Taking the signed papers and placing them into a folder, the social worker said "Thank you, Serena."
"You're welcome," she replied quickly, focused on her paperback.
Perhaps too focused. "You know, even though the---the prospective adoptive parents are waiting," the other woman explained slowly. "Remember, you do have six months before the adoption is final1---"
"It's final for me. I can't raise her alone. And I don't want to talk about the father!" Her eyes welled up as she continued to stare at her page, lips pursed and brow furrowed.
"All right, all right, if that's what you want." Moving quickly, she put the folder in her briefcase and headed for the door. There, she nonetheless paused to look back at the college student, who now lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling with an all-to-familiar sadness.
A part of them always loves their babies.
"Serena?" the social worker eventually called softly. "Would you like to give her a name?"
Sighing, the literature major closed her eyes. "Olivia Sophia. From my book."
"Thank you, Serena; that's beautiful. I'll include it in her records." She departed smiling.
"You're welcome," whispered the younger woman, clutching The Vicar of Wakefield 2to her chest.
Westchester, New York, sometime later
"Uncle Bill, they're here!" The little blond girl race to the door and bounced on her toes as the tall smiling man opened the front door for her parents. Then she squealed with excitement as her picked her up, allowing her to see the new baby close up.
"This is Olivia Sophia, honey," explained her father happily, "you're new baby sister!"
Now the child gave a precocious frown. "But, Daddy, how can she be my new baby sister if I don't have an old one?!"
As the adults laughed, Uncle Bill said: "Alexandra Cabot, you're as sharp as an A.D.A.!"
"What's that? A kind a porcupine?"
1 This was the waiting period in the late 1960's.
2 This novel features sisters named Olivia and Sophia.