It's between me and you

Chapter 45

Greg called back to Ira's number a few minutes later. He asked if Elena was all right and if she needed help. He quite calmly told her that her student had come, they had a nice talk and went their separate ways.

After Ira left for the shower, the girl went to the window and looked out onto the street. The night was blindingly dark and doomed. After a few hours Elena calmed down and could even explain Andrew's behavior to herself. Or at least she tried very hard to.

Her heart clenched and fluttered, demanding from her brain to forgive the guy. It surreptitiously slipped tearful words about the importance of Elena to Andrew, pictures of his mad look, when he realized that for her a relationship without trust was unacceptable. A worthless weak heart - it always believes and forgives first, reopening itself and setting itself up to be shot by betrayals and pain. The foolish organ always believes.

Elena fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning. In the afternoon she and Ira bought a SIM card, and she called Mrs Pashinsky, Kamilla's case consultant. She did not answer, but she had to call back anyway. Elena did not go to the college. She knew that Andrew would be waiting for her there, and she was not yet ready to talk. So she called Mr. Lee in advance and asked for a leave of absence. She did not explain why. Fortunately, his father's friend was sympathetic.

To calm down Elena went to Kamilla. She needed time to accept the situation and let Andrew know that this was not the way relationships could be built. You either trust, or you don't.

Kamilla had just brought her new drawings when the principal suddenly approached them and asked Elena to come with her into the office.

"What happened, Mrs. Coldwell?" Elena inquired discreetly after taking a seat.

The woman cleared her throat and ran her open palms over a sheet of paper on the table. It felt like she was picking up words, and it made Elena's stomach twist a tight spring.

"Miss Narrell, I consider it my duty to inform you that in addition to you, another family has applied for Kamilla's adoption."

The heart dropped like a stone in Elena's stomach.

"How could that be? Is it possible?"

"Yes. The girl is old enough now. The families who don't have time to care for little ones try to take the older children."

Dear God! Panic instantly began to cover her eyes. Her palms were sweaty and a chill ran down her spine.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Staring at the principal, Elena struggled to find a solution. Thoughts scattered like ants, a lump stuck in her throat. "I am the only person close to Kamilla."

Abruptly got up from her seat, the girl nervously paced the office.

"I understand you, Elena. And I would very much like it if it were you who took the girl. After what the little girl has been through, it will be another shock for her to find herself in a completely foreign family. But you must understand that the odds are not even. You can't compete with a full-fledged family with their own house, two cars, and a steady paycheck."

"A house?" Elena shouted. Her nerves gave out when she imagined the girl being taken away from her. Kami was almost like family to her. Elena had been changing her diapers since she was born, while Kate had been studying Latin. She remembered her first word, her first step, and her trips to the hospital with her friend for vaccinations.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Coldwell," she sat back in her chair, beating herself up for her weakness.

"It's okay, I understand everything," the woman replied politely, even caringly.