Second Chance (Barry Kerch adoption) (Shinedown romance)

Chapter 5: Finding My Mate

Big time skip...........

Cora POV

Today is my 18th birthday. A lot has happened in the last 5 years since my dad found me and adopted me. I started going to a therapist a couple years ago and just got the news that I no longer have to go to her. My dad got married to a really nice lady named Reese. She is so sweet and caring. She always makes sure I have anything and everything I could ever need or want. She takes really great care of my dad and the guys when they come over and decide to act like fools. Eric and his ex-wife, Kelley got a divorce. Turns out that Eric and Kellie were not mates like I had thought when I met them. They sat me down when I was older and told me that when they met they settled on one another saying that they would probably never find their mates and agreed that if they ever did meet their mate they would divorce, stay friends, and help the other whenever they needed while still being in each others lives.

Well Kellie found hers; her and Eric still talk and are great friends. Kelly's mates name is Frederick. He is so sweet and caring. He always is beside Kellie and makes sure she has what she needs and wants. Zach is still single having not found his mate yet spends a lot of time with Brent. Brent is single as well. His wife died a couple of years ago and he is still upset about it because it was so sudden. She was a really sweet lady. Her name was Hanalei. She got sick. When she went to the dr, she was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. They gave her a couple weeks to a couple months to live. She passed a couple weeks after that. While they weren't mates, they still cared and loved one another a lot. It crushed both of them when they found out they didn't have that long left with one another. Dad and I stayed with Brent for a couple of months after she died to help get Brent back on his feet and to make sure he didnt relapse with drugs. Although he did come close to it.

I had walked in to check on Brent since his room had been silent for a while. It wasn't normal since he was always singing the song he wrote for Hanalei since she passed. It was the only song that had calmed him before she passed and she would always get him to sing it when he got really upset. It worried me that it went from him singing to it being quiet. When I opened his door I found him with a needle in his hand twirling it around his head was bent downward towards the needle in his hand. When he noticed me in the doorway we both had tears in our eyes. I ran to him pulling him into a hug as he cried on my shoulder. He tokd me he needed help before he went through with using again and that he had been thinking of using again for a while now. I promised him we would get hin help. I went to get up once he had calmed down some, but he wouldn't let go and asked for me to stay with him. We stayed like that for a while then dad came in, Brent had already fallen asleep when I told dad, he was upset rightfully so. He promised we would get him help and we did. He went a rehab and therapy center for a couple months then came back and he was better. Zack moved in with him for a bit to make sure he was stable and they got close.

Anyways as I am sure you know since I am 18 I can now find my mate. I hope that I find my mate soon since the band is going on tour soon and dad told me I could go with them. The guys are going to be coming over today sometime later this afternoon for my birthday and to swim, drink, and hang out.

" Cora, honey, come downstairs we have a surprise for you."
" Okay mom I will be right down." I pull on my favorite shorts that Eric helped me dye and stain black and red. With a shirt I stole from Brent's house while dad I was staying there. I am pretty sure Brent doesnt know I have it since it was one of his favorites and if he did he wouldve already gotten it back from me.

I pull my hair back in a high ponytail then throw on my flower crown Eric got for me. I had been wanting one for so long. I had practically been begging dad for a crown since he adopted me.

..................17th birthday......................

Eric took me shopping for my 17th birthday and told me to get whatever I wanted and that he had a surprise for me when we got back to his house. I dragged him to all my favorite stores and he ended up carrying all of my bags with the stuff he got me along with some stuff that dad gave me the money for.