Miranda's POV
"Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked swiping the cover-up over Jess' eye doing my best to hide the bruise she sustained during her fight with Tori "You can still get Jamie back, CPS already went through Emmerson's house, they found the pot they already see him as unfit" I argued dropping the makeup onto Jess' desk watching as she strutted towards her mirror quickly glancing over her appearance
"They may see Emmerson unfit, but I see myself as unfit to. I'm only 17 I don't know how to raise a child"
"You're gonna be 18 in a month, and plus you've raised Jamie for a year, an entire year. You watched her, you taught her you gave her everything you could" I said stepping in front of her to block the mirror forcing the younger girl to meet my eyes "Jamie needs you Jess, she needs her mother"
"It doesn't matter Miranda, I made up my mind Jamie needs to be in a stable home, she needs to grow up surrounded by love and joy instead of drama, Jamie needs to have a better life than I did, she needs to grow up with a mother and a father who put her above everything else" She dropped her eyes onto her hands as she played with her finger mindlessly as she often did when she became anxious "I'm going to meet a possible family today, and I was wondering…"
"Do you want me to come?" I asked reading her mind giving the girl a small smile as she nodded "Of course I'll come, I have to make sure the family is good enough for my favorite god daughter" It terrified me to think of Jess giving away Jamie, to think of Jess losing her daughter, losing the light of her life, losing her blonde haired beauty. I didn't want to fight with her any longer, I didn't want to try and change Jess' mind all I wanted to do, all I needed to do was support her. It surprised me how fast Spencer was able to find a possible family, in fact it seemed almost impossible. I didn't know much about the family, the only thing Jess told me was that they were nice, and desperately wanted a child. "Damn" I said observing the house astonished at the size "That's bigger than the Cavanagh's house!" I exclaimed as I followed Jess up the front steps
"Ready or not" Jess whispered to herself as she lifted her knuckles to the door lightly knocking her breath becoming harsher as she awaited to be invited inside "Maybe there not home"
"You set up this meeting dumbass of course there home" I teased nudging her slighting in the ribs desperately trying to get her to smile "Just relax" I advised a moment before the door opened revealing a young girl holding a lollipop between her teeth
"Oh you must be Jessica Kahn" She said gesturing the two of us inside "I'm Becca, my mom is in the kitchen pulling cookies out of the oven and my dad is in his den, I'll let them know you're here"
"Thank you" Jess grinned taking a seat on the couch sending me a look of utter terror
"It's gonna be okay" I reassured her dropping beside her my mind consumed with thoughts of the girl from the front door. There was something about her, something familiar, something in her eyes, something that reminded me of someone I knew
"I'm so sorry" the voice apologized as she made her way into the living room "I was working in the kitchen" She explained reaching to take Jess' hand in hers "I'm Olivia, and this is my husband Richard" She said taking a seat on the couch opposite of mine
"It's nice to meet you" Jess grinned wringing her hands together "This is one of my friends, Miranda" She said pointing in my direction
"Hey" I smiled awkwardly waving at the adults my eyes darting towards the doorway where the young brunette lingered sucking contently on the lollipop "Aren't you gonna join us?" I asked my eyes finally connecting with her dark chocolate ones the sight of them mesmerizing me for a moment
"I guess I could spare a few minutes" She giggled dropping herself on the cushion near her mother crossing her legs over each other refusing to move her eyes off of mine. There was something in her eyes, something that kept me interested, that kept me from looking away, something that made my heart pound
"So Jessica…"
"Jess" She corrected tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear tapping her leg violently on the ground preparing herself for the conversation that was about to occur
"Jess, if you don't mind me asking why did you wait a year until requesting to put your daughter up for adoption?" Oliva questioned pushing the freshly baked tray of cookies towards Jess and I
"I love Jamie, more than anything but I'm afraid that I won't be able to raise her as she should be raised. I want her to have the best life and I won't be able to give her that" Jess said spinning one of the cookies in her fingers before taking a small bite "Can I ask you something?"
"Anything" Richard answered linking his hand with his wife
"Why are you adopting? I mean….why don't you just have a child?" She questioned the mood of the room drastically changing
"A few years ago I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I lost both my ovaries. We've been trying to adopt for years now" Oliva explained tightening her grip on her husband's hand "Becca was born before I met Richard, before I was diagnosed it was only until after she was born and I had married Richard that I found out something was wrong"
"Are you in remission?" Jess asked her voice cracking slightly the talk of cancer no doubtabley bringing up memories of Liam
"For now I am, thankfully" She grinned wiping a tear from her eye "But you didn't come to talk about my cancer, so how old is Jamie now, she's around one right?"
"Yes, she turned one a few months ago" Jess smiled the mention of her daughter instantly brightening her day "She's just starting to walk and she can mutter a few small words nothing to special"
"Mrs Cavanagh mentioned that Jamie has a hearing aid, does it return full function of her ears?" Richard asked ignoring the doorbell the only one who seemed to hear it being Becca the young girl sending her mother questioning eyes
"Jamie was born premature and lost her hearing due to all the medications she had to receive, but yes she has a hearing aid but she'll need to get a new set in a few years but if you give them to her and put her in speech therapy she'll be just fine"
"Do you want me to get the door?" I suggested hearing the doorbell ring once again noticing that no one seemed aware that someone had arrived
"No it's fine, I'll get it" Becca said getting onto her feet making her way towards the door
"I'll come with" I offered wanting to give Jess and the adults time to talk without me lingering "Anyone interested" I laughed rounding the corner towards the front door stopping dead in my tracks when I caught sight of him. It was then that it hit me, the control Becca's eyes had over me, the tug it had on my heartstrings, it wasn't until I saw him that I realized it. Becca was a Montgomery. Becca was Tori's sister.
Question (answer in reviews): Do you think Jess should give Jamie to this family? Do you think Miranda will tell Tori about her sister?