Collide (Impact Book 2) | h.s. | complete

14. Truth Be Told

13.

~Tori~

We stood in the hall as the doctor prepared Cici for an MRI. We had been to the pediatrican that Madame Cross knew and he had sent us to the hospital, concerned about Cici and not being able to diagnose her issues. The emergency room doctor had been extremely helpful and got us in for tests right away but had sedated Cici, which concerned me. I had tried Tanner’s cell phone multiple times, but couldn’t get a hold of him.

“She will be alright,” Madame Cross said rubbing slow circled around my back. “You, however, have me worried.” I laughed, shaking my head.

“No need to worry about me.” I said, smiling up at her.

“Who are you?” She asked, her hand stopping it’s movements.

“Pardon me?” I asked, my smile fading.

“Who are you really? Because I know that your name isn’t Claire and that you are not engaged to be married to Jake, if that is his real name.” My jaw dropped and I panicked. “It’s alright, you can tell me the truth. Whom are you hiding from and why?” I took a deep breath and glanced into the prep room at my daughter’s tiny body, being prodded and prepared and noticed the absence of the man who had pledged to be her father.

“My name is Victoria Melbourne…and I…”

“Go ahead,” She ushered me towards a set of chairs on the other end of the hall.

“I was famous in the states, I sang in a band and I got into this twisted game of cat and mouse with a fan and I got pregnant with one of the other band members.”

“Harry Styles.” She said, nodding and I gaped. “I may be older but I know a beautiful talented face when I see one. Yours is one I wouldn’t forget.”

“Uh, yes that’s Harry’s baby, and Jake, who’s real name is Tanner, is my ex boyfriend, he agreed to help me disappear but he kind of stuck around afterward and he promised to be a father to Cici’s and we are engaged to be married, but he really hasn’t kept his promise.”

“No, he has not. Well I’m glad I finally pulled the truth out of you, I’ve been waiting a long time to hear this Victoria.” I felt tears prickle my cheeks. “I won’t tell a soul.”

“That’s the thing,” I sobbed, and she pulled me to her chest, stroking my hair. “I don’t even care anymore. I miss him so much and I wish he could see her, she’s so beautiful and she’s got his eyes. But it would hurt him more to know what I’ve done than it would to just leave him and let him move on.”

“You don’t know that,”

“He’s moved on, I’m sure of it. He didn’t even know I was pregnant, I lied and said it was a false alarm…I wouldn’t know where to begin with making this all right. I made such a fast decision and I regret it all…”

“Let’s take this slow, nothing needs to happen right away.” I nodded against the soft cashmere of her sweater. “Victoria, can you call someone? Your mother?”

“No…I can’t…” I sat up, staring at the tiled floor. “But I know the next best thing.”

A/N: WOOOO triple update! I've been going through some stuff personally and haven't been ontop of updating but I'm back at it! Who do you think Tori is going to reach out to?? Comment if you have any guesses!