A New Family

Marty clung tightly to Dr. Larry's hand as he walked into the entryway of the town hall. He began signing all the papers necessary to take Marty into his care. He and his wife would be fostering Marty for the next six months with the option to later adopt.

"Good luck, Marty," said Miss March as she came to say her goodbyes to the pretty little girl with blond curls. "I'm glad you found Dr. Larry. He seems like a very nice man."

Marty gave Miss March a big hug. "Thank you for helping me find a new home," she said sweetly.

"You're welcome," Miss March replied with a smile. "Take care, Marty."

Dr. Larry also thanked Miss March before leaving the town hall with his new foster daughter. Holding tightly to Dr. Larry's hand, Marty was lead outside. "Are we going home now?" Marty asked her foster father.

"Yes," Larry said with a smile. "I am taking you to your new home."

Marty felt a sense of excitement, but also a taste of fear. Would she like her new family? Would they be good to her? Would she be happy in her new home? And how would she ever live without Todd?

As if sensing her uncertainty, Dr. Larry began to speak. He told Marty all about his home, his lovely wife, and his dear son, Danny. He told her they'd be traveling about two miles out into the country on his sturdy mare. "Her name is Patsy. You're going to love her," Larry said as he lead Marty over to a nearby hitching post. There was Patsy, his beautiful dark-brown mare.

"She's amazing!" Marty gasped as she reached up to stroke the animal's mane. "I can't believe she's yours!"

"She's yours now, too, Marty, because you're my daughter," Larry said with a tender smile.

"I love her!" Marty beamed.

A few minutes later, they were travelling on a dirt road toward Dr. Larry's cottage when they passed a small farmhouse. Marty was sitting in front of Dr. Larry upon Patsy's broad back. She was clutching her suitcase tightly. It was the only item she had left of her former life.

As they travelled, an unpleasant odor met Marty's nostrils. The house they were passing looked dirty and unkempt. There was a pig sty right beside the sorry-looking, little shack. Marty watched as several snorting hogs ate food out of a slop trough. Marty's stomach turned. She had to look away.

"Who's house is that?" she asked. A dark shadow of premonition seemed to have crept over her.

"It's Peter Manning's house," Larry explained.

Peter Manning lived here?! Marty couldn't imagine Todd living in that awful house with his uncle. Not at all! She hoped and prayed he'd be safe there... and he wouldn't miss her too much. She knew she'd miss him... TERRIBLY! Todd would be living with his uncle, close to those smelly pigs. Marty shuddered when she thought of it. At least Todd would have a roof over his head, but she wanted him to be with her! She wanted to protect him, just as he had always protected her. Something told her that Todd needed her; he needed to be protected. He wasn't safe. The state of Peter Manning's home only made that feeling stronger. Todd needed her - just as she had always needed him!

*I miss him already,* Marty was thinking sadly.

How would she ever sleep without his arms around her at night? It was as though he were the other half of of her soul. They were so used to being together. She felt as if Todd was a part of her and it hurt so badly to be separated from him. Marty's little heart was breaking as she thought of a life without Todd.

She looked back longingly at Peter Manning's house, wishing she could see Todd. She decided she'd go over to see him at his uncle's house, just as soon as she could. For now, she must settle into her home with the Woleck's.

"We'll be there soon, Marty," Larry spoke as Patsy continued trotting down the road. "Merrie and Danny will be so surprised. I know they're both just going to love you."

A few minutes later, they had arrived at a little cottage at the edge of the forest. It was Dr. Larry's home, and now it was Marty's, too. She had a new family. Merrie and little Danny came out to greet her. Gently, Dr. Larry lifted Marty down from the mare so she could meet Merrie and four year old little Danny.

"Hello, I am pleased to meet you," Marty said politely to her foster mother.

"She's very sweet... and so pretty," Merrie said to Larry with a hint of a smile. Sadly that smile did not reach her bright green eyes. Marty could see the sorrow lurking behind her foster mother's kind eyes. It was an ache Marty knew well, from losing her parents. Merrie had lost her precious baby, Danny's twin, and she hadn't been the same since her daughter's death. She was living with a broken heart.

"I knew she'd be perfect for us," said Larry as he caressed Marty's blond curls. "I adore her already."

"You must be Danny," Marty said to the cute little boy. "I am Marty. I'm your new sister."

Danny beamed at Marty. He had his father's blue eyes. He really was the cutest little boy Marty had ever seen. Marty had always wanted a little sibling. "We got your room ready for you," said Danny. "Come on. I'll show you."

Danny took Marty's hand and lead her inside the comfortable little cottage. A cozy fire was burning in the hearth. It was a simple home, but neat and comfortable. Marty loved it so much, even though there wasn't a grand piano or a water closet. There wasn't even a motor car.

"It's a wonderful house!" Marty stated when Dr. Larry and Meredith came inside.

"I'm glad you like it," said Larry. "Danny, why don't you take Marty up to the loft and show her her room?"

Marty glanced at Meredith. She was so very quiet. She hardly ever said a word. How did she feel about having a foster daughter? Would she like Marty? Marty hoped and prayed they could be friends.

"Come on," said Danny. He was tugging insistently at Marty's hand.

"I will show you to your room. Then we can play," Danny said as he started up the wooden ladder leading to the loft bedroom. Marty followed after him while carefully carrying her suitcase.

Marty was shown her little bedroom in the loft. She had a small bed of her very own which was covered in a bright, comfy quilt. The loft room was perfect for her and Sara Beth. "I love it so much!" Marty called out.

In the room below, Larry smiled. He knew he had made the right choice when he had agreed to foster Marty. He hoped that her sweet smile could somehow help to revive his wife's happiness. Merrie had been so incredibly sad for far too long. They had a daughter now. She was alive and well and she needed them. Now that they had Marty, they had all that they had ever needed.

Marty opened her suitcase she had been clutching tightly in her hand. Tenderly, she withdrew Sara Beth, laying her precious doll back against the pillows. "Is that your doll?" little Danny asked.

"Yes. Her name is Sara Beth," Marty explained. "My mommy and daddy gave her to me, long ago."

"Would you like to play with me now?" Danny asked Marty eagerly.

"I would love to," Marty said. She knew she'd be very comfortable with the Woleck's, but even so, she was missing Todd. It was hard to forget about him. He was a part of her.

*I'll settle in today, then I'll go see Todd tomorrow,* she told herself before going off to play outside with her new foster brother.