Page 24 of Home Body
They hopped in the truck, hooted with glee, and drove home.
There they found Llayne and Rose snuggled together on the couch readingOh the Places You’ll Go!by Dr. Seuss. Rover nestled into the other side of his girl. Happy with her new friend and her dog, Rose didn’t run to her mom and grandmother like she would normally do when they came home. She waved them over to the couch.
“Mommy. Grammy. Comere. Sit down and hear our story. It’s a good one.”
Dalia tossed her purse onto the floor and plopped down beside the dog, her jubilant mood evident as she scratched behind Rover’s ears.
Mamie settled into the chair across from them. “Yes, let’s hear this good story.”
Llayne studied the two women, aware of their good spirits for some reason she didn’t know. She continued to read the story, emphasizing the end with a flare.
Rose hopped down and happily clomped her little feet. “I have feet in my shoes! I can go anywhere.”
“Yes you can!” her mother agreed.
“And,” her grandmother added, “you have brains in your head.”
“Oh, yeah. I do!” Rose giggled and went to Llayne, resting her arms on the grown-up’s knees. “Thank you for reading me that story.”
Llayne stroked the little girl’s red curls. “You’re welcome, sweetie. I loved reading to you. But I’d better get home now. I have to go to my friend’s birthday party tonight.” She stood up and Dalia and Mamie joined her.
“Hey,” Rose said, not ready to let go of her new friend, “maybe you could come back tomorrow and babysit me some more. I have lots more books you can read.”
Llayne looked from mother to grandmother to granddaughter and grinned. “Well, maybe not tomorrow but sometime soon. I’d love that.”
“Yes. Please come back any time,” Dalia said.
“Oh, the birthday cake.” Mamie hustled into the kitchen, came back with the cake, and handed it to Llayne. “Have fun at your party tonight.”
“Oh I will. Thanks again. This is going to be a huge hit. Well, ’bye. See you later, sweetheart,” she said to Rose.
The little girl started to follow her out the door, but Mamie called her back. “Honey, I need your help in the kitchen. Let’s go finish frosting those cupcakes we made this morning.”
Rose hesitated. Did she want to follow her friend or obey her grandmother? Decision made, she nodded, took Mamie’s hand, and let herself be led away.
Dalia followed Llayne out of the house, pleased that her mama had taken care of Rose, sensing she wanted to tell Llayne what happened with Agnes. As they went down the porch steps, Dalia said, “Thank you so much for watching Rose. You’re a big hit. It really helped us out. We got there just in time. Agnes died. I wouldn’t have wanted Rose to be with us for that.”
Llayne stopped. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I know you weren’t close. But she was the one who gave you birth, so it still must hurt. Is there anything I can do?”
They walked again as Dalia considered the question. “No, nothing that I can think of. But here’s the shocker – she said she wasn’t my real mother. Her last words were ‘I bought you.’”
“Oh my word!” They’d reached the car and Llayne carefully placed the cake in the backseat and turned back to Dalia with concern etched into her face. “I’m so sorry. How awful.”
“Yes. But it’s a relief, too. It’s good knowing Rose and I aren’t biologically connected to her. She was a mess. We all tried to help her, but she wouldn’t have it. Death is the first peace she’s ever known, I suspect.”
“So she adopted you?”
“She must have. Mom says it would’ve been a private adoption if she paid very much for me. But we don’t have any details at all. If that’s true, it means she conned us for years into taking care of her.”
“Did she leave anything like papers or files that might give you more information?”
“No. Nothing. She had nothing when she entered the nursing home. I only have my birth certificate because my dad went to her when I was five and insisted she give it to him. It’s in a safe deposit box. That’s all I have.”
“Huh. I’ve reported on stories like this. Adoptees looking for their biological parents. Do you think you’ll ever do that?”
“Oh. I don’t know. I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
“Well, let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
