The Family Who Had Loved Her
Chapter 07 - The Family Who Had Loved Her
The first meeting with James and Rebecca Foster took place in a family counselor's office. Adrian had imagined anger. Instead he found two frightened parents who had spent three years loving a little girl and were terrified she might be taken away.
Rebecca gripped a tissue as she spoke. "We were told her mother had died and her father was unknown. We didn't steal her."
Adrian looked at the photographs they'd brought: Lily painting at a kitchen table, Lily in winter boots, Lily asleep with a stuffed bear. The child was happy in those pictures.
"I believe you," he said.
James studied him warily. "You're connected to dangerous people."
Adrian took a breath. "I have been. I'm making changes. My daughter shouldn't inherit my mistakes."
The counselor helped them talk about a gradual approach. Before any question of long-term arrangements, Lily needed stability, accurate information, and trusted adults who would not fight over her in front of her.
Adrian offered to send pictures of Rose and a simple story about her birth. Rebecca accepted them with trembling hands.
"She asks about the lady in her baby photo sometimes," Rebecca said. "We call her Mama Rose."
Adrian's throat closed.
Outside, Daniel waited beside the car. He expected anger, perhaps orders. Instead, Adrian stood in the cold and said, "They're good parents."
Daniel nodded. "That's a good thing, boss."
"It's also hard."
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"Both can be true."
For the first time, Adrian realized that the path to loving Lily might require surrendering control rather than asserting it.
