by Yvette Hines
Leigh leaned forward speaking in a sweet Southern Virginia accent sounding like Blanche Devereaux from the Golden Girls . “So give me the juicy details and leave nothing out.”
Yasmine no longer attempted to withhold the information, but she presented it to her friend as if she were giving a dissertation on the benefits of keep your colon cleansed.
Leigh had enough excitement for both of them, which was shown by her occasional, ‘I bet the room looked fabulous, he would have had me then.’ Or ‘I would have gotten in wearing my birthday suit.’ Then to, ‘He sucked your toes?’
“No…he licked my arch.” Yasmine crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you going to keep interrupting?”
Leigh made a sign as if she were zipping her lips. She continued to keep silent, even as Yasmine told her about the dream and the fact they had sex. Then Leigh asked in a quiet hushed tone as if not to let the secret out, “Was he good?”
Yes, her mind shouted. “It’s irrelevant,” she declared.
“How so...?”
“Because it won’t happen again.” She was adamant.
“What did Jason say?”
“He basically agreed that we should keep our lives separate.”
“He said that?” Leigh didn’t sound the least bit convinced.
“Not in so many words and I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“Hmm...” That one word sat in the room between them, taking up space like a giant pink elephant, cursing everything else around it.
Yasmine struggled but managed to ignore her friends comment. “Well, if you’re going to stay here, you’re going to at least help me fix dinner.”
“Okay, but only if you’re making that dish of broiled pig and clams, with the potatoes.”
Laughing at Leigh’s description of a Portuguese meal, Yasmine got up from the table. “Yes, I will be making carne a lentejana.”
The two friends began pulling out the food items from the refrigerator and cookware as they began cooking and talking about what Yasmine’s plans were for the children.
~ML~
“I wike kickball and football and da swings,” Joshua was saying to Jason as they sat outside on the grass by the playground.
“I wike kickball too, but I wike baby dolls more,” Jessica chimed in.
“I’m pretty good with kickball, but I don’t think I do to well with dolls,” Jason told them.
“Dats okay, I can teach you.” Jessica’s face lit up with a big smile as she quickly jumped up and ran into the house, with lightning speed came back out with a doll in tow.
When she came out, Yasmine knew she had gotten the doll from the playroom, where the entire orphanage community toys were kept.
“Dis is Mandy.” Jessica held out the ebony colored curly haired baby doll to Jason for introductions. “She my favorite. I can’t play wif her all da time, because we half to sh-air.” she pronounced, practicing her words.
“Well, hello, Mandy.” Jason spoke right on cue.
“She wikes to have her hair brushed,” Jessica informed him.
Yasmine just sat back and admired the play between Jason and the kids. She hadn’t been sure how the first meeting would turn out, but a week ago when they had come to visit so she could introduce them, everything went fine. They had decided not to attempt adopting them until she was sure how they would take to Jason. Even though Jason wouldn’t be in their lives much, it would be important for the overall outcome for her to finally attain permanent custody.
When they had left last time, Jason hadn’t comment much, only stating that he thought they were sweet and he liked them. He did ask about what she knew of how they arrived at the orphanage and how long she had been visiting them.
“Miz Yaz-min, are you and Misr Jason going to have babies?”
Yasmine didn’t dare look at Jason. Especially since the week after their honeymoon accident she had given herself the test to make sure she had not conceived—even though she had told herself it wasn’t the right time, she had to be positive. She was thankful when the results had come in as a minus instead of a plus. A baby would have just complicated her life.
“Let’s just say we’re hoping to end up with two very special kids.” She tweaked Joshua’s nose.
That seemed to satisfy him somewhat and both the kids returned to playing with Jason who was like a new toy to them.
After the visit, she and Jason stopped by the adoption information office and picked up the forms.
“Mrs. Yasmine, I’m surprised to see you in here.” Putting down her ever-present smoothie cup, La-Tonya Brown, the administrative clerk in charge of adoption processing greeted them when she and Jason walked in.
“Well, my husband and I have decided we would like to try and adopt.” Yasmine addressed the other woman she’d spoken to a few times on her occasional visits.
“I didn’t even know you were married.”
It was a comment, so Yasmine did not volunteer any additional information. “Would we have to fill out two separate packets for two children?” Yasmine asked diverting the other woman back to the issue at hand.
“It depends if the children are related or not. If they are, then no you wouldn’t, if they are from two separate families then yes, you would. Matter fact, that would be two separate processes all together.”
“I see.”
Turning to her computer and pulling up a listing of some sort, La-Tonya asked, “So which child or children would you like to adopt?”
“Joshua and Jessica.” Jason spoke up.
“The twins.” Smiling, La-Tonya went on to say, “I’m so glad. They had such a rough time a few weeks ago when a family was trying to adopt only Jessica.”
“I remember.” Yasmine was still slightly anxious about what had happened after the fair.
Typing information into the computer, La-Tonya explained, “I’ll just get some information from you all and begin the process for you. Computers make some of this so easy, because a lot of the same information goes on most of the sheets.”
Directing them to sit down in the chairs on the side of her desk, La-Tonya began with her questioning. She asked them their place of birth, socials, income and finances, housing information, at which point they told her about Yasmine’s three-bedroom family home as planned. When they told her their marriage date, she didn’t even pause in her typing, she just continued without any questions.
Yasmine assumed that question would come later when they had the interview with Mrs. Andrea.
She asked them about an assessor; which they found out was an evaluator who came out to evaluate the house and children. When Yasmine had questions about how often, La-Tonya clarified that they would find out more about it when they had their official interview.
La-Tonya finished up the questions by asking them about any legal problems either of them may have. Yasmine was happy to know that Jason had not been in trouble with the law.
Before they left, they were given a printout of the information they submitted orally, and a form to fill out that they would have to write down their reasons for wanting to adopt.
She and Jason thanked La-Tonya as they left the orphanage.
“They’re great.” When they had arrived at her house, Jason stopped the car in the driveway.
They had made small talk in the car on the way to her house, but neither of them brought up the kids.
She faced him. “I was wondering what your thoughts were. You didn’t say anything before. Not that it’s relevant.”
“It is relevant, considering the fact they’d probably sense if I didn’t like them and ruin your chances of custody,” Jason spoke, his voice tight.
“You’re right.” She stared at him, noticing the subtle lines in the center of his forehead. Is he upset? No, she convinced herself, he just wanted to put on a good show.
“People are usually good actors, but they can never fool children very well.”
Yasmine tried not to stare at his mouth why he talked, b
ut she couldn’t help it, her eyes seem to be continually drawn to his lips and other parts of his body. When she was around him, her body sang with memories of how it felt being consumed by his virile masculinity.
Shaking herself away from the tempting thoughts, she glanced out the window. “That’s true. Children are very perceptive, not to mention the staff at Angelic Refuge. Do you think when we have our interview there will be a problem with how long we’ve been married?”
“If there is, we’ll handle it. Our main goal is to get the twins and make sure they have a good home. You can give them that and the staff will have to see that. Don’t worry. Together we can take care of anything that comes our way—that’s how a family works.”
Family. Yasmine turned that word over repeatedly in her mind. It seemed to fit with what she was going to have with the twins. Deciding not to process it any further, Yasmine open her side of the door.
“So, what are your plans for the rest of the evening?”
Yasmine hadn’t been expecting that question, with one foot out of the door she turned back toward Jason, “I’m going to finish this paperwork, then do a little mall shopping.”
“For yourself?”
“No, the kids. I don’t have them yet, but I need to go look for some things and price shop.”
“Can I come?” He spoke in his seductive as satin voice. “And maybe we could do dinner afterwards?”
She was even less prepared for this one.
Looking into those captivating green eyes, she assured him, “Dinner would be nice, and yes, you can come.”
Yasmine noticed something flicker in his eyes at her statement and it was gone just as quickly.
“Let me just put these forms in the house and I’ll be right back out.”
“Deal.”
Yasmine got out of the car and went into the house. She knew that the polite thing would have been to invite him in, but the way she was feeling just being next to him in the car, she wasn’t even going to risk being alone with him in her house. There hadn’t been enough time since the honeymoon for her to get her emotions back under control where he was involved.
Returning and getting back into the car Yasmine faced him. “If I forget to say it, when all of this is over, Jason—thanks for everything.”
“It’s not like I’m not being selfish in this also.”
“I know, but at times you go above and beyond.” Shifting she gazed out the front windshield and watched the road as they travel to the mall. “I just wanted to say, I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” Jason voice held a rich timbre.
He didn’t know why he had wanted to go with her. He had a ton of work he had left undone at the office in order to meet her and go to the orphanage. He told himself that he was just dragging himself in deeper, by doing things with her, but a part of him couldn’t stay away from her.
Fourteen
“I see that you two have only been married for a short period of time,” Andrea was saying as she and La-Tonya, who was taking notes, looked up at the two of them.
Yasmine had been afraid of this question. She had racked her brain to think of some plausible reason to give them about their urgency in marriage and adoption.
Before she could respond, Jason spoke, “I’m going to be honest with you, Mrs. Andrea. I had a mild heart attack a while ago. I met Yasmine, while I was in the hospital, and we sparked from the beginning. I’d asked her to marry me and she continued to turn me down, then suddenly I won her over. So, it may seem as if it’s sudden to you, but it’s been on going for some time now.” He punctuated it, by looking at her as she sat quietly beside him.
Vague, but good,. Yasmine thought, wondering if he had just come up with it on the spot or if he had been thinking about it since they’d turned in the paperwork a few weeks ago. Jason almost had her convinced that it had been a long, ongoing relationship.
“It’s understandable, marriage is a big decision. As well as deciding to adopt.”
“I agree, which is why I didn’t rush into either.” Yasmine confirmed.
“Is there a reason why you can’t conceive your own children?” Andrea asked.
“I had a miscarriage and I’m still dealing with complications from it.” Yasmine answered.
Well, that wasn’t a complete lie, except the complications had more to do with her personal life than any physical disabilities.
They watched as La-Tonya continued to make notes on her form, while Andrea continued with the questioning.
During the interview Jason asked, “How do we know that the birth mother is not going to come back for them?”
La-Tonya answered that by saying, “We have a release of custody and parental rights letter that they sign and I notarize it. The parents don’t have to sign it; which means we can only allow the children to go to foster homes or stay at the orphanage and pray the parents come and get them soon. As for Joshua and Jessica, their mother opted to sign it and has not made any attempts to call or ask about the children. The father was located and informed of the children and he declined custody and rights as well.”
“If the mother does call, can she have access to our information?” Yasmine asked.
“No, she cannot. That’s considered privacy act information.” Andrea reassured them.
“What if she decides she wants them back?” Jason asked.
“She voluntarily signed a legal and binding contract. She could always try to get custody back before or after the adoption goes through, but it is not likely that a judge will grant it to her.”
The interview proceeded for an hour.
After it was over, La-Tonya gave Andrea the notes and forms, then escorted them out the door. When they had reached the waiting area, La-Tonya informed them, “It may take a few weeks before a decision is made. After Andrea has reviewed it, it will go to the local social work department and other formal offices. If and when it’s approved, an assessor, who is a judge, usually assigns an evaluating social worker to you for the remainder of the process.”
She and Jason expressed their thanks, then took some time to visit with the twins, before they left to begin the waiting game.
~ML~
It was three weeks to the day when Yasmine was locking up at the end of her day and her office phone rang. After light jog from the door to her desk she picked up the receiver.
“Hello, Healthy Fit, Yasmine speaking.” She was slightly breathless.
“Hi, Yasmine, it’s La-Tonya. Andrea wanted me to call you and inform you and your husband that the judge has come back with his decision.”
Yasmine’s legs seem to go out from under her, causing her to sit down quickly on her desk. “It was?”
“He has granted you and Jason temporary custody of the twins until the final adoption process is complete,” La-Tonya’s voice was cheery.
“Sim obrigado, nosso Senhor,” Yasmine started in Portuguese first, then converted the same phrase to English, “Yes, thank you, Lord.” Yasmine leaped off her chair and did a few toe-tapping moves on the floor.
“I’m very happy for you both, and I’ve seen firsthand how much the twins have meant to you since they got here.”
“I thought I’d done a good job of hiding it.” Yasmine confessed.
“I have my bachelor’s in social work, even though my master’s is in administration, so I’m trained for this stuff. Just like you’re trained to remember how many fruit smoothes I drink, when others who work with me don’t even notice it.”
Yasmine had to laugh, she frequently had made comments to La-Tonya about the number of smoothies she drank whenever she was there visiting.
“When can we pick them up?” Yasmine asked anxiously.
“We should have all of the paperwork in order for you by the middle of next week.”
“We will be there and that gives me just enough time to get my shopping completed and I can begin to interview for a nanny to pick them up for after-school care.” It was one of the things she had
begun pulling names for from the social services offices and other caregiver agencies.
“I’m glad to hear it. That should be all for now, I’ll keep you posted as things progress.”
“Thank you, La-Tonya, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“No, problem. You and your husband can pay me back by loving those two sweet kids.”
“We will.” Yasmine began to hang up the phone.
“Yasmine, one more thing. I almost forgot. I set up the first home-study meeting for Friday after the children get there. When Julinda Britt gets there, you all can setup the time for your future appointments.”
Yasmine was not worried, because Andrea had all ready explained that a social worker had to complete a written assessment on them.
“And all of her arrivals will be done by appointment, correct?”
“Some of them and occasionally, she will just drop by. Catching the prospective family unawares is one of the most important points to see how the family is truly getting along.”
Yasmine’s heart did a summersault. Como manipularei este? Yasmine whispered to herself.
“But, I’m not worried, I know you and have no fear about you keeping any secrets that the social worker will find out about that will disqualify you and your husband from adoption. So, sleep well, this is just a formality.”
That comment just made her feel even worse. Everyone at Angelic Refuge had become a trusting acquaintance to her and how had she repaid their friendship by lying to them in the biggest way.
~ML~
“Hello, you must be Yasmine.” A smiling woman, appearing to be of Mexican descent, said to her when she walked up to the desk located outside of Jason’s office.
She had dark brown, thick wavy hair that cascaded past her shoulders and framed her face like a halo. The curls looked so natural Yasmine was convinced they didn’t come out of a box, unless the other woman had paid in blood to an expensive stylist to have it done. Yasmine liked her smile; it was warm, open, and friendly.
“Yes, I am. How did you know that?” Yasmine asked curiously.