“Yep, we have to love how children think,” Zach added.
“Looks like we all have things we wish were easy to contend with.I’m gonna get out of your hair.Laundry and house chores call.”
“How about you come for dinner tomorrow night?Iris is making a large roast, and we only have one overnight guest this week, so there will be plenty.”
I looked at them, thankful to both of them for making me feel so welcome.
“Since I can’t say no to that invite, I’ll see you both then,” I said, getting up and placing a kiss on Iris’s cheek before shaking hands with Zach.
Mindi
I sat in my small office at the community center staring out the window.Sarah had gone over to see Gracie for another sleepover after she’d had her appointment with Noah.
I took a sip of tea and stared at the paper application in front of me.I had to be out of my mind thinking that they’d ever look at me as a viable option for Sarah.I picked up my pen and slowly began filling out the top section when I heard a knock on my door.
“We’re finished.Going to head out now, unless there is something else you need,” Ethan said, stepping into my office.
I looked up and saw Noah in the hallway, his back to me.He hadn’t looked at me since the morning he’d left, which stung more than I wanted to admit.
“I’m good.Have a good night.”I sighed.
“Everything alright?”Ethan asked with a slight frown on his face.
“Fine.See you later this week.”
Ethan nodded and then turned to leave but stopped again.“Oh, before I forget, you are still coming for dinner tonight, right?”
I let out a deep sigh, debating telling him I wasn’t coming, then thought about the broccoli casserole I’d worked hard to make that morning and changed my mind.
“I’ll be there,” I answered.
“Good, we will see you then.”
I watched as Ethan turned toward the exit door, followed by Noah, who I’d have thought would at least wave, or poke his head in and tell me how things went with Sarah, but there was nothing.Again, he didn’t even look in my direction.It was as if I didn’t exist.He hadn’t said a word to me the entire week.
I looked down at the paperwork in front of me.I didn’t know what I was even thinking when I printed the adoption application off the website to keep Sarah with me.Yet, here it sat.I took my time, thinking through each of my answers before I wrote a word.
When I had finished, and I was confident with everything I’d written, I flipped the page.My heart sank as I read the next part.They wanted references — five of them.They were specific—not only character references, but one of them had to be from the military, which wasn’t a problem.Ethan had agreed, but the other was going to be difficult.They wanted a reference from a therapist, one who knew me, and one who had talked to Sarah, one who would look at the situation without bias.
There was absolutely no way I could ever ask Noah to be a reference now.He wouldn’t even look at me.Hell, we’d slept together, and he wouldn’t even give me a chance to explain what he’s seen.
My heart sank, yet I calmly filled each one of them out, then slipped the pages into my fax machine and sent them off, praying that I’d hear something before Christmas.
The moment the fax had gone through, I grabbed my bag and took off over to Ethan and Peggy’s for dinner.
I pulled into the driveway at Ethan and Peggy’s house and slid my car in behind Trinity’s, cutting the engine.I looked at the house, taking a glimpse at the tree that was lit in the large front window, and softly smiled.
This really was my favorite time of year, but this year I’d struggled to find some sort of Christmas spirit.I’d spent most of the week hiding out at home, trying hard to put Noah to the back of my mind.Seeing his face as he stared at that card that morning, after the feelings I’d just experienced with him the night before, had haunted my dreams.
I gathered my purse and the broccoli casserole and climbed out of the car, careful not to slip on the ice, and made my way over to the door.I was just about to knock when the door opened and Ethan stood there with a smile on his face.
“Hey, Mindi, come on in,” he said, reaching for the casserole dish I was carrying.
“Thanks,” I said, stepping inside and placing my purse on the hook followed by my coat.
“Hey, Mindi,” I heard from inside the house.“Come on in, grab a drink and join us.”
I looked at Ethan, slipped my shoes off, and then followed him into the kitchen.
