Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 336(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
“Don’t cry on your breakfast.” I held her hand while she composed herself and after a few minutes of us eating she dropped her fork.
“Chance, I can’t stand it anymore! I want to go get Star and tell her about the baby and the adoption.” She bounced in her seat and gave me a pleading look.
I grabbed my slice of bacon and stood from the table and then I reached out for her hand. “Grab your bacon and let’s go.” She gave a little squeal with delight as she took her bacon and my hand and we hurried out to go to Cynthia’s.
The old woman was sweeping the porch when we arrived, and she went to the door to call Star as we got out of the truck. I waited for Dream, and we both walked up holding hands.
“Well, it certainly looks like one night alone did the two of you a world of good.” She gave us a wink.
“You have no idea,” I mumbled under my breath earning a nudge from Dream. I rubbed my rib and then turned back the older woman. “We have to learn to cherish those nights we get to be alone.”
She rested her broom against the railing and smiled at Dream. “Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Yes,” we said in unison.
About that time, Star ran out with Jackie, and both of them had their hair tied up in rags.
“We’re curling our hair like Cynthia used to do.” She walked over and hugged my leg.
“You look beautiful,” I said, squeezing Dream’s hand. I looked up at her, and she gave me an encouraging nudge.
“Go on, tell her,” she whispered.
“You know when you asked if I loved Dream?” Star’s cheeks turned rosy as she nodded. “Well, I do love her very much, and she’s going to stay with us.”
Star left my side and dove against Dream hugging her so tightly she nearly stumbled.
“There’s more. We’re going to have a baby.” I glanced up at Cynthia, and her mouth was agape with a smile.
“A baby? You mean I get to have another little one to spoil?” Cynthia hugged Dream and then pinched my cheek. “I’ll so happy for you all.”
“But wait, there’s more actually.”
“You sound like one of those late-night infomercials.” Cynthia chuckled, and Star grabbed my hand.
“What is it?” She jumped up and down.
“How would you like it, if you were our little girl?” I wanted to ask her opinion and give her a choice.
Star’s little face lit with shock. “You mean, I’d be your kid and you’d be my mommy and daddy?” She glanced back and forth as if we might be fooling her.
“That’s what I mean. We’d like to adopt you. Officially.” She jumped up in my arms and lay her little head on my shoulder and Dream rubbed her back as she began to cry.
“Will I have a sister or a brother?” She looked up into my eyes.
Dream leaned in to explain. “We don’t know just yet, and won’t for a while.”
That seemed to satisfy her.
“This calls for a celebration. Let’s all go out for ice cream. My treat.” The old woman took Star’s hand, and I pulled Dream close.
“Looks like we’re going to have a family.”
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as the wind hit my face. It was as if my brother was telling me he approved.
CHAPTER 32 – DREAM
After a big day of ice cream and celebrating with Cynthia and Star at the park, I settled in Chance’s big recliner and flipped through my planner on my phone. I’d gotten a little queasy, which always seemed to come after I ate, and so Chance wanted me to take it easy while he and Star practiced riding her bike again.
I searched for local doctors and typed a list of names I needed to call, and then I looked online for nursery items and even started a wish list.
While we were at the park, Chance had told me we’d redo the guest room and make it into a nursery, and I’d asked Star and Cynthia if they could help me with the project.
Cynthia, who had grown children of her own, was going to be an amazing help, and she was excited to have a baby on the way. She said she’d missed out on Star’s infancy of course, so this would be new to her and Chance for a change. She said things had progressed since the late seventies and early eighties when she’d had her babies.
I’d tried to call Liza, but she was on an early shift, and most likely had her phone turned off, but knowing she should be off work finally, I decided to try back.
The phone rang, and when she answered, I could hear Brady’s cartoons in the background. “Hey, Dream. How was the day off?”
I couldn’t help but smile at all the things that had happened since we last spoke. “It was the best.”