He's not my dad

49

I laugh for the first time in months, I watch as Greg shakes with fear. I know it's almost psychotic to laugh at some one else's pain and fear it I can't stop. Even when Harry started to cry I couldn't control myself. I had to put Harry back in his pram and move it till he went back to sleep.

"Taylor it's not funny" Greg complained.

I disagreed, words would not explain how amusing the situation was that played out in front of me.

"Is that your phone, are you filming this" he sounded mad. The scowl on his face did nothing to subside my good mood.

"Stay still or it will bite" I call, my comment earns me a glare.

"Will it bite, does it have teeth" Greg panicks, he looks to the woman to his right and waits for her answer.

The zoo keeper smiles, I think she's having a hard time remaining professional. I keep noticing her start to laugh but she stops herself quickly.

"Yes they have teeth, how else would they eat their meat" she replied.

"Meat, they eat meat." I don't recognise his voice , it's almost a squeak.

"Yes snakes are carnivorous"

I can't help but to tease "are you sure he looks pretty hungry, when did he last eat. It says here his lunch is in ten minutes"

Greg pales behind his tan, "no way, take this off me now. I'm too young to be a snakes meal"

"I promise you he won't hurt you sir" the woman said with confidence.

"Yeah and my George Bush senior promised no new taxes and we know how that ended"

The woman and I looked at each other in confusion.

"Your showing your age now" I joke.

Greg takes a huge breath as  the snake is removed from around his neck. He brushes down his suit and shook around like he was removing invisible dirt from himself. His face is contorted as though he's in pain.

"Disgusting no legged creature, I don't know why I let you talk me into that"

I put my hand to my chest and faked innocence "me, I didn't tell you to do that"

"Well you didn't tell me not" he retorted.

"Do you need me to start texting you reminding you not to drink poison" my voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"Your Dad did very well, not many men would dare hold a snake" the zoo worker said as she approached us.

Greg looked at me, it felt like we were playing our own secret game again. He nodded as though he was giving me permission to reply in whichever way tickled me the most.

"He's not my dad, I'm his bride. I arrived from Russia 2 years ago today" I say.

"Yes she set me back 50 thousand dollars, she's worth it. Sometimes" he adds with a straight face.

The woman looks from him to me as though she is trying to work out if we're being honest. I don't realise but I smile.

"Ah you almost had me going, you have a really good sense of humour. "

We smile and thank her before we head back to the car, it's late and Harry should have been in bed an hour ago. Greg had suggested we go out for dinner at a nice restaurant but I didn't want to drag Harry along. It wouldn't be fair for the other diners to have a baby screaming the place down while they try to unwind.

"Taylor, Taylor" I turn at the sound of my name.

A girl who I don't recognise is following me, she's wearing a pair of black skinny jeans and a rock t shirt. I stop and realise it's a rich kids tour top.

"It is you, I love your music."

I hadn't been recognised in so long, the media had swarmed after my accident but had died down not long before Harry was born. 

"Thanks , that means a lot" I reply.

Greg starts to put Harry in the car while I speak to the fan girl.

"Could I take a selfie with you"

I'm flattered so I agree, I move in close and smile as she takes a few photos.

"So what are you doing now, are you going to re join the band or do a solo album"

I'm afraid to say that she will find the truth a lot less exciting. I'm hardly living the rock and roll dream.

"I won't be returning to the band, I have a baby so I want to spend time with him. I don't think I'll release any music to be honest "

The girl looks a little disheartened, I think she was hoping I would say something else.

"No way, I totally prefer you to the new singer. Mel is way too fame obsessed,'I don't think she even likes the music" 

I agree with her but I didn't tell her that, the new singer Mel had fake blonde hair and even faker boobs. I was surprised she didn't fall over when she stood. I had taken a great disliking to her, I hated hearing her sing the words that I had previously, I felt like she was taking everything of mine. Rumour has it that she was dating chuck too.

"He doesn't love her like he did you"

"I had better get my baby home to bed, it was lovely meeting you ..." I realised I didn't know her name.

"Charlotte"

"Nice to meet you Charlotte" I say turning back to my car.

Charlotte shouts goodbye and leaves.

I buckle myself into my seat beside Greg who was waiting for me to dish on what had happened.

"Have you sang since you left the band"

I turn towards him and frown. I haven't sang since other than nursery rhymes to Harry. It was strange, I had never wanted to be a singer boy I really was missing it. It had become such a big part of my life and I had just thrown it away like it was nothing.

"No I haven't, maybe I'll let you take me to karaoke at the weekend"

I hadn't seen him smile that brightly in so long, "it's a date"