Tracie Peterson (13 page)

Brad nodded and then looked to Justin. “Go ahead and make the arrangements.”

CHAPTER 13

Sherry watched the couple intently through a two-way mirror. They seemed nice enough and the paper work she’d been given to read through indicated they were financially well off. The woman was really very pretty. Sherry liked the way her hair had been pulled back off her face with a barrette. Sherry had tried to do things like that with her baby-fine hair, but it never looked as good.

The man was nice looking. Not movie-star handsome, but he had a nice smile and expressions that seemed sincere. Sherry had dealt with enough phony people to last her a lifetime. Maybe that was the only reason she was willing to work with Judge Woodsby. The judge had always been honest with her. She had warned Sherry about detention, and while Sherry had tried to walk the narrow line, she knew when she made the wrong choices that Judge Woodsby would keep her word. And as much as she hated detention, she would have hated even more if the woman would have simply smiled and suggested another foster home.

Maybe that’s why I did what I did
, Sherry thought as she watched the couple.
Maybe I just wanted to get it over and go to detention. After all, that’s where everyone was always threatening to send me
.

“Are you ready to meet the Holbrooks?” Justin Dillard asked her as he came into the small room. He was the lawyer assigned to the Holbrooks, Sherry had learned. He was also Judge Woodsby’s brother.

Sherry looked at the man and nodded. “I guess so.”

She tried not to sound nervous, but her stomach was tied in knots. What if they didn’t like her? Judge Woodsby had said they were the only couple to show interest in her proposition. If they didn’t like her and decided against allowing her
to come into their home, then Sherry would have to start all over in figuring out what to do.

Justin opened the door and held it for Sherry. “After you,” he said in a polite yet casual manner. Sherry was unused to such treatment.

She came into the room and met the gaze of the woman first. Warm brown eyes and a welcoming smile were Sherry’s first face-to-face impressions of the woman.

“I’m Tess and this is my husband, Brad. You must be Sherry.”

Sherry nodded and took a seat opposite them at the conference table. Justin took his place at the head of the table and within minutes, Barbara Woodsby joined them.

“Tess, Brad, this is my sister, Judge Woodsby,” Justin introduced.

Tess and Brad shook hands with the woman while Sherry watched in silence. She found adult games to be the most time-consuming of chores, but she had no other choice.

“I’m glad you both could come. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to drop everything and fly up, but since the matter is a timely one, I felt it imperative to push toward an immediate resolution,” Barbara Woodsby said. “This isn’t a routine situation and I’ve gotten a lot of rules bent on Sherry’s behalf.” She eyed the girl for a moment, then smiled. “But I think she’s worth the trouble.”

Sherry was surprised to hear the woman make such a statement. She was equally surprised to hear that someone had altered the rules for her. That had to be a first.

“I know these things can be full of legalities and problems,” Tess said quite openly. “I was apprehensive for that very reason. However, Justin is a good friend and he’s promised to leave no stone unturned in resolving conflict and problems related to this arrangement.”

“I feel the same way,” the judge replied.

Sherry listened only halfheartedly to the conversation. She had already decided she would go with the Holbrooks, if
they liked her and the idea of adopting her child. She didn’t like the idea of having no other options; after all, what if she positively hated the Holbrooks? But there were no other choices. At least not reasonable ones.

“You’ve both been given information to read on the other party or parties involved. Do you have any questions?”

Tess nodded. “I do.”

“Then why don’t you go ahead,” Barbara suggested.

“I’m wondering what kind of parents you’re hoping to find for your child?” Tess questioned.

Sherry shrugged. “Good ones, I guess.”

“So what constitutes good?” Tess pressed.

Sherry hadn’t expected to have to answer a lot of questions. In fact, she had figured she would be the one asking the questions.

She studied the Holbrook woman for a moment. She wasn’t nearly as old as Sherry had figured. Somehow thirty-six seemed awfully old, but this woman looked pretty young, like she exercised and maybe even jogged. She was classy, too, and nothing like any of the foster mothers Sherry had dealt with.

“I want someone who will love my baby like their own kid,” Sherry finally answered. “I don’t want someone who’s just looking for a trophy. Kids need to be loved and cared about.”

Tess nodded. “I couldn’t agree more.”

Sherry tried to think of all the things she had wanted to ask, but nothing was coming to mind. All she knew for sure was that she had to find a way out of her current situation. And quick. April had relayed information that Joleen had plans to hurt Sherry, and that in turn could hurt the baby.

“I’m about three months pregnant,” Sherry stated as if it were a secret. “That means for six months before the baby is born and for at least three months afterward I’ll be living with you. What kind of place do you have?”

Tess smiled. “We live in Miami and have a two-bedroom condo in a high-rise on the beach. We’ve already converted
the second bedroom into a nursery, just hoping and praying that God would send the right person to us.”

Sherry frowned and shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Sounds like you’re religious.”

Tess looked to Brad. “We love God and serve Him, if that’s what you mean,” Brad replied. “We’d expect you to attend church with us.”

Sherry shook her head. “I don’t think I’d like that much.”

“How could you know until you try it out?” Tess suggested. “We have a lot of neat youth activities going on all the time. You might really enjoy it.”

Sherry didn’t know a whole lot about religions but she couldn’t help but remember the woman at the abortion clinic. She had said that God loved Sherry. The words had made her feel funny, but she didn’t have a clue as to why.

Not willing to delve any further into religious idiosyncrasies, Sherry surprised them by blurting out, “Why do you want my baby?”

She watched Tess Holbrook carefully, certain within her heart that she’d somehow see the truth in her eyes.

“I’ve always wanted a baby,” Tess replied. “I can’t have children and the doctors aren’t sure why. Brad and I would love to have a big family, but so far that just hasn’t happened.”

“But why do you want
my
baby?”

The woman was undaunted. “I read your profile, Sherry. You and I have a lot in common.”

“Oh, sure.” Sherry suddenly felt like bolting from the room. This woman was probably going to try to spin some tale about how hard her life had been growing up poor or how she’d lived in the bad part of town.

“I was the daughter of a drug addict. My mother used to send me out to buy her stuff because she was too drunk or weak to go for it herself.” Tess eyed Sherry with a steady, unblinking gaze. “I knew all the dealers and their prices. I knew which ones could rob me, and I knew which ones would give me a candy bar because they felt sorry for me.

“I was taken from my mother, literally ripped out of her arms by the police, after she accidentally set our rat-infested house on fire. I was put into foster care and adopted a short time later, but the wounds went deep and scars are still there.”

Sherry looked at the table. She’d heard adults lie to her all of her life. Lies about where she’d go if she didn’t eat her vegetables. Lies about love and honor. Lies about truth and why it mattered. If there was one thing Sherry knew like the back of her hand, it was whether or not someone was lying to her. Tess Holbrook wasn’t lying.

She glanced back up without lifting her face. The woman was watching her. Meeting her gaze was almost like seeing herself in a mirror. This woman knew how it was. How it felt to have nothing and no one. She could see it in her eyes, and instead of comforting Sherry, it frightened her. The awful truth of being understood, of having someone else know about the demons and monsters in her life, was more disturbing than she would have imagined. This was something entirely different and Sherry couldn’t ignore it. This woman knew what it was to be alone.

The silence seemed to make the other people uncomfortable. Sherry didn’t know what to say in response to Tess’s statement, and Tess seemed perfectly content to let Sherry digest the news. However, Barbara Woodsby and the men grew restless.

“Sherry, these are the only applicants we have for your case. The Holbrooks live in Miami, as they’ve stated,” Barbara said, interrupting the silence. “They are both professional people. Tess owns her own business, however, so she will make herself available to you and eventually to the baby on a full-time basis. Brad is involved with tourism and marketing. They are financially capable of taking you into their home and meeting all of your physical needs.”

She paused and turned to Tess and Brad. “You do realize that this will include buying her a wardrobe to wear? She has no maternity clothes—not that she needs them yet. You’ll also
be responsible for anything else she needs. Foster children come with some state funding and assistance, but it isn’t a lot, and Sherry is bound to have more than the average need.”

“We understand,” Tess replied. “We’re prepared to do that and anything else that’s required. I am curious about her education, however.”

“Sherry is a very bright student. She’s just finished this school year with all A’s, and this is in spite of being taken from her foster home and put into the state facilities.”

“I did read that in the report,” Tess replied. “I was very impressed.” She smiled at Sherry. “I was wondering, however, if she would attend school next year. From the report you’ve given us, I see that the baby is due at the end of November. I also note that she would like to remain in our care until at least three months after the birth. That’s almost an entire school year.”

Barbara nodded. “I do realize the dilemma. Sherry and I have discussed the situation, and she doesn’t want to attend school while she’s pregnant. I’ve shown her that many young women attend school and carry babies to full term, but she’s adamant and I’m trying to make this more comfortable for everyone concerned. My suggestion is to do home studies with an accountability at a local level. We can arrange something with your school district,” Barbara stated, looking back and forth between her audience.

“We hadn’t approached the subject with you because we were allowing Sherry to get to know you and for you to better know Sherry, as well.”

“I think it’s a critical issue,” Tess replied. “I would consider homeschooling, especially since Sherry has proven herself to be bright, independent, and self-motivated. She would probably do very well in home studies.”

“This would be her first year of high school,” Barbara said, looking at Sherry with an expression that seemed almost sorrowful. “The subjects would have to meet state requirements,
but I’m certain Justin could help you figure out all of those details.”

“Absolutely,” the man replied. “There are even video courses that would cover all of the federally suggested curriculum requirements.”

Sherry felt as if they didn’t even know she was in the room. Sometimes she used this to her advantage, but at this point she was more desperate. She needed answers and she needed them quick.

“I want a home for my baby that will be secure,” she suddenly interrupted. “It has nothing to do with how rich you are.” She flipped her blond hair over her shoulder and leaned back in her chair. She wanted to appear as mature and grown-up as fourteen years would allow. “I need to know that my baby will be loved. I won’t give my baby to people who only care about making money.”

“Sherry, I’m sure the Holbrooks are well aware—”

Sherry refused to be quieted. She stood up and gave Barbara Woodsby a stern look. “This is my baby, and I’ll be the one to decide.”

“Of course,” Tess replied. “It’s imperative that you feel comfortable with us. Would you like to spend some time with us tomorrow? Just Brad and me and you? We could do lunch together, couldn’t we?” She looked to Barbara and Justin for the answer.

“I’m sure we could work that out, if Sherry is agreeable.”

Sherry shrugged. At least it would get her out of detention. “Yeah, okay.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Barbara said, noting something in her day planner. “I’ll page Justin with the details.”

****

Later that night, Sherry climbed into bed and relived the conversation with Tess Holbrook. She had to admit, she liked the woman as well as any. Tess didn’t talk down to her and neither did she try to impress Sherry with any of her own
credentials. Still, there was a fear in Sherry that gnawed at her heart.
What if they say no? What if after lunch tomorrow, they decide they hate me and never want to see me again? What then?

The idea was terrifying. Sherry hated feeling so out of control, so frightened. Up until the last couple of months, she’d done a decent job of getting what she wanted. Well, with exception of finding true love. Sherry thought she’d had that with Joey, but now she could see it was just about the physical. Nobody loved her for herself, and even if the Holbrooks allowed her to come and stay with them, they wouldn’t love her either. They would want her baby. They would tolerate her for the sake of the child she carried.

A tear slipped from her eye and trickled down the side of her face and into her ear. She hated when that happened. She’d long ago learned to never cry on her back unless she wanted wet ears. Rolling to her side, she drew her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly.

“God loves you. He loves your baby. Seek Him.”

The words of the woman at the clinic still rang in her ears. Could it be possible? And if so, why? Why would God even care that she was alive and drawing breath? Obviously He hadn’t cared up until now. At least if He did, He certainly wasn’t doing a very good job of showing it.