"Becca. Come here please." Kele called out
"Coming Grandpa." A girls voice called out
"She knows you're her grandfather?" The police captain asked
"Yes. She knows her story." Kele said "I don't cover up the hard parts."
"Yeah. I don't think that helps kids to not know the details. Age appropriately." Dave said
"How long were you and Bianca together?" Kele asked Dave
"Um. About nine months." Dave said
Kele looked surprised. "Oh."
"I cared for your daughter greatly. But our first meeting…. Involved…. a lot of alcohol." Dave said evidently trying to find the right way to word what he was saying.
Rosie looked away to hide her smirk.
Kele nodded. "It happens." The man wasn't about to place blame or judgement on the situation he knew nothing about. He had led the group to the living room where they all sat.
Becca came out. "Oh. Hello." She said to the three people. She looked directly at Rosie. "Oh…You're Rosie."
Rosie looked confused. "How did you know my name?"
"Um. Well. Urm.." Becca said clearly looking for how to explain herself.
"Well. Like I said she knows her story. She knew she had a cousin out there. Knew your name. But how did you know this was her?" Kele asked
"Well. I. Just. Its…" Becca said
"Rabecca. Stop with the looking for a lie to tell." Kele said
"Sorry Grandpa…. Um. Yeah. I found you on social media." Becca said sitting down with the group.
"But. You didn't add me. How did you know my last name?" Rosie asked
Becca looked down.
"Rabecca. Answer. Now." Kele said clearly not impressed with his granddaughter.
"When you told me you had heard that my mother and father were in prison. But you didn't know for what. I did some research. And I found out what they had done. I didn't know before I promise. I would have said something had I known. And yeah most of the articles didn't give a name but there was one small news organization that had your name. And I knew your first name was Rosie and there was the last name, so I looked you up. But I figured you must hate me. Because I was the reason you were with my parents. And the fact that you had been abused by them…" Becca said
Kele shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you would be upset that I looked into all this." Becca said
"I have never closed the door to anything about you or your past to you. I have always been open and told you that if you had questions you could ask. You didn't need to hide this." Kele said
"Sorry grandpa…" She said
Kele sighed. "We will talk about it later. But this is Captain Franklin. From Rocklin police department. It seems that after this situation came to light with Rosie and everything everyone was trying to figure out what happened to you because neither of your parents seemed to want to give a clear answer. There was speculations that you had been killed or something."
"Shit are you serious? Wow. Really love me don't they…" Becca said
"Rabecca. Don't swear." Kele said. "And its not your fault they are the way they are."
"Sorry." She said
"We will need a DNA test to verify, and we will be out of your hair. Let you all talk." The Captain said
Becca looked at her grandpa who nodded. "Its okay."
The police officer took out a testing swab from her bag and swabbed Becca's mouth.
They got a phone number to call when they had the results and left.
"So. Um. Where is my aunt?" Becca asked
Kele took a breath. "She apparently passed away."
"Oh. When?" Becca asked
"There were complications with giving birth. Doctors couldn't save her." Dave said
"Oh. Sorry." Becca said
"She gave her life to give this family another beautiful person. I think she is with us right now and sees this and is so happy that her daughter and niece are both safe." Kele said
Becca smiled and nodded. "Um. How much do you know about native beliefs?" she asked Rosie
"Not much. I want to know it all though. Just haven't had the chance to know anyone who could teach me." Rosie said
"You can ask any questions. I can answer them." Kele said
Rosie started to ask questions and Kele and Becca answered them.
Dave listened as well and let her daughter learn about her native heritage happy that she had people who could teach her about it.
After a couple hours Rosie was out of questions for the time being.
"So, Dave. What do you do?" Kele asked
"I'm a profiler with the FBI." Dave said
"He is also an author. Writes books on serial killers and profiling." Rosie said
Kele nodded.
"That you haven't read right?" Dave asked
Rosie sighed. "No. I haven't dad. As much as I wish you would just let me."
"When your eighteen." He reminded her
Rosie nodded.
"Um. Do you want to go hang out. I can show you my room?" Becca said to Rosie
Rosie looked at her dad.
"Go ahead." Dave said with a smile.
The two girls went to Becca's room.
"Raising a teenager alone is definitely something that takes a lot of patience." Kele said
Dave nodded. "Yup. You raised your daughters alone too. Didn't you. I think Bianca mention her mother dying when she was very young."
"Yeah. She died in child birth with Beatrice." Kele said
"Oh." Dave said
"Knowing Bianca died similarly makes me wonder if there is a genetic thing there." Kele said
"Something we will need to let the girls know when they get to that age." Dave said
Kele nodded.
/\/\/\/\
"So. Add me on social media." Rosie said to Becca. "I will send you the photos that way." Rosie had taken a few photos of the two of them with her camera.
"Yes. I will do that." Becca said
"I don't blame you for what your parents did to me by the way. I am just so happy that you are alive, and I get to have a cousin and family that I can get to know on this side." Rosie said
"Have a lot on your dads side?" Becca asked
"Not anyone really blood related. Some distant family in Italy but I don't think I will ever really know them. But the people my dad works with are his chosen family. They are the people who I consider my aunts and uncles and cousins and such." Rosie said
Becca nodded. "Well, that's cool. Chosen family can be a good thing. When your blood family isn't all great."
Rosie nodded. "But hey. We have each other now. And you have your grandpa."
"Our grandpa." Becca said with a smile
"Right. Sorry. I just…" Rosie said
"Weird?" Becca asked
"Yeah. The little I knew about him. Was the little my mother told my dad and apparently they were lies? Or something." Rosie said
"The alcoholism thing?" Becca asked
"Yeah…" Rosie said
"Yeah. Not sure where that lie came into play. But I don't think I have ever seen grandpa drink more than three drinks in a day and its certainly not every day." Becca said
"Did you know our great grandpa?" Rosie asked
"Yeah. He… was… unique." Becca answered
"Unique a code word for something?" Rosie asked
"I didn't know him well. He was sick for as long as I can remember before he passed. I think he was senile. He didn't make a lot of sense. But he was a sweet man." Becca said
Rosie nodded and smiled.
"Can I ask you about my parents?" Becca asked
Rosie took a breath and nodded.
"Why did they take you? Do you know?" Becca asked
"I don't know for sure. Their stories don't really match up. And there are so many different ones. My best guess is for whatever reason they wanted to cover up you not being with them anymore. Maybe to save face and your mother knew about me and decided that we would look enough alike that it wouldn't draw to much attention after a couple months of being away and obviously it didn't because no one knew. Apparently they told another family who came into our lives a few years after it happened but I'm not sure if that is actually true either." Rosie said
"I remember a family we were really close to. They had a daughter about my age… We were close but I cant remember how we knew them. Any idea who that could be?"
"The Bender's maybe? Their daughter Lexi?" Rosie asked
"Lexi.. Yeah.." Becca said
"She and I and another girl Paige. Were best friends. Attached at the hip. Um. I don't know if you remember but your parents are… were… jehovah's witnesses. That's how you would have known Lexi and her parents and how I knew her and Paige and her family when they moved into the area a few years later." Rosie said
"Were best friends?" Becca asked
Rosie let out a breath.
"You don't have to explain." Becca said
"No. Its okay. Um. How much have you read about the situation. Did any of the articles tell of how I was found?" Rosie asked
"Nothing in detail no." Becca said
"Lexi, Paige, and I decided we needed to do something 'dangerous' since we graduated jr. high. We broke into a local amusement park. And because we were thirteen we got busted." Rosie started
Becca chuckled.
"So, we were taken to the police station. Finger prints taken. Mine were connected to my missing child case. But my dad is not religious. And I didn't really believe I was just doing what I was told. Doing what I was told 99% of the time I still got… Abused so I couldn't imagine what would have happened had I not. I don't know what they would have done if I ended up going home to them that night after the amusement park. But anyways. Um. So, I stopped going to the religious meetings and such and well when I came out to Lexi as not straight. Following the beliefs of that religion meant I needed to be cut off. Shunned. Paige took it to a whole other level when it came to a court case that put your parents and the lawyer who actually kidnapped me in prison. I don't want to get into those details, but Paige and I will never be friends again. Lexi. If she leaves behind the religion at some point I have hope for a reconnection." Rosie said
"Someone posted the transcripts from that trial online for everyone to see. Is Paige who you were doing something with across the court room?" Becca said
Rosie's jaw dropped. "That bitch posted them online!"
"What? Who? Paige?" Becca asked
"No. Some girl I was friends with at school in Virginia. It's a long story but she wanted to get back at me, so she shared my whole story on the school's forums. She had gotten copies of the transcripts and shared somethings from it too. I didn't know she had shared the entire transcripts. You have to pay for access to those usually." Rosie said running her hands over her face.
"Oh. Cant get away from the drama can you?" Becca asked
"Nope. Really cant." Rosie said shaking her head "But in answer to your question. Yes. Paige is who I was being snarky with across the court room."
Becca chuckled abit. "If your dad is anything like grandpa I'm sure that went over well."
"Wasn't just him who was unimpressed. My uncle… He was the one who caught me. Both times."
"Yikes. Is that better or worse than your dad catching you?" Becca asked
"Well. My dad was told. But about the same I would say." Rosie said
"What did your dad do about the amusement park thing?" Becca asked
"Not much. Given the situation. I think he was so happy that he had me back that he didn't do much." Rosie said
Becca nodded
"If I did that now. I don't think I would be sitting comfortably for an extended period." Rosie said
"Yup. Sounds about how it would go with grandpa." Becca said
Rosie nodded. "Yeah. I got the same kind of vibe off of him as my dad."
"He's a great grandpa. I owe him so much. I love him dearly. But yeah. He doesn't take any sort of crap." Becca said
Rosie smiled and nodded "Same with my dad."
"What is the same?" Dave asked standing outside the bedroom door
"Comes in right at the right time like that all the time?" Becca asked
Rosie laughed and nodded.
"Grandpa too." Becca said chuckling
"Just that you and grandpa are a lot alike." Rosie said
Dave smiled. "I can see why you two might see that yes. We are going to get going."
Rosie nodded before looking at Becca "You have a phone?"
"Of course." Becca took it out of her pocket and opened up the new contact page and handed it to Rosie. Rosie put her number in and handed Becca her phone to do the same. "If its okay with grandpa and your dad you can come visit again sometime." Becca said
Rosie smiled. "And you visit me in Virginia."
"Yes! I would love that." Becca said
"Okay with me. For both." Dave said.
The three of them went back out to the front door. And grandpa agreed with the visiting soon.
Kele looked at Rosie. "Can I give you a hug?"
Rosie smiled and nodded and the two hugged.
"I hear you have a gentleman you are close with." Kele said
Rosie nodded and smiled. "Nolan. He is so good to me."
"Good." Grandpa said with a smile
Rosie hugged Becca. "I'm so glad you are okay. And that I get to know you. Both of you."
Becca smiled. "Me too. And I'll text you. Want to know everything about Nolan."
Rosie smiled and nodded. "Sounds good."
Dave and Kele shook hands.
Dave and Rosie went out to their car.
"Went the way you were hoping?" Dave asked
"Better. Thank you for making this happen." Rosie said
"Anything for you bambina." Dave said he started to drive
"You hungry?" he asked
"Starving." Rosie said
Dave drove to a restaurant nearby and they went and got dinner.
Rosie looked at her phone when a text came in it was from Nolan
'How are things going in Cali?'
'A lot of things have come to light. I'm still trying to process everything.' She sent back
'You're okay?' she received a minute later
'I'm okay. I'll explain everything in person.' Rosie sent back before putting her phone away.
"Nolan know exactly what you were coming here for?" Dave asked
"Nope." Rosie said. "Just needed to deal with some stuff with my case is what I told him."
"He didn't ask for more details?" Dave asked
"Asked if you were coming with. I said yes. And asked exactly what we were doing. And I changed the subject. I didn't want him to needlessly worry." Rosie said
Dave nodded. "You know. A lot of the reason I didn't know about the extend family you have is because your mother told me minimal about it."
"I'm going to tell Nolan everything that happened. Just once were home." Rosie said
"Okay." Dave said
"You didn't really know her. I know that cant be easy…" Rosie said. "And yes I may be like her in some ways, but I wont keep secrets from Nolan or whomever I end up marrying or what not."
Dave nodded. "I think your mother was scared to share things with me because we really didn't know each other. We were brought together by one drunken night that led to something wonderful. And that's you. But we didn't get a chance to really know each other."
Rosie nodded.
"But because of the job I do. I was able to learn a lot about her personality and I know she was a good woman. I know when she told me her dad and granddad were alcoholics she believed it. I know that she was very secretive about her past for reasons she wasn't ready to share." Dave said. "But I know she was kind. And loving. And stubborn and infuriating at times." He said with a smile.
Rosie chuckled. "Give me an example of one of her stubborn times."
"Okay. Well. She loved rock climbing. And she continued to do it through the pregnancy. Which was fine. Up to a point. When she was about four months pregnant she slipped and fell. Wasn't a far fall but it scared me, and the doctors told her she needed to stop. I found out when she was seven months pregnant that she hadn't stopped. We argued about it." Dave said
Rosie smirked. "How did that end for you?"
"With her rolling her eyes and telling me that the woman's body was designed to carry a child and that she had been rock climbing since she was three and she wasn't going to let a doctor tell her what she could do when she knew her body better than anyone. And that if I had a problem with it I could shove it." Dave said
"She said shove it?" Rosie asked chuckling.
"That's what I am willing to tell you she said." Dave said
Rosie laughed "So she swore at you."
Dave shook his head. "More than once."
"And she rolled her eyes at you?" Rosie asked
"Just as much as you do." Dave said
Rosie smirked. "So, you knew what you were getting with me."
"A kind, generous, loving person with a stubborn streak like no other. Yes." Dave said
Rosie smiled.
"Difference being she was an adult woman, and she only swore at me when I tried to control things I had no business controlling and when I wasn't respecting her. I don't allow you to swear at people because generally it is disrespectful. Same with the eyerolling. I couldn't expect respect from her. I do from you." Dave said
"I don't intent to be disrespectful." Rosie said, "I get the feeling she was a pretty free spirit."
"I know you don't mean disrespect. And yes. She was." Dave said
"Do you think the free spirit is what caused her to do something that led to complications with my birth?" Rosie asked
Dave took a breath. "No. Talking with your grandfather. Your grandmother died in childbirth with Beatrice. Maybe some genetic thing."
"Oh… Does that mean…" Rosie said
"Maybe. Something to discuss with your doctor when you get to that stage of life. Which I hope is not for a long time." Dave said
"Dad. I'm sixteen. I could be married with in four years and having kids soon after." Rosie said
"Is that your plans?" Dave asked
"Well. No." Rosie said
"Do you have plans?" Dave asked
Rosie nodded. "I have ideas."
"What are those?" Dave asked
"University." Rosie said
"Okay. To study what?" Dave asked
"Major in journalism. Minor in law." Rosie said
"Very nice. You want to be a journalist?" Dave asked
"Crime journalism." Rosie said
"I like it. What school is top choice?" He asked
"Harvard." Rosie said
"Second choice?" Dave asked
"Stanford or Yale. But I'll go where I am accepted." Rosie said
Dave nodded. "Lots of good schools in Virginia."
Rosie smiled. "Yes there is. But I have wanted Harvard since I was like ten. I wanted to get as far away as I could."
"I get that." Dave said
"I don't still want Harvard because I want to run. I just it's a really good school." Rosie said
"Yes it is." Dave said. "You go to the best school you get into. And I have no doubt that will be Harvard."
"Oh. Goodie. Pressure…" She said
"I didn't mean for that to come off as pressure. I'll be proud of you no matter what school you go to." Dave said. "Or even if you skip university and find a career that doesn't require a degree."
Rosie smiled and nodded
Dave paid their bill for dinner, and they headed out back to the car. Dave started the long drive back to hotel. Rosie fell asleep in the car on the way.
*dreamworld*
"My little girl. Look how big you got." The woman said
Rosie looked at her "M-mom?"
"Yes sweetheart. Its mom. I know you don't have any memory of me really. But your dad has shown you pictures." Bianca said
"Lots. Told me a few stories too." Rosie said
"Yeah. I have seen that." Bianca said
"What do you mean?" Rosie asked
"I know it doesn't make sense. But I have been watching you. Your whole life. Protecting you the best I could." Bianca said. "I'm so sorry my sister played a role in the abuse you had to endure."
"If you have been trying to protect me why didn't you stop it?" Rosie asked
"There is only so much I could do. I wanted to stop it. But I had to let it play out the way it did. As much as it sucks. The people we become is completely based on the things we go though. You are who you are because of the shit you have been handed in life. And the good things too." Bianca said
"Do you know what my future looks like?" Rosie asked
"I have no doubt that your future is bright." Bianca said
Rosie smiled.
"Now. Know that I love you with everything I am. And you listen to your dad. You respect him. Because he deserves it. And be the good person you are. And while some of my qualities I love you having. Don't be like me when it comes to forgiveness make sure your heart is open to forgiving all who have wronged you." Bianca said
"What do you mean?" Rosie asked
"You'll see." Bianca said kissing Rosie on the head causing her to wake up.
*end dream*
Rosie reached up and touched her forehead where she could feel the kiss.
"You okay?" Dave asked
"Yea.." Rosie said
"You have a dream?" Dave asked
"Yeah…" Rosie said
"Good one?" Dave asked
"Yeah." Rosie said
They got back to the hotel and they both went inside. Rosie went and took a shower and went to bed. Dave did the same.
/\/\/\/\
Next morning, they both got up and started to pack up. They were heading home that day. Rosie was packing and sat down on the bed in her room.
Dave went to check on her and saw her just sitting there "You okay?"
"Dad. Where is she buried?" Rosie asked
"She's not. She had her requests written up very detailed what she wanted. She wanted to be cremated and than brought to her favorite spot. Which I'm guessing is that field and forest. The ashes and all her possessions were supposed to be brought by her lawyer to a family member. I wasn't told much." Dave said.
"What family member?" Rosie asked
"I don't know." Dave said
"Beatrice knew she had passed. She told me she knew when her daughter was gone that I would be an easy replacement and she knew mom had passed." Rosie said
Dave nodded.
"Do you know who the lawyer was?" Rosie asked
"I have the name in a file. I will look into it." Dave said
Rosie nodded
"We have to finish packing. Our flight is in a few hours." Dave said
Rosie nodded and got up
Dave gave her a tight hug. Rosie hugged him. The hug was broken after a few seconds and Rosie finished packing.
Dave grabbed both their bags and went to check out of the hotel before drove to the airport returning the rental car before they went through security.
"What do you want to eat for breakfast?" Dave asked
"Don't care. Not hungry but I know you're going to make me eat something." Rosie said
"You do need to eat." Dave said.
"Whatever you want to get I'll have too." Rosie said sitting down at the gate. Dave put his bag down with hers and he went and got them both a breakfast sandwich and coffee and water. He sat down next to her and handed her breakfast to her.
Rosie took it. "Thanks." She ate about half the sandwich and drank her coffee. Dave ate his and drank his coffee.
Dave looked at her. "I know its a lot. But its going to be okay."
Rosie nodded.
"You can always talk to me. But you have therapy in a couple days. You can talk about it there too." He said
Rosie sighed and nodded
"Problem?" He asked
"No." Rosie said
"Therapy been going okay?" Dave asked
"Yeah. But its therapy. Still not the biggest fan." Rosie said
"You do like this therapist right?" Dave asked
"Yes. She's great." Rosie said
"And its helping. I have seen that it has helped. So, what's the problem?" Dave asked
"You know therapy helps and yet I know you don't like it either. That you have argued with Uncle Aaron about going at times." Rosie said
Dave chuckled. "Okay. Fair. But I have gone. Every time I have been told to."
"And I will continue to go as well. But I cant promise to love it." Rosie said
Dave nodded. "I guess that is fair."
Rosie nodded.
"How do you know I have disagreed with Uncle Aaron about it?" Dave asked
"I over heard you talking to him on the phone. I wasn't trying to over hear I just happened to." Rosie said
Dave nodded. Soon they were called to board the plane which they did.
Once the flight was in the air Rosie took out her copy of twilight breaking dawn and opened up to the bookmark about halfway through the book and picked up reading. Dave worked on his laptop working on his newest book.
When they landed they got off the plane. They went out to where Dave had parked the car when they went to California and started for home.
