"Dinner's ready!" Annie Camden called up the stairs to her family.  After she heard a few "Ok"'s  and "I'll be right down!" she walked back to the kitchen and picked up the dish of chicken to take it out to the dinning room.  By the time she got there, everyone had already sat down and was waiting for the food.  After a few minutes of silent eating, Annie turned to her family and asked, "So, how was everyone's day?"

            "I finished my sermon this afternoon."  Eric announced.

            "That's great!"  Annie smiled, knowing how hard he had worked on it.

            "I got an A on the essay I wrote last week for my English class" Lucy said, reaching for a roll.

            "Wonderful! Great job!"  Annie told her.  Kevin, Robbie, and Simon each commented on their days, but Ruthie was being strangely quiet.  "Ruthie, how was your day?" Annie asked, watching her youngest daughter push her food around on her plate.

            "Ok"  She muttered.

            "Are you ok?"  Annie asked with concern.  It wasn't like Ruthie to be so depressed.

            "Yeah it's just…we read a story in school today about a girl who found out she was adopted."

            Annie exchanged a glance with Eric before turning back to Ruthie.  "That sounds interesting.  Did you like the story?"

            "Yeah but…the girl didn't look or act like her family.  And neither do I."  Ruthie looked down at her plate.  "Am I adopted?" 

*Flashback*

13 Years Ago

            After putting the 4 kids to bed, Annie was exhausted.  Eric joined her on their bed after a few minutes and put his arm around her.  "Eric?" She asked, turning to look at him.  "What do you think about having another child?" 

            He looked surprised but answered calmly, "Honey, we already have 4 children.  How can we handle a baby?" 

            "It doesn't have to be a baby." 

            "What do you mean?"

            "We could adopt.  There are hundreds of children in this area who need homes.  Why can't we help?"

            "Honey, you know how long it takes to adopt.  And I think our family is nice the way it is."  He laid down on the bed and tried to pull her down with him.

            "Can't we at least consider it?"

            "Ok, I'll think about it.  Now, let's go to bed"

            "Ok" She agreed, laying down beside him.  "Let's talk about it later."

*1 Year Later*

            "Hi guys" Annie greeted her three oldest children as they arrived home from school.  "How was your day?"

            "Ok" 11-year-old Matt replied. "Can I have a snack?"

            "Mom, I need help with my math homework.  I don't understand fractions!"  9-year-old Mary announced, dropping her bookbag on the floor. 

            "Mommy, we're having a bake sale at school, can you make a cake?" 7-year-old Lucy asked.

            "Mommy"  4-year-old Simon whined coming down the steps.  "I can't find my Matchbox cars!" 

            Before Annie could answer anyone, the phone rang.

            "Hello?"  she asked

            "Hi, Honey"  Eric said.  "Do you remember when we were talking about adopting?"

            "Yes" Annie answered, confused.  They hadn't mentioned it in almost a year. Why was he bringing it up now?

            "Well a 16-year-old girl came to me for help today.  She's 8 months pregnant and scared to death.  She hasn't told her parents because she's afraid of them, but she doesn't know what to do with the baby once it is born.  She's a very sweet girl and I want to help."

            "You want us to adopt the baby?"  Annie asked, her mouth dropping open.

            "Yes.  We can arrange a private adoption.  It shouldn't take too long. I thought this is what you wanted."

            Annie looked around the room.  Mary had dropped her glass of milk on the floor, Lucy and Matt were arguing loudly, and Simon had started crying.  "You're right." Annie told Eric.  "Let's do it!"

1 Month Later

            Annie took a deep breath and entered the hospital room.   "Hello Sara, how are you doing?" She asked when she saw the young girl laying in the bed, holding an infant wrapped in blankets.  Over the past month Annie had gotten to know Sara, and liked her a lot.  It seemed unfair that she had to be dealing with a baby by herself. She had told Annie that the father had broken up with her as soon as he found out she was pregnant and that she couldn't turn to her strict parents. 

            "I'm ok."  Sara smiled weakly.  "Why don't you hold your daughter?" She offered, her eyes filling with tears.  "I don't want to get too attached to her.  I didn't think it would be this hard to give her away."

            "Thank you" Annie whispered, taking the baby.  "She's adorable.  She looks just like you.  I know it's hard for you to give her up. I'm sorry you have to go through this."

            "It's my own fault for trusting that jerk."  She said bitterly, tears falling down her cheeks.  "He told me he loved me."  She suddenly shook her head and smiled at Annie.  "Never mind.  I named her Ruth.  I loved that name when I was little.  Eric told me it is his mother's name too, so it's perfect.  I have a letter for you to give her when she's older explaining why I left her.  I want her to understand that I loved her." 

            Annie leaned over, her eyes filling with tears, and hugged Sara. "Thanks you Honey.  It will be ok.  I promise everything will turn out ok for you."

            A few hours later, Eric pulled into the driveway.  Annie carried Ruth into the house and was immediately greeted by her children and the babysitter.

            "Mommy, you had a baby?"  Simon asked.

            "No" she said smiling.  She paid the babysitter and then sat on the couch.  Kids, this baby belonged to a girl named Sara.  Sara couldn't take care of the baby, so your father and I decided to raise her and make her our daughter.  Just because I didn't give birth to her doesn't mean she isn't a member of the family.  You should treat her just like a regular sister.  We decided not to tell her she was adopted until she is an adult, so please don't say anything when she is old enough to understand."

*Present Time*

            "Well"  Ruthie asked, starting to panic.  She saw her mother's eyes fill with tears and her father take a deep breath.  Lucy and Simon looked down at their plates. Only Kevin and Robbie looked as confused as she felt. 

            "I am aren't I?"  Ruthie whispered.  "Why didn't you tell me?"  She couldn't control her emotions. She felt angry, betrayed, sad, and confused at the same time and she didn't know what to do. 

            "Honey"  Eric said, reaching for her hand.  "We just didn't think that –"

            "I don't care!  I'm not your 'Honey'!  I'm not even your kid!  How could you lie to me!"  She screamed, sobbing.  "I hate you!"   She turned and ran upstairs to her room, slamming her door with a deafening bang.