This chapter's FINALLY up! Sorry it took so long, I swear! Writer's block is a terrible disease I get from time to time. Anyway, without further ado, here it is! Enjoy!
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Helen veered the car to the side of the road, just narrowly avoiding a taxi cab coming into form the opposite direction.
"Helen!" Lindsay shouted, catching her breath. "You've already managed to drag me along with you, to do God knows what. The least you could do is make sure I live!"
"Sorry," Helen muttered, not really paying attention to her terrified friend. She pulled over to the sidewalk, parking her car sloppily.
"You do know you're illegally parked right?" Lindsay asked.
"Mmm hmm," Helen murmured. "That's why we have this," Helen said, motioning to a blue letter in her hand. On it was her name and office phone number and a quick message that she was doing an urgent investigation for the Boston Police. Mike Maguire agreed to cover for her, although she never did tell him her true motive. He just trusted that whatever she was doing was worth the risk.
"Why are we here again?" Lindsay asked, gazing up at the tall building. "You never did tell me that. It's like you don't want me to know or something. Is everything all right?"
Helen nodded. "It will be. I just need one look."
"One look at what?" Lindsay asked, confused, following Helen inside the old building. She knew Helen was partly insane and had accepted that, but driving eighty on the crowded Boston streets and illegally parking just to come to some orphanage? There was definitely something major Lindsay was missing. "Helen," she remarked. "I'm your best friend. Please tell me what's going on? I'm worried about you. It's like you're in a daze or something. Tell me the truth, Hel."
Helen smiled, mostly to cover up the tears Lindsay could now see forming in her eyes. "I'll show you Linds. Please, just be patient with me."
Lindsay sighed and pulled her sunglasses off as they rounded the corner. "All right."
"Good morning," a plump lady with pepper colored hair remarked, smiling. "Do you have an appointment?"
"Well, not exactly," Helen began. "My name's Helen Gamble. I'm here to see Adielle."
"Oh, Adielle!" the woman exclaimed cheerfully. "A fireball that one is!"
Helen grinned. "I expected nothing less."
"Wait," the woman said, squinting slightly as if recalling a distant memory. "I remember you. Why, you're her…"
"Yes," Helen said hastily. "Please may I see her?"
"Of course," the woman grinned warmly, rising from the armchair she had been resting in. "If you'll just follow me."
Helen followed directly behind the woman, Lindsay trailing not too far in the distance. Lindsay knew better than to talk right now. She had a feeling that whatever was going on, it was serious. She remained quiet and solemn as she kept close behind Helen, wishing she knew what was about to happen.
The three entered a small room where there were several bunkbeads, and at least twenty little girls, all about nine or ten years of age, running around wildly. All except three girls, who were all huddled onto one thin mattress, surrounded a girl with black curls.
"I'm warning you," the dark haired girl hissed.
"Or what?" one particularly tall and lanky girl beckoned. Her bony hand was upon her hip and her red hair was a mess of tangles and knots. She had freckles across her face and a sinister sneer to complete her look. The other girls behind her all looked frightened of her, thus their eagerness to listen to her.
"Or I'll do this," the dark haired girl remarked, smiling coyly as she brought her right leg up high, kicking the red head in the face.
"Adielle!" the plump woman shrieked, grabbing the dark haired girl from the corner. "Come here."
"But Mrs. Curst, she started it!" Adielle shrieked, a storm raging in her small blue eyes. "You saw!" She scowled. "It's not fair! You always take her side!"
"Follow me," Mrs. Curst said, leading her along with Helen and Lindsay into a small room with a large table. "I'll leave you alone," she said, exiting the room.
"Um, Linds," Helen began. "Could you give us a second?"
"Sure," Lindsay replied, not understanding in the least bit what was going on. "I'll be right outside," she said, leaving.
"Are you a social worker?" Adielle asked, sizing up Helen's business suit. "Because if you are, I don't want to find a new family. I've already had five and I hated them all. I'm going to stay here until I turn eighteen and then I'll get a job and do just fine by myself."
Helen smiled, in spite of everything going on around her. Adielle was only ten, but she talked as thought she was thirty five, so confident and sure of herself.
"You really want to stay here?" Helen asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"No," Adielle said, crossing her arms, and sitting down on the table. "But I don't want to live in another run down family like you want me to, so given the options, I choose here."
"You don't seem very happy here," Helen remarked.
Adielle laughed. "Tell me something, Ms…"
"Gamble," Helen replied.
"All right then, Ms. Gamble," Adielle began. "Why do you care so much? I've scared the last three social workers away. They claimed I was simply incompatible for any family they knew of."
"Did they now?" Helen asked.
"Yes," Adielle said, not even blinking. "What are you going to feel sorry for me?"
"What about your mother?" Helen asked.
Adielle rolled her eyes. "Well, obviously she's not here."
"Where is she?" Helen asked.
Adielle shrugged. "I don't know. I'm going to look for her when I'm old enough."
"You don't hate her?" Helen asked carefully.
Adielle sat silently for a moment. "No," she said, after a long pause. "I guess not. I mean, you only get one mother right?"
Helen couldn't hide her smile. "But she gave you up."
Adielle nodded. "Maybe she had too. She may not have had a choice, you know. Mrs. Curst won't give me details, but she said my mother was facing some terrible circumstances. So, I figure, she didn't really want to get rid of me."
"I didn't," Helen said, without realizing it.
Adielle studied her for a moment. "Then why did you?" she breathed. She was desperate for the truth. She had to know. She could never forgive her mother without the truth.
"I was forced to," Helen said quietly, silent tears streaming down her face. "You're still much too young to understand all of the details, so I'll tell you what I can. When your father found out I was pregnant with you, he…he wanted me to have an abortion. I couldn't go through with it and he as furious. I had no choice but to give you up. He left me. I had no money, nothing at all. I planned on coming back for you, but I was never stable enough to support you. I sent you all the extra money I had and…"
"So that's why I had all the extra clothes," Adielle replied. "Mrs. Curst wouldn't tell me who the money was from. I had hoped it was from you. The other girls teased me about it all the time, but I know it was only because they were jealous."
"So you…you can forgive me?" Helen pleaded.
"Maybe," she said carefully. "What's your name? I never knew. I never even knew my last name."
"Gamble," Helen said. "I mean, that's your last name. My first name's Helen."
Adielle smiled. "I like it," she said.
"Good," Helen breathed.
"But then, why are you here?" Adielle asked.
"Isn't it obvious?" Helen asked.
"Perhaps," Adielle remarked. "But, I've learned from an early age not to get my hopes up, because more than likely, I'll only be disappointed."
"Well, then, I'll get straight to the point," Helen began, kneeling down to match Adielle's height. "I came here to see if there was any chance in the world I could rescue you from this hellhole I put you in. I want you to come live with me, Adielle Sarah Gamble, that is, if you'll have me."
Adielle studied Helen's face for a second to measure her sincerity. Finally a huge grin spread across her face. "You sound like you're proposing," she teased.
Helen laughed, and hugged her daughter, tears now falling down both of their faces. "I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. I love you so much."
Adielle cried hysterically, thinking about all the pain she had lived through and embracing the joy she was beginning to feel as a prospect of finding her mother. "I love you too," she said. "I know I never met you before, but you look just like I dreamed."
Helen looked Adielle in her bright blue eyes. "You're far more beautiful than I could have ever fathomed."
Adielle smiled. "I get it from you," she said smartly.
Helen laughed, mainly to keep from crying. "I'm so sorry," she repeated.
Adielle looked up at her, an elfish grin upon her face. "I know," she said simply.
"So," Helen began, acting as though she wasn't still sprouting tears. Her voice was a bit shaky, but she managed to continue. "Does that mean you want to come live with me?"
Adielle nodded vigorously.
Helen beamed. "We have a roommate."
"You mean you have a boyfriend?" Adielle asked, knowingly.
Helen shook her head. "No." She climbed to her feet. "Wait here." Helen opened the door, and called Lindsay inside. Lindsay walked inside, staring at Helen incredulously.
"Why are you crying?" she asked, noting that the little girl-Adielle was it?-was sobbing as well.
Helen smiled. "Adielle, this is Lindsay Dole, my best friend, and your godfather. Linds, this is Adielle Sarah Gamble." Lindsay turned and looked at Helen, shocked.
"You're Adielle?" Lindsay asked.
Adielle nodded unsurely.
Lindsay held a hand to her mouth. "I thought you told me she had been adopted!"
Helen shook her head. "She was…several times, in fact. I just didn't know that none of those families worked out for her."
"So?" Lindsay asked.
"So, she's coming home with us," Helen said, wiping her face free of tears.
Lindsay grinned, a few tears escaping from her own eyes. "I think that's a wonderful idea," she said.
Adielle smiled warmly. "Can I leave tonight? Now?" Her eyes grew wide as she waited for the answer.
Helen nodded. "Right now," she promised. "Let's go."
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An hour later, Helen and Adielle arrived at Helen's apartment. Lindsay was called into trial due to the arrival of the jury's decision, which she thought was perfect, since she wanted to give Helen and Adielle as much time together as possible. Lindsay also promised to keep everything quiet until Helen had the chance to announce Adielle's arrival to everyone.
"Here's your room," Helen said, walking Adielle into a large empty room with white walls.
"My own room?" Adielle asked, her eyes craving for more of this new lifestyle.
Helen nodded.
"It's amazing!" Adielle exclaimed.
Helen laughed. "It's empty!"
Adielle stared up at her. "You're crazy. Why, I can picture it all up here," she insisted, pointing to her head. "See, over there in that corner? That's where the library is! My own bookshelves, can't you just see it? And there are three fluffy chairs for me to lounge in and read through the entire day. And over there, that's my large bed with its sheer, white canopy! I've always wanted one. And over there is my dollhouse that magically comes to life! But look! On the floor! It's the soft, scarlet carpet! And look at the window seat by the window! Isn't it all just wonderful?"
Helen smiled. "I can see it," she pretended. "And you'll have it. All of it."
Adielle shook her head. "No, no, it's too much."
"No, it's not enough," Helen insisted.
"No really, I don't need it," Adielle persisted. "It's all in my imagination, so it's already here!"
"Fine," Helen agreed. "It can stay in your imagination, but I'm going to need your help recreating it, since you're the only one who can see it."
Adielle's eyes grew wide. "Honest?" she asked.
"Honest," Helen smiled.
"Do you truly, honestly promise?" Adielle asked.
"I truly, honestly promise," Helen insisted.
Adielle threw her arms around her. "It's all too much, too fast! It's more than I could have even imagined. Well, I did imagine it, but for it to actually come true…"
"I know what you mean," Helen said, holding her tight, caressing her soft curls. "What do you say we go shopping?"
"Shopping?" Adielle repeated, as though not believing it.
"Yes," Helen smiled. "I know of a really great store with millions of clothes to pick from."
"I get new clothes?!" Adielle remarked.
"Anything you want," Helen insisted.
Adielle grinned and shut her eyes tight.
"What are you doing?" Helen asked.
"Remembering," Adielle said, opening them a second later. "I'm taking a picture with my mind. I'm afraid that when I open my eyes this will all be gone, and I'll be back in the orphanage with Jan and the rest of those horrible girls!"
"Well, you're eyes are open now," Helen said. "Has anything disappeared?"
Adielle shook her head fiercely.
"Then it must be true," Helen announced.
"Truly, honestly?" Adielle asked.
"Truly, honestly," Helen said warmly.
* * * * * * * * * *
Seven hours later, Helen sat in the plush, oversized armchair next to Adielle's canopy bed. ("But only Princesses sleep in canopies!" Adielle insisted. "Well then," Helen said. "It's only natural you should have one, in that case.") She peered over at her daughter, sprawled out daintily across her bed, her wild black curls fanned across the pillow. Helen smiled as she watched her sleep. Adielle looked like a fairy or a little elf princess, so tiny and fragile, yet so precious and pure.
Helen looked around Adielle's room in wonder. She had recreated the fantasy that Adielle had envisioned. She even had the "Gone With the Wind" movie poster above her bookshelf, the Scarlet O'Hara porcelain figurine, and of course, the classic book along with its sequel, which Adielle assured Helen, was just as good as the original.
Helen reached out onto the small round, wooden table on which the two books lie. She picked up "Scarlet" by Alexandra Ripley, and opened to the first page. She sat quietly, pouring over the pages, not stopping until she completed the novel. She had read "Gone With the Wind" as a teenager, and loved the novel, but Scarlet O'Hara and her queer determination and odd outlooks on life soon became lost in a collage of memories, which were never relived, for fear of resurfacing old insecurities and emotions.
"Helen?" Lindsay called, cracking open the door to Adielle's room. "Wow," she remarked quietly, walking inside and sitting down next to Helen. "You sure transformed this room in just a day."
"Mmm," Helen agreed. "It was quite a day."
"She looks like you," Lindsay said, smiling, gazing at Adielle.
"I guess," Helen said. "Hey," she remarked snapping out of her fantasy. "Why are you home so late? What time is it?"
"It's nearly four in the morning," Lindsay said. "How long have you been sitting in here."
"Since she went to bed around ten," Helen said.
"You've been sitting here for six hours?" Lindsay remarked, incredulously.
"Well, yes," Helen said. "After she drifted off, I read this," she said, motioning to the book in her hand.
"Oh," Lindsay said.
"Wait," Helen said, as Lindsay got up to leave. "You never answered my question. Where were you?"
Lindsay beamed, glowing. "I'll tell you in the morning."
"Linds!" Helen hissed as loudly as she could, without waking Adielle.
"The morning, I promise," Lindsay swore.
"Okay," Helen relented, too happy to object.
"Hey, where'd you get all the money for this?" Lindsay asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"I dipped into my retirement fund," Helen admitted.
"Helen!"
Helen smiled and shook her head. "It was worth it, Linds."
Lindsay smiled back at her then took one last look at Adielle. "Yes, she is worth it," she agreed.
Helen nodded as Lindsay left, shutting the door quietly. Helen stared at the cover of "Scarlet", still in the fantasy land recreated by Ripley. Grinning, Helen eagerly reached for a pen and scribbled a small message inside the book:
Adielle,
You were right. It's just as good as the original.
Love,
Mom
Helen looked down lovingly at the message and then at her daughter. 'Mom', she thought, recalling the last word she had written. Yes, she smiled. It suited her.
She gazed one last time at her precious Adielle before turning off the beaded lamp Adielle had wished for. She curled up in the comfortable arm chair, and fell asleep reluctantly, not wanting to wash away the most perfect day of her life.
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Well…what did you think? Let me know!!!! TBC a LOT sooner, I PROMISE! Thanks for sticking by me! R/R!
