Brand New Journey

Chapter 36

The phone rang in Mrs. Michaels' office where Lee and Amanda were after being called about Kelly's disappearance.

She answered, "Hello? Oh, yes, he is. Just a moment."

She gave Lee the receiver and he replied,"Hello?"

It was Billy.

He stated, "Scarecrow. We located Kelly two blocks from the DCF. There's a children's play park and Kelly is right now on the top of a jungle gym and no one can get her down."

Lee nodded to Amanda and answered, "We'll be right there, Billy. Thanks!"

Hanging up he remarked, "She's at a park two blocks from here. Let's go!"

But when Mrs. Michaels began to follow Amanda shook her head and responded, "I'm sorry, but I really think you people have done enough. Please just wait here for us to come back, all right? Thank you."

When she and Lee got in the car he commented to her, "Good move, Amanda! I know she has her job to do but Kelly's just another kid to that place. She can't think that we'd kidnap her after all this."

When they arrived they got out of the car and saw a woman standing with Billy and Francine.

Lee responded, "Thanks for the call, Billy."

Acknowledging the woman he asked, "And you are?"

The woman remarked, "Karen Brooks. I was looking into becoming a foster mom and Mrs. Michaels thought I might want to get aquainted with Kelly so we all came here but Kelly didn't want any part of it and she climbed up there and won't come down for anyone."

Amanda replied to Lee, "Give me Chester and I'll see if I can get her down."

Lee nodded giving her the horse and as Amanda walked toward the jungle gym the woman queried, "How does she think the girl will come down for her and not anyone else?"

Francine cleared her throat and commented, "Have you been around children before, Ms. Brooks?"

The woman nodded and answered, "My sister's got three kids. I visit them when I can but I'm out of town a lot with my job-"

Lee shrugged and responded, "Well, Amanda King has two boys and as busy as she gets with her job at IFF she makes sure she spends as much time as she can with them. She's divorced but they live with her. I'm not judging you believe me but if your job requires you to be out of town a lot and you don't have a backup family member or sitter then this may not be the best fit for you."

Watching Amanda he continued, "Now she and I work together but I've seen her in action due to Kelly and her sons. I'm not a parent in the broadest sense of the word but thanks to Amanda, I have been learning and I know it's a tough job just by watching her these past few years with her own and lately with Kelly."

Amanda meanwhile had come closer to Kelly and showing her Chester stated softly, "Hi, Sweetheart. What are you doing up there? Chester misses you a whole lot. He asked where you were today and-"

Kelly replied sadly as tears fell, "Go away! You don't want me!"

Amanda swallowed hard and commented, "You know that's not true, Sweetie. Lee and I are crazy about you-"

Kelly cried shaking her head, "No, you're not! Why am I here?"

Amanda sighed and responded, "Honey, I know it's hard to understand but Lee and I didn't send you away. There are some things that got messed up but we are trying to get you back home where you belong. With us, okay?"

But Kelly shook her head again and answered, "You want me with her! Go away!"

Amanda tried to soothe her but to no avail!

She nodded and put Chester near the bottom of the jungle gym remarking gently, "All right, Honey. But I'll be right over there with Lee if you change your mind, all right? I love you."

Amanda came back towards Lee with tears in her eyes and shrugged stating, "She thinks we deserted her. I-I don't know what to do."

Lee held her for a moment and commented softly, "Let me try, okay?"

Amanda nodded as he kissed her temple and then walked toward Kelly.

Karen Brooks remarked tiredly, "Some mothers don't have all the answers, I guess."

With that Amanda faced her angrily with a steel glance and answered, "At the tender age of three Kelly has lost a grandmother and her real mother and doesn't know who to trust! She could trust Lee Stetson and myself if the legal system and the DCF weren't so screwed up! I really think you should just stay out of this!"

Karen put up a hand commenting, "Fine. All I meant was is that my sister has problems dealing with her kids sometimes, too."

Going toward Mrs. Michaels who'd just arrived Karen stated, "I'm sorry but I've changed my mind about fostering Kelly. Good luck. I hope she gets the help she needs."

Looking back at Amanda Karen remarked, "I apologize. I really hope she'll be okay, Mrs. King."

As the woman walked away Amanda cleared her throat swallowing her tears as she replied, "Me, too. I-I'm sorry."

Billy came to her and patted her arm responding sympathetically, "We all know how difficult this is for you both, Amanda. No need to apologize."

As they all looked on Lee faced Kelly and remarked, "Hi, Pumpkin. C'mon down and we'll talk, okay?"

But Kelly sniffled and commented sadly, "Grandma loved me!"

Lee sighed and putting his hand on the bar looking up at her nodded and answered, "Yes she did, Sweetie. And Manda and I-"

Kelly cut in, "She didn't send me away!"

Lee shook his head responding, "No she didn't and we didn't either, Honey. See at the time when you were with Grandma, it was okay because she was looking after you and no one told Grandma she couldn't raise you."

Clearing his throat he continued shakily stating, " Then after a time, your grandma went-went to heaven and there was no one else to look after you until-until Manda. You weren't her little girl but Manda has a big heart and she knew you'd be alone, so she had you stay with her and Grandma Dotty and the boys until we could find your other family."

Sighing he went on a bit further adding, "I told you about your mommy and how she's in heaven too now? But I just found out recently that I am also your family. See Sweetie, I'm your daddy. Mommy never told me about you which made me sad because I didn't get to see you when you were born and I missed a lot of time with you. Mrs. Michaels didn't want to take you from us, Honey. But there were things that she had to do that weren't done and she got in trouble. So I'm trying my best to help her now so that we can get you back home again. Do you understand now why you're here?"

Kelly nodded and asked, "I didn't know you were sad. Why didn't my mommy tell you about me?"

Lee swallowed and replied, "Well because she moved away and I didn't know how to find her. I also didn't know that you and Grandma Rose were in Manda's neighborhood after you were born. I'm so sorry that I didn't know before all this started, Sweetheart. But I promise you that I am doing my best to fix this, okay?"

Kelly nodded and slowly began to climb down from the top of the jungle relieving Lee as he sighed thankfully!

Reaching for her when she got close enough he gulped stating, " I sure would like one of your world famous hugs right now. Could I have one, please?"

Kelly nodded again and Lee scooped her up and held her with tears in his eyes as he kissed her and slowly walked her back over to Amanda and Billy and Francine.

As he put her down finally Kelly looked at Lee and then at Amanda commenting, "Daddy's crying, Manda! I didn't make him sad, did I?"

Amanda gulped kneeling down to her and shook her head replying, "Oh no, Sweetie! Those are happy tears! Just like the ones I have! Can I have a hug now, too?"

Kelly gave her one and Amanda kissed her cheek answering, "Oh, I feel so much better! Thank you, Sweetie!"

Kelly then asked, "Now what?"

The adults around her laughed and Lee smiled and looking at Mrs. Michaels queried, "Can she possibly go back to the house until Mr. Kirk calls me back? I gave him all the info to file for custody and I'm hoping he gets back to me shortly."

Mrs. Michaels responded, "Let me speak to my superiors first. I'm sure we can work out something."

So Lee and Amanda thanking Billy and Francine for their help, went back with Kelly and Mrs. Michaels to the DCF office.

Lee prayed they'd have good news now...

TBC