Her Perfect Gift

“I think that I might pop over there now.” I rise to my feet. “Just to see if she is there.”

“Okay.” My father smiles, surprisingly happy for me considering what he’s going through himself. “Good luck.”

I feel nervous as all hell as I walk towards the house, to the front door to do this properly. I could knock on her bedroom window, I suppose, but I really do feel too grown for that now. We need to face this head on, even if it means dealing with Darcy’s mother and her hatred for me.

“You can do this,” I whisper to myself. “It’s going to be fine.”

But I don’t believe it as I raise my hand to knock, I know that I am going to face hell, but I do it anyway. I hop from foot to foot as I wait for someone, anyone to come to the door. I pray that it’s Darcy, or even her father, anyone but her mother, but it seems like the Gods aren’t smiling down on me right now.

“What are you doing here?” her mother snaps at me, giving me that look of disgust.

“I er, want to see if Darcy is here, because I haven’t seen her for a few days…”

“I know.” She nods and smirks. “I have seen that your stupid little runaway mission didn’t work out. Just as I assumed that it wouldn’t.” She rolls her eyes. “But no, she isn’t here. You’re barking up the wrong tree.”

“But you have seen her?” I refuse to let this disappointment crush me. “She has been here?”

“Sure, she came, but not for long. I imagine she went to that friend’s house. Erm, Amy? I don’t know her name. Anyway, she’s dealing with her pregnancy somewhere else. I don’t care where, as long as it isn’t here.”

Huh? What? Am I going mad? I feel myself shaking and trembling all over.

“P… pregnancy?” Did I hear that right? “What do you mean pregnancy?”

“Ah, so you don’t even know about it.” She chuckles mirthlessly. “Right, well that makes sense, I suppose. Not that it makes it any better. But yes, looks like you are having a baby. I assume that it’s yours anyway… but yes, congratulations, daddy. Look forward to your baby conceived out of wed lock.”

What the hell? The door slams in my face but I barely acknowledge that. Is that true?

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t that. I did think that there was more to her running away though, more to make her race off at the speed of light with no note. And, to not even speak to me since… but I wasn’t expecting a baby. A baby who it seems belongs to me. A baby that I didn’t even know existed.

What the hell am I going to do now? I assume my next port of call will be with this Amy. Whoever she may be.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Darcy

February 2nd

“Don’t you just love it?” I clap my hands together happily. “It’s perfect, right?”

“I do love it,” Ivy admits a little begrudgingly. “It’s a nice apartment and I think that it will be incredible for you and the baby. I just… well, I didn’t come to New York to leave you behind. I thought that it was going to be a fun trip for us, I didn’t know that it was going to end up with you wanting to live here.”

“I know, I know.” I pull her in for a hug. “I know you didn’t want that, and I am sorry, but this is where I need to be, I can just feel it. New York gives me a real buzz and I need to stay here.”

“You do look happier here, I will admit that. It does bring out a good side to you, but I will miss you.”

“I know.” I nod but I still can’t stop myself from smiling. “But this isn’t like LA, at least you know that you can leave me, and I will be happy here. This is going to be a good move for me. This is what I need to do.”

Ivy nods and brings a smile to her face as well. “I know, and you know that I want you to be happy, which is the only reason that I am allowing it… but you better keep in touch all the time. And honestly as well. You tried to act like everything was okay in Hollywood and it never really was. I don’t want to be worried.”

“I swear to you that I won’t lie again. I will tell you the truth. If I hate it, I will come home… and I will try to find my own place to live. I’m sure that you and Adam will be happy to be alone again.”

Ivy looks horrified, which isn’t what I wanted at all. “I hope that’s not why you are moving because we love having you around. You haven’t been a burden at all, Darcy. I don’t want you to feel that way.”

“No way,” I scoff. “I’m not that selfless. I wouldn’t give up your delicious morning bacon sandwiches for nothing. This is definitely what I need to do. I want to be here more than anywhere else in the world. Especially when you look out the window. Look, you can almost see Central Park from here. Well, sort of. I mean, I know that it’s over there somewhere. In that direction.” I wave my hand. “I can walk there anyway.”

Ivy laughs and I can’t help but join in. We giggle together in a strangely carefree manner that shows me that this is the right thing for me to do. I haven’t been this happy for a very long time. I haven’t felt this free, excited or this motivated. There is so much buzzing around inside of me that I can’t wait to get started.

“Well, I suppose I better go then. Are you coming to the airport with me?” I nod because of course I am. “Well, let’s get going then. Before I cry and refuse to let you go.”