A New Beginning (Second Chance #1) (5 page)

Six hours later Leslie and Andrew walked out of the DCS office with smiles on their faces. They’d just completed the papers needed to become foster parents. Bob was able to speed up the process by personally vouching for them, so everything should be processed within three days.

              After they were in the car Andrew looked at Leslie and smiled. “How would you like to meet Karla?”

              “I would love too. I’m so nervous about meeting her though. I don’t know much about teenagers, except what I remember from my own teenage years. I hope she likes me.”

              “Honey calm down. She’ll like you. Don’t be discouraged if she’s shy at first though, she has been afraid for a very long time.”

              “I’ll keep that in mind Andrew. I still want to meet her, get to know her some so maybe this transition will be smoother for all of us. I want to talk to her and find out some things about her so I can get her a room ready. I am so excited about this.”

              “I know you are my love. I am too. We’ll be there in a few minutes and you’ll understand why she pulled at my heart so hard.”

              They rode the rest of the way in silence. When they pulled into the parking garage at the hospital Leslie was on pins and needles, anticipating meeting Karla for the first time. They held hands as they walked through the parking garage, up the elevator and to Karla’s door. Taking a deep breath, Leslie knocked on the door and waited.

              “Come in.” A soft voice said from in the room.

              Andrew opened the door and they walked in together. “Hello Karla. How are you today?”

              “I’m feeling better Dr. Peterson. Mr. Jennings just called to tell me that he has a place for me to go. He said that it’ll take a few days and that I may have to go to a group home first, but I won’t have to stay there long. Then Mrs. Jones took the phone from me and told him that she’s already a certified foster parent so she will take me home with her until all the paperwork is finished.”

              “That’s great Karla. I’ll be by with your release papers later today, once I come on shift, and you should be able to leave with Mrs. Jones then. How’s that sound?”

              “Sounds great. I have a problem though. I don’t have any clothes to wear other than what I came here in. If someone could take me to the apartment I was living in I can get my clothes and my books.”

              “We’ll talk to Captain McGraw or Detective Greeves and see if they can go by there for ya Karla. In the meantime I have some clothes at my house that should fit ya.” Mrs. Jones assured her.

              “Karla, I’d like you to meet my wife Leslie.” Andrew said with a smile.

              Karla looked at the pretty blonde woman in awe. She looked like a walking porcelain doll. “Hello Mrs. Peterson. How are you today?”

              Leslie’s face lit up in a smile as she answered Karla. “I’m doing really well today. Thank you. Dr. Peterson and I have something to discuss with you Karla.” She looked at Andrew and he nodded for her to continue. “How would you like to come live with Dr. Peterson and I? We just filed all the necessary papers to become your foster parents.”

              A worried look crossed Karla’s face. “I don’t know what to say. I think it’ll be good living with you, but I’m worried that I’ll mess up and you won’t want me anymore. I always mess up.”

              “Karla, honey, people mess up every day, but that isn’t going to stop us from wanting you. While we’re waiting for the papers to process I was hoping to take you shopping for clothes and anything else you may need. Since Mrs. Jones is going to be the one responsible for you until then I was thinking she’d like to go with us.”

              “I would love to dear.”

              “That’s awesome. Andrew, can you get that paperwork done so we can go as soon as possible?”

              Andrew chuckled, kissed Leslie’s forehead and said, “I’ll go see what I can do. Be back in a minute.”

              “YAY!! Thank you Andrew. I love you.”

              “Love you too!”

              After Andrew left Leslie looked at Karla and smiled. “You ready to get out of here?”

              “Definitely.”

              Andrew walked back in just then with a smile on his face. “Discharge papers are in the works. I also found you a pair of jeans that I think will fit you. You want to get dressed so you can get outta here once the papers are done?”

“Oh yeah. I’m so ready to get out of here” she responded and she disappeared into the bathroom to shower and change.

Three days later Karla sat in her room at Mrs. Jones’ house and remembered her shopping trip with Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Jones. That afternoon was the most fun she’d had since before Grams died.

              When a knock sounded she answered immediately. “Come in.”

              “Karla dear, Dr. and Mrs. Peterson are here. Are ya ready to go?”

              “I’m scared Mrs. Jones. I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and find out these past few days were all just a dream, like the ones I’ve had for years.”

              “Child this ain’t a dream. Believe me I understand about dreams, and I can assure this ain’t one. This is as real as me and you. Now let’s get your stuff so ya can go home with these lovely people.”

              “Okay Mrs. Jones. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

              They gathered Karla’s small pink suitcase, which Leslie had insisted on her getting, and headed out the door to where Andrew and Leslie waited in the small living room. When they walked in Leslie and Andrew stood up. Andrew walked over to Karla and took her suitcase while Leslie walked to Mrs. Jones and hugged her.

              When the two women broke apart Leslie handed Mrs. Jones a business card. “This is my cell phone number, my business number and our address. Please feel free to call or come by anytime. I’m sure Karla would love it if you visited and we’ll bring her by to see you some too I promise.”

              Tears filled Mrs. Jones’ eyes as she set the card on the table and embraced Karla. “I’m here if ya ever need to talk child. Ya have my number, don’t hesitate to call day or night. I love ya Karla.”

“I won’t Mrs. Jones. I love you too.”

When Karla and the Peterson’s left Mrs. Jones sat on her couch and thought about everything that had happened over the past five days. After a few minutes she decided to make herself a cup of tea and read a book.

****

              Two hours later, after an amazing dinner with Dr. and Mrs. Peterson, Karla sat in the backseat of Dr. Peterson’s black 1965 Mustang convertible. The wind was blowing through her hair was thoughts of what was to come, meshed with thoughts of what had been, played through her head. A week ago she would have never thought she’d be riding in a car like this after eating a meal like she’d just eaten.

              Leslie interrupted her thoughts, “Karla, we’re almost home.”

              “Home” Karla replied in awe. She hadn’t had a home since Pops died. That was almost six years ago.

              “Yes, sweetheart, home. I hope you like the house and your room. If you don’t like your room we can change it, but if you don’t like the house….” Leslie trailed off when Karla gasped audibly. Having just looked around at the neighborhood they’d entered, Karla was in shock and awe at the pure magnetism of the houses on either side of the street they were driving down. She’d never seen houses that big up close before. Diane had always stayed away from neighborhoods such as this.

              When they pulled into the driveway of a house the size of the apartment complex where she’d lived in Daytona, Karla was rendered completely speechless. Andrew and Leslie exited the car and Leslie held up the front seat so Karla could crawl out of the back while Andrew grabbed her suitcase.

              After they entered the house and Andrew deactivated the alarm, Leslie took Karla’s hand and led her upstairs. “This is mine and Andrew’s room.” She said, pointing to the door on the left. “And this is your room.” She pointed at the first door on the right. “I’ll let you go in and look around a bit. Just let me know if you need anything or if something doesn’t suit you. I’ll just be downstairs in the kitchen. I hope you like it here Karla. I really hope you do.”

              Once Leslie was gone, Karla walked into the room and absorbed every little detail. With a sense of being overwhelmed, Karla buried her face in her hands and cried. She was finally away from all the blame and hatred, but how long could it last?

              A few minutes later Karla wiped her tears from her cheeks and headed downstairs to start her new life.

****

              Rosa hung up the phone with a sad look on her face. “Manuel, Kiara, can you come in here please?”

              “Si, Abuela, what’s the matter?” Kiara said as she entered the room.

              “Where is your brother? I need to speak with you both. The results of the DNA test are in.”

              “I am here Abuela. What did the test reveal?”

              “Please sit.” After they both sat Rosa took a deep breath and started relaying what Captain McGraw told her. “It seems that you two have a younger sister in the United States. She has had an extremely hard life so far. Her mother was extremely abusive and allowed Karla to be abused by others as well. I’m not sure when they’re going to tell her about you two, but when they do I’m hoping to be able to arrange a phone call or video chat with her if all three of you agree. I think you should get to know each other.”

              “I want to.” Kiara spoke up immediately.

              “Me too” Manuel agreed.

              “That’s really good. I am proud of you both. I just hope Karla feels the same way. I have the phone number of her foster parents. I’ll call them tomorrow and see what they think.”

Manuel nodded and Kiara smiled before they both left the room to think about everything they had just learned.

Once Karla was downstairs she went looking for Dr. and Mrs. Peterson. She walked around for a couple of minutes before she heard their voices coming from the kitchen. She paused at the door, afraid to interrupt their conversation.

“I really hope she likes the color scheme I picked out for her room.
”
She heard Mrs. Peterson say.

“I’m sure she’ll love it honey. You need to relax a little and let her settle in. This is a big change for her, and us, and it’ll take some time for us all to adapt. I just hope she isn’t afraid to tell us if there’s something she doesn’t like. I don’t think she’s ever been given a choice before.”

“I think you’re right. I doubt she’s ever been able to make decisions for herself. Maybe I should have waited till she was here before decorating her room.”

Karla decided it was time to make her presence known to them so she plastered a smile on her face walked into the kitchen. “I love my room,” she announced, hiding the fear she was feeling. “Thank you both so much. It’s perfect.”

Mrs. Peterson beamed at Karla’s words. “Oh, Karla, honey, I’m so glad you like it. I chose the colors based off the colors you leaned towards when Mrs. Jones and I took you clothes shopping. I was really hoping pink, black and grey would suit you.”

“They’re my favorite colors. No one has ever given me free rein to pick out my clothes before. My mother just made me wear whatever she could get at Goodwill or yard sales. I haven’t had new clothes since Grams and Pops died.”

“Well, when we go register you for school in a couple of weeks we’re going to take you to buy more clothes. Speaking of school, Bob, uh, Mr. Jennings, tried to access your school records from Daytona and needs to know what school you attended last.”

Karla immediately dropped her head and looked at her feet. “I haven’t been to school in a while. The last school I went to was in Charlotte, North Carolina. I went there for a few months in the middle of last school year. I was in eighth grade there. It was Fredrick Black Middle School.”

“Alright. I’ll let him know. Don’t worry about that right now. I’m sure we’ll have your records before we have to register you. In the meantime, did you see the laptop sitting on the desk in your room?” Dr. Peterson asked.

“Yes, sir, I did. Is it mine?” As soon as the question left her mouth Karla cringed at the thought of what would happen if she continued to ask questions. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to ask so many questions. Please don’t be mad.”

“Karla, honey, calm down. You don’t have to be afraid anymore. No one here is ever going to reprimand you for asking questions. Asking questions is how we learn.” Dr. Peterson assured her as he exchanged a glance with his wife. “Never be afraid to ask us anything, anything at all. To answer your question, yes, that laptop is yours. It isn’t new, but it does have all the latest, up-to-date software in it. I bought Leslie a new one a few months ago for her business and that one was just sitting around not being used so I had it upgraded for you. I just picked it up this morning. I hope it’ll be of good use to you, for school and fun.”

A shy smile crossed Karla’s face as tears filled her eyes. “I have never been this happy in my life, even though I’m scared I’ll wake up to find this is all a dream. Dr. and Mrs. Peterson, you two are the best. Thank you for everything you have done for me.”

“Karla, you are very welcome. Can we ask you to do something for us?” Mrs. Peterson asked.

“Yes ma’am.” Karla replied, not knowing if she really had an option or not.

“Can you please call us Leslie and Andrew? Dr. and Mrs. Peterson sounds so formal. We want you to think of this as your home, not mine and his home. We want you to be comfortable here. We want nothing more than for you to feel safe and happy.”

Tears filled Karla’s eyes at the thought of being safe and happy. She hadn’t felt either since Pops died. “Yes ma’am. I can do that. Leslie, Andrew, thank you both.”

“You’re very welcome honey. Like Leslie said, this is your home now too. Want a full tour of the place? It’s kinda big.”

“Please,” was all she could manage to say past the emotion that clogged her throat. She may truly be happy here.

****

The next morning Karla was sitting on her bed when Andrew knocked on her door. “Karla, honey, may we come in?”

“Of course you can.”

“We have something to tell you. Remember when Detective Greeves came to see you and told you about finding your biological father and about you having a brother and sister?” Karla nodded and Andrew continued. “Well, we just got word that the DNA test that was done has come back. It appears that Alexander Figueroa was your father. You have a brother named Manuel, who is eighteen and a sister named Kiara, who is sixteen.”

“I have family? I never knew I had any family. Am I going to get to meet them?” Karla spoke quickly, not hiding her curiosity.

“Slow down honey. I have their grandmother’s phone number and both of their email addresses. We’ll get in touch with them as soon as possible and see what we can come up with. Just be patient please. I promise that if they want too you’ll get a chance to talk to them.”

“I’m sorry. I’m just curious. I never even thought that I could have siblings. This is surreal.”

“We completely understand and we will support you in any decision you make in regards to them.” Leslie said before she walked to Karla and hugged her tight. “We’ll do this together, as a family.”