“We’ve got plenty of children who need homes when you’re ready,” Mrs. Jackson says. “So, you might want to get your foster parent certification because that process is different from what we’re doing with Becca.”
“I’ll look online and see when the classes start,” Marnie says. “But I think for a while it needs to just be Becca.”
“I agree. We’ll know when the time is right to change that,” I add. “Now, we should head back downstairs since this is all new to Becca.”
Dinner went off without a hitch, and the excitement the three little girls added to the table full of my brothers had everyone chuckling at one point or another. Right now, I’m thankful it’s the holiday week, because there’s no way we’ll get her settled down, so she gets enough rest for school, and tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.
“Do you think she’ll want to go with me to help deliver the Thanksgiving boxes, or stay here and help you, Grammy, Holly, and the girls with the baking?” I ask Marnie as we head upstairs.
Mina is still here because she wanted to see Becca’s bedroom, so Ruby, Rebel, Holly, and PJ are trailing behind.
“Oh, she wants to help bake,” Holly says. “She heard Grammy talking about it, then Mina chimed in and told her how much fun she would have.”
In years past, we catered our Thanksgiving meal, but when Holly and Rebel got together, things changed. Now, we all go out to Esther and Paul’s house, where so much food is prepared, we all come back to the clubhouse with plenty of leftovers.
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Marnie decrees, grinning. “Holly, does Esther have another small apron for Becca? I didn’t think about getting one with all the shopping I did.”
Holly giggles while nodding. “When she heard what was happening, she went out and got the same stuff that the girls have so she’s all set to bake and cook at Grammy’s.”
I can’t help the smile that crosses my face. My family, mychosenfamily, has already taken Becca into their hearts. I send a look upward and hope that David and his wife can see that their little girl will be well taken care of from here on out.
I’m sitting in the living room of our suite, listening to the giggles coming from the bathroom as I slowly go through the file that Mrs. Jackson gave us. Becca’s clothes and stuff she brought from Mrs. Talbot’s house have already been put away, and the few pictures of her and her parents are now placed in the living room, as well as one on her little desk. Her mom is someone I vaguely recognize from years ago. She and her parents were parishioners in the church we attended. Still, I didn’t know her well, and something must have happened with her family for Becca to eventually end up in foster care.
I’m so lost in thought that I don’t immediately see Becca standing in front of me, a book in her hand. “Ash?” Marnie softly calls.
“Hmm?” My head snaps up and I see Becca, dressed in a princess nightshirt with her hair covered in a bonnet as she moves from foot to foot. “Well, I didn’t know Olaf was going to visit us,” I tease, referring to her character nightgown. “Do you want me to read to you, sweetheart?”
She shyly nods but doesn’t waste any time climbing up next to me and handing me the book. “You like this one?” I ask, looking at the cover.
“Frog and Toad are funny,” she whispers, almost as if she’s afraid to talk.
“Well then, let’s see what they’re up to, okay?” I ask, placing a kiss on her forehead.
CHAPTER
SIX
Marnie
Watching Ash read to Becca has tears forming in my eyes. He’s been so gentle with her, and for a brief moment, my heart breaks when I remember that I’ll never be able to give him a child of his own. He has so much love to give a kid, that’s for sure. Pulling my phone out, I snap a few pictures of the two of them, Becca giggling as Ash changes the voices of the characters while he reads, acting out the scenes. I quickly send a text to Pauline, who responds with a heart emoji.
Yeah, this is going to work out just fine, I think. Once we have her tucked in for the night, Ash heads downstairs for a few beers while I curl up on the couch and put on a Christmas movie. They’re my kryptonite, to be honest. Yes, the stories are somewhat predictable, but with all the ugliness that exists in the world, we need fluffy movies. Plus, it helps get me in the holiday spirit seeing the lights and decorations and people’s faces light up with joy. It’s something I’m feeling a lot these days. I realize that even though we’ll probably decorate the common room, weneed to do the same with our suite since from what I understand, Becca didn’t have that with her aunt.
“God, she’s a piece of shit,” I grumble underneath my breath. “I can’t believe she treated her niece like that. She better hope I never meet her because a prison sentence will be letting her off too easily in my opinion. She needs a good, old fashioned ass kicking, which I’d be more than happy to dole out.”
Because I’ll seriously cut a bitch, not even going to lie. Thinking about how Becca, who was a little over two years old when her parents died, was subjected to the treatment she got from her aunt for nearly three years, makes me want to puke the way I did when I first found out what happened to her. The file Mrs. Jackson gave us was thorough, including pictures from when Becca first came into care, as well as detailed medical reports from her attending doctors. Seeing that sweet little girl whose ribs were showing, as well as the vertebrae on her back, covered in old bruises, welts, and the dejected look in her eyes was heartbreaking. I honestly thought Ash was going to head to the jail where his sister is being held while she awaits her trial and kick her ass.
Thankfully, he came to his senses because I need him here with me. We’ve got a little girl to raise, and a huge family who’ll help figure out how to take care of his sister if need be. He doesn’t need to be the Lone Ranger anymore.
As I watch the movie, which is kind of cute if you like football, I start writing a list of things we’re going to need in order to make our space festive. First up, a working fireplace since they have those electric ones so we can hang stockings. Then, we’re going to need a tree and lots of ornaments. I have a small box filled with the ones I had growing up, of course, but we’re going to need more, lots more.
I wake up and realize I’m no longer on the couch, especially when I feel Ash’s strong arm flung over my waist. Guess I fell asleep, and something inside settles knowing that he carried me to our bed. When his hand moves up to cup one of my breasts, I roll so I’m facing him and gaze into the eyes of the man I love with everything in me. “Hey,” he whispers as he leans down and lightly kisses me.
“Hey,” I reply. “I didn’t mean to crash out on the couch. You could’ve woken me up so I could come to bed.”
“Naw, I don’t mind carrying you, Marnie,” he teases. Clearing his throat, he says, “I saw the list you started writing. I think it’s a good idea for us to create a little Christmas magic in our suite as well.”
“Good. Maybe after y’all get done delivering the Thanksgiving boxes, you can go get a tree and the ornaments,” I tell him. “I also placed an online order for some, along with the fireplace, so don’t worry if you don’t initially get enough, okay? Oh, and we have personalized stockings that should be here by Wednesday according to the website I ordered them from, so maybe we can plan to decorate our tree on Friday? I’d say Thursday, but I suspect by the time we’re done eating and our bellies are full, the last thing we’re going to want to do is decorate.”
