Page 180 of Nocere

"Where was this?" I croaked, sniffling as I fought the emotions that tripped me up.

"The woman at the adoption agency said these were standard photos taken back then when they were preparing to adopt children out," she said, while giving my forearm a squeeze.

"But our grandmother took me…"

Juni showed me the second photo of the two of us; a five-year-old and an infant in a typical posed picture. I sat with Juni between my knees, both arms around her while her little fist wrapped around my thumb. My eyes, bluer in the image than their current grayish, glassy with recent tears. My fingers held tightly to the baby in my arms and I ran my finger over the two of us in the photo.

"When did you get this?" Tears dripped from my cheeks and Juni scooted closer, her chin on my shoulder and arm wrapped around me. I found myself leaning into her, and her similar body contours offered an unusual comfort.

"Last year after I found out who our birth mother was. Everything opened up then. From what I gathered, they tried to adopt us out together."

"But I lived with our grandmother until I was eight or nine…"

"I didn't," she said, her voice soft.

"Babies are easier to adopt out," I said and she nodded.

"When CPS took me from the hospital, you were already living with our grandmother. They brought you to meet me after a while." She pointed to the first picture. "They let her keep you, but not me. But I think they attempted to adopt us out together when Carly had her parental rights terminated for both of us."

"Who told you this?" I choked on a sob.

"Some from the adoption agency. Some from Carly…" She met my gaze and I nearly crumbled when I heard her say it.

"You talked to her?"

She nodded and I shook my head, moving away from her as I held up my hands.

"Rosie?" she called, setting the pictures down.

"You can't talk to her." I covered my face as the weight of the situation finally hit me. "You can't. She'll...I'll—"

Firm arms wrapped around me from behind and I latched on to Sam right away. Rebecca wasn't a beat behind and came to crouch beside us, her hand on Juni's shoulder.

"I didn't mean to upset you, Rosie," Juni's panicked voice penetrated the underwater sounds in the room. "I'm sorry."

I nodded and hid my face against Sam's chest. She kissed my cheek and rocked with me before she whispered, "You have to tell her, baby. She doesn't understand."

Sam's words quelled the panic, but left the anxiety bouncing around inside me. I rested my head on her shoulder and returned my gaze to Juni. Tears welled in her eyes as Nate crouched beside her with Sebastian on his hip.

"If my mother's parental rights were terminated, how did I end up back with her?" I asked Rebecca, my voice harsher than intended.

"We don't know the answer to that, sweet girl." Rebecca stroked my cheek. "We never have."

I nodded and sniffled while watching Juni. She swiped at her face as she held the pictures to her chest. Her eyes never left me and my heart squeezed knowing I'd upset her by recoiling.

"Can we talk in private?" I said, my voice cracking in the end. She nodded right away and I slowly peeled myself from Sam's comforting embrace.

"Rosie…" Rebecca's calm expression shifted to wrinkle her brow with concern.

"I can handle it." I drew a deep breath and stood from my place on the floor. A surge of confidence struck me and I smoothed down my shirt. Sam squeezed my hand, offering me a gesture of support as everyone else rose with us. I turned to Sam and she stroked my cheeks with her thumbs, a small, sad smile lingering on her lips. I nodded before kissing her palm, and breaking away from her.

Juni followed me down the short hall to the bedroom, still clutching the pictures, and I closed the door behind her. She sat down on the bed, a smirk on her face when she glanced around my room.

"You like to read?" she asked and I nodded. "Me too. Who's your favorite author?"

"Stephen King. But I read everything, especially romance."

"That's a big spectrum," she said, watching me when I sat beside her.

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