Last Promise

Chapter 7

When Katie awoke, she first saw white lights. She heard the steady Beep! Beep! Beep! and she opened her eyes. "Good you're awake!" a doctor was standing in at the foot of Katie's hospital bed, a clipboard in his hand.

"Every-...every thing seems unreal." Katie muttered to herself as the memories of the night before pierced her mind. She wasn't in a private room but the screens around her was shut.

"It's a slight injury, luckily." The doctor said. Katie turned her attention to the man probably in his forties. "I'm Doctor Thames by the way." Katie merely nodded.

"And listen dear, if you're ready, you can tell us your account of the incident okay?" Katie nodded again. "Anyway," Doctor Thames continued. "You can be released soon and Lewis's dad is funding your medical bill, so no worries."

"You mean they found him?" Her eyes widened. "Oh yes. Rushed here like a good father, he did. His second wife came as well. Lewis's birth mother was sent to the police station, unfortunately. She's done some bad stuff." "Well that's great!" Katie grinned. "Not the mum, I meant finding the dad!" "Yep! He was around here actually. We contacted him immediately. The incident has hit public. Everyone's glad Robert's put away for good." Katie was smiling widely now. Kent was gone...then she thought of something and her smile faltered.

"Where do I go then? I'm an abandoned child." "It's been taken care of Katie." The doctor said. "Lewis's dad wants to adopt you." "Really?!" Katie squeaked, not able to say much out of relief and delight. She feared she was going to the orphanage or some other like that.

Something else was weighing her...hmm...what WAS it? "Doctor, how bout Alanna and Aston?" she asked. The doctor just opened his mouth when the curtains were yanked open.

A tall man, with raven coloured hair and grey eyes was standing beside a pretty woman who had light blond curls cascading down her back and greyish-blue eyes. Her skin was fair and a little pale-ish. Katie could see where Liam got his messy raven coloured hair and where Lewis got those piercing grey eyes when he was irritated. They both looked pretty exhausted, bags under their eyes. But they lit up in a smile at Katie.

"Hello! My name is Reed Anderson. Lewis's father. You can call me Reed, just don't tell Lewie." he chuckled. His voice sounded deep. "I'm Cora Ville-Anderson." The woman smiled. "Call me Cora." Her voice was light and melodious. "You sing well can you?" Katie blurted. Cora laughed while Reed nudged her, with a wide adoring smile. "Cora sings very well."

"What's your name then? Can you tell me more about you? We just made our decision to adopt you as our daughter today, which I hope you don't mind to be. We haven't seen your birth certificate yet." Cora said.

"My name is Katherine Silver. I'm called Katie. I'm 9 years old. And of course, I'm absolutely delighted to be your daughter. And Lewis as my annoying brother!" Cora patted Katie's golden locks. "You know, you remind me of someone."

"Yeah... I don't know. I don't know my birth parents anyway. They just dumped me in the Orphanage's doorstep. That's what I'd been told."

Cora hummed, her face in a I'm-thinking-hard expression. Reed glanced a little concerned at her then turned to Katie.

"You've been through a tough time in this 9 years, I know. But we're just hoping you can live a normal life after this."

Katie thought hard about it and realized neither doctor nor Reed and Cora had mentioned her siblings. She opened her mouth to speak but momentarily cut off when Cora let out a shaky gasp.

"I...I know...I remember you. I know who you look like." she said finally. Katie cocked her head to the side, curious. "You...look like my first husband." she breathed. Reed and Katie looked wide eyed at her as tears rimmed Cora's eyes. "You know dear, if you don't want to talk we would understand..."

"No!" Cora cut her husband off. "I have to tell her!" She quickly grasped Katie's hand, scaring her. Katie was trying very hard to process what was going on.

Reed gaped at Cora and Katie. "Do you mean-" "Yes." Cora whispered, shaking. "Katie, you're my child."

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(A/N: Stupid twist, Iknow. Andreally, Idon'tfeellikeendingthe story now, likeright now.)

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Katie gulped as she strained to process those words. Once the meaning sank in, it was replaced by a boatload of questions. She asked her main one, the biggest one in that crowded, messed-up brain of hers. "Why did you leave me?"

"I didn't want to honey." Cora sighed, sinking down into a chair pulled up by the bedside. "When I was pregnant with you, your violent father was furious. Especially after he found out that it was a daughter instead of a son. Your dad was a thieving, spiteful man. He hit me you know. I didn't want to marry him, but I was betrothed to him. It was my parent's choice. They died shortly after my wedding from an unfortunate car crash. Hendrick, that's your father, parent's disappeared to another country. Hadn't heard of them ever since. I doubt even they know what their son's doing."

"Most of my family's fortune disappeared with their life. I was left with enough to rent a shabby flat and to support myself through two jobs. Then I had to give birth."

"I knew it was impossible for someone desperate and helpless as me. I've got no one to turn to. I loved you so much, it broke my heart when you were away from me. But weaving in through jobs, being threatened to be kicked out of the flat because of your wails and buying your needs was too much for a single woman. I had to leave you by Smiley Orphanage. That was all I knew."

"And that is also why you have his dark goldenish hair and my greyish  blue eyes, though his eyes were blue so yours is bluer than grey."

Cora looked down then looked straight at Katie. "Do you forgive me?" Katie felt her heart twinge at the tears streaking down the pale face. She glanced briefly at Reed, vainly patting Cora, her mom's shoulder. Ihaveamom, Katie thought in disbelief as well as delight.

She knew the woman in front of her didn't want Katie away from her but was choiceless. And she bet double her mother had searched hard for her when her life improved. Cora was such a nice woman, kind , everything a mom should have. Even if she just met her, Katie knew.

"Yes." she said slowly. This was definitely what she wanted. Katie knew she would never ever regret it. "However..." Cora's smile wavered a little. "Can I call you and Reed mom and dad?" "Of course!" Cora agreed, her head bobbing up and down quickly. Katie reached over and embraced her mother. "Come on Dad." Katie smirked at her father. "Group hug!" Her father obliged immediately. And Katie immediately felt at home.

"Hey, you group hugged without me!" a young boy stood at the foot of the bed, his face in a pouty expression. "Lewis!" Katie grinned. Dad reached for his son and they hugged. "Enough." Lewis then grumbled, causing them all to laugh.

Dad then proceeded to bring him aside, and by the looks of it, was about Katie being his sister. Cora was patting Katie's hand, softly humming melodiously.

"Mr Anderson?" Doctor Thames asked as he opened the curtains and revealed himself. "May I please speak to you for a moment?"

"I wonder what's the doctor talking to daddy about." Lewis wondered. He also had a bandage around his head, Katie noticed. And there were  cartoon band-aids on his arms.

"Let's hope it's good." Mom prayed. Katie nodded as hopefully as she could, though she couldn't shake off that bad feeling.

Doctor Thames and Dad returned, their faces grave. Doctor Thames looked uncomfortably at the family and then swallowed and announced "It is unfortunate to report that Aston, Alanna and Liam did not make it."