Chapter Thirty Three: Unwanted Gift

Joanh's cheeks flushed with a wide smile after Amelia pecked him on the cheek. The moment lingered, warm and unexpected, leaving him momentarily speechless. He wanted to savor it, to understand it, but Amelia, noticing the glint in his eyes, quickly interjected.

"Don't overthink it, Jonah," she said softly, her voice steady but kind. "It was just a thank you for being there when I needed you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up. I might have..." Her voice trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavily between them.

Joanh nodded, his smile faltering slightly but still present. He understood, or at least he tried to. She was thanking him for saving her life, nothing more. But the peck on his cheek had ignited a spark of hope within him, a hope that perhaps there could be something more than just gratitude between them.

"You're welcome," he finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, with one last lingering glance at Amelia, he turned and walked away.

As he made his way home, Joanh's mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions. He replayed the moment over and over, dissecting every detail, every nuance. What if it meant more? What if it was a sign of something deeper? The possibilities were endless, and his imagination ran wild with visions of what could be.

He was so lost in thought that he almost didn't notice the small bundle on his doorstep when he arrived home. Almost. But the soft, muffled cries drew his attention, and he froze, staring in shock at the sight before him. It was a baby, wrapped in a threadbare blanket, its tiny face red and scrunched up in distress.

Joanh's mind raced. Who would leave a baby here? Why? He looked around, half expecting someone to appear and explain this bizarre situation, but the street was empty. He was alone with the baby and the weight of a decision he had no idea how to make.

Crouching down, he gently picked up the bundle, cradling the baby awkwardly in his arms. The crying subsided a little, and the baby opened its eyes, looking up at him with a gaze so innocent and trusting that it made Joanh's heartache.

What was he supposed to do now? He had no experience with babies, no idea how to care for one. Panic started to set in, but then he thought of Amelia. Amelia would know what to do. She always knew what to do.

With the baby still in his arms, Joanh hurried inside and grabbed his phone, dialing Amelia's number with trembling fingers. She answered on the second ring.

"Jonah? What's wrong?"

Her voice, calm and steady, immediately soothed some of his anxiety. "Amelia, there's a baby on my doorstep," he blurted out, his voice shaking. "I don't know what to do. Can you come over? Please?"

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then Amelia said, "I'll be there as soon as I can. Just try to keep the baby calm."

Joanh nodded, even though she couldn't see him, and ended the call. He looked down at the baby, who was now gazing up at him with wide, curious eyes. "It's going to be okay," he murmured, hoping to reassure both the baby and himself. "Amelia will know what to do."

The wait for Amelia seemed interminable, each minute stretching into an eternity. Joanh did his best to keep the baby calm, rocking it gently and murmuring soothing words. He had no idea if he was doing it right, but the baby seemed to respond, its cries turning into soft whimpers.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then Amelia said, "Don't touch the baby until I get there. I'll be there as soon as I can. Just try to keep her calm."

Joanh nodded, even though she couldn't see him, and ended the call. He looked down at the baby, who was now gazing up at him with wide, curious eyes. "It's going to be okay," he murmured, hoping to reassure both the baby and himself. "Amelia will know what to do."

The wait for Amelia seemed interminable, each minute stretching into an eternity. Joanh did his best to keep the baby calm without physically touching her, speaking softly and making sure she was safe and warm within the blanket. He had no idea if he was doing it right, but the baby seemed to respond, its cries turning into soft whimpers.

While Jonah stood at his porch waiting for Amelia, the strange baby cried out, putting Jonah in a state of confusion. He glanced around, trying to locate the source of the wailing, but the street was empty. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the neighborhood and filling the air with a golden hue. Jonah’s house, nestled among a row of similar suburban homes, seemed unusually silent except for the baby's cries.

The baby started crying again, putting Jonah in a complete state of confusion. He looked around, hoping the baby wasn't attracting attention. He wouldn't want to be accused of stealing a baby. That was the last thing he needed on his plate.

Jonah knelt beside the basket and gently peeled back the soft blanket covering the baby’s face. Big, tear-filled eyes stared back at him. The baby looked clean and well-cared-for, wearing a tiny, knitted hat and wrapped in a warm blanket. The baby was clean, so it didn't make sense to him as to why the baby was wailing. "Oh please, stop crying will you?" He asked the baby even though he knew that the baby couldn't reply to him.

Jonah's mind raced. He couldn't fathom how this could be possible. He had no children, no recent relationships that could have led to this. He picked up the baby carefully, cradling her in his arms, and tried to soothe her with soft words and gentle rocking. She quieted a bit, snuggling into his chest, as if she somehow knew she was safe. And then, he remembered Amelia asked him not to touch the baby, causing him to drop the baby back down.