At 1:19, a knock on the door startled Elina. She sprung out
of bed, and looked down to make sure she hadn't woken Violet. She went to
answer the door. Checking through the peephole, she saw her smiling mother,
holding a pizza and a soda bottle. She quickly opened the door.
"Hey,
Violet's asleep." Elina greeted.
"That
is fine. Maybe she will wake up just as I have to leave." Mrs. Ridley
replied, "I got Hawaiian pizza and a cherry cola, two of your
favorites."
"Oh,
good I'm starved, let’s eat." They put some paper plates on the hotel desk
and Mrs. Ridley poured drinks. Because of the lack of table space they actually
ate on the floor. “So, how's your speaking been?" Elina asked.
Mrs. Ridley
began, "It has been busy. I have had to work most of it out with Dad, but
I brought Violet, this time because it was only a three hour drive, and I hoped
you could watch her for me today." Mrs. Ridley finished but immediately
asked Elina a question, "How has summer camp been?"
"It's
been good, more interesting and fun than last year’s macramé camp," Elina
paused, took a sip of soda, "You're playing this game again. How's the
book going?"
"Yes, I
am. It is the easiest way to get you to talk. If you feel you can gain
something for telling me stuff. The book is selling well, my publisher wants a
sequel. Are you learning and practicing skateboarding often?"
"Yes,
I've gotten lots of practice, although, I haven't been allowed to practice
since I fell off my skateboard. What did you tell your publisher?"
"I
told her I have a teenager and a baby, I will give her something that resembles
a first draft in a year. What happened to your wrist?"
"That's
what all this is about!"
"Elina,"
Mrs. Ridley shushed, "your sister is sleeping."
"Sorry,"
they sat in silence for a moment.
Finally her
mother broke the silence. "I think you are old enough for me to tell you,
why your father and I decided to adopt you." Elina was quiet as her mother
continued, "You have always known you were adopted, we never tried to hide
that from you, but shortly before your father and I married I told him... Well,
when I was still a teenager I ran away from home. I got involved with a bad
crowd. I actually had twins, but I got in trouble with some—important—people. I
had to give up my new born twins. I owned up to my mistakes, and had to face
some tough consequences. When it was over I turned my life around, got involved
with a better crowd. When I met your father, I knew it was meant to be. It
didn't take us long to get married. But I knew once I got the chance, I wanted
to give someone else's baby the chance I could not give to my twins. So I adopted
you," she finished. For a moment Elina let the hurt and pain consume her,
and she broke down sobbing. Her mother stretched over the pizza and drinks to
give her a hug.
"Mom,
I love you, Dad and Violet, but I don't fit in."
"Honey,
family is about loving and caring for each other, not about fitting in. We are
only human and cannot always understand those who are different, but your
father and I love you the same. We sometimes worry about you and get annoyed
with you. We are disappointed when you disobey us, but we love you just the
same. Oh, by the way, you can let tell me if skate camp is too difficult for
you. I am fine taking you home early if you think you are out of your depth. I
am glad you have gotten an opportunity to pursue your passion, do not push
yourself to the figurative or literal breaking point."
After all Elina's tears were drying
up, "Okay thanks, Mom. I love you too."
Looking at
her watch, Mrs. Ridley said, "Look at the time. I have to go. Elina, give
your sister a kiss for me." She kissed the top of Elina's head, grabbed
her purse and the room key from the kitchen counter where Elina had set it when
she came back in the room. "Can you put the extra soda and pizza in the
fridge? I will be back after five tonight." With that she left. Elina quickly
put the pizza and soda in the fridge. She didn't know what to do about her
problem. Her mom said that she would take her home, if she thought she couldn't
do it. Elina could tell Rayna she can't handle superhero life, go home with her
mom, and maybe after a couple weeks with her wrist wrapped, but not getting
better, her mother would take her for an x-ray. All her problems would be
solved, and her secrets would stay secret. Violet's cries snapped Elina out of
her self-absorbed thoughts.
Running to
Violet in the bed, she said, "Violet, what's up?" She checked her
baby sister’s diaper.
She changed the baby’s diaper for
the second time that day. This time keeping pressure off her left arm better;
however, it was still painful.
Elina put Violet on the blanket
she'd set out earlier, surrounding her with a few toys. She handed her sister a
rattle. Violet gripped it tightly. Feeling that the room was a little stuffy,
she walked over to the window and with some difficulty she opened it a crack.
One handed she could open the window completely. Elina laid next to her sister,
quickly falling asleep again.
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