Measures of My Life: Jack Mercer
Authors Note: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THE REVIEWS! I can't tell you how much each review means to me. In fact after reading all of them I immediately started writing chapter 10. This is the finished product. Sorry it's kind of short but I hope it's to your liking all the same.
Chapter 10
I sat outside on the roof terrace right outside my bedroom window smoking a cigarette. I exhaled and watched the smoke slowly evaporate into the blue sky. I hadn't spoken to any of the brothers since that night, Bobby hadn't even given me a glance. I lightly touched my cheek and grimaced. Luckily I didn't break my nose but I sure did get a nice bruise. I sighed and took another puff of my cigarette. Last night Logan had come over again but was chased off by Angel. I was too depressed and angry with myself to do anything about it. I heard a light knock on my door and I looked back through the window to see who it was…it was Evelyn.
"Jack?" God, what the hell did she want now? I threw the cigarette into the snow on the front lawn and crawled back through the window.
"Yeah?" She looked at me sternly and shook her head.
"You may be smoking yourself to death but I appreciate you not smoking in my house." I rolled my eyes and sat on the bed. I noticed her set some things on top my sock drawer
"What is that?" My curiosity had gotten the better of me.
"These? Just some overdue housewarming gifts I suppose."
"right…" She slowly walked back to the door and left me alone again. Once I knew she was downstairs I went to look through the things that she had brought me. I could feel a lump in my throat begin to form as I saw what it was. It was a brand new tooth brush, some new socks, boxers, a bathrobe. Now this may seem like pretty pathetic housewarming gift but to me, it meant the world. How long have I been using the same god damn toothbrush and I can't even tell you how many socks I have with gaping holes. It was the nicest thing that any foster parent had ever done for me. Every inch of my being was telling me to just trust her, to give her a chance, but I was so afraid to fully depend on someone in fear that they would simply betray me.
It was then that I heard a car pull up the driveway. I looked out the window to see who it was when I noticed a middle aged couple get out of the car and make their way up to the house. They couldn't have been older than forty-five. I heard the doorbell ring and seeds of suspicion started to seep into my mind.
"Oh my goodness, Mr. and Mrs. Wintchell I wasn't expecting you so early. Please, please come in."
"Yes, we're so sorry Ms. Mercer. It's just that my wife and I were just looking forward to this meeting. I hope our being earlier isn't much of an inconvenience."
"No not at all." I stepped out of my room and silently sat at the top of the staircase trying my best to eavesdrop. "May I offer you some coffee or pie?"
"Oh no, please don't trouble yourself. We just wanted to say that, after reviewing the files and back ground we would love to sign the adoption papers. After seeing the pictures, we just knew we had to make the poor child a part of our family." I felt my mouth go dry. I instantly remembered the night Bobby told me that Evelyn would do everything in her power to try and find me a family.
"That's so good to here. From what I've heard and read as well you would be the perfect family. I truly believe both of you will be able to give a child a safe and loving environment. I can't tell you how much of an impact adopting a child can be. It may be difficult at the beginning but as they grow older you two will become their heroes." I could almost see the tears of joy in the woman's eyes as Evelyn stopped speaking. "Now all that's said and done. Would you like to meet him?" I felt like my heart was beating out of my chest.
"Him? Oh no Ms. Mercer it wasn't a him."
"Oh no don't be silly, Jack?"
"No, Ms. Mercer you don't…
"Jack why don't you come down here."
"Ms…"
"Jack? I have some people I want you to meet." It felt like an outer body experience as I marched down the stairs to meet the Wintchell's. I slowly made my way into the middle of the living room and stood next to Evelyn, looking at everything in the room except the couple standing before me. I barely noticed the look of horror that passed on the couple's face.
"Ms. Mercer, there seems to be a grave misunderstanding." I looked to Evelyn's confused expression.
"I'm sorry what confusion?"
"I'm not sure what the adoption agency told you but… we came here to see Missy." That familiar taste of vomit became very apparent in my mouth as I felt Evelyn's hand on the small of my back. "I mean…well. We were sent files on both Jack and Missy. But…well…we…uh…We were looking for someone who was a bit younger than Jack's age." I finally looked into the man's eyes with a blank expression. "Jack… we hope you understand. But it doesn't make you any less of the fine gentleman you are right now."
"Oh I feel so terrible… This was all of my fault, I obviously misunderstood what the adoption agency was telling me…I…" I stopped Evelyn before she could continue any further.
"No it's ok Evelyn. I understand." I looked back into the eyes of the middle-age couple. "You don't have to sugar coat it for me. I know you don't want me, who the hell would want damaged goods. No body wants a kid with my kind of reputation why would you. You don't have to try and make me feel better about myself all because you don't want to adopt me because I know what I am. I'm nothing but shit on the ground, so let me go get Missy for you okay." After I was done with my ranting I left the three adults in the living room with their jaws hanging open.
What were you thinking Jack? Did you actually think that they would want to adopt you? Come on man. Take your head out of the clouds and stop dreaming of a better life because no one is ever going to want you. All I want to do at that moment was bang my head against the wall for actually having some hope for once. I opened Missy's door and caught her coloring. She looked up at me with curious blue eyes.
"Come on kid, you got some people who are really excited to meet you."
"Is Jack feeling better?" I couldn't help but let out a slight smile.
"I'm feeling much better now, thanks. But you better get downstairs."
The Wintchell's had spent the rest of the night with the family. The three brothers had all seemed to approve of Missy's soon to be parents but all I could do was sit in the corner of the room. I couldn't help but feel a bit envious of Missy's situation but it was over too soon because the following day her things were packed and we all stood outside the house saying our goodbyes. She wouldn't remember us when she grew up. She was much too young to remember any of us. Maybe it was for the better…
The Wintchell's stood by the car smiling as they watched Missy give everyone hugs and kisses. She finally came down to me. There was a moment of awkward silence when I finally bent down on my knees to bring myself to Missy's height.
"Sorry, we didn't have much time to get to know each other better." The next thing I knew she threw her arms around my neck and to my surprise I wrapped my arms around her little body as well. She looked back up to me with tears in her eyes, but they weren't tears of sadness, but tears of joy. I looked into her eyes and wondered how that felt like. To be that happy, to finally have a family, I held back the tears that were trying to come down. I ruffled Missy's hair and gave her a slight chuckle. "You take care now. You finally have a home, you have a lot more luck than me kid." She gave me a strange look and placed her small hands on both sides of my face. Her eyes grew intense as she looked deep into mine.
"Jack, don't you see? You are home." I was left speechless and left to comprehend her message as she ran into the car and gave one last wave to all of us before driving away with her new parents.
God did I need a cigarette.
Authors Note: So? What do you think? Short I know but hope you all still enjoyed it. You know what to do now. Leave me some feedback PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE:) Thanks so much to all of my loyal readers I appreciate each and every one of you.