Chapter 8 - Not What I Expected

So Emma was given up for adoption? Is that why he keeps the photo album of her? Because he didn't want Christine to give her up? It still doesn't make any sense.

I know none of this is any of my business, but with one failed relationship I wasn't about to face another. I looked up Mr. Simpson's address in the yellow pages and found that he didn't live too far from me. I wasn't trying to be stalker-istic or anything, but if dad was stupid enough to fuck up his relationship with his cousin because of something like this, I was going to do anything I could to get them together.

It was hard to deal with Dad after Mom died. If I could have just a little happiness in his life, maybe he'll stop being so hard on himself. Maybe he'll stop being so hard on me.

I knocked on the door. I was nervous. What would I say to her? "Hey, I'm your cousin. Mind telling me why you gave up your daughter? Oh yeah, hang out with my dad sometime." Yeah, that would go over real well.

A little girl-whom I presumed to be Hannah-opened the door. She looked a lot like I did when I was her age. From her blonde curls to her deep brown eyes. Eeerie.

"Hannah, what did mommy tell you about opening the door to strangers when I'm not there?"

I looked up at the women standing behind Hannah. She looked a lot different from her photo, but it was defiantly her.

"Hi, can I help you?" Christine asked.

"Are you Christine Nelson?"

My hands began to shake, so I put them in my pockets to hide it. Yeah, I was defiantly nervous.

"Actually, it's Christine Simpson now, but most people call me Spike. And you are?"

"Parker. Parker Smith."

"Well, hello Parker. It's nice to meet you. Are you a student of Archie's?"

Christine picked up Hannah and rested her on her hip.

"Yes I am."

"Oh, well, Archie isn't home right now. He's at a parent-teacher meeting at school, but I'll be sure to let him know you stopped by."

"Actually Mrs. Simpson-"

"Please call me Spike. Mrs. Simpson makes me sound so old."

"Spike, um, this is going to seem a little weird, especially coming from a complete stranger, but I'm here to see you. You see, I'm a cousin. Your cousin actually."

"A cousin-Oh! Forgive me for being so rude, come in and have a seat. You must think I'm some terrible person or something."

"Thank you."

I walked into the house and closed the door behind me. Little toys were scattered across the floor. I sat on the couch by myself while Spike went and got us some water. Hannah sat next to me and giggled. She was a cute kid.

Maybe I should just leave. I don't know her, she doesn't know me, this all is just very awkward.

Spike came back into the livingroom and handed me my drink. I took a sip of it and sat it on the floor. Spike sat down on the couch and told Hannah to go and play with her toys.

"So why is it that you're here?" Spike asked, "I'm not trying to be rude or anything. It's just not everyday that a long-lost cousin drops on your doorstep."

"Well, I had found your picture in a notebook and asked my dad about it. He told me you two were cousins and that you were very close."

"Are you, by any chance, Micheal Nelson's daughter?"

"No, my father was Robert. Robert Smith."

Her eyes grew wide and her eyes became watery.

"You're Robert Smith's daughter?"

"Yes I am. The reason I had to find you was--"

"You were looking for me?"

"Well, yeah, sort of. Are you okay, Spike? You're crying."

"I'm fine," Spike said, wiping away her tears with her shirt before wrapping her arms around me in a hug. "It's just... after all these years. You're here. You've been looking for me."

I pulled away from the hug and looked at her confused.

"What are you talking about? I've never met you before."

"Didn't he tell you?"

"Tell me what? Mrs. Simpson, you're starting to freak me out here."

"Emma, it's me. I'm your mother."