Always on the Run

16. One door has closed

Hi guys, apologies again for the delay. Work has been crazy busy. I'm on holidays for a week though so fingers crossed the next update will be quicker. Enjoy this chapter and please read my author's note at the end. Thank you. :)

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All I can say is my mother is the sneakiest person I know. I should have known the holiday she was booking wasn’t for her. As I look at the envelope with the booking details, I shake my head and grin like an idiot. This answers everything. Jamie wanted me to run. Well, Mauritius is far enough away, right? God I love my mother.

Picking up the phone I dial Mum’s number. She picks up on the second ring. “Don’t tell me you’ve only just found it?” she asks. I can hear the smile in her voice.

“But Mauritius?” I ask, staring at the ticket again. It’s an open ticket too. It’s almost like she knew. I gasp. “Mum! You knew the whole time!”

My head swirls with the new information. Mum knows Jamie? Or does Jamie know Mum? Well I suppose either way they know each other but…how did I not know? No one let on that they’d met. What the hell is going on?

Mum sighs. “Teresa, there’s something you need to know…when I told you my story, I didn’t tell you the entire truth.”

My legs suddenly feel weak and I sit on the couch. Resting my head back I sigh and close my eyes. I shouldn’t be surprised by our family secrets now yet somehow I’m still shocked when Mum confesses something new.

“What is it this time?” I ask. I laugh sarcastically then add, “Don’t tell me, Jamie just happens to be Warren’s son?”

I suddenly burst at laughing at the absurdity of it and shake my head. That is just ludicrous. Penelope said she was raped…unless she lied? But why would she? I suddenly realise how silent Mum has become and I stop laughing abruptly. Wait…what? No…no, no, no, no, no! This can’t be—

“Yes,” Mum finally says.

“What?” I screech, sitting bolt upright. I suddenly feel cold and clammy at this new revelation. My life is becoming one big soap opera. “How is that possible? Didn’t you say Warren was gay?”

“Yes, so? People change, Teresa.”

“Perhaps but…” I trail off and shake my swirling head. I’ve got so many questions. “Jamie’s biological mother…Penelope—”

“You know her?” Mum interrupts, concern lacing her voice.

“Yeah, sort of. Why does it matter? She seems like a nice enough woman. We met about a week ago. But she told me she was raped. So how…” I shake my head again. This is getting more and more confusing.

Mum laughs bitterly. “Is that what she told you, is it? Look, Penelope is someone you shouldn’t be hanging around with, Teresa. Trust me.” She sighs and I hear her sit down. “Look, I knew Jamie when he was a toddler. He’s a couple of years older than you and Warren had full custody of him when I left you girls with him.”

I suddenly burst out laughing. I’m not sure why at first then I realise how ironic this is. I mean Jamie and I were in the same house together when he was a toddler and I was in nappies! I mean how uncanny!

“Are you pulling my leg?” I ask once I’ve stopped laughing. “I mean this is a pretty impressive joke, even for you.”

“Teresa, I’m not joking around. I’m telling the truth.”

I stare at the wall, my hand grasping the phone for dear life as I try and digest this information. Running away sounds like such a good idea right now. I need to get away from this craziness.