The Family Gathering (Sullivan's Crossing #3)(51)

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Starting right after their wedding, Sierra and Connie endured several long interviews. Some of the people listed as their references had been contacted, their home had been inspected and their dog had even been evaluated, and the process wasn’t nearly complete. But it was not for their certification to be foster parents. No, it was more intense and permanent than that.

The baby Connie had rescued from the car accident was named Samuel Ryan Jergens and his mother had called him Sammy. His maternal grandmother was his legal guardian but she was not up to the job given her chronic illness; she suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and a spinal injury that left her weak and in pain. She had more difficult days than easy ones, not to mention the fact that she was sixty and widowed. Sammy’s mother had not married and on his birth certificate the father was listed as unknown. Mrs. Jergens had no idea who Sammy’s father was, and according to her, there had not been a man in her daughter’s and grandson’s life. Rachel Jergens had planned to give up the baby but instead had moved home to her mother’s house in order to take care of them both. Rachel had been only twenty.

There were other family members, cousins, though they hadn’t seen each other in years. Rachel had no siblings. While Sam was in foster care with Rafe and Lisa, Mrs. Jergens had sought the counseling help from social services and they had come up with a solution—an open adoption. That way Sam might know his biological grandmother through visitation and some of the information about his family history would be passed on.

After a great deal of talking and soul-searching, Sierra and Connie decided this was the answer for them. They wanted to make that sweet little baby their son.

It was arranged privately through an attorney. The second Lisa Vadas heard of the plan, she told Sierra and Connie. There would be no shortage of couples waiting to adopt who would step up, but there was only one man who had actually pulled the little baby from a decimated car. Connie and Sierra would be allowed to foster Sammy until the adoption could be finalized. It would take six months to become his legal parents.

It was June. School was out for summer vacation and for weeks Sierra had paid almost daily visits to the Vadas household to be with little Sam. While Sierra and Connie were screened, the new family was bonding. Finally they were approved for foster care pending adoption and today was the day they could finally pick Sam up and take him home. They had asked Connie’s mom and brother to come to Timberlake for dinner and a surprise. They issued the same invitation to Sully, Cal, Maggie, Elizabeth and Dakota. They encouraged Dakota to bring Sid if he wished.

“I’m going to ask you one more time,” Connie said to Sierra. “Any answer is all right as long as it’s honest. The only thing is we can’t change our minds. No matter what bucket of trouble or difficulty we might face, we’re in this forever. There are lots of young couples waiting to be parents if you’re not ready, so be sure. Can we do this?”

Sierra smiled sweetly and touched her husband’s handsome face. “I’m absolutely sure,” she said. “I’m so in love with him.”

“Have we covered everything?” Connie asked.

“I think so,” she said. “If a father turns up, we can manage some visitation, provided he’s of good character. We’ll be honest with Sam about his roots. If he has medical issues, we’re in for the long haul. Same with any behavioral issues. And if he grows taller and stronger than you, you promise not to be jealous.”

“You were afraid to have your own child because of possible genetic schizophrenia. We have only his grandmother’s word on the family medical history and I think she’s a little wacko if you want the truth. What if Sam has mental illness in his family history?”

“I thought we covered that under medical issues,” she said. “We will be his champions. We will get him the best medical help if we need to. Remember, we have Maggie in our corner. Connie, please don’t make me beg. Sam should live with us. We love him. We have a bond with him.”

“Want to make another run through the inventory?” he asked.

“We’re ready,” Sierra said.

It had been some very busy weeks since their wedding. First, meetings with Mrs. Jergens and the attorney and the social worker. Then to Denver to trade in Sierra’s little orange VW, affectionately known as the Pumpkin. She was now the proud owner of a medium-size Honda SUV. It was not orange, but silver. And then there was furniture for the baby, though the crib was in their bedroom for now. Supplies from diapers and wipes to towels, blankets and bottles were neatly stored. The room that would be Sam’s was painted powder blue and yellow. But he would be with Sierra and Connie for a while until everyone was comfortable and sleeping through the night.

Sam had some clothes but Sierra still purchased more. She’d had a field day at Target.

“Okay, the lasagna is in the slow cooker, salad in the fridge, bread hidden from Molly in the cupboard, chocolate cake under the glass dome, also safe from Molly, plates and utensils ready for company.” Connie ticked off the items, making Sierra laugh.

“Please, can we go get him now?”

They had a brand-new, approved car seat. There were some things that a firefighter was very handy with—anything to do with safety for children was a particular specialty. They had a baby swing, a high chair, a changing table. There were new toys, a lullaby music box, a play box for the crib and a playpen.