Reaching for Happiness

Chapter 55

Me and Aston were staying at my parents' house while we were in California, in my childhood bedroom.. Luckily, I had a double bed, so it wouldn't be an awkward squash. When we got to the house, my mum eagerly showed Aston round, whilst I went to see my dad. I knocked on his bedroom door and waited for a reply.

'Come in..' he mumbled. I slowly opened the door to reveal him laid in bed looking really ill..

'Hi dad' I grinned.

'Chloe! I've missed you so much! Come and give your old man a hug' he smiled, holding out his arms. I walked round the side of the bed and sat on my mum's side, sliding under the sheets and snuggling up to my dad.

'Mum said you've not been well these last few days..'

'Eh, I'll be alright' he chuckled.

'Have you been to the doctors?' I asked, concerned for my dad's health.

'Nope'

'Dad! You should go to the doctors, they'll help you get better..'

'Your just like your mum!' he laughed.

'Dad, I'm serious! You could have a virus or something'

'I'm fine, honestly! Anyway, enough of me.. How are you?' he asked.

'I've been better..' I sighed.

'Listen honey, I'm so so sorry about your loss. It was such an unfortunate thing to happen, and you didn't deserve that one bit' he said, stroking my hair and kissing the top of my head.

'I wish I could go back in time and make it all change' I sniffed, a tear rolling down my cheek.

'Don't cry, darling! Things have to get worse before they get better. You and your boyfriend can try again in a few more months.. Speaking of your boyfriend, where is he?' he asked, changing the topic before things got more emotional.

'Downstairs I think.. Mum wanted to show him round. Do you want me to go get him, introduce him to you?' I asked.

'Go on then.. Bring him in'

'Be nice, okay?' I giggled.

'I'll try my best' he winked at me, grinning.

*Aston's POV*

'This is our garden' Chloe's mum Sharron smiled, opening the patio doors, revealing a HUGE garden with a pool.

'It's so nice!' I gasped.

'Thanks' she smiled, leading me outside.

'Ast?' I heard Chloe call from the house. I turned around to see her leaning against the door frame of the patio doors.

'Yeah?'

'My dad wants to see you..'

'But honey, I'm giving Aston a tour of the house!' Sharron moaned.

'Can it not wait until later?' Chloe asked.

'I guess' Sharron sighed.

'Come on then Ast..' Chloe said, walking back inside, me following her. I followed her up the stairs; I couldn't help but stare at her sexy bum, as it was right in my face.. I sighed as we reached the top of the stairs. She opened a door, revealing a dimly lit bedroom, as the curtains in there were closed.

'Dad? This is Aston..' she said, leading me inside. As I entered the room, I saw her dad laid in bed.

'Nice to meet you sir' I smiled.

'You too Aston.. Go on Chloe, go see your mother.. Leave us to bond' her dad instructed her. She rolled her eyes, leaving us too it.. I was quite nervous once Chloe had left, leaving me and her dad to begin our bonding conversation..

*Normal POV*

I sighed, leaving my dad and Aston to 'bond'.. I went downstairs to see my mum. She was alone.. This was my chance to talk to her.

'Mum?' I called.

'Yeah?' she smiled, looking up from her gardening, or whatever she was doing by the flowerbed in our garden.

'Can I talk to you about something?' I asked.

'Sure honey!' she smiled, taking her gardening gloves off and coming inside, pouring us both a glass of fruit punch and sitting down at the breakfast bar.

'Fire away then' she smiled, before sipping her drink.

'There's a reason why I lost the baby..' I said. I wasn't gonna hold any suspense, I needed to come right out with it.

'What do you mean?' she asked confused.

'I know why I lost the baby.. It wasn't just chance'

'What happened? Why did you lose the baby?' my mum asked, grabbing my hands from across the table.

'Well.. You know how I broke my leg, so I was in a wheelchair.. And then had my accident when I fell down the stairs?' I asked, feeling my eyes well up.

'Yeah..'

'I told everyone I was fine after the fall, but it was a lie.. I damaged my womb.. I KNEW the baby was gonna be premature' I cried.

'Oh honey, come here' my mum said, pulling me into her for a mother - daughter hug.

'There's more' I sniffed, pulling away from her.

'What else?' she asked, tears in her own eyes.

'I haven't told Aston.. Marvin, and now you, are the only ones that know'

'Baby, why didn't you tell Aston? He could have helped you through everything.. It must have been so hard for you!'

'It was hard, mum! But I didn't want him to be mad.. And I don't know how to tell him now! It's my fault we lost the baby.. How can I tell him that?! He'll leave me!' I sobbed.

'No Chloe, it ISN'T your fault.. And he won't leave you! He'll understand.. You have to tell him. Infact, go tell him now. He deserves to know. He won't be angry..' my mum smiled, rubbing my arm.

'You think I should tell him?'

'Of course I do.. Come here for a hug first though' she smiled, pulling me up for another hug.

'Thanks mum' I whispered. 

'No problem.. I'm always here if you want to talk, okay?'

'Okay..' I nodded.

'Now go' she smiled. I headed off upstairs to find Aston.. This was gonna be tricky.