December 25th 2012
"Meri... can I talk to you?" Jim asked his sister softly. He was about to leave, to go to Tanya's parents' house with Tanya. It was about 10 am. Meri always hated Christmas. She never celebrated it. It just reminded her of her mum. "Meredith," Jim repeated louder.
"Yeah, you can talk to me," Meri said, shrugging. She was sitting at her desk, doing her make-up because she was about to film a video.
"Can you look at me?" he asked. Meri turned around. "I... I have something to tell you... about... about d-dad," he said slowly. Meri frowned – Jim never talked about their dad.
"What?" she asked.
"He... he, erm... he wasn't your dad," Jim said slowly. Meri's head snapped up.
"What?" she snapped. What the hell was he saying?
"Mum told me before she passed away... I was supposed to tell you ages ago... but I never... I couldn't find the words," Jim replied. "When my dad was still abusing mum, she had an affair... to run away from him. And then she got pregnant,"
"Stop lying," Meri insisted.
"I'm not Meredith... I'm sorry. Dad found out and threatened that if... if mum left him, he would kill you... he told her she had to pretend you were his..."
"Why are you telling me this now?" Meri asked. She was close to tears but refusing to cry.
"Because I found the words..." Jim said. "I'm really sorry I didn't tell you earlier,"
"But... who's my dad, then?" Meri asked softly. Jim looked down and shook his head. Then he apologised again. "It isn't your fault. I just wish you'd told me before..."
"What would that have done?" Jim asked. Meri shrugged. "This doesn't change anything, you know,"
"It does Jim. I'm not a Chapman anymore," Meri replied sadly.
"What? Of course you are, Meredith," Jim assured her. Meri shook her head. "You are. You're still my silly little sister,"
"Jim –" Meri started.
"I'm not listening to your nonsense Meredith," he insisted.
"Jim, fine. I'm still a Chapman, this doesn't change anything, whatever. Just go, you need to go to Tanya's parents' house," Meri replied, rolling her eyes. Jim smiled.
"Okay, as long as you know that," he said.
"I do Jim, just go. Tan's waiting for you," Meri sighed.
...
Meri saw that she getting a skype call from Joe. She answered it. "Hey Joe," she said, trying to smile.
"Hey babe, happy Christmas," Joe smiled happily.
"Happy Christmas. How's your day been?" Meri replied.
"It's been great. Dad's drunk, Zoe's being a lunatic... but how's yours been? Having fun with Janya?" Joe asked.
"Erm... it's been okay," Meri said.
Joe frowned. "No it hasn't. What's wrong?"
"I just don't like Christmas that's all. It reminds me of my mum. And Jim and Tanya have gone to Tan's parents'," Meri explained. And I found out that I don't have the same dad as my siblings. She added in her head.
"You should come over. It will only take a few hours and you can stay the night. You can stay a couple of nights. We never do anything on Boxing Day," Joe suggested.
"No... no I'm good," Meri said slowly. She sorta did want to go but she didn't want to intrude on the Suggs.
"Don't be silly, you have to," Joe insisted. Meri looked down and nodded a bit. "Great! Pack for a few days. I'll see you at around 9, yeah?"
"Okay. Thanks Joe," Meri replied.
...
Joe grinned and went downstairs. He was going to see Meri! He hadn't seen her in a week – the last time they'd seen each other was the 18th. "That was a short skype call," Graham said.
"Is it alright that Meri's coming over?" Joe asked him. Zoe was sitting at the kitchen table and she looked at him.
"Yeah, of course it is. But doesn't she have a family to spend Christmas with?" Graham asked.
"She did in the morning but then her brother and his girlfriend went to her parents' house so she's alone now," Joe explained. He didn't say that she didn't like Christmas.
"Well, that's fine. I'd like to meet this Meri girl. She seems to make you happy," Graham said.
"Oh, she does. And she's really funny as well," Zoe piped up. Joe glared at her and she looked at him with confusion. She was trying to be helpful.
"She'll be over around 9. I said she could stay for a few days," Joe replied. Graham nodded and said that was fine.
YOU ARE READING
It's All About You
RomanceJim's little sister Meri has always been shy. She's always been so unsure of herself. So when she sets eyes on Joe, and he makes her feel special, Meri feels over the moon. But what will Jim say when his barely eighteen year old sister starts dating...