Thanks to everyone who has favored, followed or reviewed this story. I love writing it. Little Skye is going home. In the next few chapters more characters will be introduced, but the main focus will continue to be Skye with Melinda and Phil. I try to update at least once a week sometimes sooner. I don't have a lot of time to respond personally to reviews figuring you all would rather I spend my free time writing more. I am working on 3 AOS stories currently. But I love reading the reviews and they do inspire me to write quicker.
Melinda slowly untangled Skye from her arms. Skye had been tightly hanging on to her. Melinda sat Skye back down on the sofa holding onto her arms.
"Hey you. I need to sign a bunch of papers apparently and go over a few things."
Skye wasn't too sure that was a good idea. Phil knelt down next to his wife and smiled at Skye.
"How about I keep you company out here while Melinda does that? I could tell you about our house and more about Bobbie?"
Skye thought about it. She really wanted Melinda to stay cause Melinda was so nice to her, and she just really wanted to stay by her. She felt so safe when she was with Melinda. She looked up at Phil who gave her a grin, and decided that being with Phil for a little while without Melinda would be okay. She nodded her head shaking it up and down. Melinda squeezed her shoulders gently and then got up and walked into the office with Sister Beatrice and Miss Barrows.
It took longer then Melinda had expected but after another hour or so, everything was done and they were the legal foster parents of one Mary Sue Poots. Melinda shook her head and frowned. Why would anyone purposefully give anyone a name like that. She walked out of the office expecting to find Phil and Skye, but there was no one in the waiting area. She stepped onto the porch and smiled as she saw her husband and new foster daughter playing in the grass. Phil had gotten hold of a soccer ball and was trying to teach Skye how to dribble the ball.
As she was walking toward them she spoke up. "Hey Skye, you ready to get your stuff. Then we can leave." Phil picked up the ball as Skye ran over to Melinda. She stopped directly in front of her, a bit out of breathe.
"You're done?"
Melinda knelt down eye level to Skye. She brushed her wayward hair our of her eyes. "Yep. All done. All that's left is for you to get your things and we can go home."
Skye looked intently at Melinda as though she was contemplating something. After a few beats, she spoke quietly. "Home. I never had a home before."
Her raw honesty broke Melinda's heart. "Well now you do." She tried to keep her voice light. "So what do you say, kiddo, let's get your things and hit the road."
"Hit the road?" Phil interjected. That would probably hurt the car Melinda. We should just stick to driving on it."
Skye giggled. Phil was funny. Melinda rolled her eyes. Melinda reached to take her hand as she got up. Skye closed her little fingers around Melinda's and led her to the dorm building. Phil stayed behind. Skye took Melinda to her room. After they entered, Skye went over to her designated drawers and got out the garbage bag folded on top. She started throwing her stuff inside. Melinda watched a bit taken back that Skye was putting her belongings in a garbage bag like that was a normal thing. Skye closed the two drawers after she was done, and then flew out the door. Melinda watched from the doorway as she entered the bathroom. A few seconds later Skye flew by her again, stopping to put her toothbrush and hairbrush in her bag. She then pulled herself up on one of the top bunks.
"This one was gonna be mine." She said to Melinda. Skye reached toward the wall and dug around for something. She pulled a small backpack out and laid it by her but then kept digging around.
"Skye what are you looking for?"
"My new sneakers from the Stuarts. I got them last week cause these ones got lots of holes. The school sent a note home to them, so they bought me new ones. The teacher said these..." Skye wiggled her feet, "these were not safe anymore. I put the new ones right here."
Melinda walked over to the bunk and stood next to it. 'Do you want me to look?"
Skye shook her head. "Nope. I put them right here. I hid them so no one would find them. Someone must have found them." Skye looked sad. "When a kid brings new stuff back sometimes other kids take it. That's why I hid them. Guess not good enough."
Skye jumped off the bed pulling her backpack with her. She went through it apparently satisfied everything was in it that should be, cause she threw it on her shoulders and reached over to grab the garbage bag of clothes.
"I'm ready." She looked up at Melinda expectantly, apparently forgetting about the new sneakers.
"Okay then. I guess we can go. How about you let me carry that bag?"
Skye scrunched her nose in thought, then turned the bag over to Melinda. "Okay. But I'm carrying my backpack." Melinda nodded. Skye walked out of the door with Melinda following.
As the walked out the front door of the dormitory building, Melinda saw that both Sister Beatrice and Kate Barrows had joined her husband in the grass next to the parking lot. They were talking.
As Melinda and Skye got closer she could hear them. They were discussing protocols of State check ups and reports. Melinda stopped in front of the three with Skye at her side.
"So you ready to go Mary Sue?" Sister Beatrice asked the girl. Skye just shook her head.
"Skye." Melinda said loudly. "Her name is Skye."
Kate Barrow frowned as she spoke. "You might call her that Mrs. Coulson as a nickname but she is still Mary Sue Poots and all official forms, including school ones need to say that. Otherwise there may be a problem."
"Fine." Phil spoke up before Melinda could. "We understand how this all works." He shot Melinda a look hoping she would not say anything. She didn't. But she did roll her eyes at the three.
Sister Beatrice stepped toward Skye. "I hope this works out for you Mary Sue. We really only wish you the best."
Skye gave her a small smile and reached out her hand. They shook. Skye moved closer to Melinda. Miss Barrows looked down at Skye.
"Yes. Hopefully you stay longer at this one. Anyway I will see you to report on your progress." Skye wasn't sure liked that. Apparently neither was Melinda.
"Oh I think not Miss Barrows. I think Skye deserves a social worker on her case that will at least make sure she eats before dragging her around. I believe that can be arranged Sister Beatrice?"
Sister Beatrice looked back and forth to the Coulsons and Miss Barrows. "Well Mrs. Coulson that would be..."
"Oh and that silly policy about the poor children here not being allowed food except at meal times no matter the circumstance? You may want to revisit that one soon."
Melinda turned and took Skye's hand ushering her to the car. Phil smiled at the women standing with their mouths opened.
"Have a great day." he said as a smile formed on his face, following his wife and new foster daughter to the car. As he got there and Melinda was helping Skye with her booster seat safety belt, Phil started laughing.
"Subtlety is definitely not your forte'."
Melinda glanced at him and winked turning back to help Skye with a huge grin on her face.
"What's Suttlley mean?" Melinda laughed.
"Subtlety Skye."
"Yeah that. What's it mean?"
Phil poked his head in from the front of the car. "It means that Melinda counted to 10 and still couldn't help herself."
Melinda slapped his arm playfully and smirked. "Believe me Phil, the message I gave them needed to be loud and clear."
Skye looked at both not quite understanding but that was okay. She was in Melinda and Phil's car and was going to go home with them. And Melinda was getting in next to her instead of the front seat and that was cool too. Cause no other foster parent had ever sat with her in the back seat when she went with them.
As Sister Beatrice and Kate Barrows watched them get in the car, and slowly pull away, Kate spoke up.
"Did she just kind of threaten me?"
Sister Beatrice looked at her and scowled. "Nothing 'kind of' about it, and it wasn't just you. I'll start working on new food rules and have them made policy. I believe Mary Sue's case will have Sharon Carter as her new social worker." She turned and headed back to her office ignoring Miss Barrows' protests.
Skye sat still in the car watching out the window. She still could not believe she was on her way to Melinda and Phil's house. Everything had happened so fast. She thought back to the morning when she was packing her stuff and then being taken back to St. Agnes. Now her she was being driven to their home.
Skye glanced at Melinda who was checking something on her phone. "Melinda?"
"Hmmm. What Skye?"
"What time is it?"
Melinda looked back to her phone and then back to Skye. It's around 1:20. And you missed lunch. How about we stop and get you something?"
"That's okay. I'm not that hungry since I ate the snack before. How long till we get to your house?"
"It's still a least an hour drive. How about we stop at McDonalds and you can get a little something in the drive thru?"
"You best say yes Skye. Melinda hardly ever lets any of us go to MickeyD's. Says the smell is enough to ruin our health."
Skye smiled. "I've not been there much. But I see the commercials sometimes. Can I get a Happy Meal?"
"Sure kiddo. What ever you want. Maybe I'll even get a milkshake." Melinda answered.
"Oooo Skye. That's her favorite non healthy food . I do try to bribe her with them. You should keep that in mind."
"Honestly Phil. You should stop telling her such things. But if you insist on it. You know Skye, Phil really, really likes red licorice. Oh and he is very ticklish. And he hates wrinkles on his clothes. He's sort of a neat freak. And he is super nerdy - he collects comic books."
"Hey no fair Lyn. Do you want me to tell Skye how you cannot stand spiders. Oh yeah Skye. Fearless Melinda May is afraid of spiders."
Skye giggled. Which Melinda found utterly adorable. She smiled at Skye. Then she turned and stuck her tongue out at the back of her husband's head. Skye laughed loudly. She felt her chest getting all warm and squeezing in a good way. She loved being in this car with these people. She only hoped she could stay with them forever. But she was afraid to think too long about that. Cause she knew they would see through her soon, and see the bad little girl she always ended up being. But maybe for a little while she could be safe and feel loved. Maybe for a little while she could smile.
