strangers in love

chapter 32

2 months later...
AMELIAS POV
Today was the day that I had to tell them. I had to tell Joey and Izzy where Spencer was. Lately they had been asking more and talking to them on the phone every week, because I feel guilty. I knocked on Emma's bedroom door.
"Come in," She said. I opened the door and she was on her phone.
"I'm gonna tell them," I said.
"Really? Right now?" She asked.
"Yeah," I said.
"Okay," she said.
"Is it a good idea?" I said.
"I don't know," she said, "I mean don't tell them why."
"Yeah no shit," I said.
"Say jail not prison," she said.
"I've thought this through," I said.
"Okay," she said.
"Come downstairs with me," I said.
"Okay," She said. Joey and Izzy were playing on the Xbox together.
"Hey guys can you shut the game off?" I asked, "we need to have a family discussion."
"Mom can it wait like three minutes?" Joey asked.
"Yes," I said. I walked into the kitchen and Emma followed me.
"Is this a bad idea?" I said.
"I said I don't know," she said, "Ask Owen he'd tell you."
"He said "whatever you think is right is right"" I said.
"Oh,"she shrugged.
"Yeah," I said.
"They'll be okay," she said. Joey came in and Izzy followed him.
"Is this about dad?" Joey asked.
"Yes," I said.
"Daddy?" Izzy said, "do we get to see him?"
"Uh no," I said, "but I think it's time that I tell you where he really is."
"I know," Joey said. I looked at Emma and she looked confused.
"I know where he really is," Joey said quietly, "he's in jail I heard you and Emma talking about it the other day and that's why we can't see him we can only talk to him on the phone, and that's why there's always a lot of noise when we talk to him."
"Yeah," I said.
"Daddy's in jail?" Izzy said upset, "why? What did he do?"
"Something bad," I said, hopefully Joey didn't hear that part of the conversation. Izzy looked really upset and I hugged her and kissed her head. I could see the tears coming down her face and I felt so bad.
"It's okay baby," I said.
"Do we still get to talk to him?" She asked.
"Yes," I said. I wiped her tears away and she laid her head on my chest. I rubbed her back and I knew out of everyone she would get upset.
EMMAS POV
It was later in the day and I walked into Joeys room.
"You knew?" I asked.
"Yeah," Joey said.
"Why didn't you say anything?" I asked.
"Because I knew I wasn't supposed to know," Joey said.
"Yeah," I said.
"I also didn't want to make mommy upset," he said.
"Are you okay?" I asked, "after finding out."
"I was upset at first," he said, "but did he do something really bad? I never hear you and mommy talk about what he did."
"I don't know what he did," I lied, "mom won't tell me that either."
"Oh," he said, "I thought mommy would tell you."
"No," I shrugged.
"I miss him, but is he a bad guy?" He asked.
"It's whatever you think of him," I said, "he's always our dad so if you want, just remember the good in him."
"Is that what you do?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said, "I do. How long did you know?"
"A few weeks," he said.
"Aw Joey," I said and hugged him. I could tell he was crying as I was hugging him but I didn't say anything and let the tears fall down my face too.
"Hey remember that one time dad took us to that ice cream place, and he dropped his ice cream cone," I sniffled, because I knew that story always made him laugh.
"Yeah," he chuckled, "he was so mad. And all those times he took us there and we shouldn't tell mommy because she would get mad at all the sugar we would be eating."
"Yeah," I chuckled, "and all the times he would chase us around the house, and put Izzy on his back to catch us."
"He would always get you," Joey chuckled, "because I was always quicker and could hide under the bench in the hallway."
"Yup," I said, "you always hid there."
"I miss him," he said.
"Me too," I said, and in that moment I meant it because I hadn't missed my dad in a while, but talking to Joey made me mean it. We were still hugging one another and I looked down at my little brother and hugged him tighter.
"It's going to be okay," I said crying.
"Will we ever see him again?" He asked.
"Yeah we will," I said, I was grateful for the bond I had with my "baby" brother.
"Hey guys," I heard my mom say. We both looked over at her and it was obvious that she had been crying too.
"Hey how long have you been standing there?" I said.
"Long enough," she said and hugged both of us.