The Broken Girl

Chapter 19: Later

A Year Later

After I was officially cleared by the doctors, my family, Orlando, and I, all flew back to Washington. My gunshot womb is healed but I hold the scar. As much as, I wish everything was completely back to normal. It's not.

I have completed my second year of college. I decided to not do the summer session. I need a mental break.

Currently, I'm back with Mrs. and Mr. Caroline, my legal parents. My real parents are in still in Texas. It is still very weird to have to specify which type of parent, legal or birth, that I'm referring to.

My birth dad ,Lucas, is still with his wonderful wife. My birth mom is working and living on her own. She's strong and still clean. It's almost been a year since she committed to staying away from drugs. Im proud of her.

Then there is me and Orlando. We are doing great in our relationship but the battle is with my legal parents. Mr. and Mrs. Caroline doesn't approve of us. They can't let go of who Orlando was long ago. He's trying to get in their good graces but nothing is working.

I know he's getting frustrated and ready to give up. They aren't hearing me. They still see me as a kid and they're ignoring the current character of Orlando. I'm not losing my relationship with Orlando. In the midst of it all, we have recently been discussing moving in together.

We have always talked about it but never seriously looked into making it happen. Im twenty now and he is twenty one. However, it has become possible with the money that I make from working at one of my legal dad's business and some of my trust fund money being released to me. Orlando has his part of money ready to finalize the leasing of the condominium. We can now equally go half and half on the monthly payments.

The only battle again is moving out of my parents house without starting a war. I know their going to have words about it. Even though, i know it's going to be hell. I'm not mentally ready for it but Orlando and I are going to meeting my parents for dinner to tell them about it.

"Baby, how long do you expect us to be at your parents' home? I have an assignment that I need to start on." Orlando asked tying his dreads with a rubberband to make a ponytail.

Oh, Orlando started college this summer. He going to work towards a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration.

"Hopefully, a maximum of 30 minutes. That's only if we don't have to explain to them a thousand times why we want to move in together. " I said while tying my shoes.

He didn't say anything just nodded his head. Then, he went to put on his shirt.

"Have you talked to your landlord about closing the lease on this apartment?" I asked standing up from the edging of the bed.

I walked to the bathroom to pick out my fro.

"Yes, I met with her two days ago. Are you ready to go?" Orlando said grabbing his car keys off the dresser.

"Yes, let me grab my purse and we can go. " I said walking out of the bathroom. I grabbed my purse and followed Orlando out of the bedroom.

****
When we arrived to my parents' house, i suddenly started to feel more nervous than before. I released a deep breath before getting out of the car. I looked over to Orlando as we walked to the door.

"Ready?" I said looking up at him. He kissed my forehead.

"Yes, we're in this together. I love you". He said opening the door.

"Mom. Dad. We're here". I yelled as I walked to the kitchen.

There stood my parents. They were gathering the food to put onto the dinner table. I hugged both of them. Orlando shook my dad's hand and hugged my mother while greeting them both as Mrs. and Mr. Caroline. You could imagine that they're not on first names basis yet.