Chapter 97
Alfred.
As we walked back, he said casually, "I think it would be beneficial to have another session this week. Perhaps Thursday? We could take the children to the park nearby." He guided me through the corridors with a light touch at my elbow.
"The playground has excellent facilities – swings, slides, a small splash pad if the weather's warm enough. It would be good to observe the children in a different environment, see how they interact with you outside the orphanage walls."
His pace slowed as we approached the playroom. "Outdoor settings often reveal different aspects of children's personalities. Emma, for instance, becomes much more adventurous, while Noah tends to be more protective of the younger ones."
"I'll need to check with Sebastian—" I began, already reaching for my phone. Sebastian had specifically asked me to consult him on any schedule changes. He had cleared his calendar for certain days to participate in the adoption process, and I knew he would want to be included in an outing to the park if possible. The mayoral election was coming up in a few months, and his schedule was increasingly tight with campaign events and city business. "He had mentioned wanting to join us for the next meeting. Let me see if Thursday works for him as well." I scrolled through our shared calendar app, looking for conflicts.
"The sooner we complete these assessments, the sooner the adoption can proceed," Daniel interrupted. "I thought you were eager to bring them home." His voice held a slight edge of manipulation that set off warning bells in my mind. He stepped in front of me, blocking my view of the playroom momentarily. "Every day matters for these children, Alfred. They've been waiting for a family for so long. Each additional day in institutional care, no matter how good that care is, affects their development." He softened his tone, appealing to the concern he knew I felt for the children. "Emma asked me this morning if you might be her new daddy. The anticipation is building for them too."
"We are, but—" I tried again, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with being pressured. Sebastian had warned me about manipulation tactics – creating false urgency, appealing to emotion rather than reason, making me feel guilty for reasonable requests. As mayor, he dealt with such approaches regularly and had taught me to recognize them. I wanted to proceed with the adoption as quickly as possible too, but not at the expense of excluding Sebastian from important steps. "It's important that both Sebastian and I are involved in this process. The children need to build relationships with both of us."
"Wonderful. Thursday at 10 AM then. And Alfred?" He stopped, turning to face me. "Sebastian is welcome to join, but in my professional opinion, it might confuse the children to introduce another adult so soon. They're just getting comfortable with you." He placed both hands on my shoulders, his expression earnest but his grip just firm enough to feel controlling rather than supportive. "Children who have experienced abandonment often struggle with attachment. Building trust with one parent first creates a secure foundation that makes accepting a second parent easier." He released me with a sympathetic smile. "Of course, it's entirely your decision. I just want what's best for these specific children based on my years of experience."
Something in his tone made me uncomfortable, but I couldn't pinpoint why. Was I imagining things because of Sebastian's concerns? Daniel's arguments sounded reasonable on the surface – children did need consistency and gradual introductions to new caregivers. But the way he dismissed Sebastian's involvement felt wrong, almost as if he were trying to separate us in this process. I glanced through the window at the children, now engaged in an art project with colorful paints and large sheets of paper. Emma was painting what looked like a family portrait, her face scrunched in concentration. My heart squeezed at the sight. "I'll discuss it with Sebastian tonight," I said firmly, making it clear I wouldn't be making this decision alone. "We'll let you know tomorrow about Thursday."
The children's excited faces when we returned pushed my doubts aside. For the next hour, I helped Lily build a tower of blocks while discussing her favorite books. By the time I needed to leave, all four children hugged me goodbye. Emma's small arms wrapped tightly around my neck as I knelt to say goodbye. "I painted our family," she whispered, pointing to her artwork drying on the easel. "That's you and me and Noah and the twins. And I made a space for the mayor too, because he's your husband and that makes him our other daddy, right?" The innocence in her question melted my heart. Lucas and Lily clung to my legs, while Noah stood nearby, trying to maintain his dignity but clearly reluctant for me to leave. "We did good today, right?" Noah asked quietly. "We showed you we can be good kids." The vulnerability in his question nearly broke my heart – he was still trying to prove he was worthy of being chosen.
"Will you come back soon?" Noah asked, holding onto my hand. His small fingers gripped mine tightly, betraying the anxiety beneath his composed exterior. "Sometimes people say they'll come back but they don't really mean it." His serious eyes searched mine behind his glasses. "The last family said they'd return after Christmas to take me home, but they never did." He glanced at the other children, lowering his voice. "I tell the little ones not to get too excited until it's really happening. I don't want them to be sad again." The wisdom in his young voice revealed how much responsibility he felt for protecting the others' emotions, a burden no seven-year-old should have to carry.
"Very soon," I promised. "And next time, I might bring Sebastian too." I knelt to his level, making sure he could see the sincerity in my eyes. "Noah, I want you to know something important. When Sebastian and I decide to do something, we follow through. Always." I squeezed his hand gently. "We don't make promises we can't keep, especially to children who deserve nothing but honesty and love." I looked at all four of them gathered around me. "We're already preparing your rooms, picking out books we think you'll enjoy, and learning about your favorite foods. This isn't just a visit for us – we're planning for forever."
Daniel walked me to my car. "You did wonderfully today. These children already adore you." The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the parking lot as we walked. Daniel maintained a professional distance now that we were potentially visible to other staff members through windows. A groundskeeper worked nearby, trimming hedges and occasionally glancing our way. "Emma couldn't stop talking about you during art therapy. She told the therapist she's going to have a 'real home with real parents who really want me.'" He smiled, his expression genuinely warm for perhaps the first time today. "These children deserve that happiness. They've been through so much already."
"Thank you. They're special kids." I clicked my key fob to unlock my car, the chirp echoing in the quiet parking lot. I placed my notes and the children's artwork they'd given me carefully on the passenger seat. Emma had painted a colorful house with five stick figures holding hands. Noah had written a careful list of his favorite books so Sebastian and I could have them ready. The twins had made matching bracelets of colored yarn – "friendship bracelets so you remember us," Lily had explained shyly. "I've never felt such an immediate connection with children before. It feels right, like they were meant to be part of our family."