So Much More (Book One in the Enough Series)

32. Made-up Version

Eden

"We're your parents, Eden," June spoke again.

The names suddenly clicked; I'd heard them before. I hadn't thought about them in years, though, and I certainly wasn't expecting to ever really see them. My eyes darted back and forth between their faces; my stomach swirled with fear. So many questions again.

"Um, can you excuse me for a moment? I need to make a quick phone call." I stuttered out, grabbing my phone. They both nodded, stepping into the hall outside my office. I pushed the door up and took a deep breath before dialing Brynn.

"What's up?" She answered happily.

"Are you busy?" I scratched out, trying not to speak too loud.

"Never when it comes to you. So what's going on?" I could tell by her tone that she knew something was amiss.

"Can you come to my office? I need you."

"Do I need Tate? The police? What's going on?" Brynn was frantic.

"No, no. I... It's, my parents are here."

"Whoa." She gasped.

"Exactly."

"I'm on my way."

I laid the phone back on my desk, tapping my foot on the floor before taking a deep breath and opening the door again. There they stood, waiting patiently for me. A tiny part of me hoped they'd leave, disappear, and I wouldn't have to deal with all of this.

I invited them back into the office, and we all took a seat. The air was heavy with tension and anxiety. I swallowed hard, feeling very uncomfortable as they stared at me.

"Um, so, how did you find me?" I asked, picking at the hem of my skirt.

"We've always known where you are, sweetheart," June spoke.

"You've always known where I've been, as in now as an adult? Or when I was with Grammy and Gramps? I don't understand what's going on. Why are you here now?" I started to ramble, a nervous habit.

"We knew that Janet and Bill took great care to raise you right," Glenn spoke about my Grandparents, June's parents who raised me. "We kept in touch when we could, and once they passed, we kind of ...."

"Can we pause for a moment? This is a bit overwhelming." I bit the inside of my cheek to keep the tears at bay. I had dreamt of meeting my biological parents for years. Of course, I romanticized how that reunion would be. This, all of this right now, was breaking my heart. I turned my back to them, trying to regain my composure, just as Brynn barreled through my office door.

"Are you okay?" She held onto my arm, whispering into my ear. I nodded. She quickly turned toward the two people sitting awkwardly in my office chairs.

"Hi. I'm Brynn Parker." She confidently extended her hand. Glenn stood, reaching out and taking her hand. June remained seated and nodded with a smile.

"Glenn Granger and this is June." He smiled weakly at her.

"Is this your... your partner?" June squeaked out. I choked out a laugh.

"No. Brynn is my best friend," I answered.

"I'm here for moral support." She sat her bag down and leaned against my desk, crossing her arms across her chest.

"I know that we just dropped in on you, and it's all sudden; we were hoping we could have a nice sit-down and talk about everything," Glenn spoke. I observed his body language and the way June let him lead the conversations.

"I think, and excuse me for being so blunt, but the right question would be if Eden wants to continue any conversations. It seems you just showed up here and ambushed her, unannounced after how many years?" I placed my hand lightly on her arm, reigning her in. I knew she would come in like a little bulldog.

"It's okay, Brynn." I smiled over at her. "She is right, though. This has been incredibly overwhelming, and I'm not sure this is the best location and time to have such a conversation."

"We've waited years for this, and honestly..."

"What do you want? What is your reason for being here?" Brynn spat, clearly annoyed at the situation.

"We wanted to see our daughter, to meet her." June began, choking back tears. I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling nervousness wash over me. "I'm dying. I've not got much longer at all, and I made Glenn promise that I could meet you and see you just once, at least before I die."

I could feel my eyes going wide, looking over at Brynn. Not only do they show up out of nowhere but now, this bomb too. Brynn quickly grabbed my hand, linking our fingers and squeezing it. She was letting me know she was with me, and I loved her even more at that moment.

"I'm sorry to hear that." I managed to speak.

"You and me both," Glenn muttered.

"Where are you staying?" Brynn asked, taking charge. "Now that we know the situation, how about we meet for lunch tomorrow?"

"I'm sorry, Brynn, is it?" June began. "I just explained that I'm dying. Every second is a second wasted." She huffed.

I watched her eyes as she spoke, examining her body and movements. Glenn seemed to keep his focus on everything but me. Yet, I couldn't help the feeling in my gut that there was more to all of this.

"It's fine; we can talk now." I interrupted. "I have a lot of questions." I returned to my seat, preparing myself. Brynn stood to the side, observing.

"Whatever you want to know, just ask," Glenn spoke, his leg bouncing up and down.

"Why did you leave me with my Grandparents?"

June straightened up in her seat, gripping her little handbag.

For the next hour or two, they answered all the questions I could think of off hand. Most of what they told me was contradictory to what my Grandparents had explained to me as a teenager when I found out the truth about their relationship to me. I countered their explanations with my facts, but they seemed to have an answer for everything.

June said she was getting tired and weak, deciding they would return to their hotel, and we planned to meet for lunch, as Brynn suggested. June had explained she had cancer, though she didn't specify the type. Meeting them had left me with more questions than I ever had, as well as emotionally drained.

"That was...intense." Brynn sighed, sitting in the chair across from me.

I leaned forward at my desk, head in hands. So many thoughts were swirling, and my head was beginning to pound. I pulled my phone out, seeing that Reed and Tate both had tried to reach me.

"C'mon. Let's go home. Tate and Reed aren't sure what to do without us; let's get some dinner and see our guys." She smiled, standing.

"I'm not sure I'm of any use to anyone right now. Is it awful of me to say I wish June and Glenn had never shown up? I think I like the made-up versions I had of them better."

"There's nothing wrong with that at all, babe. I like your made-up versions better too." Brynn held the door for me as we made our way out of the bookstore.

"Not a fan of my parents?" I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

"I can't say I am. I don't think this is going to end well." Her words crushed me back into reality.