Friday night

"He here! Brady home!" Autumn said, looking out the window and then dashing to the door. "Hi!"

Brady couldn't help but smile at his now sister. She was pretty cute and fun. He actually didn't even mind playing tea party with her.

"Hi."

Jack came forward and hugged him. "Welcome home, son."

Brady held on for an extra minute before letting go. He had never been called that before. By anyone. "Thanks."

"Do you have stuff in Abigail's car?"

"Yeah. Just a box."

Jack walked over and grabbed the box. It was filled with a few books, and a wooden trinket box with flowers on the top, along with some other things. The trinket box intrigued Jack.

Brady took his duffle bag into the living room. He smelled something good. Elizabeth was probably making him a special meal.

"What smells so good?" he asked Elizabeth who was dancing around the kitchen in her bare feet.

"You're here!" She quickly washed her hands and he prepared himself for another hug. "Hi."

He wrapped his arms around her once she did and inhaled. She smelled good. Like a coconut and some flower. "Hi."

"I'm making Taco stuffed shells. Wanna help?"

"Yeah." He really did. "I'm going to go say goodbye to Mrs. Stanton first."

"Okay."

He found her outside talking to Jack while Autumn was tossing a ball to Annie.

"There you are," she said with a smile.

"Thank you, Mrs. Stanton."

"For what?"

"Helping me find my family."

"You are very welcome, Brady. You and Autumn have found the perfect family and I'm grateful I got to help make that happen."

She gave him a hug and said goodbye to Jack. "I'll give you a call next week."

"Okay. Oh and Beth and I talked about it and we need a break from fostering for a bit. With the baby coming and all, we want to concentrate on the kids we have before anything else happens."

"Good choice. Talk to you soon."

As they ate dinner, Elizabeth asked Brady if he wanted to go shopping the next day. He needed clothes and his shoes were pretty tattered. "Maybe we can get you some things to help make your room more you."

"Sure. Like what?"

"Maybe a new comforter or a new shade rather than curtains."

"Okay."

"Mommy, I go?"

"May I go, sweetie, and no, not this time. You're going over to Nana's, remember?"

"Please?"

"Sorry. You said yes to Nana. You have to keep that promise."

Autumn frowned slightly but kept eating her dinner.

"Nana said you're going to make cookies, remember, pumpkin? And then she said you're going to have a real tea party."

"Oh yeah!"

That night, things were similar to every other weekend when he visited but this time, he put his clothes in the dresser and his toothbrush and toothpaste on the shelf in the bathroom.

Then, he took a shower and walked back downstairs, still hungry.

As he walked into the kitchen, he stopped. Jack and Elizabeth were dancing close and kissing. It was certainly not something he was used to yet but he supposed he better get used to it.

"Oh, hey," Jack said with a smile as they continued to sway, Jack's eyes still on Elizabeth. "There's leftovers in the fridge."

"Thanks."

He got a plate out of the cupboard and a fork from the drawer and set it on the counter by the fridge. Then he put two more stuffed shells on the plate and put it in the microwave.

"Sunday is family day," Elizabeth told him. "What would you like to do? Waterpark again or the zoo or just hang around the house?"

"I don't think I've ever been to the zoo."

"Zoo it is then. Autumn loves it, that's for sure."

"Next weekend I was thinking maybe we could drive up to see my parents in Augusta," Jack mentioned. "They'd really like to meet you, Brady."

"Okay," he told him, grabbing his plate from the microwave and sitting at the counter. "I'd like to meet them."

"Great."

Elizabeth gave Jack yet another kiss.

"I'm going to bed, babe."

"I'll be there soon."

She walked over next to Brady and smiled. "Bed for you soon, too, young man."

"Yes, ma'am." He offered her a hug because he assumed that's what was coming next, surprising them both.

"Love you. See you in the morning," she told him.

He nodded and watched as she walked away.

"Something on your mind, Brady?"

"I just….this feels…."

"Different?"

"Yeah. I guess maybe it's hard to believe that I'm staying."

"You are. Forever."

"And that you want me. No one ever has."

"I'm guessing your Mom wanted you."

"I don't remember her. I was like three when she died."

"Was that wooden box hers? The one you brought with you."

"I think so. There's a gold ring in it and a picture of her holding a baby. I think it was me but I don't know."

"I'm sure it was, Brady. Let me tell you something about moms. They love their children. So much. I see Elizabeth with Autumn and she has this look of pure joy. And when she feels our baby move, it's the same. And then, the moment she heard you were missing, she said, "One of my babies is missing. I have to find him, Jack." You are hers too and she loves you just as much as your first Mom did."

"So I'm lucky?"

"Very very lucky." Jack patted him on the back. "Now its bedtime for you."

"Okay. Night."

"Night."

When they got up the next day, Jack made blueberry waffles for everyone with fresh strawberries and raspberries on the side.

Autumn let Annie outside and gave her one scoop of food like she did every morning.

Brady decided to set the table without being asked. His talk with Jack the night before had made him think hard about his life. Jack was right, his first mom hadn't given him away or treated him bad. She had died. According to the picture, she had loved him.

Just because his own dad had hit him a lot with a belt and yelled, doesn't mean that he didn't deserve to be where he was right now.

"Brady?"

He turned and looked at Elizabeth. "Yeah?"

"You okay?" He had been staring out the sliding door for a few minutes.

"Yeah. I'm good."

"That's good. Thank you for setting the table."

"You're welcome."

They sat down about ten minutes later to eat. "Let's say a blessing," Jack said, offering each of his hands to Elizabeth and Autumn who in turn did the same.

Autumn looked at him, her hand outstretched. Typically he left his hands in his lap but this time, he held Autumn's hand and Elizabeth's.

"Dear, God," Jack began. "We thank you for this food and for our wonderful family. Thank you for bringing Brady into our lives. He is a great kid and deserves a family and thank you for working things out so we can be that for him. We also want to ask forgiveness where we have made mistakes. Through Jesus name, Amen."

Breakfast was delicious. Once everyone had eaten and taken their dishes into the dishwasher, Jack asked Autumn to go get ready to go to Nana's and Brady to change for the day as well.

"Okay so I'll drop off Pumpkin at your mom's and you'll pick her up later, right?"

"Yeah. Don't forget to tell Mom about Brady's birthday dinner on Wednesday night."

"Okay." He gave her a kiss. "I love you, sweetheart."

"I love you too."

"Nope," Elizabeth said, shaking her head at the black t-shirt with a skull and crossbones.

"But I like it," Brady told her.

"I don't want my son wearing a skull. You're not a pirate and its creepy."

"Fine. I'll pick some boring old t-shirt."

"Thank you."

After searching, they were able to find some shirts that both of them liked along with some shorts and a new pair of sneakers to replace his worn ones.

"Alright, let's go find some things for your room."

"This is cool," he said as they found a navy and white duvet cover with a very realistic looking motorbike on it and two pillow cases to match. Then he found a dark blue rug and window shade to replace the white sheet curtains.

Finally they went over to the grocery section and got some food for the next few days.

By the time they checked out, Elizabeth was starving. "Brady? Are you hungry?"

"Yeah. Can we get pizza?"

"Sure. Your choice."

They headed to Zeeno's Pizza downtown Portland. It was an all-you-can-eat buffet which was great for Brady.

She grabbed one slice of the pepperoni pizza along with a generous salad. "So are you excited to be starting fifth grade in September?"

"I guess," he said, taking a big bite of his Hawaiian pizza. "I'm not really good at school," he admitted.

"Why's that do you think?"

"I don't see a point. I'll just be in a new school in a few months anyway."

"Not anymore. We aren't going anywhere, Brady.

"I just figure you'll probably change your mind about me and I'll move on."

"Not going to happen."

"It always did before."

She reached across the table and stopped him from taking another bite. "I love you, Brady Thornton. I'm your mom for better or worse, no matter what. I'm not giving up on you and neither are Jack or Autumn. Got it?"

He searched her face for a sign that she was lying but he only saw sincerity. "Got it."

"Good. Now, school. I know you like to read. What about math?"

"Its okay but I like science."

"Science was one of my favorites too. What else do you like?"

"Lunch?"

Elizabeth laughed. "I bet. I'm surprised you aren't six feet tall as much as you eat."

After he went back to the buffet for more pizza two more times, they headed to Grace's house.

As he expected, as soon as they walked in the door Autumn ran to him and hugged him. "Hi!" she said, her arms still around him.

"Hi to you too," he told her, hugging her back.

"I made….cookies for you," she told him proudly.

"What kind?"

"Mud…and worms!" She pulled him behind her by the hand to show him her creation.

Elizabeth laughed and followed. "Hello, dear," Grace said as she washed a very chocolatey looking bowl.

"Hey, Mom."

She noticed Autumn giggling at the green gummy worms that appeared to be crawling from the middle of the mud, or chocolate cookies.

"That's so gross," Elizabeth said with a laugh as Brady dangled the worm and his cookie above his mouth.

"And so good!" he told her.

Grace dried her hands off and smiled. "You must be Brady," she said. "I'm Grace."

"Nice to meet you," he said, his mouth full of cookie.

"Manners, Brade," Elizabeth scolded gently.

Grace turned and poured him a glass of milk, handing it to him. He took a gulp and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand getting a groan from Elizabeth. "Thank you, Grace," he said with a mischievous grin.

"You're welcome. I'm so happy to finally meet you. Did you have a good day today?"

"Yeah. It was fine."

"Will you ….play with me?" Autumn asked.

"Okay but no tea party," he pleaded.

Autumn giggled. "You were….pretty."

"Yeah yeah."

Elizabeth accepted a bottle of water from Grace and sat down at the island.

"He's a handsome boy," Grace mentioned, grabbing a cookie for herself.

"He is. He has a good sense of humor too even though its buried most of the time."

"Are you sure you're up to adopting another child so close to having a baby?"

"Of course. He fits. I love him and Jack and Autumn do too and he needs us."

"I just worry that it's too much. You're twenty four and have only been married a year."

"To the most amazing husband and father I could ask for. I'm not alone, I have him. This is our family now."

"Alright. I'm sorry. My protective motherly instincts came out just there."

"I appreciate that you worry but I'm so happy. Besides, I know where to find you and Julie if we need babysitters," she said with a wink.

"True." Grace put about a dozen cookies into a container for her to take home. "Jack mentioned Wednesday. Anything you want me to bring?"

"Salad maybe?"

"You got it."

"Thanks." She gave her mom a hug and went to round up the kids. It was time to head home.