Being Grassi-Hoying

Chapter 2

**Scott's POV**

We get to our new daughter's girl's home, and honestly, it doesn't look as nice as it did in pictures. "This looks straight out of Annie." I hear Mitch whisper. I smile a bit at his reference, but he's right. "Are you sure Mitch??" Avi turns back to us, concerned. "It's the same address the DHS Worker sent us." Mitch shrugs. "Well let's go get her." Esther smiles, staying positive. I nod as Mitch opens the truck door. "It'll be okay." I whisper to Mitch. We get up to the door and you can hear laughing and squealing, "Sounds better." I say to myself under my breath. Mitch and I keep looking at each other as Esther knocks on the door. You can hear an adult voice from inside, getting closer. Esther pushes me to the front by my husband. A lady opens the door and smiles sweetly. "You two must be Scott and Mitch Grassi-Hoying??" "Yes Ma'am." I smile. "And your guests are Avi and Esther Kaplan." Mitch gives a strange look. "A lot of girls love Pentatonix here. So that's why they are in the living room and you will meet your daughter in the dining room." "Oh, thank you. Ms..." "Jessie, just call me Jessie." she smiles and leads us to the dining room. "Sorry, it's a bit of a mess, I'm the new caregiver and the previous one wasn't the best." Jessie explains as we walk down a dark hallway with paint peeling off the walls. "I'm starting with the bedrooms so it's bad down here." I hear Esther sigh behind me. We reach the dining room. "Now, please take a seat while I go and get Karlie." Karlie. That's her name. "But please be careful. She's very shy and likes to hide." Jessie gives a weak smile. I remember Kirstie and Mitch reading her files, father being a drunk, mom being a runaway, mom gets killed in a drive by when the poor thing was 9 months old. Being abused by the "Previous caregiver" and her father who had a sexual relationship with that caregiver. "Karlie Grassi-Hoying." Mitch says out loud, grinning like a kid on Christmas. "And this is the first time you've ever been told her name, right??" Avi eyes wonder around the well lit room. "Yeah. They wouldn't tell us for safety reasons." Mitch looked at Esther, who shrugged. "That's weird." Esther said. We all sit in silence until a door creaks open and all of us turn to see Jessie walk back in, with little Karlie right behind her. She looks straight at Avi, who gives a smile. Then she looks at all of us, but her eyes quickly go back to Jessie, who neals down to her height. "Alright Karlie, you see the blonde man??" she nods slowly. "And the black hair guy??" She nods again. "Those are your new fathers." "Two??" the cutest voice cracks out quietly, but loud enough to hear, as she holds up two fingers. "Yes." "Like Wush??" "Yes honey." Karlie smiles. I look at Mitch who is somehow grinning wider, he see me and mouths "Lush??" and I just give him an I-don't-know-either face. "Do you want to say hi??" Karlie stares at us for a long time, and then at Esther and Avi. "Hawo." she says waving. "Hi." I say calmly. She walks up to me and puts a finger on my knee. "Papa." she nods to herself, then walking over to Mitch, "Daddy." she throws her arms up as Mitch puts her in his lap. "Papa." she says reaching for me. I move over by Mitch and she smiles. "Papa and Daddy, but who??" she points at Esther and Avi. "The girl is Esther." Mitch says. "Easter??" Karlie looks confused as all of us laugh. "I'll go and get her stuff." Jessie walks out. "No-" "Shh leave it, it's cute." Esther stops Mitch. "Easter." Karlie laughs. "Noo!!" "You can figure it out baby." I smile as she looks at me, then points at Avi. "Who!!" "Avi." "Mavi?? No-no!! Dragon!!" Karlie starts making Dragon noises and Avi beams. "Do I look like a dragon to you, Princess??" Karlie hides in Mitch's shoulder but then says, "No. Talk ike one." she laughs. "Awwe!!" Esther squeals over Karlie. "Home??" She says as Jessie walks in with a little Purple backpack with some kind of princesses on it. "Ever After High!!" she yells but then hides in Mitch's shoulder. "Awe, she already loves you guys."Jessie give a huge smile as Karlie grabs my hand. "Here Esther. I'll give you these." As Jessie hands her the bag and you can see another little bag with a bunch of doll stuff. "Madine!!" She jumps off Mitch and grabs the bag. "Karlie. Will get her in the car okay??" Avi says, scared to touch her. "Okay Dragon."