Hey guys, back again. I think this is what you guys have been waiting for. Hope you all enjoy it, more to come later.-AJ
Teddy POV
"This is dumb," I tell Sal while pacing around the shop. He sits calmly on one of the piano benches just watching me freak out.
"I'm not this kid!" I say, Sal still just sits there.
"My name is Theo, not Theodore Raymond Grey. And you know what else I lived in London for years before coming here. And why would they put me back in the foster system if they didn't want me to go back to the Grey's. This doesn't any make sense. I'm not this kid, so I think I will just go back to school and let this whole thing go. I mean I only have to wait two years then I can get emancipated."
"Okay kiddo I am going to stop you right there," Sal says standing up from the bench, "You are going to stay here and wait for this man. If it turns out that you just look a lot like this boy that went missing 10 years ago and you aren't him, I will do everything in my power to help you get emancipated. But this might be your chance and I am not going to let you walk out that door," he tells me putting his foot down.
I sigh and take a seat behind the counter. I think I am just really afraid of rejection; Sal is right this could be my chance to find out what happened and finally get to go home. Home, I laugh at the word, I haven't had a 'home' in years.
"I will make some tea," Sal tells me patting my shoulder then heading into the back.
This guy, Taylor, said he would be here in a couple of hours. At least it won't take long to find out I think to myself. I wonder how my life will change if this is legit, I don't know if I can be part of some rich snobby family. What if they realize I am not the same little boy I was and they don't want me anymore? What if they send me back to Henry, oh man I totally forgot about Henry. He will probably be happy to get rid of me.
Sal comes back from the backroom with a cup of tea, Twining English Breakfast my favorite, and a peanut butter and banana sandwich. I used to drink tea all the time when I lived in London, but they don't drink it here that much. So when Sal used to give me tea, it would make my day.
"How many times to I have to tell you not to bring that thing in here? If you have it in here then put it in the back Theo. I nearly tripped on it, I'm an old man I could have died," he says pointing at my board. Sal is so dramatic sometimes, but I pick the board up and put it in the back room where I usually keep it.
"Sorry, must have slipped my mind," I tell him. I sit back down and stare out the window my nervous are shot to hell. I keep a firm grip on my necklace; there are so many unanswered questions I feel like I am drowning. I feel a hand on my shoulder, Sal is standing over me.
"Why don't you play something?" he waves his hands towards the pianos.
"I can't, I haven't since…" I stop and look away.
"I miss her to Theo," Sal tells me.
"What's going to happen to you when if I leave? Who is going to take care of you," I whisper, still not looking at him.
"Who says I need looking after? Besides you can always call and visit, same with me," he tells me, "We will cross that bridge when we get to it," I nod.
Sal and I spend the next couple of hours talking about everything. He also yells at me for missing school and for getting into a fight yesterday. We talk a little about Liza and how she would be so proud of me. I shy away from that topic though not wanting to bring up the past. Sal complains that now he will have to get a new assistant to help out with the shop, then says maybe the next one won't be late all the time.
"I went to the beach this morning; I touched the light, like Liza used to do," I tell him.
"I showed her how to do that when she was a little," he chuckles.
Just then we hear the doors bell ring signaling that someone has come into the shop. My heart jumps into my throat and I am glued to the spot. Sal gets up and goes into the front of the shop; I hear hushed voice then Sal call for me. I clutch my heart necklace so tightly trying to take a deep breath.
"Theo can you come out here, please?" Sal calls again so I head out into the man room. Inside Sal is standing next to a huge burley man with a buzz cut. He looks military but he has softness around his face. His eyes meet mine and he gasps taking a step back. I swear I can see tears forming in his eyes.
"Teddy," he whispers coming close to me, I am about to back up but he is to close for me to move. Oh god he's going to burn me I think.
"No don't!" Sal yells but it's too late he already takes the step to hug me. I brace myself for the pain and my breath being sucked out of my lungs. But nothing happens, he hugs me and I don't feel anything. He smells really familiar, like home. I gently wrap my arms around him.
"Teddy, oh god. I found you," he pulls back to look at my face. There is wonder in his eyes as if he is seeing light for the first time in years. I walk out of his embrace and pull out my necklace to show him.
"Um I think you want to see this," I give it to him. He takes it and turns it over to see the initials that are carved into the back. His eyes get big when he opens it to see a picture of me and the sonogram.
"That is the only thing I have left from my parents," I explain to Taylor.
"Your mother gave you this on your first day of preschool, you didn't want to go. This is how she convinced you. And the day your parents found you Christian, you dad, gave this to you mom," he tells me giving back the necklace. I put it back on and tuck it under my shirt.
"So what happens now," I ask rubbing my head.
"Well, I take you back to yours parents," he say, "Is this your foster home?" Taylor turns to Sal.
"Oh no, this is my boss. I work here, this is Sal," I say pointing to him.
"Okay well do you want to leave now? Or do you have people you would like to say goodbye to?" he asks. There really is only Sal and maybe one more person.
"Can I have a minute with Sal?" I ask
"Yes, of course. Then we can go get your things," he tells me then steps outside.
"Sal..." I don't finish before Sal engulfs me in a hug, I know he can feel me flinch but he doesn't let go.
"This is not a goodbye, this is a see you later okay," I nod, "I expect you to keep in contact mister, or I will hunt you down, got it."
"Thank you for taking care of me for so long Sal, I'm going to miss you. Thank you for caring," I say.
"Thank you for being the best kid I have ever known," he pulls away and ruffles my hair. I start to walk to the door when he calls out to me.
"Don't want to forget this contraption, do you?" he asks holding up my board. Oh god I totally forgot, I grab it from him and hug him again.
"Good… See you later Sal," I say then I am out the door.
Taylor is waiting for me next to a SUV looking very stoic. He opens the door and I climb in, he climbs into the front seat and take off down the street. I ask him if we can stop one more place before we go and get my stuff.
Taylor pulls up in front of the high school; it should be letting out in a minute. As if on cue the bell rings and all the kids spew out of the buildings. I hop out of the car, waiting for one person in particular. I see her coming out of one of the buildings and she looks in my directions. She waves and comes over to me.
"Hey Theo, what's up?" she says causally.
"Hi, look I just wanted to thank you for being nice to me. Not many people in my life ever have been that nice, at least not without wanting something. So thank you." I say to her.
"You're welcome. Are you like going somewhere?" she asks.
"Yeah, I guess I am moving to Seattle," I tell her.
"Oh my god I was right wasn't I!" I just nod.
"You can't tell anyone okay, at least not yet. Promise," I ask.
"Yes of course! I am so happy for you, just don't forget us little people," she jokes. I nod and get back into the car with Taylor. He looks at me and then we leave the school. I give him directions to get to Henrys home.
As we get closer I notice that Taylor keeps looking at me and it is getting kind of annoying. What does he want!
"What," I mumble when he looks over at me again.
"You lived in this neighborhood?" he asks.
"Yes. The foster system doesn't have a lot of good rich people looking to take on poor fucked up kids," I say.
He looks away and I see his forehead wrinkle like he is thinking really hard about something. We finally get to Henry's place, man I really hope that he is not home today. It would be better if he just thought I ran away.
I walk up the worn out front porch that has the white paint chipping away from years of wear and tear. The rest of the house isn't any prettier; it is mostly just hanging in there by one nail. Don't even get my started on the neighbors, the pot dealer on one corner and the crack heads on the other. Taylor fallows me closely as we walk up to the door.
I gently push it open hoping that I don't hear Henry. No such luck he is in the living room watching TV. I sigh might as well get this over, so I wave Taylor inside. I hear Henry get up from his chair and come to the front door.
"What the fuck is this?" he slurs, oh fantastic he is drunk.
"I am leaving Henry," I tell him
"Yeah? Where the fuck you going?" I sigh.
"Home," I say
"The fuck you are. You don't have a home remember, you're an orphan freak, no one wants you. And lucky for me I get money for babysitting your ass," he says. Taylor steps in front of me and Henry.
"Go upstairs and get your stuff Teddy," he says so I head up the creaky stair to gather up all my stuff. I look around my tiny room, it's pretty bare to begin with. Being a foster kid you don't get to keep a lot of stuff because you move around too often to take things with you.
I grab my well worn suitcase out of the closet and toss all my clothes in it. I grab my toothbrush and hair brush from the bathroom and go back to my room. I take the picture of me, Liza, and Sal that was taken on the beach for my 11th birthday and stuff it into my suitcase.
Downstairs I can hear Taylor and Henry arguing and then some scuffing of furniture. I race back down stair to find Henry has pulled a knife and is lunging at Taylor. Taylor looks like he is holding his own. He sees me and waves me out the door. As Taylor stars to retreat Henry lunges but instead of getting Taylor, he gets me. The blade just grazes my arm and strings really bad. Taylor lunges for Henry and tackles him to the floor, with one good punch to the face he is out. Taylor gets up and hurries over to me.
"Are you okay Teddy," he takes my arms and inspects it.
"I am fine, I have hand worse before," whispering the last part, but he hears me.
"What do you mean you have had worse," he asks angry.
"I haven't had the best life you know," I say angry back at him. Instead of answering the confused look on his face I pick up my bag and head back to the car. He fallows but now he has sunglasses on so I can't see his angry face.
It only takes us a half an hour to get to the airport, I thought that we are taking a commercial flight back to Seattle but Taylor drives right onto the tarmac. I glance at him confused, but I see him smirking at me. What is this, I think as we pull up to a massive jet. On the side read the words Grey House. Jeez these people must be loaded I think to myself staring up at the plane.
The pilot Stephen says hello to me, probably not recognizing me. Thank god I don't think I could take another Taylor incident. Taylor sits next to me as the plane gets ready to take off. He doesn't look at me anymore consumed with typing on his phone. I wonder if he is letting my parents know he has found me.
I don't bother asking so I ruffle through my backpack and find a pair of headphones. When I turned 13 Liza and Sal had saved up enough money to buy me an iPod. That was the best birthday I have ever had. So I plug my headphones into my iPod. The first song that plays is 'Home' by Michael Buble. How ironic I think closing my eyes enjoying the music playing in my ears.
It feels like a minute ago that I closed my eyes, but Taylor starts to shake me telling me to get up, and that we are here. I didn't sleep well last night with the nightmare, so I am glad I got a nap on the plane. I stretch and make my way off the plane fallowing Taylor. I make sure to thank the pilot before I get off though.
Taylor leads me to an Audi SUV that is parked right next to the tarmac. He opens the door for me and I get in. When he starts to drive I get really nervous, what if they don't like me? What if I don't like them? I don't think I am ready for this; my heart starts to beat rapidly. I wipe my sweaty palms on my hand and take a gulp of air.
Taylor pulls into an underground parking lot underneath the Grey House building; the one that I saw in the video Jenny showed me. He gets out and opens my door again, that is getting really old, I think to myself. The he leads me to a private elevator that takes us all the way up to the top floor.
When the elevator opens I am blinded by white, the whole floor is white and cold. It looks pristine like I could break something just by standing there. Taylor leads me down a hallway and past a reception desk. The lady there stares at me with her mouth open gaping at me; I smile and try to push my hair out of my eyes. No such luck it just flops back to its messy place. She stares at me all the way down the hall. Taylor stops in front of a door and turns to me.
"Wait here okay," I nod and he disappears into the door. A couple seconds pass and Taylor opens the door for me to come through. Inside I see a man hunched over his work, Taylor clears his throat and the man looks up bored. His eyes settle on mine, he is out of his chair like a rocket.
He comes to stand in front of me and I get a better look at him, he looks older but handsome. He has a couple of wrinkles around his eyes and he looks like he is wearing a very expensive suit. I have an overwhelming sense that I know him, I feel a tug at my heart. He steps closer and brushes some hair out of my face and just stares at me.
One second we are staring at each other and the next I am hugging him and he is hugging me back. All the anger and the fear that I have kept in my heart for so long seeps out of me as I start to cry into his chest. My throat hurts as sobs poor out of my body he just pulls me tighter sobbing himself.
"Daddy," I sob. Holding on like if I let go this will all have been a dream.
"Shhh, Teddy. Oh god Teddy," he says through his own tears.
CG POV
I hear a knock at my door just as I am about to go home for the day. Great I don't want to deal with anymore incompetent people today. I look up to see Taylor standing in the door way, he is back already I thought he took the jet somewhere.
"What is it Taylor?" I ask disinterested.
"There is someone here to see you sir," he says nervously.
"Tell them to come back tomorrow I just want to go home," I tell him dismissively.
"You are going to want to see this person," he says.
"Urgh! Fine just send them in, five minutes is all they get," I'm angry now. Taylor goes back outside to get whoever it is and I glance back down to what I am working on. Taylor clears his throat and I am about to send whoever it is away.
I look up and see a raggedy dressed young man standing in front of me. He has on jeans that are way too big for him and a white t-shirt that is too small for his frame. Goodness this young man must be at least six foot. Then my eyes meet his and I am out of my seat so fast and in front of him. Could it be?
I push his copper hair away from his eyes to look at his face, oh my god it is him. As fast as I can I have him in my arms hugging him hard to me. He is all but skin and bones, but I have him here in my arms alive and well. I have my son in my arms again, that's when I start to sob. I can feel him crying into my chest. I can hardly breathe; I hug him harder hoping this is real and not some dream.
"Daddy," I hear him cry.
"Shhh, Teddy. Oh god Teddy," I try to soothe him still sobbing. I have him here, he is back. My baby boy, all grown up, is finally back and here.
Okay!So how was it? Are you all glad that Teddy is finally back! Let me know :) -AJ