Chapter 28: Fate

Kristin stepped into the living room where Emma was still working on her homework. She scribbled furiously into one of the notebooks she'd bought her earlier that day. She flipped to the next page of her reading and wrote another note. Luckily the teacher had let her borrow a textbook until she could get her own. Kristin stood there a little longer before Emma noticed she was there.

"Oh, hi Kristin," she greeted, "Did you need something?"

"Did Sutton get the door?"

"Yeah. I thought she'd have returned by now, but no such luck."

"Who would she not invite into the house?"

Emma nodded, "Maybe it's..." Emma trailed off.

"Annie? Do you think she could be talking to your birth mother?"

"You know about her?"

"Ted told me last night," Kristin explained taking a seat next to Emma, "Is that the reason you told the social worker that your birth mother wasn't an option, because you thought I didn't know?"

"Well yeah," Emma answered, "I know you've been bombarded by as many secrets as me and Sutton have. I didn't really think it was fair to drop another one on you when you were being so nice to me."

"So you're whole reason for not saying anything was to spare my feelings."

"Pretty much," Emma responded.

Kristin wrapped her arms around Emma and pulled her into a tight hug.

"What was that for?" Emma questioned when they released.

"I'm just so amazed by who you turned out to be," Kristin answered, "You have not had the easiest life, but you're not bitter or angry about it. I know you're not my daughter, but I do feel a bond with you. And if I could be your foster mom, I would do it. I wish Sutton and I could have the relationship you and I developed in such a short time period."

"Why can't you?"

"In all of this, I think she's most angry with me. I don't know what happened, but she just seemed to push farther away from me than Ted. I would like to get it back, but I don't know if she wants it."

"I know she wants it. From what Sutton's told me it sounds like this goes deeper than just you and Ted lying to her and I think that scares her a little bit. She is just now realizing what this is all about for her and I firmly believe that when she's ready she'll tell you everything."

"You're not gonna give me any hint are you?"

"It's Sutton's story," Emma explained, "If she wants you to know it, she'll tell you."


"I know you probably have a lot of questions for me," Annie started looking at Sutton, "But before you begin I just want you to know that I did want you back. If circumstances had been different I would have fought for you. I would have done everything in my power to get both of you back."

Sutton was seated next to Annie on the front steps. She looked like she was on the verge of tears, but she maintained her composure, "So why didn't you? Why couldn't you fight for me?"

"I knew Ted and Kristin prior to this. Because of the fake name on the birth certificate it meant I would either have to come clean to the authorities and possibly lose you forever or let you go for the time being. It would've hurt a lot of people for me to take you back. It wasn't right for me to do that."

"So you fought for Emma because you had a better chance at getting her back without getting in trouble."

"It sounds horrible and I'm sorry I didn't fight for you, but I knew you were in good hands. I knew that the Mercers would treat you like their own. I knew you would be safe."

"What about Emma? Didn't you trust the Websters to give her a good home?"

"I didn't know the Websters at all. I didn't know anything about them. I couldn't trust them with my daughter."

"I thought Ruth was in charge of finding the homes," Sutton clarified, "that's what she told me back in Los Angeles."

"She was," Annie conceded, "It doesn't mean she wasn't influenced to ensure that you ended up with the Mercers."

"This is all so screwed up," Sutton stated, "Did any of you stop to think what would happen to me or Emma? Did you ever think about what would happen when we wanted to know more? Did you ever think of us?"

"None of us did," Annie explained, "but I'm trying to make it right. That's why I asked Emma if she wanted me fight for custody of her. I wanted to know what she wanted."

"You're gonna try and get Emma back. Were you gonna give me the same offer?"

"Sutton, although I want you back with all the years that have passed I would never be able to get custody of you, nor would I want to take you away from the only life you've ever known. Emma got the short end of the stick with this and I wanted to make it right."

Sutton looked hurt. Apparently Emma hadn't told her about this, not that she blamed Emma. Annie knew it would hurt Sutton, that's why she was telling her now. That's why she was explaining.

"She turned down my offer," Annie continued, "She told me not to fight for custody of her."

"Why would she do that?"

"Because of you, Sutton."

"Me? What do I have to do with this?"

"Sutton, the one thing Emma has always wanted is a family and you let her have that when you let her take your place. She cares for you so much and she doesn't want to lose you again. She told me that if I couldn't take both of you she didn't want to be taken at all."

"So she gave up the opportunity to live with you, because I didn't have the same opportunity. Why would she do that?"

"I couldn't tell you," Annie responded. She really didn't understand it. She told Emma that it would take a while for her to be in a position to fight for her, but she was willing to do the work. Emma had turned down the offer, saying it wouldn't be right. Annie had accepted her decision, but she didn't understand it. Why would she choose to remain in foster care? Annie had come to realize that although Emma's life had been hard, she had not been negatively impacted by it. There was a part of Annie that thought she was actually better for it.

"You don't seem crazy," Sutton stated.

"Excuse me?"

"I found you in a mental institution and then when I brought up Emma you called security on me. I don't understand why you are so different from that first experience."

"When you found me I was a grief stricken parent. I thought I had killed my own child. When you told me she wasn't dead I couldn't believe you were real. I'd spent 14 years being told that I was schizophrenic. I eventually started to believe it. When I calmed down I realized you weren't lying and you were real. I realized that I'd been lied to for years and I needed to make this right. You found me when I was in a very bad place, but I'm back and I'm gonna find out the truth behind all of the lies. I'm gonna answer all of those questions you asked me at the clinic."

"It's funny," Sutton responded, "that's what I said to Emma when I got back to Phoenix from Paris. That vow almost cost me everything."

"Sutton, I lost 14 years of my life because of the lies."

"And I lost my identity. When I found out my parents lied to me I felt like everything I'd known was a lie. I thought that justified lying, but it doesn't. It just made me as bad as them."

"Are you telling me you don't want to know the truth?"

"I'm telling you I don't care either way anymore. You're right, Ted and Kristin have given me everything I could ever need. They gave me a home, a family, love. After hearing what Emma has been through I just can't keep digging when it is obviously hurting my family in process."

"What changed your mind? When you came into my room you seemed so desperate for answers."

"Emma did," Sutton explained, "After realizing what could've happened to me, I just couldn't stay angry."

Annie felt a little hurt. It was her own selfish wants that forced Emma into that situation. If she had just left everything alone, Emma would've grown up in a house similar to Sutton's. It was her fault Emma had ended up in foster care.

"Please don't take this the wrong way," Sutton begged, "I don't blame you for what happened to Emma, and I don't think Emma does either. You were lied to just like us. When I found the house in Fillmore and showed it to Emma she had all of these wonderful memories. Just because someone lied to you doesn't mean it's your fault Emma ended up in foster care."

"I was selfish. She had a good home, a good life, everything and I was selfish enough to take it away. I've made a lot of mistakes and taking Emma away from the Websters is probably the one I regret the most."

"But if you hadn't taken her away, she probably wouldn't be here in Phoenix right now. Who knows whether Emma and I would've ever met, or whether she would be who she is today. You didn't take me away and look what happened. I became a selfish, spoiled brat."

"How is it that you are comforting me? I'm your mother, isn't that my job?"

"You haven't spent as much time with Emma, recently, as I have. I don't know how she does it, but she really makes you see what's important. She listens to you and never dismisses your problems. I really don't know why she is so compassionate, but she is. It really makes you question what's important to you."

Annie had gotten that feeling when she'd spoken to Emma earlier that day. The way she considered how Sutton would feel if she was taken and not Sutton, the way she'd figured everything out without having to be told most of the details. Emma was a perceptive person. She understood a lot more than any 17 year old should.

"I do have another question for you, though."

"Shoot."

"Are you going to stay in Phoenix? Are Emma and I going to get to know you better?"

"If I have anything to say about it, that's the plan," Annie answered placing her hand on Sutton's knee, "I am your mother. I can't just walk out of your lives again. If you and Emma want to spend time with me, I will make sure that happens."

"I appreciate the offer and I do want to spend time with you. I'm sure Emma would like to as well, but I really can't speak for her. However, I do have a favor to ask of you for Emma."

"Anything."