My Mother's Boyfriend

Chapter 18

I open my mouth but just as I am about to say something the fire lifting the balloon, stops. "Um, what?" I ask and he looks up and his eyes go wide. I quickly call Anne before I lose signal. "Hello?" She asks and I gasp. "Harry took me on a hot air balloon ride and we are probably going to crash so I need to tell him, I have to. Bye." I say and she doesn't say anything, just hangs up. I put my phone in my pocket and grab Harry. We get on the woven floor and cover our heads. There is a lot of ripping sounds and sounds like tree branches breaking until finally, we stop moving. I sit up first, looking around. I open the little door and step out of it. "Come on Harry." I say and he gets out. "Who was that on the phone?" He asks and I bite my lip. "Let's not talk about it." I say and he grabs my hand. "Emma." He says firmly and I turn to face him. I sigh and pull him over to a log and sit with him. "Have you heard of Heather Stewart?" I ask and he shrugs. "I think, my mum has mentioned her a few times, who is she?" He asks and I bite my lip. "That's your mom's daughter." I say and he questioningly looks at me. "I have a sister?" He asks and I nod. "I'm not done yet." I say and he nods, fully giving me his attention. "I can't be your girlfriend." I say and he raises an eyebrow. "I am Heather's daughter." I say and he gasps. "I k-kissed my niece?" He asks but I shake my head. "What, Heather is my sister so that makes you my niece." He says but I shake my head. Tears fill my eyes and I look away. "You know me because we used to be inseparable when we were little kids." I say, biting my lip. "That isn't helping, how are you not my niece?" He asks and I look back up at him. "You are my older brother, Anne is not your mom, Heather is." I say in a rush and his eyes go wide. "Anne is our grandmother, she took you away because she thought our mom couldn't handle two kids." I say and he just stares at me wide eyed. He suddenly stands up, scaring me and punches the woven basket of the hot air balloon. "What the fuck?! My whole life I was convinced that Anne was my mum! No, this has to be a joke!" He says but I shake my head. "Harry, I just found out you were my brother, this is just as scary, I kissed you and almost dated you!" I shout and he looks at me. "Why? Why did you lie to me?" He asks and I look away. "Grandma Anne told me to, she wanted to tell you but since we are out here, I had to tell you and since you asked me out, I had to tell you." I say and he has tears falling down his cheeks. "Please, don't hate her." I say quietly, wiping the tears from my cheeks but they keep falling. "How can't I?" He asks and I bite my lip. "Hate me, please I lead you to believe that I liked you and that I was a runaway." I say, standing up and he faces me. "I can't hate you and I have a question." He says and I nod. "Ask away." I say and he grabs the bottom of my shirt and lifts it up. "What happened to you and why do you have cuts on your wrists?" He asks and I look away. "The cuts are from our dad dying and I am not telling you where the gashes came from." I say and he cups my chin, making me look at him. "Emma, tell me." He says and I bite my lip. "Our mom but it's because our dad died and because grandma Anne said that my mom shouldn't have married my dad." I say and he hugs me. I hug him tight, crying on his shoulder. "What's our dad's name?" He asks and I sigh. "His name was Jeff and our mom and I kept his last name." I say and he nods. "Wait, his name is Jeff Stewart? I think when I was about 12, I was going through the office next to my room, the one my Robin and Anne use as whatever, I think I saw an article or a few in the desk. How long ago did he die?" He asks and I think back. "Maybe around that time." I say and he nods. "How did he die?" He asks and I bite my lip. "Car accident." I say and his eyes look up. "Um, I vaguely remember the article stating that he was dead before he was found at the scene, but I could be wrong." He says and I look up at him. "We need to get back to your house and get in that office." I say but he shakes his head. "We can't, it's locked." He says and I bite my cheek. "We have to find a way." I say and he nods. We begin to try and navigate ourselves from this forest scene. Dead before the accident? What is going on?