Chapter 5

Morning had broken as the sunlight beamed on Emma’s face through her window. She rubbed her eyes and sat up taking in the surroundings where she was. Mark must have carried her here. Yawning, she threw the bed covers off her and made her way over to the wardrobe where it contained her clothes. There she opened it deciding which outfit she was going to wear. She wanted to visit Shay but doubted it if he would notice her since the whole family was there.

She tied her long hair up and decided to wear her favourite blue tracksuit that she had gotten from Kian for her birthday last year. She had always wanted one. As you could imagine, she was pleased when she received it. She quickly got her white trainers on and walked out to the bathroom to brush her teeth. Mark was still sleeping on the couch so Emma tried to be quiet as a mouse. She quickly wrote a note telling Mark where she was and made her way to the hospital.

“Oh mother! Let him do it himself. He’s a grown man not a baby.”

Shay looked up to see his little sister and smiled brightly. Ah, she was always there when he needed her. He sent her pleading look o help him. She got the message and walked over to him saying she would help him walk. The siblings both rolled their eyes as their mother told them to be careful. They were too alike each other at times.

Soon as they were out of their family’s sight, Emma let go of Shay and let him walk by himself but she was close enough to support him in case he needed it. Shane was relieved. At last, someone knew what he needed! As they approached a bench 10 minutes later, Shane motioned his sister to sit – she did. He sat beside her and took a good look at her. She had indeed changed – she had her ears pierced twice and had her belly button pierced recently. Good lord! What next? A tattoo?

It was then, Emma dropped a bombshell to why she lived on her own in a flat. He was a uncle to her daughter. Amber-Lei. She wouldn’t tell him who the father was. Their parents had kicked Emma out when she had told them she was pregnant. And that was almost 4 years ago.

The reason why Mark didn’t see amber last night – it was because she was staying at Emma’s friend’s house. Shane suspected who the father was but didn’t say anything, he asked her what his little niece looked like so Emma fished out a photo of her little girl out of her wallet.

Shane looked at the picture where Emma was laughing at something. In her lap was a pretty looking girl who had long dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was laughing since Emma had ice cream on her nose. Amber had splattered her ice cream onto her mother’s nose. Shane had tears in his eyes – they were so cute in this picture. He asked her why she didn’t contact him earlier. She simply said she didn’t know how or rather where Shane was. She figured her way was better. That was when he asked if Mark was the father. He was only met with silence as Emma didn’t say anything as she took back the photo. Shay took her answer as yes. His only thought appeared as he watched Emma finger the picture.

(Mark you eejit. I’m gonna kill you, look at what you done to my baby sister.)

Shay suddenly had a urge to ask Emma another question. After a minute or so of silence, Emma agreed. He watched as Emma left – he was going to meet his niece.