Tangled Love

An hour later, I'm settled in Gran's old pyjama's with a warm hot chocolate in my hand. A blanket is draped over my knees, providing me warmth. I've showered, removing last night's makeup. My hair is clean and drying naturally, falling down past my shoulders.

"Are you sure you don't mind me wearing Nana's pyjama's?" I ask him, looking up at Pops as he enters the room. He shakes his head at me, placing a small plate of pie in my lap. The delicious smell instantly wafts towards me and my stomach grumbles loudly causing Grandad to chuckle —

"Of course I don't mind Elly, you remind me so much of her," he says sadly, his eyes full of love as he speaks of Nana. I swallow the lump in my throat, remembering the news that she'd died a few years ago. Trevor wouldn't let me go to her funeral and I cried for days, locking myself in my room. I'll never ever forgive him for forbidding me to say goodbye.

"I miss Nana so much," I mumble, settling further into the couch.

"She missed you too, once your father died we never really saw much of you. . . "

"My father dying changed lots of things," I mumble, averting my eyes away from him. Moments of silence pass and when I look back up at Pops, his eyes glisten with tears.

"You know now that he wasn't your biological father?"

pain still clear in my chest. "He'll always be my father," I whisper quietly. Pops places a hand on my knee,

man and absolutely adored you. His little princess, that's what he called you."

at him before a thought crossed my

I ask and Pops looks away sadly,

I have no

to keep up. I look away, feeling hurt that I was kept in the dark from all this. I'm the one who it would effect the most yet no-one told me. As if Pops

your real father wasn't someone suitable to be in your life. You were such a delicate little thing and he was a nasty piece of work. That's why we didn't

words, understanding where he's coming from. Jones isn't exactly the type of father who would tuck you into bed at night and read you silly animal

over my stomach and I silence, debating on whether I should tell Pops what happened. They'd kept me in the dark over so many things and now here I am, doing the same.

tell your grandad your real father shot you and put you

that's exactly why I decide to keep quiet about it, I don't want to hurt

Elly?" He asks me quietly and I inhale a deep breath, knowing he would ask this