With Me Through Troubled Times (With Me - book 2)

Chapter 49

NEXT DAY

Normal POV

I sit in between Joe's legs on the couch, my head laying on his chest. We were watching something on the TV with the boys when the front door opens then closes.

"Odette, I don't think we should be here." A boy says from in the hall.

"It's fine, my parents and brothers are all away out." Odette replies.

I look up at Joe and notice that he's listening to the conversation out in the hall.

"Odette, come in here." I call to her.

A few seconds later, she comes into the room and stands by the door. She looks down at me and sighs. "Wh-what are you lot doing home?"

"We live here," Connor muffles.

"Haha, very funny."

"Who's out there with you?" Joe asks her.

"No one," she lies plainly.

"Then why is Callum standing out in the hall?" Connor asks, looking up at her.

"He-"

"Odette, what's...oh." Callum behins, coming into the living room.

I look up at him as he looks around awkwardly. Joe tenses up as he lays behind me, watching Callum closely.

"What are the two of you doing?" Matthew asks.

"I don't mean to be rude, but Odette...care to introduce us to...I'm sorry, what's your name?" I start, sitting up.

"Callum," the boy smiles, reaching his hand out for me to take.

"Is there a last name that goes with that?" I shake his hand.

"Wilson. Callum Wilson," he finishes as I let go of his hand.

"What's your dad's name?" Joe quizzes, sitting up behind me and putting his arms round my waist.

"Paul," Callum aighs to Joe.

I tense up at the name and Joe's grip on my waist tightens.

"Mum, are you okay?" Connor worries, looking at me.

"I-I'm fine. I just...I..." I stutter, moving out of Joe's grasp and standing up.

"Mia..."

"No, I just...I need to do something," I mutter, walking out the room.

I walk along the hallway to my office and run a hand through my hair as I did so. I open the doorto my office and close it once inside the room before leaning against it.  Taking a deep breath, I walk over to my desk and call Lisa.

"Mia, what a..." She starts.

"I need you to do some background checks on a guy for me," I tell her.

"What's the name?"

"Callum Wilson."

"Why does that last name-"

"His dad's called Paul."

"I'll get right on it," she confirms, ending the call.

I stand up and begin to pace the room. This can't be happening to me. Not after all these years.

The room door opens widely and Joe walks in with Odette following close behind.

"Mum, what the hell is wrong with you?" She shouts, walking over to stand in front of me. I stop pacing and look at her.

"Odette, don't." Joe warns.

"No! I want to know what her problem is with my-"

"I said don't start!" Joe shouts, standing in between the two of us. "Back off from her and get your boyfriend out this house."

"He's not going anywhere."

"He's going. End of story," Joe demands, pushing her out the room and closing the door.

"I've got Lisa doing a background check on him," I whisper.

Joe walks over to me. "Good because if it's his son, she ain't dating him."

"I..."

"He ain't getting back in this house after today if he is his son."

The phone starts to ring and I lean over the desk and put it on speaker. "Give me the bad news, Lisa."

"It is his son. I'm so sorry Mia," she confirms.

"Thanks, Lisa." Joe finishes, reaching over the desk and ending the call.

He takes me in his arms and I hold onto the back of his top tightly.

"What are we gonna do?"

"She's going to break up with him and he's never coming near this house ever again."

"But what are we suppose to say to Odette?"

"Looks like we need to tell them all the truth."

I pull back slightly and look up to his face. God, he's serious! I swallow and nod."Okay."

I walk out of the office holding Joe's hand as Odette walks out the living room with Callum. I stop walking and Joe look at me before looking back up at Odette and Callum.

"We're only going into the cinema room, calm down." Odette says looking at me.

"Callum, I think it's time for you to do." Joe instructs, letting go of my hand and walking over to Callum.

"What? Why?"

Joe ushers Callum towards the front door. "I just think that maybe you should go." 

"Dad, please." Odette begs.

"Odette, shut up!" Joe snaps. "Callum, please leave."

"Not of you're going to upset..." 

"Look! She is my daughter, you are only the boyfriend and quite frankly, you don't wanna mess with me. Now get out," Joe says, moving closer to look down at Callum.

"Dad!"

"No, it's fine. I'll see you tomorrow," Callum agrees, walking towards the front door.

"I doubt that. You'll never see her ever again if me and her mum have anything to do about it. You have 30 seconds to get off my property before I set the guard dogs on you." Joe told him.

"What?"

"Too late," Joe sighs, closing the door as the dogs start to bark. He turns to Odette and looks at her.

"I hate you! I hate her the most!" Odette shouts in anger.

"You have no idea do you? You are that thick!" I murmur looking at her.

"Mia, don't..." Joe advises, looking worried.

"No! She wants to know why I acted the way I did, I'll tell her. Better yet, I'll show her!" I snap. I look at Matthew and Connor come out stand behind Odette. "Follow me and I'll show the full three of you why I acted the way I did."

I walk back to my office and they all follow me.

In my office, I reach up for a few boxes that were on top of a tall bookcase and I put them on the floor, removing the lids off each of them.

"Look," I say simply, folding my arms over my chest.

They sit down on the floor and start to look through all the newspaper articles and photos that were in the boxes. I watch the expressions in their faces change from curious to shock. Odette looks up at me with tears in her eyes as I spot what she held in her hand.

It was a newspaper article from the day that Paul had attacked me in my home in Birmingham, while I was pregnant with Connor.

"Mum..." She starts.

"You wanted to know why I acted the way I did, there's your answer. Watch the DVDs and they'll tell you more." I take a deep breath and walk out the room.