Door 22
Emily held on tightly on Angelina's hand as they neared the orphanage. It was as though they were prisoners who were sentenced to death and were now on their way to the executioner.
Unconsciously their steps became slower as though they were trying to avoid the inevitable. Everywhere around them were people rushing about. Doing some very last shopping for presents or just heading home to their loved ones to celebrate the holidays together.
When they walked into the orphanage Angelina couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Something that was worse than just leaving the children here alone.
They headed to the office of Miss Robert and knocked on the door.
"Come in." Miss Robert called. Montague opened the door and the four stepped inside the room. Once they were inside Angelina frowned at what she saw.
There on one of the chairs in front of Miss Robert's desk was the woman sitting that Angelina had met in Diagon Alley. The woman who had asked about Emily. Next to her sat who Angelina supposed to be her husband. And there was another couple on the other two chairs.
"Ah, I was already waiting for you." Miss Robert greeted them and now Samuel squeezed Angelina's hand just as hard as Emily was.
"I want you to meet Mr. and Mrs. Summer and Mr. and Mrs. Hart. They are here to adopt Emily and Samuel."
"Do you see Stan, I told you the girl is the cutest one you've ever seen!" Mrs. Summer told her husband and smiled at Emily.
"But… you want to separate them?" Angelina asked horrified.
"Well, yes, why not. We have already talked about everything."
"Don't worry Miss, we know how to treat the children. Miss Robert has already explained their special… well she has told us about them." Mr. Hart said.
"What shall this mean?" Angelina asked and felt herself grip the hands of the children more tightly.
"We've been told that the boy tends to dream a lot. He needs a strong hand to keep him focused on the important things in life."
Mrs. Summer kneeled down next to Emily.
"I've bought a beautiful pink dress that will look lovely on you."
"Well, then we now can…"
"No!"
Miss Robert turned to look at Angelina and raised her eyebrows.
"Excuse me?"
"There's no way I'm letting this happen!"
Miss Robert gave a dry laugh and looked at Angelina as though she was crazy.
"And you think you have anything to say in this!"
"You can't separate them! And neither of them deserves Sam and Emmy!" She pulled Emily away from Mrs. Summer.
"Emily is not a doll you can dress up and have her sitting somewhere to look cute! She needs someone who is talking to her and listening to her and not someone who wants to put her on a display!" Mrs. Summer arose and took a step back looking shocked at Angelina.
"And Sam," Angelina turned to face Mr. Hart, "does certainly not dream too much! And the very last thing he needs is a strong hand! He is perfectly fine the way he is. He shall have his dreams and I'm glad he is not some heartless bully."
"Well, unless you plan to adopt them there is absolutely nothing you can do about this…"
"Then I'll adopt them!" Angelina interrupted Miss Robert. She kneeled down between the children and looked at the siblings.
"That is, if you want to stay with me."
Emily and Samuel didn't even have to think about it. They threw their arms around Angelina's neck and said loud enough for everyone to hear that they wanted to stay with Angelina.