Tangled Temptations novel Chapter 243

Next to the coffee shop, there was a smoothie shop.

A long line stretched out the door and Orlena was in the middle, holding the hand of a toddler. The little boy was fidgeting, clearly not happy about the wait. Orlena picked him up.

Eloise watched in silence. Her eyes welled up with emotion, her heart filled with sorrow.

Orlena, once a pampered girl who probably didn’t know what it was like to wait in line for smoothie, was now standing under the blazing sun with a toddler. She was no longer dressed in expensive clothes, just a simple white shirt and faded jeans.

She had lost a lot of weight and there was no longer any sign of the pampered girl she once was.

Eloise closed her eyes briefly. Following her gaze, Veronica spotted Orlena too, "Isn't that Orlena? How does she have a child?"

Given Veronica's personality, she would typically rush over immediately.

Eloise held her back, "Don't!" She had been through this. She understood Orlena's feelings. The child was not her burden. She loved him. She feared of her parents' disappointment and their possible insistence on her giving up the child.

Eloise spoke softly to Veronica, "Don't make a scene!"

Just then, Linda was calling for her mother, and the driver brought her over. When the little girl saw Eloise crying, she cuddled into her mother's arms, wiping her tears and coaxing, "Mommy, don't cry!"

Veronica watched them enviously, "Daughters are so sweet!"

Eloise whispered back, "Stay here for a bit, I'll go check on Orlena. And don't tell Riley about this yet. I don't want to scare Orlena and have her run off again."

Veronica understood the gravity of the situation and nodded, "You go talk to her."

Eloise left with Linda in tow.

Just as Orlena was getting her smoothie and preparing to leave with her son, Eloise called out softly from behind, "Orlena!"

Orlena froze. She turned slowly to see Eloise and Linda. Her lips trembled. After two years, she was seeing Eloise and Linda again. But seeing them reminded her of him. It took her a moment to softly greet, "Eloise!"

Her voice was always filled with pain and sorrow. She longed to bury herself in Eloise's arms and whine like she used to, but she was no longer the Orlena before.

Eloise felt a tight knot in her chest. She stepped forward, gently patting the little boy's head, and introduced him to Linda, "This is your auntie."

Linda chirped happily, "Auntie!"

Orlena felt a lump in her throat. She watched Linda and was transported back to that fateful night three years ago. "She's grown so much!" She kissed Linda and introduced her son to Eloise, "This is my son, Daniel."

Eloise handed Linda to her and took Daniel in her arms. He had soft, chubby face, and deep brown hair. She didn't need to ask. She knew who his father was.

Linda commented, "His hair is the same color as mine!"

The air was thick with unspoken words.

Linda looked up at Eloise, her voice soft, "Mommy, you can hold him. I won't be jealous, I promise."

Eloise smiled softly and told her, "You go with Auntie."

Orlena felt awkward. Eloise didn't let her off the hook, though, "Let's go to your place."

...

After about a 15 minute walk, they arrived at a small alley. Orlena's rented apartment was tiny, with just one bedroom. It was cluttered with magazines and clothes. There was nothing of value in sight.

Eloise felt symphathy towards her.

Orlena poured her a glass of water. The smoothie was shared between Daniel and Linda. Orlena couldn't afford to buy more than one.

Eloise held Daniel and asked softly, "You haven't been home for two years. Is it because of your son?"

Orlena nodded. She whispered, "I found out I was pregnant after we broke up. He doesn't know. He can't marry me."

Eloise didn't argue. She just felt sorry for Orlena and the child. The boy was two years old and still didn't have a proper home.

Eloise calmed herself and said, "You should come home with me."

Orlena looked down and after a moment, responded softly, "I can't. What will happen if I go back? My parents and brother won't just accept Daniel. They'll want justice for me."

Eloise stared at her, "And shouldn't they?"

Orlena was taken aback.

Eloise gently stroked Daniel's hair, "You can't keep living here."

Orlena still refused. She took Linda from Eloise and kissed her cheek, "It's my first time meeting you, Linda. I don't have any gifts for you."

She took off her necklace, the only thing she had from the Horigan family. She wanted to give it to Linda.

Eloise turned away, unable to hold back her tears any longer. Orlena cried too. Daniel, still a baby, was scared by the adults' tears and started crying too. Linda stroked his soft hair and said, "Luca says, boys don't cry."

Daniel stared at her, wide-eyed. Linda kissed his soft cheek and his brown hair.

Eloise couldn't convince Orlena to leave. She promised not to tell Harvey about it, and Orlena finally felt at ease. As she was leaving, Eloise gave Orlena all the money she had in her purse, over a thousand dollars, and promised to come back tomorrow.