Lenore and Emily were settled in for the afternoon. Halloween was around the corner and Lenore had rented a few classics for them to watch. Emily had made some popcorn and sat down.
A few minutes into the film all that could be heard were the screans of the actors and the two munching on popcorn. A loud knock on the door startled them. The both looked at each other since neither were expecting anyone. Lenore wiped her fingers off on a napkin and got up to answer the door.
She looked through the peephole to see a man and woman on the other side of the door. Lenore cracked the door open, leaving the chain on. "Can I help you?" She asked, eyeing them both suspiciously.
They both looked at her in confusion. "Is Emily there?" The short haired woman asked.
Lenore paused for a moment. The media had forgotten them now, so what could these two want? "What do you want?" Lenore asked keeping her hand on the door in case they tried to force their way in.
"Emily, our daughter...is she there?" The woman asked again, moving closer to her presumed husband.
Lenore wasn't sure what to make of this. Emily never spoke of her parents. "Emily? There's a couple of people here for you." Lenore called with her scratchy voice.
Emily's blood ran cold. Who could they be? More importantly what did they want. She cautiously made her way to the door when she heard a familiar voice. "Aren't you going to open the door? Its cold as hell out here." She slammed the door shut and looked out the peephole. She sighed heavily.
"Hey! Open up!" The man shouted, knocking forcefully on the door.
"Go away!" Emily yelled through the door, fighting back tears.
" Emily!" Her mother cried, trying the door. Emily was glad they kept it chained at all times. "Emily! Open the door right now! This is no way to treat your parents!" Her mother snapped, trying to undo the chain.
"You need to leave." Lenore snapped, slapping the woman's hand away. " She assaulted me!" The woman cried.
"Here we go." Emily sighed and rolled her eyes. She opened the door for them, earning a disapproving look from Lenore.
Both of her parents pulled her into a hug. Emily struggled with old feelings bubbling up. Fear inched its way up her limbs, making them heavy.
They finally pulled away affer a few agonizingly long seconds. "What do you want?" Emily demanded, her heart hammering painfully in her chest.
"We've spent months looking for you! We saw you on the news and-"
"You could have kept my phone service on or better yet, not have kept threatening to kick me out." Emily said, trying to keep as much emotion from her voice as possible.
"You were just playing video games all day!" Her dad snapped, as if it were that simple.
"You wouldn't let me get a job!" Emily yelled.
"You weren't ready!" Her mom said, throwing her hands up.
"Why are you here?" Emily demanded, her fists balled at her sides.
"To take you home! God knows what else you'll get yourself into." Her father huffed, stepping closer.
Emily stepped back towards Lenore who was watching it all with narrowed eyes. Her mom glared at Lenore. "And who the hell is that?" She demanded, pointing a perfectly manicured red nail at Lenore.
"No wonder you got into that mess, you'll room with any low life junkie" Her father sneered, grabbing a hold of her arm. Lenore stepped between them. " It's time for you to leave." She growled, prying the man's hand from Emily.
"Who the hell do you think you are coming between me and my daughter?" The man snarled, threatening to smack Lenore.
"A mother protecting her daughter!" Lenore yelled, standing in front of Emily. "You will not barge into our home and treat her in such a rude manner!"
Her mother scoffed. "Emily, get your things we're leaving! I'm her mother, not you!"
"I may not have given birth to her but I'm more of a mother than you'll ever be. Its your fault this happened anyway." Lenore hissed, corralling them towards the door.
"It is your fault! I don't know how you found me but you need to go and never contact me again!" Emily cried, peeking out from behind Lenore.
"We want our grandbaby!" Her mother cried desperately.
Emily went pale. How did they know about that? "What are you talking about? I don't have a kid." She said weakly, the breath left her.
"We saw a news clip of you pregnant!" Her father snapped.
That must be why they're here. Whatever her mother wants, she gets. Not this time. "No, now leave and never come back!" Emily snarled, pushing them towards the door.
"Look, I'll call the cops if you don't get the fuck out." Lenore warned, waving her phone.
" Emily." Her mother whined, tears streaming down her face. She closed in for a hug.
"Why didn't you come home?" She asked.
"This is why. You came here because you wanted to control me again. You don't care about me, you only care about how bad it made you look that I just left." She yelled, wrenching out of her mother's arms.
"Lenore is more of a mom than you'll ever be. She doesn't try to force me to be someone I'm not! She actually supports my dreams! You never knew me as a person and you blew any chance of ever doing that! As far as your grandbaby, you don't have one. Now leave!" Emily yelled, her face red, head pounding.
They went to protest when Lenore waved her phone again, walking them out the door. Lenore locked the door quickly. They pounded on the door. "The police are on their way!" Lenore yelled.
Emily watched them reluctantly leave a few moments later. "Thanks, Lenore. God why did they have to come here?" Lenore pulled her into a hug. " I got your back kid." She said, itching for a cigarette after all the excitement.
The following months, Emily received several letters and phone calls from her parents. Some were remorseful and begging for a second chance while most were demanding she go back with them and find the child she adopted out. Emily prayed they didn't bother the child's family. She considered warning them but decided it was best to not, the adoption records were sealed anyway.
Emily could go rest of her life without seeing her parents again.
