Page 28 of Ghost Of You
Laelia shrugs, her expression thoughtful. “Maybe she said hello to me this week one morning and I blanked her by mistake?”
“Maybe,” I agree, though I’m not entirely convinced.
I walk past her into the kitchen, placing the tray of lasagne on the counter. “I’ll get us some plates,” I say, opening the cupboard and retrieving two plates and a serving spoon.
As I begin to serve the hot, steaming lasagne, Laelia places her hand on my shoulder. “I don’t want any at the moment,” she says, her voice quiet. “I feel sick.”
I stop and turn to her, concern evident in my eyes. I wrap my arms around her, kissing her forehead gently. “Everything okay?” I ask softly.
She sighs, her body relaxing against mine. “I think it’s just the little one and morning sickness still. Even though it’s not just in the mornings,” she says. “Why do they call it morning sickness when it hits you every hour of the day?”
“Well, if it doesn’t start improving soon, I’ll call the doctors for you, okay?” I suggest, gently rubbing her back.
She nods, resting her head against my chest. “I’m just so tired of the sickness and so tired of being tired,” she confides.
“Everything will be okay,” I reassure her, continuing to soothe her with gentle strokes.
“I just have this weird feeling that there’s something wrong, that something’s not right. I’m probably just paranoid, seeingand feeling things that aren’t really there,” she says, her voice tinged with worry.
“How about you go lie down and get some rest? You’ve been pushing yourself with your workload, and maybe that’s contributing,” I suggest.
She pulls back slightly, looking up at me with a tender smile. She stands on her tiptoes and places a soft kiss against my lips. “What about what we were just doing?” she asks with a playful glint in her eye.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “To be continued for when you’re feeling better.”
She smiles at me, and my heart swells. “Okay,” she says. “I’ll have a quick lie down and then I’m going to make you come too.”
I laugh, watching as she slips out of my embrace, swaying her hips as she leaves the room.
“I love you,” I call after her.
“And we love you, always. No matter what or where we are,” she replies, her voice fading as she disappears from view.
As Laelia retreats to the bedroom, I stand in the kitchen, still mulling over Andrea’s unexpected behaviour. The sound of the door closing behind me snaps me back to reality, but the nagging question about Andrea’s treatment of Laelia lingers in my mind.
I scoop the lasagne onto the plates, but my thoughts keep drifting back to the front door. Andrea had always been the epitome of warmth and friendliness, so why had she ignored Laelia so pointedly today?
I place the plates on the counter and start to cover the remaining lasagne. The image of Andrea’s back as she walked away sticks with me, and I can’t help but feel a strange sense of unease. I know Andrea isn’t one to hold grudges or be deliberately rude.
"Maybe it was just a fluke," I mutter to myself, but the nagging doubt refuses to dissipate. I wash my hands and take a deep breath, trying to shake off the discomfort.
Just as I’m about to return to the living room, I hear Laelia’s voice faintly from the bedroom. She’s talking to herself in a low, worried tone. I shake my head, deciding to address this situation later. I need to focus on Laelia and make sure she’s comfortable and at ease.
I grab a glass of water from the kitchen and head towards the bedroom. As I walk, my mind keeps wandering back to Andrea. Why had she completely blanked Laelia? Had she somehow been offended, or was it something else entirely?
I open the bedroom door gently, finding Laelia lying on the bed, her eyes closed as she tries to relax. I set the glass of water on the nightstand and sit down beside her.
“Feeling any better?” I ask softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
She opens her eyes and smiles weakly. “A bit. I think the rest will help.”
I sit beside her, my hand resting lightly on her stomach. “You know, I’m really curious about something. Did Andrea say anything to you recently? I mean, it seemed strange how she ignored you just now.”
Laelia looks at me, her brows furrowing slightly. “No, she didn’t mention anything to me. But maybe she was just preoccupied. Sometimes people have off days.”
I nod, though I’m not fully convinced. “Maybe. It just didn’t seem like her to be so... distant. I’ve never seen her act like that before.”
Laelia shrugs. “People are complicated. Maybe it was something personal. Or maybe she just didn’t see me. Sometimes, when I’m feeling unwell, I’m not very attentive either.”