The Aftermath

Chapter 3

James's POV

The child is like a mini Riley. Same eyes, same hair, but she also resembles somebody else. The father I'm guessing. Whoever the father is...

The young girl looks over Riley's shoulder and eyed me. My expression remains blank as I study her with wide eyes.

Somebody got Riley pregnant...Riley has a daughter...

"How was school?" Riley asks the girl, pulling away from the hug.

"Good. I got all my answers right on my spelling test!" She giggled excitedly.

"That's great!" Riley replies enthusiastically. "How about we go inside and you can help me make supper?"

"Okay!" The girl replies happily. Riley stands up, takes the girl's hand in hers and starts walking back to the house.

"Think about my offer!" I call out to Riley. She looks back at me for a second before turning back again.

"Who was that?" I hear the girl ask Riley.

"Nobody, it was nobody." Riley replies sharply, making my heart sink a little.

The little girl looks over her shoulder at me, smiles at me and then waves before turning her head back around.

~~~~~

Riley's POV

The image of James keeps burning in my head. The way he spoke, acted. It was like he thought there is nothing wrong between us. Like we had a healthy, happy relationship and ended it on a good note. And it makes me sick thinking of it.

Holding a grudge may sound stupid and immature, but I'm still truly mad at James. He broke my heart in a way that nobody would ever believe. And to see him everyday with his new arm candy of the week just made it worse. If he truly did love me, he wouldn't have dated countless numbers of girls after me. The Monday after prom he waltzed into school, Ashley clinging onto him, and then he had the nerve to try to apologize to me.

"Mommy, can you help me with my homework?" Addison asks me.

"Sure honey." I sigh, setting down the plate in the sink and taking a seat next to her at the table.

I love spending time with my baby girl. I love her more than anything now that she is the only person I have left. Emily and I had a falling out not long after dad died, and we don't talk anymore.

"Mommy, a girl in my class was making fun of me today." Addison tells me sadly.

"What did she say?" I ask.

"She said that my dress was ugly." She replied, hanging her little head.

I run my fingers over the old dress that I managed to get a good deal on at the thrift store. Living on one small salary isn't easy, and clothes aren't the biggest priority.

"Just ignore her sweetie." I tell her. The words were something I was told often as a kid. Like ignoring it will make it go away. Make all the problems go away.