Ten Days before Christmas
Things were finally coming together at the Community Center, and with Ethan’s help, we worked together to set up Noah’s office.So far he’d been with us a full week and already had a full schedule.I’d gotten lucky to get Sarah in to talk to him today.
I glanced at my watch as I made my way down the hall to his office and stopped just outside the door, peeking in the window to see them sitting on the couch talking away.I had feared she’d never open up and that when the time came for her to be moved to her new family that she’d struggle.I wanted to give her the best chance of success at settling in with whomever they placed her with, and I’d done all that I could to help.Noah was the next logical step.I was surprised to see that she was talking his ear off and even laughing.
I knocked on the door, wishing I didn’t need to interrupt, and popped my head into Noah’s new office.
“Hey, Mindi, we were just finishing up,” Noah said, smiling.
“How did it go?”I questioned, looking at Sarah.
“Good.”
“Great.Well, are you just about ready to head on over to see Gracie?”I questioned.
“Yes!I’m so excited to sleep over, and if I go now, that means you can head out on your date,” Sarah said, batting her eyelashes at me and giggling.
Sarah asked me last week if she could sleep over at Gracie’s this week, and so we called and spoken to Iris and made a plan.Shortly after my phone call with Iris, I invited Noah for dinner, which he’d quickly accepted.
“Alright, miss, that is enough.”I laughed as she puckered her lips and sent kisses into the air.“Where is that coming from?”
Sarah shrugged and then laughed as she took off out of the room and headed to my office to grab her things.
I stood there watching as Noah made a couple of notes and then tucked a file into the pile on his desk before looking up at me.
“Everything go okay?”I asked.
“Yep, went fine.We worked through a lot today,” Noah said, getting up from where he sat and moving to his desk.“You don’t need to worry about her.She is going to be fine.”
“I’m glad, but I’ll always worry.”
Noah looked up at me and smiled.“I know.It wouldn’t be like you if you didn’t.”He said, coming over to me, placing a kiss on my lips.“So, shall I bring dessert tonight?”
“That would be nice.I am going to run her over to Zach and Iris’s and then head on out and get the stand closed down.”
“Sounds good.I will see you about six then?”he questioned, glancing at his watch.
“Six works.”
“Okay, see you then.Ready, kiddo?”I questioned as Sarah stopped in the doorway watching the both of us, bags in her hands.
“Ready.”She smiled.“Could we stop at The Crispy Biscuit and get some treats for Gracie and I?”she asked, looking up at me.
“Well, what about the boys, Dylan and Noah?Should we get something for them too?”
“I guess.”
“You guess?I think we should.I also think that we should get something for Iris and Zach as well, okay?”
“Okay, have fun on your date,” Sarah said, waving to Noah.
“Have fun at your sleepover.”He winked at Sarah and then winked at me as we turned to leave.
“You awake?”I heard Noah ask quietly.
I opened my eyes to see the credits rolling on the TV, my head rested on his shoulder.
“Hmmm, yes,” I said, sitting up a little and looking at Noah with sleepy eyes.
