Once up to the front door of my adopted families house. I knocked on the door feeling my hands numb because of the cold air. The door opened with a confused mother on the other side.
“ Heath what the..” Ellie says as I stand shivering
“ Momma Ellie….can I….come in?” I ask shivering watching her move to the side with concern
I walked past her feeling the warm air from the house hit me hard. Ellie shut the door only to help me inside. Once in the living room Mike stood to only see the red on my cheeks.
“ Heath what are you doing here son? Where is your mother at?” He asks as Chris comes down the stairs quickly
“ In another state with Tyrone. As is Michelle and Travis guess I wasn’t invited.” I say as Chris comes over to get the cold bag out of my hand
“ Oh god Heath your frozen.” Ellie says helping me out of my jacket
“ Yeah it’s cold outside but for some reason i don’t really feel it.” I say with a chuckle
“ It’s not funny Heath why didn’t you call honey?” Ellie say seating me down on the couch
“ I guess I needed time to figure out why my family is doing this to me.” I say with a cracked voice
Ellie kneels down to take my shoes and socks off to warm my feet.
“ Still you should of called. First your birthday now this. I wish she would open her fucking eyes.” Ellie says with anger plus disappointment
“ Ellie.” Mike tries to say but cut off
“ No Mike, as this is bullshit. Heath is as much our responsibility as hers, and if she isn’t going to own up then I will start being his real mother. I am tired of seeing Heath hurt like this.” Ellie says as she moved up to sit by me
“ I know darling, but we just can’t take him without proof.” Mike says as Ellie holds me to warm me up
“ I know Mike, I know, but I can’t let my god son be without a mother’s love.” My god mother says as Chris looks at me worried
“ Mom you have always showed Heath and I love. So your a good mother as we see it. You and the other mothers all have been loving.” Chris says as I agree with him
“ Thank you both, but I am mad about my godson walking over here.” Ellie says with anger again
“ I know honey so calm down for us.” My god father says as he moves his eyes to me before continuing “ Heath did they even leave you with any gifts.”
“ Yeah three they are in my bag.” I answer as Chris nods opening my bag he had by his chair
Once open he pulled them out only to have wide eyes. Mike goes over and takes them from his son’s hands coming over to sit on the coffee table right in front of me and Ellie.
“ Wow that is it? Three little gifts?” Ellie asks getting a nod from me
“ Yep that was all that was under the tree.” I exclaim getting shook heads as I continue “ Open them if you want as I don’t care.”
I watch as Mike looks from me to Ellie. She nods as he does the long flat one. Chris moves over to sit by his mom. Mike gets the wrapping off to find a kiddie movie. I am wide eyed as is Chris.
“ What the hell don’t they know your 16 bro?” He asks as I shrug my shoulders
Mike opens the other two only to find they were a small belt buckle and toy ring. I just shake my head as I feel Ellie tighten her embrace. Mike stands up shaking his head walking past me to the kitchen. I feel numb at that moment because of my family thinking I am a kid. Chris gets up only to pull his phone out getting his mothers attention.
“ What are you doing Chris?” She asks as I see him dial
“ That’s easy mom calling Selena and Tiffany. I am sure my bro needs those that love him and want him around closer to him then his turn coating family.” My best friend says as Ellie nods agreeing
I don’t know what comes over me, but my tears come and don’t stop. Ellie notices and pulls my head to her shoulder as I wrap my arms around her. She lets me cry only to run her hand through my hair. Mike returns with a cup of warm tea for me. I take it sitting up and slowly sip on it. Ellie stays by me as Chris talks to Selena or Tiffany as I hear yelling from where I sit. Mike returns to his chair only to pick his phone up of the table making calls of his own. I just drink on the tea my god father made as Ellie keeps me warm.
It’s about 5:30 p.m. that knocks are made on the front door. Chris goes to answer it only to be shoved out of the way by Tiffany. She comes over after looking around. Once to me Tiffany sits in my lap to comfort me.
“ Baby why didn’t you call me? I would of had dad or mom come and get you.” Tiffany asks as I place my arms around her
“ I guess I needed to think Tiffany. I am sorry for being a bother.” I say as I feel arms around me
“ Your not a bother Heath as we love you very much. We are very concerned about you baby.” Tiffany tells me as I nod against her chest
I hear Verna and Kiko walk in before starting to talking to Ellie and Mike, Nate, and Ricky talk with their wives and brother and sister. Selena sits on Chris’s lap as we just listen. They talk about me and of my mother and siblings. Tiffany keeps me warm pressing her body against me. I sigh as I feel the love flow from her to my soul. As the evening flows the parents order take out to discuss Christmas. Tiffany, Selena, Chris, and I talk about what we would like to do this coming summer. I think hard on that as this past summer sucked except for the family that surrounds me right now gave me a great birthday. Plus I got a beautiful girlfriend as a wonderful gift. I look up at Tiffany who is smiling at me. I look deep in her eyes and with my heart say a few words.
“ Tiffany, thank you for caring and loving me. I love you so much.” I tell her with my heart as I see her beautiful smile
“ I love you too baby, and your so very welcome my love.” Tiffany says to me placing her lips on mine
The evening goes by with talk and laughter as we ate. Before Tiffany left to go home she gave me a deep kiss and tight hug. She reminded me of her love for me as I did her. That night I fell asleep with tears wishing I was in my own bed with a house full of love, but no i was in a familiar bed in a house that did have love and happiness.
The days that led up to Christmas were nice as Chris, Selena, Tiffany, and I hung out at my god parents. We worked on our online company for a few hours. After that we watched movies while the mothers did their thing. Tiffany and I cuddled on the couch as Chris and Selena cuddled on the floor. I loved these moments with Tiffany as she made me feel comfortable and happy.
Christmas came finally with everyone except my mother and siblings there. We exchanged gifts as everyone got something they wanted. For me I got what I wanted as in a day with true family. Tiffany had gotten me some cologne that she loved to smell on me. I got a new jacket as I was growing out of my old one. Ellie gave me a necklace with a locket. It had a picture of us all on my birthday which I smiled to. That day was full of happiness, laughter and a warmth that filled in my soul. We had a big meal that made us all stuffed like the turkey. Tiffany clung to me with I loved as I could never get enough of her holding me. That night her and Selena stayed the night. Selena slept with Chris in his room as Tiffany slept with me in what was my room. We didn’t do anything except kiss, talk, and snuggle. I loved this woman with all that I was. I told her every waking moment as she did me.
During the two weeks for Christmas Vacation I didn’t get no calls from my mother or siblings. I shrugged it off as I was having to much fun with my other family and Tiffany. After New Years we went back to school. It was the same thing at the airport with hugs and kisses on cheeks. I looked at the double doors with no sign of my mother. I sighed as Tiffany took my hand to lead me to our plane as any other time. The flight was one of relaxation as I held Tiffany’s hand. I pondered what life will be with her after high school. If it’s anything like our love we have now it was going to be a happy one. Tiffany kept her head on my right arm as she slept. I loved her especially watching her sleep.
The rest of the school year was filled with classes, company business, and spending time with Tiffany and our friends. I still got the occasional admirer letter making me know Tiffany wasn’t the one that sent the last ones. I still tried to figure out who it could of been. Tiffany and I drew that much closer as I started calling her my ebony heart. She called me her Irish warrior. As school came to a end that year I was hesitant to go home as I didn’t know what to expect this time around. I told Tiffany my feelings about my fear, but she assured me she would be there with me for comfort. I held her tight thanking her for being so much in my life.
The flight home was nice as Tiffany and I held hands as did Chris with Selena. When we landed at 4 p.m. that Saturday the last weekend in May. The parents of my friends met us in the terminal. We went to pick up our luggage then loaded in separate cars. Chris and I in his Mom’s SUV as Mike drove. They asked how the school year went and we answer pretty good. As Mike pulled down the street I lived on I started to get a uneasy feeling. As he got closer to my house I noticed the cars gone. As my god father pulled up in front of the house I noticed there was no curtains on the bay window. I thought it was odd as mom never took them down. As the SUV stopped I got out only to run to the bay window took look in. To my disbelief there was no furniture in the living room. I made my way to the door unlocking it with my key I still had. Once unlocked I made my way in to a empty room. I ran up the stairs to check the upstairs rooms. Each room was empty even the one that was mine. I ran to moms thinking something happened. Once in her old room to my horror it was empty. I heard yelling as I ran back down the hallway getting to the stairs. I ran down them only to run past it to the kitchen. There was nothing in the kitchen not even a crumb. I made my way to the door that led to the garage. As I stepped in the garage I noticed my stuff was thrown around. My heart sank as I looked at what once was in my bedroom. I looked to find the picture of us when I was 3 years old. The glass was broke in a few pieces. The frame was broke on the top and side. I broke the frame to get the picture. Once I had the picture I made my way back in the house to see Mike, Ellie, and Chris all looking at me with worried and very concerned eyes. I walked past them clutching the picture to my chest in shock. I made my way out of the house to the front lawn. I stood there for a second only to go down on my knees. I kept shaking my head back and forth in denial as I heard my name being yelled from the house. It was at that moment my world fell into a void as I screamed.
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