Mutinous

Chapter 52

I wasn't sure I had ever been this nervous in my life. Cold sweat was running down my back despite May being fairly warm, and I was covered in goosebumps. One small knock and my life would be changed forever. Hopefully though, it would be changed for the better yet that didn't make me any less nervous. The front of the door had a sign reading TRAVIS, and I was almost certain I was at the right place. They probably didn't even know I existed or maybe they hoped that one day I would find them. Mum had done wrong in changing her name and ignoring them completely, but for once in her life, she was trying to do the right thing and that was what mattered. I couldn't keep resenting her for things she had done in her past. My knuckles made contact with the wood, and I took a deep breath. This was it.

A woman opened the door. She was most likely in the beginning of her sixties and as her eyes met mine I stopped breathing for a second. She also stayed quiet as if somehow she knew. It was after all prominent in her features that we were related. At least I thought so. Perhaps I was just imaging things.

"Can I help you with anything, dear?" She asked with a smile, and I felt tears pricking in my eyes but fought them back not wanting to cry. I didn't want to scare her.

"Well, I was just wondering if I could borrow your phone. Mine ran out of battery, and I need to call my boyfriend to come get me," I lied too scared to say what I had come here for.

"Of course. Come inside," she said and showed me where the phone to her home line was.

"Thank you," I smiled politely at her. And then I kept staring at the phone as if I didn't know how to use it.

"Did you forget his number?" She asked, and I looked up at her without an answer. For a moment she stared at me, and something was telling me she was beginning to put the pieces together.

I swallowed hard. "My phone did not run out of battery, and my boyfriend is not coming to get me," I said, and her eyes widened. She almost looked scared.

"Who are you?" She exclaimed.

"My name is Elliot. I said. Your sons middle name was Elliot wasn't it?" I asked softly.

"H-how do you know? Who are you?" She repeated, and the door opened and in came who I supposed was her husband.

"What is going on?" He asked looking from me to his wife. "Who's this?" He asked referring to me.

"That's what I'm wondering," she answered him, and I gulped hard trying my hardest to keep myself together.

"Who are you, kid?" He asked placing his wallet and grocery back on the kitchen bench.

"My name is Elliot Murphy, and if I'm not mistaken I'm your granddaughter," I said with teary eyes, and I noticed that the woman was crying too. A small shriek escaped her lips, and before I could even think she had her arms around me taking me completely by surprise. I soon relaxed into her arms enjoying the warmth of her embrace. "My baby," she cried, and I did as well, but for once my tears were not due to sadness. I was happy.

She pulled back and ran her hands over my face taking a proper look at me. "You're our baby's. You- look at you. So beautiful. You good? Tell me you're good? Oh god, I can't believe you're here. She's really here," she rambled, but I could not help but smile. She might have been surprised to see me, but by the look on her face it was a pleasant surprise.

I nodded giving her a smile, "I'm good."

"Oh my," she said pulling me into her arms once again. "You're here. I thought we lost you the day we lost him. Wasn't even sure Charlotte had decided to have you. You have no idea how many times I've thought we'd find you. I must admit though, I pictured you as a boy."

I chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint."

"Oh trust me love, you are no disappointment. You're perfect," she said her eyes practically glistening.

Her husband walked over to us. He had unsurprisingly been in shock at the news, and he looked at me in confusion, but as he took in my features there was no doubt he knew I wasn't lying.

"You're real. I'm not dreaming am I?" He asked reaching for my hand.

"No. I'm real," I said between tears. "Sorry, I didn't come find you, but I didn't know. I grew up thinking another man was my father, and I had no idea any of you existed," I said trying my best to not let my voice break.

"That's not important now," she said giving my cheeks a small squeeze. "You hungry? Would you like tea? I'll make us some tea," she said before I could even reply, and she started serving tea along with biscuits and a carrot cake she had made yesterday.

"You don't have to do this," I said as she placed a piece of cake in front of me.

"Of course, love," she said. "This is most likely the best day in my life."

I smiled. "Thank you," I said and took a bite of the cake. It tasted of heaven, and I loved how down to earth they were. They were nothing like mum's parents and definitely not anything like Richard's parents either. These people were wonderful unlike the others.

She kept staring at me and though I felt a bit uneasy I couldn't blame her. They had just gotten a grandchild they never knew they had, and since they had lost their only child I knew what a true gift I really was which was a first as I had always felled more of a curse.

"Tell us what you do. Tell us are you happy? And what about that boyfriend of yours? He treating you properly?"

"I study medicine. I started last year. And though I must say that my childhood wasn't the best, I'm happy now. I have a great boyfriend, and yes he is treating me right."

"Good. How's your mother?"

I shrugged. "Alright I guess. She has been in a miserable marriage for too long. She misses William even though she's not much of admitting it," I said referring to my father.

They both nodded. "You know I was certain the two would get married. Especially after the news that she was pregnant, but unfortunately God wouldn't have it that way," she cried, and I started to feel uneasy again.

"But he has now brought us you and that is truly a blessing," she said reaching for my left hand, and I gave her a smile. "You know what. Give me a second," she disappeared.

"Here we go," her husband said, and I gave him a confused look. "She's finding pictures. Just pretend you're interested," he said, and I laughed.

"I don't think I have to pretend," I said, and she came back with photo albums of my father as a child, and I smiled and cried and laughed for hours in their company. I didn't even realise how long I had been gone until Harry called to tell me he was worried as I had been gone for six hours. I had only imagined for it to take an hour, maybe two at a maximum, but never in my wildest imagination had I imagined for them to be these loving people, and I began to understand why my mum had fallen for my father. If he was just a little like these two, he was definitely a good man. Being around them felt surprisingly normal, and I felt at home in their presence. But most importantly, for once, I felt like I fit in; that I belonged somewhere, and for for the first time in my life I felt good enough. Somehow that was a bigger gift than actually finding them.