Chapter 10 - The New Normal.

"I don't know how long you'll be staying here, but you have to know that there are boundaries."

Amelia said as she stood in front of Daphne with Xavier next to her side. They had set her up in a nice cozy guest room that was downstairs and it was big enough and spacious enough. It was even next to Nana's room.

"This is your room, you're not allowed to enter or go to other rooms without my permission. You're not allowed to bring anyone over without my permission. And also, anything you want to discuss with Xavier, even if it's about the baby, you go through me first."

Amelia said as a smile curved up her lips and Daphne frowned.

"That makes no sense! Xavier is the father of my baby, why do I have to go through you to see him?"

Amelia shrugged as she gave Xavier a look.

"Xavier's not complaining. And you're the one who wants to stay here. Those are the only conditions you're allowed to stay here."

"Do you agree?"

Amelia asked and Daphne was fuming as she turned to Xavier but Xavier shrugged and pointed to Amelia.

"She's my wife and the lady of the house, she makes the rules."

"Exactly! So, have a nice stay here Daphne. I hope the room is up to your liking?"

She asked in a and Daphne rolled her eyes.

"I'll manage."

She muttered and Amelia clapped her hands.

"That's excellent. Xavier let's go have breakfast."

She said as she turned around with Xavier following closely behind her. When she reached the door, she turned back to Daphne who had folded her arms and her mouth was upturned in a frown.

"A staff will have your breakfast brought up if you want. Or you could just join us if you want."

"I'll be joining you." Daphne retorted and Amelia's face brightened up in a smile.

"Excellent! We'll set the table for three. Let's go Xavier."

She said as she kissed him lightly on the lips in front of a fuming Daphne.

When they left, Daphne could no longer hold her rage. She threw her pillow at the door and groaned loudly. She was not expecting such a reaction from Amelia. The Amelia she knew would have exploded in her face. Amelia would have been angry and hurt. Daphne had been so sure of how mad she was going to be.

What changed? She asked herself as she settled in her bed. Something was not adding up with how Amelia was acting and Xavier wasn't saying much or doing much to defend her either.

She picked up her phone and called her friend. Her only and best friend, Nina Hampson who had gotten her in the mess in the first place.
The call rang for a long time and there was no answer. Daphne sighed in frustration as she threw her phone against the wall. She buried her head in her hands as she started breathing hard.

She had to intensify her efforts. She had to do something about it. The false alarm had been a great idea and while it worked excellently well, she could not pull the same stunt again especially with Amelia in the mix. Amelia's nature would make Xavier see the truth. Amelia was the only one who saw through her for what she was and what she was doing. And Daphne desperately had to do something about her.

The part about her bleeding when she had called Xavier was not exactly true, but it wasn't a lie either. She had seen a few drops of blood and she created enough panic to make Xavier believe that she was really in a dangerous situation. Of course the doctor had told her the bleeding was normal but a few more hundreds of dollars to a particular nurse had Xavier believing that she could have lost the baby if she wasn't brought in earlier by her neighbour. That was another lie, Daphne had gone to the hospital herself, but to make her story more believable, she had to cook up the silly lie of her neighbour dropping her off.

The being evicted part was another lie, it had been suggested by her close friend Nina, who had given her the drugs to sedate Xavier in the first place. All she had done was that she had called for a moving company to help her with her all her luggage. She was lying about the rent part, her rent had not expired, but Xavier didn't know that, he thought she was kicked out. It was a risky plan though, she had been unsure of Xavier's reaction but she was glad that he played right into her hands.

Her next plan was trying to put off Xavier from finding another apartment for as long as possible so that she wouldn't be able to leave. She had to work in as much damage as she could before she left. Irking Amelia was her best bet, Amelia was hot tempered and up until a few minutes ago, Daphne did not expect the sort of reaction from her. She had to do things to constantly rile up Amelia, so Xavier would think Amelia was the bad one.

But how was she going to do it? She asked herself in disdain as she remembered how Amelia had handled the situation. She knew she was had to start hitting Amelia where it hurt.



Amelia spread the avocado over the toast and sprinkled tomato on top as if it were cake decorations. In front her and Xavier they were surrounded by the aroma of croissants, toast, hash browns and all the other confectionaries that one could possibly imagine for breakfast on a beautiful morning.
The cook had gone all out in making them a rich and sumptuous breakfast when all Amelia had in mind was smoothie bowls.

There was a joy in how she arranged her toast as if for a moment she was happily absorbed by a feeling of love that played in her subtle smile and soft gaze at Xavier. It was strange to Xavier, that she would have such a reaction after the many things that had happened in the morning. But Amelia was largely unbothered. And all she could care about was having a good day and putting Daphne in her place which she had already done.

"Are you okay?"

He asked and Amelia nodded.

"Yes, I am. What about you?"

Xavier nodded.

"I'm good too. I was thinking of us going on a dinner date today. What do you think?"

Xavier asked with a smile, he hoped that Amelia would say yes, then he would try his possible best to create the best romantic dinner that he could for them both. He couldn't wait to spend quality time with her.

"That'll be nice. Just you and I..."
Amelia trailed off wondering if it was going to be possible. With Daphne in the house she wasn't sure if they would have peace and quiet. She knew Daphne was going to be trying everything to give both of them a hard time but she was determined not to give her the attention she craved.

"Don't worry. I mean it this time."

Xavier said as he reached out to told her hand. It was as though he was reading her thoughts.


"Ahem!"

Daphne said behind them as she walked into the dining room. At least she was dressed in proper clothes Amelia thought as she rolled her eyes at her. Daphne sat down on the seat closest to Xavier and smiled at the table.

"Oh! Before I forget, I didn't give you your copy of the ultrasound. Here it is." She said happily as she handed the printed ultrasound to Xavier who smiled tightly and placed it on the table.

"Thanks." He muttered Daphne didn't look too convinced.

"Aren't you going to look at it? I haven't been able to stop staring at it. Honestly... It makes me so happy!"

She gushed out and Amelia rolled her eyes as she jabbed her fork on a piece of hash brown.

Xavier picked up the photo and stared at it. He smiled and he quickly glanced at Amelia who pretended that her breakfast was much more interesting than whatever it is was going on.

"He's growing everyday. I can't wait till we start to feel his kicks and plan the nursery!!!"

Daphne said and Amelia rolled her eyes again.

"You don't know the sex yet." She said and Daphne shook her head as she placed her hand on her annoyingly flat belly.

"I can feel it. I know it's a boy. A little boy that looks like Xavier. Our first son."

Our first son! Amelia said in her mind as she rolled her eyes again. Something about the statement made her pissed.

Amelia's mind already painted the scenario before Daphne finished talking. She didn't know which was going to he more upsetting, Daphne having a boy or a girl.

She also didn't know how she would feel if the baby looked like Xavier. Maybe it would help her love the baby or maybe she would grow fond of the baby. Amelia really couldn't tell, it hurt too much already thinking about Daphne's baby.

"I've always thought Carlton was a pretty name. Carlton, just like your Dad."

Daphne said and that was when Amelia snapped.

"Can you just shut up already? We're trying to have a normal breakfast and you keep bringing up these stupid things."

"Excuse me, my baby isn't stupid... If you're mad you can leave the table. It's my baby I'm talking about and Xavier is the father."

She retorted and Amelia scoffed.

"Leave my dining table for you? I don't think so. How about you focus on your food so you don't choke."

Daphne narrowed her eyes at Amelia and Amelia glared at her right back.

"Carlton Junior Sylvester Black. What do you think Xavier?"

Daphne turned to Xavier who looked frustrated already.

"Whatever you want is fine."

Xavier said in a dull monotone and Amelia gaped at him before turning to glare at Daphne.

"I don't think you've earned the right to name your baby after Xavier's father. At least, given the circumstances the baby was conceived, it actually kind of seems a bit disrespectful."

Amelia spat out of spite and Xavier turned to Amelia.

"Amelia!" He warned but she wasn't listening to him.

"What? She has no fucking right."

"I know you hate me..."

Daphne said in a shaky voice as her bottom lip started quivering and Amelia rolled her eyes.

"Oh for fuck's sake, put a sock in it Daphne!"

"But that doesn't give you the right to talk about my baby like that. My son is innocent. And he has every right to have his Grandpa's name if Xavier and I want him to."

She turned to Xavier and shook her head.

"I can't believe you can't even stand up for your own son. I know Amelia might still be angry at me over what happened but tell her to stop taking all her anger out on my innocent baby!"

Amelia shook her head as she buried her head in her hands. She really couldn't fathom how everything had escalated quickly. What she really wrong in saying Daphne had no right to name her baby after Xavier's father?

"I am a mother and I would defend my baby! I know Amelia wouldn't be able to relate to that because she's young and childish and might never have kids but you should understand, you're the father."

Young and childish?

"Daphne, you better watch your tongue before I call you an Uber. I am this close to sending you out of here."

Amelia gestured at Daphne while Xavier rubbed at his temple.

"In fact, I changed my mind. You're leaving today!"

Amelia said as she picked up her phone

Daphne looked at Xavier with big scary eyes.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bother her..."

"I was just so hurt at what she said..."

"Are you still here? You should be packing your things before I call security."

"Come Amelia, let's have a talk."

Xavier said as he pulled Amelia by the arm and she grudgingly went with him. He didn't release his grip on her arm till they entered the kitchen.

"Baby, please. Don't let whatever she says get to you. The sooner I find her somewhere to stay, the sooner she leaves."

Xavier begged as he cupped Amelia's face, Amelia was still fuming as she struggled to get out of his grasp.

"How could she call me childish? And how soon can she get out of here? I'm so mad!?"

"Baby, please, just calm down. I'm sorry she got on your nerves but you need to learn to ignore her when she says nonsense."

"How am I going to do that if she lives here?"

"It's only for a short while. After that we can go back to living our normal lives. Let it go Amelia."

Xavier whispered as he kissed her on the forehead.

Amelia closed her eyes and tried to imagine a 'normal life' without all the Daphne drama.

It was impossible. Daphne and her child would always be in their life.

And that was their new normal.