Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 34

Amelia woke up the next morning and couldn’t seem to drag herself out of bed. She was so tired—bone-deep exhausted, the sort of weariness that made her wish she could just strap the bed to her back and take it with her.

She glanced at her phone. She’d slept from a little after ten last night until nearly seven in the morning—a solid nine hours. That should have been more than enough, so why did she still feel like she’d barely closed her eyes?

She slid her feet into her slippers and was about to stand when something caught her attention. The date flashed across her phone screen. Her period wasn’t just late; it was more than a week overdue.

That had never happened before.

A jolt shot through her. Instantly, the fog of sleep cleared from her mind.

She showered and dressed at record speed, hurried out the door, and drove straight to the hospital.

After her bloodwork, Amelia sat on a hard bench in the hallway, waiting for the results, her thoughts whirling in a tangled mess.

She and Daniel had been married two years and had never once discussed having kids. He was always careful—used protection every time—so it was just an unspoken agreement between them: no children.

Even though Grace, Daniel’s mother, was desperate for grandchildren, Amelia had never once seen Daniel waver, not even as a joke.

Kids were not in the plan. Which meant Amelia had no idea how Daniel would react if she really was pregnant. Would he be happy? Quiet? Angry?

She felt as if a damp wad of cotton was lodged in her chest, making it hard to breathe. When the results were finally ready, she snatched up the paper and went straight to the doctor’s office.

The doctor glanced at the test results and said, “Congratulations, you’re pregnant. Did you come alone or is your husband here with you?”

A faint buzzing filled Amelia’s ears, and the doctor’s voice seemed to float somewhere far away. She’d tried to prepare herself, but hearing it out loud still left her stunned.

After a long silence, she managed to wet her dry lips and whispered, “I’m alone.”

“The pregnancy’s still in the very early stages,” the doctor said gently. “It’s best to come back in about ten days for an ultrasound. That’ll give us a clearer picture.”

She must have looked dazed, because the doctor hesitated before adding, “If you decide you don’t want to continue, we can schedule a termination as soon as possible.”

Keep it… or not?

Amelia was still caught in the whirlwind of her own shock. She couldn’t even begin to think about next steps. She thanked the doctor in a daze and left the exam room.

Back in her car, her mind was a hopeless tangle, like a ball of yarn someone had knotted up just for the fun of it.

Just then, a call came in from the old Campbell family estate. She answered, still rubbing her nose—it was Nora, the housekeeper who looked after Grandma Edith.

“Mrs. Campbell, the lady’s having another episode. The medication isn’t helping, and she keeps asking for you. None of us can calm her down. If you have time, could you come over?”

Amelia sighed and turned the car around. “I’m on my way.”

Grandma Edith’s condition couldn’t be cured, only managed. Sometimes she was fine, other times she’d get restless and impossible, and the only way to handle her was to play along—though you had to do it just right, or she’d get even more riled up.

The staff brightened as soon as Amelia arrived, looking at her like she was their savior. “Ma’am, look who’s here! Mrs. Campbell’s come to see you!”

“Amelia’s here?” Grandma Edith tossed aside her feather duster and hurried over.

Amelia plucked a stray feather from the old woman’s silvery hair, half exasperated, half amused. “What are you up to now?”

“Playing mother hen and baby chicks!” Grandma Edith declared proudly.

She was the mother hen, and everyone else was a flock of little chicks, scurrying and squealing as she chased them around. Nora was hiding by the wardrobe, looking like she was about to burst into tears.