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----------------------------------------------My pinky nail is practically gone, there is nothing left but flesh and yet I still continue to bite it as I look at the signature over and over again. The paper has deep creases from being tri-folded for so long in the white envelope I found it in. It has been such a long time since anyone has thought to look at it that the paper has started to become a faded yellow tint.

I couldn't read it at first since the cursive was so small and squished together. It took me awhile and all my dad did was ignore phone calls and dip curly fries in his milkshake. The door to the diner opened and closed frequently allowing that stupid bell to echoe the ding sound across the room.

Claire Williams.

My eyebrows knit together in confusion and sadness. Who is Claire Williams? My "mother''s name is Maya no where near the name Claire. I chew away at the inside of my cheek while thinking of who this Claire might be.

"Do you know who she is?" Finally I manage to break away my gaze from the fragile piece of paper in my hand and look at my dad. "Have no idea. At first your mother and I thought..." He didnt finish his sentence. He couldn't. He dips a fry in his shake and ate it.

He takes another bite of his burger and dabs his mouth with his napkin. He takes a sip of his water and dips another fry in his shake. He's obviously stalking which made me even more mad. "Jim."

He looks at me, both eyebrows raised, stunned at the fact that I called him by his first name. Never in my life would I have ever thought to call either of my parents by their first name but, now that I think about it mom and dad just seem so strange to me. Like foreign names from another planet that I've never heard before and it kills me because as much as I want to get over the fact that they lied, I can't.

No matter how hard I try.

"You and mom thought what?" I hate how I said the word mom; like I just saw a dead cockroach in the floor and said ew in disgust, but instead of saying ew I said mom. "Why would you say her name like that?"

He was trying to change the subject but I will not let him. "Don't try and change the subject I'll explain after you tell me who you thought she was?" he breathes out through his nose and then gives me a look that says it all. A look of concern but yet frustration because of my curiousity.

"You'll find out when you go to Washington." he says plainly as he takes another bite of his burger and dips his water. I shake my head in disbelief at what I have just heard come out of his mouth.

"What?" I set down the paper on the white, wooden, booth table and look at him in shock. He sighs, "Look at the place of birth." he nods toward the paper on the table.

I look down and see that I was born in La Conner, Washington. I look at him through my eyelashes. "Are you serious?" He looks straight at me. "You were right. Im not ready for you to make such a big decision."

"Would you relax? It's not like I'm getting married or choosing my college yet." I roll my eyes. "I just want you to know that everything we've done is because we love you Mara," he takes my hand in his, "don't forget that."

I grin getting a little teary eyes. Not wanting to cry in front of him I immidiately say, "bet you I can drink my shake faster than you can." and I start sipping as fast as possible. He does the same thing and for the rest of the time we talk and laugh and reorder more shakes and fries.