“It’s honestly a sad situation, and I’m a bit concerned about what will happen to her when she leaves us,” Mrs. Porter shared.
“She was found by a neighbor wandering the streets on the West Side of town. Luckily, the neighbor recognized her and knew where she lived. He took her home, but no one was there, and it didn’t look like they’d been there for a while,” Mr. Porter said.
“Her clothing was dirty, and she’d soiled herself. The neighbor took her home, and his wife got her cleaned up and called the police.”
“Wow. Did anyone find her parents?” I asked.
Mr. and Mrs. Rush looked at each other solemnly.
“The police went back to the house where the neighbor said she lived, and her mother was found locked in the bathroom, dead from an overdose,” Mrs. Porter offered.
“No one in the neighborhood knew her father but said they’d seen her with various men over the years,” Mr. Porter said.
“Damn. I wonder how long her mother was dead.”
“It had been a few days,” he confirmed.
“How long will she be with you?”
“We usually only keep the kids for three months, and it’s already been a little over a month. Unfortunately, her situation is much worse than that of any other kids we’ve had. She’s also the youngest foster child we’ve ever taken in. So far, no family has been located,” said Mrs. Porter.
“Is there a reason you wanted this information?” Mr. Porter asked.
“Yes. My wife—well, my soon-to-be wife has developed a soft spot for Oaklyn. I shared what I knew about her, and she wanted to know more. I promised to find out what I could.”
“We’ve grown very attached to her and have discussed keeping her a little longer if permanent placement isn’t found. Unfortunately, at our age, we can only do so much. She’s only three years old and still needs a lot of attention,” Mrs. Porter shared.
“Are you and your soon-to-be wife willing to take her in?” questioned Mr. Porter.
I looked at Oaklyn, who was in her own little world, playing with her toys and watching TV. She must have felt my gaze on her because she looked in my direction and smiled.
“I think so, but I’m sure there are some formalities and red tape we’d need to go through. I’ll talk to Rose, and we can go from there.”
“If we knew she was being placed with you, it would make us feel so much better,” Mrs. Porter said.
I stood, and the elderly couple did the same. I followed them out of the living room, and before I turned the corner, I felt something on the back of my leg. I looked down to find Oaklyn staring up at me.
I turned around and kneeled to her level and was shocked when she wrapped her little arms around my neck. I couldn’t help but return the embrace. When she released me, I did the same, and she waved timidly before running back to her toys.
“It seems she’s taken a liking to you,” Mrs. Porter said as I stood.
“The feeling is mutual. I’ll be in touch, and thank you both for allowing me to interrupt your day.”
“No problem. Thank you for stopping by,” Mr. Porter said.
As I headed to my bike, all I could think about was how full my heart felt when Oaklyn wrapped her arms around my neck. I had no idea what I’d find out when I arrived at the Porters’ residence, but I left knowing one thing for sure . . . Oaklyn needed a permanent home, and Rose and I would be the ones to give it to her.
“I didn’t know you were over here. How was everything?” Raine, one of the owners ofBlack Reign, asked.
“I got the works, and everything was amazing. I need to start coming here at least once a month.”
“I agree, and not just because I own the place. We offer four monthly membership levels, and you can mix and match your services.”
“You don’t even have to sell me. How do I sign up?”
“Sign up for what?” Melodie asked.
Melodie was Raine’s best friend, sister-in-law, and part owner of the luxury spa. Their husbands ran the barbershop, the barber school, and the mentorship program for boys.
