So, I wrote this, and I never took the screenies for it, but I think it’s definitely worth the read.
Ian was nervous. More nervous than he’d been in a really, really long time.
In just a few moments, she was going to come through that door. Would she like him? What if she didn’t? He’d never even laid eyes on the girl and he loved her more than he felt he could stand. If she didn’t feel the same… Well, he didn’t know what he’d do.
“Hey. Quit pacin’ and come sit. I expected this from Corey, but you’re makin’ me nervous.” Tommy’s calm voice broke through Ian’s panic the way it always did. Their eyes met, and Ian’s heart immediately began to slow. Tommy was smiling at him from a chair in the corner of the room. Corey sat on the floor not far from him, staring at a nearby dollhouse.
Ian walked over and knelt next to Corey. “You okay?” he asked, a hand on Corey’s shoulder. Corey smiled back at him.
“Better than you, I think. She’s going to love us, babe.”
Before Ian could respond, the door opened, and a pretty blonde entered the room. Ian’s heart fluttered. It was time.
“Are you ready, gentlemen?” She asked, a professional smile in place.
Ian took a deep breath and nodded. “We’re ready.”
The blonde took a step to the side, making room for another woman, this one brunette, to walk in. But Ian didn’t even notice her. He was too busy staring at the little girl clinging to the woman’s hand.
Her hair hung in blonde ringlets to her shoulders. Her eyes were mismatched, one bright blue and one green. She was gorgeous. Ian didn’t know why, but he was immediately reminded of his sister, Joy.
“Hey there, gorgeous.” Corey called softly. “I’ve been looking at these dolls over here. Do you want to introduce me to them?”
A smile broke out on the girl’s face and she nodded. She turned to look at the woman whose hand she was holding.
“Go on, Evie. Tell him all of their names.”
Evie giggled and ran over to the dollhouse.
“Dis Wosie. And May. Dis one Poppy.” She named each doll as she carried them to Corey. She’d wait for him to take one before running to get him another. It wasn’t long before his hands were overflowing.
“Oh gosh, Evie, I don’t think I can hold anymore! But I’ll bet my friends want to meet all your dollies, too!” Corey said, pointing to Ian and Tommy. “They’ve been really excited to play with you.”
“Pay dollies wif me?” Evie asked, looking between the three of them.
“We’d love to, Evie.” Ian said. He could feel the sting of tears in his eyes and tried to keep them at bay, not wanting to scare the little girl staring at him with giant brown eyes.
“What wrong?” She asked, walking over and patting his leg. He knelt so that she could pat his face, instead.
“I’m just so, so happy to meet you, honey.”
“You see, Evie, our friend Ian is a big ol’ softy,” Tommy said, coming over to join the three of them already on the floor.
“Sopsy?” Evie asked, her eyes wide.
“That just means he cries when he gets happy. And right now, he’s really happy,” Corey explained. Ian chuckled and wiped the tears off his cheeks.
“Sopsy ahdop me?” This time, Evie looked to the brunette who had walked her in. Ian couldn’t see her behind him, and wondered how she’d react. He couldn’t pretend not to cry anymore. His nose was even snotting, how embarrassing.
“If that’s okay with you,” Tommy said, “In fact, all three of us would like to adopt you.”
“You haf dollies?” Evie asked, suddenly serious.
“We sure do. And if you want, before we even go see them, you can go pick some more out at the toy store.” Corey assured her, a single tear of his own making its way down his cheek.
“Evie wuv da toy store.”
Tommy laughed. “I’ll bet you do, cutie. So, what do you say?”
“Yes!”
