Regina's quicker than usual home study had already been completed , but choosing a child to adopt was not easy. Very few closed adoptions with newborns had come her way as options, and she had met tons of pregnant women and even teenagers looking for an open adoption, but she always found some sort of fault with them. Some seemed to be looking for someone more like a nanny than an adoptive parent, and that didn't sit right with her. One lady asked if she minded if she smoked, and she was full term. Regina had to use all her willpower not to berate her. She wanted the birth mother to be someone who took care of their body while pregnant.
After months of turning down women and parents and by proxy, the baby they were adopting out, Regina realized she couldn't do open adoption. She didn't want to let anyone have visitation rights with her kid, especially if they weren't responsible. So what if she didn't have access to medical history and contact information? She needed to be concerned with her child's future, not their past. She clearly couldn't do that with an open adoption, as she found something to judge about everyone who came her way. Maybe that was selfish, but her 30th birthday had already come and she didn't want anything to be uncertain. What she won't know won't hurt her, and with any good luck, won't hurt her child either. She could just get her baby checked out by a doctor as soon as they were legally hers, and any potential health problems could be dealt with and discussed then. She didn't want to spend the next five years sending people away because she was too judgmental.
Closed adoption it is. She called the agency that was working with her and told them of her decision to only focus on closed adoptions as she wasn't getting anywhere with the open ones. They made note of it and told her they would only give her notice when new closed adoptions came up.
Her friend Kathryn laughed at her when she told her of the new development. "You're too picky!"
"I know," Regina groaned. "It's a huge character flaw!"
"But a perfect mothering trait. Babies are like pets, you think you choose them, but really, they're the ones that choose you. You just haven't been given the right opportunity yet, but you will. They just literally haven't been born yet."
Regina smiled. "How is it you know just what to say? All the time!"
"Because I'm flawless, dahling!" Regina could imagine a dramatic hair flip punctuating that.
"You really think I'll make a good mother?" She asked, almost insecurely.
"Of course. You're responsible and fun, the best combination for a mom. Any child would be lucky to have you."
"Well, now I feel bad for turning so many away…"
"You weren't turning the kids away, you were turning mothers with bad habits away who probably still wanted some sort of contact with them after birth, but not enough to raise them themselves. I probably wouldn't want someone that smoked or drank while pregnant to be around the child afterwards, either. Who knows what developmental problems they've already given them because of it. "
"The sad thing is with a closed adoption, I probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference, and it won't matter, even if there are health issues. Something about knowing in advance, though, it turns me off from even giving them a chance."
"Gina, you can't adopt the entire world, don't beat yourself up for turning down those you had very good reasons for turning down. Someone will adopt them, it doesn't have to be you, and health problems or not, they can still have great lives. They all fit with somebody, that somebody just isn't you. Yet. Be patient and open minded, you'll have your babe before you know it."
Kathryn was certainly right about that. On June 5th, 2001, at approximately 12:34 in the afternoon, Regina got the call that would change the rest of her life.
"Regina Mills?"
"Yes."
"Hello, Regina. I am Aubrey Whittaker from Manhattan Forever Home Finders. I have a newborn who had been placed in a home on May 18th, who has just been re-entered into the system. It's a closed adoption, which is what I hear you're looking for."
"Why were they returned?" she asked curiously, wondering if something was wrong.
"Cried too much."
Regina nearly laughed. "Oh, that's all? How...petty."
"Are you interested? If not, we have a long list of clients that want newborns.
"No! Er - I mean, it's not necessary for you to call any other clients. I'm ready for this."
"Well, Miss Mills, the paperwork is ready to be filled out. You can spend an hour with him before making it official, or less if you know right away."
"'Him'? A boy?" She was grinning so hard her face hurt.
"Yes, a boy."
"Should I be there at a specific time?"
"Whatever works for you."
"I will be there as soon as I can get there, then." Regina hung up and pressed the intercom on her work phone that connected to her boss's line. "I'm going to take my lunch break now...and probably the rest of the day off, too."
"You sound giddy," Robert, her boss, commented. "What's going on with you?"
"I'm going to meet my son!" she couldn't contain her excitement and was probably louder than necessary.
"You are?! That's great! Take the day and however long you need off, as well."
"A-Are you sure? We're very busy - "
"Regina, in the five years you've worked here, you've never taken a single vacation. Being a new parent is not a walk in the park, trust me. You will be grateful for the time off, I promise. If I'm wrong...I will shave off all my hair and go bald."
"Well," Regina chuckled. "You're confident!"
"Go, go meet Robert Jr."
"Nice try!" Regina rolled her eyes and let the intercom go. She gathered her things and left her office, making sure to lock it up. She made her way to her car in record time, arriving at the adoption agency before 1:00 PM hit.
She checked in at the reception desk and was given a room number. She was told a Selena Davis would be meeting with her. She made her way to room 536, waved in through the open door.
"You must be Regina Mills." The woman stood and offered her hand.
Regina took it. "Yes, I am," she confirmed.
They shook and released hands.
"Selena Davis. Have a seat." The woman gestured to the chair across from her own.
Regina did so, habitually crossing one leg over the other.
Selena sat as well. "Are you excited? I noticed you've been on file since last year."
"I am. I just know I'll be leaving with my son today, even though I haven't met him yet. It just feels right."
"Then let's get the paperwork filled out now, and wait until you've met him before signing the contract and making it official. I couldn't tell you how many times people have said what you just did almost verbatim, only to leave alone."
"I don't think that will be the case, but I can understand that. I won't object to waiting to sign the contract."
Selena and Regina spent about 10 minutes reading over papers and filling in blanks with names and dates, discussing and clarifying what they meant.
"Alright, are you ready to meet him?" Selena asked.
Regina nodded enthusiastically. She saw Selena motion to someone behind her to come in and turned around in her chair to see.
A woman holding a baby wrapped in a blue blanket walked in.
Regina's eyes grew wide and watery as he was handed to her, and she didn't need assistance to hold him correctly.
"Wow. You're already a pro," Selena commented.
Regina couldn't speak, she just smiled down at the adorable little baby in her arms. He was precious. She got lost in her own little world with him for a minute or two. When finally managed to look away, she announced, "This is my son. Henry."
"Henry? That's not a name you hear a lot anymore."
"It was my father's name. He passed some time ago."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
"It happened in the best possible way, there's nothing to be sorry about. I only wish he could be here to meet his grandson."
"You're pretty set on taking him home, huh?"
"I am taking him home," Regina answered simply.
"Let's sign the contract and adoption certificate, then he'll be all yours. He's exactly 3 weeks old today, by the way."
"So he was born May 15th. I'll be sure to remember that." Regina would never allow herself to forget her child's birthday.
"I can take him so you can sign. What type of car do you drive?" the woman who had brought Henry in asked. Regina had already forgotten she was there.
"Uhm, R107 Mercedes Benz 560SL," she answered distractedly. "Why?"
"So I can find a proper car seat you can take him home in. Standard practice, most adoptive parents haven't purchased their own just yet."
"Oh. Thank you." Regina had a hard time giving him back to the woman. Not because the task was difficult, but because she was already attached to him. She signed the contract and filled in the adoption certificate, choosing Daniel for a middle name, after her first love.
She wasn't kept waiting long after finishing the paperwork, and Henry was returned, all buckled into a car seat, fussing a little.
"Well, Ms. Mills, I believe you are all set to go." Selena smiled at her. "He got all the standard shots he could get when he was born, but you should probably take him to a doctor within a week to see if there is anything new he needs, being nearly one month old."
"I planned on getting him checked out as soon as possible anyway. If he has any health issues, I'd like to catch them as soon as possible." Regina stood and carefully picked up the handle of the car seat. "Thank you, so much."
It was amazing how much a baby could bring out one's cautious side. She walked at about half her usual speed, which had nothing to do with the weight of the car seat. She drove at exactly the speed limit, no more, no less, and did her best to keep at least a foot of space between her Mercedes and the car in front of her. She stopped at the doctor's first, then went on a baby shopping spree. She already had some things, but there was so much more she felt she needed now that she physically had a baby in her possession.
Needless to say, Regina got no sleep that night, her eyes glued to Henry the entire time just in case he needed anything, and also because everything was still surreal to her. She was a mother. She didn't feel any different, but her entire life had changed. Her son was just so beautiful and peaceful looking, how could anyone give him away? Not just once, but twice.
