Chapter 35: Elaine
"I’m sorry, you got the wrong person," Amelia said instinctively, yet she couldn’t help but take a closer look at the old man. However, she had never seen that face in her life. "Please, excuse me."
"No, that cannot be! You are Elaine!" The old man said frantically, gripping onto her hand for dear life, "The heavens have answered my prayer! You have finally returned to my side... Daddy is sorry he tossed you out..."
Amelia swallowed a sigh. This old man must have mistaken her for someone else― a daughter he had fallen out with. With his age, it was possible that he might even have dementia! She looked around, hoping that his family members were here to cajole him, but he was left completely alone. A frown crossed Amelia’s face. Surely his own family could not have been this uncaring to leave him unaccompanied.
Thankfully, Amelia had a lot of experience dealing with all sorts of people from her jobs.
"It’s alright, I forgive you," Amelia said, patting him on the hand. "Can you let go of me now?"
"No!" The old man grabbed her hand even more tightly. "If I let you go, I’ll never see you again!"
Amelia racked her mind for a solution. She didn’t want to break this old man’s heart. Who knows― the daughter he was talking about might have died years ago, just like her mother.
Amelia could only sigh at the irony― her mother was also named Elaine. Perhaps women named Elaine were meant for short lives.
"How about... I will give you my phone number?" Amelia offered. "Then, you can call me and see me again."
She highly doubted he would remember her, but then she caught sight of the tearful grin on his face. That gesture must have meant the world to him, she realized. He quickly handed her his phone with shaky hands, and she could only raise her eyebrows at how high-tech his phone was. She registered her number, but then paused when it came to entering her name.
If she put in her real name, it might result in trouble if someone else were to get a hold of this man’s phone. Not to mention this old man didn’t know who she was to begin with!