Miss Bonnie had been 100% correct in her assessment of Nathan. The mop-haired (think the Beatles) little boy had smiled shyly smiled upon first meeting us and shook our hands instead of hugging us. I had been the same way as a little girl in the system. It was a defense mechanism. You couldn't get hurt if you didn't allow yourself to get close to people.
Instead of leaving right away, Perry suggested that we take a walk around the grounds so that Nathan could tell us all about his life there and ask us any questions he may have himself. This was the right call because Nathan immediately relaxed in our presence. It was only a little, but it was a start.
"We'll live in California, close to the ocean?" Nathan perked up. He was obviously pleased to learn that he wasn't losing his access to the beach.
"Yep." Perry nodded as he took a seat on a wooden bench that overlooked the football pitch.
"We live in a big flat for right now." I took a seat on the bench beside Perry. "Perry's son, Jack, and his daughter, Jennifer, live with us when they aren't with their mummy. Jack's close to your age."
Nathan took a seat on the grass in front of us. "How long will I stay with you?" He still didn't grasp what was happening.
"Forever," Perry spoke gently and reassuringly. "We're adopting you, buddy. That means that in the eyes of the law, we'll be your mom and dad...even though Grace is really your big sister."
"Will I still have to see my other mum?" When I heard the fear in the little boy's voice, I wanted to murder my mother for putting it there.
"No," I shook my head and told him firmly. "You never have to see her again if you don't want to. That choice is yours, love, and yours alone."
Nathan smiled meekly and nodded, but he didn't respond.
"We still have the rest of the week here, so I say we make the most of it." Perry clapped his hands and jumped to his feet. "I saw we get you settled in at the hotel today, and tomorrow we take a trip into London. Have you ever been to Thorpe Park??"
Thorpe Park was a popular amusement park in London that I had always wanted to visit as a child, but I had never been allowed to go.
"Wicked!" Nathan beamed at Perry. "When can we leave?"
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Grace Under Pressure
FanfictionDr. Grace Rickman is a third-year resident at Sacred Heart Hospital and it's the strangest place that she has ever worked. Her new co-workers/friends might as well have jumped out of a television sitcom and her new best friend, Jordan, seems hell-be...
