The car ride home was silent, while Sophie was still hugging her sister who was looking out of the window sitting on the back seat, Oliver and Kaitlin were deep in their thoughts in front. The silence was broken by Oliver, " Who wants ice cream?" He beamed, looking at his wife and daughters through a rare view mirror.
"Me… but, only if Rain will come too." Sophie cheered.
"You want ice cream too Rain?" Kaitlin questioned her daughter while looking at her anxiously. She has a cold now, why would she want ice cream, Kat thought.
"Um, no…" Rain replied hesitantly and added, "But I want a large burger, I am hungry" With a smile.
" yeah!" Oliver cheered and all of them laughed, though many things were hidden behind every once, laughter.
For Kat, it was fear, that was hiding behind her laugh, fear of losing her daughter, though they met just 3 months ago, she had accepted her as her own, and was on the verge of crying when she saw her wet and coughing today in the park.
For Oliver, it was anxiety, that was behind his laugh, her wife was scared, her daughter was drowning just about five minutes ago, and her second daughter was silent and that was painful. He wanted to be a father, now he was and he wasn't even able to save his only family, maybe his brother was right, maybe he wasn't ready to be a father, but these girls, he loved them, he wanted to be with them, watch them go to school, marry and whatnot. He was their father and he will prove that he will take care of everyone.
For Sophie, it was, fear, fear of losing her only sister, fear of being alone, she was feeling guilty, that she left Rain alone and stayed with Mrs.Finn, she wanted to be with her mom and dad so much that she forgot about her, and she regrated it. Tears were wailing up in her eyes every few minutes and she was rubbing them off so that no one can see.
For Rain, it was terror and fear, she wanted to die just a few minutes ago, she was letting the water inside her, she was killing herself, but she didn't want to die, she wanted to live, then why at that moment her mind and heart decided that she will die and accepted it? It was like someone took control of her, like some ghost was inside her, making her do things she didn't want to, fogging her mind with negative thoughts, am I suicidal? Am I mentally ill? They say mentally distressed people do things like this, am I one of them?
Everyone was in their bubble of thoughts, too guilty and scared to share them when they reached the fast-food drive-through, Oliver ordered 4 large burgers with 2 bottles of coke and a large bag of chips, everyone was silent but calm after the food was inside them, they went to the nearest ice cream parlor and ordered their favorite and started scooping.
Kaitlin and Sophie started to chat about Sophie's new school and Rain was alone once again, she thought, why is it so hard for me to accept them and so easy for Sophie, maybe its because, Sophie was just 10 and didn't remember it much, but how can she not behaving like her. Was something wrong with me?
While thinking she turned her head towards the big window on her left, it has been 1 year since she is in Phoenix city, and she hasn't been able to go out and see any part of it, she remembered the time when she tried to talk to the madam Odin to let her live in her parents' house.
" You are far too young my child, you can't live alone." Madam Odin stated with eyes full of pity. Rain wasn't looking for pity, she wanted her house back, she wanted to catch the killer, but everyone said the same thing to them, you are far too young.
"Noo, I am old enough. I will take care of myself and my sister better than the fools you want me to go with," she replied angrily. Why won't she understand that moving away from Scottsdale isn't going to solve her problems, why would she tear her apart from her safe space.
Madam Odin explained to her that she can't let a 14-year-old stay alone, and its rule, you can only leave this system once you are 18 and that when Rain decided that once she turns 18 she will come back to Scottsdale and buy her old house and live here while taking care of her sister. She even asked madam if she can take Sophie with her if she is 18 and Odin replied with a yes of course to satisfy her.
It has been 1 year since she last saw her n greedy aunt and uncle, 1 year since she left her hometown, 1 year since no one bothered her, before this, the media people were always turning up where they live and ask them a bunch of questions, and rain hated how they made Sophie remember all the things, remembered them making her cry, remembered Sophie hit by a sudden reality where she missed her mom and dad dearly, clutching her heart and going in a severe panic attack. She hated everyone, especially her aunt and uncle.
"You okay?" Oliver asked noticing Rain silent for about 15 minutes.
" Huh… yeah," She replied, suddenly out of her castle of thoughts.
" You know I was about to drown once too," he said
"really?"
"Yeah, my brother and I were playing on the beach, and he told me to go near water if I want to see a mermaid." he chuckled, thinking back.
"You fall for that?" She was amazed. Mr. Finn was always the intelligent, calm, and will not fall for your lie type of guy.
"Yeah… and even half-drowned looking for the mermaid. I was so scared but more than that my mom was scared." He smiled remembering.
" Ohh… I… I was scared too." she mumbled quietly.
" I know," he slides a little towards her and took her hand into his and added, " And so were we, you won't see but I am scared still."
"Because you will go to jail if the foster child dies?" Rain asked knowingly. she knew what madam Odin warned them.
" Ohh, No… Because... You are my daughter now, Rain. I promised my wife, the foster care, the government as well as myself that I will take care of you and make your life as happy as I can, and I saw my dreams and my daughter more than a foster child. I know you think that I and Kat are trying to take your parents place but we aren't, we are trying to make our places in your heart, you were always happy with us whenever we came to you in the foster care, and we thought you and Sophie were perfect for us, and you guys are perfect, but if you won't give us a chance now Rain… I am sorry was saying this lot…but… I don't want to regret not pushing you towards us like I did today…"
Rain was shocked by this sudden speech but she didn't pull her hand that was cupped by his hands and not even took her teary eyes off him.
" I am here to protect and give everything I have to my daughters, and I know we aren't enough, we are not perfect, but let's be imperfectly perfect together…" He looked at her with all the love he had in him and continued, "let's be friends at least." Rain's crying was not shocking but the tight sudden hug he got from her was shocking for both, Kat and Oliver, Sophie was smiling, with tears forming in her eyes.
She missed her parents too but she wanted to see her parents in Kat and Oliver but because of her big sister she was too scared to trust them because she might have to go away from them but now she saw her sister breaking her walls for the first time in 2 years for someone and she was happy it was for them.
Kaitlin laughed with teary eyes, and said, "Someone is chopping onion near somewhere."
And they all laughed while still tears in their eyes but calmness in their heart, and hopes of new and happy beginning in their mind.
"Let's hope for happiness now." Oliver beamed while getting up.
After throwing the empty cups into bins and paying the bill, they started to move towards their car as a family, Oliver holding Rain's hand and Kat holding on to overjoyed and bouncing Sophie. They got in and drive towards their home.
While the two guys, Ace and Steven sat in their car and started to follow them again.