Bellamy's Redemption

Finally someone announced, “Would you believe it’s nearly two in the morning?”

Yes! said the voice in my head.

“We’d better go,” said Louise. Everyone else agreed that it was time to say farewell, and they all made a production of hugging and kissing me goodbye. I felt sorry for the other girls at this point, all back at the hotel, expectations on high, looking forward to their own upcoming chances with Bellamy’s family.

A short while later I was in my room, face washed, teeth brushed, ready for sleep. Just as I was about to turn off my bedside lamp there was a knock on my door.

“Come in,” I said.

“Hi,” said Bellamy, sticking his head in just a little. “Mind if I come in?”

“Of course not,” I said. He and Luca made their way inside my room, closing the door behind them since other members of Bellamy’s family had gone to sleep.

“Did you have a fun day?” he asked me.

“Sure,” I said.

“You did a great job.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re such a natural.”

“I don’t know how all that lumberjack stuff went as well as it did,” I admitted.

“Well, I just thought I’d say goodnight…” He kissed me. “You look so sleepy,” he said.

“I’m beat,” I said.

“You have to leave pretty early in the morning, don’t you?”

“I think I have to be up by six,” I said.

Neither of us mentioned that another girl would be showing up probably by mid-morning.

“Alright, get some sleep. I’ll get up with you in the morning so I can say goodbye.”

“Thanks. That’s sweet of you,” I said.

“I’m going to miss you. I won’t see you for days,” he said.

“I’ll miss you too.”

“I can’t wait to meet your fam,?

? he said.

“Aww,” I said, just the teensiest bit annoyed that he was referring to them in the lingo of the show.

He gave me another kiss, and then he tucked me in, stuffing the sheets and blankets around me until I felt like a stiff mummy. “Aww,” I murmured politely, again. I was out of conversational material.

“All tucked in,” he said smiling.

“Yup.” I’d unstuff myself once he left.

Luca reopened the door letting a little of the hall light in and Bellamy turned off my bedside lamp. “Goodnight,” he said as he followed Luca out the door. They both waved at me. I couldn’t wave since my arms were as immobilized as a fly in amber, so I just blinked a couple of times. They closed the door and I untangled myself.

And then, despite how tired I had been all night, I found myself unable to fall asleep. The hours ticked by on an antique alarm clock beside my bed. I listened with a calm sort of omniscience to the sounds of the house. A toilet flushing at 2:30. Floorboards creaking at 3:30 followed by water running as someone got up to get a drink. I kept waiting for Bellamy to come to me, but I knew he wouldn’t and he never did.