Soul Searcher by D.M. Richardson (novel24 .TXT) 📕

After we finished eating the waitress took our plates and left us the check. He was quick to grab it before I could. Something else we always did. Whoever grabbed the check first paid. Finally I brought up the subject I really wanted to talk about.

“So did you get what I needed?” I asked. He looked around the room to make sure no one was watching us. He pulled his briefcase from under the table and slipped a large manila envelop out of it sliding it across the table to me.

I opened it to see three packets of paper in it. I pulled all three out and looked up at him with a raised eyebrow.

“I weeded out the ones that I knew you would throw out. These are the ones you would want to consider.” I nodded and started reading. The first one looked good on the outside, but as I kept reading there were little things that stood out to me. The mother worked full time and the father stayed at home from a disability. They already had two kids of their own. They never specified why they wanted to adopt a third. I knew they only wanted to adopt because the child would receive a social security check. I pushed it back to him.

“No” I read the second one but it was of a single woman. I didn’t have a problem with single parents, but I wanted Kristi to have a loving mother and father. I pushed it away. “No” I thought about it a little more before I read the last one. I wanted her to have a mother and father that would love her and treat her like the wonderful child that she was. Suddenly I looking at Sara and Koner across the table as they talked about their day. Koner’s soft voice that I had first imagined reading to a child as they both tucked them in.

I saw again Sara’s tears as she looked at an empty crib. I blinked back to the present and pushed the last packet back to Jack.

“Actually I think I just got a better idea.” he smiled at me and pulled an actual file from his briefcase and handed it to me. I took the file and looked at the name. Keely. This was Sara and Koner’s file from when they had attempted to adopt before.

“I thought you might come to this conclusion so I took the liberty of swiping the file.” I read through it. The only problem was the money. Their background checks came back clean, and at their evaluation they were deemed loving, kind, and a good stable home. I thought about how Koner was always home before dinner, and how he never failed to take time to spend with Sara. Sometimes he had a few papers he had to fill out from work at home, but nothing that ever took longer than an hour.

He was strong but kind and had a loving side that I had never seen before. Sara was energetic and always working to make everyone else happy. She made sure every one had everything they needed, and she carried a routine that was perfect for a young family.

“How soon can you get everything set up?” I asked him.

“I can have it taken care of by next Friday. Their lawyer already had most of it done all that’s left is paperwork and their signature. Plus the check of course.”

I picked up my phone and called Gale.

“Hello?”

“Hi Gale, it’s Rayne.”

“Oh hi how are you darling?”

“I’m okay. I was wondering if I might be able to take Kristi for a day next week?”

“Oh I don’t know. What do you want her for?”

“I think I’ve found a good home for her. I know the couple and they’re perfect for her.”

“When would you want to take her?”

“Friday afternoon”

“Okay, but honey I have a favor to ask.”

“Of course”

“If this does go through and she finds a good home can you bring her visit us every once in a while.”

“All the time.” I heard her relieved sigh and smiled.

“Thank you dear.” I hung up and smiled up at Jack. Now I just had to figure out how to introduce Kristi to the Keely’s and get them to agree with just a couple meetings. We didn’t have time to do this the traditional way.

The next week went by quickly as I made the arrangements with Jack. I didn’t know how to approach Sara and Koner about Kristi so I decided to introduce them before I made the proposal.

The night before I was supposed to go get her I let my curiosity get the better of me. I had just gotten out of the shower and decided to get something to drink before I went to bed. I stepped into the hallway and I noticed the door to the third bedroom. I looked down the stairs and didn’t see anyone close by so I tip toed over to the room. I eased the door open as quietly as I could and looked in. The moon was full and shining through the window. The room was still decorated as a nursery. Complete with a crib. It was free of dust so I assumed Sara cleaned it regularly. I stepped up to the crib to get a closer look at the carousel. It was stars and moons. It looked old like an antique and was painted in swirling silver and had traces of glitter on it. I thought it was beautiful. I was filled with sadness and hope.

The was a sound at the door and I whirled around. Koner was standing there staring at me.

“I’m sorry. I was just curious. I didn’t mean to intrude.” he held up a hand to silence my stammering and walked to my side gently touching the carousel.

“This was Sara’s grandmother’s. It hung over her crib and then her mother’s and then hers. She had hoped to pass it on to our own child. She’s kept this room clean and refused to change it. I guess she’s still hoping for a miracle. Don’t tell her you were in here.” he turned and left the room. I quickly followed and decided to forgo the drink. I didn’t think I could stand to face Sara after invading on her privacy again. This time of my own choice.

The next morning I left for school early eager to get the day over with. I canceled tutoring with Zeke, and left to pick up Kristi right after school let out. I had already told Koner I wouldn’t be in to work the night before so he knew not to expect me.

When I pulled in front of Gale’s house Kristi was waiting for me. They were both sitting on the front porch on the swing. She ran to meet me and I met Gale’s eyes over her shoulder.

I pulled up to the diner that Jack had agreed to meet us at. We had a pleasant dinner, and went to the park for a couple hours to wait for Sara and Koner to finish eating their own meal. I had called Sara and told her that I was at a meeting with Jack so she wouldn’t worry. At seven we all headed to the house.

I stepped into the entryway with Kristi clinging to my hand and hiding behind me. Jack followed me in and I called to Sara and Koner. They walked in to meet us and I started shaking from nerves. They looked at me in confusion when they saw Jack. Their confusion quickly turned to worry and I knew I had to act fast. I didn’t know what to say or do next and I was overcome with worry. Worry that they wouldn’t agree and I would lose Kristi forever. Jack placed a hand on my shoulder and I took a deep breathe.

“Hey can we sit down and talk?” without a word they both turned and headed for the dining room. They still hadn’t noticed Kristi hiding behind me. We followed them into the room and both of them sat down. Jack sat across from them and I led Kristi to the other chair that faced them. When I sat down I pulled Kristi into my lap.

“Oh” Sara gasped as she got her first look at her. Kristi buried her face in my neck but kept peeking looks at the startled couple. I looked down to see Sara gripping Koner’s hand so hard it had to hurt. I wasn’t sure if it was a good or bad sign. I swallowed hard and began my explanation.

“This is Kristi. She just turned three years old.” I looked to Jack. I didn’t want Kristi to hear everything I had to say. She wasn’t quite old enough to cope with the story of her birth and abandonment. He looked over at Sara and Koner.

“Would it be okay if I got Kristi some ice cream?” he asked softly giving them both a meaningful look. Koner looked to Sara and she nodded. She hadn’t taken her eyes off of Kristi for a moment since she had noticed her. Jack took Kristi from me and headed for the kitchen.

“Rayne what is this?” Koner asked with a dangerous tone.

“Please just let me explain.” I begged he nodded and I continued.

“She just turned three a couple of weeks ago.”

“That was the party you went to.” Sara said in realization. I nodded and continued.

“She was found on a church steps when she was no older than two days old. It was an early winter and she almost froze to death. But she flourished. She’s still a little small for her age, but she’s never been sick since then. No one knows who her birth parents were so the church gave her a name. She was put into the system immediately and she’s now in her third home. She’s incredibly intelligent and just as hyper. She remembers everything she sees and no one ever has to tell her anything twice. The couple she lives with now are elderly and are deeply in debt. They can’t take care of her anymore. If they give her up she could end up anywhere, and not all homes are safe. She needs parents. She needs a good, loving home, where she can feel safe, and loved.” They were silent and stared at me for a few minutes. I was starting to say something, anything to break the tension when I got a response.

“You really care for this little girl don’t you?” Koner asked in a quiet voice. I nodded.

“She’s been like a baby sister to me for over a year now.”

“You say she needs a good home and parents. You thought of us?” Sara asked this time. Again I nodded.

“Yes. I’ve been in eighteen homes in the last eleven years, and this is the best home I’ve ever been in. You’re both loving and devoted, and honestly I think you would be the best parents anyone could ask for.” Sara’s eyes started to tear up and I was afraid I had said too much. Kristi ran into the room and jumped up on my lap again. Sara and Koner stared at her and she squirmed uncomfortably.

“We can’t afford an adoption. We’ve tried but it’s too expensive.” Sara said with so much misery I almost started crying myself. I looked to Jack and he nodded. He put his briefcase on the table and pulled out their adoption agreement. He slid it across the table to them. Koner took it and started reading. Suddenly he looked up in shock.

“This says it’s already been paid for.”

“What? By who?” Sara asked with astonishment. Koner looked at Jack then zeroed in on me. I met his gaze unflinching and unafraid.

“How?” he asked. I looked down at the table.

“I’ve been saving for a long time.”