All is Found - Chapter 59: Chapter 59

After I got home from touring Thea and I spent the rest of October and the beginning of November getting the house set up. It didn't take long because Thea already did most of it when I was away on tour. We just put the last finishing touches on things.
Once the house was setup to our liking Thea and I talked about starting the adoption process. We conferenced with a family law attorney in Lindsey practice and he gave us the phone numbers of a few local adoption agencies. Thea and I decided that this would be our Christmas gift to each other. We spoke with three of the suggested agencies and found one we both really liked and made an appointment.
We fill out enough paperwork to fill a book. Once it was done we spoke at length with our agent and he went over all the details we needed to know and set up a home study visit. The home visit was the week before Christmas. Both Thea and myself were really excited about it and spent most of the night before cleaning the house. Our home study visit went well and our agent told us he would be in touch.
Christmas came and went and we didn't hear anything from him. We didn't think much of it because he told us it could be a while before he placed a child with us. So Thea and I surprised each other with two big announcements Christmas morning. Thea past her lieutenants test and is taking the open lieutenant position in the detective squad. I was shocked and so happy and proud of her. When she didn't bring it up after she took the test in mid-October I didn't think she passed so this was a pleasant surprise.
As for my surprise I told her that I'm going to Harvard to start my education degree. At first Thea didn't believe me. I had to show her my class registration for her to believe me. We both jumped up and down in excited for a little while with our good news.
It didn't take long before we started to get everything ready for Christmas dinner later. This is the first time we are having everyone over now that the house is done. Pat ended up coming over early to help Thea and I cook. We are having Nikki, Malia and Rory over for dinner.
When we got home from tour Malia and Nikki moved into a new apartment themselves. Nikki's plans are still up in the air with what she wants to do with herself now and is just enjoying herself living with Malia. It made me happy to know she isn't leaving for a while.
Dinner was nice and we gave everyone a tour of the house. When we brought out dessert Thea and I shared our good news with everyone including that we are starting the adoption process. Everyone was really happy for us and we spent the rest of the night celebrating.
December gave way to January and I started to prepare to get ready to go back to school. I made my schedule so I only have to go to campus twice a week for my classes and even managed to take some online. Right now I have to get all of my basic classes out of the way first before I could touch a musical instrument.
Along with getting ready for school, Thea had her promotion ceremony. This one was just like the one when she was promoted to sergeant. She was actually the only one getting promoted to lieutenant and I was so proud. I pinned the new gold bars to her lapels along with the new gold badge to her chest. Malia was actually getting promoted as well, she took the detective test and passed with flying colors. Nikki and Malia's parents were here for her as well and it was a nice day with them. Later that night the four of us went down to the bar and got to celebrate with the rest of the officers who were promoted.
I was actually getting all of my books together for my first week of classes when I got the call. Thea was at work when our adoption agent called and said that he had a pair of siblings for us to meet. A nine year old boy and his six year old sister. I called Thea up right away and she told me she would meet me at the agency.
When we got there Thea and I were both shaking with nerves. We didn't really know what to expect and didn't know much else about the kids. Our adoption agent met us and brought us back to give us a little more information about the them. Their mother passed away three years ago and they have been living with their dad since. Their dad was actually arrested on felony robbery charges in Boston and terminated his parental rights. When their father terminated his parental right the siblings became wards of the state and were placed in foster care. He went into more detail about them and what they were like but one detail slipped my mine.
"I'm sorry to interrupt but I don't think you told us their names." I said.
"You're actually right I don't think I did. Their names are Preston and Samantha." The agent answer.
The wind got knocked out of my lungs and I looked over to Thea. I knew she felt it to when we heard their names. These siblings were meant for us and we didn't even have to meet them to know that. Our agent talked to us for a few more minutes before we were able to meet them.
He brought us back to a play room and Thea and I watched them behind glass for a few moments. Preston is showing Samantha how to play with big Lego bricks. Samantha pressed a few bricks together and waved them around in the air as Preston laughed at whatever she was saying.
"They've been in foster care for about a year. The home had a few other kids and they always tried to pick on Sam but Preston is a very protective older brother. Sometimes it's harder to place siblings togethers and with them being a bit older it's been a while." Our agent said.
Thea and I watched them for a few more minutes before we walked inside the room to meet them. All it took was a few minutes for Sam to open up to us. Preston was quiet though. He only really spoke when we asked him questions. We continued to watch them play together for a while. Sam was happy to share her blocks with Thea and they continued to make a castle together while I went to sit next to Preston.
He was starting to lose interest with the Legos and just watched Thea and Sam continue to play together.
"Is there something else you want to play with bud?" I asked him.
"No, are we going home with you?" He asked and looked at me. His bright blue eyes sucked me right in and I nodded.
"Yea, Thea and I are going to take you and your sister home with us. It will be your home too if that's okay." I said.
"Do you have Lego?" Preston asked like it was the most serious question in the world. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"No we don't have any Lego's right now but we can all go shopping tomorrow and pick out some toys for you and Samantha." I said.
"Okay, can we go now?" Preston asked and stood from the floor.
"I didn't get to finish my castle yet Preston." Samantha complained.
"It's okay, Ashlyn said that we are going to get some more Legos tomorrow to play with, you can start over." Preston said.
"Are we going home now?" Samantha asked.
"Yea we are if you guys are ready." Thea said.
Samantha had no problem abandoning her castle at the news of us going home. Our agent gave us there bags once we finished up the last of the paper work and informed us both that there social worker will be in touch with us and be stopping by to see how Preston and Samantha are adjusting. Once the last form was signed our agent handed over their bags and Thea gather them up.
We all walked outside and I couldn't help the big smile on my face. Sam took my hand I looked down at her. She flashed me a bright smile and I couldn't help but melt at the sight of her big green eyes. They looked so much like Thea's it was crazy. We walked together to the parking lot when I realized that I didn't have a booster seat for them in my car and Thea actually came here in a squad car.
"Did you come straight from a call?" I asked and nodded to the car.
"No I was on the road going back to the station to finish up my shift when you called. I called Rory and told him and he just told me to return it when we were done." Thea said and fished the keys from her pocket.
"Do you think you can give me an escort? We don't have booster seats yet." I said and unlocked my car so Thea can put the bags in the trunk.
"Sure thing. Okay guys, you are going to go with Ashlyn and I'm going to meet you at home a little later. I have to bring my car back to the police station." Thea said and shut the trunk.
Thea and I helped Preston and Samantha into my truck and met at the back of my truck. Before Thea could walk away to her squad car I grabbed her shirt. My eyes started to water when her eyes connected with mine.
"They have our parents' names." I said and tried to hold myself together.
"We are going to do everything we can for these kids, our kids." Thea said. She pulled me into a quick but firm hug before she pulled away and pushed me back to my truck.
I wiped my eyes to make sure that I didn't have any tears on my face and then got into my truck. Once I turned my car on I turned around to look at the kids in the back seat.
"You guys okay?" I asked.
"Are you and Thea married?" Samantha asked.
"Yes hon, Thea and I are married. Are you okay with that?" I asked looking at both of them.
"Two moms means more time to play princess!" Samantha yelled all excited.
"Oh lord what did we just get ourselves into, are you playing princess with us Preston?" I asked him.
"Do I have too?" He asked.
"No bud, you don't, we can play something else, but for now lets' go home." I said and put the truck into reverse and got out of my parking spot.
Thea was waiting for me in her squad car and pulled out in front of me. She led us home and parked in front of the house when we got there. I got Samantha out of the car and Preston was waiting for us by the trunk. He watched as Thea got out of her squad car and walked over to us. Her white uniform shirt was back on and tucked into place.
"Are you a police officer?" Preston asked looking nervous.
"I am an officer; do you have any questions about that?" Thea asked and knelt down to his eye level.
"You aren't going to take us away like they did with our dad right?" Preston asked quietly.
My heart broke a little with his question. Our adoption agent did say that their father was arrested in their house with Preston and Samantha playing in the living room that was right next to the door.
"How about we get everything inside and we can talk about it okay?" Thea said.
Preston didn't say anything but nodded. Samantha was too busying looking at the house to know what is going on so she just helped me take their bags out of the trunk. Thea helped me get everything inside before she pulled Preston aside. I let them talk for a minute while I lead Samantha upstairs to have her pick her room. There are four empty bedrooms for them to pick from. After showing her all of the rooms we heard another seat of footsteps come up the steps. Preston met us by the landing and looked at all of the open doors.
"You want to see them all before you and Sam get to pick your own?" I asked.
"We get our own rooms?" Preston asked not sure where to look first.
"Yea, you and Sam get your own." I answered.
"I've never had my own room before." Preston asked and started to walk over to one of the open doors.
I held Sam's hand to stop her from picking before Preston got to look at all of them. When he was ready to pick I made him come over to me and hold my hand. This way there was no cheating. I counted down from three and let them go. Sam ran off to pick her room while Preston stayed right by my side.
"Go pick buddy." I said and put my hand on his back to give him a little push.
"I wanted Sam to pick first. It doesn't matter what room I get, I just want her to be happy." We could both hear Sam squeal in excitement from her chosen room and I just looked down at this kid. Only 9 years old and he is so good.
Preston walked off to the room next to Sam's a few seconds later and I took a deep breath to calm my already shot emotions. I took a minute for myself and walked into Sams room. She was jumping on the bed and I ran over to her and caught her mid-air. Last thing we need is a trip to the emergency room on their first night home. I carried Sam into Preston's room and found him testing out his own bed.
"Do you want me to show you the rest of the house?" I asked him. Preston nodded and came over to me. Before we could go anywhere he threw his arms around my waist. I smiled and adjusted Sam on my hip so I can put my other arm around Preston's back.
The hug didn't last for long and soon Preston made his way to the stairs. I put Sam down and she held Preston's hand as they walked down the stairs. I followed right behind them and started to show them around the downstairs. When I got to the kitchen I heard the front door open. Thea appeared a few seconds later still in her gear. I told her I was giving them a tour and she could go change.
After we were done in the kitchen I brought both of them to my home studio and showed them around. I explained to them what I do and Preston got it right away, for Sam it took a little longer. When I said I was like Taylor Swift she got it. Then she asked if I knew Taylor and when I answered yes Sam started to sing Love Story at the top of her lungs. Preston pressed his hands over his ears and we both watched as Sam walked out of the studio into a lurking Thea.
Sam started talking about playing princess and Thea took her away to go play dress up as Preston lingered around the studio some more. He ran his fingers across the strings of some of my guitars and then sat down at the piano bench. He looked like he wanted to press the keys but stopped himself. I walked over to him and took a seat next to him.
"Do you want to learn?" I asked and sat shoulder to shoulder with him.
"You'll teach me?" Preston asked looking surprised.
"Of course I will." I said.
I explained a few things to him before showing him a little bit of my more advanced knowledge of the piano. He watched with magic in his eyes as I continued to play. I went into my mother's lullaby and watch him. The feeling I got must have been the feeling my mom had when I wanted to learn the piano. After I was finished playing it I taught Preston how to play twinkle, twinkle little star. It was a pretty easy song to learn and when we were done I was so proud of him. I made sure he knew it too.
After promising to teach him more tomorrow we left to go find out what Thea and Sam were up too. We found them in Thea's closet trying on different dresses. I just rolled my eyes and sighed. Sam has Thea wrapped around her little finger and we haven't even had them for a full 24 hours yet.
Once we made our presence known I suggested we order some food for dinner. We quickly decided on pizza before I helped Thea out of the clothes she threw on. Once she was dress in just one set I sent her off to go pick up the pizza while the kids and I set the table. Thea was back sooner than I thought she would be and we all sat around the table eating dinner for the first time as a family.
Before we took the kids upstairs to get ready for bed, we talked with them about what they wanted to decorate their room as. Sam had a million ideas right from the start and most of them revolved around the color pink and princesses. It took us a few minutes to calm down her imagination a bit and we thought it would just be wise to go with anything pink. As for Preston he said he wanted a space themed room.
Thea took the kids upstairs a few minutes after that while I cleaned up the kitchen. After I locked up the downstairs I walked upstairs to find Thea helping Sam unpack her bags. They were looking for some pajamas and I left them to find a pair. Preston was looking through his bags for something. I gave him a few minutes to find it. He ended up pulling a teddy bear out of his bag and pulled it close to his chest. This kid is going to make my heart melt. When he put it down on the bed I knocked on the door to let him know I was there. I told him needed to take a shower tonight before bed and he nodded.
I didn't want to hover so I left and walked off to our bedroom and sat on the edge of it. It wasn't long before I heard the water running in the hallway bathroom. A few seconds after I turned on the TV Preston peaked his head in my room.
"Can I watch TV with you while Sammie is in the shower?" He asked.
"Of course you can." I said and patted the bed next to me.
I should have really brushed up on my knowledge of kid shows when we started the process. I ended up putting on SpongeBob and Preston seemed content. We watched the episode together and a few minutes into the second one Thea walked into the bedroom wet with Sam dressed in her pajamas.
"Got a little wet there I see." I said and chuckled as Thea helped Sam up onto our bed.
"Very funny, you're up Preston." Thea said and started to walk back out into the hallway. Preston smiled up at me before jumping off the bed to follow after Thea.
Sam and I watched some more SpongeBob while Thea helped Preston with the shower. It wasn't long before they both returned to our room. Thea changed into pajama's herself and took my spot with the kids while I went to shower. When I left our bathroom my heart grew two sizes at the sight in front of me. Both Preston and Samantha were cuddling up against Thea while they watched SpongeBob. I quickly turned out the lights and climbed into bed with them. Sam quickly climbed over Thea and Preston to cuddle into me and I held her tight.
It didn't take long for the kids to fall asleep. Somewhere into the fourth episode of the talking sponge I looked over and saw Thea has fallen asleep with them. Right in this moment I finally felt whole.