Something Unexpected

Chapter 12.0 - The truth's out

"Hi mum." 

"What?!" The other three in the room said simultaneously

"Phoebe what's going on?" Rose asked, Phoebe didn't reply. "Sis?" 

"Mum? Sister? This is hurting my head." Lou exclaimed. 

"Mine too. How about we all go back to mine, and have some tea, or maybe something slightly stronger." Lou laughed at her friends attempt to lighten the situation at hand, the two girls weren't as amused. Nevertheless they all proceeded towards the door and exited the building. Gina pulled her phone out of her pocket and began dialing. 

"What are you doing?" Phoebe asked.

"Who are you calling?" Rose chipped in. 

"Rachel, I want her to know about this. She deserves to know about this... after everything we've been through... I put her through."

"Gina its not your fault. You didn't ask for any of this to happen." Louise reassured her. 

The four of them hopped onto a train back to Gina's flat. They arrived at the building and she unlocked the door. She escorted them inside and was about to lock up when she saw Rachel running up the stairs. Gina waited, and showed her inside. She went to put on the kettle, then joined the others in the living room. She took a seat on the sofa in between Rachel and Lou. Phoebe and Rose were sat in an arm chair each. 

"Gina." Louise said. "Can you start from the beginning; I'm really confused as to what is happening."

"Me too. Why did you call me over?" Rachel’s gaze met Roses. "What is she still doing here?"

"This is Rose Wells." Rose took the opportunity to wave, awkwardly, letting them know who she was. "She is the daughter of David and Emily Wells, which makes her my foster sister."

Louise and Rachel both gasped; first in shock that Gina had been in the foster system, and second at the news that she had a sister.

"Gina, how come you never told me that you were in the foster system?" Rachel asked, knowing that they had had plenty of opportunities to bring it up. 

"It's not something I like talking about. It’s a part of my past which I try to block out, I'm not proud of some of the things that happened." 

Rose gave Gina an apologetic look, she had always wanted a big sister, she had never understood her parent’s decision to give Gina away. Rose realised if it wasn't for her then Gina might have had a decent childhood, instead of bouncing around from home to home. She began to tear up and mouthed 'sorry' to Gina. 

Gina realised that Rose was blaming herself for what happened, she stood and walked over to sit with her, the girl who should have been her little sister, the person she should have been there for. "None of this is your fault Rose, I don't blame you at all." 

"Why? You should, it’s all my fault that your life got so fucked up." 

"It’s true, I struggled a lot in my teenage years, but if I hadn't struggled I would never have had the drive I have, the need to prove everyone wrong. I would not be where I am today if not for that, so thank you, it helped me to grow as a person." 

Rose wiped away her tears and smiled. "For the record you would have been a fantastic sister." 

The two embraced and Gina remained sat with Rose on the arm chair. 

"G, who is this other girl?" Rachel questioned, as she hasn't been there during the earlier events. 

"Phoebe, when is your birthday?" Gina asked. 

"April 19th"

Gina flinched. "This... She's my daughter." She was unsure at first but she remembered the day so well, the day her little girl was taken from her arms. How they both had cried and screamed, the baby girl who needed her mother, and herself realising that she couldn't keep her, but fearing that she would have to suffer through the foster system the way she had. She had asked for a closed adoption, she couldn't know who had her daughter, for fear of becoming attached to her, but she would never know if she was being looked after well. Every year on her daughter’s birthday she would try and find her, but knew it wasn't possible unless she came to her. "Rose, why did you call her 'sis'?" 

"She's my adopted sister. Here." Rose passed over a letter to her. "I haven't read it, I was asked not to."

"Who is it from?" 

"Our parents."

Gina found it endearing that Rose used the word 'our'. She tore open the envelope...