Chapter 19 (Fathers Secret & Show and Tell pt.2)

***Laura’s POV***

Part of me feels like I wandered into a strange dream and can’t seem to find my way out; another part of me felt like things were starting to fall into place. At least some of the things that my father was telling me about.
What he had said next though for some reason filled me with rage, I wanted to get in my car and hunt down my “stepmom” no not mom at all, just Michelle from now on. I wanted to rip her face off. A lot of my interactions with Michelle made a lot more sense now, though she never did anything really bad to me, it just always felt like when she was around me that everything she did was forced.
*“So you believe that Michelle, your current wife was responsible for my real mother leaving?”
“I didn’t know it at the time I was first married, it wasn’t until after Adam was born that she said something that has made me wonder ever since.”
“I have also come to believe that Adam isn’t my biological son, she has been having a long-standing affair with Devin’s father. It is possible that she was never faithful to me at all, she only married me for status. She has always been unhappy that I do not make more money, she always wanted bigger and better.”
“In truth I have made a lot of money over the years, I have kept it hidden from Michelle though, it is safely hidden in a bank account that she knows nothing of; It is in your name. I do not keep any paperwork about it at home where she might find it.”
“I stayed with her because of both you and Adam, even though I suspect he isn’t mine, I raised him and think of him as such. When I found out about the affair that Devin was having; it was on the same night you had found them in bed together.”
“I had overheard a conversation between Michelle and Devin, talking about how Michelle was to keep you distracted at the house; so you wouldn’t know or suspect anything till after the marriage. Apparently, Devin thought that you might be getting suspicious and he didn’t want anything happening to disrupt the wedding.”
“I didn’t know that it was Adam that Devin was having the affair with; until after it all exploded when you found them together and took off.”
“I watched as Adam withdrew inside himself; how Michelle and Devin seem to more upset by you taking off, than what had happened to make you do so. It was then that I suspected that there was some sort of scheme going on between the two.”
“I hired a private investigator to find your location, I have known where you went and where you were the whole time, I have not told anyone about this, I do not know how Devin learned of your location, he probably used some of his hospital connections to track you down.”
“I waited for Michelle to go on one of her shopping trips, aka meeting Martin Thomas, I left a note saying that there was some trouble at work that I needed to take care of, and that I would be out for a couple of days. That takes us to right now, I decided that I was going to come see you and tell you everything that I knew, didn’t think I was walking into a hornets nest though.”*
I looked around the room; noticing that my friend Susan and Mr. Jenson were both staring at my father in a state of shock. They looked at each other with what looked like two people holding on to a secret. I had a feeling that tonight was just getting started and that my life was never going to be the same come the morning.
The room was silent as we all sipped out coffee, I was still trying to process everything my Father had told me, a lot of things fell into place now; I felt so stupid for not seeing in that moment.
I am not sure how but Mr. Jenson must of somehow sensed that I was feeling bad about myself because he came around and sat down on the couch next to me taking me into his arms. I didn’t even think about it, I just moved in closer to him letting his scent and warmth surround me.
I just sat there for a little while, my mind started to clear and my heart stopped beating so fast. I am not sure what is going on between the two of us; I decided though that I would give it a try at least. Somehow this didn’t feel like the same as when I was with Devin, this felt like home.
I felt my fathers eyes on me and I gave him a shrug, he smiled back at me. That was when Susan spoke up…
*“I know that you have just been handed a live grenade here; but I am afraid to tell you that there is more for you to know and it is going to get strange fast. If you want your father to stay that is ok, but it might be a shock for him as well.”
“It will not be a shock for me, I already know what you two are and of your world.”*
Everyone stared at my father in stunned silence, what struck me was his use of the word ‘what’ not who but what.
*“What do you mean Dad by what they are? Don’t you mean who?”
“No I meant what I said, I think it is perhaps best if Mr. Jenson and I switch places. I think you are going to need someone you know next to you; for what I think that these two are about to show you.”
“Please everyone call me Aiden, Mr. Jenson is for people who do not know me; nor do I care to know them.”*
He looked right at me when he said it, I knew that it was meant mostly for me, his eyes had a pleading look to them it was as if he needed me to call him by his name. I looked him right in the eyes and felt myself drift off into those blue embers.
*“Ok, Aiden.”*
It was no more than a whisper, but his whole face lit up into a bright smile as he closed his eyes; it was as if he was reveling in some sort of pleasure my whisper had given him. I am not sure why but the sight of him closing his like that gave me pleasure as well, straight to my core. I shook my head, what the hell is wrong with me?
I have been acting like a cat in heat every time I am around Aiden, he is going to think I am one of those brainless slut bunnies that hang around handsome rich men. I looked away from his intense gaze and look over at Susan who was coming around to face me.
*“Ok, I don’t know how any other way to go about this other than to just be direct and tell you, then show you. Promise me you are not going to do a freak out; that you will try to keep an open mind even though it is going to feel like you just bought a ticket for the crazy train.”*
I didn’t know what to say to that so I just nodded my ok, my father took my hand in his and that is when my life changed forever.
“*Alright then, you know me as Susan Whitmore your friend and fellow nurse, I am all those things and something else as well, I am a lion shifter or Werelion.”*
I looked at her and raised my eyebrow in uncertainty, I could tell she was telling the truth but at the same time I thought that perhaps she was joking in order to lighten the mood.
*“The only way for you to believe is for me to show you. Her name is Meridian she will not harm you so don’t be afraid. She may want you to scratch behind her ears, she is a shameless hussy when it comes to scratching.”*
One minute Sue was standing there; then she shimmered and before me was a really huge lioness, she just sat there staring at me. All of a sudden, I felt my fathers hand rubbing my back as I struggled to breathe.
The lioness walked up to me and nudged my hand with her big whiskered head, she was making a purring noise and her fur felt really soft under my fingers, I felt like I was in a dream as I scratched her behind her ears. She must have really liked it because her purring got louder as she tilted her head towards my hand.
Next thing I knew the Lioness shimmered once again and there with her head in my hands was my friend Sue. I stared at her in disbelief; I don’t know if it was from shock or something else, but for some reason I started to laugh. The look on her face was priceless.
I took a deep breath to steady myself, I don’t know what came over me but for some reason it was out of my mouth before I realized I spoke.
*“Does this mean I am going to have to stock up on tuna fish?”*
Susan looked at me as if appalled and then she burst out into laughter as well. When our laughter ended I felt a kind of release as the some of the tension left me. It made sense to me though I don’t know how.
It was then that I looked up at Aiden…
*“What are you then, I don’t think you’re a lion .”
“No I am not a lion my dove, I am the big bad wolf.”*