Up the stairs we went until we met his front door. While he fumbled with his keys I realized how hungry I really was and felt bad for my lack of decisiveness towards our conversation on the way here.
Just then, Andrew got the door open and pushed in to show me the place. I looked up at him for assurance that he provided with a curt nod. I looked back and slowly, carefully took steps into the house taking in my surroundings. It was a good sized place but far too big for just him. When you first walk in, you step into the foyer with a great staircase starting on the right and going up to the back of the room. Connected to the room is a guest bedroom and a lounge area.
"You room will be just up the stairs, right across from mine. Come on, I'll show you!" And Andrew started up the stairs with my bag so I followed.
"So when my boyfriend stays here, he and I share a room but his two kids sleep here," he pointed at a rather girly room as we passed. "And here," He stoped and pointed to a slightly larger room decorated fully in everything fishes. "This room between them is my room," he referred to a darker room that I could tell was much bigger with just a glance. "Now there's a bathroom connected to my room but there's another here," he pointed to a closed door on the other side of the hall, "and this is your room!" He said walking in and putting my bag in the bed. The room was mostly empty except for the plain bed and a desk and chair.
"All this space for just me?" I said feeling much undeserving. I had never slept in a room by my self, except when I had chicken pox and ms. Hanson was trying to not have it spread, but that was only for a night since she was unsuccessful.
"All for just you!" Andrew beamed at me. "Of course it will need more furniture and a good amount of decorations but- what's wrong?" Andrew stopped dead when he glanced and caught me silently balling.
I couldn't answer him. I could barely think. Why was I crying? Then, Andrew walked closer dropping to a knee to holding my hand and looking so patient and understanding as to let me take my time.
I stood there unable to form a coherent thought, calming myself down 'til I could.
"I don't need anymore furniture or anything, It's just too much," I said with a few teary hiccups. "I guess I didn't realize you were the Andrew Rannells when we were in the interview process and that you wouldn't treat me like, pardon me but, shit."
"Hey! No kid deserves that. I wish I could have adopted all those kids to keep them from that And if that's how it was at the home than I'll report them but I could only adopt one kid. And Riley?" Andrew was such a good man
"I chose you because your special. The little girl was too young for me but that other kid, Elijah? Was it?, was just not wanting to get adopted. That was not the only adoption center I went to. I've been to quite a few and all of the kids were just like them. But you opened up. You expressed interests and asked me about myself. You deserve so much Riley. Don't you ever forget that." Andrew and changed to hugging me somewhere in there as I balled my eyes out, grateful that Tuc wasn't there.
After a minute I got myself together and hugged Andrew back till we finally released each other.
"I think I'm hungry now," I smiled a genuine, tear-stained smile.
