1987
1525 Words
It had been six years since Leonard brought Alexis to Laura. The little girl only knew her name as Anna because Leonard and Laura had changed her name on the adoption records. Mr. Maverick told Laura it was for the best to protect the child from the people who killed her parents, and Laura obliged.
There was a new addition to Anna’s and Laura’s small family last year. A boy named Adam. He was only three months old when he came to them in the middle of the night. Anna got curious and heard an elderly man by the name of Maverick talk to Laura about his parents being bad people. She was glad that Laura was there when the man brought Adam and treated him like a brother. Anna was a good kid, and Laura loved having her there.
Anna loved it there, and it was the only home she ever knew. She knew that she had been given up as a baby because her parents couldn’t keep her, and she learned that her mother’s last words were that she had to be strong. So that was exactly what Anna was going to do. Be strong because there was a chance she was going to have a family and move away. Anna was a good kid, and Laura loved having her there.
Over the last couple of months, a local couple came by every week to spend time with her and get to know her. They were nice, and she liked them. Sometimes, Laura would let Anna spend the weekend with the Simones, go out to dinner, or spend a weekday with them. Laura knew they were perfect for each other and would do everything in her power to make the adoption go through.
Annette and Johnathan Simone. They tried to have children of their own, but they couldn’t, so they decided to adopt and had their hopes set on Anna. The girl liked them a lot, but she loved Laura, and the Simones knew this was hard on the little girl. However, Laura explained these situations happen, and she wouldn’t be that far away if Anna wanted to come and visit.
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The adoption went through without a problem, and it was the day the Simones were picking up Anna permanently. Anna was nervous and excited and started to sweat. She packed all her things and brought everything downstairs.
The Simones pulled up the driveway, and Laura was standing in the living room as she turned to Anna.
“Are you ready?” she asked with a sad smile.
Anna took a deep breath and threw her arms around Laura. The caregiver hugged her back as the doorbell rang, and Anna let go of her. Laura opened the door and smiled at the couple, gesturing for them to come inside.
Annette was the first to walk in. She had long Auburn hair with silver streaks, she was of average height, and she had beautiful blue eyes. She could be Anna’s real mother if you didn’t know they were adopting. She had on a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt.
Johnathan walked through the door. He had a tall, muscular build, sandy blond curly hair, and green eyes, and he was also in a flannel shirt and a pair of jeans. They were farmers for Glee and helped the other farmers with produce for the town.
“Anna!” exclaimed Annette, and she wrapped her arms around Anna.
“Everything is all taken care of and gone through. She is all yours,” said Laura, and handed Annette a folder.
Anna gave Laura a sad look, and the woman touched her cheek.
“You’re going to be just fine. I’m the one who’s going to miss you. Who’s going to help me around the house and with Adam?” she asked, and the little girl sniffed.
“I’ll come help as much as I can,” she said, and the adults chuckled.
Annette gave Laura a thoughtful look and smiled.
“Thank you, Laura. You did such a great job raising her.”
Laura grinned and tugged Anna’s hair.
“Yeah, I guess I did,” she breathed, and Anna snorted.
Johnathan looked at his watch and gave his wife a knowing look.
“Well, we don’t mean to cut this short, but we have to get going. The annual Farmers Carnival starts tonight, and Annette’s famous apple pie is on display this year,” he said, and Laura grinned.
“Congratulations, Annette. I can’t wait to swing by and have a taste,” she said, and Johnathan chuckled.
“Yes, we’re going to have fresh samples, and a little girl who would love to see you the first night she’s out on the town,” he teased, and Anna smiled brightly.
“A carnival!”
Johnathan hugged Anna and set her down.
“Yep, and guess what?”
“What?
“You’re the guest of honor. So, we must go. You can’t be late for your own party,” he said, and she giggled.
Annette and Anna hugged Laura, and the woman hugged them back as a tear slid down her cheek. Johnathan grabbed Anna’s bags and took them out to the car, and Annette and Anna followed him.
“Bye, Laura,” said Anna with a sad tone and waving.
“Bye.”
Laura waved as the Simone family drove away with Anna.
******
About thirty minutes later, the car pulled into a driveway a ways back from the road and parked in front of a beautiful country farm home. It was two stories, with beige siding and a white wrap-around porch.
There were well-kept rose bushes that were around the house. There was a red barn in the back, big enough for at least three full-sized tractors, and a loft inside the barn. The land was as far as the eye could see, and cows were grazing out in the field. She was amazed without even getting out of the car, and Johnathan turned to Anna.
“You think the outside is amazing, you should see the inside,” chuckled Johnathan, and Annette laughed.
Anna laughed too, knowing he was teasing her, got out of the car, and looked up at the tall house. She decided that she liked it, and it already felt like home. They went inside, and Anna couldn’t believe her eyes. Inside, there was a white staircase and a hallway straight down toward the kitchen, and an entryway spanned out to the left into the living room.
In the living room sat an old couch with two armchairs, a TV, and a desk, and the woven rug on the floor was dim with age. Walking forward, the space led to the dining room, with glass door cabinets, a beautiful wooden dining table, and six matching chairs.
The room off of that was a large kitchen with an island in the middle and black marble countertops. Off the kitchen was another set of stairs and a washroom with a washer and dryer and a stand-up shower with the basement door beside the dryer. Next to the washer was the backdoor that led outside, and the barn was twenty-five feet from the house.
They went upstairs, and there were four doors. One was open, and it was the bathroom. One room was the guest room, and then Annette and Jonathan’s room. The fourth door had letters that spelled out ‘Anna’ on it, and Anna looked at Johnathan and Annette with wide eyes.
“Is that room mine?” she asked, and the Simones grinned.
“Why don’t you open the door and find out,” encouraged Johnathan, and Annette smiled, nodding.
Anna giggled, opened the door excitedly, and was shocked. The bedroom was a fairly large room with a large bed in the middle, two wooden end tables on each side of it with matching lamps, a dresser, and a hutch that had a TV and a DVD player inside. In the corner stood a wooden desk and matching chair. Anna looked around, and there were wrapped gifts everywhere. Anna laughed and ran in.
She jumped on the bed and chuckled. Johnathan and Annette joined her on the bed, and they started handing her the wrapped boxes. Excited, Anna took them, and she thanked them every time they handed her a new box.
Anna began to open all her gifts. New clothes, shoes, trinkets, toys, a gaming system, games, a laptop, school supplies, a bedding set, lots of art supplies, and much more. Anna couldn’t have asked for more. She felt so happy and wanted to.
“I really hope you like it here,” breathed Annette, and Anna threw her arms around her new mother.
“Thank you for everything. Thank you for making me your daughter. I couldn’t have asked for better parents,” she said gratefully.
“You are most welcome,” said Johnathan as he got up from the bed and walked over to the doorway.
“Welcome home, sweet pea.”
Anna grinned up at them. She finally had a home.
- Writer
