Chapter 31 – Tears

Edward

With the hearing scheduled for the following week, I had no idea what I should do. Was it wrong of me to withhold the fact that her mother wanted her back, or should I tell Bree the truth and risk hurting her? The way I saw it, if I won the case then I could adopt her and she'd never know and never be hurt, but if I told her everything then she'd either stress about it, and/or be curious and want to meet her mother, thus putting her at risk for even more hurt. I had no idea what kind of woman her mother was, but on the very real possibility that she was unfit or unworthy of Bree's heart, I was terrified of what it would do to her. It was an impossible situation, and I was truly overwhelmed with worry.

But I should have known Bree would see right through me. She was so much smarter than me, of course she'd figure out something was wrong.

"Just tell me the truth, I can handle it," she said to me one morning.

"Tell you the truth about what?" I played dumb.

"I know you're hiding something bad, just tell me."

"It's nothing for you to worry about," I lied.

She crossed her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, so I sighed.

"You know, you're too smart for your own good," I told her.

"We made a pact not to lie to each other, remember?" she said sternly.

I chuckled. "Okay, okay," I told her before becoming serious. I lead her to the couch where we could speak more comfortably, and then I took a deep breath. "The other day, I found out that your biological mother is seeking custody of you."

I had no idea how she was going to handle it, but I certainly wasn't expecting her to act indifferent. "Oh… Well, I knew I'd have to leave soon," she said emotionlessly before getting up and walking to her room.

Of course, I followed her. "Hey… Bree?" I sat next to her on her bed, and rubbed her back as she kept her attention locked on the book in her hands. "I think we should talk about this."

"Why? You're just my foster parent, and I've had a lot of foster parents. It was only a matter of time before I had to leave," she said casually.

"Okay… Well, you're not feeling anything about it? How about knowing your mom wants you back?"

She shrugged. "I'm not feeling anything about any of it. Last year, when I was in this one children's home, there were a few kids who had their biological parents come pick them up. They were all back within a month. I don't think being with my real mom would be any different than any other family I've been with. Maybe when she's done with me, I can come back here… I mean, if you wanted me back, that is."

"Bree, I want to adopt you," I told her. Maybe it was wrong of me to tell her that, in light of her mother seeking custody and all, but I needed her to know just how much I cared for her. "I want us to be a family. A real family. No more uncommitted foster dad."

She finally looked up at me. "Really?"

"Really. I've already put in my petition for adoption… But with your mother coming into the picture, I'm not sure what's going to happen anymore."

She bit her lower lip, and then she started bawling. Her hysterics were so abrupt that at first I didn't understand what happened, but then she explained through her sobs. "It's not fair! You really want to keep me and now I have to leave."

I hugged her close and kissed her hair. "Hey, no matter what happens, I will always be here for you. Okay?"

"But how?" she asked hopelessly. "What if she wants to take me far away and she won't let me see you anymore?"

"Then we'll just have to write until you're old enough to make decisions for yourself. But listen, I'm not giving up here. I have a really good lawyer and I'm going to fight for you."

She nodded and calmed down slightly, but she still remained in my arms. "Is my father trying to get me too?" she asked unexpectedly.

"I don't know. I was only told it was your mother."

"She's probably married to some douche," she said out of nowhere.

"Bree," I said, trying to sound disapproving of her choice word, but I ended up laughing. "Where did you hear that?"

"Emmett."

"Of course. Maybe having a mother in your life would be a good thing after all," I muttered. I meant it somewhat as a joke, but it came out wrong and made both of us even more upset.

"Edward, I don't want to leave you," Bree cried again.

"I don't want you to leave either, and I'm going to do whatever I can to make sure that doesn't happen."

... ~*~...

On the morning of the hearing, I had never been more nervous for anything in my life. In fact, I was so petrified of losing Bree that I seriously considered just taking her and running for it. But I couldn't be that guy anymore. Bree deserved more than someone who acted rash and reckless, and she certainly didn't need to live a life on the run.

"Edward, just breathe," Bree tried calming me.

I chuckled. "Hey, I thought I was supposed to be the one reassuring you."

She raised her shoulders. "We'll keep each other calm."

I smiled. "Okay, deal."

"Hey Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"If my mom doesn't take me away, and you get to really adopt me, can I call you dad?"

My smile fell into a bittersweet grin, and then I pulled her into me for a hug, but I didn't answer her question. As much as I'd love for her to call me dad, it was too painful to actually agree to at the moment because the truth was, I had a terrible feeling that things weren't going to go our way. I suppose my pessimism was really starting to get the better of me.

Thankfully, the doorbell rang, saving me from her unanswered question.

"Thanks for coming," I said to Emmett and Rose as they walked through the door. "But you're a bit early."

"I figured I'd take you out to coffee and breakfast before it starts," Emmett explained. "You need to get out some of those jitters so you can keep your cool during the hearing."

"I don't have any jitters," I said defensively.

"Yes, you do," Bree sold me out.

Rose and Emmett both laughed. "Come on, sweetheart, let's go make some pancakes," Rose said to Bree.

"I'd rather stay and have pancakes than go out," I told Emmett.

"Fine, but you do need to find a way to calm down."

After the four of us got my kitchen the dirtiest it had ever been, I hugged Bree goodbye and set out on my own to the hearing. Emmett wanted to go with me, but for whatever reason, I just felt the need to do it on my own.

But I was so anxious that I got there way too early, so I decided to go for a little walk to try to calm down. I wasn't really paying attention to anything other than the time, but somehow, I found myself standing outside that Second Chances Café, so I decided to go in and get myself some coffee after all. I only wished I realized sooner that I wasn't wearing my usual disguise of a hat and glasses.

"Oh. My. God," the host said to me the moment he came out from the back. "You're Edward Masen."

I huffed. Usually I didn't mind being recognized too much, but I just wasn't in the mood – I was far too stressed to handle any sort of stranger devotion that day.

I looked around the café to figure out an escape route from the mob that was sure to follow the host's loud recognition, but strangely, the place was entirely empty.

"We're actually not open yet; I didn't know the door was unlocked," the host said, practically squealing and on the verge of a freak out.

"Oh… sorry about that, I didn't realize. Uh, do you want me to sign something, or something?" I asked reluctantly as the man continued to stare at me like I was the most amazing sight in the universe. Were there actual tears in his eyes? – Oh, heaven help me.

"I just can't believe you're actually standing here right now, and on this day, none the less," the guy said. Yep, there were definite tears; they even rolled down his cheeks.

"Um, listen," I leaned in to read his nametag, "Jacob. I actually have somewhere to be in like twenty-minutes, so I don't really have time to hang out. I was just hoping for a cup of coffee to-go, but since you're closed, I guess I'll be leaving," I told him as I backed towards the exit. Why the hell didn't I just go to Starbucks?

"No, wait!" he screamed at me with unexpected urgency. "You can't go. This is fate. You have to stay and help us with this."

I could actually feel my face distort with confusion. I had no idea what he was talking about, but the thoughts that were running through my mind were more than a little disturbing. What the hell did I walk into?

"I'm sorry, but I really have to go."

"Please," he said, almost desperately. "This could change someone's life. We really need your help."

I looked down at my watch. "Look, I'm not just trying to blow you off. I literally have like five minutes before I have to leave."

The man seemed to get excited and he actually jumped in the air before holding his hand up towards me with his five fingers spread out. "Five minutes is enough! Please, just wait there. My friend is just in the back and you really need to see her."

I sighed. "Actually, we're down to four minutes now," I told him.

"It'll only take one!" he yelled back at me as he ran into the kitchen.

I honestly considered just leaving, but suddenly there was a strange feeling - almost a magnetic force keeping me where I was. So, I waited…