Last Chance

38.

Exhausted, Zoey dropped to the grass. She had run quite a bit and she was broken. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she couldn't stop crying.

Josh and Ginnifer came running after a while. "Zoey." Josh squatted down. 'Go away. You are not my parents.' Sobbed Zoey. "No, we're not, but we're here because we care about you." Ginnifer replied. She sat down next to Zoey in the grass. Zoey cried. 'Why should you? You don't even know me.'

"Zoey honey, we know you like no other. We know how you are put together, what you like, what you don't like, what makes you happy. We love you Zoey.' said Josh. "Please go away." cried Zoey. 'Darling, What are you afraid of? We want to help you.' Ginnifer said worriedly.

"I.. I think it's better that you only adopt Sam." Zoey stammered. "I know Sam is more of the person you had in mind when you wanted a foster child and that's okay. So I think you guys should adopt Sam. She is happy with you and if there is something with her you can always call me. I'll find another foster family where I can live.' Zoey rattled.

'Nothing comes of it. You belong to us and we need you. We have a connection Zoey. The family we have now is destined for each other. You and Sam are with us.' said Josh. 'Indeed.' Ginnifer nodded. "I know you want sweet..." Zoey was about to say something else but Josh interrupted her. "Zoey, what we're saying now has nothing to do with what happened before. We love you. From the moment we saw you. You belong to our family.' Ginnifer spoke to the girl.

'We will always be there for you. We sit in the front row at your graduation, every guitar lesson, we buy your first prom dress and in many years to come I'll be giving you away at your wedding.' said Josh. Zoey laughed through her tears. "Then please don't embarrass me too much at my graduation." Zoey said to Josh. Josh and Ginnifer laughed at Zoey. 'I will try.' he promised. Zoey gave Josh a hug. 'Sorry.' She apologized. 'It's okay.' He rubbed her back reassuringly.

Then Zoey let go and hugged Ginnifer. "Sorry Ginny." She grabbed Ginnifer tight. "It's okay baby. We're going home well.' said Ginnifer. Zoey nodded. Josh, Ginnifer and Zoey walked back home together. Sam had been looking after Oliver and Hugo all along and was already waiting for the three of them.

"Are you all right?" She hugged her sister. Zoey nodded. 'Yes, we're going to live here, Sam. Forever.' She gripped Sam tighter. "Well, I'd like to get out of the house in about ten years." Sam replied. Everyone laughed. "We'll see then." Ginnifer replied.

"Now you really are going to be our sisters." Oliver had joined them. 'Yes Ol. Now it's really getting official.' Josh stroked Oliver's head. "Yes, now you really are family." Hugo walked over to Zoey and Sam and gave them both a hug. "Awh you are sweet." Zoey put an arm around Oliver. "I'll have to take a picture of this." Ginnifer took her phone out of her pocket and snapped a picture of the four kids. "And now a family photo." suggested Sam. ' Yes indeed!' Zoey nodded.

Ginnifer turned the camera. "Laugh all." Josh moved behind Zoey and Oliver and Hugo climbed onto Sam's back. They all smiled and looked into the camera. 'Cheese!' cried Oliver. 'Cheese!' Everyone yelled after him. Ginnifer clicked several times.

'What are we going to do now?' asked Oliver. 'Actually, I want to let you hear something. Go sit in the living room.' Zoey looked shy at everyone. 'Okay.' Everyone sat down in the living room and Zoey ran upstairs to get her guitar. The last two weeks she had practiced a lot and finally she could play a song on her guitar. Over the past few days, things have gotten better and she wanted to let her new family hear about it.

After Zoey grabbed her guitar she walked back downstairs. "Will you sing us a song?" Hugo looked at the girl enthusiastically. The whole family sat on the couch and looked at Zoey expectantly. 'Um yes. I've been practicing really hard on the guitar for the past few weeks and I want to show it to you.

Zoey sat down on the chair and she tuned the guitar. 'Are you ready?' asked Zoey. Everyone nodded and Zoey started to play.

Some things are simple and hard to ignore, they say
Mmm, the truth is like that
We're getting colder, so far from the shore, I say
Mmm, the world is like that

I can't see you
But I hear your call
Baby, hold on now

We're going home
If we make it or we don't, we won't be alone
When I see your light shine, I know I'm home
If you're waiting all your life, you won't ever go
When I see your light shine, I know I'm home
When I see your light shine, I know I'm home
When I see your light shine

When Zoey was done everyone started clapping loudly. 'That was so beautiful!' Sam walked over to her sister and she gave her a hug. Oliver and Hugo also ran to Zoey and gave her a hug. 'Very well done Zoe. I'm really proud of you.' Oliver wrapped his hands around Zoey and Zoey smiled. Now she knew for sure: this was her home.