Calllie POV
It was a late evening the day before my adoption. I was sitting at my desk, scribbling on a paper. For the last 5 minutes I have been writing down my soon too be name trying to get accustomed to it, because once school starts again in September I will have a new surname. I'm sure that even despite my effort to get used it by writing it down, it will take couple of days till I will raise my head up at being called Miss Scott in school.
Changing things up, I started to try and come up with a new signature. I didn't really have one before for all the time I would simply write Callie Jacob on the signature line. But I wanted to change things up. I came up with countless options. Some were really bad, some I could not replicate the second time, some were as simple as writing just CS down in different pen stroke manners.
"Cal!" I heard mom call me from the hallway. I turned around hearing moms footsteps coming towards my room.
I pressed my left elbow to the top of the chair backrest "Huh?"
"Grandma and grandpa want to talk to you," Mom came in my room holding her phone to her ear "Hold on a sec!" Amy said in the phone before she handed it over to me.
Amy's parents were in Boston. This time we didn't call and invite them over, because of my disappointment the last time. I felt so guilty for asking to fly over for nothing. There's this thought in the back of my head that Robert will ruin it somehow again. It didn't feel fair to drag them over for all across the country while there was a chance that this time the adoption won't go through as well.
Happily I reached for the phone "Hello!" I said starting to fidget my pen in my other hand
"Hi, darling! You're on the speakerphone!" Linda told me, I heard Harold making noise in the background "And it's done!" I heard him announced, but had no idea what was done or if it was even something to do with me
"Are you excited?" Grandma asked me
"Yeah, I can't wait for it!" I replied watching how my mom came up to my desk and lifted up the paper I was trying to find my new signature
"We can't wait as well," Harold agreed "In fact, we just sent a little gift for you!"
"You did?" I asked wondering what it was
"Well, to be more specific, we sent it to your mom, because you still don't have a bank account!" Linda explained to me
"You didn't have to," I downplayed my excitement for their gift
"Oh nonsense, Callie. Who are you trying to fool?" Harold replied "What kid doesn't like money!" he chuckled, making me admit it.
"Okay, you're right. Thank you!" I expressed my gratitude, when mom showed the paper to me pointing to the signature at the bottom of the page and then showed thumbs up
"We already told your mom. She will give it to you tomorrow," Linda added as I smiled up to mom for two reasons – the signature and the money from my grandparents
"What time does it start tomorrow?" Harold asked
"Um...at 11:00!" I said as I started to scribble the signature that mom seemed to like on the corner of my music sheets
"Give us a call once it's over. Harold and I want to be the next in line after your mom to congratulate you."
"Something can still go wrong-"
"Don't you dare think that way. Nothing will go wrong!" Harold interrupted me in a confident manner, but Linda added "Enough with the negative waves. Think positive, darling!"
"I'll try," I replied looking back up to mom "But I'm more of realist"
Mom pointed both thumbs to herself "I'm an optimist!" I smirked at mom
"We for one believe everything will be okay. Remember that we love you, Callie!"
"I love you too," I sounded a little bit unsure and shy. I only met these people because of Amy. And I couldn't be more grateful of getting to know them as they simply are amazing. The first month I was here, I didn't understand why Amy was so calm with me, so patient, caring yet strict, when needed, but most of all loving and caring all throughout suffering the greatest lost there is. Getting to know Linda and Harold I came to realize why Amy is the way she is. She was raised this way. Now I wished I could grow up to be half the person Amy was.
"Can you put your mom back on the phone?" Grandma requested
"Sure, hold on a second," I said handing the phone back to mom who for the last minute was sitting on the end of my bed
"Grandma said you have to give me money!" I whispered to mom before she got up
"Tomorrow!" Mom pointed out before she up and left my room with her phone up to her ear.
~o~o~o~
"Are you nervous?" Mom asked me, when she parked the car in the parking lot next to the City Hall. The concern that Robert could show up here and ruin my adoption grew ever since we left the house. Knowing the way he was, how he felt about me and that he had investigated on mom, I feared he could have something up his sleeve just so I don't get to have a forever family. One last way to screw with me.
"A little. I'm just scared that something like last time will happen again." I expressed my concern, but held back on all the ways I pictured this day could be ruined. Everyone kept telling me that everything will be okay, that Robert won't show up, but until I live through it – I won't fully believe it.
It won't!" mom assured me once more "You are going to walk in as Callie Quinn Jacob, but you will walk out as Callie Quinn Scott."
I took in a shaky breath and looked back to the building, where it all crashed and burned one time. So far there were no good memories associated with this place. I wanted badly for that to change, but I was too skeptical about it. Luck has never really been on my side. What says today is going to be any different?
"You do want to become a Scott, right?" Mom questioned with a hint of worry in her voice and eyes after my long silence "Are you having second thoughts?"
"No...No!" I stated as I turned to look back at her. The last thing I wanted was to pass my doubts over to her. "I want this! I want to be a Scott!" I reassured her "I'm just...anxious! I can't wait!" I added with a big smile on her lips. I can't wait for this fear and worry to be over. I wanted this uncertainty to end. I wanted to finally feel safe and secure. I wanted the stability that comes from having a forever family.
"Well, then...miss Jacob, shall we?" Mom asked gesturing with her free hand to the building. I nodded my head vigorously and we got out of the car at the same time.
"This is a very important and special day, you know."
"Mm-hmm" I hummed back, keeping my eyes on the building "I will never forget this day." This day could be a turning point for me. Either in a good or bad way.
"The last few months have been...rough. To me, to you...to both of us," Mom said, referencing to all we have been through making me recall each and every single obstacle. One almost made me cry as I recalled how broken and hurt Amy was in the hospital and the following two weeks "We had...many bumps and hitches on the way...but we are here now. We took this long, hard journey together. We stuck together through it all. We made it together," Mom stopped talking briefly as she opened the City Hall doors for me and let me in first
"You are going to be a Scott. And I couldn't be more happier about it!" We walked to the hall and then stopped. Mom reach for my hand "I love you more than you can imagine!" she declared once we had established eye-contact with each other
"I love you too!" I said back without missing a beat. Seeing mom smile back at me warmed my heart.
"Like I said - you will become a Scott," Amy continued with tears in her eyes "You will become a part of a family, part of my family."
Amy detained a little pause, making the wheels in my head spin wondering what she will say next or what this little speech could lead to. I squinted my eyes at her as I started to try and read her.
"You won't just be motherly smothered by me. You will be spoiled by your grandparents. Your uncle will continue to inform you of our family history and tell you lies and embarrassing stories about me, when we were kids. You and your cousins will get into trouble together whenever they come visit or we go visit them. You will once again be part of a family."
"Are.." I tilted my head wondering if Amy had invited them all without my knowledge to surprise me "Is your family coming?" I asked curiously, getting excited about the idea, of seeing all of their faces. Few days ago I had thought that I wouldn't want them here the second time, but boy was I wrong. I wanted all of the family. Everyone.
"We are not just coming, we are already here!" Turning around at the sound of grandma's voice, I squeaked out in excitement. They were all here. Mom had invited all them. The call yesterday was to just make me think otherwise. So I wouldn't suspect anything. The gift Linda and Harold spoke wasn't just the money, but also all of them. And truth be told, I loved the second more than the first.
"You didn't think we would miss this, did you?" Moms brother Andy asked me with a big grin on his lips. Olivia and Nicole were the first ones to hug me. Then Nell and Andy, but in the end Linda and Harold.
The hugging was interrupted by our lawyer "The judge is ready for you!"
"Who's ready for an adoption?" Harold said clapping his hand's excited as he took the lead "Come on...let's not waste any more time! We have been waiting for this for months...chop, chop! I can't wait till you officially become a Scott!"
"I think your dad is more excited than us" I whispers to mom as we follow our lawyer and Harold through the hall
A moment later, we were standing in front of the judge. Our lawyer was next to us, the family was standing behind us. Mom was asked to step forward and sign some documents. As she did that, I looked over my shoulder to the doors. Half-expecting to see Robert barging in and stopping it. Convincing the Judge that Amy shouldn't be allowed to adopt me and that my place would be in the Juvie.
But nothing like that happened.
All I saw was the family – my grandparents, uncle, aunt and cousins- all smiling so wide their cheeks probably hurt. There were tears in Linda's eyes, Harold wrapped her arm around her and pulled her closer to his side. Nell was holding tightly to her husbands arm, who himself looked so proud and happy for his little sister. Nicole could barely stand still, it looked like she wanted to jump up and down. Olivia simply showed me both thumbs up.
I looked back to the front and saw Amy finish walking back to me. Once mom was back by my side, she slipped her hand into mine. We interlocked out fingers. At this moment I knew, I was in a safe zone.
Our lawyer took the papers and handed it up to the Judge.
As the Judge looked over the paper, mom gave my palm a soft squeeze.
When The judge glanced to us before taking his pen and signing them himself, mom bent our arms up and kiss the top of her palm.
The judge closed the file after signing it. Then he turns to look at us and announced happily "Congratulations, Callie, you are now officially adopted!"
The family behind us cheered right before I was pulled in a big, tight mama bear hug. Soon followed by a group hug from the extended family. It felt amazing to again be part of family. I felt invincible. Something I haven't felt in a very long time. It felt like nothing could stop me now.
~o~o~o~
After a celebration dinner at a restaurant, that mom had reserved for us, we all decided to drive to the beach. Harold and Andy were walking and talking in front of us, but Linda and Nell behind us. My cousins though were walking a little bit in front of us, walking in the water with their shoes in their hands, splashing around and laughing.
"Now that the adoption is behind us," Amy put her arm around my shoulder and pulled me to her side, making my face blossom out in a smile "We can finally turn our full attention on finding your brother."
I put my arm around moms waist "Where do we start?" I wondered thinking mom probably already had a game plan ready
"Well, I already contacted David this morning-"
"And?" I interrupted her too impatient for the answer "What did he say?"
"He was busy at that moment. One of his kids had overdosed, he was in hospital and couldn't talk," Mom explained as we continued to walk along the beach "But he said he will call me, when he has some time to talk."
"When will that be?" I questioned back, but the next second showed my distrust in him "Knowing him, he might never call you back. In fact, he might even try to avoid you."
"If the mountain won't go to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the mountain!" Mom declared, her tone and serious expression showed me her determination to our next challenge that we will face together. Amy's answer satisfied me. For one, it put a smile back on my face. It also showed me that mom's not going to give up. Ever. It may take a while, but she will help me find my baby brother. I trust her to do that.
"Tell me about him," Mom requested
"I don't know what to tell you. He was six the last time I saw him. Surely he has grown up and the stuff I do remember about him, might not be true anymore. I doubt he sleeps with his stuffed bear Mrs. Bunny."
"Okay, but what about, what do you expect him to be?"
"What do you mean by that?" I asked with my forehead frowned
"Well... you have an image of him in your mind, right?" I nodded back affirmatively
The image I had of him has changed with each passing year. I always try to picture him taller as he had reached that phase by now probably. Trying to guess what personality quirks he has gained or which he has dropped was the hardest. I always tried to keep in mind that foster care didn't harm and hurt him as much as it ruined me. He probably wasn't as reserved, closed off, mistrustful and suspicious of other people motives as I was.
"What do you picture him to be? Is Jude a jock or a nerdy? Do you expect him to be shy or is he the opposite of that? Does he open up to people easily and shares stuff with other easily or is he the quiet type, like you, who doesn't like to talk about past? Do you expect him to make a lot of trouble at home or would you think he's more like a goody two shoes in his family?" Mom gave me few examples of what she wanted to know "That sort of things. If you would meet him tomorrow, what kind of a person would you waiting for?"
I took a deep breath in before I started to describe what I pictured my brother to be "I'm waiting for someone like-"
THE END
This is it. We have reached the end of the third part of my AU.
I knew writing an AU story with an OC as the main character was a risk and a challenge, but I'm glad I took it. This has been a truly amazing journey. Not once I regret writing it, despite the fact that I did struggle with it couple of times. My greatest challenge was to write the chapters surrounding the tragedy that took place in the middle of the story.
I want to thank each and everyone from the bottom of my heart. Your response was amazing. I appreciate every view, every review you left and all of the follows and favorites. Your support truly blew me away. I never expected this story to be so well-read and liked. I'm still shocked how many people still are reading the previous two stories in this AU.
I know I might have lost some of you along the way, but I hope that maybe one day, some of you will want to open this story again and reread it from the start to the end to relive it again along with the characters one more time.
My one wish is that you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Thank you everyone!
With love,
MeYouThem123