Christmas is hectic with family. Nothing like how I used to spend them- which typically included a slightly improved dinner and the odd gift from one another traded when no one was really paying attention. Not today though, far from it actually.
Patrick has me help him frost the rest of his cookies, swatting my hand away when I try to steal one. Sage disappears sometime around seven-thirty, though Cameron and Pete come downstairs and drink coffee at the breakfast table. I hear an odd word from the two of them, though I'm more listening to Patrick who is having me help him make breakfast. So far though, there's only a couple of slices of bacon sitting on the chopping board and a bowl of waffle mix yet to be pressed in the waffle maker still heating on the counter. It's slow progress to say the least.
It's almost nine when we finally do sit down for the giant feast of breakfast food. Sage joins us after depositing several neatly wrapped packages udder the tree in the living room- with help of Patrick of course. We settle into the dining room, eating too much food and then continung to pick at it after complaining about how full we are.
Eventually we migrate into the living room for presents. There's not too many, though the stockings tacked up on the wall are filled with candy and socks and gift cards. I end up with a fantastic haul of sweaters and art books and supplies that I absolutely adore. My aunt Sage of course tells me over and over again that I can return the boots she bought me, though I tell her that I love them and that they fit me fine.
Around noon Echo comes over and takes me to the park and we sit in his truck to watch the clouds mover wearily above us. It's odd spending Christmas without snow. We drink the hot chocolate he brought out of a thermos. We talk about mundane things, filling the time until he has to go back to help his uncle with dinner.
Eventually we exchange gifts, nothing too fancy we had agreed on that. He gives me a bag shoved full of tissue paper he obviously wrapped. I pull out a wallet coverer in a black and white design and a stuffed rabbit with a scarf wrapped around it that reminds me of the one in my box of things from the home. I thank him, hugging him and pressing a light kiss to his lips that he deepens quickly.
"Merry Christmas, Echo." I tell him, a grin playing on my lips. He smiles back, repeating the words back to me. We spend the rest of our time together driving around, looking at the sights of LA. He shows me all the places he used to visit as a kid and I slowly start to get a feel for the giant city I've moved into.
When Echo has to drop me off at home, the house feels much less energetic than it did before. Sage and Cameron have since left, wanting to visit Patrick's mother and father before she's too close to her due date to do any traveling.
I walk in with cool cheeks and red fingers, immediately going upstairs to change into a hoodie and slip out of my boots into fuzzy socks. I braid my messy hair sloppily to the side, letting it hang over my shoulder. I go back down to the living room where Pete is cleaning up a bit from the initial mess of Christmas morning. I help him out, shoving wrapping paper into a trash bag and sweeping up the stray pine needles around the base of the tree. The sun is starting to set outside so we plug in the lights on the tree and sit down to watch whatever old movie is playing on the TV. I hear Patrick whistling in the kitchen. Despite the fact that he made a huge breakfast- he still insisted on making ham for dinner. He did settle on the smallest ham we could find for him, seeing as there's only three of us. I had offered to help, but he told me it was almost done anyway.
Sure enough, ten minutes later we're at the dining table and digging in on the mashed potatoes and fruit salad and ham Patrick prepared for dinner. For the most part, it's a light hearted affair, but something about Pete and Patrick seems off. They keep exchanging nervous-looking glances and seem on edge until dinner is over and they say we should talk in the living room. Patrick sits me on the couch, Pete disappearing for a minute and coming back with a little box and an envelope.
"Lucy, before we tell you what we're going to tell you, we want you to know we love you and always will no matter what you decide." I nod, unable to formulate much of a response with my hands shaking and stomach churning with anticipation.
"We, uh got a package from someone earlier today, it's for you." Pete tells me vaguely. I tap my foot, uncomfortable with how obscure the situation is.
"Who's it from?" I press, either needing to be told or to see it myself. They exchange their nervous looks again.
"Your mother." Pete finally spits out, but when he does I almost wish he hadn't.
My mom. I hadn't given her much thought since I was in the home. I used to think she was out there still waiting for me, that when I was old enough I'd find her and we'd be together again. Now... What did she want? What if she wanted me back? What then? I wouldn't go with her... or is there a legal thing about that. I could be ripped from my only real family by a woman I hardly remember.
"W-what does the letter say?" I ask, knowing that they probably haven't opened it yet.
"Uh, we don't know, Luce." Patrick says, a sympathetic look on his face. "You can open it in your room if you'd like. You don't have to in front of us." I think for a second before nodding and taking the box and letter from Pete.
"Thanks." I say numbly, then retreating to my room to think over this odd change of events. This is the absolute last thing I expected to happen today. I turn the letter over in my hands, then turning to the box instead.
It's a blank sketch book the size of my hand. I wonder how she knows of my love for art. Then I slide my finger under the flap of the envelope. I have to read the letter a couple of times, but it's nothing like I expected.
Hi! Don't you just love cliff hangers?! Sorry 'bout that, but all will be known soon.
<3
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I Promise || Adopted by Peterick
Fanfiction*Completed Lucy Ann Crowley was left on the highway at age seven. Her mother said she'd be right back. She said she promises. After daddy left mama promised she'd never leave. But one day she did. Eight years later she's fifteen and still without pa...
