“Girls need moms.”
The simple statement instantly put Meredith on alert. “Of course they do,” she said, opening her mind to Kelsey completely and waiting to see what she might perceive. “And because moms are important, the world provides us with all kinds of ways to get the
m,” she continued slowly.
“Like with lawyers?”
Wishing that the moonlight was brighter and not behind the little girl, Meredith asked, “Why would you say that?”
“I saw a commercial on TV.”
Kelsey wasn’t lying. Meredith could feel her sincerity. And something more. But what? She tried to slow down her thinking, to empty out and feel only the little girl beside her, but the residual effects of her dream were still on her mind.
“For adoptions, you mean?”
“I dunno. It just said giving kids the parents they need.” She mimicked the last part.
“Well, that’s one way to do it. But girls who don’t have moms of their own living with them sometimes unofficially adopt their friends’ mothers.”
“Like Josie’s mom.”
“Yeah.”
“But she’s Josie’s, not mine, and it’s not the same. She yells at Josie and teases her, but she’s always really nice to me.”
Out of the mouths of the children we thought we needed to teach…
“So adopt a mom of your own.” Maybe not the best thing to say, but it felt right. Susan was there, ready and willing.
And Meredith had agreed to try and guide the two of them together.
“Like you?”
Meredith’s heart ached with the need to slide her arms around Kelsey. “Or someone else,” she said, knowing that to push too much would lose Susan this chance.
Kelsey turned onto her back, her small features facing the ceiling. “I want you for my special friend, Meredith, and I don’t mean to hurt your feelings but you aren’t a mom.”
Of course not. And it didn’t hurt. Not really. It was what she wanted.
“You never had a kid,” she went on.
Neither had Susan.
“A lot of women who don’t or can’t have children adopt kids and are wonderful parents.”
“But you aren’t family. Moms have to be family.”
Turning on her side, Meredith watched the little girl’s placid face beneath the moon’s glow. “You’ve given this a lot of thought, huh?”
“Uh-huh.” Kelsey nodded.
Because of her father dating Susan? Were they closer than they thought to winning the little girl’s approval?
“And what conclusions have you drawn?”
Kelsey turned her head, her tangled hair haloed around her. “I want a mom of my own more than just about anything.”
Meredith’s heart overflowed with longing. Kelsey’s longing. “I know you do, sweetie.”