Chapter 29
I don't own anything
"How do I look, Rach?" Nikki asked as she twirled around the small hotel room, dancing to whatever Disney teeny bopper was singing on the television screen.
I looked over the heavy blanket and gave her a small smile. She had a purple sun dress on with a white sweater to keep her warm. "You look beautiful, sweetheart," I choked out before my hacking cough came back over me. Paul sighed deeply as he patted my back. "I'm fine, Paul," I said, looking into his worried eyes.
"You are not fine," Paul said sternly, pulling on his hair in frustration. "This was a bad idea. You should be home trying to get healthy, not traveling."
I closed my eyes and cuddled into his bare chest. "We gotta do what we gotta do. This is important, I can get better once this is all over."
"Maybe you should stay here while we sign the papers," Paul suggested quietly.
I coughed out a laugh. "And leave you and Nikki alone with your parents? I don't think so. Who is going to calm you guys down if things don't go smoothly? Plus in order for me to be a legal guardian, I have to sign the papers too." I looked up at his brown eyes. "Unless you don't want me to go," I added lowly.
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I want you to go, Rach. I just can't stand watching you suffer, it breaks my heart. I need for you to get better," he said, his voice straining. My sickness was obviously taking a toll on him.
"And I will, once this is all behind us," I promised him, shutting my eyes again.
"We need to get dressed, Rachel," Paul said, kissing my cheek lightly.
I nodded and leaned up, the dizziness hitting me again. Paul frowned and helped me to my feet and towards the bathroom. He placed my clothes on the sink and turned to me. "I think I can handle it from here, Paulie," I said quietly, reaching up to kiss his cheek lightly.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around me. Paul took a deep breath before pulling back and looking down at me strangely. "You smell different. Are you wearing perfume or something?" He asked me before smelling me again.
"No, I just haven't showered in days. That's why I smell. Now I'm embarrassed that it's that noticeable," I wrinkled my nose and pushed away.
Paul pulled me closer, taking another deep breath. "No, it's not that. You smell great, Rach."
"You're very biased," I reasoned with him. "Now I really need to take a shower, or we will be late," I said before pushing away again.
This time he loosened his arms. "Okay, well let me know if you need any help in there," he winked at me before turning out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
I chuckled before moving to look in the mirror. "Ew," I whispered to myself. I hadn't washed my face in days, let alone put on make-up. In the shower, I scrubbed my face and washed all the germs off of my body. I felt ten times better as I stepped out of the tub and dried myself off.
Paul and Nikki were sitting on the bed watching cartoons when I walked out of the bathroom. Paul had changed into a t-shirt and jeans. He looked at me and smiled as I walked towards them.
"Are we ready?" I asked, pulling on my jacket.
"Yeah! Let's go!" Nikki yelped, hopping out of the bed.
"Put your coat and shoes on, okay Nick?" Paul said as he got out of the bed and walked over to me. "How was your shower?"
"Lonely," I cheeked, kissing him softly. "But it was good. I feel a lot better, actually."
He smiled down at me. "Good, now let's get this over with."
I nodded and opened the door. "Where are we meeting them?"
"Denny's. We're going to eat and then head over to the notary to sign the papers. Then I will submit them to child services when we get home," Paul explained.
"Sounds like a plan," I said, taking his hand.
He gave me a forced smile before helping me into the large truck. Nikki hopped in and sat in the middle, leaning on Paul as he started the car.
As we pulled into the Denny's parking lot, my stomach started to flip inside of me. Paul guided me out of the car, but stopped when I tripped over myself.
"Rachel, I'm really starting to worry about you," he said as he held my arms to steady me.
"You always worry, I'm really fine. Just clumsy," I reasoned with him, hoping to hide the fact that I really wasn't feeling well at all.
"You're the most graceful person I know, " he said frowning. Paul let out an uneasy sigh before nodding and continuing towards the restaurant. I managed to get into the diner and to fall into a booth before the nausea hit me again. Paul slid in next to me, with Nikki hopping up next to him. I rested my head on his shoulder to try to steady myself.
Five minutes later, a loud shriek brought me out of my trance. My head snapped up to see Nikki sprinting towards her parents who had just walked in the door.
From the looks of it, they were both sober and happy to see their daughter that they had abandoned months earlier.
I scooted over to greet them but Paul didn't budge. He didn't even look at his parents until the sat down across from us, Nikki in between them.
I smiled at them as they settled into their seats. "Good morning," I said smiling, putting on my teacher face.
Pauls father looked up and gave us a small grin. "Good morning to you too, and thank you for coming out here."
"Oh it's no problem Daddy! Paulie was a little nervous though because Rachel is very sick, right Rachel?" Nikki rambled on, still smiling from ear to ear.
Pauls mom decided it was time to put her two cents in. "What'd you do? Knock her up?" She said as she coughed loudly.
My heart stopped for a split second before beating into hyper speed. Knocked up? Could I be pregnant? Glancing at Paul, I saw his mind was also running a mile a minute. I shook my head and threw that thought into the back of my mind. "No," I said, trying to laugh the comment off. "It's just the flu."
"You sure? I see that pretty ring on your finger. We got engaged about a week after we found out that Paul was coming," she said, peering over at my ring finger.
It seemed as Paul regained his composure. "We are just engaged Mom. Because we love each other, no other reason."
She was about to open her mouth to say something else when the waiter came and took our order, breaking up the awkward conversation.
The waiter placed the sausage and toast in front of me and my stomach lurched. Fantastic, I thought to myself. I pushed the meat away and spread butter lightly over the toast. I could manage the toast. Feeling eyes on me I looked up. Paul's mom was staring at me while I was disecting my food. Again, fantastic. She gave me a knowning look before starting on her own food.
"So how does this work? We sign the papers and that's it?" Paul's mother asked while sipping on her coffee.
I inwardly frowned. The fact that she is so easily giving up her daughter is still shocking to me. "Yes, it will give us legal guardianship."
"Well, good because I don't foresee us going back there," she huffed as our waiter returned with our food.
Paul stared at his parents from across the table. "Ever? What about the house? What about..." His eyes fell to his sister, who was obviously coloring on her menu.
It was his dad who surprisingly spoke up. "I've got a better job here. Besides Nicole, there's nothing keeping us in La Push and we don't want to uproot her from her home."
I felt a stab in my heart when he left Paul out of his reasoning. Looking over at Paul, I see him pushing his eggs around the plate, his eyes lowered and his breathing slow. I reach over and pat his leg reassuringly. He looks up and offers me a small smile.
We ate in silence for a few minutes before Mrs. Brooks sighs loudly. "Alright, so let's get this over with, shall we?" Paul's mom said, pushing her plate back from her.
I felt myself frowning again. "Are you sure? We can hang out for a bit if you want. I mean, you're probably not going to see your daughter for a long time," I said as I pushed my half eaten toast aside.
"Yeah, Mom, Rachel and I both have jobs too. We won't be able to come back for a while," Paul agreed with me.
"Well, it's one and your father has to work at five. I don't know how long these things take but he can't be late to work," she said, as she slid out of the booth.
Paul frowned, but followed her out, throwing some cash on the table for the bill. Nikki hopped out and grabbed her moms hand, which her mom willingly took. I sighed, wondering again how a mother could just sign her only daughter away.
I felt Pauls warm hand on my shoulder and I automatically leaned into him, taking a deep breath. "It's almost over, Paulie," I whispered, knowing he would be able to hear me.
I stepped away, immediately tripping over myself.
"Rach, are you sure you're okay? Do you think..." He glanced up at his parents and sister, who were waiting by the door, getting candy out of the machines. "Could my mom be right? About you being sick? I mean, you smell different. I can't explain it, but you do."
I looked up at his intense eyes and shrugged. "I mean, in theory, she could be. But I think we need to deal with one life changing thing at once, yeah?"
Paul nodded. "Yeah, you're right. You always are," he pulled my into his arms again. "But for the record, I would be absolutely psyched if you were."
I smiled to myself. "Good to know," I whispered, again, knowing he would hear it. "Would you really be able to smell it?" I asked, glancing up at him again.
Paul shrugged. "I mean, I know your unique smell like the back of my hand and something had to change in order for me to notice a difference."
I nodded. "We will look into it when we get home, okay?" Paul nodded, the smile on his face growing even larger.
We walked towards his family, and his mom looked up at us. "You kids change your mind?" she asked, popping a lime runt candy into her mouth.
Pauls eyes narrowed at his mothers comment. "No way," he said confidently.
Nikki jumped off her dads lap and held her hand open. "Would you like an banana runt, Rachel? I know they are your favorite."
"Thank you, Nick. I love these things," I said as she dropped them in my hand.
"Are we going home soon, Paulie?" Nikki asked her brother as he took her hand.
"You betcha, Nikki," he kissed her cheek as we walked out the door.
So you don't have to review if you don't want to. Because this took forever and a day to get out. I am literally so busy at school it's ridiculous. My days are scheduled by the hour. I tell my friends that my life is a series of meetings and appointments. haha.
Anyways, I have added writing two hundred words a day of Going Home. Hopefully this will motivate me to get this story rolling again. But like always, school is the most important thing for me right now so if it takes another year to update, I really am sorry but that's just how it is.
Junior year at Penn State is a trip, but I gotta live it up while I can!
Keep reading other stories because there are some really great ones out there! And read mine if you want to too :)
I do love you all for real.
love,
Maddison.
