Chapter 52

"What are you doing here, Freak?" The officer, who's been speaking with her parents, overhears Leah and quickly turns around to emphatically inform her, "Her name is Adele Wilson. And the so-called ‘freak', as you put it…just so you know…is the reason why you're holding your sister in your arms right now." Leah's totally perplexed. "I…I don't understand…what do you mean?" "I mean; Miss Wilson's the one who spotted Elizabeth's abductors' vehicle parked in the O'Reilly's driveway…the only one. Nobody else had paid attention enough to realize that a strange vehicle was sitting out in front of their house all these hours. Or that there was a side window open. Our guess is they were planning on holding up there until they felt things settled down enough for them to slip away. They probably might have, too; if Adele hadn't noticed that something didn't look right at the O'Reilly place and reported it to me." A demonstratively repentant look overtakes Leah's countenance; and she's instantly shamed by not only just what she's said moments ago, but for every mean word spoken and action she's taken against Adele over all these years. Not quite ready to put her sister down yet, Leah carries Elizabeth lovingly cradled in her arms as she walks over to Adele. Keeping hold of Elizabeth in one arm, Leah slowly extends a trembling hand out and appreciatively takes hold of one of Adele's hands. "I'm so sorry, Adele. Thank you…thank you so much." Leah gradually pulls her hand from Adele's, then affectionately cradles Elizabeth again with both arms and tenderly kisses her on top of her small head. She turns around and walks back to the living room. Adele remains standing in the doorway, happily smiling as she watches the siblings' reunion continue. She's somewhat proud of herself; knowing how she had a small part in helping the police locate the kidnappers and have Elizabeth returned to her family. And though she's truly gratified over the apology and thank you, Adele's most deeply touched by the fact that for the first time ever in their entire acquaintance Leah had finally referred to her as Adele; and not ‘Freak'. From that day on, though she remained co-captain on the cheerleading squad, Leah VanCleef began to disassociate herself from the ‘Cool Crew'; leaving the position of Christy Rosenberg's ‘lapdog' open for someone else who was willing to blindly follow her commands. And also from that day on, in Leah's eyes, the ‘Freak' was gone forever. Every time she would pass by her at school, or see her in town…although she wouldn't hold a conversation; mostly due in part for the guilt she still carries for years of mistreatment towards her…Leah would shoot Adele a subtle, yet sincere, smile of deep heartfelt gratitude and newfound admiration. "Oh…Grandma?" "Yes, Suga'bear?" "I'm gonna be late coming home tomorrow…I'm going to the hospital. Nadine's got another chemo session tomorrow afternoon; and I want to be there for her…if that's okay with you, Grandma." "It's fine, Suga'bear…you go be there for Nadine. I'll have your supper ready for you whenever you get back." "Thank you, Grandma." Estelle notices Adele suddenly appear extremely pensive, as if she were brooding over something while beginning to slowly stir her black-eyed peas around on her plate. She watches her granddaughter do this for a few minutes before addressing it. "Suga'bear…stop playin' with your food, please." Adele remains oblivious to her surroundings, including her grandmother's request, and continues to move the legumes unmethodically about the plate. In an attempt to get Adele's attention, Estelle slightly raises her voice this time… "Suga'bear." Her attention now somewhat drawn back; Adele vaguely responds, "Yes; Grandma?" "Something troubling your mind, Suga'bear?" Adele hesitates briefly before answering, "Grandma…Nadine?" Adele becomes silent. "What about Nadine, Suga'bear?" "Well…" she softly bites down on her lip, then continues, "I know that Dr. Minoit said that the medicine would make her be sick before it makes her better…but Nadine's been taking her medicine for a while now…" Adele becomes silent again. "And what, Suga'bear?" "Nadine doesn't look like she's getting any better, Grandma…" Adele once again bites down on her lip as she slowly looks down to her plate and somberly continues, "She looks like she's…she's…" "She's what, Suga'bear?"