Chapter 5— Red Head and a Baby

It'd been a week since the burial, it rained all through the week, but somehow William and Amelia managed to move their belongings away from the little apartment into the mansion, their new home!

Everyone was settled in and life in the mansion had begun. The old red, brick mansion had been passed on from parents to children over the years, it was a tradition. The mansion was never to be sold or abandoned, it was an inheritance, a history, the Johnson family legacy.

Another December morning, a tenth month after the wedding, the sky was covered with dark blue clouds, Rye town was still awakening, there was no sign of snow falling today but it had already kept itself firmly on the roof tops, it covered cars, and the cobbled roads of mermaid street were slightly slippery. Despite the weather the sun shone weakly, giving a warm feeling.

The door bell sent a vibe all through the mansion, it had awakened the sleepy eyes of the residents, everyone groaned in their stomachs wishing that the person at the door would disappear, but she didn't! The door bell rung a second and a third time, angrily, William stumbled out of his room with his morning look, he went through the stairs down to a large dark hall. He halted at once horrified by the sight of the large, purple rat that scrambled away in front of him.

Quickly, he wiped away the memory of it and hurried off to the door in his pajamas looking all weary and consumed with morning soreness. Locks were unlocked, the golden door knob swirled and the door swung freely open. William's eyes were instantly blinded by the bright morning light, his eye lids shut. Then he tried once more, forcing his golden eyes open to behold the figure in front of him.

William froze when he saw Olivia, though he was frozen, he studied her features to confirm if he was sure of who his eyes beheld. Her fiery, long red hair always stood out first, it was beautifully draped on her shoulders, her nose was fearlessly pointed underneath the freckles on her cheeks. The lazy sunlight exposed her flawless white skin. She wore a thick blue sweater on a black pair of jeans, the weather wasn't so cold today, to her benefit.

She stood proudly in black, low-heeled shoes, William's eyes swiftly moved upwards to Olivia's brown eyes, he shook within him, his mouth hung open.

"Hello Will!", she greeted and smiled mischievously, aware of what she had done.

"Uh- hey- uh Olivia?" William replied confusedly. Uninvitedly, Olivia strolled into the large hall. The chandelier hung from the ceiling, it carried ten large candles in it's hands which had been put out the night before.

Coming to his senses, he ran after Olivia and caught her arm, turning her around.

"What the bullocks are you doing here?!" He angrily whispered into her face.

"And what in God's name is that?!", he sounded terrified.

"That, is a baby-- our baby, your daughter!" It was only at that moment William finally took into notice, the lovely little creature that was strapped to Olivia's chest with a black coloured baby carrier, the little girl slept peacefully on her Mother's chest. William staggered in shock, disbelief and confusion.

"But-- I thought you--" he blinked and realized his voice had become a little loud. "But you left, Olivia, I thought maybe you--" he gulped!

"Had done away with it?", Olivia strikingly put in, she smiled into William's face, fully aware she had said what he couldn't say. "I couldn't possible do that!".

"Then where were you all this time? I asked our friends for your whereabouts, but known knew. You could've called or sent a letter", he stammered, "At least give me a heads up!"

"I had to leave, I didn't want to be the talk of the town, yeah?", she stepped closer to Will, closing the gap between them.

"And I'm so glad I had this baby", she grinned. William grabbed one of her arms and towed her swiftly out of the hall.

"Take your voice down silly! I am married now! I have a wife who's asleep upstairs, my mum and sisters too!"

"I don't care 'bout that, what's done is done!" they whispered loudly and harshly.

"Alright, how 'bout we meet up at a restaurant tomorrow and talk things through? I'll take full responsibility for our child, but you can't come here anymore", he paused "How did you even find me?"

"It's a small town you know",

"Bullocks! Alright alright, please just leave, I'll be with you tomorrow-- "

"That's not what I want Will, you can't just set me off, you got me pregnant, you have to marry me!" She snapped back.

"No Olivia, I am married! I'll pay for child's support, you can still live your life and be with someone else-- "

"Yeah, like it's so easy, you were with me before the other girl came around", she threw her hands in the air.

"For the last time Olivia, I met Amelia first! I-- " he stopped, "Please just leave, we'll talk tomorrow". William put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to leave.

"What's going on here?!" Amelia appeared in the hall tying her robe properly,

"Yeah, what's all the noise about?" Mrs Johnson slowly added. The two other women appeared in the hall too. They all looked confused-- waiting for an answer.

"It's nothing, Olivia was just leaving", William urged Olivia to take her leave once more.

"What does she want Will?" Mrs Johnson pressed forward.

"For God's sake Mother, just leave it alone!"

"There is something I want!" Olivia spoke out confidently, her voice drowning every other sound.

"Come in my dear, come in where it's warm", Mrs Johnson gestured her in. Olivia took a swift look at William's fiery eyes, William moved his head side to side, trying to reason with her once more, hopeful that she wouldn't go in.

Olivia stepped into the house again and the brown child on her chest winced, moving her body a bit.