“I will, Sue.” I head back up to my room to face my future. With a deep breath, I open my laptop again after getting comfortable on my bed, back against the wall, and check my email. Sure enough, there’s an email from Mary and one from Sarah. Opening Mary’s email first, I start reading.
Summer,
It’s difficult to break this type of news to someone. CPS contacts the family first to gauge their interest in taking in the minor. A background check is conducted next, before notifying those involved. I was hoping you would have been excited to be reunited with family. Your father has to have a home inspection by the local CPS office before anything else happens. That is scheduled for this week. If the home inspection goes well, you will be placed with him. You have no say in that decision. Maybe we overwhelmed you with too much new information, but I did my job and followed all proper procedures. After talking to Sarah. I wanted to clarify that I haven’t provided your father with any specific details of your situation yet. Just that there was an accident where you lost your family, you are being fostered by Sue, and there were special circumstances in your case.
Mary
Typical Mary, blunt and no genuine apology. What sticks out again is that I have no choice in leaving. I don’t feel brave anymore and need some support. I want to call Sarah again, but I’ve already talked to her twice today. “Sue,” I call out.
“Coming, sweetheart,” she hollers back. I hear her climbing the stairs, and then she enters my room. She must read the emotions on my face. “Oh dear. What did you read that upset you?” She takes a seat on the bed beside me.
“Nothing in particular. It’s becoming real that I’m moving again. I read Mary’s email. Here, you can read it for yourself.” I turn the laptop around and hand it to her. Sue quickly reads through the email and hands the laptop back to me.
“What can I do, sweetheart?”
“I don’t know, Sue. I mean, I have no idea where I’ll be living. Is it in the same state or far away? What is my father even like?”
“We can answer some of those questions with the email from him. Why not open it up and see what Zander says?”
I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
“I’ll sit right here with you, sweetheart. You’re not alone.”
I click on the email from Sarah and scan it. It’s a forwarded email from Zander to Mary.
Mary,
I was happy to get your email today. I’ve attached a letter for Summer, answering all her questions, and also attached some pictures and information about my company and my resume. Tell her she can google the company and go to the website. There’s lots of information there. Heck, she can google me too. If she needs anything else, please reach out to me. I’m an open book for her. Anything she needs, please let me know.
Zander
I tap on the first attachment marked “Letter” next.
Dear Summer,
I can’t imagine how strange this is for you. After all this time, finding your father. I have to admit I’m nervous about writing this letter to you. I don’t want to mess this up. I’ve always wanted kids, but had none.
I guess I’ll dive right in and start with the basics. My name is Zander Finn, and I’m 42 years old. I live outside Charleston, South Carolina. I was an Army officer. I now own a security company and do government contract work as well.
I’ve attached pictures for you to look at so you can get to know me. I may have gone a bit overboard with sending you everything, and I apologize if I sent too much.
I have limited knowledge of your current situation. Please understand that everyone important to you is also important to me. I have no intention of taking you away from anyone. The more people that care about you, the better. Anyone you care about is welcome to come and visit here anytime, and you can travel to Virginia as often as you wish. I would really love to meet the people you care so much about when you’re ready and thank them personally for taking care of you before I could.
Please tell me if you need anything else, Summer. You have my email now. Contact me whenever you’d like. Or call or write to me (Mary has all my info). I can’t tell you how excited I am to meet you. Zander
Iswallow, licking my suddenly dry lips, a slight shiver causing my body to tingle. He’s real and seems thrilled about finding me. He wants me to stay in contact with everyone here. Wow…just wow.
I check the rest of the attachments and see he sent a lot. There’s 3 jpeg images and a bunch of documents. Deciding to send them to the printer, I reopen the letter and pass Sue the laptop. “Here, you can read his letter. I’m going to grab the rest of the attachments I sent to the printer.”
“Are you sure you want me to read this, sweetheart? I imagine it’s pretty personal.”
“Yeah, I do. Go ahead, Sue, I’ll be right back.” I walk down to the little office Sue uses to grab the sheets from the printer, but it’s still going. This is so overwhelming; my emotions are all over the place. He’s real. I have a father. My life is so surreal right now. After the printer finally finishes, I take everything back upstairs to my room.
Sue quickly wipes her cheeks when she sees me and smiles. “That is a lot of sheets, Summer!”
“Yeah, he mentioned he might have gone overboard,” I wave them around. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. He seems like a nice man. He’s excited to meet you, and he wants us in your life. I admit I was worried about that part, but it looks like it will work out. Let’s see what you’ve printed out there,” she pats the bed beside her.
