Can I Get It

Between Apologies and Acceptance

CHAPTER NINE
Between Apologies and Acceptance

The soft hum of the city street was a comforting backdrop to the quiet chaos Eliza felt inside. She had barely taken two steps out of her car when she caught sight of the building that had become an all-too-familiar to her over the past few weeks.

Arthur's apartment was an unassuming, a brick building in the heart of the city, but inside it was where she had discovered a peace she hadn't known she needed.

The plan was simple—show up, enjoy a quiet evening together, and unwind. Arthur had texted her earlier that afternoon, mentioning he had been thinking of cooking dinner. Her heart had quickened at the thought. The man had a way of making even the simplest moments feel special. And now, as she stood in front of the building, she felt her anticipation grow.

Eliza was still smiling to herself when the sound of a car pulling up to the curb caught her attention. She turned her head just in time to see a sleek, silver sedan stop, and a Samoan woman step out. She was dressed in a flowy, bright dress, with her hair neatly tied back. Eliza's gaze shifted to the back seat, where a young girl, no older than four or five, sat with a backpack on her lap, staring out the window with wide, curious eyes.

The woman's face looked familiar, but it took a moment for Eliza to place it. And then it clicked. It was Leata, Arthur's mother. A wave of nerves washed over her, followed closely by a pang of guilt. But before she could move, the little girl in the back seat caught her attention again. Her dark curls were wild, framing a face so much like Arthur's that Eliza's breath caught in her throat.

Leata noticed Eliza staring and hesitated for a moment. Her eyes, sharp and observant, narrowed as she took in the sight of Eliza at the entrance. Then her face softened, as if she had realized something. With a small nod, she walked up the steps, holding the little girl's hand tightly in her own.

Arthur's apartment door creaked open, and Eliza's heart plummeted. There he was, tall and effortlessly handsome, his eyes crinkling with the beginnings of a smile. But that smile faltered the second his gaze fell on the small family standing in the hallway.

"Eliza," Arthur said, a note of surprise and hesitation in his voice. He glanced at the woman beside him, who Eliza now realized must have been Leata.

"Arthur," Eliza stammered. She glanced at the little girl, who was now staring up at her with an unfiltered, curious look. "I didn't mean to—"

Arthur raised a hand, a gesture that silenced her as he took a deep breath. "It's okay," he said softly, but there was an edge to his voice that made Eliza's chest tighten. He shifted slightly, his posture changing from relaxed to guarded. "Let's just—come in."

Leata glanced at Eliza, her expression unreadable. She said nothing as she passed them, leading the little girl into the apartment. Eliza followed close behind, her heart pounding in her chest. The apartment, once filled with the easy comfort of just the two of them, now seemed crowded, as if the space itself were holding its breath.

Arthur closed the door behind them. Leata sat down on the couch, pulling the little girl onto her lap. The girl, who Eliza could now see was looking back and forth between Arthur and Eliza, spoke first. "Are you going to play with me, Daddy?"

The question hung in the air like a live wire. Arthur's eyes softened for just a moment as he looked at his daughter, but the emotion was quickly masked by a slight smile. "Yes, sweetheart, we're going to play. But first, I need you to meet someone." He shot a quick glance at Eliza, the apology in his eyes fleeting before he turned back to Leata.

Eliza could feel the tension pressing against her chest, like the weight of a hundred silent questions. She couldn't take it any longer. "I'm so sorry," she blurted out. "I didn't know. I shouldn't have come."