Rogue Wave by Isabel Jolie (reading eggs books txt) 📕

in the States apply for a kid, because for whatever reason I can’t have one of my own. I applied because when I was in Somalia. This girl is in a bad situation. Adopting her is the best way, I think, to help her. But it’s not clear cut.”

“So, it’s a specific child you’ve applied to adopt?”

“Yeah.” I leaned forward and copied his position from earlier, arms folded on the table. “She ran up to me in this open-air market. ‘Caawin,’ she kept repeating, which means ‘help.’ I don’t know the language well, and really, her eyes, you could see the panic. I don’t know why she came up to me, the one white man in the market. I think maybe she thought I was a doctor? But I followed. Her sister lay in this area between two stalls. They weren’t buildings. It was just divided areas. Remember some of the more rural markets when we were in Morocco?” Gregg hadn’t been to most of the places I’d been, but he and I had trekked to Morocco one summer when we’d decided to explore outside of Spain. He nodded, his brow furrowed, probably tallying all the bad decisions I’d made, and following a strange girl through a third world market being top of the list.

I exhaled. “I couldn’t do anything to save her sister. She died while I held her hand and told her in English, a language she didn’t understand, that she would be okay.”

“What was wrong with her?”

I gritted my teeth at that phrase. I hated it. “She was bleeding. Gushing blood from between her legs. Her sister was a little older, and I suspect she’d tried to give herself an abortion. But there was nothing I could do. I grabbed some filthy rags lying on the ground, wrapped them in my cleaner shirt and applied pressure, but…” That whole scene was just one more image I couldn’t force out of my memory bank. I pinched my nose and closed my eyes.

“I tried to get her sister help. She didn’t seem to have parents. She didn’t want to go back to wherever she and her sister had come from. I took her to an orphanage and convinced them to take her in. Then I spoke with someone there, and she talked about the process. I don’t know. It’s not like they can make it easy for someone to walk off the street with a kid, claim it’s an orphan, and try to adopt her. My lawyer is working on it.”

“How old is she?”

“Twelve. Practically old enough to start having kids over there. I want to bring her back here, help her learn English, and give her a different life.”

“Does she not have anyone? Friends? Family?”

“She doesn’t seem to. Honestly, I think she’s hiding from someone. Another reason to bring her here.”

“That’s huge. I have to admit, when you said adopt, I was envisioning a baby. You know, she could have a lot of issues? Even though you won’t be dealing with diapers, it could be…do you know what you’re getting into?”

“If I get into it, yes, I do know. The adoption agency helps you with a lot of that. Telling you what to expect and how to handle adjusting and bonding.”

“And English?”

“The agency says kids learn pretty quickly. Far faster than adults. At least, that’s what they say.”

“Wow. This is…unexpected. And I take it she’s…” He dipped his head and paused, waiting for me to fill in his words.

“What?”

“She’s black?”

How the hell this guy and I were from the same two parents sometimes blew my mind. “Yes, she has a lot of melatonin. She’s from Somalia.”

“Hey, I don’t have a problem with it. It’s just one more thing you’re gonna have to, you know, deal with. How’s Luna feel about it?”

“Luna? What does she have to do with it?”

“Your girlfriend is, what? Ten years older than the child you’re trying to adopt.”

“Luna wouldn’t be…it’s not something I need to discuss with Luna. She’s going back to Florida for her second year in her program. And then who knows where she’ll be. She’s not…she’s a kid herself. She’s not about to settle down with an old guy like me. Adopted kid or not.”

“So, this is just an island fling? Kind of like one of the one-week romances you used to have when you spent summers out here?”

“Don’t be an ass. I like her. She’s a great girl. But if you’re thinking she’s my Laura, then you’re off base. And I don’t even know why I told you about the adoption. It’s not gonna happen, or at least, if it does, it’s going to take years.”

“Well, since it’s out there as a possibility, have you thought about getting a job?”

I huffed out a half-chuckle. “Yes, dip shit. I’m trying to decide what I want to do. As for today, you want to help me paint?”

“I’ll give you money to hire painters if you need it, but I’m not spending my Saturday at the beach painting. Let’s go get those surfboards and try surfing.”

By the time we reached Access 42, the waves were rolling smoothly in, and the ocean reflected the sun in almost glass-like formation. Gorgeous, but not at all what you want to see when you’re planning to surf.

“Hey, should we set the boards in the sand and let you practice getting up?” It’s the classic first step for surf lessons and a total dig at my big brother. He shot me the bird and continued into the water, stopping when it hit his knees.

“Shit, it’s cold. I thought you said it’s warm in October?”

“It is. This should be balmy compared to what you’re used to up north.”

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve been to anything other than a pool.”

“You and Laura don’t take many vacations?”

“We have kids.” He spewed the words as if that was all the explanation I need.

We both eventually dove under the soft, rolling waves, then straddled our boards. The sun glistened off the