Chapter 1

For the ninth year in a row, my parents had promised to bring me home. I sat outside the family services window at the county courthouse with the guardianship papers in my lap.

The clerk's office would close in thirty minutes.

My Stanford acceptance letter was buried at the bottom of my backpack.

I had planned to tell them the good news after they signed the consent forms.

Once the court received the petition, it would schedule a hearing.

As long as we filed everything today, the court could schedule a hearing before I turned eighteen, giving me a real chance to move into their Los Angeles home.

Their car finally pulled up outside the courthouse.

But the moment Mom and Dad entered the lobby, my younger sister, Mireille, stopped them.

"Wait. This is the day Elowen officially comes home. Shouldn't we take a family picture first?"

The clerk glanced at the clock.

"There are several signatures to verify. You should submit the paperwork first. We stop accepting filings at six sharp."

Mireille blinked and spoke softly.

"It'll only take a few minutes. I just wanted Elowen to have something to remember today by."

She sounded as if she were asking, not demanding.

My parents immediately sided with her.

"Of course we need a picture. This is a big day for our family."

My brother, Julian, pulled out several phones.

"Which one do you want to use, Mireille? Mine or Mom's? My camera takes better portraits."

I stood off to the side while they crowded around her, discussing filters and angles.

The clerk reminded us a second time before I found the courage to speak.

"The window closes in half an hour. Could we sign the papers first?"

My parents didn't even turn around.

"Your sister only wants one picture. You can't spare her a few minutes?"

Julian shoved me aside with a cold look.

"If you don't want to be in it, wait outside. Don't ruin this for Mireille."

I touched the acceptance letter inside my backpack and almost laughed.

I took out my phone and texted Uncle Rowan.

"You once said you'd formally adopt me if I wanted. Does that offer still stand?"

……

His reply came almost instantly.

"It always will."

"I have the adult adoption agreement ready. I'm coming to you now."

I looked up.

My parents and Julian were still gathered around Mireille, patiently helping her choose a spot.

It was as if their ninth promise to bring me home wasn't the important thing today.

All that mattered was whether Mireille could take the perfect picture.

Grandma struck the floor with her cane.

"Elowen has waited nine years. Can't you sign first and take pictures afterward?"

Dad, Adrian, waved her off.

"She's already waited nine years. What's a few more minutes?"

Mom, Cecilia, had found the right light and beckoned to Mireille.

"Stand by the window, sweetheart. The light will make your eyes look beautiful."

Julian grabbed my arm and dragged me over.

"Stand still. Who are you trying to punish with that face?"

"Mireille spent all day preparing to welcome you. Do you have to hurt her the second you come home?"

Come home?

They hadn't signed a single consent form, yet I had already been accused of bullying my sister.

I met Grandma's reddened eyes and forced a smile.

The camera clicked several times.

As soon as we finished, Mireille retreated with the phone and inspected every shot.

I checked the time.

"It's 5:38. We have twenty-two minutes left."

Mom frowned impatiently.

"We know. Mireille is choosing a picture. Can you stop rushing her?"

Mireille looked up and smiled at me, her voice still gentle.

"Elowen, I just want to choose the best one and hang it above the fireplace."

"When you move in, you'll see our first family picture every day."

"I planned this welcome for you. You wouldn't deny me a few minutes, would you?"

She sounded utterly sincere.

But my heart sank a little more with every word.

Ever since elementary school, my parents had promised to end Grandma's legal guardianship and bring me to Los Angeles.

Every single time, something happened to Mireille.

One year, she got into a fight at a school dance.

My parents rushed to the police station and left Grandma and me waiting outside the courthouse.

Another year, she drank an iced milkshake before we left, got a stomachache on the way, and the whole family took her to the ER.

Last year, she fought with Julian and locked herself in her room.

My parents were so busy comforting her that they forgot Grandma and I were waiting at the attorney's office for their signatures.

Year after year.

I waited from elementary school until high school graduation.

The petition to restore their custody of me was never filed.

I finally asked, "Mireille, do you even want me to come home?"

Her smile froze. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

"Elowen, how could you think that about me?"

"I'm the one who's wanted you home the most."

Julian's face darkened.

"Don't take out your bitterness on Mireille just because no one likes you."

"She even decorated a room for you, and this is how you repay her? Apologize."

Mom tried to soothe me.

"Elowen, you've misunderstood her. Mireille just cares too much about today; she's young and didn't mean any harm."

"Twenty minutes," I cut in.

"Is a picture we can take anytime more important than signing the guardianship petition?"

Grandma urged them too.

"Sign first. The clerk still has to verify your IDs and the notarized documents. You can take pictures as long as you want afterward."

Mireille raised the phone in front of me, her eyes red.

"Elowen, I'm almost done editing it. Just wait a little longer."

"I promise I won't keep you from coming home."

I didn't look at her. I stared at my parents.

"Do you also think editing her picture matters more than this?"

Dad frowned as if I were the unreasonable one.

"This is part of welcoming you home."

"If you can't cooperate with the first step, how are we supposed to become a family?"

So coming home to my own family was another test I had to pass.

I checked the time and said calmly, "Fifteen minutes."

"If you still won't sign today, I'll choose another family."