“Ah, I see.”
I look out at the water and let silence take over the moment.
“I really am sorry about this morning,” she finally says. “I enjoyed being with you last night, and I hope it wasn’t the last time.”
A sense of relief overtakes me. She says the exact words I was hoping for. Carly is a force I would struggle to stay away from. So to hear her say that she would like to see me again, even if it’s in a non-romantic capacity, well, it’s something. I struggle with my need to push the envelope, push her toward something more with me.
Throwing caution to the wind, I grab her waist and slide her body in-between mine and the rocks, caging her in. Pushing her silky brunette hair away from her face, I cradle her face in my hands. Leaning in, I lightly rub my lips against hers, not kissing, just tempting, teasing her. When I finally hear the begging whimper I’m looking for, I plunge ahead, devouring her mouth.
She feels just as good as I hoped she would, a sensation I could come to crave. I could spend every day for the rest of my life touching these lips, and it wouldn’t be enough.
I finally pull away and tuck a loose strand behind her ear. “You won’t be getting rid of me anytime soon.”
Two Weeks Later
Campbell
Lying by omission is still lying.
That’s what I’ve been told at least. But there is no malice or deceit in my omission; it has been a necessity. The girls can’t know I’m married, and so far Lakin and I have done an impressive job at hiding it. Everyone is still adjusting to the idea of he and I being in a relationship, so I don’t think the news of our marriage would be well received.
While I spend a great deal of my days with the bands or the kids at the foundation, my nights are devoted to my husband. For now, I’ve maintained my own apartment, but I’m not really living there; Lakin’s apartment is my home. The secrecy of our situation has been something I have found comforting. It’s special and it’s mine.
My only other focus right now is someone I see as a younger version of myself…Leah. Carly agreed to show up at the foundation today to meet her. If they click, then she will look into moving forward with getting approval as a foster parent.
Carly steps into Vivian’s office fifteen minutes earlier than I am expecting. She looks apprehensive and timid, and I completely understand. She’s preparing to possibly step across hot coals, and is hopeful she doesn’t end up scorched. I wish I could reassure her that she’ll safely make it to the other side, but that’s not a promise I can make.
“Hey,” she says. “I just got back from my lawyer’s office and I didn’t have time to go home, so I thought early was better than late.”
I stand up from the couch to greet her and offer as much support as I can. “It’s no problem; Leah is here already. She’s talking to some kids in one of the conference rooms.”
Carly fidgets, each of her hands wrestling the other. “What should we do, wait here for her or should I go out to the commons area? I guess I’m not sure what to do.”
“Car, you need to relax and breathe a bit, girl,” I tell her. “Leah is wearing some cut off jean shorts, a purple tank, and has a bright pink backpack. You can’t miss her. Go out to the activities area and hang out with the kids; when she comes out, I’ll find you and introduce you.”
She nods, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. “I’m just worried,” she finally says.
I tilt my head, looking for further clarification. Nervous, anxious, yes, but worried? I can’t imagine what she would be worried about.
“I don’t want to mess it up,” she explains. “If she needs a home and I’m a good fit, then I want to help. What if she doesn’t like me? What if I’m not strong enough to pull this off?”
“How could anyone not like you? You are the most selfless, most compassionate person I know. Leah, isn’t going to like you; she’s going to love you, just like I do.”
I mean every word I tell her, and apparently they provide the courage she needs because she smiles and turns to leave the room.
I’m tempted to go with her, be her bridge, her crutch to meet the kids at the foundation, but I know better. She needs to gather her own bravery, otherwise the kids will see right through her and she will be of no use to any of them, including Leah.
I force myself to wait fifteen minutes, when I know the group discussion will be minutes from concluding, before stepping into the hallway. I’m hoping to catch Leah in the hall as she exits the conference room, but when I arrive, Carly is standing outside, the door to the room wide open.
I step around her to see Leah is still talking with the group, and I know exactly what she is telling them, the stories Carly just heard. How she would purposely wet her pants because she thought no one would want her so they would have to send her back to her mother. How her mother would leave her home alone with no food for days at a time when she was on a bender. How by the time she finally realized her mother couldn’t be a real mother for her, her likelihood of finding a permanent home was slim to none. She was destined to be a statistic, and she hoped she would beat the odds. Carly heard every gut-wrenching word of Leah’s story, and for the first time, I was scared Carly would walk away from her.
I see the mascara is running down her cheeks, and I ask her if she is okay. She ignores the question and hastily brushes the tears away from her face.
“Tell me what I need to do,” she says, her voice shaking with emotion.
Initially, I’m perplexed by her question. “To do what, Car? Be a foster parent?” I ask.
She looks back into the room where Leah is now gathering up her backpack, clears her throat, and then squares her shoulders toward me.
“No,” she says confidently. “To adopt her.”
Carly
I haven’t seen Royce since Vegas, but I haven’t been able to get that kiss out of my mind. We have texted back and forth a few times, but he has been busy recording and I have been wrapped up in work and getting to know Leah.
I must be half insane to travel down the adoption road, but there was just something about her that spoke to me and I couldn’t turn my back on her.
It’s like I see Campbell in her. I want to give this girl a life that my friend had to make for herself. I may not even be approved to adopt Leah, but I can’t help but want to try.
Needless to say, this dinner tonight was not high on my priority list. I wanted to go home after work, curl up on the couch with Liv, and watch Disney movies to her heart’s content.
This group dinner was Jen’s idea. The wedding is just around the corner and she feels the need to bring us together as much as possible to turn bridezilla loose.
Trying to be a good friend, we agreed to come over anyways.
Liv and I unload out of the car and make our way up the steps to Casen and Jen’s massive house. Bright, beautiful flowers line the walkway to the front porch, most of which I have to rescue before Liv gets her hands on them.
Spotting us through the drapes, Jen answers the door before we have a chance to knock and pulls us both into the house.
I look around at baby gate central and I can’t help but laugh. Jen is the most free-spirited, adventurous person I know, yet Ryker’s birth has somehow transformed her into that helicopter momma bear we all joke about.
“My goodness, Jen,” I laugh. “We are going to have to step over a baby gate to get in any room or hallway in this house.” I look to the wall next to me, which has outlet covers in the holes, and continue my teasing. “Ryker isn’t even two feet tall, how is he going to reach an outlet that’s halfway up the wall? Is he part of the Incredibles’ cast and you just haven’t told us?”