What We Hope For

One

The Dawsons were known for many things amongst the members of their community. They were known for their philanthropic approach towards their surroundings which included the unfaltering use of recyled catch-phrases that signified an eagerness to help where help was needed. They were know for their fear of global warming as well as their steady beliefs which had been embedded in their hearts and minds since birth. They were known for their naivity, which fortunately only seemed to surface in situations which could be seen as taboo. For the most part, however, the Dawsons were best know for owning the most beautiful house in Docklands, London which was popular in the fact that all the most prestigious gatherings were held there. It was a white; Victorian-inspired house which consisted of 3 lovely stories which were sturdily held in place by four thick pillars which surrounded the front of the house. As a family which consisted of mostly medical practitioners, they enjoyed spending the little free time they had with each other in the form of elaborate family meals which celebrated every mundanity in their lives.

"Well," Carol Dawson said exitedly as tears welled up in her chocolate-brown eyes, "I am so thankful that all of you could join us today in celebrating Emma's birthday. Emma, I am so very proud of you!" She proudly absorbed the content of the room she had maticulously decorated and redecorated hours before. She thanked her guests for comming once more with her eyes before proceeding to sit down.

"To Emma," Darryl said enthusiastically while raising his champaigne glass with one hand and grasping the hand of his fiancée with the other.

"To Emma," the crowd echoed his motion which left Emma sitting in silent disapproval while her cheaks turned the same shade as her mother's skillfully compilled bouquet of pink roses which served as the table's centerpiece.

"Thank you for comming everyone and thank you for all your effort mom," Emma said smilingly, "Although I don't think most of it was necessary. I would have been fine with..."

"Oh nonesense, Emma!" Richard Dawson weighed in on the matter charismatically as he caught the first glimpse of a tear forming in his wife's eye which was a result of his daughter's disapproval of her mother's party planning skills.

"Your mother loves organising these events for you," he continued, "I always say that there can never be too little cause to celebrate. Secondly, I feel that this is an excellent prelude to your looming nuptuals and all the festivities that will include!" He smiled at Emma and Darryl excitedly. "Isn't that right, honey?" He asked while tightly grasping his wife's hand.

Carol looked up from her appropriately laid out cutlery (which she had laid out according to the book on English etiquette that she had inherited from her mother) and cleared her throat before proceeding to speak. "Oh, well yes of course." Her gaze drifted from her husband to her daughter. "Oh, darling, I am very sorry if this is all too extravigant," she said sincerely.

Before Emma could accept her mother's appology, her grandmother, Ellen, decided to weigh in on the matter."Oh, Emma will survive, Carol." Ellen drunkardly said while tilting her wine glass at an angle that left everyone anxious. "I don't know how she does though, what with you constantly forcing her to take part in these functions eventhough you know very well that she doesn't enjoy it in the least bit. She doesn't enjoy it because she is not like us. She isn't like us and it is time she knew why."

Emma looked a her father questioningly with the piercing-blue eyes he knew all too well as they were so vastly different from his own.

"Uh, mothet," Richard said quickly. "Perhaps we have had enough," he proceeded to hastily remove the nearly-empty bottle of Rosé from the table and passed it to one of the servers, "Thank you, Barnsley."

"Yes, we have had enough! We've had just about enough of all the lies. She ought to know the truth (hiccough) before she marries."

"Richard," Carol hissed.

Richard tried to convince his mother to go to sleep but she was adiment to stay.

"Dad, please tell me what's-"

"Tell her or I will," Ellen threatened while pushing away Barnsley who was trying to get her out of the room.

"Mrs Dawson, if you would be so kind as to-"

"Emma," Ellen apologetically looked her granddaughter in the eye before saying the words that Emma had always somewhere in her heart known to be true although she never wanted to admit it, "Emma, you're adopted."

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Dear Readers,

Your votes and comments will be greatly appreciated! I hope that you are enjoying reading the book as well as sharing in Emma's discovery of the self.

Yours sincerely,
-V