Chapter 2
The Independence Inn was a hotel for years before Mia the owner opened a second inn, the Dragonfly Inn five years ago. Many of the townspeople wondered why a second inn was needed in a town whose population was under 5,000 residents and while they had tourists, most really saw Stars Hollow as a day trip. That question was answered at the town hall meeting when Mia told the town that she was closing the Independence Inn as a hotel and that she had been certified as a foster parent and would be bringing home five young children. A year later she got recertified with the state and was able to bring in workers and the Independence Inn became the Independence Home where at any time of the year she would have up to 20 children living with her.
Rory had been one of the first kids that came to the home once Mia had received her certification from the state to house more children. She was what was considered a special case, a foster home had to have special certification for what they classified as the "sensitive" cases. She was also the only permanent member of Mia's family. While other kids came and went, Rory stayed. She was also the first kid that would age out of the foster system in Mia's care.
She remembered the first day she arrived. She was surrounded by social workers, there was even a psychiatrist on standby. She was bruised, battered and broken. The drive from New York City to Stars Hollow was a blur. One of the social workers tried to get her to look at the scenery, but Rory's eyes did not see anything past the terror that she has faced over the past year in her last foster home. A foster home she was dumped in because once again her mother had found her and the social service department did a move and switch, a tactic to move a child quickly when their location has been breached by those deemed "dangerous to the child". I guess they forgot to think that have the places they moved these kids too where dangerous just as much.
She had not even felt the car stop when one of the social workers tapped her on her arm and helped lead her out of the car. She finally looked up and took in her surroundings. Talk about a culture shock. The most trees Rory had ever seen was on a school trip to Central Park when she was eight. She slowly walked along the path with the social worker with the psychiatrist babbling about releasing her anger and starting afresh and then the door opened….
"Rory? I am Mia. I want to welcome you home…." the woman with the kind eyes said as she walked towards her.
Mia was the first person in Rory's thirteen years of life that she ever trusted. She also believed that Mia was a saint. Rory was so full of confusing emotions that it was a wonder that Mia's head did not spin on a daily basis trying to keep up with her. But she has been patient, she had been kind and most of all she showed Rory love…a concept that Rory had almost thought was a made up Hallmark term used to sell greeting cards, not that she had ever received one.
But through patience Rory learned that people could care and not want anything in return. That there were people willing to stand up for others, that there were people who showed love to each other. That there actually was something called a family. True Rory's was a shifting one. Most of the kids that were there were gone within a few months of her arrival, and soon new children came and went. Most were younger, some returning to their families, others being adopted out. But even with the cycles of changes there were some constants in Rory's life….Mia, Luke, Miss Patty, Lane and Dean. They became her little family and the love and kindness they showed her she gave tenfold to each of the kids that passed through Mia's home. No matter how scared, how confused they were when they arrived….there would be Rory sitting on the porch to welcome them and let them know they were not alone. To Rory that was the most important gift she could give them….it was the same gift that she finally received when she had arrived and one that she would cherish for the rest of her life.
She walked in through the back door that led to the kitchen…."Rory is that you?" Mia called out as she came down the hall.
"Yes it's me and I am hungry" Rory said with a smile.
"Of course you are. Which is why your dinner is already warming in the oven. Come sit, tell me how your last shift was at the book store" Mia asked her.
"It was strange, I mean heading to the book store after school has been part of my routine for so long".
"It has, but now you will be making new routines" Mia said with a smile.
"I will. Of course Andrew had me redo the shelves in perfect order before I left, he said it will probably never look as organized again and he gave me a wonderful gift" Rory told her showing her the book and gift card.
"He will miss you and I will have to agree, those shelves will never be as organized again after you, but then again neither will my cabinets" she said laughing.
"I promise I will come back to organize whenever you need me" Rory told her.
"I am expecting it. Rory…just because you are aging out doesn't mean you don't have a home here. You always will" Mia said trying to hold back her tears. She loved Rory as her own, she loved all her "kids" but Rory was special, she touched Mia's heart so….it also reinforced why she decided to take in foster kids in the first place.
"Thank you Mia….I, well it means everything that I would still be welcomed back".
"Did you think you wouldn't?"
"No I mean I know you would but…."
"What is it sweetheart?"
"Well I had my meeting with Sid, you know my exit interview from the program. He just made me feel so alone, like hey you are 18 now and now our job is done. I mean trust me I have no love loss for Sid or the system, well except that they brought me to you but it just felt so cold you know. Like now that I am 18 suddenly I no longer need anyone. Makes me realize what is so wrong with the system you know? I would think that this is the time that kids like me need the support the most" Rory explained.
"Well the system definitely has it's issues, but the system has no say as to who is a part of my family and you my dear are definitely a part of my family. Don't ever forget that" Mia said as she finally let the tears come and she took Rory in her arms.
"I am so proud of you, so very proud of what you have achieved. You need to know that. You need to be proud of yourself as well, never doubt yourself. You are an amazing girl Rory, you are meant to do special things and you will. You have me and a whole town that believes in you…now you just have to believe in yourself".
"Thank you Mia, you don't know how much that means to me".
"Oh sweetheart I know what it means….because it means the same to me. If I had ever been lucky enough to have a child, to have a daughter I would hope she would be half of the person you are. I love you Rory".
"I love you too Mia".
