A few weeks had passed since Eileen's encounter with Neil and Harold was still no closer to finding out who this guy really is. However he did figure out who would target an orphanage. Traffickers. It was kind of perfect in a way. Kids with no family, who nobody would miss. Since they hadn't made much progress on finding the perpetrators and the stress of it was started to get to everyone, especially with them caring for and loving kids that were targeted, Harold decided to give everyone a day off.
John decided that he would just have a chill day at home with Buck and Mackenzie. He did get a small cake since it was Mackenzie's first birthday.
Mackenzie was napping so John and Buck were setting up the streamers and banner for Mackenzie.
"Um Dad?" Buck called
"What's up, bud?" John inquired
Buck took a breath, "Remember when you asked me if I wanted to change my name? Well I've decided that I do, and I have a name that I've chosen."
John looked over at Buck, "Oh? What did you decide on?"
Buck smiled, "Beckett Jonathon Reese. Because you rescued me."
"Beckett Jonathon Reese." John repeated as he smiled back "I love it." He started to tear up, "It's a very touching gesture."
"Don't cry." Buck uttered as he hugged John, "I love you, dad."
"I love you too, son." John replied as he hugged the preteen
Meanwhile with Samantha and Sameen who were enjoying their day off at the zoo with their kids: Brendon, Maisie, and Nola. The youngest, Nola was pretty clingy to Samantha. She'd been practically attached to Samantha hip the whole day, only letting the woman put her down when she wanted to explore.
"Mommy! Mama! Look at giraffe." Brendon pointed out "It has a crooked neck."
"Do you think the giraffe is in pain, Mommy and Mama?" Maisie asked sadly
Sameen shook her head, "No, Mais. The giraffe was born like that. It's not in any pain."
"Are you sure, Mama?" Brendon wondered
Sameen nodded, "Yes, absolutely. I'm positive, Bren."
"Roar!" Nola exclaimed
"No, silly goose. Lions roar, not giraffes." Samantha told Nola as she tickled the little girl's belly
Maisie looked up at Samantha, "No, Mommy. Nolee wants to go see the lions."
Samantha nodded, "Okay we'll go see the lions and then after I think we'll go home and eat dinner."
Brendon and Maisie both groaned. Maisie looked at Sameen, "Can't we stay longer, Mama?"
Sameen shook her head, "No. I'm with Mommy on this one. It's getting kind of late." It was getting kind of late. Plus they had already seen most of the zoo exhibits already.
"Okay Mama." Maisie replied a little disheartened
"Can we get a toy at the gift shop before we leave?" Brendon inquired
Sameen and Samantha before looking back and Brendon and Maisie, who were looking up at them with a hopefulness in their eyes.
"Yeah. I don't see why not." Samantha agreed
"But only one toy." Sameen added
Maisie and Brendon nodded, "Deal."
At Harold's house with Harold, Sarai and Symone. Harold was doing a puzzle with the two young kids. Symone seemed to be enjoying it and Sarai loved it, but Harold presumed that she just liked spending time with him. They were almost done with the puzzle when Sarai looked up a Harold. He assumed it was to ask if they could do another puzzle, but what she actually said shocked him.
"Dad, I want you to adopt me." Sarai said "I talked with Mo-Mo about it too, and I think he understood. He agreed with me. He wants to be adopted too." She looked at Symone, "Isn't that right, Mo-Mo? You want Daddy to adopt us."
"Yay Daddy!" Symone cheered
Harold smiled. He was clearly touched. And it was rare that Harold ever couldn't find the right words to say, but in this moment he was speechless.
"We love you, Dad. We just want it to be official. Especially me. I want to be your daughter." Sarai told him
"I was always planning on it." Harold replied "And nothing would make me happier, Sar-bear. I love you too." He turned to Symone and tickled the little boy's belly, "And I love you too, Sy-Sy."
Symone giggled, "Wove Daddy."
Then Sarai pulled closer to Harold and Symone and hugged them. Harold hugged his kids back.
Meanwhile at the safe house with Coraline and the kids. The kids had been broken up into four groups, not including Coraline's group. She had Eileen, five year old Charlie, the now three year old Marielle, and eighteen month old Marcy. Marielle and Marcy were both taking a nap, and Charlie was playing Zella in the group two room.
Coraline and Eileen were in the main room, which they were calling group one. Eileen was pretty mature for her age, so she was just sitting and talking with Coraline.
"I still feel pretty bad that I wasn't able to help the others more when I had that sit down with Neil. I couldn't figure out what he's up to." Eileen explained
"Don't feel bad. It's not your fault." Coraline assured "He's always been a very secretive person. I was with him for years and I could barely get two words out of him that was anything remotely personal."
Eileen gave a nod, "I know, Aunt Cora, I just don't know. I can't explain it, but I don't think he's the bad guy. I didn't get that feeling from him. I felt safe near him." She shook her head, "What if they're wrong? What if he's not the perpetrator? What if he's the victim? Or maybe he's just a good guy. Maybe he wasn't stalking the orphanage. Maybe he was surveilling the surroundings and trying to protect us."
"Protect you from who? Or what?" Coraline wondered
Eileen shrugged, "That I don't know."
I don't think this chapter is that good, but let me know what you think.
Hope you enjoy. Comments are greatly appreciated.
What would you like to see happen next?