A Family Crisis

The Daughter I Never Had Chapter 10

Spoiler Alert! Chapter 3 of my recent collaboration with Mandalicious New Beginnings from Mrs. Pugh's perspective. This has not been posted yet but it has been written.

On a Wednesday afternoon in mid- April Grace's sister Jennifer called in hysterics. Apparently her husband who has been absent for the past fifteen years finally decided to make an appearance. Why he'd have the gumption to show up after all this time none o usf really know.

At dinner that night Grace made an announcement.

"We're calling an emergency Warbucks family meeting in a couple days."

Annie and Molly exchanged a look. "What about?" Annie asked.

"Well, your Aunt Jen just called. Your Uncle Willie is back in town and it's been a shock to her and Kathryn."

"Uncle Willie.. I've never heard of him before." Molly said

Oliver cleared his throat.

"Your Uncle Willie abandoned your aunt and cousins several years ago leaving your aunt Jen to raise Jacob and Kathryn on her own."

Annie's jaw dropped in horror. "Oh, my gosh! I never knew that before. Poor Katie and Jake. I feel so bad for them."

"How's Katie dealing with this news?" Molly asked

Grace shook her head. "Not very well. That's why we're calling this emergency family meeting. We're going down to your Aunt Melissa's in a few days.

I squeezed Grace's hand under the table. "Should I come along too?"

Grace nodded. "Yes Mama. Jen, Kathryn and Jacob need as much support as possible right now."

On Friday we dismissed Joanne, Frederick Annie and Molly early from school and headed down to Boston around 1:00pm. We were meeting at Melissa and Alex's apartment in Cambridge. Jen and her children had moved to Massachuetts in mid-December and did not live very far from Melissa and Alex.

When we arrived at Melissa and Alex's house Christopher opened the door smiling at us broadly.

"Hi Guys. Everyone is waiting for you in the office."

Grace kissed her nephew on the forehead and we followed him down the hallway. Melissa met us outside the office door.

" We would like to talk to your aunt and Kathryn in private so I'm going to take you guys into the family room to watch a movie." Melissa said to Annie.

Annie nodded. "Okay Aunt Melissa."

Melissa led the children off to the tv room. We entered the office. Jennifer was sitting in an easy chair and Kathryn was standing behind her. Both of them looked as if they had not slept well in several days.

Immediately after the door was closed Jennifer burst into tears. Kathryn put her arm around her mother's shoulder.

I walked over to where Jennifer was seated and looked her straight in the eye.

"How old were the children when Willie abandoned you?" I asked... I knew nothing of their family's history.

"Jake was an infant and Katie was almost five."

"So it's been 10 years?"

"Give or take a few."

"I just don't know what to think." She said softly through her tears.

Oliver had fire in his eyes. "That bastard! I can't believe he'd dare bother to show his face after all these years. Does he want money or something?"

Jennifer looked at her brother in- law. "To be honest Oliver, I don't really know what he wants from us.. We'll find that out when we go to Connecticut on Thanksgiving."

Melissa looked at her niece. "Katie, sweetheart, how have you been dealing with all this?"

Kathryn looked from Melissa to Alex to Oliver to Grace and back again as if deciding which relative's arms to fall into before convulsing in sobs.

"Not very well." She whispered, tears were forming at the corners of her eyes.

Grace approached her godchild. "Come here baby girl; let's go sit on the couch."

All Kathryn could do was nod. Grace took her by the hand and led her over to the sofa. Once they sat down Kathryn laid her head in Grace's lap. I grabbed a tissue from pocket and dabbed at her cheeks.

Grace stroked her bangs back laying a soft kiss on her forehead.

"Kathryn Grace, I know this is a lot for you to take in and so many emotions must be running through your head."

"Why would he leave us like that and then come back as if nothing has happened?"

Grace looked at her sisters, brother in law and husband and then looked at me unsure of how to answer her.

"None of us know that for certain sweetie pie." Melissa said.

"I just feel so angry! If he REALLY loved us he NEVER would have left us." Kathryn spat out angrily.

Jennifer knelt on the floor in front of the couch " Sweetheart, I told you even though your father left us he loves you. That will never ever change!"

Kathryn sat up on the couch so Jennifer could sit on her other side once Jennifer sat down Kathryn turned to face her.

"I don't believe you! How can you forgive him for what he did to us?"

"We'll both learn to forgive him eventually honey… it will just take time." Jennifer kissed Kathryn on the forehead.

Grace reached over and squeezed her sister's hand. "I love the two of you very much. You both will get through this rough spot just fine… just keep the faith."

Kathryn leaned over and kissed her aunt's cheek. "We love you too Aunt Grace."

Reminder! I own no characters from Annie. Grace's sisters and their familes are Mandalicious's original characters. Frederick and Joanne are my original characters.