Chapter 30

"Veronica? They checked with her. The detectives said that there was no child living in her motel with her." My dad said.

 "When we first left, she had me staying for a week with her cousin in LA. She said it would be best for me to get used to our new place while she finished dealing with a few loose ends back home. Her cousin Tanya came and picked me up the night she left with me. We picked her up from the airport then we took Veronica's car back to LA to wait for her. I don't remember everything yet, but my memories are slowly coming back to me."

 "Chrissy? Honey?" 

 Mom was back on the phone now. "Yes?"

 "What did she tell you? Did you ever ask about why you couldn't go home?"

 "In the beginning she told me you had an amazing job offer abroad it was crucial for you guys to go. I remember asking her to call you and she would tell me that you were in a place where there was no reception. She insisted you would call as soon as you were able. After awhile I stopped asking and over time, I just believed you were never coming back. Then when I would remember things and talk about them, she convinced me I had imagined places and people. Like the lighthouse, home, the sailboats you would design, and even Eric. Before we ever left, she had started calling me Periwinkle instead of Chrissy. Eventually she even shortened that to Perri. I have been just Perri for the last 10 years. So, when the time comes, and we see each other if you call me, and I don't respond to Chrissy or Christine I am sorry but I'm not 100% her anymore. I'm trying to figure everything out and find who I am?"

 "Oh, Sweetie, if you are more comfortable as Perri we will adjust as well. I had heard her on several occasions calling you Periwinkle. Then one afternoon she was making you cookies and I overheard her tell you 'Periwinkle, come to the counter mama made cookies.' I suspected something was wrong then and that is why your father and I had fired her. That night when we came home you were gone. You are our number one priority. You always have been, if ever we would have gone abroad you would have come with us. If you need time to find out who you are now, we will be here for you however we can be. But to be honest, I would really like to see you. I haven't been able to hold you for 11 years. We missed so much of your growing up."

 She was crying again, and I couldn't stop my own tears as I cried along with her. It wasn't fair! Why did she have to do what she did? I wasn't hers! I was theirs and she poisoned my mind into believing their work was more important than me. Then when I assumed the worst about them, she let me. And after all that she attempted to take away my memories as well. 

 "We are so sorry Chri…Perri. If only we had caught her weird behavior sooner this may have been prevented. I'm sorry I failed to see her for who she was. As your father I should have known. I'm sorry I failed you my dear, sweet daughter."

 "You didn't fail me dad. She did! As a person who was only supposed to be a caretaker and support to you and mom, she is the one who failed over and over again. I see that now. I want you to know I missed you."

 "Where are you now?" My mom's voice was anxious with a hint of panic to it.

 "I'm safe mom. I'm not with her. When I realized everything, I left with Eric. And now my friends showed up, so I am with people who care about me and are helping me out with everything." 

 "I understand that but, please Perri? I need to see you. I need to know that this is real."

 I sat contemplating my options. I could tell her where I was and find the courage to see them. Or I could tell them I needed a little more time and try to push it off for a little longer. I really wanted to see them. To be reunited with the parents I was taken away from. To the family I was forced to forget. I was just scared. What if I'm not who they expect me to be? I can't go back to that carefree little girl. I am not Chrissy anymore. I'm Perri, will they still want me? What will they do about my mom? Well Victoria or Veronica or whoever she is? Was I ready to face it all? I was about to speak when dad's 

voice came over the phone.

 "Please Perri? We just want to see you. We won't interfere in your life as we please. It will all be on your time. Not ours. We just want to see our little girl. No matter who you have become. You are still and will always be ours."

 "OK, but I do have one condition and I will then tell you where I am. No police. I want to deal with her on my own in my own way. I need to confront her in person before they take her away. Can you do that for me? Can you let me handle this my way?"

 I was met with silence. Would they agree to my wishes? I know they probably want her to pay for everything she has done. And she will. But right now, I want it to be on my time. I want to talk to her face to face and ask her why she did what she did.

 "If that's what you want Chrissy, I'm sorry Perri. If that's how you want it to be for now, we will agree. But we won't let it go on for too long. She needs to pay for what she did, and we all deserve some justice for everything she has put us all through. Can you understand that from our point of view?"

 "Yes, I can. And I truly appreciate you giving me this chance. We are staying at The Bluffs Cottage outside of Machias Maine. I'm not sure where you are." I said that last part as my mom gasped.

 "All this time you have been less than an hour away from home. Your home is Eastport Maine. We are coming and we will be there soon. Goodbye for now darling."

 I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye back or explain that I haven't always been here, but I am sure we will have time to talk when they arrive. Now that it was happening my nervousness was kicking in and my anxiety was through the roof. I didn't even notice when Eric and Mallory had come and kneeled in front of me, each one holding one of my hands. I felt like I couldn't get in enough air.

 "Do something Mal! Why isn't she responding?" Eric was panicking.

"What do you want me to do Eric? I'm trying everything that normally works. This isn't the first attack she has had, and her poor little self has been through too much. We are supposed to be keeping her calm and rested. This is not calm or rested! She's gonna end up back in the hospital."

I was trying to calm my racing heart and erratic breaths, but nothing was working and at the mention of the hospital it got worse.

"One of you slap her!"

"Shut it Colton she's having a panic attack she's not in shock." Mallory yelled.

"Well, it always works in the movies." He protested.

As Colton and Mallory continued to yell back and forth while Jayden was trying to calm them down, I felt Eric drop my hand as he gently turned my face to him. With both of his hands on either side of my face he made eye contact with me and quietly talked to me. 

"Forget about them for now Perri, it's just you and me. Slow deep breaths, come on breath with me. In and out good." He continued and took one of my hands and placed it over his heart where I could feel it beating steadily. "Now try and match your heartbeat with mine very slowly, you can do this babe. Good job."

As my breathing came back to normal, I continued to look into his eyes. How did I get so lucky to have these amazing people in my life? What would have happened if Colton never saw my locket? Would we have figured this all out? Would Eric and I still have found each other and fallen in love? Looking at him he started to smile.

"Are you back now?" he asked jokingly.

"Yea I'm back. Thank you for reaching me through my panic. And Mallory and Colton promise me you will never change. Even through your bickering I felt you both here. Thank you, Jayden, for always standing by our girl she is a handful." He just smiled.

"Girl, you worry me. And I am not a handful. Colton has me beat by a long shot."

"Whatever Mallory!"

She waved him off like he was a pesky fly. "Question?"

"Yes Mallory?"

"You can't answer this one probably, but your boy toy over here can." I tried to interrupt her, but she shushed me.

"If her parents are your Aunty and Uncle wouldn't that mean the two of you are related? Like cousins or something?"

"No, we are not related. Our parents just all grew up together. That's all." Eric responded.

"OK good now that that's cleared up. Yall want to play Fortnite til they get here?" 

Everyone liked that idea, and I was happy I could participate without having to move. We all got set up and started playing. I got so into our game I jumped when there was a sudden knock on the door.

This was it. No turning back now. After I meet them, I have to move forward and confront my mom. Find out her reasoning for what she did, then hand her over to the police. Could I do it? 

As Eric opened the door, Mallory helped me to a standing position. As they came through the doors, our eyes met and mine filled with tears.

"Mom? Dad?"