Chapter 5

Amber stood outside the brick building and hesitated. The sign on the building read “The Dusty Snag”, the lights flickered on and off and to the best of her knowledge she could tell that it was the right building. Snow fell around her in waves and it was pretty cold. She looked down at her outfit and sighed. She had gotten a new pair of sneakers and a new pair of jeans, she had also gotten a better fitting jacket to ward off the cold. She didn’t want to show up at her mother’s establishment looking less than a very good if not best version of herself. Yet she hesitated outside the building. It’s was one p.m, she had chosen a time when she was certain the place wouldn’t be in business, yet late enough for employees to be present in the building. From the window she could sense movement inside and she also saw shadowy figures, so she knew there were people inside. Still, she hesitated.

It was weird and unnatural that she was going to meet her biological mother this way, she thought to herself. And every time she thought about it, she couldn’t but wonder why she had been given up for adoption. Why would anyone just take a look at a child and decide they weren’t going to keep it? Amber heaved one more time, knowing that sooner rather later, she would have to go into that building and get the answers to the questions she had asked herself all her life.

Just as she was still working up the courage to take the never steps into the building, the door opened and a head poked out from within and yelled, “Well, are you going to come in or not?!”

Amber blinked and then rushed forward, mumbling, “Er, yeah, coming in.”

Walking into the building, she sighed with relief at the warmth and smell of coffee that greeted her.

“Here let me take your coat for you”, the voice continued. Amber glanced up and saw kind eyes and a friendly smile. “I’m Paige. I noticed you just standing there under this abominable weather. Can’t possibly have left you for much longer out there.”

Amber blinked in response. The voice was that of a man’s but the body and hair was that of a woman. She didn’t know what to say, so she muttered, “Yeah, sure, thanks.”

“You’re staring”, continued Paige. She chuckled a bit. “I know I get that look a lot. I’m transgender. My pronouns are She/Her, if you may. You’re here for the job?”

“Job?” coughed Amber, embarrassed that she had been so obvious. “I don’t know anything about a job”.

“ Oh yeah, there’s an opening here. One of the girls Lexy, went and got herself knocked up. She has to be replaced.”

“Oh..” mumbled Amber. “I didn’t know about that. No, I’m not here for the job..I’m looking for someone.”

“Hmm. Alright. Though I think you should do the interview. You’ve got the looks and body we’re looking for, y’know...”

“Oh no, I couldn’t possibly…”

“…and by the time my boss takes one good look at you, she’ll definitely hire you”

Amber paused at this revelation and asked, “Your boss will attend the interview process?”

“What do you mean ‘my boss will attend the interview process?” mimicked Paige. “She’s the one who solely does the hiring and firing!”

Amber thought quickly, a plan forming in her head. “You know what, I think I will attend the interview after all.”

“Oh, okay. Good.” said Paige. “I’ll get you a form to fill.”

Amber realized this was an opportunity to observe the person who gave birth to her anonymously. She wanted to see her in her element and decide how best to approach her with her request.

In no time, she had filled out the form which asked of her personal details and returned it to Paige. She sat down in a corner, nursing a cup of coffee, awaiting the arrival of her mother.

After two hours of waiting, she was almost giving up hope of meeting her, when a tall, beautiful lady walked in. She had the same color of hair as she did, the same gait, the same mannerisms. It was her! Her birth mom! She knew it! In a flash, she walked past Amber, oblivious to her presence.

Amber’s heart started beating faster and sure enough within the next 10 minutes, Paige walked up to her announced, “Yup, follow me.”

They walked down a dark corridor into the basement that had been refurbished into an office. Outside the office, Paige gestured to Amber to wait by the door. She opened the window door and walked into the office alone. Minutes later, she popped the door open and bade Amber to go in.

Amber walked into the office, impressed by her surroundings, a lush red carpet was laid wall to wall, velvet sofas atop and luxurious paintings the walls. On one section of the wall, there were pictures of a younger version of the woman with notable personalities and celebrities over the years.

Taking in her surroundings with a glance, she turned her to look into the eyes of the woman she had never known, had never seen all her life yet had brought her into the world. She cleared her throat and started, “ My name is Amber…”

“Amber Fields. Yes, I know. The question is what the hell are you doing here?”

Amber was stunned for a moment and couldn’t help but just stare. She looked from her mother to Paige and then back again. Wait, she knew who she was? How?

As if reading her thoughts, her mother continued, “Yes, of course, I know who you are. The question is what and why have you come here?”

Amber was speechless. She had rehearsed this moment several times in her head, she had played it out - how it would go, what she would say, what her mother would say. She had prepared for every eventuality, how she would rush into her mother’s arms if she had as little as shown the tiniest amount of remorse for abandoning her all these years. How she would demand for an explanation, a tangible reason why anyone would reject their own blood. She had prepared for everything but this!

She stared at the woman who gave life to her and her eyes brimmed with tears.

“What do you mean?” she croaked.

“I’m shocked that Bryan and Eleanor could be so foolish as to allow you come here!It was clearly stated in the contract! This is a blatant breach of agreement! And you can tell them that!” her birth mom screeched.

Contract? Agreement? What the hell was she talking about? Where she was sad earlier, she was now angry. Her chubby frame shook as anger welled up from her insides at the tone and manner she was being spoken to and she barked out, “You are not worthy to mention their names! Don’t you dare call their names! Where were you when I was sick and on death bed? Nowhere! They are the closest thing to parents I’ve ever had! Don’t you dare speak their names!” she barked.

To her amazement, her mother let out a loud laugh.

“Yes, I’m sure they have been and they had better be! Not after the hefty sum I paid them to take care of you!”

“What?!” gasped Amber. “What the hell. Are. You. Talking. About?!

At this point, Paige steps in. “Let’s not get our emotions all over the place.” She chuckled and then continued, “Mother and daughter, hmm, you both are very much alike. More alike than you both know.” Turning to Amber, she gestures, “Why don’t you take a seat, dear?”

Amber overcome by several emotions, collapsed into the nearest sofa, breathing heavily.

“Here’s a glass of water. Simmer down a bit and I’m sure all will become clearer to you in a minute.”

Amber’s mother leaned back in her swivel chair and considered her daughter sitting before her. She wondered just how much she should tell her, how much she needed to know.

“Your beloved foster parents were paid to take care of you, Amber. I paid them $10,000 to look after you when I found you in foster care. Yes, it was I, I found you and told them to go take adopt you! So, don’t get all self-righteous on me, child!”

Amber’s mouth fell open in disbelief. Her biological mother had paid for her to be taken in by the Pierces’? How come?

“No, no…” she gasped. “I don’t believe it…they said, you came to the hospital when I was ill…”

“…Yes, I did. To pay for your surgery!”

“But, they’re in debt, from paying for my surgery…they took a second mortgage on the house..”

“Lies! All lies..they’re in debt, yes. They should be. But not because of your surgery, my child. Because Bryan has a nasty gambling habit. That’s why!”

What??! Amber jumped to her feet. This was too much! How dare her accuse her foster father of such a low vice. Amber turned to Paige who motioned to her to calm down and take a deep breath, but to no avail as Amber was seeing red. Why was it that everything she had ever believed about her life was a lie? This was too unimaginable to swallow.

“They sent you here for more money, didn’t they? Well, they should have known better!”

Paige turned to her friend and employer of over nineteen years and scowled at her. “Essentia, can’t you see it’s too much for her to handle at once? Don’t transfer your aggression on her! Can’t you see you’re hurting her?!”

Amber had had enough for one day. She swung around, her eyes blinded by tears and ran out of the office, bawling loudly.