Reasons To Smile
Chapter 14
Reason#14: When you finally learn the truth...
RECAP:
Brian blinked and stared at his hand then at his frightened daughter. Cher was frozen, she was glaring at her father but her eyes were filled with fear.
"Cher I'm so sorry" he said, a lump in his throat.
Cher shook her head and took a few steps backwards.
"I don't know who you are anymore" Cher said softly, fear laced her words. She turned around and ran out of the door
Brian held his head in his hands as he uneasily sat down at the chair. His shoulders began to shake and the four boys heard occasionally sobs being emitted from him. The four looked at eachother. Paul diverted his gaze to the door from which Cher had exited. John stared at his shoes. George crossed his arms, a little angry and a little confused by the sudden commotion. Ringo stared at Brian and then quietly made his way to him, pulling up a seat next to his.
Ringo patted Brian's shoulder awkwardly, "There there" he comforted the older man.
Brian nodded slightly and wiped at his glassy eyes with a handkerchief Paul had extracted and shoved towards him. He looked up at them, suddenly looking ten years older and more exhausted than they had ever seen him before.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that" Brian told them in an embarrassed tone as he composed himself, taking a deep breath and blinking rapidly to stop any more tears.
"Yer the one who wouldn't let us leave" John muttered and Paul elbowed him to be quiet, now wasnt the time for Johns wisecracks.
George sat down next to Brian on his other side, and looked him in the eyes, "Who were you two talking about?" He asked carefully choosing his words, as not to further upset his manager.
"W-what?" Brian stuttered, staring at George in a guilty and perplexed manner.
"Cher kept mentioning a boy" Paul added, "Liam was it?" he asked thoughtfully, trying to recall the short but destructive argument that only took place moments ago.
Brian's shoulders slumped, "Boys it's been a long day—" he started to say, shaking his head.
"Eppy you made us sit through that" John snapped in his usual blunt way, "We have a right to know. Why was Cher so upset?" He demanded, placing his hands on his hips with authority.
Brian sighed and took his wallet out from his pocket. He opened it and began poking through it.
"We're not going to be bribed to 'forget' about this" George told him sharply in a semi disgusted voice.
Brian shook his head and pulled a photograph from his wallet. He unfolded it and passed it to John.
Paul, Ringo and George looked over Johns shoulders. The photograph was of Eppy; a younger version of him. He was sitting next to a glamorous looking lady, she had dark eyes and dark hair. Next to Brian was a young girl. She was smirking at the camera in a cheeky way. Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders and her dark eyes were bright and glittering. Next to the woman was a boy, he looked older than the girl but not by much. His hair matched the girls but was falling over his light coloured eyes, he was smiling at the camera polietly.
"That's me" Brian told them before they could ask, "Cher's sitting next to me" he went on.
"That's Cher?" Paul cut in staring at the smiley little girl in the photograph, "b-but she looks so happy" he added incredously.
"She is happy" Brian replied then added, "Just not so much anymore" he sighed a troubled sigh.
"Next to me is my now-divorced wife Elizabeth" Brian told them as they gazed at the glamorous woman, she looked like just the lady Brian would associate with, "Next to her is my son" Brian went on, his voice quaking at the last word he uttered.
"You have a son?" Ringo asked in confusion, he squinted at the picture. The boy did look like Brian and had his fathers blue eyes. He also had Cher's and Lily's dark hair. But Brian had never mentioned a son. Nor did he mention a daughter but soon they did end up learning about Cher. Neither she nor her father mentioned any sons.
"Had"
It clicked.
This was one of the first chapters i wrote, but I took ages uploading it since I was scared it wasn't good enough, this chapter is the turning point for my story and I was worried it would be vague and simply rubbish but I gathered my courage and posted it. Sincerely hope this was a good chapter and that I haven't disappointed anyone. And that the build-up wasn't abrupt but well structured. Leave me a review, telling me what you think, I'd LOVE to heard your views, any criticism will be highly appreciated. Since this chapters short, I'll bring out the next later this week.
TheDreamer: Im going to be giving my GCSE exams soon so I'm busy studying all day and all of the night, hence the late updates. Where did you go tho, I was worried something had happened to you. Hope you are well x