The Firestarter: How a Lost Girl Changed Our Lives

Chapter 3

Dear Mrs. Elise Miller,

My name is Maria Smith and I am a social worker from the San Bernardino County Child and Family Services. I am writing to you regarding a matter of great importance and urgency.

About two weeks ago, we received a report that a woman named Jessica Brown had passed away in a car accident. She was the mother of a 14-year-old girl named Lily Brown.

According to our records, Jessica Brown never married and never named a father for her daughter. However, we were able to locate a DNA test that Jessica had done when Lily was born.

The test revealed that Lily's biological father is a man named Robert Jones. Mr. Jones is your father.

Mr. Jones initially denied paternity, but when presented with proof, he has stopped responding to our calls and messages. We have also contacted his other relatives, but they have all refused to have anything to do with Lily.

Lily has been living in foster care since her mother's death. She is a sweet and smart girl, but she is also lonely and scared. She needs a stable and loving home.

That is why we are reaching out to you, Mrs. Miller. You are Lily's closest living relative who has not rejected her. You are her half-sister.

We are asking you to consider taking custody of Lily or at least meeting her. We believe that you could provide her with the family and support that she deserves.

Please reply to this letter as soon as possible. You can also call me at 827-8724 or email me at Maria.Smith@cfs.sbc.gov.

We hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Maria Smith

Social Worker

I dropped the letter. What was I supposed to think? What was I supposed to feel?

I heard footsteps.

"Hey, honey. How's it going?" Evan asked, concerned. He was standing there over me with an empty water cup. He must have been able to see my expression. "What's wrong? What's that?"

"It's... it's a letter from a social worker." My eyes darted, my eyebrows furrowed.

"A social worker?" Evan's voice rose. "What on earth for?"

"It's about my father."

"Your father? The one who left you and your mom when you were six? The one who never paid child support or called or visited? The one who refuses to talk to you?"

"Yeah, that one."

"Why did the social worker contact you?"

"Because... because he had another daughter."

"Another daughter?"

"Yeah. Yet another one. Apparently, he had an affair with some woman when I was a kid. She got pregnant and he left her too. She raised Lily by herself until she died. She's 14 years old. She's my half-sister."

Evan's eyebrows raised, his eyes continued to alternate between the letter and my face. "Wow. That's... that's crazy."

"Lily has been living in foster care since then. She has no other relatives who want to take her in. Except for me."

"Except for you?"

"Yeah. The social worker says that I'm her closest living blood relative. She's asking me if I would be willing to take custody of Lily or at least meet her."

"Wow. That's... that's a lot to take in."

"I know. I don't know what to do."

"Well... what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. I mean, I already have a full sister and half-sister. I certainly don't need another one. I don't even know this girl. She's a stranger to me."

"But she's also your family."

"Is she? Just because we share some DNA? Does that make us family?"

"Well, it's up to you to decide that."

"I don't know, Evan. This is too much. I can barely handle my own life. How can I take care of a teenager?"

"You're not alone, Elise. You have me."

"Yeah, but you know how hard it is for you to deal with me sometimes. You know I have mood swings and trust issues. You know how much therapy and medication I need."

"And you know how much I love you, Elise. I support you and accept you for who you are."

"I do. And I appreciate that. But who knows what kind of psychological baggage Lily has? She's been through a lot too. She might have trauma or depression or anxiety or anger or anything else. She might need more help than we can give her."

"Or she might just need a loving home and a caring family."

"Evan..."

"Look, I know this is a big decision. And I'm not trying to pressure you or anything. But you have to admit, it's kind of ironic."

"Ironic?"

"Yeah. Remember what we were arguing about this morning?"

"About the scorpion that scared me half to death?"

"After that we were arguing about having a child."

"Oh. Right."

"You said you wanted to be a mother someday. You said you wanted to have a family of our own."

"I did."

"And I said I wanted that too. But I also said that maybe we should consider adoption."

"You did."

"And you said you were against that idea."

"I was."

"Well, then. Isn't this a twist? Isn't this a challenge?"

"A challenge?"

"A challenge to your beliefs. A challenge to your feelings. A challenge to our relationship."

"Evan..."

He took my hand: "Elise, I love you. And I love the idea of us being parents. Together. Whether it's by birth or by adoption. Whether it's a baby or a teenager. Whether it's planned or unexpected. It doesn't matter to me. As long as we're happy and we're together."

I teared up. "Evan..."

"So, what do you say? Will you at least meet Lily? Will you give her a chance?"

I thought for a moment, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Okay. I'll meet her."

He smiled. "Really?"

"Really."

He hugged me. "You're making the right choice."

I hugged him back. "I hope so, Evan. I hope so."