All of Me (Sebastian Vettel)

4. Confrontation

Sienna decided to cancel her lunch with her friends.   Nothing was more important than spending time with her brother.   She was so happy that he was back in her life but she still felt incomplete.  There was still someone missing.  Where was her baby sister?  Was she ok?  She needed to know. 

She left Joel playing Just Dance with the girls. They'd taken to him straight away and he was great with them.  She joined Seb at the kitchen table. 

"We have to find her Seb."

Seb reached across the table and took her hand.

"We will Sienna. It will be different this time.  We know her surname.   We were looking for someone who no longer existed."

"The detective should still have found them!  So many wasted years.  If I'd have been around maybe she wouldn't have thrown her life away on that wretched piece of shit."  She wiped the tears off of her face. 

"Sienna, it's not your fault.  If it's anyone's fault, it's your Grandad's."

"Why would he do this to me? To them?"

"Only he knows that."

"I'll never forgive him."

Seb stayed quiet for a moment.  He knew Sienna was justified feeling that way.  He just didn't know what to say.  

"I'll be on the phone to my lawyer after lunch, instruct them to contact a detective agency on our behalf.  A different one to before.  I want to set the ball rolling as soon as possible.  I promise you Sienna, I will not rest until Alyssa is back where she belongs.  With her family."

Sienna smiled weakly. She knew he meant it. If Alyssa was still out there, they'd find her.

***

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Joel asked Sienna as she got out of her car which she'd parked behind his.

"Damn right I do. I've lost years with you and Alyssa because of him. I want to look him in the eye and ask him why.

Joel nodded and began walking up the concrete path, through the garden and up to the front door of the modest bungalow where Bob Harper now lived. He'd moved to Bicester to be closer to Joel who'd moved there to live closer to Thorne when he'd worked for them.

He pushed the door handle down and entered. Sienna followed him nervously.

"Is that you Joel? How was Spain? Must be very different working in Formula 1. Have you had your tea? I've got some stew on the stove if you want some."

Joel gestured to Sienna to stay in the hallway. He entered the lounge.

"No thank you Grandad. I'm not here to eat."

The old man looked at him.

"What's up then boy?"

"I saw Seb."

"I expect you did. You work on his car right?"

"He recognised me." Bob froze in his chair. His face drained of colour.  "Anything you want to tell me Grandad?"

Bob shook his head a little too quickly, guilt written all over his face. 

"It seems that you never did contact Sienna and Seb after Dad died.  Yet you told me and Alyssa that you did, and that Sienna didn't want to know us."

"He told you that? Huh.  Perhaps Sienna never told him."

"Cut the crap Grandad," Joel snapped, raising his voice.  "I've been with Sienna all day.  You never contacted her! And yes, I do believe her.  I want to know why you lied.  In fact, so does Sienna.  Sisi come in."

Bob's jaw dropped open as he saw his long lost granddaughter enter the room.  

"Sienna!"

"Grandad.  Why did you lie? We want answers."

Bob spluttered, trying to get his words out. 

"The truth Grandad or I'll walk out of here and you'll never see me again," threatened Joel. 

What happened next shocked both Joel and Sienna. Bob hung his head low and began sobbing. 

"I am so sorry.  Please forgive me."

"But why Grandad, I don't understand," Joel stammered.  He'd never ever seen his grandad cry.  Not even when his dad had died.

"Because I didn't want them to take Alyssa away from me! I'd lost my son, I lost you when you went to uni. Alyssa was all I had.  She was my angel, I couldn't face life without her."

"So you lied, made us think we were worthless!  You know what? I'm done Grandad.   If you'd have contacted Sienna our lives would have been so much better. I wouldn't have drank, or took drugs. Alyssa wouldn't have met Dean and she would still be with her family."

The old man sobbed harder.  Sienna began to feel a spark of sympathy for him. He looked so frail and helpless.  He wasn't evil. He was just a scared old man. 

She crouched down in front of him and placed her hand on his arm.  "I would never have taken her away. I'd have looked after you too.  You're my family."

Joel started pacing up and down the room, running his fingers through his hair. 

"Sienna, let's just go.  He doesn't deserve your sympathy."

"Joel, please.  Give me a minute." Joel sighed and sat down in the armchair.  "Joel's right to be angry.  I'm angry, but I've spent too many years away from my family and I still don't know if I'll ever see my sister again.  I don't want to lose you now I've finally found you.  But you have to accept that what you did was wrong.  Very wrong."

"I've spent every day since regretting it Sienna. I was just in a bad place.  Your dad was my only child.  I had to see him grow sicker and sicker until he died. I'd already lost my wife.   Joel had already gone to Uni.  That girl was all I had left Sienna.  I thought you and Seb would take her off to live in Switzerland and I'd never see her again.  I wasn't thinking clearly.  I knew it was wrong but the longer I left it the harder it was to tell the truth.  And  now I've lost her anyway.  And I'm going to lose Joel, and I lost you ages ago.  It's what I deserve." 

Sienna sat on the sofa next to him and put her arm around him.  "You haven't lost me Grandad.  I'm angry yes, but life is too short.  I always thought I'd see Dad again.  I won't get that chance.  But I have a chance to get to know you.  That's if you want that.  You have two great granddaughters.  One day soon you can come and visit.  I'll pick you up."

"It's more than I deserve.  You're a good girl Sienna.  I should have trusted you."   He looked at Joel who was sat in the chair with a face like thunder.  "Joel. I'm so sorry.  Please forgive me.  I love you boy.  I always have and always will.  I'm just a stupid old man who made a mistake."

" A mistake that may have cost me my sister!"  He stood up.  "I'm sorry.  Sienna may be soft enough to forgive you but I can't.  Not yet.  I need time."

He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.  Bob's sobs grew in intensity.  Sienna held him close.  "It's ok Grandad.  He'll come around.  Once he's had time to calm down he'll be back."

"He's right though.  It's my fault Alyssa's gone.  If I'd let you take her..."

"What's done is done.  What's important is where we go from here.   We're going to find Alyssa Grandad.  We're going to find her and bring her back where she belongs."

She spoke confidently but inside she wasn't so sure.  Even if they found Alyssa would she even want to come back?  All Sienna knew for sure was she wanted to see her baby sister more than anything.