Forget Me Not

Chapter Twelve

The doorbell rang and Victoria went to answer it. Sienna stood at the door. She took in Victoria's appearance and sighed.

"I knew this was going to go wrong. Why am I not surprised?"

Sienna pulled Victoria into the kitchen and made a pot of tea, the answer to everything. She pushed Victoria down into a seat at the kitchen table, putting a cup of tea in front of her.

"Tell me," Sienna said. Victoria told Sienna everything, their instant connection at the charity event, Nathan's arguments with his parents, how cold he was to the real Victoria in the cafe, the mystery girl who went out on dates with him, met his parents, kissed him and eventually, they were engaged. By the end of it, Victoria was sobbing. Sienna sighed heavily.

"Jude and I... We've done a lot of research on amnesia after crashes. It is so common for people to never regain their full memory. I honestly believe, sweetheart... Nathan may not come back to you. And this plan of trying to get him back... Well, you can't force love to happen. It just... happens."

"I know that, Mum."

"So why all the theatrics? And this Scarlett Sean woman, I HAVE heard of her. Lillian told me years ago about all the failed women Nathan had dated before he met you. Scarlett was one he met in school when he was sixteen. Their relationship fell through because Nathan didn't love her. He just thought he did."

"But Nathan's eighteen, or so he believes. How can he still think he loves that woman?"

"Maybe he doesn't love Scarlett. Maybe he loves the idea of knowing love and knowing the girl he loves. But that doesn't change things, Vicky. You have to know when to let Nathan go... And maybe this is it. You can't force Nathan to fall in love with you again and to fall out of love with her again. It doesn't work like that."

"But it's not just me in this, Mum. It's Aurora and his son too." Victoria said, tears falling down her cheeks again.

"That's Nathan's choice too. But for now, do what's best for your children. Try to focus on them now. That's all you can do. It's going to be okay." Sienna reached over and stroked Victoria's cheek, wiping away the tears.

"How's Dad?" Victoria asked. Sienna smiled in encouragement, withdrawing her hand.

"He's good. We're planning on another trip. We're going in a year to Africa."

"Why Africa?"

"Because it's exotic. Your dad's quite excited for it actually. And we were hoping you could join us." Victoria blinked, her eyelashes still wet. But she couldn't prevent a smile from spreading on her lips.

"Really? Africa? Aurora and the baby as well?"

"Well the baby might be a bit young but we can make arrangements."

"I'm sure Nancy would die for the opportunity to take care of a newborn again. And Daisy and Aurora would be five as well by then."

"I can't believe Aurora's turning four in a couple of months. She's grown quickly hasn't she?"

Sienna and Victoria chatted and when it was time to pick up Aurora, Aurora was delighted to see her grandmother. They went back home and Victoria made a proper meal for Aurora, what seemed like the first time in a little while. Sienna stayed to have a plate and to take a plate home for Jude. She then said goodbye so Victoria could put Aurora in the bath and in bed. Victoria felt... Neutral. The talk with her mother had helped more than she had realised and she genuinely interacted with Aurora in the bath. Aurora had a cup of warm milk in front of the fireplace after her bath and Victoria joined her. They used the flashcards to help aid talking before finally, Victoria carried Aurora to bed. Victoria read her a story, a book about a little duckling that got lost. Aurora fell asleep quickly. Victoria kissed her daughter's forehead, put on the nightlight and left the room. It was only seven but Victoria got into her pyjamas and got into bed. She put the T.V on and fell asleep watching shows.

The next morning, Aurora was a cheeky monkey in not wanting to put her clothes on and running around, completely stark. Victoria eventually managed to grab her and pull on pants, vest, trousers and a pink flowery t-shirt. After a breakfast of boiled eggs, they left the house together. The nursery was only a little walk away and Victoria held hands with Aurora. At the nursery, Nancy was there as she was dropping off Daisy.

"Hello, girls," Nancy said cheerily. She constantly eyed up Victoria as she hugged Aurora hello. Aurora kissed her mother goodbye and dashed off to join Daisy in the playhouse.

"Would you like to come back to the house? Nathan's at work, Tiffany's at school and the girls don't have to be picked up until two."

"I don't see why not but we'll have to stop by so I can pick up a few things." Nancy smiled and linked arms with Victoria. They walked to the Carter house together. Victoria unlocked the door and picked up the post. She quickly looked at the envelopes. Bill, Bill, formal envelope. Victoria placed the envelope under her arm, grabbed her bag and left the house.

The Miller house was indeed empty and quiet. Nancy took them to the conservatory and sorted out their drinks. Victoria, meanwhile, opened the envelope. Her heart dropped.

"Do you have a pen?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"Yeah what's wrong?" Victoria flipped through the paper before putting it down on the glass coffee table. Nancy put down their drinks on the table and picked up the paper.

"Oh, Vick... I'm... I'm so sorry." Nancy gasped.

"Get me a pen please," Victoria said. Nancy looked at Victoria, sharply.

"Vick, you need to think about-"

"There's nothing to think about. He's waiting for me to sign."

"Well his lawyer has been generous," Nancy murmured as she read the papers. "You get the house, you get full custody of Aurora and your unborn child, all of Nathan's possessions residing at the house, you get... Half a million pounds and monthly child allowance??" Nancy said, faintly.

"It won't be Nathan's lawyer, specifically. I bet it was Timothy's personal lawyer rather than the family lawyer. This is too generous for Lillian."

"And you still want to sign the papers?" Nancy asked. Victoria inhaled deeply and nodded.

"Yes. This is an extremely kind offer and won't get better than this. I want to sign."

Nancy got Victoria a pen. Victoria took it and signed the divorce papers.