When someone knocked on the door at 8am the next morning, Sharon couldn't imagine who it could be, she had only been up for about a half hour, but once answering she found her husband standing on the other side and she suddenly felt less annoyed. His smile radiated throughout his face as he held a file in his hands, "I forgot to add these to the paperwork," Sharon stepped aside allowing him in with a nod.
"Is he here?" Sharon smiled at John's excitement, "yes he's here, he's a teenager and it's Sunday, and he's still sleeping."
"Right, of course" John nodded looking down the hallway to the spare bedroom as Sharon moved back toward the kitchen, "Coffee?"
John nodded following his wife into the kitchen taking a seat at the table seeing some of her files spread out over the table and John gave them a once over seeing a few photographs that weren't meant for someone with a weak stomach, "tough case?" Sharon gave an affirmative hum of her throat as she stepped from around the corner with two cups of coffee in hand taking a seat at her usual end of the table passing the other mug to her husband.
Once seated Sharon brought the mug to her lips, scanning John over the rim of her glasses, giving themselves a few minutes of comfortable silence before John was the first to speak. "Did you tell him?" Sharon looked down at her mug feeling the warmth created in her hands and John knew the answer was a no without having to clarify. "This is what you want, correct?" Sharon looked up giving a pleading glance and John give a confirmed nod "I see."
They had their own language, It often only took a single look or hum for John to know exactly what Sharon was thinking, and she hated that, and hated even more the amount of pleasure he got out of knowing how to read her. She had wanted to tell Rusty, she had been thrilled when she first saw the papers, but on the drive home she couldn't bring herself to start the conversation, her own doubts kept creeping out each time she opened her mouth. No not doubts about wanting Rusty to be a part of their family, but would Rusty want that. Would it make Rusty feel like a charity case? The last thing Sharon wanted to do was to make Rusty feel as if he was some boxed to be checked on her list of things to do.
Sharon's trance of thoughts had been broken by the opening of the guest room door down the hall, as John practically leaped to his feet Sharon couldn't help but grin at John's excitement to meet Rusty. It warmed her heart to know he was so accepting of her decision to make Rusty a permanent part of their lives. To clarify it would be their lives; Sharon was still legally married to John, with connected them. Thankfully John had the kindest heart of anyone Sharon knew. It was that kind heart that had lead Sharon to fall in love with John to start with…and the same kind heart she saw today, ready to explore this new adventure with her. Sharon had never mentioned the specific words of adoption to John, and they had only spoken about Rusty twice prior to receiving the adoption papers, yet John knew from their conversations that this is what Sharon wanted more than anything, to have Rusty be a true part of their family.
As Rusty padded down the hallway, he had is head down working the sleep out of his eyes, as he looked up he saw Sharon, still in her comfortable pajamas and a man in jeans and a button up t shirt standing next to her, and Rusty's mind went to the worst. Sharon had a boyfriend? How could she have a boyfriend and not tell him? Was rusty not supposed to wake up so early? Usually he slept in till about noon on a Sunday, he wasn't always a sleep but he knew that was Sharon's time to work in the morning since she tried to give him her attention when she wasn't working. He usually he stayed in his room, but with the grumbling of his stomach he felt like getting up, and of course Sharon's new boyfriend was blocking his way to the kitchen. Crap.
"Rusty there is someone I want you to meet," Sharon smiled at Rusty taking a few steps towards him then giving John a smile. Rusty didn't care to meet Sharon's love interest , he had met enough of his own mother's to know they wouldn't be around for long and it was just easier not to get comfortable. Rusty decided to humor Sharon nodding and giving up a small wave mumbling a hello as the man stood there with a stupid silly smile on his face.
"Rusty this is my husband John, John, this is Rusty." Rusty turned his head towards Sharon so fast he was sure it would have gone in a full circle if it wasn't attached. "Your Husband?!" Rusty was confused and Sharon was nervous hearing Rusty's scared voice and she set her hand on his arm lightly giving him a warm smile. "Yes my husband, remember the suit you found in your closet?" Oh, was all Rusty managed to get out before understanding and remember Sharon had been married, but was separated, so it still didn't answer the question: What was her husband doing here 8am on a Sunday?
John took a step forward his hands behind his back smiling at Rusty as Rusty gave him a once over, he was around Sharon's age , salt and pepper hair, he looked comfortable in his shirt and jeans although Rusty could picture him looking professional in the suit he found in the closet. He realized where Oliva got her eyes from as well as her height as he looked him over. "Hey Rusty, it's great to finally meet you." Finally, what did that mean? Had Sharon and her husband been discussing Rusty behind his back? Sharon had promised to give Rusty a 30 day notice before anything changed in their lives and if her sometimes husband was moving back in, it would definably changed things.
"Yeah it's nice to meet you too" Rusty lied as he stood next to Sharon, happy she was so close letting him know she was there for him. "I didn't mean to interrupt, I was just hungry, but I can wait if you two need to finish" Sharon gave Rusty a confused look having been oblivious to the connections he was making in his mind she smiled to him pointing over at the kitchen. "No Rusty please go eat, I bought you that cereal you like, it's on the top shelf."
John stepped aside as Rusty walked past him into the kitchen and Sharon stepped up to John's side giving him a smile that made Rusty's stomach cringe. Sharon had once said she couldn't think of any nice things to say about her husband at one point, and now he was in their kitchen with her still in her pajamas.
John messed with the keys in his pocket giving Sharon a sideways glance before speaking again, "I should get going, just sign those papers when you get a chance and I can pick them up whenever. Rusty, it was great meeting you; I hope we can get together again soon." And with that he gave Sharon's shoulder a nudge for her to follow him to the door, once at the door he lowered his voice for only her to hear. "I've got to get going I've got a late breakfast thing at 9 I need to be at. Call me when you tell him, I want to hear all about it" and with that he leaned in and give her a soft kiss on her cheek before pulling away to walk out the door.
As Sharon turned she saw Rusty standing in the living room with a bowl of cereal in his hand looking at Sharon with questioning eyes, "Tell me what?"