It was about four months later. Terry had begun to recover from all the abuse her father had dealt her. She had come to love the Hansons. They had been there for her and had made her realize that she had done nothing to deserve the treatment she had received from her father. They had also taught her not to dwell on it, that life goes on. But she felt like she was missing something, like there was some empty void in her life.
Terry was out front with Zac, playing ball with Avery and Mackenzie. Zoe was inside taking a nap and they had the screen door open so they could listen for her. Everyone else was at a movie, but the two younger kids didn't want to go and Terry and Zac had agreed to watch Avery, Zoe and Mackenzie. They were just getting tired off the game and talking about playing hide and seek when the phone rang.
" I'll get it!," Avery cried.
"Okay, but if it's a stranger don't tell them that Mom and Dad aren't home," Zac reminded her.
" I know, I won't," Avery promised. She hurried inside. She came out a moment later, carrying the cordless phone and held it out to Terry.
" It's for you," Avery said as Terry took the phone," Some lady named Angela."
"Hello?," Terry said, wondering what her case worker wanted.
"Terry, good news," Angela said, " Your dad has been released from the hospital."
"He has?," Terry said, shocked.
" Yeah, but that's not it," Angela continued," We found your mom."
Terry stood there in a daze and heard a thunk. She shook her head to clear it, then realized she had dropped the phone and quickly stooped down to pick it up.
" I'm sorry, but did you just say that you found my mother?," Terry stammered. Duh, Terry! She thought. Nothing like the obvious!
"Yes. She feels a lot of remorse for what your father did to you," Angela replied," So does he."
"What do you mean?"
" He's kicked the drinking and has met the requirements for you to go back with him. However, your mom has a right to custody to you too," Angela explained.
"The bottom line?"
" It's your decision on who you want to live with, your mom or your dad."
"Could you find a way for me to meet my mom first?"
"So she'll be here next week," Terry finished telling everyone at the dinner table about her conversation with Angela.
"That's great!," Walker exclaimed," I hope it goes well for you and that you make the right choice on which parent to live with."
"Me too," Terry replied," Me too."
" Where is she, Tay?! She should be here by now!," Terry cried,nervous.
"She'll be here. Don't worry. It's a long drive from the airport, so it may take her a while to get here," Taylor reassured her.
" I guess you're right," Terry said, sitting down as Isaac and Zac strolled in.
"Is she here yet?," Zac asked.
"No," Terry said, jumping up again.
" Good going, Zac! I finally got her to sit down for a minute. She's worked up as it is!," Taylor cried in mock anger.
"Well, Tay, at least you don't know about the extra sugar I gave her, which could be the reason she's so worked up," Zac teased," OOPS! Don't hurt me, Tay! Tay, don't look at me like that! Ike! Help! Don't let him hurt me!"
" Hey, leave me out of this!," Isaac exclaimed, grinning when he saw the look on Taylors face.
"Sorry, Zac! But you've had it coming!," Taylor said. He grabbed Zac and started to tickle him.
"Help! I give up, I give up! Truce, please, truce!," Zac shrieked, while Isaac looked at them like they were crazy. Taylor finally let him up and they all turned back to Terry, who had begun pacing again.
" Terry, relax! Sit down!," Isaac ordered.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. Terry rushed to the front hall and opened the door to see a woman in her early forties.
"Terry?," the woman said.
"Mom?" She hugged her mom and as her mothers arms enfolded her, Terry finally felt as if the empty void in her life had been filled at last.
