The Neighbor

Chapter 27: Life

"So when's her funeral?" Kahoni asked me the day after my mom died. We were sitting in the warm sand at the beach.
"Don't know, "I said.
"Well aren't you going to find out?" he asked.
"No, "I said.
"But-" he started.
"You're crazy if you think I'm going to her funeral, "I said.
"But she's your mom, "he said.
"No, I was adopted, "I said, "she's not my mom anymore."
"Danny I know this is bothering you, "he said, "you just don't want to admit that you miss her."
I looked into his dark eyes. They were the same caring, dark eyes that I had fallen in love with. They knew everything about me, he knew everything about me.
"I wasn't happy with her, "I said, "I'm happy with Brendan."
"As long as your happy, "he said. He kissed me and I kissed him back. I dug my toes into the warm sand. It was a moment of pure bliss and relaxation.
"Danny!" my brother yelled. I looked up and saw him on the back porch of our house.
"What?" I shouted.
"They're here!" he shouted.
"I have to go, "I sighed.
"I'll see you tomorrow, "Kahoni said.
We got up and walked in opposite directions. Up at my house I knew who was waiting. The people planning the funeral. I didn't know why I had to be there when I wasn't even going to the funeral but I guess that's just life.
I walked through the back door and found everyone in the living room. The two men looked more professional than I had expected. They wore black suits and their hair was slicked back.
"Have a seat, "one of the men said. Kyle was sitting on the couch and I sat next to him. Hallie wasn't there, she was probably still asleep. "Where is your sister?" the man asked.
"Still asleep, "Kyle said.
"It's 2 o'clock in the afternoon, "the other man said.
"Never mind, "the first man said, "go get her." The other man left and we sat in silence for a while.
I broke the silence. "No offense but you don't look like funeral directors."
"That's because we're not, "the man said, "we're from Child Care Services. Since your mom died we need place you all some where safe."
"Like where?" Kyle asked.
"Well, Danielle, since you were adopted by Mr. Jones this does not affect you in any way. As for you Kyle you will need to be put into an orphanage and hopefully you will one day be adopted."
"But he's not an orphan, "I said, "he could live with dad."
"I'm sorry, "the man said, "I assumed your father was dead."
"He's dead to me, "Kyle said, "can't I just go live in an orphanage?"
"That's not how it works, "the man said, "if you are not an orphan you can't stay in an orphanage."
I could see the disappointment in Kyle's eyes. All my life I thought Kyle had the best life any boy could have. Now I realized that he was hurting on the inside. He missed Dad just as much as me. In fact, now that I thought about it, Dad never really spent much time with him.
"What if our dad refuses to take him?" I asked.
"He has to, "the man said.
"But if he doesn't want him then he's not going to keep him, "I said, "he'll kick him out. Then what?"
"Ok kids how about this, "the man said, "contact your father and ask him. If he says he doesn't want you then Kyle can stay here."
At that moment Hallie came down with the other man.
"Ah Miss. Hallie, "the man said, "we've been waiting for you."
"Why?" she asked rudely.
"Well you see, "he said, "your sister was adopted and your brother is either going to live with your father or going to an orphanage. But you, well, you're a legal adult now. Since your mother has passed you have to move out of this house."
"What?" she asked in disbelief.
"You'll have to make a living on your own, "he said, "and you can even buy the house back if you can get 690,000 dollars and be able to continue paying the mortgage."
"You also have to buy food and other neccessities for yourself, "the other man said.
"What...but... I don't even have a job!" she shouted.
"Well you better get one, "the man said, "you need to learn to take care of yourself and get out of this house in thirty days."
"That's not fair!" she yelled.
"That's life kid, "the man said.
"How about you three stay here and chat and Kyle and I will go call Dad, "I said. I dragged Kyle to the other room and and dialed Dad's number.
"What's the plan?" he asked.
"Let me do the talking, "I said.
The phone rang for a few seconds and then my dad picked up.
"Danny?" he asked disbelievingly.
"Hey dad, "I said, "I was thinking about your offer and I want to take you up on it, but on a few conditons. You have to let all of us come, me, Kyle, Hallie, and mom."
"What are you doing?" Kyle whispered, "mom's dead."
I put my hand over the speaker and whispered, "He doesn't know that."
"You all want to come?" he asked.
"Yeah and you have to pay for plane fair, "I said.
"Danny there simply isn't enough room for all of you, "he said.
"So you don't want us?" I asked.
"It's not that I don't want you, "he said, "it's that I can't have you all."
"So you can't have us?"I asked.
"Yes, "he said, "Danny is everything all right?"
"Everything's perfect, "I said. I hung up the phone.
"I get to stay, "Kyle said.
"Yup, "I said, "now you can stay with your pookie."

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So Hallie has to learn to live on her own. Oh who am I kidding, she'll probably end up on the streets! Mwhahahaha! I'm too evil. Anyway I'm glad you guys are liking my book, 1.03K views!!!! I'm sorry I haven't been updating very often and I know every time I update I say I'll update soon and then I don't update for a week. My apologies. I spend all my free time writing but it does take a while to write a chapter. I am going to start the prequel when I finish this book. I am calling it Before he Left. I hope you keep reading and keep voting and commenting!:) Have a wonderful day.
~Hermione
(P.S. in case any of you are curious, and even if you're not, I call myself Hermione because that's what my friends call me because I have curly, bushy hair (kinda like Annabeth Chase's hair!!!) That is all.)