Truth

Prologue

I walked inside my house after a long day at work. I set my keys and purse on the table in the foyer and walked into the kitchen. Today was pretty hectic, but nothing out of the ordinary. I have a full-time job, I'm an online college student, I live on my own, and I have a 20-month-old son.

Oh, my little Riley is my world. My pride and joy, but I just wish the timing was much later. I'm a single mother at 20 years old, and boy is it tough. I've been doing everything on my own since I found out I was pregnant. My mom helps out, but she doesn't want a baby at her house since my 17-year-old sister Claire is there, so she threw me out. I was 18 so legally I could've been on my own anyway, and actually wanted to. But it's a lot tougher than I expected it to be.

I'm trying my best to be a great mother for him. I'm doing an online college program to get my associates degree and go into fashion design. It's been going pretty well, and I should be finished in just two more years. Mom is proud of me, and I'm hoping one day Riley will be too. I know I need to set a good example for him. He needs a good influence in his life, despite my teenage pregnancy.

Back in reality, I just got home from working at Macy's like I do every day. Mom, Claire, or my good friend Bri watches Riley while I work. I don't have to pay Mom or Claire as long as I pay for his food and diapers. With Bri, she's my go-to babysitter on Tuesdays and Wednesdays which gives her extra money and gives Mom and Claire a break.

Things would be easier if Riley's father were around, but I know that will never happen. He doesn't even know Riley exists. I haven't seen him in ages. First off, I live in Delaware, and he lives in Ireland and California. Also, he's Carter Thompson, the famous movie actor so he barely has time for a son or me. Why would he even want to make time for us?

I met Maddie Thompson, Carter's little sister while I was on my yearly vacation in Ireland when I was 16, and we instantly became friends. She lives just a town over, and my cousins took me into town. We met Maddie, who was friends with my cousin Brian. She was with her brother (it was the beginning stages of his fame), and I hit it off well with him. We spoke for months afterward and he even came to visit when he was on his way to his movie shoot in New Jersey. When I was 18, I went to Ireland for my birthday. I decided to live with him for the month since I was close with him and wanted to really experience Ireland in a different way than just a family vacation. When I moved in, we started to get flirtier and soon started to mess around for a lack of better words. It was all fun and great at the time. It almost felt like a real relationship, but Carter's publicist said it was best for his career not to have a girlfriend since his career was starting to take off. One time he said he wanted us to be official, but, in his words exact, he doesn't "want me to deal with that kind of lifestyle." I think it was bull, but that's beside the point.

He had to leave a week before I did for a movie he was filming in California, but he let me stay there for my last week instead of wasting money on a hotel room. Before he left, he told me he doesn't want to do "this anymore, and he'll "try" to stay just friends. I got an early flight back home after he left. I didn't want to stay in his house after he said that. It just felt too weird for me. When I got home, I started to get symptoms that I was pregnant. Two weeks after I missed my period I finally took the test and found out I was. My heart stopped, I almost puked. I couldn't believe I was pregnant especially since I was going to be attending my dream college in a month. I was so nervous and scared I didn't even bother to tell Carter.

I dropped out of college and was almost murdered by my mother. She was angry and upset. I even got this long lecture as to why I shouldn't have gone to Ireland alone and how I should've at least been safe. She told me to pack up and leave. Claire was embarrassed by me the first month and didn't even speak to me. I didn't actually move out until two weeks after Riley's birth because I couldn't find an apartment. Since I was at home, Mom saw me developing and by the time it was four months until my due date, Mom decided to accept the concept and help me. Things have become much better, but she still won't let me move back home for Claire's sake.

It's been two years, and I still haven't tried to contact Carter. I knew Carter's career has taken off and he officially moved to California, but still frequently visits Ireland to see his family. I didn't stalk him, but he was always in the news. Riley has some clue about Carter. Well, he knows he doesn't have a dad at home, but he has seen pictures of him. I told Riley his Daddy is busy and can't visit. Riley doesn't understand that part, but I'm not concerned about it. Riley does recognize his face. Whenever Carter comes on the news or is in a magazine Riley shouts, "Hi Daddy!" It pains me to see Riley without his dad, but I have no contact with Carter, and I don't know what reaction to expect even if I did. I refuse to even go back to Ireland with the fear he would be visiting while I was there.

I finally decided it's time to see all my cousins again. I love Delaware, but I really miss my family. Even though it's March, and everyone in Ireland is busy with school and work, I'm going to go anyway. Mom, Claire, Riley, and I are going, and we're leaving in a week since it's Claire's spring break.

Mom's whole side of the family lives in Ireland, except for very few. She's is 100% Irish and was born there. As for my dad, who passed away when I was 14, is a mix of a bunch of things, but mostly Italian. Before Riley, we used to go there at least once a year. Mom and Claire still went every year, but only for a week or so. Now we are all finally going, and we are even thinking of going again in August. Riley is so excited to go, and I'm not going to lie, I am too.