The Footsteps to Freedom

Chapter 5

“Alice, you got a letter in the mail today,” Mr. Kinsley said as he sorted through them.

Alice, who was doing the dishes, quickly finished them and took her letter. She excused herself, and went up to her room to read it.

Dear Al,

What a lovely surprise it was for me to find a letter for me in the mail three days ago! I certainly wasn’t expecting it, but your idea is fabulous. You are so creative! Remember that time when you and Jess had to do a project for school, and you wrote a play? Jess fell in love with it and forced me to play the monster who destroyed the town, remember? It was the most creative play I ever took part in, and that’s saying something. Keep your creativity blooming and keep surprising me with them. There is nothing I like more than a surprise, especially from you!

Forever love,

Thomas Byrne

P.S. I had to ask Jess what would be a convenient ending to this letter! I was just going to write sincerely, but Jess whacked me on the head and told me to change it! She also made me rewrite the letter maybe three times until the handwriting was finally legible (her words, not mine!).

Alice smiled at the letter and held it to her heart. She remembered the play all right, and was glad he enjoyed working on it with her. She could just imagine him sitting there, writing this letter. Just then, there was a knock at her door. Haley poked her head inside. “Did you see what your boyfriend left you?”

She opened the door and revealed a bouquet of flowers. Alice smiled and took it from her sister. “These are beautiful! Is he here?” Alice asked.

“No. he just dropped them off and left,” Haley said. “He didn’t want to be in the way of our visitors.”

“Who’s here?” Alice asked.

“Some important looking man,” Haley answered. “I never saw him before.”

“That’s weird,” Alice thought out loud. “Who’s he here to see?”

“You,” Jason said, coming from behind. “Dad sent me to call you.”

“I’m going to meet this important looking man in sweats and a t-shirt?” Alice asked.

“No time to change. He’s waiting for you,” Jason said.

Alice followed her siblings downstairs, puzzled.

When she entered her father’s study, she found her mom, dad, and the man there, waiting for her. “Hello,” She said.

“Welcome, Alice,” The man said as he shook hands with her. Then, he turned to her parents. “How is this going to work?”

Mr. Kinsley looked at his wife and squeezed her hand. His wife’s eyes were teary. “Sit down Alice,” he said quietly. Alice took a seat across from them. “We have been preparing for this day for a long, long time. Despite that, it is not easy for me or your mother.” He took a deep breath before continuing, without looking at her face. “I think the best way to say this is directly, so that’s what I’m going to do. Alice, you are adopted. We are not your birth parents.”

Alice stared at them for a minute. “I... I’m not your daughter,” She echoed, but it sounded more like a question. “You’re not my mom, and you’re not my dad. Jason’s not my brother and nor is Haden. Haley’s not my sister. This... This isn’t my home. MY whole life... Is... Is a lie?”

“No sweetie. It’s not a lie,” Mrs. Kinsley said as she wiped away her tears.

“So what was it then? A joke?” Alice asked, still not believing it.