Just Breathe - Adopted by Mandy Gonzalez - COMPLETED

15 - Grandparents pt2

24th December 2017
I felt more at home once Doug's parents arrived. I didn't feel so left out. They weren't Latinx, so I wasn't awkwardly alone.

"So, Becky, what do you like to do. Doug told us that you don't go to school?" His mom asked me.

"Well I'm training to be a singer and performer like Mandy." I smile up at my mom, as she's beside me. "So I have vocal lessons with her Monday's and Fridays. I then have lessons with someone else. It changes each week. Lexi taught me last week, I had James teach me the week after. I think you said something about Karen coming down at some point from Wisconsin."

"Yeah, not going to spoil anything but we have a few Heights peeps taking you over the next few weeks. I'm trying to find a date Lin can do but it's hard because he's so busy."

"Oh okay."

"What other things interest you."

"Well I have a little art supply. So I like to do drawings and paintings. I love Doug's work, I've spent some time with him in his home studio. It's so cool in there. But I've not been to the big main one yet. I've helped Mandy with Fearless Squad things. So the logo, I helped design. We've been picking songs for her album. There's one I was sent that you haven't been that I get to show you tomorrow. But I'm making you put it in the album wether you like it or not."

"Okay then Becky. I'll listen tomorrow."

"Mandy, have you chosen a cover for your album yet?"

"No, loads of artists have sent designs in but none are very 'me'. They are almost too 'jazzy' for me."

I had a sudden idea for a design. I smiled at my mom, for some reason I knew it would be perfect. "You'll find something soon Mandy. I know you will find the perfect design."

We sat and had a family lunch then went and watched The Greatest Showman in the movie theatre. "That was amazing." Maribelle said.

"It was, film of the century in my opinion." I responded, taking her hand.

"What about the Heights Documentary?" Mandy giggled at me.

"That's a Documentary, not a film." I bounced back.

"Hmmm, it's still technically a film though."

"Not really, it's not available to the public anymore. Except on PBS, if they ever re-post it."

"Okay fine, you win." She gave in, wrapping and arm around my shoulder.

"Boom. You knew you weren't going to win that from the beginning." I laughed and rested my head against her.

"My beautiful girls." She smiled down at us. I stopped walking and hugged them both tight.

"I love you two so much. You're the best mom and best sister in the world. I'm so happy you adopted me, I have the perfect family."

"I love you too sis." We then headed back home and I went to my room to finish wrapping my presents. I paint a design similar to the one on my wall. I added a white writing saying 'Fearless'. I loved that she was making the album for the Squad. I went online to look for dresses. I found some cute black ones that would potentially work. I knew black would be the best bet. I put together other potential ideas. One of my favourites was a simple blue background in a big flowing skirt. I knew she'd be able to pull off any look. It was finding the right style for the album.

I headed back out to the living room, I paused at the opening when I heard my family talking about me. "When are you two going to have another kid? Like, Becky's sweet and all but she's just adopted. I hope you have a biological kid soon. You don't want too big of an age gap. Maribelle is already 6." I knew it was Doug's mom speaking. I headed back towards my room, peaked though the door to Maribelle's room and found her colouring in. I ran back to the corridor as Mandy spoke.

"What do you all have against Becky? She's still our daughter and I love her as much as I love Maribelle, Okay. She's the nicest kid I've ever met, she's so sweet, talented, creative, imaginative, everything. She and Maribelle get on amazingly well and they are almost exactly 11 years apart, and have only known one another for a few months. Their bond is like natural sisters would have." I could hear it in her voice that she was annoyed.

"It's not about that Mandy. It's about just having a other kid. We all want a biological grandchild." That was Mandy's father.

"It clearly is something you have against my daughter, Becky. You have Maribelle, she's my natural daughter. And I'm not ready for another child. I have a job, I don't want to leave Hamilton. I love this show, and I have no intentions of leaving it any time soon. So will you stop trying to pressure me into having a kid that I don't want." Mandy was nearly crying.

"I just don't think you should have adopted, especially someone who was just a fan." Doug's father said.

"Why bring another kid into the world when there are hundreds in this city alone who need a loving family. And she wasn't just a fan. I felt a connection with her online. She deserved to have a family that she hadn't had since birth." She started.

"I'm with Mandy on this one, they have two beautiful daughters and she has Hamilton." Her mom responded. At least someone liked me.

"Something she's not been told is that she was found in the streets. That's why her surname was Jacobs before we adopted her. She was found outside the Jacob Javits convention centre. No one knows who her parents are. Rebecca, nicknamed Becky, was the name the woman who found her gave her. She had no documents, nothing. She was taken to a hospital for treatments, they did some tests on her to figure out roughly when she was born. They gave the woman and the social workers a weeks gap of her birth. The woman's husband was called Andrew, and given Becky's British heritage, also found from the tests, they went with November 30th, as that's St Andrews day in Scotland. She was then in the girls home all her life. She deserved a family so much. So I gave it to her and I know she loves it with us."

"I really do Mandy." I said stepping out of the shadows. "I love being part of your family. I have two wonderful parents and an incredible little sister, who I wouldn't change for the world. I really couldn't be happier with my life right now. I may have had a traumatic first few months of my life, but I'm here now. Becky Melini-Gonzalez. Daughter of painter Douglas Melini and actress Mandy Gonzalez. I love you Doug and I love you Mandy. Thank you for standing up for me. I never knew that about my past but it's nice to know about my history."

Mandy hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back. We both started crying into each other. "We'll speak later about all that. How much did you hear though."

"From when Doug's Mom asked when you're going to have another kid. And mentioned age gaps."

"I'm so sorry you heard all that princess. Just know I want you in my family so much. I don't want another kid, maybe ever, I have you and Mari and that's all I need. Two incredible daughters." I just smiled, happy to have Mandy by my side, and I would always be by her side.