"Welcome to your new home, Gabriella."
Gabriella gently walked out of the car. She stared at the enormous house before her. It was a house that she only pictured would be on t.v..
She followed her social worker down the flagstone path to the door, keeping her distance.
Her social worker knocked on the door. They were greeted with a little smell of garlic and vinegar and a light skinned woman in her late thirties.
"Welcome," She gestured for them to enter. "You must be Ms. Monteverde and Gabriella?" She stuck out her hand.
With a little nod and a small smile, Gabriella stared at the woman's hand, debating on whether or not to shake it. In the end, she just looked down.
"Sorry for Gabriella's behavior. She's really just a quiet, shy one." Ms. Monteverde shook her hand.
"That's alright, it'll be a welcoming change in this house. I'm Carol Danforth. Welcome to my home. Your room will be up those stairs and the last door on the left." Mrs. Danforth smiled.
Gabriella bowed and nodded.
"There's one thing that you should know Mrs. Danforth."
Mrs. Danforth looked from Gabriella to Ms. Monteverde and back again.
"Gabriella hasn't spoken since the age of thirteen. Ever since she lost her mother, she hasn't really spoken a word. She understands perfectly, it just... she doesn't use her voice."
Mrs. Danforth looked at Gabriella confused, but then smiled. She looked back at Ms. Monteverde. "That's fine. I don't mind. She seems like a nice young lady."
"There's just a few things that I need you to sign before I can leave Gabriella in your care." They walked slowly into the kitchen, their voices floated softly through the air. Gabriella could still hear them.
She walked around the foyer and looked at the living room. There was a game console. She couldn't tell which one.
Turning around, she heard the door starting to unlock. It seemed that neither of the women in the kitchen heard it.
She stared at the door, waiting for it to open.
A slightly darker arm with a backpack entered in first, followed by a leg and then the body.
She only saw the back of his body.
She definitely saw his hair, the tiny little ringlets made up the massive poof on the back of his head.
"Dude, are you coming in or not?" His voice sent a shock wave through her body.
She hurriedly walked into what she knew to be the kitchen. She saw both women sitting at the kitchen table with papers scattered around them. They showed no signs that they knew she was there.
Instead, she just stood there and waited for their attention.
She was so focused on her social worker and new foster mother that she didn't notice two sets of feet were coming their way, until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Instantly, her reflexes reacted. She grabbed the hand on her shoulder and brought the man's entire body onto the floor and held him there with her foot on his chest.
"Mom," He managed to cough out.
Both women sprung up. Gabriella let him go once she saw that their attention was on her.
"Whoa," Another male voice sounded through the quiet kitchen. He was ignored.
Ms. Monteverde helped him up. "I'm so sorry, I thought you read her file."
"No, it's alright, I haven't had the chance to tell him about it." She gestured toward her son.
Ms. Monteverde nodded and looked at Gabriella's blank face.