Chapter 12
A/N
Apologies that I haven't updated in so long- college work happened! I promise to try to be more regular with updates on this fic!
Reviews welcome,
Laura xxx
A few hours later…
It's evening now, Max and I returned from work a couple of hours ago. We're about to head out to the meeting-I'm just putting the finishing touches to my makeup.
"Ready?" Max comes into the bedroom.
"Mm hm." I nod.
"It's going to be okay, you know that don't you?" He asks, putting a hand on my shoulder and gazing at me through the mirror.
"I know." I smile, and stand up and turn to face him. I place a kiss on his lips. "Let's get going, we don't want to be late."
I drive us to the adoption agency-I know that I'll get travel sick if Max drives- he's not a bad driver, it's just that I won't have any distraction- driving gives me something to concentrate on.
When we get there, I kill the engine.
"All right?" Max asks.
"Yeah." I sound more confident than I feel. "We've been through the questions that they're likely to ask us with Rebecca, we're well prepared..." I'm trying to convince myself that everything will be fine- I can't help but be scared, though.
"Oh Zoe." Max squeezes my hand. "We'll be alright, you and I."
"I do hope so. Let's go in then." I say.
Once we get out of the car, my husband pulls me close and kisses me. "Come on. Let's go and make another step towards meeting our little one."
I smile up at him. "Okay." And with that, we walk to the entrance together, hand in hand.
A while later...
"We'll just be a few minutes." Says Becky. We've just finished the meeting and she, along with the board, are going to make the decision- if we are going to continue along the adoption journey- to the course.
I nod, Becky smiles at us both and steps back into the meeting room.
I close my eyes and hold Max's hand tightly, my heart racing, my breathing a little quicker with nerves.
"The waiting is always the worst part of any process." I state the obvious.
"Yeah." Max closes his eyes and swallows. I realise how scared he is as well- and how much, like me, he wants a child.
"We won't give up, Max. I love you." I say.
"I love you too." He opens his eyes and smiles at me. "So much."
The sound of a door opening interrupts our tender moment. Max and I stand up.
"Well?" I ask.
Rebecca smiles at us. "Congratulations- you are officially halfway to adopting a baby boy or girl. The board all agreed that you are very suitable candidates."
"Thank you." I grin, at a loss about what else to say.
"I'll email you the details about the course tonight, we'll need your answer as to which type of the course that you choose to go on within a week or so- just come in at any time and I'll be here to answer any questions you may have and confirm it."
"Okay." Max nods. Rebecca leaves us alone.
As soon as we're out of the building, I can't help the high pitched squeal of excitement that escapes from my mouth.
"I can't believe it!" Max picks me up and whirls me around. "It's actually happening!"
"Actually, properly, really happening." I agree when he sets me down.
I look at my watch. "It's only just turned 7- shall we go to Albie's and share our news?"
"Definitely." He agrees, a smile on his face.
I drive us to Albie's, and when we enter the pub, Essie, who's sat with Serena, Sacha, Morven, and Dominic, stands up. "Well?"
"Yes. It's happening!" I tell her, she shouts excitement, Max and I are surrounded by well wishers.
When it all dies down, Max and I sit opposite Serena, Morven, Sacha, Essie, and Dominic.
"So, how d'you feel?" Essie asks.
"Excited, nervous, ecstatic..." I try to explain- I'm still in shock.
"Ditto." Max murmurs, taking my hand in his.
"I think that you're going to be great parents." Says Sacha. The rest all nod in agreement.
"Thanks." My husband and I answer in unison.
"Right, that's enough of being sentimental, let's get the drinks in to celebrate!" Serena announces.
"Only one, we've got work in the morning!" I reply.
"Zoe Walker being responsible, who'd have thought it?" Asks Dom, earning himself a shove from Morven.
"Well, I'm going to have to be, now that Max and I are very possibly going to be parents." I respond, turning to my husband and grin at him, my smile as wide as the Cheshire Cat's.
"That's true." Max beams back, and gives me a kiss.