Page 101 of Sweet Surrender
Dal was a little more cautious. He was older and a little less trusting but he had dropped his guard slowly over time. He looked down at his sister and frowned slightly at her bold nature, choosing to stay close to Ali who had been their caseworker for nearly a year. But Taylor spotted the action figure that Beau had given him dangling from his grip. She smiled, remembering the hours Beau had spent in the toy store agonizing over whether Dal would prefer Superman, Batman, Spiderman or Luke Skywalker and nearly having an emotional breakdown.
“How can I raise them when I can’t even pick a toy!” he’d cried, and Taylor had tried really hard not to laugh at his dramatics. Okay that might have been insensitive, but he was being ridiculous. He would be the best dad in the whole world, he just didn’t know it yet. Taylor looked over at him and saw he was also struggling to hold back the tears.
Adoption had been a long process, painful, exhausting but so rewarding and there was no one on earth she would rather have done this journey with. Hell, it was because of Beau that this journey was happening at all, she never would have had the courage to do it. Wouldn’t have wanted to do it without him, her soulmate.
They had been in the process for well over a year now and had been devastated when they weren’t matching with any candidates. But then they were matched with Mi Sun and Dal, and everything changed. Their parents had migrated to America from Seoul soon after Mi Sun was born, and both died in a tragic car accident last year leaving the two children without a family. They had been placed with a wonderful foster family who Taylor and Beau had met many times during their visits but finally Mi Sun and Dal were home, where they belonged.
Ali helped them get the kids settled in the house and then panic rose in Taylor’s chest as Ali made a move to leave. Ali had been the rock they had leaned on so hard during the last year that Taylor was surprised Ali still wanted anything to do with them. And now she was going to leave and what…that was it?
“Well, that’s that. Congratulations again on your Homecoming Day. I’m so thrilled for both of you and Mi Sun and Dal. You’ve got my number and Dal has it too to keep in touch and I’ll schedule the first post placement visit. Let me know if you have any queries or concerns before then and feel free just to check in and give me updates,” Ali said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Beau gasped out, likely feeling the same fear as Taylor.
Ali chuckled and took their hands in each of hers. “You’re going to be fine. I have every faith that you’ll become a truly wonderful family. Don’t be scared, you’ve got this! And I’m not gone yet,” she replied, shrugging.
“Thank you so much, for everything. I don’t think we can ever repay you,” Taylor gushed, gratitude overwhelming her.
“You already have! I can see how happy you’re all going to be. Now, take care and I’ll see you in thirty days.” With a final wave, she got into her car and was gone, leaving Taylor and Beau gripping each other tightly on the porch.
After a moment Beau turned to her. “We’re parents.” Awe filled his words.
Taylor nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks. “Yep, we’re parents.”
He wiped away her tears, not realizing his own were streaking down his cheeks and he laughed as she wiped his away. Then they took a deep breath and went back inside the house which now felt full with just the addition of these two tiny bodies.
Dal was on the floor playing with a train set that Beau had pulled out and Mi Sun came over to Taylor and wrapped an arm around Taylor’s leg, peering up at her, holding the pink rabbit aloft.
“Pinky hungry,” she mumbled around the thumb lodged in her mouth and Taylor’s heart exploded in her chest.
Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.
“Let’s go find him something to eat!” Taylor replied brightly before taking Mi Sun’s hand and heading toward the kitchen.
*
Beau paced the porch as he waited for Ali to finish conducting her review with Mi Sun, who they now called Mi-Mi at her insistence, and Dal, hoping and praying that Ali wouldn’t come out and sayThat’s it, we’re taking them away from you, this last thirty days have been hell!
They had been the best thirty days of Beau’s entire life. Watching Taylor bloom into the most amazing mom as they both fell into a routine with Mi-Mi and Dal. Mi-Mi was bold and confident for a four-year-old and sure of what she wanted, not afraid to speak her mind, just like Taylor. Dal was more reserved, but observant. He watched and gathered information quietly, he’d taken longer to relax which was still impressive for only being with them for thirty days so far.
He couldn’t imagine losing them now. Watching Taylor bond with them both and feeling that love build inside himself for his two children. It was a connection and love that would grow over time but he couldn’t imagine loving them any more than he did right now.
Beau and Taylor had only introduced them to Grandma Ruby and Christy and Dean so far, deciding they didn’t want to overwhelm them with more people during an already overwhelming time. But provided today went well they would take the pair to play basketball later with the gang and introduce them to their other aunties and uncles.
Taylor came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, placing her head in the space between his shoulder blades and he felt her calm flow through into him.
“We’ll be fine. I’m confident. We’ve done good,” she whispered. He placed his hands over hers and nodded. Then the front door opened and Ali came out, her expression carefully blank and Beau’s stomach dropped. He put his arm around Taylor’s shoulders, needing her comfort, her balance to calm him.
“Well, how did it go?” he asked, his voice rasping.
Ali frowned and he felt Taylor quiver next to him and prepared himself for the worst. That Mi-Mi and Dal were unhappy and needed to be removed. How would Taylor cope, how would he get her through this?
“Mi Sun has some concerns…” Ali began. Beau swallowed thickly and gripped Taylor tighter, fear riding him. “She says Pinky isn’t getting as many carrots as she feels he should.” Ali fixed them with a wide smile and Taylor burst out laughing but Beau’s legs turned to jelly with his relief.
“Ali!” he groaned.
“What are you both worried about? It went brilliantly, they’re doing amazingly well. Even better than I had hoped, and I had no doubt that this visit would go well. You two need more faith in yourselves,” she tsked.
Beau wrapped his arms around Taylor, gripping her as he realized this was it. The first test was done and they had passed, with flying colors. Ali chatted to them some more and said she would be back in another thirty days, that was the way the process went until all the legalities were wrapped up which could take a few more months and then she left.
