As it turns out the food store Phil and Leo were going to be right opposite the mall. Melinda said they only go food shopping there when they need buy lots or if they need specifics, and Mel said there are these amazing biscuits that they can only get from this store. Secretly Skye thinks it because they need to buy more 'kiddie' food but she isn't about to argue with them. Phil said that him and Leo would meet them at 'that' store. Apparently Melinda knows that what means but Leo looks just as confused as Skye.
After dropping them off Mel parked the car as close to the mall as possible then they went inside. Skye forgot how busy malls are; she can't remember the last time she went to one. She thinks it was with her fourth foster family and they had promised her a toy for doing so well at her first day at school. Her foster siblings broke that toy two days are that trip.
As Melinda weaves through the crowd Skye keeps a tight grip on Mel's hand. That is, until she sees Peter and his gang. Skye stops, frozen in place. She didn't even feel the tears falling down her face until Melinda picked her up, wiped them away with her sleeve and brought them over to the nearest bench.
"What's wrong baby girl?"
"M'sorry"
"Honey, don't be upset, what's wrong?"
"The… the… boy who pushed me when you found me… he's here… pweese Melinda… can we go the other way? Pweeese…"
Melinda looks and sees the boys, laughing on the bench outside the shop they need to go in. They've got to be no older than fourteen yet Skye is shaking and is pretty much having a panic attack over these bullies.
"Skye, while you are with me, they cannot hurt you. If we walk past them th.."
"NO! Melinda please, no…"
Skye is breathing rapidly. Melinda has only ever seen three people have such severe panic attack but Skye's seem so much worse. With Nat she got angry, with Bobbi she went really quiet and played with her hair, Leo… Leo just laughed. He did that nervous laugh that you just can't control. On many occasions these laughing fit led to him passing out or crying. But Skye, she just full on out the gate just cries. But it's not crying for attention, it is genuine fear, uncontrollable crying. Skye reminds Melinda of one of her other children's friends. Skye still hasn't calmed down so once again Melinda took Skye's hand and placed it on her chest.
"Okay, okay we wont go past them but first you have to copy my breathing. Okay? One… Two… Three…"
Skye finally calmed down so they got up off the bench and walked toward the coffee shop. Luckily it was pretty empty so Melinda let Skye have a look at the cupcakes while she lined up. When she got closer to the front of the line Melinda asked which one she wanted and Skye said that she didn't want one. Skye thought if she didn't draw any attention to herself again maybe Melinda wouldn't take her back for embarrassing her in the shop.
"Are you sure you don't want the blue one? It looks so scrumptious I might even get that pink one!"
At this point the older lady behind the counter decided to step in.
"Oh that one is my favourite and you are very pretty young lady! Do you like chocolate?"
Skye ran behind Melinda but nodded. The lady carried on.
"Well you are in luck! That one is our last chocolate one but if you don't want it maybe your mommy will get the pink one and I'll accidently leave the blue one on the plate… Silly me – I'm always forgetting where I put my cupcakes"
With that, she gives Skye a small wink and puts two cupcakes on a plate and hands them to Melinda. They pay and move to sit down at the two seat table.
"Thank you" Melinda whispers to the lady.
"Your daughter looked too cute and too polite not to have a cupcake"
With that Mel watches Skye sit down and eye up the cupcake until she finally picks it up and takes a small bite.
It's not long until they've both eaten their cupcakes and are ready to leave. Before they exit Skye goes up the counter and speaks softly and quietly to the lady.
"Thank you very much for the cupcake. It was very good and you are extremely nice."
"You are most welcome young lady."
Melinda watches her walk away and they exit the shop together. Melinda then askes Skye if she would prefer to walk or be carried, Skye slowly lifts both hands in response. Once Skye is securely on her hip Melinda wanted to understand what went on her newest daughters mind.
"That was very good of you to say thank you to that lady. You are a very polite and sweet girl Skye – I'm so lucky to have you as my daughter"
Skye just rested her head on Melinda's shoulder and started to play with her hair at the back. She shut her eyes, put her thumb in her mouth and took a deep breath before replying.
"People aren't very nice to me so I like to say fank you when people are. I don't fink your lucky but fank you for sayin so"
"Baby I am so lucky and I think everyone should be nice to you!"
Melinda turns to see Skye asleep on her shoulder. This is the only time Mel is happy that Skye is small and light for her age. She goes to the children's store and started to pick up stuff. 15 sets of underwear, 10 tops, 10 trousers/shorts and 5 dresses. As she is looking for pyjamas Skye starts to stir and the first thing she says is…
"I wike the wobot ones… then I can be wike Weo"
Melinda's heart just melts. She is so happy Skye has taken a liking to Leo. Maybe there's hope for her yet.
"Then the robot ones it is! I need you to look at these and see if you like them, we can take another look around and see if there is anything else you like"
After another hour of trying on and looking around they added another 3 t-shirts and one white shirt so that, as Skye put it, her and Melinda could be 'twinsies'. Once they paid and Skye thanked Melinda three times they dropped the bags back to the car and went in search of Phil and Leo. It wasn't until they were right outside that Skye realised where they were.
"Mel we're not going in there are we?"
"Well that was the plan sweetie, every little girl deserves all the toys she could wish for and seen as you've got none we thought we'd buy to some to get you started"
"But when you send me back then who will play with them? You don't need to spend that much money on me, I already have my elephant, I'm sure Phil wont like you buying me all these things."
"Well if you look over there you will see a very excited Phil and Leo fighting over an Iron Man mask and beside them a cart full of toys which I am 100% certain are not for them"
Skye struggles to get down off of Melinda's hip and runs to where Leo has finally got the mask out of Phil's hands and now has it on. Phil is the first to notice her.
"How's my little star doing? We have lots of toys in here but if you don't like any of them we can take them out"
They spend another hour in here with Skye taking a lot out but not putting a lot in. In the end they had an unspoken rule that if Skye looked interested – it went into the basket. Skye soon clocked on though so she started voluntarily putting things in. By the end Skye had three types of Barbie, a big box of colouring pencils and three stuffed toys to join her elephant that is still to be named. To be particular the toys were the three kittens from The Aristocats, Marie, Berlioz and Toulouse. The three kittens were not allowed in the bag as apparently the kittens were 'ever so hungry' according to Skye and they just had to have some of the ice-cream that Phil just promised – much to Melinda's annoyance.
While sat in the ice-cream parlour Skye took turns 'feeding her kittens' and then her self. She made it very clear that they all had to share and that only good children share. Leo and Phil are in the midst of a debate between which is better chocolate or strawberry and all Melinda can do is look at her family and think how lucky she is.
On the way to the house Skye fell asleep and stayed asleep as Melinda carried her into the house and put her into her bed. Melinda tucked all three kittens and her elephant under Skye's arms and left the room quietly. She went down stairs to help Leo and Phil packed the shopping away. Once it was all away Melinda checked her voicemail.
"You have one voicemail.
Hi mom it's me, have I got a baby sister yet? I want a little one to snuggle with and Leo just doesn't cut it anymore. Joking, I love him, love you all, I miss you so much! I'm coming home in a couple days but it feels like such a long time! Right I'm going to go but I'll see you soon! Bye…
End of Messages"
Melinda couldn't contain her excitement. She loved it when her girls came home, Bobbi wasn't due for another week but Nat was coming home, Leo and Skye were here and in a week everyone will be together.
"Nat will be here in a couple of days!" Melinda said to her boys in the kitchen.
"Oh yes! I miss her! Ahhhh… Don't tell her I said that. She'll never let me live it down" Leo said quietly.
"Aww, I'll make sure she's got her towels and her bed is made" Phil said excitedly.
As if Leo and Melinda were thinking the same thing Leo said softly "Nat's gonna love Skye! She's like a mini Nat as it is! I think it might comfort Skye to know Nat grew up okay after everything she went through and that so will she."
"Oh Leo, you grew up too quickly! Skye knows all three of you were adopted and I think she takes comfort in the fact you grew up okay too kiddo"
"Thanks mom"
Leo pulled Mel into a rib crushing hug, once released Melinda starts to make dinner. Chicken fajitas are her speciality. Skye woke about half and hour before dinner and made her way downstairs trailing all three kittens and her elephant behind her. Leo picks her up and Phil notices that she only slightly tenses at the action. Progress.
Once they were all finished Melinda decides to share the good news with Skye.
"So Skye, you're going to meet one of your sisters in a couple of days. Nat's coming back from college and she is extremely excited to see you!"
All the colour seems to drain from her face.
"i…i…in a couple of days? Okay… may I be excused?"
Mel put her hand over Skye's to stop it from shaking.
"Skye, you have nothing to worry about honestly she'll love you!"
"Thanks Melinda – Please may I be excused, I am really tired…"
"Of course you can baby – do you want a bath?"
"No thank you but…"
"What honey?"
"Could you come and tuck me in…. I mean you don't have to… nevermind…. I'm going to bed now, night!"
With that Skye rushes up the stairs- obviously Melinda follows her. Melinda watches her go to get undressed then she remembers that Skye needs her new pyjamas so she grabs the bag and walks in the room.
"Don't forget to put your new pj's on!"
Skye jumps at the sound of her voice.
"Oh yeah, thanks Mel, sorry about downstairs…"
"Skye, I'm glad you're asking me what you need. It's good! You don't have to be scared to ask you know"
"Thank you…."
Skye is now dressed and is hopping into bed. Skye laid down and tucked in all her toys – finally Melinda tucked Skye in and she kissed her on the forehead.
"Love you Skye"
"Night Melinda"
Melinda wasn't sure if she heard correctly but as she walked out she could have sworn she heard Skye talking to her 'kittens'.
"Now you guys have to be good, we like it here and we can't mess it up 'kay? We don't want 'nother trip like the….garage… again…."
And with that Skye was asleep.
Leo is down stairs when his mobile rang.
'Leo: Hey Jemma, you know my new sister I was telling you about yesterday, my baby sister, well we went shopping today and she got aristocat teddies and she's so cute you have to meet her and..
Jemma: Leo breathe! She sounds amazing! I can't wait to meet her. Maybe we can hang out tomorrow?
Leo: Yes! 100%! Do you wanna have dinner here? Is you mum still out of town?"
Jemma: Yeah, she's out for another week but..
Leo: Jem I thought you said she'd be home in a couple of days?
Jemma: She had to stay longer – the conference was extended.
Leo: You cant stay on your own for another week! I didn't like the idea of you on your own for 4 days let alone another week. You'll bunk here with me! I'll clear it with mum I'm sur….
Jemma: No it's fine, that's sweet but you mum doesn't need me bothering her. I'll be fine.
Leo: Nope! I'm having none of it! I'll see you tomorrow- pack a bag! Night Jem, Bye.
Jemma: Bye Leo.'
Leo rushes into the kitchen and starts to, loudly, speak to his parents.
"Mum, Dad, can Jemma stay here a couple nights? Her mum's out of town again and I really don't want her staying alone again"
Both Phil and Melinda give each other a knowing look then Phil responds.
"Jemma is always welcome here you know that! She knows that too – I hope. I presume you two will share a room?"
"Yeah Dad if that okay? I hate the fact her mums always out I'm worried about her."
This time Melinda replies –
"Leo we love Jemma and she is here 90 percent of the time anyway. So while we are talking about her – are you and Jemma…. Friends? Or could you possibly be more than fri…"
"I get it! And I don't know…"
"Okay it was just a question"
"Good – night mum, night dad"
"Night kiddo"
Once Leo is upstairs he lays down and considers his bestfriend and how much he… well… how much he loves her.
