One

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


This story was inspired by Maddie and Tae.  (One of their songs at the top) Listening to there music and just hearing what they do. Strong woman are something to admire. Not to shy away from. This story will be full blown country and I hope all you other country lovers will enjoy this just as much as I am enjoying writing it.

~

I ran around the house in a messed hurry. Filling up the bag that had been sitting next to the door for the past couple weeks with all the little things that I thought I would need.  It had been years sense I had to carry a diper bag, but today would be the day I would start again.  Well, that's what I was hopping. Crossing my fingers mentally I let out a long breath and called for Lucas to come put his shoes on.

"We finally going to see her?"  His smile was beaming.  He couldn't hide his excitement as much as I wasn't able to hide the nerves growing in my chest.

"I do hope so.  We might even be able to take her home."  Jumping around the entry way I helped tie his shoes even with him batting me off.

"I do believe he has it Hun."  My mother was leaning on the door that lead to the kitchen with a smile that could match my sons. We had been waiting for weeks sense getting the news.  I had to get that little one to a stable home.  It wasn't in my nature not too. And this was home.  This was going to be her home. 

"Ma, I think I got this." Putting a hand up I finished with the job at hand and rocked back on my honchos. 

"I think your nervous."  She crossed her arms and I could tell she had been baking.  The flour still dusting her elbows.  

Holding back my nerves I shock my head and sad my goodbye before she could give me her, don't be so nervous Harper, speech.  I know I shouldn't have reprimanded my mother, but I wasn't feeling it right now.  We were just about to meet her.  

Peyton Turner.  

The little girl had no where to go. And being an infant that was a issue.  In my mind I couldn't trust anyone with her, and I had to wait this long just to meet her, to hold her in my arms.  I would be lucky if I really got to take her with us today, but a girl could hope.  I knew she wasn't mine.  But she was the sister to my Lucas.  And in my heart that made her family.  That made her mine. A Johnson in every right.

I could provide for her the same way that I had provided for him, and how I could still hold the house over our heads; not counting my mothers, there shouldn't be any issue with the adoption. I had everything she would need, including love and attention.  And knowing that blood lines were involved could help it move faster...

My knuckles clenched onto the wheel of my truck and Lucas poked my shoulder from over the seat.

"You okay ma'ma?"  I sighed and tried to relax my muscles as I drove over the three mile dirt road that lead away from the ranch.

"Yes baby.  I'm just a lill antsy right now.  We've never done anything like this before now have we?"

"It'll be our next adventure!"  He said playfully from his seat.  He kicked the back of mine and managed to relax me just by being his own little bundle of joy.

"An adventure."  Reaching around I tickled whatever I could reach and managed to get him to squeal in protest.  Laughing whole heartedly I managed the drive without breaking my knuckles. Tension easing with the sound of his laughter.

Once we were through the front doors of the police station, (Where they said the attorney assisted we meet) I felt my palms start to sweat all over again.  But Lucas took one of my hands before I could even think about it and tried to lead the way like he always did.

After stopping by the front desk and having to sit in the front for a good fifteen minutes I was on the verge of going over the edge.  You know how difficult it was to occupy a six your old that long without giving him a phone or something and not cause the police officers themselves to pull out there hair?  Difficult. Let me tell you that.

Finally shown to a room I took one of the three seats while Lucas examined what little there was to mess with.

"This place is so boring." I wanted to laugh, but held it back as the door opened to a tall man in a business suit. The gray collar and tie drawing me into knowing that he was all business. He had a full head of blond hair that was carefully pulled back and strong check bones.  His head was bowed looking into a plan folder, and without even looking at me, kicked it shut with the back of his heel. Scuffing the floor. 

"Mrs. T-"

"Ms. Jhonson."  I corrected him before he could mutter the name that defiled the little pride I had. I hadn't been Mrs. Turner in over six years, but people still occasionally stated it due to legal documentation from before the divorce.  

He lifted his head then and his eyes looked as green as a field of blue grass singing to the sun. I couldn't help but look at his features, and I felt horrid for even thinking I had the right.  I had to prove to this man I was a loving mother. He cleared his throat then and apologized after looking me over himself. 

"I do apologize. Your ex-husband had written down that as your last name."  Of course he would.

"It's alright."  I was figitting in my seat and patted the chair next to mine, telling my son to come take a seat.  He sat down and started swinging his feet.  He finally calmed realizing we were getting close.  His little hands reaching for mine.

"I'm Caleb T. Mondragon.  I am the attorney that was assigned to the case of Jimmy and Peyton Turner." He had closed the folder and sat on the chair that sat across from us.  "I do apologize for having you meet here at the station, but encase you weren't who you said you were on the papers I had to take proper precautions."  I swear my eyes were bugging out of my skull as he looked me over again.  Was he sizing me up?

"And am I who I said I was? I do believe so sir."  Lucas chuckled, and I had to nudge his shoulder to remind him to behave. The smile was slight on Mr. Mondragon's face, but I saw a gleam in his eye I wasn't sure meant I was funny.  

He slowly stood from his seat without saying a word, nodded, then went to the door and knocked on it twice.  It opened and my heart dropped into my stomach.  I could hear her baby talk and I felt my lungs contract as Mr. Mondragon took her into his arms.  She looked like she had been their often. 

Before I could take another breath I was on my feet and taking a step forward.  Mr. Mondragon brought her over to me with no hesitation and held her out to me gently.

"Ms. Jhonson.  This is little Peyton Turner." His arm brushed mine in the crossover, and his hands lingered on the smiling little one.

"Peyton!"  Lucas was by my side as I took her into my arms and I gently knelt to the ground so he could see her, taking her out of reach of the lawman.  She was smiling and her dimples made me want to cry.  She looked just like Lucas.  The strawberry hair and dimples were all it took.  I knew she would never have my eyes like he did, but she was perfect in every way.

She took my finger and squealed happily.

"Hey there baby."  Lucas had her other finger and was talking to her like he had known her sense the day she was born.  "We're going to swim in the creek together.  I can teach you to ride like mama taught me.  I'll even sneak you my desert while her and gran aren't lookin!"  This made me smile and I nudged him again.  Whipping the tears off my face with my shoulder.

"Tellin all of your secrets to the woman that will find out isn't to smart boy."  He bent down and kissed my cheek then like he always did when trying to get out of his own messes. 

"Looks like she definitely likes you.  She hasn't liked many people sense she was taken from her father."  I looked up and found him watching us.  I had forgotten he was even there to be honest. Once Peyton had been put into my arms my world had turned upside down like the best kind of cake.

"That's because she's where she belongs, if you don't mind me being so bold.  She wasn't born from my whom, but being my sons sister, she's my babe."  I nuzzled her with my nose and wanted to cry all over again when she tried putting it in her mouth.  She was just perfect.  "May I ask who she has been with sense it happened?"

Catching his eye he scratched his chin as if uncomfortable and put his hands in his pockets.

"She was with a foster family until I came down two weeks ago. Sense then she has been with me. While I finished up some paperwork of course."  That shocked me.  I couldn't see this man waking up in the middle of the night for an infant of ten months. The spit ups and messy dinners.

I could tell he saw the shock in my eyes cause he shrugged and started to step back.  He said he would give us a little time to get to know one another while he went and did whatever it was a man like him would do.

I didn't mind.  I preferred it actually and was happy to have the time.

We sat on the floor with her, saw that she was able to crawl, and that she had already started pulling herself up onto her feet by taking hold of the chair.  Lucas made funny faces with her that made her laugh and I even sat her in his lap.

"I could love you bunches."  He said, melting my heart.  He stuck his tongue out at her and to his surprised she grabbed it.  "Eww!"

Feeling the laugh in my stomach I took her from him and swung her around gently.

"Let's hope that law man lets us take you home baby girl.  Cause now that I have you in my arms I don't think I can let you go."  I nuzzled her and instead of trying to eat my nose she rested her head on my chest and started to drift to sleep.

Oh I had missed this.

One thing people never thought to tell you about being a mother: having to watch your children grow up.  It's harder then anything you could think of.  To think about the times you could kiss them and they would kiss you back without making a face.  When you had to help them get dressed.  Brush there teeth.  You missed all that when you no longer had to do it.

This was the last summer before Lucas would start first grade...and just thinking about that alone made me thank ever moment I had with him.  One day he would be graduating high school and I would be there at the ranch wishing he was there.

"Ms. Jhonson?"  My thoughts interrupted I turned to the door.  The officer that held it open had kind eyes and held a juice box in his hand.  "May I give your boy a juice?"  I smiled and nodded.  Lucas thanked him and he asked us to follow him.

Peyton was sound asleep on my chest as he led us to the front.  Mr. Mondragon wasn't anywhere to be seen, but I took that as a good sign?  Or did I just want to thank him before I left with her?  He looked like such a serious man.  And to know that he had taken care of her filled my heart to its fullest.  I couldn't thank him more when the officer told me to just sign a few more papers for release of custody. I was happy I made such an impression with just a few short spoken words.

"We're ganna miss that little one around here.  Isn't as boring when you have a little smile crawlin away from ya."  I nodded and thanked him again for everything.  I even asked him to tell Mr. Mondragon that I said thank you. Promising me that he would relay the message I strapped the sleeping child into the seat they provided for me and took my boys hand.

We were going home to some home made cherry pie.

To smiling faces.

And to a new life with another teethe smile.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net