Better Than Picture Perfect Read online

  It was weird because I’d longed to connect with them, but actually having them there felt strange, like I didn’t know them at all.

  “I just wanted to come. I owe you an apology. Your grandpa wanted to take you when our precious daughter was killed. I didn’t. After what had gone on with your dad and our daughter we just … I just …” And then she broke down crying. “When the Sharps told us you wanted to live with us, I figured maybe this is my chance to get it right. This is my chance to make up for not having you in my life all these years; you and your sister. Looking at you and your sister, I can see our daughter.”

  Now I knew why my parents didn’t tell me everything. I would’ve been heartbroken knowing not only did my dad take my mom’s life, but also knowing that my maternal grandparents didn’t want anything to do with us. Who could blame the Sharps for keeping it all and not telling us every painful detail? Looking into my parent’s eyes and seeing them both emotional, I knew that I was home. I rushed over and kissed and hugged my mom and dad. I didn’t want to go anymore. I owed the Sharps a big “I’m sorry.” I was thankful.

  “You want to stay with us?” my mom cried.

  “We thought we owed it to you to get you your grandparents,” my dad said.

  “And I hope they stay in my life,” I said.

  “We will, but if you want to stay here, we’ll understand,” my grandmother replied.

  “They’re all I’ve ever known as parents, and they love me and Yuri, and they’ve given us the world. If we could come visit some this summer, that would be great, but I want to live here.”

  “Good, because you were going by yourself!” Yuri yelled out.

  The doorbell rang. It was Hugo and his mom. Shelby went to go pick them up.

  He came right over to me and said, “I’m glad you pushed me to follow my dreams. I never would’ve known people would like my art unless you would’ve gotten on me.”

  “Awe, isn’t that cute,” Shelby said.

  “Well, I owe you the same kind of talk,” I said to my sister before she could get away. “Had you not pushed me to be a photographer, I wouldn’t be following my goals either.”

  It was good to be able to admit shortcomings; to look in the mirror, to understand on a birthday your strengths and your weaknesses and figure out a way to get better. I’d taken my parents through a lot, but they loved me anyhow, and regardless of what my biological dad did to my mom way back then, I didn’t have any of those tendencies. Besides who knew all of the stuff that he was dealing with to make him do what he did?

  It was my birthday. A time to celebrate, and before we sat down to eat, I set up my camera and got my family and friends close so that we could take a group picture. When the camera snapped and they all wanted to see how they looked, I realized we were perfect—better than what they could have imagined. Whether my dad won the upcoming election or not, we were a unit that cared about each other and our community.

  If I could speak to teens out there who’re scared to go after their dreams, I would encourage them to think about their goals day and night and go after them with their whole heart. Whatever they’re imagining, once they get it, it’s going to be so much better and for sure worth it. I was living proof of that. On my eighteenth birthday, with all I had been dealing with, my life was okay. And the picture of me standing with my family and friends turned out to be adorable.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thanks to everyone who makes my work better:

  To my parents, Dr. Franklin and Shirley Perry, thank you for telling me that I could do anything I dreamed of.

  To my publisher, especially, Andrew Karre, thank you for catching my vision.

  To my extended family, thank you for your support which helps me to keep working.

  To my assistants Shaneen Clay, Alyxandra Pinkston, and Candace Johnson, thank you for being so on top of things and helping bring what’s in my head to paper.

  To my dear friends, thank you for your friendship which makes me a better person.

  To my teens, Dustyn, Sydni, and Sheldyn, thank you for working hard so that all your dad and I envision for you is becoming possible.

  To my husband, Derrick, thank you for being my everything.

  To my readers, thank you for trying out my work that hopefully will bless you.

  And to my Heavenly Father, thank you for getting me to a new company that believes in my work and is helping me reach more young people for You.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  STEPHANIE PERRY MOORE is the author of more than sixty young adult titles, including the Grovehill Giants series, the Lockwood Lions series, the Payton Skky series, the Laurel Shadrach series, the Perry Skky Jr. series, the Yasmin Peace series, the Faith Thomas Novelzine series, the Carmen Browne series, the Morgan Love series, the Alec London series, and the Beta Gamma Pi series. Mrs. Moore is a motivational speaker who enjoys encouraging young people to achieve every attainable dream. She lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, and their three children. Visit her website at www.stephanieperrymoore.com.