"From what my mom has said," she told Jesse over dinner at BBQ Bob's,
"she had a one night stand with our dad. Their protection failed, mom got
pregnant, and she never heard from him again. When I turned seven or so, I
began to question why I didn't have a father and everyone else did-she
never even had a boyfriend-she said she didn't know.
"I asked her for nine years, and finally 6 months ago, she finally told me. I was furious. I mean, who wouldn't be? I didn't talk to her for a week. Then she told me I had a brother-well, a half-brother, but a brother still the same. So I started to search. I didn't actually leave home 'til about three months ago. Mom didn't want me to leave, and she all but disowned me. She offered me money after I left, but only if I came home 'like a sensible girl'. Of course, I couldn't go home..."
While Liz was telling her journey to Jesse, they were being watched by Mark, Amanda, and Steve.
"Mark, do you know who she is?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah, isn't she a bit young, even for Jesse?" Steve asked sarcastically.
"I don't know who she is, but a nurse said that she saw them in one of the patient rooms hugging and crying. Steve, I don't think you need to worry too much about her age. Besides, they're coming over here, so ask him yourself," Mark said as Jesse sat down. Liz hovered to the side.
"Hey guys," Jesse said. "I want you to meet someone special. Liz, this is Mark-"
"Hi Liz-"
"Hi-"
"Steve-"
"Hey Liz-"
"Hi-"
"and Amanda-"
"Hey Liz-"
"Hi-"
"Guys, this is Liz, my half-sister," Jesse said, smiling. Liz was still standing when Mark told her to pull up a chair.
"Thanks," She said. She was still smiling from earlier when she first met Jesse. "I'm so glad I have found my brother. And I'm glad he has friends like you guys. He calls you his family."
"Then, I guess that makes you our family, "Amanda said, smiling. Smiles were contagious, because even the tough cop was smiling.
"This calls for a celebration, " said Steve. "Drinks on me. What'll you have?" he asked Liz.
"Diet Coke."
Mark-"Water"
Amanda-"Sam Adams Light"
"Light beer?" Steve asked. "That's an oxymoron!"
"Sam Adams Light," she said.
"I'll have a Bud LIGHT," said Jesse.
"Morons," Steve mumbled.
"Like oxy-morons?" asked Liz.
"Exactly," said Steve with a laugh. He got up to get the drinks and went behind the counter.
Liz was shocked. "Won't the owner get mad? I mean, that he's back behind there?" she asked.
"No, I won't get mad," said Steve, returning with the drinks.
"Neither will I," said Jesse.
"Awesome," she said.
"So, where are you from and how old are you?" asked Mark.
"I'm 16, and I'm from a small town in East Tennessee called LaFollette. About 6 months ago, I found you that I had a brother that I never met. I began to search, and 3 months ago, I had seven matches: 3 up the East Coast, one in Iowa, 2 in Denver, and one in California. When the ones in Denver weren't Jesse, I was about to give up-go home and have mom tell me she was right-but something told me the last one was going to hit the jackpot. I have hit the jackpot." She smiled at Jesse. "I just hope I can mend fences with my mother, but if I don't, I know I have a family in California. I have found a piece of myself that was lost. For so long, I have felt lonely. Yes, I have a good mom, but with it being just she and I, I got lonely when she went on trips without me, at school, everywhere. Even if I were with her. I didn't know what a friend was. What joy extended family can be. Last year, I ate Thanksgiving at my friend's house. She has 5 brothers and 2 sisters, plus 15 nieces and nephews that came over. It was a blast. The best time I've had in my life is with a big 'family'."
"When was the last time you spoke with your mom?" Mark asked.
"Well, I spoke to her on the phone for a few seconds yesterday. She hung up on me, like all the other times. The last time I really spoke to her was the night before I left. We screamed so loud at each other, our neighbors called the police. I went to sleep after all of the questioning, and left out at 4 in the morning. I didn't look back. Later, I found in my backpack a letter and a blank check. The letter was from mom telling me how very, very hurt she was that I was leaving her. I'm sure she's blaming herself for something. You know, 'Am I such a horrible mom for her to not stay home? Why does she need to find someone to replace me?'"
"You are very wise," Steve remarked.
"Yeah, but even with all of my wisdom, it still hurts," she said, her voice cracking slightly. She quickly changed the subject. "So, what is everyone's job?" she asked.
"I'm a doctor. I'm head of Internal Medicine at Community General. I'm also a consultant with the police," said Mark.
"I'm a pathologist and I'm an ME," Amanda said.
"A medical examiner? Cool. I mean, not for the people you autopsy, but for their families. Give them a sense of closure, I suppose," Liz said.
"That's one of the reasons I became a pathologist," Amanda said.
"I'm a lieutenant with the LAPD. I'm in homicide," Steve said.
"Let me guess. You guys solve murders. I mean, with your jobs together. It all adds up," she said, with a Cheshire grin.
"Yeah," said Mark, chuckling.
"So, what are you interested in doing?" Steve asked.
"I was thinking about possibly becoming a doctor. Cardio-thorastic surgeon. Or maybe even neuro-surgeon. And whether I become a doctor or not, I will do something with music." "Do you sing, play an instrument, write music, or what?" asked Jesse.
"All three. I've written a couple of songs. I play quite a few instruments: alto sax, bari sax, flute, clarinet, mallets, piano, organ, harmonica, Irish penny whistle, and I learned how to play a bit of guitar before I left. I also want to learn how to play oboe, bassoon, and I know it's the same instrument, just different playing style, but violin and fiddle."
"Wow," Mark said.
"That's what most people say," Liz said, smiling.
"What about voice?" Amanda asked.
"Have you heard of Charlotte Church?" Everyone's face lit up with recognition. "Cecilia Bartoli?" This time, only Mark's face lit with recognition. "I've been told I sing like both of their voices together, with a bit of Dorthy Dandridge."
"The voice of an angel," said Amanda.
"I suppose, but I wouldn't own it. Too much expectation. Just because someone has the voice of an angel does not mean he or she IS an angel," she said with an evil smile. "Not that I have gotten in serious trouble. Mainly a couple of protests that have gotten out of hand."
"What were you protesting?" Steve asked.
"Both against the Southern Baptist Convention's discriminatory views. One because the SBC won't let women be ministers, and one because they won't gays be ministers. It was at both of those protests that I learned that even though I am very close friends with Erin, one of my friends back home, that I shouldn't stand anywhere near her in a protest." She had pulled out a picture of Erin from her wallet while she was talking. "She's now in Tennessee State prison for a few assault charges. She pleaded out so she's only going to be serving eight months. She started six riots at protests. I was at three of them. The third time, I did go with her, but I stood on the other end. I learned my lesson that time," she said laughing. She yawned and stretched. "This has been a long day," she said looking at her watch. "Oh my! It's 10:30. No wonder I'm tired."
"Where are you staying?" Mark asked.
"I don't know. I've got to look for a place."
"Well, until you do, you're welcome to stay with me and Steve," Mark said. Steve nodded in agreement.
"Ok, then, I'll take you up on that offer," she said smiling.
"I asked her for nine years, and finally 6 months ago, she finally told me. I was furious. I mean, who wouldn't be? I didn't talk to her for a week. Then she told me I had a brother-well, a half-brother, but a brother still the same. So I started to search. I didn't actually leave home 'til about three months ago. Mom didn't want me to leave, and she all but disowned me. She offered me money after I left, but only if I came home 'like a sensible girl'. Of course, I couldn't go home..."
While Liz was telling her journey to Jesse, they were being watched by Mark, Amanda, and Steve.
"Mark, do you know who she is?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah, isn't she a bit young, even for Jesse?" Steve asked sarcastically.
"I don't know who she is, but a nurse said that she saw them in one of the patient rooms hugging and crying. Steve, I don't think you need to worry too much about her age. Besides, they're coming over here, so ask him yourself," Mark said as Jesse sat down. Liz hovered to the side.
"Hey guys," Jesse said. "I want you to meet someone special. Liz, this is Mark-"
"Hi Liz-"
"Hi-"
"Steve-"
"Hey Liz-"
"Hi-"
"and Amanda-"
"Hey Liz-"
"Hi-"
"Guys, this is Liz, my half-sister," Jesse said, smiling. Liz was still standing when Mark told her to pull up a chair.
"Thanks," She said. She was still smiling from earlier when she first met Jesse. "I'm so glad I have found my brother. And I'm glad he has friends like you guys. He calls you his family."
"Then, I guess that makes you our family, "Amanda said, smiling. Smiles were contagious, because even the tough cop was smiling.
"This calls for a celebration, " said Steve. "Drinks on me. What'll you have?" he asked Liz.
"Diet Coke."
Mark-"Water"
Amanda-"Sam Adams Light"
"Light beer?" Steve asked. "That's an oxymoron!"
"Sam Adams Light," she said.
"I'll have a Bud LIGHT," said Jesse.
"Morons," Steve mumbled.
"Like oxy-morons?" asked Liz.
"Exactly," said Steve with a laugh. He got up to get the drinks and went behind the counter.
Liz was shocked. "Won't the owner get mad? I mean, that he's back behind there?" she asked.
"No, I won't get mad," said Steve, returning with the drinks.
"Neither will I," said Jesse.
"Awesome," she said.
"So, where are you from and how old are you?" asked Mark.
"I'm 16, and I'm from a small town in East Tennessee called LaFollette. About 6 months ago, I found you that I had a brother that I never met. I began to search, and 3 months ago, I had seven matches: 3 up the East Coast, one in Iowa, 2 in Denver, and one in California. When the ones in Denver weren't Jesse, I was about to give up-go home and have mom tell me she was right-but something told me the last one was going to hit the jackpot. I have hit the jackpot." She smiled at Jesse. "I just hope I can mend fences with my mother, but if I don't, I know I have a family in California. I have found a piece of myself that was lost. For so long, I have felt lonely. Yes, I have a good mom, but with it being just she and I, I got lonely when she went on trips without me, at school, everywhere. Even if I were with her. I didn't know what a friend was. What joy extended family can be. Last year, I ate Thanksgiving at my friend's house. She has 5 brothers and 2 sisters, plus 15 nieces and nephews that came over. It was a blast. The best time I've had in my life is with a big 'family'."
"When was the last time you spoke with your mom?" Mark asked.
"Well, I spoke to her on the phone for a few seconds yesterday. She hung up on me, like all the other times. The last time I really spoke to her was the night before I left. We screamed so loud at each other, our neighbors called the police. I went to sleep after all of the questioning, and left out at 4 in the morning. I didn't look back. Later, I found in my backpack a letter and a blank check. The letter was from mom telling me how very, very hurt she was that I was leaving her. I'm sure she's blaming herself for something. You know, 'Am I such a horrible mom for her to not stay home? Why does she need to find someone to replace me?'"
"You are very wise," Steve remarked.
"Yeah, but even with all of my wisdom, it still hurts," she said, her voice cracking slightly. She quickly changed the subject. "So, what is everyone's job?" she asked.
"I'm a doctor. I'm head of Internal Medicine at Community General. I'm also a consultant with the police," said Mark.
"I'm a pathologist and I'm an ME," Amanda said.
"A medical examiner? Cool. I mean, not for the people you autopsy, but for their families. Give them a sense of closure, I suppose," Liz said.
"That's one of the reasons I became a pathologist," Amanda said.
"I'm a lieutenant with the LAPD. I'm in homicide," Steve said.
"Let me guess. You guys solve murders. I mean, with your jobs together. It all adds up," she said, with a Cheshire grin.
"Yeah," said Mark, chuckling.
"So, what are you interested in doing?" Steve asked.
"I was thinking about possibly becoming a doctor. Cardio-thorastic surgeon. Or maybe even neuro-surgeon. And whether I become a doctor or not, I will do something with music." "Do you sing, play an instrument, write music, or what?" asked Jesse.
"All three. I've written a couple of songs. I play quite a few instruments: alto sax, bari sax, flute, clarinet, mallets, piano, organ, harmonica, Irish penny whistle, and I learned how to play a bit of guitar before I left. I also want to learn how to play oboe, bassoon, and I know it's the same instrument, just different playing style, but violin and fiddle."
"Wow," Mark said.
"That's what most people say," Liz said, smiling.
"What about voice?" Amanda asked.
"Have you heard of Charlotte Church?" Everyone's face lit up with recognition. "Cecilia Bartoli?" This time, only Mark's face lit with recognition. "I've been told I sing like both of their voices together, with a bit of Dorthy Dandridge."
"The voice of an angel," said Amanda.
"I suppose, but I wouldn't own it. Too much expectation. Just because someone has the voice of an angel does not mean he or she IS an angel," she said with an evil smile. "Not that I have gotten in serious trouble. Mainly a couple of protests that have gotten out of hand."
"What were you protesting?" Steve asked.
"Both against the Southern Baptist Convention's discriminatory views. One because the SBC won't let women be ministers, and one because they won't gays be ministers. It was at both of those protests that I learned that even though I am very close friends with Erin, one of my friends back home, that I shouldn't stand anywhere near her in a protest." She had pulled out a picture of Erin from her wallet while she was talking. "She's now in Tennessee State prison for a few assault charges. She pleaded out so she's only going to be serving eight months. She started six riots at protests. I was at three of them. The third time, I did go with her, but I stood on the other end. I learned my lesson that time," she said laughing. She yawned and stretched. "This has been a long day," she said looking at her watch. "Oh my! It's 10:30. No wonder I'm tired."
"Where are you staying?" Mark asked.
"I don't know. I've got to look for a place."
"Well, until you do, you're welcome to stay with me and Steve," Mark said. Steve nodded in agreement.
"Ok, then, I'll take you up on that offer," she said smiling.