Haunted

November 26th

Today was the day I was leaving for my weekend in New York. I hoped that it would be a life changing experience for me so that I could give Shannon the best life imaginable. 

I was waiting on Finn to arrive so that we could head off to Emma and Mark's house, as I was leaving Shannon in their capable hands for the weekend and then we would head off to the airport. My bags were packed and lined up against the wall as I waited for the doorbell to ring.

Jack had still not arrived home. I was past the point of even caring. It was frankly embarrassing that a twenty-one year old man did not have the decency to ring his fiancee to make sure she and his child were okay. 

9:00am
I had left Shannon asleep for as long as she possibly would. I didn't want her to be crying and grumpy when I gave her to Mark and Emma, because otherwise she would never come out of the mood until she saw me again.

I walked into her room, and stood over her bed. She was still half asleep. I scooped her up in my arms and kissed her head as she woke up. She was still small at two and it seemed pretty obvious that she was probably going to take after my height rather than Jack's.

I heard the doorbell rang, it was most probably Finn as he had said he would be here just after nine, and glancing at the clock in Shannon's room I could see that was the time. I carried Shannon down the stairs carefully and pulled the front door open, and there stood a familiar face that I hadn't seen in over a month.

I took a step back in shock. He had to come back at such an inconvenient time.

"JACK!" I exclaimed angrily.
"Hey babe." He said.
"Don't babe me." I told him sternly.
He reached his arms out for Shannon but I pulled back so she was out of reach. 

"Dada." Shannon gurgled.
"Lola. Just let me hold her."
"Where have you been?" I hissed.
"I told you I would be staying away longer than my teammates. It was legit the last thing I said before I left here. How could I be in the same country as my mum, Hanna and Amy, not to mention Dan and not visit."
"No you didn't tell me that Jack. Do not try to bullshit yourself out of this."
"I did."
"Okay, so you were visiting your mum. Have a reason to explain why I haven't heard from you for the past month? Jack, my birthday, our anniversary. I was made to take a week off of work because I couldn't cope by myself. I thought you were missing, even TJ and Cam didn't know where you were."
"Lola." Jack said, sympathy in his voice. "Cam and TJ knew."

"They didn't Jack, because trust me they wouldn't dare lie to me."

I saw Jack glance at the bags that lined the hallway.
"Are you leaving me? Where are you going?"
"New York." I replied, bluntly.
"With Shannon?" Jack questioned.
"No, she's staying with Emma and Mark. I'm going with Finn."
Jack looked taken aback. He laughed in disbelief. "Finn?"
"Don't act surprised. It could've been you, if you hadn't been fucking around with my head for the past month."

I walked down the hallway and into the living room and grabbed my phone from the pocket of my leather jacket. I still held Shannon to my chest as she had fallen back asleep.
"Well where is he? Upstairs hiding under the covers." Jack taunted.
I rolled my eyes. Jack's behaviour towards Finn was so immature.
"No." I said. My phone beeped, it was from Finn. "As a matter of fact he's on his way now." I told Jack, as I glanced down at my phone.

"Mind telling me why you're going to New York with your what, five time ex." Jack quipped sarcastically.
"Oh you're so mature. It's for a job Jack. This might be a life changing  opportunity for me. Unfortunately some of us don't make a lot of money by just throwing a ball around for all of 10 minutes." I replied.
Jack scoffed. "So you chose to bring him with you. Why not Beth? Amy? Or did something happen there?" He pestered.
"Nothing happened Jack but they have their own lives to get on with.  Finn is injured in case you didn't know and he has been a great help this past month because without him I don't think I would be standing here talking to you." I shouted.
Jack looked shocked. "What on earth were you doing with my daughter if that was how you felt?"
"I didn't mean it in that sense. I meant like running away from all of your crap. You call her your daughter but where is the proof in that. You haven't been here for a whole month Jack. I'm never going to forget that!" I cried.