Their Second Chance
Chapter 34
Rosie was the quietest child Mike or Andrea had ever encountered. She was sweet and very well behaved but she was also scared and uncomfortable. She leaned on Hannah for guidance and it became more than obvious, Hannah was going to her link to her old life. She had fallen asleep about an hour before they got to St. Louis and when Mike carried her inside, but stopped in the living room.
"Where do I put her? Where's she sleeping?" Both Mike and Andrea were at a total loss. They were completely unprepared for bringing Rosie home with them. Hannah had the perfect answer though.
"Daddy, she can sleep with me. I have a big bed and everything. Put Rosie in my bed." Hannah skipped in front of Mike to her own bed and pulled the blanket back so Mike could settle the tiny three year old. They hadn't eaten dinner yet but the little girl was completely wrung out. Ellie and Andrea were working on a quick dinner and Mike would wake Rosie up to eat then.
"Okay, but we will need to get her a bed of her own. I suppose you can share a room if you want to." Mike and Hannah walked out of the bedroom but Mike left the door semi open and the hall light on so if Rosie woke up, she wouldn't automatically be scared in her new environment. It had been a long time since Mike or Andrea had taken care of a three year old.
"I do, Daddy. But where is the new baby going to sleep?"
"What new baby?" They had walked into the living room and Mike noticed that Lily seemed to be avoiding him. He just wasn't sure why. Thirteen year old girls were a bit of a mystery.
"The baby you and Mom are going to have! Silly Daddy." Hannah made it sound like the funniest thing in the world but Mike saw the odd look Lily gave. He knew it was something that would have to be addressed sooner rather than later. He wondered if Lily felt out of place and the one thing Mike knew was that he refused to make the same mistakes with her that he had made with Abby.
"Let's not worry about that right now. I want to just concentrate on my three girls. You, Lily and Rosie."
"You need a boy." Hannah was persistent and Lily was becoming more agitated by the moment. Andrea hadn't picked up on it because she was concentrating on supper and Lily was trying to act like she was reading a book on the couch.
"Ah, it can wait. I am perfectly happy with you girls." Mike pointedly sat down next to Lily and put an arm around her. He noticed how tense she was but pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. Hannah had gone into the kitchen and Mike concentrated on Lily. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, I'm just trying to read my book." Mike could tell that Lily wanted her personal space so he moved his arm to where it wasn't around her and moved a couple inches. Lily tucked her legs up under her as kind of a defensive move and it reminded Mike of something Abby would do which brought a lot of emotions to the surface.
"Lily, Rosie being here isn't going to affect me adopting you. You have a home here. Your mom and I are as shocked as anyone about Rosie but it doesn't change how we, I feel about you."
"My own dad didn't even love me, and I am not even yours so why would you? Plus you have Hannah and Rosie. They're all sweet and cute and…"
"I don't have to be biologically related to a child to love that child. As far as them being sweet and cute, they are but they don't throw the curveball you do or can watch a movie with me. Go bumper car driving or…"
"Okay, okay. But you might change your mind, especially if you and Mom have a baby." Mike could see the concern on Lily's face but also a hint of a smile.
"I could but I won't. I have no idea if we'll have a baby but if we do; you will want to be here because you are a really great big sister. And you're mom loves having you here. Me too. Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. I have an appointment with the attorney this week about your adoption. It will be all legal then. I love you, Lily." Mike put his arm around her again and this time; Lily leaned into him. Mike kissed her again and held her for a moment until Rosie came out of the bedroom looking dazed and confused. Andrea got to her first and picked her up.
"Where am I?" Rosie was looking around in wonder and then smiled down at Andrea. Mike had gotten up to take her so Andrea could go back to cooking but he also knew that Rosie needed to get to know Andrea since Andrea would be fulfilling the maternal role in her life. Lily was also walking towards Rosie.
"Well, this is your home now. You were sleeping when you got here but you need to meet some more people. Rosie, this is Miss Ellie. She is going to be taking care of you during the day when your daddy and I are at work. Over here, is Lily, my oldest daughter. She's thirteen but she likes little kids. And of course you know your daddy, Hannah and me. Whiskers is in your room with Clumsy, the dog." Rosie looked completely overwhelmed and Mike hadn't tried to take her out of Andrea's arms.
"I only know Hannah. It's too many people." Rosie melted down in tears and was sobbing into Andrea's shoulder. Mike started to take her but Andrea shook her head. Maybe they had moved too quickly? Andrea walked to the recliner and sat down with Rosie and rocked her gently.
"You'll get used to it, sweetie. Daddy and I are going to take you tomorrow and get you some stuff for your room with Hannah. Do you want to sleep in Hannah's room with her or with me and your daddy tonight?" Ellie had had the two older girls back off and Mike knelt down next to the chair and wiped the tears off Rosie's cheeks. Mike felt horribly for the little girl. She was so tiny and her world had been small. She had lived in the same place she was born for three years and had only encountered a few strangers. Now, she was in a strange house with strange people. It would be a lot for any person to take in, let alone a three year old. Mike was regretting taking her out of her environment so quickly.
"I'm scared." Rosie had started crying again and Mike and Andrea were clueless as to help her.
"Sweetie, I know you are scared and I probably should have waited a little while before I brought you here. Let you get used to having a daddy and a mom and sisters but I really wanted to get to know you and love you. I know it's scary here right now but it'll get better for you. I promise." Mike was rubbing Rosie's shoulder and smoothing her hair out that had come undone from her pigtail during her nap. She had her head leaned into Andrea's shoulder and her shirt bunched up in her tiny hand.
"Supper's ready." Ellie tapped Mike's shoulder and smiled reassuringly at him. When Mike looked back at Rosie, she was looking towards the kitchen with some interest.
"Are you hungry?" Andrea asked Rosie as she stood up with her. Mike took hold of Rosie and kissed her cheek. Andrea patted Rosie's back and smiled at her. Rosie smiled back at her, instantly reminding Mike of Christine.
"Yeah, I'm really hungry. What are we eating?" Mike sat her down on a chair with some books on it so that she could reach the table, next to his own chair. Andrea got sat down in a chair next to Rosie and Hannah sat down across from her and Lily and Ellie filled the other chairs.
"I made special chicken nuggets and homemade French fries. Lily loved them when she was little." Ellie had obviously made the meal with Rosie in mind. Mike had to smile at the young girl because she did seem excited about the dinner. With his other kids, Mike knew their favorite foods and the foods they refused to eat but with Rosie he was clueless. They started passing around the food and Mike and Andrea both helped Rosie with selecting the food she wanted and cutting up the food so she wouldn't choke. The little girl ate hungrily but at one point, she started putting her chicken on both Mike and Andrea's plate.
"Rosie, are you full?" Andrea asked her in confusion.
"No, but I had one piece already and you and Daddy are bigger than me and need more food. Sister Mary Grace told me I had to share if someone needed something." Rosie said it like it was the obvious thing in the world which made both of them laugh.
"How about we just put this chicken back on your plate? I have four pieces and it's plenty for me. If not, Miss Ellie made more and I can eat that. You need this chicken to grow big and strong." Mike and Andrea were both putting the chicken back on Rosie's plate and the little girl started eating again.
Supper was a little interesting because of Rosie being so unsure of herself. She had a good appetite and as soon as they were done, Andrea took her in for her bath. She had shoulder length hair that Andrea washed and used Hannah's detangling shampoo on. Andrea dried it and had the Rosie dressed in footie pajamas. They had made the decision to keep Rosie with her and Mike until she become a little more sure of herself. Mike was helping Hannah ready for bed and Andrea was tucking Rosie into the middle of her and Mike's bed. Hannah walked in with her stuffed bear and sat down on Mike's side of the bed.
"Rosie, Daddy gave me this bear when I was sick and I want you to have him now. He always made me feel better." Hannah gave her teddy bear a kiss but then handed it to Rosie who hugged it to her chest. Andrea smiled up at Mike who had appeared at the door. Hannah jumped off the bed and Mike picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then walked down the hall towards Hannah's room.
"I like this bear but Hannah needs him back. Not having him makes her upset." Rosie started to hand the bear back but Andrea stopped her. She understood what Hannah was doing and it was beyond sweet.
"How about this; Daddy and I will get you your own bear tomorrow and Hannah can have hers back then?" Rosie tucked her bottom lip in and nodded at Andrea. Her eyelids were getting heavy and it was later than what Mike or Andrea would have preferred she be in bed. Andrea rubbed her shoulder until she could hear Rosie softly snoring and then left the bedroom. Lily was in her room and Andrea gave her a kiss goodnight. Mike was reading to Hannah who had fallen asleep without him realizing it. Andrea gestured at him from the door and he managed to get out of the bed without Hannah waking up.
"Rosie is asleep and the house is locked up. Ready to go to bed? It's been a long day." Andrea and Mike had stepped into the hall and Andrea had pulled Mike into a hug.
"Yeah, I am exhausted. Lily out?" Mike gave her a kiss and they walked towards their bedroom.
"Yeah, all but. Let's get to bed." Mike nodded and they both quickly changed into their pajamas. Rosie was sound asleep and as soon as Mike laid down next to her, she rolled over and wrapped herself around Mike. Andrea got in on her other side and wrapped both arms around them. She gave Mike a kiss over Rosie's head and settled to go to sleep. Mike and Andrea were sound asleep in no time at all and Rosie seemed happy to be with them.