Chapter 5 5

James gave me a confused look. "You will?"

"Yes, I will James. I will go out with you for Dinner." I smiled at him.

It wasn't like I really wanted to go out with him but when I told my mother about it, my mother had persuaded me into agreeing.

"You need to move on, Mia." She said. "Go out. Give James a chance at least." I did protest but nothing worked. She was adamant about it and it was difficult to turn down an adamant Celine Duval.

The confusion on his face was now replaced with a huge smile. "Thank you so so much, Mia." To my shock He went ahead and gave me a warm hug.

Poppy winked at me from her table. James thanked me again and quickly ran back to his office full of excitement.

As soon as I sat down on my chair Poppy was right in front of my table.

"So." Poppy plopped down on the chair adjacent to mine.

"So what ?" I logged in to my computer.

"Don't be shy, Mia." She tickled me.

"I am not ticklish." I rolled my eyes at her. "It won't work."

"Alright. Did Aunt Celine convince you ?"

"Yes. She did." I looked at her.

"Honey, I am so glad you gave James a chance." She rested her palm on my table.

"I know. I am trying." I said. "It's difficult but let's see."

"Let's not think about the end. I am happy that you are trying." She said as she got up from the seat.

Son our conversation shifted to Ava's birthday which was now just ten days away. After Poppy left, I focused my mind on the schedule for the rest of the day. It was a long busy Thursday indeed. Back to back meetings accompanying The Editor in chief. The last meeting was scheduled in the office conference room around 2pm. I was eagerly waiting for it to end.

I left the office right after it. The tube ride home was quick. I was back home by seven. Ava was waiting for me in the kitchen.

"Ready to go out." I said.

"Yes, Mommy." She jumped from her seat and ran towards me.

"You sure you don't want me to come. Ava can be a handful." My mother's head Popped out from the kitchen.

"No. Absolutely not. Poppy will be there with me. You rest." I said.

Ava waved goodbye to her Nana and we walked out of our London apartment complex. The taxi also arrived just on time.

"So what kind of a dress do you want for your Birthday?" I asked once we were settled in the text.

"Something Blue. Just like Elsa."

"Then that is what you will get. How about we also call Elsa to the party?"

Her eyes light up. They were just like her father. They left me speechless every single time. Ava's resemblance with her father was unbelievable at times. My heart was filled with warmth and sorrow. "Mommy, really?"

"Yes, Princess. I will invite Elsa to the party."

"Yay!." She hugged me. "My friends will be so excited."

I kissed the top of her voice. "But Mommy," the happiness in her voice was gone all of a sudden. "What about Papa? Will he ever come to my birthday?"

Her words pierced my heart. Hearing my daughters sad voice was unbearable. "All my friends have their Papa's with them." I could hear her voice break. "I...I don't."

I pulled her into my arms. "Ava. I don't want to give you false hopes, my child. Papa won't come. He doesn't want us."

"I know, Mommy." Ava nestled her head on my chest. "All I want is you and Nana.I just miss Papa. I wish we were a family."

It broke my heart into million more Pieces. I held back my tears for her sake. I was blessed with a daughter who understood everything at such a tender age and that also made her vulnerable. Yet I wasn't able to take her pain away.

"Don't cry, Mommy." She wiped away my tear which I didn't even notice escaping from my eye. "I didn't want to make you sad." She gave me a kiss on my cheek.

"Oh! Ava. You make me the happiest." I hugged her tight.

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, my baby."

Ava walked into the mall with one hand in mine and another in Poppy's. She was matured for her age. She didn't make silly demands. Understood what she needed and what she didn't. Her Pre School teacher was really proud of her.

We walked into the kids store. Ava was quick in finding a light blue tutu dress for herself. She chose matching sneakers and headband with her dress. She had long hair going down to her waist almost and she loved flaunting it.

We billed the clothes at the counter and Ava ran out of the store with her shopping bags in her hand.

"Ava stop." I walked out of the store hoping she would stop. But it was too late. She bumped into a man and fell on the floor landing right on her back.

"Ava." I ran towards her with Poppy following right behind me.

"I am really sorry." I mumbled to the man who Ava bumped into as I got down to collect the the bags.

The man helped Ava up. I collected all the bags and looked up but the Man and Ava were not there. I stood up quickly as panic filled my mind.

"Miss Amelia." The man's voice came from behind.

I turned around. I could feel the earth beneath my feet crack. My heart was beating at an abnormal pace.

"Do you know her?" Poppy intervened.

"I don't." I answered fast.

"Miss Amelia. You are lying." The man smirked.

He held Ava in his arms who was almost on the verge of crying. She had stranger anxiety. I moved forward to take Ava from his arms but he stepped back.

"August, give me my daughter back." The panic in me was replaced by anger.

"I will give her back, Miss Amelia. I mean no harm." August replied. "But I want to talk to you."

"I don't. Give her back."

"Then I will go back and inform Mr Cleland that he has a daughter." I could feel the colour drain my face.

"You give her to me. Then you and Mia can talk." Poppy intervened again.

"Miss Amelia?" August gave me a questioning look.

"Okay. But you hand Ava over to Poppy first."

August obeyed and handed Ava over to Poppy. I left Poppy and Ava at the play zone and went to a coffee shop near it with August.

"So why doesn't Mr Cleland know that he has a daughter ?" August asked as he sat down on the seat opposite to me.

"August. Nichols never wanted her."

He gave me a confused look. "No. There must be some confusion."

"There is no confusion. The day i found out I was pregnant I called Nicholas. He hung up on me without even listening. I went to their Paris home. He made it clear that he doesn't want the baby. He even offered to pay me for an Abortion."

"How could he ?" He rubbed his temple.

"I know it's hard for you to believe me. I understand. But he did."

"Mr Cleland did love you, Amelia."

"He never did." I said.

"I saw it in his eyes."

"Maybe. Maybe it was infatuation. Whatever it was. He made it clear about his position in our daughters life." I explained.

"But I will have to tell me." My eyes widened.

"No. No. You cannot do that." I pleaded.

"How can I not? Maybe at first he did this. Maybe he was scared or something. But what if he is ready to accept her now ? Won't She be happy to have her father ?"

"No. August, he wont accept her."

"We can try."

"No. Please." I pleaded. "I am used to his rejection. But think about my daughter. She will be heartbroken."

Mentioning seemed to help him understand my point. "Fine. For her sake I won't."

"Thank you so much, August."

He gave me a reassuring smile. "What is her Name?"

"Ava."

"Ava. Beautiful name. Please call her here. I want to meet my niece properly this time." He smiled.

I called Poppy and ten minutes later she walked into the coffee shop with Ava. I took Ava from her arms and handed her over to August. He stared at her for good ten minutes.

"She is just like her father." He said running his fingers through her hair.

"Uncle that tickles." Ava let out a hearty laugh.

"I know. That makes it even more difficult."

"She must remind you of him."

I nodded. "Always."

"What I also know is Mr Cleland is an idiot for letting you go !"

"I agree." Poppy chuckled.

"Amelia. If you don't mind I would like to stay in touch. I do want to be a part of Ava's life." He was sincere.

"Ofcourse, August. But we have to keep this In-between us. Nicholas can never know."

"You have my word. He won't."

August took Ava to her favourite Toy Story and bought her multiple toys. I did try to talk him out of it but he didn't listen. Ava seemed to like him as well. She even gave him a name "Uncle A."After Ava's shopping spree he insisted on having dinner together.

After dinner he first dropped Poppy off at her place and then drove towards mine.

"August, it's Ava's fifth birthday next week." I said as I stepped inside the apartment. I placed the bags on the table near the entrance and He set Ava down on the floor. "Do join us."

"I will." He smiled.

"August." My mother's voice interrupted our conversation.

"Mrs. Duval."

"What are you doing here?" She gave me a questioning look.

"We bumped into him in the Mall today." I explained.

"Is Nicholas here ?" She asked.

"No ma'am. Just me." He replied. I further explained the situation to her. August left right after that.

"Are you sure about involving him in Ava's life?"

My mother and I sat in the living room after putting Ava to bed. "August always was kind to me, Mama. Always."

"But you do know that the chances of Nicholas finding about Ava will be higher now ?"

"I know. But August has promised to keep this secret. I know he will. " I said.

"I hope this is not a Mistake, Mia." She placed her palm on mine. I squeezed it gently.

"I hope so too, Mama."