Finding Happiness, page 1
Finding Happiness
By Katelyn Leng
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
© 2022 Katelyn Leng
All Right Reserved.
Table of Contents
Prologue…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..………..5
Chapter One…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…….9
Chapter Two…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..……13
Chapter Three…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..16
Chapter Four …..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..……19
Chapter Five …..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…....26
Chapter Six…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..……. .32
Chapter Seven…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..37
…
Chapter Eight…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..……50
Chapter Nine…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…….56
Chapter Ten…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..……..64
Chapter Eleven…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..………69
Epilogue…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…………77
Dedication…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..………82
Acknowledgement…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..83
About The Author…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…….84
Also by Katelyn Leng…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…..…85
Prologue
* * *
-Minneapolis, MN September 1994-
Pain sucked.
Isabelle Olson was wide awake and at the hospital waiting for the time to come where she would bring a new life into the world. When her water first broke over ten hours ago, her Aunt Cora got her to the University Medical Center. However, shortly after arriving, the unborn baby decided it wanted to take more time to come into the world. Isabelle smirked as she thought baby Olson is already stubborn. She would like to sleep, but the pain kept her from drifting off.
As she lay in bed, breathing in and out her aunt asked, “Do you need anything, Isabelle?”
Turning to her aunt, Isabelle said, “Can you go and call to see if Alison has any new families?”
Aunt Cora nodded and left the room. While her aunt contacted the lawyer, Isabelle’s mind flooded with thoughts Why did my obstetrician say my baby’s arrival would be early September? It has been two days overdue already! I know that the firstborn is usually never on time.
Isabelle then thought of the promise she had made her aunt that she would give the newborn up for adoption. Isabelle knew giving her baby up for adoption would be the best option for her unborn baby to have a better life than what Isabelle could give him/her. If she didn’t, she might never finish her studies and graduate. Nevertheless it was going to be hard because she already felt a connection with the baby.
With that, Isabelle had found an adoption lawyer, Allison Ling who initiated the process. Allison informed Isabelle that with an open adoption she would have communications with parents who adopted her baby; a closed adoption would mean zero interactions with the family, that semi-open adoption was the best choice—that she wouldn’t be in direct contact with the family, but would receive photos and letters. Isabelle chose the last option; this agreement suited her. She may not be there in person to see her baby grow, but she would be able to see it in pictures and read the letters.
In the same agreement, she had two stipulations stated. One was she wanted only her first name to be released, the other that would provide name possibilities for the baby.
Most of the process had been effortless; except for picking the forever parents. Isabelle wanted the best for her baby and hadn’t liked most of the family’s profiles presented to her. So her lawyer kept looking for suitable families.
Her last thought was choice words aimed at the guy she believed was her soul-mate. Dexter had abandoned her weeks following their special night. She mentally scolded herself for not listening to her aunt or her friends, for not seeing the signs that he was never really into her, that he was playing her.
Isabelle jumped a little, and her train of thought derailed as her aunt reappeared with her lawyer in tow. Alison sat down next to Isabelle who said, “Thank you for coming.”
The brunette middle-aged and petite lawyer nodded. Sitting down the lawyer asked, “Ms. Olson I got here as soon as I got your aunt’s call. Now I know that you haven’t chosen a couple to adopt your child yet but this file came across my desk, and I think they could be the right match. Here, have a look.”
Isabelle took the file that Alison handed her and she opened it. The moment Isabelle saw the smiling couple with a young child she immediately said, “Yes. They’re the family I want my baby placed with them.”
Alison nodded and said, “Very well. I’ll get in touch with their lawyer and get the placement process started.”
No sooner had her lawyer finished talking when suddenly Isabelle felt a strong surge of pain shoot through her belly. “Owwww! That hurts!”
This pain had been unlike any other contraction. Worried that something could be wrong, Isabelle pressed the button to signal a nurse who ran in and checked on her. The nurse saw how quickly Isabelle had progressed in her labor, ran to get the doctor. As this was all happening, Allison left as Isabelle’s obstetrician, Dr. Flora Townsend, came in. As the doctor and the team got Isabelle ready and Aunt Cora slipped into her issued scrubs, Isabelle realized one thing: my finally picking the right family signaled the baby to come. As everyone got into place, Isabelle’s last thought was this is it! Baby Olson is ready to make his/her entrance.
Isabelle continued breathing in and out like how she learned when Dr. Townsend said, “Okay Isabelle, at the next contraction I want you to push as hard as you can!”
Although in excruciating pain Isabelle pushed as hard as she could while also gripping her aunt’s hand. A moment later the doctor said, “Okay the baby’s head is out. Take a quick breather and when the next contraction hits push hard, and you’ll shortly be holding baby Olson.”
Panting hard and sweating, Isabelle nodded. After her aunt wiped the sweat from her forehead, the next contraction hit; she pushed and heard a loud and healthy cry. Dr. Townsend brought the newborn up for Isabelle to see saying, “Congratulations! It’s a girl! The baby girl is healthy and has made her entrance.”
Isabelle let out a cry. A girl! She’d just had a girl! Once Aunt Cora cut the umbilical cord, a nurse wrapped a clean towel around the baby to keep her warm and wiped her clean. A second nurse placed an aspirator to remove the excess mucus from the baby’s mouth and throat. Once the nurse had finished, she had the baby snuggly wrapped in a clean towel and placed her in Isabelle’s waiting arms. Isabelle and her Aunt admired the newborn. The love she felt since the day she saw the baby on the sonogram grew one hundred-fold. Isabelle noted how there was a tiny red birthmark on the newborn’s left ear. Isabelle realized I think that might have been the fact she came super quick as I pushed hard and caused chafing against the skin. She also saw how she had a head of dark brown hair. Isabelle only hoped that the baby’s hair wouldn’t turn black like her putz of a father.
She quietly whispered, “Welcome to the world my little one. I’m your momma, and I’ll always love you no matter what.”
The newborn’s cries became a whimper. The newborn baby opened her eyes; she searched for the source of the soothing voice—her mother. Indeed, a strong bond had formed. It was a bond that even distance would never break. It didn’t seem possible, but their time was cut short when she heard the nurse say, “Miss Olson, it’s time to weigh the baby to be weighed, and vitals checked in preparation of her going to her adoptive family. Before she goes, do you have a name for her?”
Isabelle thought for a minute. She wanted to give the newborn the name Jolene. However, she decided against it. Choking back the tears Isabelle said, “I do have a list of names. I’ll let the forever parents pick out her name.”
Isabelle wrote down some of the names she has come across.
To my baby’s loving and forever parents,
I would like you to choose her name. I only request that her middle name come from this list: Mary, Laura, Rhoda, or Valerie.
I think it would seem better this way. You can consider this list or another name entirely.
Thank you,
Isabelle
The tears were falling down her face dripping, Isabelle handed nurse the list of names. Before the nurse took the newborn out of her arms, Isabelle whispered, “I love you baby girl. Don’t you forget that.”
The nurse took the baby and left the room. Just like that, the baby was out of her life. Or so she thought.
Chapter One
* * *
Fourteen years later, 2008
It was a beautiful August day in Burlington, Vermont.
Geneva Aston wa
At fourteen, Geneva was slender standing at five feet six inches tall. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulder like her mother’s and sister’s, except for that a rich chocolate brown color that painted her hair a shade darker than her parent’s caramel hair color or her sister’s blonde hair. She loved to think that she was trained in the three arts. Her toes danced on the hardwood floor, while her brush gracefully took strides over the canvas, and often she traded an brush for an ink pen, to tell incredible tales as her pen hopped across the lined paper to lay out lines of epic stories. From what she knew, when her parents first brought her home not only did they make sure she was well loved and nurtured, but her extended family did as well.
Geneva loved the story of how her family came together. On her mother Lori’s side of there was herself, Grandma Leona, Grandpa Leland, and Aunt Charlotte. Her mother and Grandmother Leona were from Portsmouth, England. When her mother was five years old, her biological father walked out on her and Grandma Leona. With no financial support, Grandmother Leona was left to make ends meet, so she moved herself and Lori back to London. For a while, Grandmother Leona worked while her parents watched Lori. It was two years later when Grandfather Leland arrived England to work. He brought his young motherless daughter Charlotte with him. When Grandfather Leland met Grandmother Leona all their lives had changed—her mom and Aunt Charlotte met, they became inseparable. Six months later, Grandma Leona married Grandpa Leland, and he adopted Lori as his own. The family of four remained in London for three years. After that, Grandpa Leland was transferred back to the States, specifically to Burlington, Vermont. Grandmother Leona decided it was time for a change. Lori was ready for one too, thus began the transition from life in London to life in the Northeastern United States. As time went on, Lori not only adjusted to life in the US well, but she flourished. She and Charlotte learned the art of cooking, and they found out they both had a knack for it. In preparation, Lori and Charlotte ventured out of their comfort zone and attended an out-of-state school. They learned about the culinary arts while earning a business degree. When finished they came home and with some financial backing from Leland, opened their diner, and it wasn't long before the restaurant enjoyed success.
On Geneva’s father’s side of the family, there was her father, Darren, Grandma Genevieve, and Uncle Dale. Darren’s father, William died while he was in college. Darren, who was tall and muscular, had grown up in Concord, New Hampshire but had moved there to join Dale in Burlington who was already living there. There Darren worked and rose to the position of architect project manager while Dale worked as a software engineer. Darren, Lori, Dale, and Charlotte all met by happenstance. Darren and Dale were taking a lunch break and wanted to try out the new diner. After they arrived, Darren and Dale met Lori and Charlotte; after that, the rest was, as they say, history. Last but not least, her family was Dale and Charlotte’s fraternal twins, her two cousins, Emil and Meghan. Emil worked as a graphic designer while Meghan was on her way to being a fashion designer.
Geneva didn’t have many memories of her first years, but Lori and Darren do. They showed her pictures and told her how she had achieved all the milestones on the early side: walking at ten months and talking just after her first birthday. As time went on, Geneva began talking more, rapidly expanding her vocabulary, and exploring. They told her how she loved it when they took her to pick up Kelsey from ballet practice where she eventually began taking lessons as well.
As she continued to grow, Lori and Darren also made sure she knew about her Chinese heritage. They attended Chinese language classes together, learned to make Chinese dishes such as zongzi, attended Mandarin classes, and practiced Chinese etiquette. From early on Geneva knew she looked different her family. They lovingly reminded her that even if she were different from, they'd always love her no matter what. From there, her parents told her about Christian values. They gently reminded her, ‘treat others as you wanted to be treated'.
They also told her that people might judge and taunt her a hard time for looking different from them. They advised her to not give in to the intimidation because if she did, her life would become miserable. With the other values she learned, Geneva was grateful for many things. One was that although her family was in comfortably middle class, they lived modestly and that they always encouraged giving help to those less fortunate.
To her, the three most important values were patience, forgiveness and unconditional love. Geneva knew that she was the patient one in her family, even when her family got inpatient. She recalled that it was better to love and forgive anyone who hurt her than to hold a grudge. For now, Geneva had already forgiven her birth mother. Lori and Darren told her stories of how her biological mother was young and wouldn’t have been able to care for her. However, she wasn’t sure about her biological father, for nothing is known about him. Geneva wanted to know who he was and what type of person he was.
Now, apart from her family, she had two great friends, Justina Ryder and Annalise Locke. At five feet nine with hazel eyes and blonde hair, Justina was from a middle-class family, while Annalise was a brunette with blue eyes standing at five feet ten inches, and was from a well-to-do family. Although they were in different social classes, and the fact that she looked different from them didn’t stop the girls from becoming friends from the first day they met in preschool. The first time they had sleepover was at Annalise’s house. Though the house wasn’t the right word, it was more of a mansion. She had been numerous times, and her friend’s parents were always welcoming.
Also like her parents saw Justina and Annalise as their own, Justina and Annalise’s respective parents did the same. Despite the class difference, they did everything together from dance classes to intramural sports, to attending summer camp. They had fun doing everything from making facial scrubs, taking photos, scrapbooking, being Meghan’ assistants in helping her with fashion projects, as well as having dance and music-themed slumber parties. The one thing they did together often was cooking; both Justina and Annalise loved learning about Chinese cuisines.
The girls were lounging around when Annalise spoke up, “Are you guys ready for high school?”
Justina replied, “I’m. I’m excited! I mean it’s a new adventure for us. New school new rules to follow. But I’m not nervous because I have all the tips and tricks to surviving high school my older cousins taught me.”
Annalise turned to Geneva and asked, “How about you Geneva?”
Geneva turned her head and looked at her friend, “I’m excited, too. I see this as a new adventure to navigate. I’m not too worried about anything else since there is no point in over-worrying. Plus, Kelsey said she would help me whenever I need it.”
Justina and Annalise nodded. They agreed with Geneva that she had been close with her older sister, especially since middle school. Surprisingly enough, they suddenly heard a voice. “Hey sissy, mom asked me to come let you guys know it’s almost dinner time.”
Justina and Annalise saw that Kelsey wanted to talk to Geneva, so they quickly got up to go and wash their hands. After they left, Kelsey took one of the vacated seats. Seeing the gaze, her sister had, Kelsey asked, “What’re you thinking about, sissy?”
Geneva looked at her sister and replied, “Nothing much. Just how thankful I’m and how I’m looking forward to starting high school.”
