Never have I ever

Chapter Nine

We started talking about college again and we thought about what it would do to our relationship, until Luke pointed out, that there was a great college where both of us would get a scholarship. Luke would get a sports scholarship, whilst I'd get one in arts. I still wonder how I got it, because I never saw myself as an artist. I like to draw, but I never thought I was good. My mother just said I should at least try it, and it somehow worked out. After that conversation, we just sat there in silence for a while and smiled at each other.

"Do you want to talk about what happened yesterday?", Luke asked carefully. "Which one?", I joked, "Finally getting rescued by you, getting thrown out of my home, because I was adopted or being taken in by you and your family?" "About you being adopted", he answered, whilst shaking his head and smiling a bit, because of my joke. I sighted: "I mean, I want to know who my birth parents are, but they gave me away, so they don't want me anyway." Luke took my shoulders, looked into my eyes intensely, but loving and said in a posh voice: "If they don't want you, it's their loss, but you deserve to know who your real parents are. And remember whatever you do, I'll be there for you, every step of the way." The longer he talked, the more passionate he became. He breathed heavily, while I just smiled. I put my hand on his cheek first and then went through his hair with the other one. He slowly came closer and kissed me. One of his hands went to my back and he laid me down gently. He intensified the kiss and carefully put one hand under my shirt. He rested his hand on my belly for a while until he started to draw circles with his thumb. I started giggling a bit, because it tickled. "What did I do to deserve an angel like you?", Luke sighed "You're not really asking that right now? You're the kindest and most amazing person I've ever met", I got really emotional.

I sat up and tears rolled down my face. Luke pulled me closer and hugged me. It was the most awesome feeling to be that loved. Just knowing that someone would go through all that trouble just to make me happy was so overwhelming, I couldn't even describe it. I cuddled closer to his chest and mumbled: "Will you help me find my parents?" "Of course.", he smiled and gave me a kiss on the head. "Is it okay if we ask my parents for help? They have better resources. We could find them way faster." I nodded and gave him a small kiss. He got up and held out his hand to help me get up. We put everything back in the basket and went down the hill again. ON the way back to the house we stopped at the city hall to ask for all the data they had about me. Back at the hose we both started our laptops and opened the file. In there, I found the adoption certificate, but instead of "Daniel Jacob Way" it said, "Daniel Jacob Williams". In other words, I now knew my birth name, but it was useless, because Williams was a common name. Even in our small village, there were three families called Williams. But one of them was an African-American family and one of them was an old married couple and I don't think they have children at least not in my age. So, there was only one family left as long as I am originally from this town. Luke started looking into that family, while I looked more closely into my file. There were a couple certificates and some information, which I wasn't really interested in. I thought that was everything, but then I discovered in the back of the folder. It was a picture of me and my adoptive dad. At the back it said "Holding my son for the first time" in his handwriting. I teared up and realised, it doesn't matter that I was adopted, he will always be my dad. He cared for me, he loved me and that's all that matters. I felt Luke putting his hand on my shoulder. I looked up to him and saw his smile. I really enjoyed that moment, but we had something to do.

After gathering a bit more information, we decided to go talk to them instead of possibly wasting our time with research. They lived on the other side of town in a small bungalow. We knocked on the old door and a small lady opened. We expected her to talk, but after she didn't for a while we wanted to know if we could ask a question. She just said, "One second" and turned around and closed the door. We looked at each other and I noticed that Luke was just as confused as I was. The door flew open again and a giant man stood in front of us. "What ya want to know?" Everything happened so fast, that it took me a second to respond, but then I asked: Did you ever have a son you gave up for adoption? I hope you don't mind me asking." "Nah, I didn't throw my kids out. But I wish I did. Should have gotten rid of them while I could." "Okay, thanks anyway", Nick said, took my hand and ran away. "Dude, that guy was scary", he panted after we stopped about ten minutes later. "Well that was a fail!", I complained. "We'll find them, I promise" "I lobe you, but don't promise something you can't keep", I explained disappointed. He made me look in his eyes and said with a soft and loving voice: "I promised you, and I will keep that promise" I smiled, I was thankful, but as hard as I tried, I couldn't believe him. Life doesn't like me. It never did. The only good thing that happened is Luke. "Aw, you're so sweet. Oh, and you said your thoughts out loud again." I just got really annoyed with myself. I couldn't even think without messing up. Luke grabbed my waist and pulled me closer: "Just so you know. Life doesn't hate you, you just have rough year, but it can only get better from now." "I hope you're right", I smiled and then kissed him. And somehow it turned into a make-out-session ... again.

We marched through town, holding each other's hand and smiling. We didn't have a plan, we were just walking. When we were walking past the bakery, I saw the old Williams sitting at a table next to the window, and they saw me too. they looked at us, then at each other and took each other's hands and said something with a smile on their faces. At that moment, I wish I could read lips. We were already past the next shop, when I asked Luke if we could turn around. We sat down at the table next to the old couple. We ordered coffee and started talking about what we were going to do next to find my parents. The woman tipped on my shoulder: "Excuse me, young man. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I heard that you were looking for your family and I think we can help." "Sorry, I hope this doesn't sound rude, but how can you help?", I wanted to know. "Well, our daughter had a son nearly 17 years ago, which she gave up for adoption, because she was only 15 back then. We don't know who adopted him, but I think he's called David", she explained. "No, he's called Daniel. You have to remember the name of your grandson, honey", her husband necked her.

It got really hard for me to breathe. They were my family. I couldn't believe I found them so quickly. It took me a moment to realise that the woman started talking again. "I'm sorry, but could you say that again? I drifted a bit off with my thoughts", I interrupted her. "Oh, sure darling. I said I think we found our grandson and his handsome boyfriend." "And I think I found my family. Where is your daughter now, if you don't mind me asking", I got excited. My grandmother sighed: "I wish I knew where Larissa went. She lent home at 19 and we haven't seen her since then." So, I was back to almost nothing. I was crushed, how was I ever supposed to find my parents. "Do you know who my father is?" "No, I don't think she ever told us", my grandpa took the last bit of hope I had. Even though I was in a bad mood, we had a lot to catch up, so we talked for hours. We were just saying goodbye, when my grandma remembered that my mother said she was going to Germany. So, in the end, we had at least a direction, where to look. The only question was, how do we get to Germany. We live in England, so we'd have to fly there. And I have never been on a plane.