"I don't know why we agreed to this." Rosa shook her head. She put down the damp tea towel she was drying the dishes with and turned to look at her husband. Hans was rolling a cigarette, facing away from Rosa. His expression, although she couldn't see it, was anxious.

"Come on Rosa. It'll be good for both of us, not to mention the two children." Hans stood up and walked over to his irritated wife. He took the now-clean plate from her hands and placed it on the wooden bench-top with a small thud. He then held her hand, softly, but kindly, and looked into her eyes.

"It'll be fun. You wait and see."

Rosa tried to argue, but Hans placed his finger on her lips.

"Hush, darling. It's too late to back out now, anyway." His weathered face broke into a small smile. Rosa hadn't seen that in a while. She smiled back. Hans could't recall the last time Rosa had been happy. These days, no one was. Something big was coming, and Hans could feel it creeping up on him like waves crashing into the sand- impending, getting closer and closer, yet not coming quite yet, until it gently ebbed away again, only to come forward once more. This eternal sense of foreboding was making Hans nervous. He needed a break. They needed a break.

Hans looked down at his wife's hand resting in his. Her hand was small, delicate, yet worn. She was overworked, Hans could tell. It was a struggle for her to put food on the table for the two of them, but if they took in two children- well, he could see why she was having second thoughts. But they needed it. They both needed the sweet relief of having children around. He grasped her hand a little tighter. Her wedding ring glinted in the cold, white sunlight streaming in through the half-open window. Hans loved his wife, but surely this once, just this once, she could listen to him and give his idea a go.

As if she had heard his thoughts, Rosa said softly, "I'm sorry Hans. I'm just- afraid, I guess, of this... this decision. What if they turn out to be horrible? What if the little girl and her brother hate us? Or they miss their Mama so much they don't speak to us? What if they hurt each other- or us, Hans! What if they hurt us?"

Hans chuckled beneath his breath, looking Rosa in the eye. Her bright blue eyes glittered. Hans was shocked to see she was on the verge of tears.

"Rosa. They will not hurt us. They will be perfectly happy children. Angels. After all, this is Heaven Street." Hans smiled again.

"But what if-"

"Shh, Rosa. No what ifs. It's ok to be afraid, but trust me-"

Rosa sighed. "I do trust you Hans, I do."

A scuffed black car slowly rolled down the street outside.

"They're here, Hans. Our children are here."