Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(14)

Something about the cool breeze on his face took him back and he could see it all again. He had worked in an office back then, selling—of all things—fertility drugs to doctors. The same drugs that hadn’t worked for them. But then one August day he walked through the front door and there she was.

The love of his life, his Alma.

“It happened, Theo!” She practically sang the words, her hands raised over her head. She ran to him. “I’m expecting!”

And so began the most wonderful years of their lives. Despite their struggle to get pregnant, Alma’s nine months with Vienna were a dream. People talked about pregnant women glowing, but Alma actually did. She looked radiant in every way possible. And as if God wanted to complete the nine months with another gift, Alma’s delivery took only four hours.

Vienna Suzanne Brown came into the world smiling and she hadn’t stopped since. None of them had.

Back at home, Theo got situated at his desk. The workday flew by, marked by the idea of Vienna’s plea that their family take in a foster baby. Theo had toyed with the idea all day.

Like most weekdays, just after two o’clock, Alma walked through the door. She found him in the office and grinned. “Ever have one of those days? Where everything goes right?”

He stood and closed his laptop. “You know, baby, that’s what I love about you. You don’t know how to have a bad day.”

He met her at his office door and he ran his thumb along her pretty brow. “Vienna wants us to come watch her dance practice.”

“Well, then, what are we waiting for?” She laughed. “Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better.”

He kissed her, then flicked off the light. It was a promise he’d made to himself long ago. Twice the work in half the hours. His workday ended when Alma came home. And still he was the top sales rep for the company last year. God’s blessing and the result of a happy heart. Theo believed that.

They walked into Vienna’s dance practice just as it started. She must’ve caught a glimpse of them because she gave them a little wave and then turned to face her coach. Next to her a pretty girl with light brown hair waved, too.

“Who’s that?” Alma settled in next to Theo on the short set of bleachers.

“Must be Jessie Taylor.”

Alma looked at him. “Haven’t heard of her.”

“The younger dancers got paired up with senior girls. A big sister sort of thing.” Theo watched the way Vienna and the other girl already looked like best friends. “I heard about her today on the way to school.”

“That’s nice.” Alma faced their daughter again. After a minute she looked at Theo and a smile filled her face. “Look at our baby, Theo. She’s such a beautiful dancer.”

“Like her mother.” Theo put his arm around his wife.

“Hardly.” Alma laughed. “Vienna’s twice the dancer I was.”

That’s when Theo remembered the other part of his conversation with Vienna. “There was one more thing we talked about on the drive this morning.”

“Oh?” Alma turned to him. “Did she tell you about dance camp in Michigan this summer? Because I already told her no. That’s too far away for a girl so young. Maybe when she’s a junior. Because the last thing we need is—”

“Hold on.” Theo stifled a laugh. The two women in his life were both talkers, but he wanted to get to the point. “I’m with you on the camp. Today it was something else.”

Silence hung between the two of them for a few seconds. “Theo.” With dramatic flair Alma lifted her shoulders. “Are you going to tell me or not?”

“Yes.” Already Theo loved the idea. He wanted to broach the topic in such a way that Alma would love it, too. He breathed deep. “Vienna really wants us to take in a foster baby. She said it’s been on her heart for a while.”

“What?” His wife stayed put, her eyes locked on his, their daughter’s practice forgotten. “A foster baby? Now?” She released half a laugh. “Is she serious?”

“Yes.” He knew his smile looked sheepish. Like the dog Max in the cartoon Grinch movie. “I’ve been thinking about it and . . . Alma, I agree with her.”

His wife raised her eyebrows. “That baby’ll be up all night, every few hours waking up the whole house. I know what a baby’s like.”

“It was Vienna’s idea.” He leaned over his knees, and his eyes found their daughter on the dance floor. “She wants a sibling. Before she goes off to college.” He looked back at his wife.

“Uh . . .” Alma shook her head and at the same time she waved her finger in the air in front of her. “Don’t be telling me about before she goes off to college. That’s the exact reason this idea is off the table. This season is about Vienna. The three of us.” She crossed her arms, her chin tilted. “Foster babies will be there.”

Theo had the feeling the topic was closed. But just in case, he tried again. He sat up and turned to Alma. “Vienna says she’ll help out. I think she really would.”

“A baby?” Alma scrunched up her face and looked hard at Theo. She laughed and looked back at dance practice. “Y’all must be out of your minds.”

“Okay, then.” Theo did a slow nod. “So that’s a no, I guess.”