Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(13)

Vienna was a straight-A student, the only freshman on the school’s dance team, and a budding writer. A one-in-a-million girl, if ever there was one.

“Okay, Daddy.” She turned in her seat and faced him. “I have an idea. I’ve been wanting to talk to you and Mom, but this will do.”

“Thanks.” He laughed. “Glad I’ll do.”

She giggled. “You know what I mean.” Her words came quickly, in time with her enthusiasm. “Remember how you and Mom used to foster kids?”

“Of course.” Theo felt his heart warm at the memory. “We stopped for you. So you’d have our full attention.”

“I know.” She couldn’t hide the regret in her tone. “Mom keeps saying graduation will be here before I know it and y’all can foster kids after I’m in college.”

“Right.” Theo wasn’t sure where she was going with this. Last time they’d talked about taking in foster kids, Vienna had been in agreement. This was a good time for a break. “The older kids need so many meetings and appointments. And the babies . . .”

“That’s it!” Vienna’s voice rang with excitement. “It’s the babies, Daddy. That’s what I want you and Mom to think about.”

They pulled up at a red light and Theo looked at her. He raised his brow up high on his forehead. “Babies? Are you serious?”

“Yes!” She lifted her hopeful face. “Daddy, I don’t have brothers or sisters. I’d love a baby around the house. I could help, too!” She bounced in her seat. “Plus my friend Jessie said she thought it was the coolest thing that we took in foster kids and that if we ever have a baby she’d come over and take turns holding it.”

Theo could feel his heart overflowing with joy. His smile, too. His wife and daughter made every day a happy one. “Hold up.” He glanced at her. “Who’s Jessie?”

“Jessie Taylor. She’s a senior on the dance team. She’s my big sister.” Vienna gasped. “Wait! I didn’t tell you about the big sisters! Coach said it’s not easy being on the dance team and getting good grades, so she paired us younger girls with seniors, so we’d have someone looking out for us. And I got matched with Jessie Taylor. She’s amazing, Dad!”

“Amazing, huh?” Sometimes Theo wondered if his daughter had a word count she had to hit each day. Not that he minded. He loved rides like this, when his only child, his little girl shared every detail of her heart with him. “Okay, then. When can we meet this new friend? Jessie Taylor?”

“Well, she’s busy because her dad’s the football coach at Clear Creek and she has all these aunts and uncles and cousins, but pretty soon. She wants to meet you, too. And next year she’s going to Indiana University, so she’ll be right here in town and she says we can still have coffee and hang out and talk about God and boys and classes. Because yeah, she believes in Jesus, too.” Vienna grabbed a fast breath. “And so she can hear how my sophomore year is going.”

“Your sophomore year?” Theo gave her a shocked look, teasing her the way he loved to do. “Baby, wait a minute now. I’m still getting used to you being a freshman. All old and grown up and in high school and everything.”

The light changed and Theo turned his attention to the road again.

“Daddy!” She laughed the way she’d done back when she was four and he was still pushing her on the swings.

“Okay . . .” Traffic was lighter than usual. The sky bright blue. “So what you’re saying is that you want Mom and me to take in a foster child.” Theo glanced at her.

She made a guilty face and then smiled. “As long as it’s a baby. Because Mom’s right. Graduation really is right around the corner.”

“And you want us to meet your friend Jessie.”

“Exactly.”

They pulled up at the school. Moments like this Theo wished they lived an hour away, so they’d have more time on the drive each morning. He reached out and patted Vienna’s hand. “I’ll let your mom know. About both things.”

“Perfect.” Vienna clapped a few times. Then she leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Oh! And Coach says parents can watch practice today after school.” She grabbed her backpack and opened the door. “If you and Mom want!”

“Yes! We want! Anytime we can be there.” He smiled at her, memorizing the way her hair fell around her shoulders, the youth and hope and future in her eyes. “Praying for you, baby girl. Love you.”

“Praying for you, Daddy. Love you!” She hopped out of the car and shut the door.

He watched her run toward the front of the school, her backpack dangling off one shoulder. “Time,” Theo whispered to himself. Where have the years gone? He waited till she was out of sight then he pulled his car away from the curb and out of the parking lot. Her words echoed in his heart on the drive home.

Praying for you, Daddy. Love you!

Theo cracked his window and breathed in the fresh January air. Lord, what did I ever do to deserve a daughter like Vienna? He smiled because he knew the answer. He couldn’t have done anything that good. His little girl was simply a gift from God. A child who came to them when they had given up hope of ever having a baby.

When they had already been licensed foster parents for six years.