The Mysteries That Follow You

Chapter 24

The next morning Marie is sitting in a hospital bed eating breakfast. There is a knock on her door and Kiana pokes her head in. "Good Morning Marie, how are you this morning?" She fully walks in and sits beside Marie's bed.

"I am good, still feel stiff." Marie stretches out her arms but the tense sensation in her muscles persists.

"You have been stuck in bed for days. I am sure when the doctor discharges you she will allow you to be active again." She says with a chuckle.

"I hope so." Marie chuckles and lowers her voice to a whisper leaning into Kiana. "I actually miss lifting weights." They both erupt into a fit of giggles.

Kiana sobers up and gives Marie a meaningful look. "No pressure but have you given any thought to what we discussed the other day? I know I said you can give me your decision when it's time for you to be discharged but I just had to ask. You can still wait but if you made a decision I would love to hear it."

Marie takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "I did make a decision last night. I gave it some thought and while I am hesitant I also trust that you care about me. I also feel like we are already a family." She smiles at Kiana. "I would like for you and Mr. Oscar to adopt me."

Kiana can't hold in her excitement. She jumps up and down in her chair with glee. She then grabs Marie into a big warm hug. "You have no clue how happy that makes me. I promise you we will show you nothing but love and care." They break away from their hug and look at each other. Their blissful moment is interrupted by Dr. Lewis coming into the room.

"Good Morning Marie. Oh, Good Morning to you too Kiana." She looks down at her chart to give it a quick scan.

"Good Morning!" Both Marie and Kiana say in response.

"I wanted to discuss your results from the tests." Dr. Lewis looks between Marie and Kiana.

"You can go ahead," Marie says then grabs Kiana's hand. Letting Dr. Lewis know it is okay to speak in front of her new guardian.

"Wonderful, so your test results look positive. There is no lasting brain damage from the seizures. There was nothing abnormal in your results. You are in good health" Dr. Lewis gives Marie a big smile. "I suggest you get back into training for your shift. Being asleep for those days has set you back but with hard work, you should be fine for your shift." Marie is happy she can continue her training, she feels restless from being still for so long. "I will have the nurse ready your discharge papers and you can be on your way." Dr. Lewis walks out of the room leaving the two alone.

"That is great news, Marie. You get to come home." Hearing the word home warms Marie's heart. Knowing that she will be going with her new family and not the orphanage brings her unexpected happiness. She fully intended to stay at the orphanage until she had to live on her own one day. She thinks about her friends at the orphanage and her smile drops. "Is everything okay?" Kiana asks with concern about Marie's sudden mood drop.

"I was just thinking about my friends from the orphanage. I am ... just going to miss them so much." Marie felt so sad she couldn't at least say goodbye.

"They go to Clover High right?"

"Yes, why?" Marie looks at her confused.

"Well, you will still see them there. It will be different than living with them but you won't have to say goodbye. You can hang out with them after school as well." Marie's mood instantly skyrockets.

"I get to stay at Clover High?" She asks surprised but grateful.

"Of course sweetheart. It's where all the pups your age from the pack go." Marie gives her a big hug but when she pulls away the smile she had is gone. Kiana is starting to get whiplash from all the sudden mood changes. I guess this is what it is like to have a teenager. "Why the frown?"

"I haven't talked to them in days and they don't know how I am. I was ill not long before this they must be worried sick not knowing." Kiana feels proud of how caring and thoughtful Marie is. It reminds her of Cora, she looks and acts just like her mother. Kiana gets up and checks Marie's belongings for her phone. She pulls it out and eyes the device wearily.

"You have a flip phone?" Kiana raises a single eyebrow as she hands the phone to Marie.

"Yes, Mrs. Leane was going to take me to get it upgraded on Saturday but things changed, as you know" Marie replies.

"Why don't we go to get you a new phone after you are discharged, You can add their contacts and call them when they get out of school." Marie breaks out in a happy smile and a happy dance. Which is easier for her now that she isn't hooked up to machines. After thirty minutes of her and Kiana chatting the nurse walks in with the discharge papers. Once everything is settled Marie and Kiana wait for Oscar to pick them up.

When Oscar arrives Kiana tells him Marie agreed to allow them to adopt her. He pulls her into a bone-crushing hug. He and his wife have always wanted kids but it wasn't in their cards to have them. They might not have been able to have biological kids but that won't stop Oscar from showering Marie with love. They hop into the car and their first stop is the orphanage. Kiana and Oscar finish the paperwork they started when Marie was still unconscious in the hospital. Once everything is signed they have, officially in the eyes of the law, adopted Marie. Mrs. Leane hugs Marie and wishes her well. The trio's next stop is the phone store after packing all Marie's belongings. Oscar buys Marie the latest phone, cases, and any accessories she likes. They finally make their way to the Woodin's home. They take Marie upstairs and open a door to a bedroom.

"We were hoping you would agree to us adopting you." With the white door wide open Marie peers inside the room she will now live. Inside the bedroom, there is a queen-sized bed, a desk, two dressers, and a nightstand. The room is painted a light purple and blush pink drapes are hanging from the window. There is a large white rug under the desk and chair. There is a laptop, mouse, and lamp on the desk. The bed has a light blue comforter with pink clouds and white pillows. It looks inviting and comfortable. The room feels cozy and looks adorable. Marie loves everything about it as if she designed it herself. She pulls the two in a hug.

"Thank you so much. For wanting to adopt me, for this beautiful room, for the phone, and for promising to love me." Kiana can't help but cry and Oscar smiles with so much love for Marie. The new family spends the rest of the morning together. They help Marie set up her things in her new room. Marie once again hangs the card she received from Little Peaks up where she can see it. The card now has an additional note and signature from Mrs. Leane. When it is late in the afternoon Oscar heads out to a meeting, Kiana does work around the house, and Marie hangs out in her new room.

Marie sits on her bed and enjoys how soft and cloud-like it is. She decides to pull out her flip phone along with her new phone. She transfers the contacts into her new phone after taking some time to get used to a smartphone. Oscar helped her set up the phone earlier but not the contacts. She sends off texts to the girls letting them know this is her new number and that she will FaceTime them all tomorrow to explain what happened. She hovers over a specific contact debating what to do. Steeling her resolve she decides to give them a call instead of a text.

The phone rings a couple of times and Marie thinks it will go to voicemail until it connects. "Hello?" Kaden's deep voice echoes in Marie's ear and she is grateful she called him. His voice calms her and makes her face warm at the same time.

"Hey Kaden, it's me, Marie"