Hold On To Me (Marina)

32.I'll Keep You Safe

32.

Don't be, no don't be afraid.
God knows, our mistakes will be made.
but i promise you i'll keep you safe.
(Sleeping At Last-I'll Keep You Safe)

"The DeLuca-Bishops, what a pleasure." Mrs Walton welcomed the two wives, the fakest of the smiles painted on her face. "Please, take a seat.". Maya and Carina sat down, them both a bit nervous to be there. They still didn't like that woman, at all.

"So, on the phone you told me you wanted to talk to me about something. What's up? Is it about Keira? I knew she would be a pro-..."

"We'd love to adopt her." Maya cut short, trying to ignore the way the social worker was talking about the girl. Mrs Walton widened her eyes, in pure shock.

"What? Are you serious?".

"Yes, we are." Carina answered. "She is an incredible girl, she is smart, kind, extremely brilliant. She went through a lot, yes, but this doesn't mean she doesn't deserve someone who cares for her. She has finally started to open up with us and to be honest we can't picture our future without her.". The social worker snapped her tongue and glared at them, scoffing.

"She will be eighteen soon." she claimed.

"So?" Maya retorted. "She is still seventeen though. This means we can still adopt her."

"Is there a valid reason for you not to want us to legally become her parents?" Carina asked.

"I'm just concerned." Walton responded. "I mean, it's tons of papers. It's a very long and expensive process and for what? As I said, she will be eighteen soon."

"And I said, we don't care." Maya stated. "She lost everything. She lost her biological parents first, then her brother. We want her to feel part of something." she said. "We want her to be legally part of our family. Because she is already part of it to us.". Carina took her wife's hand and glanced at her, a proud smile on her face. To think that at the beginning of their marriage they had argued so much because Maya couldn't even stand the thought of having kids and now she was there, begging a social worker to let her legally become the mother of a seventeen-year-old.

"You never give up, don't you?" Walton commented, annoyed by the two women's insistence.

"I'm a firefighter and Carina is an OB/GYN. We never give up, it's part of our DNA." Maya claimed, causing the Italian to chuckle.

"Fine. Have you already talked with the girl?". The girl , as if Keira didn't have a name. God, they hated that woman.

"Not yet." Carina answered. "We wanted to know if it was possible before dropping the news to her."

"Well, it is." Walton said. "Even if I don't recommend it.". Maya could clearly see Carina biting her tongue, an attempt to be quiet and not insult the woman who had the power to let them adopt Keira. "Anyway, this is the plan. You talk to the girl and then call me, to inform me about your decision, then we can set up a meeting and start the process."

"It actually sounds great." Maya replied, finally agreeing with the social worker, for the first time since they had set foot into her office. "See you soon, then.". Walton nodded and, after waving goodbye to her, the two women left the room. Once in Carina's car, they both collapsed in their seats.

"That woman is infuriating. She is... She is..."

"Love, breathe." Maya tried to calm the Italian down, in vain.

"She is such an asshole. A... Yes, she is such a stronza. God, non la sopporto più. Io non..."

"Carina, enough." Maya called her again, this time managing to catch her attention. "I don't like Walton either, but we need her if we want to adopt Keira." she told her. Carina let out a sigh and pouted, defeated.