43. Epilogue
Epilogue
Dallas
5 Years Later
Holding my wife’s hand tightly in mine while I drive, nerves and excitement pulse through me.
“Are we really doing this?”
“We’re really doing it, princess. Are you excited?”
“I am, but my god, I’m nervous. What if she doesn’t like us?”
“She will, baby.”
I pull into a large government building and put my car in park. Turning to face Blaire, I grab her face in my palms.
“Listen to me, we’re ready for this. We’ve gone through all the training, and you’ve been through this, you’re ready. And you’ve gotten me ready. Is it going to be perfect? No. But it’s going to be ours and we’re going to make a difference no matter the outcome. You understand?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, princess.”
We walk into the building and meet the case worker. After going through all of our paperwork and a briefing, we’re led to a room where a nine-year-old girl sits alone at a table, writing on a pad of paper. We walk in, Blaire leading the way, when she perks up in her seat and looks at us.
She has the lightest blue eyes, strawberry-blonde hair, and is very thin. I’m already thinking about all the food items I want to stock in the house to make sure she has access to everything she needs. I know the neglect was bad.
“Hi,” Blaire says hesitantly, “I’m Blaire. This is my husband, Dallas.”
“Hi. I’m Nadia Hope. Which is silly because Nadia means hope.”
We both chuckle at her and I relax further. We take our seats across from her and she returns to her notebook.
“So, I’m going home with you, huh? Since my parents died?”
“That’s right. You’re going to come home with us. We have a room all set up for you that’s all yours. And lots of people who are excited to meet you when you’re ready.”
“I’ve never had a room before. Are there other kids?”
“There are five kids with another one on the way. We have a really big family.”
“That sounds nice. I’d like to meet them.”
Nadia’s parents were drug addicts like Blaire’s. They lived in and out of shelters and couch surfing at who knows whose houses. They both overdosed on the side of the road with Nadia in the backseat. She fished the phone out of her mother’s purse and called 9-1-1. She’s so mature for her age and it’s so unfair.
“Do you like writing?” Blaire asks her.
“Oh, I love it. I want to be an author when I grow up.”
“That’s a really incredible dream, kiddo. What do you like to write about?”
“Fairy tales. I love making up worlds. Nothing bad happens in them and everyone is safe.”
“I used to dream like that, too, when I was a little girl. But I dreamed of having a big family that kept me safe and loved me more than anything.”
“Did you get it?”
“I did, sweetie.”
On the trip home, I drive with both hands on the wheel, constantly checking on the little girl in the back of my SUV through the rearview mirror. Blaire and Nadia both seem to be handling this well, while my insides feel like they’ve been torn out and lit on fire in front of me. I can’t stop thinking about my beautiful girl at Nadia’s age, alone and scared, and then the evil that descended on her later in life. I know at this moment that I’ll die before anyone tries to hurt either one of them. Nadia has been given a shit start at life, but Blaire and I are determined to make sure not a day goes by that she doesn’t feel love and support.
I hang back and give the two of them some space while Blaire shows Nadia to her new room. When we found out that she would be coming home with us, our entire family worked through the weekend to transform the room into one a little girl would dream of.
“This is all for me?”
“It is. And if you don’t like something, we can change it. We want it to be your space and you should love to be in here.”
“It’s perfect! These are my favorite colors! And look at all of those books!”
Her face lights up and it makes me feel proud that we could provide her a safe place to call home. Once upon a time, I was able to chase all of Blaire’s demons away, I hope that together we can do the same for this little girl.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I excuse myself to let them talk while I check it.
Sawyer:
How’s it going?
Kins:
Yeah, kinda dying over here wanting to know
Me:
We’re home. She’s so sweet. Needs patience, love, and food.
Liam:
You guys are the best people
Me:
Have you met yourself?
Sawyer:
Everyone is eager to meet her when you all are ready
Me:
I will. One of her first questions was if there were any other kids. I think she’s gonna want the friends and family
Carter:
Well we’ve got that in spades
Me:
I’ll be in touch soon
Kins:
We love you
Me:
Love you all
I go into our kitchen and put the lasagna that Ivy had made for us into the oven to heat up and quickly put together a salad. When the timer beeps, I plate everything and get the girls for dinner. We eat in silence, Nadia scarfing down her food way faster than she should.
“So, Nadia, what are some of your favorite foods? Anything you haven’t had that you’d like to try?”
She thinks for a moment before answering. She’s so methodical, and I prepare myself to take mental notes because I feel a list coming, which I appreciate.
“I read an American Girl book once about a Korean family and their food sounded so good, so I’ve always wanted to try that. I really like learning about other countries.”
“I think I’d like to try that too. Blaire’s favorite food is Mediterranean, specifically Turkish. Would you like to try that, too?”
“That sounds so good!”
And just like that, my new little family became foodies.
After dinner, we let Nadia pick a movie for all of us to watch. She chose The Nightmare Before Christmas and I couldn’t contain my smile at the memory of my blizzard lock-in with Blaire over Christmas when we had a movie marathon.
We both bring Nadia to her room and tuck her in, making sure she knows where to find us if she needs anything, and we walk to the doorway to leave.
“Blaire?” her little voice says softly.
“Yes, sweetie?”
“Will you stay with me?”
I watch my beautiful wife as she wipes a tear from her face, walks back into Nadia’s new room, and takes a seat in the bright pink papasan chair next to her bed.
“I’ll stay here for as long as you need. Get some sleep. You’re safe.”
And just like that, I fall in love with my wife all over again.