I'm completely shocked. What is Simon doing here?
"Well, aren't you going to invite me in?" He asks, a playful smile tugging at his lips. I mean to respond, but all of a sudden I feel sick again so I run to the window and vomit once more. Simon comes up behind me. He gently gathers my hair and holds it away from my face with one hand, while he strokes my back with his other.
Of course Simon has to come at the absolute worst moment possible. He couldn't have come another day when my hair had actually seen a comb and I was wearing a respectable dress, and o yes a day when I wasn't vomiting out the window. That would be lovely I should think.
I finish and stand up, completely embarrassed. "Thank you." I say to him as he drops my hair. "I'm quite sorry about that. But, I'm afraid I'm ill, so maybe you should return another day."
"Nonsense. I'm here now aren't I. Why don't you go lie down and I'll make you some tea."
"But..." I begin to protest.
"Go, and relax." I do as I'm told, with my head down. I remind myself of a child that's just been reprimanded.
"Simon, what is it exactly that you're doing here?" I ask him when he walks in with my tea. I sit up in bed and he stands there looking awkwardly down at me. I gesture for him to sit on the bed. He nods in thanks.
"I'm here to win you back, Gemma."
"What?" What? I didn't see that one coming.
"Yes, I've missed you." He responds. "I love you." He says so softly that it's barely above a whisper.
"What about Miss Fairchild?" I ask.
"Lucy was boring. She's nothing like you. She doesn't have that adventurous spirit. So, I told my mother that I refused to marry anyone, save for you of course."
"I still don't understand. So, you completely went against your parents' wishes, got on a boat, and came here? All for me?" It sounds far too good to be true.
"Yes." He replies. Six months ago I would've been thrilled. But, things are different now. I love someone else. And no matter how hard I try, I fear I shall never move on.
"Why?" I ask once more.
"Like I said, I love you."
"You wouldn't love me if you knew the truth." I say coldly.
"Try me. Tell me the truth. Tell me your secrets, mysterious Miss Doyle."
"Like I said, you wouldn't love me if you knew the truth." My hand reaches instinctively for my stomach, where I feel the slightest beginning of a bump. I feel strangely… maternal. Simon comes closer to me. He brings one hand to my face and the other he rests on top of mine on my stomach. And he looks at me strangely.
"Whose is it?" He asks.
"Whose is what?" I ask feigning innocence.
"Don't play games with me, Gemma. Just tell me the truth. It doesn't matter. We can go home, back to England. We'll get married straight away. Everyone will believe it's mine. I'll take care of you." His offer sound strangely wonderful. I allow myself to be taken by his words for just a few moments, before reality sets back in. "And I will forgive you of course." He adds.
"Forgive me? For what? I'm nothing to you. I don't owe you anything. I'm my own person. And this baby will be mine. Not yours or anyone else's. I will raise him or her to be their own person, and I swear that you, Simon Middleton, will have nothing to do with it."
"Gemma, be serious here. You can't raise a child on your own. You don't have any money, other than whatever little allowance your brother sends you. Two people can't live off that. And besides, you're just a woman." My anger rises.
"You know what your problem is, Simon?"
"No, do tell." He says sarcastically.
"You can't handle rejection. You don't love me. I rejected you once and it kills you that someone didn't give you what you wanted. And I'm rejecting you again. And you hate it. Don't you? You hate it!" I shriek.
"Yes, it's true. I can't stand rejection." He says fiercely before pulling me into a kiss. It's rough and forced and I quickly pull away.
"Why do you deny me, Gemma? All I want to do is take care of you. I could give you everything you ever wanted."
"Not everything." I jump out of my bed and run into the parlor. Simon follows me.
"Well, then I suppose this is goodbye Miss Doyle." He is all formality, his voice is like ice. "Although, I should tell you I think you are making a horrible mistake. I wish you the very best in life and good luck with…" He gestures towards my stomach.
"I wish you every happiness, Mr. Middleton." He reaches for my hand to kiss, but instead I offer it out to shake his. He's taken aback, but soon a smile tugs at his lips and there's a twinkle in his eye. He gives me his hand and I shake it.
"Gemma, you never cease to amaze me." He tells me, his old self once more. He turns and leaves.
He walks out the door and I know that this is the last time I will ever see the illustrious Simon Middleton; with his beautiful blue eyes and charming demeanor. It makes me a bit sad to think that this is the last time I will ever see him. Despite the way he has treated, I really do believe that Simon always had the best intentions. And it's not his fault that I can't love him, that I gave my heart to someone else. I stand in the parlor, both my hands have fallen onto my stomach and I stand there rubbing it, feeling close to my baby for the first time, and feeling closer to Kartik than I have in a long time.