Firsts Part 5
Meeting the Family
"You're chewing your finger again." Said Mariana, making Gabe look at her.
"We're going to meet Clementine's full family," Interjected David, "he's nervous."
"But, you've already met them." Said Mariana, as their car stopped.
"He's met her parents," Said Ava, "we're meeting the grandparents and other extended relations."
Gabe didn't say anything, getting out of the car and knocking on the front door. It swung open, Gabe blinked as he looked up at Conrad, Rebecca's dad.
"You're early." Said Conrad, as the others joined Gabe.
"I, er, I tried to call a head, but the line was busy." Said Gabe, scratching the back of his neck, "Why are you holding a bucket?"
"Clem's birth parents are…" Conrad glanced into the house, "being persistent. The phone's been taken off the hook."
Gabe saw Clem stalking around the garden, she looked like she was ranting to someone, before she ran her hands down her face.
Conrad stepped to the side, allowing them in. After giving Rebecca and Alvin a quick greeting, Gabe went out into the garden.
"-and they're acting like it all a big misunder-fucking-standing!" Ranted Clementine, as Duck look up at her from his spot on the ground, "Hi, Gabe."
"Hi." Gabe looked back at the house, "Er, Conrad told us about your birth parents."
"They're trying to say they left me at home and not on a freeway." Growled Clementine, as she started pacing again, "Do you want to know what they started with? The said they didn't abandon me, I just opened the door and fell out while the car was still moving!"
Gabe and Duck shared a brief look, before looking at Clementine.
"It's fucking ridiculous!" Snarled Clementine, as AJ wandered into the garden, "They then asked to speak with AJ."
"What?" Gabe was confused, "How they hell would they know about him?"
"I don't know, they just kept saying 'put your brother on the phone, put your brother on the phone.'" Clementine snarled, before AJ patted her on the leg, "Yeah, Goofball?"
"Mom says food's almost ready." Said AJ, getting a nod from Clementine.
"Okay," She looked at Duck, "Gabe and I have to go, see you tomorrow."
Duck nodded and waved goodbye at them as they went inside. He then looked down at the hole his hand was stuck in, before he tried to yank it out.
F
"This," Grunted Minnie, walking inro their new front room, "Should be the last box."
Sophie nodded as Lilly tried to set the phone up, she could hear Abel and Tenn yattering on about insects or something.
"Vi and Louis are going to be over to help unpack," Said Sophie, opening a box, "Apparently Louis and Ezekiel got into an argument over Carol and Sophia."
"Half the things that boy does is argue." Muttered Lilly, as her mobile went off. She looked at it and didn't recognize the number, frowning she answered it, "Hello, Lilly Caul."
Sophie and Minnie watched as Lilly's face paled, before going an angry red, "How the fuck do you know about that? No, she's not in my care. No, I don't know where Clementine is. Who are you?"
The girls thought they saw a vein pop in their foster mother's temple, "You're her what? How did you get this-son of a bitch." Lilly glared at the phone, before she took a deep breath and dialled a number, "Hi, er, Joan, was it? I've just had a call from Clementine's parents. No, no, her birth parents, not her adoptive parents. Oh, I'm not the only one they've contacted? Right, I, er, I just thought you needed to be made aware."
Lilly hung up and ran a hand down her face.
"Who's Clementine?" Asked Minnie, getting Lilly's attention.
"She was a girl a fostered around the time of my breakdown." Answered Lilly, going back to working on the home phone, "She, er, had a pretty hard life."
The twins glanced at each other, before going back to their previous tasks, "So, when are Louis and Violet arriving?"
F
Gabe found Conrad and Francine to be good company. They'd actually said they were concerned when they head Clementine had been returned to Alvin and Rebecca's care, but they'd grown to love the girl.
Of course, Clementine had tipped her hat down to cover her embarrassment. They were making idle small talk when the phone rang.
There was a heavy silence, before Gabe got up and went to go answer it.
"Gabe, what are you doing?" Asked Clementine, as Gabe picked up the phone.
"Hola, crematorio de Jesús, tú los matas, nosotros los asamos." Said Gabe, in the worst Mexican accent he could muster. He froze, "Oh, right, er," he put his hand over the receiver, "it's Joan asking for Clem's parents."
Alvin got up and took the phone from Gabe, as the boy dropped down next to Clementine with his face beet red.
"What did you say?" Asked Clementine, looking at him.
"'Hello, Jesus's crematorium, you kill 'em we grill 'em.'" Translated Mariana, getting a wheeze from Clementine.
"It's, er, what we use on cold callers and tía Abuela Rosa." Muttered Gabe, as Clementine curled up laughing.
A moment later, Alvin stepped back into the room and looked at Clementine.
"And," He said into the phone, "you're saying she might not remember him?"
Clementine stopped laughing and looked up at Alvin.
"Right," Said Alvin, nodding, "Thanks for making up aware."
"Al, is everything alright?" Asked Rebecca, getting up.
Alvin frowned, "I've just been told that Clementine's older brother has registered a complaint with Joan and the Police against his birthparents."
"My what?"
"Your brother." Answered Alvin, sitting down.
"He can't be." Protested Clementine, "Jay's dead."
F
Jesse glared at his phone, while Javi and Kate glanced at each other. When his birthparents had called, he was the one who picked up the phone.
"Jesse," Said Kate, getting his attention, "do you want to talk about it?"
"No." said the boy, going back to glaring at his phone.
"I know that them calling was a shock." Said Kate, leaning forwards, "But, you don't need to bottle it up."
Jesse continued to glare at his phone, "The told me her name. They made it sound obvious."
Kate sighed, "Well, there is some good news that came from this mess."
"Really?" Spat Jesse, "What?"
"I know where she is and, if you want, I could arrange a meeting for you." Offered Kate, as Jesse frowned.
F
"Are you sure you're okay?" Asked Duck, as Clementine glared out a window.
"You mean aside from how she's gonna be meeting her older brother, who she's thought was dead for the past, what," Becca looked around, "ten, eleven years?"
"I always thought they kept him," Said Clementine, "Then, when I was in hospital, after that stranger killed Mom– , I mean my first adoptive parents, they said they couldn't find any family members. A-and then I thought they did to him, what they did to me. Dropped him at the side of the road and let him become roadkill."
Gabe moved from his spot by the door and wrapped an arm around Clementine, "You couldn't've known."
"I should've looked for him."
"When?" Asked Becca, around a mouthful of food, "Between your rotating foster homes? Or your semi-frequent hospital visits?"
Clementine huffed, "What should I say?"
"The second thing that comes into your head." Suggested Duck, peeking over Sarah's shoulder and holding some fingers up for Gill.
"Got any sixes?"
"God-fucking-dammit." Swore Sarah, tossing three sixes at Gill.
"Clem?" Came Rebecca's voice from the other side of the door, "They're here."
Clementine swallowed and stepped out of Gabe's embrace.
"Clem." Gabe said to her, "We're here if you need us."
Clementine gave him a nervous smile and gave him a small nod. She followed Rebeca downstairs, she spotted Javí and Kate in the lounge. Swallowing, she walked into the room. Between Javí and Kate was a boy a year older than her. Like her, his hair was a frizzled mess of curls, and his eyes were a warm amber colour. The two silently examined each other.
"Clemmy?" Whispered Jesse, as tears gathered in his eyes.
"I," Her voice broke, "I thought you were dead."
"Same." Jesse gave a laugh.
The next thing either of them knew, they were on the floor, hugging each other and crying.
The older couples decided to give the reunited siblings some privacy.
F
"Alright," Called Mr. Oberson, "ALRIGHT!" The hall went quiet, "Thank you, as some of you may now know, we have merged with another school. They will start attending here at the start of next week, and I expect all of you to give them a warm welcome."