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Chapter 16
Party like it's '99. And we
did. Darren and I didn't drink, me because of my medicine for my legs, but we
did party! Ben, Lee, and Karl flew up to help us party. Daniel and his mom flew
in all his relatives and friends. It was da bomb, as Daniel would put it. He
rented out a party hall and it was packed. It was awesome. Darren and I were in
the center of the dance floor almost all night. He and I were great dancers.
When the ball hit 1999,
all hell broke loose. Darren and I managed to get outside for a breath of air,
and he kissed me. The usual tradition for the New Year. The party ended around 3
am, and we crashed at my house. Daniel fell asleep on the couch, and Darren on
the other one. We all slept in until 4 the next day, and realized what an
awesome party we threw. My dad and Chris were there too, partying like they were
20.
A couple days flew by.
Daniel's mom flew back to Australia, as did Karl, Lee, and Ben.
It was just the four of us. I got my check-up and I was almost A-okay. I
still couldn't run or play soccer. A couple days flew by and Darren, Daniel and
I were out shopping when my pager went off, as well as Daniel's and Darren's.
"That's
weird," Daniel said. We looked at them and they all had the same number-
555-3331. My dad's cell phone number. I felt like something punched me in the
stomach, because I knew something was wrong.
"I wonder what's
goin' on," Darren said, looking worried.
"Something's
wrong," I whispered, in fear. Daniel and Darren's eyes looked at mine.
Theirs shadowed over with fear as I'm sure mine did too.
"I'm sure its
nothing that bad," Daniel said, lying.
"He wouldn't page
us like this if it wasn't," I said. I reached into Darren's jacket and
pulled out his cell phone. It wouldn't work.
"I forgot to
recharge it," Darren said, looking ashamed.
"It's ok. Shit! I
gotta find a phone!" I screamed. I ran though the mall, with Darren and
Daniel closely following.
"Dee, you
shouldn't...run....!" Daniel said, trying to catch up.
"Not now
Daniel!" I snapped. I knew I shouldn't run also, but eventually, I found a
pay phone. I jammed a quarter in it and dialed the number frantically.
"Hello?"
asked a worried voice.
"Jane!" I
said to my dad's secretary, "what's wrong???" I demanded.
"Honey....something
happened...." she started. I gasped and Darren took my hand for
encouragement.
"What?" I
choked out.
"Your dad....he
was in...a car wreck...and honey, he died on the spot," Jane said. My heart
stopped. I dropped the phone, and fell against the wall. Darren caught me and
helped me up. He held me out in front of him as he looked into my eyes.
"No...," I
whispered, looking over his shoulder. Tears overflowed my eyes as I started to
go hysterical.
"NNNOOOO!!!!!"
I screamed. Daniel picked up the phone and found out as Darren just knew from my
expressions. Daniel quietly hung up the phone and wrapped his arms around Darren
and me. I buried my head in Darren's chest and screamed and cried. Darren and
Daniel just stood there and cradled me.
"Daddy!! GOD!!
WHY??" I screamed. I sank to the floor and Darren and Daniel fell with me.
I curled up in Darren's lap and screamed in agony and fear as he and Daniel held
me and cried themselves. I cried there for about an hour. We decided to go back
to the house where my dad's friends were gathering.
Darren picked me up and
helped me out to the car. I was still hysterical. There was no point in going to
the hospital. We got to the house and Daniel called everyone possible in our
phone book. Jane and her family came to the house as well as my dad's friends.
We didn't have any close relatives. I looked around and ran out of the house. I
ran to the pier. The place where my dad and I would walk to when I was little.
He'd put my on his shoulders and we'd watch the ocean. He'd tell me stories of
my mom and how I looked like her. I sat on the sand and hugged my knees. My hair
blew in my face and I looked up at the sky.
"Daddy, I love
you. And I know you love me. I miss you so much. And I know you were proud of
me," I whispered. Tears ran down my face as the wind blew my hair. I heard
someone come up behind me. I looked around and it was Darren. He sat by me.
"Are you ok?"
he asked, with tear-stained eyes.
"Yes...no...I
don't get it. My whole world crashed in 2 seconds. My one and only family member
left me," I said. My tears became stronger. Darren wrapped his arms around
me.
"Shhh...its ok.
Cry. You need to get it out. I promise, I'll be here. I'll help you get through
this," he whispered. I buried my face in his shirt and cried.
~~~~~a week later~~~~~~
I was slowly
recovering. We had my dad's funeral. I got hundreds of sympathy cards and
flowers. Karl, Lee, and Ben flew in and stayed with us. Jane offered to take me
in, since I'm not an adult yet. As well as a couple of my dad's law partners and
old friends. In my dad's will, it said he wanted me to choose, and I wanted to
stay with Darren. We already talked about it and decided he shouldn’t adopt me
cause it'd be too weird. That day Daniel, Lee, Darren, Ben, Karl and I met with
my dad's lawyers.
"Okay, Delia, do
you have any family?" Mr. Norton, one of the lawyers, asked.
"No," I
answered. Darren sat next to me and I found his hand and put mine in it.
"Well, we could
contact your mom.....," the other lawyer started to say.
"NO!" I
interrupted, "I am NOT going to go live with a woman who abandoned me for
16 years and all the sudden expect her to be the mother figure she never
was!"
"She's
right," Mr. Norton agreed. The lawyer nodded his head.
"But you aren't a
legal adult Delia," he said.
"I know! But I
only have 2 more years!" I said.
"What are the
procedures to adopt someone?" Ben asked.
"The person has to
be over 21, a US citizen, and we'd prefer someone who lived near Delia and
someone without health problems," Mr. Norton informed the guys.
"I'm sorry
Delia," Lee said.
"Delia, I'd love
too, but I’m not from the States," Karl said, looking disappointed.
"Delia and I
already discussed me not doing it," Darren said, for obvious reasons. All
eyes zoomed over to Ben since he was known as the "father figure". He
took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Dee, I would
never even have a second thought of adopting you, since I knew your dad, but I
would have to make you move to Australia. I can't move to Boston. And I know you
want to stay here. I'm so sorry," Ben said. My eyes filled with tears as I
gave up hope. There was silence in the room when Daniel spoke up.
"I'll do it,"
he said. He sat up in his chair and took off his sunglasses. My eyes shot over
to him and I knew he was serious.
" I've been
thinking about this for the past week. I love Dee like a sister, and she can
live with Darren and me so she can stay in Boston. I want to adopt her," he
said. I stared at Daniel in disbelief.
"Daniel," Mr.
Norton said sighing, "do you understand the responsibilities of adopting?
It means no..."
"...wild parties,
no wild women, no wild ANYTHING! And you have to deal with curfews, allowance,
and school," Karl said, interrupting Mr. Norton.
"Look, I'm willing
to give up that stuff. I know you guys don't think I'm responsible, but I can do
it. We have enough money to support her and she turns 18 in two years
anyways," Daniel said. “And I’m also a legal resident of America, so
doesn’t that mean anything?”
"Ok, Daniel, come
with me and fill out some forms," Mr. Norton said. I smiled and jumped up
and hugged Daniel. He wrapped his arms around me.
"Thanks," I
whispered.
"No prob," he whispered back.
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