The Land Where Songbirds Sing

Chapter Six

One of the hardest decisions made in life
is to choose which bridge to burn
and which bridge to cross
- Unknown

CHAPTER SIX
Peyton Russell

What?! Peyton thought, her eyes bulging.
After blinking for a few seconds, letting her brain process things, she calmed down ever so slightly.
"You barely know me, and you're inviting me to live with you?" Peyton asked in disbelief.
Brooklyn nodded, and stuttered, "If you want to, of course."
"Um..." Peyton was still startled, but she didn't mind living with Brooklyn. "Yeah, that's fine."
Brooklyn's eyes lit up, and a small smile escaped her mouth.
"Well, just to let you know, he'd probably go to jail for life, so once you turn 18, you'd inherit all of his belongings," the cop said. "And he would lose full custody of you."
Peyton smiled a full smile, and the cop chuckled.
"We got him," she heard a voice say, walking downstairs with her father handcuffed.
"Peyton," he hissed. "You will not get away with calling the cops on your father."
Peyton flinched at the tone of his voice.
"Actually," the cop who stayed with Brooklyn, Paris, and Peyton spoke up. "You are going to court, and will most likely lose custody of Peyton. And of course, you will go to jail for life."
"Most likely, but I won't," he snarled, making Peyton flinch again. Brooklyn weaved her hand in hers to calm her down.
Anxious tears streamed down Peyton's face, and her chest heaved up and down as she sobbed.
The police ushered her father out the door, and the one cop stayed behind.
"Sorry, forgot to tell you, but I'm Liam," he said. "You can call the police station whenever you need, if you need clarification on anything, and just ask for me."
Peyton nodded, and said, "I'm Peyton, and this is Brooklyn and her sister Paris."
Liam shook everyone's hand.
"Alright, I gotta go," he said. "Call me whenever you need."
They waved goodbye, and Peyton shut the door.
She was surprised when Brooklyn's parents embraced her in a hug. The hug felt safe and comforting, and Peyton felt herself melting into them. She was able to let out her emotions for the first time in a while.
She sobbed heavily, and Brooklyn's mother patted her back.
"Let it all out, dear," she coaxed in a whisper.
Paris ran up to them, and joined Peyton in the sobbing. Peyton understood, it had been a long day for them all, especially her and the little innocent 9 year old.
Brooklyn was the last to join the hug, and Peyton could tell she was crying slightly, even though she was trying to hide it.
"Peyton, would you like to live with us? We could either foster or adopt you, whatever you would like," her mom said quietly.
Peyton nodded, digging her head into her shoulder, and hugging her tighter.
"Well then, our home is your home," her father welcomed. "Welcome to the family."
"Thank you," she whispered. "How can I repay you?"
"No need," Brooklyn said, laughing, and they broke from the hug.
"Yay! Another sister!" Paris exclaimed.
Peyton looked into her new little sister's eyes, which were bright and happy. Her new mother's eyes were comforting and kind, and her new father's eyes were welcoming, and Peyton could tell he was and will always be a much better father than her biological father. And her favorite ocean blue eyes of all, were Brooklyn's. She looked ecstatic, but calm at the same time.
"Can I... can I call you Mom and Dad?" she asked shyly, looking at her feet.
"Of course, honey!" her mom said.
Tears streamed down Peyton's face as her eyes blurred.
"Peyton, what's wrong?" her new dad asked, his eyebrows furrowing in worry.
"It's just, I've never been able to cry in front of my family before," she whimpered. "My father always hurt me whenever I was sad."
"We promise to never hurt you, Peyton," her mother said, and her dad nodded in agreement.
Peyton ran back into her new mother's arms, squeezing her tight and burying her head in the crevice of her shoulder.
She patted Peyton's back in comfort, her eyes soft.
"Thank you so much," Peyton whispered. "Thank you."
They pulled away, and Peyton felt happier than she had ever been in the moment. With her new family. In her new home.
And right then, Home Sweet Home became a reality for the first time in Peyton's life.