Chapter 53
Brandon rolled on his back still half asleep he instinctively searched for Kelly, his eyes finally opening when he couldn't find her. The room was still in darkness and the red light of alarm clock let him knew it was shortly after 3 am. He turned the lamp on his nightstand on, only to find out that he was indeed alone in their bed.
He pushed the sheets away and slowly made his way out of the room. Taking a short stop in Thea's room he checked on her, satisfied that his baby girl was soundly asleep he continued downstairs. The light coming from the living room letting him know that this would be the best place to look for his wife.
"Hey." He said softly once he saw her snuggled in a fluffy blanket on the sofa, flipping through a photo album.
"I couldn't sleep. So I came down here." Kelly smiled softly looking at him.
Brandon nodded and moved towards her, as on cue Kelly sat up giving him space so he could join her. Seconds later they were both wrapped in the fluffy blanket and flipping through photo album with Thea's baby photos.
"I can't believe how tiny she was." Kelly said her thumb running over a photo Jim took nearly two years ago when their daughter was only a few hours old and still in incubator.
"Yes, our tiny little love bug." Brandon smiled softly. "I remember the first time I met her. She was so tiny and delicious and you laid her on my chest and I was afraid that if I touched her I was going to hurt her somehow."
Kelly smiled recollecting that memory as well, all the rough days and events that surrounded Thea's birth hurting a little less with time. "The first time the nurse handed her to me for skin to skin time I was sure I was going to drop her or something."
"See, we've all made it through so far. She is growing up and she's happy and healthy and amazes us every day." Brandon pressed a kiss on the crown of Kelly's head.
"Yes. We did good so far." Kelly agreed closing the album. "I've been sitting here for the past half an hour, going through Thea's photos and thinking how we're going to bond with our new child having missed all of this."
"I for one am grateful that we're going to miss the 1 am feedings." Brandon chuckled.
"And 2 am feedings, and 3 am feedings." Kelly laughed in his arms.
"Seriously Kel. I'm sure we can absolutely do this. Whoever this little person who is about to enter our lives is, we can love him as much as we love Thea and raise him as our own."
Kelly nodded fidgeting with the blanket. "I know it and deep down feel the same, but sometimes I just need someone to reassure me." She looked up to him.
"I live to serve." Brandon smiled planting a kiss on her lips.
"I never realized how easy everything was with Thea, she was present in our lives for months before we met her. I mean I felt her move and we talked to her and caressed my bump and when I saw her for the first time, bam, it was like an instant flood of love. I do worry it's not going to be the same this time around and I already feel guilty about it." Kelly explained.
"Kel, it can't be the same as with Thea. The circumstances are completely different, this little one is not a helpless infant. Unlike Thea he'll come with history, maybe also a little baggage from his past life which might not be all that pleasant."
"I know. That's what makes me feel guilty, with Thea we bonded very quickly, with this little one it might take a while longer and it's not fair." Kelly moved away from Brandon looking at him sadly.
"It might take longer, but we will get there and I'm sure that no matter how long it will take before we bond with him, we will love him from the first moment we will see him, same as with Thea." Brandon smiled reassuringly dragging her back down to him. Setting the photo album on the table he wrapped his arms around her again, both of them eventually falling asleep.
Kelly's eyes fluttered open upon hearing Thea's laughter. For a moment she had no idea where she was, but quickly remembered she and Brandon fell asleep on the sofa after their night talk. Pushing the blanket away she quickly left her make shift bed and followed her daughters voice.
She found her in kitchen, seated in her high chair talking happily and giggling while her chubby little fingers chased eggs, toast and blueberries on her plate. Obviously the most funny thing in this world by the little one's standards. Sometimes she'd like to know what exactly was going on in the cute little head of hers.
"Good morning, Kel." Brandon greeted her when he turned around from the stove.
"Morning you two." Kelly smiled moving forward, first kissing Thea's forehead, before she moved to her husband her eyes falling on the clock.
"Before you start panicking that we're late." Brandon said quietly. "I already called Jenna and told her we're interested. She's awaiting us at ten. Thea's sitter can't come today on a short notice, but Jenna encouraged us to get Thea involved in the adoption as much as we can anyway, so she is coming with us."
"Thanks." Kelly let out, relaxing a lot. "But why are you talking quietly? There's no one else here." She grinned.
"Well, you never know what mischief is our darling daughter going to get herself into once she hears mommy and daddy are in hurry. Just remember what she did to the entry hall." Brandon joked both of them watching Thea as she alternated between playing with her food and eating some of it.
"You know how we talked yesterday that we haven't screwed her up so far? Watching her random giggles today, I'm not so sure." Kelly chuckled.
"She's fine, Kel. Just a little bit hyped after a good night sleep." Brandon grinned.
"At least someone slept good." Kelly yawned, grabbing two cups with coffee as both she and Brandon moved to the table.
"Yep, next time please remind me to not fall asleep on the sofa." Brandon agreed setting their plates on the table.
"Well we usually fall asleep there for one reason only and I never heard you complain before." Kelly grinned.
"It might be that the reason was different this time." Brandon countered. "But you can make it up to me tonight." He added quickly watching as Kelly rolled her eyes playfully. It looked that she finally relaxed a little after their talk last night, he wished it will stay that way for a while.
Forty minutes later, the three of them were sitting in Brandon's car on the way to the adoption agency when Brandon's cell rang. "Can you fish it out for me?" He asked keeping his eyes on the road.
"Sure." Kelly replied. "It's Brenda." She let out looking at the caller ID.
Brandon sighed. "Cancel it please, I'll call her later."
"Alright." Hesitantly Kelly did as he told her to. "What are you going to tell her?" She asked placing the cell back on its previous place.
"That I was in a meeting." Brandon shrugged without really thinking about it.
"When are we going to tell them about this?" Kelly asked looking at Brandon.
"I don't know. I guess once he is placed with us."
"They've been supporting us the whole time, maybe we should tell them this is happening."
"Is that what you want?" Brandon questioned her surprised, glancing at her quickly.
"Yes, maybe, I want our families and friends to know this is happening." Kelly confirmed.
"Alright. We can call them after the meeting with Jenna." He agreed stopping the car in front of the building.
Getting out of the car the three of them headed inside Thea between them holding their hands. Lately she refused to be carried around like a baby and wanted to walk everywhere by herself like the big girl she already was.
They met Jenna already in the corridor. "Brandon, Kelly and the little princess." She smiled seeing them.
"Hi Jenna."
"We can start right away." She led them to her office, closing the door behind them, the three adults and Thea getting comfortable in the seating area.
"I won't keep you in suspense too long." Jenna smiled sympathetically.
"Is it so obvious we haven't slept much last night?" Brandon joked.
Jenna smiled nodding. "This is Lucas." She pulled out two photos of a dark eyed and dark haired toddler placing them on the table. Brandon and Kelly each instinctively took one of them looking at the little boy that was hopefully going to become their son.
"He has sad eyes." Kelly blurted out after a few moments
"Yes." Jenna confirmed. "His parents died in a car crash three months ago. He was the only one who survived and came out of the crash unharmed thanks to being properly strapped in his car seat. He has no other living relatives and has been in foster care ever since."
"That's terrible." Brandon said quietly, looking at Thea who was sitting there quietly snuggled into her mother playing with teddy bear unaware of anything. Just the idea of what the little boy must have gone through brought goose bumps on his skin.
"How is he doing in foster care?" Kelly asked, exchanging a quick glance with Brandon, he knew she was thinking the same.
"When they brought him in three months ago, he had been lethargic and for days had not spoken a word. He had opened up a little since. He is doing good around children but some days prefers to play on his own. At nights he often wakes up crying and looking for his parents." Jenna admitted.
"Is he seeing any specialist?" Brandon asked.
"Yes, there is a child psychologist working with him twice a week and he is making good progress. We thought he might be a very good fit for your family given Kelly's field of expertise. He might progress faster." Jenna explained.
"Okay." Brandon let out, feeling now more confused than ever, he could see that Kelly was feeling about the same.
"I'll give you a moment alone to discuss this." Jenna said leaving the little family alone.
"What are we going to do?" Kelly asked as soon as the door closed behind her.
"Kel, we knew the child might come with baggage." Brandon said softly.
"Yes, but what she was telling us is that he basically saw his parents die. That's a hell lot of baggage no matter how young he is." Kelly said her voice trembling.
Brandon breathed out, when you put it that way Jenna's words sounded even worse. "So you want to say no?"
Kelly did not reply, but instead picked up the photo again looking at the little boy. "It's crazy, but he looks just like you, minus the eyes." She let out.
"Yes." Brandon agreed, not really following her trail of thoughts.
Staring at the photo Kelly remained silent for a moment. "I think we should go for it." She said finally, Brandon's face brightening up upon her words.
"Really?" He asked, he wanted to be sure. He wanted to know that she was sure.
"Yes, absolutely." Kelly confirmed, confident that they could give home to this little boy and love him as their own. "What do you think?" Kelly asked him.
"That we've found our son and a little brother for Thea." Brandon smiled pulling Kelly and Thea into a hug. Scary and exciting times ahead of their family.
