The Draw

24

They married on a hot, July Saturday. Surrounded by all their friends and family. No one was prouder than her mum and new mother in law. The two woman beamed at each other. Stacey's dad had given her away, giving her arm a little squeeze and a kiss on her cheek before leaving her at the alter with her handsome groom. He couldn't stop smiling. He'd looked floored when she came out the double oak doors at the back of the stunning little church. Her dress was simple, with a few beads running down the corset and into the small train. Evie had thrown flowers in front of her in her little pink dress.

When she said 'I do', she had cried a little. It was just so perfect. The meal, the speeches, the first dance, the evening, it just all went so smoothly. Months of stress and planning had paid off. Evie had fallen asleep in her new grannies arms, her little toddler feet exhausted from all the dancing. Linda took her up to their room, but not before Stacey had one last kiss. They were going straight to the Maldives that night for the honeymoon.

'I love you so much.' She told Liam as they slow danced, everyone watching them. 'You saved my life.'

'You changed mine.' He told her. She stared into his brown eyes. She could see how happy he was. He had worked so hard and for so long for his company. And now he had his family too.

Off they were whisked in a limo to the airport and onto their own privet plane. She had ordered him not to use the company plane, she wanted to go with the rest of the world on a normal plane, first class still though. But now they had boarded, she was quiet pleased. She still had her dress on but had swapped her heels for Converse.

The beginning of their married life in the Maldives was as perfect as everything else. They strolled on hot white sands, lounged by crystal clear waters, ate amazing food and drank fantastic wines. If it wasn't for Evie being back home, she would have refused to go back to England. But sadly Liam had a business to run. And Stacey was starting her forensic profiling degree in a few months. And so they came crashing back down to earth.

****

'Can I get a latte, grande for here please?' Stacey asked the barista, juggling her phone, purse and shopping. She just needed a ten minute sit down before going back out there and hitting the shops again. With Liam being away and Evie in nursery, she found it so boring at home nowadays. All her mummy friends had finished maternity leave. She'd read all the books in the world. And if she cleaned the house from top to bottom one more time, she was sure she'd wear a hole into the carpets. Her uni course started the next week, so she had been shopping for new clothes.

The barista handed her her latte and as she spun round to find a table, she felt her already over laden hand come in contact with another human being, flinging the coffee halfway across the room.

'Oh my god I am so sorry!' She said with cheeks flushing red. The whole caffe had stopped to stare at her. But no one was staring more intensely than the person she had bumped in to.

Stood before her, more muscle and hair than she remembered, was Dan.

'Clumsy as always.' He laughed, dragging her into a bear hug. She didn't know what to do. She half heatedly patted him on the back with her now latte-free hand.

'Dan.'

'Here, let me...I'll just grab those for you....' He wrestled with her bags and put them on the table. Turning to the barista who seemed more shocked than Stacey, he said, 'Another latte and an espresso too please?' Stacey sat herself down, her mind still reeling from this sudden encounter with her past. He seemed so....different. Confident. Grown.

'I erm, I'm so sorry.' She muttered as she straightened her hair out and wiping her shirt.

'I almost didn't recognise you. You look so...so, good. How are you?'

'I'm well. Yeah. Really...sorry. Dan, I'm just so shocked.' They both laughed nervously. A few moments passed as they both smiled at each other, taking in their new appearances. Stacey sipped her new latte, observing Dan over the top of the cup as he grinned back at her.

'Hows things?' He asked.

'Erm, yeah, good. Really good. You?' She needn't have asked. She knew his third album had just got to number one and he'd won a tonne of awards.

'Pretty good. I'm only in England for a few days, flying back to Los Angeles on Friday to record some new stuff.' Before she'd even thought it, it came spilling out.

'My husband is in there this week too.' She hadn't said it to show off. She hadnt said it to upset him, though why would it? It's none of his business. But no sooner had the words left her mouth had she regretted it.

'Husband? I see.' If he was hurt, he hid it very well. 'How long have you been married for?'

'Almost three months.'

'Well, that's great. I'm really happy for you.' She felt really embarrassed. She didn't really know why. But she knew she needed to get out of there pretty quickly, before he asked about Evie. It wasn't a conversation she ever thought she'd have to have.

'Oh no.' She looked at her watch. 'I forgot, I need to go pick something up, I'm sorry.' She downed her latte, burning her tongue.

'Don't go just yet, can I give you my number?'

'I don't think...I don't think that's a good idea.'

'Ok.' He looked rejected. Rightly so. She wasn't about to go running to him with open arms.

'Bye then.' She said quickly and made her exit. She was just ten feet down the road when she she heard him calling her name.

'Just wait one minute, please?' He begged. She stopped but didn't turn to face him. 'What happened....I'm so sorry. I know you don't want to hear it. But I need you to know I'm sorry.'

She sighed loudly. Hadn't their very last conversation been her telling him she was sick of his excuses and apologies.

'Stacey?' He called again. 'The baby?' Fuck. She could lie. That would work. Then he'd never know. He'd never bother her again. 'What happened to the...? When you left, you were...' He wanted to do this, right here, in the middle of London? She turned round to face him.

'Pregnant?'

'Yeah.'

'What...what happened....to the baby. Did you...?'

'Have an abortion?'

'Yeah.'

'No.'

'Then where....?'

'She's at nursery right now actually.'

'She?'

'Evie.'

'Is she.....'

'Yours?'

'Yeah.'

'Yes.'

There was silence. He stared right into her eyes. She refused to look away. He could've contacted her at any time to see if she was ok. To see if she'd had the baby. But he didn't. And she could see it in his face that he had missed out on the first 2 years of his child's life because he had been too stupid and too stubborn to pick up the phone.

Much to her shock, he walked away. He disappeared into the crowds. Leaving her standing there wondering what the hell she was supposed to do. He knew now. What if he came demanding to see her? That wouldn't be fair on Evie or Liam. Liam was her father. She didn't need another one.