Endless love

Chapter 4

"Can you just repeat what you said, mom."

"It's nothing."

"No, I know what I heard so tell me what the f**k is going on "

"Okay fine, your dad is not dead."

"I think I need to sit down for this," Merrick says as he finds himself a seat.

"The car which he was in was crashed badly, there is no way he could have gotten out of that alive."

"Alex faked his death. I wonder why?" 

"For how long have you known?"

She opened her mouth then closed, opened and closed. I had a feeling I was not going to like whatever answer she gave.

"I...i...a...i knew from the beginning that he didn't die." I scoff

"Really mom, you should audition for being an actress, being a detective does not fit you."

"I am sorry sweetie, you have no idea how hard it has been."

"Why did he fake his death?"

"I can't tell you that."

"He is my dad, I have the right to know."

"You mean, our dad." Can someone please shoot her.

"Not now Megan."

"What have I done wrong now, I heard the noise, came down just to hear more family secrets."

"Something serious is going on. First, dad faked his death, now Amelia is faking the DNA results."

"I am not faking the results."

"Sure and I am Einstein."

"If you can't tell me what is really going on mom, then I think it would be best if I hear it from dad himself."

She objected at first, but when she saw I was not backing down either she agreed.

"Sure, I will take you to him tomorrow."

~~~~~

Tomorrow came by very quickly.

What I mean is we left that evening. Mom claimed that she told me that so that no one will be able to follow us.

And that's how I found myself in the middle of the forest. There were trees and more trees. It was cold and dark as usual. I could hear birds chirping on top of trees. This place was very scary, I wonder how he survived here.

The sound of dry grass being crushed by my feet was what I heard when I stepped out of the car. A cool wind was blowing the branches side by side. The full moon was at its peak up in the sky surrounded by the never-ending beautiful stars.

I would never trade my home for this ever in million years. There is a stream just a few feet away from the house. The two-storey house that my dad is in is just in front of me. Everything feels like a dream, but then the cold wind that is blowing across my face makes me realise that this is real. I am going to see my dad after all these years. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

Mom leads the way since she knows her way around. I follow her silently into the well-built house. The glass windows are not showing anything from the outside. 

The first thing I feel is the wooden floor due to my high heels boots. The wooden floor is grey and even the ceiling. The walls are painted white.

Stairs that lead to the upper floor are straight down the hall on your right.

On my left, it's the living room that has black sofas, clear glass table, on my right it's the dining table made of wood. There is a door at the far corner that I think it's the door to the kitchen.

Mom has not mentioned a word since we came, neither have I. It's not every day you hear you're allegedly dead dad is not dad at all. It's a lot to take in all that has happened together with the DNA stuff.

I am on my way to sit down when the sound of footsteps makes me freeze on my spot. My nerves are everywhere and I am sweating while it is freezing cold. 

I turn to look at him. I won't say that he has not changed at all. This is real life, not some fictional novel. He jas hard since the last time I saw him. I can spot some grey hairs on his head and the unshaved beard.

You rarely spotted a beard in him and know it is grown you can barely recognize him. The blue eyes that I inherited from me are starting at me glistening with tears. 

It's like my feet have found a mind of their own because they start moving towards him. I had rehearsed a very long speech but now it seems as though everything flew away. All the anger and pain I felt melted away as soon as his strong hands engulfed me in a tight and warm hug.

I am sure I was soaking his t-shirt with my tears. It serves him right though, he is the reason I am in tear. The last time I cried was during his funeral and now I am crying a gin because he is not dead.

His so-called death changed a lot and I have a feeling that him being alive is going to change a lot still.

I really hope the change won't be a bad one.

"My little girl."

"I am not a little girl anymore dad." I pull back and wipe the tears with the back of my hand.

He still uses the same cologne.

"I can see you have grown into a very beautiful young lady. Such a shame I wasn't there with you."

"I missed you so much dad, so much."

I hug him once more before he goes to say hi to mom.

"I made dinner for my two ladies, I hope you will enjoy it."

I let out a laugh.

"Did you just say, you cooked dad?"

"Yes, I had to learn to cook since I was alone most of the time."

"I am already starving."

The dining area was not as big as the one at home but it was still perfect. We ate the meatballs served with baked potatoes and some salad. 

It was delicious.

I wanted to know what really lead him into faking his own death, but I guess I will know today.

"Dad..."

"I know you have questions, I can answer some but I can't answer others."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both. I am sorry, but the knowledge about my existence can put you in a lot of danger, it's better if you don't know."

"What about Merrick and Megan. Are they your kids?"

He better tell me no because that's the only answer I can take. Nothing will convince me otherwise, not even him. I could see he was having a silent conversation with mom. The way they were looking at each other gave it away.

"You cheated in mom?"

"It's more complicated than that."

"Yes, of course, it more complicated dad. How do I even look at you now?"

"You need to come down Alina," that's the first thing I have heard her say in a long time.

"Seriously mom, with everything that is happening you want me to come down?"

"There are a lot of things that you don't know that happened in the past, so please don't be so quick to judge."

"Why did you guys keep quiet all this time and let my relationship with Merrick reach this point?"

"I am not going to say it's complicated because that word is overused. All I can tell you is to give me more time, please."

"You know, I always wanted a sibling. That used to be my wish every time I had a chance to make a wish. Now I have two and I want to take every wish back." I was hiccuping due to all the crying I had done today. 

I felt exhausted emotionally and physically. Everything that was happening was draining me so much that I felt like I was not me anymore.

~~~~~

I bring my legs up against my chest and wrap my hands around them. I wanna fell some warmth but it's not even working. 

My eyes are closed as I listen to the voice that fills the car as she sings. She has a nice voice and the words are a bit emotional. My mind is too lazy to even master a single line fo the song.

I am in the car with mom going back home. I hoped dad would clear the misunderstanding he just made everything worse. I wish I had brought my phone with me, but mom insisted I leave it so that we couldn't be tracked. Now I am bored as f**k.

I am so mad at them for making me fall in love with my brother. They watched me, love him more than I should. Is that even possible, loving someone more than he or she is supposed to?

I kissed him countless times, we made love, I don't even want to think about it. What hurts the most is not about him being my brother, it's the fact that he cheated on me with Steph. That's what hurts the most.

"You can take my jacket if you are still cold."

"I am fine," I reply coldly.

"Don't shut me out sweetie, please, " the desperation was evident in her voice.

"I am hurting mom, I won't blame it all on you and dad, because Merrick did the same thing, dad did. Cheating on his wife with her friend. That is what hurts me the most."

"You are not even sure about that."

"He confirmed it after his mom ratted him out. He would never have told me. Never. Like father like son, I despise both of them."

"It's the pain that is talking. I know my daughter is not capable of hating anyone."

"It seems like you don't know me at all then."

"Sleep, I will wake you when we get home."

True to her words she woke me up as soon as we arrived at the Windsor mansion. I was surprised to see grandpa was awake.

"Grandpa, what are you doing awake at this time?"

"I was waiting for my girls to come."

He was waiting for us, that means he also knew??

"You knew?"

"You look tired my dear, we will talk tomorrow."

I don't know what made me obey him. I hope no more family secrets emerge tomorrow because I don't know how I will handle all of this. There is only much one can handle.

~~~~

The weekend passed by slowly as I spent it with grandpa. It turns out that he knew about dad being alive. Something about his poor heart not handling his only son's death so they had to tell him. His words, not mine

I have not talked to Merrick ever since that DNA reading day, he didn't bother to text me, then why should I? I net he is celebrating getting rid of me so that he could be with Steph.

I get to start working at the company tomorrow. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, now I dread it. I was happy because I knew I had Merrick with me now, it's like I am back to zero. 

I don't need him anyway, I am Alina Windsor, so I will be fine. Grandpa tells me of the main things I need to keep in mind. 

Merrick will be dealing with transportation while I will be dealing with the wine production, workers in the vineyard and all that stuff.