I look at Ethan who is smiling behind Ryan and back to Travis and smile as I pick up the letter and look at it.
“Is there anything you want to discuss from it? Or any questions about what you have learnt today?” Travis asks as he stands, probably getting uncomfortable from sitting on the hard floor.
“There are, but.” I look up from the letter and know if there was ever a time to ask him for something, it’s now. “But I think only my auntie can give me the right answers. Would you take me, please?”
Travis holds out his hand and helps me to my feet.
“I will take you anywhere you want to go, sweetheart. All you have to do is ask.”
“Merry Christmas, hope you had a good one,” Kylie smiles at me as I sign the visitor's book. Usually I put a different name, but today I use my own, hoping my aunties Doctor knows I’ve been. I still need to decide on what I’m going to do about that, but I do know that my auntie will be out of here as soon as possible.
“Merry Christmas. It’s been okay, thanks. How’s Trish today?”
“She’s great; she’s waiting in her room for you this time.”
I thank her as Travis takes my hand, and I lead him through the home, saying hi to people as we pass.
Now we are here; I feel more nervous than I did whilst I rushed around getting showered and dressed in record time.
“What do you think she knows?” I ask as we walk down the corridor towards her room.
“To be honest other than your possible father’s names I don’t think there is much else she can tell you that we aren’t already aware off.”
I look to him with an arched brow and a smile tugs at one side of his mouth.
“Okay, so that’s quite a big thing, and we are constantly learning more information by the day.” Travis starts as we stop in front of the door with my aunt's name on. “But whatever it is, we will face it as a family.” He leans in and presses a kiss to my lips. “I’m right here, Sweetheart.”
“I know,” I smile before taking a deep breath and opening the door.
When I walk in I see my Auntie standing in front of her window looking out of it, in a daze.
“Auntie Trish?” I whisper cautiously, knowing better than to startle her. When she turns around her eyes fall on Travis and a smile spreads across her face.
“Jellybean, you’ve been keeping the best till last. He’s one hunk of a man.”
Travis laugh barks beside me as my jaw drops open.
“My brother said I would like you,” Travis smirks as he holds out a hand. “It’s good to finally meet you, ma’am.”
As she did with the Ryan she knocks his hand away and pulls him into a hug.
“You can call me Auntie Trish,” she winks as she stands back. “Jellybean, are you going to introduce us properly?” she asks, hugging me.
“Auntie Trish, this is Travis Donavon.” I look up at him for a moment and smile. “He’s my daddy.”
Travis’s smile turns into a proud grin as he tugs me to him and kisses me hard on the lips.
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh, you lucky thing, I always wanted a daddy.” The smile slips from her face slightly. “Henry won’t be too happy.”
“He’s dead.” The words are out of my mouth before I have a chance to think them through. My Auntie looks at me shocked for a moment before stepping back and sitting on the edge of her bed.
“When?”
“A few days ago.” I take a deep breath. I walk over to the bed and sit beside her. “He upset the wrong people, and they say he had a heart attack whilst he was … under their care,” I explain as I try to think of describe it.
“I’m so sorry, my sweet girl.”