A/N: Jennifer's saga continues... Who and what will she find? Hope you enjoy! As always please read and review... Thank you.
Jennifer arrived at a beautiful architecturally stunning home that according to the address was 83 Tulip Drive. Seeing as this was the final address and last family on the list Jennifer was 99.99% sure this was the home of her biological parents. As she exited her car and walk to the front door her nerves were getting the best of her. Jennifer's stomach was wound tightly in knots as she reached for and rang the door bell.
A young woman in her mid 30's of average height with medium length curly light brown hair and hazel eyes answered the door bell. 'Is this my sister?' thought Jenn but she quickly pulled herself from her thoughts to answer the woman's question of: "Hello. Can l help you? "
"Hi, I'm Jennifer Mason. I'd like to see Mrs. or Mr. Stevens.'' Jennifer replied.
"Oooh, honey...'' the woman said as she chuckled. "You're very late. My parents bought this house from them about 31 years ago. I'm Denise Jones. I'm house-sitting for my parents Robert and Elaine Jones. They're in Europe celebrating their 40th anniversary. "
"Oh... that's amazing." replied Jennifer faking a joyful response but was truthfully very disappointed on the inside. The very people who could be a great source of information for her were not readily available for questions.
"Is their anything else I can help you with?" asked Denise
"Yes, there is. Do you know by any chance if the Stevens left a forwarding address? I know it's a long shot since so many years have passed." Jennifer asked hesitantly.
And then began to speak more confidently "You see I was given up for adoption 32 years and I have reason to believe the Stevens are my biological parents.''
"Wow!" replied Denise "That's not what I expecting to hear."
"Believe me I'm just about as shocked as you are to be standing here. Finding information on the
Stevens was very difficult. "
"Jennifer I was only about 5 or 6 when we moved into this house and I vaguely remember the Stevens. I do remember that the wife was very friendly and played kiddie hand games with me a bit. And the husband was really standoff-ish, very reserved, never smiled and didn't speak to me at all. But that's about it..." Denise said.
But then something sparked her memory and she exclaimed "Oh yes! I remember she said something about moving to where Disneyland is. Where Mickey and Minnie Mouse lived, so I'm guessing she meant Southern California.
Also you're in luck, a few weeks back I was helping my mother store items in the attic that she doesn't use anymore and we came across a box that the Stevens left behind all those years back. Maybe there is something helpful in the pile, at the very least you will have something that once belonged to them.
Please, come inside." Denise said ushering Jennifer through the doorway.
"With all this excitement I momentarily forgot my manners." She walked Jennifer over to a spacious room to the right of the front door. "Please help yourself to coffee and some homemade pound cake. And sit anywhere you like. A fresh pot just finished brewing, there's cream and sugar off to the side.
I'm going to quickly go up to the attic and see about the box I saw with the Stevens name written across it." and with that Denise was up to the attic.
As Jennifer poured a mug of coffee out for herself and cut a slice of pound cake to munch on, she sat down and took in the kitchen. She thought 'This is the room when my parents once prepared and ate some of their meals.' She felt a little closer to the pair by being in a room they once occupied.
Five minuets later Denise re-emerged with a medium sized box overflowing with its contents. ''Here you go. Luckily it was not buried under a pile of boxes like most things in that attic. Why don't you sit here for as long as you need and sort through the items." said Denise gently; feeling great compassion for this young woman searching for part of her identity.
"I have some things I need to take care of around the house. Just holler if you need anything. And when you are ready to go; I'll see you out."
"Thanks so much." replied Jennifer genuinely. As Denise walked off Jennifer began to unpack the box, she pulled out a Treasure Troll, a novel titled 'Unstake My Heart' and then a bright yellow envelope with the words 'To: Baby Girl Stevens' written across the front caught her attention.
It was nestled among the items that were still in the box. She picked up the envelope which had begun to show signs of age with dark yellow stains at its edges. Jennifer turned the envelope around to its back and open it. She pulled out the letter which was folded in half and written on white paper with blue lines. Jennifer began to read the letter...