The Ghost Of You

Chapter Eight

James 

Daniel had dropped off both Sienna and Harrison about an hour ago. Harrison went straight to him room and hasn't spoken to Riley, I was not expecting him to talk to me 
Sienna is a sweetheart and is so much like Riley. Her eyes can easily melt anyone's heart and her little laugh is enough to light up an entire room

"He wants to talk to you" Riley whispered making me raise a brow looking up from Sienna who sat in front of me building a tower with her pink and purple blocks
"No mama" She said pouting as I stood up

"What does he know?" I asked but Riley shook his head
"I don't know. He won't talk to me" She said making me sigh pulling her in for a hug
"he's never been like this James, it's always been us against the world and now he won't even talk to me" Riley whispered
"he's probably confused, concerned and scared Riley. Let me talk to him and we'll see what happens okay?" I offered and she nodded

I really did not know what to expect as I got to Harrison's room. This entire situation was never meant to happen to this. When I followed Riley here I didn't expect to have two kids waiting on the other end of it

"Harrison?" I called knocking on the door before opening it to see Harrison sat by his window just like Riley had been last night
He may look like me but he's just like Riley too 

"Can I come in?" I asked earning a subtle nod from him as I walked across the room to sit next to him
I didn't want to overstep with him right now
"You look like me" He said making me chuckle
"Actually I think you look like me" I said making him turn to look at me with a half smile

"You're my Dad aren't you?" He asked softly, I looked down at him and couldn't get the image of him being a younger version of me out my head
"Yeah" I said hoping that Riley wouldn't mind me telling him that 
"Where have you been? We needed you. Mum needed you" He asked, the small smile vanishing from his face being replaced with a frown 
"Mum said that if you love something too much you have to let them go. She let you go didn't she?" He continued to ask making me nod 

"If I had known that your mum was here, if I had known about you or your sister then I promise you Harrison, I would have been here in a the blink of an eye" I explained
"Are you going to leave again? Is mum going to let you go again?" He continued but I shook my head

"Your mum and I have a lot of things to work out but I'm  not going anywhere okay?" I offered and he nodded before looking back out of the window
He turned to look at me out of the corner of his eye probably anticipating I wouldn't be looking at him 

"Can I have a hug?" He asked so quietly I almost missed it
"Of course you can" I said, he didn't need to be told twice, the moment I said that his entire body lunged towards and he fell against my chest wrapping his arms around my neck burying his face against me

"I'm sorry I pushed you earlier. Mum always tells me hitting isn't nice but you were yellin-" He started before I stroked his back calming him down
"You don't need to apologise Harrison, you were protecting you Mum. That's okay. That'll always be okay" I whispered placing my head on top of his 

How did we end up here..

--

Incoming Call.. Emily.

I was sat on the sofa with Riley by my side, Harrison in front of us colouring while Sienna sat on my lap, Riley turned to look over at me at the sound of my phone ringing
The moment I showed her who it was, her eyes widened and she nodded over to the fire escape making it evident she didn't want anyone knowing she was here yet..

Harrison looked up at me as I passed by him before he decided to take my seat next to Riley almost as if he was going to keep it warm while I was gone 

"Hey Em, what's up?" I asked 
"I just wanted to check in on your James" She said making me smile to myself slightly 
Growing up, Emily was not my biggest fan. Anyone would tell you that
We bumped heads more then we saw eye to eye but this entire experience has done nothing but solidify something between us. Whether she wants to admit it, Emily cares about me just like I care about her

"Checking in on me? Last time I checked Em, you were the one off god knows where" I chuckled 
"Actually, you're the one off the grid this time. I'm back home for a little bit" She explained
"I had anticipated coming to see you at the flat but I was surprised to see the James shaped void on the sofa" She teased
"There isn't a void. I don't sit on the sofa often" I said making her chuckle

"So what's going on in James' world.. Where are you too?" Emily asked, I wanted nothing more then to tell her that I was currently sat with her sister, niece and nephew
This had to be done on Riley's terms. There was a lot that needed to be unpacked before we let other people get involved
"I'm just visiting some friends for a little bit. Trying to rejig myself" I explained
"Yeah? Anyone I would know?" She asked making me look over at the window to see all three of the sat on the sofa 

"Nah, I don't think so" I added
"How long are you in town for Em?" Part of me was hoping she would be there a while and I could try talk into Riley coming back

"I don't have any plans to be elsewhere at the moment. So I'm here until otherwise known" She answered, that is how Emily had been living her life for the last few years. She would be everywhere and anywhere at the drop of a hat. It kept her busy, it kept her sane 

"As soon as I'm back in town we'll meet up for lunch or something yeah?" I offered 
"Sure thing James, but we're eating out. I still don't trust your cooking" She laughed making me join in too 

"Is she okay?" Riley asked as soon as I walked back inside
"She will be, things are different for her now" I explained moving back over to them, Harrison nodded at me standing up before sitting back down on his mothers lap while Sienna unsteadily walked over to me
"How different?" She asked
"Everyone is a little different I guess" I explained

"Emily spends most of her time travelling to keep herself busy. Your Dad is always at the cabin even when it's almost frozen shut. Your mum prides the home you used to live in, constantly planting more and more flowers" I explained
"And your family?" She asked 
"Piper is doing her best, she's been a little paranoid since you left to the point that she tracks us all using an app to make sure that we aren't ever in trouble. Mum still sets a place for you at the monthly family dinners and my Dad continues to talk me through everything. Hoping that eventually I'll be able to continue on" I added making Riley bow her head

"I'm so sorry" She whispered looking over at me with the same innocent eyes I'd fallen in love with when we were only kids
"It's okay" I said stroking her hair

"You're hear now and that's all that matters" I whispered kissing the top of her head as she cuddled closing bringing Harrison along with her