The long-awaited court date was given for only a few days after the start of July. Now the countdown began.
45 days to go. Sadie couldn't wait until July 10th. She'd finally have a family and a last name she could be proud of. She no longer wanted to write 'Sadie Davis' on her assignments, she was too focused on writing 'Sadie Elliott'.
"Sadie," Chase called from the kitchen, packing the rest of Adeline's baby bag. "Come on kid, we can't be late for school!"
"Coming!" She called back, packing the rest of her bag before coming out of her curtained area. "Where's mom?"
"She left a little early. Had a meeting," he shrugged, setting Addie in the car seat before buckling her in. "Ready?"
Sadie nodded and grabbed everything before putting on her shoes and heading out to his truck.
"What was the meeting for?" She asked, getting in the truck as Chase put Adeline in the back seat.
"I have no idea but it was something with the English department," he said as he slid into the driver's seat. "Did you finish your book report?"
"Did I finish the report or did I finish the actual book is the real question."
"Did you do either?"
"Yes...well no. I'm almost done with the book," she shrugged, looking at it as she pulled it out of her bag.
"Sadie that needs to be done by tomorrow,"
"I know Dad," she groaned, "I promise I'll get it done,"
"If you don't. There's gonna be consequences Sades. I know your English teacher is your mom but that doesn't mean you can get away with it,"
"I know Dad," she said again, looking at her father who was driving.
"I know you know. But I'm your dad. That's my job,"
"I know," she nodded, unable to help the smile that spread across her face.
"I'll be right back," he said as he stopped the truck in front of the small daycare center. He went to the back and pulled Adeline's car seat out before he disappeared into the building. It wasn't too long before he returned and drove them over to the school.
Sadie went to Chase's room and sat in a desk after he'd unlocked the door. She usually sat in there and read a little bit of her book or did some homework that she'd meant to finish the night before.
Once the bell rang to signal the beginning of school, she got up and packed her bag before throwing it over her shoulder.
"Have a good day kiddo,"
"Thanks, Dad," she smiled, walking out of the classroom and to her first class.
By second period, she was in Kaycee's room, and by 5th period she'd be in Chase's. They acted like her parents but at the same time, they didn't. She'd get called on if they suspected she wasn't listening, and then get shocked that she knew the answer. She was always listening. Maybe it had something to do with her upbringing. Always listening for certain things.
Maddy and Chase met in the teacher's lounge for lunch where they also met Maddy and Ryan.
"I saw Sadie today. She told me you guys have a date," Maddy said as she sat at the table with her warmed-up soup.
"Yes. We finally do. July 10th," Kaycee beamed, "Sadie already has a countdown on the fridge. She can't wait until Addie is older so she can help her with birthday countdowns,"
"You're obviously having a party...right?" Maddy asked, nearly dropping her tumbler of water when Kaycee just looked at Chase.
"We probably will just not the day of. We will be spending that day as much with her as we can,"
"That's understandable," Ryan nodded.
"I can't wait,"
"We're excited. So is Sadie," Chase nodded, "She's been writing Sadie Elliott on all of her papers,"
"Well now that Tammy is out of the picture, that's what she is," Kaycee smiled, excited for the moment that she could write Sadie Elliott on all of her papers.
