Family Reunion

Delivering The News

I see two Officers in their uniform. I see Officer Willman, I've known him for awhile. He's the one to help my mother get sober. His wife is Mae. I look over at him and i see the regret in his eyes. I shake my head rapidly. "No. Don't tell me. I have to have a mom please she can't be gone." I say with tears running down my face. The Officers look down and Officer  Willman takes a step forward. "I'm sorry Lexi. We found her this morning. We couldn't do anything." He says looking at me in the eyes or trying to atleast. "I can't." I ran off towards my room leaving Kevin in the room with the Officers. I end up crying my self to sleep thinking about my mother.

   Officer Willman's Pov

I hate to deliver these news but she deserves to hear it from me then one of these guys. I see Lexi run off to her room and notice Kevin is standing there not knowing what to do. I look over to him. "Take care of her. Mae and I will come over after i get off. Do you know if she has anywhere to stay till i can get in contact with her father?" He looks at me. "Lexi's father left why would you contact him?" he asked confused. "Since her mother passed and was the only child her father is now her legal guardian if he chooses." I state. Kevin shakes his head. "She can stay with me. But she hasn't seen or heard from her father in like 10 years since he left." I looked shocked. "I'll try to contact him. But don't say anything to her i don't want to upset her anymore than i already have." He nods and i turn to the other Officers and start walking to the cars heading back to the precinct. When i get to the precinct I go to my desk and find the number of Steve Anderson to deliver the news. When i finally find the person and the correct number. I notice thats it 5:30 and decide to call anyway before i get off work. He doesn't answer so i leave a message.

Steve's Pov

I get home from work and am greeted by my wife Kathy in the kitchen making dinner. I go in there and give her a kiss. "Hi honey. How was work today?" She asks while putting the noddles into the sauce. "Fine. How were the kids today? When is dinner going to be ready?" "They were fine Adam being a pain nothing out of the ordinary. Dinner will be ready in about 10 minutes. Can you please change and round the kids up?" "Of course. I'll be back." I walk of and go change out of my suit. I round up the kids. We have four 2 of ours Carrie who is 3 and our boy Curtis who is nine. Kathy was pregnant with him when i left Michelle. Her two kids before me. Bethany who is 16 and Adam who is 17. We are all seated at the table and eating talking about our day.

"Adam i heard you got into another fight at school today. Wanna talk about that." I ask looking directly at him. "Nope. Nothing to talk about." "Is that why you've been suspended for 3 days." I ask irriated by his attitude. "He was being a jerk." I'm about to say something when my wife gives me a side glance to look end the talk. I do. "What about you Beth anything intresting happen at school?" She asks Bethany. She shakes her head. "Nope" We stop talking when we hear the house phone ring. We left it go to voicemail because we have a No Phone rule at the table. The message goes off. "Hi, This is Officer Willman I need to speak to a Steve Anderson if you could please call me back when you get this it is urgent. Thank you. Call back at ###########." And they hang up. "Whys a cop calling you daddy." Curtis asks looking at me. "I want to know too." Adam asks with his arms crossed i glance at my wife. "Go Steve answer the call." "Thank you. I'll be right back." I get up and walk over to my wife and kiss her on the head.

I call the number back. "Hello, Officer Willman here." "Hello, Officer. It's Steve Anderson. You just called and you said it was urgent. Is something wrong." I ask curiously.                                 "Right. Mr. Anderson. Yes it is urgent kinda. Are you busy at the moment." "Yes i was eating dinner with my wife and kids. What is this about?" I ask on the verge of anger. " It's about your exwife Michelle." " What about her i'm not in contact with her." I say annoyed. " I know but she has passed and i need to find a guardian for your daughter Alexis Anderson." He says and I'm shocked by the news. "Hello. Mr.Anderson are you there?" "Yes sorry i zoned out. So I'm her guardian now." "Yes sir. But if you don't want to be her legal guardian she will be put into foster care till her 18th birthday." "No. I'll have to talk to my wife and children about this before making a decision." "I understand. Talk to your wife and call me back." " Alright. Thank you." "Have a goodnight sir" I hang up. I take a deep breathe. 'My ex wife is dead and my daughter is by herself.'  I go into the dining room and look at my wife. "Can we talk real quick?" "Of course" She gets up and walks with me to the kitchen so they kids don't hear us. "Who was it."

"Michelle is dead the Officer was informing me." "I thought you weren't in contact with her." "I'm not but since shes gone i'm Lexis legal guardian now." I state she looks shocked. "I need to talk to you about seeing if she can live her she is my daughter." "I know honey but the kids don't know that you had a daughter when we met they don't know about the affair. " She states and i nod. "I'm not having my daughter be put into foster care Kathy." " I never said no but we have to tell them about her first." "When should we break the news to them." I ask. "What about now after dinner. The sooner the better."