Open Arms

by Traci DePree

  “Did he love his adoptive parents?”

  “Deeply.” Kim lifted her eyes. “That scares him too, I think. He’s afraid of loving someone that much and losing them.”

  KIM ASKED KATE to stay with her that night. Kate called Paul at around nine thirty to let him know and he brought over a few supplies and prayed with them.

  The young woman slept, though fitfully. Kate could hear her moving every few minutes through the paper-thin guest-room walls that night.

  The following morning, Kate rose early. She had wanted some time alone in prayer to ask God what to do.

  Lord, she began. You are the great finder of the lost. Help us find Chad. Give Kim the wisdom and patience she needs to be the wife Chad longs for, the comfort he needs in his grieving.

  Kate hadn’t thought of adoption as grief before, but she realized that a part of it had an element of grief. Birth parents grieved the inability to raise their own flesh and blood. Children grieved the unknown parents who gave them away. Adoptive parents grieved their inability to conceive. Some never recovered. Yet God understood grief all too well. He knew what it was like to lose a child, his own Son, and to lose humankind to sin.

  Yet Kate also knew that adoption could bring healing to such wounds and give a family to a child without one. And it could offer fulfillment to couples who otherwise couldn’t bear children. Best of all, Kate thought, the ultimate adoption brought humankind to a God who loved them.

  At that thought, Kate lifted her face from her silent prayer. She knew where to find Chad—at least she had an idea. But she was going to need Kim’s help.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Kim hit the gas as they pulled onto the interstate heading toward Chattanooga that morning. The sun had just pushed over the horizon toward the blue sky.

  “How do you know where to find him?” she asked Kate.

  “I don’t...exactly. But I do believe his leaving isn’t just about your marriage. He said he had to sort things out, find who he was before. So I think it’s about his adoption as much as finding the man he used to be when you dated. I have a couple places up my sleeve.”

  Kim glanced at her. Kate could tell she was considering what that meant.

  “So, where would he go?”

  “That’s what we need to figure out. He’s searching for any place where he feels connected to his family, his origins. Do you know where he grew up?”

  “I’ve been there more times than I could count.”

  WHEN THEY REACHED CHATTANOOGA, Kim made her way to an older neighborhood of Southern-style homes. She pulled to a stop in front of a house with white columns and a wide porch and nodded toward it.

  “This is where he grew up,” she said. “He has never stopped talking about how much he loves the place.”

  Kate glanced at her watch. It was only eight thirty, but a man came out of the house just then. He wore running clothes and sneakers.

  “Come on,” Kate said.

  “Can you help us?” Kim said, capturing the man’s attention.

  He was young, in his early thirties, Kate guessed, with dark hair and equally dark eyes.

  “We’re looking for someone who used to live here.” Kim pulled a photograph out of her purse and handed it to the man. “Have you seen him?”

  He studied the shot for just a moment, then nodded. “He was here yesterday, even asked for a tour.”

  “Did he say anything about where he was going?” Kate asked.

  “Talked mostly about his family. They were killed in a car crash?”

  Kim nodded.

  “Anything else?” Kate asked.

  “Not really.”

  They thanked him and turned to go. At least they were on the right trail, Kate thought. Now to their next stop.

  When they got back in the car, Kim pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She studied the display for a long moment, clicking a few buttons to check her messages. She shook her head. Nothing from Chad.

  Kim lifted her gaze and handed the cell to Kate.

  “Can you type a text message for me?”

  “Of course.” Kate pulled up the text-message screen, and Kim dictated while she drove.

  Chad, let me be there for you. Let me comfort you. Don’t shut me out.

  Then she hit Send.

  When Kate looked around, she realized that Kim hadn’t told her where they were going.

  “He wants to be near family, his adoptive family. That’s why he visited his old house...,” Kate said.

  Kim nodded and met her gaze. “You’re right,” she said. “I think I know just where to look.”

  THE GRASS WAS COVERED in early morning dew. Sunlight eased through the trees, spotlighting particular headstones as they arched upward. Kim drove slowly along the narrow road that was the path through the graves, turning to the left until Chad’s slender form came into view.

  His back was to them, but there was no doubt it was Chad. His blond hair was tousled as if he’d come straight from bed.

  “Do you want me to join you?” Kate asked Kim.

  Kim nodded. “I need the moral support.” She exhaled a heavy sigh, then added under her breath, “Thank God we found him.”

  She parked the SUV, and the two women got out. When they shut the doors, Chad turned toward them. He didn’t move, didn’t make any attempt to leave.

  “How did you find me?” he said, when they reached him.

  “I know you,” Kim said simply. “I’m your best friend.”

  He smiled.

  “I got your text messages. I’m sorry, Kimmie. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  “Please let me be your wife,” she said. There was no accusation in her voice, just sadness. “I want to be here for you, Chad. Whatever you’re going through, I want to go through it with you.”

  “I don’t know if you can.” He turned toward his adoptive parents’ headstone. “They’d know what to tell me,” he said.

  There was a long silence. Finally Kim said, “They’d tell you not to be afraid.”

  Chad nodded.

  “I have no idea what kind of a father I’d be.”

  “I do.”

  He met her gaze.

  “Hopefully a better father than a husband, right?”

  “No. You’re a great husband. The best.”

  He smiled into her eyes. “I love you,” he said.

  “I love you too.”

  KATE DROVE KIM’S SUV back to Copper Mill while the Lewises followed in Chad’s Mercedes. There was much to discuss when they got home.

  Kate thought of Angie.

  What would the girl do if Kim and Chad decided not to go ahead with the adoption? The idea of an open adoption had been the clincher for her. Would she be able to find another couple who wanted her to know her child, who wouldn’t be threatened at her presence in their lives?

  Kate loosened her grip on the steering wheel and decided not to worry about it. Instead, she lifted a prayer and let the beauty of the April morning calm her.

  Chapter Thirty

  Six days passed. Kate hadn’t heard from Kim and Chad since dropping off Kim’s SUV at the Lewises’ home when they got back from Chattanooga on the twenty-seventh. She’d wanted to give them time, especially after Chad’s comment about feeling pressured by her and Paul. She wouldn’t have called if youth group hadn’t been scheduled for the following day.

  The phone rang three times before Kim finally answered, “Hello, Lewises.”

  “Kim, it’s Kate. How are you?”

  “Doing better, thanks.”

  “That’s good to hear, Kim.”

  “Yeah. Chad and I are...working things out.”

  “Good.” She paused. “I was actually calling about youth group tomorrow...”

  “Oh, I meant to call you and tell you that we’ll be there.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “If you’ll have us. We’re still planning on chaperoning the afterprom party too.”

  “Of course. Kim, I don’t know
how to bring this up, but...”

  “You’re wondering about the baby?”

  “Yes.”

  Kate heard her intake of air.

  “We’re working that out.”

  “Would it help Chad to talk to Betty and Bob again?”

  “I doubt it.” She grew quiet.

  “If there’s anything I can do, just let me know,” Kate offered.

  “Thanks,” Kim said and then hung up.

  THE NEXT DAY, as Kate and Paul were just sitting down to enjoy their Sunday lunch, a knock sounded on the door. Kate looked at Paul as he went to answer it.

  She could hear Kim’s and Chad’s voices, so she joined them in the foyer.

  “We want to adopt Angie’s baby,” Chad said.

  “Wow, big news. Come tell us,” Paul said, leading them into the kitchen. Kate pulled two more plates out of the cupboard for lunch.

  “Don’t go to any trouble,” Kim said. “We didn’t realize you’d still be eating.” It was after two o’clock. “We were so excited we had to stop by.”

  “It’s no trouble,” Kate insisted. “There’s plenty of pot roast in the oven.” She finished setting their spots and filled two glasses with water.

  “You didn’t tell Angie that we were considering changing our minds, did you?” Chad asked Kate.

  “No.” Kate smiled. “I was hoping you’d come around.”

  Kim exhaled relief. “Good. We were afraid she might’ve talked to another couple.”

  “Will she be at youth group tonight?” Chad asked.

  Kate had never seen him so excited.

  “Yes. I talked to her yesterday.”

  “I’ll call her too,” Kim said. “We need to get to know her better.”

  “Can I ask,” Paul leaned in, catching Chad’s eye, “what changed your mind?”

  Chad reached for his wife’s hand and squeezed. “Kim asked me if I loved my folks. Despite everything, including teenage angst that I probably would’ve gone through adopted or not, and despite losing my parents at such a young age...I still wouldn’t have changed a thing. They were the greatest parents. They loved me beyond words. Kim helped me see that I could love a child like that.”

  “Do you know your birth parents?” Kate asked, recalling Betty’s mention of George’s birth mother and that they were still friends.

  “I looked for my mother but never had the courage to actually meet her.”

  “But our baby will know her mother,” Kim said.

  “Both of her mothers,” Chad corrected.

  WITH PROM QUICKLY APPROACHING, and the final details for the afterprom party to tie up, Kate was thrown into a melee of activity the following week.

  She checked with each of the area leads to make sure everything was a go. She made arrangements for an extra cleaning of the church. With the event ending just hours before Sunday-morning church, they’d opted to skip Sunday school for the day. It was a sacrifice, but one the congregation willingly made.

  Decorating commenced on Monday in the fellowship hall in the Faith Briar Church basement. The booths were already in their assigned spots. The men had run extension cords to the stations that would need electricity. The rented games came on Thursday in a large semi. The company spent the day checking and double-checking that everything was secure and running properly. Large fans added a constant hum to the fellowship hall.

  Betty and Kate hauled in the vanload of prizes they’d purchased and took them to their assigned spots at each of the games. Kids would get awards for just attempting to play.

  On Friday, the donated treats and bar cookies that had been promised by various members of the community started arriving in nine-by-thirteen inch pans. Renee checked each food item off her list and then wrapped the snacks in individual colored cling wrap for easy distribution and set them in the refrigerator for the following evening.

  Even the photo booth, where the kids would pose for wacky pictures, was set up in a corner.

  By Saturday morning, there was nothing left to do but wait for the fun to begin.

  SINCE PROM ITSELF went until midnight, the festivities at the church didn’t begin until late. Kate had taken a long nap that afternoon to be sure she’d be able to stay awake for the event. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d stayed up all night on purpose.

  The grand march was at four o’clock. This was when the community gathered at the high school’s auditorium to appreciate how fine their children looked all dolled up in fancy attire. Each couple took a stroll along the runway and were applauded for not tripping. Kate donned her 1970s prom dress, with its patchwork-effect fabric and platform shoes. She seemed to remember wearing something very similar to it when she was in college. If only she still had the long, straight hair to go with it. Instead, she opted to wear a tie-dyed headband across her forehead.

  Paul came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of jeans and a button-down shirt. He paused to take in the full effect of Kate’s outfit. “You’re going out in public like that?” he asked.

  “Livvy, Betty, Renee, LuAnne, and I all got...unique outfits for prom.” She smiled. “The kids will get a kick out of them.”

  “All right, but I’m not wearing my gold lamé disco shirt.”

  “Why not?” Kate teased. “I was hoping you’d get out that old John Travolta outfit.”

  “You’re very funny. Come on, we need to get to the high school.”

  THE SCHOOL’S GYMNASIUM was decorated in the Evening in Paris theme. A miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower with a backdrop of the city of love at one end of the gym served as the setting for photographs. A red-carpeted runway lit with lampposts served as the sole lighting. Parents and friends filled the stands, chatting among themselves. Kate and Paul made their way to a spot near the top where the Jenners were seated. Livvy wore her mermaid dress complete with sparkling green eye shadow.

  “You’re lucky you can pull off almost anything, Kate Hanlon, because that dress is hilarious,” she said.

  “Oh yeah? You’re the one who looks like you should be selling tuna in a can.”

  Livvy laughed. “James was mortified that I was coming out in public like this. It was so precious. Poor guy.”

  The men looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

  Betty and Bob Anderson came up the steps of the stands. Betty’s cowgirl getup was a bit tight, but that only seemed to add to the tacky effect. People turned their heads to stare as she and her husband passed.

  “Hey, hey,” she said as she climbed the stands. Paul scooted over, making room for her to sit next to Kate. Bob went to sit with the men on the far side of the row. “He’s embarrassed to be seen with me!” Betty said, giggling. Her makeup was particularly heavy.

  When Kate studied Betty’s eyes, she realized she was wearing fake eyelashes that looked like caterpillars climbing across her eyelids.

  “Did I miss anything?” Betty looked around the gymnasium.

  “No,” Kate said. “Not really.”

  Just then, a young man tapped Betty on the shoulder, and she turned to see who it was. Kate assumed that her ten-gallon cowboy hat was blocking his view, and he was going to ask her to take it off. Instead, he handed her a note.

  “What’s this?” she said.

  “That gentleman in the back sent it to you,” he said, then hopped down to the gym floor.

  Kate turned with Betty to see who he’d meant. She studied the faces, but everyone seemed focused on the festivities about to begin.

  “What does it say?” Kate pointed to the note.

  “Is it the same writing as your secret admirer’s?” Livvy chimed in.

  Betty looked at the outside, before tearing it open. She pulled out the flowery card that read, “Can I have this dance?” It was signed “Your secret admirer.”

  Kate didn’t miss her quick glance to Bob. But he was immersed in conversation with Paul and Danny.

  “The boy said he’s here,” Kate reminded.

  Betty stood up and turned to ge
t a better look. Finally she gasped. “Oh, I can’t believe it!”

  She sounded as if she was going to cry, and she covered her mouth with a bejeweled hand.

  A twentysomething, good-looking man made his way toward her. He had a head full of dark, thick hair and pale blue eyes. With a chiseled face and a trim physique, he could easily have been a model. He wore a tuxedo and held a single rose in his hand.

  “My goodness,” Kate heard Livvy say.

  Kate leaned to whisper to her, “Who is it?”

  “It’s her son, George.”

  By then, Betty was bawling. She held out her arms, and her tall boy gave her a huge bear hug.

  “Oh, don’t cry, Ma,” he said.

  “You look so handsome,” she said.

  Bob must have noticed what was going on because he too was on his feet and in line to embrace his son.

  “Were you in on this?” Betty asked.

  Bob shook his head. “I had no idea.”

  “When did you get in?”

  “Half an hour ago. Thought I’d surprise you for Mother’s Day tomorrow.”

  “Mission accomplished!”

  “Did you like the flowers?”

  Betty playfully slugged his arm. “Half of Copper Mill thinks I’ve been unfaithful!”

  George blushed. “That wasn’t my intent. I guess I forgot that small towns can be that way.”

  It was time for the grand march to begin. George took the seat next to the aisle. Betty held his hand. The principal came out and recognized the organizers of the event, including prom servers Marlee and Brenna, who wore beautiful gowns. Then the grand march commenced.

  There was something magical about seeing the kids all dolled up and looking glamorous for the event. Many of the girls had their hair in updos, with curls strategically placed and ringlets framing their pretty faces. And the boys with their tuxedos and suits had become striking young men.

  When Angie came out with her date, Kate was struck with how lovely the senior was. She wore a strapless dress in a pale salmon color, with delicate embroidery that trailed across the front and around the back like a drooping bouquet. It had an empire waist, so it was loose fitting across the stomach to hide her growing secret. Her hairstyle was simple, straight and shiny. Her date was shorter than she and wore a white suit.