Chapter 53:
I let Tyler in and closed the door. He took a seat on my bed and patted next to him for me to sit. I let out a sigh and took a seat on the bed.
"Are you okay?" he asked first.
I didn't answer. What was I supposed to say? I hadn't really given much thought to the papers since receiving them. I didn't want to think about them. After not answering for a moment, I just shrugged my shoulders, not really knowing what to say.
"I think I understand what the documents are for, but are they really what I think they are?" Tyler asked, trying his best to sound calm.
"Emancipation papers? Yes, yes they are," I answered, looking down at my feet.
"Why do you need to fill them out?" he asked.
"Cause either they never signed the papers to waive their rights or the papers never made it into my file or somehow it went missing after the years, so now I have to get them to sign the papers so they can waive their rights," I explained. I couldn't wrap my head around how any of the scenarios could have possibly happened.
"What are you going to do?" Tyler asked, wearily.
"I don't even know. They have to sign the papers since it has been reported that I know who my biological parents are," I groaned placing my face in my hands.
Tyler rubbed the middle of my back trying to be supportive. I let out of deep sigh and turned to look at him while still leaning down on my knees. I knew what I had to do but I didn't want to admit it. I didn't want to have to do it and Tyler knew I didn't.
"I can go with you if you want. So you're not alone," he softly spoke. I started to shake my head feeling guilty. This was his family and I didn't want to put him in the middle of it.
"It's ok but-," I started.
"Blair, you don't have to do everything by yourself. Let me be there for you and help you get this done," he insisted. I could tell he was being genuine and he wanted to help.
"But I don't want to put you in the middle. They are your family and I'm just-,"
"You're my family too. Whether you like it or not," Tyler firmly stated.
And that was that.
A few days later, we stood in front of their house. It looked more daunting this time around. I didn't think I would ever return back to this house. Not after what happened last time. Not after...
I didn't want to have to do this. I was so close to being finished with this whole process. I had done everything right, well mostly right. I wasn't really keeping up with school like I was supposed to but I was still in the passable range, barely. Either way, I was so close and now, now is when they decided to double check my files and see that one of the most important documents was missing. Not at the beginning but now? I would think magic was behind it or something but knowing Pogue's parents, they would have used magic to make sure those papers never got lost. So, my ultimate conclusion is that I don't have the best luck. I mean I do have ghosts in my head.
Tyler stood by my side patiently as I stared at the doors. My nerves were getting to me. What was I supposed to say? What were they going to say? When Tyler was helping me come up with a game plan, I came up with the idea of just putting a post it note on the papers that said "please sign" and he could pick it up later, but he said that wasn't a good idea. I thought it was great but he won in the end and here we are.
"Do you want me to knock?" Tyler asked after about ten minutes of standing in the cold.
Admitting defeat, I nodded my head and he stepped forward and sent a deep echoing knock into the large house. My stomach dropped and whatever courage I had mustered up, it was no longer in me. As if Tyler knew I was about to flee, he grabbed onto my hand and gave it a strong squeeze.
The door opened and Mrs. Perry smiled but looked confused. "Tyler, Blair, what are you two doing here?"
"Blair needs to talk to you and uncle. Is he here?" Tyler asks directly. He was not going to beat around the bush, which I guess would make this process go by faster.
"Yeah, he is. Come on in," Mrs. Perry said, opening the door completely for us to enter. I hesitated at the threshold.
No. I didn't want to go back into this house.
Never again.
Tyler noticing my inability to continue going into the house, turned to me and whispered, "Like we talked about, you don't have to go in if you don't want to."
"Can we just do this here, please?" I asked Mrs. Perry politely.
There was a sad look on her face but she didn't argue. Nodding her head she said, "I will go get him."
She left for a couple of moments and returned with Pogue's father. He looked stunned to see me here. "What are you doing here?" he asked, instantly annoyed.
I sharply inhaled and handed the folder that was in my hands to both of them. "The original documents that you signed when you gave me up for adoption, are missing from my file. They need those documents for my emancipation to continue." I paused for a moment. "I need the both of you to sign them."
"And why would we do that?" Mr. Perry shot back not even glancing at the papers in front of him.
Something in me snapped. The man was not comprehending the words I was saying. He hates me and everything to do with me is a fight, anything I say is a fight. And now I want to fight back.
"If you don't sign them, that means you are legally still my parents, meaning you didn't put me up for adoption. Which means that technically you abandoned me," I shot back. "If 'child abandoners' is the title you want to have, then, by all means, don't sign it. I'm sure the system would love to start an investigation on that."
His face turned bright red. He didn't like that I was right.
"Now, if you don't want anything to do with me, then sign the papers and you will continue to no longer have any responsibility over me." I shook the papers, getting him to look at them. Mrs. Perry had been staring at them the entire time.
"If we sign these, then I want you to leave Ipswich and never contact Pogue or any of us again," Mr. Perry said snatching the papers from my hands.
"You are in no position to give me an ultimatum," I scoffed. "Don't sign and you've got a lot of explaining to do and a daughter. Sign, you're not responsible for me and no daughter. Your choice."
He let out a heavy sigh filled with rage, his expression the same as when he threw me against the wall. "Give me a pen," he demanded. Tyler had one ready and handed it to him. He was radiating his feelings and how awkward he felt witnessing this.
I watched intently as Mr. Perry started to sign but Mrs. Perry latched her hands onto his arm. "Wait," she barely whispered. Looking at me, her face was riddled with conflict. "What if we didn't?" she whispered again to her husband. He snapped his neck to her, looking at her in complete horror. She looked at me, tears forming in her eyes and stepped forward towards me, her hand lifting to my face. Her voice cracked, "She's our little girl."
Instinct took over and I stepped back, away from her raised hand. "Don't." I inhaled sharply. I didn't want to be touched. No by her or by him.
"Little girl"? That's rich.
She looked heartbroken as she pulled her hand back, holding both of them to her chest. There was a twinge in my heart as I stayed in place.
"Please?" a plea came out from her in the smallest voice as she looked at me.
"No." I didn't even take a moment to think before the answer blurted out of me. Surprising myself, I took a moment to let my answer sink in. I turned slightly to see Tyler's face and surprisingly, he looked like he understood. I didn't want to provide an explanation. Every interaction that had taken place between us was reason enough.
"Please just sign the papers," I said.
And they did.
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Author's Notes:
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Wanted to get a chapter out before I had to start cooking for tonights dinner lol.
I love getting to know your guys thoughts and opinions so I have two questions for you guys if you feel like answering.
1. If you could make a music playlist for Finding Out Secrets, what song/songs would you add?
2. How do you feel about trigger warnings? Prefer them? Don't need them? Need certain ones? (I can't remember if I have asked this before or not)
Love you all!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story! If you liked it, feel free to give this chapter a vote and/or comment. I would love to hear what you guys think, who your favorite character is, anything you would like to say! Again, thank you for your support. See you at the next chapter!