10. Our Little Secret

"What?!"

"You heard me right, I'm leaving"

"Are you crazy? Why?!"

"Because it's for everyone's common good, for me and for everyone else" Jamie slurred as she looked at her feet.

"That's what you think the best solution? Jamie, it'll just hurt everyone especially Chris"

"If hurting him is the best solution, I'll risk that"

"And risk your own happiness?" Jamie didn't manage to answer her. Sabrina walked a few steps before her and Jamie grabbed her arm. "Sabrina, I trust you. Please, don't tell anyone yet"

"I can keep your secret, if that's what truly gonna make you happy"

"But I've decided"

"Maybe, but truthfully, I really don't think so" Sabrina smiled a half-hearted one and wandered away.

On the other side of the hospital wing, Chris leaned his back before the plain, sultry seats of the divine chapel. He flipped and tossed a rusty coin against his trite fingers.

"I'm surprised you still have that. I thought you've already lost it" a recognizable voice echoed through the aisle.

"Of course not, I would never lose a precious thing as this is" Chris replied and he didn't bothered to look up. "It reminds me of dad…and you"

"Do you still remember its history?"

"Of course. I found this down the lake and so stubborn to want it, I almost drowned just to get it"

"Ah…yes and your father rescued you, your both childish. Those where the times" She laughed harmoniously.

"Yeah, Mom. Those where the times"

There was an abrupt silence after that and Bethina struggled to continue. "You always remember me of your dad, from the looks to the mannerisms but I must say your remind me of myself when I was your age; Headstrong know-it-all, stubborn, one who never listens and sort of pigheaded. Your grandpa almost kicked me out for marrying at an early age" She sighed and gazed through the altar.

"He always tells me that" Chris agreed. "Mom, what happened to us? We were happy once"

"I know, Son. It was because of…me and it took me years to admit it that I've got eaten up by my own personal demons. You know, when I saw Josephine in deep remorse. I told myself, I wouldn't want to feel that pain. I wouldn't want the chance to lose you and regret at the end" She paused and caressed Chris' face… "I'm sorry, Son" Bethina finished and hugged him tightly.

"Mom, those words are already enough. I've been waiting for them for quite a time now and…I'm sorry too" Chris ended with short sniffs.

"Just one last thing. One tip, Chris. Do what's right, not only for you but for everybody's sake. Let her go, it's the best thing to do" Chris had a blank face. Whether he agreed or not, it was hard to tell. It was dramatic as the 2 reconciled.

The days passed and Louie got better and better. Josephine stayed with them till Louie would get back to shape and Bethina—who refused to stay— paid reluctant visits from time to time while Chris and Jamie got more and more distant with each other.

"I'll do the dishes"

"No, I'll do it" Chris refused.

"Let me do it!"

"Please, Jamie. Just do something else, will you?!" As Louie got better; the 2 spent the days like this, cold and aloof. They never talked nor looked; they just spent the days like normal roommates or dorm mates.

One late evening while everyone was asleep, Jamie decided to pursue her escape-getaway plan. She made her mind to leave without any further notice and stop being a burden for everyone. She once again got her trolley from the cupboard, gathered her things and left a letter on the coffee table. It was dark that night and Jamie still didn't know where she'll stay for the mean time. All was important was to leave and never get back. Everywhere she looked, from the spacious living room to the tiny cupboards, had clear memories of that insane morning she landed to a country she never knew and met 2 opposite strangers. It was only like yesterday that turns of events happened to her in a very unpredictable way and now, she would seem to have to forget everything and pretend those times never existed. "It's for the best, Jamie. It's for the best" she sighed and took one last glimpse from the house's fine interior. Jamie decided to take the window and didn't bother to use the door because it would only produce a piercing shriek that'll wake everyone up. Jamie first dropped her bags and took a deep breath before letting go of the window edge. She jumped but then her jacket caught guard the lampshade's wire, resulting the lampshade and the computers' lines and plugs to fall with her and making a heavy noise. The lights opened and shouts from the house were heard: "What's that?!"… "What's with all the racket?"… "Where's Jamie?"… "Was it Jamie?"

"Ugh! Your dead meat!"Jamie muttered as she stumbled down.

"Jamie?!" Josephine called with a hint of shock.

They went inside and the rest interrogated her.

"What were you doing out there?!" Jamie didn't answer as she looked down her feet, she was all a mess.

"Why, Jamie?" Louie asked in a troubled tone, after reading her 'supposedly' runaway letter.

"I…I…did it because—"

"Because she wanted to leave, it's clearly what she wants. Don't you, Jamie? Runaway like a coward?!" Chris cut her off as he appeared from nowhere. His voice was stiff and his teethe gritted together.

"Chris—" Sabrina interrupted.

"No! Let her hear what she has to hear. Your leaving because your guilty you've been playing my feelings all along"

"Playing with your feelings?! Is that what you think?!"

"Yeah! You clearly don't care on what I feel, to make me wait and hung me up the ledge. I'm ready to fight for you even if it means I have to turn my back with my own family. All you have to do is tell me what you feel but it just appears you'll make me wait for years and make me look stupid for your 'yes' and I bet your happy, now that you've got what you want because you'll have the chance to part with my father's riches!"

"And this is what it's all about? Money?!"

"Of course that's what you wanted right? The fame and stardom, to be a successful Hollywood actress and it'll just be easy for you now that you're bringing my name. I think your hands are already itching for the fortune"

"You think that I'm a gold digger?! Well, let me tell you, Chris. If that's what you think your completely wrong. You simply don't know anything about me and you simply don't know me. I'm not doing this for myself and don't judge me from the way you think I' am" She faced Louie and added. "Sorry, Louie but I have to go"

"But, Jamie" Louie pleaded.

"Don't stop her. We don't need her" Chris scowled while Jamie turned her back, fighting her tears to speed down.

"I feel sorry, Chris. I feel sorry for you. I thought you where somebody else beyond that mask of yours but then again it only goes to show, I'm completely mistaken" She concluded as she walked out. Jamie brought her things and never looked back. She could feel everyone was very disappointed with her decision and they all tried to stop her but no one could change her mind.

It was nightfall and Jamie kept walking down the subway. She didn't know where she was but she heaved and pulled her trolley all the way through. Jamie was very tired to the point of collapsing. She paid her utmost saved money to the ticket booth and directly entered an empty compartment. Slowly, the train moved. She was headed to Orkshire and hoped to find a small compartment there.

"I never realized my life would be like this. I'm completely a mess. What would happen to me? My money can't help me survive probably, a week but still it isn't enough…I'll find a job. Yeah…find a job, shake it off, Jamie. At least for a moment you were happy. At least…" She trailed off and didn't realize she had fallen asleep. Jamie dreamt again. It was a scene from a meadow; full of flowers and a lot of sunshine. It was a happy sight then it rained heavily and dark clouds formed the sky. Jamie stumbled down and heard her name… "Jamie! Jamie! Jamie!" It was a voice of a woman. No, it wasn't Sabrina or Josephine and definitely not Mrs. Lockholm. Then, something sparkly caught her eyes.

She blinked. It was a speck of light.

No it wasn't light.

How strange.

She blinked again. Now, it was a pair of eyes from a familiar face and it startled her to wake up. "Mom?! How did you found me?! Your… here…your—"

"Shh…Mother's instincts, don't speak let me talk" Bethina and Josephine called me and they told me you ran away.

"But…you know them too?"

"Yes…I do"

"How?...Your…" Jamie baffled, she was really confused.

"Sweetie…it's my fault, I should've told you from the beginning"

"Told me what?"

"Your own origin"

"Yeah…tell me I really deserve to know it's driving me nuts"

"But let's get off the train first. What you've done is very irresponsible, Jamie. You know that, right?" Jamie nodded and answered "I'm sorry"

"Alright, come on"

The 2 got off the train before it moved to its next route. Then, they sat down an empty bench during the dusk of dawn.

"Sweetie, listen to me. What you'll gonna hear is truly gonna shock you. I'm very sorry I've kept these things from you all these years. I just thought it was best if you didn't know but I guess it's the right time" Jamie listened in silence as her mother took a deep breath before she started.

"20 years before, when I just started to work in a law firm it was when I met your father. I was so blinded by love and I didn't listen to your grand parents, to slow things down. Everything was weigh to fast, your dad and I took the short way.

"Eventually, I got pregnant but it turns out he was already married with someone else so like a complete jerk he left without any trace of where he went. I lied to you about the house, there was never a house and there was never any memory…I'm so sorry, honey"

"Mom, that's one big emotional blow but that's it, I can't do anything about it. But to think you never told me that" Jamie said. She was a little annoyed but she understood her mother's reasons.

"Chris' father was a total jerk! Like him"

"Chris? How did he get in the topic?"

"Yeah and I'm not surprised you already know him. His dad is the reason of all this! What? He can't accept obligations and he got you and Louie's mom pregnant! He's absurd!"

"Jamie, No! It's not Liam's fault"

"He's my father and he left you without you knowing where he was!"

"Wait! He's not your father!"

"What?!"

"Maxwell and Liam are 2 different persons! Your father is Maxwell Adams"

"I can't catch you there. I thought—"

"Let me explain… so when your father left me, I was totally desperate. I spent my days at a local pub looking a total wreck and that's when I met Liam he was an avid costumer there and indeed was a chick magnet but behind of that he's truly a great person. He preferred to give different names because he felt it was good to be somebody else rather than his own self. He kept us when your grand mother didn't welcome me back. I learned that he was married with Bethina and had a son but she welcomed us whole heartedly. Perhaps, Chris doesn't remembers but he thought we where house helpers" She laughed at the thought and continued.

"For Liam I was just not just a flavor of the month, we were family for him. Chris was 2 when you where born. A year after, it was shocking news that Liam got Josephine pregnant. Thankfully, Bethina was too magnanimous to welcome her with the growing family. As you where growing up, Liam decided to adopt you so he arranged everything and all we needed was the signatures for the papers and everything would be settled but then Liam died of heart attack. It was said that he was having a 'session' with his secretary when he died.

"After his death the lawyers informed us that he left his last will testament, only it wasn't yet finished. The only thing he left to the 3 of you was the house; actually it was intended for all of us that's why it was big and spacious with all those rooms. He left the riches and the business to Bethina and he left me and Josephine with…well, nothing. Then, the 3 of us decided to part ways and move along with our lives. We settled in with the 3 names Liam made and agreed not to tell the 3 of you and only tell when the right time comes. We moved to New Jersey, Josephine moved to Luxemburg and Bethina stayed in Manchester" Mary Liza finally ended and Jamie spoke.

"Okay, let me get this straight so my real father was named Maxwell Adams which you made me believe he was Liam Loake—who was eventually named Alexander Liam Caesar Lockholm—for me not to go finding my real dad?"

"Yes"

"So Louie and Chris is not anyhow related to me"

"No"

"Mom! And all this was kept secret for the 23 years of my entire life!"

"I'm sorry, Sweetheart but I told you…it was for the best" Jamie deeply thought for a moment and felt relived with the aftershock. "Whoa! I'm glad you survived Bethina"

"Why'd you say that?"

"Well…if you haven't notice, she's scary and why did she and Mrs. Davis told us we're related even if we're not?"

"Because Liam didn't told them you where not his daughter, I tried to tell them but they didn't listen. To tell you, I feel deep gratitude for Bethina. She welcomed us with open arms, no questions asked. Liam loved the 3 of us but it wouldn't match his love for his wife. He treated you like his own daughter that's why it isn't surprising they thought you were"

"Oh, Mom! What would I do without you!" Jamie replied with a big hug. It wasn't a question, it was indeed fact.

"I know. Now, you know everything, I would make me much happier if you'd go back to the house."

"But, Mom!"

"Listen, Jamie Lyn. I didn't raise you to runaway and be irresponsible like what you did. Your going back and to think for all those years I wanna see a reunion" She smiled.

"But I can't"

"You will and you must. Does that what your heart tells you? You know, I recognize those gestures of yours. Tell him what you feel it would be much better" There where no words to add. Jamie exactly knew what her mother meant so the 2 took a roundtrip and got back to the gates of the big, crafty house.

"I see him. Go" Mary Liza insisted.

Jamie saw Chris through the garage. He was cleaning his new toy, an Audi convertible. Jamie started to move her legs and proceeded to the garage door.

"I know it was my fault to run away like a total idiot and not thinking of my self and what others would feel, especially you. Shout at me, hit me, tease me, call me names, and make me feel what its like to be a loser. Do whatever you want but I know what I did wrong…" She said in one breath then she held for air and tried to continue but it's like Chris was no where to the word 'listen'.

Author's note: aww. Last 2 chapters are coming up…thanks for the continuous support from everyone that's there reading this unpredictable story of my 3 main characters…;)