Chapter Two
Three Weeks Later...
"You don't have to quit your job for me, dad," Brianna said.
"First of all, I can if I want to," Rick replied. Brianna was being discharged tomorrow morning. Rick had decided to take a six month leave of absence to help her settle in. "Two, I didn't quit, Missy. It's called a leave of absence. If I decide to, I'll return then."
Both had decided that Rick would take leave till the adoption process was complete, usually that took six months, according to Nina. If it took longer, and likely would because of their sexual orientation in Texas, then Rick would take more leave. He was no longer going to be joining SWAT on calls. He was sticking to being the training instructor. A nine to five job so he could be home with Brianna at night. As an instructor he had summers off. There was still some of that time left before the six month leave started. Drew had worked all night and was asleep at home. Rick had showed some photos of her new Narnia-themed room with trees on the walls and green shag carpet. She really liked the loft bed with the staircase (with a rail at Drew's request) on the foot to walk up. Father and daughter shopped online earlier after Brianna's PT session, letting Brianna pick out some lamps, her desk, an armchair and bedspread. After school shopping for supplies and clothes, that included a laptop and tablet, the first place Brianna to go was the book store.
Even with her new lungs, their daughter still had Cystic Fibrosis.
And because of this, the thirteen year old was experiencing delayed puberty. Brianna told Shannon she didn't mind this, she had heard from girls at school that periods were "horrible." No doubt her dads didn't mind this either. She was looking forward to being a normal kid without those discomforts for a while.
The family's first day home was quiet on purpose. The three hung out at home and Brianna explored her new house and backyard.
"This is so cool!" She said jumping on the trampoline.
Neither had wanted Brianna to find out so soon that one of her dad's parents had disowned him when he came out and decided to marry the man he loved. But she did when the girl asked when she was going to meet Drew's parents. Brianna had face-timed a lot with Rick's parents but never hadn't heard anything about Drew's. She figured if they weren't alive he would have said so.
"That's not fair of them, daddy!" Brianna said. "They shouldn't treat you that way."
"I know, Bri. But there's nothing anyone can do about it," Drew told her. "But you know my sister agrees with you. Claudia will be here soon. Dad's parents will be here tomorrow."
"Are they staying here?" Brianna asked excitedly.
Rick's parents Olivia and Trent had booked a room at the local Marriott but would give it up for their granddaughter if she asked. Their home had plenty of space.
"You can ask them. I'm sure they would over a hotel," Rick said.
Brianna and her aunt hit off immediately.
"She's so you!" Claudia said after Brianna was asleep. "Except she's awesome," she teased the men.
Claudia realized that there had to be something about this child, before she even met her, to bring out such emotion in her brother so soon. Yes, Drew was always an emotional and deeply caring person and he always wanted to be a dad. Still it stuck her as odd he and Rick talked of wanting to adopt Brianna days after meeting her, when her foster mother was killed. Claudia couldn't describe what that something was but she could see why Brianna had such an affect on them. She hoped just as much the adoption would go through.
If it didn't and they couldn't keep Brianna, Claudia would fight to adopt her herself.
