It's Always Been You (Issac Garcia)

11; Promise pt2

Alyssa pov

"Are you sure?" Uncle Richard asks in Spanish.

" You're moving back," Issac asks also in Spanish. I'm so confused. I just put my head in my hand while Issac is rubbing the back of my hand that he's holding.

"What's going on?" Katherine asks.

"I'm considering taking custody," Uncle Richard says.

"Is that why you came to take them?" Katherine asked, looking upset.

"No, actually, you invited me, remember -"

"Their guardian ship was settled in the will," George argues.

"I realize that, but I'm the only blood family they have left. That can be contested, " Uncle Richard argues back.

"You'd really leave" Alex asks as he looks at Jackie.

"Richard, have you really thought about this raising two teenagers and working full time?" George asks.

"I'm traveling less now, and they should be with family," Uncle Richard says. I can feel the tension in the room.

"We are family," Katherine continues. She looks upset.

"You know what I mean"

"You're life style isn't really compatible with teacher parent conferences and home cooked meals," George explains.

"With all due respect, George, you don't know me that well," Uncle Richard says. George tries to say something but is at a loss of words. He grabs Katherine's hand. I look over at Issac and he wraps an arm around me and pulls me closer.

"Look for us we just want the girls to have stability and consistency" George states.

"I want that to-" Uncle Richard starts but gets cut off by Cole and Issac.

"What do you want" the boys ask me and Jackie.

"They're right"

"Do you know what you want?" Katherine asks us. Everyone turns to look at us waiting for our responses. I lean over a little to see Jackie's face. It looks like she's going to cry. She shakes her head no. It's silent for a while.

"I want to stay. If that's ok." I blurt out. I see George and Katherine smile and nod.

"Of course that's ok sweetie we love having you here. What about you Jackie?" Katherine asks Jackie with a hopeful look in her eye. She closes her eyes and takes deep breath before she answers.

"The only thing I want is impossible to have" she replies looking down into her lap. I can't take this anymore so I get up and give her a hug.

"You know what I've learned Richard that family isn't always blood. Did you know I was adopted? I had great parents but I always wondered about my biological parents. So after college I went on a big road trip to meet my mother and guess who came with me" Katherine asks.

"Our mom" I quietly say trying not cry. All of a sudden I had tears in my eyes . I smile at Katherine and she smiles back as she continues her story.

"Angelica was in that car with me for hours while I processed the hopes and fears the built-up. When we finally got to Colorado, she waited in a motel while I went to a dinner to where my birth mom decided to meet me. But she never showed I was devastated." She said, telling her story. I never knew how much our mom meant to her. I was squat down near Jackie while giving her a side hug.

"But there was this waiter who I think felt bad for me because he brought me this gigantic piece of pie and kept refilling my coffe " Katherine joked as I could hear the little laugh and giggles across the table.