The Color of Love

Chapter 12

The next morning, Alice woke up to the sound of her cellphone. A text message. She groggily grabbed her phone from her bedside table to check who it was. Good morning, my love. Call you later, it read. It was Vincent. Suddenly, what transpired yesterday came flashing back to her. William. The thought of him triggered so many emotions, most of which were negative. Anxiety, fear, worry...

She was supposed to open the shop today but she was too distracted to do it. So she got out of bed to see if Liam was still home. She made her way to his bedroom and knocked on the door. There was no answer so Alice decided to just get herself a glass of water downstairs. Upon reaching the kitchen, she saw Liam having breakfast of eggs and toast.

"G'morning!" Liam was enthusiastic but he noticed something amiss in his mother. "You seem a little bit under the weather today. Are you okay?"

Alice sighed. "Yeah. I think I'm running a cold." Thank God she was instantly able to think of an excuse.

"I think it would be better for you to just take this day off. I can manage." Liam always made his mother feel secure. Ever since he was little, his presence became Alice's security blanket after her separation from William.

"Are you sure?"

"That isn't even a question, mom."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Alice raised both her hands to show surrender. "Thank you for your help, Lee."

"Just relax and get better, okay? Gotta go now. I still have to pass by Lilly to check on her."

"Okay. You take care. I'll see you later."

"See you later. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Liam got up from the table and placed his plate in the sink. He kissed Alice on the cheek, grabbed his keys from the table top and headed for the door.

Now that Alice was alone, she felt her anxiety building up by the minute. I think I need to call Vincent, she told herself. She walked up to her bedroom and sat on the bed. She grabbed her cellphone and dialed his number. He answered instantly.

"Hi, sweetheart."

"Did I catch you in a bad time?"

"You know that there is no such thing as bad time when it comes to you."

"I know it's too early for this and I may be disturbing you at work but can I talk to you?"

"Hmm... you sound serious. Is there anything wrong, honey?"

"I can't tell it to you over the phone."

"Okay, we'll talk after I get off from work. I'll drop by the shop to fetch you."

"I'm not at the shop and I won't be there today. Can we just meet over lunch?"

"Lunch? This must be really urgent."

"It is, Vince and I can't even wait till lunch time."

"You're making me nervous. If you're breaking up with me, we might as well not put it up till lunch time."

"Shut up! I'm not. Just be here at lunch time."

"Where is 'here'?"

"At home."

"At home?! Are you kidding? I still have a meeting at one o'clock and it takes thirty minutes just to reach your house. See, honey... Can't this wait till work ends?"

"It can't." Alice sounded really serious and worried and Vincent couldn't take it.

"Okay. I'll just cancel my meeting and be there at lunch time."

"Oh, God. Thank you."

"Anything for you, my love. See you lunch time."

They hung up. She checked the clock on her cellphone. It was only nine in the morning. Alice made her body fall into the bed and she stared at the ceiling with her thoughts going around and around inside her head. She still had to endure it for four more hours and she thought she was going crazy. A few minutes passed and she slowly drifted off to sleep. She was awake almost the whole night and her body was feeling the need to rest. Perhaps the unconscious thought of Vincent being there was what helped put her mind at ease even for a little bit. 

Alice woke up at twelve twenty. She was surprised at how soundly she slept and was thankful for it at the same time. That was a badly needed shut eye. She checked her cellphone again and there was a text message from Vincent. I'm on my way. After ten minutes, she heard the soft murmur of an engine just outside her house. She looked through the window and saw Vincent's Mercedes. A sense of relief and ran throughout her whole being. She put on her robe and went downstairs to meet him. 

As she neared the foot of the stairs, she heard the front door open and then close. Footsteps were echoing throughout the living room. 

"Ally?" Vincent shouted. "I'm here."

"In the kitchen!" 

Vincent made his way to the kitchen. She saw Alice placing some coffee beans in the coffee maker. 

"So... what's all about this urgency?"

"Why don't you sit down first?" Alice tried to compose herself. "Let me just prepare some coffee."

"Fine." Vincent took a seat. He tapped his fingers anxiously on the table and waited silently for the coffee to brew.

After the coffee was done, Alice poured it out into two cups then brought it to the table. She went back to the cupboard to get the creamer and the sugar because Vincent wanted his coffee white. She always preferred hers black, especially during times of stress. Alice then took a seat across Vincent. 

"Based on the color of your coffee, I surmise this is something really serious." Vincent began while opening the creamer bottle. 

"William's back." Alice dived into the subject instantly. There was no other way to say it. 

"William? Liam's father?" Vincent remained casual.

"Yes."

"Wow, that's great. They haven't seen each other in decades, right?"

"Yes."

"I'm sure Liam would be happy to see his father again. Wait... is this the reason why you pulled me out of work? Just to tell me that your son's father is back? I don't see anything wrong with that. If you're bothered I'd be jealous about him, that will never happen."

"It's not that, Vince."

"Then what is it that's making you act so worried? I can't figure it out."

Alice couldn't find the courage to open her mouth. She was too scared of the truth. 

"Tell me!" 

"He's Lilly's father!!" Alice finally said it. She could feel each word stabbing into her ears.

All of a sudden, Vincent was dumbfounded. His heart was racing just like Alice's. They were both silent for a minute while tears were rolling down her cheeks. They tried so hard to digest the horrible truth.

"Oh my fucking god..." Vincent said slowly.  "You mean Lilly is Liam's half sister?"

Alice closed her eyes tightly together as if not wanting to hear it. Then she nodded slowly in confirmation.

******

Thank you for taking time to read my story. Did you like this chapter? If so, please vote for it or leave a comment, and follow the rest of the story. It would be very much appreciated. :)