Chapter 20

"You know if not for Tyler that contacted me, I wouldn't be here!" Winter said banging her fists on the table

Harry's eyes widened

"You called her?" He shouted at Tyler "no wonder she knew where I live"

"I-i-i'm sorry" Tyler stuttered "I just.. "

"You just what?" Harry cut in "After everything she put me through, you had the nerve to call her. What was your fucking reason?"

"This is getting interesting" my mom said taking a sip of her wine

"I think its time he knows the truth" Tyler said to Winter

"You're right" Winter said "Harry I used to be Mr Watson's mistress"

"What?!!!!" Harry and I screamed

Oh I'm sorry. I went a bit too fast, didn't I? Let's go back

3 hours earlier

"Why are we here again?" Harry groaned from behind me

It was another Sunday. My dad was preaching on the altar while Harry complained about not wanting to come here.

Jeremy, my mom and I sat at the front row, Harry and Tyler sat behind us

"Sorry I'm late" I heard a voice say followed by a shuffling noise of trying to sit down . A woman sat in between Tyler and harry

"Hey Miss Styles" Tyler said.

"Wow Tyler you've grown so big!" She exclaimed

"I know. You're looking good"

"Thank you darling"

"This is awkward" Harry mumbled

Miss Styles? That's Harry's mom. I turned around to get a glimpse of her, I was in awe

She didn't even notice me staring at her as she chatted with Harry and Tyler. She was practically a female version of Harry. White porcelain skin, tattoos on her arm, pitch black long hair and a nose ring.

She looked so beautiful. It's hard to believe she was once an addict or still is.

"What are you looking at?" Jeremy asked me. I quickly faced front before my mom would notice.

"Nothing"

Harry hasn't spoken to me for a whole week since the whole Jeremy incident.

I can't say I blame him. I basically pushed him away but for all the right reasons.

I can't deny the fact that I miss him. In a weird way, my feelings for him increased this past week .

It made me realize how much I really like him. You know what they say "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". Hopefully, it's better this way.

"Let us pray for a safe journey home" my dad said

We all stood up and closed our eyes like we usually do.

"Uh stand up mom" Harry said to his mom

She giggled standing up

"You can't blame me. I haven't been to church in a minute"

Harry and Tyler chuckled. My heart clenched at the sound of Harry's laughter.

Did he not miss me at all?

After the church service, my mom greeted people as usual. I stood aside when Jeremy left with his mom.

I had nobody to talk to. I just stood there awkwardly waiting for my mom to finish so we could go home.

My mom gasped when she saw Harry's mother .

"Winter? Is that you?" My mom said

"In the flesh"

So that's her name; Winter. It suits her.

They hugged each other laughing cheerfully. I had a feeling they were very good friends before she and Harry left town.

"This is my daughter Amanda" my mom pointed at me

Winter looked at me

"Oh my goodness, she's gorgeous. Come over here love"

I walked up to her

"Good day ma'am" I greeted her

She engulfed me in a warm hug

"Why aren't we cute like this Harry?" Tyler asked "How come Amanda always gets the attention?"

"Now dear, don't be jealous of tour sister" Winter said "how are you dear?" She asked me

"Very well thank you" I responded

"Good manners to match your pretty face. You trained her well Tanisha"

Tanisha's my mom's name

"I try" my mom said flipping her hair dramatically "when did you get back in town?"

"A week ago. I'll soon leave anyway. I just wanted a change of environment for a short while"

"Why don't you come over for lunch today. Let's catch up. You and Harry of course"

"I would love to"

"Great. You can come over by 3"

"No problem. Thank you"

" I look forward to seeing you"

I look forward to seeing her too. My heart clenched again when Harry and Winter walked away. He didn't even spare me a glance, neither did he say hi.

We were all smiles until we were on our way home

"You did what?!" My dad shrieked as he drove

"I invited her for lunch" my mom shrugged "no big deal"

"I want nothing to do with her" he retorted

"How ironic"

I couldn't help but feel my father and Winter weren't on the best terms. Well, I have two hours to find out.

---

"Amanda! Harry and Winter are here!" My mom called from downstairs

"Coming!"

I adjusted my flair floral dress as I looked in the mirror. I sprayed some perfume then went downstairs.

Harry and Winter were already discussing with everyone including my dad. He didn't seem too pleased to see her by the look on his face.

"Good day Miss Styles. Good day Harry" I greeted

"Hi" Harry mumbled silently

"Hello dear" said Winter "you look lovely"

"Thank you ma'am. So do you"

"Thanks"

She really did look nice in her pink maxi dress. Her hair was packed up in a neat ponytail.

"These are for you" Winter said handing my mom a fruit basket

"Thank you so much" my mom replied with a smile

"Aw don't mention"

"Let's sit down shall we" my dad said

We made our way to the dining table where the food was already placed

My parents sat at both high ends of the table, Tyler and Winter sat opposite Harry and I

"Hello" I said to Harry. He sat beside me

"Hi" he replied dryly

Ouch! Can't he at least pretend to be nice to me. It made my heart clench in pain.

We ate in silence for a little while until my dad decided to speak up.

"So Winter, how's England?" He asked

"Boring and cold"

Not only does she look like Harry, she talks like him too.

"What do you do there for a living apart from drugs of course?"

"Excuse me?" Winter said

"John" my mom warned

"Oh boy" Harry muttered

"Five minutes into lunch yet its about to go down" Tyler mumbled

"I'm a hairdresser" said Winter "And just so you know, I'm clean"

"Is that so?" My dad continued "How do you manage with your son's criminal record? I mean you certainly couldn't control him while battling with your addiction"

"Um with all due respect sir" Harry said "I made mistakes, I agree but my mom has nothing to do with it. She tried her best"

Winter gave Harry a smile of gratitude. Even my mom seems pleased with the way Harry stood up to my father.

"She did her best?" My dad scoffed "Please, a real mother would have done everything to save her son"

"You have no right to question my parenting skills" Winter said

"You have no skills in that aspect" my dad's voice boomed "Instead you paid more attention to your drugs"

"John" Winter spoke "Did you invite me to your house to have lunch or to insult me and my son"

"I didn't invite you, my wife did"

"John that's enough" my mom scolded

"Watch your tone when you talk to me!" My dad warned her

"Or what?"

Or what dad? You're gonna hit her like you always do?

Harry's face was turning red with self restraint. His hands were shaking underneath the table.

"Calm down Harry" I said trying to soothe him

"Don't tell me what to do!" He snapped

"My addiction never seemed to bother you years ago when I was in your bed" Winter said "why are you tying to act all righteous? Or let me guess your children don't know"

Wait what?

"You know if not for Tyler that contacted me, I wouldn't be here!" Winter said banging her fists on the table

Harry's eyes widened

"You called her?" He asked Tyler "no wonder she knew where I live"

"I-i-i'm sorry" Tyler stuttered "I just.. "

"You just what?" Harry cut in "after everything she put me through, you had the nerve to call her. What was your fucking reason"

"This is getting interesting" my mom said taking a sip of her wine

"I think its time he knows the truth" Tyler said to Winter

You're right" Winter said "Harry I used to be Mr Watson's mistress"

"What?!" Harry and I screamed

My glass slipped from my hands. What did she just say?

"Shut up! All of you!" My dad screamed

"Dad, with your holier than thou attitude, you had a mistress?" I said in disbelief

"For Ten good years" my mom added "I never knew. I stumbled across an old diary of your father's. I read it and found out, I was more shocked when I found out she was the mother of Tyler's best friend. Harry was six at the time"

"Your mom got angry and confronted me" Winter said "like any wife would but I did that with your father cause he paid me enough money to buy drugs and take care of Harry and I. Your mom gave me a enough money for Harry and I to relocate"

Tyler sat there looking guilty as hell

"You knew about this, didn't you?" I asked him

"Yeah. I was looking for some documents for the company in dad's study and I found a diary. I decided to flip through it. That's how I knew"

"Same way I found out" my mom said

"I got Winter's number" Tyler continued "luckily she was still using it, I contacted her and got her to come down here so we could talk more. I wanted to know everything. I sent her money and she came"

"You couldn't talk to her on phone?" Said Harry "you had to make her come here?"

"Phone bills are expensive" Winter said "I couldn't afford to send anymore emails. That's not the only reason. I saw it as an opportunity to talk to him one on one. A man his age deserves to know about his father's past"

Tears fell out of my eyes slowly. I feel hurt. I feel betrayed. Winter saw I was crying.

"Honey I'm sorry you had to find out like this" she said to me "your mother was nice enough to keep in touch, to find out how we were doing"

"Is Harry my father's child?" I asked

"No. At first I thought he was but when Harry was born I ran a DNA test. He's my ex boyfriend's son dear"

"Harry I'm so sorry" Tyler said

"That's enough" my dad ordered

"No its not" I screamed "where is the so called Christianity you speak of? You had an affair with another woman. You committed adultery. That is a huge sin. Its in the freaking ten commandments. You're a hypocrite" I pointed my finger at him

"Amanda you have no right to speak to me this way"

"Yes I do. I've lost all respect for you"

"That's it. Get out of my house, both of you!"

"I was just leaving" Harry said standing up "Thank you for the invite Tanisha"

"Anytime love"

He stormed out of the house. Winter stood up as well

"Thank you for the invite Tanisha" Winter said "I hope I get to see you before I go back"

"You're welcome"

"John?"

"Yes?" My dad replied

Winter walked up to him and slapped him. It was so hard that the sound echoed through the walls.

"I should have done that eighteen years ago. "

My mom laughed. Tyler and I just sat there in shock

"Bye darlings" she said smiling at us

"Bye"

I waved to her as she left. There was only one thing on my mind.

I have to see Harry

*

I opened the door to Harry's apartment, I had been knocking repeatedly but there was no answer so I decided to try the door knob and luckily it opened.

The strong smell of smoke filled my nose. I coughed

Harry was lying on the floor face up, smoking

"What do you want?" He asked still looking up

"To see you"

"You've seen me now get out"

I sighed

"Where's your mom?"

"Don't know don't care"

He managed to get up losing his balance a little. His eyes were so red. I got scared looking at them.

"Why are you here?" He asked

"You left in such a bad state. I had to come see you"

He laughed dryly

"What's funny?" I asked

"You"

"How?"

"Why do you care? I thought you didn't want me"

"Harry its complicated. I really do like you"

"Why? What do you see in me? I'm a fucking mess. Just take a good look at me!"

I walked closer to him and placed a hand on his cheek

"What i see is a good person"

He shook his head

"No. I can destroy you. You don't know what I'm capable of"

"Then destroy me Harry. I only care about you"

"No one ever cares. Even my mom hates me"

"I care about you"

He looked so vulnerable. His eyes were full of pain, hurt and longing

I saw a crushed boy, a boy who just wants to be loved

"Stay with me please" he whispered

"Of course"