Chapter 10:

My gasp turned into silent shock. I backed away from them. All of them until I was running away. I dropped my clipboard and I moved as fast as I could through the crowd of people. I made it outside. I looked side to side. I didn't know much about the city I was in. I had no idea where I should go.

"Abbi!" the sound of my name sent me to the streets where I waved down a passing cab. It screeched to a halt and I got in.

"Wait." Vince stopped the cab by standing in front of the cab.

"Just go around." I didn't want to see anyone, especially him and I left him standing in the road. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I couldn't believe what he had said and I was angry. I hated him.

I went to the campsite and was grateful that the driver was there because the only thing I wanted to do was pack my things and get out of town. I tossed them in such a hurry that wasn't sure if I had gotten everything, then I was in the cab again. I went to the airport and purchased my ticket back to Washington. What was the use in staying? It was obvious why I had been given the job. It was obvious why Vince kept me so close.

I was half way home before I thought about Randy, but I brushed it off because my departure would make his life easier, but I felt horrible that I hadn't said good bye to Eve. She was my first friend and would probably be my only friend. But eventually, she too would forget about me.

When I arrived home, it was very late. I tried to be quiet, but my grandmother was a light sleeper.

"You should have called." I had been gone for months and I thought I would at least be greeted with some happiness. "You're lucky your grandpa didn't wake up. He would have thought you were a robber and grabbed his gun."

"I'm sorry."

"And what are you wearing? I knew that job would be a bad influence." She shook her head and ventured back to her bed. I sighed and went to my room or what used to be my room. All of my things had been packed up and placed in the attic leaving only a small twin bed for company. I wished it had been left alone at least then I would have felt like I had a home to return to.

My cell phone rang and I ignored the call. Eve called a couple of times before finally giving up. I was nearly asleep when it rang again. I stared at the unfamiliar number. I was tempted to answer it, but instead I ignored it and then turned off my phone.

The morning I got up and dressed in what would considered suitable attire to my grandparents and I exited.

"Hey, she is here." My grandfather hugged me warmly. "I thought I was dreaming last night when your grandma said you came home."

"Hi grandpa."

"Why do you look so sad?" Although strict, my grandfather had always been warm to me. I was his pride and I think it irritated my grandmother. Grandma had a quick tongue, but she meant well.

"You look thin. You need a good breakfast." There was the grandmother I loved, but since I had grown into an adult I found it hard to finish all of the greasy food she liked to serve. Maybe I hadn't been fair in my description of them. Yes, they were strict, but they weren't abusive. I know that the things they forbade me to do, they did to try and protect me. I don't think they realized that in the process of protecting me that they had held me back. They just didn't want someone to come along and destroy my life. I didn't fully understand or appreciate how they had raised me until that day.

But I wasn't comfortable in the clothing they liked. I never did feel comfortable. I was always too hot and I couldn't move as freely as I wanted. So, after breakfast I changed into a comfortable pair of jeans and a long sleeved tee shirt.

"Abigail." My grandmother chastised.

"Leave her alone, Mildred. She's a grown woman."

"Grandma, I'm not trying to disrespect you guys. I'm just more comfortable in jeans."

"I think it looks fine." Grandpa smiled. "You've grown into a beautiful young lady."

"Well, at least you're not popping out of your top."

I never thought it would be that easy to gain their approval.

"So, why are you home? I thought you loved your job?" Grandma asked after grandpa left to work in his shop.

"Grandma, did mama ever tell you who my father was?" My grandmother stopped washing the dishes. I had stopped asking about both my parents before I was ten.

"You've done well without knowing your father, why do you want to ask about him now?"

"Grandma." I insisted.

She took a deep breath and dried her hands. She nodded, left the room and returned with a small shoe box. She handed it to me. I looked inside and I pulled out a tiny little white dress and a pair of matching crocheted booties. There was tiny hospital bracelet, but I couldn't read the writing because it had smeared and faded over time. In the bottom was a document. I pulled it out. I read the weight and length and the birthday was the same as mine.

"Raina Louise McMahon?"

"That's what your mother named you." she revealed. "But when we adopted you, they said we could change it if we wished, so we gave you a more respectable name."

"Vince is my father." I couldn't believe it could be true. "You've known all along who my father was."

"Your mother said the man was some rich man on the television, but the girl is habitual liar. I don't know where she learned …"

"Grandma, the man who hired me – he's my father."

"You never told me his name. I knew I should have stopped you."

"I don't understand why now. He's never been around before."

"That's not entirely true. You see, Abbi, we didn't just go to the courthouse and sign papers. Your mother took off and you were nearly three before we officially adopted you. we were served papers. Your father wanted custody and we had to let him see you. He came a few times and when we got to court he said that he didn't want to uproot you from the life you were used to. He said you were so happy. I honestly think he just didn't want to explain you to his wife."

My grandmother always saw the negative points, but I had a feeling that she wasn't wrong. I still hated Vince. He knew about me all along. He could have written. He could have visited when he was in town. At least I would have known him. Instead, he just abandoned me.