Kindred Fate

Chapter Seven

As much as he tried to hide it, that question angered him. "He abandoned me when I was born. I was an orphan even before I knew what that tag meant. I hate it. I hate him. My uncle took care of me for a few years and then he got killed trying to protect me."

"You are preaching to the choir," I said pulling my hand out of his hold. I looked into the stroller at the two noisy babies, the last of my blood family. "My entire family is dead and they are all I have left."

"How old were you when you ran away from your orphanage?" He asked his tone a little lighter.

I turned to him, amused, "What makes you think I ran away from an orphanage?" He arched his eyebrow at me in response. "Sixteen," I answered laughing, "You?"

"I was raised by my mother's friend. I ran away from her when I turned fourteen."

"Alone?" I was surprised. I was still following Ann around like a lost puppy when I was fourteen.

"She kept me locked up, practically my whole life. I was home schooled, I played in the basement and I wasn't allowed to make friends. I was all alone, every single day."

"Except for the time Phoebe came to see you? Is that why you are so attached to her?"

"Yes." The sorrow was back in his face and voice.

"You know, this is a small town, I'm sure there is some information on her," I offered hoping this would give him some solace.

"Judy! Oh no thank you," he said with a low laugh.

"The library, Ben. I'm sure we'll find year books, newspaper clippings.... something on Phoebe." I had done the same thing when I wanted to find out about my family's death. Even more when I started to forget how they looked like, that was a scary thing for me. "Do you have a picture of her?"

"No. But I have a very good memory," he stood up taking the stroller, "let's go." I stood up too fast and was met with a very loud protest from my back. I sat back down biting my teeth down as I wished the pain away. "Are you okay?" he asked seating back next to me.

"Yes, just a back ache." when the pain faded, I stood up more carefully than before.

"You can lean on me if you like?"

"No, I'm good," I said walking stiffly next to him, "How far is the library?"

He laughed, "Its right there."

We spent the rest of the day looking through old records. The small town had kept everything about its members very well documented. We found everything, from a copy of her birth certificate to her death announcement. I knew it would be hard to handle, drowning in the memory of someone you love but Ben stayed strong. I could see everything was getting to him, but he didn't let himself cry, not even a drop of the dancing tears in his eyes spilled over.

After he got everything he needed, we walked quietly back to our apartment building. He was stuck in a hole I knew would be his home until the day he found the strength to crawl out of it. I got into my room and held my kids close to me, even more steadfast in my decision. I listened to the twins make baby noises and laugh until they fell asleep. I pulled out the blankets from the stroller to put them back in the crib when I noticed the papers in the under carriage. They were all papers about Phoebe that Ben had left behind.

I thought about returning them as they were but they'd barely survive intact, instead I did the same thing I'd done with my own clippings. I pasted them in on the few pages left empty in my dad's diary. My entire childhood was in a diary and a photo album, all plus my adult life were squeezed in a shoebox.

I sat on my bed with a pair of scissors, paste and an empty diary and went to work, my kids still on my bed, sound asleep keeping me company as I worked half the night.

***

 "Hey you're late!" Ben said to me when I rushed into the diner.

"Sorry, I slept late last night," I took the tray he handed me and walked to the table he pointed out.

"The kids keep you up?" He asked serving the next table.

"No, actually," I started feeling a little shy. I didn't want him to read into the gesture but I was a little proud of myself for the work I did. "I was up doing something for you."

He looked at me confused, "For me? Should I be worried? I haven't written my will yet."

He walked back and I followed behind. "Don't be silly. I said for you not against you. It's something I hope you like."

He busied himself on the counter as he served coffee to all the mugs held out. "You are going to have to talk fast. If you haven't noticed, everyone seems to be up early today."

I looked around the diner; it was unusually full today. "Are we serving free breakfast today?" I asked picking up the pace. I pulled out the orders that said counter from the window and started serving, the plates were being switched as I went down the counter but it didn't matter to me, as long as everyone got something to eat.

"I have no idea," he said walking to the floor balancing two trays. He came back, an irate look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Look around, what stands out?" he asked standing close to me.

Confused, I did a quick sweep of the room, and right there, practically with a neon sign on her head was Judy. She was whispering to the group on her table, her eyes darting to us on occasion. "Why is she here so early?" I asked turning to Ben.

"Lee, didn't you know gossiping has no exact time schedule," his annoyance was very evident in his voice. "We are the attraction."

"What?"

"We were spotted out together yesterday and now there are so many theories flying around. It's amazing no one's stitched that woman's mouth shut!"

"What is she saying now?" I asked trying to read her lips but it was impossible with her ducking down every five seconds. And when she was up, her lips seemed to be moving a mile a minute.

"Well, it moved from us meeting here and instantly falling in love to me being the father of your twins," he laughed. "I don't mind what they are saying, what bugs me is that it's all they seem to be talking about. Don't they have something meaningful to do with their lives?" 

"Its winter in a small town, what else is there to do? I'll give you your present after our shift," I whispered walking past him with another order.