Autumn Showers

47- The one where we form an action plan

I rub my eyes tiredly as I sit at one of the barstools on the kitchen island, Scarlett beams at me as she passes me a bowl of cereal.

'How did you sleep?'

'Awful, I forgot to bring my sleeping tablets plus Winter is a bed hogger.'

She laughs lightly, 'So are you.'

I scoff, 'Excuse me, you literally sleep like a starfish.'

'Well, I think that a starfish is a very majestic animal.'

'Whatever you say.' I murmur as I feed myself a spoon full of cereal.

Brooke walks into the room with a gentle smile on her face, she's holding a pink binder in her arms.

'Hey sweetheart, where's Winter?'

'She's still sleeping.'

'Oh, she must have needed it, she's had a very emotionally exhausting few days. It's actually for the best that she isn't awake while we talk about your next steps.'

I nod, 'Yeah, I agree.'

'Scar, do you mind if we have a few minutes just us?'

'Y-Yeah of course mom, I'll get out of your hair.'

My eyebrows knit together when I realise that Scarlett referred to Brooke as mom, I watch as the pink-haired girl leaves the room.

The dark-haired woman must have noticed my confusion, 'She's called me mom since she was seven years old, a-and I'm very honoured that she does so. I truly think of her as my daughter; I would do absolutely anything to keep her happy.'

'Oh.'

I knew that Scarlett's mom died when she was only a baby, it just never occurred me that she would want to ever call anyone else mom.

'Do you mind me asking you, how come your parents don't care for Winter?'

I swallow a lump in my throat, 'M-My mom is an alcoholic and my dad got a new family and left us behind, I haven't heard from him since.'

'I'm really sorry honey, I want you to know that our home will always be your home.'

'T-Thank you, no-one has ever made me feel like that before.'

Brooke's face falls before it recovers, 'W-Well I'm glad to be the first. What about your other family?'

I wince, 'I do have an aunt, she's twenty-four we don't really speak anymore. M-My mom cut her out of our lives. But I remember idolising her when I was younger.'

'Why did your mom cut her off?

I let out a shaky sigh, 'B-Because she found out about my mom's drinking problem and even though she was only twenty she wanted us to come and stay with her while my mom went to rehab but my mom took this the wrong way, she thought that my aunt was judging her as a parent.'

'She sounds like a very nice woman.'

'S-She is, I just have no way to find her. I tried to look her up on social media a few years ago but she must have got married or something because I couldn't find her anywhere.'

'Do you think that she could be the right person to take care of Winter? I completely understand that you want to be the one to take care of her, and I will support you every step of the way, if you do. B-But honey, you deserve to live the proper college experience, go to all the parties and meet brand new people. A-And having a young child with you, can prevent that.'

I shrug, 'I-I don't know, I-If she was how I remember her being, yeah probably. But I would have to get to know her again.'

'Of course, this is a very big choice for you.'