Found at Last

By Nyetta Wade

Found at Last is the story of a young girl and her search for her birth mom. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nyetta Wade
• Release date: Oct 17, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223203926

Nyetta Wade

Words are like the blood that courses through my veins. Without words, I would not be who I am today. There were many along the way that said I would never make it, however one I met along the way believed in me enough that he gave me the courage to follow my dreams. My mom, one of my biggest fans and cheerleaders until her last breath, always said I would get here, and here I am! Thank you Mom!  It has not always been easy, but there is nothing in life that is ever easy, and I refuse to give up! So onward and upward!

Book preview

Chapter One

But dad! Jennifer exclaimed. I'm eighteen, about to graduate from high school! I'm also engaged to be married. Why won't you let me at least look for my mom?

This had been an on going conversation for the past several years. As a young girl, Jennifer never knew her mom. All she knew was her dad's family. Did she have cousins? Aunt's and uncles, any other siblings from her mom's side that she didn't know? Whatever it was, she was sure, one thousand percent that her dad was hiding something from her.

She had been uprooted and moved so many times because of her dad's gypsy blood, or at least that's what she called it. It seemed they were never in the same place for more then a couple years at a time. While she enjoyed meeting new people, it also meant she was always leaving people and friends behind.

Jennifer often wondered about her mom. Was she pretty? What did she do? Was she smart? A business woman? A musician? Did she like any of the same foods?

As long as she could remember, everyone in the family, grandma, her aunts, dad all had said her mom had been abusive to her and her younger siblings. But for some reason she had a hard time believing it. Every time the subject came up, it was like she was listening to a broken record on repeat!

Now Jennifer, we've been through this at least a hundred times, her father begins.

I know. I know. She was abusive. You had to protect us. She didn't care about us, yada, yada, yada. Come on, don't you think I'm old enough to make my own decisions?! I am eighteen after all. In the eyes of the state I could have started this search two years ago without telling you. I at least waited till now, and had the courtesy to come to you with the request. Just give me a name, please! Even her birthday.

I'll give you her name, Maude. That's all you get! Last I knew she was in New England somewhere. He said with a very exasperated tone in his voice.

At last she had something to work with. It wasn't much, but it was something. Now all she had to do was figure out how to begin this search.

Finally deciding to have a sit down with her brother and sister, see if they were on board with her, she tells them that they needed to talk.

Listen guys, I finally have a name for mom, Maude. Dad says last he knew she was in New England somewhere. I want to find her. Are you two on board?

Both Stanley and Susan were agreeable, after all she was their mom too, and they were seventeen. They were twins, and fifteen months younger then her. She wasn't sure if they were going to be with her in this, as they were the ones that were supposedly abused and neglected more then her. But Jennifer had no memory of any of it. It was all hear say, as they say on TV.

How do we even begin this search? Susan asked.

I don't know. Jennifer replied. This was definitely going to be the biggest challenge of their lives to date.

Jennifer and the twins now had a name and a place to start, but none of them knew if that information was enough for them to find her, or if their dad had even given them the right information. He had been known to lie before to benefit himself. So they were hoping that he gave them the right information.

They found themselves constantly thinking back to when they were young, when they were in Colorado. They seemed to take everything they were told and accepted it. But now, being older, Jennifer found herself asking herself more questions. Questions about her mom, questions about why they had never been allowed to talk to her, to know her name, or anything else.   This had begun to haunt Jennifer as she grew. The older she got, the more she wanted to find her mom and find out her side of the story. She had learned a long time ago to listen to her gut, and that little voice in her head, the one people liked to call their conscious. Something had been nagging Jennifer for years, and something just didn't make sense to her, about the stories she had heard. She was no mother herself, and  had been told she probably would never have children. So she had already resigned herself to the fact that if she wanted to be a mom, she would have to marry someone with children or adopt someday.

Chapter Two

Jennifer woke to a beautiful morning, it was here! She couldn't believe she made it. She rolled over, looked at her cap and gown hanging off her dresser, in about seven and a half hours she would heading for the high school for the last time. After tonight she would officially be a high school graduate. Little did she know that today would not end as happy as it began.

She had the day off from work but had promised her co-workers she would come in with her cap and gown on. She had worked at the nursing during her last two years of high school, and as they all said, the baby that works here is becoming an adult today. She was the youngest one that worked there, and they had all taken her under their wings, and were excited that she was graduating today. They had watched her blossom over the past two years. She was no longer the sixteen year old that started as a volunteer one day a week in their activities department. She had gotten her CNA license and was now on the floor as a nursing assistant helping care for their residents.

It was time to get ready for graduation. Jennifer had bought new outfit, a gray, straight pencil cut skirt, and pale pink blouse to wear under her gown. When she tried the skirt on it was like it had been tailor made especially for her. After she had it on for about an hour she began itching and couldn't figure out why. She begins to wonder if she was developing an allergy to their washing detergent, as she washed everything when she bought it. After thinking about it for a minute realizes that can't be the case, it didn't happen with anything else.

Mom, I got a problem she begins scratching as she finds her step mom.

Why are you scratching like that? Your going to tear your hose and mark up yourself if you don't quit. her mom says.

I know, but I'm itching! Jennifer exclaims.

Is that skirt wool? her dad asks coming into the room where they are.

No, I don't think so. Jennifer answers.

I think we better look to make sure. he says, as he begins to unzip the back of the skirt.

Dad! Let mom do that! Jennifer says as she now feels her dad has no business doing things like that, , he may her dad, but, as an eighteen year old, she was now a young woman, and that just was a line that should not be crossed. Her mom checks the tag on the skirt and tells them the skirt is ninety five percent wool.

Apparently you are still allergic to wool. her dad says.

I can't be! This is what I bought to wear! she exclaims.

Her mom had already gone to her dresser and pulled out a half slip, Here, put this on with your skirt. See if that helps. Putting the slip on, Jennifer feels immediate relief.

Thinking to herself 'Thank God', disaster averted! She was going to be in that skirt for at least the next five hours.

Once at the high school, she feels somewhat remorseful knowing this was the last time she would be walking these halls. It was finally hitting her, when she woke up tomorrow she could no longer say she was a student. She would begin working full-time at the nursing home.

Every student was excited, and talking among themselves. They had decided they were going to have a big pizza party at a nearby lake following the ceremony. Jennifer knew she was going to have to fight with her dad to be able to go. He was so strict, she hadn't even been able to date while in high school unless it was a double date, or they would be going to the pizza barn where her mom worked and she could keep an eye in them. But she was prepared for that fight. The strictness didn't just involve dating, it covered what clothes she could and could  not wear, what music she was allowed to listen to, and even what they watched on television. Sometimes, it seemed he even wanted to control who they were allowed to have as friends.

They hear the music start, and begin to line up, they were down the hall in the music room from the auditorium. Giving each other one last hug, clap on the back, the girls were fixing their hair, the boys were fixing their ties, congratulating each other, they lined up for their final walk through the high school. They were lined up in such a way as every five students would either go left or right in the back of the auditorium to their seats in the front. They had practiced this walk at least a hundred times, or it felt that way. They knew which way they each went through the auditorium to get to their seats.  Each student felt the eyes of parents, and guests on them as they passed by. There was not an empty seat to be found. There was about fifty to a hundred people in folding chairs that had lined up across the back wall and other aisles as well, as each student had been allowed to invite up to five guest, and the Class of 1984 was the largest class to date to graduate from Forest Grove High, not to mention they were the first class to graduate from the new high school.  Everyone reached their seats, and the principal begins the ceremony. It was happening, they were at the final point of their childhood.

As the principal is giving her speech, the secretary interrupts her for a moment.

Is there a Ms. Johnson here? A Ms. Janice Johnson? Would you please go to the office. She says to the audience before continuing with the ceremony. Jennifer knew the name but it didn't click as to who it was. They finally begin their march across the stage for their diplomas. The entire ceremony lasted almost two hours.

Jennifer was talking to her friends afterwards and getting ready to leave with them when she hears her dad calling her Jennifer let's go.

Dad I want to with Amy, Jessie, and Tyler. We're going to get some pizza.she tells her father.

No Jennifer you're not. You're coming with us. You heard them call Janice. They took the baby to the hospital. I told her we would meet her there, now let's go!

Dad. I'm eighteen, I want to go with my friends she begins.

Jennifer I said no! her dad interrupts her as he grabs her by the arm and drags her through the crowd of people.

Dad, this isn't fair! I want to go have pizza, and spend some time with my friends. Who knows when I'll get to see them again.

Look I'm sorry Jen, but we're needed at the hospital! her dad says.

Knowing it was no use, she hangs her head and pouts. Well I won't have to make another trip. I'll just walk across the street. I promised everyone I'd come in with my cap and gown on.

Reaching the hospital, they find Janice. She's just sitting in the chapel bawling. She hears them behind her, she's gone. My beautiful baby is dead.

What happened? Jennifer hears someone ask.

Apparently Sharron wasn't watching her that well. That's all I know, right now.

This couldn't be happening. Not today. Of all days, on Jennifer's special day, this happens. Jennifer felt as if her whole world had just collapsed around her. The day that was supposed to be her happiest day to date, and here it was, her baby niece had passed away during her high school graduation. This couldn't be happening.

Through her tears, Jennifer hears herself tell everyone she's going across the street.

Walking into the nursing home, she stops in the bathroom, washes her face hoping it would help conceal her mood.

Norma sees her coming out There's our... Oh my God! What's wrong? You look as if you're best friend just died!

Jennifer shrugs, Worse. My nine month old foster niece did. And during my graduation at that she tells her, as the tears begin to fall again.

Whoa, what happened? Norma asked, as she wraps her arms around Jennifer and holds her as the tears fall uncontrollably.

We don't know yet. It happened during my graduation ceremony. Her mom is still waiting to hear what happened. Jennifer tells her.

Oh my God! Jenn, I am so sorry! began Norma. Please keep us posted as to what happened. We are here for you should you need anything. she finished.

Jennifer felt numb that night, when she should have felt happy. She was now legally considered an adult, she had just walked across the stage and got her diploma. But under the circumstances, she just felt hollow, and she didn't know how to react to any of this. She felt as if someone had kicked her in the stomach, much like she did just over a year ago when her grandmother had broke the news about Lawrence. That day was still very fresh in her mind, and she had been having nightmares about it.

Lawrence had been her first love, the one she had dreamed of marrying one day. They were Jr. Church leaders, they seemed to be almost inseparable since they met. They found something that they didn't know how to explain, but they found they could talk, laugh, cry, and more with each other.

She remembered the day that her grandmother had told her about Lawrence's passing as if it were yesterday.

Jenn, do you remember young Lawrence English? her grandmother had asked her.

You mean Lawrence England? Yes I remember him. He was and still is my first love. Why? Jennifer replied.

He's dead. her grandmother answered her. Jennifer felt her whole world fall apart in a split second. Lawrence.. dead... she felt herself sink to the side of the bed, and instantly the tears began to fall. She had a dream of going back to Colorado in the next few years and finding Lawrence and beginning again. She knew the love they had shared years ago was still alive in her, but since she had not been allowed to contact anyone in Colorado since they moved, she did not know if he still had a love for her, and now she never would.

Dad, I'm not going. I want to stay home, and be alone. she told her dad.

"No, Jenn, this party is exactly what you need. Besides it's not every day someone