"Please Lord, Our Merciful Father, watch over our little Gretchen as she slumbers. Hold her in your arms and guide her dreams so that when she wakes she is once more safe under our care. We ask this of you in your name. Amen."
Tucking the little girl in under her purple Sofia the First blankets and shutting off the small white bedside lamp, Gretchen's foster mother Lisa leans over and kisses her forehead.
"Sweet dreams my little sweet pea."
Looking down at the softly snoring child, Lisa smiles wistfully and quietly closes the door, leaving only a small crack. She sighed a little and tip-toed down the stairs. In the kitchen to her right she could hear her husband, Brian, singing along to their small antique radio. It was a bargain find at a flea market and didn't get the clearest reception, but it was the first thing they had bought to fill their small home. Slipping up behind him she smiled at his offkey humming and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Caught off guard he dropped the dish he was washing back into the sink sending a wave of warm water down his shirt and across her hands. "Whoops, sorry sweetie. I didn't mean to scare you." Lisa couldn't help but giggle softly. Grabbing the towel she used to dry the dishes with, she patted at his shirt and gave him a soft peck on the lips. Brian smiled happily and shook his head.
"You're just too quiet for your own good. But I wouldn't have you any other way." His kiss lingered on her lips a little longer.
"Did you get little bit off to sleep okay?" Lisa nodded and started drying the dishes he already had washed.
"Yeah, poor thing was tuckered out tonight. We barely finished prayers before she was snoring. I think she is finally settling in here baby. Your suggestion of visiting the zoo was a great one. She loved it!" Lisa looked up at him with hope and happiness filling her eyes and making them shimmer like the ocean.
"I think it's the first time I've really seen her smile in weeks. I was beginning to lose hope. Were we made to be foster parents? Could we be good parents?"
Brian knew how she felt for he had the same worries. He was beginning to lose faith that they would ever bring Gretchen out from her shell. Until one day he saw her watch a television show all about different animals. She was mesmerized by it. It clicked that maybe they could persuade her with some animal therapy. Man did it work out great.
"I knew we would get there babe. You were made to be a mom. It was just God's plan for you to be someone else's mommy. You're doing great babe, now stop worrying."
Wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders he gave her a small hug and a kiss on her cheek. Going back to the dirty dishes he didn't see her small frown followed by a wince.
She didn't doubt that God had a plan for them, but she did sometimes resent seeing all these other women with rounded bellies.
They had tried multiple times over the past several years to start their own family, but were unsuccessful. It was hard holding onto the hope that she would ever hold onto a tiny hand or hug a baby close. After the last time they had discussed adoption, but the cost was too great with no guarantee of approval.
It was then that a sign for wanted foster parents popped up in her mind after driving past one on the way home from a grocery run.
Now a few months down the road and foster parent classes behind their belt, they have their little Gretchen to love and protect.
"I guess you're right Brian. I'm starting to sound like a mom aren't I with all my worrying." They both chuckled softly at that and finished up the last of the dishes. Once they were all put away, the young couple rocked quietly on their front porch swing. Lisa's head resting on Brian's shoulder lovingly.
After having several days of rain, today had been full of sunshine. Spring flowers had bloomed from the warmth with roots full of life-giving water. Rocking quietly to the sound of nightingales sweet tunes and the heady scent of fresh cut grass with jasmine enveloped them. The night sky was clear and full of stars that twinkled brightly down on the peaceful little home.
Above them in their little girl's room a small glowing ball of white energy gently brushes against the sleeping girl's forehead before pulsing and disappearing.
Twelve Years Later
Warm water steamed up the small bathroom mirror. A steady stream of loud wailing sounding like Pink blared from the Ipod docked on the bathroom counter with a voice countering it, slightly garbled through the shower curtain. A sudden banging noise had the voice screaming in surprise.
"Gretchen! Stop the madness and wasting all the hot water!" Gretchen groaned and fumbled her wet hands out of the curtain to shut off her music.
"Sorry Mom! I'll be out soon!"
"You better hurry, school starts in thirty minutes and you can't be late for your first day back!" On the other side of the bathroom door, Lisa hefted her chunky one year old foster son, Andrew, onto her other hip and smiled hearing their daughter start rushing to get done. She left her alone to go feed the now fussy baby. Downstairs she strapped him into his highchair and sat a small bowl of food in front of him, cooing at him as he made a mess of his mashed peas.
Brian walked in and grimaced slightly seeing their newest little monster. He couldn't imagine their life without them in it. He was so thankful to God that they were chosen to take in this little boy after he was rescued from his dead mother's arms. The police and child welfare didn't go into details about her death, other than that they were amazed at how the little guy survived. Certainly he had angels surrounding him.
They jumped on the opportunity to take him in. Andrew's story was eerily familiar to Gretchen's. It tugged at them so they knew they had to put in for him. Andrews high pitched squeal of laughter made a smile come to Brian's face as Andrew flung his spoonful of peas at Lisa and watched it land square against her right shoulder.
"Andrew! You naughty little squirt. Momma's gonna tickle you for that." Lisa wiggled her fingers at him and he squealed louder shouting in his baby language. "Mam-ma...mam-ma!"
Brian chuckled and kissed his wife's cheek before pouring himself a cup of coffee. Since it was the first day back of a new school year, it was tradition that he drove Gretchen to school. It was one none of them had never outgrown.
If she didn't hurry up though they were going to be late. Looking down at his watch and then back towards the stairs he sighed and took a final sip of his coffee before grabbing his keys from a small bowl on the kitchen counter.
"I'm going to go ahead and start up the car honey. When Gretchen comes down let her know I'm waiting for her. Have a good day with the munchkin. I love you." He gave both of them a kiss on the cheek, avoiding Andrew's mashed pea mess before heading out the door.
A couple of minutes later their daughter rushed down the stairs still piling her long auburn hair on her head, holding the hair tie between her teeth. Tossing her backpack strap over her shoulder she snatches an apple from the kitchen table and blows a kiss to her mom and baby brother. Lisa nods her head to the door and blows her a kiss back. Andrew just smeared more mess on his high chair.
"Have a great day back sweet pea!"
Gretchen rolls her eyes a little, but waves to her as she stumbles out the door headed to her dad's car.
*********************
Lisa pursed her lips and sighed. She missed that little girl that used to come to her for everything. Gretchen was growing up way too fast on them. Her sad thoughts didn't last long as Andrew called out for her. She looked back at him and chuckled. Unclipping his straps she picked up the sticky green monster that was her little boy and headed to give him a bath. Their day was too busy to worry about the small things. "Come on you little monster, time to get cleaned up. We've got things to do today." Andrew giggled and clapped his hands.
**********************
Waving her hand in the air current outside her window like a small child, Gretchen hummed along to the music blaring from her earpieces. Brian had been talking to her for almost three minutes before he realized she couldn't even hear him.
Huffing in frustration and rolling his eyes he tapped her sharply on her shoulder causing her to jump in her seat. She looked over at him with a little bit of teenage annoyance tugging at her face.
"What's up dad? Did you need something?" A frown pinched between his brows as he looked back to the road.
"You would know if you listened young lady. Anyways, I was just telling you to have a good day back and that after school you'll need to see if Rebecca can give you a ride. I work late and your mom is taking Andrew in for his year check-up. Besides don't you have your….oh what was it called again…?"
"My youth writer's group you mean dad?" Gretchen looked at her dad with slight annoyance.
He could remember work things or anything to do with Andrew, but heaven forbid he remember the club she had been in since 8th grade. She even helped co-found it and he couldn't remember.
"Yes, that's it. I'm sorry sweet pea. Things have gotten crazy lately. We are still proud of you for inspiring other creative thinkers and coming up with your group." Brian smiled at her and gently tapped her nose, like he used to, which still brought a smile to her face.
"Now do you think you'll still be able to get a ride home?"
"Yeah it should be no problem dad. If I can't go with Rebecca I'll ask Sarah and her brother. It shouldn't be too far out of their way."
Gretchen couldn't stay angry at him. Things had been crazy, but they still made time for her in spite of having a new baby. She smiled over at him with real warmth.
"Okay sweetie if you say so. Just be careful alright. If something comes up call me and I'll come get you."
"It's okay dad, stop worrying. I'll be fine I swear. And if something comes up I promise I'll call. Now i gotta go or I'll be late for my first class."
"Alright, you're right. Just me being a dad. Love you sweet pea!"
He pulled up outside the fairly average, Cassiel Lumin High School. No one really understood the name, but didn't challenge it either.
Hopping out of the car, Gretchen waved over her shoulder after closing her door. Brian just chuckled as he watched her walk away, meeting up with her small group of friends. He drove off still worrying about his small family. Something felt off about the day and he just couldn't figure out what.