As always, own nothing, but wish I did.
I just exploded. "No, I would say that I would rather go live with my dad and his family cuz life with my mom sucked. Because of you I had to live in a drug house, I had to lock my door, I never felt safe, and I never seemed to have a real family. And about all that crap about how I've only lived with them for a few days, you know that that is not true. They raised me when I was a baby, you were nowhere to be found. You only came back when you decided playing house might not be that bad. But by then Dad didn't want you. You forced him to run with me. Then somehow through this twisted legal system you got custody of me. Then at first chance you took me and ran away with me. And we played house for a while but you sick of playing mom to me and let me fend for myself. Yes, you provided a home for me, but I raised myself and you can't deny that. So just get the hell out of this town. You're not wanted, but I am. As much as you want me to believe I'm Jennifer Nicole Turner, your daughter and all that entails. But I'm Jennifer Nicole Jagielski and I belong here in Tree Hill."
The whole room fell so silent at that moment. I couldn't believe I had revealed the truth like that. I didn't mean to, it just happened. Jake looked so hurt. Peyton and Haley looked shocked. My mother's expression was just blank; I couldn't read what she was feeling in that moment. Anna just looked so confused; this was a lot for an eight year old to comprehend. After what had seemed like an eternity of silence, although it was probably a couple minutes at most the silence was broken.
"So that means you're like my sister, my real sister?"
"Yeah, I'm Jenny."
At that my dad just ran out of the room. "Um, I should go after him."
"Yeah, Peyton, go after him, I'll keep an eye on everything in here."
"Thanks Hales."
The room went back to being silent after she left. It was so silent that we could hear everything being said outside the door.
"Jake, you need to sit down. All that that pacing will achieve in wearing a hole in the carpeting."
"Peyton!"
"Yes, you have a right to be frustrated with Jenny and yes she's going to have some explaining to do, but running out here instead of listening is not going help any. So get back in there."
"Fine, I'll be right there. You can go in if you want."
When we heard the door turning signaling Peyton was coming back in Haley, Anna and I tried to make it appear that we were eavesdropping, but my mother just stood there with this smirk as if to say 'We heard everything and looky looky, maybe daddy Jake isn't going to be all that receptive to Jenny coming back.'
"Jake will be back in a minute, he needed to run to the bathroom."
Right after she said that we heard this scream. I guess he went to the bathroom to scream and try to get all his frustrations out before coming back in. Then we heard him walking towards the room and entering.
"Sorry about that. Carry on," he said as he sat down. I looked at him but he was refusing to make eye contact with me.
No one seemed to know where to start so we again just sat there in silence.
"Well…" Haley began.
"How did you know where I was?" I asked in almost a whisper.
"Mother's intuition, a mother always knows where her children are."
"BULLSHIT! THAT'S A LOAD OF CRAP!"
"Jenny!" I looked over to Peyton who was gesturing at Anna.
"Sorry," I told her. Turning back to my mother I continued, "You and I both know that's not the truth. You usually could care less about me. So why don't you just be honest for once and tell us all the truth. How did you find me?"
"Gotta hand it to you Bunny. Sticking newspaper strips into that envelop was pretty ingenious, but you forgot one thing, I would at some point end up putting more money into the envelop. And I'm not what you would call stupid. Missing daughter, missing money. Looks like my Bunny ran away with the money."
"How did you know to look for me here?"
"Well, see that's what caused my delay. I couldn't figure out where you were and I wasn't about to call the police to help."
"Cuz of the drugs."
"No duh, cuz of the drugs, one look around the place and there was no way in hell they would have let me keep you."
"Still haven't answered my question."
"Oh, the finding you question. So a few days later, when my head was clearer and I could think straight I went back to that box. Clearly you had found the box since you had taken the money that was in the box. That box held the answers to my questions. In it were two very obvious clues to where you had gone, or at least that's what I was hoping. The picture and the certificate. And yup, they pointed me right to you."
"Lucky me," I muttered.
"Well, can I take her back to California with me now? We've confirmed that she's my daughter and all that."
I noticed that my dad looked up at that moment. He looked terrified. I was hoping terrified at the idea that he could be losing me again to her, but I wasn't going to get my hopes up.
"No, you can't."
"And why not? You going to show favoritism Mrs. Scott and let Jake keep Jenny when he has no rights to her."
"Actually he does have rights to her. I don't believe he ever signed away his rights to her and according to the state of North Carolina he and Peyton have temporary custody of Jenny."
I thought I heard her mutter something to the effect of, "And hopefully they'll have permanent custody of her soon you bitch," but I couldn't be sure.
"Fine, whatever. We all know that I'm going to prevail in the end and have Jenny all to myself."
"I'm not some object that you can just claim. I'm a living breathing person and I think I should get some say in this matter."
"Whatever," then turning to Haley she asked with fake sweetness, "Mrs. Scott is there any way we can just finish up this meeting now and decide to resolve this at a later date? I just want to take my daughter back to where I'm staying in town. I haven't seen her in about a week and would like to catch up with her."
"You're not going anywhere with my daughter."
"Look who decided to finally speak. Ready to be a man and fight this battle instead of hiding behind all these women?"
I could see that he really wanted let out all his anger on her in that moment but he held himself back.
"You have had Jenny for the past fourteen to fifteen years; I think you can afford to go a few more nights without her."
"But…"
"Miss Turner before you continue, I should point out that Jenny will be leaving with the Jagielskis today because of the temporary custody that the great state of North Carolina thankfully gave to them."
"Why you little…"
"I hit you once Nikki, don't tempt me to do it again."
"Fine, go play house with them Jenny, but realize you're going to end up with me again, it's inevitable." With that she turned around and walked out the door. But as she was leaving she yelled, "You haven't heard the last from me."
We all just stood there for a few minutes, soaking in everything that had just happened. Finally my dad spoke up, "It's been a long day, let's all go home."
Nobody said anything but we all just left. Everyone thinking about what had just happened, even Anna, although I'm not sure she quite grasped what it all meant.
The ride back home was silent. Not a comfortable silence, but also not an uncomfortable silence, just somewhere in between. Although it was still early in the day by the time we got back, I went to my room to sleep. Today had been the culmination of a very exhausting sleep.
Although I hadn't planned on it, I was so exhausted that I fell into a heavy sleep and didn't wake until the next morning. The next morning when I woke up I found some changes to my room. They had added more personal touches to the room including some pictures of me as a baby with Peyton and my dad. I also noticed the pictures I had drawn the day before. I knew that I should probably be mad at them for going through my stuff to find them, but instead I loved them for adding them to make my room feel more like my own. On the table next to my bed I found three notes. I sat on my bed and prepared to read what they thought, I has scared and excited all at the same time. I first grabbed the note that I could clearly tell from the hand writing was from Anna.
Jenny-
Mom and dad said I should write a note telling you what I feel. So, here it is. I feel happy. Happy you're here, happy that you love me, happy you're my sister. But also sad. Why didn't you tell me who you are? Even though I'm sad I'm even more happy. Welcome home.
Your Sister,
Anna
Even though it was so simple I was crying over it. I picked up my dad's letter next but put it down, even though I wanted to know what he said, I was nervous so I decided to put it off. So I picked up Peyton's note and read.
Jenny-
I'll never understand why you didn't just tell us the truth. That said, I'm glad you're here. Safe with us. I love you so much and I hope you know that. I felt a connection with you last Saturday but didn't know why. Now I do. My girl came home to us. We lost so many years because of your biological mother, I don't want to lose another minute with you. I want you to know that we will do everything in our power to keep you with us. Never doubt our love for you.
As you can see we found your pictures. I hope you're not mad at us for snooping. I can see why you wouldn't let me see them yesterday at the café. They gave away the secret and it would have been wrong for me to know the secret before Jake.
Now I'm done with the sappy sentimental stuff. I gotta say, I've never seen someone sleep through all of the stuff that you slept through last night, especially when your dad dropped the collage on his toes and yelled some words that let's just say were words that garnered him a certain look from me cuz he taught Anna some new words…
I looked up and saw the collage that she was referring to. It was a collage of pictures of my first year. On top it read "Even When We're Apart, Know That You're In My Heart." I looked back down to finish the letter
…Know that I love you, that we all love you and that we're happy you're here. Welcome home.
Peyton
By now I was almost balling. I didn't know if I could take reading my dad's letter but that didn't stop me from picking up the note to read.
My Jenny-
I know I may not have shown it the best today but I want you to know that I'm glad you're back in my life. There was a part of me missing when you weren't here and now that part is back. I'm never going to allow Nikki to keep us apart again. I told Peyton that I never wanted to let you leave my sight again but she nixed that idea reminding me that the baby girl I once knew is now a teenager. I want you to know that there's nothing I wouldn't do for you. I also never gave up hope that one day you would find your way back to us, and now that has happened. I have a million questions but I'll let you tell me what happened when you're ready, but know I will be ready to listen when that time comes. I don't know what Nikki told you about me but I have a feeling it was pretty much all lies. Feel free to ask me whatever you want and I'll do my best to answer. I have so much more to say but if I keep writing I'll cry even more and all my tears may blur the writing so you can't read what I have to say and I want you to read this cuz this comes from my heart. And these tears are happy tears, my Jenny. Welcome home!
Dad
P.S. Love the artwork, you're very talented.
I barely finished the letter and by the end had trouble reading through my tears. I was home. I AM home.
Spoilers:
Some of the spoilers from the last chapter still pertain.
Jake and Peyton will come to find out that some of their friends knew the truth, how will they react.
I promise more Jake/Jenny interaction next chapter.
Sorry, that this was shorter than usual, I wanted to end this chapter on a happy note. I'll try to write a longer chapter next time.
Please review. I love reviews, even if they're really short, at least it's some feedback to what you guys think. Thanks also to everyone who has reviewed so far, love you all for it.
I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out. I'll try to have one out within the next week and a half, but I can't make any promises.