After the shift, Sara went by the lab to pick up Marissa. She heard laughter when she walked towards Greg's "office". The DNA testing and the place he kept all his CDs in. Marissa was smiling at Greg who had a grin from ear to ear, while he popped Reeses pieces into his mouth. Sara walked in, and knocked on the wall. The pair looked up, and Marissa asked, "Ready to go?" Sara nodded, and waved goodbye to Greg. Marissa smiled at him and picked up the shoulder bag she brought.
"I can stay at a motel if you want," Marissa said as they walked towards the parking lot. Sara sighed, "No, you can stay at my place, it's fine." She unlocked the driver's door of her Tahoe and jumped in. Marissa got in the passenger seat, holding her bag in her lap, and looked down.
"I'm sorry," she spoke at almost a whisper. "I should've called, or maybe I shouldn't have come. I haven't seen you since I got in the system, and you left six years later. It's not like we really knew each other, well, actually knew each other. Like relatives, aunt/niece relationship you know."
Sara smiled despite her earlier anger, "I didn't think of you as a niece. You were a little sister, a bit of a pain sometimes. But blood." Marissa laughed, "Well, I guess you were just a friend and an older sis to me, it seems strange to call you "aunt" Sara. It okay if I just call you Sara?" Sara nodded, grinning, she was afraid Marissa would call her aunt Sara. It would be so weird.
"Sara, I'm sorry that my mom was such a bitch, but I have to admit, I'm glad I have a relative that's not a junkie." Marissa immediately looked down. Sara was silent for a while. She only spoke when they pulled into her driveway.
"Nice place," Marissa commented as they walked in. She sat stiffly on the sofa. Sara went to her bedroom for a couple minutes and came back with a blanket and pillow. She threw them at Marissa playfully. Marissa giggled like a child and hit Sara softly with the pillow. Sara smiled lightly, and fell onto the couch beside her niece. "You want something to eat?" she asked. Marissa shook her head, "No thanks, Greg and I shared like four bags of Skittles." Sara laughed, "He ask you out yet?" Marissa shook her head, mock pouting. Sara rolled her eyes and got up, "Well, I'm going to eat a salad if you want some. By the way," she added grinning. "I'm a vegetarían."
Marissa smiled, "I remember... sorry, I'm a carnivore, naturally. I love sausage the most!" Sara smiled, realizing she was having fun. Her heart sunk, she still hated Marissa's mother. Sara had never had anyone to blame for her brother but him. She didn't want to think it was he, so the only other person she could blame was Amy, Marissa's mom. And what about Marissa? Sara sighed, and continued making her salad. She didn't know her feelings about the teen. How could they be related? Marissa seemed so different, well not really that different. Sara frowned.
"Uh, Marissa?" Sara spoke quietly. Marissa looked up, "Yeah?"
"I'm gonna eat this in my room and catch up on my sleep. 'Kay?" Marissa nodded and Sara left the room, salad bowl in hand.
She set the bowl down on her nightstand and threw herself onto her bed. How long was Marissa going to stay? Sara didn't know if she could deal with the girl for a long period of time! Marissa seemed angry with Sara's brother for not knowing Amy was pregnant. She didn't know her father! If Marissa should blame anyone for that it should be Amy! Sara thought angrily. Amy should've said to hell with the drugs and raised her daughter. Sara shrugged at the empty room deciding to let Marissa deal with her own friggin' personal issues. But in Sara's mind, Amy was and always would be to blame for screwing up both Sara's and Marissa's lives. Sara ate half her salad before losing her appetite and curling up, hugging her pillow and falling into dreams of the past.
A skinny, pale twelve year old walked into the kitchen of her foster mother's house. Ms. Finley, the foster mom, was sitting at the kitchen table, a small toddler, with the same color hair as the preteen, in her lap.
"Hello Sara," Ms. Finley smiled. The twelve year old stared at the toddler. "Yes?" Sara asked.
"This is Marissa," The toddler grinned a toothy smile at Sara. Ms. Finley continued, "Her mother abandoned her because of drug problems." Sara nodded, a confused look on her face. "O-kay?" Sara pressed, there had to be more than this…
"Marissa's mother was Amy Henry, your brother's ex girlfriend." Ms. Finley spoke in a whisper, not wanting to cause Sara too much pain. Sara's jaw dropped, "Is she…?"
Ms. Finley nodded, "We put her in my care because she is your niece." Sara's face went blank, holding no emotion. How was this possible! She was two years into the system and she has a relative now! Sara turned on her heel and ran up to her bedroom, trying not to cry. She felt so angry. She fell on her bed, sobbing.
Sara woke up suddenly. Sweating, and crying for real, she threw of her bed covers and lay still, barely breathing, and not thinking. After a few minutes, she rolled on her side and cried herself to sleep.