20
1492 Words
– Lisa Red –
That morning, I woke up, completed whatever work needed completion, with my laptop, then went to get Imogen ready for a visit to the zoo.
She was very excited, especially when Rachel called to ask if she and Rick could tag along.
Apparently, with Richard in New York, Rick would be spending father's day without his father. She didn't like that, so the four of us went to the zoo together.
The day was going well until Imogen started to insist on wanting to see a lion.
She wanted to pet one so badly that when I refused, she got all cranky and started to throw a tantrum that led to me bumping into a guy as I tried to stop her. His cup of juice spilled all over my shirt.
“Seriously?” I groaned at the stain.
“I'm so sorry.” He apologized.
“It was my fault, but thanks either way.” I tried to feign a smile as he walked away, then I sighed, turning to Rachel.
“I'll go see if I can get this cleaned. Stay here with the kids, okay?”
“Of course.”
It was just one request.
One simple request. So tell me why on earth I returned to a panicking Rachel, and my daughter missing.
“I-I just used my phone for a second, and when I turned back, she was nowhere to be found!”
“Wha-What?” I shook my head. This has better be some kind of prank, but the lack of color in her skin proved otherwise.
“What the hell?! Where's she?!”
I rushed past her, heart starting to race. “You were supposed to watch her! Imogen! Imogen!!”
“I— She—” drew in a deep breath, “Rick mentioned something about her escaping to see a lion.”
“Oh, shit.” I didn't even wait a second, before scurrying off, letting the directions lead me to where the lions were.
“She's not here.” Rachel breathed out, Rick held tightly in hand.
My body was starting to tremble, heart slamming hard. “Of course she's not. She's just five for crying out loud!”
I rushed over to one of the security men. “I'm looking for my daughter. She's five, a-and she's wearing a blue gown. She-She was supposed to be with me, I don't know… Oh God.”
“Please calm down, ma'am.” He said. “What's her name? I'll help announce it so if anyone sees her, they can help you bring her over.”
Tears were running down my cheeks now as I nodded. “Imogen. Her name is Imogen—”
“Lisa,” Rachel tapped me quickly, “isn't that her?”
“What?” My head snapped in the direction, and truly, there Imogen was.
A wave of relief rushed through me, followed by even more tears.
I didn't wait a second more, before running towards her, Rachel following behind.
“Imogen!” I called, and she stared at me, her face wet from crying.
My arms wrapped around her, grabbing her.
“Mummy!”
I squeezed her to me, body still trembling. My breath was coming in short gasps. “Oh God,” I muttered under my breath, “thank you, Lord.”
She was alright.
Nothing could make me more relieved than that.
Just when I thought I could be happy again, a familiar voice came through, “Wait, what's going on?”
Why do I know that voice?
Slowly, my head raised, and I had to hold back rubbing my temples.
Drex.
Drex!
He stared from me to Imogen, then back to her, before his eyes grew.
Drex took a step back, then another shocked one followed. “Lisa…?”
No.
Shit, no! No!
“Oh thank God, you're alright,” Rachel said from beside me, then she frowned, “what's wrong, you don't look… Oh. No.”
He stared at Imogen again, then ran a hand through his hair. “I should've known. Heck, I knew it! I felt it!”
For a second, I was speechless. My lips parted, but no words would form.
Drex couldn't know about Imogen.
No, I couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk my child getting involved in that family.
With Cassie, and Trish, and every other member… I just wasn't going to put her in that situation.
At least till she was old enough to handle it.
So I had to draw in a breath to calm myself, then try again. “What were you doing with her?”
He shook his head. “Not today. Today… I'll do the questioning.”
“I don't owe you any answers.” I tried to keep my voice calm.
“Then tell me why the hell you have a child. Clearly not older or younger than five.” His shoulders were tense, but he kept his voice low.
“That is…” my body was starting to betray me. There was nothing I could say that wouldn't be an obvious lie.
“Imogen is…”
“...my daughter.” Rachel said, stepping forward to take Imogen from me.
He frowned like he just noticed her. “Who are you?”
“Rachel Red. I was the bridesmaid at your wedding.” She introduced, her voice too composed for someone who was about to dive into a big lie.
“You're Trish's daughter.”
She visibly cringed. “Well, thank you for finding ‘my’ daughter, she has a habit of running off when one looks away.”
Drex's frown only deepened. “She's your child?” He looked at Rick. “And him too?”
“Why? I don't look like someone who's had two children?”
At that moment, I didn't think I could love Rachel any more than I did.
Imogen was staring in clear confusion, but I was more than glad that she said nothing and just watched us.
Drex, on the other hand, had confusion written all over him. When he turned to me, I ensured to keep an expressionless face.
“What? You thought I had a child or something?” I asked like it was the most insane thing.
“This doesn't make sense.” He shook his head. “She called you ‘mummy’. I know what I heard.”
“Or maybe what you want to hear.”
His jaw tightened. “I'm not stupid, Lisa. I know what I heard.”
“Whoa whoa, this isn't that serious,” Rachel interjected, “Imogen was calling me ‘mummy’, not Lisa. You just thought that because Lisa held her first.
“We were both very worried, and it all happened so fast for you to understand.” The lie just rolled off her tongue.
Before he could speak, I said, “I don’t care why you’re here. But since you helped my niece, I’ll pretend this conversation never happened.
“You should too.” I took Rick's hand, while Rachel set Imogen down and held her hand.
“Thanks again.” She said, then the four of us walked away.
It wasn't until we were far from him that I allowed myself to release a breath I hadn't even been aware of holding.
“Oh gosh,” I turned to Rachel, “that was… Thank you. So much.”
“I figured your back had touched the wall, so I knew I needed to come to your rescue.”
“I have no idea what I would have done if you didn't say anything.”
“Probably have made up something dumb that had won't have bought.”
Exactly what would have happened.
“Mummy, aunt Rachel,” Imogen stared up at the two of us, “why did you lie?”
I had to suck in a breath. Now, to handle this.
“Uhm, it was… It was needed.” I said, unsure if that was the right thing to say.
“But you said lying is bad.”
“Yes, I know. I did, and it's still bad.”
“But you lied now. Does that make you a bad person?” She sounded truly curious, and I had to turn to Rachel for help, but she just shrugged.
“I've done enough helping for today, you have to handle this yourself.”
My lips pressed to a thin line, before I managed a smile to Imogen. “Lying is bad, but sometimes it's necessary. Especially for situations like this.”
She looked thoughtful, then nodded, moving to stand beside Rick. “I think your mummy and my mummy lied to that man because he's my daddy.”
What?
My eyes widened, and I turned to Rachel who looked just as surprised.
How could a five year old figure that out? Gosh, this is definitely not good.
- Writer
