It was a few more weeks of physical therapy before Sadie felt like she was able to walk longer distances without taking a break but she finally felt like she could.
"You ready Sadie?" Kaycee called after getting Adeline in her stroller.
"Yeah, coming!" Sadie called as she bent her knee just enough to tie her shoe. After that was done, she was up and heading out of her curtains to meet her parents for their weekly walk to the park.
"Alright let's go," Chase nodded, getting up after tying his own shoe.
The family stepped out of the garage, walking a few blocks away to a park that was built nearby.
Adeline loved the small playground that was made for the younger ones but she could only go on most of it with help. The other play set was actually pretty good for Sadie too with all the steps, ramps, and ladders for her to work on moving her knee.
However, Adeline's favorite thing was the swing. Sadie loved swinging as a child as well but she learned on her own. She learned how to pump her legs when Jess taught her. There were so many things she missed about her best friend.
"What's on your mind, Sadie?" Kaycee asked as she pushed Adeline.
"Nothing," she shook her head but she knew Kaycee. The woman could read her like a book. "Just thinking,"
"You've been doing that a lot lately,"
"I know," she chuckled, "It's almost a culture shock. And Jess is on my mind a lot lately,"
"I bet," Kaycee nodded. "Would it help if you saw her parents?"
"Maybe?" She asked slightly, moving the swing back and forth with her good foot.
"I'll see what I can do," Kaycee nodded, lifting Addie out of the swing as Chase was finishing his run. "You ready to head back? I think Dads coming around the corner,"
"Yep," she nodded, standing up slowly before they started walking home while Chase caught up. "Good run?"
"Yep," he nodded, catching his breath as he stopped the workout setting on his watch.
Sadie stayed quiet on the walk home, thinking about what she would say to Jess' family.
——————
Over the next few days, Kaycee got in contact with Jess' parents and asked them if they would be willing to meet them for dinner.
They were obviously willing and decided to meet them at the closest family diner. Sadie was nervous but she really wanted to talk with Jess' parents about their daughter.
"Hi Sadie," Jess' mom, Olivia, said as she engulfed Sadie in a hug.
"Hi Liv," Sadie said as she hugged her back.
"How are you doing?" She asked as she let go of the girl and sat down.
"I'm good," Sadie beamed, "Kaycee and Chase are going to adopt me,"
"Oh honey, that's amazing!" Olivia smiled, "Jess had always raved about you guys,"
"She was an amazing girl," Kaycee smiled sadly, "How are you guys doing?"
"We're okay. Taking it day by day," Olivia shrugged as she looked at Jim.
"It's been rough but we know she's in our hearts and that's all we can really ask for," Jim nodded.
"No more sad talk. Jess would be slapping all of us right now," Olivia chuckled, looking across the table at Sadie. "So when is this adoption ceremony? Jim and I would love to be there if you'll have us,"
"Of course," Kaycee nodded as she looked at Sadie.
"I would love to have you guys be there," Sadie nodded, "I'm really excited,"
"We should find out the court date soon but we just submitted the paperwork," Chase said as they looked over the menu. "Hopefully it won't be too long,"
"Jess would be so happy for you," Olivia nodded, "She was telling me everything about your mom,"
"Kaycee's my mom now. Tammy is not my mom. She never was," Sadie shrugged, "I always thought my relationship with Tammy was somewhat normal until I started hanging out with Jess and then got moved to Kaycee and Chase,"
"Well, you're a lucky girl, Sadie," she smiled, genuinely happy for the girl who was their daughter's best friend. "We're so happy for you honey,"
"Thank you," she beamed.
They ate and talked a little bit more before they all headed home and Sadie sat on the living room floor, doing some exercises for her knee.
"How's it feeling?" Kaycee asked, setting Adeline in her exersaucer.
"Better," she nodded, straightening her leg in a way to stretch the muscle. But she was careful about it.
"Good. Have you thought about doing another sport this spring?" Kaycee asked, sitting on the couch as she watched Sadie.
"I don't know. Maybe?" She asked, looking at Kaycee, "What do you think? Do you think I'd actually be able to?"
"Probably," she nodded, "You just have to be careful and wear your brace,"
"Okay," she nodded, "I just don't know what I'd do besides volleyball. That's the only one I ever played,"
"You never did anything else?"
"Tammy wouldn't let me,"
"She wouldn't let you play anything but volleyball?" Kaycee asked, thinking there was more to the story than what Sadie he offered up.
"Tammy didn't want to spend her money on me,"
"Okay," she nodded, hoping Sadie would continue.
"Olivia and Jim paid for me to play. They paid for my uniforms, everything. They were more parents than Tammy," she shrugged, "They let me stay over a lot. Especially when my mom was gone and I didn't want to stay in the house alone,"
"And you were with Jess the night you called me," Kaycee finished, looking at Chase as he had joined them.
"Yeah," she nodded, obviously trying to hold back tears, "I couldn't call Jim and Olivia. I couldn't tell them that Jess was gone,"
"They don't blame you for that Sadie. They know," Chase said as both he and Kaycee got on the floor to hug their soon-to-be daughter.
"I'm still so guilty. Why me? Why did she get taken and not me?" She sobbed, into the hug from both of her parents.
"Baby you are not worth anything less than she was," Kaycee told her as she cupped her cheeks, making Sadie look at her, "you are not worth anything less just because of where you come from,"
"I just want her back so bad. I don't have anyone like her,"
Kaycee just held her as she looked at Chase. It was clear that Sadie was going to need more love than ever at this point.
