Gamble a.i

35. "Damn rich people"

"Do you need help with your bag?"  Chad asks me as I step out of the car.

"No," I say, pulling my back pack over both shoulders.

"Right, well, follow me," he smiles as he scratches his cheek. 

This is awkward as hell. It's awkward for everyone, really. I'm meeting my dad for the first time ever, something I'd never imagine doing, mostly because I didn't want to. Being rejected from someone that brought me into this world? Yeah, that's harsh. Five year old me understood that, and that's saying something.

John Allison doesn't know how many times I've dreamed of meeting him, like somehow it was a mistake that he left me. He was a spy or in the military or something heroic. Hell, he could've been saving a cat for the first nine years of my life for all I care. I just wanted a family, that's what every child wants.

All I ever got growing up was crazy, unstable boyfriends of my mum's. I got a little sister after my mom hooked up with a random guy when her and her fiance got into a fight. She's never been stable, ever. That damages a little kid. Miranda is lucky. Mum was with Phil most of Miranda's life, and even thought things ended terribly, Miranda still had a father figure.

So when my older sister asked me if I was excited to meet Phil tonight, I answered "no". I couldn't care any less than what I do for the man that left me and my mum and Mildred.

Chad leads me into the house, Mum in tow. The house is more like a mansion, I swear. It's too big and not at all homely, but when I see my mum's smile grow and shine brightly, I decide that staying here won't be too bad as long as she's happy. 

Besides, if worst comes to worst, I can stay with Ashton or Jax and Mildred. We're just staying here for safety reasons, and as soon as Phil is found, I'm leaving. This place really is the best for safety; there's a front gate that's locked and guarded twenty four seven, a home security system in perfect working condition and flash flood lights that detect motion, perfect for the night time.

It's basically the White House in America. I've been there once. It's huge.

"This is your room, Miranda," Chad smiles, opening a door to a perfect little girl's dream room. The bed is huge and fluffy, all white with a hot pink canopy. In the corner sets a Barbie Dream house, the ultimate toy for a girl Miranda's age.

"Thank you! Mum look!" Miranda drags mum into the room, setting her bag haphazardly in the middle of the room.

"I'll take you to your room," Chad smiles.

"It seems like this has been planned for a while," I note, following Chad down the long hallway. 

"I think your mom has been planning on leaving Phil for a while," he says.

"I think so, too, but I don't understand why she kept this from me," I sigh. We reach a door that has my name painted delicately the middle. "I think it's been longer than a while, actually."

"Yeah, there's an extra room for your older sister, too. I find that strange, since you told me she's twenty?"

"Twenty three, actually."

"Right, see, this has been going on longer than we thought."

I enter the room, leaving the door open behind me. The bed is huge, I suspect all of them are in this house. An iMac sits on a desk by the window, and the walls are covered in bookshelves, and definitely full of them, too. 

"This is nice," I smile softly.

"I have a secret to share with you," Chad murmurs, taking a step into my room and closing the door.