"Well, welcome home Mackenzie!" Jay says suggestively, leaning on the doorframe.
"Why the fuck are you in my house?" I whisper, bile rising in my throat. How long has he been here. Are the kids here too? Are they safe? Oh my God!!
I vomit on the doorstep!!
"How nice to see you still have such a strong reaction to seeing me. What a shame it isn't the reaction you used to have when we were together. If I remember correctly you had quite the opposite reaction usually" he smirks
I push past him, propelled forward by fear and a primal instinct to protect my babies! I am panicked, heart pounding, head swimming. My head is whirling from side to side as I hunt the rooms downstairs for them. I have lost focus, my vision severely impaired by the terror I feel. I begin screaming their names. "SHAY!!!? BO!!? I'm home.... KIDS! Where are you?" I continue calling as I reach the staircase and race up them two steps at a time. I rush down the hall, stumbling as I go, partly due to my hysteria, partly because of the uneven 500 year old floorboards. I reach Shays bedroom door and reach for the handle, just as it swings open to reveal the most wondrous sight!
There, clothed in only a pair of pyjama trousers, hair falling onto his face and sleepily rubbing his hands over his eyes is my beautiful firstborn!
"Woah! Mum! You're home!!" he declares excitedly, pulling me into a tight bear hug. I cry out and he immediately releases me, his face registering alarm!
"What's wrong? Are you ok mum?" he questions, fear in his voice now.
"Oh... yes baby, I'm ok, just some aches from being sat stiffly for 15 odd hours. Over-reaction! I'm tired, that's all" I pacify, pulling him back into a slightly more gentle hug. At this point Bo opens her door and our eyes lock.
She bursts into tears and rushes toward me, one arm outstretched, the other held up to her mouth, a habit she acquired after having her braces fitted 3 years ago. It is adorable, and totally unnecessary, she is stunningly beautiful, but doesn't see it!
She joins our hug and I begin to cry too, partly due to relief, partly due to exhaustion and fear. As if reading my mind Shay says "Mum, we're fine! Are you worried because Mr Jeon is here? Don't worry, he was sent by Yoongi a couple of days ago to keep an eye on us. He's actually a really good guy, I like him!" he says with a smile.
My heart feels as if it's been encased in ice. If only they knew who he was, but seeing them both ok calms me somewhat.
"He is actually mum" Bo announces, and I can't help but notice that she just agreed with her brother. That never happens! It makes me smile.
"Mr Jeon eh?! How nice of Yoongi. I wish he had told me that he was going to do that though, it would have saved me that shock, and I wouldn't have woken you both so early with my yelling" I tell them, trying to cover my fear. What is Jay here for?
"Go back to sleep guys, we'll catch up later. I need to sleep a little too, ok? I love you both so much and have really missed you" I kiss both of them on the forehead as they both nod back at me and return to their rooms.
I place my palm on the wall to steady myself, my weakened legs beginning to regain some strength, my breathing slowing, the bile in my throat remaining however.
I take a long deep breath and turn back toward the stairway to go and confront 'Mr Jeon'!
I find him in my kitchen, back to me, opening cupboards and removing mugs. The kettle is boiling and it appears he is making tea. What the fuck!? How dare he come to my home after 18 years and treat it like his own! I'm livid. I'm also petrified.
"Mr Jeon!!?" I scoff at his back.
He turns his head and looks at me over his shoulder whilst closing the cupboard and smirks.
"It suits me, yes!? I feel like James Bond. A spy. Using an alias.... so exciting!" he enthuses.
"Sit Mackenzie, please" he gestures his hand to my dining table, indicating I take a seat.
'Oh no you don't, fucker' I think....
"Go fuck yourself Jay! This is MY house! All mine!" I growl, demonstrating my possession with emphatic downward pointing gestures. "Dont you dare tell me what to do in my own home! Infact..... NEVER try and tell me what to do ANYWHERE! I've had it with being told what to do, what to say, what to wear.... when to eat, how to dress!!"
I pause and inhale deeply, calming a little. "You abandoned us Jay!!! You left Shay and me" I whisper
"How could you do that? You never even knew about your daughter, you left us before I even knew I was pregnant. How could you leave your son? Oh wait..... You already denied the existence of your other son to get in my knickers!" I spit
Jay laughs lightly through his nose. The sound transporting me back 20 years, to a time when I thought I was in love. Back to when I thought it was cute. Now I just want to rip his nose from his face!
The laugh is brief, swiftly replaced with silence.
"My, my Mackenzie, how you have grown! Still stunningly beautiful.... more so infact, but far more spirited. I like this new you very much!"
He places 2 cups of tea on the table and pulls out a chair, looking from it to my face and back again. He walks the 2 or 3 steps to the other side of the table and takes a gun from a holster on his waistband. I hadn't even noticed that. He places the gun on the table infront of himself, deliberately rotating the firearm so the barrel is pointed in my direction. He again indicates I take a seat. I don't refuse.
"A wise decision Mackenzie" he murmurs.