The Wrong Identity

It was as if I was in slow motion as I walked down the stairs of Claire and Luca's home. Every step I took made my heart pound in a dwell of anxiety and nerves in the pit of my stomach

I made my way around the corner to enter the living room my fingers slightly trembling making me quickly shove them into the pocket of my hoodie.

"Aofie its lovely to see you again" Detective Lawrence said when she spotted me hovering outside the living room door.

"Mali why don't you get out some of your old colouring books from your room for Paige?" Luca says looking up and noticing Paige hiding behind my leg.

"Paige do you want to colour" Mali asks Paige after realising her mum wanted her to leave the three of us alone. 

Paige looks at me for permission which I respond with a reassuring smile, she nods hesitantly and takes Amalia's hand in hers before they move back to the staircase.

I move to sit down on the couch next to Claire so the Detective could reveal what we had been waiting for.. the results.

"As you probably know the results came in this morning" Detective Lawrence begins as she bends down to her brief case that was left on the floor next to her feet.

She pulls out a piece of paper which to my dismay was facing towards her so I wasn't able to have a look. 

"in the case of the maternity test between  Claire Walter and Aofie Hudson there is a 99.9998% chance of mother and child" Detective Lawrence reads out.

 And just like that my face went blank, my head was spinning although I knew this information the fact that it was true shattered my heart into a million pieces.

Claire moves her shaking hand to cover her mouth, I'm mildly aware that shes looking between Detective Lawrence and me but I couldn't care less. 

My throat felt like it was shrinking making it harder for me to breathe. I start internally panicking at the thought of not being able to breathe.

I sit up straight trying to calm myself down which doesn't work making me jump to my feet making both women stare at me.

I try to pace the room unable to breathe but my panic just increases, tears begin running down my cheeks as I begin to freak out.

"Claire she cant breathe!" Luca announces to Claire. If I wasn't almost dying I would feel bad for the guy, he had no idea what to do.

"Aofie you need to calm down darling" Claire tells me standing up trying to walk towards me. I put a hand in front of me indicating for her not to come any closer but she ignores my pathetic attempt and dodges my trembling arm.

"Aofie breathe your okay, your having a panic attack" Claire tells me as I begin to shake my head profusely and move away from her once again

in a few steps Claire was next to me and wrapped her arms around me. I try to shove her away but she doesn't let go and just holds me tighter. 

Although I hated hugs her embrace somehow relaxed me slightly. She began to sway us back and forth and I was then able to take a large gulp of air.

a couple of minutes later when Claire was sure I was calming down from the panic attack she released me from the hug.

"fucking hell" I mutter brushing my fingers through my hair out of nerves. Claire looks at me sympathetically and takes my hand, pulling me back to the couch where detective Lawrence was still sat and watching the scene unfold.

"Im sorry about my insensitivity about the situation but I need to ask you a question" Detective Lawrence tells me, I nod waiting for the question which seemed to hold so much importance.

"do you know who Paige's father is?" She asks me making me still slightly. Truth be told I did know who Paige's dad was. He was a horrible man who did horrible things although I didn't remember his name I did remember him and what he did.

"uh.. last I heard he was in prison" I tell them which technically isn't a lie he is but I wasn't going to tell them anything else in case it would backfire horribly. 

"okay well that answers my question" she sighed quickly writing down something on her notepad.

"Im still Aofie right?" I hesitantly ask as my insecurities begin to surface. Everything in my life had been a lie, my life had just been turned upside down and now I'm afraid I might even lose my name.

"Last night Claire and I were discussing this and we are happy to legally make your name Aofie Ivy Walter" Luca tells me placing a hand on my knee reassuringly. 

I nod slightly, although I was unhappy I was losing my last name at least I wouldn't legally be Ivy which would have been totally weird. 

"wait what about Paige?" I panic again at the prospect that my sister might not be able to stay with me.

"Aofie breathe, yesterday Luca and I spoke to Detective Lawrence and if the results were to come back how we all thought they were what would happen. The reason she asked you about Paige's dad is because if she has no living family that can take her in then we would be able to be granted full permanent custody of her" Claire tells me placing her hands on my shoulders trying to calm me down.

"thank you" I quietly speak, I knew that Luca nor Claire had any responsibilities to Paige and even now they are willing to keep Paige. 

"we were thinking to make school easier for Paige we would put the documents in to change her last name so she wouldn't feel any different in the family later on, well when she understands everything" Luca continues, I slightly nod understanding where they were coming from.

"Im going to need to speak to Claire and Luca a little more about whats going to happen next in legal matters so you can go back to your sister now" Detective Lawrence tells me. Without hesitation, I jump up from the couch and make my way up the stairs. 

before I open the door to the guest room I take out my phone from the back of my jean pocket, momentarily pausing to angrily wipe the tears that were running down my cheek without my permission.

I turn my phone on and move to open the text message from an unknown number. But in an instant, I already knew who it was. my mum.

Ask Luca about Samantha Ridge if you want answers

a shiver ran down my spine as I looked both ways down the corridor of the landing, it was as if she knew I had just found out