Lost and Found

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Thursday 11th March 2009

Amelia looked around at the furnished apartment, it was finally hers. And her father had come home the previous day. It was strange to have such a huge man in such a small environment, but already they’d been inundated with visitors. At this exact moment he was being taken around the village by Mrs Young. The wheelchair had never become a necessity, but he still needed help for most things.

Dropping into an armchair, she flicked on the TV, watching for news of any survivors of an earthquake in the Philippines, form the comfort of her own home. It was as she relaxed that the phone rang.

                “Hey Ams!”

It was Li, and the sound of her voice caused Amelia to sigh. They’d salvaged their relationship over the last six weeks. When Li first met her father and became more knowledgeable of the family mechanics, the village life...she could see why Amelia had made her choices. Not that she thought she was right, but seeing Maxwell Parkin so restricted, so frustrated by his illness was hard for the non-family member, it was obviously harder for Amelia, Li got that. But she worried about her friend, she carried a huge amount of grief with her wherever she went, partly due to her father being ill – an irrational response to a man who’d lived an overindulgent and unhealthy lifestyle since his teens, but also towards Sol, the amount she’d hurt him. All this misplaced concern meant one thing; she wasn’t dealing with her own emotions at losing the man Li knew she loved more than anything. After several phone calls trying to make her see reason, they agreed to a truce, knowing that was the only way they could maintain their friendship.

It didn’t mean that Li didn’t keep her eye on the whereabouts of Sol, Craig his PA had irregular contact, and she knew that he’s travelled from Mexico down through several countries of Latin America, and at this moment was tackling a climb to see the modern Wonder of the World that was Machu Picchu in Peru. When Amelia got over her guilt, came to her senses, Li wanted to be able to tell her where Sol was. Saying that she’d presumed that time would have occurred weeks ago. As it was they were now into the second month and she was starting to question her knowledge of Amelia.

                “How you feeling?” Amelia asked kicking her feet up onto the coffee table and dropping her head back to rest on the chair back. “My goddaughter kicking lumps out of your inners yet?”

Li chuckled, “why are you so convinced it will be a girl? It may be a boy!”

                “Nope, someone as dainty as you couldn’t produce a boy, I’m convinced!”

Li laughed again, “Daichi’s hardly dainty, and if my biology memory serves me right then it’s all down to him!”

Amelia reached for the coffee she’d made a few moments earlier and took a drink, “you’re right...as always!”

                “So how was the first night?”

Li didn’t need to know that her father called her at least half a dozen times in the night, mainly to reach for items that he couldn’t see but didn’t actually need or want. She was tired and infuriated, but that was her problem.

                “Yeah, good. It’s so nice not to have to travel back and for. He’s in the pub with Mrs Young at the moment, so he’ll be shattered, but happy when he comes back!”

They chatted a little longer, Li inviting her up to London again, Amelia refusing...again. But they promised to meet soon.

Amelia must have nodded off, she woke at the sound of the door opening, and had jumped up and rushed to meet her Dad by the time the lounge door swung open erratically.