Sunny Side Up - JJ Maybank

12

I woke up with a firm determination to get my daughter back, and although it would mean explaining why Rafe Cameron had her in the first place, I knew I had to do anything to keep her safe; I had to tell the others.

"I'm going to tell them," I told JJ decidedly, and he nodded gravely, knowing exactly what I meant.

We took my car to the Chateau, and it brought tears to my eyes seeing Flora's car seat in the back, but I bit back my sorrow as we made the journey.

Luckily everyone was already there, which would make things easier as I would only have to tell them all once.

"There's something I need to talk to you all about."

They looked up from drinking beer on the porch and then looked at JJ to see if I was going mad.

"Flora's been taken. Her father picked her up from playgroup and she's at his house right now and I need your help to get her back."

"The Touron? Has he moved back here or something?" Kiara asked.

"I wasn't completely honest about Flora's father. Her father is Rafe Cameron."

Their faces displayed various emotions and John B muttered a few profanities, but I was more focused on Sarah, who had stood up and started pacing.

"N-no. This can't be happening. Flora's my niece? You slept with my brother."

"Sarah I am so sorry, it was only meant to happen once," I tried to explain.

"So it wasn't even a one night stand!" she yelled.

"We were friends with benefits for a couple of months but as soon as I found out I was pregnant I never saw him again," I told her.

"So that's why you didn't wanna stay at mine when you were pregnant?" she sighed.

"I'm so sorry. I should have told you I just didn't want anyone to know."

"Does anyone else know? Besides us?" Pope asked.

"JJ's known since the start," I told them. It wasn't a surprise, JJ and I had been best friends longer than I had been with the others, and we'd always had a bond the others understood.

"I'm not mad at you. I understand why you didn't tell me. So Rafe has Flora?" Sarah sighed, and I smiled at her, before nodding gravely.

"Then let's get her back," she grinned.

Sarah had been staying with John B for a while, but she returned to her house for the first time in months, just to get Flora back for me. Her plan was to scout out the place, see where Rafe was keeping her and then find a way to distract him while JJ and I snuck in the side entrance and got her out. Sarah had been inside for almost an hour, with JJ and I parked down the road, and I was getting anxious.

"What if something's happened to Flora?"

"She's only been gone one day, sunshine, and Rafe wouldn't hurt her. She'll be in your arms before you know it," JJ reassured.

"Then why is Sarah taking so long?"

"She's been gone for a while, her family are probably catching up with her, don't worry."

I knew JJ was being logical about this but my daughter wasn't with me and my brain was clouded with emotion. I dropped the phone when Sarah rang, but JJ picked it up and put it to his ear. I listened intently to his side of the conversation and grabbed onto him when he hung up the call.

"She's fine, sunshine, Sarah's gonna let me in the side door to get her from the kitchen while you ring the doorbell and argue with Rafe until you give up and slam the door, okay?"

I nodded and took a deep breath before knocking on the door, knowing that my daughter was safe and would be in my car soon.