Where the Grass is Greener
Chapter Twenty Three
Warrick and Sara entered their apartment, exhausted from their shift.
"Please tell me that last night wasn't the busiest shift we've had ever," Sara begged as she plopped down on the couch.
"Sorry babe," Warrick said as he sat down next to her.
"Massage my back please," she asked.
"Sure," Warrick said.
She moaned in pleasure and relief as he massaged her lower back. Warrick noticed that she'd been filling out lately. He saw it in her hips mostly but didn't say anything about it because he knew that was going to happen once she stopped skipping meals. The other day, Warrick looked at old pictures of them and he noticed how skinny she really was. Ever since they had gotten married, he made sure that she didn't miss a meal. It took her a while to get used to eating at least two meals a day, but she did and she told him that she looked and felt much better.
"Thank you sweetie," she said, turning to him.
Warrick put an arm around her shoulders as she lay her head down on his chest.
Just as they were about to drift off, the door bell rang, and Warrick got up and answered. Sara sat up and ran a hand through her longer, thicker hair and yawned.
When Warrick opened the door, he was at a loss for words.
"Who is it, honey?" Sara asked as she approached to door, her expression mirroring his as her eyes befell Headmistress Thronigton and Darren.
Warrick grinned and Sara rushed to the little boy and gave him a hug.
"It took a lot of convincing, but the mother finally gave in," the headmistress said proudly. "Take good care of him."
"We will," Warrick said.
Sara was so happy to see Darren at their front door. She hugged and kissed him.
"We missed you so much," she said to him, letting the tears flow. "We love you very much."
Sara stood up and took Darren's tiny hand.
"Do you want to see your bedroom?" She asked. "Come on. Warrick and I painted it just the way you wanted. Then after that, I'll make you anything you want to eat. Are you hungry?"
Darren nodded as he grinned widely. Angie came running up to him barking her little head off.
Sara pushed the dog aside as she led Darren to her bedroom. Warrick followed after he put the dog outside. Sara's heart was leaping with joy. Darren was finally home, and they were finally a family. Sara felt that void in her heart fill with love and happiness.
Sara opened the door to Darren's room and Darren looked in awe. Sara smiled at Warrick when Darren entered and felt around a bit. The four year old looked around in wonder at all of the things the shelter did not provide. He loved frogs, just like Sara did, and the walls had giant frogs painted on them with a yellow background. Children's books lined the bedside tables and the shelves, and there were toys and stuffed animals neatly nestled near the window by a frog shaped chair next to a toy box.
"Is this going to be my room forever?" He asked.
"Yes," Sara answered, with tears in her eyes. "I know you're hungry. Tell me what you want to eat and I'll make it for you."
"Anything?" He asked.
"Anything in the world," Sara said, wiping tears.
"Can we get a cheeseburger?" Darren asked.
"You want a cheeseburger? Okay," Sara giggled happily. She ran into Warrick and she smiled as she moved past him quickly and went to the kitchen.
Sara leaned against Warrick as they watched Darren eat to his heart's content. His little legs swung freely under the table because they could not yet reach the floor.
Sara chuckled.
"He's so cute and perfect," Sara whispered. "And I love him as if he were my own."
She felt Warrick kiss her cheek.
