We were amazed when our adoptive teenage daughter insisted on $15,000 for her birthday. But our lives were permanently altered when she tearfully shared the terrible cause behind her demand.
Although my husband and I had always wanted a child, it became abundantly evident from years of trying and many doctor visits that could not have one of our own. We felt heartbroken and lost. Adoption looked like the ideal way for us to at last start a family.
First meeting Lucy at the foster care facility made us anxious. Sitting by herself, she was reading a book. Her long brown hair swept over her eyes, and she seemed so little and defenseless. She smiled shyly when she turned to look up at us.
” Hi, Lucy,” I murmured gently. “This is my husband John; I am Carol. People have told us so much about you.
Lucy nodded and widened her eyes. “Hello.”
We talked and grew to know one another during the afternoon. Lucy was nice but reserved. We connected with her at the end of the day. She was the one, we knew.
Although the adoption procedure was drawn out and taxing, we at last brought Lucy home. The first several weeks were really fantastic. Lucy seems content and adjusted easily. She often assisted me in the kitchen and appreciated the meals I created. John and Lucy became close over movies and board games.
But a few months later everything changed. Lucy began to back off. She started to be hostile and detached. Often throwing the food away silently, she refused to consume the meals I made. She would yell and shove us away when John and I sought to hug her.
One evening I made her preferred pasta dinner. She turned away from it disgusted.
Pushing the dish away, she remarked, “I don’t want this.”
“Lucy, kindly.” I responded, trying to keep my voice calm, “I made this just for you.”
“I’m not bothered! She said, hurrying straight to her room, “I hate it!”
Stunned and saddened, John and I sat at the table. We found it incomprehensible what had happened.
Her 14th birthday was approaching and we wanted to make it unforgettable. We bought her a new laptop and earbuds and scheduled a little party. We expected it would bring her delight.
On her birthday, we cooked a cake and decorated the house. Lucy arrived downstairs and had a blank look.
“Happy birthday, Lucy! ” John said, trying to be upbeat. “We have surprise for you here.”
We turned over the wrapped presents to her. She opened them slowly, her face not legible.
She asked, raising the laptop, “What’s this?” “I need nothing from this trash.”
I got a lump in my throat. “Lucy, we thought you might enjoy it. You deny us any opportunity to bring you happiness. What do you require?
Her eyes steely, she stared at us. I need $15,000.
John and I looked at one other startled. “Whither? Why?” I questioned, my voice quivering.
Lucy’s eyes started to moisten. Breathing deeply, she replied, “I need the money to purchase my brother back. He won’t be handed to me by the foster family. Perhaps they want money. That is why I am enquiring.
The hall went quiet. I was silent, John as well. We were unaware Lucy had a younger brother. Realising she had been carrying this suffering alone broke our hearts.
“Lucy,” I continued gently, “we didn’t realize you had a sibling. Could you further inform us about him?”
She sniffed and cleaned her tears. ” Alex is his name. He is eight. Until you hauled me away, we were always together in foster care. I assumed you knew and would have adopted him too, but when you didn’t, I assumed you didn’t want him.”
John’s eyes came to life. “Lucy, we apologies so much. Knowing would have meant we would never have left him behind. We will try everything to get Alex home.
Lucy turned to face us, her eyes first full of hope. “Really?”
Reaching out to her, I said, “really.” “We guarantee.”
Lucy pulled away for the first time. She began to cry; we joined her. Joined in our will to bring Alex home, we gripped fiercely.
Lucy broke our hearts with her sad account of her brother Alex. Let alone that he was still in foster care, we were unaware she had a sibling. Though we were completely devastated, we realized we had to move quickly.
We phoned the adoption agency early the following morning. As I called the number, I became tense. John held my hand to show quiet support.
“Hi there, Carol Johnson here is. We just discovered Lucy has a younger brother called Alex; we recently adopted her. We would like to adopt him as well, my voice quivering.
Ms. Brown the social worker sounded startled but sympathetic. “Let me verify Alex’s present placement from the records. This can take some time.
Days become weeks as we negotiated the convoluted adoption process. The wait was terrible. My heart would leap every time the phone rang, hoping for word of Alex.
There was a great emotional cost. With every day Lucy became increasingly nervous. Although John and I tried to be strong for her, everyone finds uncertainty difficult.
At last, one evening we got the call. “Mrs. Johnson, we have Alex identified,” Ms. Brown responded. “He is still in foster care and open for adoption.”
Tears of relief washed over me. “I appreciate you, Ms. Brown.” How are we going to get him home?
“We can start the paperwork right away even though the process will take a few months.” she said.
We told Lucy the news; she started to cry happy tears. With shaky voice, “You found him?” she asked.
Yes, sweetheart. John responded, squeezing her firmly, “We are beginning the adoption process right now.”
The next months were a frenzy of documentation, house calls, and interviews. Though it was challenging, knowing we were bringing Alex home motivated us. Lucy would soon be with us, so we made sure she stayed involved in every stage to reassure her.
At last the day showed up. We went to fetch Alex from the foster care center. Lucy was beyond herself with both nervousness and exhilaration.
Alex was seated silently, his enormous brown eyes wide with inquiry when we arrived in the room. Tears running down her face, Lucy hurried to him. ” Alex!”
“Lucy!” Alex sobbed, leaping up to give her a hard hug. “I missed you so much!
“I missed you too,” Lucy replied, cradling him close. “I warned you they would bring you home.”
Tears in our eyes, John and I watched the siblings be reunited. That was a flash of sheer delight and relief.
When we brought Alex home, Lucy changed right away. She hugged us without thinking, laughed much, and grinned more. Her shoulders seemed to have weight taken off of them.
Alex formally became part of our family after his adoption process was complete. We celebrated love and happiness in a little celebration.
Ultimately, our family felt whole. Lucy’s grief and resentment gave way to love and thanksfulness. Alex and she were inseparable, and happiness permeated our house.
Lucy turned to us one evening as we were all seated together seeing a movie and said, “Thanks for bringing Alex home. You two are loved.
John added, “We love you too, Lucy,” gripping her hand. “Right now, our family is whole.”
Though the road had been challenging, it drew us closer. We learned more about what it means to be a family than only acquired a daughter and a son. Love, laughter, and the possibility of a better future abound in our house now.