The Boy in the Basement

Chapter 26

*POV Adeline*

I was feeling a bit better a week later, after my small fight with Liesel. Of course I still felt bad about what I had said. It sat in the back of my mind constantly, refusing to go away. And I missed my father and brother all the time. Mama even wrote an angry letter to me about the situations. But Cora was helping quite a lot. So was working. Being surrounded by art always improved my mood.

Only 1 think bothered me a lot. I missed Max. I missed him more than any of the others. I wasn't sure what would be worse; him knowing about what I had said, or not knowing. If he didn't know, he may think I just abandoned him. But if he does know, he would be hurt. I said he wasn't family. But he was. He was my family and I loved him, and nothing would ever change that. Part of me wanted to go back and apologize just so I could see him, but I knew my family didn't want me back. That was clearly shown in Mama's letter. So I decided to wait. Maybe it would calm down, and soon enough I would be able to go back. So I just busied myself with work.

As soon as I got back to the apartment, I began cooking for when Cora got home. I didn't get very far along, though, because there was a knock on the door. We didn't have many visitors lately, so at first I was a bit confused. But perhaps Cora had just forgotten her key. She could be pretty forgetful at times. So I went and opened the door, and much to my surprise, I was enveloped in a hug. It took me a moment to realize that it was Liesel, and I felt a little bit of happiness.

"I miss you," She said quietly.

"I miss you, too," I replied. "What brought you here?"

"Everyone is so upset now that you're gone. Especially Max, he thinks you don't love him anymore. I tried to tell hi that wasn't true, but he's still upset." She was crying now. "I'm sorry I said that you couldn't come back, I didn't mean it."

"You're not the one who needs to apologize." I ran my hand through her hair. "I'm the one who said all those things about you and Mama and Papa. You are my family, you really are. I was just upset, that's all."

"Promise? I don't want to lose you again." Liesel asked.

"I absolutely promise," I said, "You won't lose me. All of you are my family. Even Max." Liesel looked up at me and smiled. "Hey, do Mama and Papa know you're here?"

"No, they don't." There was a look of guilt in Liesel's eyes. "They think Rudy and I are wandering about."

"Next time do you promise to tell them you're coming here? I don't want Mama to become more mad than she already is about all of this." Liesel nodded in approval. "Also do you think you could stay for dinner?"

"I would love to." Liesel smiled. She began helping me cook dinner, and soon enough Cora came home.

"Nice to see you, Liesel." Cora said as she settled in. Today had been a long day for her, I could tell.

"Hello." She said. Dinner was done a few minutes later, and we all began to eat. I could tell Liesel's mood was improving, and mine was, too. Perhaps this was the beginning of me getting my family back.

"Have I missed much?" I asked Liesel.

"No, not really. We haven't been doing much." She replied. She finished her food. "Unfortunately, I have to go. I don't want Mama and Papa to get suspicious."

"Do you mind holding on for one moment? I just want to write something to Max. It'll only take a moment." Liesel nodded, so I quickly got a piece of paper and a pencil and began writing.

Max,

You probably think I abandoned you right now. I'm sure you probably also heard from one of he others what I had said. But you should know that I never meant what I said. Not one word of it. All 4 of you are my family. You always have been, and always will be. I'll come back soon, i just want Mama to calm down a bit before I do. But I didn't abandon you, and I never will. I love you.

Adeline

I folded the letter and handed it Liesel. "I'll see you soon, alright?" I said, and she hugged me.

"Come home soon. We all miss you." I nodded, and she left. For a moment, all I could do was stand there and think happily. This had been a wonderful night. The best I had in a week.

"So I see you two have made up..." Cora said as she began to clean up. "So when did that happen?"

"Not long before you came home." I replied. "At least she want to come see me. I thought she would hate me forever."

"She's your little sister. She could never hate you, and certainly not forever. I think she was just discouraged for a while." Cora said. "But it looks like you're about to get your family back."

"I guess I am." We finished cleaning up from dinner, then I went to draw. But I couldn't focus. I was in too much of a good mood to focus. Here I thought that I had lost my family of course. Of course I still felt bad about what I had said to them, but it seemed like I was going to get them back. At first I had thought I lost my family after father and Stefan left. They were the only real, biological family I had, and i had lost them. I was angry at the time, and I was stupid for letting my family go. I loved Mama, Papa, and Liesel like they were my real family. And I had Max, who I loved more than anyone. I had almost lost him too many times to count, and I wasn't going to let that happen again. When I really thought about it, I realized that he was the first man I ever thought about my future with. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I wanted him to be able to walk around freely, to not be stuck in the basement for the rest of his life. I wanted him to be able to walk around freely, to not be stuck in the basement for the rest of his life. I wanted him to be truly happy. I wasn't about to lose him again because I was too angry. As long as I had the people I loved around me, I couldn't be any happier.

~~~~~

*2 days later*

Liesel was gripping my hand as she pulled me toward the house. My heart was thumping, and I was shaking. But this had to happen. If I didn't go back to see my family now, I would never have the nerve to.

"You should have seen how nervous Mama was this morning." Liesel said, clearly trying to lift the mood. "I don't think I've ever seen her like that before.

"What about Max?"

"He's a bit nervous, I think. But mostly happy. He misses you the most out of all of us." That made me smile a bit.

It took us another minute to get to the house, and Liesel immediately pulled me inside.

"Mama, Adeline is back! She came back!" Liesel said. Mama came in and hugged me. I could feel tears in my dyes, and I hugged her back.

"Don't ever do that again," She said, soft and loving. "I don't want to lose you like that again."

"You won't, Mama, I promise you. I didn't mean anything I said. You're really the only mother I've ever known, but I wouldn't have it any other way, because I don't think I would be half the woman I am now if I didn't have you in my life." Mama pulled away and smiled, and I saw that she had tears in her eyes, too. "I don't think I've ever seen you this emotional before."

"Well, I've never almost lost a daughter before." Mama said. "Your Papa will be home soon. Go say hello to Max, if you want. He misses you terribly." I nodded and made my way down to the basement. I already knew that seeing Max was going to be the highlight of my day. I had missed him terribly, and hated to be away from him for so long, especially when he thought that I had abandoned him.

Max was painting when I got down to where he was. As soon as he looked up, he put down his brush, stood up and pulled me into a tight hug, just as Mama had.

"You finally came back." He said.

"Of course I did." I replied. "Do you get the letter that I gave Liesel?"

"Yes, I did."

"Then you know that I didn't mean what I said. "You're my family, and so is Mama and Papa and Liesel. And I love you very much. I don't care if the whole country is against us being together. I'll always love you just the same." I pressed a kiss to his lips.

"I love you, too." He said. "I'm glad you're back home, I missed you." 

"I missed you, too." I hugged him again. Today had been a wonderful day. At first I had been nervous beyond belief, but it turned out to be wonderful. I got my family back, and I was back with Max. A ton of weight had been lifted off my shoulders, and I had a feeling that it was the same way for my family.