6 months later
"Janet, how would you feel about telling us your story today?"
Janet had been referred to an infertility support group by her OB/GYN. She had been to three meetings and so far has just been an observer and has not shared her infertility story yet. It looked like it was time to change that.
"Okay." She took a deep breath and shared her and Eddie's heartbreaking struggle to have their very own family. It was comforting to hear from both men and women who have had similar experiences and through opening up and sharing, she learned that all hope is not lost. She just wished Eddie had come along with her.
"Are you guys going to try to adopt again?"
"I'm torn." Janet answered. "I want a child so much that it hurts. Our friends are having their own babies and it's killing me not to be able to have my own and I know it's doing the same to Eddie but I'm not sure if our hearts can take the process again."
"Have you considered surrogacy?"
"The minimum that I have seen a couple pay a surrogate was thirty five thousand; something we cannot afford and even if we could afford it, surrogacy scares me. I am terrified that the surrogate won't give us the child."
"There are laws to protect against that happening."
"I have read that but it doesn't matter because surrogacy is not an option." Janet answered politely.
"Don't give up Janet."
"I'm trying."
An hour later the session ended and the participants mingled with each other. Janet was standing by the bulletin board, reading over the fliers while sipping her coffee when the leader of the group came over to her. "Thanks for sharing today Janet." Diane told her.
"It's about time I did."
"Sharing isn't a requirement. You would be surprised at how many people had come through this group and never shared. Sometimes all it takes is to hear that you are not alone."
"It does help to know that I am not the only woman in the world that can't have her own children."
"You are not."
"So Diane, how did you end up running this group?"
"In the adoption circles I met other people struggling with infertility and the idea of a support group hit me. During my struggle I would have given anything to talk with someone who was going through and feeling what I was feeling."
"It's a wonderful thing. Thank you for doing it."
"Can I be honest with you?" Diane asked and Janet nodded. "Whatever struggle or struggles you have been through when it comes to the adoption process; when you finally have your child in your arms it will be worth it; every tear shed, every broken heart just remember your child is worth it."
"I'm terrified that I won't get to hold my own child in my arms." Janet's eyes filled with tears at the thought. "My husband and I are wonderful people who would make great parents. It shouldn't be so hard."
"Have you ever considered international adoption?"
"No I haven't. I believe that there are plenty of children in our country that need a home."
"That is true but as you have experienced, there may be plenty of children but they are not that easy, maybe impossible to get." "Janet nodded in agreement. "I have health problems and no one would allow me to adopt. A friend suggested international adoption because their "standards" are not as strict as we have here and please don't take it as they will give a child to anyone; they won't but it's easier."
"I never knew that."
"I found a wonderful, non-profit agency." Diane pulled a card out of her pocket and handed it to Janet. "If you're interested, you should consider them. I have adopted three perfectly wonderful children through them."
"Thank you. I will look into it."
"Would you like to see a picture of my children?"
"Absolutely."
Over the next few days Janet did a lot of research on international adoption; especially the agency that Diane recommended. She painstakingly searched the internet for every bit of information that she could find. She found some adoption chat rooms and actually chatted with some women who had used the agency. She also located websites discussing the agency where she read comments and reviews. She replied to what she read and was able to get more information from the people that responded.
After she completed her research she was confident that the agency that Diane recommended was the perfect agency for her and Eddie. Now she just had to convince Eddie of that. Since they lost Derek Eddie hasn't wanted to even discuss trying again and she couldn't blame him. When that precious baby was taken away from them it not just broke their hearts; it shattered their hearts into thousands of pieces and they both were terrified it was going to happen again but Janet knew that they couldn't continue to live in fear. They needed to move forward with their lives; one way or another.
"I'm getting some ice cream babe; you want some?" Eddie asked.
"Sure. That would be great." Janet answered, not looking up from her laptop.
"Be right back." He stood, kissed her head and went into the kitchen. As he pulled the bowls from the cupboard and the ice cream from the freezer he wondered what Janet was checking out on the internet. Over the past few days she had been spending all of her free time playing on the web and there was a small part of him that was worried that maybe she found a new male friend that she was talking to.
"Chocolate syrup?" He yelled.
"Of course." She yelled back.
When Eddie returned to the living room with two heaping bowls of ice cream Janet had put her lap top away. "Here you go honey."
"Thank you."
"My pleasure." Ed die took a seat next to his wife and dug into his treat.
"Can we talk?" Janet asked a minute later.
"What's up? Is everything okay?"
"Yeah. Everything is fine." She turned her body towards him, reached over his lap, grabbed the remote and muted the television.
"This must be serious." He mumbled turning to face her.
"Eddie, I want to try for a baby." He figured adoption would be the topic of this conversation; it's been long overdue.
"Sweetheart after last time…."
"I know Eddie. Believe me, I know. Losing Derek; that was the worst pain I have ever experienced."
"Me too and I don't want to feel that way again."
"Neither do I but I want a child more and I am willing to risk it if it means that we can have a baby."
"Janet…"
"Just hear me out please?"
"I'm listening."
"Diane from my support group told me about an international adoption agency she used to adopt her three children."
"International?"
"Just listen…please?"
"Sorry."
"I have been doing research on this agency and the story behind it is amazing. The man who runs it; he and his wife couldn't have children of their own so like us, they decided to adopt. It was long and disheartening experience and it took years but they finally adopted a little boy who was five from China. Six months after they brought him home, his wife and son were killed in a car accident."
"That is horrible."
"After a few years of grieving he put his heartbreak and money to use. He bought an orphanage in China that was in really bad shape, fixed it up and turned it into a well respected adoption agency. During the sixteen years he has been in business he has placed thousands of children."
"I'm not trying to sound like an ass but how much does all this cost?"
"It's actually reasonable. Well to start with, there is a processing fee that includes all of the proper paperwork."
"Includes? That sounds like a lot of hidden fees."
"There's not. It's a non-profit agency but to survive; pay the staff, feed and clothe the children that takes money so there is a fee but for what it covers, it's very reasonable." Eddie simply nodded so she continued. "There is a home visit that we will have to have and pay for and our plane ticket to go pick up the baby."
"What they don't ship the kids over?"
"Eddie!"
"I'm kidding Janet."
"It's not funny,"
"I'm sorry." "He reached over and took her hand. "What happens when we spend the money on a very expensive plane ticket to China or wherever it is and we get there they tell us that the mom changed her mind?"
"That won't happen."
"How do you know that? You can't know that."
"I do. In all the research that I have done, everyone who was promised a child got their child. Once a child arrives at the orphanage, they sign over their parental rights and they have thirty days to change theirmind. The adoptive parents aren't notified that they have a child until the thirty days have passed."
"So it's a guarantee that we would get a baby?"
"It is. I spoken with couples that have adopted through this agency and every one of them that flew to China to get a child flew home with one."
"Can you pull it up on the internet so I can see it?"
"I sure can."
Eddie spent the next fifteen minutes reading every bit of information that Janet had for him. He kept his face blank so Janet couldn't tell one way or another what he was thinking and it was driving her nuts. When he finally shut the laptop and turned back to her, she held her breath. "Let's do it babe."
"Really?" Janet's eyes filled with tears.
"Yes. Really." She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. When Eddie felt tears on his shoulder, he pulled back. "Those better be happy tears baby." He whispered as he lovingly wiped the tears away with his thumb.
"Very happy tears. I know that, after everything we have been through, that you didn't really want to consider another adoption attempt so thank you so very much sweetheart."
"You said something that rang true with me."
"I say a lot of things. Can you be more specific?"
"You said that you want a child so much that you will risk being hurt again." She nodded. "I am willing to take that risk too because I want to be a dad. I want to hear our child call me daddy. I want to toss the ball around with our son or have tea parties with our daughter."
"You really would have a tea party with our daughter?" Janet asked in awe.
"I would if that's what she wants because that's what father's do."
"I want to see that; more than anything I want to see you being a dad."
"Then let's do it. Let's fill out the application so I can be a dad and you can be a mom." Janet nodded, wiped her eyes and opened up her laptop.
Three weeks after they submitted their application, they were contacted by the adoption agency. The first step, their application had been approved and they were proceeceding to the second step which was the home visit. It took two weeks for the home visit to happen and when it did they both felt that that it went perfect. It was another two and a half weeks before they were notified that they passed their home visit and were ready for the final step; the interview.
"Sorry I am late." Eddie explained rushing in the house. "There was an accident in Freepoint and I got stuck in traffic."
"It's okay. We still have a few minutes."
"I wanted to shower."
"You are fine."
"I'm dirty and sweaty." Janet knew he was nervous.
"Baby, run to the bathroom and throw some water on your face. You will feel better."
"Do I have time?"
"If you hurry." Without another word, he ran to the bathroom. Janet grinned and pulled up another chair besides her and logged on to the website she was instructed to. After following the few basic instructions she was looking at screen with the words "We'll be with you shortly."
"Is it ready?" Eddie asked anxiously as he sat down beside his wife.
"I think so. I followed all of the instructions."
"God, I would really love a beer right now."
"Probably not the best first impression."
"You're right." Suddenly, the screen changed and there was an older gentleman sitting in front of them.
"Mr. and Mrs. Latekka I presume?"
"Yes. I'm Eddie and this is my wife Janet."
"Pleased to meet you." Janet said to the computer
"I'm Bill Prince, owner and CEO of the Leslie-Daniel adoption agency. The first thing I would like to do is tell you about the agency."
Mr. Prince then explained everything that they had read online about the agency and even though they already knew it, it was refreshing to hear it straight from his mouth. Once that was done, they went through the mundane interview process; him asking all kinds of questions about their lives, jobs, health and anything else he could think of. By this time from the amount of interviews they had been through, Eddie and Janet breezed through the questions like they were pros. It wasn't until towards the end of the interview that Mr. Prince threw them some surprising questions; questions that they had never been asked before.
"Why do you want to adopt a child?"
"Because we want to be parents more than anything. Janet is the most wonderful woman that I know and I am not saying it just because she is my wife; ask anyone, they will tell you the same thing and I know she will make a fantastic mom and any child will be lucky to have her as a mom."
"And the same is true of Eddie." Janet added. "He was born to be a father."
"Why should I approve an adoption for you two?"
"Because we deserve it." Janet spoke without thinking. As soon as the words were out she gasped and covered her mouth. "It's okay. Tell me why do you deserve to adopt a child?"
"Eddie and I went into our marriage planning on eventually having children and then that was taken away from us because I have eggs that don't work but we didn't lose hope; we knew we had options but all of those options didn't work out and every time our hearts were torn apart but we haven't given up because inside of those broken hearts we know that we deserve to be parents. We are good…no…fantastic people. We work hard, we have a good home, we love each other deeply and we have so much love to give a child. We want to give that love to a child; we deserve it." Even though Janet had no idea if she blew the interview with her answer but it was the truth and she wouldn't take it back. Eddie reached under the table and squeezed her hand.
"What scares you the most about adopting?"
"Not getting a child." Eddie answered without hesitation. "We have been pregnant and lost the baby; we have been told that we were getting a child; we held a baby that we thought we would be taking home and we lost that child. Our biggest fear is going through this entire process and walking away empty handed."
"You won't have to worry about that with my agency. When you come to my agency to get your child, you will come home with your child."
"Are you saying…?" Janet asked slowly.
"Congratulations. I am pleased to inform you that you are going to be parents."
"Really?" Eddie managed to get out.
"Yes really."
"We are getting a child; for sure?" He clarified.
"For sure. I one hundred percent guarantee that you will come home with a child." Janet began to cry and couldn't speak. "Have you thought about if you would like a boy or girl?"
"We want a girl." Eddie answered.
"A girl it is. Now, I can't tell you an exact date when your daughter will be available; it's very unpredictable. You could have her next week or six months from now. What I would recommend would be to buy an open-ended round trip ticket as soon as possible because it will be cheaper than trying to get one last minute."
"I understand."
"When your daughter becomes available, you will be notified and then you have two weeks to get here and claim her. Now if something were to prevent you from making that deadline then you must call me as soon as possible and make arrangements."
"We understand."
"Do you have any questions?"
"I don't think so." Eddie looked at Janet. "Sweetheart?"
"Not right now."
"That's understandable. If you come up with any questions between now and my call, please feel free to contact me at any time."
"We will."
"Thank you. Thank you so much." Janet told him.
"You are right Mrs. Latekka; you and your husband deserve to be parents and I am happy to be a part of that process."
"Without you, this process wouldn't be happening." Janet whispered.
The phone call came thirteen very long weeks later. During that time the expectant parents kept themselves busy by getting ready for their daughter in secret. They had decided to keep this adoption to themselves. During the last two adoption failures, friends and family gave them baby showers and lots of gifts for the children they never got. They knew if friends and family were aware of this adoption, they would do the same thing again and Eddie and Janet didn't want that so they drove out of Knights Ridge to go shopping so no one would catch on and they struggled the whole time to keep their big secret.
"Hello?" Janet was at work the day her life changed. She took the call in the back room.
"May I speak with Janet Latekka please?"
"This is she."
"Hi Janet. This is Bill Prince calling from the Leslie-Daniel adoption agency. Congratulations. It's a girl."
"We have a baby girl?" She asked in shock.
"Yes you do."
"Is she healthy?"
"Perfectly healthy."
"How old is she?"
"Five weeks."
"So we can come and get her?"
"That's the plan. Once you have your arrival time call me and give me your flight information and I will send a car to the airport to pick you up."
"Okay. We will do that. Thank you so very much."
"You are very welcome. I look forward to meeting you and your husband. Goodbye." As soon as Mr. Prince disconnected the call Janet called Eddie.
"Hey baby." Eddie greeted.
"It's time."
"It's time?" He repeated.
"I got the call. We have a little five week old baby girl." He was silent. "Eddie, honey, are you there?"
"Sorry. I am in shock."
"Me too. I can't believe it's finally here."
"Well it is so you know what to do."
"I do. I will see you later daddy."
"Love you."
Eddie and Janet had a plan to get out of the country without anyone knowing by lying to them but they knew all would be forgiven when they met their daughter. As soon as Janet ended the call she went out and told Sully that she had been bidding on a cabin in the mountains for her and Eddie to get away. She won the bid but it turned out that they could only use it the next week; a bit of fine print she missed. After offering to redo the schedule so her shift would be covered Sully finally agreed. Eddie told the same story to Nick who was fine with it; he thought that Eddie and Janet deserved some time away together.
"Ladies and Gentleman, this is your captain speaking. I am going to ask you to return your seats to their upright positions and fasten your seatbelts. We are beginning our descent. Thank you for flying Air China and I hope you had a pleasant flight."
"Sweetheart, wake up." Eddie whispered shaking his wife gently. She slowly raised her head off of his chest.
"What's wrong?" She asked sleepily.
"Nothing is wrong. We're getting ready to land. It's time to meet our daughter."
