The dinner as usual was nice. It was nice since it was spent with people that I liked. When we were done, we walked along the coast while each of us were lost in our thoughts. It was getting late, so I told the guys that we need to head home.
We started going to the parking space when I told them to just drop me off the highway. This got the attention of both men and with clearly really angry.
"Why would we do that? We brought you here and then you want us to just leave you on a highway? In a place that you are not familiar with?" Ed snarled. "Are you asking for a spanking, Helena?" he asked harshly.
"Ed's right, Helena. We can't just leave you here." Jeff chimed in. Disappointment obvious on his face.
"No, no. You got it all wrong." I said hastily. "My adoptive parents live around the area so I decided to drop by. It has been a long time since I visited them."
"You should have said that earlier, not make us all riled up for nothing." Ed snarled at me again.
I was properly chastened. I just bowed my head in repentance. When they both saw how pitiful I looked, they stopped and just let it go.
"Let's go. We will drop you off." Ed said in a tone that told me not to argue or I will really have the beating that I deserved. He went inside the car first while Jeff just patted me on my head.
I went in and gave Ed directions to my parents house. When he had it on GPS, I leaned back and enjoyed the ride.
"Maybe I'll buy a car. You know when we are no longer on probation." I said mostly talking to myself.
"You don't need to. I have a car. Just tell me where you want to go and I will take you there." Ed said firmly.
"Why can't I buy my own car?" I asked curiously.
"Do you know how to drive? Do you have a license?" he asked.
"No. You can teach me how to drive and I can get a license after I learn from you." I said in a matter of fact tone. As if him teaching me is just as natural as breathing.
Jeff looked at both of us, "It hurts to not have the love of my life." he lamented.
"I would love to teach you how to drive, honey, because that would mean extra time spent with you." Ed said in a seductive tone. "But then if you get your own car, I will no longer have the excuse to drive you home or take you anywhere I want to take you." he said reasonably. "The benefits of you not owning your car outweighs those of you have it."
"You self-serving lunatic." I snarled. "So you just basically want me to be dependent on you!" I accused.
"It won't hurt you, if you are, babe." he said confidently.
"I can't, Ed. I was once totally dependent on someone and it cost me so much. So much that it almost drove me crazy. I'm still paying for that time of my life." I said, my face clearly showing the loneliness and pain that I felt or still feel.
Both men regarded me intently. Both were quiet too. They heard the wealth of sadness in my voice and knew that they struck a nerve. A nerve of something that I was not yet ready to tell them.
We drove in silence, only the GPS's instruction can be heard. I can feel the density of the trees which indicated that we are nearing our destination. I heard my phone ring and when I saw the name lighting the screen, I smiled.
"Babe!" I squealed. This made Ed stepped on the brakes.
"Babe?" he snarled. The look that I gave me was pure innocence. What did I do? Why is he mad?
He started the car again and looked at Jeff sharply when the other was shaking with laughter.
"Don't even say it!" he snarled again.
I can hear Bry's incessant talking in the background. I had to tune in or else I will be lost. She can run her mouth for more that a thousand words per minute. You will drown if you won't pay attention.
"Woa, Bry slow down." I said. "What did you say again?" I can see Ed turning in our driveway and the house ahead brimming with lights set a glow of happiness in me.
It has been so long. So long.
I missed mom's cooking. She was the one who taught me how to cook. She had me, Bry and Reagan as her students but the other two gave up. They did not want to learn. According to them, they can just order food or have some noodles. This drove our mother mad and made her shoo them away from the kitchen.
I missed her warm hugs too. When she hugs each of us before we leave for school, it would always send a warm feeling straight to my heart. Her heart is just the biggest. Her eyes never judge and her voice is the sweetest. She used to rock me to sleep when I was still getting used to being with them. Her humming would make me and Bry fall asleep faster than a sleeping pill would, that's what I always thought.
I missed dad too. His patience when he taught me how to fix lights. I asked him how to do it so that I can do it when he or Reagan is away. How he would ran his fingers through my hair and just smile at me. How he would thank me for accepting them as my family.
I always wondered why he would thank me. I should be the one thanking them. They gave me another shot in life. Then and now. They were always there for me no matter how much disappointment I have given them.
I saw the curtain being drawn which made me hold my breath. But the face that I saw peeking from the window made me scream.
"Babe!" as I scrambled out of the car.
"If I hear you scream babe again, I will just kill that man." Ed snarled as he grab my arm before I can ran to the door.
"Let go of her!" a voice coming from the garden surprised us. When I saw the owner of the voice, I shook Ed's hands off and took off. I threw my arms around his neck and he snatched me up and held me like I weighed nothing.
"Alright, that's it!" Ed's patience finally snapped. He came and was about to snatch me when I looked at him sharply.
"Ed, Jeff, I would like you to meet my adoptive dad, Matthew." I said.
Ed's demeanor completely changed. He became meek as a newly born kitten, extended his hands and politely introduced himself, "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Edison Hunt."
"I am Jefferson Park. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, sir." Jeff was polite too.
"They are my friends from work, dad. They dropped me off after taking me to dinner." I said when dad was just looking at both of them suspiciously.
"Let them in, Matthew." came my mother's command. I just looked at both men in defeat.
"Yep, come in and meet the family." dad said with a menace in his voice.
"I'm sorry." I mouthed at them while I was still being carried by dad as if I weighed nothing.