. Every day I try to understand what the heck I was thinking sleeping with that clown." He was getting angry and Harry pushed his glass of beer towards him, and Jim drank it thankfully.
"I understand you love Lizzie, I liked her too, but Jim have you not realized Ariel is carrying your child. Your child, you are going to have to bury your feeling for Lizzie for things to get better; I mean what kid wants to live in a home where his father hates his mother" Harry said seriously
"I just can't seem to do it Harry" Jim said sadly. He was thinking about how different his life would have been if he had married Lizzie
"When is your wedding? Jim asked Harry
"In September. why?"
"I think I'm going to stay till then. The baby is not due till January, so I'll spend the next two months trying to get some sanity back into my life"
Harry shook his head and smiled
"Well, you were going to be my best man any ways, so I was going to have you come back then" Harry said
"I just saved you some money, cause I'll would have had you pay" Jim said as he cracked a smile for the first time that day
K
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