Meeting Tori
Vlad had taken the day off of work to meet Ms. Yu at the adoption agency in Amitypark. He had never taken a day off of work. Not even to call in sick. His company, VladCo, was too important. But when it came to anything relating to Maddie, he would willingly miss work. So, he got into his rather expensive black convertible, and began to make the long trek down to Amitypark. During the whole drive, a million thoughts were running through Vlad's head. What would this baby look like? Was she fat and dimwitted like Jack, or beautiful and smart like Maddie? Would she like him? Would she hate him? Would she cry the minute she set her eyes on Vlad? But the most important question he asked himself was this: Would he be good enough to take care of her on his own? At the thought of that, Vlad was suddenly afraid. Very afraid. His palms started to sweat on the steering wheel, his heart pounding in his chest. He felt somewhat sick to his stomach. Was this what Jack was like when he found out Maddie was having her baby? Nervous? Even afraid? 'Great…I'm starting to sympathize with Jack…' Vlad thought bitterly. How could a thought like that even penetrate his thoughts? It was sickening…To him, at least. On the way, Vlad had stopped at a fast food restaurant to grab a quick bite to eat. Just a garden salad was all he could eat. But seeing as how it came from a burger joint, it didn't taste so good, and he threw half of it out. He gulped down some diet cola, and once again hit the road. At one point, he passed a billboard on the road, showing a young looking father and his little girl happily driving on the open road. The company was advertising car insurance. Vlad looked at himself in the rearview mirror with a frown. His hair was considerably gray, tied back in a low ponytail. He was only in his twenties, and he already looked like he was about fifty or sixty years old. Despite the hair, he didn't have a wrinkle on his face. So, maybe he only looked in his thirties…A car honked behind him, and he realized that he had been going under the speed limit. Vlad quickly picked up speed, the driver zooming past him, screaming a swear at him, his finger making an obscene gesture. Vlad focused on his driving again, only slowing down when he passed up a green sign:
"Amitypark, 3 miles" it read. Vlad gulped nervously, suddenly feeling nauseated again. It felt like his stomach had crawled up into his throat. Vlad turned on the curve of the road, seeing a small city to his right. There, a baby, Maddie's baby, was waiting for him. At that thought, he wondered what she was doing. Was she crying? Maybe sleeping perhaps? It felt like the instant that he drove into the city, he wanted to turn back and head to Wisconsin. But he couldn't leave now. Not with Maddie's baby needing him. Vlad looked at the directions that he had printed from the internet, and he followed the directions up to a small building. It was a red brick building, a rather tacky sign looming over the street reading 'Amitypark adoption agency' in rainbow balloon letters. Vlad parked his car, deposited some change into the parking meter, and then walked up to the glass doors. He put a hand on the handle, and he suddenly hesitated. As soon as he stepped into that building, there was no going back. He would be a father at long last. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the door open and walked into the building.
The lobby was a little dingy with stained tile floors and tacky paintings. He walked over to the elevator and pressed the button that would summon the elevator. While waiting, he noticed a janitor mopping the hopelessly stained floors. He looked up at Vlad, then smiled.
"You here to adopt, sir?" He said in a slight Russian accent. Vlad stupidly nodded his head, as if he was a child who shouldn't be talking to strangers. The janitor smiled at him, showing tobacco stained teeth.
"You're very lucky sir. A child is the best thing that can happen to a man. I'm pretty sure that the child you're adopting will be very happy with you. You're giving a baby that has nothing something. I admire people like you." Was all the janitor said before resuming to his work. The elevator doors opened, and Vlad stepped on, hitting the level four button. The elevator doors shut with a little groaning, and it gave a jerky start. Cheap music was playing, and someone had stuck gum onto one of the buttons. It was amazing what some people would do for a laugh. A tiny bell went off, and the doors opened. Vlad stepped out, taking in his surroundings. It was not as bad as the rest of the building, so he didn't mind much. A receptionist was sitting at the desk, going through some papers. Vlad awkwardly stepped up to the desk and cleared his throat. The receptionist looked up at him.
"Are you Mr. Vlad Masters?" She asked him. She had strawberry blonde hair, and icy blue eyes. She had red painted nails.
"Yes I am. Is there a Ms. Yu here?" He asked. She pointed her pen at a door labeled "Ms. Jade Yu" Vlad suddenly got very red from embarrassment. He walked over to the door and knocked. Someone was walking around inside, and the handle of the door turned. A woman with black wavy hair and dark colored eyes opened the door. She smiled at him. Vlad awkwardly stepped back. She laughed a cheery laugh.
"Oh, come on, Mr. Masters! I've met children braver than you!" She joked, holding out a hand to shake it. Vlad shook her hand, which was soft and warm.
"Okay, let's get down to business, Mr. Masters. We have a little someone who wants to meet you!" She took Vlad by the hand and led him into her office. She shut the door behind him and went behind her desk. Vlad saw the handles of a stroller behind her desk. Ms. Yu bent down, taking something out of the stroller. It was a pink bundle, making soft little sounds. Little baby sounds. Vlad's heart skipped a beat. Ms. Yu eagerly carried the bundle over to him and handed it to him.
"Here's your little Tori, Mr. Masters." She said in a tone filled with excitement. Vlad pulled the blankets away from the baby's face. In an instant, Vlad's heart was filled with joy. Looking at him was probably the cutest little baby he had ever seen. Her cheeks were pink, her nose a little button nose. She peered up at him with light purple eyes. Maddie's eyes. A wild tuft of brown hair was on top of her head. She smiled at him.
It was instant love.