Author's Note: Sorry that it took me so long again, but I'm still pretty busy... Anyway have fun reading and don't forget to hit the review button!
Chapter 9 - See, it isn't that bad, is it?
"That's it?" I watch Susan taking Joanne's things out of her car.
She hands me a little suitcase and a little bag, "Yeah, that's it. All her things were destroyed in the accident. We gave her some of Amy's stuff."
"Okay," I nod. "I can go and buy some clothes, maybe some toys for her?"
Susan starts to laugh, "Have fun then."
"What...?" I give her a puzzled look as Joanne comes out of the house. "Here you go honey," I give her the little bag.
She runs up to Susan and pleads, "Susan, I don't want to go. I like it at your house! I want to play with Amy! Why do I have to go!"
Susan hugs the little girl and kneels down, "Look sweetie. Amy's sick at the moment and if you get sick too you wont be able to visit your Mom. So it's better if you stay with John, ok?"
"Okay," Joanne answers sadly.
"Let's go inside," I suggest trying to reduce the tension. It's understandable that she reacts that way. I just hope that she will accept this one day.
"Oh, isn't this nice, Joanne?" Susan opens the door to the guest room trying to cheer her a little bit up.
"You can hang up a few posters and pictures if you like so everyone can see that it's your room," I suggest trying to support Susan.
Joanne enters the room slowly with big eyes observing everything, then she looks at Susan and me, "This is really my room?"
"Yes honey, it is," I assure her. "We can even get you a sign for your door that says 'Joanne's Room,' okay?"
"Ohhh, I always wanted one of those!" She smiles contently and gets a little teddy out of her bag. "See Herman, we have a new place." She puts the bear on the big bed, "We like it here, don't we?"
"See, it isn't that bad, is it?" I smile at her.
So here we are. I might not know how to manage with her, but it will work out. Hopefully it won't be for too long. Abby will wake up, we'll find the dad, and Joanne will be happy. At least that's what I hope. Susan also seems to be happy. Her worries about Joanne entering foster care have seemed to disappear. I know a part of her excitement is because she thinks that I'm doing the test. But I won't. Joanne is a sweet girl, but she's not my daughter.
"I'll come and visit you, alright?" Susan carefully strokes Joanne's back, "And we'll see each other at your Mom's!"
"Bye Susan," Joanne says with tears in her eyes as she hugs her.
We watch her drive off, and head back inside. "Do you want something to eat?" I go straight to the kitchen and point at the fridge, but Joanne doesn't seem to be paying attention. "Joanne?"
"When are we going to see my Mommy today?" She asks this looking nowhere, as she ignores my question.
"I'm sorry hon, we can't see her today," I shake my head.
"Why's that?" She continues, still not quite looking at me.
"Because they're taking some tests to see how to make her feel better."
"Doesn't that hurt?" Finally, she looks at me with curiosity.
"Oh, no honey. It won't hurt," I reassure her.
"Will it hurt if she dies?"
I don't believe my ears. She is still looking at me plainly, and I cannot believe she asked this. She didn't say this, did she? I stare at her, shocked "Joanne," I say, "She won't die. She'll be alright. You understand what I'm saying, don't you?"
"Yes."
I put some dirty dishes into the sink, ignoring what we just talked about. "Do you want to go and buy some new clothes? Susan said that you don't have many at the moment."
"Those were Amy's clothes. She gave them to me, because I didn't have any." She points at her shirt, which is more than a size too big.
"That's really nice of Amy. But look, they're to big for you. We can get you something that fits"
Seven Years Earlier
Women and shoes, I should have known. I even endorsed it. Abby was never a big shopping person, but since I started dragging her along a couple of times, she began to really enjoy it. So now I'm sitting here, looking at the fiftieth pair of shoes she has brought me to look at.
"How about these?" She points at a pair of dark brown boots.
To be honest, they look exactly like all the others I saw today, but I don't want to offend her, so I just smile,
"They're not that bad either."
"Oh, come on! You don't like them, do you! You said this to all of the pairs I showed you!" She suddenly starts to pout, "If you don't want to go shopping with me, you should have let me known..."
She's kinda mad now, so I try to looks sorry, but also pleasing, "No, honey, really, I like to go with you, but the last few pairs looked exactly the same."
"Okay." She's pretending not to be angry, but I can tell she still is. "So should I take those?"
She throws a pair of pink pajama-shoes at me, making me laugh as I observe them.
"Why not!"
I put them on and she starts to laugh too, since they're too small and held together by a string.
"Hey, I like them! Have some too," I carefully jump to the table with the pajama shoes and pick the same for her.
She giggles as she puts hers on and we jump around like kids.
"You're crazy," she laughs.
"And so are you!"
I take her hands, but suddenly tumble and fall. I try not to pull her with me, nevertheless she falls right on me, looking deep into my eyes. She comes closer and starts to kiss me...
"Hey, those are cool, aren't they?" I pick up a pink sneaker with glitter stars on it.
"Nooo, those are for babies!" Joanne shakes her head wildly, "I like these!" She hands me a pair of Jamaica style sneakers, "All of my friends have them!"
"Ok, why not, you can," I answer as my cell phone starts to ring. "Hello?...Oh, hi Susan...What?...I mean, she's?...Oh, of course...We're on our way"
I stare at the shoes then look at Joanne speechless, not knowing what to say, what to think, what to feel.
"Joanne, honey, we have to go. We have to go to the hospital...It's your Mom..."