Chapter 1: Familiar Stranger …

Selene.

Present day, 21st December, 2023....

Calgary, Alberta…

I stop feeding Isabel and go to answer the door, wondering who could be ringing the bell.

It’s 7pm and I just successfully bathed Isabel. She usually gives me a run, for baths.

She’s in her pink bath robe, perched in the crook of my arm, while I open the door. Am kissing her now, when a familiar cologne hits my nose.

Water, Earth, spices, flowers.

How can I ever forget? Am afraid to look from Isabel, because if I do, my knees will give. And then he'd know he still has this effect on me.

But I look up and hitch my breath.

Isabel is excited in my arm. Her baby talk filling the silence.

My gaze locks with this familiar stranger in front of my eyes. His icy gaze, as hot as ever. His handsome face, as mesmerizing as I can remember. The hard features, his jawline.

I want to swallow, but I can’t. Afraid that this might be another one of my dreams.

His ocean blue gaze is staring expressionlessly at me. Pulling me in, like the first day we met.

Wearing a midnight blue British style, thigh length coat, he looks sophisticated, as I remember. He’s spotting a black T shirt, black slacks. His hair is shorter now. It used to be in a pony tail.

“Mamma…” Isabel breaks the spell.

I jerk, shifting my attention to her. She smiles at me, this one. She loves my attention. I love her.

“Is that her?” Albert’s voice finally reaches me.

Warming me internally. Killing the cold that the heater inside couldn’t.

I nod, trying to avoid his gaze. But I can’t. He is everywhere.

“Can I come in?” He asks.

I look down the corridor at the stair well, decked in Christmas decorations. We’re the only people outside.

I want to ask, which of my neighbors gave him my apartment number. Instead I shift out of the way, allowing him in.

Walking into my living room, his presence fills the entire place, more than my Christmas decorations.

My all white-wall apartment, suddenly feels intimidated by this handsome specimen. He doesn’t say anything as he sits on one of my cobalt blue sofas. Sofas that have the same color of eyes as Albert and Isabel.

I see that he hasn’t ditched the gloves. That is the only uncool thing about his garb. He fingers my coffee table; a blend of white wood and metal. I gasp, his action, evoking memories I’d rather forget.

“Mamma, food…Food.” Isabel calls.

He travels his gaze between us. I don’t know what his look says. It’s like he’s studying Isabel.

I frown. She isn’t a specimen for the science observatory.

I think now I am upset at his presence. The magic is over.

Matching to the room, I pull up a tiger kitty onesie for Isabel. The cold outside is crazy. I wouldn’t want her catching it. I return to the kitchen, Isabel in my arms.

I am wearing my gray sweat pants and a yellow cotton shirt.

I grab some mashed potatoes and warm gravy for Isabel, sitting her on her spot at the Kitchen Island.

“Is that where she eats?” Albert’s voice breaks in, infuriating me more.

He is close now, followed us to the kitchen. His beautiful presence makes my usually beautiful kitchen, less beautiful.

I refuse to look at him. I want to pretend he isn’t here. But he is and it’s annoying.

My lips pull into a firm line and I force myself to continue watching Isabel as she eats.

She’s making a mess with her food. But I don’t see it.

I see my pain. All that time I was pregnant, gave birth and he was absent.

“What’s her name?”

Now I’ve had it.

“You keep asking me questions. You a lawyer now?” I throw back, sarcastically.

I feel his eyes on me, but I don’t care. I want him gone.

Isabel palms some potatoes, pushing it in her mouth. She gags. I panic, slipping my finger to remove the excess food.

This girl! Mum says she acts like me. But I think she acts like her dad. Weird.

Albert reaches for a paper towel, handing it over.

I stare at him for a moment, my anger rising.

“Clean her up. Hate me later,” Albert says, quietly.

He's right. But I don’t want to accept he is.

Isabel makes another mess and this time I give in. One last look at him, I collect the paper towel, turning to clean Isabel.

When I've finished cleaning her, I feed her.

She eats what she can for her little tummy, then I clean her up again.

All that time, Albert silently watches us. I feel awkward taking care of Isabel in his presence. But I can’t do otherwise.

This is me, since he last saw me, a year and five months ago.

A little part of me wants to know what he’s thinking, seeing me like this with the baby. Rather I ignore.

I choose the feel of Isabel’s lips on my cheeks.

After feeding her, I walk us to the living room, put on some cartoons for her.

She’s sitting now, clapping to her favorite character. Kitty.

Albert is sitting on the other sofa, watching us. I try to distract myself with the beautiful decorations that swarm my living room. They are more interesting at the moment than Albert.

“She’s a year old already. Were you scared, when she came out a month early?” He asks.

I still at his acknowledgement.

How did he know all that? And how did he know where to find me?

My mind isn’t blank anymore.

“How did you know all that and how did you find us?” I ask, curious.

I stare at him and I wish I didn’t.

Seated across from each other, his gaze raking over my body, I grow heated in embarrassment.

He still makes me weak in the knees.