First Meeting

Chapter 3: Family Dinner Surprise

The journey into the city was uneventful, even if Ally managed to make the 10-minute trip in less than 7.

Now, Ally, Alexa and her parents, Morgan and Joe, were seated at the small round dinner table. So close to your neighbours you'd be rubbing elbows, Joe had pulled the table as far away from the walls as he could to at least pretend to give everyone more room. The table and guests found themselves in the middle of the dimly lit kitchen, surrounded by pictures over the years of Alexa covering all the available wall space.

Pictures of the class finals of the 4th grade spelling bee, Alexa's first bike ride, or her posing in a hospital gown grinning ear to ear after falling out of a tree when she was 11. In almost all of the pictures hung on the walls, Alexa was wearing her signature look: ripped jeans, graphic t-shirt and her long brown hair up in a messy bun. As the years went by, more and more of the pictures included Ally: A small girl with wild red hair fiercely hanging on to her new best friend. It was a constant reminder of the unwavering bond that existed between the girls.

Even now, as Morgan looked across the table at Alexa and Ally, she could see how well they moved together. How the weaving of plates and cups and cutlery flowed so smoothly, you'd think that they had secretly been rehearsing for hours just to find and get into that perfect rhythm.

A few months ago, she probably would have been amazed. But now Morgan and her husband both knew the truth. The awful, cruel secret that threatened to ruin their perfect little family unit. And tonight they began the enormous task of unraveling that dark and twisted tale to a daughter they loved so much, even if it meant losing her forever.

"So Alexa," began Morgan. "There's something that we'd like to talk to you about before your birthday tomorrow. Your...uh, father, thought it would be a good idea if Ally was here for moral support, so that's why I made all her favourites."

"It sounds serious," Alexa said after hastily swallowing the potatoes in her mouth. "Are you guys okay? Should I be worried?"

Alexa looked around. No one was really eating anymore but they wouldn't look up to meet her gaze either. "Come on, will someone just tell me? Is one of you sick? Is it cancer?! Oh God, are you dying and didn't want anyone to know?" She pounded her fists into the table, making everyone jump slightly. All the endless possibilities were swirling around in her head.

"We're both fine." Joe replied gruffly. "You'd better get on with it Mo, the girl is going to find out sooner or later."

Morgan was comforted when she heard the familiar nickname. Mo and Joe could get through anything, including breaking their child's heart.

"Okay, so you know how Joe and I adopted you when you were just a few months old?"

"Yeah, you've told me all this before." Alexa recited the story impatiently. "You were working as a nurse at the hospital downtown. Someone had dropped me off as a Safe Haven baby that night and you were supposed to take care of me and check me out until the social worker could get there."

She continued, "The lady took me like she was supposed to, but I screamed and screamed for days and no one could get me to stop. Until one night, you showed up out of the blue to check in on me, and I curled up in your arms. And that's when you guys decided to apply to become foster parents and try to adopt me."

"Yes, all of that is true Angel. But remember when you asked about finding your birth parents once?" Morgan fiddled with her wedding ring absentmindedly as she talked.

"You told me that you had looked and asked around but you couldn't find anything out about who or where they were." Where was this going?

"Right… well that's not necessarily true," Morgan sighed again. "Baby, when you were dropped off at the hospital - you came with 2 letters that were sealed. One addressed to you, to be opened only on the night of your 18th birthday...And one for us to be opened 'when it's time'," She looked over helplessly at her husband.

"Not us," Joe spoke up again. "To Morgan. It said so right on the letter. ' TO MORGAN MONTGOMERY - TO BE OPENED WHEN IT'S TIME.'" He reached across the table and squeezed his wife's hand gently.

Alexa was stunned. "What?! Well, where are the letters? What did they say!" She was practically shouting.

"After reading my letter, I thought it best to wait and not tell you until you were supposed to have it." Morgan replied simply.

"YOU OPENED YOURS ALREADY? WHEN?" Alexa demanded, louder this time.

"About 3 years ago. It was time." Morgan answered softly.

Ally dropped her knife and it clattered loudly to the floor. Everyone ignored it. Looking intensely at Morgan, her eyes went wide and her face pale as realization dawned on her.

"AND HOW WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT?" Alexa didn't even notice her friend's reaction. She was too absorbed in finding out about the letters her mom and dad had kept from her for her whole life!

"Someone came to the house one night; You were out with Ally. Once I saw an identical letter addressed to her in her hands, I knew I couldn't put it off any longer."

Morgan braced herself. She knew what she had to say next would crush Alexa. Hopefully she would forgive them all... eventually.

Alexa couldn't believe this! "Who, mom? Who could come here and convince you to open a letter you kept hidden from me for 15 YEARS, and then keep what that letter said a secret?" She scoffed. There's no way that actually happened.

If she hadn't been sitting right next to her, she probably wouldn't have even heard it. Eyes narrowed suspiciously, she spun around in her seat and spat out,

"What. Did. You. Just. Say?" She emphasized every word.

Ally held her breath for a moment and closed her eyes briefly. Gathering her courage she opened them said again softly, "My mom. I think it was my mom, wasn't it Mrs. Montgomery?"

No one spoke. Morgan have Ally a small sad smile.

"And I think I know when that night was too…

...The night after my brother Jace turned 18."