Alfie didn't have to wait long before he got a reply from his sister. He picked up his phone when it started vibrating and read the message she send him.
We're fine, bubs. If you wanna come, I don't care, but it might be a little awkward in a room of pregnant women for you.
Alfie thought of the idea of a room full of pregnant women and himself in the middle of it. Somehow it made him a bit nervous, maybe a guilty conscience over the amount of one night stands he had had in his life so far. Alfie was sure he wouldn't be the only male in the class, but still, if Ammy and Willow were sorted there was no reason for him to be there. After all it was more his job to spoil the baby than to spoil the mothers, or the surrogate mother for that matter. Alfie hadn't asked why they would use a surrogate, but afraid of an awkward conversation he had never pushed the subject. Ammy knew that if she had anything she wanted to talk about, she could always come to her brother.
He thought back to the blonde that he had woken up next to this morning. Just another one on the pile of mistakes in my life. Alfie always had been quite the fan of one night stands, until he had met Dianna. She literally changed his life, she made him want to be a better boyfriend, a better worker, a better brother and a better person overall. He never had anyone push him so much with what seemed so little effort. He never thought he ever would, but he had bought an engagement ring after almost a year of being together. He had to be careful sneaking around to keep it a secret. He even went to the jewellery shop with one of his friends who had the same ring size as Di. He remembered he was just waiting for the moment when she left.
Not a note, not a sign, not a message or even a text. He just came home late from work one day to find all her stuff removed from their apartment. It was actually his, but they had stayed there together for months, in pure happiness. At least I was... He had been confused about her leaving, shocked, and after a week of not seeing her he had broken down in tears for the first time in his adult life. That was the time he was so grateful to his sister. Their talks helped him through it. The only thing he did not follow her advise about was to look her up, or call her at least. His pride or his stubbornness would not allow it. It was she who had run out on him after all. He had stayed by the phone waiting for weeks, until at one moment he went to the bar to drown himself in sorrow and alcohol. He blacked out and the following morning he had woken up to a girl he did not recognize, very similar to his experience with the blonde girl this morning. He picked up where he left off before he met Di and started his one night stands business as usual. One difference, it made him realize what a sad case he was. It never had before, but his only long term relationship had shown him how life could be.
Deep in thought he heard his phone vibrating once more. Convinced it was a follow up message from his sister he grabbed it and looked at the name reflected in the screen and the picture in the background. He opened his drawer, looked at the box with the engagement ring inside of it and closed his drawer again. He stood up from his chair and paced around the office for a solid minute before he picked up his phone again. With shaking hands and not knowing what to expect he opened up the message.
Hey Alfie, Do you remember where I live? Come on over at 10 this morning. Please it is very important. Xoxo Di-
Alfie checked the time on his phone and realized it was 9.15 AM, one hour... He read the message over and over. It was so light and matter-of-fact like, he almost thought it must be from someone else. He got upset over how light it was. After a year of happiness and the sudden disappearance of her and her stuff this was not a satisfying message. No apologies, no 'I miss you', no 'I made a mistake leaving you', none of the things he had hoped to see. She must mean her own place, the apartment she still had when they were already living together in his. He had not even once driven by the address although he always suspected she would be there. He was afraid of running into her and hearing the reason why she left..., he still was. He must have done something wrong, otherwise why would she leave?
He decided it was time for an answer, an explanation, maybe a rekindling. Lord knows that's what he really wanted. Just to forget about the past three months and continue as if she had never left. He left his office and went to the parking lot where his motorcycle still stood from the previous day. He shouldn't ride while being this nervous, but he wasn't thinking straight. With minimum traffic he arrived not much later and parked in front of her building. For once in his life he was 5 minutes early and after taking a deep breath he knocked on her door.