Joanne ~ Back in time

Chapter 42~The first goodbye

{Macklynn's POV}

We woke up on Saturday bright and early as it was my dance competition. I'm nervous. This'll be the first time I dance on stage this season and the first time Joes has ever seen me dance on stage. I hope I don't mess up. My costume is a nude colour with a few little details on it. The routine that I'm doing is challenging as I have to be very precise when it comes to timing and I definitely need to stretch before I go on because I need to be able to rely on my flexibility and core strength. This better go well. We are in the car on the way now. Mums has already done my hair and makeup we'll just have to touch it up when we get there.

J-"We're here"
E-"Yay let's go"

Joe and Eponiné raced out of the car, mum gave me a quick hug and said quietly "you've got this baby girl"

M-"I just want to do you and dad proud"
D-"You always do us proud"
M-"Okay Let's go"

Also, more pressure had been added as my foster parents are also coming. This will be the first time they meet Dad. They are both hilarious. I technically have five dads because I've got my two foster Dads, my biological dad, my stepdad, and the best one of all my new dad Joe. No offence to the others. Joe's definitely the best. I love him. Anyway, so my foster parents Grant and Peter are also here. Thankfully they get along with Mum very well. A while back they took me and Eponiné to a photoshoot and the photographer was late so I said I could do a good enough job so for a laugh I took a photo of them but it actually turned out to be a really nice photo.

D-"Hey guys"
G-"Hey I'm so excited for this"
P-"Anyway where is Joe I've been looking forward to meeting him"
J-"I'm here"

Joe came along with Eponiné on his back. Grant and Peter knew that we now called Dianne and Joe, mum and dad and they were completely fine with it. Grant and Peter gave Joe a bro hug.

G-"Macklynn you look stunning in your makeup, Dianne you did an amazing job"
P-"I don't really know anything about make up I leave that stuff to Grant the girls and him are forever giving each other makeovers"

Whilst Dianne, Grant and Eponiné were all helping me stretch and put the finishing touches of makeup on Peter and Joe walked off to go an have a chat.

{Peter's POV}

P-"What you've done is incredible, it's really brave of you to come into there lives and take on such a big role"
J-"Thank you"
P-"Macklynn told me over the phone that you were a superhero"
J-"Did she actually"

We both chuckled. Joe seemed like a decent guy well he seemed more than that. He's definitely mature for his age.

P-"You and Dianne are 18 which means you still in school so what do you do in school"
J-"I'm really into art and music"
P-"What instruments do you play"
J-"Well I play guitar, electric guitar and piano but I also sing"
P-"I was really into music at school I played the guitar and electric guitar and can sing a little bit, I was also very into sport"
J-"Well believe it or not I do rugby but aren't very good at it, I'm much better at football"
P-"I was always better at Rugby than football"
J-"How long have you been Macklynn and Eponiné's foster parents"
P-"3 years I think now it's been great"
J-"Yeah well they're great kids"
P-"Originally Dianne lived with us for a bit but she had grown out of the care system so she wasn't supposed to"
J-"What was she like being a teenager rather than a mum"
P-"She wasn't actually that bad, she knew how to argue though, be careful in an argument she'll always win"
J-"I know I've already experienced a bit of that"
P-"She's great though"
J-"I suppose she's always been their mum"
P-"Yeah even when other people were there to look after them she'd never stop being there mum"
J-"Yeah"
P-"I just hope one day it doesn't get the better of her"
J-"I know she doesn't like change"
P-"Yeah she hates the unexpected and unpredictable yet all of her childhood and teenage years seemed to be that way"
J-"She's so strong mentally and physically because of it though"
P-"Oh definitely"
J-"Anyway it looks like it's nearly Macklynn's time to perform"

We walked back to the group.

M-"Wish me luck"
G-"Goodluck sweetheart"
P-"You'll be great"
J-"You've got this just believe in yourself"
D-"You're like an army of Dads"

We all laughed. Macklynn ran off out of our sight we all took our seats. I carried on talking to Joe and Dianne carried on talking to Grant. Bless her. Eponiné had fallen asleep on Joe's lap.

D-"Macklynn's next"
G-"I'm so excited"
P-"I'm nervous"
J-"I know right my hearts racing"
D-"God she'll be fine calm down"

Dianne always knew how to lighten the mood. "Next is Macklynn with River"
Eponiné thankfully woke up just in time.

J-"Here we go"
E-"Is Mack performing now"
D-"Yeah"
E-"Oh"

Eponiné started cheering which made us all laugh.

As Macklynn finished the auditorium erupted with applause.

J-"That was amazing"
P-"Wow"

Dianne and Grant, we're still stood up cheering. Joe and I were in shock at how amazing that was.

E-"You look shocked"
P-"We are"
J-"That was brilliant I'm so proud of her"
P-"I know right"
...

We all waited for Macklynn after the show. We all stood there eagerly waiting for her to arrive.

M-"Mum, Dad, Peter, Grant, Eponiné I got first place"
D-"I know we all watched you"
J-"We're so proud of you"

We all started to walk out and to our cars. This was the first time Joe would have to do this and let the girls go.

M-"Dad please can you put this in my room"
J-"Urm yeah sure"

You could tell Joe started to get choked up. Macklynn and Dianne got the bags out of the car and moved them into ours.

E-"Daddy I don't want to go"
J-"I know but you gotta"
E-"Why"
J-"..."

Eponiné started to cry. I really felt for her because Joe and her have a much stronger connection then we do with her. To Eponiné and Macklynn, Grant and I are like the cool uncles. Dianne will always be their mum and now Joe will always be there dad. Together they are Macklynn and Eponiné's parents and nothing can change that not us nor anyone. We would never want to change that though they are so happy together and they all finally have the life they deserve.

J-"Eponiné you've gotta go"
E-"But daddy-"
J-"No you've got to go"
E-"But-"
J-"Eponiné"
E-"You said you'd never leave us"

Grant picked up Eponiné and brought her to the car. Eponiné's eyes stayed fixed on Joe as she sobbed. This was going to be a long and sad car journey.

{Dianne's POV}

J-"How do you do that so often"
D-"I don't know"
J-"I feel like I've let them down"
D-"You haven't"
J-"Like Eponiné said I promised I would never leave you"
D-"You haven't your gonna be here when they get back aren't you"
J-"Yes"
D-"Then why do you feel bad, you haven't left them they are on respite care to allow us to be teenagers"
J-"We are classed as adults"
D-"Joe"
J-"Sorry I know we're still 18"
D-"Yeah don't age us"

I made Joe giggle and which was great. He needed to laugh it is what would get him through the next few weeks without the girls.

J-"I love you"
D-"I love you more"
J-"Not possible"

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Check out my other Joanne stories:
•The Wedding Planner
•Strictly Love