Jack and Elizabeth learned that Autumn had suffered from periodic ear infections since she was a baby. It was common with Down's syndrome children and that explained a lot of their hearing issues as well.
She recovered quickly after receiving antibiotics and loved playing with Nana Grace who she named her new doll after.
Grace went home after a week, promising to return in a few weeks to visit again.
One night after she left, Elizabeth woke up and Jack wasn't next to her. She wandered into the house and upstairs. She found him sitting in Autumn's room, staring at the walls.
"Honey? What are you doing? It's like two in the morning."
"Can't sleep."
"Why not?"
"I need her here, Elizabeth. I need to know she's with us and we will take care of her and keep her safe."
"It won't be too long, Jack."
"Would you feel comfortable taking care of her in the fifth wheel until we move? I think a month, maybe six weeks and I can have this house done enough."
"Of course, if Mrs. Stanton allows it."
"Let's call her in the morning."
She offered her hand and he stood up. "Honey, let's go to bed."
"Let me show you the master bedroom and bath first."
It was gorgeous. He and Jesse were very talented.
The next morning, Elizabeth called Abigail about their situation.
"Typically, a fifth wheel isn't sufficient for long term placement."
"That's the thing. Jack says it will only be about a month to six weeks before the house is done enough to move in. So the fifth wheel is only temporary."
"You do have electricity, plumbing, and a bed for her."
"Yes we do."
After a very long silent moment, she spoke again. "Let me call over to Haven House and let them know Autumn is being placed."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Stanton."
"Now, dear, I think its appropriate if you call me Abigail now. After all, I'll be making regular home visits."
"Of course, Abigail."
"I'll call you back in a few moments to give you a time frame."
"Thank you again."
"You're welcome, Elizabeth. I'm happy Autumn has someone like you and Jack in her corner."
A week later, just before Autumn was to start school, they were given the go ahead to move her. So Jack and Elizabeth drove to Haven House. As they walked into the house after Molly opened the door, they noticed a small suitcase and a box. It was sad that all her belongings fit inside those two things.
Autumn walked in with Florence. As soon as she saw them, her eyes lit up and she smiled big. "Mommy!"
"Hi, sweet girl!" Elizabeth looked at Jack and Florence. She wasn't even sure Autumn knew what that term meant.
"I told her that you were her Mommy and Jack is her Daddy now," Florence told her, tears filling her eyes. "Just like you're supposed to be."
"Oh, Florence. Thank you for taking such good care of her."
"Just doing my job," she told them, brushing aside her emotions. Autumn looked up at Florence so Florence knelt down. "I'm going to miss you, pretty girl."
Autumn wrapped her arms around Florence's neck. "You be a good girl, alright?"
"Autumn good."
"Of course you are." Florence kissed her forehead and stood up. Molly came over and gave her a hug too.
"Go home?" Autumn asked Elizabeth.
"Yes. Let's go home."
…..
Jack helped Autumn out of the car and picked her up. "Look, pumpkin. You're home!"
"Home. Stay?"
"Yes. Forever and ever."
"Love Daddy."
"Love you back," he told her, kissing her cheek. "Why don't you help Mommy put your stuff away? I have to go to work so that we can move into the house before you turn ten."
Elizabeth laughed and gave him a kiss. "Will you come for lunch?"
"I'll be here."
Elizabeth helped Autumn walk up the steps into the fifth wheel and went back to retrieve her suitcase and box. "Alright, sweet girl, want me to show you where your clothes go?"
"Yes."
"Yes, please?"
"Please," she repeated.
Elizabeth opened a cupboard that was easy to reach. "You can put your shoes and clothes in here."
"Grace."
"Nana or your doll?"
"Baby." Autumn reached into her box and pulled her out. "Grace home."
"Maybe for your new room, Daddy can make Grace a bed too."
"Grace bed." Autumn hugged her doll. "Nana?"
"Let's put your stuff away and then we can Facetime with her."
They slowly put her things away and Elizabeth made a list of things Autumn needed. More clothes for school was a must. More pajamas for sure. Another pair of shoes or two.
"After lunch with Daddy, let's go shopping!"
"Shop."
"Yes. You need things for school."
"Autumn no…..school." She frowned.
"Oh, but school is fun."
"No….school. Mommy stay."
"Well, you need to go to school but I will take you and make sure you are okay before I leave. And then I will come pick you up when you are done."
Autumn just sat at the table and touched her doll's hair. "Where Joy….Ellie?"
"They are back at Haven. They are your friends, right?" Autumn nodded. "You'll get to meet more friends like them at school."
"Want Joy…Ellie."
"We can go visit them once in awhile. For now, let's FaceTime Nana Grace, okay?"
"Grace."
Elizabeth sat next to Autumn. "See this button? Push it and Nana will be there."
Autumn touched the screen and the phone chimed.
"There's my beautiful Autumn!" Grace said with a smile."
"Nana….no…school."
"Are you nervous?"
"Want stay…Mommy. Want…Joy…Ellie."
"Okay, sweetie. Guess what?" Autumn listened. "You are a big girl. Big girls have to go to school. But Mommy is going to take you and make sure everything is okay before she leaves. Right, Mommy?"
"Of course I will."
"I'm thinking of coming to visit soon. Maybe next week?"
"Nana come?"
"Yes I'm going to come."
"Thanks, Mom. Maybe when you come we can go pick out furniture for Autumn's room."
"I'd love to help with that."
"All three of us will go. What do you think, sweetie?" she asked Autumn.
"Go store."
Elizabeth chuckled when Autumn's tummy growled. "Did you eat breakfast?"
"Eggs."
"I guess its snack time, isn't it? I'll let you go, Mom. See you next week."
"Alright. Bye Beth. Bye Autumn. Love you."
"Love Nana."
Elizabeth picked up Autumn and held her close. "You know what? I'm so so happy you are my little girl and I love you so so much."
"Love Mommy."
Elizabeth smiled and kissed her face over and over, loving the giggle she got. "Cheese or carrots for a snack?"
"Cheese."
"Cheese, please?"
"Please?"
"Cheese it is, my love."
After their snack, Elizabeth helped her put on her jacket and they went outside to play. Jack had bought a ball to kick around the yard so that's what they did.
Inside the house, Jack heard Autumn giggling outside so he went to the window in the living room to see what was happening.
"Why don't you go out there?" Jesse suggested. "I can handle painting the fireplace."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. It's her first day home. Enjoy her, Jack."
"Thanks, man."
Jack headed outside. He watched for a moment and then ran over and scooped Autumn up in the air and twirled her around.
"Daddy!" she laughed. "Done?"
"No, but I wanted to be out here with you and Mommy."
"Play….ball."
"Yes, let's play."
For the next half hour, they played in the early September sunshine, laughing and enjoying finally being a family.
Jack laid on the ground to catch his breath. Elizabeth and Autumn joined him.
This was their life now. Together. Happy. Fun. "I spy a dog!" Elizabeth said, pointing to the clouds. "Do you see it, sweetie?"
Autumn looked up but said, "Fish," instead.
"That one looks like a tree," Jack said.
They played "I spy" a big longer, Autumn seeing fish in everything. Then she got quiet. Jack looked between him and Elizabeth and smiled. Their angel was asleep.
They turned and watched her sleep. "She's perfect for us, you know?" Jack said quietly.
"I know. She's worried about school, Jack. She kept saying she wanted to stay with me."
"We all have fear of the unknown. She will love it once she does it."
"I wish I could just keep her home."
"She needs to be with other kids. This will be a good thing."
"I don't like seeing her scared."
"You're a good mom already, Elizabeth."
"I love her, Jack. It's that simple."
….
After lunch, Elizabeth took Autumn shopping.
First they went to the shoe department. "You pick, honey bun. Make sure they have velcro, like this," she pointed. Autumn gravitated to the pink ones with princesses on the side that had flowers that lit up. "You like those?" Autumn nodded. "Use your words, sweetie."
"Autumn like."
"Okay, then we will get those. Now let's find you some pajamas. The ones you have are getting holey."
After an hour of shopping, Elizabeth was happy with what she found and Autumn seemed to be too. "Wanna to go home, baby?"
"Home. Daddy?"
"Yes Daddy will be at home but probably still working."
"See…Daddy?"
"Sure, sweetie. We can go see Daddy after we put your new things away and go potty."
So they did. Autumn wanted to wear her new shoes so Elizabeth helped her put them on, having her fasten the velcro herself. "Daddy."
"Yes, little miss. We are going to see Daddy."
Elizabeth and Autumn walked into the house and looked at the fireplace. It was done. It looked great. Then they looked down and the dark wood floors were in. The whole space looked completely different with floors and drywall and a painted fireplace.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, let's go find him."
They walked up the stairs and found him in the master bedroom. Autumn walked over and hugged his legs.
"Who is that hugging my knees?" he teased.
"Autumn!" she told him, making him chuckle.
He picked her up and kissed her cheeks. "Hi, pumpkin."
"Shop Mommy."
"You went shopping with Mommy?"
"Yes. Shoes!"
"Whoa! Look at those fancy princess shoes! They are so cool!"
"Cool."
"Are they for school?"
"No….school," she said with a frown. "Stay Mommy."
"What if Mommy and I both went to school with you? Would that help?"
"No….school. Please."
Jack took her over to her bedroom and they sat down on the floor. "Honey, can you tell me why you don't want to go to school?"
She leaned her head on his shoulder. "Scared," she said quietly. "Need…Daddy….Mommy."
"New stuff is scary, isn't it? I get scared sometimes too."
"Daddy scared?"
"Yeah, but you know what helps me? I say a prayer. God will help you, pumpkin, you just need to tell him. Do you want me to help you say a prayer?"
"Yes….please."
He put her in his lap and held her hands in his. "Now, say what I say, okay? Dear God."
"Dear….God."
"Please help Autumn."
"Please….Autumn."
"She is scared. Give her courage."
Elizabeth watched from the doorway as her husband prayed with their daughter. She didn't think it was possible to love them anymore than she already did but this was amazing.
"Amen."
"A….men."
"Do you feel better, pumpkin?"
"Yes."
"So whenever you are scared, just talk to God. He will help you, alright?"
She stood and turned, giving him a huge hug. "Love Daddy."
"Love you too, baby."