Lost Loves

Chapter 10

Mike watched the twins Sophia and Samuel playing on the floor of the orphanage. There was not a doubt in his mind that they belonged to Christine. Sophia looked exactly like Christine. Samuel had her eyes.

"Why would you want them? Sophia doesn't talk." The director asked. Mike had taken an instant dislike to the woman. Tom and Sasha stood back watching other children playing.

"Why wouldn't I? Besides; their mother never wanted to give them up." Mike retorted.

"You're married to their mother but you're not their father and she's not here?" Mrs. Davis asked.

"That's correct. You said that wouldn't be a problem." Mike answered.

"No. The state doesn't care what happens with her. Samuel only slightly more. But, she's retarded…" Mrs. Davis started.

"I think the proper term is developmentally delayed. An issue that might not have been so bad had you given her proper care. Something I will be letting the state know about. Now; do they have any clothes or toys?" Mike asked.

"Just the clothes on their backs. No toys…except that ratty bear Sophia has." Ms. Davis answered. Mike nodded. He gestured at Tom who took Samuel's hand. Mike picked Sophia up, who could walk but very stiffly and slowly. She immediately started whimpering.

"I'm right here, Sophie." Samuel said. The two siblings were very close and Sophia adored her brother.

"You and he are going somewhere safe; I promise. Here's your bear." Mike said. Sasha had handed him the bear and they walked to Sasha's SUV.

"I wonder if she had any medicine?" Tom asked.

"No, she never had medicine other than some cough medicine when she got sick last year." Samuel answered.

"I'll get her to a doctor soon." Mike promised the little boy. Sasha helped him settle them into booster seats and then got in the very backseat. Tom had already settled in the driver's seat.

Mike was glad they found the twins and was glad he had gotten them with so little fuss. But he was disgusted by the condition he found them in. He also was worried. Sophia was disabled and that didn't bother him, but did Christine have the strength to care for her?

Both twins fell asleep quickly and they were able to make the trip home within just a few hours. Mike was glad to see his house but then immediately worried about Tom's feelings where Christine was concerned.

"Why don't you go in and explain to Christine? Once she is okay, text me and we'll bring them in." Tom suggested.

"Thanks." Mike said. He got out of the SUV and walked into the house; immediately smelling whatever Christine was cooking. As soon as she saw him walk into the kitchen, she smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I missed you." Christine said simply.

"I missed you too. Where's the girls?" Mike asked.

"Upstairs." Christine answered.

"Good…so…we found them. Tom and Sasha are outside with them in the SUV. But…the girl, her name is Sophia…she has issues. She is nonverbal. I suspect she can talk but she is either shy or no one has ever worked with her. She also walks very stiffly and she doesn't use her arm a lot. She seems to have developed normally, but she doesn't use it." Mike explained.

"Wasn't she taken to a doctor?" Christine asked.

"Not by the orphanage where they were at. That is going to be at the top of the list." Mike answered. He pulled his phone out and texted Tom to bring them inside.

"And the boy?" Christine asked as she wiped a tear away.

"Samuel. He is very protective of his sister. Wise beyond his years. They will have to be kept together, at least for a while." Mike explained. He heard the front door open and saw Tom carry Sophia in. Samuel had ahold of Sasha's hand and they were settled on the couch.

"Mike; they are going to both need some stuff, at least to get by tonight. I'll run and get it so you can stay home." Tom said.

"Thank you." Mike said. He handed Tom his credit card and led Christine to the couch.

"Yes, thank you." Christine answered before turning her attention to the twins.

"Guys, this is your mommy. Do you know what that is?" Mike asked. Sophia nodded at him but she was looking at Christine in wonder.

"Yeah. You're pretty!" Samuel said and Mike laughed under his breath. Samuel would be a mama's boy, for sure.

"Thank you." Christine said simply. Sophia pulled on Samuel's hand and he nodded at her.

"She needs to go potty. I don't help her in there though. One of the helpers has to." Samuel said.

"Can your mommy help you?" Mike asked the little girl. She nodded in agreement. "Can you lift her if you need to?" Mike asked Christine.

"Yeah, I think we'll be okay." Christine said. She offered her hand to Sophia and led her to the powder room. Mike sat down next to Samuel and smiled at him.

"Wait 'til you meet your sisters." Mike said.

"I have other sisters?" Samuel asked.

"Yes. Katie and Hannah. I'll go upstairs and get them in a minute." Mike said.

"It smells good in here." Samuel remarked.

"Your mommy is cooking something. She's a good cook." Mike explained.

"Oh. We'll have dinner? There will be enough for all of us? If there isn't enough at our old house, Sophie doesn't get to eat. Sometimes it makes her cry because her belly hurts." Samuel asked.

"There will always be plenty of food. No one will miss a meal." Mike said as Christine and Sophia rejoined them. He offered Sophia a smile.

"I have chicken soup. If I had thought, I would have made something more kid-friendly." Christine said.

"I'm sure they won't mind." Mike said as he helped Sophia settle on the couch with her ratty teddy bear. He hoped Tom found something better. "I'm going to talk to the girls. Will you be okay?" Mike asked.

"Yeah. I'm just going to visit with them a bit." Christine said with a smile. As he climbed the stairs; he texted Tom and asked him to spoil the twins rotten. He found Katie and Hannah in Katie's room, painting fingernails.

"Daddy!" Hannah said excitedly. She gave Mike a hug and then he kissed the top of Katie's head.

"Neon green, huh?" Mike asked his youngest daughter.

"Yeah, I like it this week." Hannah answered. Mike sat down on Katie's bed and smiled at both girls. Both had been through hell, but were well adjusted.

"I found the twins, girls. They are downstairs. But…Sophia; your sister…she doesn't talk and she has trouble with her arm and walks a bit stiffly. She's not been to a doctor so I have no idea what's wrong, but something is. Just be patient, okay?" Mike begged.

"And the boy?" Katie asked.

"He is completely normal. Very protective of Sophia. His name is Samuel. Tom and Sasha went to the store to get them a few things. They have no clothes or toys." Mike explained as he stood up. Both girls got up to follow him.

"Okay." Hannah said happily. She was his 'happy-go-lucky, nothing ever bothers her, upbeat' daughter. Katie tended to be a bit darker mooded…and Mike adored them both. He led them down the stairs and smiled at Christine sitting between the two kids; talking to them both.

"Sophia and Samuel; this is Katie and Hannah." Mike said, pointing at the two girls.

"They're pretty too!" Samuel said. Sophia was sizing up both girls; and smiled as soon as she saw Hannah's nail polish. She pointed at it and looked at her own fingernails.

"I think she likes your nail polish, Hannah." Christine remarked with a smile.

"I have others. Do you want to pick one for your nails? I can paint them." Hannah offered. Sophia nodded vigorously.

"I have some too on my dresser." Katie told her and Hannah ran back up the stairs.

"I don't want my fingernails polished." Samuel said seriously and they all laughed. It made Mike happy, that the kids were already finding common ground. Hopefully, the twins would adjust quickly and they could get Sophia the medical care she needed.