Chapter 7: Talking

---------------------------

"Robin…?" he gasped out and July stood up.

"No, my name is July," she said playing with the keys in her hand.

He nodded his head but his eyes still held a slightly dazed look. "Yes, I see that now. You have your father's eyes." July smiled at that. "And his smile, but other than that you look exactly like your mother, only a little taller."

"Thank you," she replied quietly, not sure how to take the obvious compliment.

"Well now, let's head back into my office," he said gesturing with his hands for her to enter the room. "Charlotte, honey, please hold all calls." he ordered to the women sitting at the desk and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Yes, dear," Charlotte answered flashing a smile.

July walked through the door after their exchange and sat in one of the plush chairs that were in front of the large oak desk. The man sat himself behind the desk in the leather office chair and loosened his tie. She stayed quiet, unsure of the situation and studied the room for lack of something to do.

It was a blue color that offset the hardwood floor. There was some documents hanging on the back wall that she was sure were his degrees and certificates. There were several pictures on his desk; one had him and the woman that was in the front room holding each other and the others were family pictures that contained him, the women and two kids, that resembled them, at various ages. She assumed that the woman was his wife and the two kids were his children.

"You have grown up so much since I last saw you," Arnold mused aloud, and July turned to look at him.

"Last saw me?" she questioned, frowning.

"Last time I saw you, you were barely up to my waist and had just had your eight birthday, but you don't remember that," he said sadly.

"I wish I did." The words flying out of her mouth before she could stop them but she didn't regret them because she wish she really did, remember that is. July looked up at him and found a small smile on his face that she returned.

"Well, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Arnold Lewis, your parents' lawyer and family friend," he said extending his hand, which July shook, but as soon as their hands made contact, something flashed in July's mind. She saw her birthday party, her parents and Arnold and his family; but one of his kids caught her attention more. It was a little girl that was holding her hand and laughing. She had red hair and brown eyes and they were laughing together, and then the image was gone.

July open her eyes when she realized she had closed and the first thing she saw were the pictures on the desk and that girl, the girl from the image.

"I saw her. I saw her," she mumbled, clutching her head as a searing pain ripped through it. She brought her feet up and wrapped herself up into a ball, rocking back and forth not understanding what was happening.

"You saw Amy?" he clarified looking at the picture and all July could do was nod. "Let me get you some water," Arnold said, leaving the room and then returning with a glass he passed to her.

July took some sips and then set it down on the desk. "When I shook your hand, something happened," she said finally relaxing a little.

"What happened?" Arnold sat down in the chair next to her.

"I shook your hand and then… I got this image of a birthday party and I was there. My parents were there, and so were you and them," she answered, pointing to the picture. " And she was there, that girl, she was holding my hand and we were laughing and you were all watching us and smiling."

"Sounds like a flashback. Maybe your mind is remembering everything now that you know the truth."

"Maybe…" she whispered, drifting off in thought.

"Is she okay?"

July turned around at the sound of the voice and saw Charlotte standing near the door.

"Yes dear, she had a flashback of her birthday."

"How are you feeling?" Charlotte asked.

"I'm fine, thank you," July replied, lowering her feet to the floor and smoothing out her clothes. She wasn't going to let on how much this had truly shaken her.

"Is there anything I can get you?" she asked.

"No, thank you."

"Do you mind if Charlotte sits with us?" Arnold asked sitting in the chair behind the desk once again.

"No it's fine," July consented, and Charlotte took the seat next to her.

Arnold cleared his throat, running his hand down his tie. "As I was saying, I'm Arnold Lewis, this is my wife Charlotte. The kids in these pictures are our children, Max and Amy. Amy was your best friend when you were little." He handed July a picture of his kids from his desk. The little girl was the same girl from her flashback.

July studied the boy, Max; he was taller than Amy by half a foot, with brown hair and green eyes. They both had goofy grins on their face and were hugging each other.

"I saw him too but she caught my attention." July stared at the picture and the Lewis couple continued to watch with curiosity.

"You must have many questions," Charlotte said in a gently tone.

"Yeah, I do." July set the picture down on the desk and took another drink of water.

"We'll try to answer them to the best of our abilities," Arnold promised with an earnest look.

July was silent for a moment. What question did she want answered the most? Immediately one popped into her head but she was afraid of the answer.

Girly, you're not going to get any answers if you don't ask the darn question, her mind chastised.

She took another sip of water to wet her lips and asked the question she was dreading to ask. "Why did no one come after me? Do I have no family?"

Arnold and his wife shared a look, sorrow clearly evident on Charlotte's face.

We did come for you," Arnold answered, "but the authorities would not release you into our care. Your parents didn't really associate with their families. They didn't part on good terms. Your parents had a few good friends that would have taken you in but most lost hope when we were unable to get you into our custody, and we were their lawyers. We never understood that, and believe me, I argued it for a whole two weeks. Instead, they placed you into an orphanage and a couple took you in. I believe their names were Sam and Mary?" July nodded her head yes but her eyes were downcast. "Did they take good care of you? We did talk to them and let them know of the legal situation."

"Yes, they took good care of me, despite lying to me for ten years," July said bitterly and Arnold and Charlotte exchanged another look.

"But you were given everything you needed, yes?"

"I suppose so."

"Good."

---------------------------

tbc…