We found an online group that tracked charter jet company empty legs and set up a cost-sharing network which also accepted air miles if it was a Delta charter. If we shared a flight with an executive and his three assistants back to New York and exhausted over a million air miles, then the cost was just a little more than if the four of us flew business class back home. It was an unexpected expenditure, but we had emergency funds tucked away so we wouldn't have to touch the stipend Cal and I got from his inheritance.
The upside was that Buttons could fly in the cabin with Luce. Bri tells us that our girl almost hasn't let go of the dog since we got back yesterday with her. Luce has bonded with the dog, and is already explaining things to her, “All the feckin' time.” I had to grin at the impatient acceptance in the teen's tone.
Jane looked at the time and said, “Ok girls, we ready to do this?”
They looked equal parts excited, apprehensive, and scared as they both nodded. Bri took lead, “Come on Luce-Goose, we got this.” Luce nodded, and I could almost feel her anxiety spike. The tween swallowed and nodded and walked up to the bags.
Jane beat them to it and hoisted both bags with one hand as she poked her head out the office door, saying, “I've got these, it looks like someone is here to say goodbye.”
We all moved out to the corridor, which was packed. All the girls and staff were crowding the hall. Even Miss McDougal was there with a wide bassinet and the two babies.
Luce looked up to us in apprehension and excitement as she leaned into me and whispered loudly, “It's tradition.”
The girls said goodbye to each and every person and I just watched in amazement as Luce encouraged each one of them. She started with the babies. “I know you know things even though you don't talk, but there's lots more to learn. The others will tell you the rules, and rules are important or things slip into chaos, and nobody wants that. Be strong, be kind, and I just know you'll get a forever family.”
Then she was telling the young girls something similar, and telling them that without her around, they'd have to listen to the eldest, the eight-year-old, Alice. “And if you get scared, you can always call or email, even if you have questions or need help. Alice has my contact information. Be good, and I love you.”
There were so many tears as she moved along, with a message for each, a lot of those tears may or may not have been mine. You weren't there so you can't prove a thing. And I almost broke when the little four-year-olds hugged her tight and she didn't shy away from the contact. All the girls loved their Sissy.
She stopped at the last girl. “Alice, you're Sissy now. Make sure they learn the things they ought. And read to them each night. You've my bed now, you're the keeper of the library. Be strong for them and show them that even without families, you have each other. The old busybody Luddites who run the place mean well, and they know things, they've seen things, so listen to them.”
The girl just kept nodding like her head was on a swivel, as she stood taller and wiped her tears on her sleeve. Luce assured her, “You're ready. Love you.”
The girl said the first words I had heard her say since we first arrived the other day, “Love you too, Sissy.” They bumped fists and then the girls looked at the staff and waved as we moved outside. Mrs, Johnston and Mrs. Doyle joined us.
We turned to them and I went to shake their hands, but it seemed woefully inadequate, they were making me a mother and I owed them everything. I gave each a hug then buried my face in Jane's shoulder.
Then I said, “Thank you so much for everything, you two are angels from heaven. Oh, and our lawyers should be contacting you soon about the technology foundation funding. And we...”
Jane interrupted and shook each of their hands in gratitude. “She'll go on forever if we don't get moving now. Thank you for all you've done for us.”
Their eyes were brimming with unshed tears as they nodded, and Mrs. Johnston said, “It is our pleasure to place any of our girls. And we can see just how great of parents you will be. You have passion.”
Bri hugged each of them and Luce handed Buttons' leash to me as she took timid steps up to the women. She said, “For a couple langer busybodies, you're ok. I know things because of you, and I know that even though you're Luddites and the whole home might crumble without me organizin' things fer ya. I'll actually miss ya.”
Then she looked at her hands and back up to Mrs. Doyle and then leaned into her personal space, “I don't really mean the mean things I say. I always imagined that you were what it was like to have a mum.”
Then she said really fast as she actually hugged the crying woman, “Love you.”
Luce ran past me, grabbed the two leashes and headed to the car before we could stop her. Bri scurried off after her, concern etching her face.
We looked at the home one last time as we waved at the women as all the girls came streaming outside. We got in the car, and it was so overpacked with our luggage, two dogs and four people, it was sort of comical. I was picturing a clown car in my head as Jane backed up and stopped us at the base of the steps.
Bri and Luce started waving like crazy as all the girls started cheering and waving as we began moving forward. They were giggling and calling out goodbyes through the windows as they waved at the girls who were all waving and running after us until we left the home. The girls all stood outside the gates, just watching and waving until we turned at the end of the road.
Then we pretended not to notice as Luce cried into Brianne's shoulder as both dogs whined.
It wasn't long before we were at the airfield, loading onto the charter jet. Luce and I hyperventilating as Bri and Jane reassured us that flying was safer than driving again. In a moment of clarity, Luce said to us before we took off, “I'm going somewhere. I've not been to places before.”
Epilogue
We got into the small terminal building from the plane, Jane dragging our luggage behind her on a cart. I thought it odd that we didn't have to go through customs when we arrived at the small airfield. It was all done in the paperwork for the flight and I was assured that customs was well aware of the flight and its contents.
I grinned like a loon when we saw some familiar cars parked next to the terminal. Our SUV, the Jess-mobile, and Gar and Beck's with a bunch of loons waving at us. All the anxiety of the flight just bled away into giddiness. Our whole family came out to pick us up. We told them we'd need two cars so they bring them all instead?
The girls looked at each other, then us, and waved trepidatiously back at our family, wooden smiles as Luce whispered without moving her lips, “They may all be eejits.”
Jane snorted and covered her mouth, before saying, “You may be right girls.”
I muttered, “Hey, my mom's with them.”
Luce leaned in and said, “Sorry. Mrs. May has seen things, she's not thick.”
I smiled crookedly at that. I loved how she broke down what she saw as intelligence as knowing or seeing things.
We made our way through the terminal, and again I felt odd not going through customs and not signing any forms. It was only the international airports that had dedicated agents, and my entire experience flying, let alone internationally, consisted of our flight to Ireland, so it wasn't like I had anything to compare it to.
But with all the stress over immigration and smuggling in the news lately, it just seemed odd. But Jane explained that we were pre-screened before our flight home.
Ok.
We stepped outside into the crowd of family and they were pretty still even though I could almost feel them all vibrating in excitement. As Jane, Gar, and Kerry went into motion, carrying luggage to the waiting SUVs, Jane winking at mom as she passed by and mom reaching out to squeeze her arm in welcome as she passed by.
Mom's eyes locked onto Luce with laser intensity, her hands together in front of her mouth as I said, “Everyone, you've met our future daughter, Luce Caitlin O'Conner, soon to be McLeary-May if she'll have us.”
Mom squeed and opened her arms,
then caught herself and offered up a pinky instead. Luce looked between her and me then her uncertainty turned bashful as she stepped forward with Buttons and linked pinkies. Mom melted then asked with wide eyes, “And who is this big guy?”
Luce animated with excitement at that. “This is my grand dog niece, Buttons. She's an Irish Wolfhound, the tallest of the canis lupus familiaris breeds. She can run forever.” She beamed at everyone as mom scratched Buttons' ears.
Then mom turned to Brianne and opened her arms, wiggling her fingers, “Bri!” They hugged, Bri blushing bashfully as she pulled more hair over her scars on her face. I slapped her shoulder to stop it.
Mom sighed heavily and reached up with both hands to cup her cheeks then pushed Brianne's hair back and told her, “You don't have to hide around us, sweetie, you're beautiful and you just don't know it.”
I grinned since I never thought I'd see Bri speechless as she blushed. And she really was a beauty, anyone with any sense would see past the scars.
Mom asked her as she released her face, “And how long will you be staying with Jane and Finnegan?”
I answered for her as Jess gave each of the girls exploding fist bumps, “I'd imagine until she goes away for college, but we'd expect her home on every break.”
Everyone went silent and still as Jane, Gar, and Kerry rejoined us, all eyes were on us as Jane shared, “Oh, we didn't tell you about the two for one deal the orphanage was throwing? If she'll have us, Brianne is going to be our daughter as well after the trial placement. We couldn't help it, we fell in love with both of them, and they may as well be sisters already.”
I had to cover my ears as all the squealing ensued and everyone started hugging a beaming Bri and fist-bumping Luce. Calvin and Buttons were winding around everyone with their tails wagging as they caught the excitement.
As they celebrated, my mind went back to that moment back at the girls home. Jane had said, “Actually, about that. You, me, and Finnegan need to talk.” She looked at Luce. “Why don't you go show off your Hound some more, Luce?” Our future daughter nodded happily. She loved that dog already and was more than happy to talk to anyone and everyone about her.
Then Jane asked Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Doyle to join us. So there we were, in the office meeting room, all of us but Jane sitting. She paced for a moment then said, “I guess there's no subtle way to ask this... but Bri... what would you think about coming home with us too? I mean you're practically sisters already, and I gotta say that you're smart, funny, and stole our hearts. I couldn't bear to separate you and Luce. We'd love to adopt you.”
My heart skipped a beat and I sucked in a breath, my eyes bulging in wonder in the room that was so silent that you could hear a pin drop. Bri whispered, “But... I'm seventeen.” Followed by, “Truly, do ya mean it?”
Jane nodded and said, “We don't care how old you are. Because if you agree, you'll be our daughter forever, long after you are eighteen. You can't age out of family and those who love you.”
Then Bri turned to the two people who would have any say in it and she deflated, I looked over then panic replaced the joy that was building in my heart at the pained looks on the two women's faces.
Mrs. Johnston said shook her head slowly and said, “Simultaneous adoption is frowned upon, except for cases where the children share a familial connection with each other, blood relatives. You could start the process all over again once Luce's adoption is complete, but by that time, you won't have enough time before Miss Fitzgerald ages out of the system I'm afraid.”
Oh god. Bri looked devastated after she had such hope just moments before and all I wanted to do was hold her and tell her it was all going to be ok.
Then I froze at the huge smirk on Jane's face as she shrugged. What in the fuzzy heck was wrong with her? She just crushed the poor girl's heart!
Then she said, “Can I offer a counterpoint to that assessment?”
Mrs. Doyle supplied, “I'm sorry, but Mrs. Johnston is correct.”
Jane shrugged again and asked, “But you're forgetting one thing now aren't you?”
I grabbed Bri's hand and squeezed as I pointed at my wayward wife and accused, “That's your smug cop face! What do you know, woman? Spit it out before I have Calvin attack.”
She tilted her head and blinked in innocence as she said, “My smartass little pipsqueak here and I are a same-sex couple, so according to Northern Ireland adoption regulation, only one of us can adopt Luce until the adoption is final, then we file an uncontested adoption request once Luce is hers, for me to become her parent too. Soooo...”
Mrs. Doyle was first to catch on to what she was saying and started nodding as she added to the leading prompt, “So.” She turned to me and said, “Finnegan McLeary-May, I wish you all the success and joy in the world in your solo adoption of Miss O'Conner.”
Then she prompted Mrs. Johnston, “Golly, it seems that Mrs. Jane McLeary-May has already had extensive background checks, and Miss Fitzgerald has already been through the supervised and unsupervised visits with Jane and her wife.”
Mrs. Johnston caught on just as I caught up to speed and felt like my face was going to split I was smiling so big as the woman asked Bri. “Miss Fitzgerald. It seems that Mrs. Jane McLeary-May is wishing to have a solo adoption of you, and her wife would adopt you later after your adoption hearing. Would this be acceptable to you?”
By the swishing tail and lolling tongue, Jane had figured out a way to game the system that was stacked against same-sex couples by using their own rules against them.
Brianne was crying now and diving into Jane's arms to hug her desperately. Mrs. Doyle was standing and saying urgently like if she didn't move fast we'd somehow change our minds. “Paperwork. We need to do paperwork.” Then she slipped to the door, yelling out to the office, “Paperwork! We need Miss O'Conner now! Luce, we need paperwork!”
I had to join in the hug with Jane and Bri as I told the teen, “We love you, baby girl.”
Now here we were, standing with our family, introducing my two daughters to them. I was so happy I was crying like a baby as we entered the next exciting chapter of our lives.
Damn, this was going to be a wild ride!
The End
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
December 21, 10:43pm
Luce,
I lost my mom last month and now all my friends. I'm at the girls home now I'm so scared, I don't know what to do. My life is over. I found your note in the Quiet Place, did you really find a new family? What am I supposed to do now?
Lana Kate
***
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
December 22, 9:22am
Lana,
Don't be afraid. I know that it can get overwhelming as the world grows too big as it tries to crush you. But I promise, it will get better. When things seem the worst, just ask me and I can share the rules. They make things better. I love you and will be here if you need me.
You can also talk to Mrs. Doyle. For an old busybody she's ok. You can trust her because she's like us, she aged out of the Sydenham Home like a million years ago, but she knows things, she has seen things, and she can help.
Sincerely,
Luce O'Conner McLeary-May
P.S. There are more crackers hidden in the fireplace of the Quiet Place. Don't let the langers that run the place catch you with outside food.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
February 10, 1:19pm
Hello are you the girl who left the message in the box in the little cottage I was shown when I was put in the home when my gran died? I'm scared nobody will want me and the pushy one they call Sissy, Alice, told me to come in here and read the messages in the box.
Anna Lindquist
***
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
February 10, 7:13pm
Hello Anna,
You are strong. You are still here while your family is gone. People are out there who need a girl like you. People who know things, people who have seen things we can't even imagine. There will be good times, there will be bad times. And couples will come and go as they try to find the one meant for them.
There are parents meant for you, you have to believe and be strong. The fear can't beat your courage, and you have already survived. I read in books that dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. So take my stuffed dog from the box, it can help you, and one day things will be ok. And listen to Alice, she's got the library now, so she is learning things, and she knows all the rules.
I love you and will be here if you need me.
Sincerely,
Luce O'Conner McLeary-May
Novels by Erik Schubach
———————————————————————
Books in the Techromancy Scrolls series...
Adept
Soras
Masquerade
Westlands
Avalon
New Cali (2019)
Books in the Urban Fairytales series...
Red Hood: The Hunt
Snow: The White Crow
Ella: Cinders and Ash
Rose: Briar's Thorn
Let Down Your Hair
Hair of Gold: Just Right
The Hood of Locksley
Beauty In the Beast
No Place Like Home
Shadow Of The Hook
Books in the New Sentinels series...
Djinn: Cursed
Raven Maid: Out of the Darkness
Fate: No Strings Attached
Open Seas: Just Add Water
Ghost-ish: Lazarus
Anubis: Death's Mistress
Sentinels: Reckoning (2020)
Books in the Drakon series...
Awakening
Dragonfall
Books in the Valkyrie Chronicles series...
Return of the Asgard
Bloodlines
Folkvangr
Seventy Two Hours
Unleashed- Case of the Hound About Town Page 14
