by Cronk, LN
“What do you think?” Laci asked after they were gone.
“I think it’s going to be really good,” I said, looking down at Stephen who was lying on my lap, his head at my knees.
“You do?” She looked at me to see if I meant it.
I did.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to love him,” I told her, “but you were right.”
“I think it’s going to be good too,” she said. I glanced back at her and she was smiling at me.
“You know,” I warned Laci, wrapping Stephen’s hand around my finger and stroking it with my thumb, “she can still change her mind.”
“I know,” Laci said. “I’m not getting too attached.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Well,” she admitted, smiling and reaching a hand over to him to stroke his hair, “I’m attached, but you know what I mean. If she decides to keep him . . . it would be hard, but I’d be okay.”
“Do you think she will?”
“You saw where she’s living,” Laci said, shaking her head. “Even if she wanted to, I don’t see how she can.”
That night we went into the nursery and stood by the empty crib, just looking.
“We still haven’t picked a middle name,” Laci reminded me.
“Maybe something will come to us by tomorrow.”
“I hope so,” Laci said. She wound up the mobile over his bed and we listened to it play for a minute before we turned out the light and left the room.
~ ~ ~
WE WALKED INTO Kelly’s room the next morning and found her sitting up in bed. What stopped me in my tracks was that Wade was sitting next to her, holding Stephen.
I looked at Laci and squeezed her hand. I was suddenly worried about her because I knew what was coming and I could tell by the look on Laci’s face that she knew too.
Kelly started crying as soon as she saw us and Wade had to do most of the talking. I didn’t catch all the details, but the gist of it was that Kelly was going to move into his parent’s house and he was going to attend the local community college. They were also going to get married.
After he finished, Kelly managed to choke out a sentence. She wanted to know if we’d ever be able to forgive her.
“Kelly,” Laci said, taking her hand. “There’s nothing to forgive. This is your baby . . . you have every right to keep him. You know that . . . we’ve talked about that.”
“Will you pray with me?” Kelly asked her. “One more time?”
“We both will,” Laci said and she reached for my hand.
We had just walked out of the room when I suddenly realized that I needed to ask Kelly something.
Wade was leaning over Kelly, their foreheads touching. Both of them were smiling down at their baby.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” I said and Wade straightened up.
“It’s okay,” Kelly said softly.
“I just . . . I wanted to know what his name is. Did you decide on a name?”
“Oh,” Kelly said, smiling slightly and looking up at Wade. “We’re going to call him Stephen. Stephen Wade . . .”
Now I knew why Laci and I hadn’t been able to pick a middle name before. We’d never tried Wade.
“I like that,” I told her. “It’s perfect.”
Kelly smiled at me and I went back out into the hall where Laci was waiting.
When we got to the parking lot I stopped and pulled Laci tight against me.
“Are you okay?” I whispered. I felt her nod against my shoulder.
“Are you sure?” I asked, pulling back and looking at her. There were tears in her eyes but she did seem alright.
“I’m sure,” she said, nodding again. “I knew all along this was about more than just God giving us a baby.”
“You did really good, Laci,” I told her. “No one could have done more for her than what you did.”
She nodded slightly and wiped a tear away. We got into the car and I held her hand the whole way home. It was a very quiet ride.
~ ~ ~
AS SOON AS we got back to the house I went out into the backyard and started making phone calls. When I was done I found Laci in the bedroom and pulled her to me.
“Can you be ready to go home in eight days?” I asked her.
She nodded and a smile tugged at her lips.
“I talked to Inez about starting the paperwork,” I said. And then, just in case she didn’t know what I meant, I added, “for us to adopt.”
A huge, broad smile spread across her face and I thought how I hadn’t seen that smile in such a long time.
“Dorito’s still there,” I went on. “Inez said he’s all ours.”
Suddenly the smile was gone.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing,” she said, hesitating. “I just . . .”
“We have to get Dorito, Laci . . . we just have to!”
“Right,” she said, nodding and trying unsuccessfully to smile again.
“What’s wrong? I thought you’d be so happy.”
“I am,” she insisted. “I am.”
“No, you’re not. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing . . . I just . . .” She shook her head.
“You just what?” I persisted.
“I just thought we’d get a baby,” she finally said softly. Then, more forcefully, “but it’s fine and you’re right. You’re absolutely right – we have to get Dorito.”
“Laci,” I said, starting to laugh. “I didn’t mean we couldn’t get a baby too . . . he’s going to need little brothers and sisters!”
“Really?”
“Of course, really,” I said.
“Brothers and sisters?” she asked. “Plural?”
“All you want,” I nodded.
She flung her arms around me.
“There’s just one thing though,” I said and she pulled back to look at me.
“What?”
“Tienes que mantenerlos fuera de mi oficia.”
You’ve got to keep them out of my office.
The smile returned to her face one more time and she nodded at me before she laid her head against my chest and squeezed me tight.
###
Be sure to see what lies ahead for David and Laci
in Book Three: Pon, Pon. Available now!
While the concept of forgiveness is appreciated by people from religions and nations throughout the world, the reality that Jesus Christ loved us enough to die for the forgiveness of our sins is not. If you enjoyed Chop, Chop and feel others would benefit from its important message, please remember that word of mouth is one of the most powerful tools you have available . . . tell others about it!
Can just one family make a difference? Can just one person change lives for all eternity? Be sure to read the rest of the books in the Chop, Chop series to discover the full impact of Greg and his family in the years that follow.
Book One: Chop, Chop
Book Two: Day-Day
Book Three: Pon-Pon
Book Four: The Other Brother
Book Five: The Other Mothers
Book Six: Gone
Book Seven: Not Quickly Broken
Book Eight: Alone
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Visit the authors website:
www.LNCronk.com