Haunted

January 7th

It was the morning after I had visited Aimee. I had run a thousand possible situations through my mind. When had it happened? Why had it been kept a secret?

After I had left Aimee's house last night, I had gone to the only person I felt I could talk to. My old flat, to talk to Jack. He, of course, had been as shocked as I was to find out that TJ and Aimee were harbouring the secret of their daughter.

I had felt comforted in his presence and I really hoped our three month plan worked out.

10:00am
I got up from the bed and pulled my dressing gown from the back of my door. I slipped it on. Pulling open the door I made the short journey down the hallway to Shannon's room.

I opened the door slowly and crept in. She was sat up in her bed gazing around the room.
"Mama."
"Hey baby girl."
I walked forward and she held her arms up in my direction. I leant down and picked her up. Her hands grabbed on my dressing gown.
I walked out the door and headed down the stairs.

I walked into the kitchen. Dad was stood at the kitchen island, flipping through the newspaper. Every time I saw him there with one my mind flash backed to when he confronted me about that night in Barclay's car.
"Lola, I didn't see you last night." Dad said.
"Um yeah sorry."

I had gone to see Jack at the flat to talk to him about everything that had happened. I know that it seemed odd that I had chosen to go visit him but since our chat the other night I had felt more open to speaking to him about the whole situation, especially as TJ was one of his best friends. I had gotten home late, practically everyone was in bed.

"Lola, you don't need to apologise. A heads up would be appreciated though. Is everything okay?"
I placed Shannon into her high chair.
"I was with Jack."
"Things back on track?" Dad questioned.
I shook my head.
"Is he okay?"
"Yeah... yeah he's fine. We were talking about Aimee and TJ."
"Oh... may I ask why?"

I took a deep breath. Dad would understand why I was so hurt.
"They have a... they have a daughter." I stuttered.
The tears rolled down my cheeks. Dad rushed forward and wrapped his arms around me.
"Oh Lola. How did you find out?"
"TJ came to my work yesterday. Becca mentioned how she was looking forward to looking after her niece and nephew. I was confused as hell obviously and TJ tried to stop her from talking but she showed me a picture."
"How old is she?"
"I would say at least the same age as Dan would've been."
"Oh god."

"It's shit Dad. Everything I've told Aimee over the years and she couldn't tell me that. What even is the point?"
"Do you know the reason why she kept it from you, why they both did?"
"No. I went round yesterday afternoon but she insisted she spoke to TJ before she told me anything. I'm going there today."

"Do you want me to come with you?"
"No, no Dad you don't have to do that."
"Why don't you take Jack?"
"I can't have them thinking I've gone around telling everyone imaginable."
"Ah I understand. I'm not working today, I can look after Shannon."
"Thank you." I put my arms around him and hugged him.

Dad walked out of my embrace and round to the fridge. I heard him sigh. I picked up a bowl from the counter and began to fill it with cereal for Shannon.
"Lola."
"Yeah?"
"Just don't get angry with them, what they've done is obviously for a reason. Keep that in mind."
"I will. Thanks Dad."
I sat down opposite Shannon and began to feed her the cereal. There were a thousands reasons swimming round my brain but there wasn't one in there that would explain why Aimee and TJ had done what they had.

11:00am
I was having  déjà vu, or maybe it was just the fact I had sat in my car outside Aimee's house yesterday as well. I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts. I was ready to face the truth whatever it might be.