I look at my alarm clock.
"Eight," I groan wondering why I set my alarm so early when my whole day is free. Then I remember.
I race out of bed to hop in the shower and get dressed. The eleven through thirteen counciling session is at nine, and I'm planning on stopping by.
I'm in my car by eight thirty five, and pull into my parking spot by eight fifty five.
"Your certainly here early," Lindsay says noticing me as I walk in. she's arranging a tray of bagels and donuts. Oooh, I could like attending these counciling things.
"I thought I'd sit in on the counciling session today," I say.
"That's a first." she smirks.
"Hey, I've never had charges before, why would I go." I say
"Charges?" she asks raising an eyebrow.
"Kids, you know." I say embarrassed.
"Well, go bring in another chair." She says. I go pull in my cubicle chair, and grab a bagel. A couple of kids venture in and grab seats. The talk between themselves and Lindssay.
Maybe I should have told my sisters about this. I'm starting to feel a little guilty.
"Paige," Christina says, and my thoughts are interupted.
"Hey, your friends didn't mind you leaving them so early?" I ask
"Well, we brought Emily, and Casey and Jordan probobly will still be asleep when we get back." she laughs. I love kids, any adult would have just been like 'no', but she likes to explain it all.
"Where is Emily?" I ask looking around.
"Bathroom, maybe." she shrugs taking the seat closest to mine. Emily walks in a few moments later. She's wearing dark jeans and a black tank top. Around her neck is a large key necklace. Her long dark hair is pulled back, and her blue eyes are searching or a familiar face. She spots Christina and sits next to her.
"You again." She says turning towards me.
"Yeah, how come your here? You weren't at my last two." Christina remarks.
"I just thought I'd stop by." I say hoping that will suffice, but either way Lindsay stands up and they both turn around.
All the kids talk about there little pre-teen problems, and Lindsay asks all the newly placed ones how there families are treating them. Basically what I expected out of these meetings, and the reason why I never bothered to show up.
"So, Emily, how is like at the Jones?" Lindsay asks. I actually start to listen here.
"Ok, I guess." she answers vaguely.
"Do you guys do any family activities?" she asks
"They both work all day, but we eat dinner together." She says.
"Do you like them?" Lindsay prods her. She's not like the other kids though in the way she answers. The other kids at her age group talk for miles.
"I'm leaving in a week even if I didn't." She says. Lindsay shoots me a look. Probobly wondering how she knows when she's leaving. But then Lindsay moves on, and I watch the minutes tick by. I definately should have just come by once the was over and intercepted the kids.
Then the moment that I've been waiting for comes...
"Alright I'll see you guys next week." Lindsay says.
"Hey, Emily can I speek to you for a moment." Lindsays says just as I was about to ask the same thing.
"I'll wait for you outside." Christina says to her then heads out. I wait in my chair.
"Emily, I'm a little concerned. How did you find out you were leaving next week?" Lindsay asks.
"They have it on their calender." Emily says nonchalantly. That's a big no-no. The kids are not supposed to be told by their fster parents when they're leaving. Their councilor is supposed to tell them. She'll probobly get pulled out earlier now.
"Are you alright?" Lindsay asks sweetly.
"Fine," She says.
"Okay, see you next week." Lindsay says.
"Wait, Emily, I have some news for you." I say as she turns for the door. Lindsay gives me a look of questioning before leaving. Then Emily looks at me, and I see why she tried to rush out. There are tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" I ask. She backs away slowly, and I realize I've forgoten that she doesn't know me as well as I know her.
"It's just twelve years later, and I'm still here." She says. She is actually probobly one of the oldest who's been in the system since she was a baby, and not adopted.
"If it helps I know some stuff about your family." I say. Her eyes dry and she comes a little closer. I've hooked her.
"So what do you know already so I don't repeat?" I ask.
"My dad died before I was born. His name was Trudeau, and my mom gave me up at birth to a church who gave me to a family who brought me here." She says in one long breath. Hmm, I wonder where Prue took the church idea from...
My mind drifts as I look at this little girl here. She looks just like Prue in all her childhood pictures, except she's pretty small, and she's missing that twinkle in her eye Prue used to have when she smiled. I wonder if Prue ever visits her at night like she visits me.
"So what do you know?" She asks
"Well, your mom died a few years back." I say slowly, but she doesn't even take a hit.
"Sorry, but I never knew her. I'm not really missing her right about now." Emily says coldly.
"Well, you have three aunts, and an uncle." I say
"So I have family." She says slowly. This is affecting her.
"They live around here. Their name's Halliwell." I say wondering how to tell her I'm one of them, "There's Piper, Pheobe, and Paige."
"Do they know about me?" She asks not picking up on the Paige thing. Then it hits me. She doesn't know I'm a Halliwell. She know's me as Mathews.
"Well, I do." I say, she looks a little confused.
"Paige Mathews Halliwell," I say finally trying to hurry her up. She starts to cry, and I really hope she's happy about this. She jumps the step between us and gives me a hug.
When she let's go I realize I'm crying too, but the moments ruined by a knock on the door.
"Paige, I need your help." Lindsay asks.
"My mom's waiting. Come on." Christina says to Emily.
"I'm sorry sweet heart, but she needs to stay here for a little longer. I can drive her over when we're done." Lindsay says
"Okay," Christina says confused. Emily whispers something in her ear before she leaves, and Christna walks away not looking too upset.
"Emily, can you wait in here for a few minutes?" Lindsay asks. Emily nods staring at me longingly as Lindsay pulls me out.
"We need her out of Jones' house by tomorow night. They've continued to break our rules." Lindsay says
"So what can I do for you?" I ask.
"I need a back up house just for a few days so I can get her another family set up." Lindsay says, "I'd feel awful putting her back in the orphanidge, and Lauren, her case worker, is out of town."
"I can take her." I say
"Are you sure?" Lindsay asks,
"Yeah, I think we actually might be related anyway." I say
"I'll look into that if your serious." Lindsay says.
"Will you?" I ask I know my eyes are getting wide.
"No problem. I mean even if your not gonna adopt her some family could really help her." Lindsay says.
"Okay, I can drive her back to the Kline's than I'll take her to your place tomorow around one?" Lindsay asks searching through her blackberry.
"I can drive her, and pick her up." I shrug.
"I'll send you the paper work then." She smiles rushing off as her pager buzzes. I know kids go to the social workers houses a lot when they need somewhere to go for a few days, but I'm totaly new at this, and keep finding myself at a loss for words.
"Hey," I say going back into the room to break the news to her.
"Hi Aunt Paige," She says with a little grin. She seems to take on to this very easily. I meen when I found out I had sisters it took me weeks to adjust.
"Hey, Em." I say trying the nickname, "So I have some bad news for you now." I say
"Let me guess, I'm leaving the Jones' house." She spits.
"How'd you?" I start.
"I've been here for a while. I know all the faces, and al the rules they've broken, and don't worry I'm not attached you don't need to give me some bs talk." She says
"Are you sure your only twelve?" I ask. She's caught on to the system fast, and she doesn't seem upset.
"So, I'll take you back now, but I'm going to have to take you to my place tomorow for a few days before we can send you to the next family." I say
"Story of my life," She mutters "Wait, your house!" She says
"My house," I smile.
"Will I meet Phoebe and Piper and the guy?" she asks
"Of coarse," I say.
"I can't wait." She says as I lead her to my car. As I'm driving and she fumbles with the radio I feel so much better than I did earlier. Maybe she's the extra attention and love I need that I'm not getting from the rest of my family.
"I think we'll be good for each other," I say to Emily. As I let her out and she kisss me on the cheek I know she's perfect.
What I don't know is how I'm gonna tell my sisters everything they missed.