Two Weeks (The Baxter Family #5)(56)

So far the details couldn’t be better. Lucy could feel Aaron getting excited, as thrilled as if they were hearing the news that they, themselves, were pregnant. Aaron spoke up. “You said first the good news.” His smile faded a little. “What’s the bad news?”

The attorney took a long breath. “In this business we look for red flags, signs that increase the birth mother’s odds of changing her mind.” He hesitated. “And I have to tell you we encourage that.”

Lucy felt like she’d been kicked in the gut. “You encourage birth moms to walk away from adoption? Even after they’ve come to you to arrange one?”

“Yes.” He looked unashamed about the fact. “If she’s going to reverse her decision, we’d rather get that out up front. As soon as possible.” His expression intensified. “Less heartache for everyone.”

“If you don’t mind me asking . . .” Aaron leaned forward, his forearms on the edge of Mr. Green’s desk. “What do you tell the birth mothers?”

“We tell them the truth. This is their choice, their decision. No one can make it for them.” He leaned back in his leather chair. “We tell them that placing a child for adoption is forever. There’s no going back.” He looked at both of them. “Not after the two weeks, anyway.”

“Two weeks?” Aaron blinked. “What about two weeks?”

“It’s a state law.” The man looked very serious. Like this was part of what he needed them to understand. “If the birth mother still wants to place her child, once the baby is born, the mom has two weeks to change her mind.”

Lucy stared at her lap. Two weeks? She could decide to keep her baby for two whole weeks after the birth? What were they supposed to do while they waited? “Would the baby stay with us during that time?”

“Every case is different.” Mr. Green stood and walked to his bookshelf. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” He pulled out a volume he was obviously familiar with. It was marked at a certain page and the attorney turned right to it. “This is what you need to hear. The signs that a birth mother will change her mind.”

Lucy’s fingers were shaking again and the room felt suddenly cold. The meeting was beginning to seem like cruel and unusual punishment. Elise could call off the adoption up to two weeks after giving birth, and apparently there was more?

The lawyer was studying the list, going over what were considered red flags. “Her age is one issue. She’s a senior in high school.” He looked up. “Younger birth mothers are more likely to keep their babies even after making an adoption plan.”

Lucy tried to stop her knees from shaking.

“Also, I asked Elise about her mother, what she thought. It’s typically a risk when the birth mother’s mom isn’t on board with the adoption.”

“Is she?” Aaron didn’t sound nervous. “We need to know all the flags. I agree.”

“I wasn’t certain until a few days ago. Elise called and told me her mom wants her to keep the baby. But, Elise was still ‘pretty sure’ she wanted to place the baby for adoption.” He paused. “Again, specifically with the two of you. Apparently after she talked to her mother, Elise spent a day thinking maybe she’d keep her baby. Now she’s back to the adoption plan.” He folded his hands on his desk. “This is very normal for a pregnant teenage girl.”

Pretty sure? Lucy had heard enough. Maybe they should pass until something more definite came along. She forced herself not to mention that. “Okay. Thank you.” She folded her arms. “What . . . what are we supposed to do then? With the risks and her age and all?”

“You pray.” The attorney’s smile was marked with empathy. “And be excited. Elise is twenty-one weeks along, and—for now—she wants you to raise her baby.” He smiled, even if he looked a little weary. “That’s something to celebrate. Even as we take this one day at a time.”

They signed paperwork then, stating their understanding that Elise had chosen them, and agreeing to pay for her medical expenses and any legal and other fees associated with the adoption. All of which were nonrefundable. Regardless of what Elise decided in the end.

On their way out of the office, Aaron put his arm around Lucy. “It’s a faith walk. Definitely not easy.”

This was the first time she’d heard him sound anything but completely positive. “Yes.” She loved the way they fit together, the way she felt sheltered in his arms. They reached his car and he opened the door for her. Before she climbed in, she turned to him and he eased her into his embrace.

For a while they stayed that way, his arms around her waist. She pressed her head against his chest and held on. As if the winds of the situation might blow her onto the ground otherwise.

When they were halfway home, Aaron glanced at her. “August fourteenth.”

“Yes.” She thought about the nursery and the clean sheets. “Four months from now we could have a baby. Is that what you’re thinking?”

“It is.” Aaron reached for her hand. “We need to pray more than ever. Not just that the baby will be ours. But that Elise will reach a final decision soon. Whatever is right for her and the baby.”

Lucy stared at him, in awe of him. His heart was so good, so pure. That here on the way home from the attorney’s office, with the best of news and the worst of odds fighting for position in their hearts, he wouldn’t only think of their desires.