Shelia watched Sarah all during their meal and couldn't help but be shocked at the speed the little girl was eating at. Even with her speed Sarah still managed to remember her table manners throughout. 'This child has been through rigorous training to be able to accomplish this.'
"Sarah do you want to try ice cream sweetie? They have a lot of flavors to choose from here but my favorite is still chocolate."
"I'm not sure if I can eat anymore. Ms. Shelia is it fine if I can't finish my meal? My stomach is starting to hurt from what I just ate."
Shelia looked confused even though Sarah had ate fast she had noticed that the child had only ate around one third of her food. 'Surely she can't be full now? If she is that means even when they last fed her it was just enough to get her through a few days!' Her heart was breaking as she looked at Sarah with the realization that this sweet little girl had been through much more than she had thought.
"If your full we can bring it back and you can eat it again when you feel hungry sweetie. Sarah I need to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with me ok?"
"yes ma'am. As long as it isn't about what happened tonight I don't want to talk about that." Sarah was worried that Shelia would put her in a tough spot on this since she was still considered a child by many. If only they knew how intelligent she was but her Daddy said she couldn't surpass her brother in school.
"Sweetie when was the last time you had a meal? How much were you able to eat then and what did they give you?"
"I shared a chicken salad with my step mother. She always got a majority of it while I only got about how much I ate tonight bur it would be enough to keep me from passing out for at least four days. Our last meal was three days ago and daddy promised we were going to eat tomorrow."
Hearing those words Shelia's eyes teared up. In her head she was cursing Sarah's mother and father for putting this child through this. Three days!!! 'What kind of parent would go this long without feeding their child?' She calmed her nerves and requested the bill. Walking to the front she took Sarah's little hand in hers and could feel how brittle the girl was. Sarah was ten but looked like she was only six. She was short and skinny with brownish black hair and green eyes. Her eyes being big and round with long lashes gave her a stunning beauty in the making look. Shelia had no doubt this little girl would be a heart breaker in the near future.
Paying the bill she walked Sarah back to her car and helped her get situated in with a seatbelt. She ruffled Sarah's hair before getting in the drivers seat and heading to the nearest twenty four hour store. Walking in with Sarah she decided to buy a few outfits for her including two pairs of shoes. Leading Sarah to a fitting room she was stunned to see that the five six in girls was still a little big but not by much.
"What size was the outfit you took off Sarah?"
"I believe my father was still giving me a four in toddlers he always removed the tags inside too."
Shelia wanted to cry right then and there but she knew she couldnt. Sucking it up she lead Sarah to buy some daily necessities for her as well as a back pack to put it all in. Until she spoke to Sarah's mother she didn't want to buy too much. 'What if Tonya Smith wishes to keep her daughter? I will write every little bit of news Sarah gives me in a journal to we reach Tonya.'
"Thank you Ms. Shelia.!" Sarah got up on tiptoes and kissed her on the cheek as the boarded the car. This startled her she had watched this girl go from a frenzied state trying to reach her daddy to calm and angry with Shelia and police. Then to shock her even more the hope she showed when she was asked if she wanted to be adopted to the love showing blatantly in her eyes now.
'How much has she suffered for all of this make her see me as a savior? I can't let this little angel down but finding her mother will be a challenge.' slowly driving to her house she made the decision she couldn't give up and had to make sure this child had a better path for her future.
Pulling into her driveway she looked at Sarah's reaction in the rear view mirror. Her house wasn't huge but it was considered a perfect family home. Four bedrooms with two and a half bathrooms made it perfect for a couple that wanted two or three kids. The spacious front and back yard had enough room to run around. The wraparound porch gave it a rustic feel. The white paint was complemented by a royal blue shutter on the windows. All in all it resembled a ranch house.
Helping Sarah out she lead her to a guest room that had a bathroom attached. Sarah was looking around curiously at everything as Shelia walked into the bathroom to run some bath water. Checking the temperature twice she called Sarah in. "Do you need any help washing up before bed?"
"No ma'am thank you for offering though."
"Just hand me your clothes directly I will go wash them. After you are done washing off don't forget to brush your teeth then come find me in the kitchen. It is the doorway to the right when you come downstairs."
"Thank you very much for allowing me to stay till we find momma. I hope she agrees to let me stay with you." Sarah's downcast face made it hard for Shelia to hold it in any longer but for this angel she had to be strong.
"Me too." She whispered as she walked down to her kitchen. Starting the clothes she wondered what her older brother would think of this child. Staring into the distance she decided it didn't matter given the chance she would make this baby hers at any cost.