Sometimes at night she felt his hands, and then she heard his voice that came from afar, 

"You served me well." 

When she woke up, the room was quiet and dark, and the only thing she heard was her own heart beating. She forced herself not to remember his last words. She responded to him out of love, but he turned that love into something very ugly. He smashed her love into the dirt and dragged it in it. The bitterness of that day was still fresh in her mind.

She got out of the bed and went into the kitchen. Spot, who decided to make a home with her, waited for her. The morning was chill and she started the fire and placed water for her tea. 

It was only a dream Sophie , only a dream. She picked up a kitten and with affection stroked his fur.

"Good morning, Spot." 

A few weeks passed and Sophie felt better. Her morning sickness subsided. 

Sophie did her best not to think of her loneliness. 

She made little garments for the baby, worked in her little garden, and with a smile read Eric's letters. The yard work provided outdoor time and she didn't have to pay anyone to do it. Spot always kept her company, and never ventured too far from her only to chase a bird or two. 

Finally, it was the weekend, and she waited for Eric to come home. 

She knew she couldn't conceal her condition much longer, so she decided it was time to tell Eric about the baby.

"A baby ?Soph! Are you sure?" Eric gasped. 

He was yet too young to ask too many questions. At fourteen years old building a boat was way more exciting than news about the sister's baby. 

She cherished times when he was home. He was all the family she had left. In the evenings they would sit inside and she listened to him talk about his school adventures, and what he learned. He changed from a child into a young guy. Sophie wished she had the opportunity to learn. She only went two years to a local school when their parents were alive. 

Her brother was turning into a handsome smart young man. 

Two weeks later Sophie sat on the bench in her backyard and a stream of sunlight penetrated through the tree and ended in her hair. She spread her hand across her bulging abdomen where her baby grew. She hardly left the house anymore, but went out today to get the stuff for Eric's arrival. He was due to come home for the weekend. 

 She gave him a sisterly hug and kiss on the cheek.

"Uhhh, Soph! I'm not the baby anymore." 

She had to laugh at that. "No, I guess you are not, but don't stand there come inside."

They talked until late. 

Sophie woke up in the middle of the night. The sharp pain shot through her abdomen and she gasped. After ten minutes another one came as strong. 

" Eric!" She screams. 

He came out of his bedroom still groggy from sleep.

"What is it Soph!" 

"Go and fetch the doctor Eric. I think I'm in labour." Another pain struck her and she screamed. 

She didn't want to think what would've happened if she was alone. 


"Sophie, Soph! Open up your eyes." Eric coaxed her gently. She could hear him. It came from far away, but it got closer. With a lot of effort she managed to open them.

Erick smiled with relief, "Thank God Soph you are awake." 

"Baby?" 

"Baby is fine." He reassured her.

"It's a boy! " 

"What happened to me?" 

"You lost a lot of blood. I was so afraid for you Soph." 

"Where is my baby?"

"Mrs. Bonds, the doctor’s wife, is here. She's taking care of him." 

Doctor Gwen walked in, " Good to see you awake young lady. You gave 

as a scare." 

"How long have I been like this?"

"Your baby was born at five am this morning , so you've been unconscious for twelve hours.." 

The grey hair, smiling woman walked in holding a wrapped up bundle in her arms. 

"Here I think your son wants to meet you." She carefully placed the baby in Sophie's arms, still holding it. 

"You are still too weak, but he’s hungry. I fed him some milk but it seems he doesn’t like it.” Shall we try to feed him? What are you going to call him?" 

"Dallin" Sophie looked at her son for the first time. "Welcome Dallin " 

He latched on to the breast full of milk and after he had his fill fell asleep.  

Mrs. Bonds stayed with her until she recovered from childbirth. Sophie didn't know how to repay her. She watched her son feed and thought how beautiful he is. 

Eric went back to school, and she missed him. Now she had Dallin to take care of, and he grew each day more. The love for him healed what was impossible. 

Eric came on the weekend and she could tell he was somehow different. 

"Eric! Is there something bothering you?" She tried to get it out of him. 

After a few times he finally opened up to her. 

"The boys at my school are saying that my schooling was paid by my sister's whoring. That you made money by being someone's mistress. Is it the truth Sophie? Is this how you have all this and how I can go to school? " 

Sophie couldn't lie to him." I did what I had to. To see you have a better future......" She got tears gathering in her eyes. It hurts to think about it. Jaxon's last words came to hunt her once again. 

Eric threw the plate he held. " I'm going to pack, and don't expect me back. I'll go to my friend's house instead. He has already invited me a few times." 

Her heart was broken for who knows how many times in her life. Dallin became the sunshine of her days. Sometimes she would talk to him ," I hope you don't resent me one day too." 

****

Jaxon looked at his wife of two years. She nudged her horse into a gallop up the long drive. Nothing has changed. Dorin was always cold towards him. She spent more time at her father’s house than at the " Morning Glory", and always managed to mention how this marriage was her father's idea. Often she would just go for a ride on her Arabian horse, and terrorized anyone in her path. She demanded attention from the staff every minute. Dorin loved to throw parties, and shop for dresses to wear for those occasions. Flirting was her domain, and she performed it with any suitable male in her proximity.

From an outside view she was beautiful, sophisticated,and the perfect wife. Jaxon knew different. Many envied him. He couldn't figure it out why. How wrong they were. 

After a few times he visited her bed he just stopped. Each time she would just lay there without any passion or feeling. She only waited to be over. His wife didn't want children and openly displayed her view.

"I'm too young. Look what it did to my sisters. I don't want to get fat. " 

Less he saw of her the better he was and it made him happier. 

Wherever he went he still saw the blue eyes. He felt her softness, remembered her responses to his caresses, and her little soft moans. Sophie! He missed Sophie. What would he give to hold her again? To feel her soft skin against his body. He couldn't ban her from his mind. How he regretted his last words to her. He noticed her body stiffen, and she tried her best not to show how it hurt her, but he saw it in her eyes. It was little too late when he realized that Sophie loved him. 

From his solicitor he knew she received her checks regularly, and that Eric was still at school. 

His life became an empty shell. Going home became a chore. He stayed in town more often than at the plantation house. The land he gained by marriage hung over his head. It wasn't worth the price he paid for it. He lost something more precious over it. 

*****

She hadn't heard from Eric for a long time. A year exact, and she missed him. She couldn't be angry at him. Sophie realized that at his young age he couldn't possibly understand her motives. The lies she was forced to tell simply caught up with her. He still attended the school, and she knew that much from the bills that still arrived regularly. The house in the neighbourhood came up for sale and Sophie decided to invest her money and bought it. Now she collects monthly rent. It was her little security nest. Dallin grew each day and looked a lot like his father. His soft hair at the nape of his neck curled the exact way Jaxon's does. 

The old widow Celia that lived at the end of the lane came and visited in the evenings. It was nice to talk to someone beside Dallin. 

Sophie usually dressed in very plain and simple dresses. She never wanted to draw attention to herself, and wished she could blend into the background. The last thing she needed is for someone to find a connection between her and Jaxon. 

Eric's rejection of her hurt, and she hoped that one day he'll forgive her. Maybe he'll understand why she did it.