Spiderweb of Lies

Chapter 3

I opened the door and instead of hearing my Mother's voice calling 'Have a nice day Ihme?' as I usually did, I heard her shouting to herself.

"You said you'd sorted everything out!"

"Why have you waited 15 years to tell me this?!"

"I swear down, if you tell anyone, George included, I'll come get you myself. Don't push me Barry"

She was obviously on the phone arguing with Barry, whoever he was, and was getting pretty angry.

Curiosity overtook me once again and I inched closer trying to work out what this Barry guy was saying.

"Yes, I should think so. Yes thats what I've told her"

I felt a tickle in my nose, but stopped myself from sneezing. Phew.

"I swear down, if you tell anyone, George included, I'll come get you myself. Don't push me Barry. I-"

Achoo! Uh oh. 

"Ihme? Is that you dear?" Asked my mother rising from her armchair, her tone of voice changing back to the high silk I was used to.

There was no point hiding now.

"Yeah Mother, it's me. I just came home and you were obviously in an argument so I was just about to go upstairs when I stopped to sneeze" I lied smoothly.

"Well, that's good, I've sorted everything out now" she said emphasising every word in the direction of the phone before pressing the end call button.

"Upstairs then darling" said my mother, staring straight into my eyes.

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Once I was upstairs, I picked up my phone and immediately called Jam.

"Howdy" answered Jam "Have you found some information for me?"

"No" I said plainly "something much better" 

I retold him the story of what I had just witnessed and repeated everything I could about the argument.

"May I ask why I need to know this?" He asked, sounding a little bored.

"Jam!" I screamed down the phone "Don't you understand? My mother's hiding something from me and my father! Something really important by the way she was shouting down the phone!"

"Well, are you sure it wasn't a wrong number? Or maybe a cold caller, they are really annoying, enough to get anyone going"

"If you're not careful, I'll-" I began before getting cut of by Jam.

"Im, calm down! I'm joking! I can't even imagine anything other than cold-as-ice no expression Mrs Richardson"

"Hey, I know she's not the warmest of mothers but shes still mine so don't be rude"

"Okaaaaay! Sorry Ims. So, any clue what this Barry person was saying?"

"No I couldnt hear anything" I replied getting more worried by the minute

My family didn't keep secrets. We didn't need to.

"What was it she said 'you've waited 15 years to two me this'? That's a bit exact. 15 years Ihme. How old are you again?" He asked carefully

"You know how old Jam. I'm 16. You don't think this has something to do with me do you?"

"Seems likely"

"Any guesses?"

"A few" he said slowly

"Care to share?!" I said getting frustrated with Jans continuous blaise attitude.

Jam waited a while before answering.

"This Barry guy, well, think about it Ihme. Something that needs to stay a secret. Something between your mum and Barry"

Slowly his words sunk into my brain.

"No. Jam. No. You're-you're wrong. I can't- you don't mean- my mother had an affair?!"

"It seems to be the most logical conclusion"

"The year I was born" I repeated 

"You don't look very much like your dad"

"But I don't look like my mother either!" I screeched trying to persuade Jam to see sense. This couldn't be happening.

"Well, You might of gotten a lot of your genes from your father. Barry"