Authors Note: Once again, an unavoidable sappy part of the story.
"But why did you leave me?," Terry asked. She and her mom had gone into the den where Terry had been staying and had been talking for more then an hour. They had been avoiding that topic, but now Terry had asked.
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry," her mother said," When I left, your father was so good to you, I couldn't have imagined him doing anything like that to you. I never wanted this to happen. I just couldn't take the fighting all the time, and I knew that if I left, I would have trouble finding a job. You deserved more then that. Your father had a steady job, so I thought you would be better off. By the time I was financially stable, I figured you were angry and wanted nothing to do with me, though I desperately wanted to be a part of your life. I wanted the best for you, but I never would have left you with him if I knew he would handle his problems the way he did."
"How did you find me?"
"They tracked me down and told me about what had happened. But what I'd like is for you to forgive me and live with me."
"What about the Hansons? I can't just leave them, they're the first real friends I've had. What about Dad?"
"I doubt he'll stay away from his drinking for long, he never was one to give up something easily. I'll never hurt you the way he did. Actually, I'd like to do that I can to make it up to you. For starters, how about we live here in Tulsa? There's a nice house for sale, just down the road."
"Really Mom? You mean it?," Terry asked.
"Yes, I mean it."
Terry thought about it. Living with her mom could turn out to be as terrible as living with her father. But it could be as nice as living with the Hansons. If she lived with her mom, she could still be in contact with them, and her mom did seem sincere. She realized she couldn't trust her father anymore. Terry made her decision then.
" I'll live with you."
Warning: There is some indecent language in the following paragraph
"Please, Terry?," Zac begged.
"Forget it, Zac. I can't stand Power Rangers!, " Terry exclaimed, making a disgusted face." You really should just either bury them in the yard or let Mackie have them."
" No! Not that! Anything but that! He'll ruin them!," Zac cried, clutching the toy figures dramatically.
"I will not, Thachawy Hanson!," Mackenzie yelled from the kitchen where he was helping his mom make cookies.
Laughing, Terry went to answer the phone, which had started ringing.
"Hello, Terry?"It took her a minute recognize the voice on the phone.
"Dad?," Terry said, shocked. Then her voice turned cold. "What do you want?"
"Well, I just thought I'd see how you were doing." he said cheerfully, not even seeming to notice his daughters tone.
"I'm fine. I know you didn't call just to chat, so why don't you tell me the real reason you called?"
" Well, um, I wanted to know who you're going live with, me or your mom?"
"Mom."
" Her? She abandoned you!" He clearly thought Terry would want to live with him. He started to raise his voice. " You always have been entirely ungrateful! Even after all I've done for you, you'd still rather live with that bitch who left you and still has the nerve to call herself your mother then your own father!," he shouted.
"Oh, SHE has the nerve! After all you've done for me, my ass! I have come to realize that you were the one who was wrong, not me! I may be only a kid, but I know that you know nothing about being a father!," Terry snapped, keeping her voice low. "You want to know who I'd rather live with? I think we both know the answer to that, Dad." With that, Terry gently hung up the phone and went into the kitchen to help with the cookies.
"You're really going?," Jessica asked," I don't want you to go!"
"Me nether!," Avery and Mackenzie added in unison.
" Just down the road," Terry replied.
It was her last dinner with the Hansons. Terry had decided to treat the Hansons out to dinner to thank them. She and her mom would be moving into the new house the next day and the rest of Terry's belongings had been shipped from her dads place.
"I'm so glad I'll still be able to see you guys!," Terry exclaimed," And I want to thank you for all your help.'
"We were happy to do it," Diana said. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Can I still baby-sit for you guys sometimes?," Terry asked Walker and Diana.
" 'Course. You'll always be welcome with us," Diana said.
