Chapter 14

This chapter is mainly speech. Although, it's better that way. It's also just an explaining chapter, but will go somewhere. Please believe me when I say this, I had this same sort of idea before Saturdays episode. After the episode I decided to expand on my ideas. I'm not trying to get this story to follow the show, but there will be little bits. All will become clear when you read it. Hope it's OK!

"You really want to know?"

"Yes"

And so Joey thought. Where did he start? Too much had happened. What would Sam do? People can be so unreliable and unpredictable sometimes, and he had learnt that the hard way.

"Where do you want me to begin?"

"Anywhere. I just want to know. Curiosity"

"You know about how I didn't know my dad until I was eight?" Sam nodded, already intrigued. "Well, I didn't know my mum until I was six. I didn't know what to do. I knew nothing. She walked out on me before my dad. I wasn't even six months old and she had gone. Then my dad left when I was two. I was brought up in care until I was five. Tom took me out. Don't know how, I just know he did. Our mum turned up. I had been brought up calling the wrong people my parents. This couple adopted Taylor, Tom, Kay and me. Taylor and me truly believed they were our parents. Tom knew full well they weren't. Kay wasn't sure - she knew our parents, but couldn't remember much about them. They both went along calling the couple our parents. Not telling us anything different. None of us knew we had three other brothers until I was four. It's complicated. Do I need to go on?" Joey asked. He didn't care if Sam knew - she needed to. But, what would she think? He had to keep asking this question. Trust was and never is easy for him.

"That's horrible. But, I really want to know everything now. What about before you? How did Tom not know about his other brothers? After all, he's the oldest"

"Mum was seventeen when she had Tom. She didn't know what to do, so she handed him to her dad. My grandad then handed Tom to dad. Dad was eighteen. He didn't know what to do either! Our grandad told him to do anything with him. He didn't want to know either of them. He didn't like the fact that his daughter had got married and pregnant young. I don't see him that often, either. Ever since then, he's distanced himself from our family. Dad put Tom up for adoption. Tom was fifteen when he found out the truth. He had also called the wrong people his parents. Twice, in fact. Once by lack of knowledge, the other by choice," Joey paused. Imagine being told all this at once. He been told it over years of neglect and uncertainty.

"So, what about Benny, Ketan and Avan?"

"They were in Canada - with dad's parents. After Tom had been taken by a family, dad left to find mum. Yeah yeah, very cute. Not! They abandoned a child. Seriously, what parent does that? He found her within a few weeks. Before, she had said nothing to him. They thought it would all work out. Two years later and there was Benny. They had told dad's parents to say nothing. They had no contact with Tom. Just nothing. They stayed living in Canada - letting Tom live a life of lies. When Avan was born, they ran - again. Benny remembered them. The only kid so far to actually know them. He was seven, then. He told Ketan about them. Our grandparents wouldn't tell him not to. They told Avan, too. They didn't say our parents were dead or alive. Just that they weren't there," everything has to be said, he thought. There's no going back now.

"Where did they go?" Sam asked, listening intensely - she didn't want to miss anything.

"Mum and dad went to Australia. Dad had one brother and one sister there. They stayed with them until Taylor was one. Then they moved back to the UK. They looked for Tom. Well they didn't look for him, they just turned up. They were told that he had found out the truth. I was born and mum went again about a month afterwards. Tom still hadn't met his mum. Only dad was there. Tom came and lived with us. But then dad left when Tom was seventeen, nearer eighteen. The four of us were sent into care - well it wasn't really care, it was adoption. We managed to stay together. Even after Tom was too old for the system, our adoptive parents let him stay. Then when I was five, he took me out. He explained everything to me. I was really young then, so I didn't understand completely. But, even at that age, I felt anger. I didn't know my parents at all. Tom has always been more of a parent than a brother. And I don't care about that. I just care that he's there. Tom got us a small flat and we lived there until mum turned up. Somehow she found us. Tom couldn't take Taylor and Kay, so they stayed with the adoptive parents. They got told the truth. Mum tried to take us all back. She told us about our brothers. Tom told her to get out. I didn't want to know her. Tom didn't want to know her. Our sisters didn't want to know her. We later found out that mum had divorced dad about two weeks after I was born. They didn't say anything to anyone. She planned to leave when she did, and she left. No one knew where she was - guess we'll never know now. The two years in between when she came back and when dad returned were hell. She kept on trying to talk to us. Tom kept on telling her to go. Every few months she would be in prison. She would ask to see us, but Tom would always decline. We never got to know her. It feels like she has never been there. Well she hasn't – for us. When she was inside for five years, she asked to see us again. Benny would try and go - if he was at home. She never met any of her grandchildren. Only saw pictures of them. Ketan and Avan would try and see her, but with Ketan in the army and Avan working in the States, it wasn't easy. Taylor, Tom, Kay and me were always trying to distance ourselves from her. To be honest, I don't regret it. She distanced herself from me, so why should the vice the versa be different?" There was anger in Joey's voice. It was understandable. No body should have to grow up with so many lies and hidden truths.

"Did you ever talk to your mum? Properly. And what about your last name. Is it Kent? Because I thought adopted children took their adoptive parents name," Sam asked. Her voice was soft and sad. This behaviour was so inhuman.

"Kent is our name. My surname was Ross until I was six. Tom's first name was Foster. He changed it to Ross when we were in care together. The same happened to Taylor and Kay," Joey paused. He was trying to explain his life in the simplest way possible - which wasn't easy. "The first time I properly talked to my mum I was ten. She was still in prison. I had decided myself I didn't want to see her. But, Benny was persistent that I did. Tom saw her two or three times in those five years. Once was the time I went. Each time he would stand up and leave within twenty minutes. I saw my mum again when I was eleven. Just before I left for for Hawaii. I didn't tell her I was going, I just went. Just like she did. She never knew, and never will. When people ask 'do you know who your mum is?' I reply with no. So does Tom. In all of Tom's life, he has only spoken to mum for less than an hour - same with me. I don't know why I even call her my mum! She's only that on paper. Nothing more. She always ran away. Not caring about anyone. People always tell me that she cared. After you hear the story, do you really think so? Some people should really think before they open their mouth"

"What about your dad? Did you talk to him and call him your dad?"

"See, everyone says me and Tom are so similar, which we are in a way, but there's one major difference - apart from the obvious. I want to know my dad, Tom doesn't. When he came back, I was angry, yes. Wouldn't you be? But, I tried to forgive him - as much as I could. Everyone tried, apart from Tom. He says he doesn't know his dad. Only because he has never sat down and talked with dad. He's always pushed him away. Saying he doesn't care about what he has to say. They don't know each other as well as they should, and I want to change that. Tom always said 'they've never bothered looking for me, so why should I be bother to look for them?' I agreed with that for some time. Although, I wanted to give dad a chance. A chance for him to explain himself and make a change. He tried and he still is. I'm letting him fix something, anything! But, Tom? No. He's being his usual stubborn self!" Sam sat there. Wanting to know more and more - everything. She felt so sorry for them all having to go through such terrible events. But, she just sat there. Thoughts whirling around her head.

"How do you feel about your dad starting a new life with a new person? I've seen people hate that situation" Sam still sat there. Trying to understand as well as she could. If she could.

"I don't mind. That's my dad's life, not mine. His wife, Clare, my step-mum, isn't a bad person. The thing with step parents being evil is wrong. I have three half siblings and two step siblings. I more love it than feel nothing of it. Tom didn't mind getting to know them, but he still has that grudge against dad," Joey smiled. He changed his voice to lighten the situation. Looking back on his life always made him feel sad, so he needed to change that. Once, he put strong barricades ups, not letting anyone get to know him. This only caused more pain.

"What's your step and half siblings names?" Sam asked. Noticing the smile on Joey's face.

"My step siblings are Harvey, who's seventeen, and Rachel, who's sixteen. Then my half siblings are Leah; she's eight, Georgia; she's five, and Mike; he's four. Mike is actually called Michael, but he's named after our uncle - so shorting it is a lot easier," Joey smiled and laughed. The uneasiness of telling someone his whole life story had quickly vanished.

"Do they live with your dad and step mum?"

"Yeah. I saw them quite a bit when I first came back over here. Haven't really had the chance lately. You'd like them, and they'd like you," Joey said, happiness now filling him.

"I'd like to meet them," Sam replied, happy now that the child before her had something to smile about.

"Where's Tom? And did my dad get called?" All too good to be true.

"You're dad is with Nick," start gentle. "Um, Tom hasn't been seen. Zoe asked Charlie to look for him"

"Who called Nick?" Joey asked, not seeming too bother about his brother.

"Tom did"

"When did you last see him?" Now Joey had concern in his voice.

"Not since he went outside to call Nick," Sam said, guessing he meant Tom, and pulled a sad smile.

"Have you heard anything from Charlie or Zoe?"

"No. I'm sure he's OK"

"I'm sure he is. But, being his brother, I have my concerns. No matter how blind he can be to some situations, doesn't change anything"

Sam was now slightly confused, but passed bringing it up. "How're you feeling?"

"Not bad. Not in much pain," replied Joey. "Wait! Where's Harley, Jess and Jodie?" He suddenly said - had a light bulb moment.

"Don't worry. Clare picked them up and they're with her"

"What is she doing over here?"

"I'll let your dad explain, later. Now, do you want anything to eat?"

"Um, yes. I am a bit hungry," Joey unsurely chuckled

"OK. I'll just go find something. Rest!" Sam ordered - jokingly - as she stood up, stretched, and walked to the door and out.

Won't be able to update for a little while, as I'll be on holiday. As always please review! :D