I'm sorry it took soooo long for to update, please forgive me, and review
The next morning I awoke to find my room empty. Both Jeanne and Felicity had already gone down to breakfast. I rose and dressed, and when I reached the dining area I saw Fee. I walked over to her table, but she didn't even look at me. I remembered the harsh words that we had exchanged and cringed. She had hurt me so badly, but I knew that I had done the same to her.
"Good morning," I said to everyone at our table. Everyone besides Felicity responded, she just kept staring straight ahead. I was really going to pay for what I said last night. The seat next to me, where the young man I met yesterday was sitting, was empty. I wondered why Daniel wasn't here, but then I remembered that it was none of my business. Just as I was finishing up my breakfast Daniel blew in. He looked horrible. His hair was in disarray. There were dark circles under his eyes, as though he hadn't slept at all. His clothed were thrown on haphazardly.
"Good morning," he nodded in my general direction. The other people at the table, stood to leave. They looked down at Daniel, disapprovingly. Then, I remembered that I was pretending to be his fiancée.
"Are you alright?" I whispered. He looked up and seemed surprised as though he hadn't realized that I'd been there the whole time.
"What?" he asked dazed. "Yes I'm fine, Gemma. I mean Miss Doyle." The waiter delivered his food and as soon as it arrived he dug in, completely forgetting his manners.
"Are you sure that you're alright?" I asked once more.
"Yes, I'm fine," he answered in between bites.
"Enjoy your meal," I said while I left. Well, that was rude. Maybe he was embarrassed about last night. Maybe he thought it meant more than it did, but it was just a simple friendly hug. Or at least I thought was, but while I sat there thinking a shock went down my spine just remembering his touch.
I went up to the deck of the ship where I found Felicity leaning over the railing staring out at the open ocean. Jeanne was nowhere to be seen.
"Hi," I said. She didn't look up. "You can't not talk to me forever you know". Still nothing. "Fee, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. We both said things we didn't mean," she finally turned around to look at me.
"You think I don't feel guilty? I have felt guilty every day since I met Jeanne. But, there's just something about her. I can't explain it. Being with her makes me feeling like I did when we would go see Pippa in the realms," she looked very small.
"Fee, "I began, but I didn't know how to respond.
"You were right, Gemma. You loved Kartik more than I loved Pippa. You have the decency not to be with someone else. You're honoring his memory. But, what am I doing for Pip? Trying to forget, that's what. If I can't remember then I have nothing to be upset about, nothing to feel guilty over. But, it did happen. Didn't it? Sometimes I think I'm going crazy, that it never happened at all. And then I see you. Same old mysterious Gemma. Look at you, your having a baby, his baby. You have something of him. I have nothing from Pippa," and with that she turned and walked away.
"Felicity," I paused, "Pippa would understand," I said, not entirely sure that was true. She looked at me for a moment, and then she left.
Later that afternoon, while I was still on the deck, Daniel came up to me. I stood by the railing. "I'm sorry about this morning. I didn't sleep very well," he placed his hand on top of mine. I let it linger for a second before I pulled away, ashamed.
"What did you do that for?" I asked. "I don't know you, but why do I feel like I do? Who are you and why do you act like you know me too? There's something about you," I stopped mid-rant, and let out a long sigh. " Just leave me alone. I can't do this, "I finished, but I didn't give him a chance to respond. I ran away. Well, if he didn't think I was crazy before, he certainly did after that.
I settled on a spot on the other side of the deck. I liked being on the top of the ship. The air was fresh and clear and the wind in my face was exhilarating. I sat there and began thinking of baby names. I already knew that my child was going to be named after someone important in my life. If a girl I would name her Mary, after my mother. If a boy I would call him Kartik after his father; although, maybe Kartik would've wanted to call him Amar after his brother. And then there was my father to think about. I could name him John after his grandfather. I decided that I had plenty of time to think about it. Maybe I wouldn't even know until I saw the baby. Maybe upon my first sight of my newborn child I would just know.
"Miss Doyle, may I speak with you?" I turned around to see Daniel standing over me, except he looked different. His eyes, usually a startling shade of blue, were a warm shade of chocolate brown. In an instant they were back to their regular color, but I could've sworn…
